Why, indeed?
For my crossfitting friends, this is old news. But it’s always nice to be reminded, and to think deeply about why we choose the path we are on . On the other hand, most of my other friends are, Paleo what the ..... , and I want to share with them a smattering of reasons for giving it a try (check out the link below). Feel free to add on more (or dispute them) in the comments section. In my opinion, paleo makes sense, and nutrition is infinitely important for our well-being, but we should approach all things in life with appropriate expectations. For information on the diet, there are loads of good guides and scientific blogs out there that you absolutely must check out if you are interested. Finally, I want to be clear with semantics. “Diet” here means: way you eat. Paleo is not really a diet. Rather, it is a framework within which any individual determines their own lifelong, sustainable regime. Check out the following link , you never know Paleo may be the change you are looking for http://www.livingpaleo.com/10-things-you-should-know-about-paleo/
Some of my friends have said oh that is way to restrictive and I couldn't possibly give up this or that ... well Paleo and clean eating is not about deprivation and there are amazing recipes that can assist with your sweet cravings and still meet your paleo needs ..... would you feel deprived eating this ?
.
Raw CHOCOLATE COCONUT CREAM TORTE ♥
*Recipe :Eric Rivkin
E-book :TO LIVE FOR♥ http://www.vivalaraw.org/living-foods/to-live-for-recipe-book
Bottom Layer Crust
1 cup raw almonds or pecans, soaked 2 hours, rinsed
... 1 cup fresh or dried finely shredded unsweetened coconut
1/2 cup pitted dates
1/2 cup raw cacao powder
¼ tsp cinnamon
Dash of cayenne
In a food processor with the S blade, mix until a crumb texture is reached. Set aside.
Coconut Cream Filling
2 cups firm young coconut pulp
5 bananas
1/4 cup coconut oil
4-5 pitted medjool dates
½ tsp vanilla extract or caviar scraped from 1 bean
Blend ingredients until creamy. Set aside and refrigerate.
6-8 large firm strawberries, de-stemmed and sliced 1/8” thick
Top Chocolate Layer
1 cup young coconut pulp
3 Tbsp coconut oil
½ cup raw cacao powder
3 pitted medjool dates
3 black mission figs
½ tsp vanilla extract or caviar scraped from 1 bean
¼ tsp cinnamon
Dash of cayenne
Blend ingredients until thick and smooth, adding just enough coconut water to turn over in blender. Set aside.
Garnish
1 cup assorted berries - raspberry, blueberry, sliced strawberries
1 tsp honey
Mint leaves (optional)
Blend the honey with about a few of the strawberries to make a glaze. Toss gently with the berries and mint and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Assembly
1. Press crust recipe evenly into a 9” spring-form torte pan with a removable side greased with a little coconut oil.
2. De-stem, then slice the strawberries the long way and press the large pieces against the inside of the torte pan. Use the smaller heels in the garnish..
3. Pour in and spread the Coconut Cream Filling.
4. Freeze for 2 hours to firm up.
5. Pour on and spread the top chocolate layer mix. Refrigerate or freeze again until firm.
6. When ready to serve, first arrange the fruit garnish on top.
Tuesday, 31 July 2012
Monday, 30 July 2012
Day One
Well half way through day 1 and all is going well , I have missed my morning routine of picking up a coffee on the school run but on the upside think of all the money I will save over the next 30 days. I am putting my daily coffee money aside and will spend it on a reward at the end of the challenge.
I think the key for me will be preparation ~ planning meals and snacks ahead of time and packing my own lunchbox daily. Working from home with young children makes it easy to graze on the not so healthy and skip meals, so pre planning my days eating will be important.
The slowcooker has always been a godsend for me, making it easy to have a meal ready at the end of the day after training. The following recipe is one from my friend Wendy and it has become a favourite with my crew, it uses lamb shanks but it works just as well with a shoulder or leg of lamb. I serve it with mashed sweet potato and baby green beans. Guess what's for dinner .......
Maple syrup glazed lamb shanks:
1/3 cup maple syrup
1 cup chicken stock
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
1.5 cups orange juice
8 lamb shanks (french trim)
Brown lamb. Put in slowcooker. Combine syrup, stock, mustard and juice and add to lamb. Toss lamb around to cover in the syrup mix. Cook 7 hours low.
I think the key for me will be preparation ~ planning meals and snacks ahead of time and packing my own lunchbox daily. Working from home with young children makes it easy to graze on the not so healthy and skip meals, so pre planning my days eating will be important.
The slowcooker has always been a godsend for me, making it easy to have a meal ready at the end of the day after training. The following recipe is one from my friend Wendy and it has become a favourite with my crew, it uses lamb shanks but it works just as well with a shoulder or leg of lamb. I serve it with mashed sweet potato and baby green beans. Guess what's for dinner .......
Maple syrup glazed lamb shanks:
1/3 cup maple syrup
1 cup chicken stock
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
1.5 cups orange juice
8 lamb shanks (french trim)
Brown lamb. Put in slowcooker. Combine syrup, stock, mustard and juice and add to lamb. Toss lamb around to cover in the syrup mix. Cook 7 hours low.
Sunday, 29 July 2012
New Beginnings
Those of you who know me well also know I have been a journey of transitions, transformation and training over the last 18 months.
I have lost over twenty kilos, found a love bordering on addiction for crossfit, I have discovered strength I never knew I had and on occassion I have stumbled both physically (I am Queen of the gumby fall) and emotionally.
I have gone on a journey of discovery and not least of all re-discovered myself.
So once again I found myself standing at a fork in the road and had to decide which direction I would travel. This was an emotional time and decisions were difficult but I have found myself choosing to leave the comfort and security of my original Cross Fit Box and following Sonic to her new Box ~ Cross Fit Desire. So in keeping with this new beginning I am committing to the 30 day Paleo Challenge beginning tomorrow along with other Desire members. I have been eating 'paleoish' for quite sometime but have decided to embrace the challenge. Having two teenage sloths to feed may present the biggest hurdles as any mention of Paleo brings eyerolls and groans so I think the best approach is to not tell them they are eating a Paleo meal/snack. I am realistic enough to realise they will not be completing the challenge with me and the best I can do for them is provide nutritious non processed food for them and educate them.
So why put this in writing? To make myself accountable to share my triumphs and my stumbles and there will be stumbles .
Let the journey begin..............
I have lost over twenty kilos, found a love bordering on addiction for crossfit, I have discovered strength I never knew I had and on occassion I have stumbled both physically (I am Queen of the gumby fall) and emotionally.
I have gone on a journey of discovery and not least of all re-discovered myself.
So once again I found myself standing at a fork in the road and had to decide which direction I would travel. This was an emotional time and decisions were difficult but I have found myself choosing to leave the comfort and security of my original Cross Fit Box and following Sonic to her new Box ~ Cross Fit Desire. So in keeping with this new beginning I am committing to the 30 day Paleo Challenge beginning tomorrow along with other Desire members. I have been eating 'paleoish' for quite sometime but have decided to embrace the challenge. Having two teenage sloths to feed may present the biggest hurdles as any mention of Paleo brings eyerolls and groans so I think the best approach is to not tell them they are eating a Paleo meal/snack. I am realistic enough to realise they will not be completing the challenge with me and the best I can do for them is provide nutritious non processed food for them and educate them.
So why put this in writing? To make myself accountable to share my triumphs and my stumbles and there will be stumbles .
Let the journey begin..............
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