WIN - MINDFULNESS Colouring Books

In the health and wellness world there has been a trend towards being more mindful.

Being Mindful can take some practice. We can easily run around crazy and busy (plus with the fast paced way of living that has become normal) we just don't make time for ourselves. Unless we are sick and then we have no choice.

Well I have some GOOD news for you. If you are an adult and you loved to colour-in as a child - guess what? you can totally colour in as a adult and be mindful (being good to yourself). PLUS with science on our side its really good for your brain!

REVIEW That Sugar Book by Damon Gameau

Overview
This book is for anyone who means business about their health. Not only is it very educational it clearly walks you down a path of what kinds of sugar there are in the world BUT also the health community is eating... The so called "healthy" snacks we all think we are doing so well with-in our kids lunch boxes and snacks. Things like fruit juices and health bars etc... I mean they are healthy aren't they???  Well surprise surprise we may not be that healthy after all.

Gluten-Free NOT so healthy RANT!

I love to find gluten-free recipes on the internet but just lately Ive been more and more shocked when I see that even though the gluten has been swapped out in the recipe for other flours the sugar is still there and sometimes its even MORE than before to mask some of the different tasting flour alternatives!
We often love to believe that when we are gluten-free we are soooo healthy! I mean we know that gluten can be bad for some of us and wreak havoc in our bodies ... but don't be fooled that just because you made a gluten-free cake you can eat if for breakfast, lunch and supper - I means its gluten-free so it must be healthy right ;) ... I just wanted to point a little finger at sugar and other nasties that could be in your baking or food that is just as bad for your digestion. I know we all want to be the best and healthiest version of ourselves - YAY! So lets strive for less sugar and more natural ways to baking and cooking. (here's looking at you gluten-free biscuits in the shops- they sneak in lots of other junk!)

Please note in this little rant I know I'm not perfect but Im trying to remember that my body is worth beautiful food and support so that it feels nourished. So this post is as much for me as it is for any one else wanting a happy body... minus the the inflammation (hint: sugar can cause inflammation)

HOW TO GET THE CHANGE YOU SO BADLY DESIRE (its not what you think)

You know when you need change so bad you would do anything for it?
I experienced that last year. I would have moved cities or even countries for some change just to feel different inside! I would have tried almost anything, the desire inside was so great! I couldn't stop thinking about what I could do - move, get some different friends, try a new sport, buy new clothes, change something.... Anything!!!!

Maca Bowls

This is what we are eating for desert at the moment - And if there is any left over in the back of the fridge (read I hid some from my family) then I have a small bowl for breakfast.
It is cool and smooth with a little bit of chia texture. I find it comforting and sweet (cause we don't eat refined sugars and our taste buds have adjusted) - yay. small victories right?

REVIEW - THE MEDICINAL CHEF: HEALTHY EVERY DAY BY DALE PINNOCK

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Overview
Not only is this a beautiful cookbook but it is also designed to point you in the right direction if you need to cook for a particular part of your body. For instance the book has key symbols for each area

Taking Gluten-Free to the next level

Its not to difficult now days to get gluten-free alternatives to the things you love. You can buy cookies, breads and pastas that are all gluten-free. The problem is that you are simply swopping one processed food for another. Yes you aren't consuming the gluten - which is better for you but you aren't consuming nourishing foods either - think about a gluten-free cookie. Just because its gluten-free doesn't mean its healthy (it still will spike your blood sugar and may even have nasty alternatives in it) and just cause its gluten-free you feel that you can now eat the whole box! (we've all been there)

If you are just starting out on your gluten-free journey by all means buy some gluten-free pasta and

GREEN MONSTER SMOOTHIE WITH CHOC CHIPS BLIZZARD

On the weekend a magical letter arrived in the post. The kind of letter that makes you go weak at the knees and brings tears to your eyes. It took me by surprise even though I knew it had to arrive

REVIEW ANJUMS QUICK AND EASY INDIAN COOKBOOK

ABOUT THE BOOKS:

Overview
This is a review of TWO different cookbooks both are by Anjum Anand.
1) Anjums Quick and Easy Indian (Fast, effortless food for any time and place)
2) Anjums Indian Vegetarian Feast

GOOD HOUSEKEEPING MAG FEATURE

Im excited to share that I am in the July issue of Good Housekeeping Magazine SA.

SPROUTING 101

 

In the past I bought sprouts at the store/shop in the salad section and added them to my salads, randomly and when I felt like buying them. Since then I have tasted some really delicious take-out raw food dishes which seemed to contain A LOT of different  kinds of sprouts with all kinds of delicious patties and salads. While chatting my husband asked "why don't we sprout?" and from then on I was hooked on the idea....Why hadn't I considered it before?

I read advice online and started with 3 jars and some mesh/tuille fabric. I also drove my husband crazy because our drying-up rack for our dishes became the home for the jars of busy sprouting seeds thus causing chaos in the washing and drying of our dishes and trying to keep the kitchen clean.. (hehehe.) - causing chaos in the kitchen seems to be my special something.
So after several days of searching for a second drying rack - I wanted a fold away one, which is currently impossible to find in any stores where I live we went straight to the source and just bought a kind of expensive (but so worth it) sprouting rack. Its perfect and our sprouting journey continues full throttle.

WHY SPROUTS
The enzymes in sprouts is much higher than in other uncooked, raw foods because the sprouts are alive.

• The vitamin content in sprouts is higher - yay more vitamins!

PEPPERMINT AND DARK CHOCOLATE COCONUT ICE CREAM

So browsing the internet for amazing food you don't expect to find this! eeeek!
Clearly Im not the super adventurous type when it comes to food.... Are you?

GREEN GODDESS DRESSING

With the crazy busyness of studying plus work and family life I haven't been able to get to cook and photograph many things in the day time. Hence the lack of recipe posts -sorry. I think about it often and check in here and on facebook to say hi and answer comments etc...

I will be back - one day ;) kidding , Im still here just lurking in the background.
Studying is going well and Im getting close to the end, about 5 - 6 weeks and Im finished -Eeek!
I will be studying 2 other short courses after that but much less work load so life will ease up a little - yay!
I have LOVED studying, I never thought I would like it that much but now Im sad to finish. Life always has ways of flipping things on its head and surprising us.

CHOC MINT SMOOTHIE

It's official choc-mint smoothie for the WIN! I think I'm addicted to these. And they're dairy-free, and refined sugar free. So they're healthy and delicious - what not to love?!

The flax helps the smoothie thicken and has fiber which is great for your digestive system. Plus the green veggies are great for vitamins and anti-oxidants. The avocado makes it silky smooth and you won't even taste it- PROMISE! 

Love the Change

 

Life has this way of changing and growing - if you let it.
Often we are stubborn and fight it all the way. We don't want to give up the sugar or the dairy or we simply blame the other person for our anger - cause it was definitely their fault for causing us to lash out! But whether they instigated it or not we still need to take responsibility for our actions or behavior. 

Studying and a Survey

So studying is fun, interesting and a little scary.

Scary because parts of my course push me past my current boundaries... to do things like... make an on camera video eek! Of the many things Im learning in the business section of my course I have

Energy Oat Bars

So creating the life you want starts with making positive choices everyday. One of them being what you chose to put into your mouth (pep talk to myself here too). These aren't THE perfect health bar ever created but they are a great alternative to many other sugar laden sweets that you can buy in the store. If my kid or husband wants to munch on sweets I feel better having a batch of these in the