Advice on Dig Eat All 2015

Word of personal advice on behalf of Anything But Salads (ABS):


Be wary of the accelerator programs you choose to sign up for. In this case, ABS was part of Dig Eat All (DEA) 2014 and we one of the winners. Almost 7 months later, nothing from this program has been delivered. DEA 2014 was all empty promises.

When we chose to take part in DEA 2014, we were at the pinnacle of scale. We needed funds to expand and we needed to know how to do it stably and with surety. So when we read on DEA 2014's webpage that winners could stand to win potential prize money (up to EU250,000), it was a no brainer for us. We needed the help and we thought DEA 2014 would be a good avenue to grow and learn.

7 months later, and with no word from the organization, the prize money has been removed from the table with no real explanation. We were promised a full year's worth of help, advice sharing of network and proper assistance in scaling. That has not come through either.

In fact, DEA organisers had not responded to any of our emails or even the pitch deck which we gave them. Nothing of any sort was heard from them or about them post-win.

We then learnt about DEA 2015. And off the bat, it seemed to promise everything but the monies. Ok, improvements. But my colleagues and I felt that it was ridiculous that they would be organizing another DEA when they haven't even come through with the promises for DEA 2014. It was ridiculous and irresponsible.

I personally contacted one of the founders of DEA who avoided my texts and calls. Finally, out of respect, I informed the organization of my plans to blow the whistle on this program.

That shook their feathers badly and instantaneously, I had a flurry of panicked messages and FINALLY a skype meeting with one of the founders.

Post-call, nothing more was resolved except ABS was encouraged to leave the past behind and focus on how we can resolve the current situation. I'll be honest, this particular co-founder did not leave a good impression on me nor did he come across as sincere, honest and with integrity.

We have just sent another email to the founders and organizers and are awaiting a response.

Post-call, we got in touch with other DEA 2014 alumni teams and it was unanimous - no contact from DEA organizers. The other 2 winnings teams were lucky to have gotten some reply of some sort. But it took a lot of chasing before any response was made. Generally, we would all discourage start ups who are looking to scale, push a product to launch, with a revenue stream or those beyond ideas stage to participate. DEA is a great platform for networking - ONLY if you speak Spanish. Otherwise, travelling halfway across the world (like we did) is a complete waste of time and money.

It's a 5-week program and they give you a nice co-working space to meet other fun and exciting start ups. But if your core business is a world away, with time difference, that's a tough situation to face. Especially when you are a lean start up with a lean team.

With this personal experience, I have chosen to break the silence and inform as many entrepreneurs/start ups as possible about the potential dangers and pitfalls of joining any accelerator program (DEA notwithstanding). After this experience with DEA, I highly recommend doing the research, speaking to past participants and asking around.

If your company, like ABS last year, already has a revenue stream and a functioning business with customers and a system, then consider whether the opportunity costs are worth it.

In our case, it was not.

This was a hard lesson to learn for us. But we appreciate the lesson as it has now given us the opportunity to share our experience with you.

Be smart about your decision. And from our own experience, be wary of people who talk the talk but do not walk the walk.

Because that, is incurring bad karma for yourself. Why would you do that to you?

Natural & Organics Products Asia 2014 Speech

I've had many requests for my notes for the speech I gave during the Natural & Organics Products Asia 2014 exposition in Hong Kong. So I've decided to upload my notes here for all of you.

I hope you find them useful!

--------------

TITLE: Top Superfood Picks for Asia in 2015

Superfoods Definition:

A non-medical term popularized in the media

Refers to foods that can have health-promoting properties such as reducing one's risk of disease or improving any aspect of physical or emotional health.

May have an unusually high content of antioxidants, vitamins, or other nutrients.

.......................

Functional Foods Definition:

A concept originally conceived in Japan, FF is used to describe a food that:

Beneficially affects one or more target functions in the body beyond adequate nutritional effects

Improves state of health and well-being and/or reduces risk of disease.

Consumed as part of a normal food pattern.

NOT a pill, capsule or any form of dietary supplement.

.......................

 Chinese ‘Medicine’ Word: To translate literally, this two-part symbol means "plant which brings enjoyment".

Yet, the words plant and enjoyment are hardly the first words that pop into your mind when you hear the word medicine.

Instead, you are likely to think of the words drugs and illness.

How far we have strayed from this original Oriental concept and how far we have strayed from the wise and famous words of Hippocrates who said, "Let food be thy medicine."

We’d all agree that using a proper diet loaded with adaptogenic functional foods and whole foods to maintain good health would be much more enjoyable than spending billions of dollars on prescription and over-the-counter drugs.

What you need to do is "adapt" your way of thinking and recognize Nature’s alternatives you have at your disposal in your search for health and longevity.

.......................

Adaptogens:

Nature has provided us with certain functional foods, which stimulate the adaptive mechanisms of your body.

Such functional foods are called adaptogens.

These whole food supplements contain a special complex chemistry of nutrients, which your body easily identifies and absorbs.

Adaptogens provide an integrated structure of nutrients, which aid in regaining and maintaining a balanced body system.

You just can't get this kind of balanced nutritional support from mere vitamin and mineral supplements even if they are chelated and standardized.

Your body digests, absorbs and utilizes the nutrients from vitamin and mineral supplements far less than from functional food whole food adaptogens.

It is my opinion that you would be wasting your money on vitamin and mineral supplements, because more than a half of what you would be taking would simply be flushed right out of your body.

Worse, some of these vitamin and mineral supplement's isolated nutrients could accumulate in your body burdening your liver and kidneys.

Your body simply has a hard time recognizing isolated nutrients in vitamin / mineral supplements. Your body does, however, recognize and utilize, to the fullest, the complex nutritional values from functional foods and whole food adaptogens. Unlike vitamin / mineral supplements, adaptogens give you the advantage of all the protoplasmic elements that aid in the growth and development of your cells. In fact, no vitamin or mineral supplement can ever replace the value of whole food adaptogens.

The Chinese have a saying that "The whole is only as strong as the sum of its parts." Therefore, it is counterproductive to treat only the illness or its symptoms; you should treat the body as a whole. This is what adaptogens do.

An important point to note about adaptogens is that the actions of the individual nutrients they contain are different if they are not combined in nature's own harmonious functional food relationships. If just one of the nutrients in an adaptogen is isolated and used for its suspected known effects in your body, it will not have the same overall tonic effect as it will in its natural complete whole food form.

This is known as synergism - the total natural combination of nutrients in a whole functional food has a different and more enhanced effect than an individual nutrient's effect would have.

It has been one of the great pitfalls of the attempts by the pharmaceutical and health food industries to try to duplicate the effects of naturally occurring compounds found in functional whole foods. In many cases, the "suspected active ingredient(s)" of a plant have been isolated or synthetically reproduced and prepared as a vitamin / mineral or a "standardized" supplement, or prepared synthetically for use in drug therapy. The net result has been that the isolated substance may produce a limited desired effect, but in a way which, instead of being gently supported and enhanced by the other substances in the total plant composition, has produced undesired results as well. Side-effects are a fact of life with all pharmaceutical drugs, some vitamin / mineral supplements and some isolated standardized supplements sold in the health food market-place, whereas functional adaptogens' side-effects are virtually unheard of.


.......................

TOP PICKS



MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS

Mushrooms used in medicine or medical research.



Reishi (Ganoderma Lucidum)

· Medicinal mushroom with longest recorded use – more than 4,000 years

· Most researched medicinal mushroom

· Nature’s ultimate anti-stress antidote.

· Helps balance a stressed hormone system and improve sleep quality.

· Helps body fight against stress caused by our demanding modern society.



Chaga (Inonotus obliquus)

· King of Mushrooms

· Vital part of fortifying your immune system

· contains one of the nature’s highest amount of SOD (superoxide dismutase), the most potent antioxidant in the human body.

· Antioxidants prevent oxidations from happening in the body and thus protects the DNA and keeps the body young.

· Studies have shown that chaga use is an effective way to fight against unwanted bacteria, viruses, and inflammation.

· Very strong anti-tumor properties.

BILBERRIES a.k.a Wild Blueberries

· Also called the “Vision fruit” by Japanese

· Numerous studies conducted in Europe have documented that bilberry extracts can improve night time visual acuity, reduce eyestrain, and promote quicker adjustment to darkness. These beneficial effects on eye health appear to be linked to the high concentration of anthocyanin present in bilberries. Other studies suggest that blueberries may also prevent — and even reverse — macular degeneration, the primary cause of vision loss and blindness in the elderly. Hard to come by. Not cultivated blueberries.

· Antioxidant properties of bilberries were shown to be even stronger than those of cranberries, raspberries, strawberries, plums, or cultivated blueberries.

· Antioxidants contribute to the health of the collagen matrix by neutralizing enzymes that destroy connective tissue, and by scavenging free radicals. As a consequence, bilberries are great for people who want to prevent wrinkles and pre-mature aging of the skin.



CACAO

Cacao is medicinal food - it has been used since Ancient Mayan times to treat diseases. In contemporary science, raw cacao has been receiving increasing usage as a medicinal food by medical professionals and nutritionists.

(1) Cacao is rich in antioxidants - 3x more than green tea!

(2) Cacao is rich in minerals and nutrients:

Protein = an essential macronutrient

Magnesium = good for heart

Copper = central to building strong tissue, maintaining blood volume, and producing energy in your cells

Manganese = aids bone production and regulates blood sugar levels

Zinc = important for a healthy immune system, properly synthesizing DNA, promoting healthy growth during childhood, and healing wounds

Sulphur = essential for metabolic processes in our bodies

Complex B vitamins, like niacin

Complex C vitamins

(3) Cacao contains psychoactive neurochemical substances:

Tryptophan – a serotonin precursor = raises serotonin levels thus producing a calming effect on people

Anandamide (a.k.a the “bliss chemical”) = a natural cannabinoid our brain produces naturally when we feel happy

PEA (phenyl-ethylamine) (a.k.a the love molecule) = a natural brain secretion when we are in love.

In other words, consuming cacao/chocolate helps reduce stress and anxiety, and increases feelings of happiness. --> Ladies, now you know why you crave chocolates during PMS!



BAOBAB

· Contains 3x as much vitamin C as an orange,

· 2x as much calcium as milk

· Tastes like a cross between a pineapple and melon.

· Grown in 32 African countries and in some parts of Australia, the baobab fruit is high in calcium, potassium, thiamin and vitamin B6 - all nutrients important for general health.

· The flesh of the fruit is also high in protein and carbohydrates and in many poorer countries it is considered to be a valuable food source, whilst oil extracted the fruit is noted for its moisturising and healing properties. It is also traditionally used to treat many ailments ranging from diarrhoea to fever.

· It dries naturally on the branch before harvesting, the seeds are then removed and ground into a powder.

Prized in Africa for centuries for its health-boosting properties, the fruit from the ancient baobab tree is an extremely rich source of polyphenals, known to be beneficial in reducing the glycaemic response - the rate at which sugar is released into the bloodstream.

Scientists from the Oxford Brookes University have established that this benefit can be transferred into foodstuffs, raising the possibility of creating a range of "functional foods" produced specifically to reduce the effects of Type two diabetes.

Using healthy human volunteers, the research team measured the rate of starch and sugar breakdown in their blood supply after they had eaten the baobab extract contained in either white bread or dissolved in water.

They found that baobab fruit extract added to white bread significantly reduced the rate at which sugar was released into the blood supply post digestion and likewise when added to water. There was no effect on satiety.

The research suggests that there is potential for baobab to be added to the food and drinks of Type two diabetes patients to help them to control their symptoms but note that further human studies on glycaemic response would be essential for determining the optimal dose of baobab fruit extract in reducing post-prandial glycaemia.

Rich in iron, high in potassium and containing vital blood clotting ingredients it can even help support the circulatory system whilst the high-fibre content benefits the digestive system.



GREENS

Spirulina

· 65% bioavailable protein and essential fatty acid gamma linoleic acid (GLA)

· High concentration of bioavailable iron – great during preganancy and great for those with anemia; will not cause constipation

· High chlorophyll content - Draws heavy metals and toxins from the body – detoxifying

· Extremely alkalising

Chlorella

· Most widely used supplement in Japan. About 10 million Japanese

· is a "green food," a single-celled, micro-algae

· about two to ten microns in size. It's very small.

· It is this small size combined with its unique properties that make it such a useful detoxification tool. Its molecular structure, allows it to bond to metals, chemicals and some pesticides.

· When chlorella is taken into your body, its natural action will bind it to lingering heavy metals, chemicals and pesticides found in your digestive tract, which is your body's pathway to your bloodstream where these harmful toxins are delivered and deposited into your body's cells.

· Chlorella is uniquely designed to not bind to the minerals your body naturally needs to function optimally. It does not bind to beneficial minerals like calcium, magnesium, or zinc. It's almost as if chlorella knows which metals belong in your body and which chemicals need to be removed. Supplementing with chlorella is like unleashing a tiny army inside your body to fight the battle of removing toxins from your tissues and ushering them back outside your body where they belong.

Moringa

- Usually consumed as moringa leaf powder

- Taste is somewhat bitter

• Are rich in Vitamin A. Good for eyes.
• A rich source of calcium way higher than in milk, naturally combined with magnesium to ensure absorption by the body.
• Along with potassium, zinc is also found in large quantities in moringa which supports uptake of the high iron content.
• Moringa helps in balancing thecholesterol levels in the body.
• All Essential Amino acids are also found in moringa and 12 others.
• Moringa is also said to balance sugar levels, hence it is helpful in the fight against diabetes.
• An immunity-stimulant, it is prescribed for HIV afflicted patients.
• Moringa leaves can be consumed to stimulate metabolism.
• Supports digestion and is a natural laxative when taken on an empty stomach.
• Nutrition booster and a non-sugar based energizer. 
• Can also help in the weight loss process as food when cutting down.
• Increase the quantity of breast milk.
• It is also famous for its anti-bacterial properties.
• The paste of the moringa leaves is a goodskin tonic.
• It protects the liver and kidneys.
• Helps you feel better!

Moringa has been studied extensively throughout the globe and found to be supportive of coping with and healing from a variety of conditions, diseases and illnesses. These include Cancer, diabetes, HIV/Aids, hormone conditions, skin conditions, even weight-loss (Moringa really feeds the body so it acts as a natural appetite suppressant).

Moringa leaf powder is not intended to be used as a medicine, it is a food, and should be taken regularly. While parts of the Moringa plant do have medicinal uses, this is the province of traditional and Ayurvedic medicine. When the body is well fed, and kept clean, it copes better.

Wheatgrass

Two ounces of wheatgrass juice has the nutritional equivalent of five pounds of the best raw organic vegetables

Contains the full spectrum of B vitamins, as well as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium and potassium in a balanced ratio.

Wheatgrass is a complete source of protein, supplying all of the essential amino acids, and more. It has about 20% of total calories coming from protein.

This protein is in the form of poly peptides, simpler and shorter chains of amino acids that the body uses more efficiently in the blood stream and tissues.

Powerful detoxifier, especially of the liver and blood. 

It helps neutralize toxins and environmental pollutants in the body. This is because wheatgrass contains beneficial enzymes that help protect us from carcinogens, including Superoxide Disumates (SOD), that lessens the effects of radiation and digest toxins in the body. 

It cleanses the body from head to toe of any heavy metals, pollutants and other toxins that may be stored in the body's tissues and organs.

On Spirituality, Religion & Blessings

Today, a young lady walked into the Anything But Salads shop . She was drawn in because of the first half of the Akashic Records prayer I wrote on the glass doors of my shop. She came in, saw the Liberty Asia donation box in the shop, asked about the prayer and had a tiny look around.

Then she beckoned me over to her and told me she felt that the store was full of Love and Light. I couldn't help but smile at that. I believe the Angels do watch over the shop and all of Team ABS and with the many mantras I play on loop in the shop, I was very happy to know that others could feel the love and light radiating from within.

The next thing she asked was extremely special. She asked if she could bless me. She said she felt called to bless me & that she had stood there for quite a while deliberating whether to do so or not. I'm glad she did! And of course, I said yes please. What a wonderful gesture! How many would think about blessing a complete stranger? She was such a lovely person. This was my first time receiving a blessing from a complete stranger with no ties to me. It was simply beautiful.

In return, I blessed her for blessing me, and then I invited her to join me in blessing everyone around us, everyone whom she may pass and cross and whom she may touch, influence or feel - conscious or unconscious. I bless that everyone in ABS, and everyone around the area be blessed too. Why not? I feel that in our day & age, we just do not take time to bless one another with love and light. It's a practice I look forward to doing on a daily basis.

She asked me if I was Christian like she was. I said no. I believe God is like food - different cuisines to complement the differences between people. But let's take it one step further - God doesn't discriminate between race, gender, age, stereotypes and more. So why should we discriminate God between religions? He doesn't discriminate - Humans do. After all, religion is a man-made construct whereas spirituality dwells within us all. In spirituality, there are no rules, no dogma, no theories, no restrictions, no fear, no caution, no threats, no darkness. The pure essence of spirituality is Light and Love and that flame exists in all of us. We only need to breathe love into it to ignite it.

Today, I not only received a beautiful blessing from a lady I didn't know, but she gave me the opportunity to spread love and share love; to spread Light and share Light. She reminded me to tune in and pay attention - for the Angels and Spirit Guides and even Spirit himself, are ever present even though the goings have been tough on me of late.

It is a wonderful gift she bestowed upon me - the gift of receiving a blessing and the bigger gift of giving blessings to everyone in the world. It is a precious gift that Spirit has bestowed upon me in these trying times. I love God/Spirit - I truly do.

Just imagine, if everyone started paying more attention to love, light, gratitude, forgiveness, compassion and kindness, the world would be a happier place and the Light would shine forever bright even in the deepest of darkness and we would all be so much more in love with self, life and Light.

Today, I hope you'll bless someone you know or don't know. Don't forget the plants, animals, elementals, stars, moon, earths, and more. They too, are Alive.

Om shanti ~ May you all be blessed always.

Live from Dig Eat All

Hello world!

It's been a while hasn't it? Apart from shuttling to and fro from our newly opened Anything But Salads store to home, to Natural & Organic Products Asia (NOPA) Expo 2014 and then to the airport for a 24 hour flight to San Sebastian, Spain.... I haven't had much time to breathe!

So here we go. Deep breathe.

Insert picture of our NOPA booth. (Why not?) I will shamelessly (& proudly) announce it was designed by me and built entirely by Team ABS!

Alright. Now let's catch up shall we?

Where am I now? I'm at Dig Eat All (DEA) - the first food x tech accelerator program that's happening in Basque Culinary Center. ABS was one of 11 companies selected internationally to compete in this program. We're extremely blessed and happy and thrilled about this and we're TOTALLY loving this beautiful city and its glorious food.

Oh, in case you didn't know, Basque is kinda the food mecca of Europe. Yup.

Today is day 3 of DEA. There's finally some time to breathe and so some time to catch up with all of you.

Day 1 was all about matriculation. We got to know more about the Basque Culinary Center, DEA and our fellow foodpreneurs. We got to listen to speeches by each team, introducing their business, their vision and their goals. It was all very exciting and very very inspirational. I can't tell you how blessed I feel just to be given the opportunity to be here. It's definitely an experience I'll never forget.

Day 2 was all about getting our feet wet. Getting some work done. And then, the highlight was listening to a very exciting, enthusiastic and inspiring talk from the founder of Peer Transfer, Iker Marcaide. I've had some burning questions that needed answering, and some advice that was sorely needed. Iker was a treasure trove of wisdom and practical intelligence.

Thank you.

Today is Day 3. And the day is just starting! We're going to meet the founder of Sher.pa - Xabier Uribe-Etxebarria - and listen to him share his nuggets of wisdom and experiences. I can't wait.

Since a picture says a thousand words (& probably more).... Here're some highlights from our DEA adventures thus far:

DEA organisers giving us a briefing.

Juan Manuel, Founder of DEA, giving a briefing on the mission behind DEA.

Me, giving a introduction about Anything But Salads.

Friends from Ambronite - Simo and Mikko.

Taking a tour of the awesome Basque Culinary Center.

Snap shot of me and my co-founder, Noel!

Admiring architecture. Apparently, the Basque Culinary Center was humorously meant to look like a stack of dirty dishes! A+ for originality.

This is what we're surrounded by daily.

Noel at pinxchos. YUM.

Michele at our ABS table. Welcome to our foodpreneur work space.

Noel hard @ work even in our studio apartment.

What we've cooked for dinner. Basque has amazing produce!

We'll catch up soon! Promise!

Hasta luega! Ciao!

{Recipe} Raw Sprouted Herb Cookies

If there's one thing I love to have during tea time, it's cookies.

But if there is something I wish the rawtarian's space had more of is savoury cookies. I mean, when you peruse the shelves for raw treats and snacks, unless they are chips or crackers, they're SWEET.

I don't know about you, but I tire pretty easily of sugar. Commercial raw treats tend to be cloyingly sweet... Coconut sugar or low GI sugar or whatever-have-yous, it still doesn't change the fact that it's sweet. And sweet is sugar; and sugar is trouble. For why, click HERE.

In the name of sugar-free and savoury, I'd like to invite you to enjoy my 5-minute Raw Sprouted Herb Cookies. It's savoury, naturally gluten-free and delicious.

RAW SPROUTED HERB COOKIES

Ingredients:

1 cup            Sprouted buckwheat flour

1/2 cup         Raw cashew butter

1/4 cup         Chia jelly (a.k.a chia seeds soaked overnight in water)

1 1/2 tbsp     Anything But Salads' Stoneground Living Almond Butter

1/4 tsp          Nutritional Yeast

1 1/2 tsp       Dried herbs of choice (I used rosemary, thyme and basil)

1 tsp             Garlic powder

1 tsp             Onion powder

1/4 tsp          Paprika

1/2 tsp          Celtic sea salt

Water, to adjust

Activated Cashew Nut Halves, to decorate (optional)

Method:

• Combine all ingredients in food processor. Blend.
• Add water to adjust consistency. You should aim to get a smooth paste - like a very wet dough.
• Taste dough. Adjust seasoning as you like.
• Spoon dough out onto a large sheet of cling film. Roll into a long tube.
• Freeze for at least 2 hours. 4 hours is ideal.
• Unwrap cookie dough from cling film. Slice into 1/4 inch thickness.
• Place on dehydrator teflex sheets. Top each cookie with a cashew nut half.
• Dehydrate at 46 deg Celsius for about 5-6 hours. Remove teflex sheet. Return to dehydrator to dry completely (about another 6-8 hours, depending on humidity and type of dehydrator used - I use an Excalibur)
• Enjoy!

Notes: Cookies will keep for up to 3 months if stored in an air tight container in a cool, dry place.

Tip: For a nut-free version, swap the cashew nut butter for more chia jelly (adjust water content accordingly) and flaxmeal. 

Have fun and tell me how it goes!

The Fight for Freedom: Liberty Asia

There is nothing that gives me and my team greater pleasure and joy than giving back to society.

Yesterday, ABS sold our products at The Pawn Rooftop Market. 20% of our sales went to Liberty Asia - an NGO that supports and fights for freedom from slavery.

Our contribution to Liberty Asia.

 Liberty Asia devises ways and solutions to combat issues like sex and child trafficking, amongst other slavery-related matters. Click HERE to learn more about them and their cause.

The day was perfect - sunny and bright. The setting was brill - a rooftop with plants and wooden planks and the musky but welcomed smell of raclette wafting throughout. The mission was simple:

Sell to raise monies and awareness for the slavery situation in Asia.

Having lived in Phuket, Thailand, for a little while and seeing firsthand the prevalence and soiety-wide acceptance of the sex trade, I have to say this charity event was something I was extremely passionate about. As much as I understand the seeming 'necessity' of sex trafficking within Thailand - higher wages than university graduates to provide for family - I never understood how we, as a whole, could continue accepting this as a mere social norm, or in the case of Pattaya and Patong, using it as a tourist 'attraction'. I find it appalling that we would allow this to happen simply because it's "the norm" or that "nothing can be done about it".

Maybe that's why I'm an entrepreneur. I've been having some talks with friends about how I manage being an entrepreneur - how do I deal/handle the rollercoaster ride of the entrepreneurial career path? My reply is simple:

Hope & Optimism.

Without these 2 values, I would not be fit to be an entrepreneur. As mentioned previously, the life of an entrepreneur is far from glamorous. It is exhilarating to fulfill one's hopes, dreams and desires and to see them come into fruition as a result of one's own blood, sweat and tears. Yet it is also filled with uncertainty, despair and worry some times. The good and the less-than-ideal in equal measure, I would say.

Perhaps it is my hope and optimism in humanity that pushed me to sign up for this charity event and to support such a cause. I believe in change and I believe in the power of the one. One might not be able to topple an entire societal framework; but One had already caused a change by taking the first step towards inducing change.

So here we are. The ABS Team and myself, selling our hearts out at the market.

Noel, Delon, myself and Richard (our new member!)

Our table display & Four Sigma Foods Instants.

Old CACAO bars.

Noel hustling

Delon hustling

The team representing Liberty Asia.

Today's post is short & simple. It's all about Liberty Asia and hope. It's all about freedom and equality for humanity. It's about change and social advancement.

Today, do your part to make the world a better place. 

Begin by believing.

My Story - The reason behind ABS

I was recently featured on Hong Kong's South China Morning Post paper.

For the online version, click here.

It was a great privilege and a really pleasant welcome-home surprise after a grueling trip in China. For those who have read the article, you would've read about my inspiration for Anything But Salads (ABS) - How it came about; Why it exists and why I am so passionate and driven about ABS and all that it stands for.

And what does ABS stand for, you ask?

In essence, ABS is all about providing high quality health and super foods to you. We're all about accessible and affordable health. We're all about expanding your choices. We're firm believers in "You Are What You Eat"; as well as the age old adage, "Health is Wealth".

Our mission: To democratize health foods. (click here for the full excerpt).

Our values: Honesty. Integrity. Love. Care. Consideration. Equality. Justice.


I have always been into health and wellness. Truth be told, I was never a really skinny individual. I matured early - at age 11, I had the body of a woman. Since I come from an Indoneisan-Portugese-Chinese heritage, I had curves a normal Asian/Chinese teen would not.

In my family's terms (who are strictly Asian in thinking and traditions), I was "fat".

Perhaps many of you can identify with this Asian dilemma - if you're not skin & bones, you're "fat" and "need to lose weight".

How many of you have heard those god awful labels? How many of you have experienced the unfair judging of your physical self? How many of you feel insecure as a result?

I'll be the first to share, that I endured all of that. At some point in my life, I have been called "fat", "ugly", "fat bitch", "thunder thighs", "cholestrol bomb" etc etc. You name it, I've probably heard it.

In order to prevent such verbal abuse being flung my way, I became extremely conscious about my health and wellness. I watched how much I ate. I exercised. I lifted weights. I drank lots of water. I did everything everyone told me would work. I was disciplined. But where did that get me?

No where. If anything, it resulted in my having a tumour in my intestine at age 24.

Clearly, there was much more to health than just food quantity and exercise.

The year leading up to the discovery of the tumor was painful - in all senses. I sought conventional medicine for help. That was a HUGE mistake. Given standard medical protocol, which involves a symptomatic treatment elimination method, I was given a cocktail of medicines in various doses, throughout the one year. When things didn't get better, I was told by the doctors that I was "crazy" and that I was imagining symptoms and therefore, manifesting them in my physical self.

During that year, I couldn't eat without pain. I could not wear my clothes as I had a perpetual bloat in my tummy - I looked 3 months pregnant! Eventually, a scope revealed a tumor the size of a 2 inch sausage. It was positioned at the opening between my small and large intestine. It was removed and the doctor treating me had the gall to say "I suspected that from the get go". A test for cancerous cells revealed it was benign. I thanked God.

The years leading from that surgery involved an absolute new appreciation for foods. I could no longer stomach conventional, processed foods. I had to "eat clean". But I didn't know what "eat clean" meant. I was in UK at the time, and a visit from my childhood friend resulted in a trip to Saf, London's first raw food cafe at the time, and a gloriously painless meal. I was stoked. I finally found a cuisine I could eat.

Thus began my self-study into the world of nutrition, foods, food preparation methods, alternative medicine, detox, health and wellness. I juggled my final 2 years of law school with courses at Saf - it meant shuttling to and fro between Bristol and London on the weekends to get my culinary skills whilst memorizing or writing legal papers on the midnight train back.

At the time, I was in a 6-year relationship with my was-fiance. He was based in HK. I was to come back to HK post-graduation. I did. When I got back, I struggled with finding foods that I could digest. I struggled with eating healthy. There weren't many options except salads drenched in commercial dressings with canned foods.

Now you know why my business is called "Anything But Salads". I was so sick of  unhealthy salads masquerading as health foods. There was much education needed. I knew all people needed was the OPTION to eat better. But firstly, they needed options.

I knew it was time to make a difference.

I gave up my career in law and threw myself wholly into entrepreneurship. Since then, there was no looking back.

ABS began as a snacks business. It was my primary vision. I knew I wanted portable health. I knew that lifestyle changes had to be simple and fitted easily into any lifestyle. Unfortunately, the market wasn't ready for healthy snacks. Instead, I received many requests for catering. So ABS took a detour and we went into catering.

I went in blind. I didn't know what catering or meal deliveries entailed. All I knew was that people wanted healthier foods and I was determined to give it to them.  My life during the year of ABS catering was ridiculous. On hindsight, I don't know how I did it. I hardly slept (maybe 1-2 hours if I'm lucky); I was in the kitchen all day long. I ran deliveries myself. I came up with recipes myself. I managed inventory, PR, marketing and didn't have a life. I worked hard. The vision was greater than myself. I just wanted to do good.

As much as we were successful - I remember at one point, being booked out in full months solidly by customers who requested specifically tailored meals to suit and meet their personal health and wellness goals. I remember acting both as chef and nutritionist at some point. In other cases, I was part-therapist, part-friend, part-chef. My was-fiance warned me about burn out. I didn't care. I just wanted to do good.

As expected, I burnt out. The business as it stood, was unsustainable. I couldn't continue working myself to the bone. Something had to change. So we asked our customers what they would like to see. They said healthy snacks was something they wished was in the market - something they could grab and go in supermarkets anytime they wanted. They wanted foods they could trust in commercial stores. They wanted my original vision.

So my business partner and I closed ABS for 3 months. The business went into restructuring. In August 2013, ABS reopened as a snacks manufacturing company. We came back with a stronger vision and a bigger mission.

This time, I didn't just want to revolutionise the way some people ate. I wanted to revolutionise the way the world ate.

Today, ABS is all about democratizing health foods. We're all about social change and social advancement through foods. We believe that everything begins at its roots. For us, that means food. For you, that means options.

And so, dear readers, that is the real story behind Anything But Salads. It is the tale of a girl struggling to live in a world of commercially processed non-foods. It is a tale of a girl struggling to eat right. It is a tale of a girl wanting to do good by others and to make a difference in the world.

In spite of that, we must never forget that this same girl, would not be able to execute her vision but for the many people who has helped her along the way. Special Thanks to:

Spirit - for giving me life, protecting me, watching over me and giving me strength. For being the wind behind my sails; the sun in my darkest hours.

Noel Tuan - my business partner, occassional dishwasher, one-man cheerleading team, best friend for life and the strongest supporter of me, my goals and my abilities. Thank you for loving me.

Delon Tuan - my productions manager and professional chef, who has helped me make my snack business a dream come true

Mikko Revonniemi - for being my pillar and strength, for offering business advice and acting as a brainstorming soundboard; for making me laugh; for showing me the natural world in HK; for flowers and gifts and steaks and MCT oils and shrooms. For always loving and believing in me

Leonard Cheung - my whiskey buddy, culinary boy genius and clock tower/abandoned bus climbing companion; also the person who brainstormed the name "Anything But Salads" with me. Culinary inspiration.

Nathan Moy - a.k.a The Provoker; my soul sister

Sandra Comer - for listening & believing in me

My Clients - Eva, Maria, Ivy, Queenie, Audrey, Michele - they have stuck with me through thick and thin and still believe in me today. I offer you my deepest gratitude.

Ernesto Ortiz - Founder of Journey To The Heart; spiritual master; enlightened one. Thank you for being my guiding light

My spiritual family - for sharing yourselves with me and allowing me to share myself with you

Benjamin Lee - serial entrepreneur, business advisor and  trusted friend of  22 years and counting

Laura Torrabadella - my soul sister & founder of Ekotrade International. Thank you for you.

Ifat Kafry - Owner and Founder of Choice Cooperative and strong supporter of ABS kombucha and snacks

The team at Something Fresh - for supporting our products and sticking with us in the initial start-up phase

Punam Chopra - Owner and founder of Spicebox Organics - thank you for believing in us and for your constant support and loveliness. I am blessed to know you.

Art & Shelley - for bringing me so much joy; and for giving me a chance to tell you all about ABS and my vision

John R - for giving me inspiration

Damon Seow - for feeding me

Chan Ti Eu - a.k.a DJ Funky T; for enriching my life with songs and crazy tunes

Joyce Marot - for sharing her clients with me and assisting in PR for my catering business; for teaching me life lessons

Gaia - my darling dog. For keeping me company through the long and boring days of me working solidly at home; and for cheering me up with licks whenever I am down

My biological family - for teaching me what kind of values I do not wish to have and for teaching me tenacity, courage, truth and honesty. For showing me how much more I can be and how much more I deserve. For showing me the kind of person I do not wish to be.

and to any of YOU, whom I've had the grace and pleasure to meet and know. Thank you for making me what I am today. Through assisting me with my growth and development, you too, have contributed to the burgeoning success that ABS is.

Together, we can make a difference.

Together, we can change the world.

All we need is hope and belief. 

Because anything, and I mean anything, is possible as long as you believe in yourself and God.

Thank YOU for making ABS possible.

If you want to know more about who I am and what I've done, my Linkedin profile can be accessed by clicking here.