I was recently introduced to this delicious meal. I don’t usually like papaya, but the lime and bananas make this an excellent treat. I eat it for breakfast, but this can replace any meal.

Papaya has properties that can help contribute to safe weight loss; low calories, fiber, and high water content.

As with anything, you don’t want to overdo papaya. Consuming 1 -2 papayas a week (1 meal per day) is a sufficient amount. Not recommended during pregnancy.

Bananas are are best known for containing large amounts of potassium, magnesium, vitamin B6, fiber and are surprisingly great for weight loss. One theory suggests that certain enzymes in bananas speed up digestion and elimination, causing rapid weight loss.

Limes are particularly helpful for losing weight, as they are low in calories and rich in fiber and a number of other nutrients that can aid in promoting weight loss.

You can see nutritional content at the end of this post.

Ingredients:

¼ of a large papaya (or ½ a small one) cut in bite size cubes (skin removed)

1 large banana, sliced

Juice of 1 lime

Instructions:

Cut the papaya in half, remove seeds with a spoon and cut lengthways and width (see photo). Do this for the whole thing and reserve the rest of the papaya for the upcoming days; store is a glass container with a tight fitting lid. This will last about 3 – 5days in the refrigerator.

Put your portion of the papaya in a bowl along with sliced banana and lime juice.
Let sit a few minutes for the lime to marinate

Note:

You could also eat it right out of the papaya by adding the banana and lime as seen in the top photo.

You can make this ahead of time and take it as a food on the go. I would suggest to take the banana unpeeled and a small knife to chop when you’re ready to eat. Otherwise pour the lime juice on the papaya before you leave.

Nutrient	Amount	DV (%)	Nutrient Density	World’s Healthiest Foods Rating
Papaya 1.00 each 304.00 grams 118.56 calories
vitamin C	187.87 mg	313.1	47.5	excellent
vitamin A	3325.76 IU	66.5	10.1	excellent
folate	115.52 mcg	28.9	4.4	very good
potassium	781.28 mg	22.3	3.4	very good
fiber	5.47 g	21.9	3.3	good
vitamin E	2.22 mg	11.1	1.7	good
vitamin K	7.90 mcg	9.9	1.5	good

Nutrient	Amount	DV (%)	Nutrient Density	World’s Healthiest Foods Rating
Banana 1.00 each 118.00 grams 105.02 calories
vitamin B6	0.43 mg	21.5	3.7	very good
vitamin C	10.27 mg	17.1	2.9	good
manganese	0.32 mg	16.0	2.7	good
fiber	3.07 g	12.3	2.1	good
potassium	422.44 mg	12.1	2.1	good

Nutrient	Amount	DV (%)	Nutrient Density	World’s Healthiest Foods Rating
Lemons and Limes, Juice 0.25 cup 61.00 grams 15.25 calories
vitamin C	28.06 mg	46.8	55.2	excellent

Source: http://www.whfoods.com

Rejuvelac

This recipe was taken from my book A Closer Look At Nutrition & Wellness – Handbook of Digestive Health for Well-being

Before anything else, this is a MUST have for anyone in there early months (and beyond) of pregnancy, it can help prevent morning sickness as well as provide calcium, B-vitamins, iron, and more beneficial nutrients. It is also great to help nursing women produce milk.

This Rejuvelac is made from fermented sprouted grains, it is tart, delicious, and has a lemonade-like taste. It is rich in enzymes, probiotics as well as B-Vitamins.

Benefits (to name a few):

Helps alleviate Urinary Tract Infection
Has cooling properties
Excellent for hydration
Helps with weight loss with regular consumption
Cleanses the kidneys
Lowers cholesterol
Helps women prevent formation of gallstones
Reduces risk of Type-2 diabetes
The antioxidants in barley prevents cancerous growths
Great for digestion
Relieves constipation
Relieves nausea, great for pregnant women

*This recipe makes 2 quarts of Rejuvelac, you can multiply or divide as needed.

Equipment Needed:

Large glass jar

Thin cloth and rubber band

Large strainer or Sprouting bag

Ingredients:

½ Cup barley, soft wheat berries or rye (preferably organic)
7 Cups filtered water

Instructions:

Soak the grain for 10-12 hours (overnight)
Strain, rinse and place in either a sprouting bag or a large strainer

Rinse 2-3 times a day for about 3 days (or until you see the sprouts about ¼ inch long, or longer if you want).
Next step is to pound the grains either with a mortar and pestle or in a food processor/blender (just to break it up, DO NOT over blend.)
Place the sprouts in a larger glass jar, like a mason jar and fill to the top with 7 Cups filtered water (make sure sprouts are covered, add more water if needed).
Place the jar on a counter top, cover with a thin cloth (cheesecloth, muslin cloth, or paper towel). Leave for 3 days
Stir the mixture 3 times a day. It is done after 3 days!
Strain and store in refrigerator. Will taste fresh up to 1 week.

Don’t throw out the sprouts, they can be used in cracker or other baking recipes, eaten as a breakfast porridge or fed to backyard chickens or farm animals. Be creative!