WELCOME.
There are five places in the world where people lead the longest and healthiest lives. One of them is in Japan. In small neighborhoods across Okinawa, friends gather for a common purpose – to exchange gossip, experience life, and give and receive advice. They call these groups MOAI. Since reading about it, I’ve had the vision: founding a virtual MO • AI .
A community that makes a healthier life easy and straightforward. A community that supports one another and makes one proud to be part of it.
![](https://newyorkgirlstyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/20210124_Svenja_417-683x1024.jpg)
I was working for almost 10 years as a fashion designer for one of the biggest companies in Germany. I loved my job. Creativity at high speed with a lot of traveling. My absolute passion. Getting up early. Working long hours and days.
But the downside: I had trouble getting pregnant and when I was finally pregnant I sadly had two miscarriages.
When we moved to NYC in 2015 I was forced to slow it down.
I practiced Yoga every day.
It’s not a big surprise that I got pregnant after two months – of not even trying to be pregnant.
I discovered meditation as a way to help with my anxiety of another miscarriage.
![](https://newyorkgirlstyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/20210520_Moai.NY_SoHo_1017-683x1024.jpg)
For the first time I did some research on how to nourish my body that was growing this tiny human. What was the best way to eat?
I was craving more and did the yoga teacher training. I truly loved it!!! Learning more about the connection of breath and movement was so helpful for me. Being pregnant 8 months I decided to do the prenatal yoga teacher training as well.
Finally having a work permission I truly enjoyed teaching moms to be. Making them mentally and physically stronger for motherhood was such a joy while seeing the bellies growing.
As soon as I had my second baby I wanted to dive deeper.
I wanted to learn more about nutrition. I loved reading labels and was always on the hunt for the best snacks for kids. Organic. No added sugar. Short ingredient lists.
![](https://newyorkgirlstyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/20210225_Svenja_MOAI__020-683x1024.jpg)
So I enrolled at the Integrative Institute for Nutrition and became a Health Coach.
Here am I today. I want to inspire you and show you that it’s fun to live a healthy life.
SESAME NOODLES
![](https://newyorkgirlstyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/sesame-noodles-1.jpg)
Ingredients (serves 2):
1 package rice noodles (8oz)
1 medium carrot, grated
1/2 cup red cabbage grated
1/2 cup cilantro chopped roughly
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
For the sauce:
1/4 cup sesame oil
1 tablespoon rice vinnegar
2 tablespoons coconut aminos
1 inch ginger grated
optional:
1 tablespoon sambal olek
Directions:
1. Prepare all the vegetables.
2. In a blender, puree all the ingredients for the dressing.
3. Cook the rice noodles according to the directions on the package. Drain them well and transfer them to a large bowl.
4. Toss the warm noodles with the carrot, cabbage cilantro and sesame seeds.
5. Add the vinaigrette and serve immediately.
Directions:
PINEAPPLE STIR-FRIED QUINOA
![](https://newyorkgirlstyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/quinoa-2-683x1024.jpg)
2 cups precooked Quinoa
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 cup diced green onion
1/2 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup cashews
1 cup diced pineapple
For the dressing:
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1/4 cup coconut aminos
4 tablespoons coconut nectar
1 inch ginger grated
3-4 tablespoons almond butter
option:
1 tablespoon rice vinnegar (to taste)
Directions:
1. Whisk all of the dressing ingredients together in a small bowl and set aside.
2. Heat a large pan and add sesame oil. Once hot add green onions and add 1 teaspoon of the dressing. Cook for 2 minutes. Add the peas and cook for another 2 minutes.
3. Add the quinoa and the remaining dressing. Cook for a few minutes.
4. Add the cashews and pineapple and stir well. Cook for another 2 minutes.
5. To serve you can add some cilantro. Enjoy.