12 Steps to Whole Foods

06.03.2015 Views

Introduction Let me share with you a great example of how one woman’s desire to share her enthusiasm for green smoothies and a whole-foods lifestyle created a great support system in her local community. Here’s Kim Newhouse’s story (with photos by her husband, Mark Newhouse): Here in Tucson we’ve instituted monthly “Green Smoothie Parties” where we gather together to have fun learning more about good nutrition. After winning 12 Steps to Whole Food Eating at one of Robyn’s lectures, I knew this information was too good to keep to myself! I had been on a journey to better nutrition for several years and had seen amazing changes in my health. I went from having constant infections and illnesses to having a strong immune system. I sleep better, have more energy, and am so pleased that my 5 children love this way of eating too! My friends call me “the whole food evangelist” because I’m so eager to tell others how beneficial it is to get off of processed foods. Kim Newhouse following along with Robyn’s video at a GSG party in her home. Watching Robyn’s demo video. (Back to front: Tere Joe, Bethany Newhouse [age 17, Kim’s daughter], Dale Fox [cancer survivor], Tacia Kissel, and Jordan Newhouse [age 19], Kim’s oldest daughter.) Now I use Robyn’s material to spread the good news about healthy eating. Each month my husband creates a Web page where each person can sign up to bring an ingredient for a recipe or two that goes along with Robyn’s video clip that we are going to watch. Everyone enjoys the demonstration, tasting, and the related discussion that ensues. It’s a great opportunity to gather new ideas, and we have the accountability of checking in with each other to share about how we’ve been putting into practice all that we’ve learned. Women and girls of a wide range of ages have attended and even a few brave “Green Smoothie Guys” have joined in. They leave satisfied with what they’ve tasted and received and are eager to share what they’ve discovered with others. It’s not just a girly thing! It’s families—teens, spouses, children—coming together as a team. Well, that’s our mission, anyway! 24 12 Steps to Whole Foods © Copyright Robyn Openshaw

Introduction I’ve invited the attendees to come early and explore our garden or help harvest an ingredient for a recipe we’re going to make (basil for pesto, herbs for salad dressing, etc). The hands-on opportunity provides inspiration and motivation—we’ve even distributed plant cuttings or new sprouts for them to take home and get started with. I also encourage them to try out the high-powered blenders to see for themselves how easy and fun it can be! It works best to have someone bring another blender so we can make multiple recipes simultaneously. Friendships have formed out of these meetings as people meet others with their specific challenges (ie gluten or other food allergy). Having a group of likeminded folks can make all the difference in one’s success—we highly recommend it! Enjoying the fruits (and vegetables) of their labors! (Clockwise from lower left: Tere Joe, Jordan Newhouse, Anne White, Stephanie Bleakmore, Helen Vosburgh, Beth Flores, Katrina Livingood, Dale Fox, and Bethany Newhouse.) You’ve got many new followers in Tucson now! Here’s a testimonial from a 21-year-old who attended my first party (she has 7 siblings): “We all love the green smoothies and are making them at least once a day with ginger, bee pollen, kale, collard greens, chard, spinach, cabbage, chia, flax oil, and fruit. My brothers think they are dessert and say we haven’t made a green smoothie they didn’t like yet! Thank you so much for opening your home for green smoothie night, and we are looking forward to the next one!” And one of our regular attendees, Dale Fox, who is a three-time cancer survivor, has this to say: “After I attended my first Green Smoothie Girl Party, I knew I found what I was looking for. I have been wanting and needing to make dietary changes for some time, but felt overwhelmed and not sure where to start. 12 Steps to Whole Foods has been key to achieving this goal. As a three-time cancer survivor, it feels great to know I am finally eating in a manner I feel good about, both physically and mentally. I look forward to the Green Smoothie Girl Party each month. We learn a lot from Robyn as well as sharing tips, recipes, and products with one another. My family and I have been enjoying green smoothies every day and we’re on our way to a whole foods lifestyle. I am so excited to be making these changes and so very grateful to Robyn.” © Copyright Robyn Openshaw 12 Steps to Whole Foods 25

Introduction<br />

I’ve invited the attendees <strong>to</strong> come early and explore our garden or help harvest an ingredient for a recipe<br />

we’re going <strong>to</strong> make (basil for pes<strong>to</strong>, herbs for salad dressing, etc). The hands-on opportunity provides<br />

inspiration and motivation—we’ve even distributed plant cuttings or new sprouts for them <strong>to</strong> take home<br />

and get started with. I also encourage them <strong>to</strong> try out the high-powered blenders <strong>to</strong> see for themselves<br />

how easy and fun it can be! It works best <strong>to</strong> have someone bring another blender so we can make<br />

multiple recipes simultaneously.<br />

Friendships have formed out of<br />

these meetings as people meet<br />

others with their specific<br />

challenges (ie gluten or other food<br />

allergy). Having a group of likeminded<br />

folks can make all the<br />

difference in one’s success—we<br />

highly recommend it!<br />

Enjoying the fruits (and vegetables) of their labors! (Clockwise from lower<br />

left: Tere Joe, Jordan Newhouse, Anne White, Stephanie Bleakmore, Helen<br />

Vosburgh, Beth Flores, Katrina Livingood, Dale Fox, and Bethany<br />

Newhouse.)<br />

You’ve got many new followers in<br />

Tucson now! Here’s a testimonial<br />

from a 21-year-old who attended<br />

my first party (she has 7 siblings):<br />

“We all love the green smoothies<br />

and are making them at least once<br />

a day with ginger, bee pollen, kale,<br />

collard greens, chard, spinach,<br />

cabbage, chia, flax oil, and fruit.<br />

My brothers think they are dessert<br />

and say we haven’t made a green<br />

smoothie they didn’t like yet!<br />

Thank you so much for opening your home for green smoothie night, and we are looking forward <strong>to</strong> the<br />

next one!”<br />

And one of our regular attendees, Dale Fox, who is a three-time cancer survivor, has this <strong>to</strong> say: “After<br />

I attended my first Green Smoothie Girl Party, I knew I found what I was looking for. I have been<br />

wanting and needing <strong>to</strong> make dietary changes for some time, but felt overwhelmed and not sure where<br />

<strong>to</strong> start. <strong>12</strong> <strong>Steps</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>Whole</strong> <strong>Foods</strong> has been key <strong>to</strong> achieving this goal. As a three-time cancer survivor, it<br />

feels great <strong>to</strong> know I am finally eating in a manner I feel good about, both physically and mentally. I<br />

look forward <strong>to</strong> the Green Smoothie Girl Party each month. We learn a lot from Robyn as well as<br />

sharing tips, recipes, and products with one another. My family and I have been enjoying green<br />

smoothies every day and we’re on our way <strong>to</strong> a whole foods lifestyle. I am so excited <strong>to</strong> be making<br />

these changes and so very grateful <strong>to</strong> Robyn.”<br />

© Copyright Robyn Openshaw <strong>12</strong> <strong>Steps</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>Whole</strong> <strong>Foods</strong> 25

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