Jet lag? Naaah man.

I'm back in Berlin and am feeling rejuvenated! My time in Singapore was spent by the pool in the sun, in restaurants and giggling with my brother.

I was however mistaken with my last post, saying that singapore has lots of rice dishes with fresh food. It DOES have lots of rice dishes but less fresh food than I expected. Being a vegetarian was harder than I thought it would be this trip (for some reason I can't remember it being this difficult the last trip). 
I did, however, always find vegetarian dishes (at Non-veggie restaurants) or was able to eliminate the meat but it was more like the ONE vegetarian dish on the menu that in the end I had to get because there were no more options. Going to a vegetarian restaurant of course is always an option if you are with other veggie lovers (also in little India there are LOTS of Indian veggie options yuuuumy) But that was an unexpected struggle.

I made the granola bars, carrot and cucumber sticks and rice crackers to take on the plane, I also made a salad and I must say- best decision ever. I didn't eat the plane food, I asked the stewardess for a big 1,5l bottle of water and drank around 3-4 l (over the span of 13 hours). I slept and when I arrived I felt so incredibly NORMAL like I have never before after a long haul flight! So. It really does work! 

I think it's vital to keep hydrated on a long trip but also to keep moving after you land. I went for a swim (pretty sweet to have that option!) and walked around in the sunshine. Also what is REALLY helpful is to walk barefoot on grass for 20min also called grounding/earthing. 

The next day I did wake-up in a bit of a fog but ignored it and jumped on the treadmill and did some free weights, stretched like a maniac, drank A TON of water and guess what, my energy level was back up and the jet lag never hit me! 
Amazing.

Another funtastic thing I did this trip? get ready guys-- I BOUGHT A RICE COOKER!
I already have a rice cooker but its the simplistic kind us europeans know- cooking and keep warm. This rice cooker I bought looks like an awesome space ship. I can cook any type of rice, steam, slow cook and even BAKE A FREAKKING CAKE. I am so excited about this new machine you can't even imagine. I L.O.V.E. rice in any shape size or form and now I can make it which EVER way I desire (even set a timer... yes! I can set a TIMER to when I want it READY.) 
Bring it on asian influenced dishes cause this girl is excited!

This fun and easy dish I made for lunch before I flew--

Fresh and easy Stir-fry

Ingredients: 
Brown Rice
Medium Onion
3 Carrots chopped
2 Medium size Zucchini (yellow and green) chopped
Hand full of Cashew Nuts
2 Cloves of Garlic
thumb size chopped fresh ginger
1.5 tsp Curcuma
2 tbsp of soy sauce (I use 'less sodium soy sauce')
1 tsp coconut oil
pepper to taste




1. Heat coconut Oil on medium heat in a pan, add chopped carrots and let them fry for a bit, add a splash of water if they start to stick to the pan
2. Add the chopped garlic and ginger, keep adding tiny splashes of water to make sure the garlic doesn't burn! let simmer 1-2 min
3. Add chopped onion and saute until the carrots are soft outside but hard in the middle
4. Add chopped zucchini, cashew nuts, Curcuma and soy sauce
5. Stir-fry until the zucchini are soft but not mushy
6. Serve with brown rice (you can also use brown rice from the day before and just add the cold rice and stir-fry to heat up. I would add it 1 min after step 4)! 

Guten Appetit!!!

travelling laaaady

I went sailing for a week (it was absolutely amazeballs- just what I needed to start my 4 weeks holiday off) and then my Husband and I went to Rome for 5 days. WHAT. A. CITY. Just unbelievable! The history, the streets! the people, it was a seriously fun trip!!! We walked so much I don't think I have ever walked so much in 5 days in my entire life!!!

Italy is a real treat, I just absolutely love it. I was, however, a little frustrated with the food situation over there. I do like pasta, I do like Pizza, I do like gnocchi, I do like chocolate croissants, tiramisu, ice cream aaand so forth BUT what do they all have in common? 
Wheat. Gluten. Cream. Oil. =Stomach upsets
SOOOO... I did have the time of my life but I am glad that I am home now where I can make myself some RICE and vegetables! Without cream, without wheat, with less oil, just back to basics... 

I am leaving for Singapore tomorrow (yes. I know. lucky lady right here) and so I have been thinking about what to do about food. The fast food places at the airports hurt my eyes and the thought of one more sandwich or slice of pizza makes me want to scream at the top of my lungs. SO, whoever is reading this and has some sort of power, PLEASE. PLEASE. Open up a chain of healthy fast food restaurants AT AIRPORTS. Its JUST as simple as making a sandwich, I promise!!!

I find it so surprising that there are no alternatives, I mean yes, you get a salad anywhere but seriously, who gets full on a handful of iceberg lettuce, three mini tomatoes, some corn and some cheese for 4,50 Euro? No, of course you go buy that slice of pizza for 3 Euro. But its all twisted around, can you see that? If a salad was 3 Euro more people would buy it and that would make THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.... hurhur. I am serious though, I was so sad at the airport yesterday!

what to do? 
I think the word I'm looking for is: 
P R E P A R A T I O N 

I made myself a brown rice beetroot salad for my trip tomorrow! I made some awesome amazing delicious granola bars (see below for recipe, they are SO SO good. no, seriously. SO good.) I bought some rice crackers, will make myself some raw-mango-coconut-cashew-balls to snack on and I am ready to go, F you airport fast food, I can live without you!
(I did however order a special meal on the plane... but hopefully my food is enough for my belly!) 

Singapore- with all your wonderful rice dishes and fresh food, I am SO ready for you!

Super-delicious-cake-like Granola Bars!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups rolled oats
3/4 cup walnuts, chopped (or any other nut)
1 cup dates, chopped (or any other dried fruit)
1 cup coconut flakes
1/4 cup sesame seeds
2 Tbsp. poppy seeds
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
3 ripe bananas
1/4 cup sunflower oil (or coconut, olive, walnut…)
2 tsp. vanilla extract
3 Tbsp. maple syrup
2 Tbsp. chia seeds
6 Tbsp. water

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. In a small bowl, mix the chia seeds and water together. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl combine the dry ingredients.
4. In a food processor or blender, mix bananas, oil, vanilla, and maple syrup (you can also just mash everything together with a fork). Add chia gel and pulse to mix. Pour wet ingredients over dry ingredients and stir until well combined.
5. Spread the batter evenly into a baking pan (mine was 9″ x 11″), and smooth out the top with the back of a spatula. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until edges are golden brown. Let cool completely, store in airtight container and keep in the refrigerator for longer shelf life. 

-Thanks to mynewroots.com

Guten Appetit! 

feet me

They are our daily connection to earth, they keep us grounded and they help us stand, walk, run, jump and do all those things that we take for granted. So many ailments start at the feet (back aches, bad posture, joint pain etc).

The human foot and ankle is a strong and complex mechanical structure containing exactly 26 bones, 33 joints (20 of which are actively articulated), and more than a hundred muscles, tendons, and ligaments. (thanks wiki)

Our feet start to form in the 7th week of pregnancy... I find babies feet soooo darn cute, I just want to bite them and tickle them.... I don't know why many people find feet gross.... Yeah... okay, you get calluses and ingrown toe nails and maybe athletes foot and all that funky stuff but if you take care of your feet, they aren't THAT bad, right! 

As a baby your foot was a whole lot of fat that you didn't pay any attention to. Until one day you realised... hold on, whaaat are those weird lumps on the end of my legs??? you stuck them in your mouth to taste that yummy big toe- mh mhm mmmmhhhm- and eventually you crawl, walk, run and jump with those little buggers!

NOW, they aren't as fascinating to most of us any more (dare you to try to suck your big toe now). Most people hardly ever walk barefoot, ever really think about the important body part that carries us and NEVER think about feet exercises! 

Feeling grass, sand and stones under my feet makes me feel more alert, grounded and connected to earth. It wakes me up in a way, gets me back into reality.

Walking barefoot prevents you from getting injuries (you train your muscles in your feet) you get strong feet, calluses (might not look so nice but its good for you) and it might take that back ache away. 

Here are some tips to optimise those wonderful feet of yours!

•  every morning and every night, in bed, couch, on the toilet, where ever you feel like it, spread those toes as much as you can (I have not met one person who can really do this and we should be able to do it! I have been practicing and getting better each week!!!) 
• Then curl your toes as hard as you can and stretch them out
• Cross your big toe over your second toe and VICE VERSA 
• At the end circle your whole foot one way and the other way
• Repeat every move until your feet are tired (5-10 times)
• after a couple weeks try to write your name with your foot (with a pen in between your toes on a piece of paper, not in the sand) and yes, without sticking your tongue out or cramping your hands up lol

(caution-- you might discover new muscles you didn't realise you've had)

Then? Get outside to your nearest park or beach (if you are lucky enough) and walk barefoot (watch out for dog poop, glass and spiky things) 

And reward yourself with some easy tasty carbs for burning off that foot fat--

Quick and simple Spaghetti 

- Packet of spaghetti (I used GF)

- 1 onion

- 2 cloves of garlic

- a can of diced tomatoes

- home made red pesto (or store bought, check the ingredients though ;)

- Parsley/ Basil/ Oregano/ Thyme

- splash of soy sauce

- Parmesan (optional)

- Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions:

- While you are boiling the spaghetti

- Heat olive oil in a pan and add chopped onion and garlic

- add the can of tomatoes, let simmer on medium heat

- add any herbs you like and want 

- add the pesto (home made- two hand fulls of soft sun dried tomatoes, a hand full of sunflower seeds, 2-3 TBSP olive oil, salt and pepper, a clove of garlic and a splash of lemon-- chuck it all into a blender and blend until smooth)

- let simmer some more and add the soy sauce

- salt and pepper to taste

Guten Appetit!