By Devon Chappell –
Each and every day of our lives, we rise with the sun, open our lids, and embrace the morning. There are certain times when the mind reflects awkwardly on one’s life. Those mornings when we are suffering from poor thoughts about not accomplishing enough, or find ourselves buried under blankets with sore muscles. Days like these are awful! We wake up groggy after setting the alarm only to sleep through it by hitting the snooze button for an hour. Sometimes, the morning seems even worse when we have no ambition, no motivation, or perhaps are hungover and resent having to get up. These mornings can make one question: “Why do I feel like this?”
To begin each day so heavy, while longing to feel light, truly does wear on a person. For individuals who can relate to this, would it be in your best interest to make a few better choices so that your first impression on the day is bright eyed, smiling, breathing deep, and literally jumping out of bed laughing and dancing? Not every situation is similar for everyone, but those who give a damn may want to generate a great feeling of liveliness and express only happy thoughts and sweet serenity. Now, it’s not all butterflies and puppy dogs when it comes to making your days more vibrant and full. It takes a complete lifestyle arrangement with certain healthy patterns and an insatiable yearning for growth. Of course, clean eating and drinking will help make the difference, but it is up to you and only you, to have and hold a love of life and breath.
Wake up, walk, run, feel the sun, smile, and yodel with excitement that you are alive!
Second only to a big glass of distilled or spring water, I believe fruit salad is the best way to start the day. Fruit helps create a nice assortment of digestive flora to aid digestion (it’s especially great to have fruit before any cooked food). Either pre-chopped and tossed into the fridge for easy morning eating, or blended into a smoothie with scoops of your favourite superfoods such as maca (life enhancer) or chia seed (these two will both thicken up the smoothie), spirulina (protein), cacao (antioxidant), chlorella (chlorophyll), goji berry (anti-aging), wheat grass (rich in enzymes), or whatever tickles your fancy. Be sure when you are using one of these special ingredients that it doesn’t feel like a chore. If you are eating these helpful ingredients because you want to, rather than because you have to, it really does make a difference. When head and heart, vibrant body and essential blood are all positively engaged whilst ingesting specific foods, your overall health and well-being will greatly improve.
Rather than speaking of a specific superfood, I am using this article to reflect on previous superfood topics and keep ya’ll on the tips of your toes and taste buds. So here are a few recipes incorporating the lot of them.
Laird Hamilton’s Supercharged Kahuna Coffee
Ingredients
1 Tbsp grass-fed butter
1 tsp coconut oil
1 tsp red palm oil
1 tsp MCT oil (medium chain triglycerides)
1 cup hot coffee
Method
Blend ingredients up or just scoop oils in and feel energized and full!
Chocolate Avocado Pudding
(makes: 4 small portions or 2 decent ones, 271 calories)
Ingredients
1 ripe avocado
1 cup almond milk or coconut cream
1 ripe banana
1/4 cup raw cacao powder
2 Tbsp maple syrup
1 tsp lemon juice
zest of orange (optional)
Method
Place ingredients in a blender or Vitamix, or feel free to use bare hands and a whisk to whip together until creamy. Plop into a bowl and let chill in the refrigerator for one hour. Serve. Try as a dip for fresh fruit, on granola, or simply enjoy.
What’s everyone’s favourite part and fondest memory of October? Pumpkin pie of course! Try something out of the ordinary and try a raw pumpkin pie recipe for a change. Have fun, and don’t be afraid to alter the recipe.
Raw Pumpkin Pie
(1 pie, 8 servings, 302 calories)
Ingredients
Crust:
1/2 cup raw almonds
1/2 cup raw cashews
3/4 cup pitted dates (about 18 small)
1/2 cup raisins
1/4 cup raw, unsweetened, shredded coconut
1/4 tsp sea salt
Filling:
1 small pumpkin (peeled and seeded and cut into small chunks)
10 pitted dates
1 medium banana
1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cloves
3 Tbsp organic coconut oil
1/4 cup raw, unsweetened, shredded coconut for topping
Method
Place crust ingredients into a food processor and process for about a minute or until a crumbly mixture forms. Get a nine-inch pie pan, glass if available, coat with coconut oil, then fill pan with your “dough.” Firmly, yet gently, spread mixture with fingers along base of pan and up the sides to make a nice shell. Let that sweetness chill in the fridge.
Blend all filling ingredients except coconut until it reaches a smooth texture. Take your piecrust out of the fridge and fill with filling mixture. Sprinkle shredded coconut on top and toss into the fridge for a few hours. (You can also roast the shredded coconut in a frying pan for a nice flavour, even though it wouldn’t be considered raw anymore.) Enjoy!
Devon Chappell is something of an impressionist with therapeutic hands. He holds a focus on what is real when it comes to food. He has a personal interest in nutrition and art and when he is in his element, Devon brings nature to the kitchen.
