Raw Taco from Prana Cafe

Yesterday was my birthday, (no need to share my age). So, I hopped out of bed promising this was going to be my best year ever... Productivity, health, adventure, travel, bliss... and since "we are what we do" (I am old enough to know this to be true) I opted for a ultra healthy lunch... starting with a wheatgrass shot, moving onto a delicious, savory, raw taco and a raw chocolate torte for dessert (taken to go for a later treat). The best part is...it all came sans any guilt!

Prana Cafe in Newton has changed ownership and reopened. There are rumors there will be a name change. There are also a few menu changes for those who. like me are not %100 raw foodies! Beer and wine have made it on to the menu, as well as a few cooked items. The decor has changed giving the corner restaurant a warmer, zen feel. I strongly recommend trying this unique healthy option.

Here is a raw taco recipe if you want to attempt making at home

The Thrive Diet - Episode #99

Just finished reading The Thrive Diet, Brian does a good job of pulling the 10 Big Ideas from the book that can help you decide weather eating a mostly plant based diet makes sense for you.

How To Make A Raw Vegan Apple Pie with Organic Avenue!

Pineapple Kale Smoothie - Raw Vegan Yummy

So, I am attempting to rid the bod of caffeine again. I have had several attempts, but always come back to the latte! (sometimes I lasted months, other time a days) It does not help that before 9:00, on any given day, a friend texts, "latte?" which leads to our morning Starbucks meet up. Well, it is day 12! Not bad, I am on a roll. And now that the weather is getting hotter, it won't be as hard, right?

Today, Pineapple Kale Smoothie replaced my latte! It is actually much better tasting than a latte! Really, I am not just saying that!

If you live anywhere near Needham, MA, there is a little health food store in Needham Center called New Leaf. The owner mixes them up in the morning and has a few in the refrigerator for those of us who crave them. If you are not in the area, make it yourself... here is a good recipe from The Fruit Monster! The taste will surprise you and think of the healthy goodness you are putting in your body.

It is Raw, Vegan, Vegetarian and Paleo Worthy!

Forks Over Knives - Official Trailer -

I just had a chance to see Forks Over Knives! Take the time to see this movie and bring your kids if they are old enough! It may save your life and may make your kids make some healthier choices, even if they don't go vegan 100%. The movie promotes a vegan diet for optimum health and shows data that indicates that the Western high protein diet is largely to blame for heart decease, diabetes, and cancer; stating "we can turn cancer on and off purely by what we eat." Would it be hard for you to give up milk products and meat? Harder than triple bypass surgery or cancer treatment?  If you watch the movie... check back and let me know what you think. I have gone back from Paleo (Paleo diet consists of meat, fish eggs, nuts, seeds vegetables, fruit) to Vegan a few times... Which one do you think is healthier? Did the movie change your point of view?

SYNOPSIS: What has happened to us? Despite the most advanced medical technology in the world, we are sicker than ever by nearly every measure.

Two out of every three of us are overweight. Cases of diabetes are exploding, especially amongst our younger population. About half of us are taking at least one prescription drug. Major medical operations have become routine, helping to drive health care costs to astronomical levels. Heart disease, cancer and stroke are the country’s three leading causes of death, even though billions are spent each year to “battle” these very conditions. Millions suffer from a host of other degenerative diseases.

Could it be there’s a single solution to all of these problems? A solution so comprehensive but so utterly straightforward, that it’s mind-boggling that more of us haven’t taken it seriously?

FORKS OVER KNIVES examines the profound claim that most, if not all, of the so-called “diseases of affluence” that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting our present menu of animal-based and processed foods. The major storyline in the film traces the personal journeys of a pair of pioneering yet under-appreciated researchers, Dr. T. Colin Campbell and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn.

Cover Girl Dara Torres Talks with Eat-Clean Diet guru Tosca Reno

I just finished reading Gold Medal Fitness: A Revolutionary 5 Week Fitness Plan written by Dana Torres. If you forgot, Dana Torres is the amazing women who at 41 won a gold medal for swimming. Dana shares her workout, meal plan, stretches and overall philosophy. The book is filled with great core exercises that you can do at home or in a gym. a simple diet plan and a revolutionary way of stretching called Ki Hara. I am not very flexible, despite yoga so I have started to incorporate Ki Hara (resistance stretching). I have also been indulging in thai stretch messages. Miraculous!
Her meal plan is simple: Here is a look a 2 days:
All meals have protien, fat and complex carbohydrates. If you are use to eating ultra clean (Strict Paleo or Raw) this diet includes dairy (you can replace with alternatives). It also includes pasta, bread...
Day 1:
Pancakes (for added fiber, sprinkle batter with 1 tablespoon of wheat germ) topped with 1 tablespoon syrup or jam
Snack:
Fruit smoothie with 1 or 2 cups of fruit, 1 cup of ice, 1 cup of 0 fat yogurt, a shot of wheatgrass or soy protein
Lunch
Green salad with 3 ounces of grilled chicken with 1 tablespoon of your choice of dressing
Dinner
Stir-fried vegetable medley, including onions, red or green peppers, zucchini or yellow squash, oven brown rice or quinoa with a side of steamed broccoli
Day 2
Omele -3 egg whites and 1/2 ounces low-fat cheese with 1 tablespoon of salsa
Snack
Handful of almonds and a banana or an apple
Lunch
Burger (beef, turkey, or veggie) no bun with fruit salad (and watch the ketchup or mayo, using 1 tablespoon of either
Dinner:
Pasta primavera: pasta of your choice with fresh vegetable combinations. Stir fry vegetables in cooking spray and add canned tomatoes.
(portion for simple carbs  fist)

Dana's recommended snacks:
Raw almonds, cashews or other nuts
Fresh fruit-  unlimited amounts
Raw vegetables- unlimited amounts
Low Fat cheeses
Small containers of low-fat yogurt or cottage cheese
Dried fruit
Granola

White Gazpacho Soup

White Gazpacho Soup from Yet another Website

I replaced the bread with cauliflower and potato to keep it Paleo Vegan.

The Benefits of Eating Purple Foods -

Purple Cabbage Salad with Currants, Carrots, and Almonds from Vegan Yum Yum


The benefits of eating purple foods. 

Raw Blueberry Tart - No Bake, No Sugar, No Dairy,

Simple Raw (No Bake) Blueberry Tart 
adaptation of Self Magazine's raw blueberry tart
this recipe is raw, vegan, paleo, vegetarian.
INGREDIENTS

• 4 cups fresh blueberries
• 1 cup fresh orange juice
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon grated orange zest, plus extra julienned for garnish
• 4 teaspoons coconut sugar
• Canola-oil cooking spray
• 2/3 cup raw almonds
• 1/2 (packed) cup pitted dates
• 
  
• PREPARATION Combine 2 cups blueberries with 3 tablespoons of orange juice lemon juice and coconut sugar in a bowl (sprinkle with ginger, cinnamon, chia seed if desired) cover and refrigerate. Blend in Vitamixer remaining blueberries and orange juice to sorbet consistency and place in freezer. Coat a mixing bowl with cooking spray. Pulse almonds in a food processor until they resemble breadcrumbs. Empty into prepared bowl. Pulse dates with 1 tsp water in food processor until well chopped (they will be a little clumpy). Mix with almonds to form a paste. Divide mixture evenly into 4 golf ball-sized rounds. Place each ball between 2 pieces of wax paper and press to form a 4-inch crust. Turn up edges if desired. Refrigerate 2 hours. Use a spatula to move crusts to serving plates; fill each with blueberry sorbet from freezer and fresh blueberries drizzle each with some leftover juices from bowl. Top with julienned orange zest.

Enjoy!

A green smoothie your kids will drink!

It is not easy being green when you are in a cup just yearning to be gulped by a kid! If you can convince your kids that this green drink is the drink that Sam I Am drank and get them not to say "yuck" at the sight of it, they will love it.
Pineapple, Mango, Chard Smoothie

2 servings, 2 minutes to make!

*1 ripe mango (peeled, pitted and diced)

*1 1/2 c of frozen pineapple

*1 cup of orange juice

*1 large leaf of kale or swiss chard for kids, 2 leaves for green adults (the chad has a milder taste I think than the kale)

Place OJ and chard or Kale in blender and blend till liquid. Blend remaining ingredients.  Enjoy *Foods that heal

Mellon Smoothie

Pineapple Watermelon Smoothie


1 cup frozen pineapple
1 cup watermelon
1/2 cup of orange juice

Blend the watermelon with OJ then.blend the frozen pineapple.
Enjoy!

Give Away - What is your favorite heathy RAW dinner recipe?

Raw Chocolate Bark Give Away!

We are looking for your favorite, healthy dinner recipe. 

Something easy, but creative and different!

We will feature the best recipe and send the winner delicious raw chocolate bark!

Brainy cereals to make at home for your kids. Omega Maple Cheerios and Cinnamon Omega Oatmeal with Protien

The kids begged me to buy Apple Jacks yesterday when I went grocery shopping. They were very disappointed when I returned with oats and cheerios. So, with nothing else to do with a blizzard outside, we spruced up these cereals (I snuck in some healthy stuff) and they asked for more. We all ended up happy.

Maple Flax Cherrios - Our homemade Omega Cheerios
Chreeios
Maple Syrup
*Flax seed
*Chia Seed
*Cinnamon
Place a few handfuls of cheerios in a baggie, drizzle some maple syrup. I used approximately 1-2 tablespoons.
Sprinkle cinnamon, a sprinkle of  flax (I used about 3 teaspoons) and a sprinkle of chia seed in bag. Mix ingredients in the bag by shaking and mushing it around. Place mixture on a cookie sheet and toast in the oven for 10 minutes. Let cool. I serve in rice milk (and no one notices the lack of diary).
Compare Kashi Heart to Heart Cereal and Cheerios to make better cereal choice for you.

Omega Cinnamon Flax Oatmeal (with added protein)  - 
This breakfast provides protein, great omega 3s, antioxidants, and complex carbs 
*2 teaspoons of Cinnamon
*1 teaspoon of Flax
*1 Tablespoon Cranraisins
Unflavored Egg White Protein Powder
Coconut Sugar - Low glycemic sugar, won't spike insulin levels.
3/4 cup Rolled Oats
Prepare oats according to package directions. Mix in all remaining ingredients.

Reflecting on Cheerios and Humanity Gill Thilbult wrote Soggy Cheerios.

*Superfoods/Foods That Heal

Foods that heal - Part 8 - Raw Fennel Onion Tomato Arugula Tart

The Garlic Family - From Foods That Fight Cancer

Garlic, onions, leeks, shallots and chives fight against cancer but garlic seems to contain the most potency.  According to Foods That Fight Cancer “ Garlic……. is considered to be a front-line preventive agents, capable of blocking cancer from the outset.” Garlic is particularly useful in fighting against cancers that form in our intestines by nitrites found in foods. Garlic stops the formation of carcinogen and prevents them from causing mutations in DNA that cause cancer and garlic can slow down the enzymes responsible for activating carcinogens while helping the body to eliminate any carcinogenic substances..

Garlic may also directly attack and destroy tumour cells. Foods from the garlic family are only effective when they are chopped or crushed (letting stand for 10 minutes to release cancer prevention properties) then eaten.

Raw Onion, Fennel, Tomato Arugula Tart - (Raw  Carrot, Oat, Flax Tart Crust)

I made this crust up, feel free to play with it and get back to me on your changes

Crust

2 1/2 C Shredded Carrots

2 1/2 Cups  Raw Rolled Oats

2 Tablespoon Flax Seeds

3 to 4 Dates (soaked for 5 minutes and pitted) 

I made one version with 2 Tablespoons coconut butter but I wanted to keep this low fat so I used that dates.

3 Tablespoons chopped onion

Season with garlic powder, cilantro, sea salt, pepper

Blend all ingredients. Divide into 3 small pie tins. Put in dehydrator till crust is firm. (4 hours)

Tart Filling

4 tablespoons of diced onion

1 1/2  fennel bulb diced

1 1/2 tomato diced

2 - 3 cups of arugula

5 tablespoons juice of an orange

1/2 lemon  juiced

2 teaspoon Ume plum vinegar (if you have it)

2 tablespoon of Nama Shoya

In small bowl, mix orange juice, lemon juice, ume vinegar, and nama shoya together. Mix in the the onion, fennel and tomato and place in the refrigerator to marinate (you can no this overnight if you have the time). Remove  crust from tins, place arugula and remaining ingredients in crust. Pour the remaining marinade over dish.

Onions Nutritional Data - anti- inflammatory

Foods That Heal = Part 5

Foods that heal - part 4

PROBOTICS - from Foods That Fight Cancer

Probiotics (from the Greek "for life") are defined as "living micro-organisms that when administered in adequate amounts produce benefit for the life of the host."
Foods high in probiotics can lower the risk of colon cancer by helping to keep your intestinal tract healthy. A higher level of lactic bacteria found in the colon helps prevent damage to DNA caused by carcinogens. "Probiotics also stimulate the activity of foreigner-destroying immune cells and seem to reduce inflammation, an essential condition for the progression of tumors." Probiotics slow the growth of bacteria that activates certain carcinogens in our diet that cause damage to DNA in our intestinal cells. 
They also help to keep our immune system properly regulated.
When you think of probiotics, you probably think of yogurt. But there are other sources of probiotics that are non dairy: Sauerkraut, Kombucha teas, and miso, tamari, pickled giner to name a few. You can also find raw salad dressings with probiotics. 

If you do eat dairy her are some great tips on How to buy Yogurt and brand comparisons.
Recipe:
Non Dairy Coconut Yogurt with probotics
Raw Chocolate Banana Yogurt Kefir 

Foods that Heal - Strawberry Pineapple Ginger Sorbet

After blogging about the spices that fight cancer that are featured in the book Foods That Fight Cancer. I spiced up a healthy sorbet and ate it for lunch. It was delicious, filling, incredible simple, low calorie, 100% raw!

Pineapple Strawberry Ginger Sorbet (serves 3-4) 

2.5 cups frozen pineapple 

1 1/2  cups of frozen strawberries

*3/4 cup orange juice

1/2 cups of water - add more if mixture is two thick
*sprinkle with ginger to taste - start small for kids


Blend above ingredients in a blender to sorbet consistency, adjust the OJ and water as needed.

I kept it simple. You can add: walnuts, fresh shredded non-sweetened coconut, shavings of *raw dark chocolate (from Righteously Raw), goji berry, *blueberries...

* features on the top 10 list of Foods That Fight Cancer 

Enjoy your health!

Foods That Heal - Part 3

Foods That Heal - Part 4 - From the book Foods That Fight Cancer

SPICES

Ginger, turmeric, Mint, Thyme, Marjoram, Oregano, Basil and Rosemary Parsley, Coriander, Cumin, Fennel, Anise and Chervil

Ginger and turmeric have anti-inflammatory molecules. Curcumin and gingerol have the ability to directly target certain types of cancer cells. Parsley, contains a high level of apigenin, which is a polyphenol with very strong anti-cancer properties. It has been shown to inhibit the growth of a large number of cancer cells from some of the most common cancers we face such as breast, colon, lung and prostate.

Recipes:

Raw Pumpkin Seed Pesto

Seared Tuna in Lemon Lime Ginger Tamari Sauce
Raw Creamy Apple Anise Soup with Pupkinseed Cheese

Raw Zucchini Noodles with Hemp Nut Pesto - For another sauce (place all ingredients in blender: 3 tomatoes, 4 sun dried tomatoes, a dash of garlic powder, onion powder, fresh basil, and sea salt) My kids loved this and no idea it was a Raw dinner. I did warmed the dish slightly! This meal literally takes 5 minutes and you don't even need to turn the oven on. I used a small, inexpensive vegetable peeler I purchased at William-Somoma.

Raw Moroccon Eggplant Dip w/Cumin Dusted  Tortillas

Is There A Recipe For Happiness - Brain Johnson from the Philosophers Notes gives tips from the book, The How Of Happiness

Lets face it, if you are not happy nothing feels good, not even yummy health food.

Can you increase your level of happy? Is there any scientific research that supports the notion that we can control our levels of happiness?

Luckily, the answer is yes! Science is now proving what philosophers and psychologist have know for years; that behavior can significantly effect our level of happiness and, meditation can change us physiological and generically.

In the next few weeks, I will be explore the science of happiness and what we can all do to experience the more bliss in life.

In a nut shell, the fountain of happiness can be found
in how we behave, what we think and the goals we set everyday.

The key to happiness then,  lies in changing behavior. We can increase and decrease our happiness by what we do daily.

The work of Happiness.
Perusing happiness takes work and effort to create our ideal lives. We need to be responsible or "respose- able" for our happiness, meaning we need to choose our everyday responses to the experiences around us and science has proven that if we respond in joyful ways and "incline our mind to joy," instead of looking for the negative thinking, we feel happier.

12 happiness activities that have been scientifically proven to elevate happiness 
from the book The How of Happiness. 
Here is your recipe to happiness. Post the list and get to work!
1. Expressing gratitude
2. Cultivating optimism
3. Avoiding over thinking and social comparisons
4. Practicing acts of kindness
5. Nurturing Social relationships
6  Developing strategies for coping
7. Learning to forgive
8. Increasing flow experiences
9. Savoring life's joys
10. Committing to your goals
11. Practicing religion and spirituality
12. Taking care of your body; exercise meditate, know they self. Happiness comes from within!

Choose activities that inspire you!!
Express gratitude constantly.
For anyone out there who is feeling down I hope that this helps.

Foods that Heal - part 2

Foods That Fight Cancer written by Richard Beliveau (continued)

2. CITRUS FRUITS - grapefruit, oranges, lemons and limes
"citrus fruits exhibit some of the strongest anti-cancer activity on record." 
Citrus fruit contains large amounts of monterpenes and flavonones which are able to interfere with cancer cell growth inhibiting tumor growth. They are also able to reduce inflammation. Eating Citrus fruit raw is the best way to ensure getting the fruits full benefits
Citrus recipes

Raw Meyer Lemon Cheesecake with Coconut Brownie Crust

Raw Lemon Bars

Kiwi-Lime Pudding

Raw Grapefruit Orange Juice