My journey into a healthy, holistic lifestyle is wrought with inconsistencies and half starts. That’s to say, I’m probably not the most holistic person out there, though I’d like to be, and I resonate with the woo woo just a little bit more each day (woo woo is optional by the way).

It first began with my experimentation with vegetarianism while living in a monastery. The Chinese have a way of balancing nutrition by the amount of color that’s on your plate.

Then, it was 2 months at a raw foods retreat house called Bahay Kalipay. To this day, my favorite breakfast meal is still the simple raw food ‘cereal’ that we ate every day. Sliced bananas and coconut milk as the staple, mixed with avocados (in season) or papaya, honey and raw organic cacao powder (optional).

It was at the raw foods retreat that I first discovered green smoothies; a blended concoction of fruits and greens from kale, spinach or others. Being a lover of smoothies in general, and considering Jamba Juice or the local mom and pop smoothie place back on the west coast my diet staple, I took on to green smoothies naturally and loved them instantly.

The Raw Foods movement in the Philippines is a tight knit community with some dedicated followers. I am merely on the edge of it, with less raw foods to my meals but more vegetarian (+ the occasional seafood). We’ve organized on facebook groups and gather together with an annual Raw Foods Potluck. I don’t miss the chance to go, being a huge foodie, and missing the spoiled raw foods every day I treated myself with (in a good way!) at Bahay Kalipay.

I’ve been wanting a blender for months so I could finally make my own green smoothies and add a bit of raw foods back into my diet when the potluck sponsored a door prize giveaway of a Dynamex blender! Now was my chance. Like a hippy manifesting her intention, I knew that I would win the blender that night. I just had a feeling.

And I did!

The name they pulled out of the jar the first time had already left and wasn’t present to claim the prize. I excitedly held my breath for the next name.

Janet Brent!

The look of genuine surprise on my face as I excitedly jumped up and down like I’d just won the Price is Right. I couldn’t believe my silly hunch was actually right!

Vegetarianism and raw foods has been a big part of my journey and transformation in the last two years, after quitting my job and taking a year long spiritual sabbatical, it just came hand in hand. It’s no wonder that I would eventually be called towards it since I loved Popeye the Sailor Man and my spinach when I was a kid!

When I first noticed Farnoosh Brock of Prolific Living had a green juicing book, I knew I wanted to help promote it for the No Self Promo challenge. While I haven’t tried green juicing yet, Farnoosh’ book has given me the extra push and I know I’ll be trying this in the future.

Green smoothies and green juices are like “apples and oranges”. One is entry level while the other takes a little more dedication and investment. A juicer isn’t something you’d find in your every day household, unlike a blender, but I believe green juicing is worth getting into for more health and vitality. It’s another level of raw foods that I’m sure to love. And now the Juicing Guide has got me curious to try!

Preventative medicine is the best kind of medicine. I no longer eat much processed food (not living in the US has helped) and when I’m craving a dessert I’ll opt for a smoothie instead. I love to drink my calories and I’m sure green juicing will be a great added option.

You can get the Green Juicing Guide for only $9.99 on Amazon (not an affiliate link) or read more about it here.

Janet

Janet is a Professional Hobo, burgeoning entrepreneur and homeless nomad passionate about working with creative world changers and showing people how to march to their own beats.