jo hodson 18/01/2015 jo hodson 18/01/2015

Health Coach Week...and back to school I go!

January 12th - 18th Jan has been recognised as NATIONAL HEALTH COACH WEEK (in America at least) which is pretty cool because it means the importance of health and more importantly the importance of heath coaches, (like me!!) takes centre stage!

"Health Coaches educate and support people to build healthy new habits and create sustainable lifestyle changes".

People often ask me 'but what does a health coach do?'

So I guess the dictionary definition would be something like this: A Health Coach is a wellness authority and supportive mentor who motivates individuals to cultivate positive health choices. Health Coaches educate and support clients to achieve their health goals through lifestyle and behavior adjustments.

Yet for me a health coach responds to every individuals needs in a totally unique way. There is no prescribed formula. Just an open, honest blank canvas of opportunity. The only prerequisite for me is that you have to put in 100% to enable me to give you back 100%. It's a two-way process.

For me, it's all about walking with you as you discover your own joinery, being an soundboard when you need to vent or celebrate and offering ideas, solutions and opportunities to build into your everyday life. As I say on my coaching page...

"I’ll support, you, motivate you, inspire you, question you, challenge you, walk with you, celebrate with you… and together we’ll dig deep and cultivate the real change I know you already have within you."

I think that sums it up nicely.

I studied with the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, the worlds largest nutrition school. I qualified last year BUT now I am going back to school again starting this week, to take my business to the next level and help me reach out to even more of you in a way that truly resonates with you.

The health coaching course with IIN is literally life changing. I have questioned so many things about my own life over the course of the last 12 months or so, and indeed many of my fellow students had no intention of becoming health coaches but simply enrolled to empower their own lives and the lives of their families.

If you are at all interested in becoming a health coach or even simply taking a leap in helping yourself create a lifetime of wellness, ping me an email, I'm more than happy to chat to you that my experiences. at the school.

P.s Have you signed up to my newsletter yet? I will be giving away my 'Re-boot' ebook free to my newsletter subscribers only! There is also an exciting giveaway in collaboration with Real Food Source that is a perfect compliment to the book! Enter it here!

Why not sign up for my newsletter in my sidebar where I feature roundups and special offers plus my FREE ebook. If you are new round here check out my 'About' and 'Getting Started' tabs up top. To buy nibbles you can also find me over at Wholeplus.

Day to day you can always find me hanging out in these places:

jo hodson 14/08/2014 jo hodson 14/08/2014

The end... and a new beginning!

On Tuesday as I completed my final module and the final test which completes my health coaching programme with the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. It was a moment of mixed emotion. I have become so familiar with the routine of a new module released each Monday lunchtime for the last 11 months, and the structure and 'comfort' in being guided along the road to becoming a health coach... and suddenly it all came to an end. It's me now... this is where the real learning begins. There are a few final weeks of admin time before I receive my formal certification but to all intents and purposes I am now a certified health coach!

This passage was taken from one of our final lectures and it really resonated with me.

Do you ever get the feeling you are on a flying trapeze, soaring from one bar to the next from past to future? Embrace the transition. Learn to find your wings.

As I completed my final test and then sat on my bed breathing deeply and sitting quietly for a moment. I wrote this post on my personal Facebook page. I'll share it with you here:

Today I feel as though a new chapter is just beginning in my life!

Today I completed the final test for the my health coaching course with a score of 100%. Over this last year as I have been a student with the Institute for Integrative Nutrition my mind has grown and changed so much, both in my understanding of who I am and most importantly in the ways in which I can use my skills in reaching out to help others. Including Cake is not simply the little recipe blog I began as a hobby almost three years ago, but has a become a gateway to wellness for all those who want to take the next step.

I have 1-1 coaching clients who inspire me everyday, my hand-written specialist coaching programmes are coming together really to roll come September (watch this space!), I have built new, inspiring and supportive relationships in both my friendships and business, I have written ebooks and articles...with some big publications set to feature me over the next few months (it will stay a secret for now). There is potential huge news on the horizon with my Wholeplus food business (huge meeting is happening at the end of this month) and the most importent thing... I finally feel as though i've found my calling in life!

It will take hard work, I will still have so many days when I feel as though I am going round in circles, I will question everything all over again. But it is in questioning everything that we move forward, break the old habits and thought patterns that no longer serve us and find happiness in creating the life we know we have within us.

Life is a constant journey of discovery. One I never want to stop.

The future holds many exciting things, but most of all I want to take a moment to say thank you... thank you to you my loyal readers who continue to support me as my blog and website as a whole has grown and evolved, and will continue to do so, as we all do in our lives. I hope you continue to come here for many months and years to come and find inspiration in my photos, words and recipes. If you ever need anything more... a conversation or a little help within your own life... just reach out. You know I am always here to catch you.

I'd love you to join me in other places too!

Why not sign up for my newsletter in my sidebar where I feature roundups and special offers plus me FREE ebook. If you are new round here check out my 'About' and 'Getting Started' tabs up top. To buy nibbles you can also find me over at Wholeplus. Day to day you can always find me in these places:

jo hodson 27/06/2014 jo hodson 27/06/2014

'Student Spotlight' Tropical Blueberry Green Smoothie

Not long to go now until the end of my course... this past week module 35 out of 40 was released! I can't believe how fast time has flown by!

We're soon coming to the end of my 'student spotlight' posts too. One more next week with something a little different for you... watch this space!

Today I introduce to you Jenny Christiansen, with a recipe and her interview to share. She says:

"This smoothie is fabulously smooth, bright and nutritious! It is even great for those who don’t like bananas. Enjoy this smoothie and power your morning with sustained energy and happiness. This is a very special recipe because I haven’t released it to the public yet! Exclusively for those reading Including Cake!"

Recipe: Tropical Blueberry Green smoothie

serves 3

Ingredients:

6 cups packed organic spinach
2 kale leaves
2 cups blueberries
2 cups papaya (organic)
½ cup macadamia nuts
4 brazil nuts
½ cup coconut milk
3 TBSP flax or chia seed
5 drops stevia

Method:

Simply blend until smooth

'Spotlight Interview'

1- What first drew you to study with IIN?

I randomly stumbled on IIN while career searching on line. I was immediately drawn to IIN because of its holistic approach. I love natural medicine and healing. I IIN also focuses on business and marketing, which I’m more grateful now than I was in the beginning of the program. Lastly, I love that this career of health coaching allows one to be vocationally independent and help endless of people.

2- How has your life changed since becoming a health coaching student?

Before IIN I thought I was extremely healthy. Many people thought of me as a health freak. For much of my life I was vegan, vegetarian or raw. All those diets sound like the optimal diets for perfect health. However, I was miserable doing them. Life was SO hard and not balanced. For that time in my life I was being too restrictive. Extreme athletics and constant stress didn’t aid the situation. I was in a huge search for balance in food, exercise and career when enrolling in IIN. Now I’m happy to say my mindset has become much more balanced and this has helped me gain balance in my diet, exercise and a career path! I’m delighted to have been in this program.

3- What do you hope to take away into the world and how do you plan to help others once you graduate?

I help busy professionals and parents who battle with cravings, addictions, gut disorders, autoimmunity, weight loss, chronic fatigue and constant stress. Life just seems too hard. They want to upgrade their lives, find and love their optimal bodies, regain a rocking relationship with food and life and gain back their energy. These people want to live at their highest potential, be happy and be healthy.

4- Being a ‘wellness crusader’ what one thing would you wish to change about the world?

The correct mindset is a huge concept for people to gain. The mind is a powerful, more than we know, and when we have the correct mindset nothing can bring us down.

5- What would you choose for your 'final meal on earth’?

Of course I would choose my Tropical Blueberry Green Smoothie. Chocolate and a fresh coconut to top it off!

Share the love!

You can hang out with Jenny here:

Website: http://www.vibrantlifejourney.com/

Face book: https://www.facebook.com/vibrantlifejourney

I'd love you to join me in other places too!

Why not sign up for my newsletter in my sidebar where I feature roundups and special offers plus me FREE ebook. If you are new round here check out my 'About' and 'Getting Started' tabs up top. To buy nibbles you can also find me over at Wholeplus. Day to day you can always find me in these places:

jo hodson 20/06/2014 jo hodson 20/06/2014

'Student Spotlight' Lemon Tartlettes

Wow... I can't believe that I'm already into the last quarter of the course! In a few weeks time I, along with my fellow student, will have graduated from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition!

This week I am introducing Maite Wokock.

"My name is Maite and I have a passion: Living a healthy and happy life – with a sweet tooth. On my blog www.zitronenjette.com you'll find everything around that – from toxin-free cosmetics (that Zitronenjette makes herself!), to nourishing food and sugar-free sweets"

As a holistic health coach I help busy people, parents who feel like they have to juggle everything, to find their balance, have more energy and eat healthy while doing so. As a side effect you will find your ideal weight. I don’t believe in depriving yourself, I believe in nourishing your body and mind with the best you can. Decadently healthy. I also specialize in sugar-free eating and have designed the sugar-free program “the Sweet Life”. I'm now over 1,5 years sugar free and have to say that is has changed my life. I went from always tired and grumpy to a balanced mood and full of energy.

But I still have a sweet tooth. So I'm always looking for healthy sweets and I'm sharing with you one of my favourites.

Recipe: Lemon Tartlettes

Lemon Tartlets -raw, vegan, sugar free (adapted from detoxinista.com)

Ingredients:

Crust

1 cup almonds or walnuts
1 TBSP melted coconut oil
1 TBSP rice malt syrup
½ tsp vanilla powder
pinch of sea salt

Top:

1 cup raw cashews
3 TBSP melted coconut oil
3 TBSP rice malt syrup
¼ cup lemon juice
½ tsp vanilla powder
pinch of sea salt

Method:

Grind the almonds or walnuts in a blender until they are finely ground. Add the rest of the ingredients for the crust and blend until a dough has formed.

Line a muffin tray with baking cups and press the crust dough into the cups. They make about 8-12 tartlets. Place into the freezer to set.

For the top, grind the cashews until they are almost a nut butter. Add the other ingredients for the filling and blend again.

Put the top dough onto the (now firm) crust and put back into the freezer to set. They keep for a couple of days in the fridge.

Enjoy!

'Spotlight Interview'

1- What first drew you to study with IIN?

After my first child was born I started to become more and more interested in nutrition. I stopped eating sugar shortly after my second child was born. And since sugar is everywhere I had to start making everything myself. I researched a lot on the web and noticed that all the blogs and books I enjoyed reading the most were written by IIN graduates.

I decided that I want to know more about nutrition and health and signed up!

2- How has your life changed since becoming a health coaching student?

The past months have been a great journey! They have changed my mindset about so many things, personally and health-wise. I take better care of myself, have gotten rid of a couple of ailments and have an easier time to feed my family healthy stuff.

3- What do you hope to take away into the world and how do you plan to help others once you graduate?

I think that as health coaches we have so much to give to the world! I actually can't wait to share it. I really wish people would be more connected to their bodies and not treat them as something that is „malfunctioning“ or something that has to be „optimized“ in order to fulfill some kind of beauty ideal. This is something I would love to work on with my clients through food and lifestyle changes and just in general taking better care of themselves.

Also I'm writing a sugarfree program, which I will offer for my clients in Germany.

4- Being a ‘wellness crusader’ what one thing would you wish to change about the world?

Oh, so many things. Have everyone meditate first thing in the morning at work and school. Introduce nuitrition classes in school. Ban refined sugar from normal food. But just one thing: Pass a law that forbids factory farming everywhere in the world. I think that would actually set off a whole chain of changes in farming (animals and plants) and eventually in the way we eat.

5- What would you choose for your 'final meal on earth’?

Something Mexican. Sour cream, black beans and guacamole. Actually, avocado has to be in it no matter what. And since it's my final meal, I would maybe finish it with Reese's Peanut Butter cups, or the healthy version I make myself.

Share the Love!

You can hook up with Maite over at her blog (in German and English): www.zitronenjette.com and also on her facebook page: facebook.com/zitronenjettenatur

I'd love you to join me in other places too!

Why not sign up for emails in my sidebar where I feature roundups and special offers. If you are new round here check out my 'About' and 'Getting Started' tabs up top. To buy nibbles you can also find me over at Wholeplus. Day to day you can also find me in these places:

jo hodson 23/05/2014 jo hodson 23/05/2014

'Student Spotlight' Super Chewy Seed Bars

Welcome to instalment no. 7 of the Students of IIN guest post feature... I hope you and enjoying the contributions so far?

The inspirational stories from my fellow students and their reasons for following this wellness path constantly amaze me and remind me be grateful for my own journey.

Today i'm featuring Holly Anderton who is sharing a simple energy packed no bake bar recipe that is exactly my kind of snack... thank you and over to you Holly!

Recipe: Chewy Super Seed Bars

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups gluten-free extra-thick rolled oats 3/4 cup raw buckwheat groats, soaked
1/4 cup raw goji berries
1/4 cup raw shelled hemp seeds
1/4 cup raw sunflower seeds 1/4 cup raw pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup raw cacao nibs
2 tablespoons white chia seeds 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon celtic sea salt
1/4 cup raw almond butter
1/3 cup organic brown rice syrup 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Method

Place the raw buckwheat groats in a small bowl and add filtered water to cover. Let stand for at least one hour, then drain and rinse thoroughly. Drain again and ensure that all liquid has been removed.

Line a 9-inch square cake pan with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, combine the oats, buckwheat groats, goji berries, hemp seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, cacao nibs, chia seeds, cinnamon and sea salt.

In a small saucepan, stir together the brown rice syrup and almond butter over medium heat and cook until the mixture softens and bubbles slightly. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla.

Pour the liquid mixture over the dry mixture and stir until evenly coated.

Transfer to the prepared cake pan and spread evenly, using a pastry roller or the bottom of a measuring cup to flatten the mixture completely. This will help the bars retain their shape once they’ve been removed from the pan.

Place in freezer until firm, about 10-15 minutes.

Lift the mixture out of the pan and place on a cutting board. Using a sharp knife or pizza roller, cut the mixture into six equal rows, and then cut the rows in half to form twelve equal bars.

Store bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator (or freezer if desired). Note: for a nut-free option, use sunflower seed butter instead

'Spotlight Interview'

1- What first drew you to study with IIN?

Several years ago, I lost my father very suddenly to pancreatic cancer. I loved him beyond words and his absence created a huge emptiness in my soul. I turned to running as a mechanism of dealing with my pain and sadness, and as the weeks passed and the miles grew, I slowly started to find my way. But it wasn’t until I discovered the trails in the mountains that surround my home that I finally began to find peace.

I fell in love with the comfort, protection, and solitude that running through nature provided, and gradually began running longer and longer distances. As my mileage grew, I discovered that I needed to learn how to better fuel my body in order to meet the demands I was placing on it.

I began reading everything I could find about running and nutrition, and I discovered that I just couldn’t get enough. The more I learned, the more I hungered for deeper knowledge. With each new change I made to my diet, I saw immediate improvements in both my performance and recovery. I had more energy and felt better than ever before, and I began to truly appreciate the direct link between nutrition and health. Further, I began to see with complete clarity the connection between diet and the disease which ultimately claimed my father’s life.

Desperate to improve the health and well-being of my immediate family, I began making changes at home. I developed a love of cooking and found great purpose and satisfaction in finding recipes that were both healthy and appetizing to my husband and two young sons. I joined a Community Supported Agriculture plan at a local farm and I began talking to our boys about where our food comes from and how we can make better choices. And I enrolled at IIN to deepen my knowledge in the area of nutrition and develop a coaching practice that would enable me to share that knowledge with other families and assist them in improving their health.

Losing my father was devastating. But it has helped me find my purpose: I want to spare others from the pain I went through. I want to help families THRIVE by showing them how to eat healthier so they can get more out of life. And I want to change the world, one family at a time.

2- How has your life changed since becoming a health coaching student?

Since becoming a health coaching student, my family and I are healthier than we’ve ever been. And while I didn’t think it was possible, I’m more passionate than ever about nutrition and living a healthy lifestyle! I’ve gained an incredible amount of knowledge in this program and am having so much fun building my practice. I’m thrilled to be sharing my expertise and am finding the work I’m doing to be incredibly rewarding and fulfilling. This is, without a doubt, exactly what I was meant to do.

3- What do you hope to take away into the world and how do you plan to help others once you graduate?

My practice is focused on helping families thrive. Specifically, I am teaching busy moms how to prepare healthier snacks and meals for their families, streamline their weekly menu-planning and shopping trips, encourage their kids to be more adventurous eaters, and find more energy to tackle their busy days. I am loving my work and am so grateful for the opportunity to work one-on-one with my clients and be a part of their journey toward better health.

4- Being a ‘wellness crusader’ what one thing would you wish to change about the world?

If I could change just one thing, it would be to bring more awareness to exactly how dangerous processed foods are to our children’s health. It sickens me to know that our children are now facing a life expectancy which, for the first time in history, is shorter than that of their parents. I would love to see every family in the world to make a commitment to make the nutrition and lifestyle changes necessary to reverse this trend.

5- What would you choose for your 'final meal on earth’?

My final meal on earth would be more about the experience than the actual menu. I love to cook, so I’d begin by leisurely preparing a simple meal using fresh, whole, plant-based ingredients while enjoying a nice glass of wine. I’d then sit down and share the meal with those I love most, and enjoy a night filled with laughter and great conversation.

I do have a weakness for cookie dough, though, so I’d definitely have to end the evening with a spoonful (or two)!

Share the love!

You can connect with Holly on her website: www.hollyanderton.com

and her Facebook page: www.facebook.com/hollyanderton.health

I'd love you to join me in other places too!

jo hodson 02/05/2014 jo hodson 02/05/2014

'Student Spotlight' Mango Quinoa Salad

I'm super excited today to present to you my fellow student Vera Szutorisz, not least because her photos are gorgeous!

What I most love is the way Vera combines both food and travel in such beautiful way, almost like a scrapbook of thoughts and memories...but anyway, that's enough from me, time for me to hand you over to Vera for this weeks Student Spotlight instalment. Enjoy!

" I grew up in Hungary in a big loving family and we ate the best diet in the world: our mum's home cooked food prepared with love. We had a huge garden with all kinds of vegetables, fruits and fruit trees. At the time having fresh produce readily available for us year around seemed very natural for us. Then came University and with my move to another city my preference for quick, frozen, out of the can meals had began. It got worse when I started moving around for the next one and half years, to London, Cape Cod and Sydney, with that I entered the processed- sweet-empty-calorie-corn-flakes-and-pie-loving culture with which I saw no problem at the time but never felt worse in my life during those months.

Everything changed, however, when we moved to the Far East, South Korea, in 2006. Those folks really know how to eat healthy. They eat tons of greens and fermented veggies: kimchi with every meal and make every soup out of broth. That was the first time I started to take notice how much better I began to feel eating what they were eating. Then one spring Seoul night we had a very inspiring encounter with a Buddhist Monk who talked us about how basing our diet on high vibrational foods, like fruits, vegetables and rice has a direct correlation with how we feel emotionally and energetically after a meal which seemed like an easy explanation why Asians appear to have more energy than us in the West. I found this concept truly fascinating and it made a lot of sense to me and still does. Fast forward to 2009 we moved back to Europe and now we're living in the beautiful Mediterranean, in Spain, and once again I feel like we're living in the garden of Eden just like when I was a little girl surrounded with plenty of fresh organic produce that is available year around. It wasn't that easy and simple as it sounds but this is the gist of my otherwise long story."

Recipe: Mango Quinoa Salad with chickpeas

1 cup cooked quinoa
1 cup cooked chickpea
1 small mango, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup blueberries
1 tbsp hemp seeds

Method:

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix them well.

For the dressing: 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp lemon or lime juice, 1 tbsp chopped parsley (you can use fresh coriander or mint leaves too) and alfalfa sprouts for garnishing

In a small ball combine all the dressing ingredients and pour over the salad just before serving.

¡Que Approveche!

Spotlight Interview

1- What first drew you to study with IIN?

I have always felt a calling to help and provide continuous support for others. Originally I wanted to become a psychologist but ended up getting my degree in social studies. Ever since I can remember I have had a deep desire to understand the big picture of life. Why are we here? What does true purpose really mean? How can we cross the fear zone and live life to the fullest meanwhile helping others and contributing to the evolution of human kind?

What I have learnt is that everything we do in life is a choice. A choice that has an impact on not only our life but on the lives of others since we are all interconnected. It's a choice to be kind and respectful to one another. It's a choice to select our thoughts and reactions in certain situation. It's a choice to be conscious and aware of the impact food has on our mind, body and the Planet.

I wanted to join IIN to learn more in depth how food really affects our lives and the Planet and to find my own path to a balanced way of eating in order to become the healthiest and strongest I can be, not just physically but also emotionally and mentally to be able to carry out 'big' things in life and with that knowledge to empower others to do the same and create a more loving and friendly environment for us and future generations.

2- How has your life changed since becoming a health coaching student?

I certainly feel more organized and even more accepting towards others and other people's choices. I agree that it's important to meet everyone where they are and not where we are and respect that everyone is different with a different path to health and happiness and what living life to the fullest means to me would be something totally opposite for others. Likewise with food. 'One man's food is another man's poison'. It all comes down to our beautiful differences as Joshua would say: to our bio-individuality.

3- What do you hope to take away into the world and how do you plan to help others once you graduate?

I'm going to focus on 'women's hormonal health'. Support women to balance their hormones naturally. Help to feel their best and deal with every-day's life stress more graciously. Help to build better and stronger digestion, increased energy level, create balance and harmony in their lives, and live life with more passion and purpose.

4- Being a ‘wellness crusader’ what one thing would you wish to change about the world?

We all came here to learn and experience different things in life as part of our personal and spiritual growth and I would like if it was universally accepted and respected in our world.

5- What would you choose for your 'final meal on earth’?

A quinoa salad with beans, nuts and fruits :-)

Share the Love!

Vera is based in Madrid Spain, Budapest Hungary and Seoul South Korea. You can check out her websites Apple and Soul and Happy and Conscious Living as well as follow her on her Facebook page .

I'd love you to join me in other places too!

jo hodson 25/04/2014 jo hodson 25/04/2014

'Student Spotlight' Grain free scones

Roll on to my 4th guest post from my fellow students at IIN. Today's post is from Katy Taylor. I love this recipe because gluten (and grain) free scones have always failed me... I always seem to resort to using spelt flour when making scones so I love the ingredient profile here. Maybe this will give you some ideas to experiment with too?

So now the only question that remains from me is what would you have with your scones, if anything at all... (for me it would be some cashew cream and maybe a little chia jam!)

Over to you Katy...

Recipe: Katy’s Grain-Free Scones

Ingredients:

1 ¾ cup almond meal flour (Bob’s Red Mill works well)
¾ cup coconut meal (from straining coconut milk)* OR ½ cup apple pulp from juicing (other sweetish pulps may also work)
4 medjool dates, pitted
2 tsp chia + 5 tbs water (or 1 egg for non vegan)
1 tbs lemon juice (about ½ a small lemon)
¼ cup coconut oil
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
1 ½ tsp caraway seed or other spice of choice (½-1 tsp cardamom is nice; with apple pulp, ½ tsp cinnamon and ¼ tsp nutmeg also works well)
1/3 to 1/2 cup currants or raisins

Method:

If using chia seeds, soak them in the water in a small bowl 5-10 minutes.

Preheat oven to 325 F.

In food processor, mix well: dates, eggs or soaked chia seeds, coconut oil, lemon juice until the dates are finely shredded, scraping down sides as needed.

Add coconut meal and mix well, scraping down the sides.

Add the rest of the ingredients except the currants and mix well.

Add currants and pulse quickly to combine.

Dough will be moist.

Using a spatula, form the dough into a ½-inch thick circle on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet. Cut into 8 pie pieces, and using a metal spatula, slide the pieces at least ½ inch apart so they bake evenly. Use your fingers to reshape them as necessary.

Bake at 325F for 30 minutes.

This recipe is inspired by Danielle Walker’s Currant Scones from her book Against All Grains

* My favorite coconut milk recipe here, but with only 2 dates:

'Spotlight' Interview:

1- What first drew you to study with IIN?

I have always been interested in natural health and cooking. I was lucky to grow up with a mom who was curious and exploratory in the kitchen, too! We were making tofu as a science experiment before it was being sold in most stores and before most people had ever heard of it! Mom was thrifty, too, so we grew a lot of food, and froze and canned food for the winter. I remember spending a lot of happy time in the kitchen with her.

I also got practice exploring different diets early on as I decided to become a vegetarian at age 15, which mom let me do, but I had to pass a test to make sure I knew how to combine my proteins first! Over my 25 years of vegetarianism, I spent time eating vegan, lacto-ovo, and including fish, and since then I’ve experimented with raw, paleo, grain-free, and more. I always love to learn new ways of cooking and eating!

2- How has your life changed since becoming a health coaching student?

The most wonderful thing is that my “hobby” of cooking, fermenting, tincture-making, self care product-making, and gardening is allowed to be my passion! It’s like I gave myself permission to do what I most love—work with and learn about healthy food and cooking!

3- What do you hope to take away into the world and how do you plan to help others once you graduate?

I am leaving my part-time administrative job at the end of 2014 and plan to earn my living as a part-time Holistic Health and Wellness Coach, combining the spiritual counseling I already offer with coaching that includes food and wellness of all kinds. I want to support women who struggle with feeling fulfilled in their lives and want to nourish themselves naturally with healthy food and cooking, conscious lifestyle choices, and spiritual growth work.

4- Being a ‘wellness crusader’ what one thing would you wish to change about the world?

That we would all become super curious about our inner selves—how much the food we eat actually affects our bodies, how much the relationships we are involved in support us, how much the lifestyle we are choosing sustains us, and how the time we devote to our souls nourishes us. If we all became more interested in this, our relationship with ourselves, each other, and the world would heal.

5- What would you choose for your 'final meal on earth’?

Something really simple, clean, and nutritious—like seaweed miso soup, poached eggs on greens with homemade fermented veggies and bread, a huge, fresh-from-my-garden salad with fermented veggies, olive oil, avocado, red pepper, and pumpkin seeds. And most importantly, surrounded by my closest loved ones.

Share the Love:

You can foliow Katy Taylor through her website N ourishing Wholeness, her blog, and her Facebook page.

I'd love you to join me in other places too!

jo hodson 04/04/2014 jo hodson 04/04/2014

'Student Spotlight' Malty choc banana smoothie bowl

A few days ago I introduced my 'Student Spotlight' feature to showcase a selection of fellow students studying alongside me at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. There are so many amazing people each with stories to tell and such diverse reasons for choosing health to be their life mission.

Today and for the next 12 (or so) Friday's you will get a glimpse into their lives, what makes them tick ...oh, and not forgetting a favourite recipe!

First up Amy Fraser... over to you Amy!

"I am extremely passionate about helping women and their families to live healthy wholesome lives. I guide my clients through a holistic approach by looking at the whole picture including food, lifestyle and exercise, helping to navigate through the confusing maze of health and nutrition advice currently available.

I love my new career and the time spent with my clients helping them to incorporate more wholefoods, clean eats and exercise into their lifestyle.

I currently lives south of Sydney with my loving fiancé and 2 fur babies (Staffordshire terriers) Tahlee and Richter. My favourite form of exercise is an afternoon run with my man and 2 dogs through tracks in the beautiful surrounding bushland."

Recipe: Malty choc banana smoothie bowl

1 Frozen banana
2 Medjool dates
2 Tablespoons of Chia Seeds
1 Tablespoon Maca powder
1 Tablespoon Cacao powder
1 ½ Tablespoons of almond butter
400mls of Coconut water
Goji berries, cacao nibs, and chia seeds to serve (optional)

Place all ingredients except goji berries, extra chia seeds and cacao nibs into a high speed blender. Blend until smooth.

Pour into a bowl or large glass and top with goji berries, cacao nibs and chia seeds.

What a yummy way to start your day - enjoy, Amy xx

'Spotlight' Interview:

1. What first drew you to IIN?

I have always been interested in the health and wellness scene. As a teenager you would always find me curled up with a new book on the latest nutrition theory. I studied Reiki and fitness courses, enjoyed running, playing soccer and snowboarding.

After I left school I found it increasingly difficult to keep up a healthy lifestyle working in the corporate world and being a social butterfly. I became sick with depression, anxiety and adrenal fatigue among other things. However I found that when I ate clean (meaning I cut out all the processed junk food)and I found time to exercise, I felt such an improvement!

My friends were always asking me for advice on what to eat and I really enjoyed helping out. I decided I wanted to be able to do this on a large scale and help as many people as possible to live a healthier happier life. When I found IIN I realised that this was the course for me and signed up without hesitation as this would allow me to follow my dream to work in this industry.

2. How has your life changed since becoming a health coaching student?

Oh my... My life has changed in so many ways and all for the better! IIN has helped me to put my own health and wellness first and I have realised that if I don’t look after myself, I won’t be able to help anyone!

My biggest priority is eating well. I believe that no matter how much exercise you do, if you are not fueling your body with wholesome nutritious foods you are not going to achieve long term health. I believe you need to look at the whole picture and that exercising is not the only answer to health. My personal motto is “You wouldn’t put bad fuel in your car, so why would you put foods into your body that don’t nourish your body and mind.” Every time you eat is an opportunity to nourish yourself and IIN has helped me to cement this belief in my mind.

3. What do you hope to take away into the world and how do you plan to help others once you graduate?

I love that IIN has created a ripple effect of health and wellness around the world and my dream is to help as many people as possible to achieve the life that they want to live.

I hope to continue to spread the valuable information I have learnt during my studies and to have an impact on as many people’s lives as possible through my health coaching practice, workshops, kitchen reboot sessions and much much more.

4. Being a ‘wellness crusader’ what’s one thing you wish you could change about the world

I would love to see more public awareness via our media resources about the quality of the produce we consume. I believe that one of the most important things we can do for our health is buying organic clean produce free from pesticides, herbicides and preservatives. I would love for more information on this topic to become more widely available for everyone.

5. What would you choose as your final meal on earth?

My absolute favourite snack that I would happily call my last meal on earth is my homemade guacamole served with sweet potato chips baked with coconut oil and sumac. It is divine.

Share the love:

You can follow Amy through her facebook page

On Instagram: @healthybellyhappymind

And via her website

I'd love you to join me in other places too!