The Power of A Morning Routine.
The Power of Having a Morning Routine.
Your eyes open and your realize it is a new day. What is the first thing you think about or do? Of course there are endless amount of answers to this question, but it is very common that most people will immediately go through their to-do list or rush out of bed and become immediately bogged down by the day even though they have not been awake for even 30 minutes! Is this you? If the answer is yes then please continue reading, and if the answer is no then you should still proceed and possibly pick up some helpful tips to add to your existing morning routine.
A morning routine should be the process of easing yourself into a new day, so you can approach the day in a calm state. The first thing I love doing in the morning is 1. Acknowledging that a new day has arrived and you are awake inside your body, again. Being conscious of this wake state can already set you up for success. The second thing that is a must is 2. Drinking a large cup of room-temperature water, preferably with lemon or key lime. During the night your body goes through a deep detoxification process, and regardless of the amount of water you drink the day before you have to immediately hydrate your body upon waking up. The next step would be to 3. Move your body. This can be a quick 15-minute stretch, but if you have the time, a 30-minute yoga flow would be ideal to really get into all the nooks and crannies of your body. And this can be followed by 4. A meditation practice, which can be as short as 15-minutes. The stretch or yoga flow coupled with working on quieting your mind can truly be like a daily morning retreat you take yourself to, and can help you tackle anything that might arise during the day with grace. The next step is a bonus, but if you have the time (and also a bath tub) it would be 4. A morning soak. Soaking your body in some nourishing bath salts while listening to calm music or a podcast is a game changer! Just 20-minutes in the bath tub each morning could really have you levitating throughout the day. The final step before you even start to think about “what you need to do” is to sit down for a hot cup of tea and enjoy some fresh fruit or any nutritional breakfast of your choice. Are you wondering why this is the last step? Being fasted (not having food in the body) for all the previous steps helps your mind remain clear and not distracted by digesting food.
This is also a great routine to follow while traveling. I have been moving around a lot this year and this morning routine, minus the bath soaks, has been a must-do before I tackle my day. So there you have it a step-by-step morning routine that you can follow each day. You might be thinking I do not have the time. The duration of this routine, minus the bath soaks, is an hour or less and you can try to take as many of the steps as you can handle and then before you know it you have a full-blown morning routine, and your life will never be the same! Invest in yourself. Change your life. That is all.
With Love
Eating Vegan in Bali, Indonesia
On January 30th, 2023 I left Los Angeles, CA with four large suitcases and I got on a one-way flight to Bali, Indonesia. Prior to leaving LA I was operating the food service side of my business, Wholesome Zen by providing vegan and raw meal prep and chef services. I also cooked and prepared food for myself majority of the time and could count on two hands how many times I ate out in the year of 2022 up until leaving the U.S. Leaving my comfort zone aka “my kitchen” was probably the hardest part of this decision I made to relocate my life across the world. I did not know what to expect when it came to food; if I would have access to a proper kitchen and the vital cooking utensils I was use to. I actually packed my Excalibur Dehydrator in one suitcase and paid extra so it could make the trip with me to Bali. I also packed some small utensils, my chef knives, and some seasonings as well as whatever superfood powders I could stuff in my luggage. It is safe to say I was nervous about what I was stepping into because proper nutrition means so much to me. I also was fully raw for almost a year before leaving Los Angeles, but knew I would have to start eating majority cooked food because of safety reasons. It is easier to get food poisoned from fresh and more perishable foods like raw fruits and veggies and I was not willing to take that chance right away.
I arrived in Bali on February 2nd, 2023 after 22 hours of travel. My first meal was at a vegan friendly chain called Bali Buda. Bali Buda offers a variety of smoothies, smoothie bowls, juices, and different raw and cooked vegan meals at a very affordable price. My first meal was their Vegan Bibimbap Bowl and a Papaya Leaf Juice (I had no idea how biter this would be…lol). The grand total was $6 and some change. I was baffled and excited about these prices! And someone told me that was on the expensive side and I could not believe this information. The meal was a good size, flavorful, and again SO CHEAP! The other amazing thing about Bali Buda is their markets. Each restaurant has an adjacent market that is filled with lovely healthy options such as nuts, seeds, fresh juices, raw vegan granolas, and other great options when you are aiming to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Take a look at their website to find their locations and menu options.
BALI BUDA - Multiple Locations
During my time in Bali I lived in four different places in four different parts of Mama Bali. First I lived in Sanur, which is a very sleepy town filled with mostly older and retired Australian men . Many people come to Sanur for the beach because it is kind of central to other parts of Bali and pretty clean and quiet. The vegan food was subpar. I ate at a few places that were not completely memorable. The only place that was amazing for specific reasons was Kood. This restaurant is 100% Vegan and Oil Free. They have Korean noodle dishes, salads, tasty vegan pizzas, sorbets, delicious grab and go nut milks and other items. Above all, their Vegan Cinnamon Bun, which is sweetened with only dates, is mind blowing! This place is a must try if you are in Sanur!
KOOD IN SANUR
KOOD IN SANUR
After I left Sanur, I moved to Jimbaran and ate a few places that are noted at the end of this article. This was probably my least favorite place I lived in and thankfully only was in this area for one week. After leaving Jimbaran I moved to Ubud, which is probably the most well-known and sort after parts of Bali. I stayed in Manyi Village which is 15 or 20 minutes from Ubud center, and I did not know how to ride a scooter yet, so I stayed local and enjoyed a Vegan Poki Bowl almost every day from this family ran food hunt right next to my temporary home. And the other times I ate and shopped at Bali Buda at their location in Ubud.
FAMILY FOOD HUNT IN MANYI VILLAGE
After leaving Ubud I moved into a loft located in Pererenan which is six minutes outside of Canggu, another sort after location in Bali. This was the first time since arriving in Bali that I had a kitchen! I was extremely exhausted the first day arriving at the loft, but I was so thrilled to finally have a kitchen that I jumped on the back of a Gojek (one of the main transportation options in Bali) scooter and headed to the market for the very first time after being in Bali for almost one month. The supermarket surprisingly did not have amazing options. A lot of the fruit and veggies looked old and wilted. I spent about an hour at the store carefully picking the best options. The kitchen at the loft also only had two burners and what I like to call “baby pans.” I had never seen pans so small in my life! I thought I was having flashbacks to my childhood when I would play with my kitchen toys. Nevertheless, I made the best out of the situation and made a delicious vegan veggie stir fry with some tofu. It was amazing to chop and be back in the kitchen and taste my own food with my own energy. I was grateful. After about a month of cooking I was underwhelmed by the limited meals I cook prepare in the kitchen with the limited tools. I thought about purchasing pots and pans but I was still unclear on where I was moving and did not want to add additional items to my already abundant luggage bunch. I decided to start eating out again.
Some of my favorite places I explored was GIVE in Canggu. This is a 100% Vegan restaurant that offers a full plant-based menu along with a Nasi Campur Buffet, which is a traditional Indonesian dish. I was mind blowed by how delicious this meal was. Everything tasted so fresh and was so satisfying without leaving me feeling heavy. I also got introduced to a delicious vegan donut place called Dreamwave Donuts and Shady Shack in Canggu. Shady Shack ended up being my go-to for the rest of the time I spent in Bali. I tried out some other spots, shopped at cool Health stores, and went to general grocery stores that are mentioned at the end of this article under “additional resources” that are helpful.
GIVE IN CANGGU
DREAMWAVE DONUTS IN CANGGU
The last place I lived was in Baduk renting a room and private bath at this breathtaking villa owned by two people I now consider to be family. Baduk is a city slightly east of Pererenan and about 8 or 10 minutes outside of Canggu. Here I was introduced to a juice lady called Miss Coco Bali. I would spend many days just juice and water fasting and when I chose to eat I would go to Shady Shack or just pick up some items and or juice from Bali Buda’s Canggu location.
BALI BUDA- Multiple Locations
SHADY SHACK IN CANGGU
My final thoughts on “Eating Vegan in Bali Indonesia” is that the food is good, but overall not exceptional. A lot of it lacks seasoning and flavor and can easily become redundant. I missed more ethnic vegan food like Vegan Thai and Ethiopian, and Jamaican food while living in Bali. And I absolutely missed my own food in its full expression. However, I am more than grateful for the vegan options I did have at my disposable, my dirt cheap fresh juices I would get on a weekly basis, and the fact that I had the opportunity to use a kitchen while living on the island of Bali, Indonesia. This was a major gift I gave to myself and I hope that you get a chance to experience not just the Vegan Food in Bali but the overall energy of the island which is absolutely the most “delicious” experience. Blessings on your journey.
With love,
Zen
Additional Vegan Food Resources & Suggestions
100% Vegan Restaurants
GIVE in Canggu
Alchemy in Ubud
Zest in Ubud
KYND Community in Canggu
I AM Vegan Babe in Canggu
Goji Goji Vegan Bowl in Canggu
Moringa Plant-based Restaurant in Kuta
Vegan Friendly Restaurants and Places
Bali Buda- Multiple locations around Bali
Shady Shack in Canggu
Dreamwave Donuts in Canggu
Mostly in Pererernan
Grocery Store Suggestions and Healthy Shops
Alive Wholefoods Store in Canggu
ECCO Market in Canggu
Bali Natural Organic Pererenan
Frestive Market- Grocery Chain
Pepito Market- Grocery Chain
Ubud Organic Market in Ubud