Happy New Year 2021

Happy New Year 2021

Happy New Year 2021

For many 2020 has been an annus horribilis a well-known Latin phrase, meaning "horrible year". It is complementary to annus mirabilis, which means "wonderful year" and Bill and I have high hopes and positive energy to do our bit to make 2021 the annus mirabilis for all, humans, nonhumans and our planet.

As the year draws to a close, it is a natural time for reflection, for reviewing the many challenges we have endured and stay focused on our visions for how we see our future. Amidst all the fear and loss by many around the globe, we are encouraged in particular, by our many students who, having completed their studies, are ready to take care of family, friends, colleagues and clients and guide them on the path to renewed health. 

The new possibilities are endless and looking at ways of how we can all work together to make this world a better and healthier place for future generations knows no bounds. This will not come from governments, but from individuals who have the vision and the passion to bring about a new way of living. 

In this new year ahead, we are filled with gratitude for all our students, clients and colleagues who inspire us and we look forward to helping many in 2021 to find their calling. To be in service for a healthy world brings the greatest joy and to me that is a blessing in itself. It only takes one grain of sand to turn the tide, that grain of sand is you. 

We believe in the power of small acts. There is a resistance by many to believe in the power of individuals to create significant change. This is often used as a braking mechanism by those with vested interest in maintaining power. This is no time for pessimism, it is a time for action. In the words of anthropologist Margret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has”.

In good health

 

Seasons Greetings From Bill & Marlene

Seasons Greetings From Bill & Marlene

2020 has been a very challenging and unforgettable year to say the least. Our wishes for everyone this Christmas is to stay safe and to take care of each other and your loved ones. We are inspired and so passionate about our work and believe it will help many to discover the ways we can all help ourselves to good health.

To reach out to those in need, not only at Christmas time but through the spirit of generosity that humans possess is the way forward. With a sharing and caring attitude that we are all connected to our community and our planet, is as always our focus.

Thank you for supporting our work. Please enjoy this delicious pudding and have fun making it during the holidays.

Vegan Christmas Pudding
This pudding is so much lighter than the heavy dense puddings of the past.

2 tightly packed cups dried fruit, raisins, cherries, cranberries & blueberries
2 cups dried dates, chopped
1 cup dried apricots, chopped
⅓ cup brandy or port, dark rum, sherry, if alcohol free use apple juice
⅓ cup all-purpose flour/plain flour or gluten free flour
¾ cup breadcrumbs
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp allspice
½ cup coconut sugar
½ cup apple sauce/puree
Zest of 1 large orange
5 tablespoons aquafaba (the liquid from a can of chickpeas)
2 tablespoons barley malt

Equipment
16cm pudding basin
Parchment paper
Baking foil
String
Heavy based pot

Soak the dried fruit in a large mixing bowl with your choice of liquid, stir to mix and set aside for 30 minutes. Oil the pudding basin with a little oil and place a small circle of parchment paper in the bottom of the basin. Add the flour, breadcrumbs, baking powder, allspice and sugar to the dried fruit bowl and stir well to combine. Stir in the orange zest, apple puree/sauce, aquafaba and barley malt  Mix well to combine. Spoon the mixture into the pudding basin, smooth it out and top with a circle of parchment paper, pressing down the sides into the bowl.

Cut a piece of baking foil and parchment paper to go over the top of the pudding basin with plenty to spare. Lay the foil flat on a surface and the parchment paper flat on top of the foil.  Make a pleat in the middle of the paper and foil. Cover the top of the pudding basin with the foil and paper with the pleat in the middle and press down firmly. Tie the string tightly around the basin.

Cooking Instructions:

Steamer:
Make sure the water is simmering well under the steamer insert. Place the pudding in the insert and cover with the lid. Cook for 3 hours.

Saucepan:
Place the pudding gently on an upturned saucer inside the pan and pour boiling water carefully down the sides so it reaches about halfway up the side of the pudding basin. Cover and bring to a simmer. Cook for 3 hours. When the time is up, carefully removing the pudding from the pot, take off the foil and parchment paper. A toothpick should come out clean when inserted.

To Serve:
Either serve immediately with some delicious vegan cream or ice cream or leave to cool completely with the paper and foil removed but still in the bowl.

In good health

How To Manage Stress & Live A Long Happy Healthy Life

How To Manage Stress & Live A Long Happy Healthy Life

There have been more changes in the last 50 years to the western diet than in all of human evolution and the experiment is clearly not working. It took 50,000 years to reach a human population of one billion in 1830. We soared above six billion in the year 2000 and passed seven billion in 2012. Wealthy nations eat increasing amounts of meat, while nearly one billion people go hungry. Agribusiness ignore the nutrient cycle, and rather than rebuilding soil, they saturate it with petrochemicals. Soil is over-tilled, overgrazed, made toxic and infertile, and turned into desert. One-third of all farmable land is now degraded. That is the deadly cost of a heavy animal based diet and contributes to our nutritional stress that is killing our gut flora. Soil and man are not separate.

How does stress affect us?

One of the main effects of stress is that it affects our adrenal glands. These glands produce the hormones adrenaline, nor epinephrine, DHEA and cortisol. When we go through life in a state of emergency the adrenals become overworked and we become prone to anxiety and stress responses.

What is the difference between stress and burnout?

When the adrenals become over-worked they eventually cannot produce hormones in sufficient amounts or cannot utilize the hormones they do produce, basically the adrenals get wiped out. This is called adrenal exhaustion (burnout). This state of exhaustion is emotional, mental and physical.

Are people becoming more stressed?

In this 24/7 busy, busy, busy existence people become more stressed due to the increased reliance on caffeine containing products like coffee and fizzy drinks, as well as chemicals in foods and excess sugar. When health is not good we become less adaptable. The over-use of mobile phones and computers, lack of being in an outdoor environment and not getting enough physical exercise also contribute.

How can we learn to manage our stress?

Adopting a wholefood natural vegan diet can make the biggest impact on stress. When we eat food it should energize us, and create vitality and adaptability. What we eat today is who we are tomorrow. By removing animal foods, processed and fast food from our diets will make the biggest impact on stress at a cellular level. We do not hear about nutritional stress but it is very real.

Ill health in any form comes from a weakened system. The problem is the food. Instead of a healing nature of blood that should be flowing through our tissues we eat foods that create or exacerbate inflammation. This is true for all who have had decades of eating a diet of animal foods. It comes as a major shock for many to hear that dairy and eggs are more acidic than meat. When you eat an egg, you are eating a whole animal.

Why do people seem to be more reluctant to deal with their stress, or admit it’s a problem whereas they will happily spend and commit to weight loss?

We live in a world where it seems the more stress you have to deal with the more important you are, it’s almost like wearing a ‘badge of courage’ kids even talk about being ‘stressed out’. We are setting ourselves up for illness if we do not address these issues. When the body becomes overwhelmed (stressed) it’s a signal to take stock and listen to the message.

Weight is often seen as a cosmetic issue, or obsession with appearance, when it often overrides more serious health issues. We are miraculous in our design; the body is a self-healing organism so when we eat in a way that nourishes us from the inside out we are better geared up to deal with life on a daily basis.

The money that is wasted on weight loss products is perhaps one of the most ridiculous marketing scams of the 21st century. Cortisol as I mentioned above is produced by the adrenals when we are stressed, the interesting point to note here is that Cortisol is a fat storing hormone, any wonder then why people find it hard to lose weight?

At MACROVegan we have a programme designed to address all of these issues. Weight Loss Nature’s Way, Reverse Diabetes, The Natural Woman and The Great Escape to name but a few. All  our programmes address issues on stress, weight gain and non-communicable diseases. Our latest books How To Eat Right & Save The Planet and Go Vegan are packed with all you need to remove stress and live a long happy and healthy life. 

How can food help us de-stress?

Natural un-processed foods in their whole-form are packed with every vitamin and mineral to create a healthy equilibrium that does not cause stress to the body. The modern diet is a strange mix of chemical additives and the excessive use of fats, protein and sugars. This mix puts the body under a constant pressure to either store or detoxify acids and fats. This is a constant battle within us to achieve the constant state of chemical balance that keeps us alive – we are fighting ourselves. When we treat the body kindly and only eat foods that are easy to digest and metabolize, it is like tuning in a clear channel on the radio and getting rid of the static.

Here is what I do to combat stress

“If you don’t take care of your body, where are you going to live?” This has been my mantra for over two decades. Stress ages our cells, robs us of good health and kills us before our time. It is a downward spiral. What I teach my clients is how to reverse this spiral and bring back homeostasis.

It is easy to deal with stress in such a simple way. I work hard, play hard, but rest also. Balance is the key to a healthy and happy life. Eating good healthy food, fun exercise, short 5-minute sessions of deep breathing and relaxation/mediation every day keep the stress to a minimum is my ritual. If you create healthy habits stress is not an issue.

In good health

marlene-signature

The Easy Vegan Kitchen

The Easy Vegan Kitchen

Here are some of my top tips to make your easy vegan kitchen work for you. The kitchen cupboard is the nerve centre of your kitchen - keep it well stocked and you will save time dashing to the shops for that single ingredient and will always have a delicious meal at hand even when the fridge is looking bare. For example, store purchased organic beans make a great addition to soups and make tasty dips that can be literally on the table in 10 minutes. You will find many delicious quick recipes in my latest book Go Vegan available world-wide on amazon

Marlene’s Quick Bites and Roll-Overs

Cook Once – Eat Twice

Time savers are a great way to cook your food.  Cook double and use the rest for tomorrow’s lunch.  Cook more than you need and freeze the rest.  A good idea is to freeze in small portions, so you have ‘ready-made’ meals when time is of the essence.

  • Make a weekly menu plan, it makes it possible to use leftovers efficiently and makes meal preparation simpler.
  • Make double the sauce and use for another dish later in the week.
  • Salad dressings are easy to prepare in larger batches. Depending on the dressing, it will keep for at least a week, although some can be stored for a month or longer. Dressings are versatile and can be used not only on salads but to also dress up simple vegetable and grain dishes and adds a quick boost of flavour.
  • Cut fresh vegetables enough for several days so that all the cutting is done, and you can cook quickly.
  • Alternately peel and chop carrots, onions, etc., bag them and freeze. When needed, just take out as much as you require and reseal.
  • Mince fresh garlic and keep it in the refrigerator for ready use. Minced garlic will keep for about two weeks in the refrigerator in a sealed container.
  • Juice some fresh lemons or limes at a time and store the unused juice in the refrigerator in a sealed container. This will time when putting together salads, dressings, and other recipes. Fresh lemon juice will keep for about 10 days.
  • Beans will last three days after being cooked. Cook enough beans to use in a soup, stew or casserole. I cook up batches of azduki beans and freeze them in portions.
  • Grains will last up to five days in a glass sealed container in the refrigerator. I make our short grain brown rice porridge in one batch for breakfast that lasts us through the working week. I simply warm the required amount each morning for breakfast. Grain and beans are good to re-use with a nut or seed garnish but make the vegetables fresh.
  • Prepare larger amounts of brown rice, beans, and other longer-cooking foods and freeze them in small portions so they will defrost more quickly when you need them and will be the right amount required for the number of people you will be serving.
  • Learn how to use a pressure cooker. Pressure cooking can cut standard cooking times by about two-thirds while preserving more nutrients than conventional cooking methods.
  • Purchase some good organic soup stock cubes. I use miso bouillon stock that instantly delivers a delicious base for all my soups.
  • Sea vegetable dishes last for days. Cook up a good amount and then use a small portion every other day. I switch between, arame, hijiki and nori.
  • Always have some wholegrain pasta (brown rice is good), bulgur, couscous and other partially refined grains at hand for last minute meals.
  • Have a stock of organic cooked beans and other foods on hand for when you get stuck.
  • Choose two new recipes from your cookbooks every week so that you are constantly expanding you range of dishes and your familiarity with the foods.
  • Adding some raw food to each meal is a winner and it’s simple as no cooking required!

Short Cuts to Healthy Eating for Busy People!

Most people think you are tied to the kitchen when you eat this way but if you organise yourself you can spend literally 20 minutes in the kitchen and have a delicious meal ready by having prepped and stored various items like vegetables, grains and bean dishes and soups beforehand.  As you will see from the above quick tips, a breakfast, lunch or dinner can be put together in no time at all.  It is all about planning ahead and being organised.  Storing and reheating cooked food makes it possible to assist you in serving delicious healthy meals in as little as 10 minutes.

Using soba, udon, quick cooking grains, lightly boiled or steamed vegetables are all quick ways to cook something tasty up in no time.

Miso soup should be taken daily as this will help to alkalize the body: ‘Miso Broth’ quick version, recipe in my book Go Vegan. The added ginger juice will increase your cells sugar uptake, help with digestion and circulation. Make a batch of this to last you for 3 or 4 days. Miso soup with wakame and a side dish of steamed greens such as kale and collards, creates a sense of calm. I love it and live it daily. Any wholegrain porridge along with a few seeds and some ground flax and shelled hemp will set you up for the morning. You can also watch me making miso soup with vegetables on my cooking video channel. 

In good health

World Vegan Day

World Vegan Day

How a wholefood plant-based vegan life can transform your life and our world.

As the author of the definitive vegan cookbook Go Vegan and a dedicated health counsellor and teacher, I look at some of the reasons behind the growing popularity of veganism for World Vegan Day. However, world vegan day should be every day. Our animal kingdom are here with us, not for us. 

World Vegan Day is an annual event celebrated by vegans around the world every 1st November. The event was established in 1994 by Louise Wallis, then Chair of The Vegan Society in the UK, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the organisation and the coining of the terms "vegan" and "veganism".

The benefits of veganism for humans and the natural environment are now well recognised, with many high-profile celebrities endorsing it as a way of life.  The word vegan comes from the Latin word Vegetus, which means strength of mind and body, and there is much evidence to support veganism as a way to improve both physical and mental wellbeing.   Many sports stars have grasped veganism as a way of life including tennis champions Venus and Serena Williams, Formula 1's Lewis Hamilton, footballers Jermain Defoe and Jack Wilshere and former world champion heavy-weight boxer David Haye.

The latest figures show that there are around 100 million vegans globally. If we can all recruit one person to Go Vegan we will see a huge surge in that number. This is a very exciting prospect and we have a plan to engage as many people as we can to get involved. 

So what is fuelling this movement towards veganism?

Human activity is causing environmental degradation, which is the deterioration of the environment through depletion of resources such as air, water and soil; the destruction of ecosystems; habitat destruction; the extinction of wildlife; and pollution. It only takes one grain of sand to turn the tide. That one grain of sand is each and every one of us. We can make a tremendous difference and minimize our impact on land and water resources by referring to four distinct areas: human, social, economic and environmental - known as the four pillars of sustainability. It’s simple in its essence that a sustainable world would meet the needs of everyone. We should all be able to meet our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. We are depleting our natural resources and education is the only way to reverse this downward spiral.  

For the animals

Ending the exploitation of animals is not the only reason for becoming vegan, but for many it remains the key factor in their decision to go vegan and stay vegan. Having emotional attachments with animals may form part of that reason, while many believe that all sentient creatures have a right to life and freedom. Specifics aside, avoiding animal products is one of the most obvious ways you can take a stand against animal cruelty and animal exploitation everywhere.

Save the environment

Many people have adopted a vegan lifestyle because it's better for the environment. Meat-based diets use more resources, including land, water, and energy to produce food, and create twice as many greenhouse gas emissions than the production of plant-based foods.

Improve health and physical fitness

We are living in difficult times. The need to understand health and have the skills to lead an earth friendly way of life has never been so important. The health benefits of a vegan diet are plentiful with a focus on wholegrain, beans, vegetables from land and sea, fruits, nuts and seeds. Many of these foods offer fibre, antioxidants, and several essential nutrients. Consuming an animal-based free diet means a decrease in saturated and trans-fats, which can contribute to heart disease, diabetes and other chronic conditions.

The body uses amino acids to build and repair muscle and amino acids are the building blocks of protein. All plants contain protein, which builds and maintain body tissue. Plant-based protein sources contain fibre and complex carbohydrates which make them a more powerful fuel for the body. Plants can help to improve cardiovascular health, overall endurance and muscle growth, while also providing more energy and reducing recovery time after physical exercise.

Improve mental health and wellbeing

Managing mental health and wellness is an issue regularly reported in the media. There is no one cause of mental illness and often it is unclear. According to the World Health Organization, more than 264 million people of all ages suffer from depression. Connecting the gut and brain to mental health is a fascinating area of research. The gut-brain connection is now recognised as a basic tenet of physiology and medicine. There is no shortage of evidence that what we eat is an important factor in a variety of neurological diseases. What has been discovered is that gut bacteria play a significant role in psychology and behaviour as well as digestion.

The human gut contains almost 95% of the body’s serotonin, “the happy chemical” neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood, social behaviour, sleep, memory, and sexual desire. A lack of serotonin is an important factor in depression.  Production of this essential chemical depends on the micro-organisms in the gut that are nourished by our diet. Our physical condition can either help us manage our mental state or exacerbate the stress we encounter. The key to this mystery may be inflammation. The foods which most exacerbate inflammation are those that are mostly present in processed foods. These include simple sugars, fructose, dairy foods, eggs, alcohol, meat, hydrogenated fats, palm oil and some fruits and vegetables such as tomato and pineapple. Eating a diet rich in antioxidants, a plant-based diet, has a profound benefit in stress reduction.  Eating a diverse and balanced vegan diet can produce profound changes in the gut biome within days, and our mental wellbeing.

Weight loss

Recent NHS research has highlighted that that one in three people in the UK are obese, and there has been much publicity about the risks of being overweight during this pandemic. People are seeking a better understanding of what different foods do to their bodies in the desire to lose weight. One path to sustainable weight loss and good health is to eat a wholefoods plant-based vegan diet. Grains are a major source of calories, protein, vitamins and minerals and a US study has found that some cultures that have based their dietary principles on grains, beans and vegetables have no weight issues until adopting a standard western diet. Along with my husband Bill Tara, I have been expounding the benefits of a vegan way of life for decades. Go Vegan is available world-wide and is packed with nutritional advice and tasty recipes. The Chinese version of Go Vegan is selling well and I now have a publisher in India. 

Our online MACROVegan Health Coach Course is focused on providing a learning experience for everyone who wants to contribute to a healthy world. Unlike other similar courses on plant-based nutrition, this course delves deeply into the ancient wisdom of this approach to understand the impact it has on our world today. 

With the start of National Vegan Month beginning on the 1st November, I encourage everyone to adopt this way of life for humans and nonhumans alike. There is nothing new under the sun. As I mentioned above, it only takes one grain of sand to turn the tide.

Join Bill and I in service for a healthy world right now and be that grain of sand that turns the tide for future generations.

In good health

 

Prince William Launches Earthshot

Prince William Launches Earthshot

Prince William launches £50m drive to repair the planet. The Duke of Cambridge has announced that £50m will be awarded over 10 years through his Earthshot prize, billed as “the most prestigious global environment prize in history”, which aims to find solutions to repair the planet by 2030. 

The Earthshot Prize will award five £1m prizes each year over the next decade. Prizes will be awarded in five categories: protecting and restoring nature, including saving species from extinction; tackling air pollution such that everyone in the world breathes clean air; reviving oceans and ensuring that they can be used sustainably; reducing waste by ensuring that “the leftovers of one process become the raw materials of the next”; and managing climate change by building a carbon-neutral economy. Each “Earthshot” is underpinned by scientifically agreed targets, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Individuals, groups of scientists or activists, businesses, governments, or even cities or countries may submit their proposals. So, as always, I write to them, I send our books How To Eat Right & Save The Planet being the question and Go Vegan being the answer. 

Keep It Simple

Why must we always look beyond what can be done today, right now, in your own kitchen, to me, that is what we need to be promoting. The biggest form of mass destruction to human health and the devastation that we witness daily to our planet lies at the end of our forks. Please watch and share Bill's short video on environmental damage and the food we eat

One of the major causes of climate change is the environmental damage caused by food production. The consumption of animal sourced foods is one of the main drivers of climate change and undermines both human health and creates a negative environmental impact. It all comes down to our food choices. We can choose food which is not only healthy but beneficial for environmental stability and sustainability or we can eat in a way which creates irreversible damage.

My Monthly YOGA Magazine Article

On another note, I have made a short video with my most asked for dessert from my Tasty Tips For Kids workshop.  A perfect treat for halloween for kids and adults alike. You will find my article on Vegan For Kids in this month's YOGA Magazine available globally. 

Join Us Online And Be A Much Needed Lighthouse

Our MACROVegan Online Coaching Course has got off to a fantastic start. It's something we have wanted to do for many years. COVID-19 pushed us along the path to make that happen and we have some fantastic reviews and powerful videos from students around the world sharing their experience of working with us online.

Please join Bill and I in service for healthy world for humans and nonhumans alike. It is our passion and pleasure to continually share our life's work and bring about change that our world needs. 

In good health


 

Home Cooking Recipes

Home Cooking Recipes

As many countries now find themselves in lockdown again, Bill and I wanted to reach out to you all to let you know we are here to offer any help or assistance you may require. For many who live on their own, the isolation of social distancing can feel rather overwhelming so it's a perfect time to have fun preparing tasty meals. Keeping your self busy doing something that will benefit your health, i.e. cooking delicious nutritious food is the way to go. 

Being in charge of what goes into the food you eat is the way forward to take care of yourself and your family. Changing your diet always means finding replacements for less healthy options. My goal is to share healthier and tastier alternatives to whatever your heart desires. If I could make everyone miso soup and short grain brown rice, greens, beans and a wee tasty treat daily, I would be in seventh heaven. That's the truth. I feel very lucky and privileged that my life's work has been about how to take care of myself, my family and friends, students and clients. 

Get Excited About Cooking Healthy Food

So many of you are incredibly creative, optimistic and possess great strength and courage to move through the days and months ahead. To inspire and support one another and to share our ideas of staying strong are very important. You can find many cooking videos with me on our TV Channel and  have fun cooking some great immunity boosting recipes that we love. These cooking class videos are filled with ideas to expand your repertoire in the kitchen and discover new whole-food plant based vegan meals.

Many people never cook their own food, they dine out, have carry-outs, home delivery etc., etc., and most of the time these foods resemble nothing to do with health. People are time starved, they work long hours and find it difficult to navigate cooking healthy meals. I want to simplify that for you. You can cook once, eat twice or three times, it's what I do. I have a very busy life and am not tied to the kitchen sink, trust me. We eat well, but I don't cook from scratch every day. 

Sharing is Caring

Please share our website where you can find lots of free recipes, free ebooks to download from our shop and share the links with family, friends and colleagues. It makes such sense to help and assist each other and is something we can all do right now to make the world a better place for all who live here, humans and nonhuman alike. My latest book Go Vegan is available worldwide on amazon. Filled with stunning photographs of 85 easy, affordable recipes for all the family to enjoy.

In good health

National Curry Week

National Curry Week

Vegan dishes are perfect for celebrating National Curry Week

The 22nd National Curry Week takes place from the 5th to 11th October 2020. Founded by the late Peter Grove, a prominent journalist who had fallen in love with curry, his vision was to drive awareness and appreciation of the burgeoning Indian restaurant industry, whilst also raising funds for charity. 

It has often been said that curry is the “national dish” of Britain with curry houses becoming a staple of the high street since the 1970’s. As millions of curries are consumed every single week, National Curry Week is an opportunity for the British to celebrate their love of all things curry. With the extensive use of herbs and spices, vegan curries have become a popular healthier, but equally as tasty, alternative to meat dishes, and this week is the perfect time to try something new. 

Marlene Watson-Tara, author of the definitive vegan book Go Vegan  says, “many people are turning to a vegan diet in the desire to live a healthier life, with a focus on wholegrain, beans, vegetables from land and sea, fruits, nuts and seeds, and these ingredients work particularly well in spicey curries.” 

Marlene suggests trying her red lentil coconut curry, a warming curry in the South Indian style, flavoured with aromatic fresh ginger, cumin and coriander. It’s made extra creamy and luscious thanks to the addition of organic coconut milk.

Recipe:

Red Lentil Coconut Curry

3 shallots, finely chopped

1 tbsp fresh ginger, peeled and minced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp cumin seeds

1 tsp mild curry powder

½ tsp ground coriander

½ tsp turmeric

Pinch sea salt

2 cups filtered water

1½ cups red lentils

1 cup organic coconut milk

2 medium-sized courgettes, diced into ½ inch (1 cm) pieces

1 or 2 tbsp tamari

1 cup loosely packed fresh coriander leaves, chopped

Lime slices

In a heavy-based pan, cook the shallots, ginger and garlic in a splash of filtered water for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the spices and salt and stir well. Stir in the water, lentils and coconut milk. Allow the mixture to simmer over a low flame, covered, whilst stirring occasionally for 10 minutes. Stir in the courgette and tamari, cover and cook until courgette and lentils are tender. Add more water to reach the desired consistency. Taste-test then stir in the coriander. Serve the curry with white or brown basmati rice to round out this comforting meal. Makes 4–6 servings.

In good health

Jeff Nelson VegSource Origins

Jeff Nelson VegSource Origins

On Marlene & Friends this week, I am talking to one of the world's foremost journalists on vegan living. Jeff Nelson from VegSource, a vegan for 25 years shares with me the work that he and his wife Sabrina have passionately shared via their website and the hugely popular VegSource you tube channel. Jeff is a fellow Scot which is always a treat for me. In this interview we discuss how he took a different path from a family deeply involved in the history of American meat production. 

All Roads Lead To Diet

Like many of us, we are presented with information via a book, a podcast, or an interview that can turn out to be life-changing. For Jeff Nelson, hearing a radio interview and reading a book by John Robbins set him and his wife on the path to becoming vegetarian. However, 5 years later Sabrina was diagnosed with a rare incurable autoimmune disease called Relapsing polychondritis (RP). Her immune system was attacking and destroying her body’s cartilage.

Along came another book, gifted to Sabrina by her sister. After reading this book, by Dr. John McDougall, it changed their lives and they both became vegan. Hence, Vegsource was born in their home through what they term as their form of kitchen activism.

If you know anyone who suffers with Relapsing Polychondritis, the disease that Sabrina was cured from please share this life-saving link with them. We are all here to take care of each other, that's our philosophy. Jeff and Sabrina have done an incredible service globally. Their invaluable experience and vast knowledge is shared openly and abundantly.  Through their passion and commitment to help others they have built fantastic resources for all to learn from.

Healthy Lifestyle Expo

Their vegan activism grew in 2001 when they founded their hugely successful events the Healthy Lifestyle Expo. The events hosted top experts in plant-based health, fitness and psychology and were attended by hundreds of people. The speakers delivered powerful and inspiring lectures on how you can keep your mind, body and spirit in tip-top condition. Diet is the cornerstone of good health, which is what the Healthy Lifestyle Expo is all about. There are many recordings from previous events that are available on DVDs to watch again and again, and to share with family and friends. They contain invaluable life-saving and life-extending information.

Caring For The Community

Meals For Health, a programme that Jeff is also involved in, goes into low income communities and helps sick people regain their health. It's a fantastic effort with great results being achieved for so many. As Jeff says, this is a way of paying back for the good fortune they have received through being introduced to a vegan way of life. You will hear more about that in the interview and enjoy a wonderful testimony from one of the participants. Such encouraging words and guidance is what we all need to share. The world needs a revolution of the heart.  

Please join Bill and I in service for a healthy world for humans and nonhuman alike. The world needs you, right now.

In good health

marlene-signature

 

 

 

 

Online Study - MACROVegan Health Coach Course

Online Study - MACROVegan  Health Coach Course

Bill and I are excited to launch our MACROVegan Health Coach Course online. It’s our passion and pleasure to offer our students the very best education for a healthy body and mind. As world-class professionals we draw on nutritional science, common sense and ancient wisdom to give you practical solutions to healthy living.  Click on our video link here to find out more

Over the past decade and until COVID-19 struck students came from as many as 27 countries to study with us. Those days have changed. Now, with the creation of our new online course, our two week intensive can be taken in the comfort of your home. There is no start or finish date, you simply work at your own pace. The course is now available for immediate download
 
And the best part, the online MACROVegan  course is brought to you for £395 instead of £3900. You will see from our online store you can choose to buy the complete course or purchase in sections. You will learn everything from nourishing your cells, boosting your brain energy,  oriental diagnosis, how to cook from scratch, the principles and practice of health coaching and so much more.

Gain fascinating insights into lifestyle, nutrition, and mental and emotional well-being that will allow you to become a beacon of light. Teaching and coaching others how to live a long happy healthy life is the biggest gift we all have to offer. Our course also includes eight hours of online zoom time on a one to one basis with us both. Empowering yourself is the most important thing you can do for your health and that of your family and the world at large.  

Here’s what some of our students have to say:
 
The Macrobiotic Vegan Health Coach Course with Marlene and Bill was one of the best courses I have ever taken.
With love and gratitude. 
Samali de Tissera, Perth, Western Australia
 
I consider myself lucky and fortunate that I had the opportunity to study with Marlene & Bill who enriched my life and work by their teachings. 
Shilpa Arora, Nutritionist, New Delhi, India.
 
Bill and Marlene’s style of teaching is powerful and fun. My heartfelt thanks to both. I feel empowered and immensely inspired to go out and coach and support others to learn about the healing properties of a macrobiotic vegan way of life.
Robert Little, UK
 
Marlene & Bill are the premier teachers for macrobiotic vegan education and personal discovery.  
Teddi Cassity, USA
 
I am working my way through the cooking course section. You and Bill are so inspirational. Thank you for your generosity of spirit, in that you share so much knowledge and so much of yourself with your students.
Jacqueline Brook, South Africa
 
Marlene and Bill’s invaluable experience and vast knowledge is shared openly and abundantly. The help and support each of us participating received relating to specific health issues was beautifully delivered with love and humour.   
Caisa Ruteskog, Sweden

Join us in service for a healthy world for humans and nonhumans alike. We look forward to working with you

In good health