by Annette @ Wellness WA | Apr 3, 2013 | Food, Recipes, Wellness Tips
I’m trying to improve my health through diet and exercise, it's easy enough to find recipes for healthy eating, my biggest problem so far has been snacks and sweet treats…
As part of my journey to healthier living, I recently purchased Janella Purcell’s Eating for the Seasons: Cooking for Health and Happiness
with the intention of introducing more wholefood options into my diet.
Janella Purcell is a Naturopath, Nutritionist, Herbalist and Iridologist, she is “passionate about good food and feeling great.”
Bliss Balls are the first recipe from this book that I have made and they have quickly become a family favourite. They satisfy the sweet craving, providing a healthier option. Although I have to admit that they are very more-ish, it’s hard to stop at just one bliss ball.
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Bliss Balls – adapted from Eating for the Seasons: Cooking for Health and Happiness – Makes 24 balls
♥ 1 cup puffed rice
♥ 1/3 cup sesame seeds
♥ 1/3 cup sunflower seeds
♥ ½ cup desiccated coconut
♥ 1 cup mixed nuts; unsalted, chopped (I used almonds, pistachios and cashews)
♥ 1 cup dried fruit
♥ ½ cup tahini
♥ ¾ cup honey
♥ Sesame seeds or coconut to coat
How to
Put the seeds and nuts in the food processor blitz until chunky. Next blitz dried fruit.
Add seeds, nuts, fruit, rice and coconut in a bowl and mix together. Put ingredients in food processor and gradually add tahini and honey. Taste the mix and adjust the sweetness to your taste.
Using wet hands roll a tablespoon of the mixture into a ball. Coat balls in sesame seeds or coconut. Store in an airtight container.
I’m so happy with the results of this recipe, I’m going to try some variations and I can’t wait to try some of the other recipes from the book!
What are your favourite healthy sweet treats or snacks? Have you heard of Janella Purcell before? Leave a comment below! 🙂
Review by Megan – creating a new me with diet & exercise!
Be well,
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Apr 1, 2013 | Interviews
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♥ First up, briefly tell us a little bit about yourself!
A yogi who had another life as a corporate tax manager for 15 years before deciding to pursue her dream of teaching yoga full time and then opening up a yoga studio – Bikram Yoga Victoria Park – to share her passion with more people in one space (with the support of her loving, ever-patient husband)!
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♥ Tell us about your daily beauty routine.
As I have dry sensitive skin, morning routine is just cleansing with lukewarm water and Vanessa Megan Rosewater Spray. After a Bikram yoga session (either practicing or teaching), I would cleanse my skin with the Vanessa Megan Clementine Organic Foaming Cleanser. If the skin is feeling dehydrated, I will use the Vanessa Megan Jasmine Face Cream. I keep it simple as I am a busy person and don’t have much time for a long complicated routine.
♥ What’s the one beauty treatment you can’t live without? And your favourite place to have it done?
I cannot do without a 6 weekly “Hydradermie” facial with Monika from Oxford Beauty Clinic, Leederville.
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♥ Who do you trust with your hair in Perth, and why?
A 6 monthly trim with Davina from Head Office, Perth CBD.
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♥ Favourite budget / at home beauty treatment?
Bio Oil when the skin is feeling extremely dehydrated after cleansing and instead of using my Vanessa Megan Face Cream, I use Bio Oil and leave it overnight. It does wonders for my skin tone and hydration.
♥ Your three, absolutely cannot live without, favourite products?
Doterra Peppermint and Wild Orange Lip Balm, blusher (Clinique) and Vanessa Megan Rose Spray.
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♥ Do you have any secret tips you use to keep looking / feeling great?
Lots of fluids for hydration and Juice Plus (branded line of dietary supplements containing concentrated fruit and vegetable juice extracts fortified with added vitamins and nutrients.)
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♥ What beauty treatment/ wellbeing activity would you love to try but haven’t yet?
Crossfit! For strength and endurance!
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♥ Describe a typical day of eating for you.
I have a muesli bar (or bircher muesli) for breakfast, Green or protein smoothies in between meals, a long black (coffee) every 2 – 3 days because I love the smell and taste of a good brewed coffee, nourishing lunch with (soupy) noodles + protein with vegetables and dinner is usually light – either a salad with loads of avocado, nuts and Danish feta cheese or with rice/quinoa. If i am extremely hungry (low in energy) – my meal will include more protein with steamed vegetables together with my avocado salad.
Other treats which I may have throughout a typical day could include savoury muffin or soup. I do also treat myself to the hot chips and sea salt with vinegar if my body craves it or eggs, spinach & bacon for weekend breakfast!
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♥ Describe your fitness routine.
I am usually active every day with yoga as everyday will usually involve a yoga class to practice my yoga unless I am already teaching for the day.
I also try to do a personal home practice for 20 minutes + 20 minutes meditation 1x per week which is especially nurturing and centering for me during a busy week.
My new years resolution this year is to try Cross Fit so that I can balance out my yoga practice with new physical activities for additional strength building!
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♥ Do you take part in any alternative therapies or take supplements? If so, discuss.
Acupuncture and as mentioned above Juice Plus. I find acupuncture very relaxing and balancing for me as I am a high energy individual and having an acupuncture treatment every fortnight helps me to slow down, relax and take a bit of down time for myself.
♥ How do you like to relax? What are your favourite ways to de-stress?
Movies with my husband or girlfriends (depending on the movie).
I do find the best way to de-stress is to have 1 hour to myself at the beach or get a Thai massage session in at Thai Thai Day Spa in Langford.
What do you think of Karen’s routine? If you have any questions or comments please leave them below! 🙂
Be well,
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Mar 28, 2013 | Wellness Tips
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1. Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation
Have you noticed Michelle Bridges is everywhere at the moment? There’s good reason for it. This woman is making a big difference to waistlines around the country, including mine! I signed up for the 12 week body transformation program for $199 and I was not disappointed. A weekly meal plan (breakfast, lunch, dinner is on there with a snack suggestion list accessible on the site) with calorie details, exercise plan and shopping list is emailed to you on a Thursday to begin the next Monday. It took some discipline and hard work on my behalf too of course (as Michelle says, she can’t do the training for you), but over the Christmas period I still managed to finish with 2.5kg lost and 20cm gone from around my body. Meals like butter chicken (minus the butter, but just as tasty), nachos, pancakes and plenty of interesting salads were some of my favourites. It was thorough, inspiring, very well-thought out and I would recommend it to anyone who needs some direction and inspiration for their health and fitness.
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3. Zevia
The ingredient list of diet drinks is frightening and the sugar content of soft drinks is too high – but for those of you who can’t give the fizzy drop up, I have the answer. Zevia is a naturally sweetened (with stevia, a plant from the sunflower family) drink with zero calories. It comes in loads of yummy flavours (I like pink grapefruit and grape the best) and I found mine at the Subiaco Farmer Jacks (they stopped stocking it recently, but I’ve put in a request for it to return which they promised it would!) or PAWS in Northbridge. Try it!
4. Youngblood Lip Glosses
Ok, I love having bright matte lips like any gal around town at the moment but nothing screams summer like slightly pink, shiny lips – amirite? I love Youngblood’s lip gloss in “Devotion” which is a peachy pink with a hint of shimmer. Pucker up!
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5. Tulsi Sweet Rose Tea
I need something sweet after dinner. I know I shouldn’t and all the anti-sugarists will be shaking their heads and sighing at this, but I do and I like it! However, this new-to-me tea hits the spot without diving head first into a block of chocolate. Perfectly sweet, with a gorgeous rose flavour I just feel like a lady drinking it! Poured into my pink yummy mummy cup, there ain’t a better way to finish a lovely day. Available from most health food shops!
What are you crushing on this week? Share your current loves in the comments below! 🙂
Article by Lisa O’Neill, freelance writer, mama & sugar-free soft drink advocate!
Be well,
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Mar 26, 2013 | Exercise, Other, Wellness Tips
Hi I’m Lauren and I’m from Perth.
At the end of 2011, at age 22, I had been eating whatever the hell I wanted for a very long time. I did very little physical activity. I had atrocious skin, no energy, no confidence and could be pretty damn negative about life more often than not. I had very high blood pressure – somewhere around 150/110. My Doctor suggested I go on blood pressure medication for the REST OF MY LIFE.
I decided that being on that medication was pretty silly as a young person who had a long life still to live (if lucky!). I was convinced that diet and lack of exercise was my problem – I thought if I really tried hard to sort this issue out by changing my life, then there would be no need for medication. If it didn’t work, then at least I tried. At least I had taken control of the situation, rather than letting life happen to me. We have so much more power than we think we do!
I got a personal trainer (Chris Vavakis from Mobile Trainer) for a few sessions, so that I could start somewhere. I increased the amount of vegetables I had in my diet, decreased the sugar and salt and ate only lean protein with my meals. It was hard and I slipped up a lot. Every time I slipped, I remembered why I was doing what I was doing and I KNEW that it was worth all the hard work. I got back on that wagon.
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Results came slow, but I grew to love the feeling of burning muscles. I knew that meant that my muscles were repairing themselves much stronger than they were before. I loved all the changes I began to see in my body and delighted in the knowledge that I was getting stronger! I became an exerciser and enjoyed the activity in itself! I used to hate cooking but grew to love the challenge of using spices instead of ready-made sauces and trying a difficult dish. Everything tasted so much better and I felt better about myself ten fold because I was doing this all for myself!
My skin improved, I slept better, I felt more positive about EVERYTHING. I became more confident in all aspects of my life. People started asking me for advice about exercise and healthy eating. I lost 20 kilos.
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I cannot describe to you the absolute feeling of euphoria and sense of accomplishment I felt when I first learned just how far I had come. After 9 months to 1 year of hard work, my blood pressure was a perfect 120/80. I went home and cried and laughed and screamed. I fist pumped in the car! I was on top of the world – I had changed my life. I am convinced there is nothing in life that feels as good as knowing that you have achieved something so incredible as changing your future – I could have easily taken that medication, but instead I changed my physical situation and I changed how healthy I was. Just me – I did that!
I’m an ordinary girl. I have 24 hours in a day. I went to university, I work full time. I have loads of awesome friends and a kickass family. I’m lazy and stubborn sometimes, I like to eat sweet things. I bet we’re pretty similar.
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Why does it matter how similar we are? Because there is nothing that I have, that you don’t! Where I succeeded, it was because I didn’t give up. I don’t have any special knowledge or training. I’m not better at exercising – I started out at the bottom, just like everyone else and learnt along the way. I didn’t let my brain tell me that I needed to be at any particular level before I started trying. All champions of anything start out failing, again and again and don’t stop until they get there.
There is no secret. You CAN do it, you just have to try. You are stronger than you think you are. Do it for you.
Have you ever wanted to change your life? Do you have an inspiring story as well? Leave a comment in the below as we’d LOVE to hear from you!
Article by the incredibly inspiring Lauren Foreman, life changer and health & fitness lover.
Be well,
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Mar 25, 2013 | Food, Recipes
Hello! I have been making this cauliflower cous cous in my kitchen, at least once a week for a while now. Why? It provides a decent serving of vegetables, thanks to cauliflower being the main ingredient, the dish makes a perfect light meal or side, and it's a fabulous meal to have on hand for busy days. It has become a staple in my household in fact. Without further ado, the recipe…
Cauliflower Cous Cous (adapted from the Smitten Kitchen Cookbook
)
Ingredients:
♥ 1-2 small cauliflower heads, trimmed of leaves, cored, and cut into large chunks
♥ 1 garlic clove
♥ 1/2 cup pine nuts or almonds, toasted and cooled
♥ 1/2 cup or so of parmesan cheese
♥ 1/3 cup pepitas
♥ A few tablespoons of sun-dried tomatoes, drained of oil and chopped
♥ 1 tablespoon capers
♥ Half a bunch of parsely
♥ Generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil
How-To:
1. Pulse half the cauliflower in a food processor until it looks like mixed sizes of couscous. Transfer the cauliflower to a large bowl, and repeat with the second batch, adding it to the same bowl when you are finished.
2. Pulse the garlic, almonds, cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, capers and parsley in the food processor until the mixture looks like coarse breadcrumbs. Transfer to the bowl with cauliflower, add the olive oil, pepitas, a few pinches of salt, and stir until combined. Top with more parsley if you like.
3. Enjoy it on its own, or as a pesto even, as the recipe originally states.
Yummo! This should keep in the fridge for about 5 days.
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You can play around with the ingredients, for example, use whatever herbs you have handy, parsley though is a favourite of mine. I hope this becomes a staple in your household too!
What do you think of this recipe? Would you or have you tried Cauliflower Cous Cous yet? Leave a comment below to let us know!
This delish recipe was written up by lovely foodie Hannah from Dear Asparagus.
Be well,
xoxo
