A Beautiful and True Statement!

Nutracleanse

I was given Nutracleanse for Christmas and I'm going to give it 
a try... 

Nutracleanse Oatmeal

1 cup cooked oatmeal
1 banana
1/3 bag of Nutracleanse
2 tbsp hemp oil
1 tbsp maple syrup
sprinkle of walnuts
sprinkle of unsweetened coconut

The Nutracleanse is delicious! Who woulda known :) This is perfect for those constipated pregnant mamas...

christmas 2014

christmas morning run 2014

My Christmas

Up at 5am to stuff stockings, have tea and then off for a sunrise 10k run with Lil. We arrived home just in time for waking teenagers, stockings, and cranberry & spinach smoothies in our peaceful, happy house. A quick dinner prep and off for a neighbourhood bike ride with my awesome son on his new bike. Back to the house and off again for a trip out to the Kinsole trestle with my beautiful daughter and our little dog Cleo. On the way home my girl did her first driving lesson... great job love:)

Cranberry Green Smoothie
2 big handfuls of fresh spinach
1/3 cup cranberry
1 small avocado
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
2 dates
honey to taste
sprinkle of cinnamon
sprinkle of nutmeg and cloves

Christmas Eve and Im Back :)

The flu bug is gone and ive made up for lost time...
In the last 48 hours I have run 15km, biked 4 hours and tossed in a couple of doggie walks...it feels great to move my body!
I will do a big early Christmas morning run before coming home to feed a house full of hungry teenagers.

Every year I make home-made cranberry sauce, it's easy, nutritious, and you'll never buy store bought again!

Christmas Cranberries 
2 small bags of cranberries
1 apple (diced)
1/2 cup honey
1/3 apple cider vinegar

2 tsps cinnamon

Put all the ingredients in a medium sized sauce pan, cover with lid on medium-low heat. Stirring occasionally. Once mixture comes to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer about 20 minutes. Easy!

Not Day 7

My juice feast was put on hold by the flu. Being a primary care provider I am exposed to many sick people but usually NEVER get sick. Well, it was my turn and at the end of day four I came down with the flu and have been resting since. This explains my low energy... I will feast again when my body is ready.

Day 4

Day 4 of the the feast...
I was busy working as a midwife today... a beautiful home-birth!
Today I am still working on yesterdays juices, I drank the carrot and a green juice as well as two green smoothies. My energy is so so, but i'm hanging in there... enjoy your evening :)

West Coast Winter Sky

DAY 3

Day 3 is HARD! 

I woke up with less energy and did not work out today. I have decided to go slow and focus on my mental health today. Staying close to home, cleaning, prepping for Christmas and baking lunch kit goodies for the week. Its funny, I have no desire to cheat and try my goodies, this is a GOOD thing :) I often bake for my kids, but never eat it myself. Honestly I'm craving protein, not carbs. 
I only made three juices today because I did't finnish two from yesterday, probably because I added a second smoothie in the evening. 

Todays Juices

~ 1/2 of a purple cababge, 1/4 of a pineapple, 4 celery stalks, a nip of ginger and a lime
~ 1 bunch of kale, 1 pear, 1/2 cup pineapple and a nip     of ginger
~ 1 grapefruit, 1 lime, 1 parsnip, 1/2 a bunch of celery

Todays Smoothie
1/2 cup raspberries, 3 cups spinach, 1/2 banana, splash of unsweetened almond milk, 1/4 avocado, maca, cinnamon, chlorella powder. 

Water, tea and a kombucha

Can't wait for tomorrow...

Day 2 and CHOCOLATE?

Another GREAT day, i'm feeling increased 
energy already! I took the dogs on a long run this
morning and decided to add 88% chocolate

It all went into the juicer :)

into my feast, not only is it full of minerals and antioxidants, but it gives me that little extra boost for my workouts. I feel calm, grounded, light and surprisingly NOT hungry at all.

Lily on the mountain Dec 13, 2014

Todays Juices

500ml 5 carrots, 1 lime and a nib of ginger
500ml 1 bunch kale, 4 celery stalks, 1 ripe pear, nib of ginger & 1/2 cup fresh pineapple
500ml 1/2 cucumber, 1/2 bunch of swiss chard and 1 lrg beet
500ml 4 celery stalks, 1 grapefruit, 1 parsnip, 1 cup purple cabbage, and a nib of ginger
500ml 1/4 fresh pineapple, 5 celery stalks, 1 lime and 1/2 bunch of kale

Todays smoothie...
500ml 3 cups spinach, 1 sm banans, 1/2 cup frozen cherries, 1/2 avocado, ginger, chlorella, super power blend and cinnamon. YUMMY! 
I will continue with my supplements and 2 tbsp of ORMUS daily. 
And WATER...lots of water! I sometimes get cold on a juice feast so drinking hot water throughout the day really helps keep the body warm and moving. 

Such BEAUTIFUL colours!

More Energy

I was feeling a little tired, so I took the dogs down to the sea for a brisk sunset walk. I feel so much better, refreshed and ready for my evening juice! 

LIFE IS GOOD!

Juice Feast...

Okay, i'm doing it! 
A seven day juice feast! I love to detox and reset my body in December. Instead of filling up on holiday goodies, I am choosing to nourish and love my body with easy to digest live foods. I know how delicious holiday treats are, but for me juice feasting is a positive way to say no thanks to the extra pounds and the nasty feelings that comes with them. I am going to feel great and might even inspire others to join me? :)

My past experiences with juicing and my rumbling tummy are reminding me how challenging the first three days can be. Once day four arrives I know I will feel amazing, my skin and eyes will start to look clearer and my energy will soar. So bottom line, it is well worth it. 

Angela's Plan...

Early morning
Green or herbal tea

I know you want to....

Water with lemon (as much as desired)
500ml fresh made juice

Mid morning
Green or herbal tea
Water with lemon (as much as desired)
500ml fresh made juice

Lunch
Green or herbal tea
Water with lemon (as much as desired)
500ml fresh smoothie


Dinner
Green or herbal tea
Water with lemon (as much as desired)
500ml fresh made juice

Evening
Herbal tea
500ml fresh made juice (if desired)

For anyone joining the holiday cleanse, please drink as much fresh juice as your body is asking for, with a maximum of about 7-8 juices per day. I find the feast works better for me if I have one smoothie per day, the added fibre helps.

Daily supplements - wild salmon fish oil (6 caps), hemp oil (2 tbsp), vit D, vit C, 2 garlic caps, Bio K, multi vitamin, zinc, B12, 2 tbsp raw apple cider vinegar and about three litres of lemon water.  

Todays Juices Friday December 12, 2014
Green - 1 bunch kale, 5 celery stalks, 1 lemon, 1 apple and ginger, this one is amazing!
Orange - 5 carrots, ginger, 1 lemon.
Red - 1 lrg beet, 1 parsnip, 1 lemon, 1 grapefruit and 6 celery stalks.
Smoothie - about 4 cups spinach, handfull of kale, 1/2 frozen cherries, 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk, 1/2 avocado, chlorella, maca and cinnamon.

GOOD MORNING!

Another beautiful day...
I just ran 10km around my local lake with my two four legged friends. My body feels great and is ready for a nutritious and delicious smoothie...

Powerhouse Smoothie

1 handful of kale
1 handful of fresh mint
2 heaping tbsp of organic dried parsley
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1/2 cup frozen raspberries
1 ripe banana
3 dates
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp chlorella powder
1 heaping tbsp Super Power Blend
Adding the ingredients to the blender in this order allows for easier blending.
ENJOY!

Quinoa Mint Salad

Quinoa Mint Salad

Dressing 
1/4 cup olive oil 
1 tsp curry powder
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp water
1/2 fresh squeezed lime

Salad
4-5 cups cooked quinoa (2 cups uncooked)
1/2 cup finely chopped cucumber
1/3 cup raisin of choice
1/3 cup coarsely chopped pecans
2-3 tbsp fresh finely chopped mint
salt and pepper to taste

Pour all dressing ingredients into a small bowl, whisk and set aside. Toss cooled quinoa, cucumbers, raisins, pecans, and mint in a large bowl. Drizzle curry dressing over salad and gently fold together. Add fresh ground salt and pepper to taste.

A Great Day

An amazing mountain sunrise with Lily and Yam Stew...

Yam, Black Beans and Chick Pea Stew

3 tbsps olive oil
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp coriander
1 tsp garam masala
1 large onion chopped
3-4 minced garlic cloves
3-4 yams (peeled if you prefer) chopped in bite size pieces
I can black beans or 1.5 cups soaked
1 can chick peas or 1.5 cups soaked 
1 large can crushed tomatoes or 3 cups diced fresh tomatoes
2-3 cups corn
2 cups sliced cabbage (your choice of colour)
4 cups vegetable broth
pinch of pink sea salt to taste
chilli flakes to taste
1/2 cup baby spinach
1 lime
cooked brown rice

Heat stew pot on medium high heat. Add oil, onions, garlic, cabbage and yams, cook until onions are transparent, stirring often. add chill, salt and spices. Next, add broth,  tomatoes, corn and beans/chick peas. Cover and let simmer.
Top with baby spinach and a slice of lime. 

Last Sunday of November

Up and out of bed early this cold (-3) November morning, I was paged to assess a labour at 05:00. For us Westcoasters, minus 3 is COLD! The labour was early, so I left the couple with their doula and headed home until things progressed further. 

I try to eat mostly raw, but I don't expect my children to do the same. I have three kids of my own and two international home-stays. The kids often drink my smoothies and eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, but they like cooked food, after all they are teenagers.  My home-stays,say my food is too healthy, I love it!

I try to make as much food from scratch as I can, or buy locally made organic products. I make all the cookies and muffins for the weekly lunches and what a perfect thing to do while waiting on a labour! 

I found this recipe online and used spelt flour, brown sugar and Nature's Path cereal, but you can use any type of breakfast cereal.

Done just in time... paged back to deliver a baby:)

1. 

   Finished Product

   Ingredients
   1 cup Fibre 1* Original cereal, crushed
   2/3 cup skim milk
   1 cup flour
   3/4 cup ground flax seed
   3/4 cup chopped apple
   1/2 cup packed brown sugar
   1/2 cup finely shredded carrot
   1/4 cup granulated sugar
   1/4 cup flaked coconut
   1 tbsp canola or soybean oil
   1 tbsp baking powder
   2 tsp cinnamon
   1 tsp vanilla
   1/2 tsp salt
   2 eggs, slightly beaten

   Instructions

   1. Heat oven to 375°F. Grease 12 regular size muffin cups, or place a paper baking cup in each.
   2. In large bowl, stir together cereal and milk; let stand about 5 minutes or until cereal is softened. Stir in remaining ingredients. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups.
   3. Bake 18 to 22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean. Let stand 5 minutes. Remove from pan and serve warm.

   Prep time: 15 min | Cook time: 25 min | Total time: 50 min

   Number of servings (yield): 12

   http://www.fortysomething.ca/2008/05/breakfast_cereal_muffins.php Cereal Muffins

No One's Perfect

I have a friend who struggles with her weight and allowing "good food" to come naturally into her life. She wants to trim down and most importantly feel better, have more energy and show her children how important good food and a healthy lifestyle are! I encourage her often, but also remind her that the  change to a healthier lifestyle has to come from within. The key word here is lifestyle, its a lifetime of eating well and exercise not a quick fix or "diet".

I was talking with this friend this morning about eating right and she mentioned that when she was a child she was sent to school with an apple, a juice box and a sugary sweet, that was her example of nutrition. In turn, I mentioned my lunch box wasn't much better as a kid in the 1970's and early 80's  usually a factory made cookie, an apple and a white bread sandwich, often filled with cheese spread, sweet pickles and processed meat! My friend was surprised by this; she thought I had always eaten healthy...nope! I grew up like many of us over fed, but under nourished.

A quote from my friend after hearing that I too was a junk food kid, " talk about that on your blog. make the rest of us feel normal and give us the hope that we can break out of the sad diet too. I tend to think healthy people are that way because they always have been."

Personally I found nutrition on my journey to self acceptance. I made this choice to better myself and nourish my children. It didn't happen overnight, it takes time. Start by making a few changes and those changes will lead to more changes and so on. Think about how this has worked so far, the more junk foods you eat the more you crave, the worse you feel. Most of us gradually abused our bodies over time and don't really notice until we are in trouble with our health, are over weight, or tired and depressed. I know its time to turn things around, love yourself and allow positive change to happen.

PENDER...DO I NEED TO SAY MORE?

Progress...

So, I think this mostly raw, whole food diet, might just be working for me?  Honestly I have never felt better in my life... I have lost 25 pounds and I get daily comments about how healthy I look and how much younger than my actual age I look! Gotta love it!

So, how did I get here?

I have always wanted to be a healthy, organic, happy, human. But, I have to admit I doubted myself for years and hid behind the safety of those "few" extra pounds. I think the initial "wake up" was after the breakup of my 16 year marriage about three years ago. At first I was LOST, I had compromised myself to the point that I didn't even know who I was anymore. With nothing to loose but weight and future illness, I dove into a healthier lifestyle. I had always maintained daily exercise and a "balanced" diet, but its not enough. I had to stop poisoning myself and my kids with non-organic foods, chemical additives, wheat, dairy and cruelly raised meat. Once I got over this and my Carb addiction, I started working towards self love, whole food, and continued with regular exercise. The results are amazing!

The final turning point for me was a 10 day juice feast last December in an attempt to get out of my depressed mood, it reset my body and I felt amazing. I had juiced before but never to this degree.  It was hard, but I did it! From that point on I have made whole-food my life...

I have been 100% wheat free for four months (on and off for years), I eat little to no dairy and I am juicing or making a daily smoothie or two and eating mostly raw foods! Salads, salads, salads, nuts, seeds, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, supplements and super-foods. And WATER...lots of water!

I love my healthy, happy lifestyle and I cant imagine going back to eating anything close to the typical North American diet again!

It was a beautiful sunny Sunday in November, after a crazy night of rain and wind. I did a sunrise bike ride along the ocean... and drove an hour for a lunch date with a good friend. We went out for raw goodies, kombucha and a green smoothie, all yummy, but home made is always better!

Todays smoothie for the road trip...

Blueberry, Banana with Greens
1 cup froze blueberries
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 -2  cups spinach and or kale
1/2 banana
3 pitted dates
1 small avacado
1tsp chlorella
1 tbsp super power blend
(cocao, mesquite, lucuma, maca and
vanilla powder...yum!
sprinkle of cinnamon
Personally I think this smoothie was a little to sweet, but would make a great starter smoothie :) or omit the dates...

Angela

Hello, i’m Angela,

I spent the better part of my childhood on Salt-Spring Island, where I was exposed to the forest, the ocean, farms, animals, interesting foods, beautiful people and the Saturday Market, oh how I loved the Saturday market! My father was a vendor selling his wares and I was his official “helper”. This experience set my foundation for health and simplicity. These memories are what brought me back to my roots… live simple, eating simple and flourish!

I now live in Victoria BC with my children and currently work as a midwife. I have been self-studying nutrition for years and am about to take the plunge and “officially study” holistic nutrition. I’m going to be busy, with kids, pets, work and school, but its all worth it to me. I’m going to acquire the knowledge to nourish, prevent illness and to help heal the human body with food, amazing! This is my passion...join me, find your inner love! Follow my journey, be inspired, watch and even make change, but only if you are ready! Here we go...

Hearty Winter Vegetable Soup

1 small turnip
1 large yam
1 beet
3 carrots
2 cups purple cabbage
2 onions
3 garlic cloves
1 cup corn
2 red peppers, sliced
1 large can chick peas
4-5 cups organic chicken or vegetable broth
salt, pepper and chilli flakes to taste
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 bunch chopped fresh cilantro



Peel and chop turnip, yam, beet and carrots into bite sized pieces.
Peel and dice the onions and garlic. Slice red peppers. Drain and rinse 1 can chick peas.
On medium high heat sauté the garlic and onions with olive oil until transparent, add the diced vegetable, salt pepper and chilies to taste; stir until the vegetables are about half cooked. Add broth of choice, chick peas, sliced peppers and corn. Allow to simmer on low heat for 2 - 4 hrs, stirring occasionally. Serve with chopped cilantro or fresh grated parmesan cheese. Your house will smell amazing! Serves 6 plus...

A little raspberry ginger to start the day....

1 cup frozen rasberries
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
1 banana
1/4 cup juiced ginger
1 tbsp algae powder
dash of cinnamon, nutmeg and maca powder
Blend and enjoy!

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” 
― Hippocrates