I am a total chocolate addict, I used to have chocolate every week before getting on my healthy buzz. When I changed my eating habits I was so gutted about not being able to have my fave sweet treat anymore...until I discovered RAW chocolate. Now raw chocolate is like "normal" chocolate, but a healthier more nourishing version which has natural sweetener, raw ingredients, and no additives or preservatives. It is still a treat which I only allow myself a small portion of once a week, but it is great to have an alternative so I feel like I'm not missing out. It is super easy to make so enjoy my recipe!
Ingredients:
1/2c Raw Cacao Butter
1/2c Raw Cacao Powder
1T Coconut Oil
1t Vanilla Extract (the real stuff)
2T Agave Syrup or Honey - you can use more or less depending on how sweet or bitter you like it.
Method:
- In a bowl over simmering hot water, add the cacao butter, oil, and agave syrup or honey. Let the oil and butter melt, stirring a couple of times. Add the vanilla.
- Take off the heat and add the cacao powder, whisking in until well combined.
- Pour into greased moulds, or pour onto a tray lined with baking paper.
Note: You can also scatter chopped cashews or almonds, dried cranberries, or seeds over it before it sets.
This needs to be stored in the fridge or freezer as it melts quickly.
These bliss balls, or brain balls as some people call them, are my sweet treat now that I have cut out processed foods and refined sugar. What makes them sweet is the medjool dates, which you can buy in most supermarkets. They are full of healthy fats and are a healthy snack for you and the whole
family.
Ingredients:
2c raw nuts - walnuts, almonds, or cashews are best (I do half & half)
1c sunflower seeds
8 fresh medjool dates, roughly chopped
1c desicated coconut
2/3c raw cacao powder (cocoa powder is fine if you don't have this)
Pinch of sea salt
1/4c water
1T honey or agave syrup (optional)
Blend all ingredients in a food processor until it forms a dough. If it looks too dry and crumbly then you may need to add more water.
Roll the dough into little balls, and store in a lined, airtight container in the fridge.
We had some friends over for dinner last weekend, and I wanted to have the usual nibbles before dinner, while keeping things gluten free, dairy free, and as non-processed as possible. I came up with this delicious creamy dip using Goats Milk Feta and it was a huge hit. My husband even said he liked it better than the usual "Kiwi Dip", (New Zealanders will know what I mean by that!) which is quite a statement to make! Because Goats cheese is made from animal milk it is technically dairy, but as I am cutting out cows milk products I class goats cheese as "dairy-free" for me. I also made a tasty Kale and Basil Pesto which is dairy-free also. They went really well together, perfect for serving as a layered dip.
Ingredients:
150g-200g packet of Goats Milk Feta Cheese
4 shallots, diced
1 clove of garlic, crushed
2T olive oil
1T honey - I use Active Manuka Honey for it's health benefits.
The zest of 1 lemon
The juice of half a lemon
Fresh thyme, roughly chopped.
Extra olive oil, honey, and thyme for garnish
Method:
Put 1T of the olive oil in a pan, and cook the shallots and garlic at a moderate heat until golden brown and caramelised.
Break the block of feta into large chunks and put them into a food processor (or a bowl if you don't have one). Add the cooked shallots, honey, the rest of the olive oil, zest and juice of the lemon, and the thyme.
Process until the mixture becomes blended and creamy - it won't take long. If it looks a bit dry, add another drizzle of olive oil and process until well combined.
Pour out into a serving bowl, giving it a quick mix if it needs it. Drizzle with a little olive oil, honey, and top with a sprinkling of fresh thyme. Serve with homemade pita crisps, and vegetable sticks, or use on homemade burgers or in pita pockets instead of mayonnaise.
You could season with some freshly ground pepper, but don't add any salt as the feta is salty enough.
I have been having health problems for about 8 months now. I have had test after test, and my Doctor still hasn't been able to figure out what is going on. So I decided to take matters into my own hands. I figured that my body has to be reacting to something I'm putting into it, and for a while it was reacting quite badly but it didn't seem to be to anything in particular - it was everything. So I researched and researched and began stocking up on foods and products that would be good for my body, and as natural as possible. I made healthier choices and upped my exercise as I find that I need it for good mental health as well as physical.
Then through a friend I came across ForeverFit. Nicola is amazing! She educates people about their bodies, and about what food and exercise you need to live a healthy well balanced life. She asks you to fill out a questionnaire and then she goes over your answers and guides you to get the results you need. She has an Online Gym with workout videos you can do in the comfort of your own home - everything from high intensity workouts, to yoga and stretching. It was exactly what I was looking for. I knew the basics from doing my research but I needed a plan that was clear and easy to follow. I have learnt so much more from her and the changes already have been amazing.
My symptoms have gone, and I have so much more energy. I am sleeping better, feeling lighter and cleaner, and a bonus is that I lost 3kgs in my first week.
I no longer eat processed foods, gluten, dairy, or refined sugar, and at times it can be challenging to figure out what I can eat in place of the things I used to eat and love. I have a real sweet tooth so I was worried that I wouldn't have the willpower, I don't miss out though! I can still have things that I love to eat, they are just a bit different and take a bit more time and planning. Basically I make everything I eat from scratch so I know there are no nasty additives or high amounts of salt and refined sugar.
Everyone's journey is different. Other people may be able to handle certain foods with gluten, or be ok with dairy, or just not want to cut certain things out, and that's absolutely fine!
This is my journey, it helps me to be able to write it all down. I'm no expert, and I am still learning every day. If I can share tips, recipes, and advice that has helped me, with other people which helps them, then that's awesome. And if you have any tips, or advice that has helped you then I would love to hear them!
Things that have helped me:
1. Not being too strict. I have chosen to make this complete lifestyle change to improve my health, but I need it to be a goal that is achievable. I believe in moderation of all things, and I know if I deprive myself of things I love then I won't be able to keep it up.
Example: I limit my alcohol intake now. Before I would have had a glass or two of wine a few nights during the week and on the weekends. Now I don't drink during the week, but allow myself to have a couple of drinks on the weekend if I really feel like it. Most weekends I don't, but if we get together with friends then I want to be able to relax and enjoy myself, so I will allow myself a few drinks then. Red wine has great health benefits, so when I do drink I choose red wine. I want to enjoy my life, so not completely depriving myself helps me to stick to my plan.
2. Take baby steps. Make small changes, one at a time. If you change everything overnight it will be daunting, and really hard. To make it easier I stopped one thing at a time, first sugar, then a couple of days later gluten etc etc. I still haven't been able to give up my cup of tea in the morning and at night - but I have cut down (I used to drink up to 6 cups of tea with sugar per day), and I no longer have sugar in it. I would eventually like to cut out caffeine, but for now there are other things that are more important for me to cut out. Taking everything away at once would be too much for me.
3. Be organised. Planning is a huge part in making this kind of change, and it being a successful long term change. Some friends have said they don't know how I find the time when I have 3 kids and a household to run. Organisation is the key. When you know what kind of foods you need to be eating, you know what you need in the cupboards. I make sure my pantry is stocked with everything I need to make a healthy meal or snack. If anything is getting low I go and get more. I try and make a couple of things a day when I know the last batch is almost gone.
- Once a fortnight I make my own peanut butter and cashew butter, and I know if I have all of the ingredients then I can whip some more up in no time at all when I run out.
- I make sure each week I have bliss balls, and birdseed bars made up in case I feel like a sweet treat - they don't take long to make, and having them there already made means that I will make a good choice instead of a bad one.
- I always have a green salad and a brown rice salad in the fridge ready for lunches and dinners, and some chicken or salmon defrosted and ready to pop in the oven for meals.
- Once a fortnight I buy 2-3 free-range chickens, which I butcher into different cuts of meat for meals for the next two weeks. I then use the carcasses to make stock which goes into the freezer all ready to be used in soups and stews.
- I make sure once a week or fortnight I make some condiments like tomato sauce, mayonnaise or aioli, pesto, hummus, or feta dip. I know if I have these healthy, non processed options ready to go in the fridge, then that's what i'll grab instead of something I shouldn't.
- I always have raw nuts and seeds in stock for when I feel like a snack, or to add to my meals. And I always make sure I have plenty of fruit and vegetables at hand.
4. Be educated. Do your research in the right places. Know what you need in each meal to give your body what it needs to function correctly eg proteins and good fats. Once you know these key facts you will know what foods to buy, and you will be able to plan your meals and have the appropriate ingredients available.
5. Don't be too hard on yourself! I am a work in progress. I have slipped up at times, but that doesn't mean I've failed, it lets me know what I need to change so I don't slip up further down the track.
There is always something to learn when you are on a journey like this. In the beginning I was feeling great with the clean eating I was doing, and then I learnt about the benefits of buying organic. It was overwhelming and a little disheartening when I thought I was doing so good with my healthy eating, and hadn't realised that if everything has been sprayed and is covered in toxins then I'm not really getting the benefits for my body that I wanted. So now I buy organic. I was buying gluten-free, dairy-free bread, and then realised that it's highly processed and contains more refined sugar and nasty additives to make it work without gluten and dairy! I still have changes I know I can make to improve what I'm putting in my body because I'm learning more everyday. There is always something to learn. Do the best you can, and any change in the right direction, no matter how little, is a good change.
Note: I am not an expert! If you are thinking about making a change in diet like I have, make sure you talk to a health professional first to find out what works for you.
