When health is at the top of your priority list, what you put into your mouth becomes non-negotiable.
By this I mean that everything you consume is chosen with your good health in mind and every time you eat, it is done in a mindful way.
Gabrielle Cousins M.D., M.D.(H), a leader in natural health and conscious eating, takes it one step further by explaining that what you eat, as well as what you think, do and say, has a bearing on your health and vitality.
Many years ago, before my raw food ‘awakening’, I used to make Banana ‘Love’ Porridge – a warm, nourishing, tasty breakfast, that gave me much joy when preparing it for family and friends. While I shared this recipe many times over, I was often told that my porridge ‘always tasted better’ – I’m sure most of you have had a similar food experience somewhere along the line!?
The question is: How can two people, following exactly the same recipe, end up with a noticeably different result?
If we were to ask an Italian Nonna (grandmother), she would surely say that love is the secret ingredient in every recipe! Dr Masaru Emoto, a Japanese scholar and author, illustrates this idea beautifully by exposing several containers of water to different positive and negative words. He then froze the containers and photographed them on crystallization.
What occurred in pure water exposed to positive words were stunning, perfectly formed, crystals, while deformed, randomly structured, crystals appeared in water that had been polluted or exposed to negativity. Given that the human body is made up of over 70% water, perhaps we too can be influenced in a similar way!?
Given also that the majority of what we consume on a raw, plant based diet is water rich, living food, it is fair to assume that what we eat could also be influenced by our thoughts, feelings, and intentions. While it could all be just a beautiful theory, the idea of infusing one’s food with love, prayer, or simply a few ‘good vibrations’, is a harmless, and positive practice that, if nothing else, might just make your food mysteriously taste better than before!
So, without getting too hocus-pocus on you 🙂 perhaps consider taking a moment to be grateful and loving, when preparing each of your meals this week. Whether it actually has an influence on your food or not, it is a wonderful way of taking a moment out of your chaotic schedule, to be present and focused on all the ‘good stuff’ your life holds.
Enjoy an exceptional week – as well as our supercharged ‘loved-up’ recipes to follow!
One Day Meal Plan
- 2 cups pineapple (frozen if possible)
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 1 cup nutmilk or ricemilk if preferred
- 1/2 banana (frozen)
- 3 tbsp goji berries
- Place all ingredients in a blender and blitz until smooth.
- 1 fresh young coconut
- Cut open coconut and drink coconut water. Store empty coconut in fridge until ready to use in lunch recipe below.
- 1 fresh young coconut (meat only)
- 1 small mango diced
- 1 small handful baby rocket or watercress
- 1/2 small Lebanese cucumber finely diced
- 6 cherry tomatoes quartered
- 2-3 tbsp coconut aminos (or tamari sauce)
- 2 tbsp each finely chopped coriander and mint (or fresh herbs of your choice)
- 1 tsp olive oil
- Juice of 1/2 lime
- 1/8 tsp ground black pepper
- Generous pinch Himalayan or Celtic salt
- Scoop out meat from coconut and scrape off any brown husk. Cut into small strips and place back inside the coconut with all other ingredients. Mix through with a fork and enjoy.
- Base
- 1 cup desiccated coconut
- 1 cup Medjool dates (pitted)
- 1 cup walnuts
- 1/2 tsp vanilla paste (or 1 vanilla bean scraped)
- Pinch Himalayan or Celtic salt
- [br]
- Blueberry Layer
- 1.5 cups frozen blueberries (thawed then patted dry with a paper towel)
- 1/4 cup coconut syrup
- 2 tbsp chia seeds (ground finely)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp acai powder
- [br]
- Topping
- 1/3 cup walnuts
- 3 tbsp shredded coconut
- 1 tbsp coconut sugar
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- Pinch Himalayan or Celtic salt
- Place coconut, vanilla and salt in a food processor and process for 20 seconds. Add walnuts and dates and process again until mixture is sticky and combined but still a little chunky. (Add an extra date or 2 and process again if not sticky enough to press into a ball) Press mixture firmly into a lined tray then place in the fridge to harden.
- [br]
- Place blueberries, coconut syrup, lemon juice and acai in a food processor and process well. Pour into a bowl, stir in chia and sit for 10 minutes – stirring several times during the process to avoid lumps. Once thickened, spread ‘jam’ over base layer.
- [br]
- Roughly chop or pulse walnuts, coconut sugar, cinnamon and salt then sprinkle over slice. Top with shredded coconut then place in the fridge for another 10 minutes before serving. Cut into approximately 12 small squares and serve straight out of the fridge.
- 4 large lettuce leaves (iceberg or butternut works well)
- 6-8 cherry tomatoes sliced
- 1/2 large avocado sliced
- Mexi Nutmeat
- 2 cups walnuts (soaked, drained & rinsed)
- 1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes (drained well if in oil)
- 1/2 red onion (finely diced)
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp cayenne or minced fresh chilli
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp Himalayan or Celtic salt
- For nut meat, place all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until a course mixture is achieved. Place lettuce leaves on a board. At one end of each leaf place 4 tablespoons of nut meat then cherry tomatoes and avocado. Gently roll lettuce leaves (tucking ends in if you can) then serve immediately. Nutmeat will keep for 3 days in the fridge.
- 2 tbsp tahini 1 tbsp raw cacao powder 2 Medjool dates pitted 3/4 cup filtered water Pinch ground cinnamon Dash of coconut syrup, raw agave or honey (optional)
- Place all ingredients in a blender and blitz until smooth. Serve on ice for a refreshing, nutty shake.
If you are keen for more of these amazing recipes and daily plans, check out our Living Raw Food Made Easy program.
Take the steps to improved health, wonderful energy, clear skin and eyes, and easy weight loss.