COCONUT-BANANA & BLACKBERRY PARFAIT

Coconut-Banana & Blackberry Parfait

1 banana

1 young Thai coconut (meat only)

½ cup walnuts (soaked)

Juice of ½ lemon

1 Tbsp raw honey

¼ tsp vanilla extract

Pinch sea salt

Soak walnuts 6 - 8 hrs, rinse and drain.  Crack open a coconut and scoop out the meat (reserve the water for drinking).  Blend walnuts and coconut meat along with all remaining ingredients until smooth.  Set aside.

½ cup blackberries

1 tsp raw honey

Blend blackberries with honey in a mini-blender!  Layer a dessert glass and serve.  Enjoy!

BRUSSELS SPROUTS APPLE SLAW

1 cup brussels sprouts

1 apple

1 celery stalk

1/4 cup minced red onion

1/4 cup black currents (or raisins)

Shred brussels sprouts, apple and celery in a food processor.  Combine with minced onion and currents in a separate bowl and mix together.

Vinaigrette

2 Tbsp olive oil

1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

1 tsp Dijon mustard

1/2 tsp raw honey

Pinch Himalayan salt / black pepper

Whisk vinaigrette ingredients and toss with the salad. Enjoy!

OFF TO HIPPOCRATES HEALTH INSTITUTE

In just a few short days, one of my long awaited dreams will finally come to fruition.  I will be arriving at the Hippocrates Health Institute for a 3-week Life Transformation Program.

The dream has been a long time in the making, six years to be exact.  From the very first time I heard about the program, back in 2007, I knew this was my destined next BIG step in my exploration of health and nutrition.  (See my brief mention of it in a 2009 post titled Manifesting A Dream.) 

What better time to experience this amazing program than in preparation for a healthy first pregnancy?  I love how destiny seems to align so appropriately - the timing couldn't be more perfect.  

I put HHI smack in the middle of my vision board long ago, but for six LONG years the dream just sat there waiting for me. And when I say waiting, I literally mean it was just sitting there waiting for me to get off my ass and make it happen... ; )

By the way, for any of you who still think manifestation is the process of dreams magically falling in your lap... I've got news for you!  The real process of manifestation is owning your dreams (and the responsibility that comes with making it happen).  Took me a while to catch on too. 

So that's what I did.  I took my destiny, my dream, into my own two hands, set up a savings account, and got to work!  

Luckily, the timing turned out great, as my hubby and I are looking to start a family in the near future.  Perfect opportunity for a complete mind, body and spirit cleanse!  

I should mention, that even though the Hippocrates program focuses on a strict raw vegan protocol, I don't intend to proceed with a vegan pregnancy.  I'll leave the details regarding my views on diet and pregnancy for another post.  But I will say that my intention, as of this point, is to incorporate a few select animal products into my diet (in "therapeutic" doses) following the cleanse.  I'll probably have to explain the "therapeutic" part as well.  

In any case, I thought about blogging during my cleanse at the Hippocrates Health Institute, but I may just take those three weeks to really immerse myself into the program and enjoy my stay there.  I do hope to follow up with a post upon my return however... so stay tuned! 

RAW FOOD & YOGA

A match made in heaven!

Regardless of the style of yoga practice you prefer, I have found that a predominetly raw food lifestyle and yoga are a perfect complement to one another.  The union of these two are unlike anything else.  

I often enjoy some fresh coconut water before my yoga practice, and I like to end my practice with a low-glycemic green juice for hydration.  It makes me feel like I'm floating of clouds once I'm done!

Yoga in Sanskrit translates to “union”.  The practice is designed to unite breath and posture, which in turn creates unity and balance in mind, body and spirit.  Yoga, of course, also increases flexibility.  I like to think or define the practice of yoga as a meditation in movement.

Here's a fun one to try... the Five Tibetan Rites.

I first heard of the Five Tibetan Rites from my friend and fitness guru, Larisa Simpson of EuroFit LLC, who not only helped me to lose weight, but has also taught me, among other things, to love and honor my body.  If you have yet to discover the Five Tibetan Rites, it’s a beautiful routine to add to your yoga practice. 

The Five Tibetan Rites, aka the Five Rites, are a form of yoga practiced by Tibetan monks for centuries for healing, rejuvenation, and longevity.  The monks who practiced the Five Rites reportedly lived long and vibrant lives.  Unlike the traditional yoga practice of India, the Five Rites emphasize “a continuous sequence of movement” rather than “static positions”.

The Five Rites are said to balance the seven energy Chakras centers to promote a free flow of prana (chi energy) revitalizing mind, body and spirit.  A daily practice of the Five Rites can increase energy and vitality, restore emotional and mental clarity, help one sleep more soundly, increase strength and flexibility, balance hormonal levels, assist the body in detoxification and weight management, and enhance a sense of harmony and well being.

SEAWEED SALT

Looking for an extra dose of minerals to season your favorite foods?  This quick and easy recipe takes only a few minutes to make. 

Simply grind up some dry kelp and dulse (equal parts) using a small coffee grinder, and double the volume with added Himalayan crystal salt.  Grind everything down to a fine powder and use as an alternative to table salt. 

Caution:  Start with a pinch! Seaweed has a distinct flavor that can easily overpower any dish.

PAPAYA FACE MASK

The other day I found myself craving a juicy papaya, so naturally, I made a trip to a local heath food store and picked out a nice soft organic papaya.  But when I got home and cut it in half, it turns out it wasn't ripe at all... the flesh was pale yellow and tough!  Sigh.  

I have to say, I was pretty saddened but I wasn't discouraged!  Instead, I got creative and made myself a beautifying papaya face mask using a few organic ingredients I had on hand.  My skin felt so amazing, I thought I'd share the recipe.  Looks like my skin was the one craving the fruit ; )  

Papaya Face Mask

1/2 small unripe papaya (peeled, seeds removed)

1 Tbsp raw honey

1 tsp coconut oil

Using a mini blender, blend all ingredients until smooth and creamy.  Apply a thick layer avoiding the eyes, leave on for 20 minutes.  Rinse with warm water.  

Enjoy this beautiful and nourishing treatment before bed! 

A SUPERFOOD UNLIKE ANY OTHER

It's not very often I take time to promote products and webinars on my blog, but I just can't help myself on this one!  

I recently came across a FREE online webinar discussing the many health benefits of micro-algea, and I honestly have to say the information is PRICELESS.  

I've always understood their role in health, but I had NO idea just how powerful micro-algae are!  Lets just say they were routinely used to treat children of radioactive poisoning in the aftermath of Chernobyl.  That's beyond incredible!  I can't recommend this information enough.  

♥ MicroAlgaeWebinar ♥

In a world where superfood trends come and go, there's only a few ancient superfoods that have withstood the test of time.  If you were to include just ONE superfood staple into your diet, miro-algae would be it.  They are truly in a league of their own.  


Please take a moment and watch this FREE online presentation, and pass it on!  Best part, they've got some amazing recipes in there... yum! 

♥ MicroAlgaeWebinar ♥

Here's one of my favorite recipes using micro-algae spirulina.  I drink it like a shot first thing in the morning, right after my green juice.

Spirulina Spritzer 

1/4 cup (2 oz) coconut water kefir

1/2 tsp spirulina powder
Squirt lemon or lime juice

Stir in and dissolve the spirulina powder in a small glass of coconut water kefir with citrus, and enjoy!


The carbonation from the fermented, probiotic-rich coconut kefir is just divine!  It's a nice complement to the mineral-rich spirulina, which is masked by the fizzy kefir and citrus.