Having heard good reviews & keen for a stomach-rumbling-reducing Sunday morning brunch-date, one of my besties and I made our way down to Crumpet in Vic Park.

When we got there it was PACKED and we were very lucky to snare a table outside as a couple were leaving. Unfortunately their dirty dishes were left there for a good 20 minutes before we had to ask for them to be removed.

There is also no queue system for getting a table and we were told they couldn’t keep track of who got there first, which is understandable but disappointing – perhaps they didn’t realise how popular their little cafe was going to be as there were lots of people turning up only to leave due to no available seating.

So grumpy stuff out of the way! I ordered the ‘Omnomlette‘ ($12) – hands down the best named breakfast food I’ve eaten to date – which was free range eggs, mushrooms, spinach & brie omelette drizzled with EVOO, as well as a decent-sized freshly squeezed orange juice ($6). My counterpart had the Mushies on Toast ($11) & an OJ as well.

It was a hard decision given the many healthy sounding choices, including a vegan brekky (although unfortunately it was more expensive than any of the dishes with meat, which was surprising as it didn’t contain any out of this world ingredients). There were also various smoothies to choose from and some delicious sounding porridge.

My meal was amazing, a perfect breakfast and kept me going through the afternoon of window shopping! My girl thoroughly enjoyed her mushies as well

Despite the few negatives, I’d definitely return to Crumpet, there are a few really cute cafes opening up in Vic Park, it seems to be turning into the hip new spot!

Location: 8/885 Albany Hwy, Victoria Park

Phone: 9355 0901

Tues – Fri: 7:30 am – 3:00 pm
Sat & Sun:8:00 am – 2:00 pm

I’ve also planned to introduce more free-range eggs into my life, I feel I may not be getting enough protein and this could be a good way to go about it! I’ll keep you posted

Be well,

xoxo

I love wholefoods and the opportunity to buy in bulk! I’d long known my Northie friends were being well serviced by Angry Almond in Nedlands but I yearned for something a little closer to home… it’s hard living South of the River in Perth y’know!

The discovery of Loose Produce in Como therefore was like a birthday, Christmas, Easter & any other gift-receiving holiday that exists, all thrown at me in one glorious “HURRAH!”

The great thing about Loose Produce is the attention to detail that goes into presenting their many, many wares.

Nutritional information, origin & a detailed list of ingredients are presented on the majority of their products, so if you’re like me and read more backs of packets than books – you’ll be right at home.

Those with a naughty sweet tooth will be thrilled with over 50 choices of bulk lollies, while the slightly healthier sweet lovers among us will be happy with the wide range of dried fruits including blueberries & goji berries. Our baking friends will marvel at the loose cake mixtures, sprinkles and bread mixes available for sale!

Gluten-free products are well-signed as are organic options, with an “I’m organic!” sticker to help you navigate your way to chemical free wonderland.

A really novel setup they have going is the “Jar Exchange Program” whereby people with jars they no longer need can bring them down to the store and those who would like to use them to fill with produce can do so!

There’s a dedicated Asian section, pasta, herbs & spices, organic fruit & veg, organic meat and so much more… you’ll just have to go down there to check it all out!

The only thing I would change is quite nit-picky; as I’m a vegetarian I’d prefer that the cold meat (which is spread out across two fridges) be contained to one fridge so the other products that are sharing space with them have less chance of being contaminated by the meat. Aside from that, I love the whole place!

Loose Produce is a pantry organisers dream, little jars to pick up and fill with all manner of tasty delights.

When you take your presumably many choices to the counter, you’re met with Larabars, vegan cookies and more snacks than you can poke an organic stick at. Just try saying no.

LP also run a variety of workshops which you can browse on their website and often have reflexology and kinesiology experts visiting the store.

Loose Produce

2 Hobbs Avenue, Como
Western Australia 6152

Ph: 08 9474 9100
Fax: 08 9474 9100

Email: keryn@looseproduce.com

Be well,

xoxo

I don’t think I’ve posted this recipe before, and I’ve had a truck load of people wanting to dip their toes into the wonderful world of these murky looking smoothies!

Green smoothies are one of a few things that make me feel on top of the world, full of energy & song. I cannot recommend them highly enough! Don’t be fooled by their sour looking appearance, they are actually pretty sweet and taste just like a regular berry / fruit smoothie (minus the milk!).

So, without further interference from me, here is a super basic recipe for a green smoothie from which all other recipes of mine stem from!

♥ 1/2 x cup of apple juice
♥ 1 x cup of water
♥ 1-2 x cups of washed, fresh baby spinach (you don’t generally want to use regular spinach as the taste is bitter / stronger)
♥ 1 x decent sized banana or 2 x small bananas
♥ 1/2-1 x cup of frozen fruit (your choice: blueberries, mango, raspberries… they’re all good!)

Get all that whizzing around in your blender and soon you’ll be be a convert, I 99.9% guarantee it.

If you would like some extra tips for experts, check out this Vogue Forum Green Smoothies thread for inspiration galore!

Let me know if you decide to try a green smoothie, otherwise you can come round to my joint and I’ll whip you one up PERSONALLY! Probably not actually, but I have converted a fair few skeptics this way!

Be well,

Annette

xoxo

♥ hehe ♥

Roll up, roll up (they were pretty tasty snacks yes? albeit terrible for young teeth!) welcome to my array of interesting beauty & health related links that I have dutifully collected over the past week so that I can share them with you, my loving reader, just in time for the countdown to the weekend!

♥ Beauty Q&A with Annette of Wellness WA – that would be me

♥ OPI’s revolutionary iPhone application! – ever wondered what a particular shade would look like on your nails, but found those plastic nail doo-dads in the beauty section too difficult? ME TOO. With this iPhone application, while it doesn’t use a picture of your actual hand, you can adjust the skin tone and nail of the image & test out every single OPI colour to determine whether or not it’s what you’re looking for, before forking out for it!!! How great is that?! A: Prettydamngreat.

♥ Iz you a salon playa? – musings on the pros & cons of being non-monogamous with your salon.

♥ Healthy Tipping Point- okay, I love this blog. An American 25 year old documents her marathon bike riding adventures & vegetarian cooking. Very inspiring stuff.

♥ Be Genki May Ritual – Be Genki is a wonderful product company / website / blog / inspiration station & this ‘May Ritual’ has some great advice, make sure you check this one.

♥ Warm Sunny Salad – our friend Heather puts together a visually magnificent salad to nourish you & your tastebuds.

♥ Additive Free Kids Parties! – psychotic children no more, calm them down without compromising on taste with this handy cookbook by two local mums.

♥ Blush Day Spa Facebook Page – these guys have been known to give away free treatments and incredible specials on Facebook at random times during the week!! Last week they were offering free massages to the first few commenters!

♥ White Bean Bruschetta – can’t wait to make this yummy variation on a definite favourite.

♥ How much to spend on keeping up appearances? – an interesting look at how much & why we spend on looking good for our careers.

It’s a wrap! Have wonderful Friday’s everyone

Be well,

Annette

xoxo

Image from www.popcornboxes.net

Winter is the perfect time to get poppin. Picture this: snuggled up by the heater with a loved one, pet or solo (we don’t judge!), your favourite movie playing & the scent of popcorn wafting around your house like it’s your own private cinema. I’ve sold myself on it and I don’t even have a popcorn maker yet!

I was reminded of this old-fashioned, simple treat by a friend a few nights ago on a particularly frosty night. We made a huge bowl of FRESH fat-free popcorn, none of this microwave packet super oily, super salty business! Granted, we did add a smidgen of butter & a sprinkle of salt to taste, but it was a fairly pure experience. Sweet tooth’s could even use a light dusting of icing sugar, but you didn’t hear it from me!

The great thing about popcorn is that it really satisfies the desire for something crunchy, usually I would be very likely to reach for a packet of chips or biscuits, this is a much healthier alternative!

Here’s what you’re gonna need:

♥ Popcorn Maker

Crazy Popper or other popcorn maker! This one is the cheapest I could find at $49.95 RRP

♥ Popping Corn

This brand can be found at supermarkets, and is about $1.50 for 100 grams. Bargain.

♥ The desire for a healthy, tasty treat.

♥ A couple of minutes.

VOILA. So much better for you than chippies or chocolate!

My popcorn lovin’ girlfriend lamented to me that she wished someone would bottle the scent and sell it: lucky for her, the fragrance company Demeter has got it covered!

Popcorn Fragrance!!!

Get popping the next time a chilly night rolls around, and let me know if you do!

Be well,

Popcorn converted Annette.

xoxo

Gourmet Pie

Once again, the lure of Manna Wholefoods was too great to resist, so I met up with a friend for a lovely Sunday afternoon of delicious food and drink.

It’s excruciatingly difficult to pick anything to eat there, as a vegetarian I’m used to choosing between 1-3 options at any given restaurant, whereas here there are almost TOO MANY choices!

I settled on a Spinach & Potato Pie from the Perth brand Gourmet Cookies & Pies, it was delish. I’ve long been a fan of this brand for healthy pies & also their heat-and-eat lasagne is TO DIE FOR. Also they are 100% vegetarian and pretty healthy, I highly advise you to check them out!

To go with this I fabricated a concoction of blueberry, banana & almond milk (wild, I know) & the staff were happy to make it up for me. Twas very tasty and I will have again!

After leisurely eating, we went back in and I purchased a Coconut Juice w/Blood Orange (like last time!) & some fair trade, organic, decaff green tea…in unbleached tea bags – bit of a mouthful!

All this yummy food combined with some sunshine = a pretty excellent way to wind down the weekend. My friend also brought me home-made pumpkin soup & biscuits. Could I even ask for more?!

After all this, I’m brimming with energy and feel fantastic so I had to jump on the computer and let you all know how good I feel after nourishing my body with such great food!

Okay, I’m done now!!!

Manna Wholefoods & Cafe

274 South Tce
South Fremantle
WA 6162

Ph (08) 9335 7995

Be well,

Annette

xoxo

This almond does indeed look pretty angry…

I first discovered Angry Almond after I was referred there by a lady who has been living in Dalkeith for 60 years. You can’t get much more local than that, so I figured I should take her advice. She warned me that once I go there I would become addicted, and right she was.

The first time I walked into the store I was overwhelmed by the big buckets containing all sorts of wonderful grains, pulses, lentils, beans, quinoa, sugars, tea and anything else you can think of! You will also discover many tubs of nuts, seeds, dried fruit, chocolates, lollies, sesame bars, sweet potato chips, Turkish delight – you name it, they have it!

I must mention that the prices are fantastic and let’s just say I had a Turkish delight addiction for a while there…

Sweet, sweet turkish delight ♥

There is a fridge in store that sells biodynamic milk products, tempeh, tofu and cheese, among other things. There is also a great selection of organic, fair-trade coffee beans on offer. I am personally a tea-drinker (ahem, guzzler), so I am much more interested in the bulk supply of loose-leaf green tea, oolong tea and chamomile tea, just to name a few.

There is a spice rack, Asian food section, Italian food, and a large variety of pastas…I could go on! One of my personal favourites is the section with various health-food items, such as agave, coconut oil, puffed rice, and non-dairy milks.

The Angry Almond team provides an incredible service, and this is reflected in the number of people who come buzzing through the doors to browse the exotic foods on offer or simply to pick up their regular groceries.

There is something quite satisfying about scooping up all the delicious food you want, minus the usual packaging and commercial distractions. It’s simpler. At the counter there is a plate of different products to taste-test, and if you spend over a certain amount you receive a very cool Angry Almond calico bag!

Being a uni student, there has been the odd occasion where I have gotten to the checkout only to realise that I didn’t quite have enough money to pay for everything. When I try to put items back, the lady simply insists that I take everything I wanted and pay her next time I come in! The trust I get from the owners for being a regular makes me feel valued as a customer and I really appreciate it, coming from a country town I soon realised that you don’t often get that personal touch at stores in Perth.

Healthy (ish!) Brownies!

Oh, and did I mention the prices are good? Every time I get to the checkout I am pleasantly surprised at how little the price is, and when I shop there I buy in bulk! I have been frequenting this store for three years now and I am still discovering products that inhabit this wonderful little space, so I urge you to explore Nedlands’ little secret for yourself and see what you can find! Oh, and do try the gluten-free brownies at the counter – they are divine!

Eds Note: You can also shop online for produce from Angry Almond! Check their website below, and browse their healthy morsels to your hearts content AND they will deliver to anywhere in W.A for only $3.50?! How cheap is that!

Angry Almond

71 Princess, Nedlands W.A. 6009
Ph: 93897950

Article by Heather, stealth about health. Check out her blog!

My Paper Crane Cheat Sheet!

Darling artist My Paper Crane has come up with a way for us to keep in mind what fruit & vegies would be best for us to buy organic and which ones we can skip if need be.

Absolutely adore it! You should still make sure to wash all your produce thoroughly (including meat!) before consumption to help shake off any pesticide residue, but this handy guide should have a place in all health conscious wallets!

Organic food may currently cost a little more, but aren’t you worth it?! The money you spend on organic food now, could possibly be saved on health-care later… plus you’ll have a feather-light conscience knowing you’re helping the environment & giving your body the best possible nutritious food available!

If your local supermarket doesn’t stock any organic produce, let them know you’re interested in buying it!

There are plenty of places in Perth that stock organic produce / groceries & I’ll be highlighting some of the best for you soon, but for now, pop on over to My Paper Crane & download the sweet chart to help you make great food choices!

Found via the Bloom Cosmetics blog.

Be well,

xoxo

♥ !!! ♥

VEGAN WAFFLE PARTY – Three words, all excellent by themselves, together at last in delicious, cruelty-free, fun loving unison!

Add to this that the waffles at this particular party are FREE and you’ve got yourself a sure fire winner of an idea for something to do on Sunday the 16th May!

Just what is a Vegan Waffle party?

A waffle party is a festive and stomach-filling social event where waffles are served, preferably hot off the iron, with delicious toppings. It can be a relatively simple gathering with just a few friends, or it can be an extravagant production with dozens of guests.

(For more info check out the Waffle Party Site!)

Cruelty Free WA, the gracious hosts of the Perth event

(Following taken from the Perth Global Vegan Waffle Party Facebook Event Page)

We want to show everybody that being vegan is not about sacrifice and denial and there is no need to miss out on the things you enjoy.

Help us celebrate all things vegan by coming along to our vegan waffle party for free waffles hot off the iron and complete with yummy toppings. Everybody is invited, so why not bring along your steadfast meat eating friends and show them how delicious cruelty free food can be.

Not vegan? It doesn’t matter, come along anyway we would love to see you. The Global Vegan Waffle Party is a worldwide event so help us put Australia on the map. This is one time WA won’t be behind the rest of the country when it comes to good veg*n food.

When: Sunday May 16th 11:00am – 3:00pm
Where: Cruelty Free WA
Shop 28A Queen Street, Fremantle
(opposite Myer)

Contact: info@crueltyfreewa.com.au
or phone the store on 9335 7039
Cost: FREE! (So awesome!)

Be well,

Annette

xo

♥

Manna Wholefoods & Cafe is an absolute gem for those of us who are into organic, fair-trade, raw, vegetarian / vegan, healthy or just plain tasty food & groceries.

I was surprised to be informed of the existence of Manna by Conor from Perth food blog Hold The Beef, as it’s the kind of place you’d expect to find in Melbourne, 150% the type of place I’ve been wishing and hoping for and apparently it’s been right under my nose for quite some time!

Tucked down South Terrace, you’d be forgiven for missing it, however the unassuming shop front and few scattered chairs and tables give way to a wonderland of treats once you step through the door.

I spent ages trying to decide what to eat, but finally settled on a scrumptious looking (& tasting) large slice of vegetable pizza ($6) & this lovely drink below…

DELICIOUS – CoCo Coconut Juice w/Blood Orange ($4.34)

Other offerings were raw smoothies, raw salads, spelt vegetarian lasagne, tasty looking sandwiches, organic beef pies & sausage rolls, healthy desserts and a wide range of coffees & juices.

I didn’t have much chance to look around the rest of the shop as my friend wanted to leave, but I did see quite a range of fresh and frozen produce, all labeled organic / conventional which is handy and I will most certainly be back VERY soon to check out their wares and no doubt try some more food & drink!

If you live anywhere in the vicinity of Freo / South of the River I highly, highly recommend checking it out and supporting little businesses who are looking out for your health & wellbeing.

Manna Wholefoods & Cafe

274 South Tce
South Fremantle
WA 6162

Ph: (08) 9335 7995
Fax: (08) 9335 7795
manna@mannawholefoods.com.au

Mon-Fri: 8am-6pm, Sat: 8.30am-5pm, Sun: 10am-4pm

Be well,

Annette

xoxo