GOOD MORNING, GREEN JUICE


Today's post is a delicious, easy recipe for green juice because I think many of us could use a bit more dark leafy greens in our diet. Obviously a lot of the people reading this (hey there, sexy) are already very interested and in control of their health. But at the same time, I know many of you are just starting out on a new journey to well-being, or maybe you're like me and have just been plain forgetting to eat/drink your greens lately. I used to LIVE for my green smoothies but lately I've been fruiting it up hard core, and have incidentally left the kale and spinach crying at the sidelines, asking "WHY DOESN'T SHE LOVE US ANYMORE!?" Don't fret, my dear leaves! I still care for you and your chlorophyl deeply. But I got kinda carried away with my fruit smoothies and high carb dinners of rice and sweet potatoes. I hadn't eaten a salad in months, and would only occasionally throw a handful of greens into my blender or stir-frys. Well, things are back on track now. I am again head over heels with salad, and I love the taste and colour of spinach in my smoothies. 

RAW VEGAN CHOCOLATE CAKE


This is it. A simple, quick, and easy recipe for the best raw vegan chocolate cake. I whipped this up for my lover's birthday celebration / family dinner and his whole clan loved it! I wasn't planning on posting it but I figured I may as well. I mean: chocolate. cake. Need I say more? I wanna give you guys every opportunity to create healthy and delicious desserts and meals whenever possible.

If you are new to the whole 'raw vegan dessert' thing, then this cake recipe is perfect for you. This is almost as basic as you can get. Although you can add anything else you want to this dark brown creamy bad boy (ex: ginger, cinnamon, berries), I am keepin' it real and leaving ingredients at a minimum so no one gets confused or overwhelmed. Sure, this recipe could be lower fat and blah blah blah, but my mentality when I create food for non-veg folks (Jack's family) is to wow them with flavour and texture, thus I add a little more coconut oil and maple syrup than I normally would. My palate is very different from someone who doesn't usually eat many plants - let alone whole foods - so I wanna give them something even THEIR taste buds will appreciate! That means making this cake a bit richer than if I were making it for just myself. What is healthy is relative. A pure raw foodist would feel sick if they suddenly ate cooked food; I feel weird when I eat too MUCH cooked food or fat-dense food (nuts, etc.) in a day; my mom feels weird if she eats too much meat. Does that mean that cooked food or nuts are unhealthy? No! It just means that my body has acclimatized to a mostly low-fat raw foods diet with a cooked dinner so if I suddenly eat cooked food all day it's gonna be like "WTF!?" (Where's the fruit!?) If you drank nothing but water for 7 days, then gorged on fruit, you'd feel ill. Does that mean FRUIT is unhealthy? No! It's like the healthiest thing... ever. All it implies is that your body has become sensitive to something because of the diet it has grown accustomed to. So to round this back to my first point: I made this recipe a bit more decadent than usual because of the audience it would be catered to. Nuff said (I think?)

Note: if the ingredients look kinda pricey to you, don't worry! You can use oats instead of walnuts, cocoa powder instead of cacao powder, and almonds instead of cashews. Using almonds instead of cashews will make it a bit less creamy, but still delicious.

RAW VEGAN CHOCOLATE CAKE

Crust: 
1 cup walnuts 
1 1/2 cups dates

Cake:
2 cups cashews
2 tablespoons cacao powder
1 cup water
Juice from 1 lemon
1 cup dates
1/4 cup coconut oil
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

To make the crust: pulse oats or walnuts into powder in a food processor, then add the dates and keep processing until it all starts to stick together. Press into the bottom of a springform cake pan, or adjustable pan (I used an adjustable pan set to about 7 inches). Put in fridge. 

To make the cake: blend everything until smooth, thick and creamy! It should be the consistency of yogurt, kinda. If it's watery; add more dates, coconut oil or nuts. If it's too thick; add more water or maple syrup. Pour onto your crust and let it set overnight or for at least 12 hours (this lets it set and develop flavour). Slice and enjoy! I decorated mine with hemp seeds and pumpkin seeds. 

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HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON A VEGAN DIET

Hey, guys. Today I am sharing a post featuring the video I made yesterday, all about how you can save money whole eating a wholesome vegan diet! Watch the video, and read my main tips below!


- Base your diet/meals around potatoes, rice, beans and bananas. These foods are normally very inexpensive and easy to find. A main component of my dinners is always potatoes, rice and/or beans. Then I round out the meal with other veggies and greens. The main component of my smoothies is always bananas, and I top them off with other ingredients like frozen fruit, mango, berries, super food powders, etc.

- Grow your own food, if it's possible. My family has a big backyard and garden so we are able to grow a lot of what we eat. It is super cheap, not a huge amount of work (depending on what plants you choose to grow), and ends up feeding you the highest quality food around all season long. When I move out in the next few months, I plan on at least growing my own herbs and tomatoes. If you have no space to grow food, find a community garden in your area and sign up to help out and reap the bounty!

- Forage. It's fun, it's easy, it's educational, it saves a ton of cash! Berries are super expensive here right now and yet they are growing all around us, just begging to be picked and eaten for free. Pick all the edible plants you can find (but make sure to do your research so you don't poison yourself), then freeze what you don't eat right away. Add to smoothies and anything else all year long!

- Buy in bulk; buy discounted produce. I eat a huge amount of fruit, especially bananas. So I buy boxes of them at 10% off. I also buy mangoes in bulk and save a few dollars that way. You can also get discounted prices on overly ripe fruits and veggies. Simply freeze that produce and add to smoothies, soups and stir-frys later on! If these options don't seem available at your regular grocery stores, just ask the employees about buying bulk and buying overly ripe produce.

- Shop around; compare prices in stores and between stores. Sometimes different places have different prices, and sometimes there is a huge difference between organic and non-organic (often organic is double the price here, so I have to decide what is most important to get organic, and what I will compromise on). Check out this list to see what is best bought organic.

- Keep updated with your local grocery stores on sales, customer appreciation days, and discounts. I get email flyers that let me know when my fave food stores are having sales, and what specific produce is on sale every month.

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ARUGULA BASIL SALAD with SWEET CORN, RED BEANS, LEMON + SPICES


Hey, baby. How you been? I've been makin' salad.

I was in the garden with my mom today a few weeks ago and we were looking at all the edibles we have growing. She noticed the arugula should be picked so my fate was sealed: lunch was to be arugula salad. I also picked some basil, cilantro, and cherry tomatoes. I cannot really take much credit for all this wonderful food we have blooming in our yard - momma Nancy does it all, and I reap the bounty. Hehe. The night before, I was making my dinner which was a bowl of red beans and sweet corn, when my partner and I decided we were gonna go OUT for dinner (at this cool veg place called Tera V Burger). So I threw my food in the fridge - figuratively - and headed off. Thus the following day I had that to add to my greens and tomatoes! It was perfect. I sprinkled on some lemon juice, antioxidant omega oil blend, agave syrup, salt, cumin, coriander, sunflower seeds, and love. The result was pure deliciousness. I wish I had made more but I was going for vegan tacos with my friends later that night so we could all laugh hysterically together and slap each other before I went away for 3 weeks.

Note: I do not eat out every night, but it's summer and hey - I'm a wild child (sarcasm). Usually I prefer to be a frugal ferret and only go out once a month or so. Save money yay! I will have to be even more of a thrifty homo sapien once I move in with Jack since Vancouver is LITERALLY the most expensive city in the world to live in. Great.

Back to the recipe! Honestly, this salad is so simple and so tasty. It made me remember why I love salad so much. It makes you feel nourished and connected to the earth, especially when you pick most of it from your own backyard. I haven't been eating enough greens lately and this was the yummiest wake up call I could have received. Eat your greens! Eat this salad!


ARUGULA BASIL SALAD with SWEET CORN, RED BEANS, LEMON + SPICES

Salad:
2 cups arugula
1/2 cup basil 
1/2 cup cilantro
2 tablespoon sunflower seeds
1/2 cup halved cherry tomatoes 
1 cup red beans
1 cup sweet corn 

Dressing:
1 teaspoon maple syrup
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon antioxidant omega oil blend
Pinch of Himalayan salt
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon coriander 

Throw it all together, let it sit for a few minutes so the flavours develop and the leaves soften, then chomp! Note: you can really use whatever you have lying around to make the dressing (and salad too, for that matter). All you need is a sweet component, a creamy component, and a tangy component. 

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NUEZ FRESH NUT MILKS + A BLUEBERRY SMOOTHIE RECIPE


I was really excited last week when my mom returned from the farmers market and proceeded to tell me about a new vendor who was selling freshly made nut milks with simple ingredients just like we make them at home; raw, organic, fair-trade ingredients like nuts, cacao, and filtered water. I visited the farmers market yesterday to buy some heirloom tomatoes and apples and then saw the stand for the milk people! After walking over we - Jack and I - met a lovely young woman who seemed just as enthusiastic about milking nuts as I am (thank goodness there's more than one of us). We sampled a plain almond milk and it honestly tasted exactly like what my mom and I whip up in the kitchen. She kindly gave me a couple bottles to try - date almond and cacao hazelnut - and we enjoyed them on their own as well as in a smoothie (recipe below). It's great to see a company doing this right now because as the market demand for dairy-free milks is rising steadily, the brands you find in the grocery aisles often have ingredients I don't particularly want to consume even if they are vegan; added sugar, stabilizers, "natural flavours"... although they probably aren't harmful, they certainly aren't healthful! And if they don't need to be in there then I'd prefer they weren't. At the same time, making your own nut milk is becoming a fun trend in itself. Whether this is because other people aren't stoked about the extra ingredients in mainstream grocery store non-dairy milks, or they just want to try out what homemade nut milk tastes like, I think it's awesome. 

I also think that is where Nuez nut milks come in. Their mission is to "create the best tasting, purest, raw, organic and fair trade nut milk". Their recipes are just what you make in your own house, so I think they are an excellent choice if you want to try out this kind of whole food, non-dairy milk instead of the conventional brands. If it's in your budget, go ahead and add these to your grocery list every week! If you'd prefer to eventually get into the habit of making your own, I still think this is a great place to start. 

They make their nut milks in Delta, BC and sell them in Vancouver area farmers markets. They sell 1 litre jars of nut milk for around $8.00. You can find them on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and their beautiful main website. If you're not in Vancouver - and I know most of you aren't - try researching and exploring your own area for farmers markets and vendors that sell freshly made, organic nut milks with whole food ingredients. You might be surprised at what you find. Often I receive emails from people asking how to become or stay vegan in their small town, and wondering how and where they should eat out. I always type in the name of their region to Happy Cow and usually find there is at least one vegan or vegetarian restaurant there! At sometimes an organic grocery store or market as well. 


BLUEBERRY SMOOTHIE

1/2 cup frozen blueberries
3 bananas
2 cups Nuez date almond milk

Blend. Mmm. Serves one. 

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OVERCOMING DISORDERED EATING + STAYING VEGAN ON YOUR PERIOD

Every. Freaking. Month. Momma Nature visits my my house and is all like "Hey, I have something for you, darlin': it's kinda bloody and painful... but it's totally natural and healthy!" Ugh. Fine. I will deal with it because it means everything is working in there [my body]. This post is about being and staying vegan while on your period. But first I will be sharing my own history of body image issues which resulted in me losing my period, and how I got it back - all while being vegan. This is a pretty bulky post compared to my normal ones, but I think every word could prove valuable to you, so please read it all! Let's go.


PART I: BODY IMAGE ISSUES 

When I was younger (13-16), my period wasn't an issue at all. I hardly even noticed it; no cramps, no back pain, super light flow, etc. When I became vegan at 16 years old, it stayed the same. Then I got into raw food when I was about 17 and I started getting really obsessive and strict about what I ate. I exercised for about an hour every day but thought I could survive on just a few pieces of fruit. I loved how it made me feel at first, but eventually I started becoming weak and getting constant head aches. I remember my mom being worried, my parents saying I had to eat more, going to school with just a sliced mango and strawberries for lunch and wishing I could eat what my friends were having. I became underweight and I stopped getting my period... for eight months. At the time, I was still in my "RAW FOOD IS THE ONLY HEALTHY DIET" mindset so I was happy to say goodbye to the uterus gunk and slight discomfort its shedding brought every 28 days. Of course, I look back now and wanna slap myself in the face. Getting our monthly flow is a sign that our bodies are functioning normally. If your period stops - but not because you're pregnant - it is a serious red alert that something is wrong; usually it means that you do not weigh enough and/or you are not consuming enough calories. At this point, I still wanted to lose weight; I didn't think I was thin enough. Why? Because the bodies I wanted to look like were the photoshopped, perfectly toned ones in magazines and other forms of media. Read this post from Janurary 2012 where I try to hide my guilt about eating a sandwich. Yeah, it got bad.

I didn't stop and think for a second that every body is different, and they are ALL EQUALLY beautifulit. It took me a long time to accept that my ideal and healthy body weight doesn't look like all the women's on TV. I have learned that when I eat the healthiest I can, and live the best I can: my body is curvy. Even though I am eating clean most of the time and exercising almost every day, I am not particularly lean, I don't have a thigh gap, and I do have cellulite! SO WHAT. I love my body now, because it is the body that living well has given me. You should love yourself no matter what you look like, because at the end of the day the very specific body types we idolize are never intrinsically beautiful; they change with time and culture (a few hundred years ago, this was the epitome of beauty). Even now I sometimes wonder: what am I doing wrong? I eat all the right foods, I work out all the time... but I don't look like her! Then I remember that I am not doing ANYTHING wrong; human bodies simply vary as much as our personalities. Why WOULD every one of us have the same body? No reason, because there's this little thing called genetic variation. If every one of is lived the exact same lifestyle, we'd still all end up with different-looking bodies. It's nature, babe. So live healthy, eat enough (of wholesome, plant foods), get sweaty sometimes, and embrace whatever body that lifestyle gives you, because it's damn sexy.

Celebrate it. Work it. Love yourself. This goes for all humans because you better believe that men have problems with body image that are just as damaging. These days when I think about what beauty and sexiness mean to me, I think about ability and not appearance. I can push my body to do half-marathons, one legged squats, push ups, and whatever else I want - and that is one of the best feelings as well as a major motivation for me to love a healthy lifestyle so much. Exercise makes me FEEL GOOD. Being fit - however that may look on your body - is freedom. I've moved past caring about what I LOOK like, now I realize all that matters to me is what I can DO with this gorgeous body.

It took me a fair amount of time (most of a year) to realize that losing my period and feeling weak all the time was not sustainable or good for me. I wasn't happy anymore. Gradually I began incorporating cooked foods like steamed broccoli and tofu back into my diet, WITHOUT feeling guilty about it. And eventually I was eating a normal, whole foods vegan diet again. I had gained back weight, had energy, and felt strong. This when my period returned. Unfortunately, it sucked. It came back more painful than it had ever been, with a heavier flow, cramps, and lots of back pain. I'd have trouble sleeping and I'd get headaches. I thought: "Dang, this must be what everyone else complains about!" I thought I was finally getting a regular period. Maybe not... It stayed pretty painful for about a year but I reflect on that now and realize that it was because that entire time I was in a very stressful relationship. Stress has a major effect on your hormones. When that relationship ended, so did the excessively painful periods. Now my period really IS normal; it lasts about 5-6 days, I can tell when it's coming because my lower back gets sore, the first 2 days I have back pain and crazy emotions, but after that it's smooth rolling, my flow is light and cramps are unusual. I guess you could say I have a healthy period, but it's on the light side, and I like to think this is because I eat clean and vegan. Processed, refined foods like meat, dairy, sugar and flour can really eff up your menstruation. If you aren't vegan already but your period sucks, I would definitely recommend trying to eat more whole foods and see how that changes things (eating more whole foods is actually a good idea for basically everyone though, just saying).

I see my period now as a time to celebrate myself. I love to research what is going on in my body during this time. It's pretty darn amazing and I think all us should be proud of what we go through 12 times every year. But that's just the feminist in me speaking. If you went through the same lame sex education system I did, you probably have no clue what is goin' down during your period. Also - another feminist outburst - school doesn't teach us #$%& about our genitals, and the word "clitoris" in our society can be paralleled to "Voldemort" in the Harry Potter series: people are scared to say it. If you don't know where or what your clit is, PLEASE find out. It's gonna change everything.


PART II: STAYING VEGAN ON YOUR PERIOD

Here's what ya really came for. I am writing this post because when I am on my period every month, I sometimes will crave foods that are not vegan. Usually it's eggs, organ meats or chicken. Ew, right? Please don't hate me or freak out. It should go without saying that I would not and will not eat these foods. A meal isn't worth murder or abuse: this why I am vegan. But I can't deny that I DO get these cravings. I don't feel guilty because I understand it's a physical thing, not a reflection of an inconsistent moral compass or anything like that. It means my body just wants something that those animal foods have in high quantities, but that doesn't mean plant foods don't also have that something my body is craving. Yesterday night I REALLY wanted a plate of chicken. I thought it meant I needed protein, but eating a package of tofu did not sound appealing at the time. I recalled chicken - and meat in general - is high in iron. I added some Vega powder to my smoothie and ate some iron-rich foods for dinner and the cravings went away. Done.

My point is: when you crave non-vegan foods on your period, it is because your body wants whatever those foods are rich in. Usually it's protein, iron, or B vitamins. You know how we all go mad for chocolate when it's that time of month? That is because cocoa is high in iron and magnesium (but also because we want sugar to make us feel better... that is a whole 'nother story though). I always make sure to eat lots of dark - preferably raw - chocolate during this time. Cacao is even higher in iron and magnesium than cocoa. I honestly see it as a health supplement just like taking a vitamin in the morning. I also make sure to have a B-complex regularly. And I eat lots of protein! Beans, tempeh, tofu, Gardein products if I feel like it. If you are craving sweets, eat as much fruit as you want and make or buy dark chocolate, or make any of the raw vegan desserts I have on this blog. If you are craving eggs, dairy, or meat: take a B vitamin, and eat greens, tofu, beans, figs and nuts. Consider buying a nutritional supplement mix like Vega; it provides a terrific amount of iron, protein, B vitamins and so much more. Obviously getting this stuff from whole plant foods is ideal, but I see my period as a special time where supplementing really comes in handy.

That brings me to a very important point: I LISTEN TO MY BODY. I have made the mistake of trying to keep my normal diet while on my period, even though I really don't feel like it. What do I mean by this? My body is like: "Em, you aren't even hungry... just don't eat dinner!" while my brain is like "You gotta eat, girl! You always have a huge dinner bowl of steamed veggies and rice!" I have learned that listening to just my body works best while on my period. The last few cycles when I have been bleeding (including this one), I have had almost no appetite but am endlessly thirsty. So I drink as much water as I want, and have a smoothie for dinner instead of the big, lightly cooked meal I usually enjoy. But it's just as plausible that I could have a massive appetite, so in that case I would devour as much food as I wanted. Keep in mind drinking lots of water is important even if you aren't thirsty. And if you are hungry: eat as much as you want, but make sure to eat healthy food! Don't cram down processed junk but instead make a huge meal of lightly cooked veggies with whole grains, bread or noodles. Or whatever you feel like. If you are craving pizza: by all means, make a pizza! Buy or make a whole wheat or gluten-free crust, then top it off with a healthy vegan sauce and tons of veggies and dairy-free cheese. Seriously, whatever you are craving, there is a healthy vegan version. Just Google whatever it is with "vegan" in front of it. Vegan ice cream is a thing, and it's SOO GOOD. If you aren't hungry: I'd still suggest getting in enough calories to keep a stable metabolism for when your appetite returns. Smoothies, juices or soups are best for this because they don't take a lot of effort to consume.

Well, that wraps this up! Please comment on this post to let me know your thoughts or questions. Much love! Stay fertile, my friends.

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BLUEBERRY VANILLA CREME CAKE


Eat local! The inspiration for this recipe was the bushes in my family's front yard. They are of the blueberry variety, in case ya didn't catch that. I have shared this truth before but I will say it again now: I live for the blueberries in our yard. All year I patiently wait for them to flower, bloom, grow and ripen, salivating at the memories of their sweet, unique flavours and juicy insides. Finally, when the time is right - I strike. For those delicious 3 months every 365 days, I turn into a herbivorous beast. The neighbours have seen me at all hours grabbing every little blue jewel I see and greedily stuffing it in my mouth. My family knows that if they want any they need to pick them when I am not around and hide them away from my sight... otherwise they will be stolen and inhaled... by me. 

What I am trying to say is that I love blueberries. Probably too much (NO THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS LOVING FRUIT TOO MUCH OKAY).

Another thing I love - and I know that you all love - is cake. Raw, vegan cake. Make it creamy and fill it with fresh, organic, local fruit? Life is good. This cake is good. We're all sexy people. This song exists. What is there to complain about? Can I complain about my life being too blessed? (Technically-speaking, yes, but I'm not THAT lame). Oh my god I just remembered that I have a jar of Nutiva coconut butter in the kitchen... I could eat that stuff with a spoon. Wait a sec - I already did that yesterday. This post having a specific theme? Forget it. It's not happening. What is happening? Me sitting at my computer trying to concentrate on writing a decent blog post for you guys - it's not happening - but being distracted by the house music and disco playlist I have bumping... and refusing to turn it off because it's too groovy. Fun fact: I watched Saturday Night Fever a few nights ago and it was too funny. The SHOES people wore! Honestly, John Travolta in 2 inch wooden platforms. I have the soundtrack to that movie on vinyl. Bee Gees, anyone? I love seeing movies from past decades and trying to get into the headspace folks were in when the movie was new in their time. It blows my mind every time I consider how much we are shaped by the current culture, yet culture is so fluid! I look forward to the future when the cultural norm will be to live environmentally-friendly and cruelty-free. 

Yes, I did just promote a vegan message via a disco movie. 


BLUEBERRY VANILLA CREME CAKE

Crust:
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup dates

Creme:
2 cups cashews (preferably soaked in water for 4 hours or so)
1 teaspoon vanilla powder
Juice from 1/2 lemon
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup coconut oil
1 cup water
2 cups blueberries

To make the crust: process the oats into flour in a blender or food processor. If using a food processor, add the dates and process until it all begins to stick together. If using a blender, dump the flour into a bowl and add the dates, mashing everything together with your hands until it begins to stick together. You really gotta get in there. Press the "dough" into the bottom of a springform pan or adjustable pan (mine was approximately 7 inches). Put in the fridge.

To make the creme: blend everything together - except the blueberries - until smooth and creamy; like thick yogurt. Pour half of this mixture onto your crust, then sprinkle on 1 cup of blueberries. Add the remaining blueberries to the mixture still in your blender, and blend until smooth. Pour this on top of your first layer and blueberries. Put in the fridge overnight, then decorate with whatever you like, slice, and enjoy! This can go in the freezer too. 

Note: If you wanna make this lower fat, use less coconut oil and then add dates instead. 

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A GUIDE TO HEALTHY LIVING THAT I AM EXCITED ABOUT

If you couldn't tell by the title of this post; I am excited. Why? Because today I am sharing an amazing program that teaches you to how to be the healthiest you can be from Beyond Basics Health Coaching (BBHC). I would like to first say a couple things though.

1) This program is designed for beginners in mind. It has been created specifically for people who are interested and serious about evolving into a more organic, wholesome, plant-based diet and lifestyle, and looking to stay that way long term. If you are curious about becoming vegan, vegetarian, or simply healthier but don't know where to start - this program will change your life because it is exactly what you need. Of course if you are already confident and happy with your diet and lifestyle, this program would still be very useful (I thought knew everything there was to know about eating plants but after just a few minutes into one video I learned something new)!

2) I don't wanna make this post sound like a gimmicky, sneaky way to get money from you guys; although I am an affiliate with BBHC that I will be talking about, I am hardly interested in financial profits. I want this to benefit YOU. I hope you know by now that I have pretty high standards for the products and companies I choose to publicly support. This is no exception. I am super excited to be sharing this program precisely because I know it can help so many. I get endless emails from people who want to start living a healthier, more plant-based lifestyle but they don't know where to begin. Now I can simply direct them to this program because it has all the advice I would provide myself, plus much more.

Okay, let's get into this!


INTRO
I would like to introduce you to Beyond Basics Health Coaching, run by Mary Pietras, who has trained holistic nutrition in Europe, has her BS in nutrition and fitness, is a certified holistic practitioner, and has almost completed her masters in nutrition. I have had several lovely talks with Mary on the phone and she is an amazing, inspiring woman who genuinely wants you to find your best health and - most importantly - be informed, educated and prepared to live healthy long term. We both believe knowledge is the key to success (and we agree on just about everything else too), so learning the right information is paramount to achieving long term wellness and happiness. Mary is a personal health coach and through her program she has had such great success with her clients that she decided to create a video series of her health coaching sessions so that no matter where you are, you can benefit from all the useful information she has professionally compiled. I have watched many of the videos myself and love the personal, educational tone.

WHAT IS THE PROGRAM?
What is this program all about? It is a series of 140 educational and cooking videos where Mary shows you how to - in essence - live healthy from the ground up. To be more specific, you will learn: how to make these changes fun and easy for you and the family, about new kitchen appliances (blender, food processor, juicer, spiralizer), how to satisfy your cravings with healthy foods and learn WHY you crave certain foods, storing and prepping food, replacing bad habits with healthy ones, how to find the best produce in your area, eating healthy in social settings, and the benefits of making your own meals. 

If that's not enough, you will also become educated on: the emotional, physical and psychological connections you have to your food, the benefits of super foods and how to use them, handling stress, adding in more veggies to meals with minimal effort, GMO's, organic foods, acidity vs. alkalinity in the body, gluten and wheat, eating healthy on a budget, making the best smoothies, detecting chemicals in your food, learning how to read food labels, making replacements for cheese, meat, bread, pasta, and more, and how to make this a successful long term lifestyle where YOU are in control. Finally, Mary provides a huge resource list of books, documentaries and websites (in fact, she found me because she wanted to include my blog and recipes in that list)!



You can watch the videos at whatever pace you feel is comfortable, although Mary has it sectioned to span 22 weeks if you prefer to follow that. You have the option of choosing a support buddy online to go through this program with. Mary has a private Facebook group that you will gain access to, and where you can ask any questions that may arise. There are weekly challenges and goals, and Mary will help you figure out how to reach your goal, or why you didn't manage to meet it if that is the case.

I have watched several of the program videos myself, and that is exactly why I am so excited to be sharing it with you. If you have the desire to live a healthier life, but are unsure of where to begin, then I honestly think this program is the key to your future success. If you are already feeling good about where you are, but want to take your health and diet to the next level, this program will also prove very beneficial to you. Is the information in this program available for free elsewhere on the internet? Probably. But no where else will you find it all compiled so neatly and with such a personal yet professional attitude and specific plan in mind. Think about it like this: I go to university and I pay quite a lot of money for it. Is all the information in my textbooks, lectures, and tutorials available for free on the web and other places? Definitely. But I pay for university because it is taught by experienced professionals and my courses have clear and guided direction and goals. This is the same situation (except this program is not expensive at all, especially considering what you are getting).

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? 
The big question. What are you paying to get 140 educational and cooking videos spanning all the topics I just talked about above and more, with information that will take you from ground zero to being one of the most knowledgeable people on well-being and health around, all taught by a successful, experienced and certified holistic practitioner who has been teaching nutrition for years? $150. 



This really is an amazing price considering the endless value of what you are paying for. The question for you is: what is your health worth? Mine is priceless! So $150 is a steal in my opinion, and I really mean that. You are basically getting 22 weeks of personal health coaching! If you want to purchase this program, simply click here and follow the simple instructions. I have said what I set out to say, and with that I wish you the best day and hope this program is something you are interested in! Much love, Em.

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SUMMER BERRY + CASHEW CREAM PIE


I made this pie for my aunt and uncle's anniversary when my family and I stayed with them in Minnesota during the past weeks. Read and see more about that trip (and a different one I went on right before) by clicking here.  Everyone enjoyed this recipe - including the grandparents - and they were all quite surprised that the only ingredients were fruit and nuts! I was able to whip this up easily in an afternoon and let it set in the fridge so the flavours would be able to develop in time for dessert that evening. I also didn't have a food processor with me, so this was made with just a blender and my two hands! It's is a perfect summer treat since it takes advantage of what is in season here: berries! It is also refreshing and not too sweet. Serve with extra berries. Extra berries = extra fun. Every time. It would be lovely with some mint sprigs too. 


SUMMER BERRY + CASHEW CREAM PIE

Crust:
2 cups rolled oats
1 1/2 cups dates

Cream:
2 cups cashews
2 tablespoons coconut oil
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Pinch Himalayan salt
Water, as needed

Topping:
Sliced strawberries
Blueberries
Anything else you like 

To make the crust: process the oats into flour in a blender or food processor. If you're using a food processor, add in the dates and process until it all sticks together. If you're using a blender, dump the oat flour into a bowl and combine the dates and oat flour together with your hands until it all is evenly gooey. This will take a few minutes and you will have to get your hands a bit dirty. Press this "dough" into a pie dish and put in the fridge.

To make the cream: blend everything together until it's smooth and thick, adding water as needed. You want it to be the texture of a thick yogurt. Pour this into your crust and leave in the fridge for three hours or preferably overnight. Decorate with berries and enjoy!

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THAI PEANUT TRUFFLES + A COOKBOOK REVIEW


Today I am sharing a special recipe from Amy Lyons' amazing raw vegan cookbook: Fragrant Vanilla Cake. Amy has a blog by the same name and it was one of the first sources of raw vegan dessert inspiration for me. She has the most glorious cakes, cupcakes and other sweet recipes that are put together like they're in a professional bakery. I was honoured when she asked me to review her book. Every page has a unique and creative recipe, along with at least one photo. There are instructions for everything from these Thai Peanut Truffles (that I adapted into cups because I am supremely lazy) to banana oat pancakes to red velvet cupcakes! Colours abound when your ingredients are raw from the plant kingdom. If you're into raw vegan desserts and you love to experiment with new and fun flavours, get this book! If you're not sure about it, check out Amy's blog, Fragrant Vanilla Cake, and make a few of her recipes to see if you want more. 

I chose to make a recipe called Thai Peanut Truffles. Of course as mentioned above, I didn't wanna wait for the peanut butter mixture to harden (in order to roll into balls), so I just poured everything into cupcake molds. They're Thai because the peanut butter mixture also has lime, coconut, chili and ginger! Cover that all up with raw salted chocolate and you've got me drooling. My dad gave this his seal of approval! Actually he just said, 'yum!', but I'm choosing to leave the definition of "seal of approval" vague. 


THAI PEANUT TRUFFLES  
From Fragrant Vanilla Cake by Amy Lyons

Filling:
1/3 cup raw coconut butter (not oil!), liquified

1/2 cup raw peanut butter
1 tsp pure vanilla extract

3 Tbsp fresh lime juice
1 tsp chili flakes
1 Tbsp very finely minced fresh ginger (or 2 tsp dried)
2 Tbsp raw coconut nectar or maple syrup


Raw chocolate:
1/2 cup raw coconut oil, warmed to liquid
3/4 cup raw cacao powder
1/4 cup raw coconut nectar or maple syrup
a pinch sea salt

To make the filling, whisk together ingredients until smooth. Place in the freezer to firm up enough to roll into balls, about 10 minutes. 
Meanwhile, to make the chocolate, whisk together all ingredients until smooth.  Once the filling is set, dip each truffle into the chocolate and place on a foil lined sheet pan.  Place back into the freezer until chocolate is set, about 15 minutes. Store in the fridge.

(Alternatively you can do what I did and simply pour each mixture into cupcake paper molds, then set in the fridge or freezer until solid. Either way, these babies are delish.)

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TWO ROAD TRIPS, BACK TO BACK

This post is more of a photo essay than anything else; it documents the two road trips I just had the pleasure of going on. First I went to a small Northern town called Wells with my partner, where his grandparents have a lovely 50's era cabin. We spent a blissful, quiet week there before I had to rush home and leave on an 11-day trip with my parents and little brother across the northern United States to get to a family reunion in Minnesota! I benefitted from both of these little escapes, and it was important that I got away from my everyday routine for a short time. I hope you enjoy the photos I captured along the way.

The following group of photos was taken in and around the "cabin" in Wells. The lighting was always picturesque so I stayed busy with my camera for a couple days. Since no one lives here permanently anymore the house wasn't in the best of shape so we spent more than a day cleaning it and mowing the huge lawn. By time we left it was feeling more like a home again. The building needs a bit of work internally, too. The plumbing was on its last legs (we didn't have running water for the last few days) and the oven didn't work, but we managed with a slow cooker and patience. We found an old record player and several boxes of records, so we immediately hooked that up and enjoyed vintage tunes while we cleaned, cooked and relaxed every day. There was a lot of Joan Baez, which I appreciated. Jacks' grandpa has good taste. There was also an abundant forest of wild flowers all over the lawn, before Jack mowed them all down I picked a few bouquets and decorated the house with them. As far as food goes we usually had fruit smoothies (there was a blender there, THANK THA LAWD) or hand squeezed citrus juice during the day, along with bread and peanut butter or hummus. We found some amazing rye bread in a nearby town and it was AMAZING with avocado spread on top, with a pinch of salt and lime juice. For dinner I would make varying one pot meals in the slow cooker consisting of potatoes, avocado, yams, broccoli, curry powder and rice or quinoa, often with chill peanut sauce.


This next set of photos was taken in the old - seemingly ancient - bakery that is also on the property. Jack's grandparents bought this piece of land long after the bakery closed down, so even then it was beginning to become decrepit. I believe it was built in the late 40's or early 50's. It was chock-full of dusty, rusty, and fascinating objects. Old baking bans, gardening and farming tools, suitcases, bottles, newspapers, typewriters and more were stacked up in corners and creaky rooms. I very much enjoyed wandering through it and imagining what this place was like in it's active days. I also loved the smell. Perhaps that sounds creepy but I simply adore the smell of mustiness! It's the smell of nostalgia, in my eyes (or more accurately, my nose). 


And finally we come to the pictures I took when I travelled across the States with my parents and younger brother. I have to be honest and say that I hardly took any photos. This is primarily because we had to get there and back in almost no time, so we didn't have the luxury of stopping at every scenic spot, or exploring the unknown gems hidden beyond the highway. And regardless of that, when we weren't in the car getting there or getting home, we were spending time with family and relaxing on my aunt and uncles deck! Nevertheless, I managed to snap a few. These were taken mostly in Montana, and the pie is what I made for my aunt and uncles anniversary (yes, I will be posting the recipe soon).

I love the landscape of the northern United States, and it is almost effortless to imagine the first nations peoples living in the land, only 200 years ago. Now the land is divided into cattle and buffalo ranches, which made me pretty damn depressed. I wanted to let every animal go free, but of course - as my parents wisely reminded me - that isn't the answer. The answer is to stop the demand for their murder by becoming vegan. It's gotta be from the grassroots up. Tell corporations the world you want to live in, by buying or boycotting products that support or hurt that world, respectively. Meat is murder. I don't want to live in a world where murder is allowed. So I am vegan.

Okay there's my little rant. Whenever there is an opportunity I WILL talk about the benefits of living a cruelty-free life. Aaand that ends this post. Please let me know what you thought of this post in the comment section or elsewhere (I'm all over social media like coconut oil on a hot body). It's different to what I normally do, but if you're into it, I will do more like this!