How to make the daily dessert recipe Ambrosia Fruit Salad from Making It Grow

I had the honor of flying to South Carolina to film two cooking segments on the Public Television show Making It Grow.  I adore this show (they teach you all about plants!).  I LOVE to cook plants and help people Shed Pounds Sustainably by eating A LOT of them (without counting, weighing or measuring!). 

Click play below to watch the episode and keep scrolling for the recipe!

Onto the recipe…

Ambrosia Fruit Salad 
By: Nutritionist, Trisha Mandes, MPHN

Ingredients

• Two oranges, peeled and sliced into wedges

• One can pineapple rings (unsweetened, in fruit juice). Keep the juice from the can

• ¼ cup Juice from the pineapple rings can

• Two bananas, sliced

• 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded dried coconut (optional)

• One cup purple grapes, rinsed and cut in half 

• 1/2 tsp almond extract (optional)

Instructions

1. Combine the oranges, pineapple, banana and grapes in a large bowl (if not serving right away, don’t add the banana.  Add the banana right before serving otherwise it browns).

2. Combine the pineapple juice and optional almond extract in a small bowl and mix.

3. Pour the juice mixture over the fruit and toss until evenly distributed. 

4. Transfer to a smaller serving bowl.

5. Sprinkle coconut on top.

This is a simple and refreshing daily dessert (you can eat it everyday!) and is perfect for entertaining as well. 

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Interested in seeing if/how Trisha can help you Shed Pounds Sustainably even if you can’t exercise or have additional health concerns? Schedule a time to chat with her here. She’d love to talk to see if she can help you Shed Pounds Sustainably just like her clients.

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Take Control Now

Comment below and share… would you make this optimal fruit salad!? 

How Shelley Lost 34 Pounds Sustainably with a Lifestyle Change While in a Wheel Chair

Can you imagine this scenario?...  You go for a routine angiogram (imaging of your heart arteries) and you’re told, right there on the spot, that you need double bypass surgery right now. You need to get operated on NOW.

You agree, but to your utter horror, when you wake up…

Your leg has been cut off.  

You wake up with one leg.

Sounds like an utter nightmare right?  Unfortunately, this was real life for my client Shelley Fredericks, a retired nurse from Minnesota.  

Shelley developed compartment syndrome during the surgery.  Her leg went gangrenous and blood was pooling in her leg so they had to amputate it.

Shelley hired me as her Nutritionist about five years after this happened.  She came to me very depressed, unable to dress herself or do any daily tasks without help from her husband and daughter.  

I remember the first time Shelley and I ever spoke… she said one of the only things she could do on her own was muster up the energy to go to the bathroom.  She couldn’t help with any chores, would sleep very late in the day and her husband had to help her with everything.

So she hired me.

I am so honored to share Shelley’s story with you today.  Not only are her weight loss and total health results beyond impressive (and not possible solely from following doctor’s advice) but Shelley embodies the beauty of resilience and doing it with humor and grace.  She’s truly an amazing and inspiring woman for how she handled such a traumatic event.  

Watch her inspirational story right here, right now…

In 33 weeks of eating optimally and working with me, Shelley (at 67 years old)….

❤️ Lost 33 pounds!
❤️ Went from from a size 18 jeans to a size 12
❤️ Eliminated medications early on in the beginning of our time together- blood pressure medication within 3 weeks, a pain medication, GERD medication and a stool medication! That’s 4 medications gone within 10 weeks! 
❤️ Is now also off an antidepressant medication! 
❤️ No longer gets heartburn even when eating salsa and optimal chili! 
❤️ Now has regular bowel movements
❤️ Eats large portions of optimal food without counting calories or popping pills
❤️ Feels better and can move herself around now!
❤️ Is happier and laughs more – her self-esteem has improved. 
❤️ Can live longer for her grandchildren <3
❤️ Can do laundry again! And my favorite…
❤️ Loves herself again :)

I am beyond proud of her, honored to know her and inspired by her resilience, grace and humor.

Please comment below and cheer Shelley on AND if you have an unfortunate and traumatic experience that you’re comfortable sharing, I’d like to hear that too.  Medical errors are unfortunately more common than we’d anticipate and these stories (and how to overcome them) MATTER.

In Your Corner,

Trish

How Linda Shed 22 Pounds Eating Optimally at 73 Years Old

Linda first came to me at 73 years old with Celiacs disease. She had zero energy, struggled to complete chores at home, was dragging to work every day, and she had stopped being social. Linda was also struggling with knee pain. She had become very sedentary.  She knew that she NEEDED to lose weight. 

So, Linda made a decision that completely turned almost all of her health challenges around.  And NO, it wasn’t a pill, or a product or a restrictive diet or surgery…. 

Linda hired me, Nutritionist, Trisha Mandes, to help her Shed Pounds Sustainably in a way that’s also superior for her whole health – with Optimal Eating.  

After 11 weeks working with me and eating optimally (tailored to her needs) look at what Linda accomplished!  This TRULY is incredible (and common in my program). Linda…

💛 Lost 22 lbs in 11 weeks
💛 Waist is down 5.5” inches and hips are down 3”
💛 Has more energy than she’s had in years
💛 Feels full when she eats (yay for not pushing the plate away!)
💛 No longer craves sugar or deserts 
💛 No longer struggling from celiacs disease symptoms
💛 Has regained her social life and feels confident standing up for herself
💛 Regained her love of cooking 
💛 Swelling in her hands has gone down and she can wear her beautiful tanzanite rings she hasn’t been able to wear in 10 years
💛 Lost her double chin within the first week
💛 Has been able to clean her house and declutter
💛 Is exercising regularly 
💛 Looks forward to buying new clothes!

To quote Linda, “If I hadn’t found you Trisha - I don’t know where I would be today.”

Listen to Linda share her story in her own words by watching her interview above. This is one of my favorite client interviews because Linda really speaks from the heart.

Linda said… “to anyone reading this who is giving up on hope: this is an amazing adventure and I would highly recommend it to anyone. Just go for it because the outcome is so amazing and you’ll never feel better than when you eat optimally!  I’ve never felt so satisfied eating foods that are just yummy. It’s a wonderful adventure and I would encourage anyone to hop onboard!”

I’d love to chat with you, just like I did the first time Linda and I ever spoke, to see if/how I can potentially help you Shed Pounds Sustainably too.  Click here to schedule a time to chat.  Linda said “when I met you on that call Trish I knew that you were the answer.”  

In your corner,

Trish

P.S. If you too want to lose weight in a healthy way and have additional diagnoses/diseases you want to improve using food as medicine (in a delicious, realistic way), then schedule a time to chat with me, Nutritionist, Trisha Mandes, MPHN here. 

How Janet Shed Pounds Sustainably and Reduced Autoimmune Pain

Janet Ford came to me with four autoimmune diseases at 67 years old.  Needless to say, she was in pain.  If you know what it’s like to have Rheumatoid Arthritis or Lupus (Janet had both), it feels like you’re being pricked with hundreds of pins – an awful burning feeling. And for Janet, that pain turned into a debilitating depression.  

Janet came to me at her wits end – not only was she in pain, but Janet had little to no energy or stamina and struggled to keep up with her family. Her hands were swollen and she was unable to walk.  She also had extra weight that concerned her and she was taking about 15 medications a day!  Janet wanted her life back but she knew she couldn’t do it by herself even though she was a retired medical professional.  

So, Janet made a decision that changed everything…

Janet hired me as her personal Nutritionist.  She worked with me for 10 weeks initially (achieved results that impressed her doctors) BUT I followed up with Janet last year, after she’d been eating optimally for EIGHT months and WOW just WOW.  Look at (and listen) to what Janet has accomplished.

SIDE NOTE: this is one of my all-time favorite videos but I was so backed up with serving my current clients that I never shared it!  But, I’m THRILLED to share that I hired an amazing assistant, Kate, that I adore and she’s helping me get all of these amazing Optimal Eating success out into the world!

Okay back to Janet…

And before I share her successes Shedding Pounds Sustainably and awing her doctors, let me just say, it is a MASSIVE accomplishment that Janet has changed her diet and lifestyle for 8 months in and of itself (that’s because with Optimal Eating you can actually do that! It’s satiating, delicious and you don’t have to count, measure or weigh anything AND… it works!). 

From Eating Optimally Janet has...

💗 Reduced her pain down to a 2 or a 3 compared to a 7-10!
💗 Reversed her fatty liver within 5 months!
💗 Eliminated 5 medications with her doctors
💗 Lost 25 pounds!
💗 Wakes up and feels ready to tackle her day (vs needing to sleep and being sluggish in the morning)
💗 Is now able to go camping, fishing, hiking, and ENJOY these activities again!
💗 Feels confident making optimal recipes even while camping and off the grid
💗 Is able to exercise regularly with ease
💗 LOVES what she is eating and feels very full and satiated 

This ^^ is why she’s smiling so brightly during our interview.

Watch Janet's interview to hear it in her own words by clicking the video above.

It’s time for you to Shed Pounds Sustainably too even if you have additional diagnoses/diseases or can’t exercise right now.  Schedule a time to chat with me, Nutritionist, Trisha Mandes, here and we’ll see if/how I can potentially help you Shed Pounds Sustainably too.  

As Janet said… “Trisha gave me hope. A lot of hope. I knew I felt it in me that this is what I needed to do.”

See you on the other side.

In Your Corner,

Trish (the Dish)

P.S.  Schedule a time to chat with me, Nutritionist, Trisha Mandes, here and we’ll see if/how I can potentially help you Shed Pounds Sustainably too. 

How Karen Shed 40 Pounds Sustainably and Reduced Her Arthritis Pain By 98%!

Karen was 69 years old when she found the courage to ask me to help her Shed Pounds Sustainably (here she is 💖) and what happened, exceeded her expectations....

Karen was suffering from arthritis pain from head to toe especially in her hands and back. The pain was affecting her ability to complete daily chores at home -- she couldn't keep up. She was losing stamina to take walks with her husband.  She could no longer walk to the lake and back with her husband (for the last few years!).  She would have to turn around halfway through and felt very defeated. She was discouraged and felt that she was entering a realm of disability.  

Karen had tried numerous diet programs with no success and felt that she was never going to shed pounds sustainably until she did this one life changing thing...

Karen hired me, Nutritionist, Trisha Mandes, MPHN, as her personal Nutritionist to help her Shed Pounds Sustainably and improve her health.  

After 6 months of working with me and eating optimally (a massive win in and of itself!), Karen...

🔥 Shed 40 lbs without buying products, pills, counting or weighing food.  Amazing! 
🔥 Reduced her arthritis pain by 98%.  Also -- amazing!
🔥 She's not scared of falling anymore so she's no longer moving in fear! 
🔥 Has increased energy to do everyday tasks around the house.
🔥 Is able to take long walks with her husband to the lake again!
🔥 Feels like she has her LIFE back.
🔥 Knows she can eat optimally for the rest of her life and loves what she's eating.

Click the video below to listen to Karen tell you her story in her own words…

Cheers to shedding pounds sustainably in a healthy, lasting way AND never giving up on yourself... no matter how old you are! 

I'm so glad Karen didn't!

In Your Corner, 

Trish

P.S. I'd love to chat with you to see if/how I can also help you Shed Pounds Sustainably!  Do you want that too?  If so, sign up for a complimentary chat with me here and I'll let you know if/how I can help you Shed Pounds Sustainably and what results are possible for you and the unique miracle you are.  Karen's results exceeded her own expectations.  Let's see if we can do that for you too 😉. Schedule a complimentary time to chat with me here.