Get Grounding the Autumn Way

Not so sad face having to wear warmer clothes!

So the last couple of weeks have been cool and rainy here in Vancouver! I must say it has officially reached the season of autumn here, which I am totally fine with because it is my favourite of all the seasons! I just love to wear cozy clothes, scarves, boots, hats, make soups and chili's, and also I get to happily up my consumption of tea <3 Sooo in honour of this lovely season I would like to share with you a couple of my FAVOURITE recipes for this time of year!

With autumn being here, and winter coming soon after, I start to want food with more substance, that is nice and hot, and also comforting! I have also really been trying to make sure what I am putting in my body is benefiting it in many ways. I want to make sure that my food is nourishing my body, my soul, and helping out all my chakras!

Autumn colour flowers <3

 Eating for your chakras is actually a very important thing that a lot of people do not think about. When we eat for our chakra's its not only helping us to balance them but can also improve their functionality, and their power. A lot of people whom do chakra work (I believe everyone should do some sort of chakra work) usually only focus on the energy work of cleansing, repairing, and opening them. When we combine eating for our chakra's and doing energy work with them we help them to work at their optimal level.

One way to make sure that you are eating for your chakra's is to eat what is in season! This not only helps your chakras ground into the coming weather and changes in your body; but also is better for the environment, and your wallet; eating in season is more economical and cheaper than eating out of season. We can also eat for our chakras in another way; by colour. If you are trying to work on a particular chakra then eating fruits, veggies, natural organic meats, and dairy that are associated with the colour of that chakra helps with the work you are doing, it is similar to colour therapy. For example I have been trying to do a lot of work on my root, sacral, and solar plexus chakras....or in other words my lower chakras :) The colours for these are red, orange, and yellow...hmmm kind of like autumn colours....THAT being said I have been including lots red, orange, and yellow foods; think pumpkins, spaghetti squash, peppers, peaches, turmeric, curry and ginger.

Now with all that being said I am now, FINALLY, going to share with you some recipes to ground you into this new season upon us and get you all cozy and comfort fooded up!!!

Pumpkin Sage Soup

This recipe has an amazing food that is not used enough, pumpkins! Pumpkins contain vitamins; A, C, E, B5, along with zinc, magnesium, potassium, and iron. Pumpkins also have a butt load of antioxidants and dietary fibre! Also they are in season right now and so they helps us ground in while benefiting our sacral chakra.

Then there is the sage, oh yeah baby sage! We all have heard of smudging with sage as a way to cleanse, clear and remove toxic energy, BUT did you know that ingesting it does the same thing but to your whole being (think body, mind, and soul). Also it helps to create a calm within your body, probably due to all that gross, icky negativity and toxic energy being gone. It also leads to better brain functioning and has tons of antioxidants in it!

Finished bowl of Pumpkin Sage Soup

Ingredients:
6 lbs weight worth of Sugar Pumpkin or Pumpkin Pie Pumpkin
1 Tbsp of butter or olive oil if going dairy free (I have used both and prefer the olive oil myself)
2 Shallots chopped, or about 3/4 cup
4 cloves of chopped garlic
4 cups of veggie stock
2 Tbsp of fresh chopped sage, and more for garnish
Salt and Pepper to taste

1. Heat your oven to 400 degrees and cut pumpkin or pumpkins in half. Scoop out the seeds and place to roast for 1 hour to 1 1/2 hour, or until soft enough to scoop out the meat. Take out of the oven let cool then scoop out the meat from the inside.
2. In a large pot over medium heat add butter (or oil) and shallots and sauté until clear. Then add in garlic and sauté for another minute. Then add in veggie stock, roasted pumpkin, sage, and s&p. Bring to a boil.
3. After it has reached a boil empty into a blender, food processor, or immersion blend all ingredients together. Heat for another 2-3 minutes afterwards back in pot.
5. Pour into a bowl and enjoy! This soup is really great when you add pumpkin seeds and a little bit of organic sour cream to the top.


Peanut Butter Cup Squares

Peanut Butter Cup Squares fresh out of the freezer!

Now this recipe is just a favourite of mine because at this time of year I really want sweets and this gives me the feeling of having something sweet without the processed sugar and also adding good for you ingredients. This recipe uses organic real maple syrup which is a natural sugar that us actually good for you and also adds a little bit of sweetness. The recipe also calls for raw cacao which is very good for  your body and mind. Raw cacao has the highest amount of magnesium, iron, and zinc in a food known to man kind! Also when raw cacao is ingested it helps with PMS, acne, and headaches! Note I am saying RAW CACAO, not cocoa, or chocolate powder; those things are processed and have lots of the good for things in them TAKEN OUT!

Ingredients By Layer:

Bottom Layer:
3/4 cup ground almonds or almond meal
2 Tbsp raw cacao powder
2 Tbsp real maple syrup
1 Tbsp melted coconut oil
pinch of sea salt

Middle Layer:
1/2 cup natural organic peanut butter
3 Tbsp of real maple syrup
1 Tbsp of melted coconut oil
pinch of sea salt, or to taste for this layer only

Top Layer:
1/4 cup raw cacao powder
1/4 cup melted coconut oil
3 Tbsp of real maple syrup

1. Combine all the bottom layer ingredients in a bowl until it reaches a dough like consistancy. Then press into a loaf pan evenly. Place in freezer to set.
2. Combine middle layer ingredients in a bowl until smooth. Remove pan from freezer and use a spatula to even smooth the middle layer over the bottom one. Place back in freezer.
3. Using a whisk, whisk the top layer ingredients in a bowl. Remove pan from freezer and spread evenly over the top of the two other layers. Then place in freezer for 2 hours.
4. Remove from freezer and cut into squares and eat them all!!! You can store these in the freezer or fridge in an air tight container for 2 weeks, mine have never lasted that long, I have usually eaten them all by the 4th day.


I hope you enjoy these goodies and get your grounding into autumn the healthy way!! Much Love, Light, and Gratitude to all my lovelies!

Tummy, Budget, and Taste Bud Pleaser

So to go along with last weeks post on food I thought I would give you two of my favourite recipes that are super easy to make, quick to make, super healthy/good for you, and also very easy on the pocket book!!! The first one is a green smoothie and I know some of the ingredients sound gross to put in or weird but trust me it is soooo amazing!!! I never would have dreamed in my wildest dreams that I would like it but I do, and it is one of my go to in a hurry snack's!! The second recipe is a vegan version of a meal a lot of people love, this was also a recipe that I was very unsure about how it was going to turn out but let me tell you I ate them 3 days in a row this week!!! Both recipes are definite tummy, taste bud, and budget pleasers :) Enjoy!

Creamy Tropical Smoothie

1 Cup of Pineapple (I buy a fresh one, cut it and then freeze it)

1/4 Avocado

1 Inch Piece of Ginger (peeled and cut into smaller pieces)

2 Handfuls of Spinach

1 Cup of Coconut Water

Combine all the ingredients  together in a blender and enjoy!! Seriously a must try! I never in a million and one years thought I would like avocado or ginger in a smoothie but it is one of the most enjoyable combinations ever!!! The avocado makes it creamy as if you have added dairy, and the ginger gives it this crazy tang that awakes your senses.

Chickpea Taco's with Homemade Guac!!!

For the Tacos:1 tsp olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 red onion, minced
1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas (or 1 14-oz can, drained and rinsed)
1  taco seasoning packet or make your own 

(I make my own seasoning 1/2 tbsp of chilli powder, 1/2 tsp of paprika, 1 tsp of cumin, 1/4 oregano, 1/4 salt, 1/4 pepper, 1/4 cornstarch, 1/8 cayenne pepper, 1/4 cup water)

Either Gluten Free taco Shells or Corn Shells

For the Guac:

1 Avocado

Generous Handful of Cilantro Chopped

Juice of 1 Lime

1/4 Chopped Red Onion

1/4 Chopped Tomato

1/4 Chopped Red Pepper

1. First prepare the Guac by mashing the avocado and then mixing in the other ingredents. Store in fridge until Taco's are done.

2. In a medium size skillet over medium low heat combine olive oil, chickpea's, onion, and garlic. Stir frequently and let cook uncovered.

3. When the chickpea mixture has cooked for about 10 minutes add taco seasoning and let simmer for about 5 minutes on low.

4. Prepare taco shells or corn shells as per package.

5. Fill taco shells with chickpea mixture and then top with guac and enjoy!!!!

Heal Yourself...With Your Mouth

Gluten Free Veggie Pasta and Kale Chips!!

Food, food, food!!!! Food is one of the biggest parts of our daily lives and also plays one of the biggest impacts when it comes to the health of our life. Food can not only impact our physical health but it also plays a huge impact on our mental health, spiritual connect, and emotional well-being. A lot of us do not take the time to think about what we are putting into our bodies and how it is affecting us. We tend to make decisions of what to eat out of convince rather than deciding to eat for optimal health and well being, and I was once one of these people. For those of you that know me my diet has changed many times over the years from eating crap take out all the time, to salads every day, to having a protein shake or two a day, to gluten free, and then finally to being gluten free, meat free, dairy free and consuming mostly organic foods. It took me many years to figure out what worked for me and what did not work for me in my diet and in some ways I am still figuring this out. I read tons of books and articles on food educating myself and learning why eating certain ways and items can make us feel better and others can make us feel not so great. Here are some tid-bits that I have picked up over the years from educating myself that have lead to my decisions and lead to me feeling better than I ever have felt before.

All aboard the gluten free train! Gluten is a protein that is located in most grains that include but are not limited to; wheat (this one is the biggest candidate), barely, some oats, and buckwheat. This protein was not actually located in grains 50 years ago but is actually an additive due to grains being genetically modified to keep up with the rate that the human race is consuming them, this protein also helps increase their storage life. Anyway, gluten can affect the human body in many many ways; bloating, foggy mind, fatigue, depression, chicken skin (or the little tiny red bumps that you get on your biceps and thighs), gas, IBS, vitamin deficiencies, swelling of joints/muscles and much much more. Gluten can also make certain diseases and illnesses worse; fibromyalgia, MS, IBS, Crohn's, anxiety disorders, chronic depression, and arthritis. For me, my first indicators of why I should go gluten free were; looking like I was 6 months prego every time I ate gluten, constant low energy, chicken skin, and I hate to say it but gas. Not everyone's body has a gluten intolerance but everyone can benefit from limiting the amount of gluten you ingest. I suggest trying to eliminate gluten from your diet for a week and see how you feel, some differences you might notice are; feeling lighter, more energetic and happier!! Plus lets face it there are some truly yummy g-free foods out there these days...cupcakes anyone?!

Organic vs GMO foods....this I know is sometimes a touchy subject for people because of cost and the old saying what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I understand cost is hard for some people to wrap their minds around, however, how does ingesting wax, formaldehyde and food colouring every time you bite into an apple that cost you maybe 20 cents cheaper than an organic one sound? GMO foods were created for a few reasons but the biggest one is so that the food can have a longer shelf life and grow in conditions that it was not meant to grow in. One of the best examples I can think of are blueberries; GMO blueberries have had salamander cells added to them so they can resist frost and also have blue food colouring added to them as after they have been picked they lose their colour with in the first few days. Now I do not know about you but having salamander cells crossed with my blueberries does not sound like something I want to put into my body. GMO foods contribute to many many health issues but I will only list the most common here; weight gain (yes even though you are eating your fruits and veggies you will still gain weight!), acne, seasonal allergies, vitamin deficiencies, Autism, ADHD, and many more. Now I know buying organic can be costly, and I will be honest I buy as much as I can organic but I do cheat with a few things, here is a list and link to the foods you should be buying organic as they contain the most harmful chemicals and additives: http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/dirty-dozen-foods#slide-1.

Meat Free and Dairy Free Cabbage Rolls!!

Last but definitely not least the two touchiest subjects; meat and dairy!!! These are very very touchy subjects and once again not everyone needs to go meat free and dairy free but everyone can benefit from having less of the two in their diets. Meat is one of the biggest contributors to; hormone imbalances, infertility, immune system deficiencies, obesity, heart disease, MS, crohn's, cancer (as meat is acidic and a cancer free body needs an alkaline diet) chronic fatigue syndrome and high/low blood pressure. The Canadian Food guide recommends having 2-3 servings of lean meat/proteins a day and the average Canadian usually ingests about 3 servings of meat and about 2-3 servings of protein making that an average of 5-6 servings a day, and to top it off a serving size is about 3 ounces or the size of the palm of your hand not a 10 ounce t-bone. Unlike meat which has been included in our diets for many years, dairy was never meant to be included in our diets, it was added because humans were not getting enough vitamins from other sources and because of the creamy delicious taste. Human's had to develop a make shift enzyme in their body to even digest dairy! Ingesting dairy takes a huge toll on the body it takes about ten times longer to digest something that contains dairy than it does to ingest dairy free items. Indicators of being lactose intolerant are; acne, hormone imbalances, gas, bowel issues, phlegm in the lungs/throat area upon waking, asthma, vitamin deficiencies, etc. I know what you are thinking; but we need protein and the vitamins from meat and dairy to live, yes it is true you do need protein and vitamins, like vitamin D, to live but there are so many other ways to get these besides meat and dairy. Some excellent sources of protein that do amazing things for your body are; lentils and beans, spinach (yes I know it is true!!), nuts/seeds, broccoli, cabbage, hemp, brown rice, and my favourite quinoa. I would like to note that I did not include soya, or  edamame in the protein sources because 90% of the worlds soya and edamame is highly processed and genetically modified.  As for the vitamins that your missing from dairy try adding more greens to your diet, almonds, hemp hearts, cacao (raw chocolate!), and the easiest, spending a minimum of 30 minutes outside a day. Now like I said before I am not saying everyone needs to go meat and dairy free it is a choice you need to make for yourself, but even simply cutting back on meat and dairy and using other sources to get your nutritional requirements does wonders!! Try having two meatless days a week and switch to organic, free range meat sources and you will see a difference with just that.


Listen to your body, and not society, on what your body needs to function to its best ability.  Your body will tell you what food it can and cannot tolerate you just need to listen to it carefully. When I first started trying to figure out what kind of a diet worked for me I would take a few minutes right after each meal to do a mental scan of my body and see what was going on, then about an hour later I would do the same thing again once the digestion process had started, this helped me to really figure out what my body wanted in my diet and what it did not. Often we eat certain foods because we think we have to, its convenient or because it is socially acceptable but this leads to so many health issues that could be avoided. Not everyone needs to live a vegan gluten free life but making simple changes to how you consume food and why, could save your from a lot of physical, emotional, and mental pain down the road. Plus I must say there really are delish things you can make that are healthy, gluten free, dairy free, meat free and amazing in taste. I encourage everyone to take what you have learned here, do a little research and then figure out what it right for you, after all its all about loving your body because it is the only one that you have!