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    The real reason we crave bread, cheese and chocolate

    The real reason we crave bread, cheese and chocolate

    The first time I’ve encountered food cravings wasn’t when I was pregnant (didn’t crave a thing during pregnancy) but a few years prior to that when I was exploring the raw food lifestyle for the first time.

    I was loving making all sorts of classic dishes out of plants and without cooking, yet all I could think of was Kinder Eggs.

    Not even kidding.

    I’ve never even had that many in the past, yet the cravings weren’t just for commercial processed chocolate, they were pretty specific.

    I began to explore raw chocolate making then (it was almost 10 years ago now! Whoa), I was loving discovering what is possible with pure cacao but the very specific craving remained.

    I then went on to learn everything about the Cacao fruit and all its mega powers to discover that often when us women are at a particular time of the month, we lose magnesium and our body naturally asks for chocolate because it knows that cacao contains loads of this mineral.

    I figured, that’s it, I just need to eat lots of raw chocolate, my magnesium levels will replenish themselves and my cravings will go away.

    Tanya Maher's Seduced Raw Chocolate Ebook

    It didn’t quite work out like that.

    I still thought about those Kinder Eggs and it was driving me insane.

    During that time of transitioning to a more plant based diet, by default I was cleansing and becoming more in tune with my body.

    I began asking my body: ‘what do you need?’ rather than ‘what do you feel like?’.

    It was during one of these moments that my body urged me to think on exactly why I may be craving those silky milky treats, because the answer was contained within.

    I really had to close my eyes and visualise what exactly it was that raw chocolate couldn’t deliver.

    Fearne Cotton and Tanya Maher

    It was obviously, not just the magnesium and antioxidant-rich chocolate itself or I would’ve been the happiest girl in the world crunching on cacao nibs. Plus I was already getting plenty of magnesium from leafy greens and antioxidants from berries.

    Was it the sweetness? Nope, because if it was then I’d be satisfied simply by swallowing a tablespoon of white sugar.

    The answer was clear. I longed for the creaminess, the milkiness, the fattiness, the dairyness!

    I longed for fats.

    Interestingly, although my cravings were that specific, eating Kinder didn’t seem to make me want it less.

    Turns out that my body was trying to tell me that it needed lots of cold pressed essential fats and fatty acids, but the only way it knew to communicate this was pointing out the very thing that contained lots of fats, albeit the wrong kind.

    It’s not like my body was ever going to get me salivating for a cup full of fish oil or a can of sardines, so it communicated the only way it knew how...

    It kept reminding me of those creamy little buggers, creamy, creamy, fatty, fatty, till the message hit home.

    I bought all kinds of seed oils, oil blends, extra virgin varieties and cold pressed extracts, then began blending them into my smoothies and shakes, desserts and salad dressings.

    raw vegan red velvet cheesecake at Tanya's Cafe

    Soon after that, my cravings for Kinder Surprise went away. Forever!

    Now I know that simply dreaming about a certain food doesn’t mean that you’ll be completely satisfied as soon as you give in to it. Certainly not long term.

    I know to really think about that food and to really dissect what’s inside.

    There lies the answer of what minerals and nutrients my own body may be missing. And that there is always a solution to how this deficiency may be restored.

    At times, I may crave bread...

    I know now that it is when I am boarding on a chromium or nitrogen deficiency.

    If these cravings keep reappearing, I simply up my intake of cinnamon, grapes and sweet potato for chromium or greens, grains and legumes for nitrogen.

    Other times I may long for cheese...

    And I don’t mean ‘oh there’s cheese in front of me, I kinda fancy some’, I mean I reeeeeally want cheese so much that I’m willing to change out of my pj’s, at 9 o’clock at night, and walk for 20 minutes each way to the supermarket for cheeeeese.

    That’s a pretty clear call for a top up on essential fatty acids and calcium.

    I would go for more omega 3’s (EPA and DHA), tahini, broccoli and kale, then just like a miracle- not one more thought about cheese for months.

    tanya maher salads

    Those are the most common cravings that I’m sure you too experience from time to time.

    I also get emails about more bizarre cravings like crunching ice or being too snacky or dreaming of alcohol.

    These’s also cravings for coffee, fizzy drinks, burned foods, salty foods, popcorn, red meat, crisps and so many more.

    And guess what- they ALL mean something.

    And we will discuss them in depth at this Sunday’s workshop ‘What your cravings are telling you’.

    More importantly, I will teach you how to make the most satisfying raw food delicacies such as a Butterscotch Marble Triple Choc Cake, Creamy Mylk-shake, Pesto Stuffed Mushrooms and a yummy Cheezy Dip, and we will enjoy them all in class.

    11:30am-2pm Sunday 11th March...

    Can’t think of a better way to spend Mother’s Day than doing what I love the most.

    I hope you will join me, as now there are only a few tickets left.

    Book here:

    Class - This Sunday 11th March - What your cravings are telling you

    Class - This Sunday 11th March - What your cravings are telling you
    Did you know that craving chocolate is your body saying that you're missing a certain mineral? Once you begin eating foods rich in that mineral, the cravings will vanish! Same goes for milk,cheese,bacon,bread,red meat,etc. Discover what your cravings mean + what raw plant-based recipes to make in order to combat them.

    Read more

    3 of My Favourite Salad Recipes

    3 of My Favourite Salad Recipes

    Salad isn't only for hot summer months.

    It isn't only for dieting.

    It isn't only for January's health kick.

    Salad is for life and life should be full, delicious and truly satisfying.

    That's why I only eat salad that makes me feel alive. And full. None likes to be left hungry after a meal...

    Yep, salad can be a meal. Below are just three of the very best salad recipes I enjoy all year round.

    Read more

    New menu!

    New menu!

    Guys,

    Our new menu launched last week and I have to say- it's my favourite so far!

    Rainbow Pad Thai with crunchy veggies, kelp noodles and a creamy peanut butter satay sauce; Falafel Goodness Bowl with cashew cucumber tzatziki and the best quinoa kale olive tabouli you'll ever taste; and more!

    Many of you have been asking to see the full menu, so I posted it here>>

    You've also requested information on our delivery service and the London zones we cycle to, so I made a dedicated page here>>

    Finally, a big Happy Birthday to all the September babies of the world! We for sure deliver more cakes in September than any other time of year, but it's also a known fact that there are more babies born at the end of September than any other month. Official birth records prove that the Christmas spirit of festivities and goodwill play quite the role in shaping our population!

    So there you have it, an update and a fact for you! You can't say I don't bring value through my blog posts :)

    Happy Wednesday,

    xTanya

    Tanya's cafe chelsea new raw food vegan menu

    tanya's cafe new raw food vegan menu chelsea london

    Tanya's cafe new raw food vegan menu london healthy delivery detox

    Tanya's cafe new raw food vegan menu london healthy delivery detox

    FOR SALE: the most magical home in Vilcabamba, Ecuador

    FOR SALE: the most magical home in Vilcabamba, Ecuador

    better-raw-vilcabamba-retreat-8 53-1

    For the past 7 years, my parents have devoted the most insane amount of energy, divine love and care to a land which now gives back over 100 edible fruits, vegetables and plants.

    People have turned up at their door step not knowing why they were guided there, only to discover that a very rare and sacred meditation portal on their land called them in to heal.

    Mum and dad hosted numerous raw food lunches on their property, I held multiple retreats and workshops there too, which attracted people from all over the world and SOLD OUT within days.

    This magical place is located in Vilcabamba, Ecuador. It’s known as The Valley of Longevity.

    Now my parents are off onto new adventures and to be closer to their beloved granddaughter, so another very very lucky family can enjoy the fruits of their labour.

    The house, the guest house (rental) and the land are officially for sale!

    vilcabamba 1111 home for sale


      Take a look:

    If the video above doesn't work, check it out on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRC8ZQKN78I&feature=youtu.be


     

    OFFICIAL AD:

    Immaculate Home & Income property for sale USD 370K.

    With only a 5 minute walk to town center, this picture-perfect hidden gem is the essence of Vilcabamba, aka The Valley of Longevity. The stunning organic orchard houses an immaculate double-store property, a charming guest-house and a healing energy portal, which have all been developed with retreats in mind.

    Main house (240 m2): High ceilings, 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms (1 en suite with a jet Jacuzzi tub), mezzanine floor could be used as a library or an extra bedroom, big open plan kitchen and lounge, huge wrap-around balcony, large size porch which gets the morning sun, family sized sauna, 2 storage closets. Two of the rooms have built-in wardrobes and the master has a walk in wardrobe.

    Guest house (70 m2): High ceilings, 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, mezzanine floor upstairs is currently used as an extra lofted bedroom. Open plan kitchen/dining/lounge, a porch which gets the afternoon sun and a separate street entrance. This lovely standalone property currently receives up to $1,500/ month in AirBnB income.

    Land features (flat section 2000 m2): Fully fenced and secure, this land is also flat. An impressive sun-gate numbered 11:11 is a welcoming statement to this magical property. The organic orchard has over 100 assorted fruit trees (citruses, avocados, guayabana, black and white sapotes, macadamia, cashew, almond, pomegranate, pitahaya, persimmons, papayas, apples, pears, apricots, guavas, mulberries, coffee, cacao, figs and more), separate herb gardens, a beautiful flower garden, and a green house full of year-round crop. Water well comes complete with a storage tank and a pump. There are 2 covered workshop places and a paved parking for at least 3 cars.

    The highlight of this land however is the energy Portal: A meditation circle of 10 stones with the special meaning symbols, bordered off by a beautiful hedge garden for a peaceful and powerful connection experience, ideal for spiritual meditation and healing ceremonies.

    Lifestyle: Self-sustainable, peaceful lifestyle. Grow your own organic sustenance, heal, relax and connect with Mother Earth.


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    To see more pictures of the property, I made this public album on Facebook, here>>

    To find out more about the location and how to get there, these FAQ's I wrote for retreat attendees might help>>

    For more info, email Elena and Vladimir on vladimiralekseev@ymail.com