INTERVIEW WITH LIORA BELS
You are a certified Health Food Specialist, what exactly does healthy eating and conscious living mean to you?
It is a holistic, balanced approach to life that incorporates nourishing food, sleeping well, managing stress, and working out in the way that is right for you. About paying attention to what we eat, how we live, and finding the right daily rituals for a healthy routine. I believe that food has a tremendous impact on our bodies, and minds, and on our lives in so many wonderful ways. It is very important to make time to listen to your body instead of just following trends that suggest that there is only one right way to eat or live. There is no specific eating plan that suits everyone in the same way. It is not about labels, or about counting calories, and it is certainly not about restriction or a limited period of time. My personal food philosophy has a beginning and no end, it is about abundance, pleasure, and the celebration of the wonderful produce nature has to offer: whole, organic, plant-based foods in its least processed state that create a healthy, vibrant, and delicious cuisine. I believe in the healing benefits of plant-based wholesome nutrition and am overwhelmed about how it connects with our bodies, the sustainable positive effect it has on us, our overall well-being, and our future. I am also fascinated by the emotional aspect of eating a healthy cuisine. It not only nurtures, but takes one on a journey, brings people together, or makes one fall in love. The taste and scent of it creates memories and can bring us back to our childhood, remind us of special moments. Different spices may inspire one to take trips to faraway places. The beauty about nutrition and of my cooking is that it sparks emotions. Incorporating more plants into your eating habits, taking care of yourself, adopting a healthier, balanced routine, celebrating natural food and integrating daily rituals can help you achieve a sustainable change in your lifestyle and how you feel.
How do you develop and perfect your recipes?
I love letting myself be inspired by my travels, by different cultures, nature, marketplaces, even creative expression, architecture, and design. Colors, scents, aromas, and taste inspire me, but also great food blogs or restaurants help me find new ideas. Sometimes I will pick a classic recipe and transform it into a new one by using alternative nutritious products. Developing recipes and preparing the food is a process I enjoy. From carefully choosing the right ingredients to combining taste, texture, colors and the aesthetics of the food. It is always about the senses.
Your perfect meal would include/consist of…
…fresh, wholesome ingredients: veggies, nuts & seeds, fresh herbs, and always avocado.
How did the idea for The Mix develop and what can readers expect of The Mix?
When it comes to cooking or eating a more healthy plantbased diet I often hear the words: no time, no ideas, no talent, don’t know how to cook, lack of inspiration. Being a working mom, I know it can be a challenge to find the time to cook an abundant healthy meal yet I want to make feeding my children nourishing and thoughtfully- prepared food a priority. You don’t have to be a chef to cook a delicious, wholesome meal and to take care of yourself with quality organic products. So I came up with recipes that are easy and quick to make–without having to sacrifice nutrients, taste, and aesthetics. I love food and want to create a delicious, beautiful, vibrant, and healthy cuisine. The Mix offers flavorful, nutritious, and simple everyday plant-based recipes, incorporating only high-quality minimally-processed products, that I believe help optimize our health, energy, and radiance. The recipes are all mainly made in a high-speed-blender, or food processor, or even just with your hands–quick and easy. Perfect for everyday life. My mission is to inspire making the right food choices every day and to celebrate natural food. I hope the combination of taste, aesthetics, and sharing knowledge about the benefits is the key to finding love for natural food and to taking care of oneself. This book is made for everyone!