New Beginning

Well I don't think I really thought this through, but I had to do it anyway.   Unfortunately I was not motivated enough to take pictures.  Today I began a 3 day fast.  I just thought I should do some sort of cleansing.   Since I don't do this often, I am starting out slow.   Not that I have never done it.   I have fasted on teas before, but I have never gone longer than 3 days.  This time I started out (blushing) with a half cup of coffee.  

On the menu:

•     warm lemon water
•     grapefruit juice
•     green juice
•     miso soup

Throughout the day I had plain water, reishi mushroom tea, warm lemon water, and more plain water.   I don't feel hungry yet.

Hubby is not fasting.   He works physically, so I don't think its a good idea.  You never know what symptoms come out during a fast.  I did make him some basmati rice with cranberries and cashews.   He said it tasted great.   I also made him a big green salad. 

It went well today, lets see how tomorrow goes.  

I just wanted to post a few of my pictures.  I made this one last week and then again this week.   I have noticed that everytime I make something more than once, it always tastes different.  Yum!  Sure makes me hungry just looking at it.   Whole grain pitas with spinach, arugula, red pepper, black olives, cucumber, flax seeds, avocado, sea salt, pepper, and olive oil.

This is a recipe I found called eggless egg salad.   Can't remember the blog I got it from, but I saved the recipe. 

Today's Menu

This was a beautiful day.   Although it is chilly in the mornings lately (it was in the 40's this morning), the sun was up high and shining so bright and warm.  I felt like I woke up in the Spring and the birds were chirping with excitement.   Breakfast this morning had to fit the mood.   I was up very early starting laundry.   Yes I had a cup of coffee.   It was chilly this morning so I needed it.   The laudry area was to cold to be without.  When everyone finally woke up they had this. 

YUM!  It is my own creation.  It has 1 pear, 1 apple, whole grain granola, shredded coconut, cacao, crushed almonds, cardamom powder. and honey.   I know it's not all raw, but most of it is.  I have stopped using agave nectar because when it is processed they heat it up over 150 * .

Lunch was out at a restaurant.   Since we went out of town to visit a friend, he treated us to lunch.   I did; however, have  a large salad from the buffet.  Then i had to try the fried tilapia and some cooked cabbage.  Oh well, as long as we don't do it all the time.   The whole point is to be healthy and I know that with what we are eating, we are doing MUCH better than what we were before. 

The pictures below are dinner.   It is not 100 % raw either.  I put raw veggies in a whole wheat pita with a homemade honey mustard dressing.  Inside is red bell pepper, daikon spicy sprouts, avocado, cucumber, spinach, romaine lettuce, and the dressing.  It was still good.   I have to admit that I was not that fond of the pita bread.   I think I would rather have had just a salad.  Guess my tastes are changing again.

Coffee and Lunch, Anyone?

Well, this morning I wasn't even hungry, so I didn't eat anything.   Not even a green shake.   I did however, have a cup of coffee.   Yum!  Unfortunately I have not kicked the coffee habit.   Not really because I'm addicted.  Mostly because I just don't want to.   I don't know if I ever will.  Maybe if my body tells me I have to.   I just like the feel of a warm cup of coffee in my hands.   No matter what I'm doing.   Like it's my mascot.   Rooting for me to get the job done.   I love taking it out with me to the laundry room and doing laundry in the cold with it at my side.   I love doing the vacuuming and knowing that its right there, just waiting for me.   I have different cups, which I collect, for the way I feel.   Some are colorful, some are black, some are souvenirs, some remind me of my husband, some remind me of friends.   I use them ALL.   I have a certain cup I use when I feel sad, mad, happy, or just need comfort.  Nope, sorry, I don't think I will ever give up coffee.   Yes, I know that I can have a great cup of tea.  Don't get me wrong.  I drink tea.   I love different teas; flavored, fruity, herbal, all kinds.  Its just not the same.   My whole childhood I waited for the day I could drink a deliciously, delectable, grown-up cup of coffee.   I remember my grandmother sharing a cup with me when I was little.   I always remember the taste and the feel of those times.   She has been gone now for some years, but I will never forget her.   Maybe that's why I have a hard time giving it up.   I have given it up before, but I just know ..... that ... I ... don't ... want to.

I did make myself a green shake before lunch.   I put in some cucumber, banana, red leaf lettuce, mixed frozen berries, and collards.   It was very tasty.   I really do love those green shakes.   I try most anything in them.   I don't think there's much that I don't like.   Then I made a "soup".  
 

Doesn't it look fresh and delish?   It is a carrot avocado soup garnished with green onions, roma tomato and drizzled with evoo.  It was so good.   Using warm water when blending makes it really hit the spot on a cold day.  The was thick and very filling.  I could have used more water to thin it out, but I liked it the way it was.  I felt very satisfied.   I didn't use bread or crackers either.    I found the recipe on another blog.  http://rawon10.blogspot.com/  I really love this blog.  She has some fabulous menus that are inexpensive and easy to do.*  I will definately be making this again. 

As for dinner, I must confess we ate out at a mexican restaurant.   I love their green salsa.   It is not very hot, but more of a sweet.   Actually I always thought they used avocado in it, but upon further investigation we discovered that it is green tomatoes and peppers.   Its still good.   No, it was not really raw because they saute the green tomatoes, but I will attempt to make it here at home in my blender.   I will post the results when I do. 

Tomorrow will be an early morning.   Let's see what I can find on the blogs to make for tomorrow.   There really are some great blogs out there.   Just look for raw food blogs and they pop up all over the place.

 * This post has been edited to include link to Raw on $10 a Day blog.

Easy Dinner

I have to say that I really enjoy this new way of eating.   I don't have to think about it most of the time.   Like tonight, for instance, I just made a huge salad.   I rummaged thru the fridge and pulled out all the veggies, fruit and nuts I had.   I grabbed a large round bowl and started cutting things up.  

Doesn't that look delicious! Those are the leftovers that hubby will be taking to work.  I have to admit that I ate 2 bowls of it.   I used kale that had been massaged with coconut oil and sea salt to wilt it.   Then I threw in some red bell pepper, sweet corn (raw of course), cauliflower, celery, bok choy, romaine lettuce, green cabbage, carrots, cranberries, and cashews.  For the dressing, I used olive oil, a little salt and pepper.   That's it.   It was so good.   I still feel full and satisfied.   I really do try not to eat too many salads because I don't want to get bored.   Tonight I had someplace to go and I didn't want to feel full and bloated or be in a rush cleaning up.   This was just right.   When I got back home at 9:30 I had a grapefruit.  

It seems to be getting easier to find things to eat.  I also am getting better at putting things together that don't cause a lot of gas and bloating.  

I joined a couple of raw foods news letters too.   That helps me along the way.   I have found that they help me keep focused and they also teach me how to begin.  There are many people who have blogs or claim to know what's best.   It can get very confusing.   What works for 1 may not necessarily work for another, so the most important thing to do is read, read, read.

Now I have to check my email to see what's the latest.   Goodnight!

Our Not So Raw Dinner

Ok.  Like I said before.   We are not 100% raw nor are we low fat raw.   Since we are still getting used to eating this way, I do make some cooked foods.   The whole point is to add as much raw as I can.   The more raw they eat, the more their bodies will crave it.   The live enzymes will do their work and still help them to digest their food properly.

For the kids, I made "spaghetti" and meatballs.   I steamed a spaghetti squash then put it in the pan with turkey meatballs and some beef broth.   

 Looks good doesn't it?  They liked it.   My son loves meatballs.  The rule is that if they eat something they like, they must eat some live foods with it.   So here is what I made. ...

 

Its chilly outside so I need something warm.   I have not used my dehydrator yet but I put this in the oven at 100* to warm it up.   It is bok choy, kale, leeks, and carrots with some coconut oil and a bit of sea salt.   It was so good.   The grown ups devoured this.  

Here it is together.   I am so proud of my kids.   They ate the whole thing.   

Then we went out for coffee and a cookie.   hehehe   Hey I said we are not 100%.  

A New Beginning

Ok.  This is something new for us.   I have been doing research for the last couple of months.   Since the end of November we have started eating RAW foods.   Hehehe  That makes me laugh.   When I tell people, their eyes jump out of their heads.   I see the wonder in their eyes.   I have had all kinds of questions thrown at me.   "Do you eat raw meat?"  "Raw fish?"  "Aren't you hungry?"  "Can you go out to eat?"  "What do you do for protein?"  "Don't you get tired of salads?"  Etc, etc.  Well when I show them this...



Doesn't that look delish?!   It is Raw Apple Crisp.   I saw a photo and made my own.   Its sweet and very tasty.   It's kinda hard to think of it being raw.   I don't really feel deprived of anything.   So my answer is, "Nope! Not hungry or left for wanting anything."   Mostly because I have learned that eating raw foods after a while your body no longer craves all the yummy, fattening and unhealthy foods I had always eaten.  I do crave a lot of sweet fruits or nutritious greens.   There isn't much that I have tried that I don't like.   My son on the other hand has trouble with some of the things I have made.   He does however, enjoy the green shakes.  As long as he has those, I am completely satisfied.....most times.   lol!   Hubby is agreeable to most anything as long as he can eat meat sometimes.    Daughter is ok to at least try it then she decides.   Although I am primary cook in the house, I don't really force them to only eat raw foods.   They have choices.   I am the only one that is willing to go 100%.  To expect that from them is unreasonable.   Presentation and choice is key to getting them on board my new adventure.   

Another time I will come back to tell how my journey began.   For now, I am off to bed.