Earth Forest adopts an ethos of sustainable self-love and eco-care
Though I don't remember slathering a generous lashing of sexiness on my toast this morning, I do subscribe to the 'you are what you eat' belief. You can't expect to perform at your optimal level when you've poisoned your body with processed food and GMOs. Pack your diet with strengthening ingredients instead and you'll enjoy increased vitality almost immediately.
Health fundis will tell you that most conditions ailing people today can be treated by taking a hard look at what you're putting into your body. I agree. My IBS went undiagnosed for a painful 9 months before someone gave me that sage advice. Three years later, I keep a food diary of everything that either helps me or harms me and I couldn't be happier.
"You can eat all the fruits and vegetables you want, but if your body can't breakdown the food, you're literally flushing all that healthy eating down the toilet," Caroline says as she hands me a bottle of ice cold Kambucha.
This immortal health elixir is to wash down the belt-busting Earth Burger I've just annihilated.
"This drink it like gold for your gut. It helps you absorb all the nutrients from your food," she adds. The fermented beverage is brewed from black tea, probiotics, yeast, cane sugar and it strengthens your immune system while simultaneously restoring your digestive system to absorb all the goodness from the food you eat.
Trained in holistic healing, Caroline, and her partner Evert founded Earth Forest - a plant-based eatery stocked with organic and home grown ingredients.
"There's this misconception that healthy eating is difficult or it takes too long to prepare, but that just isn't true," Evert shares. "We (Caroline and I) fry up burgers if we're feeling lazy," he says as he slaps a plum-coloured patty, made from beetroot, carrots, moringa, coconut flour, flaxseeds and lentils, onto the grill. Though I'm full from the one I've just eaten, my mouth waters for another.
Earth Forest encourages a holistically healthy lifestyle. It's not just about replacing your favourite cut of meat with a crumbed cauliflower steak - and Caroline insists a cheat day is as much an act of self-love as making a hearty salad - it's about caring enough about how you feed your body; the homeopathic properties of fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices; the benefits of cultivating your own produce garden. Caroline and Evert are interested in sharing their knowledge to help others improve their health and quality of life, "It all begins with a change in mindset," Evert says.
When you know better, you do better. The sprouts, butter lettuce and onions that sandwich my burger were grown at Khula Dhamma where the Earth Forest founders live. The Boosted Smoothie I take a shot of has been made from scratch with ingredients prepared at the Eco Village in Haga Haga too.
Pesticide and GMO free, I enjoy the unpolluted palate-pleasing taste of everything Caroline an Evert have grown through permaculture, amazed at how quickly and simply the two have prepared the meal.
"Most of what you've eaten today can be grown in your garden. If you live in a city and don't have a lot of space, you can start with growing your own herbs," Evert mentions as I'm waddling back to my car. Eternally grateful for how generous Caroline and Evert have been, with both their food and their knowledge, I drive home excited to add a few more seeds to my home garden.
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It's been proven that if you Eat Better you'll Feel Better but that's also heavily dependent on the quality of your food. This is why it is important that, if you aren't growing your own food, you Buy Local.
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