Healthy Courgette Zucchini Vegan Sushi Style Snack Idea for RAW vegans

Sometimes if I'm not that hungry and I just want a snack rather than a meal I make these " Sushi" courgette wraps that are totally raw , delicious and nutritious . 

To make them it's really easy , you just need a julienne slicer or one of the cheese slicers we have.

Slice the courgettes and lay them on a plate, mill fresh sea salt over them to take away the bitterness and leave for 30 mins • I usually make more than I need so I have some in the fridge ready to eat with other things •

Make the filling you'd like, I normally have home made guacamole - it's dense in loads of good fats, oils, protein, and vitamins . I'm sure most people have made guacamole , but invade you haven't : 

In a food processor:

2 or 3 avacardos - flesh scooped out / destoned 

2 chopped tomatoes (de-brained) 

One white onion sliced 

2 tbsp lemon juice 

Salt & pepper

Blitz in a food processor until its how you like it . I like mine chunky. 

I also like to have some Marigold B12 inactive yeast on hand so that I can sprinkle it on the courgette & guacamole before I roll it up . 

• note - wash the salt off the courgettes , and pat then dry , before you roll them up as they will be too salty •

These are really nice for picnics , work snacks , and for apertisers at a BBQ or party . 

Vegan • Carbs • Diet • "Should I eat carbs if I'm trying to loose weight "

So it's 2:30 am - I woke up 30 mins ago to feed Opeie, started thinking and now I can't get back to sleep ! 

When I wake up in the night I always end up googling recipes , and catching up with a few of my friends food blogs, which Is bad for two reasons - one, I never remember what I've read in the morning after , and two, I always end up so hungry ! ( like now. ) 

I've been thinking about our 'relationship' with carbs for a few months now, that people are scared of the carbs in their food, that people don't eat meals with carbs when trying to loose weight , that celebs in the media talk about having minimal or zero carbs to stay skinny, and then diets like the Atkins . 

Guess what ? It's rubbish. ! I eat loads of carbs ! Carbs are in everything pretty much anyway , from raspberries to chickpeas, to gluten free bread to normal pasta! It's how you use them how it matters , as a fuel source to give you energy ! 

( yes, nuts are "high" in carbs - but also protein, good fats & oils ) 

When people say " I don't have carbs" I find it hard to believe as pretty much everything has carbs on one level of another , you can have a clean carb diet which is better for you ( minimal processed carbs, And less starchy carbs ) but its really about balance ! 

A clean carb diet is just that, carbs from an original source , but I personally believe that some gluten free items should be eaten without fear too , since gluten is one of the main fear factors in carbs - it's the thing that ( can ) make you sluggish , tired, achey, run down , and ultimately have a reaction to such as bloating , and other nasty digestive problems . 

So if you're trying to loose weight or be healthier , don't skip on the carbs , your body really needs them ! You'll have way more energy if you eat them regularly too, I try to eat every 2 hours , which boosts your metabolism . Have a balance within p

Enjoy your food, don't get swept along in the media flurry of food hate. 

Update on loosing weight as a Vegan Mom | Vegan Diet | Weight loss.

Same trousers, different LIFE!   ( yes my legs are in one trouser leg!)

This week, I was told i'd lost 5% of my body fat in the last 5 weeks. Which was really amazing, my visceral fat is below 7% and this is really down to being Vegan, which makes me happy. I've also gained 300g of muscle, which is really great as It's hard trying to build muscle being limited with no soya and being vegan. 

On 18th January 2013 , I decided to change my lifestyle , since then it's been hello raw veg, proteins, and goodness, and good bye processed foods, refined sugars, most gluten and late night snacks . 

I've lost 2 stone , 7.5lbs (21.5lbs) since then . I do have lovely food, but what I now concider " treat" food is so different to what I once did. 

I owe alot of thanks to certain people, my good man Pauly, My friends Christian, Ellie, Jay, Pixie and my friend and brilliant person trainer Gareth Connell at Purity Health and Fitness.

I had a great work out today with Gareth, we always have a right good giggle, and my cheeks ache from laughing so much. He makes it great fun. This next month will be focusing on strength, resistance, weights and mainly arms and core muscles. My core has been shot to bits  (almost after having two sections ) and I want it back. I want stomach muscles, and I want a flat toned belly, so I am going to get it. 

Footnote | 

I've had lots of messaged via my Facebook asking what I did / how I lost weight / how I stay motivated .... 

My long term goal is LONG term health , I really want to know that my body is in the best physical stateut can be in, looking slim / fit is great but it doesn't always mean that you're healthy in side . 

I lost my weight by firstly getting my head in the right place. I think that is key - to REALLY want to loose weight , to REALLY  REALLY be passionate about getting your body in the best health state possible . I did quite a lot of research into things regarding food over the last 3 years - and slowly my bad habits ( BBQ Pringles late at night ) slowly started to be the things that changed the quickest . 

What do you buy each week food wise ? 

I get asked this quite slot because a Raw , vegan, soya free , mostly gluten free diet mind boggles a lot of people , and they think I eat weird food . I mostly eat loads of salads with a 15-20g of protein , vegan cheese, some home made pesto or salad dressings , soups, roast dinners , raw lasagnes , raw pasta ( which I'm going to write a blog on ) for sweet food I make my famous Raw Peanut Butter Cups , and frozen banana lollies , and other sweet treats I like to make . 

I think the main thing is - if you don't buy crap food in , you can't treat your body like a bin . Filling it with junk food . Because its JUST that - junk food ! It's not good for you , and is slowly killing the western world . 

I'm planning on writing a piece on working out with my trainer at some point . So I'll answer those questions then ! 

And remember ....

Energy drink - orange & beet root raw vegan

Sometimes I need a little pick up during the day, especially on mornings when Opeies been awake a lot during the night.

This is my go to drink & is so simple & easy! 

I posted It on Facebook and people were asking me about it & then I went to work and got asked about it. 

Here's how to make it- 

2 peeled oranges 

1 unpickled beet root 

Put through a juicer & presto yum!