During our stay in LA we tried some pretty amazing Southern California food. LA is world-famous for its extraordinary food scene. I remember learning all about sushi and California in this episode of Stuff You Should Know. 

My sister and I are always especially happy to try new health food cafés and restaurants. In some cities, these places can be tricky to find - but I love how they are everywhere around LA.

I keep dreaming about all these places, so I decided to compile a little list of my favourites:

Nekter Juice Bar
Ever since I went to Brazil I've been completely obsessed with Açaí bowls. Sadly, it's really difficult to find outside of the Americas. The Açaí berry is native to Brazil, it grows on the açaí palm in the Amazonas and it resembles the Northern blueberry. 

To get the real taste, this stuff has to be made with freshly frozen berries. An incredible energising and healthy breakfast or snack - my dream is to live around the corner from this place.

Nekter also does Pitaya bowls, they are naturally pink and the taste is just wow! 

Urth caffe
Urth can be found all around LA. We had just been to the Hollywood hills and were driving back down to Venice in the rain, desperate for lunch.

We found Urth, and were lucky to get a table in their garden. I felt so hungry and cold that I ordered all the things. Green tea boba made with Almond milk. A hot jasmine tea. Bread (it was included, but still). And I tell you this, in Cali you can definitely find some of the best kale salads. This one was not an exception. 

Kreation
The last day we went stand-up paddle boarding! We started at Mother's beach in del Rey and went out in the Marina. We paddled next to seals and sea lions that were sleeping on the boats and piers. When we got back, I tried some yoga moves. If paddle boarding is kind of easy, SUP Yoga is way harder and challenging for the balance. Let's say this - the water was warm. :)

After our paddle tour, we went to Kreation for some food. The menu was remarkable, so many juices and smoothies to choose from. I had a Goji açaí bowl, tabbouleh salad and their green chlorophyll water. 

True food
I adore this place. We went here twice and everything we had was simply amazing. Quinoa burgers, kale salads, vegetable rice bowls, homemade pizza, guacamole, hummus, edamame dumplings - you name it. So many choices, and everything was equally fresh and delicious. 

Some other places that I really loved too are Sweet Rose Creamery, Intelligentsia Coffee and Moon Juice Shop. All are worth trying if you're visiting..

Last year I shared some of my favourite breakfast ideas, you can find them here. I also promised to write a follow-up post with more ideas but then I got sort of hung-up on this green smoothie which is my total favourite morning boost,

Finally, I have collected some more breakfast ideas that are both a delicious and healthy start to the day.  

Mango orange lemon smoothie with ginger
Serves 1-2

1 mango
2 oranges
1 lemon, juiced
1 tbsp chopped fresh ginger
a pinch of cayenne

Mix all ingredients in a blender with some ice and enjoy! 

Raspberry chia pudding
Serves 2

1/4 cup chia seeds
1 cup (240 ml) unsweetened almond milk
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
1/2 cup (50 g) fresh or defrosted raspberries
a handful of pumpkin seeds

Add chia seeds, cinnamon, vanilla and almond milk to a glass jar or small bowl. Give it a good stir and leave to stand for at least 10 minutes in room temperature or let set in the fridge overnight. If using a glass jar, cover the jar with its lid and shake vigorously for a few seconds until the contents are well mixed. The benefit with using the jar is that you can easily remove it from the fridge and shake it a few times so that the ingredients blend well together. This prevents the chia seeds from clumping upon expansion.

The pudding is best enjoyed after an hour of soaking or when left in the fridge overnight. This way, the chia seeds have time to absorb all the liquid. At serving, top with raspberries and pumpkin seeds and enjoy!

Black coffee and fresh fruit another hot morning in Madrid last summer. Le Pain Quotidien never dissappoints. 

Granola and homemade almond milk in bed.

Layered greek yoghurt and sliced strawberries topped granola and coconut.

Warm porridge on a cold morning topped with sliced nectarine and rice milk.

Black organic coffee with a tablespoon of coconut cream. Yum!

For those of you who are new to yoga. This is for you.

Are you ready to change your perspective by putting your hands and feet on the ground, drawing your navel in to your spine and pushing your bum up in the air? Are you ready to feel those amazing benefits that moving on the breath can do for you? That's great, because the first thing you need is motivation.
 
If you are ready to embark on the yoga adventure there are basically two alternatives. Either do some research in your local area for a yoga studio or begin a home practice.

If you decide to go for the studio option. There are a few things that I can recommend. In my experience it is very important to find a place in the nearby area. Then, even rainy days can't stop you from making it to class. Also make sure the place is clean. From your yoga mat you have a beautiful view of the world, and you don't want to be distracted by a dusty floor. A cosy yoga studio and you will actually look forward to spending time there. Attend a few different classes and try to find a teacher that you like, who inspires you and who you can relate to. One thing to look for is an instructor that feels authentic to you. With a voice that speaks to your body and teaches in a way that makes sense to you.

Once you have found a studio that you like, you need to decide what kind of membership you would like to get. When checking out a new studio I usually buy a single class. That way, I can decide whether I like the place. Sometimes, studios have introductory offers for new members. These are often very good deals. Take advantage of them. Remember, yoga studios are making their best to offer high-quality classes, keep prices affordable and still be able to pay their teachers.

Nontheless, signing up for a class or membership requires a financial commitment and maybe that's just not available to you right now. Don't worry my friend, a lot of people - myself included, began practising yoga at home. The benefits of establishing a yoga home practice are many. It is free, the time can be adapted to your personal schedule and it becomes your private moment. The only thing you need is a mat and a routine. Fortunately, you no longer have to dig out a tape from the back of the wardrobe, it has never been easier to find great practices online. 

My favourite classes on youtube are Yoga with Adriene and my long time yoga friend Tara Stiles.

There are also great services out there such as Yogaglo and Yogobe (the latter is in Scandinavian languages). These services offer yoga with a lot of different teachers (some are world famous) and instruct any level class. 

At my teacher training, one of the first things we were told was that even though we practiced every day in the training, it is as important to roll out the mat at home, just to sit on it, breath on it and be present - a moment every day. That is, if you are not in the mood for a teacher-led or rigorous practice, just do some simple breathing exercises and a few stretches on the mat. 

Remember, whatever you do - showing up is what counts