Tasmanian guide to buying LCHF friendly produce

One of the hardest things I have found with changing our lifestyle has been finding user friendly cafes and shops.  

There is a lot of footwork and internet stalking initially, to find what you want.  

The latter made even more difficult because, lets face it Tasmanian businesses just don't seem to get the internet thing.  They either don't have a website or the website they sent up in 2006 hasn't been touched since then.

So, to help other folk out I have come up with a document.  And, well, being a virgo this is what I do LOL

Because this WOE (way of eating) is relatively new to us Tasmanians the demand on businesses hasn't be high for the products we want.

However, I am not one to shy away from asking.  I figure the worst they can do is say no, and really that doesn't do them any favours does it!

I have been pleasantly surprised with most responses and am pleased to say that most places that I ask for a specific request either agree straight up or at the very least agree to consider my request. 

Only this week I put the challenge out to Conmurra Farm where I buy my meat to see if they would do some paleo sausages.  I asked that they be just meat, fat and seasoning with no filler at all.  They gladly took this on board and sent me a kilo of pork and a kilo of beef with my order to try out!  

And a great price of under $10 per kilo!

You can't get better service than that!

Also, if you are a first time buyer thru the link above you get a discount!

Obviously I can't buy all my food through Conmurra.  

Below is a run down of where I get most of my bits and bobs for the week:

Wholesome House - Mowbray

David and Lee are awesome!  They stock most of what I need and if they don't then they will do their utmost to source it and get it in for you.   

They stock all Ashgrove products, organic seasonal fruit/veg, MCT oil, coconut oil, ACV in bulk, bulk nuts/nutmeal/nut butter, herbs/spices loose, ghee, eggs, sauerkraut plus much more!  

They also have a great range of water filters, which is really important to keeping healthy.  I have a reverse osmosis filter that I bought from them and truly it is the best thing I have spent money on and has paid for itself in no time! 

If you don't filter your water I highly recommend researching the benefits and consider doing it. 

I also try and do my veg shopping at Harvest Market most Saturdays. There are two great stalls there that sell chemical free veg.  They are really reasonably priced and you are supporting local independent businesses at the same time.

I also buy my coffee at Harvest from Ritual Coffee.  Another local small business.  His coffee is great tasting and good quality so well worth the $$$

Steve & Grace's greengrocer out at Youngtown have avocados super cheap most of the time. I got some for 65c each this week!  And, the greengrocer in Mowbray often has cauliflower cheap too.

But to do the leg work for you

I have created a guide to buying LCHF/paleo.  

This is downloadable and printable for you to use.

Obviously it doesn't list every business in Tasmania.  It has many Launceston businesses who were contacted and a few in other areas around the state.

It also doesn't list every item.  I think most people know where to buy eggs or almond meal from.  The products included are the ones I see most people asking about on websites, forums and FB groups.  

If you have a product you find tricky to buy or you know of a business that stocks loads of good stuff then please leave a comment and I can add it to the list.  

I would love to be able to include more businesses out side of Launceston.

Launceston LCHF Buyers Guide

Fat Bombs are Da BOMB!!

So, since transitioning from HCG Protocol to LCHF I have had to make some adjustments.  

This has included increasing my fat consumption. 

An easy way to do this is by making fat bombs.  

Not only are they a great way of upping your fat intake to the percentage you are after but they are  good for you and taste fantastic!

These can just be a tasty treat even if you aren't doing LCHF.

Very quick and easy to make, I swear they took about 15 minutes and if I can do them with a newborn in the house, anyone can!

Ingredients

1/3c coconut oil

60gr cacao butter

2tbs raw cacao

100gr crushed macadamias

1/4 shredded coconut

pinch of himalayan seaweed salt to taste 

1tbs stevia powder or you can use a liquid sweetener like raw honey

Method

In a double saucepan or a bowl over a saucepan of hot water melt the cacao butter, raw cacao, salt and sweetener.  Stir in the coconut oil making sure it is well combined then add the dry ingredients.

Spoon into chocolate molds or a baking dish and refrigerate until firm, I used a silicon ice cube tray.  You can freeze to speed up the process if you want.

Keep refrigerated, if they last that long!

I buy my ingredients from either changing habits online store or iherb where you can get great discounts, especially if you are a first time customer  

Round three - Loading Day 2

Okay, I admit it.

I am STUFFED!!

I started the day with a bullet proof coffee, eggs, bacon and the left over creamy chard.  

A delicious start to the day if I may say so.

Most people who do bullet proof have their own fave formula.   You can buy a ready made MCT oil blend to add to your coffee or you can play around with coconut oil, butter or ghee.

Whilst I have tried the Optimoz blend and quite like it I prefer to stick to my own mix.

I have played around with ingredients and measures and have found that the following is my fave blend:

1 sm plunder of good coffee

1tbs butter

1tbs coconut oil

Put into thermomix, bellini or stick mixer jug and blitz until frothy, creamy and well combined.

Trust me you won't look back, this is seriously good!

My mid morning smoothie today was similar to yesterday's offering but

 I added an avocado to the mix  

A girl can't have too much good fat on loading days right!

I had lunch out and forgot to take photos.  

Rest assured I ate up big. 

I was fortunate enough to attend the AGM for the Migrant Resource Centre and there were three different stalls offering international cuisine.   

I tried some delicious Afghan meatballs in a tomato sauce, Bhutanese momos (dumplings) and an a divine African Cassava Leaf dish with chicken.

I came home so stuffed I couldn't face anything for ages.

I managed to shovel in the last of the Ashgrove camembert (seriously THE BEST camembert I have tasted) and some of their blue with a couple of dates.

Dinner was meant to be a creamy chicken dish with zoodles (zucchini noodles) but I wasn't sure about the chicken so I tossed it.  

I found a beef bolognaise in the freezer and dug that out.  Had buttered zoodles with some meat sauce and parmesan instead.

To be honest, I am not sure I could have faced another cream based dish LOL

I am feeling a tad full, reflux-y and glad this is the end of the loading days!!

However, I do know that I am fully loaded in the best possible way.

I hope to go into this round in the best shape possible. 

I have come out of round two with no major pain or inflammation.  

I lost around 8kg in P4 without trying really and feel happy with the maintenance.

I really struggled, but seeing I had gone to the effort to make a sugar free chocolate icecream, I felt I should do it justice.

For dessert/supper I had some.  

Not much though (think 1/2c) as 

I just couldn't do it justice.

But OMG!  It was good.

Stay tuned and I will post my recipe in the next week.

So, tomorrow begins phase 2 for 43 days.

I won't bore you with daily posts but thought, for those starting out it might be a good idea to see what others do for the phase.

I plan on doing a weekly post on stats and meals with a few recipes thrown in.

I will also link to past recipes from the last couple of rounds.

Hope you enjoy the ride :)

Raw Caramel slice

This is so not a phase 2 recipe!  But, someone was asking about uses for coconut and this would be one of my faves!   

It is poached from my gorgeous friend Jenny who makes loads of yummy raw sweets.

Seriously, I took this away on the weekend camping with friends and EVERY single person asked for the recipe!!
That is just how good it is!

So, rather than be stingy I figured I would share the love!

Ingredients:

Base: 

1 cup nuts (I used pecans this time round, but usually use 1/2 walnuts and 1/2 macadamias)

1 soup spoon cacao powder

1 tsp vanilla powder

2 tsp maple syrup

2 medjool dates

2 tsp melted coconut butter

sprinkle of coconut

Topping:

1 cup of cashews (soaked for 30 mins or more)

1/4 cup maple syrup (recipe asks for !/2c but this is very sweet)

1 Tab Vanilla Extract

1/4 tsp Himalayan Salt

1 tsp Lucuma (optional)

1/4 cup melted coconut butter/oil

1/4 cup cacao nibs to garnish (less if you are using in the base)

Method:

Process base ingredients in food processor and squish into moulds or container, smooth out with back of soup spoon.  Freeze to set.

Blend topping mix until smooth and put on top of base, sprinkle cacao nibs and then put in freezer to set.  It will be runny until it has been in the freezer (needs a while to set firm).  Make the day before and put in freezer is the easiest way.   You will need to keep in the freezer as it it softens very fast.

If you have left overs that is!