by Heather Ferber | Jul 18, 2017 | General Health, Inspiration, Nutrition |
Every other year, we get together with several other school families to donate a Farm to Table Dinner to our children’s school auction. It’s helped bring in thousands of dollars for our kiddos school! And it gives us the opportunity to share our beautiful backyard and foodie passion with a special group of friends.
This year, Chef John Schwarma IV, put together an amazing creative blend of culinary creations. Once the menu was established, I had outstanding wine help from The Wine Cellar in Elm Grove to pair interesting wines with the courses for the evening. The ultimate outcome was spectacular! 
Wanted to share our menu and pairings and a few pics to inspire those of you who may be working on summer dinners!
APPETIZERS:
Tortilla Spoons with Pickled Rhubarb Salsa
Griddled Thai Chicken Pancakes with Raw Honey Chili Sauce
Homemade Ricotta and Crab Dip with Marinated Garlic Flatbread
Apricot-Ginger Shooters
**Appetizers were paired with a Faire La Fete Brut blended with a local juice, fresh fruit pieces and basil
SOUP:
Summer Gazpacho
SALAD:
Blackened Carrot with Avocado, Cilantro Pesto, Feta, Pistachio
**Soup and Salad were paired with Bodegas Nunez Andio’n Albarino 2014
ENTREE:
Sauteed Salmon on Grilled Corn Puree, Smoked Tomato BBQ, Asparagus Tips, Sweet Potato Hash
**Entree was paired with Domaine Sonoma Chardonnay 2013 OR Pinot Noir from Washington State
DESSERT:
Chevre Cheesecake with Warm Cherry Sauce
**Dessert was paired with a local port from the Wollersheim winery…and all the leftover wine from the previous courses. LOL!
We had just a TON of fun with our guests, our help, and with our Chef John Schwarma! Hi creativity was outstanding! Contact me if you need his information – I will update this post with a website and link when it’s available.
by Heather Ferber | May 1, 2017 | Busy Mom Kitchen Tips, Cancer Prevention, Detoxification, Eating for Energy, General Health, Inspiration, Nutrition, Weight Management |
This weekend I had the opportunity to be a part of the Midwest Young Adult Cancer Conference (MYACC) that was hosted by Gilda’s Club in Madison. When the program director, Kirsten Norslien, originally reached out to me I had a bit of hesitation because I knew it would involved stepping out of my comfort zone and sharing some bits and pieces about my journey with Molly. While it’s been nearly one year since Molly’s passing, I truly did not know if I was ready to do something like this.
There were small signs along the way that I may the right decision – like a moment at Good Friday mass in Cayman when my mind wandered to the thought of finalizing my slides for the talk and the priest started his sermon by speaking about a young mother with cancer. WOW! I heard that message loud and clear. And I listened closely to his words which inspired me and gave me ideas on how to pull the talk together.
Dan Duffy, of the co-founder of The Half Fund was the fabulous keynote speaker and I was so BLESSED to hear his words! “In 2002, Dan was diagnosed with stage-three testicular cancer. Through massive amounts of chemo and multiple surgeries, he was declared cancer free seven months later.”
He told an entertaining story of his journey (or battle depending on the day) and how he’s been inspired to change the way people look at cancer. He talked about how every cancer patient should build an army. WOW! Molly built the best army anyone with cancer could every dream of – and I know she’s still looking out for all of her earthly army that remains.
Dan also spoke about embracing your crisis, using what you know, getting “naked”, being a bear and telling your story.
His words were exactly what I need to hear to know I was in the right place this weekend.
It was a huge step out of my comfort zone to share a bit of my journey with Molly. When I felt the tears creeping in, I took a deep breath and kept moving forward. For some reason, I was much stronger at holding back the emotion while she was here. I was better at holding back for her. Now that she’s gone, I find it harder to hold back when the grief hits. Perhaps it’s finally knowing it’s ok to shed those tears. And hearing Dan’s words…”Do you turn the tragedy into triumph? Do you seek out what used to terrify you, and make it work for you to help others?”
Yes, I did just that on Saturday. And I grew a tremendous amount as an individual.
It was a great group of young cancer survivors that listened to “How to Start Your Day the Energizing, Anti-Cancer Way.” We discussed a little anti cancer science, different theories and approaches to food (when you’ve been diagnosed with cancer), and we prepared several tasty breakfast recipes during our time together.
I left the conference feeling a great sense of relief, a renewed sense of focus and a desire to continue to inspire others to change their diets and lifestyles – even when faced with the greatest of challenges, like cancer.
Thanks for watching over me my friend and guiding me as to where I need to be. Miss you so much!
Heather Ferber is a Certified Holistic Health Coach, AADP who helps busy moms get fresh, focused and energized. She is a detox specialist helping women to rebuild gut health, balance hormones and thrive. She enjoys empowering moms to take back their health and feed their families better with simple, everyday advice and suggestions that can be easily integrated into today’s modern family’s hectic lives. You can find her on Fox 6 Real MKE once a month, speaking and teaching classes in the community, cooking in her kitchen for family and friends, playing her piano to relax, or out running with the family dog.
by Heather Ferber | Jan 2, 2017 | General Health, Inspiration, Nutrition |
Happy New Year friends! Hope you made special memories ringing in the new year with those you love.
I enjoyed an epic evening of silliness and craziness with family and friends and of course there was some delicious, healthy food (homemade guac, homemade salsa, chicken fajita bake, glazed Brussels sprouts, mason jar bean/zucchini salads, mixed green salad, flourless chocolate cake….my guests were awesome chefs with everything they brought).
The new year marks the time when many of us are looking back to see where the past 365 days took us on our life journeys. We are setting new intentions, new goals and resolutions for moving forward.
No stressful resolutions this year for me. Working to simplify my life!
Instead, I am focusing on 3 key words that I will use throughout the year to guide me in my personal and professional life.
Those three words are:
FOCUS
GRACE
HOPEFUL
FOCUS – what is truly at the core and center of each activity I am doing; what is at the center of my family life and marriage; getting clear on my production and visualization in business (I’ve started some big projects but not followed through our finished them – time to make things happen in 2017!)
GRACE – moving through life with elegance and poise; honoring the causes I truly believe in with my presence; realization of the unmerited favor of my God; aspiring to be like my dear friend Molly who left us way too early in 2016
HOPEFUL – inspire optimism in myself and others through sharing my story; exhibit confidence in what the future holds despite bad things that have happened in the past; be confident in what will come in 2017!
Many people will forget their resolutions by the time January comes to an end. I’m hoping I can remember these 3 words for all of 2017. I should be able to handle that 
Are any of you embracing WORDS for 2017? What are your words? Or are you writing more traditional resolutions?
Would love to hear!
by Heather Ferber | Mar 1, 2016 | Eating for Energy, General Health, Humor, Inspiration, Nutrition |
It was one of life’s funniest yet most frazzled moments – My tired body was attempting to enjoy a festive baby shower for a dear friend while showing off my 8 week old twins. I had just prepped a plate of food when one of my boys needed a feeding. Put my plate on my chair and went off to feed him. After I returned and passed my boy off to welcoming arms, I immediately sat back in my seat, right on top of my plate of food! AGH!
There was nothing to do but laugh hysterically, change my pants, and realize my overwhelming low level of energy and focus.
The food on my plate, at the shower, was a cornucopia of very poor food choices.
For more than 11 years prior to my twins, my life was filled with many poor food choices. My days in the corporate world were filled with processed foods, restaurant dining, and late night eating; too much caffeine and too much wine; and long work hours, stressful sales goals, intense multitasking, and frequent travel. Simply stated, I had many years of unhealthy living.
But according to the number on the scale (120 pounds at 5’6” when I got pregnant), I was thin and “supposedly” healthy. But my labs said otherwise – high cholesterol, insulin resistance, unhappy hormones, low iron, and a sluggish thyroid.
My three beautiful boys arrived in two short years. I gained 75 pounds with my twin pregnancy and 45 pounds with my singleton (so yes, I know what it’s like to face big weight loss goals).
I was advised to take an oral glucose medication during my pregnancies.
It was after the birth of my twins that I reached my all time low of feeling fatigued, foggy, frustrated and fat. When I sat on my plate, I knew it was time to start listening to my body and making changes so I could really enjoy life with my two new blessings.
I began to make small, simple changes in my daily routine. When my 3rd son arrived, my level of exhaustion increased a bit again (as evidenced by my frequent attempts to screw bottle nipples on top of our milk jug and put butter in the cabinet) even though I had implemented some lifestyle improvements. It was now time to make physical changes and I began to implement a simple workout routine. With the help of my personal coach, I continued to unlock the secrets of my own body and mind and rocketed forward.
I continued to shed pounds, change my body shape, and improve my lab values. My energy began to soar. I could think clearly, my belly flattened out, and for the first time in many years, I felt fantastic! People would look at me with two two-year-olds in a stroller and a 6 month old strapped to my belly and marvel at my energy, enthusiasm, focus, and great shape. Fast forward a couple years, I did an Ironman – something I never dreamed I would have the energy, stamina and determination to do.
My boys were initially exposed to some of the Standard American Diet in their early years. However, this was also the time I was making significant changes in my eating habits and I slowly began to expose them to healthier options. Eventually, I crowded out a lot of bad stuff and found our family eating a lot of good stuff. I am raising 3 energetic, active, healthy boys (ages 10, 10, and 8) who rarely visit the pediatrician.
When I was younger, I always thought I would become a physician (after I was done thinking I would be a ballerina), but life took me down another wonderful path in the corporate world. My passion for health and wellness, accompanied by my biology/chemistry/pharmaceutical background, took me back to school to become a Certified Holistic Health Coach.
And now I’m here to share my valuable life experiences and education with you. I want to empower you with your own tools to take back your health, get energized, raise healthy, active children and feel like you can THRIVE. I also believe life is about balance – I’m not an all/nothing kind of girl. There’s always a bit of room for a piece of caramel with sea salt in my life. I do my best and want to inspire YOU to do YOUR best and believe. I am a busy mom, making a difference, making health happen. YOU can be the same!
My stories and sharing are going to become much more personal this year. I hope you enjoy connecting more in depth as much as I do.
My last WINTER group detox kicks off March 3rd. Please see my website for more details. Group detoxes will be back again in September 2016.
by Heather Ferber | Nov 16, 2015 | Blending, General Health, Inspiration, Nutrition, Sugar, Weight Management |
It’s the most wonderful time of the year…the last 6 weeks of 2015.
Every year I remind myself to take a deep breath, focus on what truly matters, and not sweat the small stuff for the November and December. Time to stay healthy and enjoy these next few weeks!
This year I decided to dive a bit deeper and spell out exactly how I am going to save my sanity and stay healthy this holiday season.
When I mentioned this to one of the moms at the gym, she was quite interested in what I was going to focus on so I’ve decided to share with all of you…
My 7 Simple Steps to Save your Sanity & Stay Healthy this Holiday Season
- Practice gracious and graceful “no’s” – We can’t be everything to everyone. And that’s ok. ‘Tis the season to focus on family and close friends not trying to please the world as your mental health truly matters. Think about the commitment/task/request you are entertaining – does it make your heart sing? If not, graciously and gracefully decline and perhaps offer up a future possibility if that is in your heart. Practicing gracious and graceful no’s, in the mirror, has definitely helped me out.
- Smoothie it up! – Blend it up girlfriend! What better way to pack a TON of nutrition into your meal in a very short amount of time at a very low cost. Smoothies aren’t just for breakfast anymore – you can make them for lunch, dinner or snacks during the holiday season to save your sanity in the kitchen. In fact, this time of year, it’s important to pack a lot of immune boosting foods into the blending container including berries of all kinds, carrots, kiwi, spinach and sweet potatoes.
- Plan Simple Meals – Keep it simple sister. Now is not the time to bust out your 15 cookbooks looking for new, complicated culinary creations. Stick to family favorites and basics. Maybe think about upgrading your ingredients to make some of those meals healthier this time of year as opposed to trying completely new recipes. For example, if you are a taco family, try making your tacos with organic chicken or turkey, non-GMO corn shells or even lettuce wraps and lots of fresh veggies and avocado. YUM! Or, if your family enjoys spaghetti night, try organic chicken and spinach meatballs with Muir Glen spaghetti sauce and quinoa/black bean/zucchini noodles. If meal planning is tough for you, think about hiring a health coach as a Christmas gift to yourself or purchasing meal plans from a website like “Plan To Eat.”
- Work it Out – While I just finished an intense 7 week workout challenge where I spent a few too many hours at the gym, I will still be back 5 days/week during the crazy holidays. Get yourself moving. Even if it’s only 20 minutes/day. It will boost those endorphins and make you think twice about eating that sweet treat…which brings me to point #5.
- Limit the Sweet Treats – All that sugar is just not good for you. Not only does it contribute to unwanted pounds, it can challenge your immune system and who wants to be sick during the holidays?! Not me. Make powerful, calculated choices in terms of the sweet treats you choose. Or learn to make some healthier sweet treats. (Speaking of which – that’s a new class I’m teaching! Message me for details if you’d like to host a class on December 2nd or 7th or in the new year. I make all the treats! You get to sit back, relax and eat…and not feel so guilty about these treats.)
- Stay Hydrated – Bring that fancy water bottle with you where ever you go. And when it’s not with you, like at the holiday office party, sip some sparkling water in between your cocktails. Or better yet, limit yourself to one of your favorite alcoholic beverages and spend the rest of the evening sipping your sparkling water with lime through a little black straw – no one will notice it’s not alcoholic And the sparkling water, through the little black straw, will keep you looking svelte in your little black dress. *smooch*
- Surround Yourself with Those Who Lift You Up – You know who your family and friends are that build you up and make you feel great and those that drag you down. Spend extra special time with those who add value and love to your life. See tip #1 on how to manage other circumstances.
And those are the things I’m really going to focus on the remaining 6 weeks of 2015.
Would love to hear from you with your favorite tips and ideas that help you stay healthy during the holidays.
Please take a moment to share! You will inspire me to stay on track. XO
by Heather Ferber | Aug 4, 2015 | Cancer Prevention, Eating for Energy, G.I. System, General Health, Inspiration, Nutrition, Sugar, Weight Management |
WOWZA!
Summer is flying by. It has been a whirlwind of baseball and birthdays, weddings and waterparks, pool time and parties, tennis and time with family and friends.
This is my favorite time of year as I LOVE the hot, humid, steamy, sunny weather. Hoping we still have a few more weeks of it.
With three young boys to parent and “entertain,” summer life can get a bit crazy and I know many of you can relate! One activity we enjoy, when we need some down time, is family reading. We all find our current books, grab a seat on the couch either inside or out, and take 20-30 minutes to unwind and escape into our fantasy worlds.
Boys are all about Harry Potter and Magic Treehouse this summer with a few bits of presidential and war history, treasure hunting, and frog armies thrown into the mix.
A few of you have asked me to share what I’m reading this summer – thanks for that great idea!
So, here’s a list of health and wellness related reading I’ve enjoyed over the past couple months with a brief synopsis of each. Perhaps you will still find a few moments this summer to enjoy a good book by the pool, on the beach, or in the backyard.
52 New Foods Challenge by Jennifer Tyler Lee
This is a collection of 150 recipes worked into a family adventure and cooking challenge for each week of the year. A fun book to encourage kids to eat healthier foods without creating power struggles. Some of our favorite recipes so far include the savory and spiced pumpkin seeds, pumpkin bread, whole wheat pizza dough, mini pear-apple crisps, kale chips, and edamame salad. There are so many good ones! Definitely a fun way to introduce new foods into your family.
The Hormone Cure by Sara Gottfried, MD
Many of my busy mom clients are looking to lose weight, increase energy, balance their moods, decrease cravings, increase sex drive, reduce stress and sleep better. Ladies, our hormones complicate everything! But you don’t need to let your hormones rule your life. This book is a deep dive into the science behind balancing hormones and how, in doing so, you can improve many underlying health issues.
The Plant Powered Way by Rich Roll & Julie Piatt
Rich Roll is a well known vegan, ultra-distance athlete and his wife Julie Piatt is a chef. This book is a collection of fantastic recipes that even meat-loving families will enjoy. I’m always looking for ways to get more veggies in my kiddos. This book has inspired new recipe testing in our kitchen. It’s filled with beautiful pictures and great family stories.
Whole: Rethinking the Science of Nutrition by T. Collin Campbell, PhD
“Nutritional science, long stuck in a reductionist mindset, is at the cusp of a revolution. The traditional “gold standard” of nutrition research has been to study one chemical at a time in an attempt to determine its particular impact on the human body. These sorts of studies are helpful to food companies trying to prove there is a chemical in milk or pre-packaged dinners that is “good” for us, but they provide little insight into the complexity of what actually happens in our bodies or how those chemicals contribute to our health. Nutritional science, long stuck in a reductionist mindset, is at the cusp of a revolution. The traditional “gold standard” of nutrition research has been to study one chemical at a time in an attempt to determine its particular impact on the human body. These sorts of studies are helpful to food companies trying to prove there is a chemical in milk or pre-packaged dinners that is “good” for us, but they provide little insight into the complexity of what actually happens in our bodies or how those chemicals contribute to our health.” – Amazon
Whole is for those who enjoy a more scientific read that will make you think about the hundred of supplement emails that flood your inbox on a daily basis.
Clean Eats by Alejandro Junger, MD
A New York cardiologist’s collection of 200 delicious, relatively easy to prepare recipes to help restore internal balance. Yes, I like a lot of the recipes, but I also like the comprehensive introduction where he shares a variety of different essays (and definitions) of clean eating, a short list of “must-haves” for cooking recipes from his book, and his story of how he has turned his kitchen into his culinary pharmacy. Forward thinking for an MD!
The New Health Rules by Frank Lipman, MD
As a leading expert in functional medicine, Dr. Lipman focuses on the root cause of illness. This book is a quick read that contains more than 100 actionable tips that you can use to improve many aspects of your life including body, mind and spirit. This book would make the prefect gift for a friend you’d like to inspire on their journey to better health.
Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual by Micahel Pollan
One of my all time favorites that I re-read at least once a year. Simple, concise and you can get through it in an hour or two. He teaches that eating does not need to be complicated, especially in today’s mix of paleo, primal, vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, atkins, raw, dairy-free, low calorie, low carbohydrate and the list goes on and on. A refreshing read that also makes a nice gift idea.
And of course I have one or two NON-health related reads that I’ve started this summer…but haven’t finished them yet. Will have to save that for another blog post. Hope this helps on your next trip to the library – not too late to get some quality summer reading in!
