The Top Ten Superfoods

Top Ten Superfoods:

• Goji berries
• Cacao
• Maca
• Bee Products (Honey, Bee Pollen, Royal Jelly, Propolis)
• Spirulina
• AFA Blue-Green Algae
• Marine Phytoplankton
• Aloe Vera
• Hempseed
• Coconuts

This list is from David Wolfe's Superfoods book.

What to eat, what not to eat

Maximize your intake of the following raw food:

• FRESH FRUITS and FRESH VEGETABLES. - Any fresh fruits or vegetables. The fresher the better. If you can pick the produce yourself, that's the best. The next best would be direct from a farmer or farmers market, next best from a health food store, and last from a "chain store". here is why- once the food is picked, the vitality starts to lessen. If the produce is refrigerated, the vitality is lessened even further.
• FRESH SPROUTS - you can sprout your own seeds yourself, and eat these life-force rich foods while they are still living and growing!

Next as a raw foodist you may want to consume some of the following: (concentration should be on FRESH fruits and vegetables)

• Nuts and Seeds - Many nuts are raw and go through no heat processing. Always purchase nuts in the shell whenever possible, since once nuts are out of the shell, they start to oxidize, and can go rancid. Some nuts are heat processed in the process of getting the nut out of the shell. There is an excellent article, "What every raw fooder should know about nuts" in the article section that I suggest you read. Most "raw" cashew nuts are not really raw.
• Young Coconuts - Young coconuts are a excellent source of electrolytes, the best purified water and a good source of fat and calcium.
• Dried Fruits- did you know that most dried fruits in the natural food store are COOKED? Yes!! They are. I have spoken with many manufacturers and distributors of dried fruits and even "dried tomatoes" and asked them the temperature at which their product is dried. Usually it is well over 200 degrees. They say this proudly, because its not too feasible to dry products at an acceptable temperature to a raw foodist (around 118 degrees or less) because there would be an inconsistent and "ugly" looking product. So cut down on the dried foods! Usually only "sun dried" foods would be considered "raw" since they are dried by the sun.
• Dates - Dates are generally sun dried, if good organic dates are purchased. Many "conventional" dates can be dried and then steamed to make them look "plump" and moist. The Date People and Flying Disc Ranch are my two favorite sources of dates.
• Sea Weeds - Sea weeds such as nori, dulse, Laver, sea lettuce, kombu purchased from a "family" business are usually sundried. Seaweeds from "asia or china" may or may not be sun dried. Sometimes they are roasted, and it may not be mentioned on the package. This should be eaten minimally
• Dried vegetables, herbs and spices for flavoring - I have not checked to see if these are in fact considered "raw" or if they have been heat treated in the drying process. Whenever possible dry your own herbs and spices, and use as sparingly as possible.
• Olives - You may want to consume some raw olives. Raw olives are hard to find. The best raw olives are sun dried raw olives, that have not been preserved with salt. Most olives are preserved with salt. Most canned olives are cooked in the canning process. Most olives are packed in a vinegar or lactic acid brine, which I do not recommend.
• Green Powders - I believe a good green food powder can be helpful as long as it is not heat processed, considered "raw" and dried at a low temperature, and do not include toxic additives. Some examples would be dried wheatgrass, blue green algae, barleygreen, etc.
• Raw Honey - I do agree that raw honey is probably the best concentrated sweetener to use, I still reccomend minimizing concentrated sweeteners such as honey. Get a honey that includes the pollen and propolis, a more "whole" food.
• Frozen Fruits - From the manufacturers I have talked to, it seems that most frozen fruits are not blanched before freezing, so they could be considered "raw". Although its best to eat FRESH FRUITS instead, or freeze fruits yourself.

Things to minimize or cut out completely. The items listed below are many times included in a raw food diet. I believe they can be helpful while transitioning to a raw food diet, but have no place in a long term health building raw food diet.

• Table salt and celtic sea salt- While table salt is much worse than celtic sea salt, many raw foodists believe that celtic salt is good for them. I believe it is not. This is primarily due to my research on the potassium/sodium balance. Each cell in our body needs to maintain a ratio of sodium to potassium and in the "standard American diet" has the sodium ratio way too high. I also have ill effects when I eat any salt. I believe we get enough sodium from fruits, vegetables and seaweed. (Use seaweed instead)
• Nama Shoyu and Braggs Liquid Aminos - Once again these items show up often in raw food recipes, and many people think them "healthy". Try drinking a bottle of the stuff, and tell me how you feel. I bet you will feel sick to your stomach! These are highly processed foods that do not occur naturally in nature. (try using seaweed instead)
• Maple Syrup - Maple syrup is another ingredient considered as "raw" by many. Based on my research all maple syrup is cooked, so it is not raw. I have not sucked on a maple tree to determine if FRESH maple syrup is a viable food source at this point. Use fresh barhi dates (which to me taste like maple syrup - there are many different varieties of dates to try!)
• Agave Nectar - While this "concentrated sweetner" is very popular in raw cuisine, I believe it has no place in a truly "raw" diet. This is primarily due to the fact that it is a concentrated sweetner. The "nectar" is collected or "cooked" out of the agave plant, then must be "cooked" or dehydrated down, much like "boiling down" maply syrup. There is even some rumors about "corn syrup" and other sweeteners being added to "raw" agave nectar to give it the sweet taste. In any case, it is a processed, product, and not a raw, whole food in my opinion.
• Wine - Wine can be raw, but while it may have some health benefits - I say drink FRESH made grape juice instead. Exclude wine from the raw food diet. Alcohol does kill brain cells.
• Apple Cider Vinegar - Vinegar contains acetic acid. Acetic acid is a toxic chemical. If you drink a whole bottle of vinegar, I bet you wont feel too good. Did you know acetic acid is used as a pesticide?
• Bottled oils - Many raw foodists include oils in their diet. I believe this should be minimized for a few reasons. Oil does not occur naturally in nature. Once oil is extracted, it generally goes bad (rancid) very quickly. It is super concentrated and hard for your body to break down. Try drinking a bottle of oil, and tell me how you feel. Probably like you want to sleep - its your body having to work overtime to digest the oil. Yes, even if its cold pressed an organic. Eat the food instead- i.e.: eat olives instead of olive oil. Eat coconuts instead of coconut oil. Eat ground flax seeds instead of flax oil.
• Frozen Vegetables - I have confirmed with several major manufacturers of frozen vegetables, that they are blanched before they are quick frozen, so these would not qualify as raw.

raw recipe: Almond Milk

Almond Milk
makes about 1 liter

½ cup almonds, soaked and hulled
pinch sea salt
1 Tbsp. maple syrup or agave nectar
1 liter water (about 1 3/4 cups)

Soak ½ cup almonds 4-6 hours; remove the brown hulls. Put hulled almonds in blender with small amount of water and make a smooth paste. Add more water gradually, and a pinch of sea salt and syrup or nectar; strain. (Retain the pulp to add to oatmeal or other cereal.) Chill. Better than cows' milk! Berries or other fruit may be added if desired, or a few drops of vanilla extract.

--- Betse Streng
Note from Angela: Blanched almonds could be used to eliminate the need to remove the bitter outer brown layer of the almond.

For an unsweetened product, of course one can simply eliminate the syrup/agave nectar.

Nomi Shannon: What Should I Eat? (from her e-newsletter)

High Raw Diet: What Should I Eat?

Written by Nomi Shannon, The Raw Gourmet

There are as many ways to eat an all raw or high raw diet as there are people. The simplest approach is the Natural Hygiene way. There are no recipes, or even any machinery. You just eat food as it comes from nature. There is a lot to be said about this easy to understand approach, and most of the time it is how I live.

How much easier can it get than to have a large bowl of fruit on the counter waiting for you and a refrigerator filled with vegetables for you to grab. Add in some coconuts, nuts, seeds and oil (Natural Hygienists tend not to eat any oil but get the small amount of fat that they eat directly from their food) and you have everything that you need.

In a few moments, you can pack up a lunch of cut up veggies, greens, whatever fruits you can find depending on the season and some nuts for protein. For those times that you want to make recipes add a few items to your pantry like almond butter, tahini, seasonings like garlic, sea weeds, basil, sea salt, and go from there.

It is difficult to describe a 'typical' raw day as there is so much variation between people, but here are some examples taken from real life.

Sample Breakfasts:

1. A pint of blueberries, or more

2. A banana, or more, sometimes many more

3. Half an avocado and a banana, blended and topped with berries

4. A fruit smoothie, with some greens blended in

Sample Snacks:

1. Several pieces of fruit during the morning

2. Some cut up veggies

3. An avocado

4. A smoothie

Sample Lunches:

1. A large salad of assorted greens, sprouts, red pepper, celery, cabbage with a large handful of soaked almonds or sunflower seeds

2. Sunflower pate rolled up in a sheet of Nori and topped with greens and sprouts

3. A blended soup consisting of greens, sprouts, avocado, yellow squash, garlic or ginger

4. A blended soup of avocado, parsnip and celery

5. A cabbage leaf with pate rolled up in it

6. A cabbage leaf with cut up veggies and some almonds on the side

7. A bag of green beans, or Peas in the pod

8. 2 avocados

9. Several pieces of celery and carrot dipped in hummus, or almond butter, or sunflower pate

Sample Dinners:

1. Spiralized yams or sweet potatoes topped with lemon and oil

2. Spiralized zucchini with pesto sauce (pine nuts, basil, garlic, olive oil, parsley) and tomato sauce (pureed tomatoes with spices or herbs that you like)

3. Raw corn chowder with sprouts and greens

4. Yam soup or beet borscht

While there are no set rules to follow, if often works out best if you eat some protein at lunch as it takes longer than other foods to digest, and complex carbohydrates at night so you can wind down, relax, and prepare for your nights rest without a lot of digestive activity going on after you retire for the night.

As for protein, many people still have the misconception that they need far more protein than they really do. If you think about mother's milk, which only contains 1.5 - 2.5 % protein perhaps you can relax a bit about your protein consumption. Growing children and athletes need the most protein. There's way more protein in dark leafy greens than most people realize. Tahini, almond butter, almonds and sunflower seeds are all quick and easy sources of protein.

If you eat large salads and fruit every day or green smoothies you are probably getting enough fiber. There aren't any raw fooders that have constipation problems. Your high raw or all raw diet should be resulting in 2-3 healthy bowel movements a day. Constipation, hemorrhoids and less than daily bowel movements are most likely an indication that you need more fiber.

Healthy fats react in your body far differently than cooked, processed, rancid unhealthy fats. All cooked oils-(French fries, doughnuts) and fats are very bad for you. When you are consuming avocados, nuts, seeds, raw nut butters, unheated flax seed oil, olive oil, hemp oil, coconuts all in the raw state they are good for you. Most likely you need some of these fats to keep your weight up also.

Great problems in health and well-being occur in the absence of the Omega 3's and 6's-the essential fatty acids that are obtainable only through food. Flax seeds and salmon both contain high amounts of the Omega 3's, followed by sunflower seeds. I prefer my Omega 3's in the form of flax seeds or oil, as I have a personal aversion to consuming mercury that is found in one level or another in all fish. It is far more common to be deficient in Omega 3's than other good fats and when first starting out I recommend concentrating on consuming high Omega 3 rich foods for the first year you are raw. An excellent resource to learn what you need to know about fats is: Fats That Heal, Fats That Kill, by Udo Erasmus.

I have found that most beginners and even more experienced raw fooders are afraid to consume fats. Just today I received a note from someone who wants to try raw food, but wants to keep their fats to 10% and to be sure to have 'enough protein'. What they are trying to do is follow their cooked food approach (in this case the Dr. Dean Ornish program) while doing raw. Well, many people have much improved health while following the cooked food Dr. Dean Ornish program-and it is pretty obvious why-if cooked fat kills, then only 10% of it in your diet harms less. There are lower calories in the program, smaller portions. But it is just about impossible to take any current program and apply it to a raw program. Everything changes when you take the raw food approach. What used to harm is now good for you in the uncooked state. So, don't fear the fat! Just keep all your fat consumption the healthy kind-if you eat any cooked food, be sure it is not cooked fat. Isn't that simple?

As for calories-if you are too thin, you aren't getting enough. If two salads a day don't provide enough calories for you, then condense your food into a soup or a smoothie, adding in tahini or other high calorie yummies. You athletes out there already know how to make Vanilla Bliss out of water, frozen banana and tahini-up to four tablespoons in a shake, to keep the calories up. You can make avocado or tahini based soups, or drink almond milk-there's many ways to meet your calorie needs consistently with an all raw diet.

Before I move on to a fun cracker recipe, there's one more important item I want to mention. You need variety in your diet. Making the same thing every day out of habit or convenience is a very unhealthy habit. Think of the rainbow when you make your foods; be sure that on a daily basis you are eating from many of the colors of the rainbow: purple, red, orange, green and yellow. Each food contains its own gift for you, packaged by the Creator in just the right way to be sure you are taking in all the necessary nutrients. It's hard to go wrong if you choose from a very wide assortment of foods.

Following is a recipe that will help to round out your meals and snacks.

If you own a dehydrator or have enough warm sun here is a tasty flax seed cracker recipe. I like these crackers because they travel well and also because of the great crunch they provide. Flax seeds provide wonderful fiber and important Omega 3 oils. Soak 5 or 6 cups of organic brown or golden flax seeds in 5 or 6 cups of water for about 4-5 hours. This will turn into a solid mass.

Puree any or all of the following in a blender: 6 or 7 tomatoes, one or two onions, garlic, 2-6 tablespoons lemon juice, sea salt, soaked sun dried tomatoes, spices and herbs that you like. Fill the blender to the top-about 7-8 cups. Mix the blended mixture into the flax seed mixture. (Do not blend; you want to leave the flax seeds whole.) Add caraway seeds or fennel seeds or dried onion bits if you like.

Pour onto the liners in your dehydrator trays, and spread with your hand until even, this will be about ź inch thick. Dehydrate, turning over when dry on top, and remove the liners when you can. Score the crackers (cut almost all the way through) when almost dehydrated on both sides. Or allow to completely dehydrate then break into bite size crackers. Store in a tightly closed jar or cookie tin. These will keep indefinitely. Makes about 100 crackers.

Each time you make them experiment with the flavors until you find your personal favorite. Be generous with your seasoning as the flax seeds make everything very bland. Besides just having on hand for munching and to add some texture and fun to your meals, you can break up one or two and toss in your salad as croutons, or you can top a cracker with slices of cucumber, tomato and onion bits for a tasty meal or snack.

Note: start your dehydrator at 120 or 125; turn it down to 115 once you feel the crackers are getting warm. The food never reaches the temperature the thermostat is set at, it is dangerous to dehydrate food at too low a temperature, like 90, it takes too long, allowing mold to form in the food.

The Raw Gourmet
PO Box 160
Bonsall CA 92003

Top 7 Beautifying Living Foods

1) Berries

They are in season now! Go grab them at the nearest grocery stores for that awesome anti-oxidant power boost.

The dark substance of blue, black cherries and strawberries contain precious age-reversing nutritional benefits - nourishing you on a cellular basis.

Best of all, they are delicious whether you eat them plain, thrown in as a great addition to any salads, or blended into smoothies.

2) Mangoes

Excellent source of iron, this heavenly fragrant fruit is a blessing for all women. Especially at that time of the month, women need more haemoglobin to form red blood palates. With sufficient iron intake from natural sources like mangoes, the body is not excessively taxed, and so we can still look pretty and young even in the midst of a heavy menstrual period!

3) Avocados

I love this fruit so much that I’m considering adding it into my middle name This is such a power house of phyto-nutrients, vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants, combined with the essential Omega fats which are required for collagen formation and skin radiance, this fruit has it all!

Scientists have only uncovered about 80 nutritional benefits about the Avocado; the full symbiosis constitution is yet known but even then, it is already many times more powerful than synthetic conventional supplements.

4) Sunflower Seeds

Our secret ingredient to making skin nourishing desserts is Sprouted Sunflower Seed milk. These little gems have tons of Vitamin E, magnesium and selenium - our perfect defense against environmental pollution/damage and pre-mature aging.

To harness the best benefits out of them, eat them raw and sprouted!

5) Dark Leafy Greens

Over years of industrialization, we Man have forgotten what a blessing these green canopies covering Earth has been to us.

Green leaves are the only life-sustaining components of Earth Life because they contain chlorophyll. This green substance is the only element on Earth which can manufacture food from sunlight, and give oxygen.

Chlorophyll is alkalizing and promotes healing. Packed with loads of minerals and anti-oxidants, greens are an indispensable part of a beauty diet.

Start by incorporating more fresh living organic greens into your diet today! To learn how to eat greens in the most delicious and convenient ways, click here:

Intro To Live Foods

6) Durians

Long hailed as the “King” of fruits, this one-of-its-kind gift from Nature is well known for their energy boosting, stamina enhancing and anti-oxidants packed fruit, as well as an aphrodisiac!

Full of raw oleic fats, Vitamin E, sulphur compounds and soft proteins, it is a must-have for anyone who needs a collagen boost.

7) Raw Cacao!

Look around you and observe the increasing brands of dark chocolate available on counter tops now. Even as you read this, more research evidence are being uncovered showing the co-relation between anti-aging and chocolate.

All chocolate products are made from the original Cacao Bean. The more complicated the manufacturing process, the less benefits can be derived from it. To enjoy real Chocolate its full glory, both in terms of nutritional value and taste, make sure you go straight for the source ie. Mother Earth!

Healthy snacks when you are transitioning to a raw foods diet

Transition Snacks are not all raw living foods, but are compromise recipes for when you're tempted to eat outside of the Raw and Living Foods Lifestyle. From chiDiet.com Handbook to Going Raw.

Banana and Raw Nut Butter- Grab a banana, a jar of your favorite nut butter, a spoon, and spread. Devine!

Ambrosia - Almond mylk, chopped avocado, berries, chopped apple, chopped orange, pumpkin seeds, raw honey, and shredded coconut. Mix in a bowl and enjoy.

Avocado and Honey - Cut an avocado in half, skin it, and pour honey over it. Yum, yum, yum…

Thick Shake - Cup of Almond mylk, half of an avocado, and banana. Wow!

Figs and Olives - 5 dried figs, and small bowl of Greek olives. Molto bene!

Chocolate Pudding - 1 Avocado, 2 Tbs. raw carob powder, and a big scoop of raw honey. Whip it up and enjoy each creamy mouth full!

Ahhhhh-Almond - Jar of raw almond butter and a spoon. It's that simple.

Cherimoya Blues - If you're feeling down, eat one of these. If you don't know what a cherimoya is, find out. Also try it whipped in a blender with an avocado.

Date Crunch - Pitted Dates and Almonds. Stuff the date with the almonds and munchidy, crunch, crunch.

Banana Creme - Mash a banana and avocado together, or put it in a blender.

Melon Deluxe - 1/2 of a cantaloupe, one avocado. Blend!!!

Just Eat An Apple - When all else fails one of the best things one can do is eat an apple.

Ice Cream - One avocado, two frozen bananas, and a blender. Cut the bananas into small pieces before placing them in the blender

Creamy Crunch - Two stalks of celery and your favorite raw nut butter. Spread it in the valley

Fudge - 1 avocado, 2 Tbs. of coconut butter, 1 cup of blueberries, 1 Tbs. of raw honey, and 3 Tbs. of Carob powder. Blend! Refrigerate for 3 hours for hard fudge.

Three-Minute Burrito - One avocado, Romaine lettuce leaves, chopped tomato, juice of one lemon, chopped onion, chopped garlic, dash of cumin, dash chili powder, and pinch of cayenne and salt. Mash avocado in a bowl and mix in lemon juice, garlic, cumin, chili powder, cayenne, and salt. Wrap avocado mixture with tomatoes and onions in the romaine lettuce leaves.

Two-Minute Guacamole - One avocado, one clove of garlic chopped, half a red onion chopped, the juice of one lemon, one tsp cumin, one tsp coriander, pinch of cayenne, and salt. Mash in a bowl with a fork. - Use the Two minute guacamole to stuff tomatoes, peppers, portabello mushrooms, add it to salads, or just use it as a dip.

Share this on Facebook: Share

Repost - very creative ideas: Raw Parenting and Grandparenting

Please click the title just below to visit their blog.
This article and all others are Wonderful. :)

Raw Parenting and Grandparenting

My children, ages 4 and 6, have lived a raw-vegan lifestyle from birth and have managed to stay that way, so far.

Yes, I am sure there will be phases when they want to know about all the other types of food, and that is okay.

But while they are young, I believe it is important for me to stand my ground, believing in and living what I am teaching them. This will increase the chances of them following my lead. The same goes for you.

Fortunately, children who have eaten raw from birth haven't had their natural tastes altered by cooked foods. With their non-tainted taste buds, children sincerely enjoy pure fruits and vegetables, lettuce and such over mixed dishes.

Their digestion is different, so raw children are usually more sensitive to mixes since they haven’t had a bunch of artificial flavors ingrained in their minds.

Eating raw vegan food exclusively is therefore easier for them in this regard. Here are some ideas to make it easier for you and your children as you transition into or journey through a raw-vegan lifestyle:

1. Have fun with raw food: Build funny faces. Create art pieces. It is totally different if you can look at food from another point of view. Raw food is beautiful food. It's like flowers that make you smile. Soak it up and let it allow you to feel good.
2. Let your children take part: Children love to help, so let them take part in this life-learning! My children just love to eat raw foods because they can handle it themselves! They feel “big” which is very motivating to them!
3. Don’t stress over the mess: Don't worry about how your kitchen is going to look afterwards. As parents, we often look to save time and do not want to clean everything again. However, just step back and think “fun.” Be happy to be a part of the process. When I allow myself to do this, I can literally see my children grow. How amazing! Those times don't return to us, so think about what is really important to you.
4. House cleaning can be fun, too, by the way. Children do love to get involved with it as long as they can do it together with you. Just relax and don't worry if it takes longer than usual. All you need is time and patience. Pull yourself out of the circle of trying to be perfect. Show that you want to help your children with the cleaning, like how they want to help you. It’s most amazing to me with the ideas they come up with during this time. Observe! Build life-long valuable memories by not stressing over the mess.
5. Encourage your children to create recipes: Simply provide enough of a variety of fresh, yummy fruits, etc., and let them go at it. Of course, you can stay nearby so your kitchen doesn't get chopped up in the process. Try to focus on positive communication. For instance, "Let me know if you need some help,” instead of, "Nooo, you will cut off your fingers. Nooooo, the whole hand!” Children can end up resisting and rebelling from a negative communication approach.
6. Host parties and events: Invite friends and offer loads of yummy stuff. Make fruit porcupines (they can add the spikes, or you). Make delicious ice cream with strawberry sauce, shakes, or cakes. If you can get their friends to eat it without making a deal out of it, often no one will even realize it's raw, which is all the better for your children. Your children will go with the flow and be happy to not be so different this time.
7. Take raw food to friends: Bring a big bowl of something wonderfully raw to share with everybody! Again, your children won’t want to feel left out. If everybody else eats it, the chances are your children will, too.
8. Let it be the norm: Have plenty of different types of fresh, ripe foods at home (that your children like), so they can help themselves whenever they get hungry. If you pull out lettuce and just eat it, they will, too. My children would rather eat a whole apple instead of a complicated mix. So, keep it simple. Experiment! Just do it... don't talk! Action is most important! We all learn and move forward by watching and imitating. Your job is to filter (not shelter!) what should be imitated.
9. Don’t let your children get too hungry: Prepare filling shakes before they get too hungry and then go somewhere where “other” things are served. Whey your children are full, they are more satisfied and less attracted by other food.
10. Answer their questions: That's it. No begging, etc. Just fill them up with honest information. Children want to be able to understand and tell others. Point food differences out to them, so they know for future reference.
11. Take them grocery shopping: Let them pick things they like and what’s on the list.
12. Use puppetry: Let their dolls, cars, etc. "talk" about it. Use those toys as puppets, and you will see how fun that approach is for your children and how aware they are. They will start asking you questions based on what they just heard from their dolls, etc. [Grassy Roots TV at GrassyRoots.com or RawLife.org. Look for the Gertie Geiger episodes.]
13. Make commercials: Turn off the TV since there are so many negative influences there. Just watch how creative your children become.
14. Sell their creations: Let your children make raw crackers and sell them at park days, school functions, etc.
15. Especially if your children go to school: Give them more yummy snacks (they like) then they need… just to share with their friends! Make it really normal for them… raise other kids to your level (meaning if your child doesn’t eat cooked stuff welcome other kids eating raw foods!!). They don’t need to seem “strange”… if you help them a little out.
16. If your spouse/partner doesn’t support you: You feel stuck because you want to raise your children as healthy as possible…and your partner/spouse doesn’t seem to understand?
17. Most important – take the pressure off your child! They love both of you and don’t want to hurt anybody (which they might think if they don't eat the right stuff… whatever that means for them… it is totally confusing for children).
18. Try not to fight about that matter in front of them.
19. And then… focus on the positive side. Explain your child your perspectives in a calm and objective way. You can also talk about your partner’s perspective, fears and patterns. Children understand more than we think. Keep eating and introducing raw foods in a positive way! Don’t worry about what your partner does… you take care of your connection to your child.
20. Finally, children want to be with people who are fun and they can trust! If they choose you for the trustworthy person – because you are simple true to yourself and everybody else without changing them – they feel that and know…and will follow you without many words. (That might mean some work on ourselves first ;)…)
21. Connect!!! If your connection to your child is great and deep s/he will always be able to turn to you – also when it comes to raw foods! A deep heart connection and understanding breaks inside walls down which opens doors to raw foods and make them forget about all the comments from others about being different!! They will look at it from a total different perspective.

These are just a few ideas to get you started.

For transitioning, I suggest you try to find recipes that work for your children. Don't worry too much about all the right combining, etc. That will come by the time they are ready -- when their taste buds have changed to a desire for better quality food.

Again, be sure to have lots of fruit handy since children have a better chance of connecting with flavors they enjoy. Most importantly (for all of us), the fruit should be ripe, fresh and, if possible, organic!

If you want your children to live of raw food, make it happen! Do things such as replacing processed chocolate with your own raw chocolate; they will love it!

The point is to simply be a fun example for them. Before long, they’ll be living that life with you.

I would love to hear from you and about your experiences. Let me know what helped with your family’s transition to more - or all - raw food.

Please visit my website at www.rawfunfamily.com!

Share this on Facebook: Share

Raw: Ann Wigmore's rejuvelac recipe

from Dr. Ann Wigmore and the Creative Health Institute Kitchen

2 cups soft wheat berries

1. Soak in purified water 8 hrs or overnight.
2. Drain, rinse, then allow to sprout for 2 days, without rinsing.
3. When white sprout tails begin to show, add 6 cups purified water, cover jar with cheesecloth, put in a warm place where it can be exposed to at least 70 degree temp for 2 days.
4. THEN pour off, drink or refrigerate, or use "rejuvelac" in a recipe.
5. The leftover seeds can be used one more time, with 4c. purified water, will culture in 1 day. Then seeds can be composted, or thrown to birds.

Caveats - do not drink soak water. Seeds must sprout.

Share this on Facebook: Share

Raw recipe: A Garden Taste Pie, shared by Nomi Shannon on rawgourmet.com

Please see Nomi Shannon's excellent site www.rawgourmet.com.
This recipe comes from her site and newsletter:

Raw Recipe: A Garden Taste Pie


This recipe for a fabulous five-layer pie was created by
Chef Shula Gabbay at her raw food restaurant in Del Mar, CA.
(now closed). This is truly creative and delicious dessert.
It takes a little work, but the results are well worth it.
If you are artistic, this pie can be visually stunning. I
find it works well for me as a breakfast as the nuts and
fruits on their own work better with my digestion rather
than after a big meal. Definitely special occasion fare, you
can use any type of fruit combination. If you can find
berries and colorful fruits like persimmons, mangos,
papayas, that's all the better from a visual point of view.
Assemble the following ingredients: sunflower seeds,
almonds, raisins, dates (medjool), dried figs, prunes, ripe
pears, sweet apples (like Fuji, gala or Macintosh, not tart
like Granny Smith) and a selection of pretty fruits.

In an 8 or 9-inch pie pan prepare the crust: 1 Cup Sunflower
seeds (not soaked)

1 Cup raisins

3 Cups almonds (not soaked,) Dates

Put Sunflower seeds, almonds and raisins in food processor.
Process until fairly fine. Keep adding dates until it all
sticks together. Press into pie plate.

Makes a thick crust, about %"-1"

Filling

1 cup raisins

1 cup dried figs

1/2 cup prunes

1 cup dates

1-2 very ripe pears, or 1/2 cup apple juice

Next layer:

It is best to use very thinly sliced very ripe pear 1 layer
thick covering the entire filling. If pear is not available,
then use persimmon, mango or papaya.

Whatever you use must be fully ripe.

Next layer:

Finely shred 2-4 apples depending on size of apples and pie
plate (use a food processor, salad shooter or hand grater on
the longest shred) then toss with 2-4 teaspoons of lemon
juice to keep them from getting too brown, and drain
slightly in a bowl or colander.

Pile apples high onto the pie. Push down and pat the apples
in, creating a smooth domed effect on which to build the top
layer.

Next layer:

Now you are ready to decorate with fruit. Example: circles
of persimmon, surrounded by pomegranate seeds, blueberries,
and slices of other ripe pretty fruits. Let your imagination
run wild. Cover the entire surface. Refrigerate.

Will keep for a few days.


Share this on Facebook: Share

Cashews

Many raw foodists and western dieters love cashews for their smooth creaminess. They are an invaluable ingredient in raw vegan desserts, nut cheeses, Asian inspired dishes, etc. But there is more to cashews than their delicious taste; they are also powerhouses of nutrition, providing a wealth of important minerals and amino acids. While some may deplore their fat content, it is important to look at cashews within the scope of a healthy, varied diet. When you eat a variety of vegetables, fruits and leafy greens, cashews will not hinder your health and could in fact fill in the gaps and significantly raise your nutrient intake – not to mention enrich your diet with healthy desserts, creamy nut milks, and more!

Protein: Cashews, like most nuts, are rich in protein, but cashews are a bit different in that they are also a very good source of quality amino acids. The website Nutrition Data lists cashews as a “complete or high-quality protein” due to their high amino acid score.

Iron: Iron is a very important mineral, and deficiencies will lead to dizziness, fatigue, and even anemia. Cashews are rich in iron, and they satisfy 10% of our daily requirements in just a single ounce.

Magnesium: Magnesium is such an overlooked nutrient, and the wide majority of the U.S. population is thought to be magnesium deficient due to soil depletion and generally poor eating habits. But just one ounce of cashews will satisfy 20% of our daily needs, making it a delicious way to get enough magnesium.

Phosphorus: One ounce of cashews fulfills nearly 20% of our daily needs. But what is the purpose of phosphorus in our diet? According to the National Institutes of Health, “The main function of phosphorus is in the formation of bones and teeth. It plays an important role in the body’s utilization of carbohydrates and fats and in the synthesis of protein for the growth, maintenance, and repair of cells and tissues. It is also crucial for the production of ATP, a molecule the body uses to store energy. Phosphorus works with the B vitamins. It also assists in the contraction of muscles, in the functioning of kidneys, in maintaining the regularity of the heartbeat, and in nerve conduction.” Another reason to include cashews in our food rotation!

Copper: Copper is an important mineral similar to iron in some ways, as it plays a crucial role in the formation of red blood cells and is important for the health of our circulatory, nervous, and skeletal system. Cashews will satisfy in just one ounce more than 30% of our copper requirement for the day! According to the National Institutes of Health, “Lack of copper may lead to anemia and osteoporosis.”

Manganese: Did you know that the word ‘manganese’ comes from the Greek word for magic? Indeed, manganese is a somewhat mysterious chemical, but it is absolutely crucial for brain health, sexual well-being, and skeletal health; it serves important anti-oxidant purposes as well. One ounce of cashews will fulfill nearly one quarter of our magnesium needs.

Raw? Not Raw? Some have argued that cashews cannot possibly be raw, and that they are even poisonous in their raw state. Nothing could be further from the truth! Cashews themselves are not poisonous; only the shell is (and you would not want to eat it anyway!). Also, while nearly 100% of cashews sold in stores are indeed heated at high temperatures during the shelling process, ethical raw food stores will only sell hand cracked, hand polished cashews, which are indeed raw.

References:

Nutrition Data: Retrieved February 3, 2010 from: http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts/nut-and-seed-products/3095/2

National Institute of Health – Phosphorus: Retrieved February 3, 2010 from: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002424.htm

National Institute of Health – Copper: Retrieved February 3, 2010 from: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002419.htm

Cucumbers

Cucumbers are composed mostly of water, making it a must for glowing, hydrated skin. They are a good source of Vitamins A, ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) and folic acid. The skin of the cucumber is rich in fiber and a variety of minerals including silica, magnesium and potassium. The silica in cucumbers is an essential component of healthy connective tissue, which includes muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and bone. I often recommend cucumber juice to clients because the mineral silica improves the complexion and health of the skin. The ascorbic acid and caffeic acid in cucumbers prevent water retention, which may explain why cucumbers applied topically are often helpful for puffy eyes, burns and dermatitis.

Paul Bragg, a health crusader pioneer wrote in an old issue of “Nature’s Path”, “There is nothing more nourishing for the skin than to have the liquid juice from the cucumber.” He noted that cucumber juice was very beneficial at cleansing the body. When you juice the entire cucumber, it will cleanse your body of old waste materials and chemicals.
Hydrating Skin Elixir Recipe

* One cucumber
* One apple
* One tbsp. lemon juice (fresh squeezed is best)
* Two tbsp. aloe vera gel(remove from aloe leaf)
(Purchase organic cucumber, apple and lemon if possible)

Combine all ingredients in a blender and enjoy!

Raw recipe: Chocolate Love Torte

The following incredible recipe is from Russell James
and was found printed in the Living Earth Beauty newsletter.
I highly recommend both Russell's recipes and books,
as well as Living Earth Beauty's fine products.
Enjoy!

RECIPE: Chocolate Love Torte



Creamy Chocolate Ecstasy

Ingredients (all Organic and Raw)

CRUST

3 cups pecans

1 cup raisins, roughly chopped

4 tablespoons (60ml) coconut oil (warm at a very low temperature to melt)

2 teaspoons (10ml) vanilla extract or 1/2 a vanilla pod

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon Himalayan salt

FILLING

2 cups (1 16oz jar) cashew butter (You can make your own by running cashews through your Green Star Juicer or by adding a tiny amount of water and blending them in your Vita Mix)

2 cups water

2 cups cacao powder or 1 1/2c milled cacao nibs + 1/2c carob powder if no cacao powder available

1 1/2 cups grated cacao butter

2 avocados

2 tablespoons vanilla extract or 2 vanilla pods

If using a Vita Mix you can use the whole pod. If using a different blender use only the soft insides of the pod, removed with a spoon.

1 cup sweetener of choice, Honey or Agave provide the best texture. I prefer Honey because it is an all-natural sweetener.

Instructions

- First liquefy the cacao butter and coconut oil. Put them in separate containers and place in a warm dehydrator. If you don't have a dehydrator then you can do this on a stove, but you have to be really careful not to let it get too warm. You can also do it in a glass bowl over another bowl of hot water - I like this method the best.

- Next make sure your cashew butter is out of the fridge as it will be easier to work with at room temp.

CRUST

- Process all the dry ingredients in a food processor, then add the coconut oil and vanilla. Be sure not to over-process nuts as they will release their oil and become 'sludge'!

- Press all the ingredients into a 9" springform pan. If you have a different size springform, don't worry, just use what you have and see how thick the base becomes. For example an 8" will produce a thicker base.

FILLING

- Mix the water, cacao powder and avocados in a blender. In a large bowl add this mixture to the cashew butter and stir well by hand.

If you have a Vita Mix you don't need to mix by hand, you can do this first step and the next step in the Vita Mix, but do remember to add the cacao butter last, after everything has been blended.

- Add remaining ingredients - melted cacao butter, vanilla, and sweetener to the bowl and mix again.

-When thoroughly mixed, pour the heavenly chocolate mixture on to the base in the springform and then use a spatula to even out the top.

-Lick the bowl.

- Place torte in the fridge overnight to set. It tends to get better every night it's in the fridge, if it lasts that long without you eating it all! This will make a very big torte so there'll be plenty to share! You can put it in the freezer for a couple of hours to set if you're short of time as well.

- Before removing the springform, run a knife around the edge of the torte to separate it from the pan.

- Serve, eat, love.

BONUS! Sauces to adorn the beloved. Two options

Ginger Cream

Ingredients

1 cup cashews

4 tablespoons cashew butter

1/4 cup coco butter

1/2 cup honey or agave

1 tablespoon fresh ginger

1/8 teaspoon ground clove

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Blend all ingredients together until smooth.

Strawberry sauce

2 cups strawberries or raspberries (since they are not in season at the moment, you can use frozen berries)

3/4 cup honey or agave

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoons nutmeg

Blend all ingredients together until smooth.

This recipe is courtesy of Russel James, The Raw Chef

Making Snow Sundaes - From Shale

To see their other videos & blogs: www.thegardendiet.com

Fuyu Pomegranate Salad

RECIPE: Fuyu-Pomegranate Salad

Right now the most abundant food is the Persimmon! My town is practically swimming in Persimmons. I love persimmons! Here is a simple, tasy delight to make with this amazing fruit:

3 Fuyu persimmons, cubed
1 Gala apple, cored and cubed
1 Anjou pear, cored and sliced
handful of fresh mint, rough chopped
1/4 C pomegranate seeds

Vinaigrette:
1 orange, juiced
1 Tbsp orange zest
1 Tbsp raw honey
1/4 C cold-pressed olive oil
2 Tbsp champagne vinegar (I use apple cider vinegar ~Jill)
1/4 tsp cinnamon

Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and toss with vinaigrette to distribute evenly. Serve over a bed of fresh baby spinach or mâche.

This recipe is courtesy of Earth Mother from In The Raw

Recipe: Cranberry Sauce for your Thanksgiving meal

Raw Cranberry Sauce

Ingredients

2 cups fresh cranberries (ground)
1 orange (grate off outer rind and then chop very fine)
2 ripe pears (peeled and chopped fine)
1 medium apple (peeled and chopped fine)
½ cup walnuts or pecans (chopped into small pieces)
4 celery ribs (chopped fine)
½ cup raisins or dates (if using dates, chop fine)
* 1 teaspoon cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
* ¼ teaspoon ginger
* ¼ teaspoon allspice
* ½ cup raw unfiltered honey or agave nectar
Instructions
Grind berries; add fruits, nuts and spices. Then place all ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Cover and place in refrigerator until ready to serve. Serve on a bed of leaf lettuce. Keeps well covered and in the refrigerator for several days. ENJOY

Option: Leave berries whole and place in a saucepan with all remaining ingredients. Simmer until thickened, stirring occasionally.


*Organic ingredients are always recommended.

Eat more fruit: PEARS

Pears contain lignin, an insoluble fiber that helps to usher cholesterol out of the body. Pears also cause stools to pass through the colon quicker and easier, helping to prevent constipation and hemorrhoids. Pears come in a number of varieties.

Common Mistakes that Occur on Raw Foods

Common Mistakes that Occur on Raw Foods
- by Victoria Boutenko (www.RawFamily.com)

1. Many raw fooders do not eat enough greens. Solution: Regularly consume energy soup or green smoothies to guarantee the proper amount of greens.

2. Many raw fooders do not consume enough fiber, soluble and insoluble. Solution: Drink more smoothies or energy soups instead of juices.

3. People on a raw food diet often consume too many fats. When they try to imitate cooked dishes they substitute starches with nuts. Solution: Use nut pulp left over from making nut mylks, use more seeds and less nuts, and use more fruit and vegetable pulp from juices in your mixtures, to minimize the consumption of nuts.

4. Raw fooders commonly try to become too perfect too fast. They don't give their bodies a chance to adjust to such a radical dietary change. Solution: Gradually adjust and purify your own individual diet to help you ease into the healthiest diet for you.

5. When people change their diets they usually decide the other components that make up health are no longer important, such as sunbathing, exercising, proper rest, fresh air, etc. Solution: Practice a well-rounded healthy lifestyle.

6. People on the raw foods diet often over-indulge in some particular foods and neglect the variety of other fruits and vegetables. Solution: Eat foods in reasonable quantities.

7. The biggest mistake raw fooders make is that they listen to the raw food authorities and don't trust the invaluable messages their own bodies communicate. Solution: Keep a diary of your daily food consumption and how it affects your well-being.

To add #8: Dietary Variety - perhaps just an emphasis of #6 - At Creative Health we often found that after a year on Raw Living Foods many people we experiencing imbalances because they had settled into a routine of only 6 or 7 foods they were eating. Dietary variety is very important! Try everything in the veggie aisle. Experiment with the unfamiliar in the fruit aisle. Try different grains and seeds. Even if you just toss a bit of this and that into the blender, you'll still gain the benefits that each food gives us.

For more information see chiDiet.com

Raw Recipe: Gail's Spiced Pumpkin Latte

http://www.hacres.com/recipes/recipes.asp?recipeid=463

This looks delicious!!! =) Enjoy.

WHY ALL SHOULD EAT ONLY RAW FOODS ALWAYS

Please visit his site...It is EXCELLENT: www.healself.org

DIET-WE SHOULD ALWAYS EAT A CONSTRUCTIVE & BENEFICIAL UNPROCESSED, RAW FOOD DIET TO HELP PREVENT OUR EVER BECOMING SICK & TO HELP HEAL OURSELVES FROM ANY DISEASE

WHY ALL SHOULD EAT ONLY RAW FOODS ALWAYS

Our inherent intelligence, our God within, is always talking to us. If we "feelingly meditate" and pay attention to our inherent intelligence, we will always know homeostatically, the best foods to eat, when and how much to eat. If we depend on our "civilized" ideas of how to eat, we will become sick. We should eat as constructive and beneficial a diet as is possible. We should eat only natural foods, that we would eat in the wild. We should eat only fresh, natural, unprocessed, raw foods that are palatable to us and that agree with us, with all the essential minerals and essential nutrients. Every bit of agricultural exploitative commercialization and soil depletion, bioengineering, experimental breeding, processing, cooking, hybridizing, mutation and pollution, destroys vitamins, enzymes, minerals, nucleic acids, chlorophyl, damages fats and makes the fatty matter a local irritant. This agricultural exploitative commercialization and soil depletion, bioengineering, experimental breeding, processing, cooking, hybridizing, mutation and pollution, excessively stresses every cell of our bodies, results in our impaired nutrition and results in our impaired health.

WHAT IS COOKED FOOD NUTRITION?

What is nutrition? Nutrition means all the processes and functions that are necessary for the assimilation of our foods we eat. Nutrition is the physiological process our inherent intelligence conducts, as our inherent intelligence transforms foods we eat, into material for our bodies own growth and maintenance. Nutrition means that every part of the human body, renews and repairs itself, by its own intrinsic power to absorb nutritive material from the surrounding medium and assimilate, organize, and transform it into material identical with its own, and endow it with vital properties, if it is supplied with appropriate food. Nutritional deficiencies create imbalances in our bodies chemistry.

WHAT IS COOKED FOOD DETOXIFICATION?

Detoxification is the final expulsion of waste materials through the various excretory organs. Detoxification takes place in the human body continually from birth throughout life. Detoxification stops at time of death of the human body.

COOKING FOODS DESTROYS ENZYMES, IS ENERVATING & SHORTENS LIFESPAN

Please read this entire article as it is excellent: http://healself.org/Diet.html

Web Site: http://www.healself.org E-mail: drbernarr@aol.com

Recipe: Vegan Yogurt

A creamy (and way better!) alternative to yogurt

Source: http://beautiful-vegan.blogspot.com/2009/03/creamy-and-way-better-alternative-to.html



If you have a very powerful blender like the vitamix blender then you can do it all together- otherwise do it like this:

In a blender:
1 1/2 c 'raw', unsalted cashews
1 c water
1 t vanilla extract or a small bit of scraped vanilla bean
1/4 c agave nectar
1/2 t sea salt

In a food processor:
4 c frozen (or fresh) berries of any kind
3 T fresh lime juice
then add what was in your blender to the food processor until it becomes smooth.******************************************************
If you enjoyed this, would you please make a donation?
Even $1 or $5 helps us to serve you.