I was interviewed! Top 3 beauty and health tips, my jouney to wellness and more!

I was interviewed by the lovely raw food sisters! If you want to know my top three beauty and health tips, my advice for a newbie, a fun recipe, a little bit about my own journey and so much more! Just click here: http://therawfoodsisters.com/2013/11/21/thursday-get-together-with-yasmin-from-healthyyfood/

A few little snippets from the interview:

• I believe there is a lesson to be learnt from all of our experiences in life, the good and the bad
• Up until that point I had spent my life trying to please others and based my worth on their opinion. For me this lifestyle change was about so much more than just weight loss or getting healthy. Through this process I have gotten to know myself and really tune in with my body. I have found something that I love and am passionate about. Up until that point anything I did was always to please other people or with the aim to have other people “like” me more. But not this time; it was something I truly started doing for myself. Just me. And I honestly, haven’t looked back since.
• I also can’t go a day without some raw chocolate or nut butter. Definitely my two guilty pleasures
• Sleep helps increase your memory, performance and obviously energy. In addition to that lack, of sleep can result in unwanted fat gain, by increasing ghrelin, a hunger hormone, and decreasing growth hormones.

….this is only a small part of what we covered in the interview! So head over to http://therawfoodsisters.com/2013/11/21/thursday-get-together-with-yasmin-from-healthyyfood/ to read the rest! And while you’re at it, don’t forget to subscribe and follow these two amazing girls on all their social media sites!

I’m still blown away by the fact that someone was actually interested in interviewing me! This has been one crazy journey, and I couldn’t be more blessed to be able to share it with all of you! Thank you for all your non stop support and encouragement! I can’t wait to see what the future will bring!

I’d also like to say a massive thank you to Katrin and Julie for all their support and this amazing opportunity! Keep on shining girls, I know you will do amazing things!

Lots of love, Have a lovely and healthy day guys, xxx

Yasmin

Raw, Vegan Brownies

Inspired by my raw, vegan chocolate bites

It’s my brother’s birthday today, usually I will go ahead and bake him his favourite cake. But today I decided to try and go ahead and make some healthy brownies! Having my relatives come over I knew these would have to survive the ultimate test. And I was really excited and happy to see that they all loved them.

Filled with the amazing benefits and antioxidants from the raw cacao (read more here) the heart healthy omega 3 fatty acids from the walnuts (read more on the benefits of healthy fats here) and the anti-inflammatory properties from the dates, these make some delicious brownies you can indulge in guilt-free.

You will need:

• 3.5 cups of nuts (I recommend walnuts)
• 3 cups dates
• up to 1 cup raw cacao powder
• 1 tbsp ground vanilla
• Optional: shredded coconut

Blend 2 cups of nuts and the dates in a food processor until your left with a smooth consistany. Remove from the blender and mix with the raw cacao powder. Crush the remaining nuts and mix them in. Store in the freezer for atleast 3 hour, remove 10min prior to serving and enjoy ♥

Have a lovely and healthy day guys ♥

A really important instagram post I want everyone to know about

http://instagram.com/p/cMtJOFFAjS/

❗Okay, I’d like to go ahead and be very clear about this ☝(mini rant coming your way 🙈 ): food is fuel and NOT the enemy 💪❗ I have been getting more and more messages from girls telling me their eating 600-1200 calories a day and asking me why their not loosing weight…uhm WHAT!? 600 calories a day is NOT enough 🙅 you are depriving your body of vital fuel and nutrients and sending your body into starvation mode. You are not only starving your body but ruining your metabolism at the same time 😷 Your metabolism will SLOW DOWN and ADAPT to your calorie intake and you will be left with a slow metabolism. I am sick and tired of seeing people promoting low-calorie diets, hours and hours of cardio or cutting out entire food groups. It breaks my heart to see so many young girls doing this to themselves 😥💔 Just a little fyi: I eat more than 2000 calories every damn day and still lost more than 16 kgs. So please stop this 1000 calorie, low-fat, low carb crap 🙏. Food is fuel 💪 and please never be afraid of eating “more than you think you should” when you’re hungry! Just make sure it’s healthy, wholesome food and you’ll be more then fine 😘 promise ✌ Feed and fuel that beautiful body of yours and let it blossom to its best 💕✨🌺 and please please please do me the favour and don’t starve yourself! Have a lovely and healthy day guys 😘

Vanilla Pancakes with Chocolate Cream

The pancake obsession continues…. 😉

Now that I’m on holiday, and not rushing to get ready and go to school in the mornings I have enough times to make pancakes in the mornings 🙂 One morning I was really in the mood for some vanilla pancakes, and that’s when I came up with this recipe.

For the pancakes you will need:

• 1/3 cup of oat flour (You can make your own by blending oats in a food processor until you’re left with a flour consistency)
• 1 free range organic egg white
• 1 free range organic egg
• up to a 1/4 cup water or milk of your choice
• 1 tbsp ground vanilla
• Stevia to taste

Combine all the ingredients and cook in a non stick pan with a little coconut oil until done. The chocolate cream recipe is the same recipe as my raw, vegan chocolate ice cream (click here for the recipe) just don’t use a frozen banana. Layer the pancakes with the chocolate cream, add additional toppings of your choice and enjoy 🙂

Have a lovely and healthy day guys ♥

Raw Vegan Strawberry Ice Cream

The weather’s been crazy hot in Switzerland lately, and along with that comes the craving for ice cream. I’ve been loving this healthy, dairy-free and super simple strawberry ice cream lately and wanted to share it with you guys.

Inspired by the raw, chocolate mousse/ice cream

You will need:

• 1 frozen Banana
• 2 Handfuls of frozen Strawberries
• 2 tbsp All natural Cashew butter
• Optional: Add ins like maca powder, protein powder, raw cacao nibs, whatever floats your imagination 🙂

Blend all the ingredients together and enjoy 🙂

Have a lovely and healthy day guys ♥

 

 

Benefits of acai berries and homemade acai power bowl

The other day I was at my local health food store and saw acai powder for the first time. Having heard so much about it I just had to go ahead and try it. Today I wanted to share some of the amazing benefits of acai berries with you all and let you know how I made the acai bowls. There won’t be a specific recipe, because I honestly think it can be changed up so many ways and I really recommend just using what you have on hand and playing around with it :).

Acai berries are commonly found in the Amazon. They are purple in colour and an exotic relative of blueberries. They have been associated with many health benefits, some of wich I’d like to share with you today. Acai berries have been shown to lower our risk of various heart diseases, promote skin health and aid in weight loss/maintain a healthy weight. They are high in dietary fiber and great for detoxifying the body. Due to their high level of antioxidants they help prevent aging and can help lower your risk of cancer. Studies have shown an increase in energy and mental function linked to acai berries.

The morning after having purchased the acai berries I decided to try to go ahead and make myself an acai bowl for breakfast, a dish that seems to be pretty popular in Brasil. Basicly I just blended a banana, with 2 large handfuls of strawberries, fresh coconut water, some gluten-free oats and the acai berries. I also added some fresh aloe vera, wheatgrass, spirulina, maca, lucuma, brahmi, guarana, raw vegan protein powder and cinnamon for that extra nutritional punch but you could easily just skip that aswell. Then I topped it all of with crushed walnuts, raw cacao nibs, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, banana and oats. It was so so delicious and full of flavour. The acai berries gave it such a unique, and incredible flavour. I loved and cherished ever single bite and felt so energized and amazing the whole day.

I kept on raving about my breakfast to my mum, so by the time the next day rolled around she really wanted to try one too. So I made one for each of us and again, it was just a blend of banana, strawberries, coconut water, oats and the acai berries but this time I also added some fresh raspberries and blueberries. For extra nutritional benefits I also added aloe vera, wheatgrass, spirulina, maca, lucuma, brahami, guarana, gluten-free oats, raw vegan protein powder and cinammon (all of this can easily be skipped, as it dosn’t change the taste). And topped the mixture with raw cacao nibs, blueberries, strawberries, oats and crushed walnuts. It turned out amazing and she absolutely loved it. So much that we just ordered a bunch online, because my health food store has been sold out these past couple of weeks and we don’t want to/can’t wait any longer. Hahaha 🙂

Have a lovely and healthy day guys ♥

Healthy, Vegan Lentil Burger Patties

Yup you heard me right, completely healthy, gluten-free, flour-free and vegan burger patties.

It was a complete experiment, and I just kep on adding things and going with the flow and let me tell I did by no means expect the outcome to be so good.

Filled with a variety of different nutrients they are delicious and contain the perfect blend of flavour ranging from the earthy taste of lentils all the way to the distinct taste of sweet potatoes. They are pretty darn amazing, if I may say so myself and both my parents were super impressed and loved them.

You will need (serves 2-4):

• 1 sweet potato
• 1/2 cup broccoli
• 1 small zucchini
• 1 & 1/2 cups of cooked brown lentils
• 3 tbsp of chia seeds
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1 onion
• 1.5 tbsp of brown rice miso paste
• Desired amount of black pepper and cayenne pepper

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees celsius. Soak 1.5 tbsp of chia seeds in 10 tbsp of water. In the meantime puls (not blend) the sweet potato, broccoli, zucchini, garlic and onion in a food processor. (You could also great or very finely chop them.) Remove from the blender and place in a bowl. Blend the lentils in the food processor and then add to the vegetables. Add the miso pace, chia seeds and remaining ingredients. Mix well and form patties. Bake in the preheated oven for about 30min or until done. Enjoy 🙂

Have a lovely and healthy day guys ♥

 

 

 

Vegan, Single Serving Chocolate Chip Cookie

Because who doesn’t love a crumbly, delicious chocolate chip cookie?

You will need (makes 1 large cookie)

• 1 tablespoon coconut butter (you can make your own by blending unsweetened coconut flakes in a food processor until they reach a smooth, buttery consistency)
• 3 tablespoons flour of your choice (I like using a mix between coconut flour, protein powder and gluten-free oat flour)
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened apple sauce or mashed banana
• 1/8th of  a tablespoon vanilla
• Desired amount of stevia or sweetener of your choice
• Cacao nibs (you can also use dark chocolate chips)

Melt the coconut butter and add the remaining ingredients. If necessary add a little water. Form a cookie and bake in the oven at 160 degrees celsius for 15-20min or until done. Enjoy 🙂

Have a lovely and healthy day guys ♥

Single Serving, Vegan and Gluten-free Strawberry Crumble

I still remember when I used to be a little girl and would go up to england to visit my grandparents. One of the highlights would always be this delicious crumble my grandma and I would make. First my grandpa and I would go and pick the fruit for the crumble from his garden, and then I got to help my grandma create the crumble. I still remember sneaking dough into my mouth every time she turned around and then patiently sitting in front of the oven waiting for it to be done. By the time it was done the whole house was always filled with the delicious smell of crumble and I have so many wonderful memories of sitting down with my grandparents and enjoying a bowl of hot crumble and custard.

So, when waking up on this rainy, sunday morning I suddently felt the urge to just sit down and enjoy a bowl of hot crumble and that’s when I came up with this: A delicious strawberry crumble that’s not only vegan but free of dairy, gluten, refined flour and sugar and defiantly a healthier version of the traditional english crumble. It was still just as comforting and delicious thought!

You will need:

• 1/2 cup flour of your choice (I used a mix between oat flour, protein powder and coconut flour)
• Vanilla to taste (about 1/2 a tbsp)
• 1/16 tsp of salt
• Desired amount of Stevia or Sweetener of choice (when using liquid sweetener, cut back on the applesauce a little bit)
• 3 tbsp unsweetened applesauce
• 2 tbsp coconut butter (you can make your own by blending unsweetened coconut flakes in a food processor until they reach a buttery consistency)
• 1/3 cup chopped up strawberries or any other fruit of your choice

Preheat the oven to 170 degrees celsius. Combine the dry ingredients together. Then melt the coconut butter, and add to the dry ingredients. Add the unsweetened apple sauce and rub it all together using your hands until it resembles the texture of bread crumbs. If needed add more unsweetened apple sauce or coconut butter. Fill your baking dish with half the mixture. Then add your fruit and cover with the other half of the crumble mixture. Bake in the oven for about 20-30min or until gold brown and enjoy.
Have a lovely and healthy day guys ♥

Vegan, Glutenfree, Paleo Pizza Crust

There is so many benefits to sweet potatoes making this a way healthier alternative to your normal pizza crust. Not only do you get the complex carbs, nutrients and vitamins from the sweet potato but it also adds a huge amount of flavour and paired with the fiber, protein and colon-cleansing properties from the chickpeas this is the perfect nutrient dense pizza guilt-free pizza.

  You will need:

• 2 medium baked sweet potatoes
• 1/3 cup chickpea flour (you could probably substitute with any other flour of your choice, but I can’t promise anything)
• 1/2 tbsp himalayan sea salt
• 1 tbsp ground pepper
• 1 tbsp ground chilli (less if you don’t like it spicy!)
• 1 tbsp ground onion
• 1 tbsp ground garlic

Cut the sweet potatoes into little pieces and bake in the oven at 180 degrees celsius for about 10-20min. Let cool down and the blend the sweet potatoes in a food processor until they reaches a smooth consistency. Add in the remaining ingredients and stir well. Oil a skillet and then spread the dough out, to create the shape of your pizza. Bake in the oven for about 20-25min at 180 degrees while you prepare your toppings. Then remove the pizza from the oven, add toppings of your choice place back in the oven for around another 15min and enjoy 🙂

Have  a lovely and healthy day guys ♥