Nadia – August-September 2019

Tahitian chef EvyHirshonhastravelledtheworldinsearchofthegoodlife,and found that

thesecrettohealthliesinplant-basedliving

n theislandofTahiti,where
fishandmeatarestaple
foods,chefEvyHirshonhas
beenlivinganalternative
plant-basedlifestyleforalmost 30 years.
Theauthoroftwovegancookbooksruns
cookingclassesandfeedshungry
travellersfromherbeachsidehome.
BorninFrenchPolynesiatoan
AmericanfatherandPolynesianmother
(there’sa Kiwigrandfatherinthemix,
too),Evyspentherteenyearsin
NewYork.Shehassincetravelledthe
world,gatheringinspirationforher
recipes,alongwithcrockery,rugsand
artworksforherplant-andpersonality-
filledhouse.Theformerinterior
decoratortaughtherselftocookwhile
runninga bed-and-breakfastonthe
smallislandofMaupiti.
Whilebulk-buyinggrainsandspices
andeschewingsingle-usepackagingisa
growingtrend,Evyhasbeendoingthis
foryearsoutofnecessity.Heropen
pantryislinedwithjarsofspices,grains
andlegumes.Whenwevisited,thetable
waspiledwithcolourfuldishes– sweet-
potatopurée,belugalentilandcabbage
salad,breadfruitchips,poissoncru(with
eggplantinsteadoffish),bakedbananas,
anda sesame,eggplantandtomatosalad
(seepictureonpage125).
Evyusesasmanylocalfoodsas
possibleandmanyitemscomefromher
well-stockedgardenfullofcallaloo(a
leafygreenvegetable),umara(Tahitian
forkūmara),bananasandpapaya.Over
lunch,shesharedherthoughtson
veganismandhealthyliving.

Mindovermatter
Agehastodowithyourhead,notwith
yourbonesoryourskin.If youhavea
good diet and living style, if you exercise,

WORDS FROM

THE WISE

if youhavea spirituallife,thosearethe

recipesforageingwell.Ageingis

inevitablebutageingwellisa choice.

Practisekindness

Angerisbadforyourhealth.I learnt

thislaterinlife.I usedtobea very

angryperson;impatient,notaskindas

I couldhavebeen.Andthenslowlylife

teachesyou.Itgivesyousomehard

lessonsandsometimesyou’re fortunate

tomeettherightpeople.

Plantpower

If youreallyloveMotherEarth,then

makea statement,notjustwords.Oneof

thestatementswouldbethefoodyoueat.

I don’ttellpeople,‘Youshouldn’teat

meat,’butI thinkthatif youtrygoing

veganforonemonth,andif youseethat

it’sgoodforyou,thenyoucanadopt it.

Foodforthought

Veganfoodhastobeprettytolookat.It

hastobelikea painting:thecolours,the

differenttastes.Itcan’tbeassociated

withjustchewy,tastelessfood.Whenyou

lookatsomethingandit’sattractive,your

tastebudsstartsalivatingsothedigestive

processisalreadytakingplace.If you’re

goingtocookvegan,neversayit’s

expensiveandit’sdifficultbecauseit’s

not.Youjusthavetohavegood products.

Well andgood

I’mneversick,neverhavea cold,never

tired.I doa lotofcookingforyogaortai

chiretreatswhichwilllastuptofive

days,andI’mallaloneinthekitchen.

That’s 10 hoursstanding up.

Lentillife

Ifyousoaklentils,it takesthetoxinsout

and they also start sprouting. If you leave

themlongenoughyou’llseelittle

sproutscomingout– andthat’slife.

That’sthesubstancethat’sthemost

importantinfoodbecause that is what

givesyoustrength.

Changinglanes

I’ma Gemini.Geminisareinterestedin

everythingbuttheyalsomoveon

quickly.Peoplego,“Oh,you’reintothat,”

butI’malreadyboredofthat,I’monto

somethingelse.Sometimes it drives

peoplecrazy.

Emotionaleating

Foodisanaddictionandfoodisrelated

toaffection.Howmanytimeshavewe

eatenchocolatebecausethingshave

gonebadorbecausewe’reinlove?Food

isverymuchrelatedtorejection,love,

andalsowhatyourmumgave you.

Getpassionate

I reallygetannoyedatbigcompanies

thatgiveyoujunktoeat– theydon’tcare

if youareillornot.Buttheymakeit so

attractivethatpeoplebuyit.These

companiesjusttakeyoubythenoseand

leadyouandmakeyoubelievethatif

youstrayaside,you’re kind of suspicious

orrebellious.

Politicalsway

I loveJacindaArdern.She’sadmirable.

Sheputsherwordsintoaction.When

shesaidnomoreguns,shedidn’twait

twoyears.She’snotinto big lobbies, she’s

notbeenbought.

Morningperson

I meditatemostlyinthemorning and

I findthatI sleeplikea baby.•

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