I have been wanting to start the Adventures section of the blog for quite some time. The original concept of this space was to fill it with delicious Alkaline foods made by others while focusing on how to eat Alkaline when dining out. I also wanted to use the space in order to think about traveling and what it means for your health.

Recently, I had the opportunity to make a voyage to the South of France and Monaco to take in the amazing sites, turquoise ocean, jagged coastline and of course the amazingly tantalizing culinary delights.

The mission of an Alkaline lifestyle is to eat for health but health is not just a matter of eating well but involves moving your body as well as moving your mind and soul. Travel enriches your spirit, broadens your horizons, increases your contemplation and in turn provides a sense of health that eating and exercise alone cannot do. Preparing for a journey, traveling to a space that you do not usually occupy and soaking in the local customs and practices can often be the best medicine. As the saying states, if traveling were free you would never see me again.

But let's get back to the food.... The South of France is known for Olives, Rose, fresh seafood, squash blossoms, figs and tarte tropezienne while Monaco incorporates a little of France and a touch of Italy in everything that they do and trust me I enjoyed all of those things in abundance. You may be saying but Channyn, pastries, that's not healthy or Alkaline! You are 100% correct but health is often not just about what you eat but your mental state as well and an Alkaline lifestyle is not about denying yourself or restriction, instead it is about embracing balance and being cognizant of what you are eating.

When going to France, missing out on a Chocolate Croissant is just plain wrong just as wrong as it would be to go to an apple orchard and not eat apples. So you might be asking what I do in order to keep Alkaline while enjoying myself and these vacation treats! Here I offer you the following tips....

Eat local produce in a regional way.
Don't go nuts and eat every sugary treat you find, instead choose the treats that the area is known for.
Visit local markets and purchase produce for snacks.
Visit your local supplement shop before you travel and purchase packets of supplements, my favorite is Green Vibrance by Vibrant Health which is a plant based, advanced daily superfood that is loaded with vitamins minerals, algae, and probiotics.
Enjoy yourself!

Remember that these moments in our lives create the memories that we hold dearest, so plunge forward, embrace adventure, and fill your taste buds!

Below is a salad that I constructed after returning which combined the flavors of France through grilled apricots, fresh chevre, pistachios and honey. A delightful combination, that transported me back to my travels and made me smile, I hope it does the same for you.

Grilled Apricot, Goat Cheese, and Pistachio Kale Salad

2 cups of Kale, chopped

1 tbs Olive Oil

2 Apricots, halved and grilled

2oz, Goat Cheese

1/2 cup Pistachios, shelled

Pink Himalayan Sea Salt

Honey

preheat the grill to Medium High. Massage the kale with the olive oil and a sprinkle of sea salt, place on a plate. Take the apricots and halve, place on the grill cut side down cooking for 2 to 3 minutes until seared. Flip and place goat cheese in the indentation. Grill for another 2 to 3 minutes, warming the cheese. Place on the bed of kale, sprinkle with pistachios and drizzle with honey. Enjoy and Healthy Eating!

My main focus for this blog is health and eating foods that nourish your body and prevent disease. As I have gotten a little older I have watched a number of friends struggle with cancer, tumors, viruses, autoimmune diseases, bacterial infections and plain unhealthiness. My hope is that I can help people recognize the value of eating real food and prove to them that vegetables actually taste good!

Recently, I was approached by the local paper in regards to my connection with Royal Acres Farm and CSA. They wanted to do a piece entitled Health Matters that featured both Royal Acres and myself since we often collaborate and promote one another. I was flattered beyond belief and for the first time thought that maybe the blog was in fact helping others on their path to healthful eating. Here's a glance at the article!

'Healthy vegetarian adventures'

I have not been blogging for very long, less than a year and boy has it been a learning experience. Initially, I thought to myself that since I have been cooking, taking photos, and writing for most of my life that this would be a great outlet for me; simple, easy, creative. I was wrong, blogging is not for those looking for a simple outlet, it takes a lot of time, energy, and thoughtfulness. There is also a significant amount of self critique involved in the process -

Are my images good enough?

Is the recipe easy enough for the average person to follow?

Will anyone like this recipe?

Is anyone making this recipe?

Is anyone actually reading this thing?

A lot of unanswered questions go into this process and often you wonder if it is even worth it. Blogging is also not as simple as typing some words and posting an image. Recipes have to be tested, photographs have to be taken and edited, and social media needs to be engaged. In general, we are a visual culture, photographs inform our decisions and we essentially eat with our eyes. The images need to draw people in and be available across various platforms; Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and of course on the blog itself.

The other major component is that others want to feel like they know you and are connected to you, and the only way that that can happen is if they read your word and much like your food, see your image.

I love taking pictures of food but I do not like selfies so in order to let you all know me a little bit better, I enlisted the help of the amazing photographer and graphic designer, Mai Fung. Mai is based in New Jersey and is super talented. She was very patient with me and allowed me to be my silly and corny self which was captured in many of the images. Check out her website maifung.net for more examples of her work and check out my silly mug!

Two of my favorite images - me goofing off

If you are thinking about becoming a blogger, just remember that although it is a lot of work, it is a creative outlet, a lot of fun, and a great place to make new friends, educate others, and share your passions.

Monaco & France: Balancing Culinary Delights and Health + a Salad

Grilled Apricot, Goat Cheese, and Pistachio Kale Salad

Social Media and What it means to be a blogger!