First of all I have been dabbling with the idea of the 811 diet  (you can read more about it here) or sometimes called Low Fat Raw Vegan. Still not 100% convinced I can stick to it, but as most raw foodies will attest, after a while of eating a high raw diet, your food choices tend to become a little more simplified and the more gourmet creations tend to be a little over the top for your tastebuds when all you want to do is sit down to a large plate of fruit, or a whole melon. Seriously.

So on Tuesday all I ate were bananas, pineapples, and coconuts after my massive shop at Lulu! That place rocks for all you Saudi readers. Seriously! I have found more stuff there than I have in Dubai and Bahrain put together, so no more complaining about all I lack! I think I will still need to get to Geant at Bahrain now and then for my super special items like coconut oil etc etc, but I think the FOOD revolution is coming to SAUDI!! Yay!

After my tropical island diet on Tuesday I felt great, but it was hard to keep up with that as I had to work on Wednesday but I ordered the usual green smoothie from the caterers so that got me through for most of the day.

Thursday I was taken to Bahrain for a surprise! I had no idea where I was going or what we would be doing, but I was spoilt big time!

For all of you local readers, have you heard of La Fontaine? Well I’m not going to give it all away (some things have gotta be kept secret ya know , but if you haven’t been there and want to be pampered, THAT’S THE PLACE TO GO. That’s all I’m gonna say on that one

Afternoon tea was at my new favourite Veggie Restaurant Anand Bhavan (Thanks Voracious)! Was sooo hungry I forgot to take any piccies except for this heart shaped Veggie Cutlet haha.

Dinner and a pre dinner aperitif was at another great place that I had not heard of or even been to, but I really enjoyed sipping on my cocktail surrounded by amazing décor, seductive lighting and impressive service at Bushido.  It reminded me a great deal of Buddha Bar in Lebanon, and from what I hear, this was originally meant to be a Buddha Bar, but for some reason or another the idea was not approved. Still a great place and although we didn’t stay til late, the waiters told us at around 11pm the place gets pumping with a uber cool dj box visibile from the ground floor. I see a visit in my future for some dancing and cocktails.

Bed time wasn’t too late as Friday was Duathon Day! Well not for me, but I went along to support. After last weeks 10 mile run, I really wanted to give it a go, but I wasn’t too confident on the bike transition so I went along to support the man, and see if it is something I think I could give a try someday. Plus I don’t have a racer bike, just a get around camp kinda thing, but ya know what, it’s all about the participation right?

Took the puppy along to support too.

The distances were 3km run – 20km cycle – 3km run. I reckon next time for sure. You should have seen some of the kids competing, I was really impressed.

Anyway time for me to get ready for another flight, got a busy week of flying ahead so I had better get organised. Stay tuned for tomorrow, when I will announce another great giveaway! It’s pretty exciting! Also I have some great news for those of you that have been asking me all about the best ways to get into RAW or how to improve your way of eating! I have some pretty exciting stuff to share with you so make sure you stop on by! Sorry I haven’t responded as quickly as I would have liked lately to your many emails. I didn’t think I was going to be this busy but I guess that is what you get when one of your team has left and you are still looking for her replacement!

PS What do you think of my new’ish layout? I wanted to make it a little easier to read and navigate, so stay tuned whilst I try and iron out some more kinks and of course, pass on any feedback

Yesterday I woke up and had leftover salad for breakfast!

And a bowl of berries.

Yeah this Jet Lag business is serious right??? By the time lunchtime came round it was time for my dinner…well sort of. But before I had my salad I had another yummo juice.

Carrots, celery, cucumber, spinach, apples, oranges and blended with banana.

We are really getting into this juice craze so much right now. Remember when I spoke about not really doing much juicing and more about the green smoothies, well I think the juicing is far outweighing the smoothie making lately. Isn’t it funny how we go through phases?? And speaking of juicing, my boyfriend’s sister wrote us this email yesterday after our holiday back home with them in Brisbane recently …

LETTER FROM HOME…

Hello guys, we miss you heaps and had a fab holiday with both.  You will both be proud of us Williams as Damo went and bought some fruit and vegies the other day and we made a first fresh juice in years!  Must say it was absolutely delish…just a fruit juice though & will start juicing Damo some vegies too.

I also went in search of the Almond Butter of yours that I polished off at Mango Hill – found it – $10 for the jar – geez louise!  Agave Syrup also found – $18.95 for a squeezy bottle one…there is one more health food store here so I will go compare prices at that store next.  I did try the Almond, cashew and brazil spread but I much preferred the Almond Butter!

So my eats today (as the Girl on Raw says)

Breaky – bowl of strawberries and blueberries and half a banana.  Followed by a Raspberry Tea.

Morning snack – the rest of the banana wrapped in wholemeal bread with some Tahini paste ( a bit bitter for me so had to add some honey!)

Lunch – finally I used the rice paper that has been in my pantry for about 3 mths!  Check the out the pics – we called them Robyn Rolls (inspired by the one and only Girl on Raw!)….ok some weren’t completely raw, half had some left over roast chicken that needed to be consumed.  Jaida loved helping too.

So pretty good start hey!  I am full as a bull, I ate like 4 and they were pretty jammed packed all full of goodness though…maybe next time I can make them a little smaller!!

Here are some photos!!!

Isn’t that awesome! I am soo happy when I hear great stories like that. Keep it up Williamses And isn’t Jaida awesome???

The kitesurfer boy also wanted me to share with you some honey he found at our local commiscary on camp. Now the jury is still out for me on whether I think honey is in or out of my diet, but whilst I decide I will stick to my delicious AGAVE nectar. Apparently honey does have some wonderful health benefits though, do you have any thoughts on this? A true VEGAN doesn’t have ANY animal by products however this is a contentious issue.

As I was letting my produce dwindle due to my upcoming work trip, lunch was a tin of Amy’s Lentil Soup and 2 pieces of Ezekiel Toast.

I threw in some chilli flakes for good measure.

Then I got the phonecall AFTER I had painstakingly prepared my menu and catering to say my flight was CANCELLED til further notice. Ah well, still no word on if I am heading away yet or not but will no more after the weekend I’ve been told. Crossing fingers because Mama has a shopping list!!!!

Dinner was a simple packet mix of of brown rice (precooked with mushroom flavouring – too lazy to take a pic) cooked with a little nama shoyu and served with my FAVOURITE salad of the moment. I am in love with this simple salad:

Organic baby spinach, organic mixed leaves, toasted pine nuts (7mins in the oven), marinated mushrooms (olive oil, black pepper & nama shoyu), sundried tomatoes & cucumber. I LOVE THIS SALAD right now. Shame about the plating up though!

Yesterday I also got a chance to try out the FURminator which I picked up when I was in Australia and was recommended to me by eternal animal lover The Voracious Vegan months back. Lucy my puppy has long white hair, and it ends up covering EVERYTHING!!  Has anyone else used it on their cats or dogs? It is meant to reduce the shedding by ALOT, so will see how it goes. Check it out in action.

I’ll be back later with today’s eats. I tried about some new recipes so I am excited to share

Juice of 2 oranges, 3 lemons, 1 apple, then blended with 3 kiwis, an avocado and frozen pineapple. So refreshing.

It is getting so hot here not that getting out to walk is silly between 8am and 5.30pm as I discovered yesterday when I took Lucy out for a morning walk at 8.30am. I didn’t walk the whole 6km circuit of the golf course, as I was feeling it and when I got Lucy home, she was VERY thankful for it.

Speaking of pets, I also have a cat Sam, and he lived here before Lucy moved in a few months ago, and he has been spending less time at home and more time in the dirt and at a friends house (even in the heat). I fear that Lucy (very jealous) is pushing Sam out of his home. I have been reprimanding Lucy when I am home and if I see her barking at Sam as he comes in the cat door, and it has helped slightly, with Sam coming home every night for dinner, and sometimes sleeping all day on the couch, but I need some more hints on how to make Sam feel like this is his house too. Or is this just a male cat thing?

Becci’s Raw Vegan Birthday Cake
Bottom Layer
4 peeled bananas
2 cups of dates soaked for 20mins
1 cup of walnuts soaked overnight, rinsed
2 cups of carob powder
1/2 cup of water

Cream Layer
2 cups of macadmia nuts (soaked overnight)
1 cup of brazil nuts
1 cup of water
Juice of 2 lemons
150g of dried apricots
2 tablespoons of raw honey (or enough to taste sweet)

Puree all in a high speed blender until creamy

Top Layer
1 banana peeled
3 avocados pitted and peeled
1 cup of dates, soaked for 20 mins
2 cups of carob powder/ 1 cup of carob syrup
1 cup of brazil nuts
2 cups of raw cacao powder
handful of almonds

Frosting/Icing
3 avocados
1 cup of dates
1 cup of carob syrup
1 cup of raw cacao powder

Blend until combined. Spread on top of completed cake. YUM