CARAS KITCHEN : Cara Carin

MEET CARA
@CarasKitchen
www.CarasKitchen.Net

Whats your name?
Cara Carin

 

Any nick name or one you wish you had?
Sometimes I get called Carabear or Cupcake

 

Where do you live?
Sunny So Cal. Specifically the west side of LA. 

 

But where are you really from?
Born in Chicago, and raised in Phoenix.

 

Who or What inspired you to begin your healthy lifestyle/ or have you always been healthy?
I’ve always been interested in health and wellness but it stemmed from a very unhealthy place within. After a 10 year battle with an eating disorder, countless yo-yo diets and an obsession with my weight, I was hungry for a healthy relationship with food and myself. Through support groups, counseling, and the reading of The China Study, I found my balance and inner peace through a plant based diet and loads of self love. 

 

What are your favorite places to eat?
My own kitchen, I cook 90% of the food I eat.  :) But I love Café Gratitude, Pho Show, Chipotle, The Springs, Sage Bistro, and Gracias Madres. 

 

Drink of choice?
Depends on the time of day! Coffee and green juice in the morning, sparkling water throughout the day and wine at night  

 

On a perfect day….
I like to be active outside, at a flea market or listening to music with my friends. However, I spend most of my Saturdays preparing food and photographing recipes for my blog because it brings me so much joy.

 

Breakfast: avocado toast, duh. 

 

Lunch:  A big ol’ salad

 

Dinner: mmm, anything Thai or Mexican

 

Snack/Treat: avocado toast, dark chocolate

 

Shy or outgoing? Outgoing

 

Hobbies /Other interests? I love music and going to see DJ’s play, or attending festivals like Coachella. I also love to snowboard, scuba dive, ride bikes, travel, and go thrift store shopping. 

 

Disneyland or Universal Studios?
DISNEYLAND, all day. 

 

Favorite Movie?
That’s hard for me to answer! Some movies that I love are The Apartment, Legally Blonde, Breakfast of Tiffany’s, The Little Mermaid, The Avengers, Mean Girls, Memento, all the Harry Potters. Gosh how can you pick just one!?   

 

Favorite Color?
All colors except purple or yellow. Nothing against them, but subconsciously I do not reach for anything of those colors. I had a looksee in my closet…yup nothing yellow or purple. I love blues and greens and all neutrals.

 

What is your favorite season?
Summer as it fades to fall. 

 

Favorite vegetable besides Kale (Haha)?
Cauliflower! Most versatile thing e.v.e.r!

 

Favorite place to visit?
A place I’ve never been

 

What has been your best vacation to date?
Thailand. I mean the food! The messages! The colors!

 

Favorite Singer or Band?
I love Gorgon City, Disclosure, Calibre, Glass Animals, Taking Back Sunday, Rise Against, The Used. 

 

Favorite Song (or songs- cause this is a ridiculous question) ?
Oh gosh…. Romanticise by Chela! It’s so fun and upbeat, puts me in a great mood! I love to listen to it when I get ready or need a little pick me up! 

 
I also LOVE Hang With Me by Robyn. 

 

Favorite recipe you make? (Please attach the link) 
I love my Mediterranean Spiced and Grilled Vegetable Rice Bowl http://caraskitchen.net/2015/03/mediterranean-spiced-grilled-vegetable-rice-bowls-with-avocado-vegan-gluten-free/

 
Or my Mango BBQ Jackfruit Tacos http://caraskitchen.net/2015/05/mango-bbq-jackfruit-tacos-with-cabbage-slaw-cashew-sour-cream-and-avocado-cinco-de-mayo/

 


Favorite Food? 
AVOCADOS!

 
Sweet or Savory?
Savory

 

What do you like to do for exercise?
Yoga, ride bikes, lift weights, dance. 

 

Any particular skin care regimen?
I love my Clairsonic brush. I use it every other night and my skin has never looked better. I use a mild cleanser in the morning and at night by Jeffery James as well as his under eye cream. I love his products; they are vegan and can be found at Whole Foods. Then I use a CBD infused coconut oil shea butter blend that my brothers Fiancé makes on the tops of my hands and if I need extra moisture on my face or neck. The stuff has reduced the appearance of my acne scars and sun spots. It’s amazing! And I believe we are only going to continue to hear about the benefits of CBD. It is very hard to find a quality source in the USA, except maybe in Colorado, so we import ours from Europe.   

 

Night Owl or Early Bird? 
Naturally, I am an early bird, always have been. 

 

Any advice you’d like to give someone who thinks it’s hard or expensive to eat healthy?
Its important to remind yourself that you can go at your own pace, changing one meal a week, then one meal a day to something that is 100% real food and preferably plant based. Its ok to start slow, and make little changes here and there until it becomes habit. Notice how you feel after you eat certain foods and listen to your body. 

 
Also, I think an important question to ask is not why is eating healthy so expensive but why is eating unhealthy so cheap? 

 

Favorite quote?
“The only rule is there are no rules.”

 

I remind myself of this every day. I don’t mean in the sense of speed limits, laws, taxes or bills. Obviously we have those things. What I mean is that there are no rules for how you have to live your life. There are no road maps, no guarantees, or one right path to live when it comes to your life. You can create whatever you want for yourself and choose how you want to live. There are no rules. That’s the only rule. Do you!

 

Who or what motivates you?
My personal trainer! Just kidding. Sort of. I turn within for motivation, or turn to meditation to find my focus. However, I am inspired by so many things! Creative types, bloggers, thought leaders, insanely delicious photographs of food. And People with passion and purpose. Even if I have zero interest in something, but some else has a passion for it, I am inspired by that. Their love and committment to something moves me.