Today’s is the Final day of this Fast Foodies segment. 32 gorgeous souls have contributed a whole bunch of healthy recipes that not only taste awesome, they are also super quick and easy to prepare and make. Today is the last day to get your name on the list to get all 32 delicious recipes bundled up into an e-book straight into your inbox! So if you haven’t already, make sure you enter your details below this post!
Today’s fast Foodie is Peta Serras of Pilates Evolution Now. Peta is a Pilates instructor who owns her own studio in the Hunter Valley, Australia. Peta is also studying to become an IIN Health Coach, she is a model, vegetarian, and writes all about health for magazines as well as her on her blog. This self confessed chocaholic loves whipping herself up a delicious raw dessert, that of course features (one of my fave foods) raw cacao. So, I hope you enjoy this final fast Foodies interview!
1. What does Wellness mean to you? And when did you begin your journey to wellness?
Wellness means living the healthiest life possible. A life where you feel healthy and of course, well! I also think wellness doesn’t just encompass what you eat, I think it branches out to cover your whole lifestyle.
My journey to wellness began a few years back around the age of 20. It was a bit of a slow journey but I began studying nutrition at this time and becoming a Pilates Instructor which cemented in my mind that I wanted to live the healthiest life possible.
2. Was there a specific event that set you on this path?
I have a few food intolerances and would get sick all the time and was unsure what caused it. As well as this I had started my Pilates course to become an instructor and wanted to be the epitome of health for all of my clients Image may be NSFW.
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I decided the first step was to study nutrition so I began a course in sporting diet and nutrition where I learnt the foundations of it all. It was a
bit of a slow process as I am 24 now and still learning but I also think it’s important to change things in little baby steps so that it gives us time to really make them habits.
3. Besides a Healthy Diet, what else do you consider to be vital on the journey to wellness?
Definitely a healthy mind and a healthy lifestyle. I think it’s one thing just eating healthy foods but if your life is filled with negativity and hate then all that good food isn’t going to do wonders for your body. It’s important to nourish yourself in a number of ways by surrounding yourself with people who lift you higher and support you, doing activities that make you smile and cherishing yourself each day.
4. What is our favourite superfood that you just can’t live without & why?
Definitely raw cacao! I am probably a caffeine fiend in disguise but I am addicted to raw cacao! It’s so versatile and I love the fact that it makes delicious raw chocolate. I have a lot of the raw cacao products in my pantry that I add to things like raw desserts, smoothies and raw chocolates. Chocolate would definitely be my favourite food so it was a godsend to find something that was healthy and filled the void of sweets in my life.
5. If you could dispel one myth around food, what would it be?
That healthy tastes terrible. I honestly think the healthy things that taste terrible are the ones we think are healthy but really aren’t – all that pre-packed artificial diet food! Yuck! Healthy that tastes amazing is so easy if you have access to good produce which most of us do. Look for your local farmers markets or events where you can buy produce directly from the grower and I guarantee it will taste so much better than anything store bought.
6. What do you wish someone had of told you when you first started out on your wellness journey?
To do what feels right for my body. What works for you mightn’t work for me and vice versa. I can’t do low carb and I can’t do low fat and for many years I forced myself as it was perceived as being the healthiest way to live. Since eating more fat my skin glows so much more and the carbohydrates have given me good energy levels that haven’t left me tired and grumpy.
7. What does ‘Being The Tree Of Life’ mean to you?
Good question! I honestly think it starts in your mind with creating positive thoughts. Then by nourishing your body, paying attention to your body and treating it with the utmost respect, following your dreams and finally, accepting yourself as a whole.
Image may be NSFW.
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Kale, Sweet Potato & Quinoa Salad
Serves 2 – Gluten free, Dairy Free, Vegetarian, Vegan, Refined Sugar Free.
Note – Cook from the heart. I never really measure anything. I just throw it in, taste and it always turns out. Make sure you cook with love too, it always makes your food taste that little bit sweeter!
– 1 large sweet potato
– 1 cup of quinoa (any colour)
– 1/2 bunch of fresh kale
– Tahini
– Apple cider vinegar
– Olive oil
– Coconut oil
– Himalayan salt
– Seeds/nuts – I used tamari roasted seeds, but use any!
* Optional – handful of Loving Earth Red Kale Chips
1. Preheat your oven to 200 degrees celsius and line a tray with baking paper
2. Chop sweet potato and place on a tray, spacing the sweet potato as much as you can. They don’t crisp together when they are all clumped together! Place in oven and cook for approximately 30-45 minutes. This depends on how big you cut the pieces
3. While the potato is cooking, combine 2 cups of water with 1 cup of quinoa and cook until light, fluffy and not crunchy! You might need to add a little more water too but just play pretend and imagine you’re cooking rice! It took me about 15-20 to get nice fluffy quinoa.
4. Rip the kale leaves off the woody midsection. Rip the kale leaves into pieces about the size of a match box. You can either lightly steam, lightly saute in coconut oil (my fav!) or keep raw. Choice is yours!
5. When everything is ready, chuck quinoa, kale, kale chips and sweet potato into a bowl. Mix until combined.
6. Season with apple cider vinegar, about a tablespoon. A good pinch of salt and a small swig of oil.
7. Mix mix mix! Top with some tahini, seeds and enjoy!
[person image=”http://beingthetreeoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/peta.jpg” name=”Peta Serras” info=”Peta Serras is a Hunter Valley based Pilates Instructor, Model, Writer, Health Coach, Foodie and self-confessed Instagram addict. She is passionate about leading a healthy lifestyle and inspiring others to do the same” url=”http://www.pilatesevolutionnow.com ” twitter=”petapilates” facebook=” http://www.facebook.com/petanicoleserras”][/person]