Sweet Potato Porridge

This is a wonderfully filling and nourishing quick breakfast that you can make with leftover roast potatoes too. A great healthy energy giver, it is perfect for a post-workout meal.
Serves 2
 
Ingredients:

• 85g roasted sweet potato (125g raw sweet potato, roasted whole)
• 65g oats
• 35g carrots, grated
• 100ml almond or other plant milk
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp coconut oil
• 1 tbsp agave syrup (optional)

for the garnish (optional)

• blueberries, sliced
• ground cinnamon
• agave syrup, to garnish

 
Method
1. Mash the flesh of the roasted sweet potato with a fork.
 
2. In a saucepan, add the sweet potato mash, oats, grated carrots, almond milk, cinnamon and 275ml water and cook over a medium to high heat for 4 minutes.
 
3. Stir in the coconut oil and serve for a warming breakfast.
 
4. The porridge is naturally quite sweet, but if you would like that extra little edge of sweetness, add the agave syrup (date or coconut blossom syrup would also be delicious).
 
5. Garnish with blueberries, a dusting of cinnamon and agave if you wish.



© Natasha Corrett.  Recipe taken from HONESTLY HEALTHY IN A HURRY published by Hodder & Stoughton £25

from Planet Organic Blog http://ift.tt/1ZdayJh
via How to Save Money When Buying Organic Foods

?Finding Your Joie de Vivre

Do you wonder how some people just ooze a fabulous healthy glow, an essence you can’t put your finger on. They are confident, calm, charismatic and live life with ease. Eminent Naturopath Rumana Zahn ND looks at how we can achieve that in our own lives in part five of her six zone Wellbeing Programme | Part 5 of 6
Just for the next moment imagine being your best self, happy, confident, secure, relaxed with no conflicting beliefs, no doubts and no feelings of insecurity, totally free from any resistance with yourself. What a relief that would be! I tried this for an hour then a day and then I noticed something strange started to happen.
 
Our thoughts have a profound effect on us. Each thought we perceive can feel real in our very being. And if we regularly habituate a thought it sooner or later becomes a belief.  We live our lives according to beliefs we have either taken on board, been taught or have come to perceive as true. If a belief is something we hold true, it manifests in our lives and becomes our truth, our reality.
 
We all carry our own set of beliefs and some of them will enhance our life others will restrict us or even cause us to become ill. So if you think you’re not good enough or feel bad most of the time about your life it’s likely that that’s what you may be experiencing in your life. Call it what you like – what you reap you shall sow, karma, law of attraction one thing is certain, we are bombarded by constant thoughts and not all of these make us feel good and it’s no mean feat controlling them.
 
Take for example one of the most common beliefs I try to get people to recognise as false - as you get older you get sicker. I am surprised why so many people hold this to be true, it’s a myth! I’ve seen many, many people improve their health in their later years and even reverse conditions, from irritable bowel symptoms to heart disease, joint aches to mental health illnesses. Sure over time if we keep doing the things that keep us unwell then our symptoms can get worse. This is why it is so important to re-evaluate what we believe and let it go. What no longer serves us is not worth holding onto.
 
“I feel worthless and not good enough”
 
Sally, a patient of mine, came for help with an eating disorder she had for many years, she also suffered depression, joint pains as well as severe digestive disorders. She lacked any self-esteem and felt worthless believing she wasn’t good enough in anything she did and constantly tired from her perpetual drive of wanting to be everything for others except herself. When I saw her she was not only malnourished but also had lost her joy for life, her joie de vivre.
 
An eating disorder can stem from deep rooted emotional-mental troubles. Sally realised her relationship with her mother was a big trigger for her chaotic eating patterns and when her needs were not met she ate compulsively. She uncovered various beliefs about herself and realised she needed to change.
 
Some Types of Beliefs
 
Beliefs can be routes to expressions of different types of behaviours, here are three examples of types of beliefs that lead to certain behaviours:
 

• I must try harder / I am not good enough

This type of belief may create a person to crave praise, one who is never satisfied or is trying so hard they get burn out. Yet on the plus side they may be persistent, give their all and make significant efforts in a difficult situation.
 

• Be Perfect

This type of belief may cause a person to take failure badly, they don’t take criticism so well and are never satisfied. They may also expect perfection from others. On the plus side they are hard working and may achieve great things.
 

• Be strong

This belief may lead to someone bottling up emotions, as they see emotional expression as a sign of weakness, they can be withdrawn under stress or may expect others to be strong. On the plus side they are good for getting things done and do not get emotional under crisis.
 
We may display different types of characteristics and may lean towards a particular belief that we carry that we don’t realise. It’s when a belief causes a behavioural or health problem that it becomes a concern.
 
Once we start becoming mindful about our thoughts our behaviour starts to change. And this is what I saw when I practiced noticing my thoughts and focusing on positive aspects of life with gratitude. I began to feel uplifted, energised and not troubled so much by everyday little irritations. I found I was able to dissipate stress quickly and a renewed joie de vivre - joy for living - returned.
 
Belief Busting Exercise
 
Go through some of your own beliefs and see which ones don’t serve you anymore. There are many for all parts of our life. See if you can change the belief and language into something more positive/constructive. It takes regular practice changing a belief so take one at a time!
 
Here are some examples
 
Personal - I am not good enough to I am learning and am getting better at …
 
Work - I have to work harder to be seen a good worker to I enjoy what I do and feel good about my work
 
Home - I must have everything in precise order to be happy at home to I like to be organised and enjoy tidiness
 
Relationships - everyone should understand the way I am to I accept the way I am and am open to new possibilities
 
Children - children must be seen and not heard to children require love and support as well as good guidance
 
Leisure - I don’t have time for leisure to I am able to make time to enjoy myself
 
Health - I get weaker as I get older to I get healthier as I get older
 
Money – I will only be happy once I have $xxx amount to I am happy with what I have and am working towards more possibilities
 

Others…can you think of any others?

 
 
Next month Rumana will take us through the final Part 6, where she will focus on how the space you create around you has a huge effect on your health. You can find out more about Rumana’s Online Coaching Programme here http://ift.tt/1TabZZ6
 
About Rumana Zahn
 
Rumana has teamed up with Planet Organic to help share her findings on how to achieve the best possible health you can. With over 25 years of experience Rumana is an expert in the field of natural medicine, runs clinics in the UK and speaks worldwide.
 
Rumana enjoys living a healthy vibrant life, practices yoga and meditation and loves argentine tango and singing.
 

from Planet Organic Blog http://ift.tt/1Zd9Tat
via How to Save Money When Buying Organic Foods

?Motion Nutrition Super Detox Smoothie

We must admit, some frequent users of Motion Nutrition Mid Workout Hydration have found a secret benefit to this product.
While it is designed to keep you hydrated and focused during long workouts, its properties are also extremely beneficial to rekindle the morning after the night before. Spinach and kale are both extremely high in antioxidants which will also help with any potential Sunday morning predicament. All in all, this is a super healthy detox smoothie, whether or not you are suffering from a hangover.
 
Ingredients

• 250ml-300ml water
• 1 scoop Motion Nutrition Mid Workout Hydration
• Handful Spinach 
• Handful Kale 
• 1 Apple seeded and quartered (Pink Lady gives good flavour) 
• Ice, to serve

 
Method
Add all ingredients to your blender in the order above, except for the ice. Blend thoroughly and serve over plenty of ice.
 
A trick to keeping the balance right between the greens and the fruit is to aim for 40% greens, 60% apple. You can also try boosting this drink even further by using coconut water or birch water instead or regular water.



from Planet Organic Blog http://ift.tt/1ZdaMzU
via How to Save Money When Buying Organic Foods

Almond Rhubarb Tart

We had a good rhubarb harvest this year and next to some savory meals we also made this delicious tart with an almond crust. We like our rhubarb stalks to be red and the temperature has a lot to do with the red-ness of the stalks. Also, removing the old stalks over the winter helps as well as a bit of wood ash.

Serving Size: 8

Ingredients:

for the almond crust:

• 1¼ cups AP flour
• ½ cup almond meal (flour)
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• few drops almond extract
• ½ cup non-dairy margarine
• 3-5 tablespoons icy water

for the rhubarb curd:

• 1 pound rhubarb stalks, cleaned, leaves removed and trimmed
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons lemon zest
• 2 tablespoons coconut milk
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 3 tablespoons water
• 2 tablespoons non-dairy margarine

Directions:

to make the crust:

1. In a large bowl, or food processor combine flour, almond meal, salt, baking powder and sugar.
2. Cut in the non-dairy margarine either with knives, fingers or pulsing with the food processor.
3. Add 3 tablespoons of icy water and blend.If the mixture is still too dry, add another 1 or 2 tablespoons of icy water.
4. Blend the mixture into a ball warp and place in the refrigerator to chill for 1/2 an hour.

to make the rhubarb curd:

1. Clean and cut the rhubarb into 1 inch pieces.
2. Reserve a few pieces to use as garnish.
3. Place all the rest in a saucepan and add just enough water to cover.
4. Cook the rhubarb until it is soft and has fallen apart.
5. At this point it is your choice to strain the rhubarb pulp and only use the juice, which will result in a clear very light pink curd or you can puree the mixture using a blender. I used an immersion blender to blend the pulp into a light pink opaque mixture.
6. You will want to use 2 cups of the mixture.
7. Add the sugar, lemon zest and coconut milk and continue cooking, stirring to keep the mixture from scorching.
8. Mix the cornstarch and water and add to the mixture.
9. Taste the mixture, you may want it a bit sweeter therefor add a bit more sugar. We enjoy the rhubarb a bit on the tart side.
10. When it becomes thick and the cornstarch cleared, remove from the heat and allow to cool.

to make the tart:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 400°F / 205°C.
2. Spray your tart pan with cooking oil.
3. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured workspace.
4. Place the dough in the tart pan.
5. Prick the bottom with a fork in many places.
6. Add a piece of baking parchment and fill with bean, or rice in order to blind bake the crust.
7. Place in the oven for 15-20 minutes until the edge of the crust is light golden brown.
8. When done remove from the oven, allow to cool,
9. Remove the baking parchment and beans or rice.
10. If removing the crust it from the tart pan is a problem, serve it in the form.
11. Take the few pieces of rhubarb that you saved as garnish and poach them shortly in lightly sweeten water. It will only be a couple of minutes to soften the rhubarb. You don’t want it to fall apart.
12. When the tart crust has cooled, pour the rhubarb curd in the form and place the rhubarb pieces on top. Cool in the refrigerator before serving. Depending on how cool or warm the curd is, the tart will be firm and cut in clean slices.
13. Optionally you can also place a dollop of whipped non-dairy topping on the tart slices.

Related Posts:

• Vegan Almond-Apple Tart
• Vegan Orange, Almond Semolina Cake with Baked Rhubarb
• Vegan Walnut and Pear Tart
• Review: Sklandrausis – Latvian Vegetable Tart
• Springtime Zucchini Tart with Edible Flower Garnish

from Vegalicious http://ift.tt/1TzKt8x
via Why You Should Consider Buying Organic Food

Cacao Granola

Sometimes I come down for a quick breakfast to find the granola jar empty, and it was during one of those moments that I created this very quick stove-top granola in 5 minutes.
It’s a lifesaver and packed with energy from the nuts and seeds. I love it with yoghurt or a splash of almond milk – the cacao makes the milk go all chocolaty, so what’s not to love?

MAKES 320G TO FILL A SMALL KILNER JAR (6–8 PORTIONS)

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 100g quinoa fakes
• 100g whole buckwheat groats
• 50g pecans, roughly chopped
• 50g whole almonds
• 1 tbsp raw cacao powder
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 4 tbsp agave or coconut
• blossom syrup
• a generous pinch of
• Himalayan pink salt
• some chopped dates or dried fruit for more sweetness (optional)

Method
1. Melt 1 tablespoon of the coconut oil in a heavy-bottomed saucepan (use your largest pan as the granola will crisp up more quickly).

2. Combine the remaining ingredients in a bowl and stir until incorporated.

3. Put half of the granola mixture into the saucepan and toast for 1–2 minutes until the nuts are nice and toasty and you start to smell that chocolaty, nut aroma.

4. Beware – once the colour starts to turn, the mixture can burn quite quickly, so keep an eye on it. Once it is nice and golden, transfer straight away to a baking tray to cool (this is quite an important step as the pan will be really hot and the mixture will keep cooking and burn if you leave it in there).

5. Toast the remaining half of the mixture with the remaining coconut oil and leave to cool and crisp up with the other half.



from Planet Organic Blog http://ift.tt/20BKJ63
via How to Save Money When Buying Organic Foods

?Discover Raw Halo

Raw Halo are one of the most talked about brands of 2016, and it’s no wonder why when you see their beautiful packaging and just wait until you taste what’s inside!
Taking the refined sugar free movement to new heights, Raw Halo’s range of raw chocolate offers chocoholics a taste of guilt-free heaven.  Winner of a prestigious Great Taste Award 2015 and accredited by the Vegan Society, Raw Halo chocolate is made from only natural ingredients and is free from refined sugar, gluten, wheat, and dairy.
 

 
Founded by Meg Haggar on the principle that one should not have to sacrifice life’s little luxuries to eat clean, Raw Halo offer vegan ‘mylk’ and dark raw chocolate in a variety of delicious flavour combinations. 
 
Their dedication to the craft is clear at every stage of the process; using the finest organic ingredients certified by the Soil Association, each bar is stone-ground to give the smoothest of textures and then hand-wrapped in luxury gold packaging. What’s more, their entire range is made in the UK.
 

Meg gave up refined sugar some years ago and struggled to find a healthier chocolate which didn’t compromise on taste – it wasn’t long from recipe experimentation in her London flat to bars flying off the shelves.
 

 
What sets Raw Halo apart from other raw chocolate brands is their bars contain significantly less sugar. The award-winning Pure Dark 76% chocolate is bursting with rich and vibrant flavours thanks to a blend of premium organic Peruvian raw cacao and organic coconut sugar. The ‘Mylk’ chocolate adds cashew butter, lucuma powder and pure vanilla to the mix for a creamier tasting bar, suffused with subtle caramel notes. Many flavours have around half the total sugars compared to other leading brands offering milk chocolate alternatives. Clean eating has never been this tasty!
 
You can find Raw Halo’s range of bars in all Planet Organic stores or online at planetorganic.com. Throughout May and June 2016 Meg and the Raw Halo team will be sampling our chocolate in selected stores, so stay tuned to Raw Halo’s social media for more info. 

from Planet Organic Blog http://ift.tt/1sa2oqj
via How to Save Money When Buying Organic Foods

Creamy tahini lentils with drippy boiled eggs

Quick, simple and packed full of protein. This is a great portable recipe for eating after a workout and will give you loads of energy for the rest of the day
I also like this with some fresh spinach leaves or rocket to fill it out a bit and get in some extra greens! Delicious with chargrilled broccoli on the side.
 
Serves 2
 
Ingredients:

• 2 eggs
• 15g dill, roughly chopped
• 5g mint, roughly chopped, plus extra leaves to garnish
• 240g cooked Puy lentils (120g uncooked weight); packets of precooked lentils also work brilliantly
• zest of 1 lemon
• freshly ground black pepper
• fresh mint, to garnish

 
for the tahini dressing:

• 3 tbsp tahini
• juice of ½ lemon
• a pinch of Himalayan pink salt

 
Method:
1. To boil the eggs, put them in a pan of boiling water for 7 minutes. Run them under cold water and peel the shells off.
 
2. Add the dill and mint to the Puy lentils with the lemon zest and a pinch of pepper.
 
3. Make the dressing by either blitzing up all the ingredients along with 5 tablespoons water in a blender, or whisking with a fork in a cup.
 
4. Drizzle the tahini dressing over the lentils, slice the eggs in half and place on top. Garnish with a little more pepper and a few fresh mint leaves.






© Natasha Corrett.  Recipe taken from HONESTLY HEALTHY IN A HURRY published by Hodder & Stoughton £25

from Planet Organic Blog http://ift.tt/1TowC2Z
via How to Save Money When Buying Organic Foods