Wednesday, 24 July 2013
Tuesday, 16 July 2013
Why I Love Yoga
Yoga changed my life. Big call I know... but it's true.
Before I started yoga, there wasn't any type of exercise that I particularly enjoyed. I've always walked here and there, did a bit of dance during school days, then there are the occasional bursts of motivation to run (they die off quickly, but I try) but when I started yoga, it was love. I became a devoted yogi and not in any stereotypical hippy way... I just really love yoga and everything it does for me.
I think that it's important to find a way to move your body that you enjoy, that nourishes you and your soul so you do it more regularly. Some people love running, some love hitting the gym and these things are great if you love doing them! Combine these with yoga and you will excel even more at them! For example, as I said, I am not much of a runner although my running now compared to my running before I started yoga has improved tremendously. One reason for this is because yoga improves your lung capacity as you learn to breathe deeper and better.
One thing I find funny is that many people think of yoga as a relaxing activity. While one of the benefits post class is having a much more relaxed outlook, the class itself is anything but! It definitely can be relaxing in some types of yoga, especially during the savasana (relaxing pose/dead man pose), but to you people that think that for all yoga I say - you have never been to a Power Vinyasa or Bikram class! And, you have never met the people in my class! They are taught, trim and terrific. Clear skin, tight abs, fit fit fit... and most of them do yoga as their only form of exercise.
My yoga of choice is Bikram Yoga. I have been doing it for around 3 years & love it. I do other types of yoga sometimes and I do some yoga at home to mix things up a bit but I always go back to the Bikram studio. For those that don't know much about Bikram Yoga, it is yoga that is practiced in a room heated to 40'c with around 40% humidity (so you basically sweat your ass off throughout the whole class, literally, you are dripping wet by the end of class).
Before I started Bikram yoga I had chronic migraines. I had a migraine or headache 3 weeks out of every month. I took pain killers every day just to get through work and would come home tired and grumpy and would want to go to sleep because I felt so terrible. I have suffered migraines since I was a child and have tried so many things to get rid of them. Some of these include - going to the optometrist, he said it was my eyes, so I got glasses. Then I tried the osteopath, he said it was my back that needed cracking. Then off I went to the masseuse, it apparently was knots in my neck. I then tried an acupuncturist, she said it was the heat in my liver. Went to the doctor, he said it was food allergies, I had to eliminate certain foods to see what it was (it was nothing).... Then, I started Bikram Yoga... Went again, and again... Slowly I could feel my whole body opening up in a way I had never felt before. I worked on strengthening and lengthening my spine, worked on opening my back and after a couple of months my migraines started to subside, now I actually can't remember the last time I had a migraine (touch wood). I have had a little headache but nothing like the debilitating pain I used to feel. It could be that through practicing yoga all of the above reasons for my migraines disappeared... It could be that I just needed to move my body in a new way.
There are so many benefits to yoga.. I personally think that Bikram yoga is especially beneficial because of the heat as you are sweating out all of the toxins that are in your body. Naturally you begin to eat better as you crave better foods.
Some other benefits are increased flexibility (thanks to the heat you can stretch so much more), increased muscle tone, ability to sleep better, clearer skin, reduced stress (my husband can attest to this, I am so much happier now!) and improved concentration. Through certain postures you stimulate the thyroid gland (which is important to help prevent weight gain and also to keep the thyroid healthy) & the pituitary gland which helps to keep you looking young! It prevents illness (I haven't been really sick in ages, I actually can't remember the last time I was sick... maybe a couple of years - where is that wood again?), I am sure this is because I sweat out all the toxins. At the first signs of getting the sniffles I get myself to a Bikram class and get it all out of my system.
There are so many more benefits such as treating depression, arthritis and back problems but these are the ones that I have personally felt. It is such a great style of yoga for beginners and advanced.. There are people aged between 16 years old -70+ in my class so there are no excuses that you are too old to start!
Ever wonder why people that do yoga seem happier? That is because they are! During yoga, the hormone oxytocin is released (the same hormone released when you cuddle someone).
Another part of yoga that I love is the confidence it gives you. I (like most other women) suffer from insecurities with my body. What yoga has taught me is that we are all unique and should embrace and be grateful for the body and life we were given. If you have been to a Bikram class you will notice that the yogi's don't wear much... Just a crop top and bike pants..or sometimes a man up the front will be wearing a nice colourful pair of budgy smugglers. At first I thought, oh my goodness I could never wear that! I used to wear a massive baggy top and full length tights and would stand up the back so no one could see me. As you will quickly learn, it is way too hot to be wearing so many clothes so eventually mine matched the other yogis (not the budgy smugglers - that would be weird). This is because now I have realised that no one cares what I wear, and if they do - I don't care what they think! Everyone is at yoga to improve themselves, not to concentrate on other people. I am happy with the body I was given because I have learnt to be grateful to have one that is healthy, happy and able to do what I want it to do.
Yoga teaches you patience and discipline. It builds on endurance and there is never any finality, you can always get better and better. The body is an amazing thing and what it can do if you apply yourself is incredible.
It is a complete mind and body exercise, the stronger your mind the better your yoga will be. The more you strengthen your mind at yoga, the stronger it will be outside of the yoga room at home or work.
I could go on forever about how great it will make you feel once you start but you will never know unless you try it yourself... So go on.. Let me know how you go! Give yourself at least 5 classes before you judge whether you like it or not, it will be hard - very hard at first! But it will get better! And you will feel amazing!
Here is a list of other top reasons to give yoga a go http://www.ageology.com/blog/top-25-reasons-do-yoga-hormonal-health
Namaste :)
Bee xx
images sourced from www.bikramyogacapalaba.com.au
Before I started yoga, there wasn't any type of exercise that I particularly enjoyed. I've always walked here and there, did a bit of dance during school days, then there are the occasional bursts of motivation to run (they die off quickly, but I try) but when I started yoga, it was love. I became a devoted yogi and not in any stereotypical hippy way... I just really love yoga and everything it does for me.
I think that it's important to find a way to move your body that you enjoy, that nourishes you and your soul so you do it more regularly. Some people love running, some love hitting the gym and these things are great if you love doing them! Combine these with yoga and you will excel even more at them! For example, as I said, I am not much of a runner although my running now compared to my running before I started yoga has improved tremendously. One reason for this is because yoga improves your lung capacity as you learn to breathe deeper and better.
One thing I find funny is that many people think of yoga as a relaxing activity. While one of the benefits post class is having a much more relaxed outlook, the class itself is anything but! It definitely can be relaxing in some types of yoga, especially during the savasana (relaxing pose/dead man pose), but to you people that think that for all yoga I say - you have never been to a Power Vinyasa or Bikram class! And, you have never met the people in my class! They are taught, trim and terrific. Clear skin, tight abs, fit fit fit... and most of them do yoga as their only form of exercise.
My yoga of choice is Bikram Yoga. I have been doing it for around 3 years & love it. I do other types of yoga sometimes and I do some yoga at home to mix things up a bit but I always go back to the Bikram studio. For those that don't know much about Bikram Yoga, it is yoga that is practiced in a room heated to 40'c with around 40% humidity (so you basically sweat your ass off throughout the whole class, literally, you are dripping wet by the end of class).
Before I started Bikram yoga I had chronic migraines. I had a migraine or headache 3 weeks out of every month. I took pain killers every day just to get through work and would come home tired and grumpy and would want to go to sleep because I felt so terrible. I have suffered migraines since I was a child and have tried so many things to get rid of them. Some of these include - going to the optometrist, he said it was my eyes, so I got glasses. Then I tried the osteopath, he said it was my back that needed cracking. Then off I went to the masseuse, it apparently was knots in my neck. I then tried an acupuncturist, she said it was the heat in my liver. Went to the doctor, he said it was food allergies, I had to eliminate certain foods to see what it was (it was nothing).... Then, I started Bikram Yoga... Went again, and again... Slowly I could feel my whole body opening up in a way I had never felt before. I worked on strengthening and lengthening my spine, worked on opening my back and after a couple of months my migraines started to subside, now I actually can't remember the last time I had a migraine (touch wood). I have had a little headache but nothing like the debilitating pain I used to feel. It could be that through practicing yoga all of the above reasons for my migraines disappeared... It could be that I just needed to move my body in a new way.
There are so many benefits to yoga.. I personally think that Bikram yoga is especially beneficial because of the heat as you are sweating out all of the toxins that are in your body. Naturally you begin to eat better as you crave better foods.
Some other benefits are increased flexibility (thanks to the heat you can stretch so much more), increased muscle tone, ability to sleep better, clearer skin, reduced stress (my husband can attest to this, I am so much happier now!) and improved concentration. Through certain postures you stimulate the thyroid gland (which is important to help prevent weight gain and also to keep the thyroid healthy) & the pituitary gland which helps to keep you looking young! It prevents illness (I haven't been really sick in ages, I actually can't remember the last time I was sick... maybe a couple of years - where is that wood again?), I am sure this is because I sweat out all the toxins. At the first signs of getting the sniffles I get myself to a Bikram class and get it all out of my system.
There are so many more benefits such as treating depression, arthritis and back problems but these are the ones that I have personally felt. It is such a great style of yoga for beginners and advanced.. There are people aged between 16 years old -70+ in my class so there are no excuses that you are too old to start!
Ever wonder why people that do yoga seem happier? That is because they are! During yoga, the hormone oxytocin is released (the same hormone released when you cuddle someone).
Another part of yoga that I love is the confidence it gives you. I (like most other women) suffer from insecurities with my body. What yoga has taught me is that we are all unique and should embrace and be grateful for the body and life we were given. If you have been to a Bikram class you will notice that the yogi's don't wear much... Just a crop top and bike pants..or sometimes a man up the front will be wearing a nice colourful pair of budgy smugglers. At first I thought, oh my goodness I could never wear that! I used to wear a massive baggy top and full length tights and would stand up the back so no one could see me. As you will quickly learn, it is way too hot to be wearing so many clothes so eventually mine matched the other yogis (not the budgy smugglers - that would be weird). This is because now I have realised that no one cares what I wear, and if they do - I don't care what they think! Everyone is at yoga to improve themselves, not to concentrate on other people. I am happy with the body I was given because I have learnt to be grateful to have one that is healthy, happy and able to do what I want it to do.
Yoga teaches you patience and discipline. It builds on endurance and there is never any finality, you can always get better and better. The body is an amazing thing and what it can do if you apply yourself is incredible.
It is a complete mind and body exercise, the stronger your mind the better your yoga will be. The more you strengthen your mind at yoga, the stronger it will be outside of the yoga room at home or work.
I could go on forever about how great it will make you feel once you start but you will never know unless you try it yourself... So go on.. Let me know how you go! Give yourself at least 5 classes before you judge whether you like it or not, it will be hard - very hard at first! But it will get better! And you will feel amazing!
Here is a list of other top reasons to give yoga a go http://www.ageology.com/blog/top-25-reasons-do-yoga-hormonal-health
Namaste :)
Bee xx
images sourced from www.bikramyogacapalaba.com.au
Sunday, 7 July 2013
RECIPE | RAW Nutty Bliss Rolls
Another super easy recipe that takes around 10 minutes in total to make!
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon unhulled tahini
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1 tablespoon raw cacao
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 cup activated nuts (I used walnuts & almonds)
1/2 cup sultanas
7 medjool dates
Directions:
Mix nuts in food processor until fine
Add all other ingredients to food processor, you can add a teaspoon of filtered water if you think it needs it
Once all combined, shape into little rolls and you can coat it in anything you like, I used almonds for some and coconut for the others
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It made 10 rolls :)
Enjoy!
Bee xx
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon unhulled tahini
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1 tablespoon raw cacao
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 cup activated nuts (I used walnuts & almonds)
1/2 cup sultanas
7 medjool dates
Directions:
Mix nuts in food processor until fine
Add all other ingredients to food processor, you can add a teaspoon of filtered water if you think it needs it
Once all combined, shape into little rolls and you can coat it in anything you like, I used almonds for some and coconut for the others
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It made 10 rolls :)
Enjoy!
Bee xx
RECIPE | Banana, Date, Walnut, Chia & Spelt Loaf (Dairy & Refined Sugar Free)
I made this recipe with my little boy yesterday. He did most of the work! It is a great recipe to make with kids as there are no fancy mixers needed - just a couple of bowls & a whisk are the only utensils you need!
Ingredients:
1 1/4 cup organic spelt flour
1 teaspoon bicarb soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1 cup roasted (or activated) nuts, I used walnuts
1 cup pitted dates
3/4 cup raw organic honey
2 eggs
1 tablespoon chia seeds (mixed with 1 tablespoon water to allow to swell)
1/2 cup coconut or olive oil
3 very ripe bananas (must be ripe or loaf will be dry)
1 teaspoon organic vanilla extract
Any seeds you have on hand to sprinkle on top (I used pepitas)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 170'c
Grease and flour a loaf tin & set aside
Mix all dry ingredients together with a whisk, then add nuts and dates and whisk to combine
Whisk all wet (honey, eggs, vanilla, chia seeds) ingredients together
Mix in banana
Once combined add wet ingredients to dry ingredients
Pour mixture into prepared tin and top with seeds
Bake for around 45mins
I often make this and slice in to thick pieces and wrap them individually to freeze. They freeze really well and you can take them out when you need them. It keeps well in the fridge for about a week. I think it tastes better after it has been in the fridge for a day or so.
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Enjoy!
Bee xx
Ingredients:
1 1/4 cup organic spelt flour
1 teaspoon bicarb soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1 cup roasted (or activated) nuts, I used walnuts
1 cup pitted dates
3/4 cup raw organic honey
2 eggs
1 tablespoon chia seeds (mixed with 1 tablespoon water to allow to swell)
1/2 cup coconut or olive oil
3 very ripe bananas (must be ripe or loaf will be dry)
1 teaspoon organic vanilla extract
Any seeds you have on hand to sprinkle on top (I used pepitas)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 170'c
Grease and flour a loaf tin & set aside
Mix all dry ingredients together with a whisk, then add nuts and dates and whisk to combine
Whisk all wet (honey, eggs, vanilla, chia seeds) ingredients together
Mix in banana
Once combined add wet ingredients to dry ingredients
Pour mixture into prepared tin and top with seeds
Bake for around 45mins
I often make this and slice in to thick pieces and wrap them individually to freeze. They freeze really well and you can take them out when you need them. It keeps well in the fridge for about a week. I think it tastes better after it has been in the fridge for a day or so.
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Enjoy!
Bee xx
Thursday, 4 July 2013
RECIPE | Tamara's Glowing Goddess Smoothie
One of my dear friends Tamara (Awareness Facilitator - Energy Healer at FLOW www.flowangel.com) has given me one of her super smoothie recipes to share with you!
Ingredients:
1 cup of rice milk
1 banana
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1 tablespoon bee pollen
1 scoop sun warrior brown rice protein powder
Blend together & enjoy! Yum!
Share with me your favourite smoothie recipe :)
Bee xx
Wednesday, 3 July 2013
The Easiest Way to Have a Positve Life
The easiest way to create a positive life is to surround yourself with positive people!
Have you ever had a conversation with someone - friend, colleague, family member where you left feeling completely drained? You know those people that only have negative things to say and talk about other people in a negative way? These people feed off negativity and they bring other people into it because that is the only way they can get their energy! These relationships are noticeably draining. There are other times when the person isn't so outwardly negative but the relationship you have with them often feels artificial, difficult and heavy and leaves you tired and wiped out and much worse than before you met up with them. This happens because the friendship is not nourishing you. For whatever reason, that person is not good for you and they are not giving you any positive energy. If you feel like a friendship is strained and forced then that is a good sign that it's not working for you! It probably isn't working for them either!
I consider myself so lucky. I have the most beautiful friendships that are all special to me. Many of my friends I have known since school (some even since primary school!) and we have been close ever since. One of my best friends and I found each other in year 7 when I asked her "do you want to be my best friend?" such a dork, but who cares, we have been there for each other ever since! It is so nice to have people you can talk to, get motivated by, laugh with, cry with and know that each other will be there for one another no matter what.
Over time the friendships that have nourished me I have subconsciously and consciously nurtured, and been drawn towards and the friendships that left me feeling depleted of energy just kind of faded away over the years. Every time I meet up with a girlfriend, even if it is just for a quick tea or walk in the park, I feel like I get a buzz from meeting up with them and we feel good energy bouncing off one another. This is when you know that the person should be in your life! New friendships that I have made recently have been with gorgeous people that radiate happiness and have an enthusiasm for life that I am drawn towards. Happiness is contagious and surrounding yourself with motivated, life loving, happy vibe giving people will soon catch on to you and won't be able to be anything but that!
Next time you feel drained after seeing someone, ask yourself "is this relationship nourishing me?" and if the answer is no then maybe you should spend more time focusing on the relationships that do.
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Bee xx
Sunday, 30 June 2013
RECIPE | RAW Coco-Nutty Rough "Truffles"
These little bite sized balls of goodness are deceivingly healthy! You will think you are eating something very naughty when in fact there is nothing bad in them! I made these tonight with my 5 year old (who loves them!), they are super easy and quick to make and impressive to serve with a cup of tea after dinner!
Ingredients:
1/2 cup almonds
1 cup walnuts
1/2 cup organic raisins
3-4 medjool dates
1/2 cup shredded or dessicated coconut plus a little extra
1 tablespoon cold pressed organic coconut oil
1 teaspoon filtered water
Directions:
Mix nuts and coconut in food processor until fine. Add remaining ingredients until it all resembles the texture of breadcrumbs.
Roll them into balls, they will make 10-12 larger pieces or around 20 smaller bite sized pieces.
Once done, roll them in the extra shredded or dessicated coconut to serve.
Refrigerate for at least an hour to set.
That's it! Easy peasy deliciousness!
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Tip: When rolling them into balls they may fall apart a little, if this happens just pick up the mixture, squeeze into a ball shape then gently shape, once they are rolled in coconut and put in the fridge they will set and hold together.
Enjoy!
Bee xx
Being healthy doesn't need to cost a fortune!
Today's blog is about eating healthy on a budget because a lot of people think that to eat on a budget you need to buy processed packet food.
I put myself to the test with this because at one stage I was spending a ridiculous amount of money on food (over $450 per week for 3 people - 2 adults and a 5 year old -craziness!). I wasn't looking at the price of items and must have been buying random unnecessary items. At the end of the month I was wondering where all my money had gone and when I looked through my bank statement I realised it was all of the little shops in between my big weekend grocery shop that was making it all add up. If I had just planned my meals before my shop and purchased everything I needed on the weekend then there would be no reason to go to the shops at all during the week. Plus it didn't help that I was going to the markets, then to the butcher then to deli... When going to all these different stores it's easy to lose track of how much you're spending.
image sourced from: jcnn.com.au
This is not true! When you add up how much you're spending on processed food it probably works out to be more than it would be if you bought fresh! Not to mention the long term costs of eating processed foods (illnesses, lack of energy - I could go on, I will save that for a another day!) While some speciality items can be expensive, these are not essentials and if you can't afford them then don't buy them!
If you plan your weekly meals or at least have a fair idea what you want to cook for a few nights, the grocery shop can be easy and cheap!
I put myself to the test with this because at one stage I was spending a ridiculous amount of money on food (over $450 per week for 3 people - 2 adults and a 5 year old -craziness!). I wasn't looking at the price of items and must have been buying random unnecessary items. At the end of the month I was wondering where all my money had gone and when I looked through my bank statement I realised it was all of the little shops in between my big weekend grocery shop that was making it all add up. If I had just planned my meals before my shop and purchased everything I needed on the weekend then there would be no reason to go to the shops at all during the week. Plus it didn't help that I was going to the markets, then to the butcher then to deli... When going to all these different stores it's easy to lose track of how much you're spending.
So with better planning and my budget cap on I went to Aldi to do my weekly shop (I think I am converted) and can happily say I am spending under $150 per week on groceries - this even includes fresh fruit and vegetables, meats and other house hold items. While no fresh produce compares to an organic farmers market, sometimes it just isn't convenient or accessible so just make sure you wash your produce really well before consuming to remove some of the toxins entering your body from the pesticides used. I always wash mine if non organic in solution of water and apple cider vinegar. (quick tip: you can do all of the washing of the produce all at once and dry it and put it away for the week so you don't have to do it each day).
I like my family to eat whole, clean, organic (when possible) foods, and while I thought it was necessary to buy all fancy items, it really isn't! You can have a yummy wholesome dinner each night for under $15 easily!
Some examples of dinners I will be making my family this week (all from Aldi - btw Aldi has a great selection of organic foods - just not fruit and veg yet).
- Stir-fried grass fed organic beef strips with broccoli, carrot, capsicum and brown rice
- Grilled chicken breast (marinated in garlic and dried herbs over night) with roasted root vegetables, mixed with quinoa topped with goats cheese feta
- Organic grass fed lean beef mince spaghetti bolognese with vegetables (enough for two nights) can be made with gluten free pasta (tastes the same!)
- Quinoa risotto (recipe on blog)
So things to remember when doing your shop-
- First have your list with you so you know exactly what you are there to buy
- Make your dinners a little bigger so you can eat the left overs for lunch the next day to save buying it
- Buy nutritious side dishes that fill you up such as quinoa or brown rice)
- Actually look at the price of food (this sounds silly but I never did and the food that is expensive is usually not in season!)
Let me know if you have some good recipes or tips on eating healthy on a budget!
Bee xx
image sourced from: jcnn.com.au
Thursday, 27 June 2013
RECIPE | Super Porridge! Full of brain power!
Sometimes on a cold day it's nice to have something to warm you up in the morning. After a warm lemon water I usually have a green juice but sometimes I like to have something heavier and warmer...Enter porridge.. The already super healthy steel cuts oats are great on their own with almond milk (or milk of choice) but I like to add a few little extras... I make them with extra almond milk and water so there is about double the amount of liquid I need. Then after they have finished cooking I add a tablespoon of chia seeds and mix them in and wait until they soak up all the milk and water (the longer they get to swell, the more nutrients they release), then I top it off with a sprinkle of bee pollen, banana and a little raw honey... Super easy and super DELICIOUS!
RECIPE | The Cheeky Taco (that really isn't a taco!) Tuna, Cherry Tomatoes, Carrot, Avocado, Cabbage
Something light, quick & easy to make when you can't be bothered to make anything at all!Tonight my hubby has taken our son to a footy match which leaves me home to relax and not having to cook for anyone! Exciting yes, but I am hungry! So, what to cook when (a) you can’t be bothered to cook and (b) you have no food in the house?
Deciding I was hungry enough to look for something to eat I searched my fridge and pantry and realized that I actually did have food it was just time to be a little creative with the limited food I could find so I made a healthy Crunchy Tuna, Avocado, Carrot & Tomato ‘Taco’, it was delicious and took about 5 minutes to make!
Ingredients:
1 tin of tuna
½ Avocado - sliced
1 carrot – grated
small handful of cherry tomatoes – each tomato cut in half
large cabbage leaf or wrap
Dressing Ingredients:
½ teaspoon dijon mustard
half a lemon – juice squeezed
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 large cabbage leaf (for taco) otherwise a wrap would be nice too
Directions:
Mix all dressing ingredients together with a fork
Mix tuna, carrot and tomatoes together, pour in the dressing ingredients and combine
Place sliced avocado along middle of cabbage leaf
Top with tuna mixture & voila a delicious Crunchy Tuna, Avocado, Carrot & Tomato ‘Taco’!
Place sliced avocado along middle of cabbage leaf
Top with tuna mixture & voila a delicious Crunchy Tuna, Avocado, Carrot & Tomato ‘Taco’!
Tuesday, 11 June 2013
Inspirational clean eating food blogs
I have started living a cleaner life. In doing so I am trying to eliminate heavy foods that don’t nourish my body. I am trying to make each food choice about the nutrient content and not just the taste of fatty processed foods. There a few blogs that I LOVE and am addicted to reading as they are so insightful. One of my favourites is Kimberly Snyder http://kimberlysnyder.net/blog/ she is a nutritionist and such a great inspiration and her book The Beauty Detox helped me to better understand the importance of diet. Her blog got me started on green smoothies http://kimberlysnyder.net/blog/ggs/ and just an overall diet change.
A really good food blog I have been getting into lately is My New Roots http://mynewroots.org/site/, just on the weekend I made her Raw Cashew Dreamcake http://mynewroots.org/site/ which is a non-dairy, non-heavy version of a cheesecake – raw style using cashews instead of cheese- genius! It tasted amazing! The only thing I would change is I would double the recipe or use a smaller tin as I felt mine was too thin.
Another blog I love is The Raw Food Kitchen http://therawfoodkitchen.com.au/ - even though I don't follow a completely raw diet, and I think it is important to have some cooked food, there are some really great ideas on how to incorporate more raw food into our current diets.
Share with me the food blogs you love to read to get good tips!
Thursday, 6 June 2013
RECIPE | Quinoa 'Risotto' - Eggplant, Cherry Tomato, Baby Spinach, Kale
This yummy quinoa 'risotto' is so quick and easy to prepare and takes about 5 minutes of cooking! Gluten free and can be dairy free if you omit the goats cheese feta.
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Ingredients:
1 cup cooked quinoa
1 eggplant cut into big cubes
10 cherry tomatoes halved
3 kale leaves slices
handful baby spinach
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 red onion, diced small
1 teaspoon coconut oil
Goats cheese feta to crumble on top
Heat skillet, add coconut oil
Once warm add garlic and onion, cook until the the onion cooks slightly
Add eggplant cook for 2 minutes
Add cherry tomatoes, cook until warmed through
Add spinach, kale, cooked quinoa and mix through.
Season with sea salt and black pepper
Crumble on goats cheese if using
So easy.. So yummy!!
TIPS: When I cook quinoa I always cook the whole packet (about 2 1/2 cups) and save what I don't use in the fridge to just throw into a salad or heat up for a quick meal like this. It stores well in the fridge once cooked for about a week.
Goats milk is much easier for the body to digest than cows milk which is why I use goats cheese feta. I try not to eat too much dairy but this is one exception!
Bee xx
Keeping my manic on the down low
By nature, deep down I am a manic person. I used to suffer from major anxiety and would have panic attacks at the drop of a hat. I was 16 when I was first diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and was given Xanax by my doctor to help me relax. I always hated taking the medication and the only time I took it was at night to help me sleep because if I didn't I would have an attack so bad that I felt like I was having a heart attack and could barely breathe (other sufferers of panic attacks will easily relate to this feeling).
For my own health, I have had to learn how to keep my calm on and the manic on the down low. I came to the decision that I didn't want this disorder to over run my life like it had been. On some days I was too scared to leave home in case I began hyperventilating.
One day I decided to tell myself that nothing was wrong with me and decided that it would not be an issue for me anymore. I decided I would surround myself with happiness, most importantly the people around me. I began taking note of when I felt an attack coming on and was able to breathe through it and it would go away.
I have now reached a point now in my life where I am happy and content and more or less calm. Although like all people, there are times when I find myself in a situation that is stressful – usually when I haven’t thought things through properly - I become a completely different person compared to my usually now relatively calm self. I become flustered, start yelling, pacing and freaking out. It happened this morning because my darling hubby booked my car in for a pink slip. That shouldn't be stressful I know, but because I hadn’t thought about how I was going to get to work once I dropped my car at the mechanic I became a crazy person. It also happens sometimes when I am cooking. I love cooking, but on some occasions I really don’t feel like it so at these times I should stick to cheese on toast because when I attempt anything more impressive than that I almost end up having a divorce. I fluff around the kitchen, dropping things, my head is spinning, and more often than not I burn myself on anything and everything. Most of the time the food ends up in the garbage and we eat cheese on toast anyway. There are many other times when things go bad, such as after an argument with a loved one when I can feel the manic in me creeping out to say hello but instead of letting it take over me I let myself be aware of it and then breathe.
I have simple tips listed below which I follow when I feel the crazy coming out and not before long I am back to the calm me.
For my own health, I have had to learn how to keep my calm on and the manic on the down low. I came to the decision that I didn't want this disorder to over run my life like it had been. On some days I was too scared to leave home in case I began hyperventilating.
One day I decided to tell myself that nothing was wrong with me and decided that it would not be an issue for me anymore. I decided I would surround myself with happiness, most importantly the people around me. I began taking note of when I felt an attack coming on and was able to breathe through it and it would go away.
I have now reached a point now in my life where I am happy and content and more or less calm. Although like all people, there are times when I find myself in a situation that is stressful – usually when I haven’t thought things through properly - I become a completely different person compared to my usually now relatively calm self. I become flustered, start yelling, pacing and freaking out. It happened this morning because my darling hubby booked my car in for a pink slip. That shouldn't be stressful I know, but because I hadn’t thought about how I was going to get to work once I dropped my car at the mechanic I became a crazy person. It also happens sometimes when I am cooking. I love cooking, but on some occasions I really don’t feel like it so at these times I should stick to cheese on toast because when I attempt anything more impressive than that I almost end up having a divorce. I fluff around the kitchen, dropping things, my head is spinning, and more often than not I burn myself on anything and everything. Most of the time the food ends up in the garbage and we eat cheese on toast anyway. There are many other times when things go bad, such as after an argument with a loved one when I can feel the manic in me creeping out to say hello but instead of letting it take over me I let myself be aware of it and then breathe.
I have simple tips listed below which I follow when I feel the crazy coming out and not before long I am back to the calm me.
Breathe - breathe in breathe out slow deep breaths for 6 seconds each way (a good tip learnt from yoga)- I found some good tips on how to breathe in the following bloghttp://thehealthylivinglounge.com/2009/11/23/how-to-breathe-better
Take time out – when things get overwhelming and you can feel the manic creeping in, take 10 minutes away from what you are doing. If you are at work, go outside and walk around the block for 10 minutes. The fresh air and the exercise will get you to a calmer state. It gives you time to put into perspective that what you were doing is maybe not that stressful and you can get back to work in a clearer state.
Exercise – I prefer yoga, it keeps me centred and relaxed and gives me time to reflect. Walking on my own is a good time to relax as well.
Meditate – When I have a free night alone or if everyone at home is asleep I try to get in a good ten minutes of meditation. It has been proven to reduce stress levels. Even major companies are requesting their staff to meditate to increase efficiency.
I feel a great sense of accomplishment when my husband, friends or colleagues tell me how calm I am, as it has taken great effort for me to get to this point where I don't get stressed out.
Take time out – when things get overwhelming and you can feel the manic creeping in, take 10 minutes away from what you are doing. If you are at work, go outside and walk around the block for 10 minutes. The fresh air and the exercise will get you to a calmer state. It gives you time to put into perspective that what you were doing is maybe not that stressful and you can get back to work in a clearer state.
Exercise – I prefer yoga, it keeps me centred and relaxed and gives me time to reflect. Walking on my own is a good time to relax as well.
Meditate – When I have a free night alone or if everyone at home is asleep I try to get in a good ten minutes of meditation. It has been proven to reduce stress levels. Even major companies are requesting their staff to meditate to increase efficiency.
I feel a great sense of accomplishment when my husband, friends or colleagues tell me how calm I am, as it has taken great effort for me to get to this point where I don't get stressed out.
Wednesday, 5 June 2013
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