What is your food philosophy?

I got a really interesting email the other day I won't copy and paste the whole thing for the world to see but it's similar email I have gotten time and time again, it was telling me how I should run my business and what I'm doing wrong. I do loads of things wrong, I do loads of stupid things with both my business, but you know what there mine to mess up a little, but this one got to me a little. It challenged the way I eat and the person who sent it kindly informed me that I had no right owning a raw food snack company if I wasn't vegan. Well I do own one and I'm never going to be vegan. 

Over the years especially when I've taught cookery workshop or wrote articles people have wanted to know what I am if I'm veggie, vegan, a raw foodist, if I might be macrobiotic {I tried it had way to much brown rice for me and my zinc levels got all wobbly}, if I eat meat. I'm none of these things I'm just a person that really really likes food, I'm person that especially likes raw food. I hate the fact that we feel the need to label people as one thing or other. I never found these rigid terms to be anyway helpful, if you call yourself a raw foodist and then one day go out for pizza your going to start beating yourself up and that just doesn't help anyone.  Being dogmatic about anything, for me, just doesn't work. Being flexible does. 

My diet just now which has pretty much stayed the same for years is almost entirely organic, mainly made up of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds {I haven't eaten a lentil in years I hate them}, I eat eggs but not often I haven't had any since I was ten weeks pregnant bump doesn't seem to enjoy them. You wouldn't ever find milk in my house it just doesn't happen, I don't like the taste I haven't eaten dairy since I was about ten but what you will probably find is fish and meat. I don't eat much but I'm comfortable if I know where my meat and fish comes from if I know it wasn't raised on a factory and if I know that it was killed humanely to certain standards, those standards for me maybe different than other peoples. I know not everyone will agree with my food philosophy but it's what I feel comfortable with and what works for me. Nothing has every made me feel better than drinking loads of green juice eating veggies and fruit and mixing a little bit of meat and fish in there. 

I think in raw food there no hard and fast rules - everyone food journey is an adventure and it's there adventure not to be judge by anyone else. As long as everyone eat's with purpose I think it's fine.  Love, Sarah xoxo 

Back to Normal

We've been super busy for the last four weeks like I mean mind-numbingly busy with things I don't like to be busy with paper work, it tax time. Plus me and bump have been in and out the hospital he seems like he wants to turn up far too early, but we've made it to 30 weeks now. I think this week normal service should return {fingers crossed}

In January I added the mini size to my snack range as a special one off for a company called the nutribox  {they send out amazing snack boxes once a month} but I've loved how they looked and how cute the small clear bags are that I've decided to keep them on. 

After the boxes went out with the energise snacks in it a few things happened, I got some lovely feedback on twitter {dramatic blush}, I'm like the least social media savvy person in the world so a lot of times I really don't notice thoughtful comments like these but they mean the world when I do see them. Nutribox also had some really great feedback on blogs about how amazing there 

boxes are and I got to see some lovely photo's of my products I loved the one below mainly because the fabric is super cute. The energise will be back in the march nutribox. Love, Sarah xoxo

 

Squash Smoothie

Pumpkins and squash are one of the greatest things about winter soups and salads made with them pretty much become a staple of my diet at this time of year. Normally I would have added raw pumpkin or squash to my smoothies but bump doesn't seem to like it raw. So this is my favorite squash smoothie (I've sub the raw puree for cooked just now). One of the reason I love it so much as it's cold drink that makes me feel warm, which always seems a little bit of odd statement. The spices that can be added to pumpkin and squash always bring back memories of thanksgiving dinners for me, I love it. This is recipe I've been using for years I suspect it came from a raw cookbook or smoothie book but at this point I don't remember what one. 

Recipe 1 cup of almond milk (homemade or store bought)2 small frozen banana's (I like to have bags of pre sliced banana in freeze makes smoothies easier)1 teaspoon of hemp and flax seeds 1/2 cup of squash or pumpkin puree (raw* or cooked)/2 tablespoon of maple syrup 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon of ginger 

Directions 

Blend everything together in a high speed blender and drink immediately, if you don't have a high speed blender you may have to add some extra almond milk to get the smoothie super smooth. Love, Sarah xoxo 

* I make raw pumpkin or squash puree by de-seeding the vegetable and de-skinning, cutting in super small chunks then putting in the vitamix with a 1/2 cup of water and blending until super super smooth. 

Local Shops

I read this blog post over at JustLove.lyThings and it really struck a cord with me. This bit in particular " trend to 'shop local', its a real thing.  Supporting small businesses, families, employees- their passions, their dreams and all their hard work- it feels good."

I own two small businesses one has a physical location and the other is sold to other stores but those stores like mine are small Independent business and they depend on people visiting them. Now I may be a little different than most people I don't do a weekly shop in a supermarket, I rarely buy anything online I can think of three times in the last couple of years.  I will always try and shop local, why well because I love that people take the time to come to my store, so figure anyone that owns a small business feels the same. But more than anything because studies show time and time again choosing local over a big chain has lots of affects, below are the main ones. 

1. Buying local is support yourself - studies have shown that when you buy from an independent, locally owned business, rather than a nationally owned businesses, significantly more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses, service providers and farms. Therefore you are continuing to strengthen the economic base of the community. 

2. Local business give more to non-profits. Non-profits receive an average of 250% more support from smaller business owners than they do from large businesses. 

3. Local business keeps us unique -  where we shop make our community a home. One of a kind businesses are a massive part of that distinctive character. The other great thing about local business is that they help tourism. People on vacation love seeing something a little different from what they might find at home. 

4. Local business reduces the environmental impact. A local business can buy more from other local business meaning less transportation and since they are more than likely on the high street or never by they are not contributing congestion, pollution and loss of animal habitat by being on the outskirts of town. 

5. Local business are largest employer in our nation of jobs, local business simply mean more local jobs. 

Now those are just some of the many reasons, I could go on and on with more but what I was trying to get at is as much as the internet has open up so many shopping avenues for us we should always remember to support our local stores. 

That's my little local business btw

Bumps Room

I can't believe we're thinking about this already or even planning it, seems far too soon as I know bump will be in my room for the first 6 month. I've started collecting a pinterest board with pictures of rooms I like. I think owls or animals may end up playing a big part. 

I love the wallpaper in this room