Gracious Living Creamy Blueberry Vanilla Smoothie (just out in Sweat Equity Magazine Fall 2012)

latest GRACIOUS LIVING CREAMY VANILLA BLUEBERRY SUPERFOOD SMOOTHIE (currently showcased in Sweat Equity Magazine Fall 2012)

A delicious smoothie that’s easy and fast to make and perfect for Fall!

An alkalinizing, detoxifying, energizing, metabolism boosting, and filled with superfoods, plant-based protein, antioxidants, and fibre.  This smoothie is creamy and filling without the milk, and will provide you with sustainable energy.  Also, great to enjoy after a workout to help the body recover, replenish, and reduce inflammation.

**Avocado and frozen bananas are both potassium rich and provide a creamy texture when blended.

**Swiss chard is an outstanding source of antioxidant phytonutrients that act as anti-inflammatory agents.

**Hemp seeds provide all natural, anti-inflammatory, easy-to-digest, plant-based protein.

GRACIOUS LIVING CREAMY VANILLA BLUEBERRY SUPERFOOD SMOOTHIE:

1 cup blueberries
2 frozen bananas
1 ripe avocado
1 handful swiss chard
2-3 tbsp hemp seeds
1tsp real vanilla
natural sweetener to taste
water to desired consistency
1 cup ice

**Blend till creamy. Don’t be scared by the interesting shade of greeny purple colour…this smoothie is sensational superfood goodness! This recipe will fill a blender so make sure to share! Cut the recipe in half for smaller amounts.

**For different variations: add a different berry of choice, a different dark, green leafy vegetable of choice, or try sweetening with dates or maple syrup instead.

*this smoothie is perfect for the 30 Day Vegan Challenge that started 2 days ago…never too late to join! just start!

* click here to join us in Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia for a Gracious Living Yoga Detox Weekend Retreat Sept 21-23, 2012!

*click here to learn about Gracious Living Nicaragua Yoga Adventure Retreats starting Nov 27-Dec 4, 2012!

www.gracevanberkum.com

Gracious Living Pitaya Coconut Creme Smoothie

Gracious Living Pitaya Coconut Creme Smoothie

it’s been a super busy summer filled with detoxifying, healing Gracious Living smoothie and juicing workshops! and it’s not over yet!

did some work in my lab this afternoon (the kitchen) and enjoyed my newest creation while working at my “office”(don’t hate the player!)

the fertile soil of Nicaragua creates a true paradise for the production of delicious fruits (learn more here).

Gracious Living Pittaya Coconut Creme Smoothie

*1/2 pitaya (Nicaraguan dragonfruit)

*1/2 calala (Nicaraguan passionfruit)

*1/2 frozen banana (frozen bananas make your smoothies creamier)

* small handful arugula lettuce

* 1/2 avocado

*juice of one fresh lime

* 1tbsp chia seeds

*fresh ginger to taste

* raw, wild, local honey to taste

*dash of cinnamon

*splash of real vanilla

*water & ice, ice baby

*top with fresh, grated coconut

it’s soooo amazing! for real. quite possibly my BEST smoothie recipe evahhhh! filled with lots of enzymes to ensure optimal metabolism and energy…read more about the numerous benefits of fresh, live foods here!

SUBSTITUTIONS:

so i am all about using fresh AND local ingredients…using whatever is available and abundant in the countries i am in and making delicious concoctions out of them (this is the premise of my upcoming recipe book).  i realize not everyone can pick their coconuts & bananas right from the tree like me (don’t hate the player!) so here are some substitutions that will go down equally as tasty!

*instead of dragonfruit try kiwi or raspberries.

*instead of passionfruit try pineapple or peaches.

*try romaine lettuce instead of arugula….. or even better throw in kale, swiss chard, spinach. or a spoon of chorella powder.

*use fresh lemon instead of lime

*instead of raw honey use maple syrup instead

sip away on some local, blended fruits near you….

feed me with your feedback! (let me know what you concocted)

join me for some of my delicious, detoxifying smoothie recipes next month:

Gracious Living Detox Weekend in  Cape Breton Island, Canada

Sept 21-23, 2012…click here

www.gracevanberkum.com

Nicaraguan Rambutan

It’s ram-buuuuuuuuuu-tannnnnnnn time!

I just got back to Nicaragua and it’s rambutan season.  I’m a big fan of tropical, exotic fruits! A close relative of the lychee fruit it imparts a flavor similar to grapes in its juicy, white flesh.  Rambutan fruit is an exotic fruit native to Malaysia and Indonesia, but also found in Central America.

Incorporating a serving of rambutan fruit into your diet gives you a big boost in vitamin C and  serves as a good iron supply.  The iron in your diet promotes the right level of oxygen in your body, which can help prevent  anemia, a condition occurring from low iron.  Also provides phosphorus which helps to filter out waste in the kidneys and is necessary for the growth, maintenance, and repair of all tissues and cells. Rambutan also contains a trace amount of calcium; calcium and phosphorus work in tandem to strengthen your bones and teeth.  Eating this fruit may also  help kill intestinal parasites.

The next time you’re in a specialty produce shop or Asian market and see a small, pink-colored fruit with spiky hairs on the skin, buy it! Try it!  Just peel off the skin, and pop in your mouth (mind the pit!) I always encourage people to try a new fruit or veggie everytime they go to the supermarket.  Healthy eating is a fun and exciting journey!

When you have the courage to try new foods and expand your awareness and tastebuds, this courage and adventurous spirit begins to spill over into other areas of your life.

try some delicious rambutan with me….

upcoming Nicaraguan Yoga Adventure Retreat Nov 27-Dec 4 : click here

www.gracevanberkum.com

change your food, change your LIFE!

Latest Gracious Living article (AND RECIPE) just came out in July/ August 2012 Premier Magazine:  

 flip to page 37-39 on the online magazine: click HERE!

“Change Your Food, Change Your Life!”  Top 10 Benefits of Raw Food

www.gracevanberkum.com

learn  more about a  raw, plant based lifestyle in stunning NICARAGUA

Nov 27-Dec 4, 2012: click here.

the RIGHT FUEL for your BODY

Vroooooooom vroooooom! Want to know the the right fuel for your body?

Click here to read my latest article on ANTI-INFLAMMATORY NUTRITION in Premier Magazine Spring Issue 2012. (pg 39-41).  Make sure to try out my Gracious Living Popeye smoothie recipe, too and let me know what you think!

London’s Premier Magazine: from fashion to features, wellness to home decor, food and drink, technology and business, whose passion and goal is to inspire readers at every level of their lives.

you are what you eat.  you are what you think.  GRACIOUS LIVING.

www.gracevanberkum.com

BAHAMAS COOKING…and un-cooking!

What  a month it is has been here in the Bahamas! Went from a very busy X-mas season and New Years Eve at Aqua Wellness Resort where I teach in Nicaragua, right to the Bahamas for the 10 Day Detoxification/Juice Fast/Yoga Retreat, right into my 3 Day Vegan Nutrition Retreat! Phew!  Busy, busy, busy, but also very gratifying.  I love watching people transform on a detox, I love teaching people about food and how it affects the body, I love helping people become empowered in the kitchen, and I love watching people re-connect to their bodies and feel lighter and more calm from doing yoga.

Here are some of the highlights from my Vegan Nutrition Course.  15 students, 15 happy bellies, 15 minds looking at food in a different way! Om appetite!  Next Raw Food & Yoga Wellness Retreat with me in the Bahamas is May 6-8, 2012)

 

 

 

 

 

 

What you eat affects your body, your mind, your relationships, and the planet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

change what you eat…..change how you feel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the lovely Rachel, founder of Om Grown Greens….best sprouts I have ever tasted in my life!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

you are what you eat.  you are what you think.  GRACIOUS LIVING.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

for upcoming 2012 Detoxification Juice Fasts, Raw Retreats, and Yoga & Sport courses with Gracious Living in the Bahamas, please click HERE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

for upcoming 2012 Gracious Living retreats in Nicaragua, please click HERE! 

Our 31 participants ended off 5 days of juicing on the 10 day New Year’s Detoxification and Yoga Retreat  at the Sivananda Yoga Ashram in the Bahamas with Gracious Living Raw Applesauce, to ease the body back into digesting food.

So much tastier than cooked applesauce, easier to make, takes less time, and filled with more healing nutrients & refreshing, enzymatic goodness than cooked versions.  Lots of prana and life-force here! Acid foods lead to a stressful lifestyle; alkaline foods are full of pranic energy that fight stress. Great way to start the day or to have as a light snack.

GRACIOUS LIVING RAW APPLESAUCE

• 1-2 organic red apples, cored, cut into 4 pieces
• fresh ginger to taste ( i like it spicy!)
• cinnamon to taste
• juice of 1 lemon
• 1/2 cup of filtered water
• optional:  sprinkle of stevia for sweetness

Blend in strong blender till smooth.

I like to keep the skin on the apples for extra fibre and it adds cute little red specks to the applesauce.  Takes 5 minutes to make this yummy, energizing sauce!

Tastes great when chilled. Sprinkle a bit more cinnamon on top before serving.  It’s really that EASY!!

 

for upcoming 2012 Detoxification Juice Fasts, Raw Retreats, and Yoga & Sport courses with Gracious Living in the Bahamas, please click HERE!

for upcoming 2012 Gracious Living retreats in Nicaragua, please click HERE! 

www.gracevanberkum.com

DETOXIFICATION & CONSCIOUS EATING FOR BODY, MIND, SPIRIT

every January and May, I leave Nicaragua for a month and head to the Sivananda Yoga Ashram in the Bahamas to teach:

click here:  REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD DETOXIFY & EAT HEALTHY…….plus courses I am teaching at the Sivananda Yoga Ashram in the Bahamas 2012

 

 www.gracevanberkum.com

enzyme zinger smoothies

for my little sprouters out there…….bring out the blender cuz these are delish!   sprouting offers increased enzymes for better digestion, reducing inflammation, increased chlorophyll, and increased protein so it’s great for vegans. and kids LOVE making these, too! much better for you, and them, than ice cream shakes.

i know it seems weird to add sprouts to smoothies, but give it a try! they add a nice refreshing ZING to smoothies, salad dressings, dips, and pates.

SPROUTS ARE SUPERFOODS PACKED WITH NUTRIENTS THAT WILL GIVE YOU LOTS OF ENERGY, AND SLOW DOWN THE AGING PROCESS!!

Watermelon Zinger:

watermelon chunks
fresh ginger
fresh lemon juice from 1/2 lemon
handful of mung sprouts
purified water
scoop of an avocado (for creamy texture and a source of good fats)

blend with ice cubes. so refreshing and delicious! the ginger, watermelon combo is so tasty and the sprouts taste like apple. perfect for a hot day…..ZING!

Berry Zinger:

raspberries
strawberries
blueberries
handful of mung sprouts
frozen chunks of banana (to make it creamy)
purified water

blend with ice if you desire, but frozen bananas usually make it cold enough. yummy and filling….ZING!

if you’re reading this and thinking “i don’t know what the heck she is talking about, but i want to know more about sprouts”, then leave a comment BELOW and i will do up a blog post on miraculous sprouts and how to grow them yourself…easily!

 

www.gracevanberkum.com