this one is for you Bruni

I was over at my uncle's place on the weekend for dinner, which was fantastic as usual, but what made it ultra great was the fact that he made a totally vegetarian (may have even been vegan) kby friendly meal. That means all natural, no garlic (I'm allergic) all whole foods etc... We had a little chat and I got some feedback that I thought was kind of interesting. It seems that people have been reading my recipes on the blog or facebook and in turn have been coming across some items on the ingredient lists that are completely foreign. This makes perfect sense to me, some of the ingredients that I call for are not your run-of-the-mill household staples, and so I have created a shopping list! This shopping list addresses some of the foods/condiments that I often refer to, but perhaps without ample explanation. A shopping list glossary if you will.

stevia - this is a natural sweetener, 0 glycemic index, sugar, carbs etc... sugar replacement, can be bought in powder or tincture form, both are great.

raw cacao - can be in full beans or powder form, look for a product that says "raw" on it! Similar to unsweetened pure dark chocolate powder, very high in magnesium, fiber, protein, minerals etc...

hemp seeds - tiny little seeds, super high in complete protein and essential fatty acids, should be bought in a sealed bag and should be refrigerated after opening.

dulse flakes - tiny flakes of the dulse seaweed, can be used as a salt substitute, super high in minerals and iodine, can be sprinkled on salads, grains etc...

raw honey - as opposed to pasteurized honey, if it doesn't specify on the label it is definitely pasteurized, look for a product that says "raw" or "unpasteurized", contains all of its healing antioxidants and enzymes, plus its antibacterial properties. Try to keep it raw so refrain from using it with scalding hot foods/drinks.

chia seeds - tiny seeds, very high in chromium (insulin regulator, good for blood sugar disorders), protein, fiber, essential fatty acids, should be kept in a dry space, used in salads, grain dishes and smoothies.

flax oil - super high in omega 3 fatty acids, should be kept in the fridge after opening.

coconut oil - very high in medium chain triglycerides (easiest fuel source for the body to burn, aside from carbs), easiest fat to digest  because of the medium chains, saturated so its good for high heat cooking, no cholesterol, best ever! Can also be used as a body lotion, solid at a cool room temp, liquid in the summer.

All of these items can be found at your local health food store and they should all be staples in your super healthy kitchen. xoxo kby