Island travels + product review

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My recent Island family wedding not only filled me with joy, connected me with new friends, I was practically basking in warmth and love all weekend long. As an only child, I never got to watch the magic of siblings team work. Both the bride and the groom are from a large clan, the bride is one of 5 and the groom is one of 7. Impressive right? On the wellness angle, I'm going to relive how a trip away from the city refreshes us and how we can bring some of that getaway magic into our everyday lives? I also have a product review to share, discovering MCT oil powder from Perfect Keto was great for travels. So keep reading!

In this post, I'm going to dissect the magical weekend and break it down to how it gave me a better perspective on my healing progress through reconnecting with nature, foraging, and experiencing intuitive eating at it's best. My goal is to see if I can inject some of these elements into my day to day to keep me this machine of mine running smoothly after returning home. 

crushed shells beach and sea star

Put down the devices and turn on Nature

I know, we don't really need to turn "on" Nature, it's always there and around us, it's when we decide to turn it off because we're so consumed by technology that throws things out of balance. Remote areas can mean unreliable internet connections, which can be a good thing when you're trying to unplug. Recently I went to a wedding on one of the Southern Gulf Islands of British Columbia, Galiano Island, since I had committed to enjoying my time without trying to work, I didn't stress about the shotty "connections". Funny thing is I found a different kind of connection that was running full force everywhere I looked. While on the island, I learned that simply by reconnecting with nature, I found fulfillment easily without social medias. Even being partially unplugged, I felt the freedom of not being tied to an invisible weight. During the day, we were out exploring the island, we walked along beaches, it was fascinating to see some were filled with crushed shells instead of the sand. I felt like a kid again jumping from rock to rock while trying not to step on the slippery seaweeds. It sure beats any "games" on the devices. Real life games are the best! One night, an 80 feet tree fell on my family's 20-acre property, so the next day, a few of us gathered and watched my cousin go to work.  He cut down the limbs to prep it for his freshly build band saw. Cracked me up when one of his sisters said, "... he's doing that just for a core workout." I can't decide which activity was my favourite, either watching the children play in a natural setting or my blackberries picking. I fully enjoyed soaking up nature's magic while basking under the sun, wading in the ocean, and roaming in the woods. How can I inject more nature into my city living? Being on the Westcoast, it's actually not that hard, the tricky part is the distraction from the device. A little trick I use now is set most of the apps on my phone to use Wifi only, adding that extra step to connect to the internet when I'm out will encourage me to explore my surroundings and enjoy the present betters.

Directions

Vital Protein Collagen Veggies Blend Review and Recipe - AIP/ Paleo Gazpacho

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Have you heard, have you heard? I finally got my hands on Sarah Ballantyne's Vital Protein Collagen Veggie Blend and the anticipation was well worth it. 

If you have been on a whole food healing journey, you will know that spending a lot of time in the kitchen is often necessary. I was one of them, hence the name of my blog. But as my body became stronger, I am able to get out of my kitchen and enjoy life a whole lot more. So the search for easy to prepare and pack nourishment for AIP/Paleo life on to go began. I guess Sarah Ballantyne aka The Paleo Mom heard mine and countless health seeker's call when she teamed up with Vital Protein to create this AIP/ Paleo Collagen with veggies. Thanks. Read all about it HERE.

This is what Sarah set out to create and I think she did a fantastic job achieving it.  "a tall order for Vital Proteins.  I wanted a simple product that packed in a ton of whole veggies (fiber and all), just enough fruit to balance the bitterness of the veggies and add some vital nutrients, and a full 20 grams of protein from collagen peptides all in a palatable portable powder that could be mixed easily with water, didn’t need a blender, that wasn’t gritty or thick to drink, and that completely complied with the Autoimmune Protocol. "

When I first heard about the new AIP Vital Protein Collagen Veggie Blend,  I was super excited about it. With this amazing AIP/Paleo supplement in hand,  I can pack lighter and feel more confident about my on the go nourishment. Like most people, I was curious about the taste.  Sarah described the taste as " green ". Ok?!? I wasn't sure how to interrupted that so the best way for me to know is to try it.

My first attempt was simply by mixing 2 scoops with 8 oz of water, the suggested instruction was to mix 2 scoops with 8-12 oz of water so I tested it with the lower amount to see how it faired. First sip, hmm... I tasted like cold tomato soup.  Texture, mixes well with water, not too thick, if you want it runnier, just add more water. Colour - well, with all the goodness of veggies and fruits, you are not going to get some artificial looking, eye pleasing colour, but I don't mind because I know it is the colour of nature's palette.  Oh! how I missed those plump red nightshades. So that got me thinking about creating a refreshing Gazpacho with the Vital Proteins Collagen Veggie Blend to enjoy in the warm weather to come. Below you will find my recipe. 

I was pleased with AIP/Paleo Gazpacho and enjoyed it in the new backyard my husband built.

To preserve the chunky texture of a Gazpacho, I made sure I kept the Blender dial low ( I am using my Vitamix but I think a regular blender will do a good job. )  With the added good fats, this recipe packed a satiating,  easy to prepare, nutrient dense,  snack or even meal because when dinner time came around I had to think twice why I wasn't that hungry. 

So I am giving Sarah Ballantyne's new product Vital Protein Collagen Veggie Blend  2 thumbs up for convenience, nutritional value and versatility. I can't wait to hear more about how people are using this product to boost their health and support their healing journey. You can get your Vital Protein Collagen Veggie Blend HERE.  Make sure you tag your experience with #vitalveggies

AIP/Paleo Gazpacho

Makes 1 serving     Prep time 5 mins      

Ingredients

• 2 scoops Vital Protein Collagen Veggie Blend
• 2 c water
• 1/2 c cucumber, peeled and chopped 
• 2 tsp celery, chopped
• 2 Tbsp onions, finely chopped
• juice of 1/2 a lime
• 1 Tbsp AIP compliant oil, like Avocado/ Extra Virgin Olive
• 1 tsp cilantro and a few sprigs for garnish

Instructions

1. In a blender, add water, cucumber, and celery
2. Blend at low ( 2 ) for 30 sec, not too long unless you want a smooth textured drink 
3. Add onions, 1 tsp of cilantro, lime juice and a pinch of Himalayan pink or Grey sea salt
4. Blend at low ( 2 ) for another 30 sec to mix
5. Lastly add in Vital Protein Collagen Veggie Blend and oil
6. Blend at low for another 30 sec to mix
7. Pour into glass or bowl and garnish with cilantro 

Enjoy!