18 July 2013 - First Mini Fall

I had my first slip up yesterday. Well, it was kind of a slip up..

 

I had no breakfast, because I was pressed for time so already I'd started the day off wrong, but I brought an avocado incase there was some free time to sneak in a late breakfast... Which there wasn't, of course. So I instead ate my avocado for lunch, which again wasn't enough for me to eat. The whole day I was tired and really not myself. I thought that since I hadn't had a great day anyway, why not use this as an excuse to get some heavier calories into my system?

 

On my way home I stopped at the local market. I had every intention to at least look at the fruits and veggies first! But I've been getting pretty sick of my mono-mealing (I know you hardcore RAW do that, but I'm not quite there yet!) and decided on getting freshly made brown rice sashimi. Sashimi is a type of sushi, it is a ball of rice (in my case brown, yay macrobiotics!!) with a piece of fresh, sushi-grade fish laid on top. I eat these as is, but some people like to eat it with spicy mayo or soy sauce. I bought myself sashimi and regular sushi rolls for my boyfriend.

 

I know sushi isn't raw, but it is paleo (I think?). It is also macrobiotic, if you are practicing the more traditional macrobiotic ideals from Asia. Hence why I call this my "first mini fall". I didn't want all my raw-work the past week and a half to be for not!

 

If you are in a position like me, trying to go raw that is, make sure that you plan for some falls. It's the best way to not disappoint yourself. And, you can "cushion" your fall, by planning healthier meals of whole grains and cooked veggies when you feel like you need something more, rather than falling hard on processed junk. Good luck!

-Stephanie

RAW BROWNIES!

These "brownies" are a life saver when a chocolate craving hits. Totally raw, wonderfully healthy and super easy to make!

You will need a food processor or blender with processing capabilities.

1 cup of dates (you may need a few more)

1 cup of cashews (I did not soak them, but you could, just drain before adding!)

3 teaspoons of coconut oil

1/4 cup of raw cacao powder

1 teaspoon of water or coconut water

pinch of Himalayan pink rock salt (sea salt is fine too!)

Toss all of your ingredients into your appliance except your extra dates and teaspoon of water/coconut water. 

Blend the ingredients until gritty. Check that the granules stick together when pressed. If the mixture seems too dry, this is when you will add the water/coconut water.

Before taking out your blend, taste it! Raw cacao especially has a tendency to be bitter. If you find the mixture is too bitter for you, add a few extra dates, blend, and repeat as necessary.

Now your mixture is done! Spread the "dough" by pressing it into a large flat square, about 3/4"-1" thick all around. Make cuts through the square like you are cutting brownies.

And there you have it! Raw "brownies" that are guilt-free and most importantly, DELICIOUS! 

Enjoy!

-Stephanie

15 July 2013 - Week One

Here I am, first week completed on the RAW. I have to say it doesn't feel much different than my macrobiotics. However, I have already noticed the emphasis on "abundance" in this lifestyle. I can sit down and eat as many fruits and veggies as I desire, with no guilt! In my previous dips into rawism, I did not know I could do much more than eat a vegetable salad or juice my fruits. But it doesn't have to be eating a fruit as is, or a veggie in a salad (if you don't want it to be!). I was able to blend and chop and mix to create amazing-tasting raw dishes!

My first raw dish I tried was a lasagna recipe from Kristina at RawfullyOrganic. I was very excited to try this out, because I love lasagna. Unfortunatly, I didn't realize how much I hated cilantro (lesson learned; try something before you incorporate it into your dishes!) which played a rather large roll in this meal. It wasn't until after I took my first bite that I realized that I would be sick if I ate any more. Not wanting to trash the whole thing, I picked the halved cherry tomatoes off the top of the lasagna and ate those with a creamy garlic sauce made from one zucchini, a clove of garlic and a 1/4 cup of pine nuts.

The next night, after a day of mono-mealing on fruits and veggies, I lusted for another recipe! I also had a huge craving for chocolate, which led me on a raw food dessert search where I found several recipes for date "brownies". Instead of following a recipe, I played around with what I had in my kitchen and eventually came up with some really delicious RAW BROWNIES! 

The next few days were all about experimenting with texture. I learned that I could chop up veggies, then blend some of those same veggies, mix them together and make a totally interesting and delicious meal! I had never entertained the idea of texture mixing as a reason for me getting "fed up" with the raw food diet. But as I go into my second week now, I am certain that these transition-type meals are helping adjust my palette and my life.  

If you're just starting out in your raw endeavors, I suggest you research raw food blogs in your down time, or when you are craving something processed. Even try searching your craving with the word "raw" in front of it. For example; If you are craving pizza, search "raw pizza" on Google or Youtube.

There are so many creative raw-foodists out there that you're bound to find your fix! Good luck!

-Stephanie