The likes of the kangaroo and emu feature on the Australian coat of arms as well as appearing on our dinner plates by those embracing the so-called true Australian culture. But what happens if you choose not to eat our most recognisable assets?

Having followed a plant-based vegan diet for over 25 years and with each new year, I am becoming stronger, healthier and what seems, younger. Want to feel the same way?

“Don’t forget to get enough food for 30-40 days over Christmas because the shops will be closed for 12 hours.”

Females these days are fiercely independent, confident and more than capable to survive (& thrive) in the wildness alone.

When I travel locally, interstate or overseas I do my research when it comes to finding cafes and restaurants that are going to feed me well and most importantly feed me quality plant-based vegan fare.

“Anyone can train hard. Do you have the discipline to recover?” – Lauren Fleshman

I’m not unique or different to you. In fact, I am just like you. I just decided one day to make a change just like you are going to do one day.

I feel we tend to over complicate the foods we eat; think about your top 20 foods and then figure out ways to incorporate these into quick and easy meals.

If your current diet is making your feel tired and unwell, then its time to make some changes for the better.

Runners see food a little different. Its not just something we eat to stop the stomach rumbling but something we eat for fuel, performance and most importantly to aid recovery.

When you look back on the foods you grew up with, which foods do you think about the most? And how vastly different are your food choices now to when you were growing up?

I once heard a saying that if you can’t drink tea, life is not worth living. So how do I feel about this 2 weeks on from giving up my daily cup of Earl Grey tea?

Not everyone likes tofu, in fact speak out loud that you are having tofu for dinner and all that is within earshot will shudder with fear.

‘Endurance running is a eating contest with a bit of running thrown in for good measure.’ You are basically eating all the time in order to ingest adequate calories to see your body endure the trials and tribulations of an ultra endurance event.

When imperfect is perfect. After adopting an organic lifestyle over 15 years ago it soon became apparent that the produce I was purchasing did not look like that found in conventional supermarkets, featured on TV or pictured in magazines.

As well as drinking eight to ten glasses of water each day eating your daily intake of fruit and vegetables will provide adequate water to stay hydrated.

Food is one of the key pieces of the puzzle when it comes to optimal recovery. A smart recovery nutrition plan will help improve your energy levels and decrease inflammation.

You want to make a difference; you want to see your food choices make change in how you feel maybe even how you look and you might also like to see a change in the production of our food, less factory farms, more kindness.

By definition superfoods are “a nutrient-rich food considered to be especially beneficial for health and wellbeing.” Superfoods are nutrient powerhouses that pack large doses of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.

You are a (plant-based) Ironman. What does a plant-based vegan Ironman eat outside of chocolate milk, scrambled eggs, bacon and hamburgers?

April 2017 saw the release of a report, which dove deep into the fruit, vegetable and juice consumption of 145,000 Australian adults and showed 4 out of 5 Australians are not eating enough.

Dairy free Easter treats DO exist and if you look hard enough you will find them just about everywhere. From the humble raw carrot to chocolate bunnies no vegan needs to be left out of the Easter hunt.

Meatless March; we anticipated there were going to be some challenging times but you have surprised yourself about how easy it was to go meat free haven’t you?

What is the secret to better health and wellness? I have reaped the health benefits of eating in-season, eating local produce and eating foods with little to no processing. My plate is filled with the good stuff; life giving foods not life taking.

There is much misinformation, no information, conflicting information or Pete Evans and his talk of a paleo diet when it comes to talking about a vegan diet. Confused? You shouldn’t be.

It all started with Meat Free Mondays and now we have upsized and entered into Meatless March, its important to realise here that change eventually creates new and improved habits.

Australians are amongst the biggest meat eaters in the world per capita. This month is all about going meat free and when we say meat free we mean 100% plant-based!!! The challenge has been set to replace the pork on your fork.

Supplement or real food? When it comes to good bacteria there is a time and place for both but with our list of favourite fermented foods; the choice is easy – real foods.

How are the New Year resolutions going? Are you following any foodie trends into the New Year: high protein, paleo, plant-based?

Supermarkets can be confusing not to mention overwhelming when trying to change eating habits. We look to change our habits come the 1st January but why wait? Adopt new habits today kick starting sooner rather than later.

There are now only 16 days to go until we wake up knowing that an intruder named Santa snuck into our houses overnight and delivered an array of presents – well that’s what we will tell the kids, just maybe not using those exact words!

“Three phrases that sum up Christmas are: Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men, and Batteries not Included”. – English Proverb

He was a man nutritionally ahead of his time. He knew how to skull a can….a can of spinach and immediately felt the benefits of being fuelled and powered by green. Popeye was my childhood hero both in stature and diet. We are influenced by those we see on TV and for me, Popeye had more of an influence than I ever knew at the time.

At Tarian Pantry, we understand the cycle and power of food. There is a strong connection between what you eat and how you feel. We use our knowledge of plant energy to achieve all our personal and fitness goals.

“Our bodies want to be healthy, if we would just let them. That’s what these new research articles are showing: Even after years of beating yourself up with a horrible diet, your body can reverse the damage, open back up the arteries—even reverse the progression of some cancers. Amazing! So it’s never too late to start exercising, never too late to stop smoking and never too late to start eating healthier.” -Michael Greger

Race Nutrition; It took me as long to find nutrition that works as it did to train for an ultra marathon. There are plenty of brands and products out on the market keep buying and trying until you find the right one that works for you.

PLANTED is about educating and challenging you to think further about your food buying and eating habits, and how you view food when it comes to fitness. Join us for a special dinner at Shokuiku on Thursday 22nd September.

Think you can’t live without cheese? Think again. Dairy free cheeses are a food group within its own right and the varieties available for us to sample are vast. From brie, cheddar, cream cheese and mozzarella there is not a cheese that can’t fulfil your foodie favourites such as pizza, toasted sandwiches even mac’n’cheese.

The nutritional profile of nettle; packed with magnesium, iron and calcium – all the essential minerals for healthy humans including plant-based athletes.