Turning A New Leaf: Healing Through Food, Nature and The Earth
It's been awhile. I've waited long enough to feel this again.
Yes. I've waited long enough to channel my inner creativity and share it with you guys.
I've always, always been passionate about food, and funny thing is that it all started with my love for everything sweet, baked and flaky! Talk about almond and chocolate croissants, fruit danishes, macarons, opera cakes - the list is just endless guys! I must say that my numerous travel abroad had greatly influenced this desire in me to the point that I literally worked in different pastry kitchens here in Manila to be the "Pastry Chef" that I could be. Who in the world, doesn't love chocolates?
People literally ADORE everything with chocolates..
Not until I have awakened by Nature's beautiful calling.
And that is to channel my Passion to a Healthier and A Bigger Pursuit, something that does not only include myself for the first time, something that involves a community - or even starting one, a movement to go back to our roots..to the earth..through whole and nourishing food.
I never thought I'd quote Hippocrates outside Algebra class in my entire LIFE. EVER.
What started out as my love for pastry, beautifully evolved into a passion of learning everything that I can with food, on how we could live a vibrant life, heal ourselves and enjoy life as a whole. I'm experiencing healing myself through minimizing my intake of all those processed stuff and focusing on eating a well balanced, whole foods diet. I've also regained my appreciation of simple and straightforward cooking - lightly steaming vegetables, boiling, poaching, etc, cause before, I used to cook like crazy, sauteeing three to four kinds of veggies with mixed spices and sauces, eating three to four kinds of fruits at a time, and in time, cliche' as it may sound, Simplicity, really is very elegant in all its forms - especially with food.
Here's a photo when I used to work in kitchens. This is my Blackbird family and if I remember it right, we had an event that night, thus the countless spread of bread boards on the table. :) To say that I don't miss working in kitchens would be me lying to myself. I miss it. I miss preparing food, I miss working during crazy service hours, I miss the heat..and most importantly I miss the people whom I worked with. I may have said this a million of times in my recent blogposts, and yes I will say it again, I'm very thankful to have worked with such amazing chefs and if not for me taking that risk, I would not have found my direction and purpose.
You may notice now how people would brand their businesses as selling organic, free range and "natural" stuff. And I'm like, isn't that how our ancestors used to eat? Isn't that the "way how nature intended all its fruits, vegetables and produce to be eaten? It's as if the "civilization" that we are in right now, is far different hundreds of years ago..Yes, we may have skycrapers, the latest gadgets and technology in place..but how many of us actually go back to the basics, to our roots, even to the most basic of things which is the food that we eat..How many of us, due to the "busyness" of our lives with work, pay attention to what we put into our bodies? I have read that "Nutrition is Life", and I couldn't agree more. We live, breathe and heal ourselves through food..it's what fuels our body and it's what largely defines how we feel(ofcourse our minds play a great role on this as well)..You may ask why I've decided to pursue this, and ofcourse, not without a reason. :)
Let's just say that I've experienced quite discomfort with my tummy in the past year and a few moments before that, I've went with numerous doctors, done X rays and tests and was even told to avoid Gluten altogether with processed food..All that such experience did to me was feel so helpless and dependent on other people for my healing. I felt a sense of loss of control and from that moment forward, I've decided to take charge of my life through living a healthy and a vibrant life.
I may have moments wherein I could've given up...Binged on food which I know are not good for me..Well now, I know better. I don't drink milk tea anymore whenever I feel that discomfort in my tummy( YAAAAY! SO HAPPY TO SAY THAT!! ). I've learned to not eat just for the sake of eating or compensating for how I feel...
I eat to nourish and I eat to live. :)
Then again, I never thought I would quote a famous scientist for this. :) Mr. Franklin got it right. :D
So now, let me share with you the book that I'm currently reading and some food knowledge which I have discovered through personal experience, research and reading as well. :)
Foods that Heal by Dr. Bernard Jensen
Food that Has Worked Wonders
Papaya, Pineapples and Prunes - these when eaten alone on an empty stomach every morning, helps immensely to maintain that happy happy tummy :DDD
Coconut Juice and Meat - best when on a Juice Feast :) Check out my blogpost about a Three Day Feast Experiment here:
http://loveyourselffirsttoheal.blogspot.com/2015/05/speak-your-truth-three-day-buko.html
Kangkong, Malunggay and Spinach - these are best eaten either steamed, boiled and lightly sauteed in olive or coconut oil and are best eaten with your favorite protein :) You could add some tofu, freshly baked shrimp or salmon. I love drizzling mine with olive oil, cayenne and tamari for that savoury flavor on days when I'm too lazy to think what to bring for lunch :) According to the book, Greens are Healing for the body. Their life force which comes from the sun, their prana, is easily absorbed by our body. This is an aspect of food that I'm very much interested in and am dedicated to learn more about so I'm really excited!!! :D
Almond Milk - I'm currently ADDICTED TO THESE!!! Thanks Mom for buying a looooot! I sometimes blend it with prunes and have it in the morning. I also like it warm especially at night after work to cap off my day. :)
Almond Butter - Almonds are the one of the most alkaline food and can I say the YUMMIEST too as well? (Alkaline food balance our bodies' acidity level, thus ensuring that our organs, tissues and glands work at their best to supply our daily needs.)I love nut butters, I used to have Peanut Butter EVERY single day, but when I've noticed that it doesn't do my body any good, I stopped eating it and noticed the effects. From Dr. Jensen's book, he also stated that it's not of the most hard to digest food out there so I'm like, Goodbye Peanuts for Good! ;)
Dark Chocolate - On days when my mood swings, for real, they're my bestfriend and they could be yours too! :) Always choose the dark, organic variety with AT LEAST 70% of cocoa mass on it. I used to LOVE milk chocolates when I was a kid and now that I've learned to be mindful of what I eat, reading labels etc, I've noticed that most "chocolates" out there aren't REAL. Check out the ingredients and see what appears on the first line, it's a five letter word that spells disaster for your body: S U G A R.
I mean, there's nothing wrong with Adam Levine's hit pop song, as long as you do not make it a regular part of your diet..especially the unnatural ones. Intiendes amigos? :)
These are just a few of my top favorite foods to eat. I will definitely be sharing more of rainbow foods and the things that I learn along the way. I mean, nature has provided all that we need, it's up to us to utilize them well to our advantage.
So why don't you start picking up those veggies at the Weekend Market and start enjoying them, savouring the good and leaving those that do not serve us anymore. :)
Love and light,
The Earth Princess ;)
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