Green Smoothie Challenge Days 1-4

As I mentioned in my previous post, I decided to do a 30 day Green Smoothie Challenge (GSC). Green Smoothies were the start of consuming more raw foods for me. After a couple of weeks, people around me began to comment on how great my skin looked. I noticed my allergies weren’t bothering me as much. My nose cleared up completely!

Check out my last 4 days of GS.

Day 1 GS

Pineapple and Kale 

3 large Kale leaves

1 cup pineapple

1 Large piece of ginger
hemp seeds

Day 2-GS turned into a GJ (green juice)

Unpasteurized Apple Juice

2-3 large handfuls of spinach

1/3 banana

1 inch peice of ginger

1 tsp raw honey

 Water

Day 3- Tuesday's GS

Kale Colada

1/2 banana

2 tsp coconut butter

kale

lime big piece of ginger

1tsp honey

Day 4 Wednesday's GS (Double Day)

Green Apple Spice

Unpateurized Apple Juice

3 large handfuls spinach

Dash of cinnamon

large piece ginger

juice fom 1/2 lemon

Mango and Parsley Colada

1 Young Coconut and its juice

1 small handful of parsley

mango

splash of vanilla

pinch of salt

lime juice 

ginger 

**I'm trying to get over an illness so, I've been adding ginger, garlic, honey and cinnamon to many of my meals and drinks**

Trying new Recipes

As much as I would like to purchase a ton of raw food books my budget will not allow me to. However, with the abundance of information on the internet I am able to learn a great deal about eating raw. In the past few months I’ve copied many recipes from authors like Alissa Cohen, Sarma Melngailis and James Russell. The last couple of recipes I tried were, Turnip Ravioli (Alissa) with macadamia nut cheese (from James Russell.)


Raw Ravioli
For the ravioli I used my own sundried marinara and added spices to the macadamia nut cheese. I also marinated the turnips in lemon juice and a dash of salt to soften them up quicker. Pictured below was the end result.

Next up, since there are times when I’m not at home for a good part of the day I wanted to make a sandwich that did not need to be assembled. In my previous post I made Ani Phyo’s Black Sesame bread but that did not hold up well when I traveled. So, I made collard wraps making sure all the veggies were as dry as possible.

 First attempt

Caesar Salad Wrap with oatmeal cranberry cookies

Cookies 

After making Carmella's (very easy) Oatmeal Cookies I attempted to make some others. My favorite treats as a child often included something with peanut butter like peanut butter cups, peanut butter cookies,  and (chocolate) peanut butter milkshakes. I will make almond butter cups when I find a simple recipe, until then I decided to try my hand at almond butter cookies. I didn't have any almond butter and I did not want to spend $10 on a half size jar. So.... I made some almond butter with my food processor. It was easier than I expected. All it took was 1 cup of almonds and 10-15 minutes of processing.

 

Oatmeal chocolate pecan, Lemon Coconut, Oatmeal Cranberry,

Almond Butter and Chewy Oatmeal (not pictured)

Lately, I've started my morning with some kind of drink like a green smoothie, fruit smoothie, or green juice. They are so quuick and easy. I've discovered smoothies will last a day in the fridge.

Pure Grapefruit Juice

 

Sour Apple- green apple, lemon, grapes, spinach, ginger, banana and hemp seeds

Sweet Beet Juice- Apple, celery, carrot, and beets

This next drink is one of my absolute favorites. I drink this sometimes twice a day. It's a mixture of carrot, ginger, brazil nut milk, and bananas. The original recipe comes from the book Raw Food Real World.

1 Week Raw...Almost

So, I've been on a 80-90% raw food eating plan for the past couple of weeks....even when I not feeling well. Last night I went to a potluck Bible study and did not eat any of the processed cake, cookies, muffins etc....!! Instead, I ate before I arrived. I was not tempted with anything. Well...I guess I shouldn't say that. You know, when my family and friend get together we eat. So, I was tempted to eat because I was around company..not because I was hungry.

Moving on, I made a goal to try a new recipe daily, whether it's a smoothie combination or just a different fruit on veggie. My new food experiences are pictured below. I also noticed that once I (un)cooked Sunday and Monday I did not need to cook anything else. I started each morning with a 16 oz whole food juice or smoothie that took a few minutes to make and put in a cup to go. My lunches consisted of large salads and fruit or a falafel type wrap. My dinners were the same: Kale salad, smoothie, falafel wrap, zucchetti with raw marinara or lemon basil pesto! I'm enjoying my raw journey. The recipes are fun and mostly easy. Who says eating raw has to be hard?
 
One reason I felt I could not do the "raw thing" before was because I was overwhelmed with many of the complex recipes. But now I'm learning that the simple recipes are great and fun to prepare.
 
Below are photos of my meals last weeks.
 

blueberries, spinach, banana, hemp protein

Cinnamon Banana Shake

Blueberries, grapes, spinach 1/2 banana

Whole grapefruit juice made with the Vita-mix

Basic Salad

Spaghetti Squash with marinara

Falafel like balls with a zucchini flax wrap with marinated kale salad and grapes

Lemon pesto and zucchetti

Tomato Basil soup

Strawberry Mango Coconut freeze

How have I done this week?

I haven't done my best. I'd say I ate about 70% raw so far. When I get off work I just get anything. That's pretty horrible huh? Yes..I know. But I will continue on my raw food path until I am successful. A typical day this [work]week:

Morning
Green Smoothie or Juice
Snacks
raw chocolate, fruit and nuts,
Mid-day-
Large Salad  or Collard Greens and fruit
Dinner something cooked or a large salad.
I love my greens!!



Since I'm off from work work for 1 1/2 weeks, I will be able to concentrate on my  my new lifestyle change. I should be recieving my vitamix soon!!!!!

My first Blog Post

Well, I figured I might as well join in the Internet world. I have chosen to try dive into the Raw Food movement for a few reasons. One, I want to know how it would feel to let go of the processed foods- at least most of them. Second, I love trying to new recipes. And Lastly, I want to improve me overall health.

I've been researching the benefits of raw food for approximately a year and there are plenty of benefits. I tried and loved green smoothies and I completed a brief juice feast . I think it was about 10 days. I loved it! I loved the combinations of fruits and veggies and I loved trying out veggies I never got a chance to growing up. As a child my mom always made sure I consumed my 5 fruit and veggies daily.

You know how people start their New Year's resolutions January 1st? Well, I want to go into the New Year already into my resolutions. So, for the next 15 days I will be on a high raw diet. High raw will be 90%-100%. I promise myself I will included a green smoothie daily! I will also try a new recipe weekly.

I had two 32 oz green smoothies today. One consisted of a banana, orange, apple and bunches of spinach. The other was a Samra's Cilantro Shake posted here :

cilantro, 

pineapple,

grapefruit,

lime,

agave,

vanilla and cinnamon.