Raines Realm

There is still so much mystery around Reiki and the amazing benefits that come with it. The core fact to keep in mind is that when our life energy is flowing freely and our body is in a relaxed state, our health and wellness can improve. The daily stresses that we all face make sustaining a relaxed state very challenging. By getting regular Reiki sessions, we can ensure that we are enabling our body to maintain that state that benefits us the most. When our bodies are in a relaxed state, all of our systems can function at an optimal level and these are tangible and undeniable results. Take this article  for instance: "The multileveled, rapid response to Reiki suggests a complex process that engages many body systems, simultaneously or in quick succession, shifting the body from domination by the "fight or flight" (stress) response to the relaxation response, and supporting the body's own healing mechanisms." So, when we are doing all of the t...

We all know that when we go out to eat, we are given ridiculous portion sizes. Quanity has topped quality and our health and waist lines are suffering. The good news is that we don't have to let our out of control portion sizes dictate our lives as long as we exercise some proper planning. The key to correct portions is developing those habits at home. When you plate your food, don't pile it high, covering every inch of your plate. In fact, no food should ever go around the rim of your plate. You should be able to see your plate through your food. It should be delicately placed, preferably in a way that's aesthetically pleasing. We have all heard the ratio that half of the plate should be vegetables, one quarter starch, and one quarter protein. But, what about the fact that there are a multitude of plate sizes on the market. The ratio is not to be taken literally. It means that out of the proper portion sizes, you should aim for twice as much vegetables as starch and...

Most of us have reached for the diet soda or artificial sweeteners at some point when trying to lose weight. Unfortunantly, artificial sweeteners can actually rob us of our health and cause additional weight gain. Weight Gain - Our bodies react to fake sugar the same way as the real stuff. It triggers signals that cause fat to be stored instead of burned. Dulls taste buds - the intense flavors of sweeteners such as aspartame overload tastebuds hindering us from being able to enjoy the subtle sweetness of things like fruit. Disprupts body's natural ability to regulate calories - when our bodies are flooded with synthetic foods, it hinders the body's natural ability to handle hunger and full cues. Depression - Artificial sweeteners have been linked to a 30% increase in risk of depression. Aspartame has been categorized as a neurotoxin by the EPA right alongside arsenic. Damages kidneys - artificial ingredients put an unnecessary strain on kidneys which are i...

In this day and age, many of us have lives so demanding that we have become accustomed to rushing. One common sacrifice is the act of savoring our food. To consume anything at all some days is sadly considered a victory. Meals are one of the most primary functions that we achieve throughout the day. How we approach them says a lot about our personalities. If we treat meals as an inconvenience or something that merits little more than an afterthought, then we are telling ourselves that we are not worth the effort. We are stifling our own importance. We must love ourselves enough to savor our meals. We all deserve to have the time to experience our food. Interesting things happen when we do this. Our taste buds may change. We realize that certain foods taste differently when we take the time to chew. Slow eating also leads to better digestion and becoming full from less food. To truly savor your meals, start in the kitchen by savoring the various aromas. Allow your anticipati...

Whether you're a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, or even a babysitter, we all try to do the best we can for the children in our care. Let's think about meal times for a minute. I have seen many instances of a child being told to "clean their plates" before they can leave the table. Seems harmless, right? I mean, everyone wants to make sure their child is getting enough to eat. Well, there's several issues with this situation. First, it's programming the child to mindlessly eat the food in front of them as if it's a task. This takes the joy out of eating. It robs children of the experience of taste . If children are taught that meals are just a chore to get through, they do not learn to appreciate the different flavors and textures, not to mention aromas of the foods in front of them. They can't develop a healthy admiration for the process of cooking and the culinary adventures that cooking produces. The other grave issue with this ...

"Candy!" is generally the first thing that springs to mind when thinking of Halloween, but a traditional Irish fortune-telling cake is more accurate. We all know that Halloween is the modern-day celebration of the ancient Celtic holiday of Samhaim (pronounced Sow-in). It was originally celebrated as the time of year when the veil between the living and the dead was at its thinnest. This led to all sorts of fortune-telling and divination methods in hopes of learning about the future. Thus enters the barmbrack. This simple fruit bread is the delicious ancestor of the questionable fruit cakes of today. The fun part about this bread though, has nothing to do with its taste or appearance, but what it has inside. Particular "charms" are wrapped in parchment paper, evenly distributed, and baked inside. Traditionally, the items include a coin, ring, thimble, button, and scrap of cloth. The cake is then divided and whatever charm you had in your piece was you...

According to the Chinese zodiac, 2017 may be the year of the rooster, but goat is predicted to dominate the dinner table. The U.S. is now catching up with the rest of the world when it come to this delicious protein staple. When I was in primary school, (many moons ago), we had a guest restaurant come in and cook for us. They made goat stew. There were a lot of kids that skipped lunch that day and out of those that ate it, there was only one who went back for seconds...yep, you guessed it, it was me. I've always enjoyed trying new foods and perhaps it was then that I realized I was a future "foodie". The goat stew was amazing. The meat was tender, the potatoes and vegetables adding just the right notes of flavor and texture. It was delicious! So, imagine how excited I am that it's finally trending for the new year. And why not? Many other countries already utilize this versatile, lean red meat. Its low in fat, cholesterol, and calories. Goat meat actually ha...

Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, no matter where you go online you are bombarded with images of someone's plate. Is it narcissism or a positive trend? It seems that millennials love to be one of a kind, even though fifty percent of them identify as "foodies". In a world where individuality reigns supreme and with so many "trendy" diets to choose from, food choices are an easy place to assert one's own uniqueness. For many young people, especially those in their early 20s, buying a house or their dream car is not possible with the current market. More of these millennials are choosing to assert their adulthood, status, and education level by being very deliberate about their food luxuries. Nothing quite says "look how well I'm doing in life" like a snapshot of your caviar covered Maine lobster plastered on social media. Normal food has become boring, a thing of the past. Now it's all about the search for specialty cheeses, exotic frui...

It's no secret that Halloween is my favorite holiday. And, I may have been known to go all out for parties...fog machines, strobe lights, horror movies in the background, the whole nine! But, you can have the best atmosphere and if the food is lacking, it makes the whole thing a flop. So without further adieu, here's the recipes that will MAKE your party! Meat Skull Deli meat, barbeque sauce, plastic mold This is a simple set up that packs a punch. I bought a plastic skull form from the Dollar Tree to start. Then take your favorite deli meats and tear than into various sizes. It should be somewhat messy, so no need for perfection. Cover the skull in a layer of barbeque sauce and add a layer of the meat. More sauce, more meat. Continue until you're happy with your skull. Serve with cheese and crackers and you're off the a great start! Jello Shot Worms in Oreo Dirt Jello, Vodka, Oreos To make these, you need a pack of bendy straws. Cut them in half an...