I have found myself lately eating intuitively without even realizing, food has become such a simple part of my life. I’ve been eating and drinking water whenever I feel my energy drop, which sometimes means a full meal, and sometimes means several small meals and snacks throughout the day. I have always believed in intuitive eating, but it’s only recently that I’ve begun to see it happening with myself with such ease. Feeling thankful to be here. This little ‘dinner’ from earlier was a combination of favorites: Food for Life Rice Almond toast topped with guacamole, salt, pepper, and lemon juice, and seed crackers with Trader Joe’s fresh black bean and corn salsa.

•  18 May 2013  •  5 notes

Lately, I have found myself eating intuitively without even realizing. I’ve slowly shifted towards eating smaller portions several times a day, and essentially have been eating and drinking whenever I feel my energy drop, whether it’s time for a meal or a snack or not. And I loooove it. It’s been nice to not have to worry about when to eat, and rather letting that take care of itself.✌🍏🍉

•  18 May 2013  •  2 notes

My first time ever having raw, vegan, gluten free cheesecake😌I split this with my mom this morning at Portia’s Cafe after we finished up at the Farmer’s Market. Cheesecake was a favorite childhood treat of mine growing up, so to have it again in a new way that also feels good for my body was AMAZING. ✌🍰

•  18 May 2013  •  7 notes

I’m answering a few questions from comments on an earlier post here. These are just my personal opinions☺✌

•is there such a thing as too much fruits and veggies? I eat them ALL DAY every day, and it makes my body and spirit feel INCREDIBLE. 🍊🍒🍌 if it ever makes you feel differently, then I highly suggest heading to your doctor in case there is another issue that needs to be addressed, such as blood sugar issues.
•is there a fine line between clean eating and an eating disorder? In my opinion, yes, and the difference comes from your feelings and your intentions. If you find yourself developing fear foods, or you are incredibly controlled in your relationship to food at all times, that can be cause for concern. If your body and mind begin to panic over the thought of eating something unclean, or you find yourself isolated because of it, I do think it’s something that you need to talk to a trusted friend as well as a professional about! I know it can be scary, but you will thank yourself in the long run for being proactive about your mental health.
•what are my summer plans? WORKINGGGGG. I graduate college next year and am planning on moving to Manhattan and renting an apartment with friends, so I thought it was best to move back to the (cheaper) Midwest for the summer, work a lot, and save my money. Besides that, I will be focusing on exploring the local vegan scene, as well as spending more time in nature, working on plays for next year, writing, and getting strong. 😌I have really good vibes about this summer, I believe I have the power to make it AMAZING. I’m so ready! ✌🌸☺

•  17 May 2013  •  2 notes

Hi all! I have been asked several times to post what I eat throughout the day, or to email my ‘meal plan’ to someone, but I have been very hesitant to do so in the past. However, I think it’s important for the people who don’t realize that I eat much more than just what I post on Instagram! So, here is what I ate today, minus the baby cucumber you can’t see in the top right picture, and lots more carrots. That’s also oatmeal on the bottom right, by the way! This isn’t a ‘typical’ day for me, because I don’t think I have a typical day, I just eat whatever I feel like eating! On any given day I may have slightly more or slightly less, and may include different things like avocados, salsa, and ice cream! (All of which I love but am sadly out of at the moment!) The ONLY reason I am posting this is for people who were being unfortunately negatively influenced by my Instagram because they thought I posted everything I eat. ✌✌Disclaimer: I am not trying to gain or lose weight, and I am at a healthy, average weight for my height. I do not count calories, measure, or restrict myself; nor do I follow any particular diet or rule when it comes to eating! ☺We are all different, and our bodies function and thrive best unique to our own selves. It’s up to you to find that perfect balance for yourself! Xox

•  17 May 2013  •  4 notes

Breakfast was a bowl of gluten free oatmeal with almond milk, natural peanut butter, a banana, and strawberries, along with a cup of coffee and water with lemon. 🌸Have a beautiful day, everyone!

•  17 May 2013  •  6 notes

Anonymous asked: When are you replying to emails?(:

I know, I know:( here’s the thing. Unfortunately, I get a lot more emails than I have time to reply thoroughly every day. I like to spend a lot of time on each email, offering the best thoughts I’ve got for each person. I actually replied to four emails today! I just have a lot more emails than i expected when I originally created my email address, so I can’t get back to people as quickly:/ 

•  17 May 2013

Anonymous asked: what are some of your favourite websites for recipes? :)

i get asked this question a lot! i don’t really use recipe websites, i honestly just eat whatever i feel like eating. i’m a pretty simple eater, i like lots of raw fruits and veggies and peanut butter and hummus and salsa! if you look through my posts, you’ll find that i really do eat a lot of variations of the same thing. a lot of what i eat is also from my childhood; i grew up in a family that had salads topped with nuts and fruit with every dinner, and i loved chips and salsa as a kid! sometimes i get inspiration from instagram, though, that’s how i learned how to make overnight oats! i do have two cookbooks, but i’ve rarely used them yet, i’m hoping to crack them open more this summer! 

•  17 May 2013

•health: soundness of body and mind. •soundness: of substantial or enduring character… that makes the definition of health ‘the substantial or enduring character of the body and mind.’ Endurance is about building something sustainably to last over time. That’s why I am NOT about diets, or rules, or quick fixes, or weight loss goals, or structured eating times, or measuring, or calories. I believe in treating your body and mind with kindness and respect, in the same way that you would show gentleness to your lover or your best friend. Eat foods that make you feel good, pay attention to the way that your body reacts. EMPOWER yourself with the choices that you make for your body, NOURISH yourself in a way that gives you energy and makes you feel full of life. Eating healthy is about practicing compassion for yourself, not restriction. It should leave you feeling refreshed, not isolated or ashamed. I’m so blessed to feel healthy, happy, and free, more so than I have in years; but that’s because I worked for it, but not in the way you would expect. I worked for it by building a healthy relationship with exercise, not by killing myself at the gym. I worked for it by being mindful of my energy levels, and nourishing myself to increase those when I felt it was right. And I worked for it by allowing myself (vegan) ice cream with my friends, —and encouraging myself towards the freedom to eat as I wanted. I can’t advocate enough for intuitive eating, for whole, real foods, for a relationship with exercise that leaves you feeling strong. THAT is the key to health, not some diet or book or rule or measurement. Be on the pursuit of the substantial and enduring character of the body and mind, and nothing else. ✌In peace, Emily

•  16 May 2013  •  5 notes

A new dish stole the show tonight at dinner: spiraled zucchini pasta, shredded cabbage, shredded red onion, chopped orange bell pepper, minced garlic, ginger, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. I topped mine with peanut butter, too☺ And then of course, a side salad with spinach, dried cranberries, a few almonds, sunflower seeds, and lemon juice. SO FULL OMG. The best. 👌🍏🍑🍊

•  16 May 2013  •  7 notes