What's In My Lunchbox Today? Persimmon-Bok Choy-Cucumber Smoothie

I found a green smoothie recipe that required 4 very ripe persimmons, 1 stalk of celery, 1 handful of baby spinach, 1 handful of dill and 2 cups of water. When I unexpectedly found persimmons in a nearby market, I grabbed a handful and racked my brains for the other ingredients. Yes, memory gap happens. Daily!

Days had passed since this discovery but I was still yet to find time to search for the other ingredients. But what else can you expect from someone who failed the marshmallow test several times in this lifetime? I fished for the available greens in the fridge and combined them with the persimmons.

The rawk stars!


Ready to mingle!


Ready, set...


Go!


What's in my lunchbox today? Persimmon-bok choy-cucumber smoothie!

What's In My Lunchbox Today? Cucumber Mint Chia Smoothie!

In an attempt to appease my recurring craving for Tempura Japanese Grill's cucumber mint smoothie, I decided to concoct one myself. So I brought out cucumbers, peppermint oil and the remaining chia seeds in the kitchen.

However, it got problematic when Papa poured too many for a single drop of peppermint oil. It tasted like your typical minty mouthwash vs smoothie! We tried to salvage it by adding stevia, but it proved to be futile. We should have increased the base to distribute the peppermint oil. Baby oh, well.

The rawk stars!


Soak and stir the chia seeds for 15 minutes. Make it gelatinous!


What's brewing?


What's in my lunchbox today? Cucumber mint chia smoothie!

What's In My Lunchbox Today? Chico-Banana-Spirulina Smoothie

I've heard my best friend Lakapati rave about the chico-banana combo before. Being a sweet-toothed monster that I am, I decided to give it a try today. Aaaand, for the first time, I felt an experimental soul creep within me. I reached for my container of spirulina to make it deliciously green. Superfood, work with me!

Bananas + chico


Reduced into tiny pieces


Ready, set...


Go!


With spirulina!


Two variants for my baon tonight!


Chico-banana smoothie and chico-banana-spirulina smoothie!


With some citrus! Blame it on the bipolar weather!

What's In My Lunchbox Today? Vegetarian Spaghetti + Pineapples

At home, it's been customary to serve spaghetti during birthdays and other special occasions regardless of the celebrant's age. In spite of the fact that I've chosen the path to vegetarian diet and I've turned sweet 29, my family still expects a pool of spaghetti to grind for days. Should I give in to their request and beg the resident chef to prepare something else for me? Thanks to veggie meat, THEY have no choice but adjust to my liking for once. *insert evil laughter here*

Although I've tried veggie meat as early back in college, this is my first time to actively search for such in the market. I've heard that SAGE products are available in SM supermarkets, so I went looking for this. The veggie meat variants being offered in the frozen food section are greatly outnumbered, you won't have a hard time looking for them.

When I woke up this afternoon, I felt excited to see the vegetarian counterpart of my usual birthday meal at home. My mother greeted me with her I-don't-like-it spiel, but that's typical to hear from someone with non-adventurous tastebuds. [She had a history of clamoring for sinigang and other Pinoy meals when she's on vacation in Hong Kong.] Remember how my brother Lec disliked my spirulina milk here? It definitely takes an open mind to appreciate tofu instead of the usual bloody meat.

So...even if I have a date with my boyfriend in Kanin Club before shift, I heartily consumed this veggie spaghetti for theoretical breakfast and packed some more for my lunchbreak (that's past midnight for you!) later. I happen to have the perfect excuse to overindulge again! ;)

The not-so-meat sauce!


Spaghetti with veggie meat and pineapples for lunch


What can you say about my food combining? =P


Lunch time!

What's In My LunchBox Today? Green Smoothie + Eggplant Salad

According to a study, a child is about only 3% likely to influence his/her own parents to accept the Christian faith. A mother can make it about 20% more likely while a father can make this transition take place about 90%! Would this statistical result also be possible when introducing a healthy habit?

Yesterday, I had an unexpected opportunity to entice my parents to get into raw food diet. Being a typical Papa's girl, I asked my recently-pescatarian father to help me out in crushing the ice before throwing them into my poging blender. The next thing I know, my mother rose from siesta and participated in our little pep talk with the rawk stars. Can you blame me for stepping back and taking BlackBlurry™ photos instead?

The rawk stars of the night: bok choy, ripe mango and bananas!


Ta-da! Undressed and ready!


Papa crammed in everything into the blender


Ready, set...


Go!!!


Guess who else crashed my cooking demo to bring in her loving energies?


Mama: Ganito 'yan...


Finished product


What's In My Lunchbox?


Papa's eggplant salad!

Believe me when I say I'm radiating with gratitude after they've tried the green smoothie. Papa went on to say we should add cinnamon and made plans to include cucumber tomorrow while Mama inquired if this will be a daily habit or what. God, thank You!

What's In My Lunchbox Today? Bangkok Curry Noodle Soup + Cadbury Topdeck

Oh, Pedring. Look at what you've done! The heavy downpour resulted to another episode of difficult commute to the office and back. But, knowing how this typhoon might trigger flooding and landslides elsewhere, I really have nothing to complain about. I'll just shut my mouth with piping hot soup during lunch break (that's past midnight for you) to feel warm and better.

Remember the noodle bowl?

Coming from a frustratingly quick elementary/high school/college reunion with my Sydney-based best friend named Cheryl the past weekend, I felt there's no better time to share and consume her sweet treats. Spread the chocolatey love in such a toxic time called quarter end!

Chocolates, noodles (inside the noodle bowl), spirulina (in the container) and...ehem.


Something sweet and phallic from Down Under. Thanks, Mars!


Cadbury Top Deck! Yummeh!

Raw Pinoys' First Ever Raw Food Potluck!

Thanks to Facebook, a growing number of raw foodists in the country found a virtual niche to share recipes, photos, helpful links, inquiries, love, light and everything else in between. I can't complain about the incessant email notifications about this group's activity; it just goes to show that there's this burning abundance of knowledge and encouragement in the community. And it's just right that all these energy exchanges online be continued in an actual meet-up which - as predictable as it may sound - include or conclude with a raw food fiesta.

As inexperienced as I am, I didn't attempt to prepare anything elaborate. After all, the RSVPs gave me a hint that everybody's bringing meals and desserts. So why not offer something to drink?

My contribution for the raw food potluck. Ice tubes not seen in this photo.

When I arrived, I noticed everyone was occupied transferring their love and energies to the food they were preparing. I welcomed the mix of excitement and intimidation rush into my insides, eventually converting the latter into an invitation to be as knowledgeable as they are. I know I will advance someday, I better take it one superfood at a time.

Superfoods! Photo by Arvy Villamarzo.


The frustrated Superwoman with the superfoods! Photo by Ingrid Dimaculangan.


This frustrated Superwoman thinks one photo is NOT enough! Photo by Ingrid Dimaculangan.


All right, here's the REAL star of the night. The superfoods! Photo by Ingrid Dimaculangan.

How else to start a gathering like this? By expressing our gratitude and sharing our energy to the next person. We truly felt the positive vibration at our fingertrips. It's such an amazing gift to be surrounded by generous and loving kindred spirits!

We be-leaf! Photo by Arvy Villamarzo


Have I told you that I'm ever cam-ready? Photo from Dexter Tan

Now...do NOT scroll down to see photos below if you're starving. You were warned!

Presenting the mango butter! Photo by Ingrid Dimaculangan.


Here's the close-up photo of the mango butter. Photo by Arvy Villamarzo.


DIY raw pizza. Photo by Dexter Tan.


Fruit salad! Photo by Dexter Tan.


Energy balls! Prepared by Chef Asha Peri. Photo by Dexter Tan.


Truffle oil fries. Prepared by Fristine. Photo by Arvy Villamarzo.


Tomato boats. Prepared by Ingrid and Andrea. Photo by Arvy Villamarzo.


Fresh spring rolls with miso cheese. Photo by Arvy Villamarzo.


NOT tuna pate. Photo by Arvy Villamarzo.


Lentil salad. Photo by Arvy Villamarzo.


Hummus. Photo by Arvy Villamarzo.


Green shawarma. Photo by Arvy Villamarzo.


Fruit salad in spirulina gata. Photo by Arvy Villamarzo.


Dragonfruit. Photo by Arvy Villamarzo.


Chocolate cups. Photo by Arvy Villamarzo.


Choco tahini sauce with dragonfruit, bananas and longgan. Photo by Arvy Villamarzo.


Bananas in hot tamarind sauce. Prepared by Fristine. Photo by Arvy Villamarzo.


Salsa! Photo by Dexter Tan.

Do I still need to remind you of my long-time relationship with desserts? Evidently, my demanding tummy coordinated with my feet to bring me to the dessert table right away. Guess what happens when you've had too much chocolates and superfood?

Ampogi ko! I need a new name! Photo by Ingrid Dimaculangan.


Got spirulina hemp milk? We do! Photo by Ingrid Dimaculangan.


Who's rawking and roaring? Photo by Ingrid Dimaculangan.


High on chocolates! Photo by Ingrid Dimaculangan


Naka-move on na ang lahat, may chocolate moustache pa rin ako! Photo by Arvy Villamarzo.


Lovely ladies! Imee, Andrea, Ingrid and moi! Photo by Dexter Tan


Food Beauty Queens. Photo and - ehem - caption by James Tan.



Krizia's first food photo exhibit. And her groupies.


Mawawala ba naman ang games? Blender game! Photo by Dexter Tan.


...And prizes? Photo by Ingrid Dimaculangan.


Hilaw Henyo moment. And I guessed it right! Woohoo! Photo by Ingrid Dimaculangan.


Being seated next to Imee reminds me that I need to go back to yoga! Check out her lotus pose! Photo by James Tan.


I would like to be a percussionist when I grow up.


And we're jamming! [Don't ask why I'm not seen in this photo] Photo by Ingrid Dimaculangan.

Unfortunately for some people working in graveyard shift, they have to start dishwashing and preparing for their commute to the office as early as 19:30. They missed out on all the dancing, playtime with a hyper kid and other spectacular things they should not even bother finding out. Sighs.

With the abundance of food, some poor corporate slaves managed to bring a piece of heaven to work. Thanks to Elrik's late arrival, I took something I haven't really tasted during the potluck. Although I am yet to try the real pad thai, I was so intrigued to experience its raw counterpart. It was a mix of raw vegetables and Goji berries for dressing.

What's in my lunchbox? Raw pad thai and truffle oil (read: aphrodisiac) fries!


Close up of Elrik's raw pad thai!

Next raw food potluck, pleeeeeeease?