I’ve recently started subscribing to a weekly email from Karen Knowler, The Raw Food Coach. Her most recent email contained an article I found intriguing. Instead of thinking about how you nourish your body on a daily basis, think about each day as a series of 3 cycles. Each cycle serves a different purpose.

• Stage 1, which occurs between 4 am and noon is Elimination. This is when your body is at its peak hours for eliminating. During these hours, it’s best to help aid your body with elimination or “housecleaning”, not prevent it. You can do this by eating fruits, veggies, and drinking green drinks because they require the least amount of digestion. These items help continue the elimination process. Once you start eating other foods your elimination will halt.
• Stage 2, which occurs between noon and 8pm is called Appropriation. This is the peak time to eat because your digestion capability is at an all time high. We are also burning food up faster because we are awake and active (ideally). But don’t eat if you’re not hungry. Listen to your body and eat when you feel the need. Learn to get in tune with your natural hunger signals.
• Stage 3, which occurs between 8pm and 4am is Assimilation.This is the time when you make use of the food you’ve eaten. Much of this time you’ll likely be asleep (ideally) and your body can run it’s course, absorb the nutrients, heal and rebuild your body. Once that’s done, the body is ready to start cleansing and eliminating which leads back to Stage 1.

For anyone who is trying to lose weight, listening to this cycle is supposed to be a great help. This was taken from a raw foods article but I think it can be applied to any diet. One of my favorite things to make in the morning is a shot of wheatgrass. Maybe eat a banana, orange or some other fruit. It’s a great way to jump start your day. And I can tell my body is in peak cleansing mode in the morning. But I was unaware of these cycles until today, so with this knowledge I think I can go even further with maximizing my health.

Update: I’ve been raw for… 32 days now. Wow! I do feel much better (though I definitely miss cooked meals, miss the taste of coffee, beer…). I think I’ve lost weight but I don’t own a scale so I can’t say how much. I don’t think it’s anything dramatic. As far as the energy level goes

Eating raw can be tough. It’s hard to find any prepared meals. So when you need something tasty and on-the-go, Raw Revolution is at your service. These things are so delicious. I especially like the spirulina and cashew. They fill you up and keep you happy. Raw snacks done right!

• 1 C almonds
• 1-2 cloves garlic
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 3 carrots, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 1/4 cup green onion
• 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice (1/2 lemon)

Process almonds into powder first. Process the remaining ingredients. Mix together. Works well on a bed of greens, in a wrap, or on bread (raw bread can be made in a dehydrator). You can also form 1/2 cup patties and dehydrate 3 to 4 hours at 104 F.

Note: raw recipes are really easy and fun to adjust fit to your particular palate. If there are other ingredients you’d like to add, like sundried tomatoes- do it! If you have ideas for spices that you think would go well in a dish, try them out! If you don’t have almonds- try using cashews! Go nuts! I love experimenting. It keeps each dish alive and adaptable.

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If you are planning to build a veggie garden here is a good guide to a vegetable garden layout plan which you will find useful.

A few posts ago I discussed the raw reality trend that seems to be sprouting up. Since writing that post I ordered a pre-release edition of the documentary Supercharge Me… 30 Days Raw (along with it came an autographed poster from Jenna Norwood, the star of the documentary). Overall, I really enjoyed it. In fact, I’m anxious to watch it again. Though the documentary itself is pretty amateur, and there are some cheesy graphics carried throughout the film that probably could have been left out, or at least improved upon, I found the information to be very useful.

There are interviews with several raw foodists, each of which is unique and valuable. Jenna discusses her upbringing which was atypical and intriguing. And I got a sneak peak into what goes on at a raw health spa. The camera footage at the spa seems limited, though, perhaps due to legal restrictions or something. One health spa experience that has always frightened and intrigued me is the colonic, and I definitely got some in-depth coverage of that. And now that I’ve seen the process, though I think it’s still an awkward situation, it does seem to be a necessary step in body cleansing and I’m very tempted to try it. And a raw health spa is definitely a getaway I’m interested in.

It’s fulfilling to see how Jenna transforms from a woman with a typical American body type (a little extra baggage) and some health problems, into a very healthy vibrant looking woman who’s health problems basically vanish, all due to raw food and light exercise. You can see her confidence level increase along with her health and well-being. And it all started because she wanted to look good in her Halloween showgirl costume.

Since then she has become a full-time raw foodist and raw food chef, and it sounds like her life has changed quite a bit for the better. Clearly, her experience had a lasting impact.

If you prefer this recipe “burrito-style” you can use red or green cabbage leaves as a wrap.

• 2 cups spinach leaves (or lettuce of your choice)
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• pinch of sea salt
• 1 batch Baja Cheeze*
• 1 batch Taco Nut Meat*
• Salsa of your choosing

Toss spinach (or lettuce) with olive oil and sea salt. Top with Baja Cheeze, Taco Nut Meat and salsa.

Baja Cheeze

• 1 cup Brazil nuts
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice (or one lemon)
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 bunch cilantro leaves
• water as needed

Blend nuts, lemon juice, garlic, and cilantro until smooth, adding enough water to create a smooth cheeze. (Will keep in refrigerator for 4 days)

Taco Nut Meat

• 1/2 C almonds
• 1/2 C walnuts
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon ground coriander
• 1/3 C extra virgin olive oil
• 2/3 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon Nama Shoyu or Bragg Liquid Aminos

Process all ingredients in food processor until nuts are chopped.

And there you have it! It looks like a lot of work but it actually can be prepared quite quickly. And it’s generously portioned. The spices make it taste like taco seasoning. Yum! And my boyfriend, who has not tried many raw dishes, kept stealing bites of my salad. He loved it. Next time, I’ll make it for two!

(this raw recipe is my personal adaptation of a recipe by Ani Phyo in Ani’s Raw Food Kitchen) Serves up to 2 people.

There’s a new trend on the horizon. This trend consists of documentaries about raw food, and a time span of 30 days. Essentially what these documentaries are trying to fulfill is a continuation of the documentary Super Size Me, where, as you probbaly know, Morgan Spurlock eats solely at McDonald’s for 30 days. These documentaries start on the other end of the spectrum and take unhealthy Americans who have typically eaten the Standard American Diet (likely consisting of McDonald’s) , and have them eat only raw vegan food for 30 days. The goal is to show you the dramatic effects the raw diet can have on saving your health. People suffering from type 2 diabetes do a complete reversal: their blood pressure drops, they lose weight, feel happier, etc.

Now, I LOVE that the raw diet is entering the mainstream. I love that people are considering natural alternatives for getting healthy, versus succumbing to medication for the rest of their lives. I love that veganism is getting positive feedback from the mainstream culture. Unfortunately, I fear it’s being done in a cheesy, reality show manner. But heck, I guess that’s what the general population digs these days. I just hope this doesn’t result in people treating the raw diet like a fad diet. Granted, all I know of these documentaries is what I’ve read in magazines, and the trailers I’ve watched on YouTube. The documentaries are expected to release in the next few months. And I do plan on watching them when they finally come out. If you want a sneak peak, check out these links. (warning: the Raw for 30 Days trailor is 9 min. long)

Supercharge Me… 30 Days Raw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIxFpwRD0jY&feature=related

Raw for 30 Days http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynXGA6fCEgU&feature=related

So I finally watched the DVD Raw Food Made Easy with Jennifer Cornbleet. She is a chef who’s been eating raw for over a decade. And I gotta tell ya, I’m so glad I watched it. There are some things you just can’t learn from books. She does a great job of focusing on the basics of creating raw food. She demonstrates things you might not even think about- like different styles of chopping food, which can alter your dish dramatically. And she’s very good at explaining why she does what she does. If she adds an ingredient to a recipe, she tells you the reason. Perhaps it adds a buttery flavor, or it’s added for its consistency.

I took several pages of notes as I watched. She really covers a lot. And you learn some simple, yet amazing dishes in the process. What all is shown in this DVD?

• Equipment & Ingredients
• Advance Preparation
• Breakfast: fruit smoothies, green juice, granola with almond milk
• Lunch: garden vegetable soup, not tuna pat

Today commences my 40 day streak of 100% pure raw goodness. I’m excited! Not about the fact that I can no longer drink alcohol (can alcohol be raw?)… or coffee [sigh]…or anything hot… but about how healthy I am going to be. I want to experience this “clarity” raw foodists speak of, firsthand. I want to rid my body of toxins and gain overwhelming amounts of energy (like the energy I can no longer get from my morning java).

Anyone who wants to join me on this tepid quest is more than welcome. You don’t have to be as extreme as me either. Many raw foodists go about 80% raw. You could even go 50%. The more fresh, uncooked food you incorporate into your daily life, the better off you will be. Granted this isn’t the ideal time of year for those of us braving the cold. No farmers’ market to pick up my fresh produce every Saturday, or gardens to yank veggies from. But I do have a Wild Oats (now Whole Foods) about a half mile away from my home and my work. And they’re always well stocked with raw nuts, raw almond butter, organic produce, dried fruit, fruit smoothies, etc. I just ate a carton of grape tomatoes from there. Delicious.

I also have two raw recipe books, and a DVD on how to make raw food, which I still need to watch. So for the next several weeks, I may have an abundance of posts related to these raw shenanigans. So if this isn’t your cup of tea (damn that sounds good) then feel free to ignore me until this whole Lent craze is over on March 22nd. RAWK ON!

prep time: 10 min.

This is sort of a creation of my own based on a few different recipes. I looove pesto. Fresh basil is so wonderful.

• 3 C fresh basil
• 1/2 C sunflower seeds
• 2 cloves garlic
• a dash or two of sea salt
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• a little water for desired consistency

Process all ingredients in food processor with “s” blade, and pulse chop several times. Stop to scrape down sides, and repeat until mixture is smooth. Put on your choice of veggies, salad, pasta… whatever tickles your fancy.

Raw update: I successfully went all raw for 9 days and loved it. My body feels clean. Yesterday, for my birthday, I went off my raw streak and had Thai food (rice noodles and veggies in black bean sauce) and drank wine and had a sugar-filled cookie. So delicious. But this morning I woke up and felt terrible. I hadn’t slept well. Too much salt, too much Louis Jadot Beaujolais (fantastic vegan wine), too much sugar … I felt bloated and irritable. So that gave me motivation to stick with the raw diet. I don’t plan on being 100% raw, but I’ll definitely incorporate a lot more raw food into my diet. I can’t wait to see how I feel after a few months. I feel bad for people who grew up during times when everything was cooked for safety. My dad said his mom used to over cook everything. She was a dietitian and was very conscious of good health. But fresh foods just weren’t considered safe because of germs and diseases and pesticides. But now we have wonderful organic food in our stores and need to take advantage of that.

So, what are sources of raw protein?

• cashews
• almonds
• brazil nuts
• hazel nuts
• macadamia nuts
• pecans
• walnuts
• oatmeal
• chickpeas
• green peas
• spinach
• kale
• broccoli
• peanuts
• lentils
• sunflower seeds
• spirulina

Spirulina, an algae, is the ultimate best source of protein (yes, better than animal protein). But where can you find it?

It is a supplement generally taken in pill form or added to food. You can add spirulina powder to your smoothies!

What do I eat?

I like to start my morning off with my wheatgrass shot and a little bowl of raw oats and flaxseed in milk. I also love making smoothies. Blueberries, banana, strawberries, clementines, peaches, cherries… I like to mix it up. Even when they’re out of season you can use frozen fruits- they still count as raw and maintain their nutrition. Throw them in a blender. Delicious. Sometimes I’ll add a splash of oat, hazelnut, hemp, almond or some other milk. I eat fresh fruit, dried fruit, lots of fresh spinach and salads. I’ve made raw hummus, pesto, marinara… various sauces, which I pour over veggies, like shredded carrots, green beans and broccoli sprouts. Using olive oil is a great way to get some healthy fat. I get a raw trail mix that contains seeds, nuts, and dried fruit that I bring to work. I LOVE raw cashews. Figs and dates are divine. I’ve switched most of my coffee for tea. And I use hot water for the tea, but not boiling. I try out new recipes whenever I can from Raw Truth: The Art of Preparing Living Foods and Living in the Raw: Recipes for a Healthy Lifestyle.

Ani Phyo also has intruiging recipes that I want to try.
I finally got a food processor (for my birthday) so I can make a lot more stuff.

I love sprouts. Sometimes I’ll thaw frozen peas or other veggies during the day so I can use them for dinner at night. I also love adding avocado to things. The raw lasagna I made is soooo good. And My acid reflux has gotten so much better since I went raw. Odd since raw food is usually harder on the stomach. But these foods are also known to have great healing effects, and I guess that’s what’s happening. I get so much less salt (I rarely add it to anything) and sugar (I use mostly fructose) and just feel much more energized with raw food. I also find I need less sleep with raw food. And the sleep I do get is very deep.

Downside: It can get expensive with buying so much organic, and having to shop more often for fresh foods. So I need to figure out what I can get at the regular grocery store for cheaper, versus Wild Oats, so I can afford to stick with this lifestyle. Because so far it seems very worth it.