Ideas for using up a glut of fruit x

When shop, I'm always looking for amazing organic food- and a bargain. This can somethimes be a very hard thing, but I do it!
My organic grocer- and most grocers I've been to, usually bag up a heap of fruit and veg just before it's about to spoil- even as it's spoiling, and they sell it for SUPER cheap! YAAY!!

BUT, then you're stuck with a HEAP of fruit and veg that's about to go off........... like in the next day or two.. WHAT TO DO!?

VEG:
* make MEGA veg juices and top up your body for the day
* chuck into your blender with a few herbs and a bit of coconut water, or nut milk, blend then pour into a ice cube tray and freeze for the moments when you've run out of greens for a smoothie.
* you could even juice and freeze in an ice block tray for the same occasions, or if it's hot and you want a take away juice for the day..... it's will be chilled and ready to drink when you're ready to drink!
* make some awesome, weird and experimental cocktails or mocktails!!

FRUIT:
* Pretty everything I just wrote for the veggies.
* chuck the fruit in whole or chopped for future snacks, ice'cream' and smoothies. (for example, at this point in time, I have a massive bag of kiwi fruit, bananas and some mixed berries hanging out in my freezer! mmmmm Mangoes are another goodie!

USE EVERYTHING! NO WASTE
And if the produce is actually rotten..... COMPOST!!!!! yay to the planet!

Here's a bit of inspiration for using up a HEAP of apples....

I choped up half the apples and popped into my blender with a HEAP of fresh mint, then I juiced the remaining apples with some ginger and a tangello! YUM
Then I poured the juice into the blender and blitzed.
After pouring mix into ice cube trays, I studded them with frozen mixed berries!

FREEZE then eat as icy poles, chuck in smoothies, plop on top of muesli or use as iceblocks for a veggie juice, cocktail/mocktail etc.  

YAY and YUM!

X

Tangelo's to the rescue!!

My FAV fruit (and maybe food in general) at the moment is TANGELO!!!

I love eating them on their own, in smoothies, on smoothies, frozen- like icy poles....... that's it, just the same over and over and over.

There are a lot of 'superfoods' out there these days.. which is awesome- don't get me wrong.. People who aren't health conscious are begining to hear about, then learn about superfoods, their health benefits and are changing certain lifestyle and food choices accordingly- AWESOME.

If you're like me, you're always on the lookout for a new and exciting superfood that will brighten your soul, tummy and health. Only problem is, usually these superfoods are EXPENSIVE!!!! Total bummer!!!

Most people don't realise that all wholefoods, fruit, veg, pulses etc ARE SUPERFOODS!!! And if chosen in season, they're CHEAP TOO!!!!

Take your humble Tangelo for example..... 

Tangelos contain vitamin A, vitamin B-6, riboflavin, thiamine, niacin, folate and pantothenic acid, but they are a particularly excellent source of vitamin C. 

Vitamin C helps to prevent hypertension, heart disease, osteoarthritis and age-related macular degeneration.

Tangelos contain flavanones, a type of flavonoid compound. High flavonoid intake reduces the risk of asthma, cancer, cardiovascular disease and neurological disorders caused by aging. AWESOME!

They also give you potassium, calcium and magnesium. These minerals are vital for maintaining the health and strength of the bones and teeth and for regulating blood pressure. 

Potassium helps prevent strokes, and high calcium intake help lower cholesterol. 

Eating magnesium-rich foods like tangelos may decrease the risk of diabetes and depression. 

Tangelos contain only a trace amount of the mineral iron, but eating the fruit with high-iron vegetables like spinach or other dark green, leafy vegetables can increase your overall iron intake. The iron in vegetables cannot be absorbed easily by the body unless it is accompanied by a food rich in vitamin C, such as tangelos- So make a MEGA green smoothie with kale and tangelo!!! YUMMO!

(click here for this amazing smoothie recipe x http://apurplecarrot.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/the-most-amazing-smoothie-ever.html)

They also are high in soluble fiber which lowers blood cholesterol levels and regulates blood sugar levels in diabetics. A 2009 article in "Nutrition Reviews" indicates that regularly eating high-fiber foods like tangelos may help prevent hypertension, obesity, stroke, cardiovascular disease and digestive system disorders like hemorrhoids, ulcers and gastroesophageal reflux. 

SO GO BUY A TANGELO 

THEN EAT IT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!

YAAAYYYY

X

Inca Berries to the rescue!

These beautiful berrie are my favourite superfood snack at the moment! They're so beautiful, have an awesome texture and they taste so incredible it's not funny!
I've been adding them to garnishing my smoothies with these beauts... also for a sweet energy boost through the day, I grab a handful and happily munch them.

Inca berries, also commonly known as golden berries, are peruvian golden jewels that taste like a vitamin c explosion in your mouth that are in fact LOADED with vitamin C! They also boast the following super hero strengths:

• Higher in antioxidants than gojiberries, greentea and blueberries.
• More than twice or triple the dietary fibre of most dried fruits
• A 50-55g serve of Inca berries has more Potassium than a banana
• A great level of Vitamin C & Phosphorus
• Higher level of protein than most dried fruits
• Low in sodium

 Sounds pretty good hey!
Grab a heap and get munching on them to help your body transition through the change of seasons! Our bodies need lighter, more vibrant foods, Vitamin C and Dietry fibre to cleanse the winter cobwebs away and mega antioxidants to get our bods and skin raring to go in summer- the perfect and yummiest 'sunscreen' ever!!

Plus they make any smoothie look good :) 

Super Antioxidant and Vitamin C Super Smoothie

I've super duper busy lately. As we all have I'm sure. I've been going through cycles of getting sick fairly easily, I've been caring for my nephews and my friends little boy- lot's of sick little people for me to get all gooey and cosey with.
Today I realised that lately I've really been craving foods like berries, tangello's, lemon, lime, orange, dark chocolate, maqui, etc etc etc

Today and yesterday I made incredible super smoothies- it's not until today that I've realized they're BOTH packed with rich antioxidants and vitamin C- amoung a HEAP of other wonderful minerals and enzymes.... my body is directing me into the healing direction which is so cool.

Today I really wanted to recreate yesterdays smoothie, but I had run out of inca berries and my intuition was stearing me onto another incredible creation that I'm gonna share with you. It's packed with omega 3's, fatty acids, protien, fibre, calcium, iron, potassium, vitamin C and antioxidants. YUMMO! Plus it was garnished with a beautiful edible nasturtium flower....  mmmmm

SUPER ANTIOXIDANT AND VITAMIN C SUPER SMOOTHIE

WHAT YOU NEED
2 cups coconut water
1 apple
1/2 to 1 cup mixed berries
1 kiwi fruit
2 cups mixed greens (I used spinage, boc choy, mint, parley and corriander)
2 tblsp chia seeds
2 tblsp hemp seeds
1 tsp barley wheat powder
1 tblsp mixed nut butter (mine has brazil nuts, sunflower seeds, flaxseeds, almonds, cashews and hazelnuts- you can use any nut or seed butter)
1 row of Loving Earth's organic Orange & Gubinge raw dark chocolate
any edible flower!!

**** set aside half chia and hemp seeds, chocolate and extra berries for your topping

WHAT YOU DO
Wash and roughly chop your fruit and veg.
Pour the coconut water in and add all the fruit, then top with your greens. Blend, then add all the superfoods- give a good blend.
Pour into a beautiful bowl and top with the chia, hemp, berries, chocolate and flower!!!

ENJOYXXXXXXXXX

Day 4 green smoothie!!!

YO YO YO
who else is feeling AMAZING!!?? Having a green smoothie everyday is making me feel like Popeye post spinage! YES

Todays green smoothie is super simple, and I was able to use my FRESHLY MADE almond milk!! YES

Todays smoothie had:
almond milk
1 tblsp almond pulp
1 kiwi fruit
hemp seeds
kale
mixed lettuce
cinnamon

*I wish I had frozen berries- they would have really pimped this baby out! or fresh herbs!

What did you make?

X

My saviors on set

So... I have been working on a few sets the past couple of months- both acting and art directing are physically and mentally draining (but super fun) and the days are super long- lunch break is usually 10hrs after breakfast- then same again for dinner, early mornings and super late nights... so, to stop our boddies breaking down (which mine did to start with, because I'd gotten lazy with my self care- thankfully my body and mind reminded me pretty quickly!!) we need to make sure we take super care of ourselves... meditate on set while you're wainting for set up or a take, drink lots lof water and bring healthy snacks- this is what saved me.

MY SNACKS
I made sure I had a big bottle of coconut water- amazing for rehydration and gives amazing energy. No matter how much water I drink on set, I seem to get bad headaches quite often, solution= coconut water.
I also made myself epic green smoothies to take with me on set, so if I was starving at 11am and lunch wasn't for another few hours, my smoothis filled me up, gave me an amazing energy boost and stopped my body and mind from being stressed.
I brought my own tea bags, organic green and other herbal teas. People on set gorge themselves on sugar and coffee to 'keep them going', which is totaly fine for them- this for me is like suicide- epic, I know but it's true :)
Just remember to keep calm and breathe. Sounds easy, but it's actually one of the hardest things for people to do on set. High stakes and high tension.
Breathe my sweets, breathe and enjoy what you're doing!!!

P.s- I also have my amazing grounding and calming stones with me on set- totally not for everyone- most people for that matter, but I love them so much!!!

X

Energy bowl

I love veggie juices for brekkie. They're my FAV way to start the day.
As I've metioned in my last few posts, I've been busy on a bunch of different sets of late. I was having my daily morning juice, but as the days went on during the week, I needed so much more in the morning, so I had my energy bowl instead. It's so important to listen to our bodies daily and assess what the best thing to eat and drink will be. Its great to eat well and look after ourselves, but make sure that you don't get stuck in the mind set of "I have to eat this every day to be healthy"- sometimes you need a big bowl of rice or porridge. Sometimes just a piece of fruit will suffice. LISTEN to your beautiful bodies and nuture yourself the best you can.
Excercize goes hand in hand with this day by day approach- but thats a whole other blog- Back to the oats!!!

I first created this meal after a really great yoga class. It was a super physical class and by the time I finally got home, I was soooooo HUNGRY!
I didn't feel like veggies for my lunch (shock horror!!)and I wanted a big treat that was still healthy, quick and would make me smile. I succeeded by the way.
The organic rolled oats I have in my pantry are the natural ones, not the 'quick' oats and they have a mix of raw buckwheat, sunflower seeds, pepitas, dried coconut and dried fruits throughout. I also add chia seeds and gogi berries. So thats my 'oats base', you can be as creative or as nutral as you like in this baby- make muesli your own way!

WHAT YOU NEED
oats base- as much as you want
1 green apple grated
1/2 lemon
1 tea spoon of honey
1 tablsp of coconut oil
any topping you like. I garnished my muesli with apple mint- YUM.

WHAT YOU DO
Pour your oats into a pretty bowl, add your grated apple and mix. Let sit for a couple of minutes (not nessessary but will make oats easier to digest and will help you to recieve the health benefits of oatie oats.
Whilst your oats are hanging out with your apple, in a small saucepan on low heat, melt your coconut oil and honey, mix then pour over your oats and mix everything together. Squeeze your lemon over the top, mix, then garnish with lovely things.

It's absolutely delicious and will keep you going and going and going.
I have been known to also eat this for dessert.... mmmm
*If you're gluten intolerant, you could exchange the oaties for pre cooked buckwheat or quinoa, rice flakes etc, although this will have to be a pre concieved meal.
** Also, non honey eating veganinis, any natural sweetener will do the trick, just don't go overboard- this receipe is quite nice minus the honey.

Lovely oatie facts:

Oats help you to loose weight, they digest slowly and are packed with fibre and have little impact on your blood sugar. They're also packed with manganese, selenium, vitamin B1, dietary fibre, magnesium, protein and phosphorus.
Because they're super fibre warriors, oats are great for clearing the gunk out of your digestive system. Part of this gunk is cholesterol, that would otherwise end up in the bloodstream. Oats will also stabilise your blood sugar levels and help prevent type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

So, YUM and YAY!

X

Sauerkraut!

Last year I posted about how great sauerkraut is- you can re-read here: http://apurplecarrot.blogspot.com.au/search?updated-max=2012-10-17T23:15:00-07:00&max-results=7&start=35&by-date=false
I have additions to how amazing fermenting your foods is for both, the food and your bodies- by fermenting, you increase the nutitional value by HEAPS, plus you are also getting a dose of live cultures, enzymes and probiotics! Amazing!
Sauerkraut is a living super food that helps to increase energy and mental alertness, alkalises and balances stomach Ph, Its an excelent source of B12, helps with autoimmune disorders and allergies, it's anti candida and anti fungal, high in vitamin C, anti inflammatory, it strengthens your immune system, detoxifies your body, decreases bloating and gas, increases longevity, helps assimilate nutrients in foods, supports healthy digestion, it's great for pregnant and nursing mothers, great for weight loss, clears acne......... the list keeps going!

It's time again to dive into a bottle of sauerkrautt! I've recently been reading a bunch of blogs on how to ferment your own food at home- this is something I seriously want to do, just need a bit of time first, so I went on down to my fav place ever- 'The fruit peddlers' or as my lovely friend Lucy calls it, "Mud Brothers" (a name which I completely prefer!!), and I found the beautiful range of 'Byron Bays Superkraut'!  If you're going to delve into the world of fermented foods and don't quite have the time or drive to ferment your own, check these guys out! They're organic, vinegar free, gluten free, probiotic rich, vegan, have a small range of krauts and they seem very very nice!

I  chose the 'Australian Sea Vegetables' sauerkraut which gives you "love particles", carrots, cabbage, seaweed (kelp, wakame, dulse), ginger, purple corn extract, gynostemma tea, sea salt, spring water, B.E.D lactobacilius cultre starter- ITS AWESOME!!!!

I'm loving my sourkraut at lunch time, rolled up in a green leaf from my veggie garden, with unhulled organic tahini and avocado- or the same but all rolled up into a seaweed sheet!! mmm  great side to my massive lunch time veg juice!

Also, when I went to Japan last year I became addicted to kim chi mmmmm- thats what I wanna make at home!

What other fermented foods do you like?? Any favs?

X

Homemade Almond Milk

I've always wanted to make my own milk- well ever since I've been soaking up fresh food and getting a nurtitional education. It's sooooo yum and extremely easy to make- plus, it's SUPER good for you! You pretty much just need two ingredients, nuts and water, but it's nice to jazz your milk up a bitt with some medicinal spices and a bit of natural stweetness.

I have just posted a couple of videos on 'A Purple Carrot's' facebook page, please watch and share them, they're very educational, eye opening, passionate and inspiring. To celebrate the wave of social media taking health by storm, I wanted to raise a glass (or a litre) of my freshly made almond milk with you and cheers to new knowledge and the choices we can make to make our lifes happier, healthier, brighter and shinier. CHEERS

For a reminder on how bad dairy is, revisit an old post here: http://apurplecarrot.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/dairy-harms-your-body.html

With that in mind.... ON TO THE MILK!!

MY ALMOND MILK
1 cup of overnight soaked almonds (without skins- I peeled them by hand after soaking... it gets tiresome)
3-4 cups of purified water
pinch of himilayan pink salt
1 tblsp hemp seeds
pinch cinnamon, or more
pinch caraway seeds
pinch ground nutmeg
1 tblsp raw organic honey (1 date would be a great substitute!)

WHAT YOU DO
soak your nuts overnight.
Pre boil your water to purify.
Rinse your soaked nuts, popinal blender with other ingredients, then top with water. Blitz for a few mintutes. Strain, drink!
THATS IT!!

*you can use the leftover nut pulp as flour (spread out to dry), or in superfoods balls or, as I did, added to my oats with banana, more of the same spices, almond milk, honey and hemp seeds for a winters morning porridge! mmmm it was great.
** you can use any nut, use same method, or you could use hemp seeds- best milk ever, just expensive!!

CHEERS  X

Health benefits of sprouting

YO.
So as I mentioned on Fridays post, I went completely raw while being away. I'm still following the raw diet, with an occaisional cooked meal (had amazing birthday dinner at paents and we made yummy gnocci- although everything else was raw- including my cake!) I've also had the occasional slice of bread, but apart from that, RAW! And I feel awesome!

I'm a big lover of lentils, pulses, quinoa, oats etc, and I didn't want to stop eating these yummy foods because I usually cook them. So I began by experimenting with sprouting french lentils- BEST THING EVER!! They were SO refreshing and morish- also really filling.

SPROUTING WHAT YOU DO
Give your chosen 'sprout' a good wash, then pop in a bowl or pot cover with water and soak overnight. Be sure to cover with an extra inch of water, the lentils will swell. Also have enough lentils for a few days, to scatter through any meal to ad flavour, texture and rich nutrients.
The next morning, drain and give a good wash, pop back into bowl or pot, minus water and let to sit on the bench. The following morning, repeat the process of rinsing, the sprouts should start to peak out by the second day. Repeat the process again the next day, you can start eating them now (although in another day they'll taste even better), leave out to repeat process again, or pop in air tight container in fridge- that it! takes a couple of days, but is so simple and it's not time consuming either.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF SPROUTS

Sprouts Are Easy to Digest!! During the sprouting process there is a tremendous increase in metabolic activity:

• Plant hormones are activated
• Starches are broken down into simple sugars
• Proteins are predigested into easily assimilated free amino acids
• fats are broken down into soluble fatty acids
• Minerals merge with protein in a way that increases their function

All this metabolic activity during the sprouting process increases the nutrient value, and enhances digestion and easy assimilation because our body doesn’t have to do all the work to break all the elements down into their more ‘usable’ form – this is already done for us.
Sprouts are extremely nutritious because they contain all the elements a plant needs for life and growth. The nutritional value of sprouts is beyond remarkable as they contain a high concentration of vitamins, minerals, proteins, enzymes, phytochemicals, anti-oxidants, nitrosmines, trace minerals, bioflavinoids and chemo-protectants (such as sulphoraphane and isoflavone). This concentration is highest in the sprouting phase, even higher than when the plant is fully mature.
Sprouts are high in vitamins A, B, C, D, E and K, 
Calcium, Carbohydrates, Chlorophyll, Iron, Magnesium, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Phosphorus, Potassium, Zinc.
Vitamin and Mineral content increase with sprouting.

• Vitamin B6 increases about 500%
• Vitamin B5 increases about 200%
• Vitamin B2 increases about 1300%
• Biotin by about 50%
• Folic Acid by about 600%
• Zinc content doubles

Sprouts are a Complete Protein Sprouts are High in Enzymes
Sprouts are Alkalizing

It's also really fun watching the sprouts grow everyday.
I'm really loking forward to sprouting some broccoli seeds!! YAY

START SPROUTING!
X

Kombucha

Have you Heard of Kombucha (kom- boo- cha) yet?
 

I first found it when I was in LA last year with Jacinta.
We were wandering around the local farmers market, buying and tasting, when we stumbled across the Kombucha stall. We tried two flavours, apple and pear. We loved it! It was our special treat, sipping the preious liquid so it didn't all dissapear in a second. It even graced Jacinta birthday breakfast picnic on a peir in Malibu!
Anyway, I reconnected with the delicious elixir on my trip this year, came home and found it in all my favourite stores!!!

My fav at the moment is 'MOJO's Original Komucha. It's raw, NASAA certified organic, sustainable, ecologically responsible, gluten free and vegan friendly... and DELICIOUS!

The last  onth or so, I've been really looking at detoxing my liver.... an on going treatment that was ingored for too long, but going well.
As you can imagaine, because of this mega detox, I'm not drinking alcohol at the mo, Kombucha is an amazing replacement!! win- plus it's SUPER good for your heath.

So, what is Kombucha??
Great question! Komucha is an ancient handmade drink that's created with a unique fermentation. A living natural culture, transforms the ingredients (tea, unrefined cane sugar, culture) to create a really refreshing, clean, crisp, natural health elixir. It's uplifting, rejuvenating and detoxifying, yay!

I LOVE IT- give it a try!

x 

Breakfast for dinner!!

Well as all Melbournians now.... It has been COLD!!!
So much so, all I've been wanting to do is sit inside all day reading and watching movies... Alas, too busy for that kind of thing through the day.

As you all are, I am busy! Brett's been out filming early in the morning till well into the night, I've been scouting for cosies, filming, going to yoga, having meetings, looking for props etc etc. Most have been outdoor excursions or have needed me to catch public transport everywhere, which is great, I can work and relax listening to music while travelling- just takes way longer- and it's been wet and COLD!!

SO! The other night Brett was filming and I needed dinner for one. EASY! It was actually only 5pm and I was STARVING and needed warming up.... so I had breakfast for dinner!

I made coconut and papaya porridge and it was the best thing in the world!!!
I felt like I was getting a hug in my tummy and taste buds! mmmm
I didn't have any of my coconut milk, but I did have a can of organic coconut cream in the pantry... gross you say!!! Oh no! This is lovely and sweet, plus you don't need much!

WHAT YOU DO
Pour as many oats as you feel like eating in a small pot, mix through some shredded coconut and top with boiling water, just to cover. Let sit for a minute or two, then spoon about 1 to 2 tablespoons of your coconut cream on top and cook for a few minutes. If you need more liquid, just top up with boiling water. Stir through some yummy organic RAW honey, then serve, garnishing with slices of papaya and more honey. Chia seeds world be great mixed through too, so would banana!!

This really will warm anybody and make them super happy too!! So so so creamy and sweet! and HEALTHY!!! winning.
 

I've blabbed on about the amazingness of oats and papaya in my last few posts... time to talk up the amazing coconut!!  
This info is just focusing on coconut oil... but every part of the coconut is an amazing source of health, I just want to focus here on oil/cream to shine a light on HEALTHY oils... something we wouldn't have thought would go in the same sentence and be true!

It’s healthy to cook with: Coconut oil will not turn rancid and oxidize when introduced to heat (unlike other oils – including olive). This means it's perfect for cooking at high temperatures.
It won’t mess with cholesterol: Coconut oil is one of the only few dietary sources of medium-chain fatty acids and it is said to be the best source. MCFA's don't have a negative effect on cholesterol and are known to reduce the risk of heart disease and atherosclerosis.
It prevents wrinkles and replaces sunscreen: The medium-chain triglycerides, naturally occurring fats in coconut oil, deeply penetrate, moisturize and act as a protective barrier against environmental and free radical damage. Coconut oil screens 20 % of ultraviolet exposure. This is what I use for both moisturizer and sunscreen all year round.
It will aid in weight loss: Effective weight loss can be achieved when you replace long-chain fatty acids with medium-chain fatty acids. These guys are easily digested and converted into energy, speeding up metabolism.
It treats candida and other fungal and bacterial infections: The lauric acid in coconut oil is highly toxic to viruses, funguses and bacteria, which makes it effective for treating candida albicans, fungal infections and athlete’s foot. It also targets bacterial infections and viruses like measles, influenza, hepatitis C and even HIV. Breast milk is the only other source of lauric acid.

So, yay to that..... Go eat some porridge!!

X

Papaya and Purple Kale

Happy Monday everyone!

I had such an awesome weekend.
Saturday I filmed all day which super fun, then I dashed home to quickly wip up a yummy dinner, get dolled up, then I headed into town to attend the opening night of King Kong- which was amazing and so much fun! Sunday, Brett and I went to the beach, relaxed and visited a friend, then topped the weekend off with dinner at Yong Green Food in Fitzroy- ssoooooo goooood!!

So- I'm gonna share my yummy snacks when I was filming!!
Firstly of coarse I had a green smoothie, which had some of my purple kale included!!
Other ingredients were 1/4 Papaya, 1/2 lime, 2 tblsp chia seeds, 1 stalk purple kale, bunch of celery leaves, 1/4 cucumber, 1 stalk of silverbeet 1/2 orange..... MMMMMM
 

The other delicious delight I ate was sliced papaya with gogi berries and a squeeze of lime- it was DELICIOUS!!!!
 Then to give me a good kick, I had some of loving earths coconut mylk raw vegan chocolate! YUMMO!

Things you might not know about Papaya:

Boost Immune System
Papaya is particularly high in Vitamin C, A and E all powerful immune boosting antioxidant vitamins. Papayas have a very high content of vitamin C, an essential vitamin that we must get from food, as our bodies can’t make it. Papaya is also a great source of vitamin A, required to help maintain healthy mucus membranes, clear skin and good eye sight. Due to the properties of these vitamins, this makes papaya a great fruit to help fight free radicals.

High in Antioxidants, Flavanoids and Carotenes
Papaya is a rich source of these essential nutrients, especially beta-carotene, lutein, zea-xanthin and cryptoxanthin, as well as hundreds of others not even yet discovered. Carotenes are known to protect the body from lung and other cancers. Antioxidants help slow down the aging process by providing your body with lots of free radical scavengers.

Improves Digestion
Papayas are well known for their high enzyme content, helping the food break down quite rapidly without much extra work required from the body. This is one of the key reasons fruits are so essential to our diets, for their ease of digestibility, also due to their high water and soluble fiber content.

Reduce Inflammation
Papayas contain 2 enzymes; papain and chymopapain that have been shown to help reduce inflammation and to increase the rate of healing from burns. The antioxidants previously mentioned, namely vitamin C, E, and beta-carotene also contribute to reducing inflammation.

Promotes Normal Bowel Movements
Due to the high water content, ease of digestibility and high content of soluble fiber, this allows the proper functioning of bowel movements and helps to prevent constipation. Improving the elimination time of food, in addition to papaya’s folate, vitamin C, beta-carotene, and vitamin E, can help reduce the risk of colon cancer.
 

Lower cholesterol
Papaya, along with all fruit contain zero cholesterol, and the high content of fiber will also help lower high cholesterol levels.

Source of B vitamins
During chronic times of stress the body’s B vitamins become depleted. Papaya contains smaller amounts of the range of B-vitamins, including B1 and B6. Papaya is a great source of folate, an essential B-vitamin, especially during pregnancy as it helps to promote and restore cellular growth.
Papaya is also a great source of minerals including potassium, magnesium and calcium, phosphorus, and iron are all important to proper cellular functioning and an essential component of a healthy diet.

So add papaya to everything! It's great in salads, curries, smoothies, or as a really yummy and light breakfast, squeeze over some lime and sprinkle some chia seeds and fresh mint on top!

XX

  

Eating is fun

So, after my black bean rant yesterday, I wanted to share this reciepe that make me equally happy- it's blackbean spaggetti!!! yum yum yummm!!

This was such a delight to make, I was starving and looking forward to a super quick, super delicious meal. Whilst my 'pasta' was cooking (which only took a couple of mins), I went foraging in my garden and picked a mix of greens, spinage, rocquet, cos lettuce, silverbeet, parsley- but I starred the beautiful Boc Choy,  aka Pac Choy!!!
Boc Choy is a cruciferous veggie which means it's great for fighting against and preventing cancer.  Cruciferous  cruciferous veggies are also sooooo good for your liver! 

I washed and chopped my greens ready to stir into to my drained, warm pasta- so although my veg was lovely and warm, it was still lovely and raw.
Straight after draining I added a tablespoon of coconut oil, which melted nicely, I seasoned with sea salt mmmm

This dish would be awesome with chilli flakes and toasted seeds and nuts and a squeeze of lemon- I was craving a simpler version which was sooo satisfying!

*If you can't finck black bean spaggetti, you could always use japanese buckwheat noodles mmmm

 EAT AND BE MERRY

X

Black Bean delight

 This meal made me sooooooooo happy to eat. It was super savoury, filling, simple and satisfying.
It mostly comes down to the fact that I was eating black beans, which are both very beautiful and so exctreamly good for you!

Black beans are loaded with a rare combination of both protein and fiber! Just one-cup serving of black beans contains 14 grams of protein – the same amount as a 2 oz. serving of a meat like chicken or a fish like salmon and the 15 grams of fiber from that same one-cup serving is the equivalent of eating 3 cups of broccoli, 4 cups of Brussels sprouts, or 15 plums!!! woah mumma.

Black beans are so incredibly good for your digestive tract, the blood sugar regulatory system and the cardiovascular system. 

And if that weren’t enough, the skin of black beans contains a high amount of phytonutrients, called anthocyanins. To refresh your memory, anthocyanins are responsible for the deep reds, blues, purples, and magenta colours also found in blueberries, grapes and açaí, all of which we know to be powerful antioxidant-rich foods. These compounds decrease the risk of heart disease and cancer. They may also aid in the prevention of macular degeneration by protecting the eyes from free radical damage, increasing circulation and stabilizing collagen structures (which hold tissues together).

Talk about your underestimated legume! Protein, fiber, and powerful antioxidants –  Pretty cool hey?

So, onto the recipe!!

BLACK BEAN BLISS BOWL

WHAT YOU NEED

1-2 cups of dried Black beans (soaked over night)

1 zucchini grated

1 massive mushroom

2 inches of leek sliced

1/2 lemon

WHAT YOU DO

Wash then pre soak your beans the night before or first thing in the morning. Rinse and wash again then cook in a pot with water until they're tender. (you can use canned beans, but fresh is always best. check the label to make sure theres no nasty things added for preservation).

Grate your zucchini, slice your leek and chunkily chop your mushie.

In a pan melt some coconut oil and sautee the leek with some sea salt. When soft, add the mushies and a bit of water, then pop a lid on for a few mins.

Make sure this is all on a low heat to keep intact all the veggies goodness.

Add the beans to the pan, mix, then add the zucchini and stir through. I just heated everything through so the zucchini was still basically raw but warm.

Season again, then squeeze the lemon on top.

EAT 

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Split Peas.....

I'm wearing a kale top!! Happy day!

Anyway..... that's not what I'm going to blog about :)
Today I'm going to introduce you to split peas!!!!
I love peas. As a kid my special dessert was frozen peas in a cup, it was my absolutely fav snack. Once I made my family dinner which was tomato sauce soup, and for dessert, frozen pes and icecream. What can I say, I've always had a flair with food. I made them eat it too!!!!

Split peas, are actually dried peas, they're 'split' because thats how they grow natually- two seperate pea membranes. When they're dried, they fall apart. Are you worried about your cholesterol level? Eat split peas! Full of soluble fiber, peas help to bind up cholesterol-containing bile and move it out of your body. This can help with conditions like irritable bowel syndrome and diverticulosis. A single cup of cooked dried peas in your daily diet provides 65.1% of the recommended daily fiber. They also provide a good amount of protein, two B-vitamins, very high in vitamin K,  and several important minerals. Peas also include isoflavones, which are helpful in reducing the risk of breast and prostate cancer.
If you are diabetic, or have it in your family, split peas can be your best friend. Peas help stabilize your blood sugar levels while providing a steady supply of energy.
Peas can also reduce the amount of plaque in your blood vessels and help your heart remain healthy.

So, amazing hey!?

SPLIT PEA SLOP

WHAT YOU NEED
couple of cups of dried split peas. You could mix it up and have a cup of green, a cup of yellow.
small bunch of kale or any green leafy veg sliced/chopped
2 inches of leek chopped
1 lemon

WHAT YOU DO
This is very easy. Wash and pre soak your peas, the night before is best or ealy morning for that night.
Drain and rinse peas, then pop in a pot, bring to boil and simmer until they're tender. Drain and set aside.
In a pan with coconut oil, sautee your chopped leek with a pinch of salt until soft, then add the green leafy veg, mix for a couple of mins, add the peas and heat through. Squeeze lemon on top and re season if you need.

That's it!

I chose to serve mine with a massive bowl of freshly picked garden greens and some olive and rosemary bread. mmmmmm

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Summer Sorbet

I love ice cream.....
It's one of my favourite things in this world.

The big problem is, it's not that great for you. This makes me sad.
Don't worry, I've made myself a summer sorbet to keep my ice cream cravings at bay.

 
This is very easy and quick to make...

Add any amount of any fruit and blend!

I used some frozen blueberries, two mangoes, a banana, a lemon and dollop of rose (to stop sorbet completely freezing and turning to ice) then I topped with rice milk just to cover.

Blitz to your desired consistencey, then freeze.

Just before popping into the freezer, I mixed through some cacao nibs for added crunch, flavour and nutrition!

HAPPY SUMMER X

Apple Cider Vinegar Rocks

Im guessing some of you are needing more assistance with feeling great after christmas and new year... yes/no?  Well even if you're feeling fine and are wanting to get even healthier.. read this!!

Apple cider vinegar is such a wonderful friend for you to make. Its great for detoxifying, alkalising, clearing up skin ailments and is an awesome cancer preventer and wards off common illnesses.
You can eat it (salad dressing), drink it or dab it on your skin for either easing the sting of sunburn or using as an astringent for your face. It helps clear eczema, acne and worts! (for wort removal, cover a cotton balls with ACV, then place on top of the wort and cover with a band aid. Leave overnight and continue process until the wort buggers off!)

If you're wanting to really get your detox on, have a bath with a cup of ACV and a cup of epsom salts- then top yourself up with a green smoothie!
ACV is rich in natural minerals, vitamins and enzymes. It binds to toxins which aids the detoxification process. It breaks up the mucus in your body which helps flush lymph nodes, increasing circulation in the body and lymph system. It also helps to purify the blood.

If you suffer from gastric reflux or any trouble with digestion- take 1-2 teaspoons of ACV in warm water half an hour before a meal, this will heal your tummy and greatly aid your digestion. This also aids in weight loss- but make sure you have a healthy and balanced diet to keep your body working at its best.
ACV helps to stabilise our blood sugar levels which is great for people with diabetes! Yay.

So, make sure you get certified organic cold pressed ACV along with the 'mother'- the cloudy stuff thats a living mixture of amazing bacteria, minerals and enzymes!! Also make sure its not packed in a plastic bottle.

Apple cider vinegar a day keeps the doctor away!

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30 Day Green Smoothie Challenge

Well... Summer is most definitely here!

woah mumma!

As much as I remained healthy during christmas and new year, I did indulge in lots of amazing food and a fair few sweeties- plus the odd drink..... everyday...

So- Im back and raring to be as healthy as I can possibly be- with the help of 'Young and Raw's 30 day smoothie challenge...

Well I was going to do this anyway, but on Facebook I saw that they posted a free 30 day green smoothie challenge, sharing free recipes, motivation and great updates explaining what each ingredient does for your body! amazing!

So, Im enjoying my morning fresh veggie juice- usually containing beetroot, carrot, ginger, lemon, green apple, silver beet, kale, cayenne pepper, cucumber and broccoli.

YUM!

And now, my challenge, also adding green smoothies everyday!

Now- I normally do have green smoothies everyday, but since being in LA and being on the go in hot weather, I was finding the smoothies too filling for brekkie- move it to lunch I say!!

Heres a pick of my day 2 of 30 green smoothie challenge!!

be inspired and join the challenge!

This one has coconut water, green capsicum, orange, lemon, ginger, kale and parsley- with stalks- YUM!

And incase you get disheartened... on both days I modified the ingredients- I didn't follow the shopping list so I replaced a few things!!

GET ON BOARD

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Last Week of Rehearsal: I need fast food!

So- Suburbia opens next week!!!

YAY- it's gonna be a goodie.....
Last week of rehearsals, work, homework, moving house, meetings and yoga= I need super fast, super delicious and absolutely amazingly nutritious FOOD!!

I've been living on veggie juices and fresh fruit, fresh tomatoes, carrots with almond butter or hummus, and avocados, BUT I've been needing something so quick and spectacular, thats also filling that keeps me going all day.

Enter the green smoothie with a savoury side!!!

I've been loving my super green smoothie with chia seeds, silverbeet, kale, lettuce, banana, orange, rice  milk, almond paste and fresh lemon with a side of fat rice cakes smothered with almond paste, avo, tomatoes, sea salt and lemon!!!!! YUMMMM

SUPER FAST, SUPER YUM AND SUPER DUPER GOOD FOR YOU.

It also is very pretty!!!

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