Smoothie Pool

Happy birthday to the love of my life, my partner in crime, my husband.
We love you biaaaaatch!!!

Today I ate absolutely nothing but a banana and a little salad until 21:40, so I don’t have much to share food wise.

This is the smoothie pool I made at 21:40. I say pool because it was a lot. I mean, A LOT.
Did I finish it, you ask?
No.

Kale, Spinach, Cucumber, Carrot, Mango, Hemp seeds, Flax, Chia and topped it off with strawberries, blueberries, sliced mango, buckwheat “brownie” and peanut butter.
This is living proof you should NOT go food shopping when you’re hungry.
I literally went food shopping in my own fridge and used anything I could find because I was so hungry and craving nutrition.
I think I probably ate about a 1/3 of that pool. Delicious 1/3 though. DELICIOUS!

Anyway, we had a celebration for the man today so nothing too exciting plant-based wise – he’s a proud empty carb eater, but here’s a few pictures of my ChuChu because she’s turning into such an amazing character.
Love my little family.

Sorry for the lack of food – hopefully tomorrow I’ll get a good workout in and Foodland will be indulged the way it was meant to be indulged!
Have a good night guys!

#mood

Neon Delight

G’day darlings!

Today we were stuck in the house almost the whole day because of a curtain issue, so the daughter was a bit cray cray, BUT I managed getting some good nutrition into her so it’s a WOOHOO day for me!
Might not sound amazing to you, but she hasn’t really been eating for the past couple of days, so this is pure bliss to us.

** lets all take a moment to appreciate breast feeding **
(saves us when she’s sick and refuses to indulge in any thing outside the breasteses)

So first thing in the morning I made us a delicious green smoothie (sorry, no picture).
And afterwards, THE star of the day – Spinach “pancakes/omlettes”.
Made out of Chickpea flour, spinach, a little baking powder (no aluminium), salt pepper and water.
I actually never thought about Spinach as a pigment, but goddamn! Its gorgeous neon color is pure beauty! Absolutely gorgeous.

I guess you could call that brunch because the next meal was dinner.
I wasn’t in the cooking mood and was feeling kind of lazy to be honest, so this was dinner.
How lazy was I, you ask?
The lentils are raw.

Spinach, left-over potatoes, raw lentils (soaked in water for 48 hours and now being sprouted as we speak), tomatoes, Cucumber, Carrot, Avocado, homemade Kale pesto, Hummus, hot sauce and tahini.

See, that’s whats so amazing about eating whole food plant based, preparing a meal is just too bloody easy.

Another thing I ate today – 

So Lychee.
After I stuffed my face with about 12 of these, Husband told me that kids in India got sick and died because they ate too much Lychee.
To read about it, click here 
Who would have thought something so delicious could be so deadly?!?!?! 😦
I was, and am, shocked.

Anyway parents, and the ones to be, make sure you don’t let your kids eat a lot of Lychee, especially not on an empty stomach.
I’ll end this post on that note.

Be kind, healthy and smile. Toodles!

2 For 1

HELLO THERE!
Didn’t get a chance to write yesterday so for the first time, I’ll write during the weekend 🙂

Normally we make sure to travel and experience the outdoors on the weekends, but our poor little baby is just not herself this month.
Her teeth are growing in, but I’m not 100% sure that’s the reason. I’m guessing daycare is a good source of viruses, but anyhoo… She’s been throwing up all night, so it was eventful for us.
The night was a no sleep night for us so we stayed our asses right here at home and had a good noon family nap.
Thankfully, she’s been vomit-free since this morning.
TMI, you say? Oh well.

So I consumed my first meal at about 15:00.
Green smoothie bowl people! I swear, these are the best!
Spinach, kale, cucumber, mango, banana, chia, half and avocado, and topped everything with another banana, strawberries, walnuts and peanut butter.
Now, I know for those of you who are not used to green smoothies, or eating this way, this sounds absolutely disgusting, but trust me, you cannot taste the kale and spinach at all because of the banana and mango.
So basically, you’re having a fruit smoothie with vitamin e, iron, antioxidants and amazing nutrients from the greens as a bonus.
Ya welcome 🙂

Dinner was the most satisfying dish I had ever made. Ever.
I love simple food, it’s the actual best.
Nature is the best chef.
Leak, potato, green beans, tomatoes, avocado, walnuts, carrots, hummus and tahini drizzled over it all. Absolute heaven in the mouth.
And the colors are just pure art.

So that was today.

Yesterday I started my morning with a banana and continued on with my workouts and errands, so I didn’t start my day smart food wise.
For a quick fix I stopped at Boost and got myself an acai cup with oats, blueberries, strawberries and banana.
It did the job!

When I got home it was about 14:30 and I felt bad I didn’t treat me body to vegetables yet, so….. This is what I devoured.
Beautiful and delicious (Not to mention, filling).

The whole meal was based on the Cashew-Beat “cheese” I had from the day before.
Buckwheat/assorted seeds bread, beat “cheese”, lettuce, eggplant, avocado, tomatoes, leak and hemp seeds.
Yes, it was as good as it looks, if not more 🙂

For dinner we went out, I ordered a veggie platter that had almost no veggies and almost all dairy, so that was a fail.
Maybe I can thank that restaurant for my daughters’ eventful night life last night?

So it’s been a while since I shared my progress.
My journey is definitely not over, and I plan on being whole food plant based always, but here is a before and now (still have ways to go).

Now I know, the before pic is a bad picture and it definitely wasn’t flattering. I want to think I didn’t look like that in real life and that it was the actual pic, and to be honest I avoided, and still do avoid people taking pictures of me. I feel like a stranger when I look at myself.
BUT, I feel like progress can only be tracked through pictures. The scale doesn’t mean anything to me, especially if I’m gaining muscle (which weighs more than fat btw).

So yea, that’s it for now. 2 days in 1 post. Not bad 🙂
I Hope you’re having a great weekend and I hope my daughter will as well. Poor mama…

ADIOS!

Too Pretty To Eat

How’s it going, my fellow eaters?

I love Sydney but this weather is killing me!! Sunny and hot, then it’s rainy, then windy and sunny again. Reminds me of my days in Florida, only back then I was hot and worry free 😀

So anyway, this morning started out with one of the best smoothie bowls I have ever had. DELICIOUSNESS IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT PEOPLE!! So so divine.
Took one of those delicious Australian Mangoes, Acai, Strawberries, Banana, Spinach, Avocado (half) , Hemp seeds, Chia (Soaked in water for an hour), and threw all of that into my cherished, and oh so appreciated, NutriBullet .
To that I added some freshly cut mango that was left on the seed (the best part!), some strawberries and bits of Buckwheat “brownie”.
Topped that off with some delicious organic Peanut Butter.
My mouth is watering reliving the taste.
Listen to me, and listen closely – LEAVE EVERYTHING AND GO MAKE THAT NOW. So so so so so so so so so so good.

For lunch I had this gorgeous Fettuccine made out of chickpeas.
Tossed that around with some Turmeric, garlic and pepper, added diced carrots and onions.
To that I added fresh colorful tomatoes and topped everything off with a beautiful beat-cashew sauce.
I mean.. look at those colors. WHAT!
I felt kind of guilty eating it… it was just so pretty 🙂

Munching on a cucumber right now but not really hungry so no dinner for me.
I find if I don’t eat after 18/19, my body feels really pure and energized in the morning.
I believe that’s called intermittent fasting or something? I hate to put names on things… Just do what works for you.

So muh peeps! I hope you’re day is marvelous and that you’re pulling through if it’s not.
BYE BYE!

 

 

WFPB Ice Cream?!

What is up my people??

Today is a beautiful day (well.. was. It’s 22:30). The sun was shining and I had a great morning workout! My body missed the after workout feeling – felt so good!

I had a few requests for my current YouTube favorites! I actually am obsessed with YouTube and plan on opening my own channel. Who’s for it?!?
So current channels to follow:

Crazy Healthy Cool – Probably one of the first plant-based YouTubers I started watching. He’s British, I love his simple meal ideas aproach, his personality is awesome and he’s a Tahini-oholic like me! 🙂 Not to mention he’s a nutritionist therapist.

Simnett Nutrition – He’s a Canadian plant-based workout junkie. At first I wasn’t really digging his channel, but then I watched a video of his food shopping and he was telling his viewers to start asking cashiers how their shift was going. I liked that, and since then I’m a dedicated follower 🙂

FullyRawKristina – She’s a little too hardcore for me, I don’t believe in a fully raw diet, but she has some great ideas, she’s so sweet and earthy. She’s everything you wish you could be but don’t really want to.

Whitney Simmons – She’s not Plant-Based but she knows her workouts! Plus, she’s funny, inspiring and gorgeous.

Anyway, that’s enough for now 🙂 An overload is never good.

So lunch!
Today was a brown rice day! I don’t think I featured rice on this blog yet.
So curry brown rice, sweet pea sprouts/assorted tomatoes/mushrooms and garlic stirred up in a pan and a yummy salad.
I always try to have fresh salad/greenery at least half of my meal.

So that was yum.

Am still full from that lunch so skipped dinner, but I had just munched on “ice cream” I made.
Whole Food Plant Based Ice Cream, you’re asking?? Yes. That.
When I made it, it was for my ChuChu, so I wanted it smooth, but for my munch I felt like having it in a “shavings” form.
Blended together oats, nuts, chia, acai, mango, banana, strawberries and cocoa and put them in the freezer so they could get to know each other.
For the smooth ice cream version I added a little almond milk, threw that into the NutriBullet and walla!
But for the shavings, I just “shaved” the mix into a bowl (meaning, I took a spoon and bashed the thing).

So now I’m about to bug my husband and chill!
Have a great one guys.

Bessos

Yesterday

Hi Hi!

So today I have nothing magical to show because during the day I was with the little criminal who was very much a criminal and made my life a little difficult.
Poor thing is still not 100%. 👶
For dinner we went to our friends house, Mr Hagag the great, for some BBQ galore and the gang enjoyed some cooked “moo”s and “baa”s.
The host made a salad, and I made Tahini so I was covered, but nothing exciting because the gathering was a spontaneous thing.
I have to confess though 👀 – I ate 3 french fries and they were NOT WORTH IT AT ALL! 🤦‍♀️

Anyway 🙃, many asked for the Falafel recipe from yesterdays blog post – so here ya go. To be honest, I kind of improvised, but I believe these are more or less the right quantities. 😁
ENJOY!

** Know this will make about 60 falafel discs, so feel free to downsize (or up-size). 🥙

Ingredients:

• 250 grams of chickpeas – soaked in water overnight (at least 12 hours), washed and drained.
• 250 grams of lentils – same instructions as chickpeas.
• 1 Cup Quinoa – cooked.
• Bundle of fresh Parsley
• Bundle of fresh Coriander
• 1 big onion
• 8 Garlic cloves
• 1/4 hot pepper (not mandatory)
• 1/4 cup water (start with less, you can always add)
• 1.5 tbsp ground cumin
• 2 tbsp sesame seeds
• 1 tbsp ground dried coriander
• 1.5 tsp nigella
• 1 tbsp salt (or to taste)
• small tea spoon of baking soda.

Mix everything together in a food processor except for the cooked Quinoa and baking soda.
Take mix out of the food processor and add the Quinoa.
Mix well and put in the fridge to “rest” for at least 30 minutes.
Add the baking soda and mix well.
Make Falafel “discs”
Preheat oven to 200 degrees (400 F) and cook for 30 mins or until golden brown.
Good Luck 🙂

P.S. YUMMMMMMMMAY!

Got Falafel?

G’day people of the world!

It is Monday (right? 🤔) and it is nighttime.
It’s an after shower-finally-get-to-sit-my-ass-down time.

Today is a ChuChu day.
In Australia it’s not a common thing to put kids in daycare all weekdays.
The fee is per day and it’s super expensive (because we are here on a working visa. Permanent residents and citizens get money back from the government – pays to be an Aussie 😜). So she only goes to daycare 3 times a week.
She wasn’t feeling great during the weekend, and today she isn’t not 100% either, so it was one of those days.  I munched on things I could grab fast – blueberries, bananas, a few veggies, nuts, nothing too exciting.

Here’s my little criminal devouring blueberries without sharing during our walk to the beach today.
🤣

That little ChuChu 💖

When I was about 23 I wrote a bucket list. I’m about to write a new one tomorrow.

What’s on your bucket list?
Write 10 things you want to accomplish. Doesn’t need to be a career focused list. It can even be “know my way in New York by heart” (can you tell I wrote that myself? Haven’t accomplished that one yet.

So tonight’s dinner ladies and gents!
Who likes Falafel?!
Uh… me.
Naturally, I have always ignored it’s existence.
I succeeded too, until I got pregnant and told husband I haven’t eaten Falafel in about 10 years.
Count on Mr. Junk-food to escort me himself to make sure falafel 🥙 is going down my gut.
Nah, He’s actually amazing and I’m a bitch.
A healthy one though 😎

So where was I? Dinner.

Baked chickpea/sprouted lentils/quinoa falafel, laying on a bed of salad and caramelized onions, hugged by a gorgeous lettuce leaf and covered with tahini and hemp seeds.
Need I say more?

Well… daughter woke up. There goes my ass sitting plans.

Have a beautiful night people!  ✌🏼

It’s A Sweet Day

Howdy ya’ll!

Today I want you to read my blog in a country accent. (A lil’ tribute to my Florida days) 👨🏻‍🌾

So I’m really not sure why, but I woke up today knowing I want to eat sprouts. Random, huh?
That’s just what it was and I accepted my weird self.

I bet you’re asking yourself in a country accent:
“where dider shake days all go? I main.. c’mon now lil’ laday… don’t you got no manners?” 👨🏻‍🌾 (hope you know the typos are purposely inserted to exaggerate the countriness 🙃)

So my dears, have no fear!
The day, as per usual, started with one of those oh-so-good green shakes!
One for mama and the other, for the little one.

How often do you tell yourself you’re awesome?
Do you smile to yourself?
Do you know you’re beautiful?
Do you know you make the world better?
If you said Yes to any of those questions, you need to relax, sit down and maybe think about being a little more humble! C’mon now! Pff… 🙄😏
Kidding.
If you answered yes, I applaud you.
Good for you, and I bet your day is maximized and that you enjoy your life. Amen to that!

If you said no, do it now.
Pat yourself in the back and just say “you’re pretty awesome”, and then say it again, and then, go to the mirror and say it again, and again, until you believe yourself.
I promise you, if you start your day like that, you will start noticing amazing changes. AND I WANT THE BLOODY CREDIT. Mmm no. maybe. no. 🤔
Who said magic doesn’t exist? 💃🏻

Speaking of magic.
This happened:

During my shake making in the morning, I put a couple of Sweet Potatoes in the oven just to save some time later on – had no idea what I was going to make with them, but I thought that would be a good start towards something.
Poked some fork holes in ’em, and in they went.

Lunch time came, aka daughter-fell-asleep-hurry-and-do-whatever-you-can-fit-in.
I bought some fresh assorted mushrooms in an organic store near my house and decided it would make a perfect partner to Mr. Potato.
Sautéed some onions, threw in the shrooms, garlic, saltpepper. Done.

And ya know, ya have to have them greens, so I threw some spinach and lettuce on that plate and there ya have it!
Oh, I forgot.
SPROUTS!!
Some Sweet Pea sprouts to satisfy my urge and walla!
I also added some avocado (because why not?), hemp seeds and a little garlic- cashew-dill sauce I threw together, just for a touch of savoriness.

I wasn’t too hungry for dinner, but I had some mushrooms and sprouts left from earlier and I made Tomato sauce for my family to eat with their pasta, so that was my little dinner. Not too exciting.

Oh, and I’m irresponsibly munching on these babies.
Healthy? Wouldn’t say so. But, they’re made out of black beans and I’ll go ahead and give myself a pass because it was a looooooooooooong day.

Anyhow, I hope you’re having a beautiful day and week!
Let’s welcome the weekend with a good ol’ country hug.
Eeeeeeeeeeee haaaaaaaaa 👨🏻‍🌾👩🏻‍🌾

Bye! ❣️

I’m Here!

WOW, it’s been a while! 😱
I had many stressful days for the past few weeks sooooo I apologize, firstly, to myself, ✋🏻 “Hi self”, and secondly, to all of you who may be following (hi mom) 🤚🏻.
For those of you who follow me on Instagram, you probably saw a few highlights (irisliniado), but I admit it, I didn’t put enough effort, not the amount of effort I deserve.
My mind was occupied, but that’s no excuse! 🤐
I’m here now 🙃
Today again, I was busy working on a my personal work/life things, so I didn’t really put any effort in my meals.
However, I will share that I had this AMAZING mango for breakfast which I stuffed my face in passionately. 

I’m planning on having some Lettuce wraps with beans, tomatoes, hemp seeds and tahini later on. 

Ah.. Australian Mangoes… 🤤…. Marry me.

Not gonna lie, ya girl did have a few fallout’s while she was missing (singing the “missing” word out loud) 🤦‍♀️
The other day I had chocolate and white bread! Yes yes. WHITE bread! 😫
I was actually so disappointed in myself and kept beating myself up, but hey, it’s a new week, a new day, and lets not dwell on the past. Mmmmmmkay? K.

This blog really kept me going, but I was letting myself get swallowed into the everyday stress and just.. life. So once again I was putting yours truly aside. What is wrong with me people?!! 🤦‍♀️🙃
SO, I’m at my desk, working on some designs, painting this bird I drew, which is normally very peaceful to me, but I kept nagging myself, thinking, “my blog… I should update the bloooog”, and then the other voice was saying (I have a lot of voices) “no, I will finish whatever I’m working on and maybe afterwards I will have the time”. That kept going for about 30 minutes, but then I literally stopped everything, stood up, took my overly beat up laptop and just did it.
I know it sounds weird and even ridiculous, because updating a blog really is not that time consuming and also, kind of a therapy thing, but when you’re so used to putting yourself aside, it becomes a habit. HABIT! One I am trying to break.
So this is me breaking it, and it feels marvelous (British accent)!!!!

I’ll update again later on, but let me get those taste buds of yours working – isn’t this the most amazing thing you have ever layed your eyes upon???? My daughter LOVES it and I am just waiting to devour it again and again, every time I see this picture. Yum! 🤤

Best Acai Bowl in the entire planet earth. Maybe other planets as well… mmdunno. 

SEE YA!

 

Dinner Time with Bae

Heya Dolls!

I’m actually so excited about this journey! I’m seeing results, I’m feeling energized, my skin is being a darling and after all this time I bloody deserve feeling like this ☺️

Morning shake, leftovers for lunch and dinner was this! It was a happening type o’ day so I didn’t really make an effort food wise, but when the bae came home and we finally got to sit down (thanks to ChuChu who decided it was ok to suh-leep 🙄), I made this! 

Cauliflower “steak”, some garlic mushrooms I tossed in a frying pan with some onions, spinach, hemp seeds, a little chilli flakes. 1, 2, 3 DONE 🙅.

Weekend is coming guys, can you smell it? Love weekends! I get to hang out with my babies, get to know Australia better. What’s not to love? Husband is planning a little roadtrip for us with some friends so it’ll be interesting, and my little one will without a doubt, be ecstatic. So yay!

Fact: Tomorrow we’re having people over for dinner so I need to cook for carnivores. Can’t wait 🙄🤦‍♀️

On a brighter side – How pretty are these lentils?!

So my darlings, I will lavishly and irresponsibly go and stuff my face with some beautiful hand picked kiwi and call it a night.

NIGHT!