It has been said that the kitchen is the most important room of the house: the birthplace of great ideas, the forum for great discussions, the meeting place of minds, and most of all, the nuturing center of the household. Thus the kitchen is well regarded as being the heart of the home where goodness of life orginates.This being true, why not make this important, most-
frequented room of the house a veritable wellspring for optimum health?

A HEALTHY KITCHEN: what is it?
A healthy kitchen is a naturally wholesome environment that is dedicated to nourishing the body and spirit toward wellbeing and longevity. Building a healthy space to encourage the principles of natural nourishment requires time, effort, finances, and most of all understanding. While the basics of a healthy kitchen are simple, certain guidelines do apply.



A HEALTHY KITCHEN: what is there to eat?
A healthy kitchen has healthy, living food! Fresh, raw fruit, vegetables, seeds, nuts, and whole grains are found in abundance in a healthy kitchen. The refigerator is well-stocked with life-giving foods such as kale, collards, lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, beets, carrots, celery, tomatoes, parsnips, apples, bananas, melons, pears, peaches, grapes, almonds, walnuts, cashews, sesame seeds, hemp and chia seeds, and more. Whole grains such as brown rice, buckwheat groats, quinoa, rye, oats and other dry
goods sit on pantry shelves as do herbs and spices such as oregano, basil, cinnamon, cumin, curry, tarragon, thyme, coriander, nutmeg, cayenne, fennel, all spice, and more.

VS.

Conspicuously absent in a healthy kitchen are animal-based foods (meat, dairy, seafood) and man-made, processed, fast foods. A healthy kitchen generates and promotes natural nourishment YHVH's way as recorded in Genesis 1:29.

And YHVH said, Behold, I have given you
every herb bearing seed, which is upon
the face of all the earth, and every tree,
n the which is the fruit of a tree yielding
seed; to you it shall be for meat (food).

A healthy kitchen is established in accordance with YHVH's first law which, when obeyed, promises to bless man with all good health and prosperity. This law established a plant-based diet of raw, fresh fruit, vegetables, seeds, nuts and whole grains that builds a body that is strong, self-healing, and resistant to sickness and disease. Science proves that a diet of fresh, raw, living foods optimizes energy, clarity of thought, stablizes emotions, and strengthens the immune system. Living foods contain the life force that leads to optimum health and longevity.

A HEALTHY KITCHEN has healthy drinking water
When it comes to issues of health, safe and affordable drinking water in the home is mandatory. The harmful affects of municipal tap water are well known and therefore need to be avoided which means investing in a personal water purification system. Commercially-bottled water is not recommended, since the water source is questionable and typically the pH of bottled drinking water is highly acidic. The preferred source for drinking water is spring water, since it rises on its own volition from deep within the earth. Well water is also a good drinking water source, though pre and periodic testing is recommended. Distilled water is also another option for healthy drinking water.

A HEALTHY KITCHEN has health-minded equipment

Having the right tools at hand makes life easier and more enjoyable, especially when it comes to food preparation. Found in a healthy kitchen are
a few basic appliances: a juicer, blender, food processor, and dehydrator. While it is possible to eat healthy without these conveniences, having good equipment aids and enhances the culinary process.

A healthy kitchen also has quality knives. There is nothing like a good knife in order to get the job done and done right. Names to look for are Hoffritz,
Wusthof, and Sabatier. There are also ceramic knives which, according to some raw chefs, are superior in that they hold an edge better, cut and handle more easily, and food does not oxidize as quickly after being cut.

A healthy kitchen does not sport nor support aluminum or teflon-coated pots, pans, tea kettles, muffin tins or utensils. Replace toxic items with glass,
enamel or stainless steel ware.

If the budget does not allow for buying high-end equipment, make a healthy start by shopping local discount stores, thrift stores, and yard sales for equipment that you need. A small investment pays big dividends.

A HEALTHY KITCHEN: tips and tidbits
Gaining knowledge and experience in handling and preparing living food takes time and, in most cases, practice. Those transitioning to a living foods diet are admittedly charting new, unknown territory. Nevertheless, eating healthy is often the result of common sense coupled with a little gathered know-how.

1) Live food, by definition, is alive. As soon as food is harvested from tree, plant, vine or ground, it begins to lose its nutritional value. Therefore, consider the time element in preparing food. When harvesting from your garden, pick only what you will eat within a day or two. The same holds true for what is purchased from local farmers. Produce in supermarkets is weeks if not months old, since most of it has been trucked from miles away.

2) Considering the perishability of living food, as much as possible prepare only what will be eaten immediately. Making meals in advance is not optimum. Nevertheless, busy lifestyles can demand otherwise. Better and healthier it is to pack a lunch and/or snack the night before or day in advance than compromise healthy eating away from home. Therefore plan a meal strategy for eating at the office or being on the road. 'Grab-and-go' salads, snacks, and fruit are good solutions when being 'on-the-run.' As much as possible, 'take your kitchen with you!'

3) Store fresh produce in glass, enamel, and plastic containers or in green 'stay-fresh' bags. Any plastic used in the kitchen should be food grade (stamped with a numeral '5' on the underside). Glass and enamel cover dishes make excellent storage, especially for left overs. Glass jars are good for storing smoothies, raw soups, juices, and dry goods. Gallon glass jars make handy storage and can usually be picked up at Delis, garage sales or
in thrift stores. For optimum storage of fresh produce (especially greens), keep them at an even, cool temperature in the refrigerator as opposed to an
ice chest.

4) Greens that become limp can sometimes be revived by soaking them in cold water. Soak for about 15 minutes, drain in a colander, then place in a plastic bag or storage container in the refrigerator. In a short time, the leaves will crisp up. Soft/limp root vegetables usually do not regain their firmness and therefore should be eaten immediately or discarded.

5) Recipes that call for blending or using a juicer to make nut butters/grain dishes can instead be finely chopped/blended in a food processor.

6) Make your kitchen a pleasant place in which to be by choosing inspiring decor. Repaint or put up new wallpaper to celebrate your healthy lifestyle. Hang favorite artwork and set the table with colorful cloths/napkins. Buy fresh flowers on occasion. Special touches add warmth to a kitchen.

A HEALTHY KITCHEN is a clean kitchen
'Eating clean' begins with washing all produce prior to preparation. Many non-toxic vegetable/ fruit washes are available on the market.

Kitchen counters, preparation surfaces (especially cutting boards) should be cleaned and disinfected thoroughly after use. Recommended low-cost cleaning agents include food-grade Hydrogen Peroxide, a vinegar/water solution or an essential oil solution. Food grade oregano oil is also good for disinfecting cutting boards and food prep areas. Add a couple drops to wash water or use it as a spray.

To combat mold build up, especially in refrigerators, use Thieves essential oil from Young Living. A few drops in hot wash water or the Thieves spray will
eradicate mold spores anywhere. Likewise a small bowl of baking soda in the refigerator can absorb unpleasant, potentially harmful odors.

For multipurpose cleaning in the kitchen use plant-based liquid concentrates that are user and environmentally-friendly because they contain no harmful chemicals. Many such products are available on the market.

A HEALTHY KITCHEN has healthy resources
Everyone loves a good recipe! Investing in a few, choice recipe books is often the key to building lasting, healthier eating habits. Healthy recipe books are good references for wholesome meal ideas and preparation instructions. Gleaning knowledge from veteran raw chefs is not only inspiring but practical.

A HEALTHY KITCHEN uses natural first aid
Accidents can and do happen when preparing food. A slip of the knife, a burn, a bump or bruise can necessitate instant remedy. With the right know-how and natural solutions an injury can be quickly addressed.

To stop bleeding apply cayenne pepper, raw honey, calcium Bentonite clay or a drop of Balsam Fir Young Living essential oil on the cut. The latter works instantly. For burns apply Lavendar essential oil, Miracle II Gel, Willard Water Gel and/or Aloe. If applied immediately, the chance of scarring is greatly reduced if not eliminated. Lavendar essential oil is also good for bruises, lessening inflammation (pain) and speeding the healing process.

Injuries of all kinds, including cuts, burns, bruises, and broken bones can also be remedied by applying lymphatic techiniques, i.e. stroking the affected
area to remove trapped blood proteins (which cause inflammation/pain) and speed healing. The remarkable ability of the body to heal itself by properly activating the lymphatic system was pioneered by Dr. Samuel West who founded the International Academy of Lymphology.

A HEALTHY KITCHEN is a happy place
Feeding others is a noble task as well as an art. It is also a privilege. Handling living foods should be considered an honor, since these foods are custom made for us by YHVH Himself. Therefore handle the food you have purchased with care and thanksgiving. Preparing meals for yourself and your family should be a joyous experience, since 1) you have been shown what to eat for your ultimate health, and 2) you have food. While many in America and around the world are going hungry, count it a blessing to have food.

Avoid family food wars. Resolve to make the kitchen a haven of love, peace, and rest. Do not prepare food if you are sick, upset or angry. A bad attitude has a toxic affect on food and is passed along to the eaters. As much as lies within you, prepare food as a ministry unto YHVH for the good of those whom you serve, then what comes out of your kitchen will not only taste better but will nourish the spirit as well as the body!

Whatever you do, work at it with all
your heart, as working for the YHVH,
not for men. Colossians 3:23 (NIV)

A merry heart doeth good [like] a
medicine: but a broken spirit drieth
the bones. Proverbs 17:22

O taste and see that YHVH[is] good:
blessed [is] the man[that] trusteth in
him. Psalm 34:8

________________________________

For product information and more visit
My Hallelujah Diet or LIVING Buying

Living Letter #134/index