I'd like to think that I don't do the bias thing when it comes to choosing a Master of The Month for the most festive, sparkly, happy, inspirational and love-packed season of the year and then...
I meet a fellow Antipodean, same age as me, who also happens to be a best selling Hay House author, has a weekly radio show, lives in one of my favourite cities in the whole entire world - New York, has a hell of a health transformation story and she's drop dead gorgeous!
Liana Werner-Gray from The Earth Diet, made quite an impression.
She recently interviewed me on everything healthy, fun and alkaline for her Hay House US Radio show (available to listen here) and I was so excited to carry on the conversation, this time all about Liana, right here on the blog...
Meet our December's Master of the Month...
DESCRIBE YOUR TYPICAL DAY OF EATING AND DRINKING.
I do “The Earth Diet”. Custom made to my lifestyle is 70% raw foods and 30% cooked foods. I do incorporate some meat here and there, but I am a majority plant based/vegan including my skin care products, household products and clothing!
After rising: I usually start the day with lemon water or apple cider vinegar. Sometimes I do oil pulling with sesame seed oil.
Breakfast: I love chia seed cereal with sliced tigernuts and hemp seeds as a topping! Then I have one fresh vegetable juice everyday. My favourite is cucumber, celery, kale, parsley, lemon and ginger – just pure goodness!
Supplements: I usually take 2 supplements throughout the day: bentonite clay and activated charcoal. Snacks: I will eat as much raw whole foods as possible like avocado or straight up cauliflower. I always get my whole raw greens in everyday like a salad or at least a Phresh Greens which is just mixing the powder into water for an instant serving of daily greens!
Lunch and Dinner: I usually have one cooked meal a day. Usually a recipe from my book like the Cumin Quinoa, vegan Mac n Cheese (gluten free using brown rice pasta) or Tacos. Everything I eat is as natural as possible that comes straight from nature.
Desserts and treats: I have something sweet every single day, whether it is a piece of fruit, or organic candy, or a Raw Chocolate Almond Butter cup – which is why I created my own raw chocolate line so that I could eat it everyday! :p I used to be addicted to the worst kind of chocolate with refined sugar, soy and dairy, and I broke my binge eating cycle by replacing it with raw chocolate that gives me so many antioxidants, nourishment and protein!
WHAT (OR WHO) INSPIRES YOU TO EAT WELL AND STAY HEALTHY?
The “feeling” good is what keeps me wanting to stay healthy. I spent way too many years (5 years in total) of intense suffering every single day around food. I had an addiction to junk foods and I would binge eat, emotional eat and over eat. I so badly wanted to break out of that vicious cycle and feel better, and I achieved that with doing 365 days of eating only from nature (documented daily at www.TheEarthDiet.blogspot.com) and now I am so grateful to have relief and freedom around food. Now I actually enjoy food and I don’t even crave junk foods at all which amazes me. I love how I feel now and so I want to maintain this peace, harmony and health that I experience.
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST WEAKNESS WHEN IT COMES TO FOOD AND HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT?
When I get emotional, stressed or tired I crave a lot of sweets and carbs and then I usually over eat on them. They are all organic though so I don’t get trapped in it for long. I tell myself the affirmation “It is better than eating a whole lot of junk food, and still a major upgrade from my past habits”. However I am aware of it, and I have set an intention to break out of the habit of over eating when I am emotional. I am choosing instead to replace it with other things like asking God for help, breathing and just being ok with feeling uncomfortable emotions knowing that they will pass soon.
I also eat handfuls of TigerNuts when I am craving or feel like I am about to overeat, because they are a root vegetable so there is no guilt attached to eating vegetables haha, plus they are mostly fibre so they fill me up, but don’t have crazy amounts of calories. Plus they have the same amount of iron as red meat so it makes me feel strong. Also when I crave candy like gummy bears, I will go get organic gummy bears and allow myself to enjoy them as it’s a major upgrade from eating corn syrup candy that is full of gluten!
MY TOP TIP FOR:
Improving your diet is… focus on what nature/God provides us with! The Earth has it all there for us – just eat as many whole foods that come directly from nature as possible!
Staying healthy while travelling is… always carry raw chocolate or your favorite superfoods!
Detoxing is… drink bentonite clay daily. It will absorb toxins, parasites, worms and heavy metals. It is volcanic ash.
Immunising is… drink beet juice and green juice every single. It will literally transform the body!
Beauty is… whiten your teeth with baking soda! No need for harsh chemical whiteners these days. Baking soda costs just a few dollars and comes straight from earth. After you brush your teeth with toothpaste, scoop a nice amount of baking soda up on your toothbrush and then buff your teeth clean with it. Do daily for 14 days and you will notice a new shade of whiteness to your teeth! Stop and take a break if it stings.
WHAT’S THE NICEST THING ANYONE HAS EVER SAID TO YOU?
One of my clients who came through my one-on-one health coaching, Monica Rowsom said, “I could not have done this without you, I don’t know how I could ever repay you. Thank you for having the confidence in me that I could lose weight and improve my thyroid condition when doctors told me I would never be able to lose weight. Now I have lost 38 pounds and feel the best I have ever felt. Thank you.”
And the people who I have helped with cancer are dear to my heart, like Marie Wellens “Liana your book is awesome and I feel so blessed to have it. It has helped with many physical problems including cancer and emphysema. Everyone should have your book at their fingertips.”
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED?
For founding The Earth Diet and helping people achieve their healthiest and happiest life possible.
IF YOU GOT TO KEEP ONLY 3 OF YOUR BELONGINGS: 1 THING FROM YOUR KITCHEN, 1 THING FROM YOUR GARDEN AND 1 THING FROM YOUR BOOKSHELF- WHAT WOULD THEY BE?
Kitchen: Vitamix
Garden: Cilantro (Coriander)
Bookshelf: My Louise Hay Daily Affirmations calendar
IF YOU COULD HOST A DINNER PARTY FOR 3 GUESTS (DEAD OR ALIVE)- WHO WOULD THEY BE AND WHAT WOULD YOU SERVE?
1) Walt Disney – my Cashew Cheesecake recipe
2) Oprah – my Gluten Free Chicken Nugget recipe with a coating of almond flour, turmeric and real salt
3) Eckhart Tolle – Earth Diet Burritos
Can I invite more? LOL! Katy Perry – my candy recipe and raw cookie dough!
Selena Gomez – tea and cookies, and tacos
Mother Teresa – my Turmeric Rice recipe
WHY DO YOU BELIEVE THAT LIFE IS BETTER RAW?
Because raw foods provide us with high high high amounts of nutrition and most of us are nutritionally deprived. Raw foods help our spirituality, they connect us with nature and help us to live in harmony. Raw foods also cure eating disorders like binge eating, emotional eating and overeating. We can heal our mind, body and spirit using raw foods – no joke! And it’s extremely hard to binge eat and overeat on raw foods because they are so nutrient rich! It’s easier to overeat on junk processed foods because they are empty and our digestive system sends a message to the brain “Didn’t get real food, need nutrients, send more food please!” and hence we are left feeling so so hungry after eating huge amounts of junk food. Raw foods fill our cells with nothing but wholeness!
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Our Master of The Month shares her favourite recipe…
CLASSIC CASHEW CHEESECAKE WITH ALMOND CRUST
Prep time: 25 minutes (+ 3 hours to soak nuts)
Freezer time: 4 hours
Makes 16 slices
INGREDIENTS:
For the Base
4 cups almond meal
5 tablespoons maple syrup (or raw honey)
1 tablespoon coconut oil
For the Cheesecake Filling
½ cup lemon juice (approximately 2 large lemons)
3 cups of cashew nuts, soaked in water for 3 hours to soften
¾ cup maple syrup
¾ cup coconut oil
1 table spoons pure vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
ACTION:
- Make the base. In a bowl, combine the almond meal, maple syrup (or honey), and coconut oil. The mixture should be dry, but moist enough to hold together. Add a little water if the mixture is too dry.
- Turn the base mixture into a deep pie dish (large enough to hold 2½ quarters) and press it evenly to cover the bottom and sides of the dish. Set aside.
- Make the cheesecake filling. Put all the ingredients in a powerful blender and blend until filling is very smooth and light in texture. Pour the filling into the prepared crust.
- Freeze for 4 hours. Once set. Cut into slices and serve.
TIP:
To make a smaller cheese cake, halve the recipe.
VARIATIONS:
- Spoon 1 tablespoon of cheesecake filling into each of 32 paper baking cups for Mini Cheesecakes.
- Top with a few fresh berries.
Calories: 368 Total Fat: 28g Carbohydrates: 23g Dietary Fiber: 6g Protein: 10g
*Recipe excerpted from The Earth Diet book published by Hay House October 2014
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For more on Liana, and The Earth Diet, go here>>
