Food Evolution

My Dad had to spend time in hospital this week so I spent two days looking after my Mum Dottie. She is very cute and naughty like a little girl and requires constant supervision. Dottie has Multiple Sclerosis and this has effected her intellectual capabilities. She's a great artist and likes to paint, here's a photo of us at the MS Art Exhibition at Northcote Town Hall where she sold her painting for $300 - $400 a pop!

It was kinda cool being back in my childhood home and all sorts of memories came flooding back about the way we grew up - especially when I opened the fridge door and gasped with horror -  it got me thinking a lot about food and how it has had a huge effect on my life. My Mum wasn't the greatest cook in the world and I was always a fat kid.

Here is a list of what was in my parents fridge which was exactly what was there when I was growing up: White bread, milk, plastic wrapper cheese, butter, eggs, apple juice, orange juice, flavoured milk, lamingtons and other commercial cakes, chocolate biscuits, strass deli meat, flavoured yoghurt, apples and mandarins. In the Freezer frozen meat chops and sausages, frozen vegetables and frozen apple pie desserts and icecream. Not a green leafy vegetable insight!

It took me back to my school days when my everyday lunch was a sandwich with white bread, butter, strass and tomato sauce, a cake or biscuit and  a piece of fruit which usually ended up in the bin.

So it comes as no suprise to me that my dear old Dad was admitted to hospital with suspected heart problems, only to discover he had extremely low levels of Iron and VitB12 which was further complicated by his severe Diabetes. After some research on the Internet I was relieved to discover that Dad's symptoms of lethargy and heart palpatations could be helped with some small changes in his diet, such as green leafy vegetables, pumpkin seeds and a good herbal liquid iron tonic such as Floridix.

Family crisis was reduced somewhat by the findings, however my frustrations with Dad had just begun, He is still convinced he has heart issues and cannot seem to comprehend that some simple changes to his diet can help him feel better. To make matters worse the hospital prescribed him with Iron Tablets which will probably make him constipated!!! Grrrrrr I made up a little gift basket for him with some floridix, pumpkin seeds and some gorgeous fresh silverbeet I picked out of his garden and wrote him a little note asking him to please throw out the Iron tablets and just try to have these things each day.

Don't know if he will but at least I know I did my best for the ones I love. I recalled what David Wolfe says in his book Sunfood Diet Success System. Every individual is fully and wholly responsible for their own happiness and health - if we are not happy with our wellbeing or state of health it is up to us to change it! Nobody else can do it for you.


Meanwhile back at home I was so happy that I had been organised enough to take all my own food to Mum's house and I didn't tell her that the meals I was serving her were all gluten free, organic, vegan and mostly raw! She gobbled up everything I gave her. I am sure Dotti appeared to be in a happier mood, more youthful and spritely with every mouthful I gave her! It really put a smile on my face. So funny when we settled down for the evening she said she normally had flavoured milk and chocolate biscuits before bed but didn't really feel like it tonight! Yay - my good eating had stopped her craving her junkie sugar hits.

Here is what Mum and I ate while Dad was in hospital:

Breakfast: My Raw Granola - I affectionately call "Cacoa Pops"  made with Sprouted buckwheat, raw cacao and other goodies, dehydrated. Tastes just like coco pops only healthy, served with almond mylk. (recipe below)

Morning Tea: Green smoothie made with coconut water greens and some yummy organic orange slices

Lunch: Fresh Pea and coconut soup with chia seed crackers and salad with miso sesame dressing

Afternoon Tea: Guacamole with chia seed crackers and vegie sticks

Dinner: Gluten free pasta with vegies and white wine sauce

So the next day after more of my healthy Coco Pops with almond mylk for breakfast, Mum was off to her Art Class at The MS Centre, I asked her what she wanted for her packed lunch and she said - Oh the usual, a strass and sauce sandwich and a lamington will do. I said are you sure you don't want me to make you up some food like we had yesterday? She gave me a huge grin and said Yes please your food is so yummy. Yay! I felt so proud and happy that I could share some good food with my Mum and know that she would feel better for it.

Here is my recipe for Coco Pops - a deliciously decadent healthy breakfast or snack - perfect for busy people on the go - you can put some in a container and take it anywhere - great for plane or long car travel too!

Jo Jo's Cacao Pops
1 Cup Sprouted Organic Buckwheat
1/4 Cup Activated Organic Almonds
1/4  Cup Activated Organic Pecans
1/4 Cup Activated Organic Cashews
* To sprout the buckwheat and Activate the nuts simply soak in pure water for 24 hours rinse thoroughly and they are ready to use
3 Tbl Organic Chia Seeds
1/2 Cup Organic Unsweetened Shredded Coconut

1/2 Cup Dark Agave Syrup
I Vanilla Pod
3 Tbl Organic Coconut Oil
1/4 Cup Organic Raw Cacao Powder
1/4 Cup Organic Dried Cherries or Gogi Berries

Mix all ingredients together and dehydrate for 24 hours - eat on it's own or serve with Almond Mylk. Keeps in an airtight container for up to four weeks.

If you don't have a dehydrator, put on a tray lined with baking paper in oven on lowest possible setting with oven door ajar - use an oven thermometer to ensure temperature does not go over 40c to ensure all the goodness and life force is intact.

Hope you enjoy this recipe and it gives you amazing "Raw Power" that makes you jump around like Iggy! :) x