The Good (w/raw) & the Bad this week

What a week! Monday morning I had my 3rd and final wisdom tooth cut out. No fun! The bad part is, I was still somewhat sick when I got the tooth removed. That just made matters worse, because I got worse! I have been sick, tired, & miserable ALL week. I feel like I have spent my week sleeping and drinking cayenne. I know I need the rest, but I am sick of it! I miss my energy and my yoga!

However, in the midst of my illness, I still see benefits of staying raw. My weight seems to be dropping off. I am NOT one to lose weight easily, but it seems pretty easy right now. I have also noticed this week a softness to my skin. My face seems more soft, clear, and smooth. I've seen this in other raw fooders before, but never noticed a difference in my own skin. I am really seeeing a difference now.

Next week is a new week. I WILL be feeling better, have more energy, and will being doing my new Yin Yoga DVD. I also can't wait to run on my treadmill (or outside if weather is good). For now, I will curl up in my pj's with much gratitude for a warm home. I can hear the cold, bitter wind outside my window. Please. . .spring come NOW!

Raw diet & sickness

I mentioned before that my entire family was sick and how I wasn't sure what it was that kept me from being sick. Well, Thursday night I started to feel sick, but was still able to teach my sprouting class. My symptoms were not as severe as my family's. I had the fever, cold chills, and felt tired, tired, tired! Yesterday was even worse. I was afraid it was going to hit me full blown. I still went shopping and remodeled my daughter's bathroom, but after that I slept ALL day. My temp was betwee 100.2-100.8; much lower then my family's.

I complained to my hubbby that this wasn't fair. I, being raw, shouldn't get sick. As we discussed it, I came to some realizations. First off, being raw does not keep you from catching a virus which is what my family had. However, being raw helps to fight it off faster and with less severe symptoms. My family was OUT, in bed, in pain, and MISERABLE (some vomitting). I had a slight fever, no headache, no body aches, and was still able to function. I mean really, I went shopping and remodeled a bathroom. The other thing is, I feel a LOT better today. The fever is gone, and the tiredness is worn off. I really only had a MILD form of it for about 36 hours. My family was sick for 4-5 days w/a few still hacking up their lungs.

In short, had I not been 100% raw, this would have hit me twice as hard, twice as long. It is amazing what your body is able to overcome when you give it the right nutrients. BTW, cayenne is a best friend when mucus arrives. Well, best friend to you, worst enemy to mucus.

Have a HAPPY, Healthy Day!

RAW TACO RECIPE

I have to share one of my favorite raw recipes. I got the recipe from a Youtube video. If you do a search on youtube for raw tacos you will find it. However, it is a 2 part video so be sure to watch them both.

Sorry, I do not have an exact recipe, but it is more by taste anyway:
2 cups of walnuts (they do not have to be soaked)
cumin to taste
garlic powder to taste
1-3 TBS. Nama Shoyu (raw soy sauce)

Mix well in a food processor or vita-mix. It will look like a "meat" consistancy.
Serve on a leaf of any favorite green. I use Collard Greens.
Add fresh salsa, cut romaine, tomatoes, avocados, black olive. . .
Just add whatever you would add on a taco, but raw.
The next time I make this I will take a picture and post it. It is SO yummy, and full of lots of greens.
ENJOY!!

Have a HAPPY, Healthy Day!!

One Sick Family

My poor family is so sick. I have 6 of my 9 children sick and my hubby as well. I have been around coughing, sneezing, vomite, and more! My poor family. However, I have yet to get sick. I feel somewhat weak and tired, but no fever, chills, or vomite! Can being 100% raw really help fight off illness that much or is Heavenly Father just blessing me? Perhaps a little of both? Either way, I am grateful. I have a pic of my darling kids eating their green smoothies for breakfast. I either starved them (if they couldn't stomach food) or I feed them raw. I got out a gallon of raw home made apple juice from the freezer and they have drank that all day too. Lots of liquids for my babies!

How to Overcome Strong Temptations!!

I had a ROUGH night tonight. I am emotional, hormonal, and well. . .just a woman! The kids had an early out and I wanted to have a special night for them. I bought them the ready bake cheese pizza's from the store. That is a big treat since I don't usually feed them pizza. Anyway, I hadn't started making my dinner when the pizza's were coming out of the oven and my kids were slicing them. I was SOOOO tempted!! That was the worst I have been tempted to eat cooked foods since I have been 100%. It would have been SO easy for me to just pick up a slice and devour it! I quickly made myself a raw taco w/collard greens, and a green mix instead of romaine. I made THREE of them. My thought was that I would rather eat too much raw food, then give into a little cooked food.

I CANNOT believe I did not give in. Personally, I feel like the answer to nearly any craving is GREENS!!! EAT GREENS when you are tempted. What if you don't like greens? It doesn't matter! Do something to make it taste good to you. Put it in a smoothie. Just do something to get some greens in you! And get AWAY from the temptation! I walked out of the kitchen and ate my meal away from the pizza. Thank goodness my kids were almost done by the time I started eating. I can't image how sick I would have felt had I given in. I KNOW it would NOT have been worth it. I am now 39 days at 100% raw, and nothing feels better then to say that on a day like today!

Have a Happy, Healthy Day!

Elaina's Cinnamon Rolls

Below is a few pictures and recipe of the cinnamon rolls I made today. They come for the book by Alisa Cohen called "Living on Live Foods". Alissa says, "They are so doughy ans sweet, just like the real thing. This book has some of my favorite recipes. The cinnamon rolls are very yummy and very filling. Here is the recipe for Elaina's Cinnamon Rolls (with frosting):
DOUGH:
2 1/2 c. almond meal (left from making almond milk)
2 1/2 c. flax meal

1 c. soft pitted dates firmly packed
1/8 c. pure water
1/4 t. celtic sea salt (i omitted this)
dash cayenne (i also omitted this)
1/4 c. olive oil or coconut butter

1. Blend the dates and water together in a food processor or blender until it becomes a paste.
2. Mix everything together in a large bowl and work with your hands until the dough is well mixed.
3. Place the dough on a Teflex sheet or piece of wax paper and form into a 1/4 inch thick square using your hands to shape.
4. Cover with another Teflex sheet or wax paper and roll with a rolling pin until the dough is uniform thickness.
5. Prepare the filling.

FILLING:
1 c. soft pitted date firmly packed
1 c. raisins
2 Tablespoons cinnamon
1/4 c. water
Extra raisins
3/4 c. soaked and dehydrated walnuts, coarsley chopped.
Note: Don't worry, if you don't have a dehydrator, just use your walnuts w/out soaking.

1. Puree the first 4 ingredients in a food processor until it becomes smooth.
2. Spread the mixture onto the dough.
3. Sprinkle with extra raisins and walnuts.
4. Using the Teflex sheet on the bottom to push, roll the dough tightly.
5. Wrap the roll in the Teflex or wax paper and refrigerate until chilled.
6. Slice into desired thicknesses and, if wanted, dehydrate at 105 until warm.

FROSTING: (optional, but sure tastes good)
1 c. sunflower seeds soaked 4+ hours (1 1/2 c. after soaking)
3/4 c. water
6 Tbs. honey or dates
Juice of 1 small tangerine
1 tsp. vanilla

I've gone Gourmet!

Ok, so I have now been 100% raw for 30 days and am LOVING it!! Here are a few pictures of the gourmet raw foods I have made. I don't do gourmet a lot, but as a special treat. I especially like to do it when I might have a cooked food craving. Those are a lot less often now. Most of these recipes either come from my raw recipe books or internet google search! Enjoy!
Have a Healthy Day!