6 GIFTS OF HEALTH + CONSCIOUS CONSUMPTION

What an exhilarating and intense year! Star Anise Organic Wholefoods turned 9, its home -   Broth Bar & Larder - turned 4, I launched some new online cooking workshops, I finished my Australian Food as Medicine tour with holistic dietician Marieke Rodenstein, and burgeoned ahead with my Healthy Homes workshops where my team and I continue to inspire and empower more and more people to become more independent in their health care and to kick the chemicals in their home through conveniently streamlining their purchases to Young Living essential oils and oil infused personal care and cleaning products. And of course the loss of my mother to dementia added a sad intensity to the year but fuelled my fire even more  to educate on the importance of focusing on epigenetic factors as the primary determinants of health. 

As we rapidly approach Xmas, the frenzy of what to buy loved ones fills our thoughts. I ask you to pause to consider giving the gift of health and conscious consumption this Christmas. Without a solid foundation of health, you have nothing. It is so much harder to be happy, when you are not healthy.  

Here are 6 gifts that are health promoting, inspiring, sustainable, nourishing, and embrace conscious consumption in every sense of the word. 

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1. ONLINE COOKING WORKSHOPS

Five of my cooking classes are now available online: bone broth, slow cooks, gluten-free baked cakes, organ meats and chocolate. Some can be purchased as a bundle to save. Learning how to make and master traditional wholefood staples like a gelatinous bone broth, nutrient-dense organ meats and tender slow cooks along with guilt-free healthy desserts, are life changing skills that can (and should be) passed on from generation to generation. Check them out here.

If you are wanting to gift the online video to a friend, simply download and save the document on your system and forward the document to them as their gift. 

I have put a lot of love, time and energy into these online workshops to create as close an experience as possible as if you had attended the workshop in person. I have made them as thoroughly comprehensive as possible, jammed packed with recipes, nutritional theory, practical demos, and answers to frequently asked questions. I hope you love these online workshops as much I have enjoyed creating them for you! 

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2. GIFT VOUCHERS

If you are struggling to decide what product your loved one might like best — let them choose!

Simply purchase a Star Anise Organic Wholefoods gift voucher to the amount of your choosing. Vouchers can be used towards our products,  online workshops or a life-changing one on one health coaching session with me. To purchase a voucher simply contact one of our lovely staff at Broth Bar & Larder and they will take care of the rest. 

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3. ACTIVATED NUTS

Did you know that activated nuts and seeds are ranked 3rd on the Dr. Mat Lalonde nutrient-density scale? For information on what “activated” means and why we should be eating “activated” versus raw nuts read this blog here. 

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In a nutshell (no pun intended!) activated nuts are more nutritious, more digestible and not to mention more delicious. Once you’ve eaten activated nuts, there’s no going back!!

It is a labour of love to get our nuts as ridiculously crispy and delicious as we do.  

For Xmas I recommend a gift of the Snack Mix which is very festive (with gojis, coconut flakes, figs and mixed nuts) – it’s the perfect blend of sweet and savoury. You also can’t go past our activated macadamias (that have been described as “life-changing”) or almonds. The mixed nuts (which do not contain dried fruit) are also a good place to start for those who are not sure. 

Our nuts are available in 3 sizes (120g, 300g, 500g). Because these do not require refrigeration they make a perfect addition to any hamper, make a great stocking filler and make a lovely gift for a teacher, friend, household helper or someone who has enriched your life in some way. 

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4. ARTISAN XMAS CHOCOLATE & OTHER RAW TREATS

Our organic raw dark artisan chocolates are available in various flavours either via our online store or at our retail store Broth Bar & Larder.  We also have available loose chocolate for sale at Broth bar & Larder made especially for Christmas that can be individually hand wrapped for a special someone. Our Christmas chocolate is infused food-grade therapeutic-grade Young Living essential oils plus we’ve added in segments of our dehydrated oranges as well as ground dehydrated orange ‘fairy dust’ for a magical Xmas experience. Yep, our little elves have been super busy!

In addition to our sokolata (raw dark chocolate), choose from our selection of staple artisan raw treats including power bars, bliss balls, gummies and totally unsweetened carob bears. 

My entire range of treats was borne out many moons ago of desperation of not being able to find anything that was remotely up to scratch in the market place. Made without any refined sugar, soy lecithins, emulsifiers, milk powders or other nasties whatsoever, these contain only pure certified organic ingredients and are made and cut by hand in very small batches on site at Broth Bar & Larder. These are so pure that they must be refrigerated. We don’t see that as an inconvenience, but as a sign of purity and uncompromising standards. 

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5. Young living starter kit

When my Young Living essential oils starter kit landed in my lap 3 years ago after a horrific mould experience  I had no idea at the time how it would radically change my life by empowering me to (finally) become my family’s healer and to become more independent in my health care. I quickly realised that the potency and purity of these oils are like no others on the planet so I started using them not so much as perfume oils or air purifiers (though they are amazing for that too!)  but moreso as potent plant medicine. Years and years of research comparing brands, combined with years of personal experience make me 100% convinced that Young Living are the gold standard for the essential oils industry with 25 years of industry leadership. If you want the best quality, then hands down it’s Young Living. 

Young Living’s comprehensive range of oil infused personal care products and cleaning products (rated EWG 1) means that you can conveniently streamline the purchasing to just ONE place (finally!) and have everything delivered to your door making life so much more simple! From the world’s highest quality natural sunscreen, mineral-based make up, a men’s range, a kids’ range, a baby’s range, a pet’s range and a supplements range, I take great solace that I never need to walk down “that” aisle of the supermarket or health food store again and that YL make a product for everyone – from young, old, male, female, athletes, animals and everyone who is alive. 

If you’re already a YL member in my team, you can organise the purchase of a starter kit for your friend by enrolling them yourself on the YL website with you being their enroller and sponsor (we can help you if you get stuck). If you’re not already a YL member, then purchasing a starter kit for your friend is one of the most generous gifts you could ever do for your friend to help them become chemical-free, pharmacy-free and free of trips to health care providers for day to day niggles. Friends don’t let friends use toxic products. YL sell numerous starter kits which we can help you decide on but the most popular is the 11 oils plus diffuser kit which retails for $270 (incl shipping) valued at twice that amount. This is the kit I started with and recommend because whatever issue crops up, there will be an oil in that kit to support the body through it. Game changing!

To purchase a kit for a loved one or to find out more, simply read this page on my website and fill out the contact form on that page so that we can have a chat and organise a starter kit for you or your friend. Please don’t purchase directly directly from YL as they will put you in some random team and you won’t have the benefit of my and my team’s vast resources, education, materials and personalised support – which is exactly what you want!!

Gifting someone a bottle of pure therapeutic-grade YL essential oil to healthy swap their conventional perfumes is a dead easy way to get people started on their low tox journey. Some of my favourite Young Living oils to use as perfumes are Stress Away, Jasmin, Joy, Inner Child, and Present time. I guarantee that you will get stopped more in the streets when wearing YL perfumes than then conventional toxic versions!!

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6. XMAS STOCKING FILLERS

Here are some ideas for small gifts or gifts that make a nice addition to any Xmas stocking or hamper:

• Certified organic cold pressed extra virgin olive oil made by Toscana Olives (sold at Broth Bar & Larder) available in various sizes. Read this blog to learn more about what to look for when buying olive oil and why I love this brand.

• Home made ginger bread men (see my recipe here).

• Jakemans pure maple syrup (sold at Broth Bar & Larder) available in various sizes.

• Red Boat (sugar free) fish sauce (sold at Broth Bar & Larder).

• Beef Jerky by Kooee (sold at Broth Bar & Larder)

Feel free to bring in a hamper box for us to help you fill!

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XMAS TRADING HOURS

Broth Bar & Larder will be closed for the public holidays only (25th, 26th December and 1st January) and will be otherwise open for trading every day 8am-6pm and Sundays 11am-4pm.

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MY XMAS WISH LIST . . .

My vision is to make 2020 the year that all my followers continue to deepen their journey in leading a less toxic, more nourishing life by feeling more inspired and empowered to kick the dietary and environmental toxins in their home and to better manage their stress, all for the betterment of their health, their family's health and the planet's health. I can’t achieve this epic goal alone! I’d love you to join me on this journey and be an instrumental part of my vision by kicking the chemicals in your shopping basket, in your personal care products, and cleaning products and prioritising self care. I have no doubt that if we work together, starting with making our home the high water mark and leading by example, we can create a ripple effect that knows no bounds. If you are ready to start but not sure where or how, simply contact me using the contact form on this page and my team and I will empower you in making changes for your family, every step of the way. 

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR OVERWHELMING SUPPORT!

I take this opportunity to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your overwhelming support, loyalty, touching feedback, and love over 2019. It has meant that I have been able to continue to follow my passion, remain authentic and do what I love. 

May you get some deep relaxation and play time in, and may your Xmas be delicious in every possible way!

Soulla x

Will I be seeing you at my last Healthy Home/ Healthy Swaps gathering for 2019 on Wed 27 Nov?

Toxic overload is taking its toll on not only our health but planet Earth. It is becoming more important and pressing than ever for us to work together as a society at the grass roots level to radically reduce the toxic overload and healthy swap to natural alternatives.

Many people feel helpless about how to do “their bit” but there is SO MUCH we can do JUST IN OUR HOMES to kick the chemicals by healthy swapping to natural alternatives and supporting companies who take environmental stewardship seriously. When you buy a product (whether it’s food or a personal care product or a cleaning product), you are essentially supporting the company that makes it, it’s ethos, it’s environmental stance and the ingredients being used. If you really stop to think about it, if all everyone in the works did was to make their house the high water mark in terms of the food, personal care products and cleaning products they bring into their home, we would have a radically different health care system and environmental landscape.

Don’t put this off as planet earth is in distress and we can’t bury our head in the sand for much longer.

In my next and last healthy homes / healthy swaps workshop for 2019 I’ll educate you on what the toxic ingredients in everyday products are doing to not only your and your kids’ health but to our precious planet and how you can healthy swap in a positive and empowering way using products that are cost effective, more powerful, and less toxic than conventional brands that are costing us our health and the health of the planet.

CLICK HERE TO BOOK and together let’s create a ripple effect and be the force of change that this world so radically needs. Will you step up for the sake of the next generation?!?

If you can’t make it in person, my team and I can explain everything to you over the phone and support you in your healthy swapping journey every step of the way regardless of where you live. Simply fill out the contact form on this page (scroll down) and we will contact you soon!

Fermentation Starter Kits

* UPDATE TO BLOG POST: Since this post and product went live, we have sold out of all fermentation starter kits. We will send another email out when more become available. You can sign up to our newsletter here.

Learn how to make your own fermented foods and drinks at home using this fermentation starter kit I have put together for you for the bargain price of $110 consisting of:

1. A vegetable press (retailing for $35) to make fermented vegetables such as sauerkraut and kim chi. These food grade presses are very easy to use and ensure that all food matter is not exposed to air but kept submerged under the protection of brine by the compression platform. This addresses the clumsiness of fermenting in a jar with a well-fitting weight.

2. Body Ecology Kefir Starter (containing 6 sachets) to make milk kefir or coconut water kefir to use as the base of a smoothie (retailing at 39.85)

3. One or more kombucha SCOBYs (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeasts) in a glass jar together with 500ml of our kombucha (retailing at $12.50)

4. A comprehensive 40 page Fermentation workshop booklet (in hard copy form) written by me with recipes on how to make and consume:

   1. Sauerkraut and other fermented vegetables

   2. Kefir (milk based and coconut water based)

   3. Water kefir

   4. Cream cheese

   5. Cultured cream

   6. Beet kvass

   7. Kombucha

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The Fermentation workshop booklet also contains 14 pages of comprehensive nutritional theory covering topics such as:

• What is fermentation?

• Different types of fermentation

• Fermentation versus putrefaction… and the tipping point

• Gut health 101

• What do beneficial bacteria do? Why are they so important?

• What happens when your gut microbiome is out of balance?

• Lifestyle factors that affect our gut flora

• Applications of probiotics in medical procedures and in the marketplace

• Fermented foods were part of all traditional diets

• What are the health benefits of fermented foods?

• Fermented foods and pregnant, lactating women and children

• Can fermented foods cause illness or food poisoning?

• Equipment and Ingredients

• How to introduce fermented foods in your diet

• What about store bought probiotics?
  

Home-made fermented or cultured foods are teaming with powerful beneficial bacteria called probiotics that play a profound role in supporting gut health which in turn directly influences our digestion, immunity, skin health, brain health, metabolism and bone health. The seat of our health lies in a healthy gut that has the right balance of beneficial versus pathogenic bacteria, with as much diversity in the strains of beneficial bacteria as possible and where the bacteria are in the right location. 

Probiotics in home-made fermented foods penetrate the gut much deeper than probiotic supplements and contain a broader strain of beneficial bacteria.  Each different type of fermented foods and drinks contains different strains of probiotics hence why it is important to eat a variety of fermented foods and drinks for robust gut health! 

All traditional societies the world over made and consumed cultured foods for their healing properties, nutritional benefits and often to enhance flavour. Fermented foods are not only rich in beneficial bacteria but also enzymes (that help us to digest food) and additional nutrients. 

Daily consumption of small amounts of fermented foods is one of the easiest ways to support your and your family’s gut health. 

This kit is a terrific opportunity to learn how to make fermented foods in the comfort of your own home with my easy step by step instructions in the fermentation workshop booklet along with having the right equipment and fermentation starters.  If you have any questions throughout your fermentation journey, you can contact me at any time.

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Collect your Fermentation Stater Kit from Broth Bar & Larder at 49 Belgrave St Bronte by showing our staff a copy of your order confirmation (apologies we can not post it- it’s rather big and bulky!). If you would like more than one SCOBY simply ask our staff and we will provide you with more - at no extra charge!

Happy fermenting, happy guts!