‘Cause You’re So Smooth

Anyone get my title reference?

1970’s rockstars aside, I’m here today to share a couple smoothie recipes (hence, the connection to the song, smooth, smooth-ie . . . yeah). Despite the frigid weather, I’ve been on a smoothie kick lately, some green, some not. Today’s are, in fact, bright, cheery pink, perfect for combating the winter blues. Of course, feel free to toss in a handful of leafy greens if you’d like!

Coffee-Cocoa Fruit Smoothie

Serves 1

Ingredients

1 cup milk alternative of choice or water

½ ripe banana

½ cup frozen strawberries

1 tsp. instant coffee granules or 1 scoop Caféceps from Madre Labs*

1-2 Tbs. cocoa powder

½ tsp. vanilla extract

Sweetener, to taste (optional)

*I recently received a couple sample packets of Caféceps, and even as someone who doesn’t drink coffee, I love the flavour of coffee. Madre Labs’ product was delicious—plus, it’s nutritional analysis is very impressive. You can order a free sample (just pay shipping & handling) here.

Directions

Simply blend everything together and serve!

Smoothies for Peace! Or as Kris Carr would say, "Make Smoothies, Not War!"

Cleansing Cranberry-Citrus Smoothie

This tart smoothie is a detox powerhouse—the cranberries clean the kidneys and bladder; the acids in the citrus improve liver function; the ginger soothes the tummy and aids digestion; and the kombucha’s probiotics nurture the balance of healthy intestinal bacteria. What more could you ask for?

Serves 1

Ingredients

1 cup store-bought or homemade kombucha*

½ orange, peeled

½ cup fresh cranberries

2 tsp. lemon juice

1-2 Tbs. chopped fresh cilantro

1 1-inch knob of fresh ginger

Sweetener, to taste (optional)

*Of course, I used some of my homemade brew, whose chai flavour perfectly complemented the other ingredients.

Ingredients

Again, just blend, blend, blend!

In Search of Balance

Well, I’m feeling stagnant. Again. Yet, I also wonder if, after my last detox, I ever truly found the “balance” I’ve been searching for for, well, nearly four years now (if not longer).

Perhaps I’m just destined to be a pessimistic, depressed, emotional-roller-coaster of a girl.

Or perhaps not. I believe that, beneath this outer shell of negativity, there thrives the girl I want to be, know I’m capable of being, and at times, I feel so close to finally metamorphosing into that beautiful being . . . but something always holds me back, whether its resentment about past injustices, not being mindful in the present, or harbouring fears about my hazy future.

Back in March, I discovered macrobiotics, and for a few weeks, I felt more balanced, more Zen, than I ever had. And it was incredible! I vividly remember how calm I was, how attuned I was to my body, my stomach, my physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. But then, I voyaged to France, and the experience broke me down, weakened me, nearly destroyed me in some ways. I returned home a Pandora’s Box of emotions, which I’m still sorting out. But of course, Fate wouldn’t let me peacefully recuperate this summer. I never blogged about it before, but my father passed away at the end of June (a mere four days before I flew home) and my mother was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer reoccurrence the day after I got back.

My reaction: FML.

So, yeah, 2011 hasn’t been great. It’s easily been the worst year of my life, and dealing with all the tragedy alongside battling old demons, juggling academic and extracurricular commitments, and managing stress (quite unsuccessfully, might I add) has been a cumbersome challenge.

As we approach the end of the year, I am relieved, yet worried. Will 2012 be another atrocity? I hope not. I feel like the Universe has slapped me around the last six months, which makes me wonder what I did (if anything) to deserve such bad karma. I loathe feeling so helpless, feeling like I have absolutely no control over my life or my happiness.

I’ve starved myself. I’ve binged in search of comfort and to qualm anxiety. I’ve, in turn, detoxed multiple times.

And nothing has worked.

But now, I’m considering reviving a macrobiotic regime (without the fish, of course, so I should say macro-vegan), because I remember how liberated and enlightened I felt for that one month.

There are some cons, though, and I’m in search of opinions from you, dear readers:

1) Macrobiotics limits fruit intake to 2-3 times a week. One woman I know did mention I could consume 1 piece per day at the very most, but this is a girl who eats 3-4 servings everyday! So, I’m in a bit of a bind there.

2) Eggplants, peppers, tomatoes, and potatoes are all excluded because they are nightshade vegetables, which supposedly can exacerbate certain health problems due to the alkaloid content. Unfortunately, eggplant is probably my favourite vegetable, and I cook with tomatoes . . . a lot . . .

3) Eating greens with breakfast isn’t the most appealing thought, at the moment.

4) And then, there’s the whole “chew every bite 50 to 100 times” technique, and boy, is that a toughie! Either I lose count, forget, or rush through a meal because I’m pressed for time and/or my dining partner has already finished and is eyeing my only half-empty plate as if I’m a crazy snail.

5) Some staple ingredients are either hard to find or relatively (if not ridiculously) expensive, i.e., umeboshi plums.

So, I’m thoroughly examining my options. One friend recommended I tailor the diet as needed, not worrying about indulging in more fruit or the occasional eggplant, and I certainly liked that idea; but unsurprisingly, I’m a major perfectionist, an all-or-nothing sort of girl. Therefore, your comments would be very much appreciated as I reconsider my lifestyle. In the meantime, I’ll leave you with a couple of my favourite macrobiotic meals and another blessing from A Grateful Heart.

Lentils; brown rice with scallions & sesame seeds; sauerkraut; steamed carrots, greens, broccoli, and mushrooms; and braised daikon radish.

Sautéed bok choy; roasted broccoli, beets, and carrots with walnuts; millet; and Chinese five-spice tofu with cilantro & sesame seeds.

Sautéed beet greens; braised daikon radish; lentils with buttercup squash, green beans, walnuts, and pomegranate seeds; and brown rice.

“So When Life Fades, as the fading sunset, my spirit may come to you without shame.” ~Native American prayer

Diligence

Three weeks ago, I bared my heart and discussed the negative side of my relationship with food. I vowed to detox for 21 days—and yesterday was the last “official” day of this preliminary journey.

So, how do I feel?

Better. Much, much better.

How exactly? Let me list them for you:

1)   I am noticeably calmer.

2)   Those “insistent” or even “desperate” hunger pangs have virtually disappeared, so my appetite is much steadier.

3)   My sweet tooth has reset itself, so a little bit of sweetness goes a looooooong way.

4)   My cravings are now for savoury foods rather than sweet foods, and anyway, I experience cravings rarely now.

5)   My digestive system is functioning more efficiently, and those nighttime stomach issues have almost entirely cleared up.

6)   I am sleeping more soundly.

7)   I am eating less, but still feeling satiated—no stuffing myself.

8)   No binges, even when I’ve been super stressed—and there have been a couple occasions like that, believe me.

9)   I’m exercising intensely only every other day, which allows me to maintain my appetite without feeling excessively hungry a couple days later, after not consuming enough calories to make up the deficit.

10)  My confidence and body image have improved, and I have more faith in my body, rather than deeming it the “enemy.”

Even though I’ve technically achieved my detox goals, by no means do I intend to fall back into old habits—the whole point of this journey was to re-regulate my system, to re-teach my body, and even though researchers agree it takes 21 days to change a habit, it takes a lifetime to maintain them.

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For those of you who joined me on my detox, how do YOU feel now? What challenges did you face? What successes did you celebrate?

What I Ate Wednesday (7): Detox, Day 6

Well, six days into my detox, I’m feeling quite well indeed. My tummy hasn’t been torturing me at night, and my sugar cravings are nearly non-existent.

So, what exactly have I been eating on my detox quest? Well, let’s find out, shall we? Featuring my seventh What I Ate Wednesday, courtesy of Jenn.

Breakfast

One of my favourite breakfasts this time of year: Pumpkin Pie Oats! And the pumpkin wasn’t even from a can—I roasted it myself!

Mid-Morning Snack

When I visited Whole Foods last Friday, I indulged in a loaf of sourdough bread. It’s not whole grain, granted, but it’s fermented . . . and delicious! Even more so with a little homemade vegan pesto.

Lunch

I was craving Asian food, and this was what resulted:

A sort of "deconstructed" sushi bowl (recipe follows), alongside a braised daikon radish, and a pear.

Fruity Fusion “Deconstructed Sushi” Salad

This is sort of like lazy maki—no rolling necessary. A bit inspired by this recipe.

Serves 1

Ingredients

1 cup shredded red cabbage

½ nori sheet, cut into strips

½ cup shelled edamame

½ pear, chopped

1 Tbs. chopped cilantro

For the Dressing

1 tsp. brown rice vinegar

1 tsp. soy sauce, tamari, or shoyu

1 tsp. sesame oil

½ tsp. brown rice syrup (optional)

1 tsp. each minced ginger & garlic

Pepper, to taste

¼ cup dried shortgrain brown rice, cooked and cooled

Chopped walnuts, to serve

Pickled ginger, to serve

Directions

Combine dressing ingredients, and set aside. Toss together cabbage, nori strips, edamame, pear, and cilantro with dressing. Serve on top of rice, garnished with walnuts and served with pickled ginger.

You could also add some shredded carrots, chopped cucumber, red bellpepper, sweet potato, or even kabocha squash.

Afternoon Snack

Finally got around to trying a Blueberry Muffin Larabar. It was okay—not my favourite flavour, though.

Dinner

Whereas lunch was Asian-themed, dinner was delightfully Mediterranean.

An abundant spinach, roma tomato, cucumber, and parsley salad with hummus, whole wheat couscous, and a couple stuffed grapeleaves, otherwise known as "dolmas".

Dessert

Detox shouldn’t exclude occasional desserts . . . if they’re healthy, of course, and especially if they include HOMEMADE, low sugar vanilla soy yoghurt. Yes, my first attempt at making my own yoghurt went fabulously, thanks to this lovely machine. I will be posting a tutorial and recipe soon, I promise!

Homemade vanilla soy yoghurt, a little homemade granola, some pistachios & raspberries, and a chopped dried fig. Dried figs are sort of my weakness. <3

On the Fourth Day of Detox, My True Love Said To Me . . .

Jan Brett is one of my favourite illustrators.

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Can you tell I have Christmas on the brain? And it’s not even Halloween yet. Although I’m equally excited for Halloween, too. I love holidays! Especially this time of year, when we have three major holidays in a row.

You know what else I love? Whole Foods. Since was home from university for the long weekend (due to Native American/Columbus Day), my mum and I went to Omaha on Friday, which naturally included a trip to everyone’s favourite (albeit unnecessarily expensive) market.

This beautiful sight greeted me at the door of Whole Foods . . . heirloom pumpkins!

I also visited Trader Joe’s for the first time and was pleasantly surprised to see than it’s sort of like a discount version of Whole Foods . . . for example, Tom’s of Maine toothpaste was a whole dollar cheaper there, and Larabars cost only $1.19 compared to $1.39. Granted, there’s not as large (read: overwhelming) of a selection, but when you’re a starving artist/university student, every penny counts.

But before shopping the afternoon away, we had lunch at McFoster’s Kind Café. I hadn’t been there for a while, and the dish I ordered was not only delightful, but also perfect for my first official detox day.

Mustard, turnip, and collard greens, sautéed with spinach, red cabbage, caramelized onions, fresh garlic and ginger, then glazed with a spicy Thai curry paste mellowed out with tahini butter. Served on organic whole grain basmati rice and topped with organic tempeh and sesame seeds. Served alongside charbroiled mixed veggies. There was also a whole grain roll, which I saved for later that afternoon.

My tummy was a mess pretty much all Friday, but I remembered to fuel myself properly and intuitively . . . so, of course, I just had to indulge in a Gingerade kombucha! I knew the ginger (as well as the kombucha’s natural carbonation and probiotics) would soothe my tummy.

I took one drink and was in heaven--haven't had a kombucha in a long, long, far too long time.

GT’s Kombucha drinks were on sale, so I also snagged a Cherry Chia flavour, something I’ve wanted to try for ages. The texture was so cool—sort of like drinking a watered-down tapioca pudding, and the flavour was great. Two three thumbs up!

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As well as a Whole Foods salad for dinner-to-go that night . . . I’ll admit, it was nice to have a day off from cooking.

Everything sort of got mixed together during the drive home, but this beautiful box contained steamed kale; roasted artichoke hearts, beets, butternut squash, carrots, and fennel; mock tuna salad; macrobiotic seaweed salad; detox salad; sesame broccoli salad; falafel; and some sort of whole grains mix (I can't remember exactly which grains). I really tried not to overfill the box or to feel obligated to eat everything--success times two!

I also purchased a box of kukicha tea, also known as Twig Tea, as per Alicia Silverstone’s recommendation in The Kind Diet. A macrobiotic staple that’s great for detoxing and restoring bodily balance. Thanks, Eden Foods, for being the best company on the planet and creating the highest quality products!

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So, after four days of detox, I’m feeling much better. My tummy is still bothering me a bit in the evening hours, but I’m on a quest to alleviate that—hopefully, I’ll find some relief soon. It’s relatively annoying and discouraging to feel like I have something akin to the flu almost every night. With time, I’m sure my innards will heal.

See you again in two days for WIAW!

Honesty is the Best Policy

Last Saturday, I mentioned my life has been somewhat blah as of late. Well, blah is actually a bit too tame of an adjective—try difficult, demanding, altogether arduous! And not due to school, strangely enough. On the contrary, I more or less adore my classes this semester.

No, the reason for my struggles currently stems from food . . . and honestly, these struggles trace back 3 years, since my senior year in high school. I haven’t discussed my personal troubles with food much here, mainly because they don’t really pertain to the underlying purpose of Vegan on the Go-Go. However, I’ve decided to share a bit more with you, dear readers, not only because it’s an honest reflection of yours truly, but also because I know a number of food bloggers have experienced disordered eating, too, and if my story can help someone else, then I am all too happy to reveal my dark past.

I’m a big girl—as in tall. I’m also quite thin. Some would even say skinny. I used to be even skinnier. Too much so, in fact. More specifically, nearly 10 pounds underweight. Growing up, though, I was always a little on the chubby side, and as I progressed first through adolescence and then through high school, I had virtually no self-esteem when it came to my body. I was ever-so-slightly overweight for my height, and I wasn’t really that active, nor did I eat very heathily. I yearned for years and years to be thin, thinking it would make me more popular, believing it would snag me that elusive boyfriend for which I wished, but all attempts at weight loss failed . . . until, that is, the summer right before I started university.

Unfortunately, I didn’t lose weight the right way—to make a long story short, I starved myself and compulsively exercised, and I was miserable. The weight dropped off, and within 6 months, I’d lost 50 pounds, only to lose another 10 over the course of the next year. In hindsight, I honestly have no idea how I did it, except that I had one hell of a willpower, certainly.

I assumed being thin would make me happy, popular, loveable. On the contrary, I was just as miserable as I had been in high school. I lost my period; my teeth yellowed from malnutrition (I never purged); I was constantly cold; I had no cushioning, so sitting on hard chairs was quite painful. Then, in January of this year, I was diagnosed with reactive hypoglycemia, and the reality struck me.

I panicked and immediately began raiding the fridge.

And I promptly gained 10 pounds, back to a healthy BMI (and in the process, I rediscovered the glory that is avocado!).

However, while ridding myself of old demons, I unfortunately developed a new problem, one that is just as bad as anorexia.

Binge eating.

I’ve read many former anorexics experience binge eating during their recovery. Well, apart from a little psychological residue, I consider myself recovered—I don’t restrict, I’ve reversed my hypoglycemia, and I sincerely enjoy food again (as I’ve obviously demonstrated here on my blog). So, why the binge eating? I’ve identified several potential factors:

1)   Stress

2)   Boredom

3)   Sugar addiction

4)   Not enough protein and/or veggies

5)   A simple desire to taste something or chew

6)   A desire to be secretive and/or disobedient

There are probably other, more subtles/subconscious reasons, too, but in my case, these are my main triggers. I’ve also identified my problem foods—nut butters, dried fruit, and bread. I can eat them without a problem most days, but when I begin to binge, those are the foods I crave . . . and overdose on.

So, I guess my point is this: I’m absolutely SICK and TIRED of this problem. I’ve tried multiple strategies to conquer it, but nothing has succeeded yet. I’ve searched and searched and searched for a solution . . . only to fail yet again. Last Saturday, I swore to make a change—and I did very well, until today. I know why, too: too much exercise, strangely enough. And because my hunger was, in turn, elevated, I began to stress and worry about weight gain, and in the end, I ate far, far more than my body actually needed. Now, my stomach feels like a landfill full of junk. It’s no wonder my digestive system struggles so much. As I write this, the acids are churning in complaint.

My body, mind, and soul have simply had enough. I love food, and I love to eat, but I’ve tipped the balance yet again—before, I ate too little, now I’m eating too much, and I definitely suffer the consequences, literally and figuratively.

I’ve discussed detox before, but now it’s time to call in the big guns. I’m turning to the three most important health books I own: The Crazy Sexy Diet by Kris Carr, The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone, and The Hip Chick’s Guide to Macrobiotics by Jessica Porter. Their guiding lights helped me finally overcome my anorexic tendencies earlier this year; hopefully, they can aid me again.

Experts say it takes at least 21 days to change a bad habit. Hence, I’m embarking on a 3-week detox—and not one of deprivation either. No, I intend to hone in my healthy lifestyle skills once and for all, and my blog is one of several resources that will hold me accountable. I will chronicle my eats and exercise routine, and of course, I will continue posting yummy recipes for the detoxing diva or dude. After all, my recipes are mostly all detox friendly; I just tend to eat more than the proper serving size. That is really my only flaw, and one that, with a little consciousness and compassion, can be fixed.

So, as the new day dawns and I’ve stayed up far later than my usual bedtime (thanks to caffeine, another bad habit that really needs to be eliminated), I now embark on a 21-day voyage to better health, happiness, and my best life possible!

Will you join me?

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What I Ate Wednesday (5): Sick Edition

Ever since I became interested in healthy, wholesome eating 3 years ago, I’ve noticed a tremendous boost in my immune system—meaning, I rarely get sick, even when I’m surrounded by sneezing university students. Yeah, I have tummy trouble upon occasion, but otherwise, I’m generally able to elude cold and flu season.

Not this time, however. Yesterday, around lunchtime, I felt my nose running slightly. An hour later, my eyes began aching. And by afternoon’s end, I felt pretty tough and wanted nothing more than to curl up in bed—which is precisely what I did around 7:30 last night.

Now, I’m not really that surprised about my condition. I should have guessed I would find myself a bit under the weather when my boyfriend started sniffling a few days ago, following by a fever and coughing. No matter how healthy and preventative I may be, there’s no escaping germs in such a close proximity—only luck could have spared me in this situation.

All the same, just because I wasn’t able to avoid this cold, I can still effectively treat its symptoms and heal myself naturally. One of the greatest strategies: diet. It’s common knowledge that certain foods treat colds better than others. So, today, I ate to cure. I’m a busy girl who can’t really afford to miss class or cancel commitments—I need to feel better, fast!

Breakfast

Woke up feeling pretty okay. Started the day with my usual lemon juice and liquid chlorophyll shot—both have powerful detox and antioxidant properties, and the latter has a whole sling of other benefits.

Not the best tasting drink in the world, but sometimes, even we health freaks can't like everything, right?

I’m no expert in in-depth nutrition, so when I was consulting The World’s Healthiest Foods, an incredibly useful site, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that my standard breakfast is naturally a powerful cold and flu fighter. Oats are rich in beta-glucan, a soluble fiber that boosts your immune system, and plums and prunes are good sources of vitamin C (as are most fruits and veggies).

Steel-cut oats, soymilk, ground flaxseed, pumpkin pie spice, 1/2 plum, raisins, a chopped prune, and pecans.

After breakfast, I crashed in bed for another hour or so before I felt energized enough to start my day. Fortunately, I don’t have class on Wednesday mornings. So, I went outside for a breath of fresh air, a splash of vitamin D-infused sunlight (Indian summer!), and a cup of Yogi tea. Today’s featured flavour: Green Tea Goji Berry.

I seriously need to get some prettier mugs. This one (which I use all the time) actually belongs to my boyfriend's best friend, our other housemate.

Seriously, I would totally agree to be Yogi’s spokeswoman; I ADORE their products! I always have several of their teas in my pantry (and I’ve yet to try I flavour I didn’t enjoy), but today’s choice was influenced by the well-known facts that both green tea and goji berries are exemplary sources of antioxidants. It warmed my body, mind, and soul.

Lunch

On Wednesdays, my boyfriend leaves around 11:00 and I don’t have class until 1:00, so I usually like to make a special little one-serving lunch for myself. Today’s mix-and-match meal was very, very yummy.

Hummus-stuffed sweet potato (recipe to follow), seaweed salad, and a bowl of cantaloupe and raspberries for dessert. And no, it wasn't one of those listeria-infected Colorado cantaloupes--I double-checked! No worries!

I had a sudden craving for seaweed this morning, so I quickly rehydrated some and made a side salad with a little shoyu, sesame oil, and toasted sesame seeds. Sea vegetables are some of the healthiest foods of all . . . and some of the most delicious, too!

I also had my grown-up, vegan version of a baked potato. When I was a little girl, my mum would make me baked potatoes with cottage cheese whenever I wasn’t feeling very well, so this is major comfort food for me.

Hummus-Stuffed Sweet Potato with Orange-Balsamic Drizzle

Inspired by this recipe (which is fabulous, might I add!)

Serves 1

Ingredients

1 large sweet potato, roasted for about 40 minutes until tender

2-4 Tbs. hummus

1 medium stalk celery, chopped

2 Tbs. chopped scallions

1 Tbs. dried cranberries

1 Tbs. chopped parsley

Salt & pepper, to taste

For the dressing:

1 Tbs. orange juice

1 tsp. balsamic vinegar

1 tsp. olive oil

Afternoon Snack

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

I also had a piece of my Basic Banana Bread—and this loaf was completely free of added sugars! Instead of 1/3 cup liquid sweetener, I used 2 dropper-fulls of liquid stevia, and it worked like a charm! No strange aftertaste whatsoever.

Dinner

A delicious Italian recipe that I’ll share on Friday—pumpkin-spinach pasta.

Dessert

I made Leanne’s amazing Raw Carrot Cake “Cheese”cake again last weekend. Delish! And no, I didn’t eat all four remaining pieces, hahaha.

And now, I’m off to indulge in a few bites of that delicious cantaloupe, followed by bubble bath before crawling into bed. I’m tired and looking forward for an early night and sweet dreams. Hopefully, all my efforts today will pay off tomorrow, and I’ll feel more energetic . . . energetic enough, at least, to roll out my yoga mat for a few asanas.

Autumn Detox + A Giveaway!

Late last week, I received an email from Yoga Journal announcing a 7-day autumn detox plan, and I thought that sounded like a fabulous idea! I’ve discussed my thoughts about detoxing before, and based on my criteria, Yoga Journal’s plan is very, very well designed, based largely on the ancient healing art of Ayurveda. And it’s very, very much needed after a weekend of, well, a little too much bread, unfortunately. But no matter! I’m gung-ho for a good cleanse! I’m going to try to follow the plan as closely as possible, tweaking a bit here and there for my weird university-student schedule, and I’m really looking forward to analyzing how I feel next week.

Today was the first day of detox. In addition to Yoga Journal’s recommendations, I listed some personal goals for supplementing the cleansing process:

• Drink a glass of water with fresh lemon juice, liquid chlorophyll, and a pinch of cayenne before breakfast.
• Daily cup (or two, or three) of Yogi’s wonderful Detox tea.

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• Chew food really, really well to ease digestion.
• Consume plenty of water to help flush toxins.
• Daily dry brushing.
• Daily Yoga practice (enhanced by these helpful videos).
• Early to bed, early to rise = deep, restorative sleep.

To my delight, several recipes were also included with the plan, and I jumped at the opportunity to make a big batch of kitchari, accompanied by cilantro chutney. Yoga Journal’s dosha quiz revealed I have a vata-pitta constitution, so I added ingredients as recommended for my bidoshic needs.

Obviously, I love Indian food. And I must say that the chutney is INCREDIBLE! I will be making it on a very regular basis even after my cleanse.

Even though I’m detoxing, I still believe in dessert—raw dessert, that is! This weekend, I finally got around to making Leanne’s Raw Carrot Cake “Cheese”cake, and let me tell you, folks, this recipe is a keeper! Everyone who sampled a piece was blown away by the flavour, the texture, everything. My only alterations were a) stevia instead of coconut sugar, and b) bars instead of individual little cakes since I don’t have spring form pans. Everything worked fabulously!

Dense and rich and wonderful. <3

Speaking of fabulous, I’m hosting my first giveaway, and TWO lucky readers will receive a container of Amazing Grass Original Green SuperFood powder, which is great for green smoothies and juices!

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Just leave a comment, and using a random number generator, I will select two winners later this week. Good luck!

Home Sweet Home!

AT LAST, I’M HOME!

And I couldn’t be happier. My spirit is refreshed and my inspiration renewed, and I am pumped for the remainder of summertime.

But first, a synopsis: yesterday was . . . stressful. Horribly so. I really find long-distance travel difficult, and this was an even more extenuating situation than usual—as in, I decided it would be better to sleep overnight in the airport in order to be 100% prepared for my early morning flight. The result: minimal, minimal sleep and subsequent exhaustion. Fortunately, I fueled my morning appetite properly—breakfast consisted of not 1, but 2 Larabars (Apple & Pecan pie—I am more of a pie than a cake girl after all), 2 apples, and some carrots with leftover zucchini-split pea pâté. I just couldn’t get enough fructose, it seems, which makes sense considering my lack of energy. My body was searching for a “quick fix”. Actually, my last couple of weeks in France saw a gradual increase in my usually low sugar intake . . . much more chocolate than usual, 3 desserts in Paris, and strong cravings for fruit, Larabars, and vegan chocolate chip cookies. Not that I’m anti-sugar, mind, (well, I am anti-refined sugar, I admit that outright), but starting on Monday night, my stomach was really starting to feel icky. I almost bought some yoghurt at Starbucks to soothe my gut with a cooling dose of probiotics, but my principles held firm and I accepted that I’d just have to wait until last night’s fabulous visit to Whole Foods to purchase some soy yoghurt.

A quick note: Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport is not very vegan-friendly. You can find a few options in the convenience store, but don’t expect anything substantial, just snack foods.

In the meantime, I began chugging water—not desperately, but mindfully. I needed to cleanse my system, flush out any toxins, and essentially begin my “Back on Track after France” plan. Yeah, I frequented the bathroom more than is necessarily enjoyable, but it was rather amazing how quickly I began feeling better. My big breakfast packed with healthy, satiating fats, protein, and fiber kept me full for a whopping 10 hours, despite the distinct lack of complex carbs. What I really wanted from the get-go was a bowl of overnight oats, but sometimes, we must adapt to unusual circumstances such as travel. You can always resume your good habits (whether pertaining to eating, exercising, sleeping, etc.) once your journey is over, and little to no damage will have been done, I guarantee. But anyway, for me, 10 hours without eating is absolutely unheard of—and trust me, it wasn’t by choice, nor do I recommend it, especially if you’re running like a madwoman through customs . . . which was ultimately why I wasn’t able to grab lunch as planned. No falafel Panini for a sad Teniesha. Fortunately, all the anxiety suppressed my usual appetite, and I’d say there’s no question that I definitely succeeded in the intuitive eating department, something I’m quite proud of.

Secondly, Aer Lingus proved itself vegan-friendly, not just once, but three times. First, the snack was a packet of Worchestershire-flavoured crackers. Of course, I carefully checked the ingredients since Worchestershire sauce contains anchovies, but these were completed vegan—the packet even said so! They weren’t the healthiest crackers, but they didn’t contain anything horrible, i.e., anything I couldn’t pronounce. A little later, my requested vegan meal arrived, and while it was by no means gourmet, I was simply pleased to eat something after my 6:00 AM to 4:00 PM stint without any nourishment. I even snapped a quick photo before digging in (and I bet my fellow passengers thought I was an utter weirdo, haha. It’s just my job.)

The meal consisted of roasted vegetable pasta, a breadroll, a small salad, and fresh fruit. Nothing fabulous, of course, but what else can one expect unless they're flying First Class?

The last snack right before we landed in Chicago was a scone—and after yet again double-checking the ingredients in the one specially given to me, I confirmed that yes, indeed, it was vegan! I wasn’t really hungry (weirdly enough), but I ate it anyway because I knew I wouldn’t be eating dinner for at least another 5 hours (turned out to be closer to 7 hours). Granted, it wasn’t made from whole wheat flour. In fact, I was disappointed that none of carbohydrates were whole grains, but I was merely thankful to be fed yesterday; otherwise, I would have starved and suffered the wrath of what would have inevitably become an exceedingly HANGRY tummy (although I will say that Chicago is very vegan-friendly; I even saw bottles of coconut water for sale as I was walking to my gate). At least at Whole Foods I was able to feast the way I prefer, and the meal was both physically and spiritually uplifting! Unfortunately, I was so hungry that I totally forgot to take a photo of the salad beast I concocted. Whoops! Sorry!

Afterward, I delightedly stocked up on groceries, focusing especially on healing foods for today’s obligatory detox after all that Parisian dining and a day of copious stress and not the cleanest or most balanced eating, and then, I finally headed home. By the time I finally went to sleep, I’d been awake for more or less 30 hours straight. Nevertheless, I woke up wonderfully refreshed at 7:00 AM this morning and immediately went on a leisurely run, followed by a breakfast I’ve been dreaming of for three months:

Green smoothie--a whopping handful of spinach, banana, soymilk, and flaxseed. So. Amazingly. Delicious.

Frustrations

I feel I can rightfully claim that I’m adept in the kitchen. I know the difference between dice and chop; I can caramelize onions, cook perfect quinoa, and even wield a maki roll mat with ease; and when I’ve a bunch of random ingredients lurking in the crisper, I can throw together a tasty dish without consulting a recipe. All in all, I am confident in my culinary skills.

Every once in a while, though, I experience flops, major, minor, or otherwise. For example, my first tofu quiche . . . absolutely inedible, much to my disappointment and frustration. I often tend to take things personally—even kitchen failures will send me into the depths of despair. Well, sort of. I’m being ever-so-slightly dramatic.

Today, I had planned on sharing a recipe I assumed would be a delicious success—this recipe, in fact. Now, in my defense, I was missing a couple of probably crucial ingredients, namely the ginger and jalapeno, and instead of orange juice, I used fresh orange segments. Plus, of course I didn’t have any tamarind paste, not here in France! All the same, considering the dish contained two of my favourite flavours, peanut butter and curry (however odd that combination might seem), I anticipated a tasty dinner on Thursday night.

Pretty, but nothing extraordinary in the flavour department, sadly.

The actual result, while not inedible, was rather disappointing. Granted, as I mentioned, I was forced to make a few alterations, and perhaps if I’d followed the recipe exactly, my palate would have been much better pleased. Nevertheless, in this case, I find myself doubting the recipe, in spite of its 4-star rating. Why? It was the sauce, I think—it wasn’t altogether flavourless, but neither the peanut butter nor the curry stood out to me. In short, they cancelled each other out. I personally would have liked more of a peanut-y taste overall, so doubling the sauce may be a solution if I attempt the recipe a second time. But that’s the question, isn’t it: should I bother re-trying the recipe? Especially when I don’t have three key ingredients?

A second frustration concerned the zucchini I added. I really like zucchini, but I’ve come to realize, weirdly enough, that it’s pretty tasteless. I usually steam or sauté it, and still, I cannot seem to bring out its flavour—roasting or grilling? I suppose I’ll just have to wait until July to vanquish that stubborn veggie once and for all! I can’t wait for summertime grilling!

On a slightly different note, I am also ever-so-slightly frustrated with my body at the moment. I have been suffering from killer sugar cravings, and this is a girl who claims to have virtually no sweet tooth! Every once in a while, I don’t mind indulging in a vegan cupcake, but lately, I’ve been snarfing down a few too many vegan chocolate chip cookies and/or dark chocolate squares. Sugar can be addictive—you enjoy just a little bit, and suddenly, you want more. Plus, I can probably attribute these particular cravings to depression, stress, crappy weather, my period, and the fact that I’ve not been sleeping the best.

That’s no excuse, though, so the remainder of those Dr. Lucy’s cookies are going straight into my suitcase—out of sight, out of mind. I will still indulge in daily dark chocolate, but one square after lunch or dinner is sufficient, not four. So, tonight, I’m popping a probiotic, and tomorrow will be a back-on-track detox day. I’m planning a long walk and an extra long yoga practice, lots of water and green tea, overnight oats (as per usual) for breakfast, a hearty salad beast for lunch, and a repeat of tonight’s tasty dinner:

Leftover Makeshift Macrobiotic Adzuki Beans & Sweet Potatoes, curried mixed vegetables (eggplant, tomato, and cauliflower), and the most delicious brown rice pilaf, thanks to an extra special ingredient–I’ll be back tomorrow with the recipe!