Hands up anyone still trying to lose that Christmas weight?  I see a few of you, and absolutely me, raising your hands.  (I keep asking myself, how did I get here???)  Now, as a way to try and lose that Christmas weight, hands up who is trying to eat more vegetables this year?  As part of their new year’s resolutions?  I see a few more of you, and totally me, too!  I don’t know about you but I’m having a terribly hard time making that 3 serves a day.  And I’m  VEGETARIAN!!!!  Crazy?  You bet!  But don’t let that vegetarian tag fool you, us vegetarians, we love bread, pasta and cheese, separately or altogether, just as much as you carnivores!  So I’ve been trudging through a bowl of steamed veggies a night trying to hit that mark but man-oh-man it gets boring.  I read the other day that raw vegetables are even better for you with more insoluble fibre and intact nutrients so maybe my steamed boring vegetables aren’t so good for me after all.  Which brings me to salad!  Glorious, colourful, made-by-someone-else, salad!  I’m sure you have heard about this most amazing little store in Red Hill, Botanica Real Food, that specialises in gluten free, vegetarian, sometimes vegan,oh-so-healthy-but ridiculously-tasty salads, breads and cakes (Yes – CAKE – you can’t just live on salad alone, am I right people?).  If you haven’t been to Botanica Real Food you need to get there FAST.  We were lucky enough to be hooked up by our favourite publicist The Press Garage to take some beautiful photographs of these beautiful salads (and CAKE, cake people).  Their broccoli salad is one of the most amazing things I have ever tasted.  I didn’t know it was possible to wake up with cravings for raw broccoli but it’s true.  Botanica Real Food is all takeaway, in the cutest little boxes, and perfect for a healthy lunch or quick pick up for dinner.  Their menu is ever changing and seasonal so you won’t be starved for choice – it makes getting your three serves an absolutely mind-blowing, foodie-style, pleasure.  So that is one of the new year’s resolutions taken care of, now for those pesky three kilos, maybe I just need to walk to Botanica every day, that outta do it!