Why Wait...

Why is it that we seem to wait until something has gone wrong for us to do something right? Why does it take a tragedy for us to realise how important someone or something is? Have we really become that oblivious to anyone’s world but our own? Are we that selfish, that apathetic? Or is it just stubborn ignorance that allows us to walk through life wearing blinkers?

Why do we wait until someone is sick or dying to tell them how much they mean to us? And why do we wait until we are sick before we even try to be healthy. I mean truly healthy. Healthy body, spirit, heart and mind. Why do we treat our bodies like rubbish and when they turn on us, immediately look for someone or something else to blame. Why do we choose to have plasma TV’s instead of investing it into our health and wellbeing. How is upgrading your car just because the guy next door did a better way to spend $10,000 than taking your family or friends away on a trip to discover new cultures and explore this great earth! Creating memories, bonds and emotions that will last a lifetime, not the next 150, 000kms.

We get so caught up in ‘getting ahead’ that we actually leave our loved ones behind. Yes we all want financial stability and yes we all want to be able to provide for our families. But at what cost??? How much ‘fun’ do you think your family will have with all this ‘wealth’ if you are not there to share it with them?

What a lot of people don’t understand is that most of the diseases that are killing us today are self inflicted. You do not get “given” cancer or heart disease or Type 2 diabetes. These diseases breed in unhealthy bodies. Be it through poor nutrition, a lack of exercise or extreme stress; we are literally killing ourselves with the environments we create for ourselves. Now I know that there are some cases especially with cancer where perfect, beautiful and wonderfully healthy people get riddled by it for absolutely no reasonable excuse, but I am talking about our society as a whole. Our ignorance and lack of investigative knowledge is killing us and killing our children. So take control!! I urge you all to change one thing TODAY that will make your life and family’s life a little bit better! Throw out all the white bread or fizzy drinks or dairy. Just ONE thing today - and build on it from there. Maybe start walking with the kids or a friend. Or make it a new Tuesday night date to go for an evening stroll with your partner. For the workaholics – set a ‘home time’ and STICK TO IT! As soon as that clock ticks over, walk out the door. Don’t be a slave to the work house!

And I want everyone to let at least one other person know how much they mean to you. Be it your partner, kids, best mate, family – heck even if it’s the girl at the café who makes your coffee just right every morning! Send them a flower, give them a call, even a smiley face text will let them know and their day will be that much brighter for it! It takes 5 minutes of your time to create at least a days worth of smiles and just knowing that will inturn make your day better too! So spread the love, take time out, actually LIVE YOUR LIFE… coz you only get one……….

Food for kids, food for life

So did we try a raw soup? Was is sensational? Did the flavours flow through your mouth and into your belly like a wave of nutrients faeries dancing goodness through your body!!!! And the colours, oh the colours are are like nothing you can get in any other food! For those of you going I didn't have time or my all time favourite..'my family would never eat that".... you are missing out! Its the weekend, so find 10 mintues (coz thats all it takes) and whip one up.  

Kids love junk food because its considered a treat, for some - a taboo even. So for those who say they WONT eat it - make it a little bit forbidden.. get their curiosity and they will want to eat it before you even offer it. Kids are so nutrient deprived these days because we have become a society of microwave dinners and quick packet mix meals. Even if you are putting lots of veges in your stews or soups, we kill so much of the goodness in the cooking process and then adding in sauces and stocks just adds unnecessary sugars, carbs and ridiculous amounts of sodium and preservatives! So when you when make your soup... make a fuss about it!!! Make sure they are in the kitchen or at least in the same area and make noise while you are prepping. Get their attention and when they ask what you are doing, tell them is something special just for mummy and daddy. The fact that you have just made it 'special' and not for them, they already want  to eat just because they cant! Add that to the amazing colours and BBOOYAA - they are curious and they will be so much more inclined to at least try it. Use the colours of the food. Spinach when processed goes almost like kryptonite green.. its crazy! Or freak them out a bit with a beetroot base... purple food, are you serious?? We can eat that?? Or the bright red of fresh tomato and red capsicum, it will blow their minds! So when it comes time to serve, keep it interesting still... Tell them this is only for mum and dad, but maybe if they ask daddy (or mum) really nicely they can have a little bowl to try. Whoo hoo! You just tricked your kids into eating probably the most nutrient filled meal they've ever had! And for those 'big kids' who wont eat veges - tell them to suck it up! Stop being a pansy and set a good example for the kids. Children are like sponges and watch everything we do, soak it up and store it in their memory. They learn by example - so lead and teach them good habits. It all starts with you. We only get one... one life, one body, one voice, one chance... Use it and make it count!!!!!! 

Comfort Food....

So yes... we have established that it is winter and that it is bloody freezing!! And for all you southerners going... It's not even cold on the Gold Coast... clearly someone forgot to give mother nature the memo about us being the sunshine state and all coz it's been cold... really COLD!

So winter is well and truly upon us and its getting harder and harder to get up for the early morning walk before work or even get to the gym as that means actually having to leave the warmth of the house to get to your car! So if you have let your exercise regime slide a little, it is super important to make sure you are eating as healthily as you can to keep your immune system up and winter weight at bay! Winter is the time for hot yummy, scrummy, comfort foods!

BUT... that doesn't mean we need to fill up on carb and fat loaded pies, soups and stews. Raw soups are an amazing way to get a massive amount of nutrients, flavour and awesome goodness throughout winter without boiling away all the vitamins and nutreints.

Leave the potatos and pumpkins on the shelf and grab some raw beetroot, carrot, zuchinni, spinach!!!! Anything that you can fit into your food processor and blend until smooth. To make it easier add little bits of water as you go but be careful not to add to much. Also, to make sure you get your essential fatty acids, add a couple of tablespoons of macadamia nut or olive as you blend. This will also give a creamier texture. Salt and pepper to taste, I also love to add some cayene pepper or chilli to spruke it up a bit. And WHHAMMOOO!! Super simple soup with every drop of goodness from vege to the bowl! You can eat cold starightaway (great in summer), let it sit at room temperature for a bit or if you do need the winter warmer - place it on the stove on a low heat and JUST warm through. That way you still wont lose the nutrients, but it will warm your belly and your heart!!!! And colours of raw soups are sensational!!!!!!!!! So go on - take the plunge... it will leave your minestrone for dead!!!!

wInTeR...

When it's so cold you feel like your toes are about to snap off and all you want to do is stay in bed and snuggle... do it!

That's what cold days are for!!!

Snuggle hard and snuggle tight, sleep till midday, watch an old movie, watch a new movie, read a book, drink herbal tea, run a bath and scrub-a-dub-dub.. even better when there's two in the tub!

Home made vegetable soup made with love not a mircowave. Warm some cocao, knit a beanie! Make a forte in your living room out of pillows and blankets, hide away from that nasty cold! Tell stories and secrets, dreams and ambitions. Laugh till you cry and talk till you fall asleep - who cares, all the blankets are out here anyway...