Ilene is another of my passionate and incredibly inspiring fellow IIN classmates. She shares a similar food philosophy to me, and all of her recipes are gluten-free and vegan – my kinda gal! Her blog The Colorful Kitchen is just that, an incredibly colorful array of delicious looking meals!
Anyone who adds cacao nibs to avocadoes is a visionary, and someone you definitely want to know!
Take it away Ilene…
What started your health and wellness journey?
I used to suffer from severe allergies and always got stomach aches after each meal. I had been on multiple prescription medications for most of my life but my symptoms never seemed to get better. One day, about seven years ago, I decided to become proactive about my health. I had heard of the macrobiotic diet as magical cure-all so I went out and bought “The Hip Chicks Guide to Macrobiotics” by Jessica Porter. Traditional macrobiotic diets consist largely of whole grains, cooked vegetables, seaweed and beans- with little to no processed food, sugar, dairy or meat. After a week of eating this week my symptoms started to lighten up and after a month I was able to go completely off all my medications. For the first time in my life I actually felt energized and healthy. I realized that cutting out dairy and wheat products (I was already a vegetarian) was just what my body needed. After six months of following a fairly strict macrobiotic diet I began to experiment with raw foods and figured out which foods make me feel my best through trial and error.
Your #1 tip for healing disease?
De-stress your life! Get rid of the things that don’t matter so you can focus on the things that do. Yes, eating fresh produce, drinking green juice and buying organic is great for you health, but there is so much more to health than the food on your plate. Make time for the things you enjoy, find a job you’re passionate about and surround yourself with you love.
What does a soul-tingling day in your life look like?
Most of the time I’m actually a very routine person! I like to start my day by having breakfast with my boyfriend (usually a green smoothie or oatmeal) then ride my bike to the yoga studio near my apartment for a class. After that I’ll go to the farmers market or my local food coop and pick up some seasonal produce. In the afternoon I like to go to a park or coffee shop and read a book. After that I might come up with a new dessert recipe for my blog and test it out and photograph it. Then I’ll invite some friends over for dinner and whip up something with the farmers market goodies. One of the things I love about being a food blogger is that friends always want to come over for dinner because they know I always have desserts!
What’s your favourite…
Documentary? “Foodmatters” is a powerful movie for anyone interested in taking control of their health.
Book? I love all of Isa Chandra Moskowitz’s cookbooks. Her recipes are super easy to follow and she’s awesome at vegan comfort food.
Vegetable? Broccoli
Blog? Oh She Glows – every single one of her recipes looks absolutely amazing!
Smoothies or juices? I like smoothies for breakfast and juices for an afternoon pick-me-up.
Latest food obsession?
This time of the year I’m all about blueberries!
What’s your favourite quick snack?
Half an avocado with cacao nibs, salt and tahini. It sounds weird but it’s totally tasty and energizing.
Natural beauty tip?
Coconut oil! I use coconut oil for everything from makeup remover to deodorant to shaving cream.
Can you share you’re favourite recipe with us?
Vegan Avocado-Banana Breakfast Ice Cream
I absolutely love this recipe because it’s super simple and you can add any type of fruit or topping to it and you cannot go wrong! It’s perfect for summer weather and feels indulgent even though it’s 100% good for you.
The basic ingredients for 2 servings are:
- 2 frozen bananas
- half an avocado
- enough water or non-dairy milk needed to blend (start with 1 tbs and increase as needed)
- optional- frozen fruit of your choice (blueberries, strawberries, etc.)
Blend until completely smooth than add your favorite toppings. Some of mine are chia seeds, flax seeds, shredded coconut, coconut butter, nuts, seeds or berries. Go crazy!
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Ilene Godofsky is a Certified Health Coach based in New York City.
Her motto is Eat real food. Feel your best. Be your happiest. She helps clients all over the country do just that. To learn more, connect with Ilene at www.healthcoachilene.com. Receive your free 2-Day Clean Eating Meal Plan when you subscribe to her newsletter.
She’s also the author of the food blog The Colorful Kitchen, where you’ll find recipes for 100% plant-based goodness. Every colorful dish is vegan, gluten-free and made without processed sugar. It’s food for a happy mind, body and planet!