This weeks My Day On A Plate comes from Jenni Madison. Jenni is the founder and managing director of Coconut Magic, author of The Healthy Coconut and a self-professed health nut. She adopted The Healthy Coconut lifestyle after personally discovering the amazing health benefits of coconut oil while living and working in Thailand in 2010. When Jenni returned to Australia, she realised that not all coconut oils were the same. Jenni was compelled to share her game-changing health and wellness findings and the premium cold-pressed coconut oil she enjoyed in Thailand with her fellow Australians. Her fair-trade company and brand, Coconut Magic, was born.
Since that time, Coconut Magic has grown to offer a wide variety of premium coconut-based products that are distributed nationwide and internationally. Jenni’s first book, The Healthy Coconut, includes thorough health and wellbeing information as well as her delicious, nutritious and unusual plant-based whole food recipes.
A day on my plate can vary so much depending on what is available, time of year and where I am. However, there is one common theme, I eat a wholefood vegan diet that is high in raw food. I also include plenty of coconut oil. It is summertime now so my meals are much lighter and the raw component is up. In winter I am a big fan of warm soups, including lentil, pumpkin, roasted vegetable and warm vegetable or lentil curries.
Each morning I drink 1-2 glasses of spring water with lemon juice, warm or cold I love them both, as well as 2 tablespoons of coconut oil. Knowing I have had a good dose of alkalizing and activating lemon, together with some energizing and cleansing coconut oil, makes me feel great to start the day.
Exercise and Chill Time: I live in a beautiful part of the Northern Rivers and a long walk along the beach or the nature strip each day gives me a dose of sunshine, clean air, friendly smiles, exercise and some mental clarity. There is a private sacred space (in the bush) I also love to visit if I feel my mind activity or my emotions require some peace. It works every time I go there and sit!
7am
I tend to eat when I feel like eating rather than by the clock. If I am hungry in the morning I will have some granola cereal with coconut yoghurt or homemade almond milk, or one of our Raw Energy Bars (cacao and coconut are my favourite).
Generally though, in the mornings, I don’t feel like eating too much, so either a juice or a smoothie is perfect.
Often I’ll start with a fresh juice quite early in the morning, and then have a smoothie late morning.
I like to make two kinds of juices. The first is carrot with orange, turmeric, lemon and ginger. I find this one so uplifting and refreshing. My second kind is green juice, made with kale or spinach, cucumber apple and lemon. Both feel super cleansing. We go through so many lemons in our household it is unbelievable. I use them for everything! They are a staple like my coconut oil.
9am
My smoothie choices include strawberry almond milk, green smoothie and other mixed berry flavours, so they are generally pink, red or green, and will include some coconut oil and other protein or healthy fat sources such as nuts and seeds.
I must be honest I also love a good organic soy-latte. This will generally cross my lips before 9am each morning, a vice that I love. I also have frequent breaks from drinking coffee when I am on a detox or cleanse.
12pm
When the hunger kicks in, and it always does around 11am or 12pm, my first meal of the day will consist of lots of raw vegetables. I might include a cashew mayonnaise, or creamy cashew dressing as this gives me the feeling of having plenty of calories and more healthy fats, or some quinoa, such as an herbed quinoa salad. I get plenty of highly absorbable plant-based protein from my daily greens, nuts, seeds, and almost all kinds of vegetables!
Snack Time: This can be any time of the day! I will top some crackers or raw bread with avocado, raw hummus, or zucchini dip. An additional topping will include tomato, cucumbers and sauerkraut. Yum!
If I feel like a sweet treats as a snack I will enjoy some raw vegan chocolate, store bought or home made, or a raw dessert cake such as my coconut and lemon slice.
I try to avoid more than one coffee per day so I make an herb tea, juice or a Coconut Magic Dandelion Latte.
Dandelion Latte is made just like a plunger coffee but using roasted dandelion instead, I then blend this in a hand held blender with a shot of coconut oil, a pinch of vanilla essence and a hint of coconut nectar. It is lovely!
A Raw Energy Bar is also a great snack any time of the day, especially if I am additionally active such as going for a hike, or doing a Yoga or NIA dance class.
7pm
My husband and I enjoy relaxing and making our food together in the evenings. He loves to add some potatoes to my raw creations, something like some potato mash, roast vegetables or sweet potato fries. I’ll prepare a zucchini pasta, mock tuna salad or some raw tacos.
We also love to eat out at our favourite vegan restaurant, The Greenhouse Factory, where we enjoy similar foods to what we prepare at home.
Evening:
I am working through a 1kg bag of organic chamomile flowers and making a fresh brew of chamomile tea each night before bed.
Avocado, Coconut and Lime Popsicles!
Ingredients
- 2 ripe avocados
- 400ml organic coconut milk
- ¼ cup Coconut Magic coconut oil
- ¼ cup Coconut Magic coconut nectar
- 2 tsp freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Method | Serves 4-6
1. Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until creamy.
2. Pour into popsicle molds.
3. Freeze for 1½ to 2 hours.
4. Enjoy!
NB: Run popsicles under warm water to remove smoothly!