I’ve been blessed to meet so many inspiring health babes through my Institute for Integrative Nutrition studies this year. Although Emily Ehlers and I met before our studies began (you may remember Em from the beautiful feature article she wrote for us earlier this year: Healthy Eating for Pregnancy or from our many Perth Wellness Soulpreneur pics), since she enrolled at IIN we have further bonded over kale-smoothie-disaster stories, sugar-and-booze-free giggles, and our journeys to follow our passions and become Holistic Health and Lifestyle Coaches.

Em is the girl you wish lived next door to you so you could make cakes and paintings and floral crowns together all the time. Funny, warm, kind, creative and artistic, she balances new motherhood with following her passions with beautiful integrity. Em writes on her wellness site with such honesty, vulnerability, humour and beauty, you are sure to fall in love with her (and her Spectacular Superfood Slice!) too. ♥

Please welcome Em. xx

Emily Ehlers

What inspired your health journey?

I guess I have been on this big ol’ journey since I hit puberty and was swiftly introduced to the world of bad body image and crappy eating habits (aka an eating disorder). I wrestled with that and anxiety all the way up until I feel pregnant in 2012. I decided then that I needed to start taking my health seriously and that meant a lot more than the number on the scales.

Since then I have discovered holistic living, self-love and intuitive eating. I have fallen in love with my new energy and drive so much so that I decided to dedicate my life to helping other women heal their relationship with food and self-image. I have since studied with the Institute of Integrative Nutrition to become a Holistic Lifestyle Coach and it’s been a love story since then! I am absolutely chuffed with my new life and can’t believe what a difference a year can make.

What’s the best thing about being a health coach?

So many things! First and foremost, the amazing people that have come into my life because of it. From the beautiful clients that make me laugh and cry to the coaches and bloggers that I have met along the way (special nod at Miss Sparkles here). I have finally found my tribe and I feel blessed every day to have such a gorgeous, supportive group of people sharing my life and cheering me on.

Also the new perspective I have on life. I used to be a total victim but now I feel so powerful. I know that I am in control and I feel brave enough to live unapologetically.

How do you love to keep fit?

I adore yoga. It tames my monkey-mind and brings me back to earth when there are too many thoughts flitting around my cranium. And I am also a massive fan of walking.
There will be some unusual activities to come though. As I have a 1 year old I have had to devise ways to exercise that incorporate her. Next week I start Baby Yoga which should be a hoot. Then my husband and I are also creating our own little Paleo workout. These style of workouts focus on natural movements and there is emphasis on lifting heavy things. Awfully convenient when you have a baby in tow. So basically,Lucy is going to be our super cute weight bag (though we won’t be throwing her). I think our mornings are going to be full of laughter.

How do you practice self-love and care?

Affirmations every morning. Meditation daily. Setting Intentions. Not beating myself up about my ‘shortfalls’. Dry body-brushing. Oil-pulling. Lying under trees. Reading books. Big glasses of wine. Walks on the beach. Touching salty water. Being present. Phone calls with your bestie. Always remembering to BREATHE!!!

What’s your favourite way to relax and unwind?

I live in Australia – best beaches on the planet! – so I can’t really go past a good beach walk. There is one beach in particular (Leighton Beach) that always has a million crazy dogs running round and acting insane. So you will find me down there most of this summer!

What’s got your toes tingling with excitement right now?

I have just opened up my coaching services and working with the amazing women that have found me has boosted me right up to Cloud Nine. I can’t wait to watch these girls fall back in love with themselves and be filled with toe-tapping energy.

I am also working on my first E-book which will be free for my subscribed tribe (you can sign up here) so that is the next project. I have a feeling that 2014 is going to be a big beautiful year full of self-love, collaborations and lotsa writing!

Do you have a favourite healthy recipe to share with us?

Here is my famous Spectacular Superfood Slice. Make this with caution… it is addictive!

Spectacular Superfood Slice

Emily Ehlers
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 12

Ingredients
  

Fudgy base

  • 2 cups raw cashews
  • 2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut
  • 260 g/9oz medjool dates pitted
  • 100 g/3.5oz goji berries
  • 1 cup raw cacao powder
  • ½ cup pure maple syrup
  • ½ teaspoon of Himalayan sea salt I used a whole teaspoon because I love the combination of salt and chocolate but if you are trepidatious add it bit by bit and taste the mix as you do

Ganache Icing

  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil try to use cold pressed oil for ultimate health benefits
  • 1/2 cup raw cacao powder
  • Generous pinch of Himalayan sea salt

Optional Toppings

  • Raw cacao nibs
  • Goji berries

Instructions
 

Fudgy base

  • Place cashews in the bowl of food processor and grind until very finely ground (be careful to not over process the nuts into butter)
  • Add the shredded coconut and process until well combined and fine in texture.
  • Add the pitted dates and goji berries and process until it is mixed well. When you squish some together it should stick together and flatten like a dough
  • Add the cacao powder – process again.
  • Finally add the maple syrup and the salt and process to combine until you have a nice creamy texture!
  • Press firmly into a dish lined with baking paper.
  • Place in fridge while making the ganache topping.

Ganache Icing

  • In the food processor, blend together maple syrup and coconut oil until well combined.
  • Add in cacao powder and a pinch of salt and process until smooth.
  • Pour over fudge base and spread out evenly over the top.

Slice

  • Sprinkle with cacao nibs and goji’s and return to fridge to set and firm for at least one hour.
  • Cut into squares and serve the fudge cold. Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.
  • These will keep in the fridge for up to 2 months (though I doubt they will remain uneaten that long!) and you can also freeze it if needed.

Spectacular Superfood Slice
Spectacular Superfood Slice
Spectacular Superfood Slice

This looks incredible! Thank you so much for sharing this with us, Em. xx


Emily Ehlers FB

 

6 Comments on Inspiring Health Babes: Emily Ehlers

  1. Emily Ehlers
    November 19, 2013 at 9:00 am (10 years ago)

    Thank you so much for having me on your gorgeous online space, lady!

    And what a gorgeous intro. For the record… I wish we lived next door too. Can you imagine the giggles!

    xxx

    • * Vegan Sparkles *
      November 20, 2013 at 8:30 am (10 years ago)

      hehe, chaos in the neighbourhood! 🙂

  2. Sophie
    February 5, 2014 at 4:32 pm (10 years ago)

    MMMMM,!!!!these are certainly fudgey superfoods bars! They look amazing & inspiring too,.’.Yum Yum yummmm.

    A lovely interview too, Bex.

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