Why is Cutting Vegetables So Much Fucking Work

Let me start this off by saying, fuck the word “diet”. Nobody got time for the stigma ‘round that word. Here we use “menu”, because we’re classy as fuck. And I’m a fancy ass chef feeding my good gut bacteria and killin’ off that candida overgrowth.

Candida overgrowth you say? What’s that?

Well nosy uninformed reader, I’m basically a loaf of bread rising. But not in a good way. You can read more about that shit story here.

Candida is basically the scientific name for yeast, and we all got some in our beautiful bods. But sometimes, shit gets out of hand and we grow too much of it in us. It can show up as thrush, vaginal yeast infections, skin rashes, and more! How joyous.

It can also cause brain fog, fatigue, eye twitches, and digestive issues. And now I’m here just getting tired thinking about it all.

So, what can you do about it?

Well, a big part of fighting this yeast overgrowth in a holistic way, is looking at your menu. What are you eating? What are you drinking? Is it high sugar and high carb? Because that’s candida’s favorite food and you’re feeding it more than yourself.

And let’s not forget, if you’ve taken a lot of antibiotics in your life, that shit be killing everything. The bad bacteria AND the good. So, you need to boost your probiotics intake to rebuild and revive that beautiful gut garden of yours. That gut flora is your Defense against the Dark Arts. If your flora ain’t thriving, then basically your insides are dying. Wild!

Obviously, there are pills you can take to control your risin’-like-the-sun yeast, and other supplements to boost your immune system. But I’m not here to write about that. I’m here to complain (and try to keep myself more mindful of my journey) but also give you some delicious healthy recipes to add to your daily menu. Why? Because so many of the recipes I’ve seen are (very Caucasian American) BORING, BASIC, and BLAND. And look, if white colonizers stole land and rights from so many for so long, then why is the food still so bland?? Spices, hello! Use ‘em!

Gotta shout out here to ChiefSpiceMama for her incredible knowledge of the benefits of all those beautiful spices. She’s definitely helped me create absolutely delicious food, and also to know which spices to use when and how. Bottom line is: turmeric, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, garlic, paprika, cumin, coriander, ginger.

But enough talk, we're here to complain about how cutting up fruits and veggies takes up so much damn time. But the results? Fabulous.

Keep in mind that my measurements are how I prefer 'em, and you can eye it, play it by ear, or drum on however much of whatever you want.

Zesty Quinoa Salad

I fucking love this salad. I can eat it for days at a time. It's super refreshing, packed with nutrients and good stuff, and it's so colorful! My mother-in-law also loves this salad, and I always know I need to make extra for her. Here's my recipe for it:

Ingredients:

-about a cup of chopped cilantro

-a cup of diced tomatoes

-a cup of quinoa

-a cup of diced cucumbers

-one avocado diced

-a quarter of an onion finely chopped

Dressing (approx.):

-1/3 cup olive oil (or any oil you have, avocado oil is great too)

-about 1/4 cup of lemon juice (lime works too)

-2 minced garlic cloves

-1/2 tsp black pepper

-1/2 tsp salt

-1/2 tsp mustard

-about a tsp of white or apple vinegar

*You can add any more or less of the ingredients, and taste-test the dressing to your liking. This is just approximately my measurements for this delicious salad.

Steps?

Start with cooking that quinoa according to the package, and let it cool after. Chop up the onion first and you can leave it in a lil' bowl with water to make it less potent if you'd like. And then basically chop everything else into a bowl, mix up the dressing in another lil cup or whatever and pour that in. Add in the cooled down quinoa and onion and mix well! And viola! *chef kiss*

Curry-Spiced Stir-Fry Veg "Fries"

This is the easiest thing to make, and it's a great way to toss in those flavorful and anti-inflammatory immunity-boosting spices. You can really use any veggies you want for this. Mushrooms though a fung(uy)i, are actually great for the anti-Candida menu as they lower blood pressure, boost your immune system, supply Vitamin D, and more.

I basically wanted fries, but potato ain't on my menu, so I cut the veggies in the same shape to make it more fun to snack on. Then I remembered I had mushrooms and just tossed them in.

Ingredients:

-carrots

-sweet potato

-zucchini

-mushrooms

-coconut oil (or whatever you have)

Spices #eyeit:

-turmeric powder

-cayenne pepper powder

-black pepper

-garlic powder

-coriander powder

-cumin powder

-curry powder

-salt

*Yes, we're cutting up veggies again. Stop complaining. Just cut up those veggies however you want really. No one cares. You want sliced, diced, strips, do what makes your heart happy homie. And then just cook it in a pan or a pot (I used a pot cause I didn't want to do more dishes and ironically had just used that pot for the quinoa).

Steps?

Add the oil to the pot on a medium-high heat. Add in your sweet potato first to roast it for a few minutes. Then add your carrots, and sauté for another few minutes. Add in the spices and zucchini, mix. Let it sit and cook for another few minutes, and when the zucchini starts to look a bit more cooked, add the mushroom. You can add the mushrooms earlier if you want, I just felt like having them half cooked half raw in that moment. And that's it!

To Summarize

I don't feel like adding more right now, and maybe I just want to keep you hooked for the next part of this foodie series. Because trust, I have more recipes. But today I'll just give you a taste. Keep you wanting more. Grrr.

But bottom line is, the anti-Candida menu loves veggies and spices. Get them in your system. Be a rabbit and munch on those carrots. But don't be boring. Add in that delicious anti-inflammatory antioxidant flavor with them spices. Don't be lame.

And if you're not a fan of chopping endless veggies? Well. Tough. Neither am I! (Or just ask someone in your house to help). We got to keep it up!

Hope you enjoyed this first foodie part and definitely let me know if you try one of the recipes. Good luck fam!

And remember: rise high like the sun, not like bread.