Category Archives: Goods

Baobab Oil – Africa at its Finest

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My hubby has a weird (!) skin condition called urticaria. You would probably not notice it, but when he’s been tucking into the gooey cinnamon buns and double thick milkshakes (errrrmmmm read: eating particularly badly), round red-ish spots appear on his arms, ankles and sides of his chest (mainly). Not cool.

For the most part, he’s just dealt with it, and then it flairs up, itches and bugs him, and then he just tries to ignore it and it tends to go away.

Enter: Baobab Oil by EcoProducts.

Tissue Oil Single Bottle High Res

Baobab oil is made from baobab seeds found in the fruit of the baobab tree. (Side note: my son has this African Alphabet CD and ‘B is for Baobab Tree (the big, beautiful baobab tree’), so the tune is running through my head as I type this. Hysterical). It is cold pressed and the oil is therefore squeezed from the seed. 100% pure. What I like to see.

The uses? Basically, go ahead and smother your entire body with this good stuff; in the shower, in the bath, over dry patches, eczema, scarring, stretch marks, acne, sun burn and and and. Being natural and fabulous, it is safe on pregnant mums and children, just don’t drink it. You can find more uses for baobab oil here.

Baobab oil not only nourishes and moisturizes your skin, but it is packed with all natural goodness including omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids.

So I gave the bottle to my husby to try on his sensitive skin. I am certainly the more excited, spontaneous, optimistic and convinced-these-things-will-work of the two of us. So after a few days (only!) when he came to me saying the baobab oil not only diminished the urticaria spots fairly dramatically, but had almost immediately stopped the itching, I was thoroughly impressed. As was he.

But we all love a good story behind a good product don’t we? 

Sarah with Venda women

Meet Dr. Sarah Venter – founder of EcoProducts (on the very right).

For thousands of years, baobabs have made an important contribution to people’s livelihoods for food, fibre and medicine in Africa.  More recently, the global trade in baobab powder and oil has become an important source of income for many rural families. EcoProducts works with rural people, producing baobab powder and oil which is then sold to the manufacturing and retail sectors. This provides the local Venda communities with employment and much needed income.

However, Dr. Sarah Venter felt that there was still so much more that can be done to promote not only environmental awareness, but also social upliftment. She decided to create a non-profit organisation, the EcoProducts Foundation so that she could make a stronger connection between global markets and the source of baobab fruit. This allows for benefits to flow directly to the care for these ancient trees and to the lives of the women and children who live around them. As I said in the title – Africa at its finest.

Caring is a big deal to Dr. Sarah Venter. She’s encouraged Creating a Culture of Caring because she believes caring for ourselves, others and our environment is desperately needed in the world right now. Caring needs to become not just something we do every now and then, but what we do on a continual basis so that to care becomes naturally embedded in our culture.

Baobab-Pre-School-1024x368

Birthing from this idea of intentional care, came two key areas – the Baobab Pre-School Programme and the Baobab Guardians Project. It.is.incredible what is going on behind the scenes of the simple baobab oil and powder products. For more info, please follow the links to learn more.

EcoProducts also holds the following impressive accreditations:

Organic certified Phytotrade Beauty without cruelty Miss earth South Africa NOP Organic EU Organic

(Retail Price: R32 for 5ml, R118 for 30ml, R153 for 50ml and R234 for 100ml)

Nu to Green Cleaning – Nu Eco!

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Recently, I got a lovely phone call from a lady called Cara, introducing me to Nu Eco, a new household cleaning brand that has recently hit the market. There seems to be a steady increase in interest around chemical free cleaning and it is quite clearly a growing industry (hoorahhhh!). And for good reason.

Let me not terrify you, but did you know that your home may be the most toxic place you encounter each day? And that, if you think about it, indoor air is often more toxic than outdoor air? … and that the average baby has 200 chemicals in his/her body the day he/she is born. Yeeeowzers. Not cool guys, not cool.

There are a million reasons to start detoxifying your home, and no, I don’t mean you need a fancy pants water/air/ozoning-detoxifying-humidifying-air-filtering thingy-majig for every corner of each room. Don’t be silly. But, there are a few steps that you can take towards making your home (a.k.a sanctuary, safe haven, place you slob around in your jarmies) a safer place for you, your family and your fur-children.

Whether you get down and dirty with the scum around your bath or you have a housekeeper to help, this really is something you should think twice about. How safe are your average household cleaners? Just because we don’t see the dangerous toxins raging our homes, doesn’t mean they’re not there. Eek. Scary thought.

Household cleaners are the #1 source of poisoning in children. Interesting huh? (And FYI, here are the numbers for Poison Control – yes, I’ve used it a couple times…)

Red Cross Children’s Hospital: (021) 689 5227, Vincent Palotti: (021) 931 6129 (CT)

This is what my hero of all things green has to say about it:

‘Many of these chemicals can enter the air of your home, even if they are in tightly sealed containers. On top of that, the Poison Control Center (USA) reported that as much as 85% of warning labels on household products did NOT adequately identify the dangers of the products or list proper first aid instructions.

Some of the most common chemicals like formaldehyde, phenol, benzene, toluene, xylene have been found to cause cancer and are often found in indoor air. Other problems like fibromyalgia, depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and hormone imbalance  are also linked to chemical exposure.

Since children consume more water, breathe more air and eat more food proportionate to their body weight than adults, they are MORE at risk from these chemicals.’

But, can we really do away with all these cleaners and replace them with above-par, effective, natural cleaners? Because I need things clean and tidy.

Here’s what I want: (in no particular order)

– to not spend HEAPS of money on cleaning products, (I’m thrifty)
– to make decisions that take the environment into consideration, (I love the earth)
– to use an effective product, (because I need it to work) and,
– to use something that is safe for my family (safety never takes a holiday, friends).

Enter: Nu-Eco.

NuEco Range

Nu Eco was launched by the founders of an eco-tourism business located in an ecologically sensitive environment who wanted to intentionally minimise their footprint.

They found that housekeeping products commonly used in the hospitality industry contained a cocktail of chemicals that are harmful to human health and the environment. These include ammonia, carcinogens, things such as Trisodium nitrilotriacetate (NTA) and a whole whack more abreevs I don’t know and to be perfectly honest, am a tiny bit too terrified to learn any more about.

They also found that not all “green” cleaners on the market were equal. Some cleaned better than others, and there were those that “cheated” their eco-friendly credentials by featuring some natural ingredients, but still contained potentially harmful chemicals as well.

NuEco Range Random

‘Nu Eco was developed with the goal and intention to be the greenest and most natural range of housekeeping products possible. Nu Eco guarantees 100% natural formulations that are fully bio-degradable. Efficacy has however not been sacrificed (good!), for example, the neutral-pH Nu Eco Surface Cleaner, won’t dull or scratch fine surfaces as many conventional cleaners may do over time.

The Nu Eco team researched the cutting edge of natural science and carefully formulated all Nu Eco products to deliver exceptional results while helping care for your family’s health, as well as the long-term health of the world we live in.’

So we put it to the test. Within minutes the Nu Eco citrus hygienic handwash replaced the (blurred out) handwash sitting on my bathroom basin and I haven’t looked back. Hand washing is important, and I shudder to think about what I used to lather my hands with.

Both my mom and hubby have also tried the Nu Eco surface cleaner, and were very happy with the result. (My mom has always been a die-hard Handy Andy supporter, but was well impressed with this cleaner).

I recently purchased the Lavender linen spray to spray my kiddies bedding (sleeeeeeep little children sleeeeep), and love that there really are no-nonsense ingredients in it.

What is preventing you from thinking along new (Nu) lines regarding chemical free cleaners?

Xxx

PS: As they like to say in yoga class, if you’d like to step it up to the advanced level, how about making your own? Lemon juice, vinegar and baking soda are common names thrown around. Have you had much success?

Here are some Natural Cleaning Tips from Wellness Mama to get you going…

Homemade & Happy Baby Wipes

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Have you ever read the ingredients in commonly used store-bought wipes? It’s terrifying. When my bub had his realllly bad bum rash back in the day (yes, you’ve heard this story a million times), I was told to use NOTHING on his bum other than water – and so this sparked my first homemade challenge… baby wipes.

Wellness Mama’s homemade baby wipes were the first thing I made myself when I started on this journey towards better health, reducing chemicals in our home and saving the earth (can you picture my super woman t-shirt?), and it has since become second nature.

Of course, while moving countries I fell off the wagon completely and am now fiiiiinally picking myself back up. Shame on me. My poor number 2 has had store-bought wipes with all their yukkiness for so long, the mom-guilt in me was screaming to do something, and FAST.

First and foremost these homemade wipes are safe for your child. To me that’s the most important thing. And secondly, even with an initial outlay on all the tupperware, gels, soap etc. this will most certainly save you money in the long run if you go through wipes like we do. Health, saving money and the environment. Winning at life.

Here’s what you need:  Adapted from the Wellness Mama recipe. (I bet she has multiple superwoman shirts).

WIPES All ingredients

INGREDIENTS

– Paper Towels (R33.50). OF UTMOST importance: You cannot use cheap paper towel – it will tear and you’ll be left with a sludgy mess. Essential Green work well.

– A Container. I use these amazing Tupperware wipes containers (large wipes containers, as seen here, R109 or R89 for small – ideal for school bags) or a 2l ice cream container with a hole punched in the top will also do. (An excuse to eat some ice cream while you protect your family from harsh chemicals).

– 1 3/4 cups boiled water (or distilled), cooled but still warm. (You can just use regular water if you use them in less than a week like we do).

– 1 T Castille Soap (I use Dr. Bronners from overseas. I use this to wash my kids too).

– 1 T (pure) Aloe Vera Gel (see my note about aloe below).

– 1 T Witch Hazel (Pharmacy R42).

– NEW ADDITION (for me):1 t natural oil such as Baobab Tissue Oil (ohhh, yes I did). This is optional, but highly encouraged. 

METHOD

1) Have your wipes container ready. Open your box of paper towels and divide them into 4. You will use 1/4 box of paper towels per wipes container, and so, since I make two batches, I use half the box.


Oops… as you can see, they don’t quite fit. Not to worry. Once I poured the warm liquid over them, I gently, but firmly, shoved them in – and made them fit. Voia la.

2) In bowl or 500ml jar mix the water, aloe, witch hazel, castille soap, and oil and stir.


As you can see, t’was the perfect day for some afternoon outside DIYing.

3) Put the paper towels in your container and pour the liquid over until they are well soaked (remembering to divide the liquid mixture in two). You can flip the containers over to make sure they’re soaked through.

IMG_0461.JPGDon’t forget to halve the liquid (since you’re making two batches). You don’t want very watery wipes.

4) Open it back up and pull the first wipe out – it might be a bit tricky but go with it.

5) Use as you would regular wipes, and smile, knowing you are not causing your beautiful children any future health problems! I use these wipes for EVERYTHING: from grubby hands and food covered mouths to bums and sandy feet – I know what I’m using on my kids skin is safe and effective.


Isn’t it beautiful? 

Let me reassure you: 

This might sound like its fairly complicated and a lot of work. It’s not. Once you get going, it literally takes 5 minutes to make. I buy the paper towels in bulk and then always have them on hand. You know that terrifying, panicky feeling when you realize you’re almost out of wipes… well you’ll never have that again (as long as you have the ingredients on hand). All you need each time you make a batch is water, soap, witch hazel and aloe vera. Mix and pour. Done.

Let me break it down:

– The castille soap cleans and makes the wipes slippery and easy to use. (You can use less if you find them too soapy),
– The witch hazel acts as a mild astringent and antibacterial,
– The aloe vera has long been an important and indispensable ally for all skin conditions or maladies. It’s just the most perfect soft, loving and caring ingredient for a precious bum.

WIPES 3 liquid ingredients

ALOE VERA 

Hold the (proverbial) phone. Let’s crank this up a notch.

While thinking about this post and driving to pick up my kids, I was AS-TOUN-DED as to how many aloes I saw growing freely in the Southern Suburbs. My friend who lives in Sun Valley had about 20 in her garden at one stage. It is easy-PEASY to make your own aloe vera gel – and cheap as. If I had not had the boys in the car I would’ve jumped out the car and nicked a big fat leaf from off the side of the road, but didn’t think that was very role-model like. Fortunately I got my thrifty paws on some samples from Alcare Aloe.

‘Whoaaaa, hold up’, you’re saying. ‘I’m barely able to wash my hair one a week and brush my teeth twice a day. I’ll never be caught dead making my own aloe vera gel and even these wipes are a push’. That you? Then, breathe a sigh of relief and read on…

Store bought Green Eco Wipes I’m loving…

Cherubs Eco Friendly Baby Wipes: Cherubs baby wipes contain aloe vera (we love aloe vera) and are gentle on delicate skin and the environment. They are flushable, biodegradable and alcohol, paraben and fragrance free. Yes please. (R31.12)

Cherubs-EcoTravelwipesn

Cherubs have brought out a wonderful eco range. They have hand and face wipes, cotton rounds (nice puffy, durable rounds) and cotton buds (with a unique paper-based stem which is 100% flushable and biodegradable!).

Must be honest, I have a phobia about squeaky cotton rounds. A bit like I have a phobia about teeth and wool (together). Gives me the absolute grrrills. I’m happy to report Cherubs’ cotton rounds passed the non-squeak test. Phew.  

Pure Beginnings Baby Wipes with Baobab and Aloe Vera. (Are you starting to see some familiar ingredients appear here?). These gentle bamboo baby wipes are 100% biodegradable. With organic aloe extract and baobab fruit extract, they are very gentle on delicate skin. (R39.50)

One small change is one small change. Do it!

xxx

‘How To’ Essential Oils: Eucalyptus

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Continuing my exploration into the mysterious world of essential oils – I thought, with winter now in full-on mode, my next essential oil I’d like to unpack is eucalyptus.

We’ve all heard of eucalyptus and no doubt you all know the smell. If our cuddly Koala friends love this plant, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t. I mean look at him…

koala on tree

Eucalyptus

Here are a few suggestions on how to make the most of eucalyptus, thanks to our friends at SOiL and DoTERRA.

Due to the many influential compounds found in eucalyptus, it is a common ingredient in throat drops and chest ointments. Eucalyptus is used widely both for its calming and clearing properties as well as to support breathing.

Here’s how you can use it effectively…

Sleep: Put one drop on the bottom of  your feet before you go to bed for a more restful sleep. (I’m trying this tonight!)

Baths: Add 5 – 10 drops of essential oil(s) to a warm run bath. If skin is sensitive, blend the essential oil in a teaspoon of carrier oil first. Close the door so the vapours don’t escape. Soak for at least 10 minutes relaxing and breathing deeply. For added moisturising dilute the oils in 10ml of carrier before adding to the bath.

Massage: Add 5 – 6 drops of essential oil per 10ml of carrier oil. Mix thoroughly and apply liberally to the skin.

Inhalations: Add 4 – 5 drops of essential oil to a bowl of steaming water. Place a towel over your head, close your eyes and lean over the bowl. Inhale the vapour for a few minutes.

Burners and Diffusers: Fill the bowl of the burner/vaporiser with water and then add 3 – 6 drops of essential oil. Light the candle and the oil will evaporate as the water heats up. Do not let the bowl dry out. Eucalyptus blends well with Wild Orange, Lemon, and Peppermint essential oil.

Compress: Recommended when the area is too painful to massage. Dip a towel or cloth in 4-5 drops of essential oil and 200ml hot or hold water and wring out. Cover the affected area with this compress. Then place a plastic wrap over this and a towel or blanket on top. Leave the compress on for 2-4 hours.

Cleaning Spray: Mix water, Lemon, Eucalyptus, and Peppermint in a spray bottle for a cleaning spray.

Before Exercise: Rub onto chest or bottom of feet before exercising, using a carrier oil if you’re nervous about the intensity of an EO directly onto your skin.

As always…

Safety Information: Essential oils are highly concentrated and should always be used with care. They should be diluted in a suitable carrier oil when applying to the skin and should not be used on children under 18 months. Essential oils are not recommended for use during pregnancy. Do not take internally, and if ever uncertain consult an aromatherapy practitioner for professional advice. Be wise!

TRY THIS RECIPE:

Here is a recipe (thanks to Wellness Mama) that I have used when making my own Natural Vapour Rub. I couldn’t bring myself to use a store-bought vapour rub (full of petroleum and nonsense) on my kids when they were babies and so I made my own. I love it, and feel confident when using on the bubs when cough season comes round.

Homemade Natural Vapour Rub

Ingredients:

Instructions:

  1. Melt beeswax with oil of choice in a double boiler until just melted.
  2. Add the essential oils (use half the amount for a baby version or dilute with coconut oil before using)
  3. Stir until well mixed and pour into some type of container with a lid to store. Little tins work well, as do small jars. I also always make a few in lip chap sticks to keep in my purse or use on baby feet.
  4. Use as needed to help sooth coughing and congestion.

Photo credit: Wilson Promontory National park in Australia, and NAHA.

GROWbag – Upcycled Billboard Gardening

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I presume, if you’re reading this, that you love things that have been carefully thought through, that are creative, unique, sustainable, and involve something green. Well then great. Prepare to fall in love with my favourite new ‘green’ product – the GROWbag.

The GROWbag is a homegrown idea that came from European-born now-living-in-South Africa founder, Manuela, after her extensive research into sustainable products. The opportunity arose from having access to old billboard advertising vinyl and meeting skilled people who could recreate this material into products, those being planters. Being European and having lived in an urban environment all her life (with limited space for growing plants) her desire is to make the creation of urban gardens easy for everyone. She has essentially, miraculously combined the worlds of recycling, teaching sustainable living, job-creating, plant-growing, NPO-supporting and creativity in one simple product – the GROWbag. You’re in love already aren’t you?

What is a GROWbag?

A GROWbag is a unique outdoor planter that serves only one purpose: to fit into ones life and any living space. Old billboard vinyl material that would normally be thrown away is converted into an unique range of planters – using old and seemingly worthless material to create new life by growing plants in it. Yay. This vinyl is highly durable and incredibly long lasting – which makes it the perfect material for GROWbags. Each GROWbag is handmade in Cape Town by skilled creators who pride themselves with quality work and ethics.

The GROWbag planters are 100% recycled and made using only two materials: old billboard vinyl/PVC and special wax coated polyester thread. Each planter is one of a kind in colour – the vinyl print on the outside of the bag is carefully selected, so that it creates an interesting story. You’ll never know if your planter was once a MTN, Levi’s, DA or Converse billboard advert flying high over a South African highway. Particular parts of the bag have been reinforced to ensure top quality. All bags have been rigorously tested in order to make these outdoor planters durable in all weather conditions as well as to ensure that the perfect growing condition is created for any plant.

Currently there are 5 sizes of GROWbag available (the small and medium planters can hang, and the large and extra large sit on the ground), and there are also wall pockets which can be used to create a vertical garden. GROWbag has also partnered with Cape Town based NPO, Soil for Life who envisage a green city where all people have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food all year round.

Growbag-Planters-81 NEW

GROWbag-BrownPlanters NEW GROWbag-GreenRange-HR-22 NEW growbag-navybluewhiterange3 NEW GROWbag-PinkRange-LR NEW growbag-snowwhiterange1 NEW Growbag-Wall-Pockets-2 NEW

Together, GROWbag and Soil for Life have created a planter that makes growing one’s own food a simple and effective solution for all the participants of the Soil for Life programme. With every GROWbag that is purchased, you help fund a GROWbag for a family in the communities in which Soil For Life is active. How RAD!

What I love most about these GROWbags is that they are rustic, a little scuffed and quite retro. They are one of a kind products, created carefully and intentionally. And when you peer past the bag itself, you’ll see a material revived, the unemployed employed, and community learning to grow their own food, live sustainably, and feed their families.

The Yummiest Paleo Recipes EVER

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We have only one more day to go friends, and so I’ve rounded up my favorite Paleo recipes of all time. I find myself coming back to these again and again, even when intentionally eating Paleo is far from my mind…

Most of these recipes can be found on my Paleo Board on Pinterest. Pinterest is an amazing resource for Paleo recipes and inspiration. Included in this blog post are just a handful of the gazillions of recipes that are all amazingly delicious and easily found online. So make friends with Google and enter a world of deliciousness. I’m currently also re-reading Pete Evans‘ book Family Food.

Please try to make as MUCH of this as you can at home. Homemade is BEST. Cooking, baking and almond milk making gets your creative food juices going and is so healthy for the soul.

Michael Pollan says something along the lines of, ‘take as much time to prepare your food, as you do to eat it’. I like that quote. And I think he’s right.

RECIPES:

BREAKFAST: (I usually have fruit and nuts on weekdays and save the bacon and eggy kinda brekkie for the weekend).

– My all time fave is Paleo Granola. Basically 1 cup of each of the following: almonds, cashews, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and coconut flakes. You can throw some linseed and sesame seed in if you like (maybe half a cup of each). Mix all the nuts/seeds in a large bowl (except coconut flakes) and mix in about 1/4 cup melted coconut oil. If you want, you can squeeze in the juice of an orange for a touch of sweetness. Spread it out over a baking dish (or two) and bake at a low temp (110 degrees) for about an hour, mixing once in-between. Toast the coconut flakes separately as they burn quickly! Add the coconut flakes to the rest of the granola and store in airtight container.

This is best served over cut up fruit (apples, oranges, pears, strawberries etc). Since this is oat-free and nut HEAVY, you really only need a couple tablespoons of granola over your fruit. This amount of nuts might seem expensive initially but it will last you a fair while since you don’t need that much – not nearly the amount you would usually use when eating granola (museli). Also, if you find the nuts too big, you can chop them roughly in the very beginning. 

– Classic bacon and eggs, with balsamic grilled cherry tomatoes, garlic fried mushrooms, creamy avo and sweet potato hash. YUM.

sweet pot hash

– Spinach Beef Frittata. (I sometimes make these in cupcake pans so you have portion sizes that are just right!) Make up your own combinations too.

SNACKS:

– Banana chips (homemade)
– Apple chips with cinnamon (homemade)
– Cherry tomatoes
– Cut up apple and almond butter
– Beet dip and cucumber and carrot sticks
– Boiled eggs with paleo mayo
– Yam fries and aioli (paleo mayo, garlic and lemon juice)
– Kale chips. I know it is not everyone’s cup of tea but I love them.
– Spice-free biltong
– aaaaaaaaaaaand… Lara Balls (throw 1 cup almonds, 1 cup pitted dates, 3 tablespoons melted coconut oil into a food processor and blend to smitherines. Grab handfulls and squish into balls. Keep them in the fridge and nibble as you need. You can add a tablespoon or so of organic cacao powder or ground coffee beans if you’re wanting to add extra flavour). Lara Balls were essential in both my previous Whole30’s.

sweet pot friesbeet humus

LUNCHES & DINNERS (I find these quite interchangeable):

Your alternatives to a carby base: cauliflower rice, sweet pot/ yam hash or mash, zucchini ribbons and broccoli and cauliflower florets. You can also make spaghetti squash – but I can’t find spaghetti squash in South Africa. Hmmph.

You absolutely have to make cauliflower rice and sweet potato hash/mash as your hearty meal bases (where you would have used noodles/rice/bread etc.) Omit the lime and coriander from the cauliflower rice recipe if you don’t like those flavours – but I find them super scrumptious. Also, zucchini ribbons (peeling a zucchini like you would a carrot) and broccoli florets or roasted cauliflower are very versatile as bases for a spaghetti type mince or juicy vegetable something-or-other.

cauliflower rice

Soups: (while you’re at it – make double and freeze extra portions so you have spare for the following week, or for an unpredictably busy day). 

– I cannot get enough of this Roasted Butternut Soup. I can now make it with my eyes closed.
– Curried Cauliflower Soup (I buy cauliflower like its nobody’s business).
– Sweet Potato and Bacon Soup (with Ras el Hanout – take the time to make this – it’s easy and so worth it).
– Basil and Tomato Soup (with basil from your garden, obviously).

roasted butternut soup

Salads: (Rule of thumb for salads in general: include 1 green, 1 fruit or vegetable and 1 nut. Usually I would say add 1 cheese, but not while on Whole30).

– Chicken, Avo, Mango, Cilantro, Lime, Mint, & Toasted Cashew Salad. Oh my wooord – one of my all time best.
– Bacon, Lime and Sweet Pot Salad
– Grilled Chicken Citrus Salad

mango salad

Meaty Options:

– My BEST EVERRRR: Chipotle Chicken Sweet Pot Skins. Your friends will love you forever. Leave off the cheese. It’s a touch high maintenance, but so, so worth it.

chip chicken skins

– 2nd BEST: Homemade Burgers in Lettuce Wraps. Make it up as you wish. Add whatever tickles your fancy – but keep it dairy free. The crispy lettuce crunch with the warm homemade patty with juicy tomatoes and creamy avo. Stop it. It is so good.

fish tacos

Patty: Throw together minced beef, diced onion, salt, pepper, one egg, a handful of almond flour (leftover from your almond milk), coconut aminos (optional), herbs from the garden, balsamic vinegar, and crushed garlic. Shape into patties, pop in fridge for a while to let the flavours set in and fry in EVOO/Coconut oil on stove. Make extras as snacks. 

– 3rd BEST:  Fish Tacos. I have now started ordering fish tacos in (reputable seafood) restaurants I love them so so much. I adapt this recipe. I leave out the sugar, dairy and carb component and replace it with homemade paleo mayo and crispy lettuce as the wrap. Make this with a mango salsa. A taste sensation.

paleo mayo

Fish & Chips: If you don’t feel like making tacos you can just cook the fish and serve it with yam fries. Yum.

– 4th BEST: Moroccan Meatballs. Yum. Over and Over (on cauli rice). This is another recipe I have continued to make again and again long after our Whole30’s ended.

moroccan meatballs

– 5th BEST: Warm Veggie Salad. The hub is not a huge fan of this one, but I love it. I adapt this recipe (swap the potato for sweet potato or yam). I serve it on baby spinach and mix a couple more flavours into the sauce such as red wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper and chilli flakes.

When you’re lost for ideas, a frittata is always a safe bet (with whatever you have left in your pantry). Also, how about a delicious roast chicken with roasted veggies? So easy. Use the chicken carcass to make homemade chicken stock (in your Wonderbag) for your soups. So versatile huh?

roast chicken

BEVERAGES: 

– Water, drink it with lemon, or not. Just drink LOTS of it.
– Coffee and Tea with Almond Milk or Coconut Milk. These milks are SO easy to make and have no hidden sugars, preservatives etc. unlike store bought. Also roast the left over coconut and almond flours. They’ll come in handy.
– Soda Water with Lemon (my evening drink of choice)
– Naturally Flavoured Water
– Smoothies (so easy to make)
– Juices in your juicer – such as my fave: Beet, Apple & Ginger
– I’m allowing Kombucha since there is no hard and fast rule if it is allowed. I love it for its probiotic and gut health benefits and so feel it’s a great addition. It’s also a good thing to drink when you feel like a glass of wine.

Beet juice

NEW RECIPES I can’t wait to try:

– Healthy Taco Salad in a mason jar with this deeeelicious salsa.
– Roasted Sweet Pot Salad
– Thai Coconut Soup (I love Thai flavours, and ginger is so good for you)
– Coconut Crusted Chicken Patties (how have we not had these before?)

salsa

Pheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwww. That’s a lot of info to take in. I did so much research on my first Whole30, I put this PDF together with a shopping list, meal plan for my 4 weeks and it really helped me when I was feeling inspiration-less. Print it out and pin it up in your kitchen for when you’re needing ideas: Whole 30 – Schedule (Week 1,2,3,4).

Now it’s your turn! Please share your winning recipes, and your total failures (so we know to, errrmmm, give them a skip). Be inspired to do your own research and create your own meals.

Good luck and enjoy!!

xxx

MUST HAVES in your Paleo Pantry

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So, because I’m the one initiating this Whole30/Paleo month, I feel like I need to be even more on top of it than usual. My type A is kicking in. Not only do I need to get my game on, but I then need to write about it as well. This is accountability at its max.

So – I’ve been shopping. Yeeeowzers, have I been shopping. I dare not tell the hubby how much money I spent on raw nuts last week (lucky for me I put it on the Canadian credit card and so it feels like a distant dream).

Paleo can seem expensive, but if you find the right shops and budget well – it doesn’t have to break the bank. If you’re doing the higher grade version and buying purely organic, 100% grass-fed, pastured kobe beef well then sure, you might crank it up a notch or two on the spending scale, but if you can’t, that’s fine. Do what you can do.

In terms of specific items – here are a few of the must haves in the pantry at.all.times. My top 5:

– Coconut Oil (organic or preferably organic virgin),
– Free Range Eggs (Elgin Free Range Chicken), and
– Nuts for my paleo granola, homemade nut butters and lara balls. I get them all from Yellow Submarine in Ottery (macadamia, almond, cashew, brazil, coconut flakes, dates, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds etc.)
– Coconut Milk/Cream. Buy cans by the dozen. You’ll be amazed at how versatile these babies are.
– Cumin. Well… I just love cumin.

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Fruit & Veg:

I mainly buy our fruits and veggies from our local Pick ‘n Pay – purely for my Vitality Healthy Food benefit (and cash back – see frugal, but smart), as well as Food Lovers when I need things in bulk (like making soups to freeze). When I’m feeling extra green I like to make use of an online organic food box system. I try not shop at Woolworths too much, mainly because I find their prices outrageous and I’m thrifty, and I felt a little fooled about their hormone-free – not so free – milk saga a while back. Holding a grudge? Clearly. Admittedly Woolies do sell good quality fruit and veg and if you are looking for something specific they’ll probably have it, and their fresh food lasts a good while. I also get suckered into their Eat In for under R200. Arghhh… they reel me in with their wonderfully sneaky marketing. (Urgh. did you see that? They even managed to turn me from an average supporter to a fairly pro supporter in just one paragraph. Amazing).

In general I am trying to move towards more of a food box system – mainly because its LOCAL, better tasting and organic, and c’mon – SA needs people to support the smaller entrepreneurs (farmers especially).

Here are a few options you can go with, which I’m going to be making use of this Paleo with Me August.

1) Wild Organics (mini bag R110 and medium bag is R160)
2) Think Organic (budget pack R105 and family pack R155)
3) Abalimi & Harvest of Hope (check out their website and Facebook Page)
4) Ethical Co-op (boxes range from R170 – R115).

And use herbs (from your garden for goodness sake). Please go herb shopping and plant them in the new awesome GROWbags and use them at every opportunity. Once your body has started cleaning out the rubbish, your taste buds will reawaken and these incredibly flavoursome little green leaves will become your best friends.

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I can’t do without: avocados, cherry tomatoes, yams, cauliflower, coriander, lemons, beets and dates.

Healthy Oils/Fats: 

Let’s keep this simple – the most popular and easily accessible oils to cook with are coconut oil and extra-virgin olive oil. If you stick with those you can’t go wrong. Get stocked up on some Oh Mega nut butters (except for the peanut butters – those aren’t allowed). Nuts are the BEST thing to snack on (although, let’s not go overboard).

You can also make almond milk if you simply cannot drink tea and coffee without ‘milk’ in it.

I can’t do without: coconut oil, cashew nuts, almond butter, and almonds (for lara balls).

Just a 1kg bag of cashews for the road. As you do.

Protein:

A couple tips when it comes to protein:

– Fish: please buy wild fish,
– Chicken/Poultry/Eggs: please buy free range,
– Beef: at minimum, please eat lean, fat trimmed/drained beef (remember, we are not banting), and at best, please try find grass-fed and/or organic beef (budget related).
– Processed meat (bacon, sausages, deli meats): please try avoid factory-farmed, or anything with added sugar or MSG, sulfites or carrageenan.

I can’t do without: all of the above really. They are all needed for some of my all time favourite Paleo recipes (coming soon). But don’t overdo it on the meat either. Lets glean the wisdom of our friend, Michael Pollan:

eat food not too much

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Now that we have all the basic staples stocked, look out for the post coming with my favorite recipes. It’s going to be a goodie.

Any questions? Now is the time to ask…

Be inspired at Cape Town’s Oranjezicht Famers Market

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This world of green, organic, natural goodness is inspiring. And closer than you think – it’s in Zille’s back garden!

Having recently moved back to South Africa after numerous years abroad, I’m still getting into my groove with the ‘what’s on’ calendar of Cape Town. And so a fair few weeks back, I grabbed my tribe and we hit the Oranjezicht City Organic Farmers Market at Premier Helen Zille’s residence. Truth be told I was more excited about seeing Zille wave to us from out her bedroom window than I was about the market itself (and this was our last shot – after this particular week the market was to move to Granger Bay for the winter), but she was quickly forgotten about once we arrived.

The rolling hills of fresh green lawn, a backdrop of our spectacular mountain, and water features most likely pulled off the set of Downton Abbey take your breath away. Then, you notice you’re walking to the sound of music, and you’re taken by the smell of good (as opposed to bad) coffee, fresh farm food and all around you are people of every kind… your early morning farmers-market types, (some with their soil covered hands, dogs by their sides and carrying well-worn produce baskets) to the German tourist, the local Cape Townian dressed in her Hunters boots and the young family on a Saturday morning outing – just lapping up the local flavour. The experience is literally a feast for all your senses.


You can find everything from bonsais, paleo marshmallows and sweet local majool dates to creamy flat whites, eggs benny on potato bread and bun-less burgers. Organic veggies of all variety are on offer, next to an array of orchards, free range eggs, raw milk, honey, milk kefir and kombucha. My senses were on overload.

Admittedly, in denial of winter approaching I had worn the incorrect shoes, my kids got a bit (a lot) muddy, and my toddler drank his ‘Bean There’ babychino too quickly so lost the plot in his realization he wasn’t getting any more, but otherwise it was a splendid morning outing.


What inspired me more is that people really do think like us and they are living like those choosing different ways of doing things and encouraging others to do the same. I LOVE that raw milk is available, that fermented drinks are celebrated (and normal) and soil covered veggies are desired, if not praised.

*The OZCF Market Day recently received the South African Heritage Award in the 2014 Eat Out Zonneblom Produce Awards.

Check out the Oranjezicht City Farmers Market every Saturday morning at Granger Bay from 9am – 2pm. For more info, visit the webiste here. 

 

Healthy Hot Chocolate

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It’s winter. Full and proper. And winter is synonymous with rain, indoor fires, wellies by day, slippers by night, thick chunky soup with toasted ciabatta, down duvets and hot chocolate and marshmallows.

I love a spoil (such as hot choc) but can’t get over the sugar laden, fake milk powdery, chemical-and-preservative-filled-nonsense-hot-choc. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that it isn’t delicious (it certainly is) but it’s not at all healthy. And since you can’t NOT have hot choc in winter – I made it my mission to find a healthier alternative.

I’m happy to report, I found 3 very good options (ranging in simplicity and preference):

1. The Red Basket Food Company’s Warm/Cold Chocolate:

This is simple: its a pre-made hot (or cold) choc powder ready to mix with warm or cold milk/water and voia la. It’s pretty decent tasting as far as a substitute goes and my 3yr old taste tester really enjoys it.

(Ingredients are: Isomalt, Cocoa (26%), Coconut Oil, MCT Oil, Sunflower Lecithin, Stevia, Xanthin Gum)

2. Superfoods Organic Cacao Powder (Raw Chocolate): MY FAVE

Superfoods have a great range of healthy healthy healthy powders, butters, seeds, berries and smoothie mixes. You can read up on the benefits of cacao powder here. The organic raw cacao powder can be mixed raw sugar (or honey) and milk to make a delicious and rich hot choc. I love the Superfoods range. Again, a real winner. I’d encourage you to sprinkle some organic cacao nibs on top on particularly cold nights.

3. Dairy-Free Mind Body Green Healthy Hot Choc (this one is a bit more higher grade – for those who are keen to give a slightly more complicated recipe a go…)

This version of hot chocolate is the perfect dairy-free alternative to the popular beverage. The recipe is full of minerals and healthy fats, including magnesium, silica, and omega-3 fatty acids. Raw cocoa, hemp hearts, Medjool dates, raw honey, vanilla powder, and cinnamon are the ingredients necessary for this recipe. You can experiment by adding other super foods such as goji berries and pre-soaked chia seeds. It is advised to start slowly until you become accustomed to these nutrient-dense foods.

Ingredients

  • 2 ½ Tbsp. of raw cocoa (you can use a melted chocolate bar if you prefer, but choose a high quality, fair-trade one with 70 to 80% cocoa and minimal added sugar)
  • 2 Tbsp hemp hearts
  • 2 Medjool dates
  • 1 Tbsp raw honey (more if you like)
  • 1 tsp coconut oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon

Preparation

Add all ingredients to your high-speed blender.
Bring 2 ½ cups of water to boil. (You can simply warm the water to the desired temperature if you prefer keeping the cocoa raw and all the enzymes intact.)
Blend and pour into your favorite cup.
Enjoy whether you’re in the midst of snow and ice or someplace warmer.

So – the moral of the story is clear. Don’t hold back. There’s no need to deny yourself this winter essential, in fact, we encourage you to dive in and go wild.

Pssssst… while on the hunt for healthy hot choc, I found this recipe for healthy CHOCOLATE and had everything in my pantry to make them – so I thought I’d add it to this post…

Directions for real, raw healthy chocolates (from Superfoods themselves) to eat alongside your real rich healthy hot choc (I mean – why not).

Ingredients

Preparation

Melt the cacao butter and coconut oil in a double boiler.
Add the melted liquid to your blender and add honey.
Slowly add the cacao powder and vanilla and blend on low speed until mixed. All ingredients can be mixed by hand if you don’t have a blender.
Pour into ice cube trays (or cupcake wrappers) and set in the fridge. 

… and don’t forget to add your homemade marshmallows. The options really are endless.

What’s your fave warm winter bevvie?

WIN with Earth Probiotic & Our Greenish Life

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There is an abundance of food scraps in this house. Like an overload. Every meal leaves behind veggie off-cuts, avo skin, fruit pips, egg shells and sweet potato peels.

Vancouver has a slick composting system… (blah blah blah, yes Debbie, we know Vancouver is brilliant at any-and-everything, you tell us all the time, blah blah blah), but really they do. The council DELIVERS composting bins TO YOU. Sigh. So when we returned to SA, and the common practice of being surrounded by food scraps accompanied us, we felt sick to our stomachs as we opened the bin and threw the beautiful, nutrient-rich waste away. We weren’t equipped to compost. It felt wrong. Intentional sin. A bit like buying un-free range eggs.

Fortunately, freedom returned when my toddler started at a farm-school and food scraps were requested as animal food. FAN-TASTIC. Our ‘waste’ was being lovingly carried in chubby, grubby hands, into the mouths of horses, goats, rabbits and chickens. Beautiful. Order (and soul satisfaction) was restored, but the need to compost at home was tapping me on the shoulder; I needed a long term solution.

And so I got chatting with Earth Probiotic about their food digester and bokashi bran. Bokashi what? I’m intimidated by hippie words I know nothing about. Bokashi, I thought, was one of those. But actually, it’s Japanese for “organic fermented matter”. Not so intimidating after all.

And so I gave this Bokashi Food Digester setup a go. ‘Haaaang on’, you may be asking… ‘What’s a Bokashi food digester?’ – well, that’s a good question.

‘The Bokashi Food Digester is an all natural, non toxic and 100% biodegradable solution allows all food waste to be composted. Food waste nutrients benefit soil thus improving soil health and improving plant and vegetable health.’

The idea is that you add food scraps to your food digester, alternating your scraps with a handful of bokashi bran. Bokashi is wheat-bran inoculated with a mix of probiotic bacteria, yeast and fungi. The goal? Bokashi juice. Bokashi juice is to your garden like water is to a man in the desert. Like chocolate to a child; like wine to a parent.

The Bokashi Food Digester is particularly well designed in that it comes with a sieve which is placed in the bottom of the bin so the bokashi juice can settle below it (to be tapped out) and won’t form mushed sludge with your food scraps. Our family filled a 20L food digester in just over a week (and the poor animals at school, got nothing). We layered our scraps between handfuls of bokashi and let it sit for 2 weeks. The bin lid fits tightly so there is no off-putting stench attracting flies, rodents or unwanted guests. Neat and tidy, just how I like it.

After two weeks, I tapped off my bokashi juice, and got almost 2L of the browny/orangy goodness! (Be sure not to store this next to your kombucha – they look identical). Wowzers. Bearing in mind, you need to dilute your bokashi juice heavily with water before use as it is highly acidic. 1:100 for lawns, 1:300 for gardens and pot plants, 1:500 for succulents and 1:1000 for sensitive plants. Also, your juice should be used within 24 hours after tapping for the best results.


It’s a fantastic system. It’s neat and easy to use. The empty bokashi bran tub can be used to store food scraps in your kitchen and then emptied into your large digester at the end of the day. After you’ve tapped your juice, you can add the food scraps to your worm farm, or bury it in the ground.

Keen to have your very own Earth Probiotic Bokashi Food Digester? Well luckily, Earth Probiotic, Our Greenish Life and Green Goods are giving one away! The prize is worth over R200. Yes, please.

Enter here:

Share this competition on Facebook for an extra entry.

Thanks for entering. Good Luck!

Contact Earth Priobiotic
(t) (27) 011 783 3380
(e) info@earthprobiotic.com
Physical Address: 3 Springhill Close, Moodie Hill, Morningside, Gauteng.
Web: www.earthprobiotic.co.za

Terms and Conditions

The competition runs from Wednesday 08 July – Wednesday 15 July 2015.
This competition is open to Cape Town residents only.
The winner will be chosen randomly and contacted via email.
Winner will be announced on the Our Greenish Life website and social media channels on Wednesday 15 July.

THIS COMPETITION IS CLOSED. Congrats to Valerie Duffield Anderson who won this awesome compo.