Give My Body LIFE

 Give. My. Body. LIFE.

That's the best way I can express how I feel about eating whole, unprocessed, nourishing, colourful, rad, beautiful, healthy, beneficial, and diverse foods. Think about it, it's often referred that, WE ARE WHAT WE EAT. 

Who wouldn't want to be fresh, fun, colourful, beautiful, clean, pure, healthy, refreshing, SWEET, and did I say FRESH?

Stop making your body a graveyard if you haven't already begun to nourish it with healthy, LIVING foods, and start now. Veganism is NOT hard, expensive, or extreme. What IS extreme is murder, abuse, decay, rot, everything involved in the inhumane mistreatment exhibited in major meat, dairy and egg corporations.

Two of the things I love above all other things (other than my family and friends and their well-being) is health, animals, life, and the planet. Not only does being vegan help the animals, but it also helps the environment.

• Humans eat twice as much meat as we did 30 years ago, primarily of chickens, cows, pigs and sheep
• All of the above animals require an IMMENSE amount of water, feed as they produce GREAT amounts of waste and methane gases
• The climate change emissions of the combined animals exceeds those of all forms of transportations
• The unnecessary industry DESTROYS and steals land
• This land could be used as crops to feed the hungry
• Not to mention, the land involved to grow feed for the ANIMALS could be used, as well, to feed the hungry
• Water is WASTED
• DEFORESTATION
• The air, water and land is poisoned by the by products of meat factories
• The natural resources of the earth are being DRAINED 

IT TAKES 20,000 LBS OF WATER TO PRODUCE ONE POUND OF BEEF WHILE IT ONLY TAKES 60-130 LBS OF WATER TO PRODUCE A POUND OF POTATOES, RICE OR ANY OTHER GRAIN

Not only all that, but it is deemed that a plant based diet is half the cost of a meat-centred diet.

I would say sorry to get preachy here, but I won't because it is something seriously frightening. It affects the human race, the animals, the EARTH and something must be done.

For more information here are some excellent websites:

https://www.vegansociety.com/try-vegan/why-go-vegan

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matt-frazier/vegan-diet_b_3996646.html --> For newbies

http://www.buzzfeed.com/expresident/reasons-to-try-veganism#.htVJ73xWB4 --> For humours

http://www.rd.com/slideshows/going-vegan/#slideshow=slide5

"MY BODY WILL NOT BE A TOMB FOR OTHER CREATURES" 

~ Da Vinci 

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The Carb Myth

CARBS MAKE YOU FAT! 

~ A lie told to you by the dieting industry disguised as health professionals, only to rip you off of your money, happiness, and health.

As a species, not only do we thrive off of carbohydrates, but we, biologically need them. Evolution has allowed us to come so far, only as a result of our carb-based diet. Carbohydrates are often misunderstood. When someone exclaims they are on 'a diet', one typically would think that involves calorie restriction, limited carbohydrates, sugars, and fats. Another ever-popular idea is the insane increase of protein, notably, animal product protein. The saddest part of it all, aside from acquiring all the protein from genetically modified, mass produced, and poisoned meat and dairy, is that the entire effort may as well be useless for long-term aspects. If you limit the amount of carbohydrates taken in, the protein is actually rendered USELESS. 

Carbohydrates are the fundamental part of the muscle building process. They fuel the cells to do the work you are stressing on them, and if you cut out carbohydrates, the protein you consume is only used as that fuel, or stored as body fat. By consuming excess protein, you will not see result as the rate that protein can be synthesized is limited, thus, it will be either used as fuel or stored as fat.

Another important concept is that carbohydrates are usually nutrient-rich foods, giving you sufficient calories to fuel your body's cells to FUNCTION. If carbs are cut and calories are restricted, the body goes into starvation mode. In starvation mode, it is nearly impossible to build muscle, as your body grasps anything it can to feed itself: its own muscle.

THAT IS AS UNAPPEALING AS IT SOUNDS.

Not only that, but the brain does not function properly without sufficient energy supplied, especially since our bodies were meant to run on glucose. 

Glucose is the body's main energy source, it is a sugar that is mechanizable for energy purposes, either on demand, or for later. Without it, we cannot function AT ALL.

Glucose stores in the body as glycogen and is used to power the brain as well as the muscles. The glycogen relationship to performance is collaborative; the more glycogen, the more energy for the performance activity. That goes hand-in-hand with glucose, meaning, the more CARBOHYDRATES put in = the more energy. In an evolutionary and survival standpoint, the more energy the better.

Unfortunately, nowadays, people waste away on the couch, hour upon hour and never see the outside world or the potential energy they can use. Not everyone is an athlete, but the human species, like many other species, was biologically made to MOVE. To optimize this, carbohydrates are available and ideal. 

Back to glucose, glycogen not only stores in the muscle, but also in the liver. This glycogen is known as the 'brain food'. The brain works quite differently than regular muscles, as it cannot store glycogen or use the excess fat as fuel. If inadequate glucose is provided, this can lead to many downfalls such as fogginess, lightheadedness, inability to concentrate, depression, anxiety, and many other mental health problems. Not only do low-carb diets result in muscle loss, but they result in a number of brain-related adverse effects. For example, when someone depletes their carbs, cohesively, depleting calories, the amount of glucose is shortened, meaning the amount of glycogen is limited. If this is so, the brain begins to tell the body it needs quick energy. Rash decisions are made as cravings heighten. Deprivation leads to bad decisions and binges occur. This sends the brain false information that the body is being nourished, as it was that desperate for sufficient energy. 

This is the perfect downward spiral and cycle for dieting companies. 

In short, listen to what your body needs and do not deprive yourself. By nourishing the body, the mind is also calmed and nourished, leading to a happy, healthy, whole life. Carbohydrates do not make a person fat, it is the deprivation or the poor judgement in food choices that lead to obesity and dissatisfaction, the secret formula of the dieting industry. Everyone deserves to be happy with their body, and since the beginning of human existence, carbohydrates have been the key to living a healthy life. It is so crucial to replenish the cells that have worked so hard to aid in daily tasks, and by living a nourishing lifestyle, with a diet of rich, abundant, earthy, natural, wholesome foods in balance with activity, the only outcome includes positive results.

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Oil-free Crispy Sweet Potato Baked Fries

Finally, it's summer! The best time to have a delicious side (or meal) of sweet potato fries. Personally, ever since I was a young tot, I much preferred these sweet treats as opposed to the standard potato fries and especially over poutine! Shocker, a Canadian who dislikes poutine! Mind you, growing up my taste buds have developed a lot, nonetheless, I highly detest even the idea of poutine. For health, crucially, but it just seems so unfair to treat my stomach that way, exposing it to highly saturated fats, grease, oils, and god knows what else.

So if you're like me and want the delicious taste, alongside many health benefits, try these fool-proof fries! Trust me, you won't stop after just a few, and you won't have to feel guilty about it!

You will need:
1 Sweet potato
Fresh Rosemary
Ground Cinnamon
Freshly Ground Pepper

Baking sheets

So the first step is to find a sweet potato. I'm not gonna lie, I always would opt for the organic option, however, sometimes it can be very expensive, and if you are on a tighter budget, the inexpensive deal is always the winner in most cases. If you do purchase inorganically, just make sure to rinse THOROUGHLY, or better yet, peel the skin off to avoid unwanted toxins and chemicals. The skin though, does contain vital minerals and antioxidants, so I like to leave the skin on for added benefits.

Once you have found yourself a nice potato, cut it into fry-like strips about the size of a slender finger. This way, they will be more crispy and fry-like. Authentic.
Put the slices into a baking sheet and pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees F.

 For added spice and flavour, I have been really liking this combination. I add fresh rosemary, cinnamon, and top it all off with some freshly ground pepper.
Alongside being a High-carb Low-Fat Vegan, I also like to keep the sodium levels DOWN. In this day in age, so many cases of obesity, diabetes, heart conditions, high-blood pressure, and even some cancers are related to poor choices in diet, such as an overdose on salt. Sparingly salt is fine, Himalayan if you wish to add some more flavour, but even so, natural foods will provide the essential minerals needed to keep our blood pumping in a healthy manner.

 So, back to the recipe...
Rinse the rosemary and sprinkle is all over the fries.

 Feel free to add lemon zest as well, then sprinkle on the cinnamon and pepper.

 Meanwhile, I also made a salad to go with my crispy chippies. I simply grated some carrot, put it on a bed of spinach, kale, added some red kidney beans, and some hemp hearts.

Once the fries crisp up, which should be in a half hour to about forty-five minutes, depending on the power of your oven, serve alongside a salad or just have them alone.

Can you say, yum?

INGREDIENTS
1 Sweet potato
Fresh Rosemary
Ground Cinnamon
Freshly Ground Pepper

Baking sheets

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Set oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Thoroughly rinse the sweet potato under hot water and dry off.
3. Slice into 'fry-like' wedges, about a slender finger's form. Place uniformly into pan, not overlapping as overlapping them will not allow them to bake right through, evenly.
4. Sprinkle with fresh rosemary, ground cinnamon, and freshly ground pepper.
5. Pop in the oven for 30-45 mins (depending on the power of your oven)
6. ENJOY 

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Living your life right, awake and asleep - sleep, exercise, food

Whoever you are, you have no doubt woken up one morning, probably after a long night with hardly any sleep or had a restless sleep, with a cough, a headache or, my favourite, a groggy throat accompanied by muscle soreness. Although we should aim for at least eight consecutive hours of undisturbed sleep each night, sometimes that late night tea or eager discussion can keep us wired or can affect our sleep cycle. The key to having a restful, pleasant sleep is to abstain from the thing that will have our brains on a constant run, aka, smart phones, tablets, laptops, any screens, and even books. In some cases, a book can put you to sleep because your eyes are so tired and heavy, while other times the plot only escalades, intriguing you more.

The most relaxing thing for me before bed is to reflect on my day and, in a stressless way, think about the next day. Growing up with obsessive-compulsive thoughts, I was constantly wired. Making checklist after checklist, anxiety running through the roof as I recount different scenarios. It wasn't until recently I have been able to manage my hyper-active mind. I find with meditation and deep breathing, the entire body, as well as the mind has the chance to relax and live in the moment.

Alongside that, I often practice yoga to maintain balance and power in myself. Calming, soothing, and stress-relieving, it is something I recommend we all take part in. 

To add on, another key component to a healthy, soothed mind, is a healthy body. What better way to treat your body than with the right fuel and exercise. 

I cannot stress enough how crucial it is to be active, and while living an active life, to be present, including when you nourish yourself. 

So many people slave for hours at the gym on a machine, practically in a dungeon. Getting cardio in is fantastic, but there's more to exercise than trudging on a harsh surface continually, going, literally, nowhere. Don't get me wrong, I do go to the gym daily, or when I can, but I also take into consideration that life is happening OUTDOORS. Even walking with your best friend, your dog, your mom, your dad, sibling, or running along the lakeshore, cycling through the city, and exploring your surroundings releases endorphins, maintaining happiness while keeping your body healthy and fit. 

Finally, nutrition is the most important aspect of living a balance life. Again, many unsatisfied people will slave hours at the gym, but return to their comfort, or what they believe to be it. Fast food or processed junk. Many people are, sadly, unaware of how damaging this food really is, no matter if you work it off or not. You can always differentiate someone who nourishes their body with what works for them with whole, organic health foods, from someone who just ordered a Big Mac with an extra order of fries or a ready-made frozen meal out of a package. People GLOW when they are nourished right. Through their skin, eyes, hair, body, physicality, body language, nails, the list goes on. Their vitality is so rich and luminous. 

Since being vegan, my skin has cleared up, I am hardly sick, my hair is softer and thicker, my skin softer, and my overall well being and energy is thriving. I have never felt so good in my life. So many foods nowadays are jam-packed with unnecessary hormones, sodium, fat, processed sugar, and toxins to the body. Veganism isn't a restricting diet, it's a life-prolonging and enhancing lifestyle. For so many reasons, ethically, and health-wise, living a plant-based lifestyle is a win.

In closing, by staying healthy, you will be happy no matter what, I promise. 

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Fruit Galore!

It would be an understatement to say I love fruit.

Even as a small child, my family and I have been fruit fanatics. Many memories were made sitting outside for breakfast by the pool, munching away on an entire cantaloupe. My love for cantaloupes is so immeasurable. They are my favourite slice of nature's sweet cake. I can't remember a day I've gone without fruit in general, and if I have, then it couldn't have been a very memorable one.

I hear so many people criticizing fruit bats saying, "that amount of carbohydrates and sugar is going to make you fat". The truth is, fruit is so beneficial to us and provides so many positive, cleansing, satisfying things! Cutting it out will only come back to bite you in the butt in terms of health. Like everything, it serves a purpose in our diets, and think about it, as long as we have been walking the earth, fruit has been available to us, and sometimes in prehistoric settings, it was our only survival option! Now, looking back at our ancestors, obesity was not prevalent. Why is that? Not only were we active 24/7, (not lazing in front of screens) but we also ate an abundance of healthy, unprocessed foods, including fruit. So, although fruit may have a lot of sugar, don't be afraid! Fruit has the HEALTHIEST form of raw sugar on the planet!

So drop the fat-free, sugar infused yogurts and processed dieter's cookies and satisfy your sweet tooth with nature's finest, natural desert! The most awesome thing is, it doesn't even have to be a treat!

One of the best qualities of eating large quantities of fruit, is that you get the nutrients necessary, you get the incredible energy spike, and the temporary bloating eases within minutes! Maximum, it takes about 30 minutes for a 'fruit belly' to subside. Since fruit is also water rich, you are being hydrated without having to remind yourself to guzzle down heaps of water. So not only is it tasty, satisfying, and fun to eat, but it is also very refreshing and hydrating!

So, enjoy life, enjoy fruit, and enjoy the earth and all it has to give you!

If you're interested in seeing more pics like this, my instagram is @beetingballerina and I post daily.

"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better."

~Albert Einstein 

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Cauliflower Fried 'Rice' Taco Wraps with Spaghetti Squash

So, yesterday I decided to expand a little more on a newly discovered and beloved recipe of Cauliflower Fried 'Rice'. I have done this before and it was so delicious I had to expand on it. This recipe is so easy and so fun, mind you, it was quite messy, but who doesn't love a little chaos in the kitchen once in a while?

Not only does this dish replicate a more processed and conventional take with regular rice in a more healthy, clean way, but it's loaded with so many health benefits all thanks to some super foods stuffed into these yummy 'tacos'.

Another amazing aspect to this dish is that it is totally customizable, and you can even eat it raw if that suits you more.


Without more ado, the things you will need are as follows for the cauliflower 'rice' :
1/4 cauliflower head - large
1 spaghetti squash
1 bunch of broccoli
1 lemon
1 pinch sea salt to taste
1 tsp dehydrated basil leaves
1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tbsp coconut oil

fry pan
grater of any kind
spoon to stir

For taco addition:
spaghetti squash
1tbsp olive oil
baking sheet

large cos lettuce leaves
any beans of choice (I like to use red kidney beans since they are so packed with necessary nutrients)

The very first thing I do, after washing all the yummies, I start off with the spaghetti squash. Since it takes a while to cook, I deal with this guy first while the oven heats up. After setting the oven up to 400°, cut the squash in half and scoop out the guts with the seeds, leaving only the meat of the squash. 

 After that, it's pretty simple. Add a tbsp of olive oil to the pan, pop it in for about an hour total, while checking halfway in-between. While that's baking in the oven I move onto the cauliflower 'rice'.
  

This part is the most fun. I even got a bit of a workout from it yesterday! Since I am not blessed with a food processor at the moment, and I know many aren't, a grater works just as well. It is more effort, but the result will be so spectacular, you will forget how much work you did when you are truly treated. Grate the cauliflower into a bowl and it should resemble the form of rice. Once you are through that, grab your broccoli and begin chopping! 

NOTE* DO NOT THROW AWAY THE STEMS! 

The stems are the of the same nutritional value as the florets, and so many people don't use it or throw it away and stick to the top, adorable, tree like parts to work with. The entire broccoli is edible, despite the conventional way people chop off the stems only to have them meet the bottom of a trash can. Also, when they are cut up, they look like pretty flowers and have a satisfying, meaty, crunchy taste.

Once you've tossed in the broccoli, add in all the other spices and mix them together!

Coconut oil has got to be my favourite alternative to butter and other cooking oils. It has the most amazing, creamy quality, with a taste to brag about. There doesn't go a day without coconut oil in my life, whether it's in my cooking, baking, facial rituals, and even sometimes cleaning or hair masks! It is so versatile and is the winner of every health, super food imaginable in my books. I could go on about how it moisturizes your skin, makes it glow, aids digestion, reduces stress, and overall tastes good, but that will be saved for a future post.

Once the coconut oil has melted in the pan, add the mix of cauliflower 'rice' and fry it! Let it fry until it begins to turn a golden colour, then it is ready to serve.

 Assemble your plate as you like and begin munching! Add on lemon afterwards and feel free to add zest. Initially, I actually hadn't meant to make tacos. The idea came to me after watching a youtube video someone posted of "What I eat in a Day" and they did something very similar but with tomatoes, which you can add on as well.

A close-up of the green-machine dinner.

Enjoy and eat mindfully because we are what we eat and we emit what we believe. 

"The food you eat can either be the safest and most powerful form of medicine, or the slowest form of poison"

~Ann Wigmore

Ingredients

1/4 cauliflower head - large
1 spaghetti squash
1 bunch of broccoli
1 lemon
1 pinch sea salt to taste
1 tsp dehydrated basil leaves
1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tbsp coconut oil

fry pan
grater of any kind
spoon to stir

For taco addition:
spaghetti squash
1tbsp olive oil
baking sheet

large cos lettuce leaves
any beans of choice (I like to use red kidney beans since they are so packed with necessary nutrients)

Instructions

1. Cut the spaghetti squash in half and scoop out the insides seed area leaving the 'meat'. Once finished, place in baking pan with 1TBSP of extra virgin olive oil (Or other vegan oil of your choice). Put the pan in the oven at 400°.

2. While the squash cooks in the oven for about an hour, grate the cauliflower into a bowl.

3. Cut the entire broccoli into chunks the size of a quarter or smaller and add to the bowl of, now, grated cauliflower. 

4. Add the garlic, basil, and sea salt to the bowl and mix all the ingredients.

5. Add 1 tbsp of coconut oil to frying pan on the stove and begin to melt the oil.

6. Once the oil has taken a creamy consistency and is still white (If it begins to brown or golden, you've heated it to much and it has started to burn), add the bowl of mixed veggies, herbs and spices. 

7. While stirring the frying veggies, reduce heat halfway and cook until the cauliflower turns golden.

8. By then, the spaghetti squash should be cooked up (unless you are a super speedy, efficient ninja) and you can take it out of the oven to add to your plate assembled with cos lettuce, beans of your choice, and your cauliflower fried 'rice'.

9. MUNCH AWAY

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Inspiration Day

Throughout life, moments are so precious and we can so easily take time for granted. Time that we have with loved ones, passions, or even just life itself. Before I had adopted this mindset of cherishing and valuing every moment of incredible life, like many, I could have easily found myself in a rut. It is so crucial to remember that no matter what happens, there is always something positive to look to. And with that, there is always inspiration surrounding, something I carry with me everyday. Whether that be from friends, family, figures, nature, things, ideas, or even pets, the love and positivity is always available.

Inspiration, to me, is something you feel and immense amount of love for, and something that gives you hope regarding yourself. Inspiration makes you feel good, and bout yourself too. Finding inspiration from others is not only important, but finding the fire inside yourself to ignite that spark to be artistic, loving, beautiful, whole, healthy, and positive is also vital. Of course you have to laugh at yourself occasionally or acknowledge that you may be imperfect in one way, but that is the most perfect thing about life (Something I had previously expressed in my Loving your whole, imperfect perfect self post). 

I have so many things to work on still, and I love that because it gives me such a satisfying task in my life. Something so dear and personal, I have the privilege of calling it my own.  

With the things that are inspiring to me, (and I recommend everyone do this) I have a list as to why it does.

In closing, I find inspiration everywhere, in nature, in friends, family, activity, movement, people, and most importantly, the journey and imperfectly, imperfect idea of life. So go out there, take that yoga class, cook that recipe that taunts your taste-buds, go for gold, find inspiration, better yourself, for you are bettering the world. 

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