DAY 47

THOUGHTS-
PECANS- I've been getting pecans from work in their shells still. Organic and as close to it's natural state as possible. Also because they are in their shell by the time I crack them open and eat them I get over it so I am not eating near as many of them. There is also something rewarding about getting a food straight from it's shell. I'm receiving them as nature intended. The only thing better would be to pick it from the tree myself.

Wikipedia- "Pecan" is from an Algonquian word, meaning a nut requiring a stone to crack.

Pecans are a good source of protein and unsaturated fats and also Omega 6 fatty acid.

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 2,891 kJ (691 kcal)
Carbohydrates 14 g
Dietary fiber 10 g
Fat 72 g
saturated 6 g
monounsaturated 41 g
polyunsaturated 22 g
Protein 9 g

These delicious buttery flavoured nuts are very high in all sorts of amino acids and antioxidants. They are however not officially a nut. They grow from a tree that is the member of the hickory family and they are the fruit of that tree and like walnuts are botnically a drupe.



CHALLENGES- Very hungry today and very little food in the cupboard or time to preapre anything.

TRIUMPHS- Didn't eat as much as I really felt like eating. Starting to be able to control my habits.

WHAT I ATE-


BREAKFAST- Buckwheat, stevia and water pancakes. Topped with agave syrup.

SNACK- Cashews, macadamias, goji berries and cacao nibs.
Small bowl of cooked Quinoa



LUNCH- Quinoa with tumeric veggies. Capsicum (red and yellow), carrot, asparagus, leek, zuchinni, eggplant, snowpeas, garlic, ginger, tumeric, olive oil, mushrooms, chilli and celery.

SNACK- 5 pecans from the shell and 5 olives.

DINNER- Quinoa, olives and capers.
Soybean pasta, tamari and pepper.

DESSERT- Goji berries and glass of soy milk.

EXERCISE- Rehearsal.

Day 46

THOUGHTS- Auckland Zoo. Today we went to Auckland Zoo and though I feel sad for animals not being in their natural habitat I also love the chance to be able to see them for real. And I did my research before going and the Auckland Zoo is big on conservation and have lots of funds that go towards saving animals. A lot of the animals they have are used for breeding and raising awareness. There was a giraffe there that was only a few weeks old and he was the cutest thing ever. I find animals so amazing and as much as I have learnt while trying to find out all about them there is still so much I don’t know. I love watching them and the traits they exhibit that aren’t too unlike our own. They have their own ways of communicating with each other, their own families and hierarchies. I could watch animals all day. It often puzzles me while watching them with their own little characteristics how people could kill them whether it be for sport, food or even just by clearing their habitat. When did we become so greedy that the lives of other beings no longer came into play.
Merekats are my favourite to watch. Just by watching them you can see the personalities come through. There was one that just sat on the log and sunned himself he was the lazy one, then there was the fat one that was always looking for food, the two younger ones that just wanted to play, then there was the sensible one who played sentry and stood at the highest point and watched out for danger. I know meerkats aren’t generally on the menu and they aren’t endangered but just watching their antics and the personalities they have makes me realize how similar all animals are. They have personalities, feelings, pain receptors and a survival instinct.
I had a great day I love days when I get to see animals. Also got to see the Kiwi Birds which was the main reason I wanted to go because we don’t have them in Australia. They were so cool. Their enclosure was really dark because they are nocturnal so I didn’t get any good photos. But I took heaps of the other animals. Then caught my flight back to Australia.

CHALLENGES- After spending my last amount of money at the zoo and not having much food leftover from the day before I was starving on the plane and for some reason they didn’t have any meal for me so they went and got some nut packets which were ok and breadrolls. I was so hungry it had been such a big day of walking and I ate them.  My first big slip up of the diet and I felt awful. Forty-Six days in and I messed it up. And bread doesn’t even taste good any more.

TRIUMPHS- Not craving bread. Not liking the taste. Noticing the changes that my body is making.

WHAT I ATE-

BREAKFAST- Organic tofu, white rice, olive oil and pepper.

SNACK- ½ soy latte
Vege sushi- capsicum, avocado and radish.

LUNCH- Indian Veg with Chickpeas and Rice.

SNACK- Nuts lots of packets. Small amount of lettuce and 3 Breadrolls 

DINNER- 1 potato cooked in olive oil. Very late.

EXERCISE- Walking around the zoo for hours.

Day 45

THOUGHTS- 90 Mile Beach and Hot pools. The natural Beauties of New Zealand. Today after finishing our show we went for a drive along the 90 mile beach to the tip of New Zealand. It was beautiful. It’s an experience that I am glad I have had the opportunity to partake in. Sure we got hopelessly lost and it took us so much longer than we originally intended. We even ended up on a logging track. Certainly a unique day. We finally made it to Cape Rienga and it was amazing. When you walk down the path right to the tip near the lighthouse you can see where the Tasman Sea meets the pacific ocean. And when these two great bodies of water meet they send up massive sprays of water and it was just beautiful. Had the sun not been setting already and if we didn’t have a five hour drive back to Auckland could have sat there for hours. I took plenty of photos but nothing is the same as actually being there.

On our way back down we stopped at some hot pools. I can’t remember the name of the place but it was amazing. They are just pools that volcanic water has come up into and each pool is a different temperature. Some are just lukewarm and others are scalding. They are so good for tired muscles and so natural as well. We often forget that nature provides us with all the cures that we need for everything. We were talking to a gentleman while we were there and there are some other pools not to far from there and there is one that you put your face in and open your eyes in the water and it helps with your vision and they have heaps of different pools that help with all sorts of ailments. It’s such a naturally beautiful country and I would be very happy to return.

CHALLENGES- Not having anywhere to stop and cook anything and no way of preparing any foods. So having to eat out.

TRIUMPHS- Making the places make earthy foods for me.

WHAT I ATE-

BREAKFAST- Left over last night chickpeas and brown rice with salt.

SNACK- Double shot soy latte
Mother Earth Nut mix

LUNCH- Grilled mushroom and tomato in olive oil.
Small salad lettuce mix, tomato wedge, cucumber slice.
Soy Latte

SNACK- 1 Apple
1 pkt peanut and sultana mix
1 packet cashews salted
1 just juice
½ L Rice Milk

DINNER- Indian Vegetables with chickpeas served on Rice.
1 Just Juice Pineapple and Mango

EXERCISE- Doing childrens show.
Walking along the track to the very tip of New Zealand.

Day 44

THOUGHTS- Pride. I landed in New Zealand yesterday and today it was pouring with rain we drove for about five hours to get to where we were staying for the next school. Even though it was raining I could see the beautiful countryside. It’s such a lovely country. And they are so proud of their heritage. Almost every place you go it has the name written in English and in Moari as well. Mad me think that we don’t have anything like that in Australia and I got in touch with my good friend Liana to put me in touch with one of her indigenous friends. I found that even if Australia had the disire to start writing town names in our indigenous language it would be near impossible as each tribe has it’s own language and there are very few left as it stands and when we Europeans came over we tore them apart spread them across the country side, killed, enslaved them and stole their children.

So it was great for me to see a country that holds so much pride in it’s heritage and would be great if more countries would be the same instead of the way most countries are. We all know about James cook and the white settlers but how much do we really know about who was here before that? If you are reading this from overseas… Welcome. Now think to yourself how much do you know about your country’s heritage? And are you proud of it? Because I am proud to be an Australian. I’m not so proud of some of the events that took place in the history of this great land but I am proud of who I am now and where I live. I still however was overwhelmed by the pride of New Zealand. Though it’s only a few hours by plane and geographically less than half the size of Australia the pride that they have could outweigh our own. And to that I say good on them. Well done New Zealand for being a cool little country thanks for letting me visit. And thanks to my guide Claire. I hope to be able to return again soon.

CHALLENGES- Being in another country and seeing all the cool vegan foods and restaurants they had and not being able to try them out because non of them were earthy. Did have a few juices due to depleating energy levels. Very hard to find something healthy and vegan that I was able to just heat up as we were staying at a backpackers and it was toooooo cold for me to try eating raw for the night. So I did my best with what was available.

TRIUMPHS- Finding good Earthy foods that I could have

WHAT I ATE-

BREAKFAST- 3 slices of tofu (Certified organic soybeans, filtered water, natural coagulant- Nigari), cooked in olive oil, seasoned with pepper.
Soy latte
Organic Rice Milk (Water, brown rice, sunflower oil, sea salt)

LUNCH- Last nights left overs- Chickpea and vegetable dish.
Phoenix organic apple and pear juice- apple juice NZ, imported pear juice, natural aroma and vitamin C
Just Juice Tropical- fruit juice, apple, orange, pineapple, mango, passionfruit, vitamin C.

SNACK- Packet of pecans
Mother Earth deluxe mix- cashews, almonds, hazelnuts, brazil nuts, pecans, macadamias.
Just Juice orange and mango- apple, orange and mango juice, vitamin C
Rice Milk

DINNER- Sun rice brown rice packet- Brown rice, water, vegetable oil (sunflower oil, antioxidants) distilled monglyceride.
Pam’s chickpeas (canned)- chickpeas, water, salt.

EXERCISE- Doing childrens show lots of running around and lifting big boxes.

Day 43

THOUGHTS- Every moment in life has a reason for it. This reason may not be visible to you but you exist for a purpose and that purpose may be world changing and why shouldn’t it be. If you want to change the world what is stopping you. I can bet money on the fact that the only thing stopping you is you. Your doubts, your fears. Your purpose may be to save someones life or alter it completely. Look around right now. There may be someone closer than you think that needs your help. This morning at about 3am I found a person who needed me today. I’d spent some time with a friend after being at the pub which I hardly ever go to. And since not drinking much at all anymore the pub was not an ideal place that I wanted to be going to. But I made some new friends, drove home, packed for my flight and came back to hang out with them. I had an early flight and had to be at the airport at 6am but there was something that drove me back. After spending time with my new friend I headed back to my car and as I passed the pub there was a woman of about my age perhaps a little younger walking out of the place hysterically crying her eyes out. Everyone else looked at her and continued walking. I had to take a few looks as I heard her sniffing at first and I thought what a fool I would be asking if she needed help if all she had was the common cold. But upon turning I saw her tears and heard her sobs and stopped from walking any further. Simply asked if she was ok and she pretty much collapsed into my arms sobbing. People continued walking past and just looked at us funny. Her reason for being upset is not what is important. But the fact that I took the time to stop. It angers me how many people walked by her. She asked me to direct her to the train station and I told her there was no way in hell she was catching a train alone so I asked where she lived. And before she had even told me I had in my head that I would drive her home. I had three hours to be at the airport and as long as she didn’t live more than an hour and a half away it would be fine. She was only half hour the opposite direction only adding an hour to my trip. We are such a suspicious race of people. The thought did cross my mind that it could have been an act to rob me. But then a second thought of ha then the jokes on her all I have in my car are some crappy clothes that are way to big for her. A fake guess handbag worth about $15 and all my bank cards have no money on them. And as for my car I would probably get more from the insurance company than what it is actually worth. So then after that little giggle to myself I drove her home and wished her well. I was there that morning for a reason. Who knows what could have happened to her had she been left to wander the disgusting Brisbane streets. And I slept better (all beit for an hour in my car) knowing that instead she was home safe.

Also today I flew to New Zealand. It’s so beautiful. I had never flown overseas before and it was great to see how different places can be. Esspecially with food. It is so much easier to get organic healthy foods at pretty much every shop. The Earth Diet is still a bit of a challenge but the foods are beautiful and today I tried a Fejoa. It was beautiful. The girl I stayed with her neighbour had a tree of them and we just went and picked some. It’s so earthy to be able to pick something and then eat it. Knowing that no-one else has touched that food but me is quiet invigorating.

CHALLENGES- Going to the pub

TRIUMPHS- Not drinking any alcohol and still having a great night and finding that everyone is where they are for a reason.

WHAT I ATE-



BREAKFAST- Veggie Fritters- Soy milk, Buckwheat flour, red onion, red and yellow capsicum, brussel sprout, fresh tumeric, garlic, ginger, red cabbage, celery, chilli, parsley, caulfilour. Cooked in oliv oil.
Soy latte
Emma and tom’s Karamarama juice- orange juice, pineapple juice, mngo puree, passionfruit pulp, Siberian ginseng and Korean ginseng.




LUNCH- Carrot sticks, taste raw broccoli, four raw mushrooms, carrot sticks, 2 cherry tomatoes, 5 sugar snap peas.
Watermelon, red grapes, honey dew melon.
Rowies chocolate raspberry cake.
Sip soy milk
Glass pineapple juice- no additives.

SNACK- Glass organic rice milk
Cashews
Fejoa



DINNER- Kumura (sweet potato), onions, potato, capsicum, zuchinni, eggplant, mushrooms, tomatoes, chickpeas, table salt, olive oil, sugar, paprika, salt, chilli, oregano, natural lemon flavour.

EXERCISE- Walking

Day 42

THOUGHTS- ANZAC Day. Heroes. The heroes of our nation. Many gave their lives so that we can live in a free country. Today is the day that we remember those that fought and died at Gallipoli. I know that many just see it as a long weekend. Another holiday, another day for drinking. As do most of my friends. Being that I am not drinking much at the moment I was the sober transport to get a friend into the pub in the city. Not only did I have am awesome time but I met up with a few of our current defence force personel that keep our country safe in this present day. I’d like to take this chance to thank them. I’d like to extend that to many thanks for those who did fight and die at Gallipoli. We take what we have for granted and often forget that someones fathers, brothers and sons all died so that we can live in this country the way that we do. I am thankful that this means that my father and brothers do not have to make the sacrifice that was made by others. We take freedom for granted when so many other countries don’t have the same luxury. We should be thankful for every day that we have. Every woman that can walk the street without being covered head to toe, or without having to be accompanied by a man and the right to vote that we all have and now we can even fight for those rights in our defence forces. We should be thankful for every child that is not stolen and forced into slavery. Our country is one of the greatest countries in the world and we have the one day to honor and respect the fallen and so many people just take that as an extra day to go drinking. Take a moment now if you didn’t on the day to stop and think about what luxuries you have and the lives that were lost so that you could have them. Be thankful. Those lives are the lives of heroes. Also take the time now to think of someone who is a modern day hero to you. They might not be fighting in the forces but they might do something that makes your life and probably the lives of many others better. Take the time to pick up the phone or send them an email to let them know what a hero they are to you. There are heroes everywhere and it is time to acknowledge those in your life.


CHALLENGES- Going to the pub and not drinking with everyone else.

TRIUMPHS- Not even feeling like drinking and then staying up all night and not feeling as tired as I would have used to.

WHAT I ATE-

BREAKFAST- Left over veggie patties

SNACK- 4 pecans




LUNCH- Stir fry- Red onion, red and yellow capsicum, snow peas, carrot, zuchinni, eggplant, celery, brussel sprout, garlic, ginger, parsley, asparagus, olive oil, tamari. Served on a bed of Quinoa.



SNACK- Sunflower, blueberry and pomegranate smoothie.

DINNER- Two potatoes cut into chips and cooked in olive oil.
Bag of macadamias
Soy latte

EXERCISE- Lots of dancing and half hour walk.

Day 41

THOUGHTS- Happiness. We spend so much time trying to be happy. We rely so much on other people and things to make us happy. Or we have goals that we must reach before we are happy. Why can’t we just be happy? Answer these questions.
Are you alive?
Do you get regular food?
Are you free (not a slave)?
Do you have somewhere to live?
If you answered yes to all of these questions then you are ahead of a large percent of Earths population. Shouldn’t that make you happy? I know I’m not the happiness fairy and I too have bad days but there are people I talk to who are down all the time. Admittedly I understand that there are people with clinical depression. But even those people are sometimes happier than other everyday people. Lately when I have found myself in situations that would normally bring me down and reduce me to tears. I ask myself the above questions. When I answer yes I then tell myself “Suck it up Princess.” Lately after reading Liana’s blog on the slaves in Africa (insert link) I have had a new view on life. Whenever I am having a hard day I think of those children that are doing it so much harder. If I am saddened by the fact that I can’t afford new shoes or clothes I think of those who have no shoes or clothes. You can call me what you wish, hippie, weirdo, fruit loop. But it just makes me human. Somewhere in this human race there is something called caring. Some people possess more of it than others. But through this caring and worrying about what is happening around the world. I know there are things happening here in Australia that need addressing as well. But I am greatful for what I have. I know mum used to always say “Eat that broccoli there are starving kids in Africa that would love to be eating that.” Sure enough my answer was “They can have it cos it tastes like crap.” But now when I think of the kids in all the countries that aren’t as priveldged as us it makes me realize what a fantastic country we have and how we are lucky to have what we have and should be happy. There is always someone suffering more than you and instead of wallowing in your own pity you should be getting out there to do something about it.

CHALLENGES- Feeling a bit down and just wanting junky food. Put too much oil on everything today.

TRIUMPHS- Finding Nudie juices. I know they are processed and packaged by someone else as are a few of the things I eat. But the ingredients are all from the Earth. When I was craving a coffee but could not find anywhere that did fair trade. A Nudie juice picked me up just as well if not more.

WHAT I ATE-

BREAKFAST- Apple, peach and strawberry juice
Apple and passionfruit juice
Buckwheat, soy milk and stevia pancakes, cooked in olive oil and topped with agave syrup.

LUNCH- Soy patties- soy pulp, capsicum, onion, tumeric, celery, chilli, red onion.

SNACK- Goji berries and cacao beans.
½ avocado lentil and mungbean sprouts.
Nudie juice- pressed apple, crushed mango, squeezed orange, juiced passionfruit and mashed banana.


DINNER- 2 potatoes cooked in olive oil.
Veggie patties- Garlic, ginger, tumeric, soy milk, buckwheat flour, red onion, redcapsicum, celery, eggplant, brussel sprout and parsley. Cooked in olive oil.


EXERCISE- Nil