Happy New Year, 2011!

Happy New Year, 2011!

Cleanse and renew

Everyday of our lives we're constantly bombarded with pollutants, from the air that we breathe, the water we drink, the food we consume, the so called house-hold noxious chemicals; not to mention the electromagnetic frequency radiation from technological sources ie laptops etc. etc..

I'm about to embark on a experiment to cut down the amount of chemicals pollutants(I say cut down as it would be foolish to think we can eradicate poisonous chemicals altogether more so especially on existing budget.

I plan to this year radiate my talented gifts and light to the world!

My wee helpers include:

* Yoga and Meditation

* Conservation work

*Concentrate on one's innate healing abilities(we all have the capacity to heal:)

* Very simple plant-based diet

* Consuming pure water

* Community work of some kind ie making more folk aware of the poisonous effects of common house-hold cleaners ie bleach and offering suitable safe non-toxic alternatives

Big Hugs and Thank-you to *Veronika Robinson and indeed ALL the amazing Light Workers out there(you know who you are:), I'm indebited to you all.

Veronika is a entrepreneurial mother and  the founder of  'The Mother' magazine.

Wishing you all a successful 2011 and beyond, Namaste:) 

Verdict on last night's creation?

An Alchemist's dream! Almonds are wonderfully versatile that can transform the simplest ingredients into a high-energy meal in itself. Great for ultra-healthy milks, vegan ice creams, desserts, sweet / savoury pie an tart crusts, you name it the humble almond is a handy kitchen staple. Alkaline, pure protein, Essential B Vitamins, vitamin E, calcium, Mg, it's got the lot.

Creative Festive Treat!

Created a wonderfully-decadent and rich(well, the festivities are coming to a close until next year:)  dessert made from almonds, ripe bananas, few unsulphured apricots, lacuma and ground cardamom. It's in the freezer setting.

Wish List 2011!

Clare Nasir’s Bootcamp, £19.99


www.dailymail.co.uk described this as fun and thus gave it nine out of ten!

2011 wish List!

Clare Nasir’s Bootcamp, Dvd £19.99
http://www.dailmail.com/ described this as fun and gave it a score of nine out of ten!

Pasta Binge Alert!

Due to my spartan and meagre rations yesterday(pear and spinach smoothie and a moderate serving of raw pad thai and that's it ie no snacks even fruit in between) I went to bed hungry and thus dreamt of hunger! For brunch I succumbed to two massive bowls of wholewheat penne pasta(tomatoes, olive oil, black pepper, sea salt and of course chili:). Dangerous territory indeed! pasta(and indeed all cooked processed carbs etc.) is poison to this individual. I have been known to gorge my way through mounds of the stuff ( it's the highly-addictive opiates) and at least one 500g pack in one sitting. Having lived  this mortal coil for decades now I have to conclude that all cooked and processed foods is poison and destructive and one is better of abstaining from them. I'm fortunate that my favourite food is fruit so here's to my angst-free and water-blessed life. Has anyone read 'Your Body's Many Crys for water' by a Dr, Batmanji(sp) and another good very thin publication is 'The Choice is Clear' by American physician, Dr, Allan E. Banik ? Well worth a read I say(as is Colon Health by Dr. Norman Walker)!

I'm feel quite fortunate to have this platform to help myself and if Clare Nasir can transform her figure in such a short space of time(I'm envious) that I can be motivated to get fit for life!     

Whoops!

Forgot to metion chili too!

Cilantro / Coriander / Cherry Tomato-free Raw Pad Thai!

Just devoured a Asian-inspired dish without my beloved favorite cilantro and cherry tomatoes. I combined  almonds, ginger, garlic, arugula(all I had and a jolly good cilantro alternative too:0), tamari and lime juice to a paste. Served on a bed of lime and olive oil-infused raw carrot 'noodles', delish!

Sublime Green Smoothie!

Baby Spinach

Ripe Pears

Cacao Beans(few to a handful:)

Water

and lots of love, enjoy today's brunch:)!

Plant-based celebratary alternative to turkeys and other sentient living beings!

 I really enjoyed  my sage and onion festive-inspired, plant-based 'living' main course of sprouted sunflower seeds, red onion, dried sage, grated carrot, turmeric Haidi), chili powder and tamari. So easy to prepare with a day (or two) germinated seeds and a few basics, simply serve with seasonal greens and roots. A dish that even a hard-core carnivore can't say no too! I created this on a whim when I craved a Christmas savoury meal and it really hits the spot. As for baby Jesus' birthday itself I craved good a ole' black eye bean curry(I've been craving curry for months:).

Happy New Year, 2011!

Festive Sweet Treat

1/2 Cup cashews (soaked for at least an hour and thoroughly rinsed)


2 small bananas (ripe)

1 TSP cacao powder

3 TBS  chia seed gel

Mixed spice

.

Simplicity in a bowl!

bowl of baby spinach


4 small strawberries sliced

3 slices of red onion quartered

half a cucumber sliced and cut lengthwise

big sprig of basil, ripped

light sprinkle of pumpkin seeds

Eats!

Buckwheat groats with (yes, you've guessed:) germinated  'Crazy Jack's' sesame seeds, raw cacao powder, dried fruit mixture!

Fresh flat-leaf parsley(yum:) followed by a rather scrummy hemp and banana milkshake smoothie(hemp protein powder, water and nanas:)

MH done:) Tibetans and asanas to do!

Quite a auspicious Sunday ahead(10/10/10) lets realign our thoughts for a healthy and peaceful future full of abundance for all:) We are all energy after all!

Namaste  

Friday!

Just received my winning EBay  treats today(yaaaaaaaaay:) which included a organic cotton orange tunic and a lovely handwoven(khadhi:) ivory smock dress ,(People Tree) first-class delivery for under a fiver! 

Wednesday, 6th October 2010

Eats: Buckwheat Groats, tomato and watercress(yum:0)!

Wednesday!

Managed a lovely and serene, MH, Tibeatans and asana session(yaaaaaaaaaaaay:)!

Thank Goodness for Ebay!

Finally purchased a tongue cleaner! This wee device get rid of the gunk ie bacteria from previous night's activities minimising halitosis episodes. It is a preventative ancient Ayurveda treatment used for centuries.
Thanks Angela la la for the reminder:)

Eats so far!

Bowl of yummy buckwheat groats with raw cacao, orange, sesame, dried fruit, chili mixture(deliciously-decadent:)!

MH , asanas and Tibetan to do!

Wednesday!

October 6th                                                                              Balance

I will be calmly active, actively calm. I will not become lazy and mentally ossified. Nor will I be overactive, able to earn money but unable to enjoy life. I will meditate regularly to maintain true balance. --Paramahansa Yogananda, "Metaphysical Meditations"

Tuesday, 6th October 2010

Jumbo oats and dried fruit.

MH completed, way too bloated to do asanas and Tibetans:(

Tuesday!

October 5th                                                            Balance Whether you are suffering in this life, or smiling with opulence and power, your consciousness should remain unchanged. If you can accomplish even-mindedness, nothing can ever hurt you. The lives of all great masters show that they have achieved this blessed state. --Paramahansa Yogananda, "Man's Eternal Quest"

Eats!

Yesterday  completed: MH, asanas and Tibetans(yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay:)

Brown L/G brown  rice with kidney beans, chili, cumin, tamari and olive oil

Leftovers from above!

Berry Bliss Shake: hemp protein powder, fresh raspberries and water(yum:)

Bananas

MH, Tibetans and asanas to do!

Eats!

Raw vegan choccie orange creation with jumbo oats.

Fresh raspberries, citron tart, raw spinach and choccie orange creation.

MH, asanas and Tibetans to do! 

Ciao Bella!

Things are getting a little heavy in the blogosphere recently, I think one will take a breather!Ingredients:
1 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp of mixed spice (ground cinnamon, nutmeg, all spice)
2 1/2 cups  spelt flour
2 tsp of baking powder
2 tsp of baking soda
silken tofu
1 carrot grated
1 zucchini grated
1 cup chopped walnuts
2 Tbs of sunflower seeds
2 Tbs of pumpkin seeds
( or any other nuts or seeds of your choice: poppy seeds, sesame seeds, almond slivers, brazil nuts chopped etc)
1/4 cup of oil  olive oil

Method
1. Boil water and add sugar and spice. Stir till dissolved then set aside to cool.
2. Sift flour, baking powder and baking soda together into a mixing bowl.
3. Grate carrot and zucchini into a separate bowl from the dry mix. Whisk in silken tofu to the grated vegetables. Then gradually combine the sugar water to this wet mix.
4. Put a well in the middle of the flour mix and add the wet mix. Combine well. I used a standing cake mixer which combined it really well, but is not necessary. You can just use a whisk and mixing bowl.
5. Now to combine the oil to the mixture.
6. Finally add your nuts and seeds. Mix then scoop into  tins. My muffin tins were not non-stick so I just used paper liners
7. Put in oven for 40 Mins on 160C.

Monday!

October 4th                                                        Balance

Do not make unimportant things important, nor concentrate on trifles at the expense of vital matters, or you will hamper your progress. Impulsive actions that are not in keeping with one's duties are undesirable. --Paramahansa Yogananda, in a "Para-gram"

 

Halva-like Goodness!

Combined some soaked organic and fair trade sesame seeds with dried fruit(with citrus peels:) and raw cacao powder to make the most deliciously-indulgent chocolatey fix ever(think of a healthy chocolate orange but nicer:). Sesame seeds are a excellent plant-source of Ca, essential fats, amino acids, Fe and feel-good chemicals to beat away the seasonal blues!

Eats!

Jumbo oats with Shazzie's raw cacao powder and Himalayan pink salt!

A sublime, organically-grown and fresh Cavelo Nero from Langridge Farm in Crediton(a Mandala Organic Growers Partner, love that:) main-meal salad with raw vegan houmous and perfectly-ripe avocado(It was soo good:).

Fresh fruit: Greengages

MH, Tibetans and asanas to do!

Happy 101!

Please feel free to share your top 10 lovely bloggers!

Happy 101!

The lovely Hotchoc26 from www.hotchoc26.blogspot.com makes us smile as she's forever apologising on HER blog(Bless her cotton socks; she is so adorable, lucky H2B:)! I was also fortunate to be nominated / awarded with a lovely blogger award from the lovely herself!

Here's 10 things I love:

*Animals

*Babies and bloggers and blogging!

*Children and creativity!

*Fresh fruit(preferably locally-sourced:)

*Nurturing female friendships

*Green Smoothies

*Hubby

*Mother India and all her Divine Gifts!

* Solar Energy

Far too many lovely bloggers to choose from so I would like to pass this on to all of you:)

Eats!

Jumbo oats, water and 1 dsp raw cacao pwd!

3 small nectarines

Wolegrain bread sticks and olive oil

Bananas

MH, Tibetans and asanas completed:)

We need more Peter Tatchell's in the World, yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

One of the very few living folk that one has admired from afar for mamy years has finally been acknowledged and honored recently in the form of a blue plaque(Normally bestowed to people that have passed away first)outside his London home. Peter has fought and campaigned tirelessly for human rights and justice for decades and this simple gesture given by the people makes me incredibly-proud of him and others that selflessly give their time to promote peace and harmony throughout the world. We need more Peter Tatchells in the world! I'm very happy for him and a great day for unity and justice. Other folks I greatly admire include the Liberty campaigner and founder. Joanna Lumley for putting her TV actress fame to good use to highlight the Gurka's campaign for justice in their noble efforts in the world war.

Age-defining Arms?!

Here, personal trainer David Marshall gives his top three exercises for banishing those unwanted bingo wings. There’s no need even to go to the gym — you can do them in your home.

Half press-ups: These are like normal press-ups, but are done on your knees to make them easier.
Bicep curls using dumb-bells: Sit with a weight in each hand and, with your arms hanging straight down and your upper arms fixed by your sides, you curl the weights up towards your shoulders

Tricep chair dips: Sit on a chair and grasp the edges. Push yourself up and forwards. Then, with your knees bent at 90 degrees and your feet flat on the floor, lower your bottom towards the ground by bending your elbows, and then use your arms to push yourself back up

For each exercise, aim to do one set of between 25 and 30 repetitions to the point of muscular exhaustion. For the dumb-bell exercises, if you can’t do 25 repetitions with even a light weight, build up gradually. Whatever you can do today, do at least one more tomorrow.
To see videos of these exercises, go to bodydoctor.com/dailymail


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1316315/Helen-Mirren-struggles-dresses-hide-tell-tale-arms--allow-help.html#ixzz1106GMDA8

Eats!

Bananas

Raw houmous(from yesterday) with a couple of avocadoes and brussel sprouts

Wholemeal bread(would strategically avoid this for obvious reasons)

MH, asana and Tibetans completed:)

Eats!

Raw vegan houmous with spinach and avocado(feel stuffed, ate too much too quickly;aim to be more mindful in future:).

MH completed:)

Tibetans and asanas to do!

Eats later!

Raw vegan houmous!

6 cups sprouted chickpeas
For the Tahini Sauce:
2 medium lemons, peeled and quartered
1 cup tahini
1 medium yellow onion, peeled and quartered
3 medium cloves garlic
1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves
1/2 cup fresh coriander leaves
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/3 cup cold-pressed olive oil
1 teaspoon sea salt, plus additional (up to 1 teaspoon) to taste

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Put the sprouted chickpeas in a food processor and blend well. Remove to a large bowl.

2. To make the Tahini Sauce: Put the lemon first, then the remaining ingredients, in a blender and blend well.

3. Pour the Tahini Sauce into the bowl with the chickpeas and mix well. Taste and adjust the seasonings. Voilà!

Ideal served with some ubber, fresh leafy greens:)

Eats so far!

I took inspiration from Laura's(keeping slim & getting stylish.blogspot.com) Lindt sea salt choccie bar for this 'yummy tummy' feast! Appreciated a delicious brunch of jumbo oats, 1dsp raw cacao pwd,sugars, chia seeds and a pinch of Himalayan pink salt.

Monday, 27th September 2010

Eats!

Fresh Raspberries(love, love berries:)

Kidney bean chilli with brussel sprouts

Post Menses: appreciated MH, asanas and Tibetans!

Wonderous Coconut!

Foods that have an incredible array of health benefits that go well beyond just their nutrient value are considered 'super-foods.' Mothers' milk is considered the most perfect food on the planet for human consumption do to its ideal nutritional content and immune boosting compounds. The closest match in nature to mothers' milk is found within the coconut. This tropical staple is loaded with many powerful fatty acids that give it a unique taste and an abundance of health enhancing benefits.

Coconut oil is rich in healthy small to medium chained saturated fats called medium chain triglycerides or MCTs. Most common vegetable or seed oils consist of long chain fatty acids (LCFAs), also known as long-chain triglycerides or LCTs. The LCTs put more strain on the pancreas, liver, and GI tract. The body must package these LCTs with carrier proteins that require special enzymes to effectively metabolize.

These MCTs are smaller and permeate cell membranes easily without the need for carrier proteins and special enzymes. MCTs are sent directly to the liver where they are immediately converted into usable energy rather than being stored as fat. In fact, MCTs do not depend on bile or pancreatic enzymes to be effectively metabolized. This makes coconut oil fully digestible by those who have had their gallbladder removed.

Coconut oil is the most stable of all the commonly used fatty acid sources due to its high composition of saturated fats. This stability is very important because it reduces the free radical load on our bodies. Physiologist and biochemist Ray Peat, Ph.D. considers coconut oil to be an antioxidant due to its resistance to oxidation and free radical formation.

Coconut oil helps to balance hormones, stabilize blood sugar levels and boost the cellular healing process. It is also known to stimulate the thyroid and reduce stress on the liver and pancreas. This increases metabolism and helps us burn fat more effectively. Additionally, coconut oil increases our energy levels due to its very clean and easy digestive process.

Both mothers' milk and coconut oil are rich in the immune boosting lauric acid which is converted in our body to monolaurin. Monolaurin contains extraordinarily powerful anti-biotic, anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties. Unlike man-made anti-biotics and anti-virals these fatty acids pose no danger within our bodies. They are completely harmless to us, yet powerful at destroying harmful microbes by damaging the cell membrane of these competing organisms. This makes coconut oil one of the best foods to eat during cold/flu season.

These MCTs are also known for their ability to speed the healing process of cuts and bruises by destroying dangerous microbes and enhancing cellular metabolism and tissue repair. It is also very soothing and great at reducing stress when it is applied onto face, temples, and scalp.

Coconut oil is fantastic for keeping the skin and connective tissue strong and supple. It helps protect skin from the aging effects of free radicals and naturally reduces the appearance of lines and wrinkles. It is also one of best nutritional moisturizers for our hair and scalp. Applying coconut oil has been known to enhance texture and highlights in hair while eliminating dandruff and dry skin.

Using Coconut Oil: (Always get Extra-virgin coconut oil)
1.Rub into hair and onto skin as a moisturiser after shower.
2.Use as a natural deodorant by applying to underarms.
3.Use coconut oil when you cook due to its incredible stability
4.Take 1-4 tsp of extra-virgin coconut oil in raw form daily
5.Use coconut milk for shakes, smoothies, and creamy recipes
6.Snack on coconut

Eats!

Jumbo oats,1 dsp raw cacoa powder, pinch of Himalayan pink salt in water(not bad:)

Eats!

Bean and lentil chili with raw baby spinach leaves(love spinach:)!

You didn't win....

I've been looking for a special journal for quite some time(that was preferably not made in the PRC). A journal that one can map out their dreams, goals etc. , write inspiring quotations, affirmations, draw paint etc. In short a journal I could lovingly be a loyal friend and most-treasured asset. It had to be pretty, made with love and a journal that I can really appreciate and keep forever. I decided to do a Ebay search and to my delight this lovingly-handcrafted 'very special' journal came up 'Nkuku recycled sari journal with box(never used)' for a starting bid princely sum of 0.99p + 2.90 1st class Recorded delivery. I was the first and only bidder for the first 8 days or so(Dreamt it was mine:0). The final day I was outbid yet determined to seal the deal in the last few minutes. To my dissapointment a bidder stole my journal from me in the last minute. I was so upset with tears as seeing this journal gave me hope for the future and now it was out of my grasp. I was in turmoil. I'm at a stage where I'm on the scrapheap as far as contractual employments concerned and(I've lost count of the number of resemes and covering letters I've sent off without as much as an acknowledgment)is a sheer challenge to get through when you on the breadline and not properly nourished.

Eats!

Brunch: Jumbo Oats with raw Cacoa powder(yum:)

Eats!

Jumbo oats in with cinnamon-infused almond milk

Savoury oats with tomato, herbs and red onion!

MH Completed:)

Saturday, 25th September 2010 Spiritual Diary

September 25th Perfection

Through the use of the Kriya key, persons who cannot bring themselves to believe in the divinity of any man will behold at last the full divinity of their own selves.
—Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda, “Autobiography of a Yogi”

Spiritual Diary: Friday, 24th September 2010!

September 24th Perfection

If others fool away their time, you be lost in God. You will go ahead. Let your example change others’ lives. Reform yourself and you will reform thousands.
—Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda, in “Rajarsi Janakananda: Great Western Yogi”

Eats!

Jumbo Oats with a cinnamon-infused almond milk(yum:)

8 frozen Greengages(yum:)

Eats!

9 greengages frozen from the freezer(taste like a very healthy sorbet but better, yum:)!

MH done

September 23rd Perfection

Don’t waste time in seeking little things. Naturally it is easier to get other gifts from God than the supreme gift of Himself. But don’t be satisfied with anything less than the highest.
— Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda, “How You Can Talk With God”

Full Moon Tonight!

An interesting and auspicious time to reflect and to meditate, perhaps?!!!

'God grant me the courage to change the things I can change, serenity for the things I can't and wisdom to know the difference...'

Eats!

Enjoyed a yummy breakfast of jumbo oats, *almond milk and cinnamon, the almond milk made such a difference; worth getting the FP!

* prior laziness

Eats!

8 frozen greengages(one way of waste conservation:), really rather good!

Hydrator of choice(yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay for green coconuts:)!

Coconut water is low in fat and calories, has no cholesterol, and has a natural balance of sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium- making it a healthy electrolyte drink. It has even been used intravenously to stabilize electrolytes.
Many people know of the healing benefits of coconut oil. Coconut water now joins the pantry’s medicine cabinet. Coconuts are anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-microbial. The lauric acid in coconuts is also used to heal digestive tract disorders such as Leaky Gut Syndrome.
According to ayurvedic belief, coconut is carminative: meaning that it helps to prevent intestinal gas, aids in removing toxins and increases the digestive tract’s ability to absorb nutrients. Coconut balances acid levels and flushes toxins out. Ayurveda considers coconut a natural stress-buster.
The calming, cooling benefits of coconut water relieves burning sensations and hot flashes and “restores emotional stability in menopausal women”. This property of coconut water also makes it an excellent choice for liver problems, hepatitis or inflammation.
Since it regulates the functioning of the intestine, the coconut water propitiates to the user a smoother and pretty skin.
Beyond ingested, the coconut water can also be used directly on the face, for skin hydration.
Around the world women have used coconut products on their hair and skin as well as consuming it. It is a common ingredient in beauty products.
For your health, Coconut Water is:

Low in Carbohydrates
Low in Fat 99% Fat Free
Low in natural occurring sugar
Keeps the body cool and at the proper temperature
Contains organic compounds possessing growth promoting properties
Cures malnourishment
Effective in the treatment of kidney and urethral stones
Natural drink for feeding infants suffering from intestinal disturbances
Excellent oral re-hydration medium, an all natural isotonic for all ages
Re-hydrate naturally, free of added sugars or chemicals
Lower arterial pressure
Relieve spasms and stomach pain
Ease burns
Natural diuretic
Presence of saline and albumen makes it an excellent drink in cholera cases
Maintains the human body’s natural fluid levels
Can be injected intravenously in emergency cases
Found as a blood plasma substitute because it is sterile, does not produce heat, and does not destroy red blood cells and is readily accepted by the body
Helps in carrying nutrients and oxygen to cells
Excellent all natural water to drink while Relaxing, Meditating, Driving, Eating, Running, Aerobics, Working, Skiing, Mountain Biking, Exercising, Body Building, Surfing, Fishing, Snow Boarding, Working Out, Surfing, Physical Activities, or Exertion of any kind
Eliminate swelling in hands and feet
Normalize the intestinal function and raise metabolism
Heal damage induced by antibiotics and toxins in the digestive tract
Boost poor circulation
It is truly a life giving fluid. Our special harvesting and processing procedures allow us to package and pasteurize our natural Coconut Waters that are biologically pure, with no need for adding any preservatives. Exquisitely tasting and full of all the natural fluids, vitamins, nutrients, sugars, minerals and salts demanded and needed by everyone of all age groups. Coconut Water has no Cholesterol, is fat free and is naturally low in Calories!
Everyone should drink this fine all natural coconut water EVERY DAY, it is a Natural isotonic beverage for all ages.

Eats Today!

Enjoyed a rather surprising combo of jumbo oats, water, almonds(soaked:), lemon zest and cinnamon for brunch today. The addition of the lemon zest made it delightfully-refreshing, happy and joyful for the soul and the palate!

Spiritual Diary: Tuesday , 21st September 2010!

September 21st Right Activity

We will be seen on this stage of life again and again, until we become such good actors that we can play our parts perfectly, according to the Divine Will. Then the Stage Manager will say: “You need ‘go no more out.’ (Rev. 3:12). You have done My Will. You have played your part, and acted well. You did not lose courage. Now you have come back to Me, to be a pillar of immortality in the temple of My Eternal Existence.”
—Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda, “Man’s Eternal Quest”

Eats Today!

Jumbo oats, water and almonds

Jumbo oats, water and nutritional yeast

MH To do! Tibetans and Asanas? not sure as it's the first day of one's cycle(blah)...

Boring!

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaay for Healthy Living Blogs.com!

Sincere thanks and gratitude to the lovely Lindsey and the Healthy living blogs.com team for created this great resource for all!

Eternal, healthy abundant blessings to all:)

Namaste:)

Strawberry Seducer!

I take no credit for this deliciously-sublime smoothie in a glass as it's the brainchild of the lovely and very GLOWY Robyn's creative thought processes that came up with this beautiful treat! Check her out and her equally cute beloved(hubby:) on www.girlonraw.com - thank-you Robyn:)

2 large glasses of non dairy milk – I make my own almond milk

1 cup of frozen organic strawberries

1 frozen banana

2 TBS cacao nibs

1TBS of agave nectar / coconut butter/oil

pinch of salt

Blend all ingredients in a high powered blender until smooth.

Now sit back, savour and plan your dreams:)

Smooth 'feel-good' Hydrator!

Cup oats or cashews
1 ripe avocado
2-3 ripe bananas
Chia seeds
Coconut water

This is especially good post Exercise!

Blogger Love!

Soaked oat groats and almonds processed with turmeric, garlic, tomato and nutritional yeast with B12. Kind of a savoury raw porridge(not bad:)!

I learned today from a lovely blogger(thanks Leslie:) that cider vinegar makes a ideal natural and ecologically-sound setting agent for dying clothes. Right where's the beets / elderberries?!!! how lovely are bloggers?

MH, Tibetans and asanas to do!

Sprouting Mung Beans!

How to sprout mung beans at home


Sort through the beans and pick out any small or broken stones or other foreign material.

Place the beans in the colander / sieve and rinse thoroughly.

Soak the beans in water for 8-10 hours, then drain.

Versatility of the humble living mung bean sprout!

Add to tossed salads

Use in coleslaw (cabbage, clover, radish)

Try in potato salad (mung bean, lentil)

Try in wraps and roll-ups (alfalfa, sunflower, radish)

Stir-fry with other vegetables (alfalfa, clover, radish, mung bean, lentil)

Blend into fruit shakes or juices (cabbage, mung bean, lentil)

Blend with vegetable juices (cabbage, mung bean, lentil)

Replace celery in sandwich spreads (lentil, radish)

Grind up and use in sandwich spreads (lentil, radish)

Stir into soups or stews when serving (mung bean, lentil)

Mix into pancake or waffle batter (buckwheat)

Eat them fresh and uncooked in a sprout salad (salad mixes)

Top omelet or scrambled eggs (alfalfa, clover, radish)

Combine in rice dishes (fenugreek, lentil, mung bean)

Add to sushi (radish, sunflower)

Saute with onions (mung bean, clover, radish)

Puree with peas or beans (mung bean, lentil)

Add to baked beans (lentil)

Add in sandwiches instead of lettuce (alfalfa, clover, radish)

More Eats!

DIY mung bean sprouts with pesto!

MH, Tibetans and little asanas completed:)

Eats Today!

Brunch: raw oat groats(soaked overnight:) with soaked almonds, raw cacoa powder, prunes and cinnamon!

Second meal: the above!

MH and asanas to do:)

Friday!

Leftover brekkie from yesterday!

Tomatoes

more tomatoes.........oats?

MH complete:)

Testing!

Ended my day with some lovely MH, Tibetans and blissful asana practice followed by a yummy bowl of home-made mung bean sprouts!

Raw Chocolate Bliss!

Enjoyed and appreciated a substantial bowl of raw oat groats, prunes, cardamon, raw cacao powder and almond milk. Packed-full of antioxidants and brain-inducing neurotransmitters(as well as Mg for a healthy nervous system and skin-boosting sulphur:)that really boost your mood and well being. I've observed prior to commencing asanas raw cacao gives yoginis a flexible edge that only enhances our daily practice to deeper level. What more could you ask for? For a good online deal go to funkyraw.com(raw Cacao pwd from £9.97 for 500g:0). If you think the cook and processed dark raw chocolate is good you just wait to you try this, your healthy palate is in for a healthy treat! It's so versatile too. Great in your power smoothies to the morning to the most decadent celebration cake / treat / dessert.

Raw cacao, also known as raw chocolate or cocoa, is an increasingly popular healthy alternative to regular chocolate. It is an appetite suppressant so it can help in losing weight. It makes you feel good too since it’s a natural anti-depressant. Raw chocolate is also great in raw puddings and makes a satisfying snack.

It's down to the perfection of extraction of this most antioxidant-rich, most PURE and ridiculously great-tasting 100% Raw Cacao Powder...

This super delicious Cacao Powder, produced to ecological standards (totally free from agro chemicals) is created by freshly cold-pressing Cacao Beans into a cake which then separates the oil from the protein and fibre. The temperature is never allowed to exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit and is usually 104 degrees F (all other cocoa powders are exposed to temperatures as high as 300 degrees Fahrenheit!), with a high-accuracy thermometer monitoring the process. Slowly, the pure, liquid cacao butter begins to sift off down a stainless steel valve and the remaining dry 'cake-like' material is then cold-ground, fine-milled and sifted so that only the finest, most bio-available raw cacao particles filter through into the finished product. This allows for maximum digestion and antioxidant absorption!

ORAC and more…

Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity is a rating scale the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) has developed: a high-tech way of measuring the ability of antioxidants to absorb cell damaging, wrinkle causing, tissue destructive free radicals.

It has been revealed that 25,200 ORAC units of Antioxidant power can be found in a single spoonful of Raw Chocolate Powder! This is approximately 955 ORAC units per gram.

This is much higher than most foods. In fact, it has been claimed that Raw Chocolate Powder has about 723% more (or about 7 times more) antioxidants gram-per-gram than typical dark chocolate, which is supposedly the bench mark for ‘healthy’ chocolate in ‘cooked’ terms, and isn’t even nutritionally usable and beneficial in the long term to humans. While everyone else is singing the praise of dark chocolate - Raw Chocolate is way beyond that.

In Raw Chocolate Powder, much of the oil is removed, while nearly all of the active nutrients remain. For example...

The amino acid Tryptophan is found naturally in cacao, which enhances relaxation and promotes better sleep.

Researchers have discovered that phenylethylamine (PEA) has a positive effect in enhancing feelings of love and Chocolate has been proven to be an excellent source of PEA.

Raw Chocolate is the richest food source of magnesium of any common food. Magnesium is the number one mineral that assists and supports healthy heart functioning.

Raw Chocolate Powder has a high level of Arginine, the aphrodisiac-like amino acid believed by body builders to build muscle and aid in recovery.

Recommendations…

Add cacao powder to all your favourite smoothies, desserts, protein drinks, nut milks or anything else you can think of. Just one or two spoonfuls can transform any recipe into a healthy chocolate treat. It even goes great on top of fresh fruit!

Have you noticed the transformation of the lovely Kelly Osborne recently? I think she has blossomed into a very beautiful young woman(go Kelly:)! She now has the tiniest of waists and her legs arnt bad either.

Eats and my blender of choice!

Cavelo Nero from Crediton with a tomatoey, olive, chili and cheezy(thanks to the nutritional yeast:)sauce!

Laura from 'keeping slim and getting stylish' has just reminded me of my blender of choice, it's the American chap, Warring Pro Blender in green(as well as being a practical kitchen essential it looks funky and retro too, I love aesthetics do you?). It cost £132.00 via Amazon so out of one's budget for a wee while. This wee beauty would make a significant impact on mu life for sure.

Clarks Shoes Competion!

The lovely blogger Jenny from StylePA has kindly informed all her readers of a very girly competition(name one female who's not into shoes?!!!). To enter go to the website!

Food Diary!

After managing to get zero sleep last night / this morning I found myself in the same room with Viva / Vegetarian Magazine founder, Juliet G! I attended a school speaker's one day workshop despite feeling very out of it(zombie-like state). I cane back full of tips and confidence(Huge thank-you Julliet and avid team of helpers:)

Diet and fitness went pear-shaped thought!

*canned veggie soup(Brekkie)

*Catered Lunch: Vegan? tartlett with yummy green salad(inc arugula:)

*20:00 DIY Mung bean sprouts(love these:)

*21:00 Brown rice(soaked overnight:) with turmeric, chili, cumin etc. salt and

creamed coconut!

September 11th Effort

September 11th Effort

All the experiences I have told you about are scientifically attainable. If you follow the spiritual laws, the result is certain. If the result doesn’t come, find fault with your effort. Intensity in all your religious practices is the only way. Those who don’t meditate regularly and deeply are restless whenever they do meditate, and give up after a short effort. But if you make a greater effort day by day, the ability to go deep will come. I don’t have to make any effort now; the whole world is gone instantly when I close my eyes and gaze into the Kutastha Center [the spiritual eye, in the forehead between the eyebrows].
—Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda, “Man’s Eternal Quest”

My thoughts are with the people that tragically lost their lives and with their loved ones 9 years ago today in New York.

Wish List!

By the end of the month it would be one year of commencing asanas and Tibetan Rites(Even if I have been a bit slack in the last few days, I won't beat myself up about it:)so I feel I deserve a treat of a People Tree Goody bag. Trouble is they sell like hot cakes and sell out so fast. Yes, I'm a kiddie at heart!

Essentials that would enhance the quality of my life:

* good blender

* Digital Camera or any camera oh how I miss capturing creative images

* boots

* a nice journal for living my dreams

Gotta get one of these says kiddie at heart!

The box contained one People Tree bag filled with a green summer dress, one black and white skirt, one red t-shirt and one scarf. None of them immediately struck me as being my style.

I then came to the final item which was a pair of pyjamas. A big grin came over my face - yes I'd struck gold.
I had been about to buy myself some new pyjamas from People Tree, but these past season ones were much nicer than the ones I had been intending to get.

In an increasingly buoyant mood, I looked at the other items again.
Whilst People Tree guarantee that each bag contains goods worth at least £80, a quick calculation in my head, comparing my items to current stock, showed that I would have spent at least £250 to buy it all in season.

One of the reasons I am a big fan of People Tree clothing, apart from its outstanding ethics, is that the clothes are interesting and unique. They are not fast fashion; I could wear a People Tree item in five years time and it would still look great.
This makes the fact that the items in the Goody Bags are from previous seasons a bit irrelevant.

Receiving the Goody Bag was rather like getting a vegetable box; you end up being discovering foods and being forced to eat things that you never ordinarily would have chosen.
I decided I did like the clothes after all and put most of them on together regardless of the fact that it wasn't my usual style and that they didn't really go together.

Being a conservative dresser I am still amazed at the positive feedback I have had over my younger and funkier look.

At £30 these bags are a great ethical bargain and as well as getting a guilt free fashion

Fudge!

Sweet Potato Fudge

Beets / sweet potato

1/2 cup coconut oil

1/2 cup raw cacao powder or carob powder

Yacon or Maple Syrup

Healthier, animal-friendly sweet treats for family and friends!

Based on the popular and well-known Latin American sweet treat:)

Makes 12 squares

2C Ground almonds
1C Lucuma
2C Dates
1 Vanilla Pod
0.5 tsp Pink Salt
1/4 C Virgin Coconut Oil

Freeze for 2 hours

Cut into squares, serve and enjoy:)

Healthy animal-friendly alternatives to Gluten!

Raw couscous / rice / Tabbouleh salad(whatever:)

1 cauliflower, chopped into florets with as much stalk removed as possible
1/4 red onion, diced
A handful of cherry tomatoes, quartered
A handful of chopped coriander
The juice of 1 lemon

Sweet-treats

0.5 cup of dates / unsulphured apricots / prunes/ raisins

1/3 cup of cashews, almonds, sunflower, hemp(shelled:) or sesame seeds.

2TBS Raw Cacao Powder

Food Diary!

Brunch: Raw 'oatmeal porridge' raw oat groats(soaked o / n) blended with prunes and cardamon, topped with almond milk and cinnamon:)

Thursday, 9th September 2010

Prior to Supper / tea consumed a couple of red capsicum peppers prior to kale meal.

Deliciously-Balanced Kale meal ideal:

Kale
Germinated sunflower seeds
Fresh apple
Lemon juice
Hemp oil(ie good oil etc.:)

Food Diary!

11:30 Savoury brunch consisting of raw buckwheat groats, nutritional yeast, chili, turmeric, cumin and pink salt(Amazingly, since I've consuming the buckwheat my former egg cravings has diminished:0)!

Close to 16:00 Late lunch of second bowl of buckwheat and fresh fruit(The orange was sublimely-perfect::)

MH completed:)

Tea / Supper consisted some raw and yummy, organic Cavelo Nero from Crediton(on Langridge farm, EX17 5HH A Mandala Organic Grower's Partner:) marinated in some olive oil, lemon juice and garlic. Prior to serving I topped it up with a scrumptious savoury topping of nutritional yeast, chili powder and tamari. This was so good:)

Tibetans and Asanas to do!

Food Diary!

Tuesday, 7th September 2010

Managed to fit some Tibetans in last night(yaaay:)

Today!

11:00 ish Raw Buckwheat groats with PLJ and banana

3 Greengages

15:00 - 15:30 Another bowl of the above!

21:00 3-4 Greengages

MH completed:)

Tibetans and Asanas to do!

Food Diary!

16:00 1 hard / unripe pear plus approx sliver(tiny piece) of halloumi

Dru Natural Food's Miracle Bar Super Raw

Pulsin' Raw Choc Brownie This was a huge disappointment as I found it so intensely-sweet for my natural sweet tooth palate!

20:00 Appreciated a lovely raw 'Tabbouleh' type meal consisting of: raw buckwheat groats, flat-leaf parsley, cherry tomatoes, chili, turmeric, garlic, PLJ and olive oil - DELICIOUSLY-Delightful:)

MH Completed:)

Asanas and Tibetans to do!

Food Diary!

Yummy brekkie: buckwheaties, carob, cinnamon and almond milk with bananas:)

Monday, 6th September 2010

More buckwheaties with banana!

MH Done:)

Rebounding Done :)

No Tibetans / Asanas for two days in a row now:( must do some Tuesday:)

Food Diary!

Brunch(approx 13:00) Raw buckwheat groats, almond milk and carob:)

To do: The usual plus clearing the clutter, free from stagnation attracting good vibrations!

Sunday, 5th September 2010

Tiny buckwheat groat leftovers / greengages(very sweet)

MH completed

Tibetans / Asanas ?????

Food Diary!

19:20 Scoffed 2 Cadbury's Choc Cream Cupcakes(not bad, I was hungry:)Total calories of cakes 530kcals plus a bowl of buckwheat groats to balance things out a bit!

Got a lovely bunch of Lavender from a friend, smells Divine:)

Treated myself to a lovely stripey little number(love stripes:)

MH, Tibetans / Asanas / Rebounding to do!

Food Diary so far!

Greengages

Buckwheat groats and scrummy fresh raspberries!

Food Diary!

4 Greengages(yum:)
Rye Soda Bread(home-made)
Asanas / Tibetans????

Food Diary!

Yummy fresh raspberries:)

Rebounding and MH completed:)

Food Diary!

Midday: Raw Choc and Cardamon Oat Porridge: Raw oat groats(soaked o/n), almonds(soaked o/n), cacao nibs(crushed into a powder:), prunes, tad of molasses and cardamon(yum:)

Friday, 3rd September 2010

MH, Asanas and Tibetan completed:)

00:15 Friday approx scoffed 1/2 pack grilled veggie panzorotti(Chili, turmeric and olive oil)

Food Diary Update!

Rebounder Done:)
Fuel: more buckwheaties!
To do: MH, Asanas / Tibetans

Food Diary so far!

Processed around 30g of cacoa nibs into a powder, combined them with frozen bananas and 30g organic ground flaxseed(For the healthy omega3's antioxidants and protein to make a soft-scoop ice-cream. Pour over buckwheaties(mysupermarket.co.uk 'Ocado' 99p for a 500g packet:)and serve(A young person would appreciate this; I guess I'm a big kid at heart:)!

Food Diary!

Canned veggie soup*, smidgen of jumbo oats, smidgen of buckwheaties and very small piece of dlb Gloucester cheese*.

* Not ideal I know but I did use up the leftovers!

Rebounder, Mh Done:)

Tibetans & Asanas to do!

Food Diary so far!

2 small bananas

Bowl of jumbo oats, 30g organic flax seed, cacao nibs and molasses(yum:)!

Food Diary!

Buckwheat groats with olive oil, garlic and flat-leaf parsey!

MH check Rebounder check TIbetans / asanas to do!

Food Diary!

Appreciated a lovely brunch of Buckwheat groats, cacao nibs, banana and couple drops of peppermint essential oil!

Sign up to: www.30days.co.uk this September for a host of givaways, offers and events galore!

September 1st Effort

Everything in the future will improve if you are making a spiritual effort now. --Swami Sri Yukteswar, in "Autobiography of a Yogi"

Sunny daze!

MH done

Approx 30 minutes on the rebounder done

Appreciated a final meal of the day consisting of *green smoothie(Organic curly kale from Kent and frozen bananas:)

* Makes up for the midnight munchies binge last night of 12 Deviously-moreish Paterson's Cracked Black Pepper Oatcakes(These are especially fab as they use Olive oil instead of palm oil, hence saving our cousin the orangutan and SE Asian rainforests:)

Lazy Bank Holiday Weekend!

Appreciated a yummy brunch of buckwheat groats, fresh peaches, raw cacoa nibs, Carley's raw almond butter and Carley's Rainforest's butter!

One purpose in discovering your own personality is to know how you affect others.
Consciously, or unconsciously, people feel your personality, and their reaction is a clue."
- Paramhansa Yogananda

Really Useful Websites!

www.walkit.com

www.eatseasonably.co.uk

www.mysupermarket.co.uk

are fantastic!

Love!

'In every conflict, ask ,'would I rather be peaceful or right'?

Bits and Bobs!

Anti-wrinkle mask

Add 4 vitamin E caps to 2 TBS natural yogurt,wee PLJ and wee honey mixture!

Bleeding?

To stem the flow apply pressure with bread(wholemeal or white)

Bites and Stings?

Apply fresh tomato

Burns?

Lavender oil

Puffy eyes?

Slices of potato or cucumber

Hug in a glass?

1/3 cashew nuts with 1pt water sweeten with dates, local honey or agave

A few slices of cucumber in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all

season. The chemicals in cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetec

-ted to humans but drive pests crazy and makes them flea the area!

You can also use the humble fruit to:

* Clean a misty mirror

*Shine shoes(repels water:)

*Cleans and shines sinks, taps etc.

*Remedy for squeaky hindges

* Accidental pen / biro marks, use peel to erase!

Pretty wonderful I say:)

Ooops!

*Coconut oil makes a great hair conditioner and body hydrator(As does sesame oil)!

* dry body brushing prior to bathing is a great detox aid and is good for the lymphatic system.

DIY Beauty!

Wanna a cheap yet effective body polish cleansing scrub that make your skin GLOW?

It's an ancient Ayurvedic remedy that works!

Mix some gram flour(lentil / pulse flour used to make bhajis) with water to form a thick paste, add some turmeric(Haidi)spice powder to the mixture and apply.

Other great DIY foody / beauty items incude:

* Honey great in a DIY face mask with oats etc. and in the bath for soft skin.

* Natural yogurt

*PLJ / apple cider vinegar the latter makes a great conditioning hair rinse and deodorant when diluted.

* Baking Soda(US) Bicarbonate of soda try mixing with water to form a paste for a no poo simple non-toxic and green hair cleanser or a tooth cleanser or a green shake and vac(add a few drops of Lavender oil to container, leaver to dry for a couple of days and shake).

* Fresh pineapple leftovers is great for hard skin on heels(great as a foot soak)

* Fresh Coffee remnants makes a fabulous anti-cellulite / fat solution with oil.

Friday, 27th August 2010

Brunch: Bowl of buckwheat groats, organic carob pwd and walnuts!

2nd mini meal: small bowl of buckwheat

Supper: Organic Cavelo Nero from Crediton with pesto:)

Snacks: fresh fruit:)

MH, Tibetans and asanas to do!

Raw Cacoa Power!

A cheap way to get your antioxidants
One 500g bag of raw cacao powder delivers about 500,000 ORAC Antioxidant units. To get that same amount of ORAC units from other foods, you'd have to buy:

80 - 6 oz baskets of Organic Blueberries, which would cost you about £160-£250

94 - 6oz baskets of Organic Red Raspberries, which would cost you about £200-£300

Over 5 lbs of frozen Acai, which would cost you at least £100 in a health-food store!

35.5 bottles of Himalayan Goji Juice, which would cost you about £500-£1,000!

You'd need 24 bottles of Xango Mangosteen Juice, which would cost you about $500-£1,000!

You'd even need over 5 bottles of Eniva's VIBE Juice, listed in the Physicians Desk Reference as having the #1 highest ORAC value for a supplemental juice product. Even then, 5 bottles of VIBE would run you at least £125 and as much as £150!

Green grasses..............................

Green grasses tm increases milk supply!

I must get some..............................

Matcha tea is a powdered green tea that is unique to Japan, and which plays a central part in the traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Matcha is made from the tips of budding tea bushes that have been shaded with bamboo mats for three weeks. This keeps the caffeine content high, increases the production of amino acids which makes the tea sweeter and preserves the chlorophyll, as the sunless leaves cannot undergo photosynthesis. The leaves are then stone-ground to an ultra-fine powder. There are two ways of preparing matcha, koicha (thick) and usucha (thin), which is dependent on the amount of tea and water used to make it.

Matcha tea is high in antioxidants, chlorophyll and fibre. It's also sugar free, which makes it perfect for diabetics and those who want to reduce their sugar intake. Unlike usual teas, the whole leaf is drunk, not just the water, which increases the health benefits further. One glass of Matcha is the equivalent of 10 glasses of green tea in terms of nutritional value and antioxidant content and has nine times the beta carotene of a serving of spinach.

Soon!

Buy from teapigs online!

Back on Track(Cleansing Day after indulging on rubbish:)!

With the menses out of the way for now I enjoyed:

Brunch

Organic Broccoli(It it's natural state:) with 2TBS olive oil, PLJ, chili pwd, 1 Tomato, raw garlic and stem ginger giving it a Asian twist! Broccoli is great veggie with protein and calcium:)

Supper

Green Energy Soup: Organic Cavelo Nero from Crediton, banana, PLJ, water! Served up with some splendid Kentish blackberries(It's a shame I don't have a camera as it looks just as delightful as it tastes:).

MH done:)

Tibetans and Asanas: to do

Great start(even if I do say so myself:)

Beauty Tip Worth Remembering!

I also drink lots of water and keep away from carbs and sugar.

There's evidence to suggest that sugar causes wrinkles in the long term, by raising your cortisol and insulin levels and causing the structure of your skin to break down.

Fuel Glorious Fuel!

* Spend more time to enjoy your meals in good company.

* Make your meals look beautiful, in order to enhance the appreciation of the whole experience, and even improve digestion.

* Care about what you eat. Discover as many fruits and vegetables as you can, and become a fruit expert!

* Grow your own food if you can, or buy from local farmers that you know personally.

The low-fat raw diet works. Animal products DONT work. Even the French can’t escape the consequences of animal products, whose consumption leads to........

August 20th

August 20th Meditation

By meditation we connect the little joy of the soul with the vast joy of the Spirit. Meditation should not be confused with ordinary concentration. Concentration consists in freeing the attention from distractions and in focusing it on any thought in which one may be interested. Meditation is that special form of concentration in which the attention has been liberated from restlessness and is focused on God. Meditation, therefore, is concentration used to know God. --Paramahansa Yogananda, SRF Lessons

© 1968,1982 Self-Realization Fellowship - All Rights Reserved

Worth Remembering!

Time to take a walk. I'll tell you what I have discovered. The times that's most difficult to take excellent care of self, the times when that is most challenging, that is when it is most important to do so, and most rewarding. You are faced with an opportunity to grow, here and now. Grab it with both hands, and you can take a quantum leap in health growth.

Buckwheat Bliss!

Appreciated a lovely fragrant and delicious brunch of Buckwheat groats, fresh peaches, cardamon seeds, macadamia nuts and a drizzle of barley malt extract. a delightful start to the day ahead!

Good Birthday Cake!

Can you tell which cake, above, is the usual cake-mix nightmare, and which is made with whole wheat, beets, low-glycemic, unrefined coconut sugar, and all whole-food ingredients?


It's fabulous. I've made a few refinements to the recipe. Here it is:

Chocolate Beet Cake

3 eggs (organic, free range) or 9 Tbsp. water with 3 Tbsp. chia soaked in it
1 1/2 cups unrefined coconut sugar
3/4 cup coconut oil
1 tsp. vanilla
1 3/4 cup pureed, steamed beets (about 3-4 medium size)
1/4 cup baking cocoa (non-alkalized) or raw powdered chocolate
2 cups finely ground whole-wheat flour (soft white wheat is best)
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. sea salt

Puree beets (steamed about 15 min.) in a VitaMix or BlendTec till you have 1 3/4 cups. Add eggs, sugar, oil, and vanilla and blend until smooth. Add chocolate and other dry ingredients. Bake in 9"x13" greased pan at 350 degrees for 30 min.

Fudge Frosting

1 cup unsweetened non-alkalized cocoa or raw powdered chocolate
2 cups coconut cream concentrate (soft, room temp or slightly warmed)
2 cups coconut sugar, blended in dry blender container until "powdered"

Cream together by hand until smooth. This frosts a 9"x13" cake and leaves some extra for a treat.

Happy birthday to anyone! Enjoy!

Green Smoothie Delight!

Banana, blueberry, basil!

Raw Energy Invauable Tips(Merci, Fred:)!

The reason was that too many people were eating low-calorie fruits like plums, peaches and apples and not enough of the "real sustenance" like banana-based smoothies. Also, because they were not used to eating raw, they did not learn to eat enough at one meal to last for three meals a day. In most cases, I recommend to eat 4 or 5 meals a day to people who are starting out, until they can reduce that to 3 or 4 meals only. If you're still hungry after a fruit meal, you didn't eat enough! Some of the food they made in at this event was truly delicious and low-fat. They made delicious cinnamon-flavored fruit sauces by blending bananas, apples and other fruits with a sweetener and cinnamon, and people were using that to pour on top of more fruit, bananas, chopped up lettuce and even zucchini noodles.

Raw Choccie Bliss!

As you may be aware I'm not all hemp and Hessian and thus I too love to indulge in the finer things in life! I've been appreciating some yummy raw Cacao confectionery most recently and therefore feel obliged to share these delightful discoveries with y'all.

What am I?
‘Cacao Kapow’ is a sugar free, dairy free, raw cacao bar. Made from the same plant that brings you chocolate, but unlike chocolate, this bar maintains all the nutritional qualities of the most complex plant on earth, the amazing Cacao plant.

What’s in me?
‘Cacao Kapow’ is a raw living food; gentle processing of ingredients never reaches temperatures above 42 degrees to ensure the nutritional qualities are maintained.

All the ingredients we use are either certified organic or are wild-crafted, free from agrochemicals and pesticides. All the ingredients listed below are ethically and sustainably sourced.

• Cold Pressed Virgin Cacao Oil/Butter.
Cacao butter won't raise your cholesterol levels like other fats, is less likely to cause weight gain compared to refined or hydrogenated oils, and also provides essential fatty acids.


• Creative Nature’s Award Winning Organic Cacao Nibs.
Contain more than 300 nutritional compounds, antioxidants, essential minerals and feel-good neurotransmitters like serotonin.


• Xylitol (Birch Tree Sugar)

Despite its chemical sounding name, Xylitol is in fact a completely naturally occurring sweetner found in many fruits, particularly strawberries. The name Xylitol is derived from the Latin for ‘from wood’ as in Xylophone (a wooden instrument).

It has approximately half the calories of sugar and is safe for both diabetics and individuals with hyperglycaemia.


• Rice Powder


• Algarroba (South American variety of Carob) renowned for its soothing effect on the digestive system as well as a high mineral content.


• And a pinch of Ground vanilla pod

What can I be used for?
‘Cacao Kapow’ can be used in the same way you would use a chocolate bar, to be enjoyed wherever and whenever the mood takes you!

How much of me should you take?

Unlike synthetic chocolate, where you will often eat a whole bar and still crave more, many people report that 4 or 5 squares of ‘Cacao Kapow’ is normally enough to satisfy ones needs. This is because ‘Cacao Kapow’ doesn’t contain synthetic sugar which unbalances blood sugar levels causing a dip and therefore a craving for more.
It is also likely that the live enzymes contained in raw food which enhance digestion help the body to feel satisfied more quickly.
Having said that, for true ‘Kapowaholics’ one bar is never enough!! There’s nothing bad in ‘Cacao Kapow’ so you can eat it till the Ca-Cows come home!!

Contraindications
None reported. (Not suitable for animals)

This is raw confectionery at it's very best and a pure delight to eat, so decadent, luxurious and the meltingly-smooth mouth feel of a standard(not so virtuous or healthy chocolate bar)chocolate bar. The taste is sublimely-perfect(Not cloyingly-sickly sweet as conventional choccie can be:). Go on treat yourself today!

Other good bars that are worth a mention are:

* Om Bars: Probotic Coconut and Acai and Blueberry(ORAC224/g)- I've yet to try the Probotic Strawberry

* Vanoffie Lovingly-created by the Raw Chocolate Company in Sussex!

Enjoyed a delicious brunch-breakfast of buckwheat, fresh blueberries and OmBar: Acai and Blueberry raw chocolate:0)

Happy Eating!

Random Competion Entry Today(Thanks Angela:)!

Wonderful competition and question Angela, sincere thanks and gratitude for giving us all the opportunity to win this superb nugget of a prize(I feel our children are a joyful blessing and therefore make the best teachers in life:0)!

Answer: Children have inspired me to courageously face the fears and the 'unnatural(fake masks and barriers etc.)' learned behaviour to fully-embrace the natural, authentic, creative, playful and joyful child-like being that I truly am!

Fred's Useful Travel Tips!

The new jet lag technique is as follows: Fast for 16 hours before you arrive to your destination. That way, your body adjusts more rapidly to the circadian rhythms, and you can beat jet lag faster. Studies done recently show on mice show the brain has two internal "clocks". There's the light-activated clock that sets our sleep-wake cycle, and then a SECOND clock that keeps track of meal-times. Traveling across time zones sends the first clock out of wack, causing jet lag. By fasting for 16 hours, you can reset your second "hunger" clock to the new time zone. The idea is to avoid all foods on the plane and then eat when you arrive to your destination. So I didn't eat anything after 2 p.m. in New York City, which is 4 hours before Cceland. I didn't have dinner, and ate nothing during the flight. I also tried to sleep during the plane and block all light to force my body to think that it's already in Icelandic time. Although, in practice I'm not sure how it's going to work since there's going to be daylight until about midnight! So far it's going great though. Veronica is snacking on oranges we brought with us as I'm writing this. The highlights of this trip will include checking out the blue lagoon hot springs, driving around the country, hiking, discovering more of the Icelandic and Viking history. It’s also a good time to visit the country, since their currency crashed by a factor of 100% since 2007! That means things are expensive, instead of outrageously expensive. In New York City, the weather was well in the 90s. Here’s it’s barely 53! It’s also raining and grey, but we’re still excited to discover what Iceland has to offer. What does a raw-foodist do when going to remote places like Iceland? We brought a lot of dried fruit with us. We also brought a stash of apples and oranges that we got in New York, which made our bags very heavy, but it’s worth it since organic fruit is very expensive here. I generally don’t eat dried fruit, but for traveling and emergencies, I make an exception. I carry a thermos container where I sock dried fruit in warm or hot water. To this I might add some real cinnamon. It makes a great breakfast and it’s not cooling like cold fruit. Fruit is available in Iceland, like in any major city of the world. It will be expensive, but always a health bargain compared to other foods. We also carry some seasonings like dulse powder, that we can use in case we need to make a salad on the go. Seaweed is not something I eat all the time, but while traveling it’s handy to get extra minerals that may be lacking in the limited selection of foods we eat (since we’re not eating many greens at the moment). Instead of avocados, I eat three or four Brazil nuts per day as a fat. They’re rich in selenium and other minerals. But don’t overeat them... three Brazil nuts is already 100 calories! Of course, the easiest way to go raw is to do it at home, right now, in the heat of the summer and with an abundance of fruit.

Quest to be Greener, ecologically!

It's official I'm no longer a Ebay virgin! I purchased a lovely handwoven S. Asian styled short-sleeved, People Tree Nepalese-crafted shirt from a lovely seller in Olympia, Washington in good ole USA! It's a really lovely shirt that's been made with love(It's nice knowing that talented artisans(hand weavers etc.) have not been exploited in any way.

Did you know that one hand loom saves a tonne of CO2 a year. In India, the textile or 'Khadi' (sp) industry is still the second biggest trade after agriculture?

My aim is consume less overall and if I do purchase essential stuff it will be from a resourceful source that's kind to people and planet ie freecycle, ebay, thrift shops etc. I draw the line with second-hand under garments thought!

Luscious, lemony surprise!

Appreciated a rather healthy and scrummy concoction(raw vegan cereal:) of sprouted buckwheat, ripe bananas and the juice of 1 lemon. This was especially sublime as this was a experiential dish full of bioflavonoids, amino acids, calcium, rutin, b vitamins, vitamin c and would make an ideal healthy fuel start for all the family(I'm sure growing children would appreciate this too:). I was soo exited that I had to share this yummy recipe with ya all!

Namaste!

Luscious, lemony surprise!

Appreciated a rather healthy and scrummy concoction(raw vegan cereal:) of sprouted buckwheat, ripe bananas and the juice of 1 lemon. This was especially sublime as this was a experiential dish full of bioflavonoids, amino acids, calcium, rutin, b vitamins, vitamin c and would make an ideal healthy fuel start for all the family(I'm sure growing children would appreciate this:). I was soo exited that I had to share this yummy recipe with ya all!

Namaste!

Girlonraw.com giveaway for UK based Readers!

There's this great opportunity for UK-based readers to win a handy piece of culinary equipment, courtesy of www.girlonraw.com and a UK-based business that specialise in handy travel culinary devices.

I am Blessed!

I am Blessed!

I appreciated a scrummy kale salad(I adore kale and determined to grow it in my garden forest when circumstances allow:) with the most deliciously-juicy sweet cherry tomatoes on the vine, garlic, pink salt, lime juice, rocket, red bell pepper, chili and olive oil dressing. It has to be one's favourite balanced meal in the Universe!

Positive News!

Inspired by this month's Yoga and Health magazine, one took advantage of the glorious sunny weather we've been blessed with lately, here in Blighty and took myself to the local park to for some restorative healing in the form of the Tibetan Rites and ancient asanas. I got over one's self-consciousness and just got on with it!

Just like to share with you a inspiring corporate business story that one read in the UK press recently(I loved it soo much I had to share with you all:):

Grocer's Organic Rooftop Allotment

'A London supermarket is sourcing organic vegetables - from it's roof. Lettuce, Curly Kale, Beets and Tomatoes are sprouting at Budgens in the Broadway, Crouch End, in what is believed to be the first supermarket garden. Food in the Sky was devised by store owner Andrew Thornton and designer Azul-Valerie Thome'.

Source: ES June 2010

It was soo refreshing to read that supermarket employees can really make a difference(Good work, Guys:) to the community and may this be a start of many supermarket / corporate rooftop gardens!

Hemp Power!

Why Hemp?

The humble hemp seed is the most sustainable crop on earth! It's versatility is just mind-blowing! Unlike cotton production which poisons agriculture workers, uses up resources and contaminates water supplies, hemp grows abundantly without the use of fertilises and vast amounts of water.

*As a food it's a complete protein source as well as being a powerhouse of omega 3 essential fatty acids(essential for a healthy brain and heart:). These good fats help you to release excess weight unlike the undesirable trans fats in processed foods.

* As a clean fuel source unlike fossil fuels(oils, coal, tar etc.) that pollute and contaminate land and rivers significantly contributing to global warming and the mess we're in now.

* Hemp makes an excellent and durable fabric for clothes(bags, diapers etc.) and has far superior tensell strengh to cotton and repels more ultra violet rays then any other fabric.

*Hemp makes excellent ethical, skincare preparations(moisturizers etc.) it must be down to all the nourishing omega 3 essential fatty acids(I especially love the UK-made Yeoh brand:)

* Hemp makes a ethically-sourced paper unlike tree paper!

*The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was a disaster waiting to happen Oil is far from ethical and ultimate kills many lives on land and sea. People go to war over oil, fueling the ego and greed mentality. It plays a huge contribution to the deforestation of the rainforests(whether for animal production, industry or paper production) is wide-spread pollution and environmental degradation on a global scale. We can't plant enough trees, they're our lifeblood! I'm scared for our children's future. Ultimately, all this is down to is unnecessary irresponsible human behaviour. Time to mend our ways perhaps?

* Reuse, Recycle, Reduce

* Eat and wear Hemp(Go vegan, eat a plant-based high-water fuelled diet:)!

* Pratise Yoga / Meditation

Sunny Daze!

I appreciated a lovely, light and hydrating breakfast of organic cucumbers, Granny Smith / green apple and fresh strawberries making us feel wonderfully-light and energetically-vibrant like a child!

Eating high-water foods will change your life. Your eyes will sparkle, your skin will clear, your elimination will be easy, in fact, most everything will change, including how many times a day you need to go pee! :)
That's okay! Getting to know the nearest bathrooms is not always a bad thing.

If you are already a intuitive eater, then you are probably ahead of the pack in this area provided you are avoiding salt that will cause us to retain water. Salt (sodium chloride) is a poison that the body needs to dilute with retaining water to keep it away from the delicate tissues of the body.

We need natural sodium found in coconuts, celery, greens and some melons to keep us hydrated. Normal Walker, author of the book "What's Missing in Your Body" about Vegetable and fruit juices said that celery juice is the perfect solution to hot weather and keeps us cool. Intuitive eaters in general have body temperatures about 5degrees less than SAD eaters due to the fact that the body does not have to create a fever to "burn" up the heavier concentrated foods like starches, proteins and fats. These foods "sludge up" the circulation of the body and make it have to work harder.

Juicy fruits and veggies are the best for weight-loss. The reason for this is their cleansing ability. Also, in the book "Your Body's Many Cries for Water" it tells us that many cravings we get are because we are mistake thirst for hunger(If in doubt drink some water:0).

I'm no physician but in my humble opinion the best hydration natural drink solution to consume is pure coconut water(Perfect balance of hydrating electrolytes for the human body and therefore perfect for sports enthusiasts, mums-to-be, children and elderly alike:). Closely followed by awesome combo of organic celery and bananas. This is also great after a workout or strenuous activity. Let's no forget the humble fruit tomato, full of lycopene makes it a natural sun preventative measure too! This does not mean to disregard the slip, slop, slap(slip on a shirt, slop on some sunscreen, slap on a hat)mantra. Common sense still prevails!

Oops!

I forgot to mention...... some excellent ethical personal care brands that put people and planet prior to profit that are definitely worth mentioning(I love them:)

* Dr. Bronner's castille soap all-purpose cleanser is utterly-delightful!

*Tom's of Maine toothpaste(You can make your own from baking soda, dried orange / lemon peel:)

* Kingfisher Toothpaste(UK)

*Oliva(sp) The pure olive oil soap that's all saponified olive oil(biodegradable:) from Greece!

Saf Treat!

For my birthday I decided to push the boat out a little and sample the raw, vegan culinary delights that's housed within Wholefoods in London's Kensington.

Just to confirm I've survived and the sister, SAF is a bit hit and miss. For a start not all food is raw.

With a little help from the lovely US-raised waitress I chose the starter, vegetable maki and the main, raw pad thai; both dishes was delightful and even more delicious then the actual cooked dishes!

The raw cheese plate(never been a big fan of cheese) was okay thanks to the flax??? crackers. I guess you would have to appreciate dairy cheese to appreciate this.

The raw berry cheesecake was as expected very rich and would satisfy a sweet palate. Nice and pleasant enough, but I've made a nicer raw cheesecake!

So if you are in the area do pop in for a healthy bite(But be warned it's not cheap)!

Recommendations:

* Raw Pad Thai
*Vegetable Maki
*Sea vegetable Salad with beetroot(created this dish before with avocado:)
* Cocktail / Juices / Non-alcoholic coctails

No Poo!

I just like to share a no frills recipe for cleansing and conditioning hair. It also confirms that the mass-produced personal care products on sell on the market today are not only harmful to humans, mammals and the environment; they use up valuable vital resources and therefore unnecessary. These products are often full of toxic chemicals that destroy life. ie eco-systems, human and marine alike.

One way to change things is to 1, make your own 2, only support ethical companies that care:

*Jason US

*Green People UK

*Faith in Nature UK

* Avalon US / CAN

Remember! Good(Ethical)business thrives on supply and demand like any business, the more people that support good business the natural health industry will thrive and we all be healthy as a result, relying innately on our intuitive healing powers then 'big pharma'.

No poo: mix a little baking soda with water(simple:)

Rinse: diluted apple cider vinegar

DIY alternative: Indian soap nuts or a mixture of gram flour and water(mix, strain through muslin / stocking use the liquid part for washing hair:) You can also cleanse your body with this. As a rule of thumb(Human body is the largest organ)if you can't eat it, forget it!

An alternative to overpowering scent of the toxic fragrances / perfumes try a few drops of pure essential oil instead ie Jasmine, ylang Ylang, lemongrass etc.

Food for Thought!

Nothing will benefit human health and increase the chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.

~ Albert Einstein

We get old because we stop playing?

Sub-atomically we are one. We are all particles. Under a microscope you are a vibrating string theory, energy!

The soul never dies.

There is only one book: the book of nature

There is only one caste:the caste of humanity

There is only one religion: the religion of love

Intelligent, wondrous Orangutans!

Orangutans communicate intelligently using an unspoken language of gestures, new research has shown.
British scientists who spent nine months observing the great apes in three European zoos identified 40 frequently-used body language signals.
These were employed repeatedly to send messages such as 'I want to play', 'give it to me', 'go away', 'follow me', or 'stop doing that'.
'Play' gestures involved a range of clowning antics, including back rolls, placing objects on the head, and blowing raspberries.
'Nudge and shoo' movements meant an ape wanted to be left alone, while a hand to mouth 'begging' gesture requested food.
Other gestures included hitting the ground, hair pulling, biting the air, swatting, grabbing, and walking in tandem with another individual.
Although studies of great ape body language have been carried out before, none have focused on the intentional meanings of specific gestures.
Two scientists from the University of St Andrews in Scotland observed 28 orangutans at Twycross Zoo in the UK, Apenheul Primate Park in the Netherlands, and Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust in Jersey.
In each case, video recordings were made over a period of three months.
A total of 64 gesture types were identified, 40 of which were used frequently enough for their meaning to be analysed.
The gestures were used to achieve one of six social goals, to initiate contact, grooming or play, request objects, share objects, instigate joint movement or 'co-locomotion', cause a partner to move back, or halt an action.
The intention of gestures was tested with a 'goal-outcome matching' technique by looking at what an ape did when its signals were ignored or misunderstood.
Apes were found to be more persistent when the response to their gestures was not what they expected.
Professor Richard Byrne and Dr Erica Cartmill reported their findings in the journal Animal Cognition.
They wrote: 'Orangutan gestures are made with the expectation of specific behavioural responses, and thus have intentional meaning as well as functional consequences.
'The level of specificity we were able to identify in the intentional meanings of orangutan gestures resulted from our novel use of goal-outcome matching as a means of incorporating signaller intentions into the analysis of signal meaning.
'When paired with a high frequency of intentional use, goal-outcome matching is a strong tool for identifying intentional meaning.'

On a more serious note our intelligent, cute, orange and furry friends are still on the endangered species list, they are cutting down vast acres of their natural habitat(The rainforests surrounding Borne) for the commodity palm oil(Check labels when you get groceries).

God's Pharmacy(Raw food as Medicine:)!

Do check this short video via YouTube!

June 8th Peace

June 8th Peace

Be honest with yourself. The world is not honest with you. The world loves hypocrisy. When you are honest with yourself you find the road to inner peace.
—Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda, Lecture

Tomato Tart Inspiration!

Makes 8, 11cm tarts.

For the base

2c cashews
½c pine nuts
2T flax meal
2t Italian seasoning
1 clove crushed garlic
1T nutritional yeast
1T olive oil
1t balsamic vinegar
½t salt
3T water

-Grind all ingredients in a food processor until thoroughly mixed, leaving some texture to the nuts.

-Press into plastic film lined individual tart cases so you have a thin crust. You will find that regularly dipping your fingers in a bowl of water helps with this.

-Place bases onto a mesh dehydrator sheet and dehydrate at 115 degrees F for 2 hours. They should now be firm enough to remove from the tart cases so you can continue to dehydrate them for a further 6 hours.

For the tomatoes

3c cherry tomatoes on the vine
3T olive oil
2T basil
½t salt

-Slice the tomatoes and marinade in the olive oil and salt for at least an hour, or overnight.

-Transfer to Paraflexx dehydrator sheet and dehydrate at 115 degrees F for 1 hour.

For the macadamia cheese

1c macadamias
1T lemon juice
1T nutritional yeast
2T onion
½t salt

-Process all ingredients in a food processor until fluffy.

For the fennel

1c fennel
3T olive oil
1T nama shoyu
2T agave nectar

-Thinly slice fennel on a mandoline and marinade in remaining ingredients for at least an hour, or overnight.

-Transfer to Paraflexx sheet and dehydrate for 1 hour.

Assembly

-Arrange a layer of fennel in the bottom of the tart case. Top this with the tomatoes and crumbles of cheese.



I made this for lunch today... It was amazing!!!!!! Even my 2 year old and my 3 year old loved it! It was rich eating it on it's own. I think next time I will make it with a rice dish and some veggies. I can't wait to try some more of your recipes!



I made it tonight and was delicious!
I have to admit I'm not a great fan of fennel, but the texture of the thin slices with that marinate made the taste so delicate!
Thank you for sharing your creativity with us!

I used to do a lot of raw foods, never seen anything like this. Looks so great, you have quite a talent.


Oh, and fabulous job, by the way. Your creations never fail to amaze me!

From Russell: Thanks, Carmella. Try leaving them in the shells for longer than 2 hours, that should sort the issue with holding the shape when turning them out, that way they'll be firmer.


Russell James's Italiano Recipe!







Makes 8, 11cm tarts.

For the base

2c cashews
½c pine nuts
2T flax meal
2t Italian seasoning
1 clove crushed garlic
1T nutritional yeast
1T olive oil
1t balsamic vinegar
½t salt
3T water

-Grind all ingredients in a food processor until thoroughly mixed, leaving some texture to the nuts.

-Press into plastic film lined individual tart cases so you have a thin crust. You will find that regularly dipping your fingers in a bowl of water helps with this.

-Place bases onto a mesh dehydrator sheet and dehydrate at 115 degrees F for 2 hours. They should now be firm enough to remove from the tart cases so you can continue to dehydrate them for a further 6 hours.

For the tomatoes

3c cherry tomatoes on the vine
3T olive oil
2T basil
½t salt

-Slice the tomatoes and marinade in the olive oil and salt for at least an hour, or overnight.

-Transfer to Paraflexx dehydrator sheet and dehydrate at 115 degrees F for 1 hour.

For the macadamia cheese

1c macadamias
1T lemon juice
1T nutritional yeast
2T onion
½t salt

-Process all ingredients in a food processor until fluffy.

For the fennel

1c fennel
3T olive oil
1T nama shoyu
2T agave nectar

-Thinly slice fennel on a mandoline and marinade in remaining ingredients for at least an hour, or overnight.

-Transfer to Paraflexx sheet and dehydrate for 1 hour.

Assembly

-Arrange a layer of fennel in the bottom of the tart case. Top this with the tomatoes and crumbles of cheese.






I made this for lunch today... It was amazing!!!!!! Even my 2 year old and my 3 year old loved it! It was rich eating it on it's own. I think next time I will make it with a rice dish and some veggies. I can't wait to try some more of your recipes!
Hhhmmmm.... those look divine :)


I made it tonight and was delicious!
I have to admit I'm not a great fan of fennel, but the texture of the thin slices with that marinate made the taste so delicate!
Thank you for sharing your creativity with us!


I used to do a lot of raw foods, never seen anything like this. Looks so great, you have quite a talent.


I've made these a few times (sooooo delicious!) but have been having trouble with the crusts. They turn out VERY oily and don't hold their shape when I turn them onto the mesh. Any suggestions?
Thanks!

Oh, and fabulous job, by the way. Your creations never fail to amaze me!

From Russell: Thanks, Carmella. Try leaving them in the shells for longer than 2 hours, that should sort the issue with holding the shape when turning them out, that way they'll be firmer.

Hearty Bank Holiday Brunch!

Enjoyed a leisurely brunch of raw oat groats, cacao nibs, hemp seed butter and unsulphured dried apricots. Just the thing to perk you up, literately speaking!

What a inspiring young women in her Seventies does!

Two meals a day and basically just raw fruits and vegetables with a predominance of leafy greens. Breakfast is always after my work-outs and then supper around 5 p.m.

b) I try to get to bed by 10 and usually make it by 11. I get about 7 hours of fairly good quality sleep and usually awaken around 6 a.m. (I say “fairly good quality” because since going raw, I have to make 2 or 3 bathroom visits a night.)

c) A typical workout consists of an hour on the bike, an hour’s run, and alternate a long swim with lifting weights. This usually takes me 2.5 to 3 hours just about every day. I rarely miss because it just doesn’t feel right and it’s a matter of priorities for me.

Just had to share this beautifully-inspiring Interview with the World(Cheers Michele and Anne:)!

You can visit Anne's website at www.fruitgod.com and buy her book "Fruitarianism Path to Paradise"


Okay, as I was writing these out, I realized I had the most questions for you since you've been raw the longest. :) You are a fascinating person with a wealth of experience, thanks for doing this:

Thank you for this interview Michele;
it is a pleasure to answer your questions.

1) You were raw fruitarian when you got pregnant with Cappi--
Did you get any cravings? If so, how did you deal with them?

I did not get any cravings for cooked or processed food when I was pregnant with Cappi, but I did find that I had an attraction for the more savoury fruits; and I ate more Tomatoes, Cucumbers, and Avocados than I normally do.

Did you get any morning sickness or any other pregnancy-related sicknesses?

I was not sick, nor did I get any backache when pregnant. Certain smells did made me feel a bit queasy though. I felt very well and healthy and full of energy during my pregnancy, and I really enjoyed the nine months; it was a very special time in my life.
I worked as a massage therapist until I was eight months pregnant, and my bump was small so many of my clients did not even know I was pregnant.

How was the delivery?

I had a long second stage, and I did have some pain, but this was all managed with deep conscious breathing, and a wonderful midwife. I did not have any drugs and needed no stitches
I think that as we are physically formed in the womb (including our reproductive organs) genetics and the lifestyles and diets of our parents and grandparents will affect our own birth experiences.
I feel that we can do much with our own diets and lifestyles in order to have the best birth possible within our circumstances. But I do feel that 'The Sins of the Fathers' (or our forebears' lifestyles) will genetically affect our birth experiences.

How quickly did you recover from the birth?

Very quickly, I was back to my pre-pregnancy weight within a few days, and my stomach was back to flat the next day. This was a very pleasant surprise for me as after my first pregnancy (on a transition diet) my stomach took months to get back to flat.
I had good energy the next day and was out walking with one-day-old Cappi.

Did you eat more during the pregnancy? What did a typical day's food look like for you?

I did eat slightly more, and I really enjoyed my fruit.
I only put on 10kg(22lbs) during the pregnancy.
During the pregnancy, I was eating more Avocado and non-sweet fruits than I usually did.
I would have a seasonal juicy fruit for breakfast, maybe Orange Melon, Watermelon, Pineapple, or Passion Fruit.
I would have more juicy fruit mid-morning (unless I was working)
Lunch would usually be Avocado.
Mid afternoon would be more seasonal juicy sweet fruit.
Then in the evening I would sit down to dinner with Camlo, my elder son. We would have Avocado, Tomatoes, Cucumber and Bell Peppers.
I usually eat mono fruit meals, but I would often have a mixture of non-sweet fruits at dinner.

Was Cappi normal weight/height when born/growing up?

Cappi was in the 'normal' percentiles at birth and growing up, but at the lower end.
However, I personally think that it does not make sense to try to fit children who are on a simple raw diet into data charts based on children on a SAD diet.
Raw children, I feel, will have an endocrine system that is well-balanced, and therefore they will develop and grow at the appropriate time.
So many children have an endocrine system that is imbalanced, due to their diet containing processed food, growth hormones, and a large amount of animal products. As a result, many children, in Western society, are experiencing precocious puberty, and I think that this may affect lifespan, because for many mammals the longer the species takes to reach puberty, the longer is their lifespan.
Because hormones are responsible for growth and development, I would expect the growth and development of a raw child to be significantly different to a child on a highly processed diet that also contains animal products.
So I feel that standard height and weight charts are not really of much use to me and my children.
My elder boy was always, by Western society standards, a 'late developer' but he is now taller than anyone else in the family!

How was your nursing experience? How was your milk? How long did you nurse Cappi?

I loved nursing, one reason being that you have to take time out from everything else to sit and nurse; and for me, especially during the first weeks, it became a time where the World stopped turning and all that I needed to do was to take time to enjoy and focus on feeding my baby — nothing else mattered during that time.
I always had a good milk supply, and Cappi self-weaned at four years old.

How do you feel about home births?

I think that if the mother feels happy with birthing at home, then it needs to be an easy option for her. It seems that in Western society that option can be difficult to obtain.
If there are no complications, then, to me, home seems to be a wonderful place to give birth.
Cappi was born at home, under water, and it was so nice to be able to snuggle up with him in my own bed straight after giving birth.
It was also special to have my elder son present at the birth.

Did Cappi have any "childhood" diseases?

Cappi has had none of the 'usual' childhood illnesses such as mumps, measles or chicken pox. His elder brother has never had any either.
Both have not been immunised, and both have been in contact with other children with these diseases.
Cappi has had a few minor 'colds' which I see as elimination. I think that although his diet is good and has a Hygienic lifestyle, environmental pollutants cannot be avoided. We live near many Pineapple and Avocado farms where pesticides are frequently used.

What was his first food? What is his favorite food?

I cannot remember exactly what Cappi's first food was, it was probably some soft fruit such as mashed Banana or Papaya. Cappi showed an interest in fruit at a very early age. At three and a half months he started to reach out for my fruit — we were in Bali, and the fruit was just wonderful.
I have just asked Cappi what his fave fruit is; he called out "Durian!"

2) What do you feed your pets?

Our cat has BARF raw cat food, he also loves Avocado and will come running up at full speed if he spots anyone eating an Avo. I have heard that Avos can be toxic for cats and dogs, but I know of many pets who seem very healthy eating them. I also add nutritional yeast to the cat's diet.

3) Do you grow your own food? If so, what do you grow?

I love fruit trees and bushes and we have several young ones in our garden. Cappi really enjoys being able to pick his own fruit; and home-grown always tastes so wonderful.
Most of our baby fruit trees have yet to produce, but in the past year we have harvested Tomatoes, Mangoes, Blueberries, Mulberries, Strawberries, Passion Fruit, Youngberries and a lone (but very delicious) Fig from a very young Fig Tree.

4) How much do you spend each week on food?

For Cappi and I, Our food bill probably averages at around AU $160–$180.
If we are getting a lot of our fruit from fruit-growing friends, it will be less than this, and also if I am on a mono diet then I will spend less.

5) Tell us about the benefits of massage. How often do you get massages? How does massage fit into Natural Hygiene in your opinion?

I love Massage. Whilst I do not think massage heals the body, I certainly think that it can aid healing and increase a feeling of well-being by reducing stress and increasing blood and lymph flow.
I also find reflexology an amazing tool for diagnosis of imbalances and weaknesses in the body.
Therefore, I feel that massage can aid the body in its own healing; and so like sunshine and relaxation, massage can fit nicely into a Hygienic lifestyle.
I self-massage most days. I got lots of massages when I was pregnant, but have not had a professional massage since I gave birth to Cappi.

6) What made you turn into eating vegan? How old were you? What made you then want to go fruitarian?

As soon as I left home, I adopted a vegetarian diet, a year later when I was 19 I became a vegan. Becoming vegetarian and then vegan were purely for ethical reasons. I had been fortunate enough to have pretty good health as a child and teenager. However, when I went on a vegan diet, I immediately noticed a great improvement in my health. This discovery was totally unexpected, but it led me to make the connection between how I felt and what I put into my mouth; and this started me off on a quest to find the optimal diet for myself.
This quest led me to attend a talk by David Shelley, a local fruitarian author, at my local Animal Rights group. I was immediately impressed with David's glow, fitness, happiness, and energy.
I read David's book, and then along with a group of vegan friends I started to transition to a fruit diet.

8) Could you describe what you feel "overeating" is?

To me, overeating is when an individual eats an amount that is greater than the optimal quantity that the body requires at that specific point in time.

9) Where do you see yourself in 50 years?

Living in a Beautiful World, still raving over fruit, and going on foraging adventures with the great grandchildren.

10) What are some of your hobbies outside of health?

I love drawing, dancing, listening to live music, playing with Cappi, walking along beaches, spending time in rainforests, sewing, and collecting old or unusual fruity objects.

11) What is your favorite fruit?

Charentais Melon.

12) Where do you find all your interesting fruit research that you include in your blogs?

I love finding old books about health and fruit, they really inspire me. I love old copies of books, they seem to have a real history and a nice feel inside their covers. I also love researching on the internet. The internet has really helped me to find rare fruit and Natural Hygiene books; although, it is always exciting to me to scour second-hand bookshops.

13) How many meals a day do you consume?

Usually 3 or 4. If I mono diet, it is often 2 meals.

14) What time do you wake up in the morning? What time do you go to bed?

In the Summer I usually wake up between 4 and 4.30am, in the Winter usually between 5 and 6am.
I usually go to bed between 9 and 10 pm in the Summer and between 8 and 9pm in the Winter.

15) Were you tempted by cooked foods when you went raw? How did you deal with that? Do you ever get tempted now? If you don't, when did the cravings go away?
How did you keep your resolve?

I had a year transition to a fruit diet, and so I eased gently into a fruit diet, which, I feel, helped with cravings. I did not get big cravings for cooked food after this time. Except for a period of about 36 hours a few years into my raw diet when I got an intense craving for cooked eggs. I had not eaten eggs for about 8 years, and had never missed them when I became a vegan. I think if I had not been an ethical vegan, I would have caved in and had some.
The craving went away after 36 hours, never to return. I think that I may have been eliminating some toxins from cooked eggs I had eaten in the past, and this led to the craving.
Also, when I started out on the fruit diet, I had a new baby, and because I wanted to raise my child on a fruit diet, I did not want to be eating any cooked food myself; so I think having a child helped my resolve to be consistent on my fruit diet.

16) What advice would you give young people today?

Have fun, aim to be happy and positive, and enjoy your life in a way that will benefit both yourself and the planet.
Be aware that the choices that we make at any age will affect all the future ages of our lives.
Plant fruit seeds when you are young and you will have trees that grow up with you.

17) What is the most important element to health in your opinion?

Love, combined with natural food and clean air.

18) Did you have a hard time with being raw in the cold weather in the UK? If so, how did you deal with it?

Not really, as I was born in a cold climate. I found it important to exercise more to warm my body, especially if I was on a Melon mono diet.
I loved running in the cold, and would run in a vest and shorts to fruit shops, even at freezing temperatures. I have very fond memories of running in the cold.

19) What difference to you notice between Cappi's health and that of his friends? Does his diet cause any social challenges? If so, how do you handle it?

I notice that Cappi has a different kind of energy compared to children who are on SAD diets. His energy is bright and vibrant without being 'hyper', and it seems that his energy is more sustained than the 'up and down' energy of many young children. Also he never gets that thick green mucus that is so often being discharged from many children's noses!
Cappi also has a great attention span, and will spend ages engrossed on a project; I think that attention span can be greatly affected by chemicals and highly processed foods.
I have never found any real social challenges with both my children. I have found most people to be supportive and interested.
I feel that if one has confidence and faith in one's diet then this is mirrored back in how other people's responses to one's diet.
One special memory for me was during Camlo's (my elder child) first year in school; At Christmas the staff gave stockings full of sweets to the children, and they made a special fruit-filled stocking for Camlo. I was very touched by their thoughtfulness.
I have been blessed with great friends who have specially catered for my children when my children went to their birthday parties or played at their homes.

20) Do you ever have dinner guests over? If so, what do you serve them? What do you do when invited over as a dinner guest to someone else's house?

I sometimes make a fruitarian dinner, whilst at other times I have cooked a vegan meal for them.
Most people know about my diet, and I have been beautifully catered for at other people's homes. I am very grateful for the energies that friends and family have put into providing for my sons and I.

21) What kind of exercise do you do and how often?

I usually do a 40 minute workout first thing in the morning.
As I do not drive, I get to do plenty of walking most days, which I love.
I also dance for more intense exercise. I used to do a bit of running, but as I am homeschooling Cappi and care for him all day, I tend to dance instead as this fits in better with our lifestyle.

22) Describe your most challenging situation you've dealt with as a raw foodist.

I have been fortunate to have had a very happy and positive time since adopting a raw food diet.
I do feel, as I mentioned earlier, that if I have faith in my diet and lifestyle then that faith will be mirrored back to me both in how people react to my diet and also how I react to situations.
I have always found a great supply of fresh fruit wherever I have been. Sometimes great fruit seems to manifest in the most unlikely situations.

23) You've been on TV and have had magazine articles featuring you and your diet. Do you get recognized in public now? What do people say to you? Are they receptive? How do you handle the pressure? What do you say to those who tend to not be supportive?

I got recognised quite a bit after I was on 'Today, Tonight' on Aussie T.V.
I find most people to be interested and if not open to the diet themselves at least curious and wanting to know more.
I do not tend to get unsupportive comments in person, but I would hope that I would deal with them using Non-violent Communication.
I have had some negative comments on the internet, and I feel that it is often more challenging to communicate via the internet as there is a lack of personal contact. I try to use Non-violent Communication, and I try not take the comments too personally.
Generally, I do not feel any pressure, as the vast majority of my interaction with others is positive.

24) What does your extended family like your parents and siblings eat? Are they supportive of your diet? If not, how do you handle it? If so, how have you positively impacted them?

My family are on traditional Western diets. My late mother became vegetarian in her mid sixties after being raised in a Butcher's shop! She even had a quote by George Bernard Shaw taped to her fridge door. My mother was wonderful with Camlo, always taking care, and making time, to source and give him lovely fruit. My mum was the least judgemental person I have ever met and she always respected my decisions and never judged them. I am very thankful for having such a great mum.
My sister has also been supportive of my diet, and she really takes time to give Camlo and Cappi fruit to eat when they visit her. I really appreciate this.
When I spend time with my niece and nephew, they get to eat a lot of fruit. When I used to go and visit my sister and her family, I would usually take a Melon with me; the one time I arrived Melonless, my niece just looked at me and said "Where's the Melon Aunty Nan?"

25) What motivates you?

The wonderful inimitable feeling from being on a light fruit diet surpasses anything I have ever felt, and it is the desire to continue to feel great that motivates me.
I am also motivated by other raw foodists I have had the pleasure to meet, both in the fruity flesh and via the internet. I am inspired by the way people have transformed their health by changing their diets and lifestyles.
I am also motivated to exercise and keep my body in good condition when I watch Erwan Le Corre's videos.

Thank You Michele for the interview