The World is such a big place and we have so much to see and so much to learn…I feel that sudden rush to be an avid globe trotter!
I have just returned from my recent travels to India/Sri Lanka, Bangkok and Cambodia, and have such wonderful experiences to share.
First and foremost the sunny, warm weather combined with the warmth of the people…makes your heart sing!
The discomfort of being stuck in a plane for long hours is instantly forgotten on arrival!
Meeting with family and friends was the main focus in India and Sri lanka, but we also enjoyed visiting places of worship and historical interest.
The icing on the cake for me was tasting authentic local cuisine in restaurants and homes.
My husband was quite embarrased that I would pull out my camera and take pictures of every dish that appeared on the table!
But how else could I remember so many new dishes?
Though Bankkok and Thailand was supposed to be strictly sight-seeing, I managed to squeeze in a few cooking classes. I am so excited about sharing my new recipes in my cooking classes in Delta and Vancouver. Keep tuned in to hear more and see my pictures posted on Picasa web albums.

Starting a New Year is always exciting and so full of hopes – to do more, to achieve more and so on. But perhaps, for a change we should ask ourselves:
“What can we do to make the world a better place for everyone else”!
I am glad a couple of years ago, I had this vision of providing food to people with economic challenges. I am glad we started a community kitchen in our Delta, BC area. Honestly, I had no idea where the food would come from and who will help me make it each week. But my experience is that when you start something good, others will rally around you to help. That is exactly what happened in our community. I have a set of kind and dedicated helpers who have offered to help out each week….many others continue to send donations, and thanks to all these wonderful people we are now in our 3rd year of operation and doing well!
Resolve to start something that interests you and that can help others as well. Then watch it blossom into reality and take a life of its own!!

Searching for a Better Diet on this planet?

Learn about the reasons and many benefits of following a vegetarian diet, rich in all the essential nutrients, in my 3-week cooking series starting in August. The sooner we start, the better it is for our health and the whole planet! You will be surprised how easy it is on your wallet too!

It’s estimated that we make about 250 decisions about food every day, and some are mindless ones that could lead to overeating. But there is a healthier way. How can you can go from mindless to mindful eating in a few steps.

In order to get to mindful eating, we must understand what causes mindless eating. Our environment, it seems, includes a lot of triggers that encourage us to eat more and continue to nibble even through we’re not hungry anymore. Have you ever wondered how you managed to finish an entire bag of potato chips even though you’ve eaten a healthy dinner?

For example:
•Plate size — we dish out 25% more food when using bigger plates
•Television — watch TV while eating and expect to eat 40% more food
•Proximity — the closer the snack, the more likely you’ll reach for it; and we’ll eat 20% more when serving containers are on the dinner table
•Labels — we eat more of something labeled “low fat” (even though we may not like the taste)
•Choice — we eat more when faced with a lot of choices, such as at a buffet

All of these can lead to mindless eating. Most of us know what that’s like.
Drink a glass of water before every meal..to help cut the hunger pangs.
Nibble on snacks like apple and low-fat cheese, hummus and veggies like baby carrots while making dinner.
Do not keep ‘junky’ snacks in the house! If it ain’t there, you can’t eat it!
Keep a bag of almond, granola bars in your bag/car to munch on, if hunger strikes!
But by practicing mindful eating, you’ll find that you may eat less, enjoy what you’re eating more and help keep unwanted pounds from creeping up. You may also find that you feel better about yourself because of your newfound willpower — even though willpower has little to do with mindful eating.

•To help relax before eating, try this deep breathing exercise or this 5-minute stress buster.

Conscious Eating
At some point in our lives, we have all heard the phrase: “we are what we eat”!
Dr. Gabriel Cousins takes that idea beyond the physical level and describes it in far more eloquent words. He says: “What we eat is both the cause and effect of our awareness. It reflects the totality of our on-going harmony with ourselves, the universe and all of creation”.
Let us explore the term “consciousness” a bit further. As Max Velmans and Susan Schneider wrote in The Blackwell Companion to Consciousness:
“Anything that we are aware of at a given moment forms part of our consciousness, making conscious experience at once the most familiar and most mysterious aspect of our lives.” ]So it seems that we make choices based on our awareness. Awareness is a very individual thing. Awareness can be the sum of all our cumulative experiences, learning and obsevations. Awareness can be roused by an actual experience, or information one gathers about a particular topic.
For example, if we know we get an allergic reaction eating peanuts, logic would dictate that we avoid peanuts at any cost..right? But does the same logic apply when it comes to ice cream?
Everyone now knows and awareness has been raised about the harmful effects of smoking? But why are people still struggling with the isse? No two people will have the same awareness,,and therefor the same consciousness.
Unlike in primitive times, we do not have to kill for our food. We do not have to roam through forests facing dangers and risking our lives to secure our food! We just drive in the comfort of our cars to the local supermarket and choose our food.
The question I like to ask today is, when you pick up each food item, what thoughts go through your mind? Are you making conscious choices of what you want to eat? If so, what criteria are you using to make those decisions….?
Is it the cost of the food –do you decide based on price?
Are you choosing for convenience? Eg. pre-made foods
Are you choosing foods to enhance your health? Eg. Foods rich in anti-oxidants and vitamins.
Are the choices you make hurting any living things – humans, animals or plants? Eg.pain and suffering..
Is it hurting the planet – depleting our natural resources, upsetting our eco-systems?
Is it because of a religious taboo? Eg. Moslims cannot eat pork, and Hindus avoid beef.
But ultimately what would you choose for yourself?