It’s so wonderful having Blythe Metz on my blog today. Blythe Metz is a multi-message speaker on the consciousness of food, consciousness and weight loss, stress reduction, meditation, mind training, self-esteem, self-healing, habit breaking/changing, cancer prevention, and food-politics.
Blythe Metz hosts a natural lifestyle show called Blythe Natural Living, educating her viewers on the consciousness of food, and how to eat for optimal health and vitality. Tuning into source energy and sharing with others how to do so is her favorite activity. Learn more at www.BlytheNaturalLiving.com.
What inspired your plant-based journey?
Plants inspire my plant-based journey. I find myself so incredibly enamored with vegetables, fruits, herbs, beans, seeds and nuts. Enamored! The beauty, fragrance, texture, and taste found in the plant kingdom is astounding. I never tire of it.
Tell us a little bit about your plant-based philosophy.
Eat more plants! That sums it up. As an educator I am careful not to impose limitations on people. I want people to be excited about eating more plants whether they’ve committed to vegetarian or veganism. Bio-individuality plays a part, but everyone benefits from eating more plants, and eating much more can be the difference between health and sickness. All recipes I teach in my course are 100% vegan raw food meals that are gluten free, soy and dairy free. I love cooked plant based meals as well. I think everyone benefits from eating more fresh living foods, but I’m not suggesting we eat 100% raw foods, although that may be beneficial to some at certain times. It’s important to remember our diets can be fluid and flow with the seasons and changing dynamics of life. One thing remains the same, we all benefits from more plant foods! Raw and cooked.
What are your 3 best tips for people who are interested in moving towards a plant-based diet?
Start with easy replacements, substitute your dairy ice cream for hemp or coconut ice cream, substitute in black bean or quinoa burgers for regular burgers, things like that. Perhaps more importantly, I suggest people learn to make easy meals, like quinoa with vegetables or brown rice with vegetables. Using fresh herbs and delicious cold pressed oils like sesame or hemp oil will add so much taste and texture to your easy dishes. I teach a simple recipe formula in which any whole grain, vegetable and herb can be used to create a unique dish that always satisfies. Lastly, nutritional yeast is a great staple ingredient to get to know well. It’s very high in B vitamins that do a lot of good in our bodies, namely assisting in turning food into energy. B vitamins are found mostly in animal products, so those wishing to eliminate animal based products will want to find another source for B vitamins, and nutritional yeast is about the best plant base source you’ll find. It taste great too, and adds texture to any dish.
Please share your five favorite foods that you just can’t live without.
Oooh, I love this question. I’d have to say hemp seeds top the list. I put hemp seeds in my smoothies, soups, salads, chocolate, cereals, sweet things, savory things, all kinds of recipes.
“Favorites foods” as a group would be green leafy vegetables. I cannot live without green leafy vegetables. Third; cacao. Raw chocolate is one of the best creations. Fourth: quinoa. Quinoa is great for breakfast, lunch or dinner, can be paired with innumerable vegetables or fruits, and is actually a cruciferous vegetable, not a grain. Lastly, again I’ll have to go with a food group because it’s just too hard to decide: fruits. I am in love with fruit trees. How extraordinary are fruit trees! I love all kinds of fruits, ground fruits like pineapple and berries to tree fruits like apple, mango, grapefruit, pomegranate and so many others. I love vine fruit, and naturally tree- dried fruits like jujubes. I can satisfy all my sugar cravings with fruits. Fruit in moderation is best for me, 3 servings or so a day is all I need. I love to grow fruits; freshly picked fruits are the very best!
What’s your favorite plant-based restaurant, and what’s your favorite dish on the menu?
I love Crossroads on Melrose in LA, it’s a 4 star vegan restaurant. Fabulous place. I love the vegan cheese tray and the risotto, and of course the vegan ice cream and brownie!
The best thing about a plant-based diet is knowing you don’t have to sacrifice anything, in my opinion. Enjoy this super easy and delicious plant-based ice cream.
Ingredients
Scale
3 bananas~ FROZEN in 2 inch pieces
½ cup fresh hemp milk, or rice milk, or coconut milk, or almond milk
2 Tbsp raw chocolate powder
2 dates
Instructions
Blend together until creamy and smooth. It’s surprisingly delicious.
Notes
* I find the best way to freeze bananas for this recipe is to peel the banana, break into several small pieces, and place, separated, on a flat dish in the freezer. If bananas are touching, they will freeze together, and it’s harder for the kids to make this recipe themselves if the bananas are stuck together:)
