Allergy Free Wholefood

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2016-07-19T15:55:00.003-07:00

Hi,
My blog continues at www.gutsofthematter.com
Please keep visiting!
Aarti

Black garlic

2016-07-10T17:51:00.001-07:00

So a mom at school introduced me to Black Garlic.
I'm addicted.
Apparently it can be made at home.
My first effort was burnt to a crisp. I apparently needed to keep checking it towards the end..
The second (using proper, expensive, unbleached, purple garlic) was the perfect texture, no taste :/
I'm the vaguest kind of scientist there is: no notes, no system, just blind trialling.
Third and last batch I'm back to the cheap garlic.
Fingers crossed.

The method I chose from the many available online:
10 days in a rice cooker
Except I only have a pressure cooker (I'm wonderful at following instructions)
I separated each layer using South Indian idli trays.

My wonderful mom friend provided me with two samples.
The first was made by a chef in a restaurant kitchen. The UMAMI flavour was a revelation.
Layers of flavour poured out of each bulb.
The next was made by herself using an old rice cooker.
Much less complexity of flavour, but as you crave that umaminess more and more, you get less and less fussy :)

Well worth a try if you have a spare rice cooker. I might just have to buy one I'm so desperate for more!!

School Holidays and other excuses

2016-04-02T15:42:00.001-07:00

Choosing to have a break from the routine that I'd built up over the months was a poor but necessary decision.

I haven't yet mastered the art of getting back on the wagon once you come off. I keep forgetting how hard it is to motivate oneself to limit/restrict/supress your desires.
First it was 'I deserve a break'
Then, my husband was making a major life change and my stomach was in knots.
Of course, school holidays meant another break in routine.
Beach holiday, interstate trip, daughter's 4th birthday party, etc, etc.

UGH.

This is where my frustration levels peak and I start using really derogatory self talk and 'hating on myself'.

When I rediscover my mojo or find a formula for getting back on the wagon I will MOST definitely share!

The good news....

2016-03-29T16:36:00.000-07:00

So, after all these year of trying so so hard; my body has FINALLY started showing change.

2013
I tried major life changes (work, moving interstate).

2014
I tried diet.
I went raw multiple times and even juiced for ten days (including 3 colonics!).

2015
I got an amazing personal trainer.

2016
The change.

I understand that I needed this slow build up. Fast change is not lasting change.

First I had to relearn how to feed myself. In a way that suited my body. Yes, I'd had success with a high protein diet, even as a vegan! Diets work great while you're on it.

But what I needed was a lifestyle change. And the raw vegan lifestyle suits my body to a T. Once I discovered this, I got passionate. Once you find passion, everything else becomes do-able. All the ferments and cultures and sprouts have worked wonders to heal my gut lining and recreate a healthier intestinal microbiota. Which essentially seems to be the most important way to heal all of you including your mind!

The physical training in the gym made me have a purpose. Something I was sorely lacking since getting married and having kids. I finally had a goal. Even though it was a pretty standard, boring one: to look better. I had a community. Being at the gym at the same time each day/week, meant I got to see the same people. I hardly spoke to any of them, but I had a sense of security and comfort in the sameness and routine of it all.
Weight-lifting made my body feel stronger, I loved the rippling of my muscles that I could now actually feel under all that fat.

The BIGGEST change however, came from changing my MINDSET.
Honestly, that is when the weight started finally coming off. I knew the right things to do and I was doing them for the most part and then lapsing from the lack of results, and the frustration.
But when my trainer introduced me to Louise Hay's morning and evening meditations (mainly waking up being grateful) and ESPECIALLY Esther Hicks (living with the flow of life, instead of constant resistance); my life changed.
My mind just settled into the groove that it had been searching for. These people spoke my language!

I made a decision to get off insulin, I went cold turkey. I went raw for close to three months TOO EASY. It was hardly even a challenge really. And physically, finally, the long awaited changes came.

I know raw food isn't for everyone, nor are my motivators going to work for you. But I firmly believe, that mindset is a HUGE part of what creates who we are. Nothing much was changing for me, or at least my mind couldn't SEE the changes, until I opened my mind's eye to looking outwards, instead of inwards.

Am I still raw?
I took a break :( :( and I'm trying hard to get back to raw.

Do I still go to the gym?
As much as I can. even if its just a quick 15 minute walk on the treadmill (I so can't do the outdoors)

Am I super skinny and hot?
Lol. No. I'm back to a size 18 and weigh in the early 90s. But yes, compared to before, I feel like a supermodel :):):)

Am I still insulin free?
The second I eat cooked food I need insulin. As long as I'm raw or eating protein (tofu, nuts) or only basic steamed veg, I don't need insulin. My dependence on the huge doses I took in the past has completely diminished. I am now on a tablet. I still have a long journey ahead of me to reverse my diabetes :). But I feel like at least now, I finally have a map!!

This year I feel like I am creeping even further out of the very thick, strong and protective shell I built for myself. Do I understand why I built that shell? I'm kinda wondering.. do I even need to???!

And finally, some show and tell :):)

My dad's 60th July 2014 February 2016

Evolution

2016-03-29T14:44:00.001-07:00

My food choices are still the hugest challenge in my goal to reverse my diabetes.
When I take a break from raw, or high raw; it always goes south....and ends up at the inevitable.....

Potato chips...

Bags and bags of them.

However, to be fair, my tastes are changing. Slowly. But surely.

I'm adjusting lifelong recipes. Discovering a wider range of flavours.

I used to demolish litres of yoghurt, kgs of cheese, pots of sour cream. Not organic, not vegan.
Of course, as I started to feel more and more ill from it, I had a battle on my hands to remove the whole range from my life. A battle I am proud to say, after many many years, I'm close to winning.
I just can't quit Demon King PIZZA!!!!!
That's my final dairy frontier.

The Good, the Bad and the Bloated

2015-01-17T19:32:00.003-08:00

I normally only ever blog when I'm trying to be good.

It sort of defeats the purpose of this blog.
The whole purpose is to chronicle how challenging it is to get on the road of wellness. I have to often seen 'before' and 'after'; but very rarely been exposed to the 'in between' hard yards and failures and intimate details of the desperation.

Last week, my dad visited from interstate. Together we did 7 days of 95% raw. He was probably closer to 100%. And it was easy for me. I hosted 2-3 dinner parties that week. And still ate salad or at worst roast veg while my guests dined on a feast.

And yet, when I went shopping yesterday.... For the first time, my usual size 18 was nowhere near my normal size. Size 18 is huge, depressing and definitely obese. Now, though, I'm buying size 22-24... :o!!!!!!!

I am TERRIFIED.
Fear makes me turn to food.
So I'm just stuffing my face, making myself sick, with disgust and actually physically sick with all the junk I'm consuming.

I should know better than to do this. Food doesn't taste good to me anymore.
I relish and thoroughly enjoying gobbling down a well-dressed salad or a delicious green smoothie (the chia porridge is still a punishment more than a pleasure).
However, my default pizza always leaves me feeling slightly sick.
So I should know better.

My epiphany when I went raw this time, is that I am using food to fill this humongous, bottomless void in me. A void that exists from me not having a goal or purpose in my life. Yes, I am raising two AMAZINGLY beautiful children. But it's not a positive experience for me. It is very stressful and I spend a lot of time berating myself and the kids.
I need to find a way to fill up my love bucket. I need to find and follow my passion.
I'm am trying to think very hard about what it is that I can do. Working outside of the home definitely helps. But I'm not waking up filled with fire and passion about being a retail naturopath.
So I have to think a bit harder.

In the mean time, my ferments and cultures are continuing. My supplements are still being consumed.
KOMBUCHA, I'm still learning!
Water Kefir, yum.
Milk kefir, double yum!
Cultured carrots...oh my Yum!
Cultured radishes, leeks, beet kvass.... All yum!
My personal fave is milk kefir with beet kvass. Tasty.

There is always a major life event distracting me from my goal, or weak idea rather, of losing weight and reversing my diabetes.
But, I guess that just means that I haven't cemented my ideas firmly in the universal consciousness.... I need to learn how to create affirmations and visualise my dreams in more detail, until I create a passion within myself to make my dream a reality.

A new start....

2014-09-28T00:04:00.000-07:00

So, I haven't blogged for a while because I struggle to find the time....and.... Not much different was happening.

Since I fell off the 30 day raw plan I had, I've spent me time eating 'normal' and thinking.

I went back on insulin cos lets face it, my normal diet sucks!

And I did a bit more research.
Kevin Gianni from Renegade Health is an inspiration and a useful source of information.
The things that stood out for me most were:
Most people 'transition' to raw, not just jump in blindly.
100% raw is ridiculously hard to maintain.
(I wish I'd known all this before my attempts, so I wouldn't have ended up feeling like such a failure!)
And raw foodists have massive dental issues from constantly eating as raw food requires copious amounts of chewing to get enough nutrition and food into your system.

Also, each time I tried to go raw, I was
a. Doing it alone, with no help
b. Not doing enough research and planning.
c. Not understanding that going raw for my specific purpose of reversing diabetes would require a specific calorie controlled raw diet. Rather than living on raw desserts!
So my attempts were flawed from the start. But hey! This whole thing is trial and error for me 😄

This time though... I have a plan.

What I've learnt so far..

2014-08-06T20:52:00.001-07:00

Every time I do not achieve a goal that I set out for myself.... I learn something valuable. About myself, about my journey.

It's strange that in my late 30's, I'm only now starting to unravel all the different parts that make up who I am, what I believe.

This is where I am at in terms of continuing my raw journey... Which I am determined to do. While it may not be for everyone, it truly and definitely is my salvation.

The key for me is to eat every 2-3 hours. This stops me from bingeing and making poor food choices.
I've heard preparing/organising is key. It reduces the chances of deviating from the plan. I haven't succeeded with the planning so far, probably why I keep deviating 😉
And being diabetic, I need to focus less on desserts, more on high protein options.

Daily menu:

Water with apple cider vinegar
Daily supplements

Chia porridge/raw protein drink/energy ball

Herbal tea
Kombucha/other ferment

Salad/vegetable/soup/green smoothie/juice

Fruit
Herbal tea

Crackers, cheese/ salad/mince/nut ball/fermented foods/sprouts

White choc/nuts/miso soup

I seem to lack the basic skill of self control/will power.
The second I tell myself "ok, I'm going raw" my body totally rebels. Stomach tightens mind panics. What If I feel like a slice do bread or some potato chips?!

So my plan involves surrounding myself with good influences.

My links:

Supercharge me

Meet up

Insulin and it's role in the body

Why don't we discuss failure??

2014-08-06T18:16:00.000-07:00

So I rarely bother facebooking, tweeting or blogging when I'm down and things are not going right...

Why?

I figured this is the reason why we're ashamed of 'failure'. We all know that 'failure is a stepping stone to success'. By know it, I mean we pay lip service to the belief, but we're still stuck in our thinking pattern of shame when we mess up.

I admire The Orange Rhino tremendously for her sheer transparency.
It's rare. Hopefully, I can follow in her footsteps.

What step are you on today?

2014-07-23T15:32:00.000-07:00

I treat my body like a trash chute
I can't imagine why
The food I eat tastes awful and doesn't even make me vaguely happy or satisfied anymore.
I dream of raw food and how it made me feel.

The thing that's holding me back, well there are a few things, viz
1. I'm not good with depriving myself :) I don't like to be given boundaries
2. I need more variety and excitement in my raw meals
3. Fear of failure... Theoretically I understand failure is a stepping stone to success... Emotionally, it's still hard not to reach my goal.

What I've learned

2014-07-16T04:24:00.000-07:00

So since coming off the raw food diet....
I've learned a number of things.

1. I miss eating raw. I especially miss how good I felt on raw food.
2. I had nowhere to hide on this diet. Normally, I eat when I'm: sad, upset, angry, frustrated, bored, tired, pretty much all the time :)
On raw food, I couldn't hide behind a packet of crisps. I was forced to experience the emotion.
3. Eating raw is one thing; but attempting an insulin reset while gorging on carbs?? Not too bright. I need to incorporate more protein, seeds, less fruits, simple carbs.
4. Cooked food that looks and smells amazing rarely tastes as good!!!!!!
5. My entire eating habits and cravings and cooking style is now obsolete. The foods I used to crave, I no longer need. My favourites in the past are no longer appealing.... Very happy about that :) I'm cleaning the slate. Tabula rasa.

Conclusion, I think I really want to go back to being raw! Maybe not 100% this time. But high raw; 75-90%.

I fell

2014-07-14T23:06:00.002-07:00

I hoped it was just a stumble and my plan was to immediately get right back on the diet....
But I didn't. I couldn't.

My raw diet consisted of six basic foods:
Juices
Green Smoothies
Dips
Crackers
Salads
Desserts.

All home made, all raw.
It took alot of time, alot of experimenting and shopping :)
When I hit day 10 and my menstrual cycle began... my mind started faltering.
I've seen it a million times, enough to know the value of mind over matter.
Once my mind started faltering, the diet went from super easy, to being a chore.
Until on day 19... it was a HUGE struggle. Mentally.
I found out that I hadn't lost A SINGLE OUNCE in weight. And that my sugar was nowhere near 'normal'.
Physically, I felt better than I have in ages. I'd gotten used to that slight (sometimes more than slight!) hunger that was ever present in my belly. I'd become addicted to new favourite foods. My Thai Basil dip and cashew cheese combo, kohlrabi OMG, radish, baby spinach juices that made my insides smile, freshly juiced veggies.
All consumed in the middle of an icy Melbourne Winter.

Choosing to eat a meal was a poor decision, especially 11 days from the finish line.
I've felt guilt, shame, self ridicule, and relief.
I did not know how hard the diet was til I stopped.
At the moment, I'm trying to eat the normal junk I always did, but my body doesn't crave it anymore and it makes my belly burn. I'm adding my raw food into my normal day and I feel like I crave the cleansing.

Obviously, I was being blind to the fact that while my weight and sugar weren't ideal, the proof was in the pudding. I felt AMAZING. My body was being cleaned. My clothes fit better. I had more energy, more patience.

I would dearly like to try again. But for now, I'm on a break :). I am going to build up to a high raw diet of 75%...slowly. And incorporate more protein foods to help my blood sugar levels. And I've also started back at the gym which I struggled to cope with while trying raw foods.

Day 16 aka 53.3%

2014-07-08T02:56:00.002-07:00

Day 10 was the first day of my cycle.
Pain. Lots of it :(
I kinda thought the raw diet would alleviate that?
And of course the requisite cravings...hot chips, mash potatoes with lashings of butter, hot, curried foods, pies, you name it.
Day 12. My dad's 60th birthday.... including most of these foods!

With the tremendous support of my two stalwart cousins; I made it through the weekend and am still limping along on the raw food diet.
My sugar has remained steady at 14.4 without medication. Not ideal.
So I start back at the gym on Thursday in an attempt to push through the plateau.

30 days have never before taken such a loooong time to pass!!!

Dinner

Raw corn chips....I'll have to try again, they didn't taste great

Late night snacks

Unbelievably nom spiced pecan cake

Pumpkin (remarkably sweet when raw!) beetroot and onion with spicy sauce

My 'noodle' maker

Avo n corn chips...

Better with basic raw cracker!

Pumpkin zuchini radish

Less kiwi would be better!

Gorgeously green and healing though.

Interstate flight for dads bday on Friday. Lunch.

Interstate flight for back home Sunday. Lunch. Pureed pumpkin with water....

Takes me an hour and a half to finish this salad...eating big portions is a chore.

Kohlrabi 'chips' with paprika. Nice.

It's the weekend baby!

2014-06-27T14:51:00.000-07:00

Weekends are my nemesis.
We are so busy running around, so many things to do, places to go, people to see.
I find it hardest to cope with being on the diet.
AND this weekend marks the start of school holidays EEEEK
Being with the kids 24/7 for the next few weeks is going to take everything I have to keep my stress levels down.
I need to approach this holiday with a whole new mindset: one of peace, relaxation and playfulness.
I can hear my 4 year old waking up my 2 year old right now... Even though she's saying "it's still sleeping time" he is not taking no for an answer.... Deeeep breaths.

My absolute favourite juice

Celery carrot beetroot lashings of ginger

I had maybe 5 glasses in a day ( I have theme days!)

Cashew mayo and Coriander pesto base

Walnut meat topping with red pepper sticks

I felt super bloated after this meal!!! For the first time

on this diet ever. Not sure if the chilli from

the pesto is the problem

Or the nuts..?

Day 4 going strong!

2014-06-25T17:55:00.001-07:00

I have finally got to a place where I have a multitude of recipes at hand AND a mind of steel :)
My poor supporters have only heard me whining for months about how hard going raw is and why I keep quitting.

I finally got to a place where my last binge created such a lasting impression it steeled my mind (the real source of my weakness) against all the junk.

Starting Friday night: I ate
numerous packets of potato and corn chips
Frozen fries
Frozen pizza
Garlic bread
1.5 loaves of bread
Half a jar of chilli mango pickle
Mountains of rice etc etc

By Sunday night I started looking for raw food cos I felt sooo ill from all the junk.
My joints were hurting, hands and face were swollen. Stomach hugely bloated. Throat sore. Tired. Cranky and short tempered. Slow... My brain was moving at snail pace. My belly hurt and really hated me. All that bread was just sitting on my chest and wouldn't go down. I've had trouble digesting wheat for years but continue to crave and eat it.
Through trying raw on and off in the last year, my craving have begun to change. The above list of food was my hedonistic dream in the past. I still crave food now but I crave home made instead. Traditional Gujarati food. It's a relief. I've eaten enough chips and pizza to fill 5 lifetimes.

The result of the binge:
My heart lifts at the sight of the leftover junk food all over the house; my stomach immediately responds with a nauseous churning. Making me immediately turn right around and walk the hell away.
That means I can now live with junk food all around me and still stick to my diet.
YAY!

Breakfast today...yum!

Mushroom pate.. So good I almost didn't wait to take a pic! Just gobbled it up after.

Raw cracker prep in dehydrator. Essential for a raw diet. Really filling and a good way to add texture to all the blended foods.

Super simple but sooooo filling. The sauce is heaven for me.

Thai basil, lemongrass mixed into a cashew cheese.

Will post recipe one day :)

Celery spirulina chlorella.... Tastes like sand. But my belly n body is glowing.

Celery kinda day!! Can't wait to juice it. With carrot ginger beetroot.

Caramel tartlet. Didn't even wait to put on the choc topping layer... Yummo!!

Another super simple salad transcended cos of my favourite sauce.

Corn avo coriander raw soup...hmmm...work in progress. My raw food always tastes bitter... Need to figure out how to balance it!

2014-06-23T17:53:00.002-07:00

Day One

For the 165th time (or so it feels)

Based on the documentary Simply Raw: reversing diabetes in 30 days; I have attempted a raw food diet many many times in the last 12 months.

I am using a very empirical, close-your-eyes-and-jump-right-in, trial and error method rather than researching the raw diet thoroughly. Hence my many false starts.

Day one is always easy.... This time my focus is 100%.

Through each mis- trial I've discovered new ammunition to help me stay the course.

Doing this diet in winter is probably not the smartest idea.

I have honed my focus and determination to a pure unyielding laserbeam. My dads 60th in 11 days is a great motivator. I'm hoping once I reach day 11 something else exciting will help me extend the diet...wish me luck!!

Raw crackers, cashew cheese and raw pecan pie to finish :)

Dog tired.

My shame... And my salvation

2014-06-22T20:37:00.000-07:00

My shame and my salvation...

Every single time I "fail"
I learn something about why
And how I can do better next time

Like the guy who created electricity.... Tried a couple thousand times before the bulb lit up
I'm hoping to keep my trials to single figures :):)

Vegan Gluten Free Jalapeno Poppers

2011-08-03T22:58:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

Fresh Jalapeno chillies

Tofutti better than cream cheese

Besan/chickpea flour

Salt

White pepper/Chilli powder

Method:

Slit fresh jalapeno peppers down the side

Stuff the pepper with tofutti better than cream cheese (you can add other flavours to the cream cheese eg. dairy cheese; herbs, bacon, etc)

Make a thick paste with the besan flour. If the paste is too thin, it won’t coat the glossy chilli!

Add salt and pepper or a pinch of chilli powder to the paste.

Dip stuffed jalapenos into batter, coat well and then deep fry.

Nb. I have tried using soy milk and almond meal to coat the peppers...it can be done but it’s a bit tricky! It’s an option if you don’t enjoy the taste of besan flour.

Vegan Guacamole

2011-08-03T22:30:00.000-07:00

Fantastic, relatively healthy quick-n-easy dip – great to get your omega’s while being a little bit naughty J

Ingredients:

Avocado

Lemon juice

Salt

White Pepper

Tabasco

Tofutti supreme sour

Method:

Mash 3 x Avocado

Add teaspoon lemon juice

Salt and white pepper to taste

4 drops of Tabasco (or more to your taste)

Mix thoroughly

Then add 2 tablespoons of Tofutti supreme sour cream (or more to your taste)

Optional Extra:Stir through one more avocado that has been cubed to add texture!

Enjoy!

Soya Mince Curry

2011-08-01T01:19:00.000-07:00

Soya Mince Curry

Marinating ingredients:

Tumeric

Chilli powder

Coriander powder

Cumin powder

Cooking Ingredients:

Oil

Fennel Seeds

Fresh Red Chilli

Ginger paste

Garlic paste

Tumeric

Chilli powder

Coriander powder

Cumin powder

Mince Prep:

Soak soya mince in hot water with salt and vinegar

Drain well and squeeze out excess water

Marinate in spices for as long as you can.

Heat saucepan. Add oil, once hot add all the spices. Fry spices for 3minutes.

Add mince. Coat mince with all the fried spices and cook til mince browns.

Accompaniment:

- Rice

- Naan bread

- Roti

- Lemon pickle

Rye Bread with Goats Cheese and Avocado

2011-08-01T00:36:00.000-07:00

This yummy snack-wich is great if you’re on-the-go and need something filling, quick – or if you’re looking for something tasty to munch on between meals....

Rye bread grilled/toasted

Torn lettuce leaves

Chunky avocado cubes

Marinated goats cheese

Sliced spring onion

Garnished with: Coriander leaves, fresh ground black pepper; extra virgin olive oil and a splash of balsamic vinegar!

Addiction Food now available!!

2011-06-26T19:52:00.000-07:00

You can now order items from the Addiction Food range from Allergy Free Wholefood!!
Addiction Food Products

Place your order now for these delicious treats that taste great and are good for you too!!

Rice Bran

2011-06-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

Rice Bran

Allergy Free Cooking Demonstration in Hurstville

2011-06-22T16:39:00.001-07:00

Coffee...

2011-06-21T05:15:00.001-07:00

I very rarely drink coffee....and today I have had a rather strong one for the second day in a row.

I have been on a rollercoaster of manic highs with nervous energy and aggression and depressive lows with lethargy and exhaustion...

I can see the appeal – I feel like I can take on the world when the high hits. I can zoom through all of my work and be as sharp as a tack, on the ball and very, very motivated. However, as a diabetic, the crazy blood sugar level swings will end up killing me! Bottom line, I ought to continue saving coffee for special occasions – my liver will thank me JJ

This experience gives me a brilliant insight into the damage caused by this innocent beverage to people’s bodies and minds. As my liver is fairly overloaded, I imagine that my reaction in amplified compared to most. I still believe though that regular consumption of coffee alters hormones and other bodily functions in a very negative way.