November Edit

I can't believe it's November already! October was such a busy month with a road trip to Melbourne, lots of work (in retail we are busy getting ready for Christmas!) and of course all the everyday errands that need to be run as well.

I thought I'd gather up a few stand-outs for me, for the month of October. I can't promise this will be a permanent feature, but I will certainly try and share some of my favourite things more frequently.

In no particular order, here goes.

This blog and the podcast has given me so much energy this month. I had heard of Jess a long time ago, but never had time to properly take time and explore her extensive content. Her podcasts have been so helpful in finding alignment, positivity and generally higher vibes, especially after a busy day at work or dealing with a temperamental toddler here at home. I've started taking a moment in the morning to either write down or just to think a few simple things I'm grateful for, then listening to Jess' podcast on my way to work. By the time I park my car I feel like I've already found alignment for the day. If it's been a stressful and busy day at work, I do the same thing again on my way back home, so I don't end up taking the stress and negativity back home. I'm still learning about all this, so more on this later!

Reading this book, it so fascinating and a lot of it really resonates with me. I'm hoping to do a full post about this soon.

I've added these "supplements" in to my diet this month. It's too early to report back on the results, but I've read some really good reviews about the product, so fingers cross! You can read more about my recent skincare routine, here.

This month I've also spent more time exploring the essential oils my friend Anita wrote about here.
I'm still thinking of which oils to order, but I seem to be most drawn to lavender, a revitalising citrus oil and an oil that is a bit more grounding and balancing.

These towels were such a pleasant surprise! I've used them as decorative blankets on our sofa and on the bed. I've just finished spring cleaning and reorganising the balcony and one of the towels will be perfect for our outdoor lounge. I love how versatile the towels are and the quality is great, too!

Some of the highlights of the month have been the super fun Iittala event I attended earlier in the month, and our little road trip to Melbourne to see my cousin and her family. It was quite hectic with three kids between us, but so fun nevertheless!

Now I'm excited about November!

Summer Is In the Air

I can hear the cicadas outside as I'm typing this post.  There's a certain kind of whiff in the air, and it's telling me summer is around the corner. We live right near the beach here in Sydney and although you won't find me basking in the sun, I'm a regular at the ocean pool near by.

As you may remember, I've been on a mission this year to turn my health around, and I've been especially concentrating on my skin. Focusing on eating well, getting enough sleep as well as finding  skincare that works has helped tremendously. I've also tried to remind myself to be more gentle, not just emotionally, but physically as well. 

These super soft Turkish towels feel like a gentle summer breeze on the skin and I am absolutely obsessed with them. They are so soft on my daughter's delicate skin as well and even perfect to use as a light weight blanket for her when she is napping. The best thing is, they get softer and softer the more I use and wash them.

We are enjoying a relaxed and sunny weekend, after returning from a much cooler Melbourne earlier this week. There's a lot of catching up to do, including here on the blog, so stay tuned!

The towels were sent to me as a gift with no strings attached. All opinions are my own. 

My Sugar-Free Journey + A Giveaway!

My sugar-free journey so far

Those of you who have followed this blog for a while may remember that back in October 2011, I was inspired by this book to quit sugar. The challenge for me was not as dramatic as it may sound - it basically meant no fruit (for about 4 months), no more dark chocolate and baking with rice syrup instead of raw sugar or honey which I had done in the past. It's been over 8 months since I went sugar-free and although I now eat fruit daily, I haven't got back to eating dark chocolate and when I do bake, I use either a couple of tablespoons of rice syrup or just fresh fruit as a sweetener.

Sprouted quinoa and coconut crisp

What changes did I experience after quitting sugar?

Contrary to many testimonies of the sugar-free diet, I didn't actually loose any weight. I like to think of this as a good result as it indicated that I wasn't actually eating a lot of sugar to begin with. I did, however, stop craving for sweet things, especially after meals and I noticed my palate became much 'cleaner'. I don't eat as much fruit as I used to eat and I tend to stick to apples, unless I'm baking with fruit (like bananas). When I eat out I don't order desserts, but this is not just because of sugar, but also because it's almost impossible to find vegan desserts at "main stream" restaurants.

Low-sugar, vegan millet and blueberry pancakes

Why should you go sugar-free?

I do recommend people to first become aware of the amount of sugar they are consuming daily and then adjusting their diet accordingly. I don't really think you should get so hung up on whether or not you should eat fruit, but I would instead encourage you to look at all the processed foods (including processed white sugar) you may be consuming and cutting down on those. As a tip, and this goes for going vegan too by the way, I would suggest that you change your way of thinking. Instead of thinking that you are "missing out" on something if you don't eat sugar, processed foods, etc. try to think about what else is available and how much you will gain in terms of better health, cleaner skin and more energy.

Toasted Super Muesli

Chocolate-blueberry pudding, persimmon brownies and banana and walnut bread (all vegan, low-sugar)

The I Quit Sugar Cookbook by Sarah Wilson

I am so excited to announce that earlier this week, Sarah published another great e-book titled "I Quit Sugar Cookbook". This book is full of sugar-free and low-sugar recipes from Sarah and many others including Aran, Maggie, Gwyneth and myself. Needless to say I feel utterly honoured to be amongst the contributors for this book. You will find 4 of my recipes included in the I Quit Sugar Cookbook and I am so smitten to be featured.

Since I'm on the topic, if you are in Australia, you may want to pick up a copy of the latest Wellbeing Magazine, as well. Sarah's e-book and my recipes are featured there, along with my photos. Thank you Sarah and Wellbeing Magazine for the features! 

Photography by Marija Ivkovic

I am so pleased to let you know that Sarah has kindly offered three I Quit Sugar Cookbooks to give away to Scandi Foodie readers! The competition is open to all readers, in Australia and overseas, and all you have to do to enter is leave a comment below answering this simple question "Why do I want to quit sugar?" This competition ends May 31, 2012.

If you have any comments or questions about my sugar-free journey (or my vegan journey, for that matter!), please don't hesitate to email me at scandifoodie [at] gmail [dot] com or leave a comment below. You can also find me on Twitter @ScandiFoodie.

I'm looking forward to hearing from you and good luck!

Inspired by Raw

It may not always seem like it, but I actually eat most of my daily meals raw. I love starting my day with a green smoothie and prefer salads and other raw meals for both lunch and dinner. This is not just a summer thing either, but I enjoy raw meals throughout the year. Obviously the abundance of fresh produce in summer makes it much easier to stick to all raw foods and during the cooler months your body is asking for something warm. Listening and responding to these needs is an important part of mindful eating.

I'm a strong believer in the benefits of raw food. It has been said to raise energy levels, improve your skin and even aid physical illnesses. I also find raw food incredibly inspiring - it's amazing how much you can create by using fresh ingredients, like vegetables and fresh herbs, and seeds, nuts, sprouts, etc. The choices are endless!

Even if you're not keen to go all raw, consider replacing even one meal a day with a fully raw alternative. Green smoothies, soups like the ones below and salads are a great way to get your raw groove on.

”The food you eat can be either 

the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison.” 

Ann Wigmore

Raw Carrot Soup*

(Recipe adapted from here)

(serves 1-2)

2 small carrots

1 tomato

1/2 avocado 

fresh ginger, to taste

juice of 1/4 lemon or to taste

pinch of good quality salt

freshly ground black pepper

water

* Preferably use all organic ingredients.

1. Chop the carrots, tomato and avocado in small pieces. Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Add enough water to reach desired texture.

Raw Creamy Green Soup*

(Recipe inspired by Enlightened Eating)

(serves 1-2)

4 cups loosely packed baby spinach

1/2 avocado

1 celery stalk

4 tablespoons chopped green beans

1/2 bunch or about 5 tablespoons chopped parsley

2 tablespoons chopped shallots/green onions

juice of 1/4 lemon

pinch of good quality salt

1 cup water

* Preferably use all organic ingredients.

 

1. Chop the avocado and celery stalks. Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

Ingredients for raw kitchen:

• nut and hemp milks (see recipe for almond milk)

• nut or seed butters (almond butter recipe here, leave out the roasting bit for a raw version)

• nuts (raw or soaked)

• Seeds (raw, soaked or sprouted  - sunflower, pepitas, hemp, chia, quinoa)

• grains (soaked) and legumes (sprouted)

• sprouts (see my sprouting guide here)

• dehydrated vegetables, seed crackers and breads, etc. (preferably made using a dehydrator) 

• fermented and pickled foods

Books & Links

Davis, B. and Melina, V. Becoming Raw - The Essential Guide to Raw Vegan Diets (2010)

Russell James

Ani Phyo 

David Wolfe

http://www.rawmazing.com

Juicing and Cleansing

This morning I visited my local health store to stock up on some liquid iron (a supplement I take every now and then), Super Greens powder (containing spirulina, barley grass, chlorella and wheat grass) and other essentials (raw chickpeas, sunflower seeds, flaxseed oil, etc). I can just imagine how busy these stores get right after New Year. Everyone has made that (same) New Year's resolution to lose weight, to quit smoking, to live healthier. People are desperately seeking for a (preferably) quick diet solution that will help them lose those extra kilos.

Although I can't exactly say I over-indulged during my break (see my Christmas menu here and New Year's menu here), I felt like it was a good time to reassess my relationship with food. Having done a three day alkalising cleanse in the past, I didn't really want to set up any time restrictions, nor do a full-on juice fast, but rather just replace some of my meals with fresh juices, leaving one light meal (a salad with greens, flaxseed oil and some sunflower seeds) to have each day. I will go like this for 3 days, 5 days, a week - whatever feels right.

This method works well for me, especially since I have already quit sugar and dairy and consume no alcohol and nowadays very little caffeine, if at all. My juicer has been churning all spring and summer and I've become a little addicted to my fresh vegetable juices in the morning and my daily green smoothies. Juicing is a great way to cleanse and even if you are not keen to do the whole fasting thing, you can easily add fresh vegetable juices in your daily diet and perhaps try a green smoothie as a light meal or just as a snack. For a real super smoothie, try mixing in some flaxseed oil and Super Greens powder.

I'm a strong believer in eating right for your body type - we are not all the same so how could one eating plan possibly work for everyone? I also like to experiment and see what effect these experiments might have in my health and general wellbeing. I can honestly say that quitting sugar and dairy have made me feel better. This to me is enough proof to keep me on this clean path. Equally, eating meat never suited me and I have no desire to go back being a carnivore. Thus, I think each person should first understand their body type (Deepak Chopra's book below is a great way to start) and then make the necessary dietary/lifestyle adjustments. What works for me, might not work for you. It is as simple as that.

Here are some of my favourite vegetable juices to get you started. You can really let your creativity go wild! Almost anything can be juiced, even sweet potatoes, onions, garlic and cabbages! Just remember to use seasonal produce and preferably choose organic. If you're using conventional produce, washing the ingredients with white vinegar-water mixture (with a ratio of approximately 1:3) might help reduce the amount of toxic residue.

Green Beauty Juice

 1/2 bunch of celery (with leafy tops)

 1 long cucumber

 a knob of ginger

 juice of 1/2 lemon

1. Wash all the ingredients well. Juice the celery, cucumber and ginger. Squeeze in the lemon juice. Drink immediately (or preferably within 2-3 hours).

Green Smoothie

 1 portion of Green Beauty Juice

a large handful of spinach

1/2 avocado, chopped

1 tablespoon flaxseed oil

2 teaspoons Super Greens

1. Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Drink immediately or within 2-3 hours.

Gorgeous Beet Juice

2-3 beets (can use the leaves as well, if you wish)

a knob of ginger

juice of 1/2 lemon

1. Juice the beets and the ginger. Drizzle with lemon. Drink immediately.

Other tasty flavour combinations include:

carrot

ginger

lemon

cucumber

broccoli

ginger

lemon

bok choy

parsley

ginger

lemon

Other tips for cleansing

I try to dry-brush my entire body every day or at least a few times a week. Here is a good guide for dry-brushing.

I love having a (rather large) range of herbal teas in my pantry at all times. Some of my favourite flavours include licorice root, peppermint, different warm spice mixes (like cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves) and dandelion root tea. Herbal teas are a great caffeine-free alternative for coffee.

Exercise-wise, it probably goes without saying that rigorous training, whilst cleansing, might not be the best idea. I prefer walking, swimming and yoga (even when not cleansing), but I also allow my body to rest more during the cleanse.

These are just some of the books I've been reading lately:

Dupont, C.M. Enlightened Eating - Nourishment for Body and Soul (2006)
Deepak, C.  Perfect Health - The Complete Mind/Body Guide (2001)
Junger, A. Clean - The Revolutionary Program to Restore Body's Natural Ability to Heal Itself (2009)

Activated, spiced nuts

 

"Patience is a virtue", "Patience is a virtue" - I think I should be meditating to this mantra. Truth be told, most of the time I enjoy nuts and seeds unsoaked, unactivated, on their own. I just don't have the patience to soak, roast, activate. After making these spiced nuts a few times now, I am starting to realise why I should be activating nuts every time - not only they taste better (they really do), but they are also easier for my digestion and therefore better for me, right? 

Activating nuts is a long process, but the good thing is you don't really have to do much - just wait. I've tried soaking these nuts for 8 hours, then almost 24 hours, and it certainly seems that the longer you soak, the better they'll taste. I swear by the healing properties of spices, and so I've used a mix of spices (I believe) are good for me and also taste great. 

After soaking comes the tricky bit. You are supposed to roast these little babies, in a very low heat, over a period of 24 hours. Now, I believe that it's the soaking bit that actually activates the enzymes (please correct me if I'm wrong), so I've only roasted these for a couple of hours (I obviously still need to work on that patience bit). They taste amazing - so light, but crunchy and warm with spices. Want more crunch? Chuck them in the freezer and snack straight from there. They are tasty either way.

Activated, spiced nuts

(makes 2 cups)

1 cup (170g) almonds

1 cup (130g) walnuts

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground coriander

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric

1/4 teaspoon chilli flakes (or to taste)

pinch of sea salt

freshly ground black pepper

1. Soak the nuts in plenty of water for 12-24 hours. See my note above, soaking them for longer gives you a better result, so be patient!

2. Turn the oven on for the lowest setting (below 100C). Drain the nuts and toss in the spices. 

3. Spread the nuts on a baking tray (no paper, no oil). Roast in the oven for up to 24 hours on the lowest possible heat.

4. Store in an air-tight container. You can also store these in the freezer.