Raw Carrot Cake with Raw Lemon Maple Frosting!!

Cake;

13-19 medjool dates 

3 medium-small shredded carrots

1 cup shredded organic coconut

*optional* 1/2 cup raw cacao nibs

1 cup walnuts

1 1/2 tablespoons of tahini (unhulled)

1/4 cup pure maple syrup (may need less; possibly just a few tablespoons) 

pinches of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove and himalayan sea salt

Put all of these into a food processor and BLEND!! 

FROSTING!!!

1/4 -1/2 cup of unhulled tahini

1/4-1/2 cup of hulled tahini

1/3 cup pure maple syrup 

cinnamon, nutmeg, clove

juice of half a lemon 

put all of these ingredients into a bowl and with a fork whisk until a creamy frosting like consistency forms

In a cake dish or tart pan place the carrot / cake mixture into the pan and press down then spread the frosting on the top. Top with extra shredded carrot and coconut and garnish with lemon. (or whatever you like) and place in fridge and serve chilled 

Healthy Dessert Recipes; Raw Chocolate Mousse Tart

A guiltless treat for Christmas 

Greetings fellow humans! Is it Christmas already??!! Well that happened too quickly. Now, who wants something healthy delicious, and quick to impress the fambam in this festive season?? I know I do, here is my recipe to a Raw and Vegan (don’t make that face!!!) Chocolate mousse tart!!!

Caution: if your  allergic to walnuts you can substitute the base for a seed of your choice or simply omit it. :D

Enjoy!!!!!!!

 Don't forget to comment, especially if you try it !! :DDDDD

(feel free to adjust the quantity of ingredients)

Base: (makes 2 and 1/2 cups)

6 pitted Medjool Dates 

 1 Cup Desiccated coconut (organic and preservative free is best)

 1 Cup Walnuts 

A few generous pinches of Himalayan salt (to taste)

Place the walnuts and desiccated coconut into a food processor and blend until a crumbly mixture forms. Then begin to add the dates and salt, check the mixture is ready by pressing it between your fingers, if the mixture sticks together then it is ready to use. 

You can use a cake tin or tart pan and begin transferring all of the crumbly mixture to the tin and press down hard, covering the bottom of the tin.

Filling: (makes about 1 cup )

1/4 cup soaked Medjool Dates

1/4 cup Raw honey or pure maple syrup or raw coconut nectar

3/4 cup mashed Avocados

1/4 cup Raw Cacao Powder

2-3 large tablespoons Raw Virgin cold pressed organic  Coconut oil

Make sure you clean out your food processor! Place the soaked dates and sweetener of choice into the food processor and blend until smooth. Next add the avocados and blend until no lumps are visible. Then add the raw cacao and coconut oil, blend until mixture is smooth and creamy. Make sure to taste and adjust sweetness accordingly. 

When you are happy with the filling, place it on top of the pressed down base and spread evenly around the tin. Add whatever toppings you like (I added strawberries and coconut) and place in the freezer overnight or for 8 hours and serve chilled.

Healthy Snacks for this Summer

When we feel we need an energy boost throughout the day, the best snacks to have are those that will both nourish the body and satiate cravings. Here are a few ideas!

 

  Hummus & Veggies (if you have time make your own hummus; it’s cheap and easy and much healthier for you than store bought)

Sheep, Goat , Greek, or coconut yogurt with frozen blueberries topped with slivered almonds and a drizzle of raw or good quality honey

            

Smoothies; Make your own!! (To make the complete smoothie the rule of thumb is to have greens as your base (don’t worry you won’t even taste it), then add fruit of your choice and choose your liquid; water, coconut water, almond milk, coconut milk etc.  For an added bonus you can add spirulina powder, chia seeds, raw cacao powder, maca powder or a good quality plant based protein powder.  

Veggie & fruit Juices; the best are freshly squeezed, not store bought as they have been heated (pasteurised ) which means the nutritional property has dropped considerably, as the vital nutrients and enzymes have been killed by the heat. Plus the store-bought ones are FULL of unwanted sugar that will spike your blood sugar and make you feel tired fast.

Nuts and seeds; make your own trail mix using your favourite combo of nuts, seeds and dried fruit (make sure there is no added sugar, oil, sulphites or preservatives) if you’re having a chocolate craving add some raw cacao nibs

Almond butter or tahini (sesame seed paste) with apple slices or wholegrain toast

Raw chocolate (Loving Earth is a great brand – found in the healthy life at Warringah Mall and other health food shops)

   

Humble fruit; your favourite fruit is a great snack

Super Easy Summer Recipes: Mango Ice Cream

                                                                  

  You will need...

 2-3 Frozen Ripe Bananas 

1 Whole Mango (for best results make sure its frozen)

 Food Processor or Blender

 Topping of your choice; shredded coconut & raw cacao nibs

 

 

 

 

  Method:

1. Place the frozen bananas and the flesh of the mango into the food processor or blender 
2.  Blend until smooth and creamy, small amounts of water maybe added if mixture is not blending smoothly
3. Scoop out mixture and serve immediately with toppings of your choice
4. Enjoy :D

Eating and Living Whole

Beauty from the inside out is the best way to go! Fuelling our bodies with good nutrition at this age will allow us to reach our full potential, and in turn boost our self-confidence and drown out those negative influences that creep into our lives. Here are a few tips to maintain a healthy lifestyle; enjoy! 

1.             Listen to your Body; ultimately you know yourself better than anyone, so when it comes to food it is best to become in tune with your bodily routines. Basically, if you’re hungry: eat, if your truly not: then don’t (or have something light). True health comes from getting to know how YOUR body works. We are all very different and so are our bodies, therefore, we must attune ourselves to work FOR instead of against our body. For example, certain foods maybe beneficial to some, while others not so much. It’s all about heightening our awareness and truly getting to know ourselves. Ask yourself questions after eating certain foods; “Do you become bloated when you consume wheat products”? Do you break out when you drink milk”? The observations that you make about your body will impact greatly on your overall health so, listen to your body! (Activities such as yoga and meditation help with this.)
   

2.        Eat Whole, Unprocessed and as close to nature as possible; we have all heard the saying that “less is more” and this is true when it comes to food. Eating from the earth is the best way to ensure optimal nutrition and health. We are designed to eat simply, it is the best way our bodies can recognise process and utilise food.  This way of eating can be referred to as “Whole Foods” which is eating foods in its most natural state with minimal ingredients added. Whole foods include; fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains, nuts, seeds, meats and dairy foods (Foods that have not been altered by humans). Basically, anything that will go bad in a matter of days. Foods that should be avoided or reduced in the diet are the foods that wreak havoc in our system. These foods include sugar, all junk foods, processed foods, fast food etc. Funnily enough these types of foods are not actually recognised as ‘food’ in the body, therefore your body begins to panic and try’s to eliminate it in various ways such as acne, inflammation etc.  Whilst of course it is not good to deprive yourself, moderation is key, so follow the concept of the 80/20 (80% healthy and 20% indulgent) rule and it is ok to indulge once in a while!

3. Cultivate self- love (improve your mood);  remember, your mental health contributes greatly on whether  or not you eat healthy that day, and this can mean the difference between self-love and self-hate. When we eat something that might not be as good for us, we can begin to beat ourselves up about it, when really it is not that big of a deal, so we should just accept it and move on. Unfortunately, this may not be an option for some, so instead of spending hours trying to justify your actions for eating this certain food; go and do something you love and try and not to reflect too much on the matter, this could be watching a movie, listening to music, reading a book or journaling. Anything you like that places you in a positive head space that allows you to be at peace with yourself. 

4.    “work it” (get moving); we are naturally designed to be mobile and active so we should embrace that! Exercise doesn’t have to be a chore, it can be fun and inexpensive; walking is a great way to clear the head, cultivate self-love, and ‘work’ the entire body. Try meeting up with a friend as its always easier to stay motivated if you are with someone. 

5.      Sleep: It is simple, but it’s the single most important thing that will dictate the day ahead as well as your health. Did you know that just one late night can drastically impact our hormones and surge them into a frenzy which can affect our mood, eating choices, energy and vitality. Try to be consistent with the time you go to bed as well as when you wake up. Aim for 8-10 hours of sleep a night and be sure to switch off all electronics at least 30 minutes before going to bed. Before bed can be the perfect time to cultivate self-love; it is a time we should be calming down and reflecting on the day that was. Reading a good book, writing or simply taking a few deep breaths will settle your mind and encourage your body to rest. 

6.   Smile; staying positive is the best form of medicine there is. Smiling increases your mood (as well as somebody else’s), it lowers stress and anxiety and it strengthens the immune system which ensures you are less likely to fall ill. So when in doubt just SMILE  :D !!!