Welcome to Summer!

It is my hope that you are continuing to exercise, eat healthy and maintain a positive and energetic attitude. As summer approaches, we all set goals for our physique and how we view ourselves. I for one have been exercising more often to tone muscle and drop a few pounds in the process. There are all kinds of summer recipes to try. I am keeping it simple by going back to the basics of the original flavor of a fruit and vegetable. Over the years, I have tasted the quality of apples, oranges, pears, nectarines, tomatoes and host of other sweet and tart natural treats and I have not been happy with the results. Fresh fruits and vegetables have been sprayed to the point of tasting waxy and leaving a bad after taste in your mouth which is one of the reasons I rarely eat red apples.

I grew up on Michigan red apples and Sunkist navel oranges and with every bite there was a fresh crunch or enough juice in an orange to make juice. The degradation of the food quality over the years is disappointing but there are glimpses of promise on the horizon towards going back to common sense growth and less harmful pesticides. My mother and father would clip coupons for our large family and plan the Saturday trip to at least three (3) grocers plus the fish store. I went on a few grocery trips with my mom and was exhausted but what I learned was to get the best quality of food for the best price and not settle for less. She taught me and my siblings that no matter what your income or your circumstance (and she had to overcome a lot by being a hearing impaired Black woman), that you deserve to be treated respectively as a human being and as a customer.

Obviously, I took that piece of education to heart and now pass it down to my own children to strive for the best within themselves and others because in the end, everyone benefits. So as a toast to all things natural and summer fresh, I am adding more salads, low calorie fruit desserts and occassionally heart healthy lower alcohol organic sulfite sweet red wine.

Check it out: www.french-wine-online.com and www.esterlinavineyards.com

Also check out my new comments about African American women's hair styles at: http://blackamericabodybeautiful.blogspot.com

Have a Great Summer. CHEERS!!
Stay mentally, physically and spiritually Healthy!

Mrs. B.