I realize "eating raw" might conjure up thoughts of cold, crunchy,
tasteless food day after day (it did for me) - but it doesn't have to be
this way!
I've been 70-100% raw since February 2012, and while
the food is room temperature or colder, it's also colorful, flavorful
and glowing with life-force energy. I feel lighter and healthier and
really enjoy my food - even more so that I did cooked food.
If you're interested in getting started with raw, it's very easy;
you don't have to be 100% - start with maybe 20% and gradually increase
the amount of raw fresh foods in your diet each day. Since it's
summertime, this is a great time to start.
All you need is a food processor, blender, and optionally a paint strainer
(for
the green smoothie & nut milk - you can get a 2-pack of paint
strainers from Home Depot for about $8). Eventually, if you decide you
love eating raw, invest in a food dehydrator so you can make flour-less
breads (about $30-50, like this one).
For this post I'll share some of my favorite, delicious, easy-to-make raw treats (that don't require a food dehydrator). Also, whenever possible eat organic!!!
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MEALS & SIDE DISHES
Nut milk
Soak 1 cup almonds for 4+ hours (can also use a mix of almonds, walnuts
& pecans). In a blender, mix nuts with 2 cups water and a few ice
cubes. (Optionally you can add 1-2 pitted dates and/or 1 tsp vanilla to
taste)
Pour the mixture through a paint strainer and squeeze or
"milk" the strainer until all liquid has been extracted. Keep
refrigerated.
Breakfast Cereal
1 heaping tbl flax meal
1 heaping tbl slivered almonds (or chopped walnuts)
1 tbl raisins or blueberries
1 tsp stevia (or
agave)
1/2 cup nut milk
Optionally, add cinnamon, a spoonful of vanilla protein powder or sliced banana.
Quick Guacamole
Mash 1 avocado with a fork. With a spoon, mix in 2 tbl chopped purple onion and 2-3 tbl lemon juice. One of my favorites!!!
Garden Burgers
Combine in a food processor:
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1/2 cup walnuts (or sliced almonds)
- 1/4 medium onion (finely chopped)
- 1 tbl agave
- 1 tbl oil: extra virgin olive, sesame, or your choice
- 1-2 tbl nutritional yeast (optional: makes for "cheesy" flavor)
Scoop a heaping spoonful onto a large lettuce leaf (such as
Romaine) and fold the leaf over in lieu of bread. Optionally, add Bragg
Amino Acids to the mix for more flavor. Delicious and very filling!
Mix
chopped kale and romaine lettuce (about 1 cup each).
Using your clean hands,
mix in 1 tbl olive oil, kneading until all leaves are saturated with oil.
Add 1 tsp of raw apple cider vinegar, 1
tbl chopped purple onion, and 1 tbl walnuts.
Optionally, sprinkle on 1
spoonful of nutritional yeast. Very tasty!
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SNACKS & DESSERTS
Banana Walnut Pudding
So easy - just mash a banana and add cinnamon and chopped walnuts. Gooey but sweet and filling!
Combine in a food processor:
1 cup sliced carrots
1 cup walnuts
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1 tsp agave (or 1 packet of stevia)
1/2 cup raisins
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tbl water
Do not over-process - just pulse a few times until everything is crumbly. Tastes just like carrot cake!
Crumb Cake
Mix equal amounts of pecans and walnuts in a food processor (do not
soak in water beforehand) until crumbly. Transfer crumbs to a bowl and add cinnamon and agave
to taste. Makes an amazing dessert!!!
You can also add a little cacao for a chocolatey treat, or add nut milk & raisins and eat for breakfast.
Chocolate Pudding
In a
food processor, mix:
1 avocado, diced
¼ c raw agave nectar, or more to taste
¼ c cocoa powder
¼ c water
2 t vanilla extract
¼ t sea salt
Place
avocado, agave nectar, cocoa powder, vanilla extract and sea salt in a
blender. Gradually add 1 tablespoon of water at a time to achieve a
creamy consistency. Chill overnight and enjoy as a rich dessert the next day.
One of my favorite desserts - they really do taste like real brownies!
Combine in a food processor:
1 cup pecans
1/2 cup dates
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup avocado
5 tablespoons raw cacao
4 tablespoons shredded unsweetened coconut (optional)
2 tablespoons honey or agave nectar
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
Spread into a pan or cookie sheet (about 1/2" high). Freeze overnight; cut into squares. Store in the freezer for amazing chewy brownies!!!
Thin Mints (from http://www.onegreenplanet.org)
Mix together:
3/4 cup protein powder
1/2 + 2 tbsp cocoa
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp stevia, liquid
1 tsp peppermint extract
6 -7 tbl coconut oil, liquid
Place all ingredients into a bowl and stir together.
Scoop onto plate or tray, then set in fridge to set (you want the
cookies to be hard to the touch). Keep refrigerator or store in freezer.
Soak
1 cup of cashews in water for at least 4 hours. Drain and add cashews
to your food processor. Using the s-blade, whip the softened cashews,
adding small amounts of water until the consistently is that of pudding.
Transfer "cashew cream" to a small bowl, and add about 1-2 tbl
lemon juice and 2-3 tbl agave (modify amounts according to your taste).
Oh soooo good!!!
Quick Cheesecake (adapted from therawtarian.com)
Based on the above, if you want to make firm cheesecake, mix about 1/2 cup of melted coconut oil in with the whipped cashews, lemon juice and agave; spread the mixture in a pan and refrigerate. Cut into squares and serve with fruit. Delicious, and I swear it tastes just like cheesecake!
Apple Cobbler
In a
food processor, mix:
1 apple, chopped
1/2 c walnuts
1 tsp maple agave
cinnamon
Don't over process, but mix until crumbly. Delicious!!!
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SMOOTHIES
Berry Smoothie
In a blender mix:
1 cup nut milk
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup chopped strawberries
1/3 cup blueberries
1/3 cup chopped blackberries
1 tsp vanilla
stevia (I use 2 packets) or agave to sweeten
a few ice cubes
Optionally, add 1 heaping tbl vanilla protein,1 tbl flax oil, 1/4 cup of coconut kefir or 1/3 sliced banana. Thick & yummy!
Green Smoothie
In a blender, mix:
3 cups water
1-3 chopped green apples (depending on how sweet you like it)
1/2 chopped cucumber
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped kale
1/2 cup chopped spinach
1 tbl spirulina
After mixing, strain about 2/3 of the pulp by
pouring the mixture through a paint strainer little by little, and
squeezing or "milking" the strainer until all the liquid has been
extracted. Dispose of the pulp and rinse the strainer. Optionally, add
stevia to the smoothie to sweeten.
Almond Smoothie
In a blender mix:
1 cup nut milk
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup almond butter
1 heaping tbl vanilla protein
1 tbl flax oil
1 tsp vanilla
stevia (I use 2 packets) or agave to sweeten
a few ice cubes
Chocolate Smoothie
In a blender mix:
1 cup nut milk
1/2 cup water
1 tbl avocado
1 heaping tbl cacao
1 heaping tbl vanilla or chocolate protein
1 tsp vanilla
stevia (I use 2 packets) or agave to sweeten
a few ice cubes
Optionally you can further thicken by adding 1 tbl flax oil, 1/2 cup cashews, 1/4 cup almond butter, chocolate pudding (recipe above), or 1/3 banana
