"Simply Raw" is a documentary about six diabetics that were sent to a ranch in Arizona, where they were put on a raw organic vegan diet for 30 days. The documentary chronicles the daily medical tests, challenges, and triumphs that the participants faced. By the end of the 30 day period they had stabilized their blood sugar levels and effectively reversed their diabetes.
See the documentary film trailer for "Simply Raw" at http://www.SimplyRawMovie.com or http://www.DiabetesMovement.com- They're giving away lots of FREE Bonuses!
Lifeit Detox 28-day Raw Food Cleanse
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Day 28/ Last Day Reflections on my 28-day Raw Vegan Cleanse
Before I decided to get on this raw vegan cleanse (Join The Lifeit Detox 28 Days Raw Food Cleanse), I had been consuming a diet that I thought was already pretty good. Well, I didn't eat any pork or pork by-products at all, and I ate VERY little beef. I probably ate some Caribbean-style oxtails maybe once per year. All I ate as far as flesh is concerned was turkey, chicken, and fish. I also ate dairy products and I loved cheese. And I made sure to have at least one to two servings of vegetables every day. But I was a die-hard coffee drinker, consuming about two cups per day on average.
However, I started developing strange health symptoms that the doctors couldn't explain. I began having heart palpitations at random times. Sometimes I would experience odd random pains in my chest not necessarily over the heart....it was like a ball was bouncing in my chest in all different directions. It's kind of hard to explain.
I also developed very dry skin. It had become that I couldn't even wash my hands without immediately applying lotion, because my hands would get so dry and cracked. And my skin began to itch at random times. It was not in any particular area, and there was no rash. It could be my legs or my back or my hand or my scalp. I couldn't figure out the pattern.
TMI Warning....In addition, I was chronically "backed up". I thought I wasn't drinking enough water, but when I consumed more water that didn't seem to help.
I also had problems sleeping at night. I could go to bed at 8 or 9pm and wake up at 2am, staring at the ceiling. Then when it was time for me to get up to start my day, I was always tired.
So, a friend of mine that has been a vegan for many years, told me that a friend of his, Chef Latrice, was starting a 28-day raw vegan cleanse and did I want to join? I decided that I had tried everything else and had nothing to lose. So that's how I got started on the cleanse.
My results: Before I tell you my results, I need to explain that in addition to the raw vegan cleanse, I also stopped drinking coffee and cut out caffeine. I know that some of my results are from removing the caffeine from my diet. Also, there are some improvements that I received that were unexpected results...I didn't realize that I even had a problem in those areas, or it was a problem that I could tolerate and didn't really complain about.
Skin: My skin doesn't itch as badly anymore. Also, my occasional adult acne cleared up.
Energy: My energy level is more consistent throughout the day, instead of feeling tired in the afternoon (as long as I went to bed at a decent time).
Mood: I'm happier and more patient.
Vision: I just got new glasses and contact lenses and complained to my Optician that I couldn't see 20/20 out of my left eye. He told me that the condition was not correctable because nerves don't regenerate. Now with my glasses or contacts on I can see perfectly out of both eyes.
Sleep: I sleep solidly through the night and wake up well rested.
Heart: No more chest pains or palpitations.
Immune: When I started the cleanse I had a chronic cough from a cold I caught three weeks before...that cough has gone away.
Digestive: I'm no longer "backed up".
Well, it's only been four weeks, but I think I did pretty well. There are still a few things that I'm working on, and I'm still trying to find my own balance in terms of the raw food diet.
So far I've experimented with incorporating a little cooked food back into my diet....I've had pasta, fish, turkey, and dairy. So far no good. The food tasted good but made me nauseous. So now I find myself craving the raw foods.
Also, I didn't weigh myself but I don't think I lost much weight. I was losing in the beginning but I stopped exercising, so I stopped losing. I don't really have a huge amount of weight to lose anyhow...20 pounds would be great.
However, I started developing strange health symptoms that the doctors couldn't explain. I began having heart palpitations at random times. Sometimes I would experience odd random pains in my chest not necessarily over the heart....it was like a ball was bouncing in my chest in all different directions. It's kind of hard to explain.
I also developed very dry skin. It had become that I couldn't even wash my hands without immediately applying lotion, because my hands would get so dry and cracked. And my skin began to itch at random times. It was not in any particular area, and there was no rash. It could be my legs or my back or my hand or my scalp. I couldn't figure out the pattern.
TMI Warning....In addition, I was chronically "backed up". I thought I wasn't drinking enough water, but when I consumed more water that didn't seem to help.
I also had problems sleeping at night. I could go to bed at 8 or 9pm and wake up at 2am, staring at the ceiling. Then when it was time for me to get up to start my day, I was always tired.
So, a friend of mine that has been a vegan for many years, told me that a friend of his, Chef Latrice, was starting a 28-day raw vegan cleanse and did I want to join? I decided that I had tried everything else and had nothing to lose. So that's how I got started on the cleanse.
My results: Before I tell you my results, I need to explain that in addition to the raw vegan cleanse, I also stopped drinking coffee and cut out caffeine. I know that some of my results are from removing the caffeine from my diet. Also, there are some improvements that I received that were unexpected results...I didn't realize that I even had a problem in those areas, or it was a problem that I could tolerate and didn't really complain about.
Skin: My skin doesn't itch as badly anymore. Also, my occasional adult acne cleared up.
Energy: My energy level is more consistent throughout the day, instead of feeling tired in the afternoon (as long as I went to bed at a decent time).
Mood: I'm happier and more patient.
Vision: I just got new glasses and contact lenses and complained to my Optician that I couldn't see 20/20 out of my left eye. He told me that the condition was not correctable because nerves don't regenerate. Now with my glasses or contacts on I can see perfectly out of both eyes.
Sleep: I sleep solidly through the night and wake up well rested.
Heart: No more chest pains or palpitations.
Immune: When I started the cleanse I had a chronic cough from a cold I caught three weeks before...that cough has gone away.
Digestive: I'm no longer "backed up".
Well, it's only been four weeks, but I think I did pretty well. There are still a few things that I'm working on, and I'm still trying to find my own balance in terms of the raw food diet.
So far I've experimented with incorporating a little cooked food back into my diet....I've had pasta, fish, turkey, and dairy. So far no good. The food tasted good but made me nauseous. So now I find myself craving the raw foods.
Also, I didn't weigh myself but I don't think I lost much weight. I was losing in the beginning but I stopped exercising, so I stopped losing. I don't really have a huge amount of weight to lose anyhow...20 pounds would be great.
Blogged with the Flock Browser
Monday, March 23, 2009
Day 27/ Started exercising again
I started working out again today. I wanted to wait until the end of this cleanse, but today's Monday and I prefer to start new workout programs on a Monday.
The main workout programs that I use are all from Beach Body. I used to go to the gym but I prefer working out at home because, frankly, I don't like people seeing me all out of shape and sweaty. But that's just me.
I started working out to Turbo Jam videos ever since I became a fan more than two years ago. But tonight I tried something new: I worked out to Shaun T's "Rockin' Abs" from the Dance Party series of Hip Hop Abs.
I was surprised that I got such a good workout because I always thought that Hip Hop Abs was easier than Turbo Jam. But this workout was pretty challenging...I fatigued out on some of the exercises.
Plus I didn't feel the greatest because I ate something that I shouldn't have. I did have my smoothie today and a huge salad with zucchini, sundried tomatoes and avocado, but I also ate more pasta that I prepared at home. Yesterday's dinner had me craving more pasta.
Why do I do this to myself? Now I'm all bloated and so I didn't really want to go all out on the ab exercises. Plus since I haven't worked out in a few weeks, I was a little weaker than usual.
I know that a raw vegan diet is the way to go....I am so inspired by Storm Talifero of http://www.thegardendiet.com. I think he is almost 60 years old and has been a raw vegan for over 30 years. He still rock climbs and is very athletic. He said that a raw vegan diet doesn't work at its best UNLESS you also workout. That it is designed for a physically active person.
I guess that makes sense being that most mammals (besides us) are raw foodists and are very physically active (and not overweight or obese like us). Plus animals that are in the wild don't have all the lifestyle diseases that we get.
I'm pretty sure I want to stay about 85% raw vegan, but dairy makes me nauseous now. And pasta, even brown rice pasta or other gluten-free pastas, are like glue in my system. I have a feeling that I'll continue to make adjustments until I find the right balance for me.
The main workout programs that I use are all from Beach Body. I used to go to the gym but I prefer working out at home because, frankly, I don't like people seeing me all out of shape and sweaty. But that's just me.
I started working out to Turbo Jam videos ever since I became a fan more than two years ago. But tonight I tried something new: I worked out to Shaun T's "Rockin' Abs" from the Dance Party series of Hip Hop Abs.
I was surprised that I got such a good workout because I always thought that Hip Hop Abs was easier than Turbo Jam. But this workout was pretty challenging...I fatigued out on some of the exercises.
Plus I didn't feel the greatest because I ate something that I shouldn't have. I did have my smoothie today and a huge salad with zucchini, sundried tomatoes and avocado, but I also ate more pasta that I prepared at home. Yesterday's dinner had me craving more pasta.
Why do I do this to myself? Now I'm all bloated and so I didn't really want to go all out on the ab exercises. Plus since I haven't worked out in a few weeks, I was a little weaker than usual.
I know that a raw vegan diet is the way to go....I am so inspired by Storm Talifero of http://www.thegardendiet.com. I think he is almost 60 years old and has been a raw vegan for over 30 years. He still rock climbs and is very athletic. He said that a raw vegan diet doesn't work at its best UNLESS you also workout. That it is designed for a physically active person.
I guess that makes sense being that most mammals (besides us) are raw foodists and are very physically active (and not overweight or obese like us). Plus animals that are in the wild don't have all the lifestyle diseases that we get.
I'm pretty sure I want to stay about 85% raw vegan, but dairy makes me nauseous now. And pasta, even brown rice pasta or other gluten-free pastas, are like glue in my system. I have a feeling that I'll continue to make adjustments until I find the right balance for me.
Day 26/ Flax Seeds, Pasta, and Caffeine Side Effects
I've become more and more creative with my smoothies these days. Yesterday I made a smoothie with fresh pineapple, frozen banana, flax seeds, spirulina, rice milk, honey, and an apple (I was out of spinach leaves). This morning I made a smoothie with carrots, fresh mango, rice milk, frozen banana, honey, flax seeds, and spirulina. They were both delicious and filling.
I heard that flax seeds are good for providing Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids and extra fiber, and they have also been used to lower cholesterol. I don't have high cholesterol, but the benefits sound good enough to justify adding flax seeds to my smoothies. They do make my smoothies a little on the chewy side...it would probably work a little better if I ground the flax seeds instead of blending them whole.
This week I have final exams so I didn't get this post out yesterday. I was over a classmate's house for a study session, and she offered me dinner. She prepared one of my favorite meals...angel hair pasta and turkey meat sauce. Okay, I ate it. It was delicious. It was the first time that I had eaten any form of meat in almost a month. Sigh.
It was wonderful, but right after I ate it I wanted to go to sleep. In fact both of us got sleepy after eating it. Isn't that interesting? I guess the body requires so much energy to digest meat and pasta, that it doesn't have much energy left over to do anything else. I hadn't noticed until yesterday that I don't get sleepy after eating raw vegan meals.
I'm proud of myself that I have been sticking to avoiding caffeine and coffee. The Teeccino really helps. It's not that I don't want any coffee, but the price I have to pay for the side effects of caffeine is not worth it. I did some research online about caffeine and found out that it causes more than just heart palpitations...it can cause anxiety, depression, ulcers, fibrocystic breasts, and insomnia.
I heard that flax seeds are good for providing Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids and extra fiber, and they have also been used to lower cholesterol. I don't have high cholesterol, but the benefits sound good enough to justify adding flax seeds to my smoothies. They do make my smoothies a little on the chewy side...it would probably work a little better if I ground the flax seeds instead of blending them whole.
This week I have final exams so I didn't get this post out yesterday. I was over a classmate's house for a study session, and she offered me dinner. She prepared one of my favorite meals...angel hair pasta and turkey meat sauce. Okay, I ate it. It was delicious. It was the first time that I had eaten any form of meat in almost a month. Sigh.
It was wonderful, but right after I ate it I wanted to go to sleep. In fact both of us got sleepy after eating it. Isn't that interesting? I guess the body requires so much energy to digest meat and pasta, that it doesn't have much energy left over to do anything else. I hadn't noticed until yesterday that I don't get sleepy after eating raw vegan meals.
I'm proud of myself that I have been sticking to avoiding caffeine and coffee. The Teeccino really helps. It's not that I don't want any coffee, but the price I have to pay for the side effects of caffeine is not worth it. I did some research online about caffeine and found out that it causes more than just heart palpitations...it can cause anxiety, depression, ulcers, fibrocystic breasts, and insomnia.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Day 25/ Near the end of 28-day raw vegan cleanse...what's next?
Well, I have three more days left to complete my very first 28-day raw vegan food cleanse (Join The Lifeit Detox 28 Days Raw Food Cleanse). If you think you missed it, Chef Latrice actually starts a new cleanse every month on a new moon. The next cleanse is scheduled to start on March 26, 2009.
I don't want to give it all away now because on Day 28 I will give a comprehensive review of my before and after results since I've been on this cleanse. For now I will say that I was a chicken, fish, fried foods, cheese, butter, coffee, candy, and nachos consumer, and now I am about 90% raw vegan. I consume fresh fruits, sundried fruits, fresh leafy green lettuce, fresh vegetables, seeds, some nuts (except peanuts), agave nectar, raw wild honey, spirulina, nutritional yeast, Bragg Liquid Aminos, Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar, and sea salt.
The reason that I became motivated to complete this cleanse is because I had some nagging health conditions that I couldn't figure out where they were coming from. And now after only 25 days most of those conditions have either cleared up or improved.
So what's next? Well, there are some other aspects of the cleanse that I didn't incorporate this time around. For one thing, the cleanse incorporates daily exercise, but I stopped exercising when I started the cleanse (I was already working out regularly before I started).
If you read my posts from the beginning, you saw that I stopped working out because I had a cold and when I worked out my cough came back with a vengeance. But I did not intend to go this long without exercise. I guess I was so busy concentrating on my eating...but now many of the recipes have become a habit so it doesn't take as much effort anymore. I can't wait to get back to my workouts.
Secondly, I want to incorporate other self-healing modalities such as epsom salt baths, self-massage, meditation (I already pray), aromatherapy, herbal therapy, etc. I'm interested in exploring these topics on a deeper level.
Finally, there is so much more that I want to try in terms of the food...I'll probably purchase a dehydrator in a few weeks, and then there will be so many more raw vegan recipes that I will be able to create, such as cookies, breads, crackers, chips, burgers, tortillas...all without gluten, roasted corn, or hydrogenated oils. And with the live enzymes intact.
So, over the next few days I'll give it some thought and decide which direction I want to go in. Should I do a raw vegan cleanse (round 2), a fitness challenge, or a self-healing challenge? We'll see.
I don't want to give it all away now because on Day 28 I will give a comprehensive review of my before and after results since I've been on this cleanse. For now I will say that I was a chicken, fish, fried foods, cheese, butter, coffee, candy, and nachos consumer, and now I am about 90% raw vegan. I consume fresh fruits, sundried fruits, fresh leafy green lettuce, fresh vegetables, seeds, some nuts (except peanuts), agave nectar, raw wild honey, spirulina, nutritional yeast, Bragg Liquid Aminos, Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar, and sea salt.
The reason that I became motivated to complete this cleanse is because I had some nagging health conditions that I couldn't figure out where they were coming from. And now after only 25 days most of those conditions have either cleared up or improved.
So what's next? Well, there are some other aspects of the cleanse that I didn't incorporate this time around. For one thing, the cleanse incorporates daily exercise, but I stopped exercising when I started the cleanse (I was already working out regularly before I started).
If you read my posts from the beginning, you saw that I stopped working out because I had a cold and when I worked out my cough came back with a vengeance. But I did not intend to go this long without exercise. I guess I was so busy concentrating on my eating...but now many of the recipes have become a habit so it doesn't take as much effort anymore. I can't wait to get back to my workouts.
Secondly, I want to incorporate other self-healing modalities such as epsom salt baths, self-massage, meditation (I already pray), aromatherapy, herbal therapy, etc. I'm interested in exploring these topics on a deeper level.
Finally, there is so much more that I want to try in terms of the food...I'll probably purchase a dehydrator in a few weeks, and then there will be so many more raw vegan recipes that I will be able to create, such as cookies, breads, crackers, chips, burgers, tortillas...all without gluten, roasted corn, or hydrogenated oils. And with the live enzymes intact.
So, over the next few days I'll give it some thought and decide which direction I want to go in. Should I do a raw vegan cleanse (round 2), a fitness challenge, or a self-healing challenge? We'll see.
Day 24/ The (Almost) Instant Mood-Lifter
I've noticed that since I've been on this raw vegan cleanse (Join The Lifeit Detox 28 Days Raw Food Cleanse), my moods have become more stable. Which is funny because I never thought I had a problem with my moods.
Most people know me as being a calm, peaceful, soft-spoken person. Which I basically am (though I have my limits like everyone else). Before this cleanse, I would get irritated sometimes by certain individuals that are in my life...that say and do things that get on my nerves. We all have those kinds of people. However, I would get mad...sometimes I would say something and sometimes I wouldn't. But there would be a tightness in my chest.
Since this cleanse, I've realized that I don't get angry anymore. I don't get as irritated and I don't get that tight feeling in my chest. I get frustrated, but my frustration only lasts for a few hours instead of a few days.
I noticed it today because earlier something happened that threw me. However, within three or four hours I was done. And no, I didn't scream or shout or anything. I just talked it over with some friends and I was done with it. My usual response would have been to break this cleanse and go buy some KFC or something else fattening and greasy so I could drown myself in my sorrows. For several days. That is emotional eating at its best.
I've also noticed that now I smile more often. I have always been a friendly person, and I like to smile even though I'm generally quiet. But over the last three weeks or so I smile a lot more. It's not like I was showing my teeth all the time before or even now...that's not what I mean. I just feel happier, and it shows.
The person that I am when I am alone with my thoughts...that person is also calmer. I remember the days when I would replay negative experiences over and over in my mind like a broken record. Now, I still play the broken record, but I just don't get as upset anymore. It's more like, "Yeah, that happened. So what are you going to do about it?". Instead of, "Oh, woe is me."
I always thought that my "worry habit" was an inherited trait that I had no choice but to accept. But now that I hardly worry at all, I realize that, wow, my diet had everything to do with moods that I thought were just my personality, or areas where I needed spiritual growth, or something. It was probably all that sugar, caffeine, and fat. Imagine how many people would no longer need prescription drugs to control depression, ADHD, etc...if they would only change their diet.
Most people know me as being a calm, peaceful, soft-spoken person. Which I basically am (though I have my limits like everyone else). Before this cleanse, I would get irritated sometimes by certain individuals that are in my life...that say and do things that get on my nerves. We all have those kinds of people. However, I would get mad...sometimes I would say something and sometimes I wouldn't. But there would be a tightness in my chest.
Since this cleanse, I've realized that I don't get angry anymore. I don't get as irritated and I don't get that tight feeling in my chest. I get frustrated, but my frustration only lasts for a few hours instead of a few days.
I noticed it today because earlier something happened that threw me. However, within three or four hours I was done. And no, I didn't scream or shout or anything. I just talked it over with some friends and I was done with it. My usual response would have been to break this cleanse and go buy some KFC or something else fattening and greasy so I could drown myself in my sorrows. For several days. That is emotional eating at its best.
I've also noticed that now I smile more often. I have always been a friendly person, and I like to smile even though I'm generally quiet. But over the last three weeks or so I smile a lot more. It's not like I was showing my teeth all the time before or even now...that's not what I mean. I just feel happier, and it shows.
The person that I am when I am alone with my thoughts...that person is also calmer. I remember the days when I would replay negative experiences over and over in my mind like a broken record. Now, I still play the broken record, but I just don't get as upset anymore. It's more like, "Yeah, that happened. So what are you going to do about it?". Instead of, "Oh, woe is me."
I always thought that my "worry habit" was an inherited trait that I had no choice but to accept. But now that I hardly worry at all, I realize that, wow, my diet had everything to do with moods that I thought were just my personality, or areas where I needed spiritual growth, or something. It was probably all that sugar, caffeine, and fat. Imagine how many people would no longer need prescription drugs to control depression, ADHD, etc...if they would only change their diet.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Day 23/ The Battle Between Me and my Tastebuds
This morning I had some Teeccino, and then later I came home and drank my essential Green Smoothie. All was good, until I stopped off to get six more of those Cream Cheese Rangoons (that I couldn't remember the name of yesterday!).
You know what? I ate all six, and they were okay (but not as good as yesterday), and then later in the day I felt nauseous...ugh. I stayed nauseous for about six hours. This evening I ate some celery hearts with the cucumber-dill dressing that I made the other day, and they actually tasted better than I was expecting...nice and fresh and crisp. The dressing was really good too.
Well, it's officially the battle between me and my tastebuds. My tastebuds may want some things, but my physiology is changing...my body is working better because I'm giving it much higher quality fuel. So now that my body is adapting UP, when I feed it crap it shows out!
It's tough because now my body is thriving on higher quality foods that I'm not even sure I'll be able to keep up for the long term. I'm enjoying the raw vegan cleanse (Join The Lifeit Detox 28 Days Raw Food Cleanse), but in my mind I still think about my old favorite meals.
I am adapting; albeit slowly. I look at the package of frozen chicken that I have in the freezer, and I really don't want it. So then I think of who could I give the chicken to, and then I ask myself "Why would I want to give someone something that is harmful to their health?" So then I think maybe I should just throw it in the trash, but I hate to waste things.
I DID want the slices of pepper jack and gouda cheeses I have in the refrigerator...that is, before today's nausea episode. Now I don't want those either.
All I want are some fresh fruits, smoothies, salads, soups, hummus, etc. It's so interesting how the human body is able to adapt to nearly any circumstance.
Maybe there are some cooked foods that I will be able to tolerate, but dairy clearly is not one of them (though I haven't tried the raw dairy yet).
You know what? I ate all six, and they were okay (but not as good as yesterday), and then later in the day I felt nauseous...ugh. I stayed nauseous for about six hours. This evening I ate some celery hearts with the cucumber-dill dressing that I made the other day, and they actually tasted better than I was expecting...nice and fresh and crisp. The dressing was really good too.
Well, it's officially the battle between me and my tastebuds. My tastebuds may want some things, but my physiology is changing...my body is working better because I'm giving it much higher quality fuel. So now that my body is adapting UP, when I feed it crap it shows out!
It's tough because now my body is thriving on higher quality foods that I'm not even sure I'll be able to keep up for the long term. I'm enjoying the raw vegan cleanse (Join The Lifeit Detox 28 Days Raw Food Cleanse), but in my mind I still think about my old favorite meals.
I am adapting; albeit slowly. I look at the package of frozen chicken that I have in the freezer, and I really don't want it. So then I think of who could I give the chicken to, and then I ask myself "Why would I want to give someone something that is harmful to their health?" So then I think maybe I should just throw it in the trash, but I hate to waste things.
I DID want the slices of pepper jack and gouda cheeses I have in the refrigerator...that is, before today's nausea episode. Now I don't want those either.
All I want are some fresh fruits, smoothies, salads, soups, hummus, etc. It's so interesting how the human body is able to adapt to nearly any circumstance.
Maybe there are some cooked foods that I will be able to tolerate, but dairy clearly is not one of them (though I haven't tried the raw dairy yet).
Blogged with the Flock Browser
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Day 22/ Raw Vegan Chocolate Mousse with Vanilla Creme Sauce
Today was only my second time making a raw vegan dessert. The first time was when I made "Not Peanut Butter Cookies", which came out very well. That recipe as well as the recipes for the "Chocolate Mousse" and the "Vanilla Creme Sauce" are from the book Raw Food Made Easy For 1 or 2 People
.The Chocolate Mousse came out awesome...it tastes just like regular chocolate mousse or chocolate pudding. I am not exaggerating...and the most surprising part is that it is made with avocados! One would never suspect that avocados would make a dessert like this so incredibly creamy...and I bought unsweetened raw cacao powder for the chocolate flavor...which of course tastes like real chocolate because it is real chocolate! The only thing I would have done differently is I wouldn't have added the dates and instead added a little more agave nectar or honey. The reason is because my blender is kind of cheapo so it left the dates in lumps.
Today I made sure to drink my Green Smoothie as well as my Teeccino. My energy level was good. I also prepared the Cheezy Corn Chowder again and warmed it up gently on the stove to a comfortable temperature. As usual it was also very good.
But I was bad today. I only ate about 75% raw today because this afternoon I had a craving for some veggie spring rolls, and while I was ordering them I saw that they had those cream cheese things...for some reason now I'm forgetting the name. But they are an appetizer on the menus of most Chinese restaurants here in the U.S.
Anyway, it was my first time having cheese in over three weeks, and...did I tell you how much I love cheese??? Luckily I only had three small appetizers of those cream cheese things...they were so good I briefly contemplated getting back in my car and going to get more...but Atlanta traffic diswayed me for sure.
See, this is my struggle. If I openly let myself have cheese, I'm afraid I might go crazy with it...I have a serious weakness when it comes to cheese.
Having said that, I know that there are some raw foodists that are not vegan. Meaning that some eat dairy products like other vegetarians, and others eat raw meat and raw fish!
I'm surely not interested in eating raw meat or raw fish, but raw dairy products...possibly. I'm not interested in eating raw eggs (in truth I've never liked eggs anyway), but I did see some raw cheddar cheese at Life Grocery the other day...I could see myself incorporating raw cheeses into my diet. Possibly. It depends...if I see my symptoms coming back, then I'll know that the cheese has to go.
Day 21/ Three Week Checkup
You know, it's not that I don't like cooked food. I still love a lot of what I used to eat. But I decided to get on this raw food cleanse to help clear up some specific health conditions that I have. And I can say that after only three weeks, I have eliminated some health conditions and have seen improvement in others.
So do I continue to consume pasta, chicken, cheese, ice cream, coffee, candy, and other foods that I love, and dig an early grave with my teeth? Or do I stick to the raw foods, even though it takes quite a bit more effort (emotionally and physically) to avoid cooked food at all costs?
I would like to say that at some point I will be able to strike some kind of a balance. What I mean is that, since I've been on the raw foods, I have been able to avoid chicken, fried foods, cheese, etc....not without some difficulty, mind you. But I have been able to avoid them and I'm still here. So I think that long-term I could do without eating poultry, red meat, or fried foods.
However, when I look forward to the rest of my life, I would like to occasionally be able to have a piece of broiled fish in lemon butter...even if it's only once or twice per month. Or maybe a bowl of caribbean-style red pea soup (without the meat, of course), or some red lentil curry, or something like that. Some of these foods are a connection to a part of my culture...being that I come from a Caribbean background. There are some foods that I want to have in my life for emotional reasons.
This afternoon I ate a serving of some cooked vegan food. It was a small serving of steamed brown rice with some cooked vegetables in coconut curry sauce (can you tell I like curry?). I only bought it because I was rushing and I was in the mood for something warm to eat. That's why I can't wait until I get my dehydrator and my VitaMix. I will be able to warm food in the dehydrator and soups in the VitaMix without destroying the enzymes.
My assessment is, it wasn't really all that. I've noticed that since I've been on this raw vegan cleanse (Join The Lifeit Detox 28 Days Raw Food Cleanse), that cooked vegetables just don't taste as good as raw vegetables. When you cook the vegetables, they lose some of their flavor. I think that's basically true for all cooked foods...that's why you have to season cooked food so much.
I was thinking I could have made a raw version of that dish but the only thing is what would I substitute for the brown rice? I have seen that some raw vegans use sprouted or soaked wild rice in raw dishes but I've never tried that. I have also seen some raw vegans use couscous, which really isn't technically raw.
This evening I made the zucchini hummus and ate it on romaine lettuce leaves with slices of sweet red pepper and black olives. I also made some cucumber dressing with dill that I will try on a salad tomorrow.
I noticed that my energy level was somewhat low today and I didn't realize until this evening that I had forgotten to drink my Green Smoothie this morning. I am still abstaining from caffeine and I'm still enjoying my Teeccino.
One more thing...today I learned from one of my instructors that High Fructose Corn Syrup contains mercury. I haven't had time to research that, but if it does then that is one more reason to avoid it.
So do I continue to consume pasta, chicken, cheese, ice cream, coffee, candy, and other foods that I love, and dig an early grave with my teeth? Or do I stick to the raw foods, even though it takes quite a bit more effort (emotionally and physically) to avoid cooked food at all costs?
I would like to say that at some point I will be able to strike some kind of a balance. What I mean is that, since I've been on the raw foods, I have been able to avoid chicken, fried foods, cheese, etc....not without some difficulty, mind you. But I have been able to avoid them and I'm still here. So I think that long-term I could do without eating poultry, red meat, or fried foods.
However, when I look forward to the rest of my life, I would like to occasionally be able to have a piece of broiled fish in lemon butter...even if it's only once or twice per month. Or maybe a bowl of caribbean-style red pea soup (without the meat, of course), or some red lentil curry, or something like that. Some of these foods are a connection to a part of my culture...being that I come from a Caribbean background. There are some foods that I want to have in my life for emotional reasons.
This afternoon I ate a serving of some cooked vegan food. It was a small serving of steamed brown rice with some cooked vegetables in coconut curry sauce (can you tell I like curry?). I only bought it because I was rushing and I was in the mood for something warm to eat. That's why I can't wait until I get my dehydrator and my VitaMix. I will be able to warm food in the dehydrator and soups in the VitaMix without destroying the enzymes.
My assessment is, it wasn't really all that. I've noticed that since I've been on this raw vegan cleanse (Join The Lifeit Detox 28 Days Raw Food Cleanse), that cooked vegetables just don't taste as good as raw vegetables. When you cook the vegetables, they lose some of their flavor. I think that's basically true for all cooked foods...that's why you have to season cooked food so much.
I was thinking I could have made a raw version of that dish but the only thing is what would I substitute for the brown rice? I have seen that some raw vegans use sprouted or soaked wild rice in raw dishes but I've never tried that. I have also seen some raw vegans use couscous, which really isn't technically raw.
This evening I made the zucchini hummus and ate it on romaine lettuce leaves with slices of sweet red pepper and black olives. I also made some cucumber dressing with dill that I will try on a salad tomorrow.
I noticed that my energy level was somewhat low today and I didn't realize until this evening that I had forgotten to drink my Green Smoothie this morning. I am still abstaining from caffeine and I'm still enjoying my Teeccino.
One more thing...today I learned from one of my instructors that High Fructose Corn Syrup contains mercury. I haven't had time to research that, but if it does then that is one more reason to avoid it.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Day 20/ Ginger Almond Nori Rolls
These days I feel like I'm eating at a restaurant for dinner every night, when it's actually just me messing around in the kitchen ((smile)).
Here is the video that I viewed to learn how to make this recipe:
I really enjoyed this recipe...it actually tasted better than California Rolls, in my opinion. I ate the first few pieces plain, and the rest I dipped in Braggs Liquid Aminos. Yum! Yes, I ate both servings myself! It was that good.
I'm still drinking a Green Smoothie every day, but today I also drank a hot chocolate! By now you know that was a "No, No" for the purposes of this cleanse (Join The Lifeit Detox 28 Days Raw Food Cleanse) as well as for my efforts to avoid caffeine.
I hadn't even intended to buy a hot chocolate...I was planning to buy a caffeine-free herbal tea. But when I saw the sign for the hot chocolate, my mind said, "Umm, a hot chocolate. I haven't had a hot chocolate in a long time...Umm, that sounds good." and before I knew it, I was drinking a hot chocolate.
But would you believe that right when I was still drinking it, I started to break out on my skin and my back started to itch? I said to myself, "Hmm...could it be? Maybe this is why my skin used to break out (before the cleanse). Maybe I'm actually allergic to milk, chocolate, table sugar, or some other ingredient". That was pretty eye-opening.
Generally speaking, I'm proud of my progress on this cleanse, and I'm also glad that I've stuck to it for almost three weeks. I am enjoying the raw vegan food and trying new recipes...and I'm not so sure I'll be ready to end it when Day 28 gets here.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Day 19/ Overcoming Caffeine, Sweet Taste Of Soul
Over the last few days I have completely eliminated all caffeine consumption. I haven't even been drinking my Black Chai tea or my Black Vanilla tea. I purchased a bag of Teeccino in the Caffe flavor, which really tastes a LOT like coffee. So much so that I've been able to psychologically fool myself.
I'm learning that food addiction is more than about the taste. It's also emotional and psychological. One of the things that I had been telling myself for years is that I 'have' to have a cup of coffee when I start my day, or otherwise I'm just not energetic/happy/present.
So now I drink a cup of Teeccino in the morning, and on some level I feel satisfied. Nevermind that Teeccino has no caffeine or acid like coffee does. It still seems to work.
Mind you, I'm still having detox symptoms. Since I've cut out the caffeine, I've been having headaches. But it's bearable, and as long as I increase my water intake, I'll be fine.
The makers do suggest that coffee drinkers should mix a little Teeccino in their coffee, gradually increasing the amount, to cut down on the withdrawal symptoms. But I never bought another bag of coffee after my last bag ran out.
Today I got a chance to meet Chef Latrice, founder of the Lifeit Detox (Join The Lifeit Detox 28 Days Raw Food Cleanse). She was at the Sweet Taste Of Soul party in Atlanta, preparing Raw Vegan and Vegan food for the guests.
I got a chance to taste a raw vegan Kale dish...I'm not sure if it is her famous "Marinated Kale" or not, but I also got to try a raw vegan Broccoli and Cheese that was outstanding. I'm still trying to figure out how she made it so cheesy. The "fried fish" was also great...she has the recipe on her website (just click the "join" link above and follow the "recipes" link). She used a dehydrator to make the "fried fish", but since I don't have one yet, I want to try it in my oven with the temp on low and the door cracked. I won't know for sure if it will work unless I give it a try.
Finally, there was a lady at the party that does colonics...when she talked about how some of her clients pass parasites...that was a scary conversation. She talked about how there was one young lady that always ate a lot of sweets...after her colonic she had a bucket full of pinworms. Yuck!
Since I've been on this cleanse, I thought I saw something that looked like it could possibly be parasites (looked like rice grains) in my stool, but I wasn't sure. I think I feel better not being quite sure, rather than seeing some long worm-like thing and not having any doubt about it! Yuck!
I'm learning that food addiction is more than about the taste. It's also emotional and psychological. One of the things that I had been telling myself for years is that I 'have' to have a cup of coffee when I start my day, or otherwise I'm just not energetic/happy/present.
So now I drink a cup of Teeccino in the morning, and on some level I feel satisfied. Nevermind that Teeccino has no caffeine or acid like coffee does. It still seems to work.
Mind you, I'm still having detox symptoms. Since I've cut out the caffeine, I've been having headaches. But it's bearable, and as long as I increase my water intake, I'll be fine.
The makers do suggest that coffee drinkers should mix a little Teeccino in their coffee, gradually increasing the amount, to cut down on the withdrawal symptoms. But I never bought another bag of coffee after my last bag ran out.
Today I got a chance to meet Chef Latrice, founder of the Lifeit Detox (Join The Lifeit Detox 28 Days Raw Food Cleanse). She was at the Sweet Taste Of Soul party in Atlanta, preparing Raw Vegan and Vegan food for the guests.
I got a chance to taste a raw vegan Kale dish...I'm not sure if it is her famous "Marinated Kale" or not, but I also got to try a raw vegan Broccoli and Cheese that was outstanding. I'm still trying to figure out how she made it so cheesy. The "fried fish" was also great...she has the recipe on her website (just click the "join" link above and follow the "recipes" link). She used a dehydrator to make the "fried fish", but since I don't have one yet, I want to try it in my oven with the temp on low and the door cracked. I won't know for sure if it will work unless I give it a try.
Finally, there was a lady at the party that does colonics...when she talked about how some of her clients pass parasites...that was a scary conversation. She talked about how there was one young lady that always ate a lot of sweets...after her colonic she had a bucket full of pinworms. Yuck!
Since I've been on this cleanse, I thought I saw something that looked like it could possibly be parasites (looked like rice grains) in my stool, but I wasn't sure. I think I feel better not being quite sure, rather than seeing some long worm-like thing and not having any doubt about it! Yuck!
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Day 18/ Raw Vegan Tacos - Caribbean Style
This recipe came out FANTABULOUS!!! I got it from Storm Talifero's Vegan Kitchen on the Natural Paradigms Channel (http://www.naturalparadigms.com). One of the things that is fun about making this recipe is that not only do you get to create a complete meal, but you also get a beverage out of it.
Here's what you need to get started:
Two young coconuts
One head of iceberg lettuce (I used romaine leaves)
One red onion (I used sweet onion)
Olive oil
Sea Salt
Any additional herbs you want to add
1 cup raw almonds
Two tomatoes
One avocado
1 cup pinenuts (I used sunflower seeds)
One date (for sweet cream) or one half lemon (for sour cream)
Wild honey or agave nectar
1 clove garlic (optional)
4 small habanero peppers (optional)
It's amazing to me that at my age (which I do not care to admit), I am just now learning how to open a fresh coconut. Let me tell you, it was an interesting experience. They make it look so easy on YouTube.
Well, I planned to shave off the pointed part, then use a large knife to hack a square-shaped section around the center, then peel off the center. But it turned out to be more difficult than it sounded.
And after all that hacking, and resorting to one of my metal dumbbells to hit the knife on the back to make the square, and then discovering that hitting the knife broke it, the first coconut was spoiled. Warning: if the water or the flesh is pink or brown, it's bad! Don't eat it.
So, I went through the entire process with the second coconut and it was good. This was the only difficult part of this recipe for me. (Google to see if you can find instructions on how to properly open a coconut...I wish you an easier experience than I had.) Since the first coconut was spoiled, I had to halve the recipe. But you can see in the photo above that I still had more than enough food and couldn't even finish it all myself.
I poured the coconut juice into a separate container and set it aside. Then I used a spoon to scrape out all the white flesh, taking care not to get any part of the shell. I put the coconut on a plate and set it aside.
I chopped half the onion and put it in the food processor to mince. Then I put in the food processor half the coconut with about two teaspoons of olive oil, about 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt, and since I was in the mood for curry, I added about two teaspoons of curry powder and a half teaspoon of sage (but you can go crazy and add whatever spices you want). Then I processed those together.
Next I took the raw almonds and put them in the blender (make sure it's dry)and blended the almonds into a powder as best I could. I then put the ground almonds into the food processor with a little more olive oil (if it's too dry) and a little more sea salt to taste. Then I processed the almonds with the onion/coconut mixture.
This onion/coconut/almond mixture is the "meat" for our tacos. So that's why I said you can season it however you want...you can use Mexican seasoning or Italian seasoning or whatever.
Now it's time for the condiments: Cut up the two tomatoes and put those in a small bowl, then peel and slice an avocado and put that aside, and also mince the other half of the onion and put it aside.
You can also make your own hot sauce with the four habanero peppers, one clove of garlic, and 1/4 an onion...blend those together in the food processor and then add a little olive oil.
To make the sour cream or sweet cream, add 1 cup of pinenuts (or less, I found I had to add more coconut water because my cream was too thick), the other half of the coconut meat, 1/2 cup coconut water, 2 teaspoons of olive oil, a little sea salt, and either the juice of half a lemon (for sour cream) or one date (for sweet cream). Blend these items in the blender together, scraping down the sides until the mixture is creamy and the consistency that you want.
Pour off most of the cream into a separate dish, but don't rinse out the blender. What's left in the blender is going to make our drink (I think this works best if you made sweet cream instead of sour cream). Pour what's left of the coconut water into the blender, add some wild honey or agave nectar to taste, add a little nutmeg or cinnamon, and blend. Voila! You're done!
Now just take your "taco shell" which is your iceberg lettuce or your romaine lettuce leaves, spread two spoonfuls of the "taco meat", and then layer your condiments and top with your sweet cream or sour cream. Pour your beverage in a glass with some ice and enjoy!
Friday, March 13, 2009
Day 17/ Jicama Fries, Muesli, and other "facsimile foods"
Last night, even after I wrote yesterday's post, I had a cooked food craving that was nearly uncontrollable. I had to do something really fast or I was going to eat my "contraband" food with abandon (I haven't gotten rid of the bad stuff out of my frig yet).
I kept thinking about my desire for something greasy, salty, and spicy. I remembered how in my pre-cleanse days (Join The Lifeit Detox 28 Days Raw Food Cleanse) I really loved seasoned french fries with honey mustard sauce.
So I had a jicama on top of the frig that I hadn't tried yet, so I washed it, peeled it, then sliced it into strips that were about the same shape as french fries. Then I drizzled the pieces with olive oil, paprika, onion powder, sea salt, and some cajun seasoning. I wanted to have some honey mustard with them, but my old dressing that I have in the frig is made with high fructose corn syrup (which I have recently learned is another dangerous enemy in our everyday foods). I will need to purchase either prepared organic honey mustard, or I will need to get some dry mustard seeds to make my own dressing for next time.
The jicama surprised me...I wasn't expecting it to be slightly sweet, but it was...it was also crisp...kind of like an apple but not sour and a little more starchy. But with the olive oil, the spices, and the salt, it satisfied my craving (thank goodness!).
I decided to take a photo of the famous Green Smoothie. Nothing special, but visuals are always nice.
For the first time, I prepared something that was similar to my familiar bowls of cereal that I have eaten most of my life. The other photo above looks like a normal bowl of breakfast cereal, but it is actually Muesli made with organic rolled oats, raisins, raw almonds, raw sunflower seeds, agave nectar, rice milk, and fresh blueberries. I got the recipe from Raw Food Made Easy For 1 or 2 People
. It was both tasty and filling.In the book 12 Steps to Raw Foods: How to End Your Dependency on Cooked Food
, the author Victoria Boutenko says that there are actually three stages to adopting the raw vegan lifestyle, and that the first stage is when you are eating a lot of gourmet raw vegan meals, dehydrated foods, and rich foods like nuts because you need the food to taste as much like the SAD (Standard American Diet) as possible. But that as you progress into eating raw foods on a regular basis, your tastes become much simpler.I'm here to freely admit that I am definitely in stage one, and that in order for me to last on this cleanse (and afterwards), I need to prepare and eat as many "facsimile meals" as possible...the more the meals taste familiar, the greater my chances for success. Luckily I love to cook, and am excited and amazed at all of the delicious, creative raw vegan recipes that are available.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Day 16/ The KFC Temptation, and my vegetarian slipup
After having the Green Smoothie yesterday, along with such a filling dinner, I actually wasn't hungry today and didn't eat anything all day. But that didn't stop me from being tempted.
This morning I traveled with some classmates while they stopped off at a KFC to get something to eat. I didn't order a thing, nor did I eat a thing. But I wanted to. I was craving that warm, greasy, salty, spicy fried chicken like nobody's business. I can't wait till I get a food dehydrator.
As a side note, there is a rumor that KFC changed their name from Kentucky Fried Chicken because they don't actually use real chickens anymore...that they use laboratory chickens that they grow specifically for the purpose of eating them...and that these chickens have never seen the light of day. Is that true or just one of those rumors that are debunked on Snopes? I don't know, but just hearing it is enough to make me pause...but I still wanted some! LOL!
I managed to abstain though, and the funny thing is that I wasn't even hungry. So where was this craving coming from? Habit? Addiction? Emotion? I don't know. But it was enough to make me wonder.
This evening I prepared a Green Smoothie that I drank on my way to a meeting. At the meeting they had some snacks that I initially didn't want, but later I did eat something cooked...I ate some vegetarian potstickers with some ginger-tamari sauce...they were absolutely delicious. I'm going to have to figure out a way to make something similar raw vegan style.
The more I think about it, the more it may be very possible...traditionally the dough is steamed, though...I'll have to think of a way to make an edible raw vegan dough that I can use, and I'll just have some veggies that I cut up and put in the potstickers by the spoonful...the sauce is the easiest part.
This morning I traveled with some classmates while they stopped off at a KFC to get something to eat. I didn't order a thing, nor did I eat a thing. But I wanted to. I was craving that warm, greasy, salty, spicy fried chicken like nobody's business. I can't wait till I get a food dehydrator.
As a side note, there is a rumor that KFC changed their name from Kentucky Fried Chicken because they don't actually use real chickens anymore...that they use laboratory chickens that they grow specifically for the purpose of eating them...and that these chickens have never seen the light of day. Is that true or just one of those rumors that are debunked on Snopes? I don't know, but just hearing it is enough to make me pause...but I still wanted some! LOL!
I managed to abstain though, and the funny thing is that I wasn't even hungry. So where was this craving coming from? Habit? Addiction? Emotion? I don't know. But it was enough to make me wonder.
This evening I prepared a Green Smoothie that I drank on my way to a meeting. At the meeting they had some snacks that I initially didn't want, but later I did eat something cooked...I ate some vegetarian potstickers with some ginger-tamari sauce...they were absolutely delicious. I'm going to have to figure out a way to make something similar raw vegan style.
The more I think about it, the more it may be very possible...traditionally the dough is steamed, though...I'll have to think of a way to make an edible raw vegan dough that I can use, and I'll just have some veggies that I cut up and put in the potstickers by the spoonful...the sauce is the easiest part.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Day 15/ Zucchini Pasta with Puttanesca Sauce and Not Meat Balls
Yet another winning dish from Raw Food Made Easy For 1 or 2 People
. Now I see why this book has 130 five-star reviews on Amazon.com.Before I started this cleanse (Join The Lifeit Detox 28 Days Raw Food Cleanse), one of my favorite dishes was Whole Wheat Pasta with Turkey Meat Sauce. So I was eager to try this dish.
Well, it both looked and tasted familiar. It tasted a LOT like the spaghetti that I was used to. I could have warmed the dish up slightly in the oven and that would have made it taste even more like regular spaghetti, but instead I ate it at room temperature. It is also as filling as it looks.
Yesterday I purchased another book from Harry's Farmer's Market called 12 Steps to Raw Foods: How to End Your Dependency on Cooked Food
. Before I buy anything, I always check to see the reviews on Amazon.com. This book also has very good reviews.This book is not so much a cookbook as it is a kind of guide to raw food eating. So far I've only read the first 3 chapters, but I have already learned that nearly every nutrient that the human body needs (including protein) can be found in green leafy vegetables. Unfortunately, most people, including raw vegans, don't eat enough green leafy vegetables because either they don't like the taste, or they can't digest them well.
So the author came up with a way to make Green Smoothies where you combine fresh fruit, a handful or two of green leafy vegetables, and water in a smoothie. She found that when she started drinking these Green Smoothies, she saw even more improvements in her health, even though at that time she had already been a raw vegan for a number of years.
The ebook that comes with the Lifeit Detox Cleanse also incorporates Green Smoothies, but initially I had been making my smoothies without the vegetables. At the time I thought that if I added spirulina and the smoothie LOOKED green, that all was good! Now that I know the importance of adding green leafy vegetables to my smoothies, I have started doing that. It really does make eating salad greens a lot more palatable and easier to digest.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Day 14/ Fighting Temptation
Here's my secret Achilles' heel: sugar. Sugar is one of the most insidious chemicals that is hidden in so many processed foods...and I find that not only do I have a caffeine addiction that I am still working to break, but I also have a sugar addiction.
Since I've been on this cleanse (Join The Lifeit Detox 28 Days Raw Food Cleanse), I've done well by avoiding all forms of meat, cheese, etc.
But over the last few days, I've had very little sleep because I've been so busy...and I have found myself purchasing chocolate, eating candy, and today I actually ate a cookie!
The cookie was good but it is not worth my health...I don't want to reverse all the progress that I have made on this cleanse...for me I feel that in order to stick to this, it's going to have to be all or nothing.
I'm not going to be able to maintain a healthy body by having an occasional cookie, or a chocolate bar, or a piece of chicken. I feel that if I do that, before I know it I'll be back to my old eating habits.
But it's only been two weeks and I'm still having cravings...I bought that cookie in a Harry's Farmers Market down here and I was really hungry...the salad bar was so tempting...they had soup and food and I wanted some. I grabbed the cookie because I felt it would do the least damage...I really wanted some chicken or some fish!
I managed to abstain...it was tough. I'm here to tell you that this cleanse isn't easy, but my desire for a healthy body is greater than my desire for some fried chicken.
Since I've been on this cleanse (Join The Lifeit Detox 28 Days Raw Food Cleanse), I've done well by avoiding all forms of meat, cheese, etc.
But over the last few days, I've had very little sleep because I've been so busy...and I have found myself purchasing chocolate, eating candy, and today I actually ate a cookie!
The cookie was good but it is not worth my health...I don't want to reverse all the progress that I have made on this cleanse...for me I feel that in order to stick to this, it's going to have to be all or nothing.
I'm not going to be able to maintain a healthy body by having an occasional cookie, or a chocolate bar, or a piece of chicken. I feel that if I do that, before I know it I'll be back to my old eating habits.
But it's only been two weeks and I'm still having cravings...I bought that cookie in a Harry's Farmers Market down here and I was really hungry...the salad bar was so tempting...they had soup and food and I wanted some. I grabbed the cookie because I felt it would do the least damage...I really wanted some chicken or some fish!
I managed to abstain...it was tough. I'm here to tell you that this cleanse isn't easy, but my desire for a healthy body is greater than my desire for some fried chicken.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Day 13/ The Taliferos, and Zucchini with Mock Peanut Sauce
I've been doing a lot of reading online about raw veganism, and I came across a raw vegan couple by the names of Storm and Jinjee Talifero that I am amazed by and I am learning a lot from them. Their main website is http://www.thegardendiet.com.
I ordered access to their Natural Paradigms Channel, and I am in the process of watching their documentary called "Breakthrough". I won't give it away here, but I will say that watching that video motivates me to stick to this cleanse like nobody's business!
Today was an extremely hectic day, but I did get a chance to try some Mocha-flavored Teeccino (herbal coffee). It tasted okay but I would have preferred that it tasted more like coffee and less like hot chocolate. They have a variety of flavors so next time I'm going to try the one that tastes more like regular coffee.
I also had some cravings for cooked food today, but I didn't give in. It helped that my cravings occurred in the middle of a Vegan Cafe where they had a nice selection of raw vegan foods for me to choose from. I selected some raw hummus, raw sprouted lentil salad, raw sprouted quinoa salad, and marinated kale with cucumbers and carrots from the salad bar.
That was my first time trying raw lentils and raw quinoa, and the lentils were a little too firm for my taste. I would have preferred that the lentils had soaked a little longer.
I also prepared my usual smoothie except this time I added a generous handful of salad greens, and I tried a new recipe out of Raw Food Made Easy For 1 or 2 People for Zucchini Fettuccini with Mock Peanut Sauce.
Wow, another winner! The Mock Peanut Sauce was made with fresh ginger that gave the Zucchini a super-delicious flavor. I've had to wash more dishes on this cleanse than usual, but I've barely had to touch the stove except to boil water for tea...so I guess that is just one of those "trade offs" that is definitely worth it.
Join The Lifeit Detox 28 Days Raw Food Cleanse
I ordered access to their Natural Paradigms Channel, and I am in the process of watching their documentary called "Breakthrough". I won't give it away here, but I will say that watching that video motivates me to stick to this cleanse like nobody's business!
Today was an extremely hectic day, but I did get a chance to try some Mocha-flavored Teeccino (herbal coffee). It tasted okay but I would have preferred that it tasted more like coffee and less like hot chocolate. They have a variety of flavors so next time I'm going to try the one that tastes more like regular coffee.
I also had some cravings for cooked food today, but I didn't give in. It helped that my cravings occurred in the middle of a Vegan Cafe where they had a nice selection of raw vegan foods for me to choose from. I selected some raw hummus, raw sprouted lentil salad, raw sprouted quinoa salad, and marinated kale with cucumbers and carrots from the salad bar.
That was my first time trying raw lentils and raw quinoa, and the lentils were a little too firm for my taste. I would have preferred that the lentils had soaked a little longer.
I also prepared my usual smoothie except this time I added a generous handful of salad greens, and I tried a new recipe out of Raw Food Made Easy For 1 or 2 People
for Zucchini Fettuccini with Mock Peanut Sauce. Wow, another winner! The Mock Peanut Sauce was made with fresh ginger that gave the Zucchini a super-delicious flavor. I've had to wash more dishes on this cleanse than usual, but I've barely had to touch the stove except to boil water for tea...so I guess that is just one of those "trade offs" that is definitely worth it.
Join The Lifeit Detox 28 Days Raw Food Cleanse
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Day 12/ Raw Vegan Lasagna
Today I tried a new recipe out of Raw Food Made Easy For 1 or 2 People
. Wow, is it wonderful! I'm so proud of this recipe that I actually took some photos.I am not sure that I can give the entire recipe here without the author's permission, but I will share that I made the Marinara Sauce with fresh tomatoes, sundried tomatoes, sweet red pepper, fresh basil, fresh garlic, sea salt, olive oil, black pepper, oregano, and I added some red pepper flakes. I blended it altogether in my food processor, and then I added some sliced black olives.
The Lasagna is made with sliced zucchini (to replace the lasagna noodles), chopped spinach (or any green leafy vegetable will do), and avocado (to replace the cheese). Then you just layer it like Lasagna.
When I was done I thought it looked a lot like the Lasagna that I was used to, but I wondered, how would it taste? Well, I'm here to say that from the first bite, I was hooked!
Wow, it was delicious! It actually tasted like Lasagna, what do ya know? I kept feeling guilty eating it, and I had to remind myself that it was all live vegetables and okay for me to eat.
I keep waiting to feel deprived on this raw food cleanse (Join The Lifeit Detox 28 Days Raw Food Cleanse), but so far I'm enjoying nearly everything that I have tried. I realize now that my body had been trying to tell me for a long time to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables...I guess it's better late than never.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Day 11/ Am I Nuts???
I'm not much of a nut person, but on a raw vegan diet it is best for one to consume nuts, seeds, and green leafy vegetables (along with fruits) to get all the protein your body requires. Or at least that is my level of knowledge at this point. I'm not eating any dairy, beans (because they require cooking), or meat, so I have to get my protein from somewhere, right? Of course, nuts must be consumed in moderation.
Besides, soaked raw nuts like cashews and almonds can be used to make all kinds of substitutes for dairy products. Everything from cream cheese, to sour cream to whipped topping, to milk. So it's actually kind of cool watching the nuts and seeds transform.
So far I have only made the Sunflower Cheese, but I want to try a recipe for Vanilla Creme Sauce from Raw Food Made Easy For 1 or 2 People. She uses it in recipes for Banana Pudding and also layered with another recipe for Chocolate Mousse....I can't wait to try them.
One reason that I am so motivated to do this cleanse (Join The Lifeit Detox 28 Days Raw Food Cleanse) is because I actually have a few additional health issues that I haven't mentioned in this blog yet. I don't want to share them until I see that they are totally gone, but I will say that I am seeing noticeable improvement with one issue in particular.
I'm basically using food as medicine, kind of like a prescription for my body...allowing my body all the tools that it needs to help it to heal itself. Being that I am already seeing some improvements, it appears that this method is working...and I'm motivated to continue to eat a raw vegan diet until my body is 100% healed.
Fasting is also a wonderful healing mechanism, and many people have seen great health benefits through fasting. But fasting works best when you can "take it easy" and rest your body...my schedule is so intense right now that I need to be 100% present. I will be taking a break in about three weeks, and at that time I should be able to fast for a few days.
Today's diet was typical...I had my usual smoothie, and throughout the day I drank tea and managed to abstain from my beloved coffee.
Over the last few days, I have had teeccino (www.teeccino.com) presented to me under three different circumstances, so I am taking that as a sign that I need to try it. It seems to be a really good way to help me to kick the coffee habit.
For dinner I had more Zucchini Hummus except instead of a sandwich, I made a salad with it on top of red leaf lettuce, red peppers, sweet onions, and black olives. Wow was it ever wonderful....I also snacked on more Medjool dates...they are quite tasty!
Everything just seems to be so delicious...which reminds me...earlier today I stopped off at QuikTrip to get gas, and since it was pretty warm outside, I wanted a slurpie.
Well, the one I tried (the orange one) was so sweet and sour and concentrated, that I puckered my lips through the first half and threw out the rest. I don't know if my taste buds have become more sensitive because of the cleanse, or if that slurpie was just nasty, but wow, I realized I should have just bought a bottled water. All of that sugar was way too much.
Besides, soaked raw nuts like cashews and almonds can be used to make all kinds of substitutes for dairy products. Everything from cream cheese, to sour cream to whipped topping, to milk. So it's actually kind of cool watching the nuts and seeds transform.
So far I have only made the Sunflower Cheese, but I want to try a recipe for Vanilla Creme Sauce from Raw Food Made Easy For 1 or 2 People
. She uses it in recipes for Banana Pudding and also layered with another recipe for Chocolate Mousse....I can't wait to try them.One reason that I am so motivated to do this cleanse (Join The Lifeit Detox 28 Days Raw Food Cleanse) is because I actually have a few additional health issues that I haven't mentioned in this blog yet. I don't want to share them until I see that they are totally gone, but I will say that I am seeing noticeable improvement with one issue in particular.
I'm basically using food as medicine, kind of like a prescription for my body...allowing my body all the tools that it needs to help it to heal itself. Being that I am already seeing some improvements, it appears that this method is working...and I'm motivated to continue to eat a raw vegan diet until my body is 100% healed.
Fasting is also a wonderful healing mechanism, and many people have seen great health benefits through fasting. But fasting works best when you can "take it easy" and rest your body...my schedule is so intense right now that I need to be 100% present. I will be taking a break in about three weeks, and at that time I should be able to fast for a few days.
Today's diet was typical...I had my usual smoothie, and throughout the day I drank tea and managed to abstain from my beloved coffee.
Over the last few days, I have had teeccino (www.teeccino.com) presented to me under three different circumstances, so I am taking that as a sign that I need to try it. It seems to be a really good way to help me to kick the coffee habit.
For dinner I had more Zucchini Hummus except instead of a sandwich, I made a salad with it on top of red leaf lettuce, red peppers, sweet onions, and black olives. Wow was it ever wonderful....I also snacked on more Medjool dates...they are quite tasty!
Everything just seems to be so delicious...which reminds me...earlier today I stopped off at QuikTrip to get gas, and since it was pretty warm outside, I wanted a slurpie.
Well, the one I tried (the orange one) was so sweet and sour and concentrated, that I puckered my lips through the first half and threw out the rest. I don't know if my taste buds have become more sensitive because of the cleanse, or if that slurpie was just nasty, but wow, I realized I should have just bought a bottled water. All of that sugar was way too much.
Day 10/ My Favorite Grocery Store, and Hummus With A Twist
This morning I didn't fix anything to eat...all I had was some Black Chai Tea. After I got out of class at 11:00am, I bought something to drink along with a raw fruit snack made out of raisins and sunflower seeds.
At around 1:00pm, I decided to do some serious grocery shopping. I had heard that I could possibly save some money buying my nuts and raisins at an Indian grocery store. I knew there was a Pakistani grocery near my house, so I decided to give them a try.
I was able to get raw almonds for about $5.99 a pound, along with regular and golden raisins, prunes, and Medjool dates at some pretty reasonable prices. I realize now that I could have done a lot better on the raw almonds, but at the time I wasn't sure.
I dropped those items off at home while I snacked on some of the Medjool dates. What is so funny about dates is that as a child I never liked them because I thought that they looked like big dead waterbugs (cockroaches)! What's even funnier is that I sill think they look like roaches, and I keep checking to make sure that a real roach didn't get accidentally caught up in the package of dates!
In spite of that, I ate them anyway and they were delicious! LOL!
I also bought some Tahini at the Pakistani store, but I didn't realize until I got home that I should have purchased raw tahini, because regular tahini is made from roasted sesame seeds. I was going to take it back but for $3.99 I decided to keep it this time while I figure out how to make my own raw tahini.
I grabbed an apple and headed back out to get more groceries...this time, I went to Trader Joe's.
Trader Joe's is my favorite grocery store of all time. I always thought that they were my favorite, but I hadn't been in a few months and that was when I still ate meat.
Join The Lifeit Detox 28 Days Raw Food Cleanse
Now, they are REALLY my favorite! As soon as I walked in, I was tempted because they had all my favorite foods...all kinds of cheeses, chicken, plus I really like nearly every creation Trader Joe's comes up with...whether it be their frozen Thai Spring Rolls, or their Indian-style ready-made meals, or their Thai Red Curry sauce, or their freeze-dried mangosteen fruit.
I even saw that they carry the Ezekiel bread that I've heard so much about...it's a live sprouted bread. But I didn't want the starches so I decided against buying the Ezekiel bread.
But what I was most excited about were their prices! For instance, they had organic bananas for 29 cents each, and they had a large jar of raw almond butter for $4.99, whereas I saw a jar half the size at Life Grocery for $12! Even their raw almonds and raw cashews were really reasonable...they don't carry EVERYTHING, but what they do have is of high quality and very reasonable.
I went back home and made a quick smoothie and drank that on my way to a meeting. After I got back from the meeting, I ate a late dinner...I prepared my first recipe from Raw Food Made Easy For 1 or 2 People, the Zucchini Hummus, and I made a sandwich out of it using lettuce leaves, red sweet peppers, and black olives. YUMMMMMM......it was good. Zucchini is another one of those things that I never liked growing up, but now it tastes great, and it definitely tastes better raw than cooked.
At around 1:00pm, I decided to do some serious grocery shopping. I had heard that I could possibly save some money buying my nuts and raisins at an Indian grocery store. I knew there was a Pakistani grocery near my house, so I decided to give them a try.
I was able to get raw almonds for about $5.99 a pound, along with regular and golden raisins, prunes, and Medjool dates at some pretty reasonable prices. I realize now that I could have done a lot better on the raw almonds, but at the time I wasn't sure.
I dropped those items off at home while I snacked on some of the Medjool dates. What is so funny about dates is that as a child I never liked them because I thought that they looked like big dead waterbugs (cockroaches)! What's even funnier is that I sill think they look like roaches, and I keep checking to make sure that a real roach didn't get accidentally caught up in the package of dates!
In spite of that, I ate them anyway and they were delicious! LOL!
I also bought some Tahini at the Pakistani store, but I didn't realize until I got home that I should have purchased raw tahini, because regular tahini is made from roasted sesame seeds. I was going to take it back but for $3.99 I decided to keep it this time while I figure out how to make my own raw tahini.
I grabbed an apple and headed back out to get more groceries...this time, I went to Trader Joe's.
Trader Joe's is my favorite grocery store of all time. I always thought that they were my favorite, but I hadn't been in a few months and that was when I still ate meat.
Join The Lifeit Detox 28 Days Raw Food Cleanse
Now, they are REALLY my favorite! As soon as I walked in, I was tempted because they had all my favorite foods...all kinds of cheeses, chicken, plus I really like nearly every creation Trader Joe's comes up with...whether it be their frozen Thai Spring Rolls, or their Indian-style ready-made meals, or their Thai Red Curry sauce, or their freeze-dried mangosteen fruit.
I even saw that they carry the Ezekiel bread that I've heard so much about...it's a live sprouted bread. But I didn't want the starches so I decided against buying the Ezekiel bread.
But what I was most excited about were their prices! For instance, they had organic bananas for 29 cents each, and they had a large jar of raw almond butter for $4.99, whereas I saw a jar half the size at Life Grocery for $12! Even their raw almonds and raw cashews were really reasonable...they don't carry EVERYTHING, but what they do have is of high quality and very reasonable.
I went back home and made a quick smoothie and drank that on my way to a meeting. After I got back from the meeting, I ate a late dinner...I prepared my first recipe from Raw Food Made Easy For 1 or 2 People
, the Zucchini Hummus, and I made a sandwich out of it using lettuce leaves, red sweet peppers, and black olives. YUMMMMMM......it was good. Zucchini is another one of those things that I never liked growing up, but now it tastes great, and it definitely tastes better raw than cooked.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Day 9/ Raw Food Made Easy
Today was kind of rough-going at first...I was up early because I had an exam at 7am and I was out of my usual smoothie stuff...so I prepared the Spinach and Sundried Tomato Salad and ate that for "breakfast". Then later in the morning I ate some fresh pineapple (boy was that interesting, learning how to cut a real pineapple for the first time), but in the afternoon I still felt hungry.
In fact, I really didn't feel that well today. I went to the bank around 4:30 pm and felt nauseous as I was talking to the teller. I felt that maybe it was because I was detoxing, but I also felt really hungry.
I wanted to get something in my stomach ASAP, and I knew I didn't have much to eat at home. So I stopped off at Life Grocery's Cafe.
They had both raw vegan and cooked vegan choices on the menu and on their buffet, and even though I was tempted (to order something warm and cooked), I ordered a raw vegan dish. I forgot what they called it, but it was basically a sandwich and a salad.
The salad was basically some romaine lettuce with dressing...I ordered the tahini salad dressing. The sandwich "bread" was really a dehydrated seed, onion, and spice combo. It tasted good but was not quite what I expected...it was denser than regular bread, but it held the sandwich together well and didn't get as soggy as regular bread does.
Inside the sandwich were two thick layers of sundried tomato hummus, and in the middle were cucumbers, sprouts, and I'm not sure what else. But it was good.
In fact, for $6.95 plus my member discount, I did better buying it from them than making it myself! I made a mental note to eat there a lot more often.
Now it's four hours later and I still feel really satisfied. It was a nice-sized meal and was worth every penny and then some.
Finally, this evening I stopped off at Barnes and Noble and bought a raw vegan cookbook that had 130 five-star reviews on Amazon.com. It's called Raw Food Made Easy For 1 or 2 People. I can't wait to read it (and try some of the recipes).
Oh yeah, I got my first compliment today. I told one of my classmates that I'm doing this cleanse (Join The Lifeit Detox 28 Days Raw Food Cleanse), and she said, "I knew there was something different about you! So that's why you're glowing!" She said that the food is changing my aura. How interesting.
In fact, I really didn't feel that well today. I went to the bank around 4:30 pm and felt nauseous as I was talking to the teller. I felt that maybe it was because I was detoxing, but I also felt really hungry.
I wanted to get something in my stomach ASAP, and I knew I didn't have much to eat at home. So I stopped off at Life Grocery's Cafe.
They had both raw vegan and cooked vegan choices on the menu and on their buffet, and even though I was tempted (to order something warm and cooked), I ordered a raw vegan dish. I forgot what they called it, but it was basically a sandwich and a salad.
The salad was basically some romaine lettuce with dressing...I ordered the tahini salad dressing. The sandwich "bread" was really a dehydrated seed, onion, and spice combo. It tasted good but was not quite what I expected...it was denser than regular bread, but it held the sandwich together well and didn't get as soggy as regular bread does.
Inside the sandwich were two thick layers of sundried tomato hummus, and in the middle were cucumbers, sprouts, and I'm not sure what else. But it was good.
In fact, for $6.95 plus my member discount, I did better buying it from them than making it myself! I made a mental note to eat there a lot more often.
Now it's four hours later and I still feel really satisfied. It was a nice-sized meal and was worth every penny and then some.
Finally, this evening I stopped off at Barnes and Noble and bought a raw vegan cookbook that had 130 five-star reviews on Amazon.com. It's called Raw Food Made Easy For 1 or 2 People
. I can't wait to read it (and try some of the recipes).Oh yeah, I got my first compliment today. I told one of my classmates that I'm doing this cleanse (Join The Lifeit Detox 28 Days Raw Food Cleanse), and she said, "I knew there was something different about you! So that's why you're glowing!" She said that the food is changing my aura. How interesting.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Day 8/ Running Out Of The Good Stuff
This morning I didn't get to make my usual smoothie, so I just grabbed two organic apples and ran out the door.
Then later I got busy and didn't get to eat except for a small fruit cup, so by the time I got home this evening I felt weak and very hungry.
I'm also nearly out of all my raw vegan stuff except for a mango and a pineapple that I'm saving for tomorrow morning...so, my "contraband" food started to look a little tempting.
I opened the freezer and gazed at my tilapia, fish sticks, chicken, and Morningstar Veggie Cakes...took out the veggie cakes, heated those up and ate them.
Well, they weren't raw vegan, but at least they were vegetarian.
Then I ate what was left over of my bad batch of Creamy (Kale) Salad that I made yesterday, and after that I decided to make a smoothie out of the last of the hemp milk, frozen fruit, sunflower seeds, and agave nectar. I also added a heaping teaspoon of spirulina, and a handful of dried shredded coconut.
Hopefully I'll have a chance to go grocery shopping tomorrow evening...because if I don't, I'm in trouble because I'm running out of my raw vegan food. And you know what that means...more temptation.
I surprised myself, though...I really didn't want the fish, or the chicken, or the canned red salmon, or the tuna. I didn't even want the alfredo sauce that I briefly thought might go well with the bag of broccoli and cauliflower that I saw in the freezer. Wow, I'm really changing.
Join The Lifeit Detox 28 Days Raw Food Cleanse
Then later I got busy and didn't get to eat except for a small fruit cup, so by the time I got home this evening I felt weak and very hungry.
I'm also nearly out of all my raw vegan stuff except for a mango and a pineapple that I'm saving for tomorrow morning...so, my "contraband" food started to look a little tempting.
I opened the freezer and gazed at my tilapia, fish sticks, chicken, and Morningstar Veggie Cakes...took out the veggie cakes, heated those up and ate them.
Well, they weren't raw vegan, but at least they were vegetarian.
Then I ate what was left over of my bad batch of Creamy (Kale) Salad that I made yesterday, and after that I decided to make a smoothie out of the last of the hemp milk, frozen fruit, sunflower seeds, and agave nectar. I also added a heaping teaspoon of spirulina, and a handful of dried shredded coconut.
Hopefully I'll have a chance to go grocery shopping tomorrow evening...because if I don't, I'm in trouble because I'm running out of my raw vegan food. And you know what that means...more temptation.
I surprised myself, though...I really didn't want the fish, or the chicken, or the canned red salmon, or the tuna. I didn't even want the alfredo sauce that I briefly thought might go well with the bag of broccoli and cauliflower that I saw in the freezer. Wow, I'm really changing.
Join The Lifeit Detox 28 Days Raw Food Cleanse
Day 7/ Detoxing, Struggle, and Enlightenment
I didn't get this post out yesterday because I was so tired...I'm definitely detoxing.
But anyhow, yesterday my eating schedule was per usual: a berry-banana smoothie in the morning, and later I prepared the Cheezy Corn Chowder again and it came out even better this time (I added an extra tablespoon of nutritional yeast). Finally, I prepared the Creamy Kale recipe with Organic Spring Mix substituted for the kale.
Except this time the Organic Spring Mix came out bitter. I can't figure out if it was because I added too much garlic, or maybe because I substituted Bragg Liquid Aminos for the lemon juice and sea salt, or if it was because I ate it right after I ate the Cheezy Corn Chowder and the change in flavor made the salad taste bitter? I don't know...I made the salad from the second half of the same batch of salad that I used earlier in the week. I ate it anyway but I wonder about that.
I'm still struggling with my coffee fix. I've made things a little more difficult for myself because I ran out of ground coffee at home. So this means that if I want coffee, I have to take the extra step and go to the store and buy some. I'm hoping that this will discourage me even further.
I have been doing so much reading about raw veganism that I am slowly becoming a closet expert (well, not really). I've learned that you can heat raw vegan soups, as I stated in my previous post, and I have learned that you can use a dehydrator to make all the things you loved about Doritos, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut.
I have also realized that eating fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and seeds makes me feel closer to God. I think it is because now I am eating the food that He prepared for me to eat, for the first time.
I've noticed that I'm losing weight but I don't want to weigh myself until the end of the cleanse (Join The Lifeit Detox 28 Days Raw Food Cleanse). But I can see the difference in the mirror.
But anyhow, yesterday my eating schedule was per usual: a berry-banana smoothie in the morning, and later I prepared the Cheezy Corn Chowder again and it came out even better this time (I added an extra tablespoon of nutritional yeast). Finally, I prepared the Creamy Kale recipe with Organic Spring Mix substituted for the kale.
Except this time the Organic Spring Mix came out bitter. I can't figure out if it was because I added too much garlic, or maybe because I substituted Bragg Liquid Aminos for the lemon juice and sea salt, or if it was because I ate it right after I ate the Cheezy Corn Chowder and the change in flavor made the salad taste bitter? I don't know...I made the salad from the second half of the same batch of salad that I used earlier in the week. I ate it anyway but I wonder about that.
I'm still struggling with my coffee fix. I've made things a little more difficult for myself because I ran out of ground coffee at home. So this means that if I want coffee, I have to take the extra step and go to the store and buy some. I'm hoping that this will discourage me even further.
I have been doing so much reading about raw veganism that I am slowly becoming a closet expert (well, not really). I've learned that you can heat raw vegan soups, as I stated in my previous post, and I have learned that you can use a dehydrator to make all the things you loved about Doritos, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut.
I have also realized that eating fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and seeds makes me feel closer to God. I think it is because now I am eating the food that He prepared for me to eat, for the first time.
I've noticed that I'm losing weight but I don't want to weigh myself until the end of the cleanse (Join The Lifeit Detox 28 Days Raw Food Cleanse). But I can see the difference in the mirror.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Day 6/ Cheezy Corn Chowder
I actually made this last night...I found this recipe on the LifeIt Community Forum (Join The Lifeit Detox 28 Days Raw Food Cleanse), and they got it from www.rawfoodtalk.com.
Cheezy Corn Chowder
1 c corn kernels (I used frozen)
1 clove garlic
1 T onion
1/4 c cashews (I used sunflower seeds)
2 T nutritional yeast
4 baby carrots (or 1 regular one)
1/4" ring of red pepper (I used green pepper)
2 T olive oil
1/2 - 1 t psyllium (depending how thick you wish chowder to get) (I just added more corn/less water)
1 t cumin
1/8 t nutmeg (I didn't have any nutmeg, so I used ground ginger)
1 T parsley (I think she means fresh, but I used dried)
1/2 t salt
grind pepper to taste
2 c water
blend in hi speed blender till very creamy
add :
1/4 c more corn kernels
1 T parsley
and warm up on stove till warm enough to eat.
I never knew that raw foodists could heat up their food until I read this. I've since learned that as long as the food is not heated above 108-115 degrees, all is good... the enzymes are still intact. I took it easy and only heated up the soup to lukewarm because I don't have a food thermometer, but that was still a lot better than having to eat the soup ice cold (especially since I used frozen corn).
This soup was delicious...it felt fresh and good. The nutritional yeast I guess is supposed to make it taste "cheezy"...I didn't really taste a particulary cheezy taste, but the corn had a really nice flavor that was just plain delicious.
I have been doing a lot of reading about raw vegans...so far my assessment is that everyone has an opinion! Here's mine: you have to do what is best for you.
Long-term, I can see myself having a diet of about 80% raw, but occasionally I will want a piece of baked fish. Also, I am still interested in raw dairy products as well (I have since learned that not all raw foodists are vegan!).
Raw milk and raw cheeses are harder to find, but are nutritionally easier to tolerate than even organic dairy. The pastuerization process destroys the enzymes that are needed to properly digest milk, which is why people who thought that they were lactose intolerant can actually tolerate raw dairy products.
However, the LifeIt Detox is a 28-day cleanse, and like all cleanses, it is designed for a specified period of time. So during this cleanse, I'm abstaining from all cooked food and dairy products (except for my occasional slip-ups that I write about).
TMI (too much information) warning...
One of the benefits that I am already seeing on this cleanse is that (okay this is embarassing but it's the truth) for a long time I've been having a problem of being "backed up". Just a few months ago, I had tried everything but still couldn't go for over a week. But since I've been doing this cleanse, I'm regular again. So right away that is a sign that my body is giving me to let me know that I'm on the right track.
Cheezy Corn Chowder
1 c corn kernels (I used frozen)
1 clove garlic
1 T onion
1/4 c cashews (I used sunflower seeds)
2 T nutritional yeast
4 baby carrots (or 1 regular one)
1/4" ring of red pepper (I used green pepper)
2 T olive oil
1/2 - 1 t psyllium (depending how thick you wish chowder to get) (I just added more corn/less water)
1 t cumin
1/8 t nutmeg (I didn't have any nutmeg, so I used ground ginger)
1 T parsley (I think she means fresh, but I used dried)
1/2 t salt
grind pepper to taste
2 c water
blend in hi speed blender till very creamy
add :
1/4 c more corn kernels
1 T parsley
and warm up on stove till warm enough to eat.
I never knew that raw foodists could heat up their food until I read this. I've since learned that as long as the food is not heated above 108-115 degrees, all is good... the enzymes are still intact. I took it easy and only heated up the soup to lukewarm because I don't have a food thermometer, but that was still a lot better than having to eat the soup ice cold (especially since I used frozen corn).
This soup was delicious...it felt fresh and good. The nutritional yeast I guess is supposed to make it taste "cheezy"...I didn't really taste a particulary cheezy taste, but the corn had a really nice flavor that was just plain delicious.
I have been doing a lot of reading about raw vegans...so far my assessment is that everyone has an opinion! Here's mine: you have to do what is best for you.
Long-term, I can see myself having a diet of about 80% raw, but occasionally I will want a piece of baked fish. Also, I am still interested in raw dairy products as well (I have since learned that not all raw foodists are vegan!).
Raw milk and raw cheeses are harder to find, but are nutritionally easier to tolerate than even organic dairy. The pastuerization process destroys the enzymes that are needed to properly digest milk, which is why people who thought that they were lactose intolerant can actually tolerate raw dairy products.
However, the LifeIt Detox is a 28-day cleanse, and like all cleanses, it is designed for a specified period of time. So during this cleanse, I'm abstaining from all cooked food and dairy products (except for my occasional slip-ups that I write about).
TMI (too much information) warning...
One of the benefits that I am already seeing on this cleanse is that (okay this is embarassing but it's the truth) for a long time I've been having a problem of being "backed up". Just a few months ago, I had tried everything but still couldn't go for over a week. But since I've been doing this cleanse, I'm regular again. So right away that is a sign that my body is giving me to let me know that I'm on the right track.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Day 5/ Sunflower Seed Cheese
Today I tried a recipe for Sunflower Seed Cheese. I got the idea from the LifeIt Community Forum (Join The Lifeit Detox 28 Days Raw Food Cleanse), because they posted a video demonstration of how to make the recipe from YouTube. But the recipe is not included in the ebook.
So I Googled it, and I came across a recipe that I adapted.
Here is my version of Mexican Spice Seed Cheese: (adapted from www.almondessence.com)
Ingredients
1/2 cup pumpkin seeds, soaked 4 - 6 hours
1/2 cup sunflower seeds, soaked 4 - 6 hours
1/4 teaspoon chipotle powder (I used Pampered Chef Southwestern Seasoning Blend)
1 teaspoon cumin powder
1 small clove garlic, peeled, and minced
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 cup almond milk (page 40), water, or kefir (page 46) (I used Brita filtered water)
2 tablespoons lemon or lime juice (I used Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar)
I had no idea about the soaking...I just dumped the pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds in a jar last night and stuck it in the refrigerator. I didn't know if it was supposed to go in the fridge or not. Next time I won't mix the two seeds together, because it made it harder to separate out the sunflower seed skins. After you finish soaking the seeds, you are supposed to change the water, and then rub the seeds together to get the skins off. (Of course you know to buy the seeds raw and already hulled!)
Anyway, the skins will cause the cheese to turn grey if you don't remove them. They float in the water after you rub the seeds together (after soaking). Unfortunately, the pumpkin seeds also float. So that made it harder to separate out the skins... just keep it simple and soak them separately.
So the pumpkin seeds are supposed to add a smoky flavor to the cheese, but you can use all sunflower seeds if you want.
Just dump all the ingredients in a blender or food processor, and blend until it looks whipped and smooth like ricotta cheese. Scrape down the sides and add a little water if necessary. It keeps in the frig for 2-3 days.
I'm so surprised at how much this version tastes like hummus. I think it's the cumin that really makes it taste like that. So this is a good substitute if you don't like beans or nuts.
One of the things that I really like about this cleanse is that it is stretching me to try recipes that I would normally have to buy at the store. There is something so freeing in knowing that I can make it myself.
So I Googled it, and I came across a recipe that I adapted.
Here is my version of Mexican Spice Seed Cheese: (adapted from www.almondessence.com)
Ingredients
1/2 cup pumpkin seeds, soaked 4 - 6 hours
1/2 cup sunflower seeds, soaked 4 - 6 hours
1/4 teaspoon chipotle powder (I used Pampered Chef Southwestern Seasoning Blend)
1 teaspoon cumin powder
1 small clove garlic, peeled, and minced
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 cup almond milk (page 40), water, or kefir (page 46) (I used Brita filtered water)
2 tablespoons lemon or lime juice (I used Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar)
I had no idea about the soaking...I just dumped the pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds in a jar last night and stuck it in the refrigerator. I didn't know if it was supposed to go in the fridge or not. Next time I won't mix the two seeds together, because it made it harder to separate out the sunflower seed skins. After you finish soaking the seeds, you are supposed to change the water, and then rub the seeds together to get the skins off. (Of course you know to buy the seeds raw and already hulled!)
Anyway, the skins will cause the cheese to turn grey if you don't remove them. They float in the water after you rub the seeds together (after soaking). Unfortunately, the pumpkin seeds also float. So that made it harder to separate out the skins... just keep it simple and soak them separately.
So the pumpkin seeds are supposed to add a smoky flavor to the cheese, but you can use all sunflower seeds if you want.
Just dump all the ingredients in a blender or food processor, and blend until it looks whipped and smooth like ricotta cheese. Scrape down the sides and add a little water if necessary. It keeps in the frig for 2-3 days.
I'm so surprised at how much this version tastes like hummus. I think it's the cumin that really makes it taste like that. So this is a good substitute if you don't like beans or nuts.
One of the things that I really like about this cleanse is that it is stretching me to try recipes that I would normally have to buy at the store. There is something so freeing in knowing that I can make it myself.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Day 4/ Weaning Off Of Coffee
Late last night I got up because I actually felt hungry, and I ate two organic apples.
Today I had my usual smoothie and throughout the day I drank several cups of tea.
I haven't mentioned it before, but I'm a die-hard coffee drinker, and through this cleanse (Join The Lifeit Detox 28 Days Raw Food Cleanse) not only am I weaning myself off of cheese, chicken, fish, and all cooked food, I'm also weaning myself off of my beloved coffee.
I have been reading the raw food forums online and discovered that there are some raw foodists that still drink coffee (though they drink organic coffee). I have also read that some are into kombucha tea, which seems to be all the rave these days, while others drink coffee substitutes or "healthy coffees".
I've been drinking Black Chai tea, Black Vanilla tea, and peppermint teas. I only had one cup of coffee a few days ago, and I had it with soy milk and agave nectar. And for some reason, I didn't really enjoy it that much.
My strategy is that I first have to have a smoothie and a cup of tea, and then if I still want the coffee, I'll have it then. But what's been happening is that after drinking the smoothie and the tea, I either forget about the coffee, or I no longer have a desire for it.
I experienced my first headache today. I'm not sure if it is because of the coffee withdrawal, or if it's a cleansing reaction. But it eventually went away...it could have simply been a hunger headache.
I prepared a large salad: I followed the recipe for the "Creamy Kale" except I substituted Organic Spring Mix for the Kale. I believe I may have made a smaller portion than the recipe called for, because I found that it came out a little too tangy and salty. So next time I'm going to make it with only 1 Tablespoon each of lemon juice and apple cider vinegar, and only a half a teaspoon of sea salt.
Finally, I did eat something cooked today...I ate a serving of organic grains with organic milk and organic sugar. For some reason, I wanted this. I don't know...maybe my body needs something in that.
Today I had my usual smoothie and throughout the day I drank several cups of tea.
I haven't mentioned it before, but I'm a die-hard coffee drinker, and through this cleanse (Join The Lifeit Detox 28 Days Raw Food Cleanse) not only am I weaning myself off of cheese, chicken, fish, and all cooked food, I'm also weaning myself off of my beloved coffee.
I have been reading the raw food forums online and discovered that there are some raw foodists that still drink coffee (though they drink organic coffee). I have also read that some are into kombucha tea, which seems to be all the rave these days, while others drink coffee substitutes or "healthy coffees".
I've been drinking Black Chai tea, Black Vanilla tea, and peppermint teas. I only had one cup of coffee a few days ago, and I had it with soy milk and agave nectar. And for some reason, I didn't really enjoy it that much.
My strategy is that I first have to have a smoothie and a cup of tea, and then if I still want the coffee, I'll have it then. But what's been happening is that after drinking the smoothie and the tea, I either forget about the coffee, or I no longer have a desire for it.
I experienced my first headache today. I'm not sure if it is because of the coffee withdrawal, or if it's a cleansing reaction. But it eventually went away...it could have simply been a hunger headache.
I prepared a large salad: I followed the recipe for the "Creamy Kale" except I substituted Organic Spring Mix for the Kale. I believe I may have made a smaller portion than the recipe called for, because I found that it came out a little too tangy and salty. So next time I'm going to make it with only 1 Tablespoon each of lemon juice and apple cider vinegar, and only a half a teaspoon of sea salt.
Finally, I did eat something cooked today...I ate a serving of organic grains with organic milk and organic sugar. For some reason, I wanted this. I don't know...maybe my body needs something in that.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Day 3/ My First Setback
Today I had another smoothie (surprise, surprise)! It was a pineapple-banana smoothie with hemp milk this time, since I finished the soy milk.
I didn't taste much of a difference between the soy milk and the hemp milk...as usual, the smoothie was delicious.
But I did have a setback today. When I got out of class, it was rainy and cooler than it was when I left this morning. By the time I got back home, I was cold in my bones.
So, the first thing I wanted to eat was something warm. I did fix some tea, but I also broke down and ate some Oriental flavor "Oodles of Noodles"! LOL! I know, it could have been worse, though. When that cold hit my bones, all I wanted was comfort food.
I later snacked on some raisins, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds. I was supposed to fix another Spinach and Sundried Tomato salad, but for some reason I didn't get around to it.
I've noticed that I'm not as hungry as I thought I would be, and I'm also not sleeping as much.
Join The Lifeit Detox 28 Days Raw Food Cleanse
I didn't taste much of a difference between the soy milk and the hemp milk...as usual, the smoothie was delicious.
But I did have a setback today. When I got out of class, it was rainy and cooler than it was when I left this morning. By the time I got back home, I was cold in my bones.
So, the first thing I wanted to eat was something warm. I did fix some tea, but I also broke down and ate some Oriental flavor "Oodles of Noodles"! LOL! I know, it could have been worse, though. When that cold hit my bones, all I wanted was comfort food.
I later snacked on some raisins, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds. I was supposed to fix another Spinach and Sundried Tomato salad, but for some reason I didn't get around to it.
I've noticed that I'm not as hungry as I thought I would be, and I'm also not sleeping as much.
Join The Lifeit Detox 28 Days Raw Food Cleanse
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Day 2/ Hamburgers...Raw Vegan Style
Today I had a 7:00am class, and as usual, I was running late. So I didn't get a chance to make the smoothie before I left for class.
So instead I made some hot tea to go and grabbed a live food energy bar that I bought from Life Grocery.
After I got back from class, I made a smoothie. Mmmmm! Those smoothies are delicious! Berries, a banana, soy milk, agave nectar, and spirulina. It was great.
This evening I prepared the Mushroom Burger. It was two marinated Portabella Mushroom caps, tomato slices, onion slices, and the recipe called for guacamole, but I substituted raw herbed hummus.
Not bad. If I squinted, I almost thought I was eating a hamburger on a bun.
For dessert, another smoothie. This time just mangoes, a banana, soy milk, agave nectar, and spirulina. I am loving these smoothies.
Overall, my assessment is that it is tough to find things to eat...I mean, there are endless raw food recipes, I know. But you have to make them all from scratch in most cases, unless you live near a restaurant that sells raw meals. The grocery store was almost useless with the exception of the fruit and vegetable section.
However, I want my health back, and I'm pretty motivated. And these smoothies along with the creative recipes are softening the blow.
Join The Lifeit Detox 28 Days Raw Food Cleanse
It's so funny...just a few days ago I never thought I could stick to being a vegetarian. Now, I look with longing at all the things vegetarians can eat that I can't! It's so funny how when your perspective changes, things seem easy when they used to be so difficult.
So instead I made some hot tea to go and grabbed a live food energy bar that I bought from Life Grocery.
After I got back from class, I made a smoothie. Mmmmm! Those smoothies are delicious! Berries, a banana, soy milk, agave nectar, and spirulina. It was great.
This evening I prepared the Mushroom Burger. It was two marinated Portabella Mushroom caps, tomato slices, onion slices, and the recipe called for guacamole, but I substituted raw herbed hummus.
Not bad. If I squinted, I almost thought I was eating a hamburger on a bun.
For dessert, another smoothie. This time just mangoes, a banana, soy milk, agave nectar, and spirulina. I am loving these smoothies.
Overall, my assessment is that it is tough to find things to eat...I mean, there are endless raw food recipes, I know. But you have to make them all from scratch in most cases, unless you live near a restaurant that sells raw meals. The grocery store was almost useless with the exception of the fruit and vegetable section.
However, I want my health back, and I'm pretty motivated. And these smoothies along with the creative recipes are softening the blow.
Join The Lifeit Detox 28 Days Raw Food Cleanse
It's so funny...just a few days ago I never thought I could stick to being a vegetarian. Now, I look with longing at all the things vegetarians can eat that I can't! It's so funny how when your perspective changes, things seem easy when they used to be so difficult.
Day 1/ Mmmmm......Smoothies
I forgot to say in my previous post that I actually tried out my very first professionally prepared raw meal on my precleanse day (Join The Lifeit Detox 28 Days Raw Food Cleanse)...I ordered "Soft-Shell Tacos" made out of living foods from one of the vegetarian cafes in my area.
My overall rating: B+. The taco shells were made in a dehydrator from fresh corn and herbs. I guess they took the shells out early so they wouldn't be too dry. They were tasty.
The "meat" was made of raw nuts, flax seed, and spices...I'm not sure what the other ingredients were. The texture was right, but there was a slight bitter aftertaste that I didn't like. That was the only thing that kept the meal from being an A+.
The tacos came with a side salad and I ordered living honey mustard dressing with it. The dressing surprised me...it had a lemony taste to it that was actually quite nice, and it was sweet.
So on Day 1 I made my first smoothie with the new blender. I substituted soy milk for the filtered water, and I added frozen pieces of mango, pineapple and berries. I topped it off with a few spoons of Agave nectar, and a heaping tablespoon of spirulina (which I later realized was too much). The smoothie was delicious! That's going to be an awesome way to start off my day.
In the evening I made the spinach salad with the sundried tomatoes. To my surprise, this was also delicious! The sundried tomatoes along with the olive oil, sea salt, and italian seasoning were reminiscent of pepperoni.
I also noticed that the congestion in my lungs is starting to loosen up.
My overall rating: B+. The taco shells were made in a dehydrator from fresh corn and herbs. I guess they took the shells out early so they wouldn't be too dry. They were tasty.
The "meat" was made of raw nuts, flax seed, and spices...I'm not sure what the other ingredients were. The texture was right, but there was a slight bitter aftertaste that I didn't like. That was the only thing that kept the meal from being an A+.
The tacos came with a side salad and I ordered living honey mustard dressing with it. The dressing surprised me...it had a lemony taste to it that was actually quite nice, and it was sweet.
So on Day 1 I made my first smoothie with the new blender. I substituted soy milk for the filtered water, and I added frozen pieces of mango, pineapple and berries. I topped it off with a few spoons of Agave nectar, and a heaping tablespoon of spirulina (which I later realized was too much). The smoothie was delicious! That's going to be an awesome way to start off my day.
In the evening I made the spinach salad with the sundried tomatoes. To my surprise, this was also delicious! The sundried tomatoes along with the olive oil, sea salt, and italian seasoning were reminiscent of pepperoni.
I also noticed that the congestion in my lungs is starting to loosen up.
Pre-Cleanse/ LifeIt 28-Day Raw Food Cleanse
Well, this is my story.
I have always known that the body is self-healing and that if we feed it the right nutrients and give it plenty of exercise, for the most part we will do okay.
Over the last 10 years, my diet had improved immensely. I cut out most forms of white sugar, white flour, pork (all forms), red meat, and some fried foods. My weaknesses are dairy products (especially cheese), sweets, and lately nachos.
But that wasn't enough. I started to feel these phantom aches and pains, and when I looked in the mirror, I started seeing wrinkles!
Some may think that this is a normal part of the aging process (I'm in my thirties), but I'm not having it!!! I REFUSE to get old.
I decided that 2009 would be the year that I focused on beautifying myself by getting in shape and improving my eating habits.
I started exercising around Christmas, and that went very well. I had more energy than I thought I would, and had no problems with my workouts. That is, until I got sick.
I am a full-time student and have a lot on my plate, so I'm thinking stress may have had something to do with it...but anyhow, I have already had two colds this season. Usually I only get sick once per year at the MOST.
But this time, I got sick and then I didn't even get over it as quickly as I normally do. Normally, I'm done in three days. So, when I was feeling better three days later, I popped in a weight-training workout.
My energy for my workout was a little lower than usual, but I felt that was to be expected...but the next day, my cough came back with a vengeance, and now it's been over one week and I'm still fighting this nagging cough.
So, this is why when I heard about the LifeIt Detox 28-Day Raw Food Cleanse (Join The Lifeit Detox 28 Days Raw Food Cleanse), I decided that I would jump on board. I felt that this would be a perfect opportunity for me to get my health back.
To prepare for the cleanse, I purchased a few items that I knew I would need: a blender, a shredder, and a cutting board. The blender is optional for the purposes of this cleanse, but I knew I would want to make smoothies.
I also tried to finish as much of my "contraband" food that I already had in the frig so I would waste as little as possible when I began the cleanse.
Finally, I did the best that I could to mentally prepare myself for what I was embarking on.
I have always known that the body is self-healing and that if we feed it the right nutrients and give it plenty of exercise, for the most part we will do okay.
Over the last 10 years, my diet had improved immensely. I cut out most forms of white sugar, white flour, pork (all forms), red meat, and some fried foods. My weaknesses are dairy products (especially cheese), sweets, and lately nachos.
But that wasn't enough. I started to feel these phantom aches and pains, and when I looked in the mirror, I started seeing wrinkles!
Some may think that this is a normal part of the aging process (I'm in my thirties), but I'm not having it!!! I REFUSE to get old.
I decided that 2009 would be the year that I focused on beautifying myself by getting in shape and improving my eating habits.
I started exercising around Christmas, and that went very well. I had more energy than I thought I would, and had no problems with my workouts. That is, until I got sick.
I am a full-time student and have a lot on my plate, so I'm thinking stress may have had something to do with it...but anyhow, I have already had two colds this season. Usually I only get sick once per year at the MOST.
But this time, I got sick and then I didn't even get over it as quickly as I normally do. Normally, I'm done in three days. So, when I was feeling better three days later, I popped in a weight-training workout.
My energy for my workout was a little lower than usual, but I felt that was to be expected...but the next day, my cough came back with a vengeance, and now it's been over one week and I'm still fighting this nagging cough.
So, this is why when I heard about the LifeIt Detox 28-Day Raw Food Cleanse (Join The Lifeit Detox 28 Days Raw Food Cleanse), I decided that I would jump on board. I felt that this would be a perfect opportunity for me to get my health back.
To prepare for the cleanse, I purchased a few items that I knew I would need: a blender, a shredder, and a cutting board. The blender is optional for the purposes of this cleanse, but I knew I would want to make smoothies.
I also tried to finish as much of my "contraband" food that I already had in the frig so I would waste as little as possible when I began the cleanse.
Finally, I did the best that I could to mentally prepare myself for what I was embarking on.
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