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Keen for some Quinoa?

April 2, 2013 By Kat

Have you heard of quinoa? Pronounced ‘keen-wa’ NOT ‘kwin-o-a’. Quinoa is actually a seed, not a grain but in many places it is referred to as a grain. Deriving from South America thousands of years ago, the Inca’s used it to feed their warriors. It gave them super powers! Well, a lot of energy anyway & kept their stamina up. It is branded today as a ‘super food’ as it has so many healthful benefits.

Quinoa first came into my radar a few years back whilst I was on a yoga, cleanse & detox retreat in Byron Bay. The menu for the week was vegan, gluten free; sugar free, caffeine free & alcohol free. Fun free? No not at all. I barely even missed all the above as the food was so amazing, fresh & organic (& cooked for me!). Quinoa was pretty much the main staple for the week’s menu. Quinoa porridge for breakfast, quinoa bakes for lunch and quinoa salads in the evening. This super food is so adaptable I didn’t even notice I was eating the same base seed for every meal. It even appeared in the muffins for those not on the cleanse.

Why is quinoa such a super food?

Protein – Quinoa is jam packed full of protein and all nine essential amino acids, important for muscled development. Very important to us vegetarians. I often tell my partner my quinoa has more protein than his steak!

Iron – Again very important for us vegos who don’t eat red meat. Iron keeps our red blood cells in working order and oxygenates the muscles. Iron increases brain function too. New to being a vegetarian and feeling forgetful? Get some Quinoa down you. Our brain uses about 20% of our blood oxygen so we need iron to carry that oxygen from cell to cell.

Fibre – We’ve all heard of the importance of this one in keeping our digestive system running smoothly. Quinoa is super high in fibre with nearly twice as much as other grains. It’s fairly heavy to eat so takes longer to chew, leaving you feeling fuller for longer and you don’t eat as much. It has fewer calories than other grains that can help with weight loss.

Magnesium – A good one again for blood and circulation. Magnesium relaxes the blood vessels, great if you are prone to cramps or headaches. It is one of the essential electrolytes I spoke about in the hydration post. Great for bones and teeth as well as being a natural detoxifier.

Compared to other grains, quinoa is higher in calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, iron, copper, manganese, and zinc than wheat, barley, or corn. (1)

It’s easy to cook too. I soak my quinoa for about 8 hours. This removes the phytic acid making it easier to digest. Use the 2:1 ratio, two cups of water to one cup of quinoa. Make sure you wash your Quinoa thoroughly after soaking or it may taste bitter. Bring to the boil then simmer at the lowest setting, covered, for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to stop it sticking. It’s done when it’s absorbed the water and is light and fluffy. Leave it to stand off the heat for another five minutes to rest with the lid on.

I eat quinoa nearly every day. I make a huge salad or bake on a Sunday and this lasts me all week as a main or side dish. Quinoa is widely available in health food stores. Here is Australia you will find it in the Macro section of Woolworths. There are loads of recipes out there you can use quinoa in. Just google it and away you go! If you have any favourite quinoa recipes, please share in the comments below.

Happy eating!

Seren xx

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Reference:

The Largely Unknown Health Epidemic Affecting Almost ALL Americans, BodyEcology.com.
http://www.bodyecology.com/06/12/28/unknown_health_epidemic.php

Green Smoothie

March 27, 2013 By Kat

It’s the latest health food trend and I’m sure you’ve all heard or tried them by now. The green smoothie has landed. Personally it took my a while to get on board with it. Probably because they look like a glass of bile & involved green vegetables I don’t particularly like. I felt when green smoothies first became popular & everyone was doing it I didn’t want to buy into something because it’s the cool new thing to do. So I didn’t. Nose being cut off to spite my face? Yes. Now I look back and think what a dick am I for ignoring something so healthful just because I was too stubborn and didn’t want to be part of cool and the gang. How I have changed and grown.

This is a good example of judgement and not listening too your inner self for guidance. Green vegetable messages come through loud and clear for me all the time. I don’t action them as much as I should. I know this because I keep getting the message and will do until I do was I’m told. Eating a massive plate of raw greens is my partners dream and my nightmare. They just don’t appeal. ‘What’ I hear you shout, you are an advocate for holistic loveliness how can you not like one of the most amazing, natural sources of goodness? We are all unique. One size does not fit all. It’s a no brainer raw vegetables are wonderful, they make us feel great, I feel great after eating them but it’s a chore to get them down. If our taste buds haven’t developed yet or aren’t ready yet for such helpful delights it will be a struggle.

Green juicing was my answer. I can down a green smoothie a lot quicker than eating a plate of veg. It’s quicker to prepare too, no chopping the Thermomix does it for me. The green veg is also disguised with other flavours that appeal more to my developing taste buds. Juicing raw vegetables is the best way to preserve all the natural nutrients too. Cooking actually kills off some of these. It still looks like bile. With a few trial and error experiments I now know the perfect blend that makes sure I’m getting my greens & it still tastes good. A pleasure now not a chore. I have my green juice in the morning and it keeps me a lot fuller than my old bread based breakfasts used to.

Here’ my recipe:

400ml of Raw Coconut water
A handful of kale, spinach and broccoli
Half a green apple
2 teaspoons of Vital Greens powder (full of the all important Organic spirulina, chlorella, wheatgrass and alfalfa plus much, much more)
1 tablespoon of organic, cold pressed coconut oil
2 scoops of 180 Nutrition Vegan protein powder (full of pea protein, flaxseed, almond meal, sunflower kernels, coconut flour, chia seeds, sesame seeds, psyllium husks, inactive brewers yeast & stevia)
1 teaspoon of bee pollen (*note: allergy aware!!)
Depending on my mood I also add occasionally 1 teaspoon of organic raw cacoa
Lots of ice from purified water!

Happy green juicing!

Love Seren xx

Mason jar available from Eco Jarz: http://www.ecojarz.com/

Clock Eaters

March 5, 2013 By Kat

How many of you have been asked “are you hungry?” and immediately looked at your watch, clock or other time revealing object? Yes, me! I used to be such ‘clock eater.’ Sounds a bit strange that term doesn’t it? Images of a clock sat on a dinner plate ready for you to chow down on. I was even told off for it by a friend when I looked at my watch when asked if I was hungry, “why did you look at your watch, that’s not your stomach”.

It’s such a part of our society to eat at regular times. Growing up our evening meal was always served at 5pm. (I still believe it is now) Sunday lunch was every Sunday without fail at 1pm, no excuses you had to be there. My partners’ factory has set smoko and lunch times. Schools are the same. Breaks and lunch at the same time every day. Very regimented. I do understand school’s have a schedule to keep, would be mayhem if 300+ children took their lunch at different times of the day.

We are so conditioned to eat ‘on time’ & ‘by the clock.’ It’s instilled into us, it’s a part of life but does it have to be? There are many other factors that cause us to eat but I’m just going to focus on the concept of ‘eating by the clock’ in this post.

I was part of that clock eating gang. I used to look at my watch first when food thoughts appeared because if it was too early to eat lunch I’d panic I’d be hungry too soon again before dinner and need a snack. Where would I be, would I be able to access a snack later on? Fear. It all came down to fear with me. Scared I’d be left hungry and then be over come with that horrid feeling of sickness that can happen if you’re over hungry. Always eating to stay ahead of the game or the hunger. The hunger game!

Many diets tell us to eat lots of small meals and snacks during the day to keep our energy levels up. This makes sense, some people need to follow this plan, but if you’re not actually hungry do you actually need this constant supply of food? Eating ‘just in case.’

Gradually over the years and even more so now that I am more in tune with my body, I’ve stopped clock eating. I let my body tell me if I need nourishment by stopping & listen to it. When you are properly hungry, your stomach feels empty, it’s churning, you start to fatigue. Then it’s obvious you need to eat!!! It’s those times in between or when you look at the clock & it’s ‘lunch time’ so you might as well go eat. That’s when you need to tune in.

When I start to think about food, usually when triggered by external factors, I ask myself – am I hungry? Do I just need more water? Thirst can easily be mistaken for hunger. Am I just thinking about food because what time it is? It takes practice to listen to your body. Especially as your head, the ego will often jump in as it does and tell you something different. Fear is manifested by the head/ego. Your soul, your heart, inside, that will tell you the truth & what you really need. It won’t lie to you.

How do you listen to yourself? Simple, stop what you’re doing. Move away from any distractions, look away from your computer screen, go outside, focus on the wall, anything. Breathe deeply and ask the question. “Am I hungry?” The answer may take a while to come. You may get this answer in a different ways. Your ‘inner voice’ may whisper ‘yes’. A visual picture may appear in your minds eye – a piece of fruit, a glass of water, go for a walk. You may get a sensory message through your nose. If you’re not meant to eat this smell may be off putting, or you may smell something delicious. Lastly you may physically manifest the answer, the obvious grumble in your stomach or simply nothing. If you get nothing at all that may be your answer – no you are not hungry.

I now eat when I am physically hungry or signalled by my inner self. Yes this means eating outside of the ‘normal times.’ For example I start my day with a vegetable juice & green supplement about 6am. I then hungry for breakfast at 10am, lunch maybe around 3pm. Lunch is my main meal, I eat the most food at lunch time as I need the energy to get me through the rest of the day. Often if I’m working a late shift then I don’t feel hungry enough to eat at 10pm (not good to sleep on a full stomach) when I return home, so I don’t. If I am signaled to eat I do, usually something light.

Then I start again the next day. I let go of the fear thinking ‘I didn’t eat a ‘proper’ meal last night so I need to make up for it this morning with a full breakfast.’ I forget what happened the day before, this is a new day, and what do I need right now today is the only thought I think of. Staying present and living in the moment. I feel healthier, leaner and cleaner. I never stress about calories, cravings or hunger pangs for this way of eating suits me as it comes from within ME.

Everyone is different. Some of you may read this & think I’m totally wacked. Not a problem! It is your life, your body, listen to it, it is right there to guide you when you are ready.

Bon appetite!

Love & light

Seren xx

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