Bike Riding, Vegan Fare & Healthiness at The Stanford Inn!
Friday, December 28th, 2012
2 commentsIf you’re looking for a healthy getaway–environmentally, physically, and nutritionally– meet The Stanford Inn. Recently, I had the fabulous opportunity to visit The Stanford Inn, and it was amazing. The Inn is located in Mendocino, California, and it’s an eco-friendly resort with an all-vegan restaurant, Ravens’. Not too many of those around! And, surely not too many that do it well. No, you’re right, I’m not vegan … and I still adored the Inn and Ravens’ Restaurant! The property sparkled health, the rooms felt like home, the food was scrumptious, the air was crisp and bright, the staff and owners were delightful, and there was tons to do! 
In our time there (my amazing boyfriend, Jacob, came along), we rode bikes (and I stayed on it! … haven’t been on one in years without falling off) and ate amazing food. I also got the chance to interview Staff Nutritionist and Programs Director at the Mendocino Center for Living Well, Sid Garza-Hillman. See below for pictures, interviews and healthy goodness!
Nature Beauty Shots & a Cameo
The beautiful Stanford Inn, a fabulous Mendocino photo, and me and the BF!
All-Vegan Dishes from Ravens’s Restaurant
Sea Palm and Root Vegetable Strudel–if you’re looking for out of this world goodness (vegan or not), you need to try this. Amazing.
Garden Scramble–with fresh veggies from the Stanford Inn’s garden, tempeh, and roasted sweet potatoes! YUM.
The Stanford Inn Florentine- with seasoned tofu, house English muffin, spinach, Ravens’ hollandaise sauce and a side of roasted potatoes!
Cajun-theme entree from the Ethnic Inspirations Menu! Cajun spiced gumbo, red beans and rice, steamed chiffonade greens, and corn bread! Delish! Each Wednesday night, Ravens’ offers cuisine from their Ethnic Inspiration’s themed menu, and it’s tongue-tantalizingly good! Everything from East African to Japanese to Thai! January is Cuban month! EXCITED.
Ravioli! House made pasta filled with butternut squash, leeks & shallots with braised greens, roasted criminis, and a Dijon cream sauce.
Deliciousness! Banana Foster Split with house-made strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate ice cream atop an almond-date tartlette crust filled with caramelized bananas! Sinfully good;)
An Interview with Sid Garza-Hillman: Top 5 Things Everyone Can Do to be Healthier
While at the Inn, I fortunately, was able to interview Nutritionist, Programs Director at the Mendocino Center for Living Well, and philosopher, Sid Garza-Hillman. Sid is charming, smart, a total vegan foodie, and promoter of health like no other. He practices what he preaches, and you can tell because he’s vibrant, fit, and instantly gets a rush when chatting about health and wellness. Plain and simple, he’s awesome.
And, he’s even more awesome because he just wrote a book, Approaching the Natural: A Health Manifesto. It’s wonderful. It’s not a “diet book,” it’s a lifestyle book, focusing on mental health, physical health, social health, and the health of nature. Anyone who’s looking to get truly well for life (vegan or not) and who enjoys wit and humor with a touch of philosophy will enjoy Sid’s book, and it may even change their life. That is, if what is “preached” is practiced
To get you on the right track, book or no book, check out Sid’s:
Top 5 Things Everyone Can Do to be Healthier
- Add in more whole-plant foods: Realize that it’s about adding, not about taking away. Once you start adding in more plant-based foods, you’ll feel better and the rest comes naturally.
- Move your body: Find ways to move each day. You don’t need to go to a gym, simply move in the context of your life. Walk to the corner store, take the stairs, get up from your desk and walk during breaks–whatever it is–find ways to move every day.
- Disconnect: Make time to remove yourself from emails, texts, calls and so forth. Even if just for an hour. The constant “buzz” may be adding more stress than you think.
- Bring creativity back: Whether it be making time to journal, draw, paint, read, or meditate–find that inner childhood sense of play. Getting in-touch with your creative side helps feed the mind and makes us happier. And the happier we are, the less stressed we are. The less stressed we are, the stronger our bodies are able to be.
- Start small: Choose one small healthy change and stick with it. You’ll see that the smallest change, such as cooking more, walking daily or journaling can have a powerful affect and you’ll likely end up doing more.
Have you been to Mendocino? What would your tip be to be healthier?! Would love to hear what you have to say! xo Corinne
i would lOVE to go here. Where else can you find an all vegan eco friendly resort in the states? amazing. researching now. can’t wait to see you (and this man) in March!
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