We are very spoilt in our Community to have so many Fabulous Foodies…

We are so excited to start sharing them with you.. You will get to know a little about them, what motivates them and (yes you guessed it) their favorite recipe!

This week you are going to meet the exquisite Tabitha Schutz.

 

She has the most amazing Etheric energy and delights in the simple beauty of her life… You are going to love her… Oh and check out her amazing cake recipe at the bottom!!

Tell us about yourself? How old are you? Where do you live? What occupation, etc?

Hi all.

Firstly let me introduce myself to you all, my name is Tabitha Schutz. I moved to the beautiful Sunshine Coast 5 years ago, now at 32 years of age, cannot see myself residing any place else.

I LOVE Queensland and all it has to offer. Currently I live around Forest Glen area where I own and run my business, Bwitched Hair Organic & Natural, and service individuals with Australia’s safest salon hair colours on the market today, while also providing woman’s and men’s cutting and waxing services.

I have always been passionate about healthy living and loved cooking so while been on the Sunny Coast have worked in a number of raw/vegan/healthy cafes. So what is stopping us from bringing all of our passions into every days practice… that is correct, nothing, we can do it all.

So after 13 years of hairdressing I got into the food industry full time. I found this wasn’t my path full time as now I bring all my loves together and I know this is right for me.

I feel I have my special Nanna, I must also add, am blessed to have her, to thank as she introduced me to holistic healing/health alternatives in my mid- teens.

What triggered your passion for healthy living and eating?

I think what really triggered me to look at my health and living a healthy lifestyle was my eating disorder issues in my early teens. This was a darker place I was in with the way I perceived myself. It opened my eyes to how food addictions and restrictions are deteriorating, not only to the physical self, but our total being.

I can see now that I am blessed this occurred and shine light on this past situation as it has got me to who I am today, and I love her!

How long have you been on a raw and/or vegan diet?

When I moved to the Sunny Coast I had the privilege of meeting some beautiful people, were raw and/or vegan. This lifestyle resonated with me and how I was feeling and felt guided to jump on board. With a bit of an addictive personality, yes I am working on that one still, I ended up doing 100% raw for a while and after a few weeks of changing lifestyles.

I initially felt quite great, but 100% anything (I believe) is not beneficial for someone who can fall into the trap of addictions. I must admit though, to start with I ate too much of an abundance of raw sweets with all the excitement of it all, but in reality, this much raw sugar isn’t good for the body if its replacing your ‘green’ meals.

I now feel I have a good balance with my routine, but I know that there is more to learn with my body. I just listen to what my body is asking for and if it wants cooked food or raw, it shall be granted.

I use my body as one of my teachers and keep working on building a great relationship with it.

What was your health like before raw and vegan? What benefits have you experienced from this lifestyle?

Prior to a raw and vegan lifestyle I encountered, too many to count, excruciating stomach pains and inflammation that would regularly make me have to leave work early. No one could explain to me what could be the cause after numerous GP visits and tests. When I changed to raw and vegan foods I noticed a huge reduction stomach pains and inflammation after just a week or so.

I may now to today only experience this pain very very rarely, or when I have overindulged which is my own doing. I also suffered from the occasional pimple breakouts and this lifestyle has made my skin so beautifully clear and radiant that I really never feel like covering it up with makeup at all, even the whites in my eyes look clear.

I have experienced a sense of clarity, peace and my awareness changed to how I perceive life.

I have more gratitude for all the smallest things in my life and apply more love into all my life situations.

Is there one dietary rule you follow no matter what?

As I mentioned early that I try to listen and communicate with my body as much as possible to hear what it needs, there is one dietary rule I follow to the best I can.

First thing in the morning I have about 400ml of warm water with the juice of 1 lemon and ½ tsp cinnamon. Followed by roughly an additional 400ml water before I eat. Then a big smoothie breakfast.

These combinations really wake up my digestive system ready to start my day.

My dear friends who know me too very well would probably like to add that I have been known for eating raw cakes for brekkie, haha, yes this is true but I try to keep this to a minimum as know I feel energetically and physically more vibrant with my smoothies.

What does a regular day’s food look like for you?

A regular day’s food would usually be something like this:

Breakfast consisting of a large 4 banana smoothie with all the extra goodies I add or coconut yoghurt, activated buckwheat and bananas.

Morning tea usually fresh veggie sticks with nut butters/tahini or fresh fruit or raw nuts.

Lunch usually a big salad or cooked veggie dishes with added goodness from either, seeds, nuts, lentils or tofu/temph.

Dinners, I love cooked dinners, especially when it is cooler months. I love quinoa risottos, red lentil curries, tofu/temph stirfry’s, roast veggies, you name it! But yes when the warmer weather seasons my body constitution does change at times. Nutritional yeast is also my best friend when it comes to my dishes.

What is your exercise routine on a daily basis?

Living this lifestyle I feel motivated for my exercise as it provides your body with many usable nutrients and without some form of daily exercise I find I don’t sleep well.

I exercise first thing in the morning without fail, it is my pleasurable ritual. Either it be a long walk, a bikram/power vinyassa class and Mt Coolum climbs. I am setting the intention to start introducing strength training in now to build on my strength.

What is your favorite place to eat and why?

The Sunshine Coast is accumulating more and more raw and vegan cafes and restaurants accommodating meals to your choice which is very exciting to see.

Society is becoming more conscious every day.

I am a big lover of Thai food and recently went with friends to Blue Orchid Thai in Caloundra. Amazing food and at present this is my favourite place to eat. But in saying that, I do not go out for meals often as I love to prepare my own homemade meals.

When was the first time you made raw food? What was it? Did it work out, be honest?

The first time I made raw food, well let’s just say it was interesting, haha.

I cannot remember how long ago to be honest when I made my very first raw food creation but I recall making a raw chocolate avocado mousse and a raw carrot cake. The avocado chocolate mousse, well let’s just say it was average and my raw carrot cake was more like crunchy carrot cake.

But I can honestly say now I am so proud of what I have taught myself going on my own intuition and create beautiful meals and sweets.

What is your 3 top ingredients you can’t live without?

Hmmm ok, 3 top ingredients I can’t live without, now your testing me. How can I choose just 3?

Taking from a daily food guide for self, one being bananas, secondly being my green veggies of some sort and thirdly being raw cacao (my saviour). I could really go on forever here!

If hosting a dinner party what is your favourite dish to make to impress your friends?

If I was having friends over for a dinner party I would sure well be making one of my decadent raw cakes, probably my raw white chocolate cake and my roast pumpkin quinoa risotto with chargrilled asparagus.

(Hopefully one of my meals scores me a future hubby one day, haha. Don’t they say it’s a way to a man’s heart?)

From your experience in the kitchen, what is the most valuable advice you could offer any raw and vegan chefs?

The most valuable advice I would offer would be to taste everything you make. Even if you had made that particular dish 100 times. Produce and flavours can vary and affect the final product which can be quite disappointing. So dip those spoons chefs!

If you could give your 16 year old self a few pieces of advice, knowing what you know now, what would it be?

The advice I would offer my 16 year old self would be to accept the fact that you are worthy and loved by many. To also choose acting from a place of love and not fear, and to not concern yourself of what others perception is of you as it is only their thoughts and does not have to be the way you perceive yourself. Love yourself more.

What is your passion/purpose in this life?

Well, I feel I have expressed many of my life passions within this article. Yes I could rave on to you about my passions for crystal healing and so on, but generally just living a spiritual healthy lifestyle that I choose is best for me from the present moment.

From this space of being I believe you can serve all humanity in creating more oneness.

What are your future goals?

Future goals, well let’s just say I will see what unfolds.

Can you Share with us your favorite recipe?

Oh I would certainly love to share with you my favorite recipe! At present this is my favorite and I hope you enjoy!

 

Where can we find you?

On Facebook under: Tabitha’s raw food kitchen or Tabitha Schutz or Bwitched Hair

Instagram: tabitha_organic_natural