Indulging + Keeping Things Balanced - an interview with Sweetly Raw's Heather Pace & GLJ's Andrea Dershin
Hi, I’m Kathleen, content writer and social media assistant here at Good Life Juice. To say it’s been a whirlwind past couple months is to say the least! Our mission at Good Life Juice is to keep you healthy during this time; however, we are all about keeping things balanced. This had me inspired to write about indulgences.
This past week we hosted Heather Pace, founder of Sweetly Raw, at our warehouse kitchen! It was a delightful experience, and she graced us with her fabulous Good Life Collagen Chocolate Donuts (YUM)!
With indulging and keeping things balanced on my mind, I thought who better to weigh in on this topic other than Heather. I knew if I was going to interview Heather, the perfect compliment to the interview would be, of course, Good Life Juice founder Andrea Dershin.
Despite this being the first time they have met in person, these two are such a vibe! Both could relate on their approach to keeping things balanced and where they love to indulge. They both shared stories about being extreme vegans which only led them to burnt out restrictions. Their approach to life now is all about freedom and enjoyment. More fun, less restrictions and nothing but balanced bliss.
Check out the interview below where we talk indulging, balance, quarantine 2020, plant based tips, keeping things local and guilty pleasures!
First and foremost, how did you two meet?!
HP: Andrea reached out to me over Instagram over a year ago and then we reconnected recently and I'm finally meeting her in person at the Goodlife Juice kitchen. I'm so excited to meet her and the team. I've watched her business grow and she's a huge inspiration! #girlpower
AD: I started following Heather a few years ago for her fabulous raw dessert recipes - before I even realized she lived in Victoria! We eventually became online friends about a year ago when we connected virtually, but this is the first time I get to meet her IRL!
Right off the bat, we want to know what your go-to indulgence is and how you stay balanced?
AD: Lately a cocktail at night with the hubby, or making my kids one of their favourite pasta dishes and digging in is a common indulgence. Since most of the time I eat a very healthy plant based diet, rich in whole foods, I find little indulgences regularly make life so much more fun. We usually save it for family movie night - last week the kids requested poutine and I loved it. But indulging for me can also mean a long bubble bath while listening to a podcast, or a walk in nature with a good friend.
HP: I have many indulgences lol, but chocolate and wine are at the top of the list! I stay balanced by taking an 80/20 approach. I eat a whole foods diet most of the time, do yoga every day, and get out in nature regularly, but I also enjoy dining out and eating so called "naughty" foods like nachos, gelato, and charcuterie boards.
““I stay balanced by taking an 80/20 approach. I eat a whole foods diet most of the time, do yoga every day, and get out in nature regularly, but I also enjoy dining out and eating so called “naughty” foods like nachos, gelato, and charcuterie boards.””
You both are plant based guru’s! Our followers want to know where to start when trying to implement more plant based nutrition into your diet?
HP: I recommend adding more fruits, veggies, nuts, and seeds in a person's diet and staying away from the fake meats which are full of junky ingredients. The big thing people miss is desserts but there's a plant based version of literally every dessert. I have hundreds of yummy healthy recipes on my Sweetly Raw blog to choose from: cheesecakes, ice cream, brownies, cookies, chocolate, parfaits, you name it!
AD: I would recommend incorporating more greens - smoothies, juices, salads and veggies, start increasing them more and more. Crowd out refined carbohydrates and processed foods with more veggies. This will start to change your cravings and your palette for more whole foods (and don’t forget the healthy fats)!
Take us back to March 2020 (yupp, I mean in the time of lockdown), what did you do to keep yourself sane?
AD: Oh man! I relied heavily on nature, my infra red sauna, stretching, bubble baths, getting a full nights sleep, being grounded by playing and cuddling with my kids, leaning on my healthy eating habits for most of the time, but being ok with take out or meal prep services more than normal. My husband and I were really busy with the company and in some ways being so busy also helped keep us sane - cause we felt so grateful to be in business and the company doing well.
HP: During the lock up I started doing Instagram live recipe videos since I missed teaching classes at Cook Culture. I also filmed Youtube videos, spent a lot of time in the kitchen, spent quality time with my man, and enjoyed nature. It was fantastic!
What are you doing these days to stay sane?
HP: Life is pretty normal for me. I still dine out, see friends, go shopping, work both at home and at Lifestyle Markets making organic vegan desserts, get out for daily walks, do yoga, and create/photograph a ton of recipes.
AD: Getting in nature a few times a week,, getting 8 hours of sleep, eating a balanced healthy diet, a little meditating or journalling, hanging with my kids and hubby, exercising with my girlfriends and seeing or talking on the phone with my besties.
Given you both live, work & play on Vancouver Island, what are some of your favourite local companies and/or spots to help you indulge and/or stay balanced?
AD: Linley Valley Park in Nanaimo is my favourite spot in town for outside time in nature. I recently started treating myself to a facial at Kiyo Salon once a month and it makes me feel so pampered and gorgeous. I see Lynn at Solace Wellness for a massage everyone once and a while, or Caroll Anne at Progressive Heating for acupuncture and overall spiritual connection. Exercising at Oxygen or with my trainer Anne is a must. I am OBSESSED with Sheringham Distillery gin. My hubby and I make a killer cocktail with it.
HP: Some of my favourite local walking spots are Dallas Road, Willows Beach, and Esquimalt Lagoon. I instantly feel more balanced and connected when I go there. As for indulgences, I love going to the Empress for proseco and popcorn, Crafthouse for nachos, and Nubo Kitchen for sushi. One of my favourite local products is the paleo granola from Singing Bowl Granola.
It’s an average work day, you are your usual busy self, what do you usually grab on the go for lunch?
HP: For healthy lunch on a busy day I have homemade crackers with my green herb dip, a hard boiled egg, and cherry tomatoes, usually followed by one of my treats. If I'm out and about I like to pick up food from Tractor.
AD: I am a big fan of leftovers from the night before, otherwise I usually grab one of our Kale me Crazy Salads or our Lentil Stew. If I am at home, I love to have breakfast for lunch - avocado toast with a poached egg and some kimchi is probably my all time favourite meal.
Lastly, what is your guilty pleasure?
AD: FRIDAYS are my guilty pleasure! My one week day I don’t have to work. I get to work out in the morning with my favourite fitness teacher Annie, spend the day doing what I want (sometimes a massage or facial) try to see a girlfriend, or at least call one for a catch up, hang out with my kids after school, then my hubby makes us a cocktail in the evening. From time to time, we order take out on a Friday and let the kids eat in their room while watching a show, so my hubby and I can eat sushi on the couch with our drinks and RELAX. BOOM!! I have zero guilt about though. I love it!
HP: My guilty pleasure is spending a day getting a pedicure, going out for lunch on a patio, shopping, and then going for happy hour. Its the best!
Don’t forget to check out Sweetly Raw’s Good Life Collagen Chocolate Donut Recipe.
An easy recipe you can make right in your own kitchen!
