Mindful Eating Starts with a Healthy Kitchen

Many of us say we are conscious of our health. The question is, are we doing anything about it? You see, part of being healthy is consciously choosing to eat good food. But, did you know that unhealthy food currently makes up for 50-70% of the average person's diet? 

healthy ingredients 

The other day, Mango Tree restaurant hosted a talk on healthy mindful eating by personal growth and integrative health consultant Lia Sevilla-Bernardo. She said that with proper discipline and intake, one would never have to go on fad diet trends again.

Highlighting the importance of good health and wellbeing, Lia taught us how to incorporate super foods into one's diet so that eating healthy does not have to be difficult and costly. She discussed the advantages of using certain vegetables, fruits, and herbs for healing and total wellness, how to shop for healthy food, and preparing body-loving dishes at home.

knowing the benefits of certain foods is a good first step

Some of my takeaways from Lia's talk: 

• The best way to wash vegetables is to soak them for one hour in a basin filled with 5 cups of water and 1 tbsp of vinegar.
• Cilantro, which has a healthy dose of chlorophyll, can remove toxic chemicals, such as heavy metals, from the body. Blend it with water then drink immediately after blending. Have one glass every day for 10 days then take 5 days off. Repeat this for 5 cycles. (More about this in Lia's website, here).
• Turmeric is a great detoxifier. Take 1500mg/day but do not drink it along with other supplements. 

recipe for a turmeric smoothie

• Oregano oil is the number one cure for food poisoning. Oregano tea is great for coughs. 
• Malunggay is much better than Vitamin C supplements. It won't make your tummy acidic.
• Eggplant can help weight loss. One cup only contains 35 calories. It has health, nutritional, and home beauty benefits.
• Coconut oil is still best for frying because olive oil can secrete toxins at high temperatures.
• Coco sugar has a low glycemic index. This is the best option instead of highly processed sugars. 
• Freeze portions of fruits (e.g. pineapple, mango, bananas) by batches then blend with other foods to make instant smoothies. Use coconut water and add camote tops to make them more nutritious. "Making smoothies should not stress you out. Otherwise, it's no longer mindful eating," reminded Lia.

the coconut has benefits from its fruits down to the roots

• Nature gives us ideas through shapes and colors of foods. For instance, tomatoes are red and  good for the blood. In contrast, the coconut looks like a human head and a walnut looks like a brain. What do you think they are good for? :)

Lia further expounded on the healing effects and medicinal benefits of select herbs and popular recipe ingredients that were incorporated in dishes prepared by Mango Tree for our lunch. We enjoyed appetizing dishes such as Som Tum Thai, a spicy fresh green papaya salad with cherry tomatoes, snake beans, peanuts, and dried shrimps; Yum Ma Khua Phao Song Goong, grilled eggplant salad with shrimp; Phad Pak Bung Fai Daeng made of stir fried morning glory with garlic, fresh chilies, and soy bean sauce; and Kai Jiew Hom, a Thai omelette, among others.

a healthy plate of Mango Tree's delicious dishes

According to Lia, mindful and conscious eating instantly creates a happy, healthy, vibrant and thriving body and life in general. And this is all possible by proper food intake. Knowing what to eat and not to eat is a great first step towards living a healthier life. 

Just don't forget to incorporate exercise, okay? If you need inspiration in that area, read my posts on how I started as a reluctant runner to someone who now appreciates the many health benefits it gives me :)

do more research on foods that are best for you and your family 

Mango Tree is open from 11AM to 3PM and 5:30PM to 11:30PM daily. It is located at 7th Ave. Bonifacio High Street Central, Bonifacio Global City. For inquiries and reservations, please contact 621.3233.