OMG! It's been awhile since I have blogged. I don't know where to start!
Since the last time I wrote, I have stopped pursuing the raw lifestyle. It was a difficult decision to make because I really really like the idea of it. However, I just couldn't make it stick. And frankly I felt a bit unbalanced! I certainly love all my fresh fruits and veggies --- but the amount of calories required to really thrive on a raw diet is just way more than I care to ever eat. At first I was cool with it, but then it totally turned into a JOB. LOL. I also realized I simply don't love fruit enough to eat it as a staple...PERIOD. Moving on.
I told you about the KIND DIET by Alicia Silverstone, and I have been cooking recipes from that book like a mad woman. I totally recommend this book to anyone interested in veganism (or just interested in incorporating some meat/dairy free recipes into their collection). Pretty much this book is helping me re-create my kitchen, my shopping lists, and everything. I don't know about you, but I am honestly not that creative, and I have my "go - to meals." This book can teach you how to turn your kitchen into a VEGAN one, and many books honestly don't do that effectively! Plus since there are lots of grains and beans incorporated in the recipes, it is not very expensive.
At this point I consider myself to be eating a "high raw" diet because I try to incorporate as many raw foods into my meals as possible, especially breakfast and snacks. Right now, breakfast, snacks, and a portion of my lunch is raw. I also try to keep my salt/fat intake low, as this was an important component of the 80/10/10 principle, and something I believe in. (If you are just now tuning in --- this is a high carb, lower protein/fat dietary model). Here is an example of what I ate today:
Breakfast: Two bananas in carob sauce (carb powder, bananas, dates, water)
Snack: Soy latte from starbux (they use organic soy milk!) and an organic peach
Lunch: Vegan pizza (recipe to follow)
Snack: One banana in carob sauce
Dinner: Millet w/vegetables and steamed kale with sesame dressing
Snack: Peanut butter crisp
My dinner and desert BOTH came from the KIND DIET!!!!
Here is my recipe for vegan pizza:
Ingredients: Whole wheat tortilla, onion, garlic (1 small clove per pizza), cilantro, mushrooms, black olives, sundried tomatoes in olive oil, vegan mozzarella cheese, arugula lettuce - there are no exact amount because you can make your pizza as big as you want!
Preheat oven to 400 Degrees. Place tortilla(s) on a baking sheet. Layer with sundried tomatoes, sliced mushrooms, sliced onion, chopped garlic, black olives. Shred vegan cheese - I recommend Follow your heart brand cheese - and sprinkle on top! Cook pizza for fifteen minutes. Top with fresh cilantro (the leaves off a few sprigs) and arugula. Eat up! So easy, fool proof and GOOD! Also, if you don't buy fresh herbs, it tastes really good with italian seasoning too.
I haven't talked a lot about my work out schedule as of late. I am still focusing a lot of energy on yoga. I take the classes at my gym three times a week. I really am seeing so much improvement in my flexibility and strength. Not to mention - just learning to breathe, relax and exist in the moment is so valuable to me. I feel like it is medicine for the soul. Anyways - I recommend it to everyone I know. I really think everybody would benefit. Other than that, I just jump on the stair climber once a week and attend a zumba class on Saturday. I haven't been doing a lot of weight lifting. Although we do quite a bit of body weight exercises in yoga class. I want to start doing lunges, squats, push ups, pull ups, and other body weight exercises on my own more. At a minimum I want to continue my yoga classes, two days of cardio and 1-2 days of body weight exercises.
Until we meet again friends - Peace and Love!
Monday, May 21, 2012
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Raw versions of chocolate sauce and guac!
Hola veggies!
I am starting to think I should call this blog my fruity life --- because that is what I eat the most! Anyways, if you haven't figured it out already my 100% raw challenge went down the tubes! I have been kind with myself as of late. I am still sticking to it the best I can though!! We have been making lots of changes are the home --- and last week I had no kitchen sink to wash my food or appliances. I slipped a few times and ate some dairy during the week. No biggie, moving on!
I read a book called the Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone. I really liked it! It is of course about trying veganism. It gives you several different choices though, Flirt, Vegan or Superhero. I think it is wonderful that she gives you choices based on where you are in your veggie journal. I recommend it! The recipes are really yummy looking. (FYI: Superhero = the vegan diet plus principles of the macrobiotic diet - lots of whole grains, vegetables and the occasional sea vegetable to round it out). I tried this wonderful recipe with collards, and it had such a subtle sweet taste. No problem getting your greens in there! Check it out!
I tried two recipes for you! Both totally delectable! One is dessert - like but I totally ate it for breakfast!
Carob "chocolate" sauce
3 TB carob (or raw carob - which can be purchased online)
3 pitted dates
1/2 of a banana
Water as needed
Simply put all the ingredients in your blender - add enough water to give you the texture of chocolate sauce. I poured it over bananas. Talk about HEAVEN. Makes quite a bit of sauce. Enough to cover 7 bananas or so. Carob is good because it does not contain caffeine like cacao or raw cacao. Plus it is low in calories, fat free and low in sugar (1TB = 25 cals/0 fat/3 grams sugar).
Raw guacamole
1 avocado
Cherry tomatoes
Fresh cilantro
1-2 tsp lemon juice
This was amazing! Totally didn't think it would be that good - but it was. I ended up using about 10 cherry tomatoes and probably the leaves off ten sprigs of cilantro. I tossed everything into the food processor so it would be very smooth. At the first bite I longed for garlic or scallions, but on my raw diet those ingredients tend to be a bit much for me. (So feel free to toss a scallion in or a bit of fresh garlic if you just need to). I used organic romaine leaves as my "chip".
In case your curious, here is what I ate today:
Breakfast: Bananas in carob sauce
Lunch: Strawberry - date - banana smoothie
Snack: Apple
Dinner: Romaine dipped in raw guac and roasted red skin potatoes
2700 calories / 83% carbs / 5% protein (about 40 grams)/ 12% fat (about 37 grams)
I even made it to the gym. I did 25 minutes on the stair climber, hamstring curls, calf raises and squats. Finished off with a few sun salutations. I feel so good today. My body feels nourished, light and on a natural high. Anyways, it's about time for me to sleep! Until next time --- Peace and Love!
I am starting to think I should call this blog my fruity life --- because that is what I eat the most! Anyways, if you haven't figured it out already my 100% raw challenge went down the tubes! I have been kind with myself as of late. I am still sticking to it the best I can though!! We have been making lots of changes are the home --- and last week I had no kitchen sink to wash my food or appliances. I slipped a few times and ate some dairy during the week. No biggie, moving on!
I read a book called the Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone. I really liked it! It is of course about trying veganism. It gives you several different choices though, Flirt, Vegan or Superhero. I think it is wonderful that she gives you choices based on where you are in your veggie journal. I recommend it! The recipes are really yummy looking. (FYI: Superhero = the vegan diet plus principles of the macrobiotic diet - lots of whole grains, vegetables and the occasional sea vegetable to round it out). I tried this wonderful recipe with collards, and it had such a subtle sweet taste. No problem getting your greens in there! Check it out!
I tried two recipes for you! Both totally delectable! One is dessert - like but I totally ate it for breakfast!
Carob "chocolate" sauce
3 TB carob (or raw carob - which can be purchased online)
3 pitted dates
1/2 of a banana
Water as needed
Simply put all the ingredients in your blender - add enough water to give you the texture of chocolate sauce. I poured it over bananas. Talk about HEAVEN. Makes quite a bit of sauce. Enough to cover 7 bananas or so. Carob is good because it does not contain caffeine like cacao or raw cacao. Plus it is low in calories, fat free and low in sugar (1TB = 25 cals/0 fat/3 grams sugar).
Raw guacamole
1 avocado
Cherry tomatoes
Fresh cilantro
1-2 tsp lemon juice
This was amazing! Totally didn't think it would be that good - but it was. I ended up using about 10 cherry tomatoes and probably the leaves off ten sprigs of cilantro. I tossed everything into the food processor so it would be very smooth. At the first bite I longed for garlic or scallions, but on my raw diet those ingredients tend to be a bit much for me. (So feel free to toss a scallion in or a bit of fresh garlic if you just need to). I used organic romaine leaves as my "chip".
In case your curious, here is what I ate today:
Breakfast: Bananas in carob sauce
Lunch: Strawberry - date - banana smoothie
Snack: Apple
Dinner: Romaine dipped in raw guac and roasted red skin potatoes
2700 calories / 83% carbs / 5% protein (about 40 grams)/ 12% fat (about 37 grams)
I even made it to the gym. I did 25 minutes on the stair climber, hamstring curls, calf raises and squats. Finished off with a few sun salutations. I feel so good today. My body feels nourished, light and on a natural high. Anyways, it's about time for me to sleep! Until next time --- Peace and Love!
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