Scandi Home: Interviews

Greetings from Paris, mes amis!

While my computer has decided to take a long (and unindented) holiday, I'm forced to put all my picture posts on hold and instead focus on getting the message across through mere words. Fortunately, I have another inspirational friend to introduce you today!

Sayward Rebhal, who's blog The Bonzai Aphrodite, was one the key motivators for me to go 100% vegan some 6 months ago. Sayward's down-to-earth, yet well-written posts were not only entertaining, but also informative. She has since put blogging on hold, but continues to inspire and spread the vegan message through freelance articles and of course her book, Vegan Pregnancy Survival Guide.

I talked to Sayward about her vegan journey, her book and raising her most adorable son. Hope you enjoy!

What inspired you to become a vegan?

Well actually (unfortunately?), I wouldn’t say that I was inspired to become vegan. It was a total accident. I had just spent over a year disentangling myself from cigarettes, and I’d used crappy food as a crutch in order to do so. When I finally emerged victorious from the nicotine battle royale, I decided to get back on track by doing a “cleanse”. I thought going vegan for a week would do just the trick.

Well of course, within that single week I realized just how easy and fun it was to be vegan, and how amazing the food was, and how good I felt. And at the end of that week I just couldn’t, knowing what I know, keeping my integrity in tact, imagine going back. I remember thinking, “Damn, I wish I could ‘un-know’ this!” But I couldn’t. So I went forward.

Removing animal products essentially lifted the scaffolding that my cognitive dissonance was structured around. For the first time I could see clearly, and that’s when all the Animal Rights stuff came flooding in (and quickly!). I’m proof that someone can stumble into veganism “for health”, and end up a committed ethical vegan.

What do you love about being a vegan?

Everything! Is that a cop-out answer? Okay, how about this . . .

What I love most about being vegan is the sense of inner calm – I’d call it peace – that came over me once I had shed that cognitive dissonance that I mentioned above. In order for me to be completely centered, and completely confident, then I have to be living my Truth. Authenticity is everything and for me, I wasn’t being authentic when my meals weren’t reflecting my ideals. But now, I get to practice nonviolence and feel like I’m making a difference, three times a day, every day (plus snack times too!) That’s a lot of opportunity to feel empowered. And that’s a lot to love.

Your book “Vegan Pregnancy Survival Guide” was published last year. Tell us a little bit about the book.

Well basically, I wrote the book I wish I’d had when I was pregnant. It’s got everything you need to carry out a healthy and happy vegan pregnancy, from nutritional information, to practical tips, to social strategies, and on. But it’s also so much more than just an instructional manual. I really tried to focus on providing support. I think a lot of vegans feel very isolated, and those feelings are magnified during pregnancy. So I wanted to talk to women like their best friend would, with upbeat encouragement. I wanted them to have someone completely on their side, right there saying “Yes, you’re kicking ass! You got this!”

What advice would you give to women planning a vegan pregnancy?

Almost exactly the same advice I’d give my non-vegan friends, actually: Hug your partner. A lot. Go on tons of dates. Eat dinner together and look each other in the eyes while you talk about grown-up things. This will all change soon, so enjoy it. Have sex all the time!

Sleep as much as you possibly can. Especially when it comes to sleeping in. That’s the gold.

Spend entire days laying on your couch, relaxing. Do nothing. No really, I promise, just do it.

Spend less time stressing about your pregnancy, and more time planning what kind of parent you want to be. Read 1 or 2 pregnancy books but then move on. Start reading parenting books now, because you won’t have time to read them once you’re a parent. Most importantly, do everything you can to incorporate “flexibility” into your very core. Be prepared to bend. And to compromise. Plan on it. Embrace it, even. Parenting tears apart everything you thought you “knew for sure”. If you fight it, it’s the hardest thing you’ll ever do. If you ride it, it’s so much damn fun. Oh and also, B12 and DHA!

What are your future plans? Any upcoming projects you’d like to share with us?

I have huge plans, all of which seem to start with B’s – books, businesses, blogging. Not necessarily in that order. I like to dream big, and I’m always dreaming. At the moment though, I’m totally focused on being a mom. Okay, maybe not totally focused . . . but that’s top secret, sorry!

What are your experiences of raising a vegan child?

My son is 2 and just started pre-preschool, and he’s beginning to notice that there are things that other kids eat which he has never seen before. The other day, just out of curiosity, I asked him, “Honey, are we vegetarians, or omnivores, or vegans?” and he delighted me by squealing, “We’re vegans!” So I continued, “And what does ‘vegan’ mean?” and he said “We don’t eat animals!” (yes, my eyes got teary and my heart just about burst). Finally I asked him, “And why don’t we eat animals?” This one stumped him. He thought long and hard and then he replied, “Because we eat food.” Ha!

Right now I’m working on teaching him to ask “Is it vegan?” if somebody offers him something. We visited a farm sanctuary recently, and he was just in awe. He’s been talking about the animals ever since. I know he doesn’t make the connection yet, that those animals are the same things that other people are eating. But we’re lucky, because almost every single person we hang out with is vegan (or vegetarian). He just hasn’t been exposed to much meat-eating yet. But I know he will, and I’m trying to prepare him for that. It’s a blessing and a curse I guess. I’m afraid he’s in for a very rude awakening, some day.

Besides following a vegan diet, what are some simple things one can do to promote a compassionate and cruelty-free lifestyle?

Buying secondhand as much as possible. May sound surprising, but here me out. Clothes, furniture, home goods, vehicles – everything! – is manufactured using animal products and in ways which destroying the earth. And it’s all unnecessary. There’s already so much amazing stuff! So buying secondhand just takes your dollar (and thus your support) completely out of that equation.

What tips do you have for people wanting to make the switch to a vegan diet?

Go as fast or as slowly as you feel comfortable. It’s not “all or nothing”, so if you just can’t imagine giving up your beloved cream cheese or your weekend latte or whatever, well then don’t! Give up everything except that thing. Focus on making the changes that are fun and that excite you – trying new restaurants, cooking new foods, and learning about the awesomeness of farm animals.

A few practical things:

Make sure you’re eating enough. Plant foods are bulky and they’re nutrient-dense but calorie-light. You’ll have to eat bigger portions than you’re used to.

Make sure you get enough protein and enough fat. Carb-itarians burn out quickly. Finally, find a community of like-minded-people. Visit the veggie restaurant in your city, or find a vegan potluck to attend, or search for a local group on MeetUp.com. If there isn’t anything in your city, then go online. There are tons of blogs and websites full of friendly folks who can give you support. Also, listening to podcasts can be really helpful for keeping you feeling inspired. I like Vegetarian Food For Thought and Our Hen House.

Who is your vegan inspiration?

I draw immense inspiration from the cumulative rad-ness of the vegan community at large. There are SO MANY amazing folks out there, each contributing in their own way, and it all adds up to light this beautiful fire of hope – right under my ass. Ha! But really, if you want something to keep you motivated, just tap into the vegan movement around the world. Every single person – from the elderly pacifist petting their rescued kitty on their couch, to the rowdy activist leading the protest with a bullhorn – is adding to the incredible tapestry of Veganism. And it’s so powerful!

What is your favourite vegan meal to prepare?

This is a hard question. We go through phases around here, and it’s always changing. Let’s see . . . recently the little family has been digging on tacos. Hard shells, not soft. Filled with homemade refried beans, smoky grilled onions and peppers, black olives, green salsa, and lots of avocado. Heaven!

Thank you, Sayward!

May 31, 2012

Inspirational Friends: Elenore from Earthsprout

Greetings from the Arctic Circle, my friends!

We finally arrived here on Monday morning, after travelling for almost 30 hours. Needless to say we've been jet lagged, but very excited at the same time. It feels so good to be home. Spring has arrived even on these altitudes, but it is still early days and we even had a few snowflakes falling down yesterday. I've taken a few happy snaps here and there and will share those with you a bit later.

Whilst we are busy getting everything organised for the wedding, I've invited another fabulously inspiring friend as a guest here on my blog. I've been a huge fan of Elenore's blog for quite some time now and her endless positive energy has been both addictive and contagious. I am so honoured to have Elenore here to answer a few questions about her raw food journey and share yet another delicious recipe with us.

Thank you Elenore and much love back to you!

PS. The giveaway entries close today, May 31. I will announce the winners of Sarah's e-book later this week.

I just fell in love. With myself. And yes, it had everything to do with the Liquorice toffee on the picture above. I might even have to go get me a ring or something.

If you are familiar with me or with Earthsprout then you know I tend to rave about all kinds of Greenylicious health boosting things but quite frankly it is Raw chocolate and leafy veggie-focused most of the time. So now I'm breaking a pattern for Beautiful Maria and all of you Scandi Foodies on this amazingly bright page! I am really happy to get to share these recipes with you (cuz then you´ll fall in love with yourselves too) plus I am crazy glad to be able to help Maria give all her attention to the wedding. I think we all agree that she should, right!?

Now you might be wondering who on earth I am who suddenly popped up here. Well, I am Elenore, your official Tree Hugger and Sassy Health Gal. I run with the wolves and I love long fabulous dresses. I mix the wonders of nature with the latest of knowledge in the world of natural nutrition an I firmly believe in the magic of this Planet. I mean I doubt that the date pits that I throw out in the vegetable garden will grow since I live in Sweden. but still, this Earth is pretty magical indeed. So what I do is that I use my knowledge and inspiration to hopefully make a change in the world. I spread Greenylicious tips and love and crazy dance this whole life through! (More in the interview below)

Fun & Fabulous Facts

So if the earth is magical then of course so is the Liquorice root! Liquorice is derived from a plant part of the pea family which means that Liquorice is a legume and was actually also sold in pharmacies up until the 70´s! I remember the first time I met this root, I was around 6 or 7 year old and I got one to chew on in the health food store. Instant love for sure. It is traditionally used as a mouth refresher so I'm not the only one who likes to chew on it apparently.

There are many studies and many things said about the wondrous root of the Liquorice plant one of them being it´s effect on the hormones of the endocrine system. There are active substances in Liquorice that acts balancing in particularly the bodies of women by adding plant estrogens (phytoestrogens) and lowering the amount of testosterone (the "male" hormone). Based on studies that show this, the liquorice root is commonly used to help balance menstrual irregularities and other problems liked to the hormonal system. I think that is a really good excuse to indulge in these toffee squares at least! That being said, it is not advised to eat more than 50g liquorice per day as it can in access consumption for example rise blood pressure or disrupt the water balance in the body.

Raw Liquorice Toffee with Rhubarb compote

This is one of those ridiculously easy raw dessert recipes that you can create in a few minutes and while the toffee rests in the freezer you have time to make the compote. I know it may seem like the weirdest collision of flavors but I'm telling you. It´s so darn delish! (did I mention it's free from added sugars?) Now go fall in love with yourself!

Raw Liquorice Toffee

(Makes 8 mid sized squares)

165 g prunes

40 g virgin coconut oil, carefully melted in a bowl over hot water

40 g almond flour or ground almonds

2 tsp Raw Liquorice powder
0.5 tsp Himalayan salt

6 drops of anise seed oil

1 tsp Raw Liquorice powder (to dust the toffees with)

1. Add all ingredients to your a food processor and blend thoroughly until it has formed a smooth dough.

2. Press the dough into a a square on a baking sheet, dust with the additional liquorice powder and put in the freezer while you make the rhubarb compote.

3. Cut the toffee in squares and enjoy together with the compote.

Rhubarb Compote

400 g rhubarb, peeled & sliced

170 g apple

0.5 cup water

3 tsp arrowroot powder

10 drops of stevia concentrate

0.5 tsp pure vanilla

1. Add rhubarb, apple and water to a large saucepan and bring to a boil then let it simmer at a low temperature for 10 minutes.

2. Add arrowroot powder, stevia and vanilla and stir until incorporated.

3. Turn of the heat, put on the lid and let it rest for at least 5 minutes.

Assembly

Put a small liquorice square on a pretty plate sprinkle some Himalayan sea salt over it and add some rhubarb compote, decorate with a few mint leaves. EAT!

What inspired you to become a raw, vegan foodie?

Lets start by saying that I am not eating 100% raw but I sure am a raw lover and continuously amazed by how raw food makes me feel. So. Being close to nature and venturing the world of yoga always makes me question eating animals and this was also where it all started. Going completely green might not be for everyone but it sure does resonate with me and my belief that lot´s of veggies = world peace. I know it sounds a bit cheesy but it will continue to be a huge part of my core.

You’re an organic gardener and a raw food chef. Tell us how you got into this kind of a career?

It is actually a funny story but when I tell it is just makes perfect sense. I am all for following your intuition and there was a period of time in my life when I was not sure where I should go next. One day this thought popped into my head that said "let´s create a vegetable garden" and so i did. From that day on everything else kind of followed. Growing vegetables sparked my interest in natural nutrition and when realizing that the veggies are such powerful superheroes, all I wanted to do was to spread the word. Years of education and experience followed, Earthsprout was born and now here I am really glad that I went with my gut feeling. Our intuition rocks!

What tips do you have for people wanting to make the switch to a raw food diet?

I´d say experiment, play, find all sorts of fun inspiration and if you live in an area that have cold seasons, wait for summer to come! Oh, and Raw Food desserts are such a perfect eye opener and definitely have the power to make people want more of the raw stuff!

What is your favourite raw food meal to prepare?

Yesterday I made a raw meal for me and Fabian. Zucchini pasta with tomato sauce and olives, topped off with greens and raw crackers. It made me realize how much I love the simple meals. Pure, Whole and Oh So Tasty!

What are your future plans? Any upcoming projects you’d like to share with us?

Well first and foremost I was thinking I´d save the world... I am part of an AMAZING weekend course called Goddess Boost in July where I´ll whip up some glorious raw foods and speak about my yummy passions. I am really looking forward to that! You should come!

Also I am putting the final touches on the design of my fabulous Nordic Superfood Mix which I am going to launch this summer. This is such a heart project of mine and with it I wish to spread knowledge about the superb superfoods that we have here up north. The Nordic Superfood Mix is exclusively handpicked, extremely powerful and really tasty. If you want to hear more about it or maybe know some place suitable to sell the product, do contact me! I´d love to hear from you!

Hugest thanks to Maria for having me, such an honor (Scandi foodie is Totally Earthsprout Approved)! And all you Scandi Foodie honeys, you are more than welcome to join me on Facebook and Twitter and tell me all about your Greenylicious adventures!

xxx

°° Elenore Earth °°

Sources:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/527708-licorice-root-hormone-imbalance

May 27, 2012

Inspirational Friends: Amanda Rootsey

Hi friends!

We are off to Finland today, but I have prepared a few special treats for you while I'm away. I'm going to introduce you to some of my friends; the people I truly admire for what they represent, what they are doing and how they are inspiring others.

First off is Amanda Rootsey, an eco model and co-founder of Vegan Era, an online portal with information on vegan lifestyle. Please continue to read Amanda's incredible story and make sure to check out Amanda's personal website as well as Vegan Era!

What inspired you to become a vegan?

A few years ago I was vegetarian but I hadn’t quite made the switch to vegan. Then I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and started researching. It was very easy to cut out dairy and any other animal products after reading all of the alarming evidence that links animal protein with all sorts of diseases, including cancer.

What do you love about being a vegan?

It feels right. I love knowing that I’m doing what I can to ensure that I do not harm another being.

Tell us about the concept behind Vegan Era?

Actually my partner and I have been running Vegan Era for about 5 years and it is constantly evolving. Initially we just wanted to share everything that we have learnt along the way and have created lots of free e-books and recipes. While it has always been primarily an information portal, we have also held seminars around Australia, put up “Save the Planet, Be Vegan” billboards around Queensland, hosted a regular 21 Day Live Vegan online program to help people transition, assisted other vegan businesses to develop their online presence and our latest project is the Vegan Card.

Vegan Card is being launched on June 1st!

As part of Vegan Era, you are launching the Vegan Card on June 1^st. What is the Vegan Card and how can it be used?

The Vegan Card is an Australia-wide loyalty card, which gives the card holder discounts at over 60 vegan and vegan-friendly businesses online and around Australia. We have had such an incredible response, both from businesses and from people purchasing the card, and it hasn’t even launched yet! It’s already proven to be a great way to bring the vegan community together and introduce vegans to more businesses that they may not have heard about otherwise.

You are also an eco model. Tell us why it is important to spread the message about sustainable and cruelty-free fashion?

I think it’s important because it’s so easy and affordable to buy fashion these days that we often don’t stop to think about where it actually came from and the effect that supporting cheap and fast fashion has on other people, the planet and animals. Each time we make a purchase we can make a choice to support businesses that are creating their products without using child slave labour, without killing animals, without polluting waterways… as consumers, we have the power to create a better world and demand higher standards. I think the more educated we become and the more we talk about it, the more positive change that we will see in the world. After going through cancer I realized how fragile life is and it made me stop and consider the type of world that we are leaving for future generations. At the rate we are going, there won’t be much left for the kiddies!

Besides following a vegan diet, what are some simple things one can do to promote a compassionate and cruelty-free lifestyle?

There are lots of little things that we can do to tread a little lighter on the planet and be kind to other beings. From choosing beauty and cosmetic labels that do not test on animals and do not use animal products, such as one of my favourites, Adorn Mineral Cosmetics, to buying fair-trade chocolate or shopping at your local organic farmers markets. Not only will you be living a more compassionate and eco-friendly life, but you will also be doing wonders for your health.

What tips do you have for people wanting to make the switch to a vegan diet?

Be gentle with yourself and find some support. At first we can come up with all sorts of obstacles and our family and friends can instil fear and worry about whether it’s the right thing to do. But you will know in your heart that it’s right and once you begin on this journey you feel incredible, physically, mentally and emotionally. If you would like any help at all, please do not hesitate to get in touch via email or sign up for our next 21 Day Live Vegan online program which starts on July 1^st. We provide 24/7 personalised support and try to make it as easy as possible to transition, with weekly meal planners, shopping lists, recipe books, nutritional information, tips on socializing and eating out, vegan beauty and cosmetic information, videos, personal stories, inspirational quotes and LOTS more!

Who is your vegan inspiration?

Oh wow I have a few…I think celebrities like Ellen DeGeneres and Alicia Silverstone are incredible and are showing millions of people that it’s a healthy, positive way to live. Supreme Master Ching Hai is a beautiful spiritual Master who is guiding hundreds of thousands of people to live a compassionate existence in every possible sense and helping people to get in touch with their own inner Master, Buddha Nature or whatever you would like to call it. She is a true inspiration and her teachings make so much sense to me.

What is your favourite vegan meal to prepare?

My favourite, simple meal that I seem to make quite a few times a week is Miso Soup. Sometimes with noodles, sometimes with brown rice, sometimes with tofu sometimes just with loads of veggies – I am totally addicted!

What are your future plans? Any upcoming projects you’d like to share with us?

I’m really looking forward to the launch of the Vegan Card on June 1^st and we are busily working away on the next 21 Day Live Vegan online program which will start on July 1^st. Apart from that, I’ve got a few photoshoots coming up for some gorgeous eco-friendly labels and I am also putting together an Eco-Fashion show for the Sunshine Coast Fashion Festival later in the year.

You can connect with Amanda and find out more here:

www.amandarootsey.com.au

www.veganera.com

Facebook.com/amandarootsey

Twitter.com/amandarootsey

Youtube.com/amandarootsey

Pinterest.com/amandarootsey

All images by Amanda Rootsey

July 08, 2012

Inspirational Friends: Kym and Kelly from Vegan Online + A Winner Announced!

June 27, 2012

Inspirational Friends: Sayward Rebhal

May 31, 2012

Inspirational Friends: Elenore from Earthsprout

May 27, 2012

Inspirational Friends: Amanda Rootsey