Ramen bowl
Jinya
Ramen bowl
Tag: HEALTH
Physical Activity
Due to scientific research, we are now well aware that nutrition plays a huge role in how we feel on a daily basis and the impact it has on our health. Adding an activity, has to be your favorite !, could be a daily brisk walk, running, swimming, cycling, will affect and also increase your wellbeing, I insist on it must be something you enjoy !. Physical activity impacts your stamina, your mood, your weight, your muscles. For those that live in parts of the world where winters are long and bitter cold at times, I hopefully might inspire you in showing you a room I converted into a small exercise/yoga room so that winter doesn’t sabotage your exercise.
On a daily basis I alternate between tennis (outdoors in the summer, indoors winter), Pilates, cycling (indoors or outdoors weather permitting), so to not always be overworking the same muscles and also so that it doesn’t become repetitive. I also sneak in daily walks for added fresh air while walking the dogs. Personalize your gym !, go with your favorite colours, gear, make it conducive to wanting to be in that room or area of the house.
Little tricks to share with you to maximize space and economise, we bought a set of weights all in one (Nautilus), this way we don’t have a wall of weights taking up the entire space. The screen is not so much to watch programs as I prefer to have music on, it is to follow free yoga/pilates sessions on youtube.
Cristina for Peas & Peace
Meatless Balls
But soooooo tasty !
Add them to your favorite Pasta and top it with Parmesan (see my recipe), Delicious !
Ingredients for meatless balls:
1 cup of oats
1 3/4 cooked black beans
1/2 cup nutritional yeast
2 garlic cloves (minced)
1 flax egg (1 tbsp ground flax & 2 1/2 tbsp water, mix together and let sit for 5 minutes)
Salt & pepper to taste
Ingredients for the sauce:
500 ml of ground tomatoes
1 1/2 cup of vegetable stock
3 garlic cloves (minced)
Add oats to a blender, pulse until ground, add all the other ingredients and blend until well combined
Use an ice cream scooper for size and shape in your hand afterwards, add to a baking pan and refrigerate for 15 minutes
Set the oven at 350F and bake balls until golden brown.
While baking add the sauce ingredients to a pot then transfer balls to sauce and cook medium heat for 20 minutes stirring occasionally
Enjoy !
Cristina for Peas & Peace
Volunteering
It is official, I have received my training and am now a volunteer at the Oncology Department at a nearby hospital. Every week I will be greeting, assisting, listening to, and comforting patients scheduled to meet the Oncologist, or to receive a chemotherapy treatment.
You may be wondering why I opted to volunteer with the Oncology Department. Three simple words…………it grounds you. I get to converse with individuals of all ages. Some patients are humorous about their situation, some are still in shock, and some are understandably very angry. However, some are in recovery, and simply follow-up with the department when necessary.
This is a constant reminder to me that I am blessed, as my family is all in good health, and we can go about pursuing our projects and dreams. For cancer patients, some projects and dreams have to be put on hold.
Volunteering or giving back may have positive benefits for the person or community but for the volunteer as well
I get inspired meeting individuals in adversity, and I feel a have a purpose if somewhere I was able to bring comfort or make someone smile in such times.
Cristina for Peas & Peace
Raspberry Cheesecake
Try this delicious and easy recipe when hosting or simply for yourself !
Crust:
40 gr Almonds
1 tbsp Hot water
1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
1 tsp Coconut oil (melted)
Process the almonds in a food processor until small pieces. Then add dates and water, continue to blend until a sticky dough forms. Grease a 18 cm diameter springform pan with the melted coconut oil. Press the dough into the mold and refrigerate at least half an hour.
In the meantime prepare the filling:
1 cup soaked cashews (at least 4 hours)
1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
1/2 cup Coconut cream (solid part of the can)
4 tbsp Agave
2 tbsp Coconut oil
Process the soaked cashews in a food processor until creamy and smooth, then add in the rest of the ingredients until smooth.
Pour *half of the filling over the refrigerated crust. Place the mold in the freezer for at least half an hour.
For the pink layer:
Blend some frozen raspberries along with the other half of the filling, pour it over the white layer and put it in the freezer for another half hour.
Ready to enjoy !
My inspiration was @foodie.yuki
Love
Cristina for Peas & Peace
Expo manger santé et vivre vert 2019
My visit to the Health Expo was most enjoyable. Am always looking to discover new products. Here are my 4 favorites exhibitors for this year !
Gourmet Sauvage ! www.gourmetsauvage.ca
A tribute to the Canadian wilderness
*Drawing inspiration from a rich and ancient Native American tradition, Gourmet Sauvage presents a unique selection of gourmet specialties featuring the best vegetables and wild fruit of Canada. Carefully picked by community groups and indigenous people across the country and processed entirely by hand*.
I purchased 3 different varieties of Pasta, their latest addition. Bolete mushrooms, Lobter mushrooms & Balsam Fir. Cant wait to try them out !
Varech Phare Est ! varechphareest.com
Hand picked seaweed in Gaspésie by its owner Stéphane Albert. you will notice on the image that he distributes in various venues. Love seaweed, purchased his Wakame from the Atlantic and a Gomasio mixed with various types of seaweed that I can not wait to add to my salads and other dishes,
Kémia ! Kémia.ca
*Kémia offers original condiments, marinades and vegetable spreads, as well as grilled vegetables. Their creations come from the Tunisian culinary tradition, perfect blend between the Mediterranean, North African and Middle Eastern cuisines. Kémia is the Tunisian word that describes an assortment of finger foods traditionally served before a meal.*
I often like to add kick to my meal so I purchased their Harissa, sample tasted it and WOW !
They distribute in Quebec and Ontario as well
Boulangerie Citron Confit ! citronconfit.ca
Artisanal, Vegan, gluten-free Bread & pastries. They deliver at no cost across Quebec if order is over $ 100.00
Tasted their Bread simply delicious !
If you come across these products while at your preferred grocer, do give them a try, they wont disappoint
Cristina For Peas & Peace
Purple Flesh Potatoes Please
Purple potatoes add a unique flair to your dish due to its beautiful hue. They can be a side or they can be added to a salad !
I roasted mine at 350 for approx half hour
- Cut potatoes in half
- Then cup 5 to 7 garlic cloves in slivers
- Drizzle with olive oil
- Once cooked through add your favorite herbs, I in this case added smoked chili flakes and shallots
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Nutritional value
- fiber
- protein
- vitamin C
- potassium
- vitamin B
- phosphorus
- copper
- manganese
- thiamine
- niacin
- magnesium
Enjoy !
Cristina for Peas & Peace
Music 🎶 energizes, appeases you ! I invite you to discover this Alternative group, puts me in a great mood, great mood is conducive to wellness. Do something everyday for YOU regardless
No Bake Lemon Raspberry Bars
- Love week-ends, gives me a chance to be in the kitchen and practice my photography as well !
- Made these this morning, light in taste, perfect dessert or snack !
Inspired by
Peas & Peace
NOMU Casa de Te
Visited this quaint tea salon in San Jose Del Cabo and fell in love ❤️ had a Rooibos and vanilla tea, divine
Easy Energy Bites
See my Instagram account at peasandpeace for recipe
Canada’s Food Guide 2019
I am quite content with the Government of Canada having finally updated the food guide. The guide encourages everyone to eat more fruits and vegetables and to opt more often for plant based recipes for protein. In lieu of juice, milk or other, to make water your drink of choice.
This shift towards plant-based foods comes despite intense lobbying from the meat, dairy and juice industries.
Here below are some highlights and where plant based foods are mentioned. For the complete guide please visit the site https://food-guide.canada.ca/en
Hopefully the next guide would of had eradicated meat and dairy altogether.
Benefits of healthy eating patterns
Making healthy food choices can help you develop a healthy eating pattern. A healthy eating pattern helps you improve your overall health.
The term eating pattern refers to what you eat and drink on a regular basis. In a healthy eating pattern, all the foods and drinks work together to:
- help you feel good
- maintain your health
- meet your nutritional needs
Many of the well-studied healthy eating patterns include mostly plant-based foods.
Plant-based foods can include:
- vegetables and fruits
- whole grain foods
- plant-based protein foods
Eating plant-based foods regularly can mean eating more fibre and less saturated fat. This can have a positive effect on health, including a lowered risk of:
- cancer
- heart disease
- type 2 diabetes
Most healthy eating patterns include little to no highly processed foods.
How to eat more protein foods that come from plants
Here are some easy ways to eat more protein foods that come from plants:
- Add soft tofu to a blended soup to make it thicker and creamier.
- Try a bean salad, lentil and rice pilaf or a bowl of vegetarian chili for lunch.
- Make your own trail mix by combining your favourite whole grain cereal with a handful of nuts and seeds.
- Spread hummus on the inside of a whole grain pita and fill with vegetables such as romaine lettuce and shredded carrots.
Each week, plan a couple of meatless meals. As your main course, try using:
- beans in a burrito
- tofu in a vegetable stir-fry
- chickpeas and beans in tacos
- lentils in a soup, stew or casserole
We are definitely heading in the right direction
Cristina for Peas and Peace
Some can get away without
Many can get away with not wearing a deodorant, I for one can not, not blessed in that aspect and stink from a mile away. I certainly tried going without…… but simply the fact that I could not bare my own scent was not a good sign .
That being established, then the question was what deodorant to use ?. Remember in one of my previous articles on how skin absorbs all that we apply on it. Well I surely didn’t want my body absorbing anything toxic. I gear towards natural, vegan and cruelty free.
I can suggest the one I use, but do shop around as everyone has their preferences in scents and other.
I love the light scent of the grapefruit and lavender !
I use a few of Cocooning Love’s products: www.cocooninglove.com They are a local Company, this way I am also supporting and giving a small local business a chance.
Cristina for Peas and Peace
The shape of me
Having recently celebrated a birthday, I realised I am in the later part of the 50’s… and heading towards 60.
Know what, I like the shape of me !
Society, via ads and other mediums dictates how we should or could look. I am of the generation of abnormally thin models and the frenzy was to possibly fit into a size 0. The fact that a size 0 even exists is actually worrisome. I do see a shift and models look healthier where their weight is concerned. I do see that some fashion creators have also broken the mould in terms of diversifying, they will have all ethnicities, heights, shapes and genders represented, thumbs up to them.
Then comes the topic of what should a 60 year look like. Well, like somebody that is comfortable in their skin, and does exactly as they wish regardless of what others think ! you no longer want to dye your hair, then don’t, that is actually my next step.
Should also let you know that wrinkles are beautiful, they tell a story. Those stories enrich you.
Last but not least, your Mind ! at 60 you know BETTER ! you trust your Gut, the same one that was there all along but that we sometimes chose to defy.
Hopefully this will inspire anyone that sometimes has doubts and please pass on the message to all the beautiful women in your lives
Cristina for peas and peace
Nutritional YEAST !!!
It is common knowledge that Vegans run the risk of developing a vitamin B12 deficiency if they aren’t careful in sourcing it from the foods they consume, which should absolutely be taken seriously, as it can lead to anemia!.
I have to however say that in the 20 years that I have been Vegan I have never had this problem, this without supplements and simply making sure that all meals include essential vitamins and minerals.
Fortunately, a vitamin B12 deficiency can easily be prevented, as it can be found in such food items as nutritional yeast !
You can sprinkle it onto your salads, your soups, or any of your dishes for that matter. It has a nutty, cheesy flavour that I melt over.
Look up my PARMESAN recipe, EASY and delicious !!! Let me know what you think
Cristina
Peas & Peace TM 