Raw Food

Last week, I shared a recipe for uber-customizable vegan granola bars, and I also reviewed the new Vega One bars, which we all agreed are tasty/nutritious but super pricey, too. This led one of my readers, Ali, to ask whether I have a homemade protein bar recipe? At that time, I didn’t. A week later, I’m pleased to say that, while I don’t quite have a protein bar recipe, I do have a higher protein bar recipe — a spin on my standard date/nut bars, but with the addition of some brown rice protein. They’re easy, fast, and they provide about 10 grams of protein per bar. That’s not quite as high as a lot of commercial proteins, but it’s a little more than my norm! To make these bars, I used plain Sun Warrior protein powder. I like this brown rice protein because I find it less “chalky” than some other brown rice proteins, because each bag has 47 servings, which at $42.99 on Vitacost is a good deal, and because an unflavored version is offered, which means no stevia aftertaste. But you could use any brown rice protein that you like instead; the Nutribiotic brand is a cheaper option, especially when you buy it on Vitacost (which, as you can see, is a favorite shopping destination of mine!). Like all of my snack bars, these guys are highly customizable. If you hate dates, you can use raisins. If you’re allergic to almonds, try them with cashews, Brazil nuts, or pumpkin seeds. Get creative, and have fun! At the end of the recipe, I pulsed in 1/4 cup goji berries. Raisins, cranberries, apricots, or any dried fruit would be nice, too. It’s also worth saying that I cut the bars into a variety of sizes. See? A size for everyone and every time of day! Had I added another scoop of protein, these guys would be even more protein-rich. But three scoops was the right amount in terms of texture and avoiding that chalky taste. My next experiment will be a bar with hemp protein. And more ideas will probably follow, so stay tuned I hope you enjoy these! Print Higher Protein Raw, Vegan Snack Bars. Easy to Customize! Ingredients2 cups raw almonds (not soaked) Pinch of sea salt 2 cups pitted dates 3 scoops (approximately 62 grams) brown rice protein powder of choice, preferably plain flavor 4 tbsp almond butter 1/4 cup goji berries, raisins, chopped dried apricots, or another dried fruit of choiceInstructionsIn a food processor fitted with the "S" blade, process almonds and sea salt till they're ground into a coarse meal (but no giant chunks of almonds left). Add the dates. Give the mixture a few pulses to combine. Then run the motor until the whole mixture is very well ground, and sticks together when you squeeze a handful. Add the dates and the almond butter, and continue to process for a minute or two. Pulse in the dried fruit. If you use gojis, they can be hard, so you may need to run the motor a little. Press the "dough" into a small rectangular baking pan (I used 11 x 7 x 2 inches) that has been lined with parchment paper. Make sure the top is even as you press. Let sit in a cool place for a little while (the fridge is good). Cut into bar shapes that fit your needs, and enjoy. Makes approximately 10-15 bars. Notes: 1. If you use a vanilla flavored protein powder, that's totally fine, but the taste will be quite sweet. You can try omitting some of the dates (maybe a half cup) and adding more almond butter to bind (maybe 2-3 tbsp), though I haven't yet tried this method. 2. Feel free to chop in cacao nibs, to add vanilla extract, or any other add-ins you like (maca, cinnamon, cocoa powder). 3. Hemp protein should also work well! Schema/Recipe SEO Data Markup by ZipList Recipe Plugin2.2http://www.choosingraw.com/higher-protein-raw-vegan-snack-bars-easy-to-customize/ Well friends, I’m here in Portland, eagerly waiting for Vida Vegan Con 2013 to begin! Today is a designated work day, though, so I’m sticking close to my hotel and watchin

When last I left off on Seed weekend recapping, Kathy and I had been reunited over a lovely dinner at Pure. On Saturday, I made my way downtown for day one of The Seed, to participate on a panel with my friend JL Fields, Pas Niratbhand, and the lovely Kristen LaJeunesse of Will Travel for Vegan Food. Our topic? Vegan businesses: getting started, using online marketing to find an audience, and staying true to vegan values while also being inclusive and welcoming everyone, everywhere. I arrived pretty close to start time, but had a few moments for this ridiculous lovefest with the hens and JL. (Photo courtesy of Ethan!)  Soon, we were up on stage. This panel was somewhat impromptu–Chloe Coscarelli couldn’t make it to the event, and so we three stepped in. It was a good chat, very similar to last year’s blogging panel (where JL and I were also working together).  After, I got to check out some of the cool vendors. I was actually pretty beat come late afternoon–a combination of a seven hour bus ride Friday and some pretty intense seasonal allergies–so I made my way home for a quiet night at my mom’s. It was a good call, because Kathy and I presented bright and early on Sunday! (These photos are courtesy of Kathy and of Ali Seiter, who was graciously snapping a few in the audience for me.) Kathy and I are no strangers to collaboration, but this was our first time doing something live. Our presentation was on 10 ways to liven up your smoothie routine. A perfect topic, since Kathy’s upcoming book is a collection of 365 vegan smoothies, and she’s the queen of creative, fun smoothie recipes. It was fun to be in the presence of a master! Kathy gave the audience 10 tips for making smoothies richer, more nutritious, and more creative. They were all really great. My fave? Using cubes! Kathy mentioned that you can create better texture and flavor by freezing juice, almond milk, or soy milk and blending them in place of ice cubes so that you can keep things frosty without watering them down. Such a cool piece of advice, and one I’d never thought of! She also mentioned that frozen watermelon chunks add a wonderful, frothy texture to smoothies (a trick I learned when I saw her making her watermelon frosty at home). She also recommended varying the type of plant milk you use (oat, almond, soy, rice) for different texture and taste. My little spiel was on making smoothies more filling and nutritious. I went over different protein powder options, different healthy fats you can use, and how to balance a smoothie so that it doesn’t leave you craving food after an hour or so.  A little plug for 22 Days Nutrition! Afterwards, we got to take questions and meet some of the awesome folks who had come out on a very rainy morning to see us present. Thanks, wonderful audience! You made our day   After that, I took another spin through the conference. I was happy to see friends from Candle Cafe: And One Lucky Duck:   In addition to other vendors with new products I had never tried. Brooklyn Dark deserves a special shout out for their tasty dark chocolate! I picked up a dark chocolate sesame seed bar, which was truly unique. I was also really impressed with skincare from the Orange Owl–handmade, batch by batch, and it smelled so good! I snuck around the corner to grab a quick coffee with my friend Brendan, who I hadn’t seen in nearly a year. We made our way back to the conference in time for him to present to a packed room, but first made time for a photo op: After that, I had a few extra minutes of chilling with JL, whose presentation on expanding a blog into a business had been a tremendous hit, and caught the beginning of Dr. Robert Ostfeld’s presentation. Dr. Ostfeld is a cardiologist at Montefiore who has been putting his patients on a whole foods, plant-based diet and seeing tremendous results. He’s a true inspiration, and his presentation was accessible and informative. I said goodbye to 82 Mercer and headed out int

Whether it's abs of steel we want, or simply a litte less bloating after meals, the flat tummy can be had by all. And food plays a huge role. Here are 9 of my top picks that you wanna get in your gob if you're after a trim taut tummy. + Almonds Little gems of protein, fibre and vitamin E - a powerful antioxidant - with plenty of magnesium, which our body must have in order to produce energy, build and maintain muscle tissue, AND regulate blood sugar; this is what helps prevent cravings that can lead to overeating and weight gain. Soaking them prior to eating them also helps with the digestion of them, which can further make your tummy happy :) All other nuts are also great.+ Eggs You won't find a more perfect protein source thanks to their balance of essential amino acids. Personally, and from what I've seen, when people eat eggs for brekkie, they feel less hungry throughout the day (than when breakfast is mainly complex carbohydrates like breads and cereals). The protein and fat in the egg is likely what contributes to the feeling of satiety. And unless you've got an allergy, no bloating seen!+ Berries Antioxidants and fibre! The more fibre you eat the fewer calories you absorb from all the other stuff you put in your mouth because fibre traps food particles and shuttles them out of your system before they're fully digested. + Leafy Greens Super super low calorie count is what helps that waistline here. One cup of spinach contains only about 40 calories, while a cup of broccoli has 55 calories and satisfies 20 percent of your day's fibre requirement. Most leafy greens are also a good source of calcium, an essential ingredient for muscle contraction, helping fuel your workouts. However, if your system is struggling with digesting foods, make sure you're cooking your greens.+ Salmon Seafood, especially fatty fish like salmon, tuna, and mackerel, is an excellent source of uber-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, which help promote fat burning by making our metabolism more efficient. Ontop of that, salmon (and other seafood) is an excellent source of abs-friendly protein.+ Oats (unsweetened, unflavored)Unless you experience gluten sensitivity, oats are a great flat-tummy food. Boosting our energy right up, and helping to maintain our blood sugar levels, so we're not reaching for the unhealthy stuff. + Peanut butterOh hello. Who else adores peanut butter? In anything and everything, I'll eat it. And what's even better? It builds muscle, and burns fat. What more could we want? + AvocadoRich in monounsaturated fats that will help maintain a trim stomach. + Probiotic foods It's the healthy probiotic bacteria in yogurt, kombucha, kefir and fermented vegetables such as saurekraut that helps keep our digestive system healthy, translating into a lower incidence of gas, bloating, and constipation, which of course keeps your tummy looking flat. Our health starts in our colon so if we ensure plenty of healthy bacteria there, we are ensuring health in the rest of us - this includes a healthy looking tummy.NOTE: This is not a definitive list. If you are allergic, sensitive or intolerant to any of these foods, it is likely that they are not flat-tummy foods for you. Listen to your body and eat what works best for you. This is only a guide.And one biggie to avoid... + Processed carbohydratesThese increase insulin levels and if we eat too many too often, they can stimulate abdominal fat (ontop of being devoid of any real nutrition). Some examples of these are low-fibre, processed breakfast cereals, white bread, pikelets, crumpets, bagels and scones, white rice and sugary soft drinks.Additionally...+ Regular exercise is essential to a flat tummy. People who exercise regularly are better fat burners, burning more fat all day long, as opposed to those who don't exercise regularly. + Practice good posture; yoga, pilates and the like all teach you to engage your core muscles and help you develop strength. All the sit ups in the world won

apparently sage is a beautiful flowering plant! what a bonus!so what have you got growing on? (bah, i know, i'm horrible.=) in june i plan to do a post of our home and community garden. i may even ask a friend to borrow her fancy camera. we're growing the usual plus some new things i'm excited to show you. enjoy your unofficial start of summer!=)

This has never happened to me before. My nails have been growing faster than I can trim them. Ok that sounds like a stretch but with my crazy busy days of late (husband’s away for 2 weeks, with 2 little ones, also getting back into my regular workouts as well as planning for my online video class e course due to launch soon) you can see why some things may slide. But honestly my nails have never grown so long and strong EVER. Here’s why… Yesterday I had to remind myself to trim them – sounds crazy but each time I’d notice they were getting longer I would make a mental note to do it, before I knew it they’d grown even more. I used to be a chronic nail biter as a kid, and when I was a flight attendant I either kept my natural nails short, or wore acrylics (yuk!) as nails were constantly broken, heaving that metal trolley up and down the aisles. And usually when pregnant, women find their nails; skin & hair improve or give them grief, one of the two. Mine was the former, with my hair beautiful and thick and nails not bad, but skin was the best it’s ever been (with both PREGNANCIES) only to go back to it’s average, combination complexion with occasional breakouts. So in an effort to get my skin back to it’s pregnancy glory, or at least try, I’ve been increasing my healthy fats. Not only is this great for my skin, but my hair, nails and of course healthy fats are UBER IMPORTANTE for breastfeeding mothers. Joanna Steven who wrote The Milky Way, talks about the importance of these fats (Omega 3’s and 6’s) for not only the quality of the milk, but also to assist with the brain development of our bub. WIN WIN WIN I say. So I’ve been enjoying more chia puddings, flax crackers, coconut & coconut oil in balls & fitness fudge and my fruit salads as well as way more avocados than ever before. I really like my avocados massaged into my salads aka guacamole salad, however if I get to the end of the day and have felt I’ve been a little short on my healthy fats, and am not really feeling like a savoury treat then… I’ve been experimenting with avocado sweet smoothies. And that is how this recipe came about.. Berry Yoghurt/Smoothie. Total accident but WOW. If you feel you are missing your dairy yoghurts then this is the one for you. Feeling a little silly though because yesterday I did post that it was NUT FREE. Oops. You’ll see that it is not in fact nut free (almond milk is in the recipe) – that will teach me for posting a teaser after I have nothing left (in my brain!) after boot camp class! Please let me know if you make it and what you think of it in the comments below. I originally made this as a smoothie, but if it thick enough to eat with a spoon. If you prefer your yoghurts more thick then reduce to 1 ½ or 1 cup of almond milk. Play around with it. Also did you have any other weird and wonderful things happen whilst pregnant that you wish had continued into non pregnant life? CLICK HERE FOR THE RECIPE Share on Facebook

The temps are heating up and the humidity is increasing. It definitely feels like summer around here, especially yesterday, when my latest Eco Emi arrived in the mail. The summer-themed box was one of the best I've received so far.As usual, Hayden and I made our unboxing video, right before heading out for her dance class. She has dance pictures today and a crazy recital week (rehearsals and two performances) coming up soon.Anyway, in case you missed it, here's what we got in this month's box:Assorted Nail Polish by Suncoat Girl: Hayden and I are definitely girlie girls, who enjoy a pretty mani-pedi every once and a while. We love the fact that this kid-friendly nail polish is water-based and odor-free. We received a pale orange color (Delicious Peach), perfect for summer and my warm skin tone (it looks like a soft nude shimmer on my nails). It glides on evenly and is easy to apply. I just wished it dried a bit faster on Hayden's nails (she's a bit impatient sometimes). However, it's so simple to remove; just soak your nails in warm water and peel away the polish (seriously, it works; Hayden and I tried it). Vegan Assorted Natural Mascara by Suncoat: I'm so happy this mascara came in this month's box. Mascara is probably my "desert island" makeup product. You can barely see my lashes without it. However, this particular mascara has Hayden's name written on it this time (although I may have to purchase one of my own). It is natural, sugar-based, vegan and "kind to sensitive eyes." I finally have a mascara I can use on Hayden for her dance pictures tonight, as well as her recital (makeup is required, including black mascara). Although this mascara is not waterproof (no tears baby girl), it should resist smudging.Mongo Kiss Honey Vanilla Lip Balm by Eco Lips: In our video, I failed to mention that this lip balm is made by Eco Lips. It amazes me how many varieties of lip balms they make, especially since I seem to love them all. This one is no exception. It smells lovely and is a nice chunky size for little hands to grip (Hayden is a big fan of natural lip balms). It's cruelty-free, GMO-free, gluten-free, USDA organic, fair trade certified, manufactured with 100% renewable energy, and the tubes and caps are made out of recycled materials.Pink Champagne Powder Eyeshadow by Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques: Now you know I'm a big fan of all the Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques I have received in past Eco Emi boxes. This pink champagne color gives a rosy glow for summer and is just right for daytime wear. The best part is that it doesn't irritate my sensitive eyes. Hayden even tested it out. Oh, and did I mention it came in a full-size container?AquaSport SPF 30 Sunscreen by All Terrain: In the summer, I gotta have my sunscreen. This one looks like it can handle a day at the beach or even the pool. It claims to be non-greasy, both water and sweat resistant, and the best part, won't cause eye sting. Hallelujah! ("Hallelujah, I Love Her So" just happens to be Hayden's dance recital song, if you were wondering). I can't wait to try it at Hayden's end-of-the-year preschool picnic this week.Herbal Armor Insect Repellent by All Terrain: There are a lot of mosquitoes where we live, which reminds me of one of Hayden's current favorite flicks, "Lilo and Stitch" (Did you know aliens sent mosquitoes to Earth, because they are an endangered species that need humans to feed? Did I also mention this information is from an animated Disney film? Ha ha). Anyway, this insect repellent will be appreciated while watching the fireworks this summer. The mosquitoes certainly come out to feast then. Pomegranate Bars by Athena Bars: This is the third Athena bar to come in an Eco Emi box (the other two were blueberry and pumpkin spice). Each bar contains two servings of fruits and veggies, 40 antioxidants, 10 grams of protein and also probiotics. Since I opt for vegan or "bee-gan" bars, I haven't sampled these for myself, but I hear they are really good.Assorted Lotion and

Last week, I showed you a slew of recipes featuring strawberries and greens, because the folks at Relay Foods had given me a chance to sample their local Bounty Box (similar to a CSA box). It was brimming with leafy greens and tender plump strawberries (finally, tis the season). The greens lasted me quite a few days, and many salads over the course of them. Today, I’ll show you the last salad I made with these ingredients: a simple asparagus and strawberry salad with balsamic vinegar and basil. Strawberries and balsamic are a classic flavor combination. I’ll never forget the first time I tasted the two together, expecting something terrible; I was delighted at how delicious the marriage was! I often pair balsamic vinegar with fruit in salads (it’s also great with peaches, raspberries, and even watermelon), so I knew I’d be happy with this combination of ingredients. Needless to say, it was a hit, and it was also quick and easy to make. Print Asparagus and Strawberry Salad with Balsamic and Basil Ingredients5 large stalks asparagus, cut into 2 inch pieces 1 cup halved or quartered fresh strawberries 6 cups fresh greens (mesclun, baby spinach, romaine, mache -- all of these will be just fine) 1/4 cup tightly packed fresh basil 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 1/2 tabelspoons balsamic vinegar 1 tsp dijon mustard 1 tsp agave or maple syrup Sea salt and pepper to tasteInstructionsBring a small pot of water to boil. Add the asparagus and blanch for 1-2 minutes, till the stalks are still crunchy, but bright green and just tender enough to be palatable to you. Slice the basil into thin ribbons and, in a large bowl, combine the greens, asparagus, basil, and strawberries. Whisk together the oil, vinegar, mustard, syrup, and salt/pepper. Toss with the greens. Serve. Makes 2 appetizer sized or 1 sizable salad.Schema/Recipe SEO Data Markup by ZipList Recipe Plugin2.2http://www.choosingraw.com/asparagus-and-strawberry-salad-with-balsamic-and-basil/ If you’re eating this on its own and would like it to be more meal sized, you could toss in some cooked quinoa or roasted chickpeas–both would be lovely here! This crispy, sweet, and savory bowl is a perfect celebration of the season. I hope you enjoy it soon. xo

Today's cheesecakes are in celebration of me and J moving to a new city for his new flight job and bigger opportunities for me. For the past few weeks I've been packing up our place (J had to come here early to start the job), visiting with friends, and tying up loose ends. In some ways it's hard to leave my hometown for good. There isn't a lake or forest in our new backyard and we can't hop in the boat in the spur of the moment, BUT we are so excited and so ready for all the other gifts this new phase of our life has to offer. We enjoyed these mini cheesecakes over the weekend as we were preparing to move and it was the perfect Spring treat.Before I get into the recipe, I want to address a question I get asked a lot! "Do you soak the cashews?" The answer is NO! I never say to soak them because they are to be blended as-is. The key is to make sure you have a high speed blender or you will still be left with some grainyness from the cashews. Some recipes call for the cashews to be soaked to make them soft and therefore blend easier but this will also add water to the mixture. Also, soaking will NOT affect any enzyme inhibitors because they don't have any. Neither do macadamia nuts or pine nuts - you will notice they have no skin the way other nuts like pecans, walnuts, almonds, sunflower, sesame, etc, do and therefore do benefit from soaking.If you only have a regular blender, I recommend grinding the cashews down to a powder in a food processor before adding all ingredients to the blender. This will help with smoothness. Not completely, not greatly and will make the blending process easier.Swirly Strawberry CheesecakesThe swirl in these cakes is optional but adds a nice little touch. Simply use the strawberry sauce from my vanilla bean cheescakes!Crust1 cup almonds or macadamia nuts1/4 cup pitted, packed datesPinch salt1 teaspoon waterIn a food processor grind the almonds.Chop the dates and add to the almonds with the salt. Grind again into crumbs.Add the water and zap again until the mixture turns into a moist dough that holds together when pressed.Press into the bottom of an 8" spring form pan, mini pans, or small silicone muffin cups. Set aside.Filling3 cups diced strawberries1 1/2 cups cashews1/4 cup coconut nectar1/4 cup lemon juice1/2 teaspoon vanilla1/8 teaspoon himalayan salt3-4 drops stevia1/2 cup melted coconut oilBlend all but the coconut oil until smooth and creamy in a high speed blender.Add the oil and blend to incorporate.Pour over the crust. Drizzle strawberry sauce on the top using a squirt bottle and use a chopstick to swirl it in.Chill in the fridge for at least 12 hours.And here's another recipe for raw strawberry cheesecakes. Mango ones too!And for those of you who enjoy protein packed treats, check out my Vanilla Protein Cakes with peanut butter frosting!

Breakfast Pistachio Ice Cream serves 2 ~ $1.19ingredients1 ripe avocado ($.88)4 ripe bananas ($.60)2 tablespoons agave ($.20) 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ($.20)pinch salt1/4 cup pistachios ($.50)Fruit and nuts. That's all this is, but it feels like a treat ... In a food processor with the "S" blade, puree the avocado, bananas, agave, vanilla, and salt until very smooth. This will take a few minutes. Process in an ice cream maker until the consistency of soft serve ice cream. Fold in the pistachios and freeze until firm.If you don't have an ice cream maker, just freeze the puree and stir every half hour or so until it's firm, adding the pistachios just before firm.nutritional information: calories: 552 fat: 22 gr carbs: 92 gr protein: 8 grLunchVery Hungry Caterpillar Fruit Salad serves 2 ~$2.75 per servingingredients 1 apple ($.70)2 pears ($1.60)3 plums ($2.00)4 strawberries ($.60)5 oranges (we used five orange segments each, so about one orange) ($.60)directionscut the fruitput into bowlseat until you're not hungry anymoreHere's the recipe video! nutritional information: calories: 315 fat: 2 gr carbs: 81 gr protein: 5 gr Dinner Mimi Kirk's Simple Mediterranean Saladserves 2 ~ $3.82 per servingingredients4 firm heirloom tomatoes or slightly green tomatoes, cut into wedges ($3.00) 2 sweet red or yellow peppers, seeded, cored, and sliced into thin strips ($2.10) 1small or 1/2 medium sweet onion or red onion, sliced into strips ($.10) 1/2 cucumber, coarsely diced ($.25) 1 cup raw olives, pitted ($1.59) good quality extra-virgin olive oil ($.30) 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice ($.30)himalayan or celtic sea salt, to taste freshly milled pepper to tasteThis recipe is from Mimi Kirk's wonderful new book, Live Raw. This is one of the best raw food books I've read. Mimi's recipes are elegant and gourmet, but they're also very simple and easy to make.To make the Simple Mediterranean Salad ... place the vegetables in a bowl and sprinkle generously with extra-virgin olive oil, lemon, salt, and pepper. Let salad rest for 15-20 minutes to meld flavors together.Taste for salt and pepper and adjust if necessary. Flavors should be lemony and light. Serve on chilled lettuce leaves. nutritional information: calories: 274 fat: 20 gr carbs: 19 gr protein: 5 grDessertMaple Bacon Ice Creamserves 2 ~ $1.00 per servingI recently saw an old advertisement for a maple bacon ice cream from a fast food place. That seems like the perfect example of what not to eat, for all kinds of different reasons. But, being a big fan of the sweet and savory combo, I thought I'd try to see if I could make it vegan ... and raw. It's basically just a maple zucchini bacon over vanilla banana ice cream. Super easy.ingredients1 zucchini, sliced 1/4" thick ($.70)2 tablespoons olive oil ($.20)2 tablespoons maple syrup ($.40)1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar ($.10)1 small clove garlic 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke1/2 teaspoon black pepper1/2 teaspoon saltSlice the zucchini into strips about 1/4" thick. In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients. Toss with the zucchini until well coated, then dehydrate for several hours or overnight, until just a little bit crunchy but pliable. Tear the zucchini bacon into pieces and serve over vanilla banana ice cream with maple syrup. To make the ice cream, slice and freeze four bananas. When ready to use, grind them in a food processor with one teaspoon vanilla and a splash of almond milk. Process until smooth, which may take a few minutes and some scraping down on the sides. This will cost about $.30 per serving.nutritional information: calories: 298 fat: 14 carbs: 45 protein: 2 grTotal cost for the day: $8.76total calories: 1,439total fat: 58 grtotal carb: 237 gr total protein: 20 gr

I often have people (females) ask me how they can make shopping for food a fun thing; a pleasurable experience and not something that is merely a means to an end (ie. mindlessly walking supermarket aisles to put junk in the trolley to later store in the pantry).So, as I lurve doing our shopping I thought I'd give you a few tips and tricks to make your weekly food shop fun, exciting, a total full on experience and something that you even look forward too, and not dread. So here we go...+ Shop with a loved one; Whether it's clothes shopping, seeing a movie, hitting the beach or the gym, we all know most things are more fun when shared with a partner, best friend or family member. This includes grocery shopping. I always shop with B and we make an experience of it and have a ball wherever we go. I know if I did it on my own, I'd likely zip through and just want to get it done. No fun.+ Get to your local growers market; this is what got me going every week to initially buy organics over the other stuff (yay) and got me buying new and different veggies each week. Then it became so much more; I would also always bump into someone I knew, have a hug/juice/coffee/tea/nibble/etc. I eagerly looked forward to a litre of amazing green juice I could get, and made an entire morning of chatting, shopping, trying new things and basking in the Sunday morning sunshine.+ Get to other markets; venturing a little further to see what other areas near you offer is always a load of fun. In Sydney, Frenchs Forest was always my local fav, but every-now-and-then I'd end up at Pyrmont, Everleigh or Kings Cross. It jazzed it up a little, got me seeing and buying even more new foods and products, bumping into other friends around town, and had me see different areas of Sydney. Now up in Cairns we drive north to visit Port Douglas or up the range to Kuranda for a change of scenery and always have loads of fun.+ Get to know who you buy your food from; when forming relationships with the people who you get your groceries from, they love seeing you again and again. They also throw in freebies every now and then, are happy to give you recipes and cooking advice, and can often get you something you ned but can't find anywhere else.+ Have a cook-up night with friends; again, this will encourage you to shop fresh and have new recipes to try. Sharing conversation over food is one of my all time favourite things to do, and the meals shared are always changing as everyone wants to impress and experiment. Trust me, in starting something like "Friday Friends night" you'll sure be eating some of the best food ever in no time. + Put aside a new recipe (or more) each week to try; this gets your taste buds excited and will also help you with meal prep, which can at times be tricky. When I find a recipe I want to try, my whole body is like YUM!!! And then I can't wait to get the ingredients, prepare it, taste it and share it. + Ditch all large chain supermarkets; shopping at small organic grocers, weekend markets and health food shops, you're helping the locals stay in business, getting fresh healthy foods, have way less processed options to tempt you, engage in super cool conversations, and you can get everything you would otherwise get from the big guys anyways. There's also a beautiful thing about shopping at markets and smaller stores. Those big guys have it all set up for us to buy, buy, buy, and end up with a whole lotta rubbish we don't need.So there you go. My tips to making food shopping loads of fun each and every week.If you have your own tips and tricks, or other things you try, I would love to know what you get up too.Christie xxLoving this content? Sign up for my weekly newsletter here for more juiciness right to your inbox.