Posts belonging to Category 'Food'

Soulara Vegan Meal Delivery Review – 1 Month of Plant-Based Eating, Sorted (2022).

Recently I had the absolute pleasure of trialling a months worth of nourishing, plant-based, & best of all, delicious – meals (12 per week + drinks and a snack) from Soulara. I’d been seeing their stunning looking vegan meals beckoning me on social media for some time now, so decided to take the plunge when I was offered the chance to give myself a little nourishment, and break from cooking, for a month.

12 meals a week worked out to be lunch & dinner (sometimes I had one for brekky instead!) for 6 days of the week, and I allowed myself a day off to enjoy a yummy dinner & drinks out with my boyfriend one night on the weekend – because #balance.

Week 1 – What’s in the box?!

Coming home from a loooong day running around at my retail job, I was thrilled to see my Soulara box sitting patiently on my doorstep on a balmy, late autumn evening – I felt filled with hope and possibility for the coming 4 weeks and super excited to unpack my box. After tearing it open and removing the handy ice-packs which will keep the meals cool if you’re not home when they’re delivered, I was very happy with my first weekly selection which included…

Morning Ritual – a nourishing and delish quinoa-based, brekky oats style dish with apricots and pistachios (pictured above) – I’ll take this moment to note, one of the best things about Soulara, is that their menu changes VERY regularly. Unfortunately this dish is no longer available – sad face – BUT there are currently some Raspberry Ripple Oats, Bushwalker’s Granola & Ruby Sunrise Chia Pudding that also sound like the perfect way to start your morning.

Cold-pressed cleansing juice pack – all of the juices taste so fresh, and the packaging is super cute. I used to run a juice cleanse company so I have high standards for juices, and these ones make the grade.

BBQ Black Bean Casserole – my fave of all the dishes! IT’S SO GOOD.

The first lunch dish I tried was a low-calorie Mushroom Bourguignon with Black Garlic Mash – the mushies are plump and the mashed potato tastes incredible. I love this dish, there’s so much depth to the flavours (hi red wine, herbs, olive oil, tomato, carrots + more). And it also reminds me just HOW GOOD mashed potato is, and that I want to add this healthy comfort food into my life more regularly.

The next morning I had a little misadventure. Hot tip for all – make sure you read the note that’s on top of the container! I accidentally microwaved my Morning Ritual brekky which was meant to be consumed cold, it was still super yummy though, and while I was a bit worried as it’s a somewhat smaller dish than I’d normally have for breakfast, it was very filling, and I found myself craving it on the weeks when this dish wasn’t on my menu.

Week 2 – Feelin’ Nourished

By now my body is settling into the routine of regular, protein-rich, nutritionally-balanced meals that, admittedly, it may not have been getting so regularly before between working a day job, late-night job, running a website, being a cat mom, spending time with my boyfriend & friends, and trying to squeeze in some exercise and sleep somewhere in amongst the madness.

This week my highlights were…

Kombuchas! I really have to say, the Soulara team have absolutely outdone themselves with their kombucha offering – with super unique and delicious flavours (hello Coconut and Lime, Wild Berry, & Turmeric, Ginger & Pear). If these were available to buy as 750ml bottles, I would definitely have them on hand at all times as I reckon they’re better than anything on the market at the moment.

Work lunch has become a breeze – no more trawling Coles with the hope of finding a random vegan option. My colleagues can’t stop asking about what I’m eating, and I can’t stop raving about it in response.

♥ Cloud Tofu Hoisin Noodles

Dish of the week has got to be the Cloud Tofu Hoisin Noodles.

THIS. DISH. IS. BLOODY. INCREDIBLE. (Also how cute is the name?) I felt like I was having a life altering moment the first time I had it. Super high in protein, incredibly delicious, and I felt so stable, calm and nourished afterwards. Definitely include this in your menu if you decide to make an order!

Week 3 – Protein Powered

I ramped up my exercise this week in an effort to work towards shifting a couple of Covid kilos. I’m a strong believer in being comfortable with and loving your body at any size, but I’d gotten to the point where almost none of my clothes fit anymore, and the prospect of buying a whole new wardrobe wasn’t really vibing with the state of my bank account. In addition to this, a bit of work and blogging related stress had started to creep in, so I hoped that upping my weekly yoga & spin classes to a couple more sessions would help with that, too.

Due to this I decided to focus on some higher protein meals this week to give myself some more energy pre-training, and help my body recover properly post-training.

♥ Supercharged Satay!

Cue the Sunkissed Protein Pesto (30g protein) and Supercharged Satay (36g protein), the highest protein meals of the bunch. These two dishes had enough protein to impress my boyfriend, who is a keen gym-goer & very protein-conscious, plus I really felt like I did recover more quickly afterwards!

♥ Choc Chip Cookie Dough Bites… don’t mind if I do.

The bite-sized sweet treats really are the perfect little snack to have with a morning cup of tea, after lunch when the cravings inevitably hit, pre-workout, or before bed as a mini-dessert. The options are seriously endless. My favourites were the Choc Chip Cookie Dough Bites!

Week 4 – And the winner is…

It was an incredible month of nourishing meals. I shared a couple with friends and loved ones and everyone agreed – 100% delicious. I was the envy of my work colleagues and housemate, sorting out my meals for the day was always a breeze, and most importantly – I felt great.

Overall, my top 5 favourites and recommendations for those considering choosing Soulara for their plant-based meal deliveries are as follows:

♥ BBQ Black Bean Casserole – the well-balanced combination of flavours in this dish make it the perfect filling breakfast, lunch or dinner. While in the past I wouldn’t have called myself a massive seitan (a type of vegan meat substitute) fan in general, it’s done perfectly here. I would honestly eat this every day if I could.

Coconut and Lime Kombucha – Put simply, this drink is bliss. It tastes like all your sun-soaked childhood summers distilled into a bottle. Plus it has the benefit of being loaded with gut-loving probiotics! Please infuse this into my veins immediately.

Any of the curries – While all the meals were really yummy, where I felt Soulara really, really shone were their selections of Indian-inspired curries, such as the Golden Coconut Dahl, Earthen Seer Curry, Roots Unearthed Curry + more. These meals all helped me feel balanced, grounded and nourished, along with tasting amazing of course.

Supercharged Satay – I’m a massive satay fan, and with 36 grams of protein, this dish is amazing for days when you’ve just come home from the gym and there is no known universe in which you’re going to have the energy to cook dinner for yourself. If it’s between UberEats and this dish, Supercharged Satay is winning hands down every time.

Morning Ritual – the unique combination of quinoa, oat milk, apricots, pistachios, vanilla, minced ginger, maple syrup and coconut yoghurt all join together to create a real treat for the tastebuds. And leaves you feeling good all morning. 10/10 do recommend.

I loved my experience with Soulara and I’m looking forward to ordering from them again in future when I have a busy week or two coming up, it’s so comforting to know that you have a selection of fuss-free, 100% vegan dishes that are going to leave you feeling nourished at a moments notice, just waiting for you in the fridge / freezer. The other exciting thing is that Soulara’s in-house chefs and dietitians work together to create new and exciting meals every week, so there’s always something new and exciting being added to the menu. For someone like me who LOVES variety and fun in what they eat – this is a big one for me.

If you’re thinking of taking the plant-based plunge, feel free to ask me any questions below, or over on the ‘gram -> @wellnesswa & make sure you head on over to the Soulara menu to pick out some tasty dishes for yourself!

Be well,

xoxo

Annette

Where to Find Local Honey in Perth.

The bee is one of the most important creatures on the planet: we rely on bees to pollinate around one third of the plants we eat, with ecosystems around the world depending on them for balance and survival.

One Perth local, Blaine Campbell, experienced their magic first hand. She cultivated a beautiful vegetable garden at home with one problem, there were no veggies! Her husband Tristan suggested a beehive for pollination, sending Blaine into a two year spiral of researching and reading beekeeping books before she ordered her first hive in 2010. Fast forward a year and her garden was laden with veggies and the pair launched Honey I’m Home, selling raw honey from their own and other Western Australian apiaries.

Honey possesses naturally occurring antibacterial and antimicrobial properties that promote healing and can reduce infections. This is measured on what’s called a Total Activity Scale, with high TA rated honey excellent for sore throats, mouth ulcers and even used for topical medicinal use. There is also evidence to show that consuming honey from your local area can help prevent hayfever (and that’s a big win in my ever-watering eyes!)

Honey is influenced by the surrounding flora, meaning not only that honey flavour can vary greatly depending on where it has come from, but the honey produced by a single hive can have a different taste from one harvest to another. “Being an apiarist makes you look up. Literally,” says Blaine. “You notice the flowers, how many there are, and where they are flowering. You look at the clouds and consider how that will affect your beekeeping day, the bees and the honeys they will make.”

Whilst global bee populations are being threatened by colony collapse disorder, thanks to our strict bio-security laws the Western Australian bee population is the healthiest in the world. It’s vital that we protect it, and one way to do so is to support our local apiarists. Imported honey is often not 100% honey, despite being marketed as such. It can include antibiotics, be mixed with corn syrup or other fillers. If you want to know exactly what you’re getting, as well as keeping those food miles to a minimum, nothing beats buying from the source!

“However the bees make the honey is how you will get it,” explains Blaine; the Campbells’ honey is 100% pure, cold extracted honey, without being homogenised, pasteurised, micro-filtered or blended.

You might also have seen Postcode Honey at your local gourmet supermarket. With the hive’s location apparent from the postcode emblazoned on the front of the jar, it’s clear how few food miles this honey has clocked. Postcode Honey was launched by John Faherty back in 2014 when he quit his day job to set up the business with a goal to represent every postcode in and around Perth. Though the number fluctuates seasonally, 75 different postcodes are currently represented. Head here for a full list of stockists.

I first discovered Small Batch Honey by chance – I parked my car out the front of their residence and saw someone rounding the corner in full beekeeping get-up. How could I resist grabbing one of the jars for sale on their doorstep? It’s worth a detour past their Mt Lawley abode, but make sure you bring cash to leave in exchange for your jar. Get in touch with Small Batch and request their address through their Facebook page.

For me, a trip to the Swan Valley is not complete without stopping in at The House of Honey. If I am hosting visitors to Perth then all the better – local honey makes an ideal souvenir or gift for them to take home! The House of Honey is an experience: you’re invited to taste a raft of different honey types, check out bees in action at their observation hive, as well as take a seat at the Sticky Spoon Café and refuel with afternoon tea where the honey ice cream comes highly recommended. You can even participate in a mead tasting, to spice up your valley wine tour.

Beautiful honeycomb is the specialty of Bayswater based business, Pure Naked Honey. As well as the goodness of the magnificent raw honey inside the comb, the actual comb part is highly nutritious itself – not to mention it looks great on a grazing board! Locate Pure Naked Honey products through their stockist map.

If you’re heading out of town, West Coast Honey in Gingin will delight you with free honey tastings and a live bee display. Take time out with a coffee and a slice of their layered honey cake, and if you are lucky enough to drop by when the plant is in action, you can watch the honey extraction process too!

Want more? Try More than Honey for honeycomb sections and raw honey jars, Sticky Goodness for unique products like honey jar wedding favours, and head to Bee the Cure Honey Map to browse your area for more small producers.

Got any local / organic honey recommendations or any burning bee questions? Let us know in the comments!

Article lovingly written by Claire Trolio. She sells nice things at her shop Ruck Rover General Store in Northbridge – check it out 🙂

This Wellness-Retreat Worthy Pineapple & Coconut Smoothie Are What Your Glowing Skin Dreams Are Made Of!

♥ Creamy, dreamy & delicious!

Let’s face it, while we’d all love to take a trip to a wellness retreat once a month (just me?), sometimes funds, work, day-to-day life or Coronavirus just wont allow us the regularity of retreating that we definitely deserve.

That’s why building retreat-style rituals into your week is the perfect way to dial up your zen, infuse your body with much needed nutrients and give yourself a couple of minutes time out.

Today we chatted to the gorgeous Shelley Pryor, organic gardener & smoothie expert at Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat, to find out her top glowing smoothie recommendation that will get you glowing.

Check it out and leave a comment below if you try the recipe! x

Shelley’s Pineapple Coconut Smoothie

♥ 1 x young coconut, juice (approx. 400ml) and flesh (if you can’t find a fresh young coconut, regular coconut water can be substituted, and Amazonia do a frozen coconut meat sachet)
♥ 3 x oranges, peeled and chopped, seeds removed
♥ 2 x cups ripe pineapple, diced
♥ 2 x limes, juiced
♥ 1 x piece of fresh ginger, approx. 4cm, sliced
♥ 20 x mint leaves or lemon balm/lemon verbena
♥ 1/2 x avocado, flesh scooped out

Optional extra: Add a 5cm piece of Aloe Vera, well drained and rinsed to add amazing benefits for your digestive system and help make your skin glow.

Place all ingredients except the avocado in a blender and process until smooth. Add the diced avocado and blend again.

Serves 4 (approx. 150ml per serve)

Health Benefits

Pineapple is particularly great as an anti-inflammatory. It is rich in vitamin C, supports the immune system and aids in the production of collagen.

Coconut water is a delicious source of hydration and mint is great for digestion. Coconut is a good source of medium chain triglycerides, known to be important for liver and bowel health.

Note: During Summer switch the pineapple for mango!

Are you keen to try this glow-inducing smoothie? Let us know below!

Be well,

Annette

xoxo

Perth’s Latest & Greatest Healthy Date Night Ideas!

It’s easy to get stuck in a cycle of unhealthy (but still fun!) habits when you are in a relationship – Netflix, Uber Eats & a bottle of wine every weekend… sound familiar?
That’s why we’re here to shake things up and make date night a health-boosting experience again, at least every once in a while!

We have compiled some of our favourite fun, healthy and unique date ideas that might have you considering cancelling your Netflix subscription. (Oh who are we kidding, we could never give up Queer Eye!)

Recipe for Love

So you’ve heard that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach? I think that definitely goes for ladies too! So why not improve your culinary skills together by taking a cooking class?

There are a few excellent options around Perth, but some of our favourites are Taste Budds Cooking School in Highgate who offer Sophie’s Seafood Cooking School (non-vego – if that wasn’t obvious!) where Chef Sophie Budd will teach you to cook healthy pescetarian recipes like ‘Thai Fish Cakes’ and ‘Goan Fish Curry’.

If plant-based is more your style like it is ours, why not bump the health factor up a notch and try a Vegan cooking class at Salt and Company in West Perth? Even if you aren’t vegan or vegetarian, plant-based cooking is a great way to incorporate more variety into your repertoire, perfect for #meatfreemonday!

Cute and healthy date where you get to learn a new skill, get a little competitive over who can cook the tastiest Jackfruit taco, AND enjoy some delicious food at the end of it? Sign us up!

Axe me on a date!

What could be more romantic than axe-throwing? Ok hear us out, this one is a little unconventional, but there is nothing like a little bit of friendly, flirty competition! Axe throwing isn’t just a sport for bearded men in flannos, it’s actually the newest trend to hit the streets of Perth, perfect for a fun night out!

And it’s the dream date night combo, whether it’s to help break you out of your relationship rut or break the ice with a new bae (#swiperight), you can enjoy a special Date Night package with the team at Maniax. Running every Friday from 8-10pm, it includes a 2-hour axe throwing session, plus 1 on 1 coaching, target practice and a tournament against other couples, all for only $100!

Plus, since it is conveniently located in Northbridge, you are only a short stroll away from bars and restaurants for when you have worked up your appetites.
For more information on Maniax Date Night, visit their website.

Bleeding Love

There is no greater feeling than being able to help people, apart from the feeling of being in love, of course! So why not combine the two and have a date night where you can truly make a difference, by making an appointment to donate blood?

You need to check whether you are able to of course (visit their website here to see the requirements!) but Australia is in desperate need of donor blood and it literally takes less than 30 minutes, and barely hurts at all! Plus, the warm, fuzzy feeling, and the great karma you will receive make it all worth it.

The Perth CBD donor centre is centrally located in 140 Perth (just behind the Perth Underground train station) and is surrounded by great food options, so you can truly make a date of it and head out for a bite to eat after you donate (just make sure you skip the drinks!).

Make an appointment here.

Be More Flexible

Whether you’re a regular yogi, or you don’t know your downward dog from your Warrior II , there are a million reason why you should try yoga on your next date! Okay, so we don’t have time to list the full million reasons, but we have three very good reasons why practicing yoga with your significant other can help improve your relationship.

♥ Stress less – Yoga has been proven to help ease stress and lower your levels of the stress hormone cortisol. It has also been proven to help relieve anxiety.
♥ Smarten up – Studies have shown that yoga can actually improve your brain’s ability to think more quickly and accurately – meaning you might be less likely to say the wrong thing when your partner is grumpy!
♥ Flexibility – Yoga can increase your flexibility… ummm… need we say more?! 😉

Our favourite new spot for yoga classes is Yab Yum Yoga studio, located in Victoria Park and their brand new inner city studio! Choose from a range of classes including Slow Flow, Deep House Vinyasa, or Restore and Align. Check out their website and timetables to book in your next class!

Ain’t No Mountain High Enough

If you are after something that is a bit more low-key, then strap on your runners and slap on some sunscreen because we know the most romantic hiking trail in Perth.
Ellis Brook Valley is located in Martin, just minutes from Gosnells town centre and is one of the richest wildflower locations in Perth. What could be more romantic than spending your day wandering through stunning wildflowers and amazing views? There is also a huge array of wildlife in the area, so you might even spot an eagle or kangaroo!



There are a couple of easy trails to choose from, ranging from 430 meters to 2.8 km’s, but for those after a bit more of a challenge, try the Sixty Foot Falls Circuit which is a 2 kilometre loop that reaches to top of the stunning Sixty Foot Falls waterfall, giving a jaw-dropping view of the valley and Perth City beyond.

Click here for directions.

So not matter if you have chosen to follow some of our ideas, or if this has sparked your own idea for a fun activity for your next date, we know that you can wave bye-bye to Netflix for a while! (At least until the next season of Queer Eye drops!)

If you do follow any of our ideas, make sure you tell us! Tag #wellnesswa on your social pics or leave us a comment!

Be well,

xoxo

Leah is a freelance content creator from Perth who loves her dog, trying weird fitness trends, beach days and avocado toast. Follow her Instagram @leahonthedoor

The Only Health & Wellness Guide to Kalamunda You Need!

Welcome to Kalamunda!

The name ‘Kalamunda’ is derived from two Australian Indigenous language words, with kala translating to “home”, and munda meaning “forest”. These translations give rise to the city motto… “A home in the forest”. Which is a very apt description of this gorgeous, leafy suburb.

There’s nothing quite like life in the Perth Hills. The best thing about living up in the hills is the closeness to nature. A bush walk is the perfect place to clear your head, catch up with friends or go for a run with your pooch on one of the many trails. These trails are a lifeline, a dose of medicine, and I am so grateful to have access to them every day.

Over the last 5 – 10 years, the wellness scene here in the hills has grown so much, and there is really no need for locals to ‘go down the hill’ anymore to get their wellness, and every reason for city dwellers to pop up for a relaxing + rejuvenating visit.

The ultimate day of wellness in Kalamunda looks something like this to me…

THE MORNING

What better way to start your morning than firing up the muscles and endorphins at Sixty7Six, a local functional fitness gym located in the backstreets of Walliston (Kala’s neighbouring suburb!), making it the perfect first stop on your road to wellness for the day.

Their bootcamp-style classes are high in intensity, constantly varied and ALWAYS fun! Give this group class a go, or if one-on-one is more your thing you can hook up a session with a personal trainer. All levels of fitness welcome!

If you’re looking for a more stretchy & bendy start to the day, Deb from Yoga Centred has you covered. She is my favourite yogi of all time! After living overseas for more than 2 years, I really couldn’t wait to return home and go back to her amazing classes! Throughout the warmer months Yoga Centred also offers Yoga in the Park, which is the dreamiest way to start your Sunday morning.

You can find Yoga Centred at ‘The Village’, Yoga Shala on Haynes Street in Kalamunda.

BRUNCH TIME

When the morning hunger strikes, it’s time to call into Jack & Jill! Can I pull the old ‘I knew them before they were famous’ card? Seriously though. Best. Breakfast. EVER.

Jack & Jill really do have something for everyone. Whether you’re wanting to go full blown wellness with cold pressed juice and paleo bread, warming porridges, or maybe an ‘Old Faithful’ Aussie breaky, they will definitely have you and your possibly less wellness inclined friends covered.

J & J is also a great place to celebrate a birthday and connect with the people you love.

♥ LATER ON

When the sun starts to nestle down over the horizon, it’s time to head outdoors. What would a day of wellness in Kalamunda be without a nature walk? Lesmurdie Falls is the place to be at sunset in the Perth hills. Poochies are allowed so bring your four legged friends, and there are lots of little nooks where you can chill out, have a picnic and watch the sun go down with your fave people.

If a sit down meal is more your style, The Cavern has always been one of my favourite places to head for dinner in Kalamunda, but recently I realised they have gone NEXT LEVEL.

They now have an entire Gluten Free AND Vegan menu listed separately from the main menu. So if you’re coeliac, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, or just happy to go with the flow, the Cavern can cater for your needs. Plus is the food is absolutely incredible!

With well known Perth chef John Mead heading up the kitchen, this tapas restaurant is one not to be missed on your next trip up the hill.

Blog post by Jaime, naturopath and owner of Nutrition Mind Collective.

Be well,

xoxo