Featured Friend Interview: Shakti The Holistic Chef

This months Featured Friend is our wonderful friend Shakti –   an entrepreneur on a mission, always learning and growing each day personally and professionally. Shakti is a qualified holistic chef, superfood and wholefoods recipe formulator, greens superfood product producer and formulator, holistic retreat leader, qualified yoga siromani, reiki master, breathwork facilitator, shamanic native american initiate, vipassana meditator, beginner surfer, ocean lover, animal lover, crystal and sage ceremonial goddess, and most importantly friend and lover of all of life twists and turns. Phew …

Moving through the world with the firm intention to be of service through these offerings. Always dreaming of the alchemy of fine food, botanical offerings and heart centred intention. Shakti is such a beautiful soul and we are so grateful to her for taking the time to chat to us about her Healthy Mix for Life.

Shakti, what does creating a ‘healthy mix for life’ mean to you?

A healthy mix for life to me represents exactly that, a mix. To me it’s about balance, and moderation, and that it is all tied together with a mindfullness or somewhat spritual perspective. It isn’t just about nutrition, or movement, it is a mixture holistically of many elements. For me this is good clean real food, fermented foods, nutrient dense foods, meditation, a deep connection to nature, the ocean and some yoga, plus my love of the shamanic and indigenous traditions of which I am very connected to. If my spiritual practices are out, the imbalance can occur rather quickly, so it is the support to the good nutrition and movement.

What does a day on your plate look like and why do you eat the way you do?

I have just done a mini detox and cleanse, as my affection for hot strong milky tea was getting out of hand. SO currently and mostly it is as I work conveniently from home:

Fresh lemon water with a dash of cayenne, ground chia, flax and slippery elm, then a fresh home made juice or smoothie that of course will include my product as that is my passion and it leaves me supercharged, I am currently using Chaga Medicinal mushrooms in my foods and i LOVE it.

Once that has settled in, I will eat either simple eggs with some sprouted botanical filled homemade bread and ghee or avocado and some type of fermented food, either beverage or kraut OR some congee of fermented and sprouted ancient grains, like a quinoa congee, with some dairy kefir and nuts and seeds.

Later on I will possibly just raid the fridge for leftovers, or have some bone broth and veggies in the afternoon…simple and something that has some fat, protein and carbohydrate within.

I drink botanical and herbal infusions everyday utilising herbal teas and barks and plants for overall health.

Dinner currently is maybe fish and just some interesting combined veggies. I eat slow cooked pastured raised meats, when I feel the need, with vegetables both starchy and greens, and again a ferment of some kind.

I have my own little veggie garden and love to use herbs in everything including the sweet treats, and my ferments.

I tend to eat smaller amounts as there is a nice ratio of fats and proteins, carbs and micronutrition, I feel satiated.

There is always a healthy treat either utilising SSB (Shakti’s Superfood Blend) or some homemade chocolate in the fridge somewhere.

Eating a healthy life doesn’t just mean eating well… how do you keep your mind and body healthy?

I swim most days even in the winter in the ocean, as i live close to a stunning beach. Even just a jump in and out and through the waves. It is said jumping through the foam a few times really helps your lymphatic system, and I know that i always feel so much better when I go for a swim. It just makes the world a shiny place!

I also am a qualified yoga teacher in a traditional lineage, so i practice a hybrid with some body tapping, yoga, energy medicine, on the beach or on my balcony in the morning sun.

I don’t live near many studios so i don’t get to practice in the group setting. I play in the garden, hug trees, talk to plants, in all honesty that is what I do for my mind and body… I am also a beginner surfer!

I also sit when i can in native American sweat lodges, we pray and sweat and it is very very good for you on all levels.

My meditation practice is Vipassana which I have to say I am in and out of.

Most importantly it is connecting with those I love, either in person or on the phone….and honouring nature, that keeps me happy.

Who is your health, wellness or fitness guru and why?

I march to a beat of a different drummer…and draw from many teachers…I have trained overseas in many healing modalities and as mentioned am a student of The Sivananda Vedanta Yoga Lineage. I also have a deep connection to plant and herbal medicine and the native American ways, so I have teachers in those traditions.

I really weave a personal story from many of my teachers over the years, and seek my own counsel and that of trusted accomplished, experienced friends when I need to. Therefore I don’t have a fitness guru or wellness guru. I use that word in a sacred way so don’t even think of anyone being able to be my fitness guru or even wellness guru.

People i admire are: Emma Sutherland, Naturopath ,Author, Speaker, Mother, awesome being….Samantha Gowing amazing woman, chef, nutritionist, teacher, speaker, author, surfer and Jude Blereau learned wholefoods chef, teacher, mother, and woman of wisdom. There are so many people i admire in health and wellness that aren’t superstars, and are simply beings, usually women, quietly making changes in profound ways on this planet, so they are my gurus and they just do what they do with grace and passion.

I don’t resonate with celebrity gurus….that’s the bottom line for me.

We are lucky enough to have you share one of your favourite recipes from your book Shakti’s Soul Food. The recipe book is a collaboration with other like minded beautiful beings Why did you chose Simone Denny to be a part of your vision?

I couldn’t have an SSB recipe book without a love ball. Simone radiates health whenever i see her, a goddess sharing the healthy love magic.

The Goodness

• 2 tablespoons Shakti’s Superfood Blend®
• 1/2 cup dates, pitted
• 1 cup of almonds, raw and activated
• 1/2 cup apricots, unsulphured
• 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
• 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
• 1/3 cup of sesame seeds
• 1/2 cup coconut, desiccated
• 1/3 cup coconut oil
• 3 tablespoons macadamia or brazil nut butter
• 1/2 cup of maple syrup, rice syrup or honey
• 1/4 cup goji berries (optional)
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon

Making the Goodness

1. Soak dates for 10 minutes in enough hot water to cover.
2. Grind nuts, apricot, seeds and coconut in your Vita Mix to a coarse flour consistency.
3. Add strained dates and blend mixture, briefly until mixed through
4. Add coconut oil, nut butter and maple syrup, and continue to blend until all ingredients are well mixed.
5. Add Shakti’s Superfood Blend® and blend until combined.
6. Shape into balls.
7. Roll balls and coat in either hemp seeds, coconut or sesame seeds or leave them plain
8. OR blitz up some coconut with fresh mint and use that as your dusting/coating magic.
9. Refrigerate until ready to eat.

Note: Stores well for weeks if sealed properly and can be frozen

Get your hands on Shakti’s Superfood Blend here!