We Have Come A Long Way

Sometimes when we get to a particular milestone we tend to focus at where we are and think, ah we are almost there. Therefore, we must relax and take it easy.  Well, a break is important every now and then.  However, the rest should not allow us to build complacency.  There is still work to be done.  But right now we deserve to say happy freedom day.  We are happy that we are still hanging on to it regardless of the challenges.

REFLECT

Before we move on it is important to pause and reflect on just how much we have accomplished and how far we have come.  Things have changed in South Africa.  Yes, we have challenges right now in our young democracy. 

Nonetheless, let us not allow ourselves to be fooled by false and biased reports that nothing has changed. As we continue to put one foot in front of the other, let’s also continue to reflect on how much was lost and sacrificed so that we can travel freely in our own country without it been illegal not to have a permit; to live where we choose.  To eat what we like and eat where we want. To have the right to speak up against the powers that be without people disappearing, going to exile or unjustly punished. To have access to unlimited education! Most importantly, let’s reflect on how and why we got to 27 April – Freedom Day.

RECLAIM and RESTORE

This is our country.  It belongs to us.  It is for us.
For that reason, it is our duty to reclaim what was taken and stolen; our identity, language, the dignity of our culture and traditions, division among our people, integrity, the land of our forefathers to farm so we can have access to natural, clean and fresh food for our families.  Reclaim the beauty of our different shades, the beauty of our different body sizes, and the beauty of our hair in all its textures. 

All of this means nothing without our commitment to reclaim and restore our freedom. We must always remember that this young democracy we have did not fall from the heavens. It came at a very expensive price tag of blood, sweat and tears.  Our democracy came at a heavy price of lost and destroyed families, segregation, discrimination and so much more that my 41 years of life on this earth can never ever comprehended.  As hard as it may be sometimes, I pray that those of us who were born in apartheid South Africa do not die in the same evil that we were born under.

My fellow South Africans, we owe it to everyone that sacrificed their own families so that ours can flourish and live in a better South Africa. The very least we can do is to reclaim and restore our democracy so our ancestors can rest in real peace.

PROTECT

Protecting anything worthy is the most challenging thing to do.  And when we talk about South Africa and democracy what does that even look like?

To have something, in this case democracy is not enough.  While having it is important, the greatest achievement will be that of protecting it.  Yes, that too is our duty; to take a look at what exactly it is that we have and understand it for what it is.

The way for us to protect our democracy is informed by what we understand about it. For example, the laws and policies that governs us right now do they work to support that protection?  What about our fellow citizens that we elected to do right by us through leading us to accessing education, land and housing, good health and fair labour practices.

Protecting means all of us in our homes, churches, schools and gatherings and everywhere else we must stand on saving and protection our freedom.  We must fight to protect our freedom from the clutches of racism that continue to exist in our society.  And if indeed this country needs to be rescued it is from the evil that has never stopped circling to take us back.  We need to rescue and protect ourselves from those that are protecting the laws and rules of racism that were informed by colonization and apartheid in our country – South Africa.

Let us remember, that everything and anything we have and do is informed by politics no matter who you are or where you live.  And because of that we must bet involve and take part in public service to protect our democracy. One of the tools to protecting our democracy is to VOTE! Because that too is part of the freedom that was fought hard and painfully for!

Keep The Food Balance - Part 2

Divide Kitchen Duties

There is no need for a single person to handle this responsibility.  You can create a rotation schedule and allow everyone to participate and share their tricks and tips.  This is a good way for parents and guardians to bond as a family unit without spending money on going out. As a child, my parents would compete in cooking challenges, where the team with the most delicious tasting food would win, and the team that tried and did not go all the way would wash the dishes.  The experience made us want to find more recipes to cook so we can impress each other. But most importantly we got to bond as a family. In addition, the structure of families has evolved. Some families now consist of two mothers and two fathers. Let’s come together and celebrate that; Modern Family.

Work out a Family Menu

Once you have identified the dietary requirements of your family, it's time to create a menu. First thing first, when putting together a menu, work out what are your family's food and health intentions? This exercise will make it much easier to determine what to cook, what to shop for, and when everyone should gather and eat. Once the work is done, it's time to start cooking.

Engage in Non-Financial Activities

When faced with different challenges and changes, we tend to live with the same strategy and behavior in every part of our lives, which is a factor in causing stress.  When one encounters a particular bump on the road, something must be altered. I think this is something parents can appreciate; you don't discipline your child as a toddler the same way you would discipline them as a teenager or young adult.  At all different stages, the strategy for parenting changes to accommodate that particular phase of life.  It could be beneficial for us to adopt the same strategy as we evolve and shit the way we eat.

It's a good idea to consider non-financial activities to do with your family and friends.  This could help alleviate stress and release some financial pressure. Also, this presents an opportunity to get to know one another more.

Keep The Food Balance - Part 1

For many of us, the struggle to eat and live well is real! Trying to keep the balance between what is good and nutritious versus what is easy and cheap is a constant challenge.

However, despite the challenges we are facing, we have the opportunity to change and shift our eating habits and so much more. What if we made wellness and nutrition the new standard of luxury and generational wealth instead of focusing on material items? Why not use this time of life to bring our families closer together?

Now that we are forced to think long and hard about what we are going to spend our hard-earned money on, it's time to think differently. The kitchen is the heart of a home, after all.

Here are a few tricks and tips to share with your family and loved ones.

Formulate a budget for groceries for the family.

Setting a budget will help you avoid over spending while grocery shopping for your household. Instead of working out a monthly budget, try to work out a weekly budget that is tied to your commute to work,so that you don't have to pay extra for travel. Identify what you and your family's dietary needs are.

In fact, you can use this experience as a tool for you and your family to introduce something new to the table: eating with intention.  What are you and your family’s food intentions? Do you eat for the sake of eating? Do you eat to heal and be healthy, or you just go with the flow? Some people don't need to eat in the morning, but they feel that if everyone around them is doing it, why not! To make sure everyone is contributing towards a greater cause, make sure your family eats with intention(whatever that intention is). By using this idea, you can build up your discipline when eating outside your home or going shopping. This could also serve as a teaching tool for families to learn about the nutritional value of food. Without a doubt, food has a significant impact on our overall wellness.

Part 2 coming out nest Wednesday

Celebrate The Greatest Love of All –    Thyself

Many of us, when we think about the month of love, we often think about it more for romantic love or love of family and friends.

It’s seldom that we put thought into celebrating ourselves just as well. In reality there can never be a holistic well-being without catering to you first.  Especially for women and care givers, the celebration of self is viewed as a selfish act. Society has made it normal for us to put ourselves last on the to-do list. The expectation is that we prioritize others before us.

However,the day of saint valentines brings us a much needed reminder that we as individuals are just as important and we owe it to ourselves to spoil us. What better way to show yourself love than that of good nourishment.  

Eating well is not a luxury, it is a necessity. A nutritious diet goes a long way to strengthening you and improving your health and well-being, subsequently teaching and inspiring people close to you to adapt the same habit – to give yourself the love and respect that you deserve. 

Happy Valentines!

The Joy of Cooking.

You ask, chef Nthabeleng why should I bother with pots and pans? What is the big deal about cooking?  Like enough already! Who the hell cares about cooking when there is so much food you can grab on the go? Well, let me tell you; when executed properly cooking is the best selfless expression of love you could ever give.  Cooking is a precious and joyous practice.

For a long time, people have taken cooking for granted.  I guess that has a lot to do with the facts that just about anyone think they can do it.  Yes, almost anyone can, but the question is can they master it?  Back in the days the duty of cooking was something that was left to woman to take care of.  A woman who could really do it well was acknowledged in her community. However, there was not enough respect to go with that acknowledgement (until men started doing it as a profession) that’s a topic for another day. Today there are some woman who don’t want to be associated with cooking, as if somehow that is going to take away from their accomplishments,especially the modernized ones (before you jump your guns, we are not shaming any group of people here just stating what is). In some communities it’s not even acknowledge yet there is so much power in that practice. 

What makes cooking sacred is the power of influence it holds. Cooking is not just about slaving away in front of the stove the whole day.  It is a duty that when performed correctly can positively affect livelihoods and influence many generations to come.  To cook is to be trusted with the highest power; to heal.  Bear witness to people’s milestone celebrations. Be there in their moments of sadness and simply be in their lives every single day is nothing but a blessing.  Think about it, how many professions can claim to have that much impact over people?

Whether you do it in a professional kitchen or your home kitchen, next time you feel like here we go again when it’s time to cook, shift your mindset and let it be filled by the joy of service to others.I cannot think of a better way to share love and bring people together.  Through the act of cooking you get to connect with strangers who may never ever see you but you will be forever connected to them by your cooking.  And for those of us who get to do it every day, what a blessing!

Now, you have the power what are you going to do about it? if you have been struggling to come up with ways to shift your eating habits let the joy of cooking be the motivation for you to start making nutritious,tasty, clean, mouthwatering natural foods and start creating the generational wealth of wellness in your family, friends, loved one.   Most importantly cooking allows you creativity. It gives you control. And it brings joy.

It’s About Time.

When it comes to wining and dining, time matters.  What time you eat what time you go to bed etc. All adds up and make sense at the end of the day.

Human beings are living beings, meaning we are of nature therefore affected by the natural course of time; day and night.  Though where time, nutrition and dining are concerned most people just go with the flow and are never aware of what’s going on.  A majority of people eat for the sake of eating without taking nutrition and wellness into consideration. 

If you spend more time inactive then you need to ease up on high energy food.  Rather focus more on food that keeps you awake and concentrating. Eat food that supports your state of mind more than it supports endurance. The same applies if you are constantly on the move and does a lot of heavy lifting activities; eat according to your physical need.

Taking in more food than you need leads to an unhappy tummy and we know what comes with that, suffering!  And since about 90% of our happy hormones come from the gut we need to pay more attention into what we put in it. Growing up my mom made it her life mission to constantly remind us “you reap what you saw”.  The same is true when it comes to what you choose to consume; bad diet leads to bad health.  If you want to feel good about yourself then pay attention to what you consume and white time you do so.

Remember, physiologically our bodies go into rest mode the same way the sun goes down at the end of the day.  When it’s dark outside, our bodies slow down as well, getting us ready to rest and subsequently sleep. So, why that full plate of food at eight o’clock at night? And since your body is in rest/sleep mode, what do you think is going to happen to all that food you put in your body? But most importantly think about how you’re going to feel?  Next time you’rein the kitchen wondering what to eat think about what time it is then look outside and let Mother Nature be your guiding force.