This is a great video that helps puts everything into perspective... The time you have...
During my recent trip to Dallas my favourite restaurant to eat at was True Foods Kitchen, a place dedicated to healthy, seasonal dishes and being the end of Autumn, squash was featured in an array of dishes. I was inspired by one of their salads which I couldn't get out of my head, so I came back and created something similar.
The beauty of the fall season isn't just the leaves changing colour or the crispiness of the air; it's also the amazing array of vegetables that are in season such as squash and sprouts. Combining it altogether in a wonderful seasonal salad with a creamy and tangy dressing is the perfect way indulge — in a healthy way! 
It's getting closer to the festive season and with that comes the traditional indulgent wining and dining. My goal for the end of the year is to celebrate with a raw vegan twist on the classic Christmas festive foods, so ending the year and starting the new one healthy and happy!
As I child I loved ginger cookies, warm chewy ones straight out the oven with a hot cup of tea. Even though ginger is an ancient powerful medicinal spice, the cookies sold now are full of sugars and contain very little of the real thing, so I came up with a chewy spiced ginger that has all the traditional Christmas flavours of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Fresh ginger is great for digestion, increasing saliva and digestive fluids and have been used for centuries to treat nausea and upset stomach ailments, as well as reducing symptoms associated with motions sickness. It contains potent anti-inflammatory properties, helping with arthritis, relieving swelling and muscle pain. Ginger is also quite heating in the body which traditionally is great for the Christmas season. I put some of mine in the oven under 40˚C for 2hrs and they came out warm and and soft - nothing like a cookie oozing fresh flavours! 
During this recent trip stateside and road tripping up the coast of LA I came across several fudge places. In WA we also have several fudge factories and I began to reminiscence about soft buttery toffee fudge that I use to love so much. With my goodbye potluck dinner coming up I thought I could come up with a raw version.
Almonds are a great source of protein and fiber, and are rich in magnesium, potassium, calcium and vitamin E. They contain phosphorus to help build strong bones and teeth and are good for increasing heart health, being low in sugar, reducing the risk of heart attack, helps lowering bad cholesterol and providing healthy unsaturated fats. Dates are free from cholesterol, rich in vitamins and minerals; containing B Vitamins, calcium, iron, potassium, manganese, magnesium and copper. They help in the relief from constipation, intestinal disorders, anemia and stomach cancer. They are great for muscle development and the high level of minerals makes them a great food for bone health and maintaining a healthy nervous system. 
This green smoothie is one my absolute favourites of all time. Now that summer is here, I'm laying off the hemp seeds and coconut smoothie can going for a lighter start to the morning. I often alternate between this and also another more apple/pear based one and it keeps me energized all morning as well as pack in the nutrients!
Blending your greens makes the nutrients more readily available for the body and first thing in the morning it's the perfect starter kick to the system. Make sure you get a good dose of greens in though, about 60-80% of the smoothie so that your body can receive the alkaline benefits. Lemon juice helps to offset the green taste as well as add to the alkalinity. Use low to medium GI fruits such as apples, pears, grapefruits, bananas, mangoes etc to keep your blood sugar level balanced. I often find it unnecessary to add heavier items such as seeds or nuts because it is quite filling in itself. This makes up almost a litre of nutrient dense drink which will keep your energy levels up for at least several hours. Sometimes adding too much simply is overdoing it, especially if it's fruit sugars, proteins and fat altogether in one go. I store any extras in the airtight jars pictured and often carry them around with me throughout the day for an extra boost!! |
"I am not what happened to me,
I am what I choose to become" Carl Gustave Jung I'm Binny, a full time Bikram Yoga teacher and studio owner that lives in Perth, Australia.
I started this blog to share the things I love the best in the world: being healthy and happy, food (especially raw), yoga, traveling and most importantly, learning how to love and be true to myself. I suffered from severe digestive problems when I was younger, being gluten and lactose intolerant, and developed compartment syndrome and fibromyalgia in my teens. I have lived with constant pain for over 16 years now. Over the past 10 years, I've shifted to a mainly plant based diet and realised that being well and healthy is a way of life. I have been teaching Bikram yoga since 2011, in the US and Australia. Due to my health issues I've also had a lot of bodywork done as well as explored alternative therapies. I've become much more aware of myself as a result of all this - physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. Right now I love my life. In my career I love what I do and I do what I love. I have traveled to some amazing places around the world and made lifelong friends. In between working and traveling, I cook up a storm in the kitchen, especially raw desserts, spend time with the people I love the best, which now includes a yoga husband, a mini yogini Estell, and our dog! I try to listen to my body the best I can. I truly believe that we all have the power and the capabilities to heal our own bodies, to nourish the spirit and seek our own happiness and life's purpose. This my journey... Archives
August 2019
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