Friday, November 24, 2006

Raw-Vegan Alfredo Sauce recipe

The other day I was really wanting some creamy alfredo sauce type of thing. This is what I came up with:

1 cup pine nuts (soaked at least 4 hours)
1 cup fresh young coconut meat
1 clove garlic
1 Tbsp nutritional yeast
small slice of onion
salt to taste
water to thin

Blend all ingredients until super creamy. Add the water until desired consistency is reached. If you add 1-2 Tbsp lemon juice you have a delicious ranch-type of salad dressing. If you make it thicker, it is a delicious cream cheese-ish spread for manna bread or veggie dip! Delicious!

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Cha de Bugre

I have to share my newest love with you! Cha de bugre is a rainforest herb that is extremely helpful for those of us who battle the bulge or are trying to maintain our current weight. It is very new to the U.S. and is being marketed as "the new ephedra". Of course, unlike ephedra, it doesn't seem to have any health risks at all...only benefits. This is the info I have found:

appetite depressant
stimulates circulation
heart tonic
fights cellulite
anti-viral properties
fever reducer
diuretic

I drink it as a tea, but I think it can be found in a tincture and in capsules. I LOVE it! This is where I get mine. Even though I eat mostly fruit, veggies, nuts and seeds, I still need help to maintain my weight. When I work long hours, have clients back to back and don't have the opportunity to eat a meal, this stuff really holds me off unitil I can get home and have a proper healthy meal.

Thursday, November 16, 2006

It's not a cult!

When I first began this lifestyle, my husband was very concerned. Whenever I uttered the words "raw vegan" he would cringe. He didn't relax until I read him an excerpt from the wonderful book Raw Food Real World: 100 recipes to get the glow. It said something about the fact that raw foodism is not a religion or a cult. I will reiterate by saying that one does not need to live in a commune or a tent to enjoy the benefits of raw foods. You are not required to stop wearing deodorant. Thank God! I like to step outside of all those limiting labels and ego-driven nonsense. It's not about martyrdom for me. It's about self-love and feeling good. Amen!
I will note here that I am the only person I know that follows this way of eating to any real degree. Actually, most of the people who know me have no idea. The only time I really talk about it is when someone asks me how I lost all this weight, or what's different about me (they usually comment on my skin which looked terrible before this life change).
I have always been interested in and exposed to alternative health methods and nutrition. I rebelled for awhile, but I must admit that I've gathered some fantastic information over the years. I've had the privelidge of meeting many people who have healed their bodies with food and a change in their mind-set. I hope to meet more people through this blog and hear their stories!

Raw Quickie

Yay! I'm just establishing my raw blog here. I'd love to share with those who are new to this Raw Food thang. I'm interested in breaking out of those labels and boxes that sometimes are imposed upon people who are interested in their health and healing to this degree.

Yes, well after several months of total wonderful success, I have finally hit one of those places where it is difficult to get back on track with my raw-ness. I feel the difference too. My foggy head and cravings for peanut butter granola bars are a clear sign! BAH! I made the mistake of not having enough of MY food in the house (my husband and I don't eat the same things). I've been busy doing other stuff when I should've been preparing food for myself to have for quick meals and snacking.
I love to prepare food. LOVE IT!!! I usually keep my fridge and freezer stocked with yummies like cashew hummus, brownies, orange-cream pudding, ice cream...all raw vegan and delicious! Loving the food you eat and actually having it around is so key to any successful change of diet. It seems so basic, but it requires thought and planning.
Ok, yes, regular ice cream was once my absolutely favorite food. I would eat it for breakfast sometimes. Within the past week I actually had some of my husband's ice cream. It had been months and months since I'd had anything like that. You know what happened? Well, the Earth didn't shake, I didn't have an orgasm, it was really no big deal at all. I mean, it was OK but it didn't set me off on a frenzy and I didn't head for the store to buy all the Ben and Jerry's in the store freezer. What a relief! Sometimes I will have some of my peach-raspberry ice cream for dinner and it is so wonderful to enjoy it and know that it is actually something my body wants. I'm addicted to that feeling. I suppose I can still say that ice cream is one of my favorite things in the world, just not the kind most people eat. LOL.