s announced on one of my latest Instagram posts, I want to start a new WholesomeStef series dubbed #lessonsfromrecovery. I see my eating disorder as a blessing in disguise because it has taught me so many valuable life lessons and has made me a better person. Yes, I want to talk about the struggle and the challenges, but I also want to look at the positive side of things and show how you can come out stronger on the other side. I initially just wanted to scribble down a couple of sentences on Insta, but I ended up having sooo many things to say that you are here on this post now.
My Current Workout Routine & Latest Fitness Gear Obsession
Hello lovelies! I apologize for the lack of posts, but my last year of uni is requiring a lot of my attention at the moment + I am starting my job application process (you don't by any chance know about job opportunities in Australia? :)) I just finished a major project and am now off for one week. So, what to do? Get back into a proper fitness routine and step up my game of course! Even though I try to work out no matter how stressed I am or how little time I have, I do stray away from my normal routine in times of stress. I'm still a huge emotional eater, so my diet suffers in the days/weeks leading up to a big deadline...But now that that's all done, Stef is back! I wanted to give you a quick overview of how my workout schedule looks like at the moment, and also show you my latest workout gear obsession (scroll down to the bottom of the page for an Active In Style promo code)
Healthspo Talk With Jess Moses
Remember the time I went to Phuket? Well, while I was researching for healthy café's and food alternatives on the island, I stumbled across Jess Moses Instagram account and was immediately mesmerised. Originally from London, the 22 year old has fled the home nest and is currently was discovering the healthy wonders of Phuket where she was working at Phuket Cleanse, a fully raw/vegan detox retreat. Back home she is not a fully raw vegan, but for her stay at the resort she was immersing herself into the lifestyle and documenting her journey through beautiful pictures. Unfortunately I didn't get the chance to pop by the retreat and get to know this beautiful soul in person, but at least I got to pick her brain in this latest #healthspotalk. Shall we start?
A Word On Organic Vs. Non-Organic Produce
I know how confusing it can be to navigate the conflicting and ever – changing health philosophies that are out there. Fat makes you fat. No wait, fat is good for you. Fruits are healthy. No, fruit has too much sugar! Don’t eat carbs after 5 PM. 801010 all the way! The conflicting advice is never ending. What are we supposed to believe?
I am still on a journey of discovery and experimenting with different food philosophies. I have gone from vegetarian to trying to be fully vegan to attempting 801010 for a week. I believe in the long term healthy benefits of a high carb diet, but I wouldn't mind having a six pack, so shouldn't I eat high protein and low carb instead? I am not the one to give you answers to all your health and nutrition questions, that’s for sure.
Buckwheat Chocolate Granola
Good morning and Merry Christmas to ya’ll! Depending on where you are, you might still be eagerly awaiting christmas eve and the unpacking of presents, like I currently am. The rest of the fam is out doing some last minute grocery shopping, so I decided to seize the moment to turn on some cheesy christmas jingles and get busy in the kitchen. The smell that wavered out of the kitchen half an hour later made me feel like I had landed in Willi Wonka's chocolate factory, to say the least. I’ve actually been meaning to share this recipe with you guys for a while, but I’m still struggling to take nice pictures with this gloomy winter lighting and just couldn’t get the pictures right. They finally turned out to my liking, I hope you agree.
Caramel Tofu Mousse With Rebel Kitchen Mylk
It's easy, it's decadent, it's super rich, and it's made of tofu. Yes, you read that right - tofu. Tofu blended with my favorite non-dairy milk, a little sweetener and some nuts makes the perfect vegan caramel tofu mousse. I have to admit: I eat this for breakfast as opposed to dessert. It's that good. To me, it tastes like a delicious batch of caramel cookie dough and since I used to be a Ben & Jerrie's cookie dough ice-cream addict (scratch that, I still am), this is like heaven to my taste buds.
Products I Love: Rebel Kitchen Mylk
I'm always on the lookout for new healthy and "clean" brands, so you can imagine my delight when I discovered Rebel Kitchen during one of my last visits to Hiltl in Zurich. I was even more excited when the Rebel Team contacted me a few weeks ago and proposed for me to try their full range of mylks. Of course I jumped at this opportunity!
Rebel Kitchen’s mylks are the definition of wholesome, unprocessed drinks as they only contain few basic ingredients: Coconut milk, water, date nectar and cacao. I’m a coconut addict, so the fact that they’re made from coconut milk is a big tick in my box. They contain absolutely no additives, no preservatives and so, no worries. I'm also thrilled that they use cacao instead of cocoa. In case you didn't know, cocoa is the processed, heated version of raw cacao and hence only contains a small percentage of the "feel good" nutrients that it's natural alternative has to offer. It just goes to show that we don't need loads of unpronounceable chemical ingredients in order to make our food taste good.
Healthspo Talk with Elle
There are two reasons why today is extra special. One, I am launching my first Wholesome Stef segment called #healthspotalk. The idea is to introduce you to the amazing ladies (and hopefully sometimes gents) behind my favourite blogs and Instagrammer's and to provide you with a good dose of inspiration from around the world.
And two, I’m introducing you to the talent behind one of my favourite Instagram's @livewellewithelle: Ellie Ficken, a psychology graduate and personal trainer from Melbourne Australia. She has a beautiful and inspiring mindset and truly walks the "wellness talk". I for my part can learn the one or the other thing from her, and I hope that you will too. She has been very supportive of my blog plans since day 1 and I am happy that she pushed and encouraged me throughout. As busy as she is, she allowed me to pick her brain for this Q&A session and I couldn't be more excited to have her kick start this segment!
Superfood Snack: Peanut Butter - Covered Bananas
Snacking can be tricky on a totally clean lifestyle because pretty much all the store bought snacks are out of question. So you have to be a bit creative when that afternoon sugar dip hits in and you are craving something sweet. I must admit, this snack isn't on-the-go friendly, but if you are at home and are rummaging through your pantry in desperate search of chocolate, try this superfood snack: peanut butter - covered bananas instead.
I’m sure you all know why bananas are so good for you with all of their plant protein, potassium and fibre. But the real celebs of this recipes are the different superfoods sprinkled on top!
Wholesome Travel Guide to Hong Kong & Phuket
When traveling, I find it imporant to find the right balance between staying true to your food philosophy whilst allowing yourself to discover the local food culture.
It’s not always easy, but it’s doable. Remember that being vegan/vegetarian (or whatever it is that you are) is adventurous, and so is travel – your sense of exploration coupled with an open mind and the willingness to learn new things will take you around the world with no problem at all!
How To Stay Healthy While Traveling
As you might have seen on my IG, I recently travelled to Paris, Hong Kong and Phuket with friends. I had been to Paris (lived there for 3 years) and Thailand (Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Ayyutaya) before, but never to Hong Kong and Phuket, so I took great pleasure in exploring these new destinations. Who doesn’t love to discover new cities, new cultures and new food ?
Before I go into detail about what the title promises, I want you to know something : Travelling used to be extremely tricky for me. Not just because I was away from my beloved Vitamix or couldn’t go to the gym whenever I pleased. It was a bit more complicated than that.
My Current Morning Routine
Living a healthier life doesn't have to be rocket science. Often it's the small things that make the difference. It can be as simple as getting out of bed a bit earlier and dedicating just a small part of your day to yourself. For me personally, having a self-centred morning routine has done amazing things to my life and that's why I would love to share my daily morning routine with you guys.