Our Family Journey to Raw

Smoothies. Are they as healthy as you think?

2011-08-14T23:48:00.003+10:00

On-the-go-lives demand convenient, portable fuel which are equally palatable for breakfast, lunch, dinner or as in-between snacks. With the increase of lifestyle related diseases, the concerned element of our population has been seeking healthier choices and eating styles for some time. Our fast track existence has forced many people into convenience foods; low in nutrition and high in calories and additives. Despite knowing the benefits of fresh fruits and vegetables in the diet, for a high percentage of Westerners, the closest they get to the food pyramid are fries. Many families despair about consuming fresh produce as taste buds are unaccustomed to the often unwelcome sensations of having to chew through the amounts required for a healthy balance. A popular way to ensure consumption of a good quantity of fresh produce is to process it into a drink; most often called a smoothie.

Although touted a recently invented food mixture, smoothies - in some form or another - have been in existence for hundreds of years. Fruit and ice/ice cream/milk/sorbet/yoghurt blended combinations feature in most cultures. But are they as healthy as they make themselves out to be? It all depends upon the ingredients.

Smoothies generally contain fruit, dairy and combine other health giving ingredients, however, most highstreet chain stores also add scoopfuls of sugar, full-fat milk and ice cream. Commercially prepared smoothies can be loaded with fresh fruit, vitamins, minerals, fibres, active cultures, immune-system boosters and in many cases, protein powders, however the more popular dessert-style smoothies contain added sweeteners, milk, ice cream or yogurt; which present their own health challenge.

Its easy to assume that smoothies are the perfect healthy choice for a snack or meal. The most common method of making a smoothie involves blending fresh fruit and a few generous dollops of milk or yoghurt, processing it to think it with a little ice or fruit juice. The main health concerns focuses on the high fats and sugar content within this mixture. Most smoothies are made from commercially available sweetened fruit juice, sugar loaded frozen yogurts, honey and bananas. Commercially available smoothies are often made of concentrate fruit juices which are pasteurised (therefore losing the benefits of the raw fruits), not to mention being very expensive. Fats are derived from those creamy yoghurts and milk generously added as you blend. Many of us try to cut out the dairy to save on the calories, but we end up cheating ourselves out of an important protein fix which normally keeps the body satisfied over the next few hours and through to the next meal.

Unfortunately, what you may have believed was a diet conscious meal replacement turns out to be anything but. While commercially prepared smoothies vary in calories, ingredients and nutritional value, with a little effort, most people can easily make healthier versions at home. Its not always possible to make them at home, so perhaps the safer choices when purchasing from commercially available sources would be those based on soy, rice, or nut milk; or be pure blended fruit and vegetable juices. Certainly when making smoothies at home, try to source fresh or organic produce, alternating between nut or soy milks and dairy.

Smoothies are easy to make and recipes are very flexible, catering for the fussiest diet.

Have frozen fruit chunks on hand so you have a variety to choose from. Smoothies get boring if you use the same ingredients all of the time. Use a variety of fruit which has been cut up into chunks and frozen in small bags or icecube trays. Great fruit to have on hand include mangos, rockmelon, peaches, plums, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, and apricots, blueberries and raspberries. Our family have frozen bananas as a stock standard as they give a smoothie a creamy luxurious constancy. An added bonus is that frozen fruit helps your smoothies stay thick and ice cold on those hot days.
Add some 'staying power'. A pure fruit based smoothie, whilst tasty, has a limited staying power and you will find you are hungry within an hour of consuming it. There is a variety of protein powders commercially available utilised by body builders and gym enthusiasts. Whey protein contains all the essential amino acids. You may choose to use milk or yogurt or try a nut milk as a non-dairy alternative. Nut milks are a good source of protein on their own.
Try a different and delicious thinner. Some people like a thinner consistency of smoothie and pour in sugar laded and processed fruit juices. As an alternative, experiment with coconut water (not cream), which is rich in potassium and electrolytes. You can buy coconut water prepackaged - or source it from young coconuts. Once you use the water from a young coconut, scrape out the jelly like insides and use this as a base for your next smoothie.. Although bananas are the most common base to smoothies as they add sweetness, a creamy thickness and important nutrients, some people have allergies or simply do not like the taste. As great as they are, bananas are high in natural sugars. If you are still looking for that thick creamy consistency, experiment by using half a ripe avocado (really!) They are packed with potassium, vitamins, antioxidants, and fibre and though high in fats, its the type that lowers your cholesterol.
Give them a boost. Similar to the chainstores who add in a variety of powers for an exorbitant price, experiment with health food options such as chlorella, spirulina, acai, goji berries which give your smoothies extraordinary antioxidant content and other nutritional benefits. Hemp protein powder is a great way to add protein, healthy omega 3 fats and fibre to your smoothie.
Cut back on the sweet stuff. A smoothies downfall is the sweeteners many of us add. Experiment with an organic agave syrup, which looks like honey but is slightly sweeter and it has has a lower glycemic index load. You need much less agave than honey to gain the same sweetness. Experiment with stevia and organic maple syrup. However if we are honest with each other - its best not to add the sweeteners in the first place.
Experiment and switch ingredients to suit your taste and substitute your favourite beverage, fruit or vegetable. Once you have been converted to drinking an all fruit smoothie, you may be brave enough to progress to a 'green' smoothie which has the benefits of consuming green leafy vegetables without having to eat a salad. A good rule of thumb with these is 70% - 80% fruit to 30% - 20 % greens ( baby spinach, silverbeat, chinese greens, lettuce) - adjusting these as you get used to the taste and the amazing colour.

The secret to a healthy smoothie recipe is knowing which ingredients to use - and which to avoid. A good rule of thumb is to use 2 - 3 fruits to avoid an overly fussy smoothie. Too many ingredients confuses the tastebuds and it generally ends up a muddy goopy colour and consistency. Healthy smoothies, made from fresh ingredients are loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and enzymes, ensuring an abundant, long-lasting supply of energy for the day.

Some steps into healthier living... and raw foods

2011-08-01T22:21:00.000+10:00

Do you have family members who are hesitant to eat anything other than things which are deep fried, smothered in cheese or butter, or sugar-coated? Do you despair that they will ever consume something healthy on a regular basis? Sadly, most people equate eating healthier with meals of "rabbit food" and huge bowls of fiber or tasteless stodgy lumps of nameless food types. With some imagination, encouragement and tenacity, its possible to guide your loved ones towards healthy living and natural foods without the stress of nagging, threats and fighting at dinner time.

Arguably, should you ask anyone what they aught to be eating to be healthy – they are likely to include “green leafy vegetables” or “fresh fruits” as one of the top recommendations. However, most of us fail to eat even one type per day. Trying to ensure your family eat them can prove frustrating; especially if they are one of those people who don’t naturally enjoy vegetables or a variety of fruit.

Try some of these suggestions to increase the living foods into your normal diet.

1. Always have fresh fruit and veggies available for a quick and easy snack; alternating them with tomato salsas or dips made from organic yoghurt, nuts or chick peas. Even if it is small, have a fruit bowl available with fresh and different offerings for the family to munch on at anytime they wish.
It takes a little more preparation, but if you have carrot and celery sticks already cut into bite size pieces, along with a nutritious nut dip, it allows your family to have the option of choose the healthy snack over a ready to eat convenience food in a packet. Other ready-to-be-popped-into-your-mouth snacks include cucumber, mini tomatoes, broccoli or cauliflower flowerettes. To keep fresh, put them in small snap lock containers in the fridge - and in easy grasping range for hungry mouths.
One of the greatest downfalls for families or individuals attempting to eat a healthier diet, is the availability of good choices. No-one has the patience to wait for something to be washed and prepared if they are hungry NOW! Bypass this immediate need, by having things already prepared.

2. You may be the sort of person who needs to do something immedialty - or go col turkey. If so, grab your washing basket or a large box and systematically remove the items you feel do not support your new lifestyle. Unopened packets of crisps, biscuits, crackers and other processed or snack foods would be gratefully received by your local foodbank, women’s shelter or charity run hostel. If you don’t want to go to that extreme, put them in the highest shelf in the pantry, or seal it into a box and pop in the garage.
The main idea behind this strategy is that if the temptation is not there, then you won’t go down that path.

3. Every time you shop, purchase less of the types of food items which you eventually want to eliminate and replace them with other foods. My children love to indulge in a punnet of strawberries each instead of a chocolate bar or biscuits. The two items are around the same price, but one has so many health giving benefits, its difficult to pass them up. Include the whole family to decide which food items are the ‘worst’ and collectively rate them. Write a list of alternatives or better choices. Each week choose one or two of the most offending items to eliminate as a strategy to getting rid of all the junk choices entirely.

4. Introduce fruit into your diet through desserts or by having entire dessert meals. (it seems so decadent to just eat dessert for a meal doesn't it?)

Fresh fruit smoothies poured into ice cube trays or popsicles make great summer desserts - even better if you layer them as you freeze them.
Freeze bananas on a popsicle stick. They taste super creamy straight out of the freezer. Dip them in chocolate sauce, coconut, crushed nuts or honey as an extra treat.
try exotic fruits in fruit salads - or have it ready in the fridge along with organic yoghurts for a quick snack or wizz up for a smoothie.
Threat cubed fruits onto sticks and dip into nut creams
Alternate fruit based smoothies boosted with chia seeds or macca powder for processed cereals over the week. Within a fortnight, you should find that the days started on a fruit smoothie, has in fact run smoother; with less junk food cravings.
Swap the fats you use in your current diet for ‘better’ ones by adding raw nuts ( cashews, almonds, macadamias) and avocados into your salads. The bodys normal cravings for fatty foods decrease if it is satisfied by a better quality fat.

Pursuing a healthier lifestyle through food choices can only succeed if everyone involved is included in the decision making. If everyone is assisting with choosing recipes and types of foods, they are more likely to try it when it its served.

The key to a healthier eating style which becomes ingrained into your lifestyle is not to force it too quickly. Introduce one idea or food every week, allowing a less healthy choice to slip out of the pantry. Its not only making the healthy choices more convenient for your family to take up, but also making the poorer choices LESS convenient.

The wider variety of fresh foods your family try, the easier it will get including a higher percentage in your ‘normal’ diet. Tastes and long time habits can change; its just a hard long road to alter ingrained beliefs. However, if you have a strong enough belief in what you are doing and have patience, it can be done.

Geeze Louise!

2011-07-20T22:19:00.000+10:00

Its embarrassing how long its been since I've posted on this blog.. and a testament to us falling waaaaay off the wagon.

Its just so easy to get too busy, too tired and not inspired enough to grab those convenience foods and not come back.

Well... best shift a few gears.. Summer is coming... and I'm not anywhere close to wanting to be uncovered in the slightest....

Annies Chocky Cereal Heaven

2011-01-21T11:10:00.003+10:00

Chocky Cereal Heaven

2 cups of sprouted, dehydrated buckwheat

1 cup of dates ( the fresh ones are best)

1/2 cup of sultanas

2 cups of long shredded coconut

4 tbsp of Cocoa ( Raw cacao is the yummiest - but do what you can)

1/2 pod vanilla

1 tbs cinnamon ground up.

Blend everything except coconut and buckwheat.

Transfer to big bowl and combine all ingredients

Place on trays in deyhydrator and set on low

Every 8 - 12 hours get a spoon and break it up and turn it.

Takes about 2 days to be done – or when all crisp.

Put into well sealed jar and use as ‘normal’ cereal.

Its wicked!

You can even do as Age does - and take it to work as a snack.. I do warn you - it won't last long.

Annies Awesome Apple Cobble Cereal

2011-01-17T12:45:00.000+10:00

Annies Awesome Apple Cobble Cereal

10 apples grated

3 handfuls of raisins

3 handfuls of currents ( I soaked these in 1 cup of apple juice while I was doing the other stuff)

shake in some cinnamon ( freshly grated if you have it)

blend roughly together – 5 handfuls of almonds, 2 handful of macadamias, 2 handfuls of pumpkin seeds, 2 handfuls of sunflower seeds and 2 handfuls of linseeds. – don’t blend to a flour – leave ‘bits’ so its rough and cobbly. You can also use LSA ( instead of pumpkin, sunflower and linseeds) if you are pressed for time.

Mix together and pour over about half a cup of fresh apple juice.

Allow about half an hour to bind flavours.

Spoon into dehydrator and set on low.

Every 8 - 12 hours get a spoon and break it up and turn it.

Takes about 2 days to be done – or when all crisp.

Put into well sealed jar and use as ‘normal’ cereal.

Back to it

2011-01-10T18:00:00.001+10:00

There is now very little excuse now to be eating badly... After a pretty sensible Christmas all things considered ( very little alcohol, a fair amount of chocolate.. he humm....) its now back to transitioning back to raw.

During our break I've done some juices and we have been using the little smoothie bullet alot ( LOVE IT).

So back to it.... now.. whats up tonight?

Layered salad with avocado, a chilled carrot soup, followed by beetroot, pineapple and apple juice and a strawberry mousse cake.

Good blood cleansing stuff!

Chilled Carrot Soup

2010-11-29T19:31:00.001+10:00

This is one of my very lazy but very tasty standbys. Fabulous enough to serve at a dinner party to 'unknowing' guests, packed with nutrients and goodness to ensure you bounce off the walls with vitality.

1 Kg Carrots ( about 3 cups of juice) – chilled is best.
1 ripe avocado ( or two if you want it extra creamy or extra thick)
½ tsp celtic salt
1 clove garlic and or a drip or two of ginger juice ( optional and to taste)
3 or 4 oranges – juice them on the spot.

Garnish - mung beans, shredded carrot strips, beetroot strips or snow pea shoots

Method - its so easy it embarrassing
Juice the carrots and pour into a blender
spoon in avocado, salt, garlic and ginger ( if you are using them).

now whizz....that it.

If you like a thicker soup – add another ripe avocado.
If you like a thiner soup add more orange juice

Pour soup into 4 small bowls and garnish.
For hot days – chill soup for 30 mins before serving.

On table place salt grinder and chopped chillies, extra garnishings and cashews for an extra texture and creaminess.

seriously - you will get rave reviews about this.

Rich Cocoa Breakfast Drink

2010-09-05T11:03:00.003+10:00

Here is a staple drink Adrian has been having for several months.

Neither of us really 'like' breakfast. The normal commercial sugary breakfasts don't cut it on a raw diet and to be honest - fruit - as nice as it is - just doesn't last till lunch time.

Close your eyes and imagine you are in Spain and drinking that gorgeous thick breakfast chocolate drink. sans the dipping donut I must admit. ... but working on it...

This will give you a zing in the mornings and keep hunger at bay till lunchtime.

Soak (in your blender bowl) a good handful of cashews
4 fresh dates
2 tbsp chia powder
2 tbsp of Macca ( to taste - start off with a small amount)
good handful of goji berries
mix these with 800 mls of either pure water - or as Adrian has been - a herbal tea ( noble teas not black tea) specific to your healing needs.
( some of the teas you might like to use is Matee, Camomile or Jiaogulan)
overnight soaking is best.

squirt some raw Agarve into it. ( ensure you have the proper organic raw agarve as the market is being flooded with corn syrup tainted with agarve.. gross)
3 - 4 tbs of coconut oil
3/4 cup of cocoa ( I like more - but do this to taste)
1/2 a vanilla bean
1 pinch of celtic salt can also be added here.

super yum!

put into glass jars or containers - refrigerate - but must be drunk over next few days as it ferments..

The photo is of Age dipping cherries into it.. yummmmm

Back to Raw

2010-09-03T22:43:00.000+10:00

We have been terribly slack with our raw foods and diet. Slowly, insidiously the bad habits slide back, take a grip and before you realise, you are back to the SAD foods ( Standard Australian Diet), which to be honest - makes you sad, makes you depressed and doesn't support health or well being.

A huge kick in the pants last week has forced us to get the blender, dehydrator and out 'non cook" books out and revisit this eating style again.

Its not just now for health - but for survival ( if we want to get all melodramatic about it).

So as an extra incentive, I am starting my blog again. I got very slack with variety last time; so am aiming for lots more recipes and interesting combinations.

Raw Wraps

2010-02-19T18:20:00.000+10:00

Here Is Adrians attempts at a raw wrap at home. The nori is a raw one - and its beautiful on its own - the kids kept eating it by itself!. The trick really is a good dipping sauce and a variety of wet ingredients inside.

Adrian used thinly sliced cucumber and tomato with a marinated mushroom and sprouts.

Yummy Fruit Platter

2010-02-10T18:15:00.000+10:00

Been so lazy with photos and updating this blog.. really will get back to it.. .I've been lax on the 100% raw too... Christmas season has just kept creeping.... Still have a green smoothie a day and lots of fruit - but been plain slack on everything else...

This is afternoon tea with the kids.. we love our fruit - esp the figs in season now.

lunch green smoothie.

2010-01-26T13:34:00.000+10:00

An old favourite to day..

Spinach, banana and pineapple with ice and water.
We have an apple spiraliser which makes these delightful shapes for the kids to eat apples. it cores them and peels them( if you want)
the kids eat the peel seperatly.

Summer Time Lunch

2010-01-20T18:27:00.004+10:00

Loving summer and the variety of fruits! I know I have said this before.. on our plate for lunch is a selection of lychees, peaches, cherries and plums.

Our green smoothie today was a Pina CoGreena - which everyone really liked!
banana
Pineapple
coconut cream
a full cos lettuce ( not the heart as its a bit bitter)
water and ice

whizz whizzz and yum!!

the power of Maca

2009-12-21T14:24:00.001+10:00

I thought I'd add a little note here about Maca. Adrian swears by it and now he is regularly having green smoothies, he puts a huge teaspoon into it. He reckons its like having a liquid power bolt. it has a caramel type taste - but I find it a bit rich and strong... but perhaps its just me....

Anyways..... Peruvian maca root has been dubbed "Peruvian ginseng," even though it bears no relation to ginseng. But like ginseng, the maca plant is employed into a Peruvian maca extract to increase strength, energy, stamina and libido. It comes in a powder form and needs a fair bit of mixing otherwise its a bit lumpy! It seems that during the height of the Incan empire, Incan warriors would consume maca before entering into battle. This would make them fiercely strong. Whether this happens to you or not is another thing....

Adrians Green Drink

2009-12-17T22:17:00.003+10:00

ok - this is just a bit green for me..... but Adrian swears by it for energy and enzymes...

1 banana, huge handful of spinach, 2 tbsp spiralina powder, water - Blend till REALLY green...

Platter of fruit

2009-12-12T00:39:00.000+10:00

Its so hot now, its just too much bother to eat much. One thing I am loving about this time of year though is the selection of fantastic fruit.

This was our dinner tonight. Though in saying that, I went and cut the watermelon into chunks for easier munching and then went and got wooden skewer sticks so we could make our own fruit kebabs.

Kale Green Smoothie

2009-12-02T00:42:00.000+10:00

After my disastrous green smoothie episode a while back, I have steered clear of them for a while. However, with the festive season upon us, I am sneaking things I KNOW are really bad, but still do anyway.

I have reasoned with myself that if I have a solid green smoothie a day, then a bit of party food won't hurt that much....

Kale is one of those green leafy veges which I have never gotten into - cooked or raw. its slightly bitter, its tough to eat and really just yuck.

However - blended up in a strawberry and banana smoothie - yummo! I used two bananas for this one, a handful of strawberries and this amount of kale.

bottoms up!

Disastrous Green Smoothie

2009-11-06T16:31:00.002+10:00

Just when you think you are sooooo smart - you end up with a gag worthy green smoothie like I did today.

I’ve been focusing on consistently having a green smoothie once a day. Having reviewed the info from the Butanko family and the videos, I have also been branching out on the greens I use. I’ve not been able to face a lettuce smoothie for a while - but now that more tropical fruit is available, may attempt it again. I bought a few different asian greens the other day to use. I usually just use the pack choi but a green leaffy white based one caught my eye - so I tried it today. I’m not sure if I just got a bad one or if I was a little over zealous ( it was a huge bunch I put into the blender) It was a fantastically luminescent green, very smooth in texture, but man, I nearly heaved after the first sip. The fruit was completely overpowered by the strong peppery green taste. I managed one glass, between huge sips of water and the forced non gag technique I mastered during pregnancy. The rest went down the gurgler.

Even the silverbeat green smoothies are bearable - I can only imagine that I got an old bunch of whatever it was - perhaps it hadn’t been watered enough. However, what it taught me was to only use greens which are really fresh - and I might taste them first - on their own before i plonk them into the mixing bowl..

As far as the rest of the raw diet - been lagging around dinner time - joining in on the family meals. I’m fine for breaky and lunch and (usually) snacks as I enjoy the variety of fruit and juices I can make. However, without the full support of the family to a raw diet - its very challenging - for me at least - to remain so. I sneak in a raw dinner every so often as they all love the freshly cut veges and dips, the ‘ice cream’ we make with frozen fruit and the raw juices.

well - back to it I guess. I'd love to hear how others go with long term commitment to this style of eating

Sourcing Organic Fruit and Veges

2009-10-15T19:51:00.000+10:00

One of the most important things when you comit to going raw is the commitment to taste. That might sound really weird - but when you are craving a burger and chips, if all you have to battle that urge is soggy carrots and limp lettuce, then guess what is going to win? I was never a believer in the organic trend; thinking - well really its all the same. Can I just say - I am a complete convert...

We have been buying a box of nearly organic fruit and veges from food connect for about 19 months now. I say nearly as I believe in their ethos... its a not for profit organization who source produce from small farms wihtin 5 hours drive from Brisbane. These farms must comply to a bunch of farming practices. The general rule applied when selecting these farmers has been “local & chemical spray-free first, organic where possible” within the radius. This is great as it has meant that they have been able to work with a wide variety of small farmers using a mixture of farming methods, supporting them while they improve their operation, and encouraging them to run their farms in a more ecologically holistic and environmentally sustainable way.

Whats really important here is that it takes such a long time to become certified organic - that most farmers give up - no-one will buy thier good while they are transitioning.... except Food Connect.

The taste is amazing - really. Most produce is picked or cut in the mornign and driven to the 'homestead' and then immediatly packed that afternoon - or the next morning. Much of the stuff I pick up on my Wednesday was literally in the ground or on the tree that morning. its amazing. Especailly the milk.. straight from the cow into the bottle - nothing else - no treatment, nothing... sadly the regualtions state that I cannot buy it as milk - so I have share in a cow....

Here is a pici of us in front of this weeks box.

A few of my friends have tried to purchase this way - but have given up. Its just too easy to go to the shops every day and buy what you need for a recipie, instead of being inventive with what you are presented.. You see - its a surprise every week what is in the box - and that is the beauty of it I think. We juice alot, I make crackers from left over veges and we eat alot of interesting salads.......( some good ,, some not so...)

There are things in the box that I might not like necessarily - but you just cope ( Paw Paw - yuck... but frozen and in a smoothy - pretty good)

We would eat this much in a week and I also have to suppliment - especailly with things like watermelon/ other melons, Asian greens, bananas, carrots ( juicing) and apples.

the beauty of organic stuff is that it lasts a LONG time.. as its just been picked - it can stay fresh in the fridge for ages - not that I have tested over a week - as its always gone.... but it beats the supermarket stuff - where if you buy it that day - you really have to eat it that night - or it goes manky..

Its been over a year since our stove top packed it in as well - I only have one ring which works and another that works either full on - or not at all.. Its been good for a number or reasons - being raw - either 100% - or mostly/ some .... as it has been in the last few months for us - it means we haven't HAD to fix it ( pretty costly fix....) plus as its a flush top - its given me extra space to put things and prepare food in the kitchen...

Same old Same old

2009-07-19T22:13:00.000+10:00

No photos or entries for a while – been doing probably 60% raw and the things I have been eating have been old favourites – good old tomato salad, guacamole and some simple salads. With the weather being so chilly, its been difficult to motivate the family to eat raw and I haven’t pushed it. No use in completely alienating a great idea. We generally have a raw – freshly done juice with carrots, beetroot and apple ( or variants of this) in our evening meal.

I have been doing the occasional green smoothie –one a day – but with the lack of good melons ( my favourite base) have been less than inspired by my dreadful attempts with an apple and a banana with a green thing.

I’ve read on many sites that people include chillies and other warming herbs and spices into raw foods and I am sure this works for many. I am such a spice and chilli whimp I can’t handle the slightest amount.

I have been eating a lot of fruit – just in the natural state and enjoying the simplicity of that.

Will have to get back into the swing of exploring new recipes as the weather heats up.

Making it easy to eat Fruit

2009-06-29T22:58:00.000+10:00

I know many children who will not eat fruit - I know its a bizarre and weird thing and I can't even comprehend it - but its true. This is apples and pears and oranges - the most common fruits in the Western World and available - well because of our globalization - all the time - but don't get me started on that issue.....

Use a sharp knife and cut firmly into the flesh to make these leaf like patterns. Oranges are often difficult for children to eat as they can't peel them. Help the process along but loosening the skin off most of the orange and cutting a little way up the quarter and then curl it under - making it look like a swan or a flower.

How easy an afternoon dish is this? If you prepare it earlier - keep it fresher by popping into pure water with a squeeze of either lemon or lime juice.

A Salad for Sore Eyes..

2009-06-24T22:53:00.000+10:00

It takes a little time to carve into fruit and veges - but how nice does it look? Honestly - kids ( and adults will eat things because they LOOK great. Remember mums little trick of scoring into the cucumber and then slicing it - making those cool little run lines on the rings. We all ate them because ti looked much nicer than just broing old sliced cucumber.

The flower is made from a butternut pumkin - soft enough and springy enough to carve - and still sweet and crunchy to eat raw. You need to soak it in ice cold water for a while to make it spring out.

Flowery Fruits

2009-06-19T22:49:00.000+10:00

Who wouldn't want to eat these?

paw paw

cactus fruit

grapes

kiwi

bite sized and looks great!

Making fruit a special dish

2009-06-18T22:20:00.000+10:00

Something that I have learnt on my journey in Raw Foods is that the very best food - is as nature presents it. Thinking back on how I love to just eat a tomato ( and some capers or olives or sprinkled with celtic salt) or eat an entire punnet of strawberries, indulge in a bowl of blueberries or munch on an apple.

I'll post a few fun ways to present fruit - and its not onlythe kids really love to eat them when the dish looks attractive.

this is a tomato with the skin peeled around and then put back to gether to resemble a rose. so Beautiful - almost too pretty to eat!

Vit C Shot

2009-06-16T20:15:00.004+10:00

Started dinner off with this shot in the arm of Vit C.

Carrot, Beetroot and a tiny bit of granny smith apple - all juiced up.

Very sweet we all looked like clowns after we drank them - red lipstick and grins marking us!

All still sniffly and coughing... just need a few days in the sun laying round not doing a heck of alot I guess.

Fight a cold with Fruit

2009-06-14T07:49:00.003+10:00

We have all been a bit bad with the raw foods thing since it got pretty cold here. As a result we are all nursing sniffles and coughs - nothing drastic - just annoying.

So! out with the olive leaf extract - which the kids hate and often refuse to have - but onward with lots of fresh fruit full of Vit C. strawberries are packed with them and couples with grapes, watermelon ( good hydration qualities) and manderines - what else would you want for a cure?

My blender is fixed!!!

2009-06-10T19:53:00.002+10:00

back to green smoothies - and man I hadn't realized how much I missed them..... and how much your tastes change if you haven't had them for a while...

This one is pretty tame as far as green smoothies go - but phew - I could taste the 'green' - gotta get back and keep doing these every day....

Creamy Greemy
2 tbsp coconut cream
2 pack choi
1 ripe banana
1 cup water

blend up until - well you know - creamy and green....

It was pretty good - but green.....Down the Hatch!!

SO GOOD TO HAVE MY BLENDER BACK!

Lunch Snacks

2009-06-07T16:04:00.000+10:00

After doing the Raw thing for a while now - some 100% other times not so much, I've decided that I prefer my fruti and veges as close to how you pick them as possible. I just can't get into the preparation and sauces etc to make them look and taste like cooked things. I think it takes away from the experience and really the taste - for me.. but then, I don't like dressing on salad or sauces.

I'm often asked what we eat normally. Here is a pici of Morgan about to tuck into lunch. I like to mix it up a bit on the plate - some nuts ( walnuts here) seeds ( pumpkin and sunflower) and cut freshness - beans picked this morning, crisp carrots and sweet manderines. The kids especially like to put two things in thier mouth and test what they are like together. Walnuts and manderines are a favourite.

Breakfast in Bed

2009-06-06T15:57:00.002+10:00

Morgan enjoys cutting up fruit and veges and preparing special things for us.. Most of all he loves to bring me breakfast in bed.

Here's a shot of what he brought Lilly and I for breakfast. Lilly ordered manderine and carrot, and I had carrot and apple.

Yum yum, just the right sort of thing to start the day!

Morgans Sunshine Salad

2009-06-03T13:45:00.001+10:00

Morgan helped me make dinner today and decorated and chose what should be in it - so this is dedicated to him..

corn cobs cut in half place around plate

toss together
3 handfuls of baby spinach
several leaves of cos lettuce
slivers of 1 carrot
3 handfuls of cashews
8 baby tomatos cut in half
1 red tomato cut into slivers
6 green beans snapped in half
6 pea pods topped and tailed

Another picking salad to share with the family.

Spicy Tomato Salad

2009-05-31T00:24:00.003+10:00

I overdosed on tomatoes a while back - just eating huge bowl fulls of them. This is my first venture back into just eating a tomato salad.

Tomato is a good source of calcium and iron. It also contains some amounts of phosphorus, sulfur and potassium is rich in vitamin C and contains some vitamin B and vitamin A. The vitamin C content increases as the vegetable ripens and obviously this is the best way to have it - ORGANIC if possible.

Don Tolman maintains that every whole food has a pattern that resembles a body organ or physiological function and that this pattern acts as a signal or sign as to the benefit the food provides the eater. He sees that a tomato has four chambers and is red - like the heart. All of the research shows tomatoes are indeed pure heart and blood food.

Spicy Tomato Salad

quarters of tomatoes
handfuls of pepitas, sunflower seeds, walnuts and roughly torn basil leaves
pickled onions - quartered.
peppercorns

Yum - enjoyed this alot - might be doing a few more tomato salads now...

Beetroot

2009-05-30T00:24:00.000+10:00

We have been getting into Beetroot, carrot and apple juices lately.

There is no way to say this politely - but if you do this - your poo will be red and the first time you see if ( if you are so inclined as to look - like my kids do..... and then report back...!) Your wee also gets a bit pink too.....but enough of the graphics...

Beetroot is a good source of folate, potassium,manganese and fibre. There is the claim that is can cure cancer (due to the phytochemical betacyanin).

Image via Wikipedia

Beetroot Tips

• The smaller the beetroot, the younger, sweeter and more tender it will be.
• Older beetroots are larger, and have more thick root hairs. They can get a bit
gnarly and woody - with less to give when juicing - so try and get the young ones!
• Beetroot skin is thin and delicate so always wash the dirt off gently.
• I've heard of using beetroot as a child-friendly pink food colouring for icing cupcakes and other
special treats ( if y ou aren't do ing 100% raw!!)
• Store beetroot in the fridge until you are ready to use it. The leaves don’t keep for long as the roots.
• Beetroot leaves are naturally high in sodium, and make a tasty addition to salads.

Winter Fruit Salad

2009-05-27T21:55:00.000+10:00

Winter is always a bit of a drag with the variety of fruit available - especially if you are trying to consume fresh fruit and veges which are grown in season and within a few hundred Kms away from where you live.

Local food distribution system ensures a significant reduction in the carbon emissions that are associated with transporting food long distances.... so think about where you buy your produce from next time...save the earth - one bite of an apple at a time.

Winter Fruit Salad - eaten with a bowl of walnuts cashews and almonds ( to the side so they don't get all manky and soft.)
kiwifruit
rockmelon
grapes
apple

I love the simplicity of single fruit and veges - no sauces or other fuss. We made this huge salad and sat it in the middle of the table and just picked....
pear

Wormy Tomato Salad

2009-05-22T23:29:00.003+10:00

Ok - before you say GROSS - this is what the kids dubbed the salad.

Sprouts are one of the most complete and nutritional of all foods tested. Sprouts are real 'Life" because they are packed with Vitamins, Minerals, Proteins, and Enzymes.

Because sprouts are predigested food, they have a higher biological efficiency value then whole seeds, raw or cooked. Less food is required, yet more nutrients reach the blood and cells. The sprouting process under the action of light, creates chlorophyll. Chlorophyll has been shown to be effective in overcoming protein deficiency anemia.

Sprouts also have a regenerating effect on the human body because of their high concentration of RNA, DNA, protein and essential nutrients which can be found only in living cells. (Synthetic supplements are not life food.)

... plus they make good 'hair' when you make a vege man and you can gross your sister out by saying you are eating worms....

Wormy Tomato Salad

handful each of baby spinach sprouts and roughly torn basil leaves
3 - 4 tomatoes cut into quarters

Toss to ensure the 'worms' coat the tomatoes.

If you aren't 100% raw, you might like to spritz some balsamic vinegar over instead of lime or lemon juice.

Silverbeet Smoothie

2009-05-21T16:42:00.000+10:00

I continue to drink at least one green smoothie a day and have been really taken by silverbeet as an ingredient.

Pictured is a typical set of ingredients in my smoothie - a banana, frozen strawberries and a stalk - or two - of sliverbeet. I don't cut it up or take out the white bits - it just gets rinsed ( for the dirt) and blended up with about a cup of water.

Silverbeet is a great source of iron, fibre, vitamin C, vitamin A and folate. Although its rich in each of these - the body can't easily absorb them If they are prepared in the 'normal way" ( ie cook the heck out of it) Becuase its so fiberous too - the body has troubel absorbing the nutrition.

However - if you drink it as a smoothie - you gain the benifit of most of the these wonderful RAW qualities. Yum...

still poking along

2009-05-19T23:26:00.002+10:00

Can't scream and shout about too much. Still having a green smoothie a day - though today my blender cracked up...so having to use a much lower speed one really not as nice or smooth... ikk...

Have to be careful not ot od on the spinach leaves again as they are the easiest to blend up.

chose grapes to eat instead of chocolate for the movies...

not drinking enough water

had a BBQ on the weekend... and don't care....(bugger)

drinking juices every few days too - beetroot and apple a favourite at the moment.

thats about it for now..

This week in retrospect

2009-05-10T09:37:00.002+10:00

Well - today is Mothers Day. So lets just forget about even trying. Its not that there isn't great raw food stuff out there - I guess I am too weak to make thewhole family follow it so strictly - especially on a long awaited moment such as this..
I've never been a breakfast person anyway - so skipped the egg and bacon thing and indulged in a gorgeous cup of coffee drunk whilst in bed and nibbled on some cut up apples.
We had a delightful picnic - but I gotta say salad just goes limp and awful in this heat - so I opted for cheese and french bread.. sigh.. it was good.....
I have to admit the only good thing I have done all week is to keep up my green smoothie count - one a day. yesterdays lettuce one was a bit ... rich - too much lettuce - the taste really came through.
still - need to get back on track - still sheding weight - very slowly - but feeling it in my clothes more than anything.

Report this Week

2009-05-03T13:30:00.002+10:00

Last week sucked a day, big time. although I kept to a green smoothies at least one per day, I prepared vegetarian cooked food for the rest of the family. I didn't think it was fair to just shove an apple or a few carrot sticks in front of them and tell them that was dinner - it was what I was going to have, but they deserve better than that...

I overdosed on silverbeet smoothies though - yesterday I started heaving after half a glass. I have gotten lazy iwth the selection I use in my smoothies - so it was a good reminder to broaden the choices.

I know it was bad for health, but I have been going through a crap phase where I just can't be bothered to eat as long as I have my coffee drug habit Ican survive till about 2 pm without eating. Days are usually ok with apples or a handful of almonds - or bananas by the case load. Its when I have to get things ready for everyone else...

One observation though, I was in the surpermarket and thought - stuff it - I 'll get somehteing really bad and eat it reading my book on the couch....I ended up with a kg of grapes.. so promptly consumed them on the lounge. no choc - just didn't feel like it...

I went out to lunch with Age on Thurs and had squid - whichwas yum and spanish meatballs. first bit of meat for a while.

Feeling bla about everything still. my clothes are loose - pants are on verge of falling down but I still look gross. I understand there are plateaus but just can't seem to get past this one.

I can see that lifestule changes need to be something everyone embraces - it just doens't work otherwise. its all too hard..

Report this week

2009-04-30T13:21:00.002+10:00

Still going.. but not 100%. I knew it would be neigh on impossible over the weekend at Mum and Dads - so didn't even attempt it.

Apart from the weekend, I have had a green smoothie a day and a large portion of raw either salad or fruit for the day. I have attempted to just not eat - it seems to be easier to do that rather than tempt myself with the evils of cooked stuff. I am really starting to hate everything and just plain getting down..

I have shed 10 Kgs since starting out and it seems this will only continue to happen if I am 100%. I seem to think that if I was alone.. at home with no distractions I might have a chance.. just how the heck do others do this and stay sane - in the real world?

sighhhh

Get in there Salad

2009-04-27T19:13:00.000+10:00

Still getting in there - so that's why I called this salad that... Get in There Salad

Field mushrooms
Red Grapefruit cut into tiny pieces
2 handfuls of spinach
1 cob corn pieces cut off
1 carrot cut into slivers
6 ( or so) green beans snapped in half

Its more of a picking salad, the sweetness of the corn is contrast with the red grapefruit.

Making Healthy Food Interesting for kids

2009-04-22T19:25:00.000+10:00

The struggle always is to make healthy food interesting for kids. I am very blessed with two kids who will try anything and will then usually keep eating it. In the past I have made vege men out of all types of cut vegs and am surprised at the enthusaism they undertake when eating it. I know I get lazy and just dish out our dinner in large salad bowls - so I am making a committment this week to present food in a more interesting way for the kids.
As I am an editor and writer for a parenting magazine - Type-A-Mom I will also use this time to collect photos and ideas to write a few articles.. I'll post them up here when they are done.

Anyway - todays interesting food is an apple spiraliser. It makes medium sized apples into apple slinkies. You can set it to take the skin off - or to leave it on. My kids like to eat the skin seperatly in a long thing line. Large apples will fit - but the spiraliser will break them apart and you won't get the groovy slinky affect.
My kids will eat boxes of apples done this way.

its organic box day today - so dinner included fresh corn, beans, peas in the pod ... and you guessed it - my tomato salad. crunch munch yum!!!

Ice Cream Green Smoothie

2009-04-22T13:59:00.003+10:00

Now before you completely freak out - there is no dairy or even icecream in this smoothie... but its the best and yummiest I think I have made. Admitedly its a bit sweeter and more fruit in than previously - but I have been feeling a bit yick about the whole raw food thing and needed some nurturing. I usually don't go near Mangos as I think they are gross - but for some reason it really workd in this smoothie for me - I couldn't taste or smell the mangoy stench ( my opinion.... ikkk usually they are gross!!)

Icecream Green Smoothie

2 pack choy
1 large slice pineapple
1 mango - frozen pieces
1 glass water

whizz whizz - it went a delightful light green shade.

a word of warning though - I left a smidge in the lender and within 5 mins it had seperated. Within 20 mins it had gone a ghastly brown colour.

Dinner time is for picking

2009-04-20T20:10:00.002+10:00

Getting back into the raw foods each meal and for some reason just don't feel like going the whole gourmet preparing thing. I attempted to make ravioli - and failed miserably. My slicer was broken, my whirly thing that makes wafer thin slicers has its blade so blunt it woudln't cut anything and the electric whizz bang thing Age bought me lays in the cupboard - all its fancy bits sitting there, glaring up at me defying me to put it together - in short- I am a feeb and no idea how to put it all together.. slot B into section A.. got no idea. He has shown me a few times - but I honestly can't see how it fits together - all the interchangable blades is all very nice - but only if you can used the damned thing.

Anyways - here is what we had for dinner - sliced up sweet potato ( after I couldn't get it to be thin slices to wrap the cashew nut cheese in) and my ever changing Tomato Salad - this time featuring bean sprouts. Lilly kept picking out the tomato and morgan ate (I am sure) half a jar of sliced olives.

Have got some more raw cereal in the dehydrator - and I think it will be a great batch.. I put pineapple in it..... recipe and photo when it comes out.

Have also devised a different raw vege cracker - its dehydrating at the moment - but I will see if its a disaster before crowing about its qualities... my past ones have been met with luke warm receptions.

focusing on the greens everyday

2009-04-17T22:32:00.003+10:00

I have really fallen in a hole this week. Although I have had at least one green smoothie a day, I have struggled to stay raw with all the snacking and disruptions in the day. Its been Easter and school holidays - with us going to a theme park everyday. I did ok at Easter - ate my one lindt bunny and snacked on nuts and juices.

I seem to be fine during the day - packing nuts, fruit and plenty of water to go on our picnics - but just can't seem to hold it together at night - home starving hungry - a green smoothie just not cutting it.

am hating myself for eating toast or crackers and hate that I'd be rather eating a steak than a salad.... still haven't yet- but the temptation is great.

what makes it worse is that my measurements are confirming the fact I have to be 100% raw to continue to shed weight - if I deviate even one meal - I stuff up and don't loose anything for the week.

in a rough spot.... about to bleed... need ... something bad...

Get your kids eating silverbeet

2009-04-15T00:06:00.004+10:00

Seriously - how many kids will ask you for more silverbeet for dinner? I am a great vege lover - and there are days that even I couldn't look at silverbeet...until now.

Yesterday I did a three green smoothie day. I know I didn't drink enough water - so need to up that end of the deal.. and late last night I was tempted by a piece of Italian Easter Bread with butter.. Its all gone now - thank goodness.

Here is a photo of Morgan at dinner time - drinking up his silverbeet greens.. hummmmm - some grape juice, ice, honeydew melon and three stems of silverbeet went into this - and really - the kids loved it and wanted more.

Lilly tucked into my lettuce greens this morning - a pici of her - - it had 1 cos lettuce, 2 bananas and some frozen strawberries.

I have to say I really notice the difference in my motivation and drive during the day if I don't start with one of these energy boosters.

I have renewed vows and thanks to the kind comments nd encourgement I am getting from other raw foodists.. will continue on my path.

I know in my heart it is the right way - but man - its so hard....

This week

2009-04-11T23:42:00.003+10:00

A bit of an up and down week....

I have gone from two to one green smoothie a day, eating fruit heaps one day - attempting to choose better cooked foods the next - and then blowing out with a shared family meal of a thai pinapple and chicken curry - followed the next day with a gross hotdog when we went bowling ( the only famous thing about it was that it was rubbish) and hot chips I snuck in while the kdis were looking the other way..... oh and last night.... at my brothers housewarming.... to be fair I did have only two green smoothies during the day ( and some coffee and the odd banana and apple) .... Prawns totally tempted me and I just gave up when the smoking garlic and chilli BBQed prawns came straight off the Barbie and onto the table beside me. I had a coctail - but gave it away after a few sips.

Image via Wikipedia

I know I need to catch myself doing the right things - so I have smiled and said no to lollies and easter treats - mostly. I have one lindt choc easter bunny ready for me tommorrow - and don't eat rubbish chocolate - so won't be tempted to eat the kids treats when it all comes out. I also have my back up raw chocolate in the fridge and have planned some fresh juices for breaky tommorrow and at least one green smoothie.

I did my measure ups a few days ago and have shed nothing this week. Not sure if its because I am eating some cooked foods now - or if its a plateau.

Age seems keen to get into raw again and has been listening to David Wolfs new stuff on the net. It really is too hard to do by oneself - as a family it needs to be a family decision and activity.

breakfast goodies

2009-04-09T00:49:00.000+10:00

thought I'd share a photo of what breaky looks like at the moment for me. Add a cup of freshly ground coffee and a glass of water - and this is my picking plate for the next few hours ( if I am at home and writing)

I love my home drier and nothing goes to waste - have made fruit straps out of the plums no-one was eating and basically cut up and dry everything else.

Might have to buy a case of ripe bananas though - the kids love the dried bananas I make - they never manage to get packed away..

The week thats been

2009-04-08T00:34:00.003+10:00

Well that week sucked big time.

Although I had at least one green smoothie a day - sometimes two - I also picked and snacked on cooked and processed food and pigged out a few times - sausages at a BBQ, toast for breaky one day, I baked a normal cake and biscuites a few days ago

( I didn't eat the cake - but did eat many of the cookies) even stooping to McDonalds Breaky today..

I feel gross, have a sore throat and have not dared to look at my measurements all week. I also have a headache and have had one most of the week.

I have to say its been a hard slog the last few weeks. If your family is not behind you - if they are not eating the same things as you are - it just stinks. I felt resentful and angry that I was eating what I was and the other members of the family were eating different - and in my mind - nicer - things than I was.

Having them say that what I was doing was good and looked great was one thing - but not doing it with me really took a toll on my resolve.

I know this is a testing period for me and I do need to push through it - but I am finding it really hard to do on my own.

I am resolving to have two green smoothies tommorrow and no processed crap. I made a heap of raw chocolate today - so have some yummy snacks to munch on... .and its organic box day tommorrow.. yay!

A Change of Pace

2009-04-01T23:03:00.000+10:00

I have decided to post to this blog once a week - or more often if necessary. I will probably post up great recipes as I discover them and make them. The weekly round up will be detailing how we went, and challenges along the way and general progress.

I like the responsibility and accountability a daily blog has - but now I have done two months I am feeling the strain on my other work.

doing the two Greens

2009-03-31T21:15:00.000+10:00

Started today off today with a green smoothie - and used an entire cos ( romaine) lettuce. it has that buttery taste that the lettuce has - but apart from that - really good. I drank the whole thing - made two and a half glasses.

Let-Us eat Greens

1 cos lettuce
1 ring/ slice fresh pineapple
1 banana
1 pear
1 cup of water.

blend up till smooth.

I drank 2 cups of brewed coffee - and resisted bikkies and other things at a meeting and while we were out - that green smoothie had me full for ages.

Had a big day and have a huge night ahead of me - so am posting this early. Have to drive up and back from the coast with a trailer - after Karate training finishes tonight - so I am going to confess right now its pretty likley I will have at least one bought iced coffees on the way.....not many readily available caffine hits in the raw world.... all about choices hey?

getting there

2009-03-30T22:36:00.004+10:00

Had two green smoothies today - and am being very mindful that I not use the same greens in the same day. Lunch was bought out at a cafe - just a normal salad - tomato, lettuce cucumber and capsicum..ho hum..

I snacked on our abundant supply of apples and the drier has just finished some dried bananas - which was immediately gobbled up by my starving children - the peach was really good and the chips of kiwi fruit were delightful. As an experiment I dried slices of limes - which the kids promptly ate - saying they were like sour lollies.. weirdos. Age has taken a bag of them to work and will pop one in his glass every time he has water.

For dinner we has good old Guacamole, I did eat some rice crackers with it - and a fab tomato salad - as well as slices of pineapple and pears. Age made a juice of mostly apples and some carrots - which a few months ago I know I would have loved - but it was a bit sweet!! didn't stop me drinking it though.

Fab Tom Salad

handful of salt and vinegar almonds
handful of stuffed olives
huge handful each of parsley and basil - chopped roughly
cherry tomatoes
big dollop of guacamole

I mixed it up and left it half an hour to blend in together - and it was YUM!

I am having real fats and salt cravings - so will go and buy some more capers and some pickled onions. Am dreaming of pickled eggs - but will have to settle with the not quite 100% raw onions and olives .

Confessions Age had some biscotti hidden away from xmas- which I am not blaming him for in anyway - but I ate 3 small slices ( we are talking a mouthful each slice) how blissful it was - but pretty sugary. I also had 3 cups of brewed coffee, 2 red jellybabies ( from Morgans lollybag from the party yesterday) and about half a cup of steamed rice - I shared Lillys lunch and she had steamed rice and salad - I got most of her salad and some of her rice)

Green Smoothies - at least twice a day

2009-03-29T21:23:00.004+10:00

This morning was a bit of a hassle to get up - due to the crap I ate last night. SO pulled out some heavy vit C stuff - the parsley!

Morning Wake Up Green

1 bunch parsley
1 pear
1 banana
1 large slice of honeydew melon
1 cup of water

the sweetness of the melon and pear took the ummm parsleyness taste away.

We had a birthday party to go to - and was delighted to see fresh carrots, tomato and celery being placed in front of me.. hummmm. The kids went mad on lollies - so thank goodness we went to Wet and Wild afterwards to run some of that steam off.

I had two coffees there and snuck some of the kids hot chips.

Got home and made another huge green smoothie - chinese greens, two bananas and water.

Later tonight I had 2 handfuls of cashews and a small bowl of cut up tomato and basil leaves.

blow out at the Gabba

2009-03-29T20:28:00.003+10:00

Had a bit of a blow out last night - went to the AFL to watch Morgan play in half time at the first match of the season at the Gabba - more here on that. Got home hideously late and didn't have time to write this up - another huge day today ( Sunday)

I did start the day well - with a green smoothie made from chinese greens and rockmelon - but this deteriorated with a baked potato and steamed broccoli - then onto a bought iced coffee and part of a croissant, getting worse with a meat pie, some of Morgans hot chips and tartre sauce and a few bites of his muesli bar.

will have to do juices and smoothies all next week I think.

Miss Lillys Birthday

2009-03-27T23:44:00.003+10:00

Before I start - I have to say that today is Lillys 4th Birthday. It was her wish that we went to McDonalds for breakfast. I had a breakfast wrap and a plain sausage McMuffin ( they have got to put evil addictive stuff in them - it was so good) and a large Mocha. nice.

I went to the markets to pick up the bargains in Fruit and Veges - so munched on an apple and a banana when I was peckish at lunchtime.

I really didn't need anything till mid afternoon - when I have a few handfuls of fresh cashews, a coffee and an apple.

Dinner time got melded as I had Karate Training on - so had a few glasses of water with fresh limes sliced up in it. When I got home I had my green smoothie - honeydew melon, Chinese greens and strawberries. I have to admit it looked like mud - a browny ikky colour - and I think the strawberries weren't particularly sweet - so it was quite a tart drink.

Later this evening I had a plate of cherry tomato's , basil and olives. yummmm my current favourite.

Kinda ok today

2009-03-26T22:15:00.004+10:00

Being at home is so easy to stay raw - no distractions and I have enough variety around me to not want bad stuff. Going out - phew - man that sucks.

I went to a meeting today and stuck with a cup of coffee and water. Got home and made a green smoothie (spinach, apple and pineapple) and ate a tomato, olive, red onion and spinach salad.

Dinner was another green smoothie - too green for me and I had to just gulp it down. Not sure why I reacted like this as I have made them like this before - chinese greens, pear, pawpay and a banana.

The kids had an omlette and didn't eat it all - so I swiped a few spoonfuls. tsk tsk..

Later tonight - I had a real olive thing happening - and ate half a jar - with a fork - straight out of the jar. Also really craving fatty things.. so had a handful of almonds and a banana. still munch and could def eat an entire salami if offered it...

Best Ever!!

2009-03-25T22:47:00.004+10:00

Had a ripper day - had 2 green smoothies and a fruit smoothie, some apples and a banana.

Made some great carrot soup with some ginger and added sprouts to it for a crunch texture hummmm.

For dinner I had some steamed broccali and corn coupled with a carrot, celery and apple juice followed by the best ever choc mousse. I might even retype it up and post it on another blog.

Easy Peasy Choc Mousse
1 ripe advocado
1 can coconut cream ( for 100% ers - make your coconut cream using fresh coconut - use both the flesh and the water..- This takes alot longer and messier than opening a can..so do what you feel is right for you here..)
3 tbsp of cacao powder ( I use the Raw Organic one as the taste is superior.. and there are no nasties)
1 tbs vanilla essence - or you can use a vanilla bean ( scrape out the seeds only.. put the husk into your agarve or honey pot)
5 tbsp ( to taste) agarve syrup ( dependant upon your vegan tendencies, you might like to use honey - a good quality one.. or go half and half.)

blend thoroughly in high speed blender

spoon out into bowl and mix in a punnet of blue berries.

This will not last any longer than it takes to put it on the table.. so yummy!!!!

so pretty good day today.. feeling positive.

hungry hungry hungry

2009-03-24T00:09:00.002+10:00

Is it possible to be hungry psychologically and not physically?

I had a green smoothie

Age made for me and left in the fridge this morning. It was made from 2 red apples ( whole) half a punnet of sunflower sprouts, a banana and water. I had about half of it and gagged. the sprouts leave a very slimy green feeling in your mouth which no matter how I looked at it - was not nice. I added a cup of pinapple juice to it and managed to down the rest of it.

I was out all day to day - from school drop off to when Age got home - book party, natropath appointment, pick up, dance class.

I had packed nuts and apples - but have to admit to buying an iced coffee and a salami stick mid afternoon. At the party - joy of joys - I had fresh carrot sticks and tomatoes - but also dipped these in the cashew and capsicum dip. hummmmmmm

I made another green smoothie for dinner and went off to karate. Got home exhasted, ate a banana, an apple, rice crackers and the rest of the roast vege dip from the weekend and finished up with two slices of my chocolate dream pie....

now way I should be hungry - but I am sitting here dreaming about eating all sorts of things that are not in the house.... sigh.....

Spiralisers ROCK

2009-03-23T22:19:00.004+10:00

Found this You tube instructional video on how to use the spiraliser. We kind of use ours heaps then it gets shoved away and not used for ages. The angel hair pasta you can do with this is amazing - really. Its a delicious gluten-free raw "pasta" made out of zucchini, but I have also used carrots and pumpkin before as well.

the video is about 10 mins long.

Sunday,, a bit naughty.

2009-03-22T17:14:00.010+10:00

A few days of not being 100% raw and I am feeling really gross. However, it may have something to do with the very little sleep - even less than I normally get - that I have had in the last 2 days - I think I had 4 hours last night and 5 the night before.

Last night I did end up eating a few handfuls of chips and bikkies and dip and the fateful tim tams - about 5 I think... we sat up till just past 2 am.. no wonder I feel dreadful. Thankfully when I got home this afternoon, the kids and Age had demolished the left overs ( dip, bikkies, chips)

The first thing I had was a green smoothie - made from pineapple, a different Chinese green - a thinner sort of pack choy - but not as white in the stems - all reen and a banana. went down very well I have to say.

My girlfriends and I then indulged in a delightful high tea experience - and I did not censor at all. It really was a gorgeous experience -from the waiter in tux - to the delicate tea sets. I'll have to blog about it in another site. I had 3 petite sweets - the tiny tiny cheesecake/dessert things that are so fashionable now, 5 finger sandwiches - smoked salmon and cream cheese, cucumber and a ham and cheese. I also had 3 half freshly made scones with jam and cream AND 2 piklets with the said jam and cream. Needless to say - despite being totally delicious and scrummy, I felt ill the rest of the day, sleepy and gross.

I made a restorative green smoothie and am sipping it while I am typing. I didn't want to fall into the same greens trap and get crooker than I am already - so the only greens i have in the fridge were silver beet -which I haven't tried yet... I was really surprised and will def be using them again. I made it and then realised I hadn't put a banana in it - so tasted it - its a bit green - so for newbies - add a banana for a bit more sweetness and smoothness - but I really liked it.

SilverMelon

3 stalks of silverbeet
3 slices of watermelon
ice
water

whizz whizz.

I did strain it as the watermelon pips started to get stuck n my teeth and detracted from the experience.

yummmmmm.. can just feel my body loving it up.

a bit of a bad day and I don't care

2009-03-21T18:52:00.006+10:00

Again - all about choices - so had a bit of a zag and stayed out of overload where I could.

Started the day with a green smoothie - lettuce and pawpaw and a banana with ice.

Met my girlfriends for morning tea and we set out to have some new exper

Image via Wikipedia

iences and hang out. So the first thing we did was check out Krispy Kreme donuts - none of us had ever had one - much less ventured into the store.... so - off we went... it smelt glorious and we couldn't beleive the amoutn of different types there were. We had one each - I had to admit - it was fresh and soft and pretty good - but oooooh soo sweet. Now I have had one - I don't need to go back.

We had a wonderful day wandering about - I didn't bring enough water and was given an iced tea - had a few sips of it and had to chuck it out in the bin - soooo sweet.

We had lunch at the Hare Krishnas place - the most fabulous carrot curry and rice and salad... along with thier halva and custard. It was great - but man - I burped and felt bloated all afternoon.

I felt tired and ikk by late afternoon all I wanted to go to bed... however I had the evening to entertian and be sociable...

off now - will probably have a green smoothie and just some juices - report back tomorrow.. ( which is another zag day where I am having high tea... groan......

all about choices

2009-03-20T20:57:00.002+10:00

So after being such a slacker yesterday - I was determined to make better choices and not beat myself up today.

Made a Greeeeemy today to start things off.

The Greeeeemy

two slices of honeydew melon
1 banana
6 or so icecubes
1 cup of filtered water
1 small cos lettuce

Blend thoroughly

Having done a number of green smoothies now, I really think the addition of icecubes makes it smoother and creamier - I know that sounds mad - maybe because you blend it longer or something. anyway - this was really good and I drank the lot.

This weekend marks a special time for one of my girlfriends who I have flown down from Cairns to be with Jodi and I for the next few days. I have made the choice not to stress about 100% raw - but to choose the most healthful things on the menu when we go out. Sunday is going to be a complete ZAG day so I don't even care.....( goggle Zag days - or check Tony Robbins stuff for an explaination on it.)

Jodi warned me that the salads at the place we went to today were premade in the kitchen and drowned in dressing. raw or not - I gross out with dressing - yuck I hate it. - so looked at the vego stuff and chose a toasted turkish bread with rocket, grilled eggplant and marinated zuccini - pretty damned yummy. Lilly had scrambled eggs on turkish bread - which I helped her finish. I also had 2 coffees today.

Dinner was light - given I had a cooked meal for lunch - so went with another green smoothie - made with grapes, a banana and pac choi.

confession time

2009-03-18T23:21:00.000+10:00

I didn't post last night - for a few reasons. flat out - doing lots of things

Image by Meredith_Farmer via Flickr

and it was nearly midnight by the time I got home - the other - I kinda fell off the eating plan.

I started out well - with a green smoothie, followed by a coffee - had a workshop to do and the deadly things came out to munch on. What made it tempting was that other peopel were late - so we were sitting around waiting with this stuff in front of us... and there were egg sandwiches.... which I proceeded to eat at least half a dozen quarters of...

I then ate a few bikkies and dip and a handfull ( or two) or cashews and had to remove myself. I was so mad with myself.

it got worse though - We had Max coming over for dinner before we went out for the night - he was going to look after the kids. So I bought the ingredients for mouusaka and made a huge batch of it. I put heaps of veges and beans and stuff in it as well - smelt great. The golden melted cheese on top looked soooo good.. I picked a few bits off - and it was... so I sliced it up and put it into containers and into the freezer - for Adrians lunch and for times the kids want something hot........................................................................................................................and this is disgusting.....................................................................................I scraped the golden crusty cheese from the sides of the pan and ate it in pure bliss. how aweful. feeling really disgusted with myself for being so weak today.

RAW Chocolate

2009-03-18T20:31:00.002+10:00

4 handfuls of cashews – soak in filtered water for 2 hours
4 tablespoons of agarve syrup
2 tablespoons cacoa powder
4 tablespoons of cacoa butter

I blended the cashew nuts first – then added the other ingredients slowly. Take care in blending as this mixture might get warm ( thus destroying good nutrients)

If you leave the cacoa butter out on the bench for the same amount of time you are soaking the nuts – it will be soft enough to easily blend in.

Spread into tin and put into fridge for a few hours to set.
Cut into squares and put into airtight container keeping in the fridge.
I am not sure how long this keeps as it never lasts more than a few days here.

This is not a super sweet recipe – nor is it rich - It turns out like a very creamy milk chocolate and melts in your mouth.

A vegan day

2009-03-18T20:17:00.003+10:00

Another rushed day - too full of things. The kids were overtired - having not slept properly from Monday nights sleep over - so were ferel this morning. Age made a green smoothie - but we have run out of bananas and it was thick and pretty gross. I didn't manage to drink it at all. I did eat a few slices of watermelon - but it was a bit green - or something - just not a nice one.. I had a cup of coffee instead - and resorted to haveing a meal replacement drink as I just didn't feel like anything - but I knew I needed to have something - or I would devour the party food at the workshop I was doing.

I didn't eat any cake or dip or bikkies there - stayed away from the table all together.

I had an apple and a carrot for lunch ( I know - hold yourself back!) still felt like poo... so had another cup of my glorious brewed coffee.

I made the kids a nuttella roll up for afternoon tea - using a gluten free flatbread - and ate a mouthful of it - pretty yum. I had 4 roma tomatoes ( the organic ones... mmmmm) cut up with basil and sprinkled with celtic salt.

We had apple, carrot and ginger juice for dinner as well as a plate of steamed zucchini, broccoli, carrots and sweet potato.

I made some raw chocolate ( recipe coming) and had 4 squares of it while watching Spicks and Specks.

Snacks

2009-03-17T23:21:00.005+10:00

Feeling a bit munchy and just don't want to look at another apple or guac dip? Missing the evils of chips and crisps? hummmmmmm me too - so I have made these two tantilising treats to munch on...

Salt and Vinegar nuts - for when you are missing those yummy ( and bad) chips

take a quantity of almonds ( a few handfuls is enough - make these fresh everytime you want them.. better that way.) and cover them with an even amount of filtered water and vinegar. ( if you are are totally strict about 100% raw - source a raw version of vinegar.. lemon and lime juice will also get you a similar effect)

soak for at least 12 hours

drain and pour about 1 tbsp of virgin olive oil over the top and toss about - trying to coat each nut.

Grind in celtic sea salt ( or similar) - more than you would think. Toss

lay out onto sheets in dryer and dry at LOW temp or setting for at least 24 hours.

yummmm

My next little experiement was a soy sauce type nut and seed deal.. I got a bit excited withthe soy sauce - so I have written half the amount i used.

equal amounts of pumpkin seeds, seseme seeds, sunflower seeds, almonds and brazil nuts

put into blender and pulse momentarily - you only want it to break up into large chunks.

add 5 tables spoons of soy sauce ( get a raw version if 100% Raw) and toss well.

spoon into dehyrdator and set on low for 30 odd hours.

another nearly 100% Day

2009-03-17T22:53:00.001+10:00

Feeling a bit dejected and down about the whole food thing. Have several people in group who eat - really as they please and shedding weight like no-ones business... and here is me - trying really hard to do what could possibly be the strictest food plan out , failing and falling down on it and beating myself up constantly about it.

coupled with the comment from the kids - "when can we eat real food mummy?" Its just so hard to keep going.

Still - apart from 2 cups of roiboss tea and a coffee this morning, done well again today.

Breaky was a green smoothie made on mixed lettuce leaves, banana and mango and I also had a peach.

Lunch was an apple, some slices of watermelon and honeydew melon and a handful of almonds

Afternoon tea was my salt and vinegar nuts ( about 2 handfuls) and some soy sauce nibbles

Dinner was vietnamese rice wraps - we put in carrot strips, advocado, sprouts, tomato, broccali and olives. pretty damed good.

being a bit relaxed

2009-03-17T08:57:00.001+10:00

Trying to be a bit more relaxed about the whole 100% thing. I had a honeydew melon smoothie for breakfast ( and a coffee)
We went to gymnastics for Lilly and had lunch out - so I chose a vegetable stir fry - which was a bit odd as it had lettuce and fresh tomatos in it as well. nice - but a strange combo.

Afternoon tea was some cashews and almonds and a peach.

Dinner was eaten at the Loving Hut( again) - a bit obsessed with the place I can tell you... I had the satay sticks ( vege chunks and tofu ona stick with satay sauce) and the Beiging Blackbean - slivers of tofu and veges in blackbean sauce with rice. It was really good!

Feeling ok about it all..

Just desserts.....yum

2009-03-15T19:31:00.008+10:00

Back to 100% raw today and feeling more positive about it all. Age and I chatted about possibilities and agreed it was very difficult to remain 100% raw when you are away from your own environment. Most of the people we know - or know of - who are 100% raw, work from home. My choices when out will have to be raw where possible – or vegan if cooked. I have a very acidic system and this is the main reason I have not been able to shift weight regardless of what diet I follow. As long as I have a green smoothie a day and raw where possible I will remain on the alkalizing trend.

We had honeydew melon smoothie for breakfast – just honeydew and ice whizzed up. I think it needs mint and lemon – so will try that tomorrow – or put some lettuce in it.( got HEAPS)

We had banana splits for part of lunch – yum…. A banana cut down the middle – dollop cashew cream ontop, sprinkle crushed nuts and chopped dried fruit and drizzle yucon syrup over the top.. LUSH!

Lunch was the favoured guacamole and carrot and broccai dippers and crunchy tomato salad.

Crunchy Tomato Salad

Punnet of cherry Tomatoes – cut in half
Handful of basil leaves roughly torn up
Handful of sunflower sprouts cut into smaller pieces
Handful of bean sprouts
Good spoon fuls of olives
Mix and let sit for half an hour or so.

Choc cherry pie for afternoon tea – with a good dollop of cashew cream.

Dinner was a green smoothie – lettuce leaves, honeydew melon and a banana.

Today I also drank 2 cups of coffee.

Party Temptations

2009-03-14T00:01:00.002+10:00

Started the day off with a coffee as I felt gross after last night. Followed it up with an apple ( love my apples in case you haven't noticed) Not sure if its physiological or physical - probably a bit of both - letting myself down and not being 100% after nealry 45 days....Took Morgan to his first training session of footy this morning = and had to be involved too - my catching and throwing skills stink!!

Had a birthday party to go to - at Wet and Wild - with the kids. Had a hoot.

I made guacamole and took carrot and celery sticks - as well as some rice crackers, apples and bananas. I made the kids some cheese rolls and we took plenty of water.

Again - we were all too busy having fun to eat or be worried about food - snacked here and there all day. The fruit was great to munch on and was good to have an alternative to what was on offer. I admit to having a bought coffee and three red jelly snakes... damn those red ones.... Managed to stay away from the chips and twisties.. but did fall foul of the plain rice crackers.

We went to visit a girlfriend who has just had a baby afterwards. the kids were besides themselves with tiredness and her mum was so kind in getting them food and looking after them while I caught up with my girlfriend. They had some scrumptious rice stirfry and pumpkin soup but I managed to stick with the water.

Got home and had a cup of tea and a few more glasses of water. Thought about making something for dinner - but couldn't be bothered - so ate some Brazil nuts and cashews... determined to get back on the right path again....

Fri thirteenth

2009-03-13T23:47:00.003+10:00

tis a slippery slope once you start it off....

started off well - but ended badly - for a raw foodist that is.
I went to the markets today with a friend - we are shopping now for 10 people! So had boxes and boxes of produce to courier back and forth. Found soem great bargains -a huge box of mixed lettuce leaves for $1 boxes of mangoes - very ripe - for 50cents a box, melons for a few dollars a box of 8 or so... So I have some work in front of me to peel and freeze or dry what I can.

had two green smoothies today - one made from the mixed lettuce and the other from chinese greens. I also ate a few handfuls of nuts, three apples and a pear.

It got a bit crazy after school pick up - Morgan had a school disco to go to, then we had to go to new Farm to the Powerhosue to see Adam Hills at the comedy festival. Amongst gettng things in order for uncle Jamie ot look after the kids, getting ready and getting M

Lassii

organ to his disco on time, I didn't eat. and then had to rush off..... it was nealry 10.30 before I had the chance to eat - and I was starving and in an Indian resteraunt with the most wonderful smells everywhere. I overate - I over ordered and was ravenous... I did eat vegan though.. cooked.. but vegan...oh = hangon - I had 2 lassi - so that doesn't count... damn it....
I really don't know how anyone can do raw if they have a life outside of home.. If I am at home I can easily do raw - its just when I go out into the big bad commercial world that sucks big time....sigh......

Quiet Day

2009-03-12T20:27:00.004+10:00

Image via Wikipedia

After my 'blow out' with the lean beef burger last night, I have kept it pretty quiet today. I had a carrot, apple and celery juice for breakfast, 2 cups of coffee, several handfuls of cashews and 3 apples before lunch time.

I met a girlfriend for lunch and opted for a Caesar salad (with out the croutons - but with the grilled chicken.....) and a coffee. ( that was as healthy as the menu allowed - they didn't/wouldn't make a garden salad...)

I had grapes for afternoon tea and another carrot, apple and celery juice for dinner.

I made a cherry sauce for the chocolate dream pie and had that along with some dried banana and a roibos tea whilst watching my Thursday night telly. - it really makes it spec ( frozen cherries and a little water whizzed up.)

feeling a bit better about 'stuff'.... like Sir Winston so famously said.." if you are going through hell - keep going." - or something like that.

oh - and my salt and vinegar nuts - pretty damned yummy - have tried a few - will take photos in the sunlight tomorrow and post up the recipe then.

Right off the tracks

2009-03-11T21:50:00.002+10:00

Well - started the day well.. test tasted my chocolate dream pie ( last entry) with my morning coffee, had a green smoothie made from lettuce, grapes and water for breaky. Had two apples for morning tea. I then started to get the munchies and dissatisfaction 'thing' happening. My salt and vinegar almonds are still not ready - neither are my soy seed mix - though that didn't stop me scooping a spoon full out and test them out.

drank another coffee, ate another apple, looked in the fridge and groaned.. its organic box day today - so there is nothing fabulous left in there.

I made a fruit salad for lunch but just picked at it. Just feeling bla about everything. The afternoon flew past and I felt rushed taking the kids to gymnastics, our plans changed with the evening and I ended up having to drive in to pick Age up straight from gymnastics - so sinned the worst ever - we went to Mcdonalds on the way. I had a garden salad and a mocha - but that still sucked big time - so got a lean beef burger as well.. and snuck three of the kids chips. I have to admit they were gross - I could taste the fatty oil and so salty. My burger was total bliss and I so wish it wasn't - I wish that it tasted like cardboard and I would swear never to eat one again.... a few hours on now and feeling a bit bloated and gross.

I'm not going to dwell on it - tomorrow is another day.

Chocolate Dream Cream Pie

2009-03-11T08:20:00.006+10:00

Chocolate Dream Cream Pie

A delectable dessert or a treat - in VERY small slices.

I have kept it in the fridge and put plastic wrap to keep the other vege smells out of it. I think this would be really good with a small serving to cashew cream on the side. perhaps next time I might make a dark chock topping or a raspbery sauce for the top.... hummmmmmmmm guilt free ( well - at least its not a toxic mix of processed dairy and preservatives.. but don't get me started!)

BASE

2 Cups of almonds
2 tablespoons of agave

FILLING

4 cups of cashews - soak for 1 hour
1/2 cup of agave
1/2 cup of cocoa or cacao powder
3/4 cup of water
1/4 cup of cacao butter

METHOD

Base: In a high powered blender or food processor, grind almonds until they are like little bread crumbs. Add your agave and whizz until it becomes sticky. Mine got a bit too stiff – so I mixed by hand. Care needs to be taken that you don’t heat the mixtures.

Press into the base of a springform pan. I only have a really big one and a very small one.. so mine turned out fairly flat – but to be honest – its so rich you don’t want a huge helping

Filling: Put all of your ingredients for the filling in your blender. Blend and keep stopping to push the ingredients around. This is a really thick mixture so you do not want it to blend for very long or it will get hot. I started it off slowly and built the speed up to get creamy.

Pour into springform pan and refrigerate until cold. (about 2 hours). It is sooooo dreamy . I am thinking I might use less cacao butter next time.

I made Adrian a small caramel one and a large one out of this mixture.

Variations:
You can add either cocoa powder or cocoa nibs to the base for a real choc flavour.
add peppermint oil , use the zest of an orange for a jaffa flavour or omit the cacao powder and use mesquite for a caramel flavour

OR - Omit all cacao products and add lemon juice and some salt for a cheezecake flavour.

fruity day

2009-03-10T23:12:00.008+10:00

ok so I have a confession from last night - damn it - I didn't make it as a 100% raw day.. I had 2 pieces of the 85% cocoa Lindt chocolate.. and later that night - totally ravenous - so ate a handful of soy chips.

To counter this - this morning I started to soak and make some salt and vinegar almonds ( yummm) and some soysauce nibbles - they will be ready by tomorrow - so photos and recipes then..

can't fault my hormone driven needs though - as mid morning was the time I started to bleed - so yeee ha into the tent.. ( I wish) At least this time its only been two squares of choc.. I know in the past I have eaten a block of dark chocolate...

I had fruit for breaky - took the photo of what I gave the kids - they like it to look pretty.. We had some really nice yar pears in our organic box last week - so eating the last ones today.

Mid morning I had a carrot,celery and apple juice. Kids didn't want any as the carrots weren't very sweet and i didn't put many apples in it.. got to admit it was a bit.... ummm orange....

We went to the Loving Hut for lunch today - kids loved all the food - cheeky monkeys said that the Vietnamese rolls there were nicer than mine ( its true) I tried the raw salad - heavenly salad - a bit over sauced ( lemon juice and olive oil and pepper) for me - but really crunchy and nice. I also had half of Jodis chocolate cheesecake - which again was really good. I am not going to get all unbent about it all - its vegan and preservative free - made from tofu and soy - so not a 'bad' choice.

I had green smoothie for afternoon tea - raspberries, chinese greens, banana and water. kids clambered to share it and thought it was pretty spec...

Dinner was guacamole and dipping sticks and something I called Sunshine Salad - everyone said it was really good - I don't like rockmelon on its own - so ikk didn't eat it.

Sunshine Salad.

5 slices of rockmelon - cut into cubes
handful of long thread coconut ( for 100% raw folk - you can make this by using a special tool and shredding pieces of coconut meat and then drying it.. I am a bit lazy for all that and buy it..I am sure its not 100% raw - but I am not going to get unbent about it.)
1 handful of cashews
1 orange - pith removed, seeded and cut into small pieces.
handful of sesame seeds

toss together and allow time for ingredients to get to know each other and serve with forks to let everyone have a go!!

another 100% Day

2009-03-09T20:44:00.004+10:00

Started the day out with a green smoothie - chinese greens, water, a ripe banana and rockmelon. I am still finding the balance between too sweet and a bit green... it was sort of nearly right - perhaps a bit more fruit next time.

My aim is for 100% raw every day - which I generally do. I do slip up some days and have things like the ricepaper rolls or other naughty mouthfuls - but normally its 100%.

Some people might think its a bit extreme - but I actaully find it easier. If the food has been cooked or processed I can't eat it - there is no ums or errs or grey areas - I either can eat it or I can't. Besides on a good day usually ( before this change in eating) our eating plan would have been 80% vegetable and fruit based ( albeit some of it would have been cooked) With Adrian gluten intollerent - wheat and those products have been out of our house for about a year anyway.

The 80/20 thing that many websites seem to propose just doesn't work for me.... but thats me... it obviously works for others.

Lunch was fruit slices and cashews.

Afternoon tea was a green smoothie - made from a handful of thomson grapes, blueberries, water and lettuce leaves. I made heaps - so sipped it most of the afternoon.

Dinner was carrot, celery and apple juice.

feeling a bit munchy - but can't really put my finger on what I want.. so just had some water....

Snacks and temptations

2009-03-08T19:23:00.005+10:00

Had a really rough night last night. Both Morgan and Lilly went in tag team with vomiting and diahorrea - came on pretty suddenly and very violently. Unsure what caused it. So I was pretty tired this morning and unprepared for the day.

Age made a very green smoothie for breakfast - cos lettuce, blueberries and an apple. It was pretty thick - but I glugged it down thankfully.

We had planned to go to Movie world for the morning - as we had a baby shower to go to in the afternoon. With the kids a bit quiet and me tired, I wasn't particularly keen but the kids were begging... so we packed a few snacks and went to enjoy some of the quieter things.

Lunch comprised of grapes, cashews and a green juice. Confession here - I bought Age a salami ( 98% meat and fermented not cooked) and I ate a few delicious mouthfuls...

Despite the great looking spread of chocolate cake, dips, sandwiches and biscuits at the Baby Shower, I kept to the water.

Getting home we had a plate of snacks - pictured here - some really juicy dates, grapes, nuts, blueberries, beans and crunchy apples.

I am feeling a bit deflated and 'in lacking'.. I think... have been doing some research on yummy recipes - so have ordered some of the rarer ingredients and hope they come real soon - there is a cheese cake I can't wait to make.....

Go the Green Smoothies

2009-03-07T12:13:00.007+10:00

Having recovered from my green smoothie mistakes - we have moved to a new level and tried out my first silverbeet green smoothie. Can I say I was very pleasantly surprised. I have also stopped putting so much fruit in the mix as I have found the last ones too sweet.

Silverbeet Green Smoothie for two

two silverbeet leaves and stalks
1 apple - cored
1 banana
1 cup of water

whizzed up in our blender, it was a smooth and surprisingly pleasant thick drink. Probably need a bit more water next time.

We were busy doing cleaning and gardening jobs today and I got over hungry. So by the time we stopped it was lunch time and we hadn't stopped for morning tea or water breaks. I ate a few handfuls of cashews and several apples. I got half way through a peach and then found a worm.. just as well there wasn't half a worm.

I kept looking at the fridge and not feeling like eating anything I had All I wanted was to eat chocolate - the bought stuff, chips or bikkies - sadly we had none of these in the house. Adrian went out to the recycling centre and brought me back flowers and a small block of Lindt 85% Noir chocolate. It stayed in the fridge all afternoon.

For dinner we had Vietnamese rolls - although the rice paper skin isn't raw - its a pretty close meal. Age made a dipping sauce from honey,balsamic vinegar, olive oil, lime juice and soy sauce.

Our fillings included spring onions, mushrooms, carrot batons, green beans, lettuce, cucumber and zucchini strips.

yumbo!!

I then proceeded to eat two squares of the Lindt choc - fully prepared to eat the whole thing.. but had to put it back - too rich and too much... at least I have had it...

Crunchy Salad

2009-03-06T22:23:00.005+10:00

I made up a salad this morning and have popped it in the fridge all day – to allow the flavors to really get to know each other before dinner.

Crunchy Salad

2 zucchinis – diced very small
3 tomatoes – firm – diced small
1 capsicum – diced small
a few sprigs of coriander
a few sprigs of basil
quarter of a jap pumpkin – remove skin and dice small.
1 cup soaked almonds
Juice of 1 lemon

Combine, grind in salt to taste

Started the day out with a carrot, apple and celery juice and followed it up with one of my dreamy coffees. I totally understand that this is a crutch and I would be better off without it….sigh.

Ate an apple and a nectarine for morning tea and plenty of water.

Lunch kind of whizzed past – I made Lilly a salami sandwich – she’d been begging for one all week. I ended up just eating another apple.

Afternoon tea was a selection of cut melon, apple and blueberries. I had a green smoothie made from left over fruit salad from yesterday ( I think?) a banana and lettuce leaves. Man the difference in having a proper blender ( yay we have secured a jug for our big blender!!)

We had guests for dinner so I bought the makings for pizza. I was pretty impressed with myself that I didn’t do any test tasting of the ham or salami and chided Morgan when he snitched a piece and complained it was too hot. I had bought a mild version – but hadn’t tasted it – so just assumed it was mild which apparently it wasn’t..

I had karate tonight –so after making everyone pizza – including a gluten free based one for Age – I went off for my sweat – fest.

I came back absolutely buggered and ravenous. I tucked into the crunchy salad – it was really nice – but I was hungry for something else… yep – I spied someones cold piece of pizza on the table – how gross am I – I ate it… and wished I had have at least heated it up.. but man it was good.. ( I make a mean pizza)

I had a heap of blueberries and a nectarine afterwards with a cup of rooibos tea.

breaking the 100% today

2009-03-05T22:06:00.005+10:00

Ok - so I am starting out a bit topsy turvey today - There is a new cafe just opened and I have decided to break the 100% RAW to go there. Now before you freak out - its a Vegan place - which has had rave reviews since it opened last week. The Loving Hut is gorgeous and I can see it as a favourite hang out. I had the Vietnamese rolls - nearly raw - for starters and a rice dish for mains... and a chocolate NOTcheesecake ( made from a tofu product) which has to be tasted to be believed.

It was really nice - but I am now feeling a bit heavy and yick - even though it was vegan food.... AND its really cheap... so if you are in Brisbane - check it out....

Started this morning off with a green smoothie - made with a mix of lettuce leaves and banana and some fruit salad left overs.. I def think my tastes are changing as this was really nearly too sweet to drink. more greens are needed me thinks..

Mid morning I had a cup of gold - my organic coffee and raw milk - oh I am in heaven... and an apple.

Lunch was a green salady thing - good old left overs - my almond dip from a few days ago was the dressing - to that I added cut up tomato's and spinach leaves. I tossed and left for half an hour to meld the flavours.. pretty yummy.

Afternoon tea was a carrot, apple and celery juice. The kids love helping out making the juice -and Morgan begs for this juice all the time.. He is so good with this.

And dinner - well - that's above.... As Age says - its the best choice for your outcome. Vegan is a step from raw - so even the notcheesecake left me feeling unclogged and lighter than a normal one would have.

I'll be going back there on Tuesday for a girls lunch - but I think will stick with one of their salads..

Another Raw Day

2009-03-04T20:19:00.006+10:00

Boiled the kettle about 5 times this morning and just didn't get round to making my cuppa - so didn't end up having one today.

I think my tastes have simplified - either that or I just can't be bothered preparing anything - but I am just as happy to grab out some fruit , have a handful of nuts or have a green smoothie ( and alternating the greens of course!!)

Breaky was a green smoothie - which was surprisingly nice - and VERY green. I bought some mixed lettuce and salad leaves ( you know the type) - so a few good handfuls of that , a small bunch of grapes, water and a banana.. really good!!

Lunch was some watermelon, blueberries and two nectarines.

Afternoon tea was a selection of soaked almonds, brazil nuts, grapes and melon pieces.

Dinner was a green smoothie, some guacamole and a banana. The green smoothie this time was rockmelon, apple, spinach leaves and water. truly learnt!!

Confessions - I ate 2 red jelly snakes and a mouthful of Milo straight from the tin.... reason? it was there and I hadn't eaten before either event for several hours. lesson learnt - always have stuff on hand... We still have a few evil naughties in the cupboard - which includes a tin of Milo.

Line them up!

2009-03-03T17:01:00.000+10:00

Breaky for the kids generally looks like this.

A plate of sliced fruit, mannabears and a drink - today its a banana shake and our great raw cereal. You don't need much - its very filling.

I had two apples and a bunch of grapes for lunch. I also ate 5 wafer thins ( wheat biscuits) with a creamy tomato dip at Jos after our meeting. ( but no tea of coffee)

I bought another 6 punnets of blue berries today and Lilly and I scoffed a punnet each!

For dinner I made a few dips with cut up carrot, broccoli and zucchini to accompany a green smoothie ( watermelon and spinach) and a yummy blueberry dessert.

Spinach and Almond Dip

Soak a few handfuls of Almonds for 4 or 5 hours.
drain and place in blender with 6 large semi dried tomato halves, a handful of baby spinach, a few shakes of salt and the juice of one lemon.
Blend roughly - enough to combine ingredients and get a creamy consistency - but allow some larger pieces to remain.

This is really good if left for a few hours to blend the flavours.

Ratatouille

Finely chop zucchini, onion and tomatoes - even amounts.
add juice of one lemon and good sprinkling of celtic salt.
mix well and allow to marinate for 4 or 5 hours.

really nice on its own or as a chunk dip.

Cashew Cream

soak several handfuls of cashews for 3 hours - only just covering nuts with pure water.

pour whole bowl ( water and all) into blender, adding a spoonful of honey or yucon syrup and a dash of vanilla.

blend till creamy - YUM! you won't be able to tell the difference between it and real cream..

We had it on blue berries with a cherry on top... of course!!

Short and sweet.

2009-03-02T16:42:00.006+10:00

Short and sweet today. Started out today with a carrot, apple and celery juice and a fruit salad plate.. Am thinking that I need to grow wheatgrass again - but had a really bad batch a few years back and still have not quite gotten over it.

I had an apple and a cup of tea ( I have run out of my coffee and refuse to drink instant muck - ikkkk) for morning tea.

Lunch I am afraid I succumbed to temptation. Lilly and I had been invited out to lunch to catch up with a friend. Typically there was nothing vegetarian other than the chips and quiche - I was sorely tempted with a prawn curry or a beef stir fry - perhaps I may have been better served to ask if they would just do a vege stir fry.... anyway - I went with the quiche and salad. I didn't have to fear it was overladen with cheese - I doubt any came near it - so it was more like a egg custard and spinach - not unpleasant though.

The salad accompanying it was as expected - a HUGE mound of lettuce and a slice of tomato with some wafer thin pieces of cucumber.. whoo hoo - go hard... AND it came with a side serve of chips (probably a dozen or so long thick cut chips). How I wish I had just sent it straight back or poured them onto Lillys plate... but no - I munched every delightfully wicked one and dipped them into sauce... so there.

Feeling guilty I went to the shops and bought a few punnets of blueberries -which Lilly and I devoured - one each before we got home.

I still feel sick - so it serves me right. For dinner I made carrot soup and guacamole with carrot and broccoli dippers. Dessert was a delightful mound of blueberries, melon and apple pieces.

When the heck does the piousness of eating healthily kick in?

You can't mix the two

2009-03-01T19:45:00.006+10:00

I am not sure if it’s a reaction to my indiscretions yesterday or the fact I have tried to mix cooked and raw food today – but I am feeling pretty flat and gross.

I started the day off with a berry and spinach smoothie. For lunch we had a light salad – I made it a bit fo fun for the kids –making the ingredients into a vege man. THe zuccini and carrots were peeled into long thin strips and made them really fun to eat. The tomatos are a heritage type we get in our organic box - a black tomato - still tastes great -but a bit wierd looking.

I had resisted the boiled sweet potato salad from yesterday – but looking at the huge bowl of it the fridge today , thought I’d revamp it as a side for lunch. Age had fried a lot of onions on the BBQ – so these yummy caramelized offerings went into the salad – as well as a can of mixed lentils and beans. Everyone had eaten the feta cheese out of it – so there wasn’t any of it to be tempted with. I have posted the photo and recipie on another site here.

After a cup of tea for afternoon tea, I didn’t really feel like much – so made the kids dinner and just drank water and nibbled on some carrot sticks I had been cutting up for the kids.

Hope I feel better tomorrow..

Wet and Wild

2009-02-28T19:34:00.002+10:00

Age had a meeting all day at the house - so the kids and I scooted off to Wet and Wild for the day. We had packed a heap of fruit, juice, plenty of water and commercial musli bars (think - best choice here...) We started the day with a fruit smoothie - no greens for me as I was still feeling a bit blerk about them all.

We really were so busy all day, we didn’t need a big lunch – so the snacks packed were perfect. I did buy a mocha and bough those evil choros each for the kids. And yes – I ate a bite off each of them, savoring the sweet mix of cinnamon and sugar encrusted delight. I had 3 apples and a banana as well as a nut bar – not a raw option – but the lowest sugar and crap, I could find to take along.

Age had organized a BBQ dinner when we arrived back – to catch up with some people we hadn’t seen for a while. He’d cooked sausages and onions and made my sweet potato salad. I sighed looking at it as its one of my favourites – especially the feta cheese. The kids soon made short work of that part of the salad! I made a tomato salad with the capers and olives and made a berry and spinach smoothie for my dinner. Cleaning up, I did a naughty thing and ate half a sausage. It wasn’t as nice as I thought it might have been so was sorry I had made the effort

It was huge day – so felt pretty wiped out and went to bed before midnight ( shocking!)

When too much of a good thing is too much.

2009-02-27T23:04:00.002+10:00

I failed the golden rule with the green smoothies and today am paying the price. I just got so excited about how fabulous they were and how great I was feeling –that I made the same thing and drank it twice a day.. for a week.....its kind of a big NO.

Greens have alkaloids that are good in small quantities but slightly toxic if you eat the same green day-after-day. What this means that if you did what I did – you od on them and it makes you not only nauseous, but pretty ugly out both ends… I will leave it that – no further explanation is required.

Thus – today I had a green smoothie, only just managed to drink it before heaving. Much later on I drank a cup of tea and it didn’t sit well either – So switched to lemongrass and mint tea – plucked from our garden…. And haven’t had anything else to eat today. Feeling pretty gross to be honest.

I have gone back to the original books and site recommended on Green Smoothies and need to remember them – thought you’d like to see it as well.

Green Smoothies are the most nutritious meal on earth. A good Smoothie is 60% fresh fruit mixed with 40% green leafy vegetables.

I was getting all smart and cutting out the fruit content as I thought I was having too much of it… first mistake. Second was to repeat having the same thing .. tsk tsk always change them about – each time you have them.

Sweet fruit takes away the bitter taste of greens. If your Smoothie tastes too bitter, add more fruit.

So why are green smoothies so good?

It's a dream come true for your digestive enzymes as the nutrients are absorbed quickly and easily.
The fibrous greens of a Smoothie are blended into a mush. Blending by-passes all digestive problems like sore teeth, peptic ulcer, colitis, and a sick pancreas – so they are suitable for just about everyone.
Green Smoothies are a complete food. With their fiber, the fruit sugars are absorbed more slowly. You don't get that blood sugar rush you get from juicing…. And don’t forget all the fibre for your colon.. mmmmmmmmm
As they are so nutrient rich, it gives your body – your cells the food they require to build and heal, without having to break it down into complex chemical processes before it is acceptable.
The Green Smoothie is rich in magnesium. People who have cravings or dependency on foods or drinks are often that way as they have a magnesium deficiency.
They are also loaded in in alkaline minerals like calcium. The high-calcium greens are the fibrous ones such as dandelion, kale and collard.

This is an important thing to remember if you are looking to wean yourself off junk foods and sugar. When your cells get what they need, and your brain, and emotions, that desire for junk falls away one step at a time.

The late Dr Jensen proved in The Healing Power of Chlorophyll that if you're anemic or tired, Green Smoothies will quickly raise your red blood cell count.

If you ask just about anyone, what sorts of things you should eat to be healthy – they will tell you “Green Leafy Vegetables.” However, most of us fail to eat even one type per day. In case you didn’t know, the richest source of protein for humans is green leaves. Leaf protein is easy to digest, easily assimilated into the tissues, and has none of the harmful side effects of flesh protein. However leaf protein needs to be broken down by constant chewing before the protein can be assimilated. You can either spend half an hour masticating each leaf – or put it in a blender and let it do the hard work for you.

Here are a few quick examples of green smoothies from the Green For Life book by Victoria Boutenko.

Another rule of thumb is to blend the fruit first and then add in the greens.

2-3 cups any greens of your choice, 2 cups papaya, 2 oranges, 3 dates
1 handful lettuce leaves, 1 handful mint, 4 bananas, 1/2 cup water
Winter Smoothie - 1 cup organic frozen berries (any kind), 2 cups fresh spinach, 1/4 inch fresh ginger, water
1/2 bunch romaine lettuce, 1 cup strawberries, 2 bananas, water
4-5 kale leaves, 4 apples, 1/2 lemon juiced, water
2 big handfuls mixed baby greens, 2 pears, 2 mangoes, 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
Choc-mint – 2 cups spinach, 10-12 mint leaves, 3 bananas, 2 Tbs. carob ( or cocoa) powder, 1 cup water
1 handful of spinach, 2 stalks of celery, 2 bananas, 2 pears, 1 apple, 1 cup water
1 small handful of spinach, 2 cups arugula, 2-3 mangoes, 1 cup water
1/2 head romaine lettuce, 1 small pineapple, 1 large mango, 1-inch fresh ginger
1 handful wild greens (e.g. dandelion), 1 small handful mint leaves, 3 cups honeydew melon
3-4 stalks celery, 2 ripe persimmons, 1 banana
1 handful chard leaves, 5-6 kale leaves, 3 large bananas, 1 cup water
1 handful parsley, 3 cups of peeled paw paw

Market Day

2009-02-26T20:15:00.002+10:00

Over the last few weeks – its been obvious that our normal consumption ( which is higher than the average persons anyway) of fruit and veges is not coping with our new lifestyle. It seems every day I am popping down to the fruit shop to top up something or another. We love our organic box of goodies – but its usually almost gone by day 4.

In the past I used to go to the Brisbane market and pick up great bargains of boxes of things to juice and dehydrate. Like most things – you just get out of the habit of doing it and you stop. A friend of mine went along today and brought back three boxes of fab fruit and veges – which are currently lining my benchtops. So we are planning to go fortnightly at least and grab the bargains when we can. I don’t want to get too much and refrigerate it as I know its better to get it fresh – however – from the market its at least only a few days from being picked – rather than weeks and in some cases months if bought in a supermarket.

I am greening up my green smoothies and boy I miss the apple in them.. kind of tastes a bit like grass and water – so maybe I need to add just a smidge of fruit into them again.

I had two green smoothies today, 2 cups of coffee, a cup of lemongrass tea ( made from our lemongrass outside) a handful of cashews, 2 nectarines, an apple and for dinner I am tucking into my tomato salad. I‘ve added a whole red onion to it – so Age may need to sleep somewhere else … eewwwww.

I was at a meeting today and thanked the hostess for her efforts in making a caramel pear cake and biscuits – but I passed on them – it is getting easier and less embarrassing to say no and explain what foods I am eating. I smile when people say – oh – you are eating raw meat? Yuck! Ummm well no not really….

The kids love my carrot cookies – here is a photo of my newest batch . I mad ethem with a bit more raisins and linseeds – so they would stick together more and then got a round cutter and cut to shape while they were drying.

Going Green

2009-02-25T21:22:00.003+10:00

I know I have been too much fruit - but it just seems to be a much easier thing to eat - no fuss, no hassle. In the past we have made elaborate Raw dinners - the angel hair pastas, soups, ravioli and even a raw pizza.

I am going with what I feel like at the moment - and to be honest can't be bothered with all of that...Its not the whole raw thing - I just get into a funk with preparing food sometimes and wish someone else could do it for a while.

To compensate the lack( relative) of greens, I am going to have green smoothies for each meal in the next few days. I am loving my tomato, sprout, olive and capers salad - so will go with that as well. I am including more greens into the green smoothie to get the content up higher.

I had guests today - so it was a good time to bring out a few of the things I have been making - so we tested the crackers and tomato dip, munched on heaps of the cereal.

From past experience too, I know you just get bored with everything - so need to pep it up a bit.

I made a choc cherry pie I found online and boy is it rich! I really tried hard to stick with what the recipe asked for - but drew the line with the coconut oil. I halved the amount - and boy howdy I reckon you could halve the amount again. Its very overpowering. A friend tasted it - and having had my chocolate mousse before - said that I should stick with my own recipe.

Our wonderful blender has died ( well the blades need replacing) and I am stuck with a ...breville - (argggg) - so the filling wasn't as smooth as I know it could be.

Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake

makes two mini spring form cakes or one 8 inch one.
Crust:
1 cups cashews
4 dates
½ cup raisins
a little apple juice
Filling:
2 cups almonds, soaked 2 – 4 hours, drained
1/3 cup raw agave or yacon syrup
3 dates
¼ cup water
½ cup coconut oil
½ cup raw cocoa powder

Crust directions:
Grind the nuts and add the raisins and juice- process until the mixture sticks together when gently pressed between your fingers. Press into the bottom of your spring form pans. Place in the freezer while you make the filling.

Filling :
blend well all ingredients till smooth. More dates will give it a sweeter taste – so add to your taste. Fresh or frozen cherries can be folded into this as you spoon it into the pan.

Decorate with chopped cherries – or make a cherry sauce by blending with a little water and spoon over before serving... or serve with cashew cream ( soaked cashews blended with a little water and vanilla essence)

How I am feeling

2009-02-24T08:16:00.004+10:00

thought I'd jounral how I am generally feeling and stuff I have noticed.

I am feeling 'bouncy' which is not a term I would normally give to myself. Despite my late nights,I am still able to get up in the mornings and generally not feel like a zombie. I think I average about 5 hours of sleep a night. Looking back on my notes I have cut down coffee heaps -with only one or two cups a day - which I know I need to cut out all together - as its a dreadfully acidic thing to to shoving into your body.

So overall to date I have shed from bust - 1 inch, waist - 1 inch, nothing from the hips or thighs and half an inch from the arms.

Its a bit weird with the thighs as that was the first thing I noticed - the looseness of my jeans - perhaps I am measuring the wrong bit? I guess its early days yet and I kind of want the results right now!!m

As far as the kids go - they are literally bouncing off the walls and sleeping a heap less ( which is a bit of a bugger for me as they get up just before 6)

I think I notice we all have clearer and brighter eyes too.

Fun with Food

2009-02-24T00:16:00.005+10:00

Morgan was desperate to have his photo up here as well - here he is clowning around and eating beans.

Felt gross after the bad things I had yesterday - what little there actually was - unsure if its pychological or physical... just had green smoothies today using lotsof parsley and chinese greens. had some fruit too - some snow peas, a few apples,a necterine and a few bananas.

The best choices

2009-02-23T22:23:00.006+10:00

Unlike other times we have gone onto 100% raw, this time, we are not beating ourselves up if we have momentary lapses. This journey is about moving on and doing the best we can every breath we take. Its sometimes hard for me to do this – like yesterday when I ate 3 quarters of a sandwich. Really – get a grip – that was a huge splurge –but seriously – look at the big picture here.

I thought I’d take a photo of what goes into a green smoothie before it gets blended up. This one is using cos lettuce ( a whole head) banana, mango and some water. The inclusion of banana really smoothes it out and makes it so creamy.

I took Lilly to gymnastics class and with Jodi and Dylan decided to checkout the new ‘authentic’ Asian restaurant upstairs. The prices were amazing and the staff very friendly – but I was stuck with a dilemma – I had already decided that I would eat something cooked – but vegetarian – but none of the offerings were vego….until I spied Vege Samosa.

You know when you have an image in your head and that is what you are expecting……? When I worked in London, we had a guy come round with his huge wicker basket at lunch time – stuffed with all sorts of freshly made Indian ..things, as well as sandwiches and bagels from Brick Lane..( don’t get me dreaming about those.. oh yum,,,) I used to get for a pound – a large samosa – stuffed with veges… I had that in my mind when I ordered it today…. I ordered a large salad as well.

I should know – just don’t eat out – it always disappoints. What is it with the fascination with lettuce in a salad? Gross. My samosas were miniature curry puff things ( not sure if they had ever seen a vege though) – tasty and all -but just didn’t hit the mark I was expecting. I also have to confess in eating about 8 of Lillys chips. I wish too I could be all pious and say – oh they were gross and I didn’t enjoy them at all… nope. They were pretty damned good. Again, I am not going to get stressed about this. seriously - 8 chips. I just need to ensure it doesn't happen again in the near future.

Got home and made a big green smoothie using a Chinese green and a few huge bunches of parsley, mango, honeydew melon slices and water. I forgot to put a banana in and am sure it would be super yummy with that in it. I have to say it was surprising how good the parsley was in it. Parsley is packed with vitamins and minerals.

Age and I are seriously looking at patches to plant Chinese greens and herbs- we go through heaps on this green smoothie thing – and its something we really want to keep doing.

I ate slices of pineapple, an apple, a nectarine and a banana for arvo tea.

Dinner was guacamole with dipping sticks of carrot, beans, cucumber and broccoli. The kids love to play around with Dracula teeth when we have these things out – have the guac dripping from their fangs etc.. niiiiiice. I also made a tomato sauce up – yummo –

10 semi dried tomatoes
2 tomatoes,
a little water
a bunch of parsley
salt
blend well

its so creamy and yummy!

I had a hankering for polenta for a few days – so made some up – water in a pan and add the polenta into it – stir and cook for a few mins – then pour into a dish and refrigerate.

I cut up this into slices and put into the oven to crisp up and brown ( which it didn’t sadly.. I think restaurants must deep fry it or cook it in butter)

We had a few slices of this with our tomato sauce and the gauc..I think I am missing grains as that was the taste I wanted. It was good – but now I have had that, I’ll get back on the raw stuff again.

Well – off to make a chocolate cheesecake ( raw of course) for a lunch I am going to tomorrow. It’s a new recipe for me – so I’ll take photos and add it in tomorrow.

Sunday Too Far away.

2009-02-22T21:14:00.004+10:00

The whole family started with a green smoothie made from a mango, a banana, a Chinese green and a heap of baby spinach with water to make it a consistency you could actually drink. – what a great way to get your greens. Although Morgan looks a bit strange here – he is squinting into the sun – not going yuck at the drink – really!

About an hour after the greens we had our raw cereal – and boy – you can only eat a small bowl of that.

I had a party to conduct and I have to admit eating 3 quarters of a delicious egg sandwich. I by passed the cake and bikkies – but got sucked in with the sanga.

Got home and made another green smoothie – similar ingredients, then munched on a few apples, some soaked almonds, a nectarine and a banana.

I have found a great raw blog – and put a link on this site to it. Kristen offers heaps of advice and recipes on her site – so have been mulling over some of her yummy dessert ones that we just have to try.

I drank 1 cup of coffee and two cups of chai tea today.. and probably not enough water. Stayed up way too late last night and feeling a bit wretched.

can't beleive its sunday night - and next weekend is so far away.. where does the weekend go?

Green Smoothies

2009-02-21T19:55:00.006+10:00

Adrian went to a seminar on Friday night presented by Valya Boutenko. She wrote "Green for Life" and talks alot about green smoothies, thier health benifits etc. After hearing alot of the info about them and know what I know about our western diet, I would like to say that these will be part of our families life forever - even if we don't 'do' RAW all the time....

they might look a bit... umm green - but can I say they ROCK!

Here is a Youtube video which tells you heaps about them.

Going out stinks

2009-02-21T19:47:00.000+10:00

I hadn’t been looking forward to today – not because of the workshop I was going to – but because it meant I would be away from home and its relative safety in food options all day.

Started the day well – made a big green smoothie for all – and something I had been forgetting in my last few was the inclusion on banana. It makes all the difference in a smoothie and makes it taste so much better – smoother, creamier.

Three slices rockmelon
1 banana
3 handfuls of spinach
1 chinese green
10 strawberries
super yumo!

I took along a a box of nuts and seed to munch on as I knew there would be biscuits and minties on the table. Wonder of wonders – there was also a huge plate of crisp grapes – which I availed my self freely to.

I had sussed out my options for lunch and settled on going to subway where they do a salad. A point – don’t. For $7 I got a huge plate of shredded lettuce, exactly 3 slices of tomato, 3 slices of gherkins, about 10 half slices of olives a sprinkling of carrot and capsicum. It was fresh enough – but all that lettuce – yuck. I was hankering for a plate of sliced tomatoes and olives. I couldn’t even get a juice there as it was all reconstituted stuff – so full of crap and cooked.

Got home pretty hungry and had kept the feedback on my short stories I had submitted till I was alone. I am so precious and egotistical I took the suggestion and black marks on my stories badly and my hunger turned sour and a starving scream urged me to go and get something ‘bad.’ I ate 5 rice crackers and put slices of cheese on them… and they were really nice. I then had a cry, fantasized about eating a steak and got over myself and ate a banana, an apple and a cup of coffee. Its just as well we don’t have any chocolate or anything actually bad in the house.

Going out stinks - I don’t know how to cope with a full day of being away from the house and being raw. I suppose that you get less hungry and needing food all the time after a while.

slippery slope

2009-02-20T15:30:00.010+10:00

Another reminder today to be prepared – or else you are on the slippery slope to bad habits again.

Breaky for me was a green smoothie – though I have to say I won’t be pursuing the lettuce ones again.

Half a head of lettuce
A slice of rockmelon
1 apple
ice
handful of blueberries
10 strawberries

very thick and tasted pretty green.

The kids had the cereal – which was ready at long last – and from my taste test – pretty yummy. Morgan asked for another bowl.. you can only eat very small bowls of it – it takes a lot of chewing and is very filling. We have our raw organic milk – but I am sure you can put juice with it or a nut milk. Unlike commercial cereals, even if this is left in the milk – its still yummy – not soggy or gross.

Annies Raw Cereal

5 apples grated
5 peaches grated
3 handfuls of raisins
shake in some cinnamon ( freshly grated if you have it)

blend roughly together – 5 handfuls of almonds, 1 handful of macadamias, 2 handfuls of pumpkin seeds, 2 handfuls of sunflower seeds and 2 handfuls of linseeds. – don’t blend to a flour – leave ‘bits’ so its rough and cobbly.

Mix together and pour over about half a cup of fresh juice – pineapple or apple is nicest.

Allow about half an hour to bind flavours.

Spoon into dehydrator and set on low.
Every 8 - 12 hours get a spoon and break it up and turn it.
Takes about 2 days to be done – or when all crisp.

Put into well sealed jar and use as ‘normal’ cereal.

Lily and I had a bunch of chores to do - first up was visiting a cousin who have welcomed a new baby – I brought over my offerings and was able to give a little advice and goo over the new bub. I let Lilly have a biscuit – I stuck with a coffee.

I made a juice and we also ate some fruit for lunch.
2 carrots, 1 beetroot, 1 shot of fresh wheatgrass ( bought from a juicery - I saw them make it), 2 apples, 1 stick celery, 1 orange. Had to fight Lilly off this one – she thought it was great.

More chores and driving about before picking up Morgan from school – we all got home hungry.

Confession time – those damned peanuts are still lurking in the pantry. They have taken up residence with some soy chips hidden from Christmas. I know they are plotting and have evil powers…. I had a handful of each before throwing them up high so I can’t reach them… easily. I have also had 2 cups of coffee today.

I ate a banana and an apple for dinner – couldn’t be bothered with much else. Those nuts are giving me indigestion.

The kids are tucking into some ripe mangos ( GROSS)

on a more positive note - while I was in the line at the Post Office, my jeans slipped down.....they slipped down..... I had to pull them up.. ( are you hearing me?) I look down and can no longer see my gut hanging out in front - it has shrunk a bit.. I know I have a long way ahead - but wow.. it just makes my slip up today all the more worse - self sabotage... tommorrow is another day and I will do better.

A flat out day

2009-02-19T20:05:00.003+10:00

I had a lot of different jobs to do today – so had to take things to munch on the hop. The kids had cut up fruit for breaky while I had a banana and an apple. I took some carrots, a banana, an orange and two nectarines with me and ate them over the next few hours.

I was surprisingly not hungry for the day and even went shopping ( usually a terrible time for me as I will buy an iced coffee or a juice as a matter of course…. Got through without doing so.. .yay!)

My cousins partner has just birthed so I bought some mince and other things to make a moussaka to take over to them tomorrow.

I ended up making a mince stew with lots of veges in it as well as a moussaka. I felt it a bit cruel to have these wonderful smells in the kitchen and not give the kids some – so they ate mince for tea, followed up with a warm carrot cookie. I do have a confession… whilst I didn’t eat any – I did a taste test on the white sauce ( lick only- honest!) and a quick sip of the juices of the mince - so not really more than a mouse bite – but still…

Morgan tested out the ‘cereal’ which is nearly ready in the dehydrator and said – why doesn’t everyone do this – this tastes so much better than the stuff in the box from the shop.. I have to agree!. Recipe and photo tomorrow when we have it.. but its YUM!

Age and I had a green smoothie for tea – Chinese greens, watermelon, a punnet of strawberries, an apple and ice.

Its TV night tonight – with my trashy soap opera Greys Anatomy and Private Practice on… so I grabbed the remained of the chocolate mousse and a banana and ate it while watching it – yummm luxury!

I had one cup of coffee today, plenty of water. I know coffee- even the organic stuff I am drinking is bad for you – the acidity of it etc…I just don’t know whether I want to give it up yet…

Feeling pretty bouncy and good today. I think its getting easier to be 100% every day I do it. If its cooked or processed I can’t eat it – so much more simple than portion control or fat content. I am looking for differences in my skin and eyes etc but haven’t noticed anything yet. I am surprised as usually if you detox, then huge pustulous stuff pours out of your body.. but it hasn’t happened.. yet… I secretly think its because my cup of coffee a day is keeping the toxic level in my body at a happy equilibrium… some thought needs to go into my next step with this..

I’d be keen to go and get the live blood testing done with Maddona ( Natropath) in the next few weeks… kind of a bit expensive though.

Green Meanie Smoothies Strike!

2009-02-18T21:58:00.007+10:00

Started the day off with a bit of a disaster green smoothie. I think with sweeter carrots it might have been better.

For 2 people
Juice of 7 carrots
1 bunch Chinese greens
1 stick celery
handful of baby spinach.

It was just a bit too.. irony or something – I gulped it down and followed it up with plenty of water – Not keen to repeat that one…

For lunch I was a bit more cautious with the mixture and came up with the Green Meanie

Its not the prettiest green smoothie – but it tastes pretty good! Its based on one of my fav drinks – the watermelon and mint one .

I bunch Chinese Greens
Handful of fresh mint leaves
Huge slices of watermelon
1 apple
ice

I have had a few cups of coffee today as I stayed up way too late last night and am feeling pretty rotten. I woke up with a migrane as well –so I guess that doesn’t help.

Afternoon tea was the last of my raw chocolate and some cut up fruit pieces.

I took the kids to gymnastics class after this – the other kids were rewarded by their parents with sugary slushies and lollies. I promised Morgan and Lilly a special slushie at home – so made this BerryNice Slushy ( serves 4) as soon as we got home.

1 punnet of strawberries
2 handfuls of frozen mixed berries
1 ripe mango
ice and water

Dinner was a ‘picking affair’ with 4 avocados made into a huge bowl of guacamole, the remainder of the vege crackers ( the new ones are still drying – should be ready tonight sometime) , some grapes and watermelon pieces and some warm carrot cookies – straight from the dehydrator.

Carrot Cookies

I used the carrot waste from 8 carrots from juicer from this morning – but just grind up carrots if you like –it will take longer to dehydrate if they still have the juice in them.
A handful of raisins
2 handfuls of almonds – ground to a flour.
1 handful of macadamia nuts roughly ground.
2 handfuls of linseeds
huge squeeze of yucon syrup
splash of apple juice to bind ingredients
a tsp cinnamon

mix thoroughly with hand and allow ingredients to blend flavours
either shape into small round cookies and place into dehydrator – or press into dehydrator and when dried – cut or pull into shapes.

They got the big thumbs up from the kids who asked for more.

I am currently making some raw cereal from memory – can’t seem to find the recipe anywhere.. It aught to be ready for Sat morning..

Headache has persisted and I have succumbed to taking a painkiller to get through the evening.

Top up those greens!

2009-02-17T13:26:00.009+10:00

Its nearing the end of the organic box week - so have had to top up a few times from the normal frut and vege shop - boy you really taste the difference in the produce.

My plan from tomorrow ( when I get my box) is to ensure that we blend more of the veges into shakes and perhaps go and buy more to eat as we aren't getting enough...

I experimented with a fruit shake to day - here is my Greena Colada.. really yummy. I think if I make it again, I'll add more spinach and perhaps a packchoi or another green leaf into it. I think too I'll put in less coconut milk - it was very rich...but then my tastes are starting to change alot.

Greena Colada for 2 people
100ml coconut milk
2 bananas
2 large handfuls of baby spinach
1 slice of rockmelon
1 apple (cored)
100 ml water and a little ice.

I tell you what - this is living!! who gets a cocktail for lunch?

Am soaking some nuts to make some dips for snacks for tomorrow - recipes tomorrow. - I had forgotten that you have to have plenty of variety and stuff in the fridge - so will also make some more vege crackers tonight.

Whats for dinner? how about chocolate mousse?

This will serve four easily and is just good spooned out into your mouth.. We served it with cut up fruit - apples, melon, bananas and strawberries in particular are good dipped into it. I have also in the past frozen this and cut it up - so its like chocolate icecream.

A note on coconut cream and milk - I know the canned stuff isn't always raw - but sourcing coconuts and then going through and grinding he meat up, soaking and squeezing the cream out is a real palarga.. I've done it and I know the purists say its the best - and it is.. but if its too hard - then most people will just give up.. I am into simplicity and ease.

RAW chocolate mousse

three huge handfuls of cashews ( enough to well and truly cover the blender blades) - process these first into a fine flour like consistency - this is important if you don't have a high powered blender.

add:
1 ripe avocado
50 ml coconut cream
1 banana
4 tables spoons of raw cocoa powder
2 tbsp raw Yucon syrup
water in order for the mixture to keep blending - a few drops at the time.

Blend till smooth - and I dare you to stop licking the spoon.

A note on the sweetness - its a dark chocolate taste and very rich. Add more coconut cream for a creamier taste and put in a source of sweetener you feel comfy with - to your taste.

for a late snack we will have guacamole, carrot sticks and broccoli florets.. I am posting this early as we have dance class, then my karate class - so flat out this afternoon.

Measure in

2009-02-17T09:42:00.002+10:00

Fogot to note my measure in. I don't see anything on the scales - but I long forwent trusting that evil machine in anycase. There is something about it - the way it beeps so nonchalontly at you and then demands you wait for a certian time before you step onto it. THEN it flicks WAAAAAY past your weight and you feel like jumping off the roof, before it slowly clicks the numbers back to a number that has got to be wrong. nahh - I don't trust the little buggers.

I have been told not to get on the scales ( but did anyway - just to see..I won't do that again in ahurry) Its all to do with reshaping - thats good for me! who cares if the scales say one thing - man if I looked good - then the numbers be damned. Its all about sheding inches from all over the body.

so - I am not going to put the actual measurements here - just way too embarrassing - but will record what has been shed.
since I started
1.5 inches from bust
1 inch from waist
1.5 from hips
nothing from arms
1 inch from thighs.

I have so much to reshape I can't see any difference - but my jeans are much looser - especially round the legs.. so its all good I guess

Salad Daze

2009-02-16T21:40:00.003+10:00

Off to a poor start today – with me sleeping in and fussing over what the kids ate, me drinking half a cold coffee and a glass of water before being faced with a cheese, cold meats and dips platter at the ceremony Morgan had to attend. I did eat one bikkie plunged into dip – but collected a bunch of grapes and carrot sticks and stood away from the table.

Onto a gymnastics class for Lilly and invited to Ikea for lunch – I was pretty hungry by that stage. A glance down to my power word on my hand forced me to get a gross salad ( by that I mean mostly bitter green leaves , 2 slices of cucumber and a slice of tomato and rings of red onion) and watch Lilly wolf down a plate of chips and Swedish meatballs.

We got home and I ate a plate of sliced tomatoes and olives, several bunches of grapes and a banana. Afternoon tea at a playdate – I had two cups of black tea, copious handfuls of airpopped popcorn and two handfuls of divine soy chips.

I made the kids a banana shake and laid out some nuts, sliced fruit and vege crackers for tea – and then had to shoot off to dance class with them and onto town to pick up Age who had been working very late.

Home again and hungry – I have eaten three huge handfuls of macadamias, a banana, an apple and a peach – and trying not to think about Morgans emergency loaf of bread in the freezer.

Overall – shows lack of preparation leads to very hungry day – lack of imagination with the foods leads to boredom.

Overall feeling a bit down in the dumps – probably a hang over from eating some cooked crap on the weekend at the party…. And the glasses of wine…. Measure up day tomorrow.. I really hope that this is all worth it…..

No Meat for Me!!

2009-02-16T00:46:00.001+10:00

We had a dear friends milestone birthday party this weekend, set in gorgeous Bunya Mountains at an exquisite restaurant. I had made the decision not to stress about being raw that night – and just eat sensibly. First we were served a warm bunya nut gluten free bread with a spicy tomato salsa. Probably the best gluten free bread I have ever had too – soft and really lovely – I only had one slice though. Mains were an alternate drop of chicken or beef – which both looked and smelt divine. I ate the steamed veges – crisp and scrummy and then attacked the beef casserole – but only after a few mouthfuls had to stop. It was the most weird, uncanny feeling – I was hungry – it smelt and looked great – but every mouthful I had my stomach warned me not to as it would throw up any second. I tried a bit of the chicken and although again – it looked incredible and smelt better – it was definite no way. Desert were tiny morsels of a variety of deserts – tiny tiny cheesecake, choc mouuse, sticky date pud, choc mud cake and ice-cream. I had a morsel of each – but then handed it over to the kids. I do have to admit I had about 4 glasses of red wine through the night.

I have done this “raw’ thing a few times but have never been hit like this before. I can’t even say that its an identity shift as I have no issues with killing for meat etc. I just physically couldn’t eat it. Anyways – back on track – I do need to eat more veges as I am blissing out on fruit – but need to just keep trying – and do better everyday.