I may not know where protein comes from...

... But I KNOW a Vegan does not eat eggs!!!!

Funny thing, I had my yearly physical a few weeks back, and my nurse practitioner always has you back for the results. This week I had that appointment....

When she was looking at my blood results, I did inquire about my iron levels as they were low last year, and I happened to make the comment that I don't eat meat.... Hmm, well she asked if I was a vegetarian, sometimes I think it is just as easy to say yes to this question, so that is what I did. She asked if I ate fish or eggs? I told her I was actually more of a vegan than a vegetarian. Well that was okay, she told me, because vegans ate eggs, so I should eat more of them to get my protein. Funny, this lady thinks I should see a nutritionist to make sure I get all I need, but I had to have a ten minute discussion with her and explain the difference between a vegan and a vegetarian.... and for those that don't know, a vegan does not eat eggs.

I do not know exactly where my protein comes from, or the carbohydrates, or the iron or the vitamins, I never have been very knowledgeable in that aspect of food. All I know is that my blood levels were great, including my iron, cholesterol and triglycerides. The only thing that was on the low side was my Vitamin D, and I'm pretty sure I don't get that from food anyways, but I have to research that one some more....

Happy Saturday Everyone, I'm off to lay in the sun....

A Healthy Start!

"Always be prepared" I think that is the boy-scout motto, I think it should also be a raw foodist’s motto. However, I must admit, that phrase has me thinking about cookies lately, thanks to Rawdorable’s website.

My 30 days started out rocky, so I figured a new week, a new beginning and a fresh start! Also, it gave me the chance to get "prepared" over the weekend.... plan some meals, make some "emergency" food and stock the fridge for the next week (or the next few days at least).

Also, I think that Monday is always a good start for anything new regarding food, at least for me. I don’t have the distraction of the weekend, or the kids, or having to prepare three meals a day for everyone. Day number three, which is always the hardest for me, will hit mid-week, when I still only have to make one meal at home (unless Grandpa is feeding the kids this week, which he often does for me *smile*), and by the time the weekend hits again, I will have five days under my belt, so temptation is not as strong. Plus, this upcoming weekend, I am "kidless" and therefore, I can prepare all the raw pasta I want, with no scrunched up noses; although I will miss looking at those scrunched up noses.

I have also loaded the fridge with lots of "treats", because for this to work for me, I can’t feel deprived at all, therefore there is raw chocolate, nuts, seeds and a variety of other things to help me feel satisfied to get this "kick-start" I need. I will wean these foods out down the road.
Also, this upcoming weekend, I have a date, with my little step-sister Robin, we finally going to have lunch at one of the Raw Food Restaurants in Toronto... its been a long time coming for us, and I’m looking forward to it! Now, do I attend Live Organic Food Bar or Rawlicious???

Who put the Guac in the Guacamole?

This weekend was spent trying lots of recipes to fill the fridge with yummy treats and snacks for the following week. Guacamole and Salsa are some of my favorite things, and of course, a dehydrator would come in really handy to make some chips to go with that dip!!

The chip in the dip is not raw, but it is a healthy alternative to the regular processed chips. Kristen is about to enjoy her "requested" chips and dip cuddled on the couch with a nice movie. I got a nice compliment from her today, one that put a smile on my face. She said "this is what I love about your house mom, we always get healthy food".... sometimes in life, there are signs along the road that tell you that you are headed in the right direction. Thanks Kristen <3

For those who are interested in getting compliments for the best Guac around, here is my (not so) secret recipe: Groovy Guacamole. It is nice to hear your kids fighting sometimes "hey, pass me some, you have had more than enough... hey, come back here!"
PS - my 30 days will start tomorrow, November 10th... :o)

Dangle that carrot!

I will admit, sticking to a raw food diet is not always easy...

It has many difficulties... the biggest I find is the end of the day "dinner" meal, when I am cooking for my family, and a big green smoothie isn't going to cut it for them. I am thankful (in a strange sort of way) for the Listeria outbreak this year in Ontario. I send my condolences to all of those people who lost loved ones in this ordeal, and I am truly thankful that this incident did not touch me personally; however it did make my children "vegetarians"... although, I keep telling them that "vegetarian" means that you eat vegetables, not that you just don't eat meat :o)

The Raw Food Diet is an uphill battle, but one that I have personally seen the rewards of getting to that summit and staying there... not always easy, but definitely worth the fight.

Sometimes it is necessary to dangle a carrot in front of this rabbits nose, so I have made a deal with myself.... ready, don't tell anyone, it is a secret, although it would be nice if you send some encouraging words my way....

FOR THE NEXT 30 DAYS, I WILL REMAIN 100% RAW... IF I CAN ACCOMPLISH THIS TASK, I WILL BUY THAT CARROT (DEHYDRATOR) THAT I HAVE HAD MY EYE ON FOR AWHILE NOW! (**lets hope the sale lasts for the next 30 days).

Now, with any goal, it is always easier if you tell someone, then you are accountable, and I know I have my internet friends here to support me, and provide me with lots of company, reading, and great recipes in the next 30 days!!!

I also think it is important to have small goals... so, if I can resist the chocolate cookies in the kitchen at work for the next couple of days, I'm going to order some peppermint truffles from Alissa Cohen, they are my favourite, and will be a well deserved treat!

I am also going to be re-reading Rawdorable and picking a few favourite recipes to satisfy my sweet tooth over the weekend!!!

I'll keep you posted... lets get on with "day one"....

Who ever said raw food was boring...

.... doesn't know Heidi!

Well, actually, I don't KNOW Heidi either, but she sends me emails everyday to inspire me and help me along on my raw food journey (boy, I must be important)!

Actually, Heidi from Raw Food Right Now has started a new raw food support system via daily emails and encouragement. I must admit, I am very impressed with the content and effort that she puts into each one. I can also ask her anything I want, and she always responds!

If you would like to see what I am talking about, go check out Raw Success Right Now and Heidi can be your best friend too! Look what she helped me make for dinner on the weekend, can't beat having a friend like Heidi!

Also, great pod-casts being heard this week, go check them out... they are free and very inspiring: Rawkathon. You know, I think my new best friend Heidi should have been a speaker too :o)

Oh, and can't wait to hear from my friend Elizabeth, aka Tigerlily about New York....

An Apple a Day.....

Kristen, my daughter always makes the best salads. I love her "kitchen sink" approach to salad making, and I often wonder why people stick to the standard lettuce, tomatoe, cucumber, when there are so many more exciting things to add flavour and texture to a salad. I am happy to report that the 'Standard salad' never makes an appearance in our house. There is always the addition of nuts or seeds and fruit. Kristen's favourite addition to a salad is apples or strawberries. I remember the first time that she put an apple into the salad, I thought to myself "that is an odd thing for a salad", but if you never have added a cubed apple to your salad, I suggest you do it soon!

Today, we took a nice walk to the grocery store together. We brought our own cloth bags, had a nice talk on the way there, did our groceries, and had a nice chat on the way back home. The grocery store is probably a twenty minute walk from my house. It was great to enjoy the fresh air and the company. I hope this is something that we continue to do with each other, but we are enjoying probably the last "nice weather weekend" of the year, cold weather will approach soon.

My friend Elizabeth is off to New York next week, can't wait to hear about her trip! When she gets back, we will be partaking in the Raw Divas Detox program again... it has been a long summer, and I'm looking forward to getting back on track, with good friends and good salads in tow.

For the love of Green Juice

Well, I'm happy to report that my juicer was once again making the familiar "varoom-crunch-crunch-varoom" noise, this morning. I bet if the world knew the potential of "green juice" the coffee shops would be put out of business!!!!

I remember drinking green juice in the evening of my juice feast, and I also remember being WIDE AWAKE all night long!!! I have never forgotten that lesson. So, what better time of the day to have green-juice then upon rising... the coffee drinkers of the world don't know what they are missing.... (I also remembered, what a bunch celery can do to your body too!).

Today was a great day!!! Green Juice in the morning, Carrot Juice for lunch, I had an apple mid afternoon, and then a salad for dinner... I feel better already!!! No sugar in this blood-stream today, and I am happy to report that no pulling out my hair looking for it either!!!

Off to the cottage for the weekend... that could be a challenge... wish me luck, juicer in hand!

It's blogging thyme again!!!

Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho Rosie, and thanks for stopping by to say "hi".... to all my loyal "fan club" (both of you) I'd like to report that I am alive and well...

It has been a very busy, stressful, interesting, creative... you name the adjective, you could probably add it to describe how my life has been in the past few months. There has been so much going on that I am sorry to say that my "raw" eating habits have taken a bit of a "back seat" to life.

It is always amazing to me how hard it is to get back on the "healthy" band wagon, you would think that your body would relish the fresh foods and nutrients that are going in... however, today I find that my body is just saying "where is the sugar....". I can report that I am slowly creeping back into my "good-old" eating habits, and as you can tell from that last statement, my body is hitting the withdrawal today. Rosie's "hello, hello" couldn't have come at a better time :0)

Things happen in life with a purpose and a reason, sometimes we don't know what they are, and sometimes they are as simple as a "hello, hello" from across the computer... but sometimes that is all you need to know that you are on the right path again, and that you have friends to help you along the way.

So, I am happy to report, that with the addition of my new herb garden, it is blogging thyme again! Two feet forward, never looking back, here is to good friends and good thymes and good food... can life get any better????

Kathy

PS - and I am happy to report that along with parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme, there is lots of fresh mint growing in my herb garden, I sure do love those chocolate-mint smoothies!

Chocolate Mint Smoothie and Moving Day!

Well, the day is fast approaching.... Moving Day!!! I have been planning/sweating/dreading/dreaming about this day for months. This friday, it will be here.

This will be my last post for awhile, I won't have internet access for a bit, and I'm sure that I will have lots of other things on my plate to keep me occupied!!!

And for those who are wondering, from the responses on my previous post, my "green" chocolate Mint smoothie goes something like this:

I add two bananas, fresh mint (usually a lot, I like mint - about 12-15 leaves and stem), crushed ice, water, 1-2 tsp cacao powder (easy on this one, too much is yuck) and spinach, and blend away.

I have to thank The Raw Diva's Green Smoothie Challenge for that recipe!

Rosie, hope yours was delicious! The one on the prior post, I added coconut butter to it (the white stuff), but I don't think I would do that again, I didn't like it very mucch.

My Lightbulb Smoothie Moment

This has been my breakfast all week, my green chocolate-mint smoothie.

I had my own little light bulb moment yesterday. It happened when I read Angela Stokes blog (I had just recently subscribed to it, so it just appeared in my inbox!).

I took a look at her daily intake of food/juice/etc. I have been noticing a lot lately, with my own diet, that if I do not make an effort to include the greens (smoothies or juice), I don’t feel as well as I could (less energy, etc.).

I have to admit, it takes a lot to eat all the greens that you need in a day, and I do find that I often "grab and go", like the banana, strawberries and nuts, making the "green" intake somewhat more of a challenge. I think that has always been my challenge with the raw food.

If I look at the daily intake of raw food, for this highly successful raw foodist, I notice that a lot of her green intake is done via juices. After reading "Green for Life", I know that it is hard for our bodies to process and break down the greens that we eat without proper chewing, and that green juices and green smoothies are the best way for our bodies to absorb these nutrients.

But for some reason, it took reading the blog, and reading the daily intake for the light bulb to go off.

So, more green smoothies and green juice, here we come..... Sometimes it takes me awhile!

Thanks to Rosie for referring to me in her blog!!! I'm glad you are feeling better, and would love to compare notes when the pollen flies!

Marinated Mushrooms

I tried a wonderful recipe (and easy too) this past weekend. It was from Gone Raw.

Mushrooms are one of my favorite things, raw or cooked, and a raw marinated mushroom is something that definitely worth the little effort it takes to prepare.

I simply put the mushrooms in a glass dish and covered with the marinate, and enjoyed in the evening. Two marinated mushrooms was too much to eat, so I enjoyed the smaller one for lunch the next day. Definitely better than any steak that I have eaten!

I love Gone Raw when I am in need of a new recipe. It is really worth a look. I like to look there when I am looking for something that I think the kids will eat (although the mushrooms where totally for my benefit!)

This recipe is one that has made its way into my "Raw Recipe Binder". Yes, I finally got around to making one!

Good Clean Living....

In January, I took my oldest to see "Mamma Mia" as part of her Christmas gift. Last night, I took my two youngest girls and my sister to see Avril, as part of their Christmas Gift.

I have been nursing a cold over the weekend (hence the post about the French Vanilla and the sore throat). Yesterday morning, I woke up with the cold finding its way into my sinuses and giving me a nice sinus headache for the day. Thankfully it didn't last the whole day, and by 5:30, we were on the road for Toronto, strawberries and bananas and water bottles in hand!

I did really enjoy the show, I do like her music and to see my girls having such a fun time was "priceless". We got back home about 11:00 last night.

So, this is where the good clean living comes in.... I have been very, very tired all weekend long. I have been sleeping in late, taking naps in the afternoon, and still tucking myself in bed by about 9:00. Yesterday at work, someone even commented that I looked tired.

As I was getting ready for work this morning (and of course, I had very little sleep last night), I was putting on my eye make-up and noticed... no bags... hey, thats strange..... I fully expected to see large bags under my eyes due to the cold and lack of sleep, but nope, nodda!

The only thing I can pin that one on is "good clean living"... thank goodness for those bananas and strawberries!

Hello, my name is Kathy....

... and I am an addict. I am addicted to comfort food. Every time I get a cold, I want a Tim Hortons French Vanilla to soothe the sore throat. When I am feeling down, I want a McDonalds Cheeseburger. When I have had an upsetting day, I want Ice Cream. When I eat out at a nice restaurant, I want cheesecake for dessert... the list could go on and on... Nothing makes this more apparent than raw food. I can compare raw food to smoking (as a former smoker). When you are smoking, your body is so used to the ill effects, that you no longer notice anything wrong. It isn’t until you quit smoking, and even then the return to "normal" is so gradual, that you do not notice too much good being done to your body, only the bad (withdrawal). It is when you break down, and you have that first cigarette after being smoke-free for a period of time, that your body informs you that it isn’t good for you. I remember trying to quit, and when I would return to smoking, that first cigarette caused my lungs to hurt, gave me a head-rush and made me feel sick to my stomach. However, I also remembering finishing that same cigarette, and grabbing for the next, as I was a nicotine junkie. I have been smoke free for three years now, and glad for it. I can use this in order to relate to another addiction; in this case food. It is much the same with raw food. It is hard for the first few days, your body craves the carbohydrates and sugars, then after you are done with the initial cravings, you feel great. Your body feels an amazing well being. It is something that has to be experienced in order to truly understand, much like quitting smoking. Then, the thought of the ice cream at the end of an upsetting day pops up; and you think, "well, I’ve been so good, what harm is a tiny bit of ice cream going to do?" That is when your body truly lets you know that raw food is superior (if you surrender to the ice cream). You begin to feel rotten. In my case I get a stomach ache, and I pay for it for the next few hours (I’m convinced that I am somewhat lactose intolerant). And, just like an addiction, the thought of the comfort outweighs the thought of the consequence the next time around. Not only will I attack the ice cream again, but I will think, "oh well, I’m being bad, lets see how MUCH ice cream I can consume before I start to feel sick"... sick is the right word here.... So, I have come to admit, totally with the help of raw food, that I am an addict. Some days I wish that I was addicted to lettuce or celery. But some days I think I am... When I don’t juice for awhile, I crave the carrots and celery, my body actually misses it... but much in the same way it will forget it just as quickly if I make bad food choices. Luckily there is help out there! I have ordered the Raw Divas Guide to Cravings and Emotional Eating and in between packing and yard cleaning, diving into this program is how I intend to spend a good part of my weekend. I am also hoping to go to Chapters and look for Victoria Boutenko’s "12 Steps to Raw Foods" which I hear deals with some of these issues as well. Wish me luck... I am an addict....

I love Shopping!

Especially when it involves raw chocolate and new tankies!

I ordered from Alissa Cohen’s Raw Food Store, and as usual, the package arrived in record time! I can’t wait to start non-baking with the raw coconut and coconut butter, and of course, I have already been enjoying the peppermint truffles!

I can’t wait to wear my new tankie. Of course, if this "deep freeze" doesn’t end soon, I just might have to wear it around the house as jammies for awhile! The next time I order from Alissa Cohen’s Raw Food Store, I just might sneak a Tote Bag in. There is a cute picture of Heathy with her Cherry Tote in this post (maybe if I get the tote, the trip to Bahamas will follow!)

I absolutely love Alissa’s book. It was one of the first things I bought on my raw journey, and highly recommend it. My friend Elizabeth also recommends Victoria Boutenko’s "12-Steps to Raw Foods". I think I will have to add that one to my "book wish list" for the next time Chris and I go to Chapters. I keep imagining a big bookshelf in my new kitchen for all the Raw Food Books that I am enjoying so much! I know that is a dream that I can soon make a reality.

Well, I guess I’m not the "fooling around" type. I missed the perfect opportunity yesterday and didn’t pull any April Fool’s Jokes. I liked Shannon’s, but I especially liked all the responses to her "Oops"! I even fell victim to a few April Fool’s jokes myself. Next year I will be better prepared.

Earth Hour

How did you spend Earth Hour?

I originally thought a nice candle lit dinner would be nice, sitting around with the kids, talking, laughing; but one of them brought to my attention that 8:00 in the evening would be pretty late for dinner. Guess they had a point :0)

We went to get movies for the night and I dropped my oldest off at a friends house for a sleepover, and as we looked at the clock, it was 8:02 before we got home. To make it count, we celebrated our Earth Hour from 8:02 to 9:02. As we were driving home, Kristen had fun enjoying who had their lights out and who didn’t. In my neighbourhood it was about a 50-50 split. I wonder if it was because they didn’t want to participate, or because they hadn’t heard of Earth Hour, I will assume it was the latter.

We celebrated by making cheesecakes; one raw and one unraw. Kristen went by Grandma’s trusted recipe, and I went by Michael’s Famous Cheesecake . We couldn’t totally prepare them in the dark, so we did what we could by candle light, and then put the final touches on them and cleaned up after 9:02. I was so much fun. We enjoyed the cheesecakes at our Sunday night dinner, which wasn’t as "raw" as I originally planned. Think I might try a tea-party like Shannon’s next.

My son was at my sisters house, and he spend his earth hour in the hot tub looking at the stars!

Hope you had a fun "Earth Hour". My kids did ask me why Earth Hour wasn’t celebrated in April together with Earth Day. I wasn’t sure about that one. It’s a good question.

Juicing: A Family Affair

Last week, my daughter participated in a 30-hour famine that was organized by her high school. She went without eating from 11:00 on Wednesday evening, until 10:30 Friday morning when the school served the kids a continental breakfast. In order to participate in the famine, you had to raise $100 in pledges to donate to the cause. The kids would attend classes like normal on Thursday, but had to remain at the school until Friday morning (Good Friday).

So, on Thursday morning, I dropped her off, sleeping bag and mason jars in hand. See, the nice thing about this famine, was that the kids were aloud to bring water and juice to drink! Seeing as I had just ended my Juice Feast, and was still using my Juicer, it was just a "no-brainer". Last Thursday, I woke up early and made her some fresh juice. She was a little upset about the "mason jar" approach, but she went with a citrus juice and a carrot juice none-the-less. I think that when the hunger set in, she really didn't care too much about what the juice was in!

She had shown an interest in my Juice Feast, and wanted to participate in one herself. I told her that she would have to wait until she was older, but agreed to this "mini-feast" for a worthy cause.

Every day since, the juicer has made the familiar "varooom-chunk-chunk-crunch-varooom" noise. I have had the opportunity to hear this from another room in the house, as she is rather enjoying fresh juice every day and creating all the new flavours that come with experimenting.

I hate to admit this, but I think my Juicer has replaced my smoothie-maker as appliance of choice on my kitchen counter. It was the best $120.00 that I’ve ever spent!

I love when my children follow my lead (on healthy choices anyways!) and I am very proud of her for participating in this Famine!

I'm "Krauting"

Our Traditional Easter Dinner, coming from a Polish Family, consists of sticks, cabbage rolls, perogy and sauerkraut. Now, years ago, my favorites and my dinner plate would certainly consist of the first three, I was never much of a sauerkraut eater.

I have heard about, and toyed with the idea of "raw sauerkraut", and this years Easter Celebration was all I needed to attempt my own. Now of course, I didn't have it ready for Easter, in fact, it is sitting on my kitchen counter as we "speak", but I am "krauting" none the less!

I had a hard time finding a raw sauerkraut recipe on the web, but I ended up basically shredding the cabbage (boy, am I thankful for my food processor) and adding salt and caraway seeds, smashing the cabbage and placing it in a mason jar. From what I read, it will be ready in three to seven days.

I especially like the idea of making raw sauerkraut because of the health benefits. I hope this recipe works well, and if not, in three to seven days, I will be looking for another one!

And of course, with all that shredded cabbage around, I just had to have an Asian Pear and Cashew Salad for dinner!

If you haven't noticed, I've finally figured out how to add the "subscribe to" button on my site! Hope it works!!! (Sometimes I'm a bit computer challenged!)

Miss Teensie Weensie Bikini

I have been tagged.

The rules of the game are that you reveal 5 things about you that others may not know. Okay guys, I have been stressing over this one! Everyone that has been "tagged" that I have read, have really interesting and exciting things in their lives. So, what is there for me to write? Let's see...

1. On July 26, 1972 I was Miss Teensie Weensie Bikini. I still remember my mom making a kazillion tissue paper flowers, and I distinctly remember the one tie to my butt! I think that was one of the only times that I have been seen in public in a bikini! My mother, won the same prize that year (in her own age group) After two babies, I think that was quite an honour for her, and one I know she is still proud of.

2. I have one sister and three step-sisters! There where five of us girls growing up. I lived with my dad, my sister lived with my mom and her new husband and his three daughters. I think I have teenage hormones running around my house! Geez, I don't know how my mother did it!

3. I love Fall and Thanksgiving. I was a thanksgiving baby, born on thanksgiving day at 11:47 at night. My grandfather wouldn't eat his turkey until he new that my mother and I were safe and sound. That story always makes me smile. Every year for my birthday, I don't have the traditional birthday cake, I have always had Pumpkin Pie. My mother has the best recipe, and every year, makes me my very own! It made me smile when my youngest daughter was also born in early October. She isn't a thanksgiving baby, but I am thankful for her, and I now share my pumpkin pie. I'm hoping that Shannon has a raw version of a pumpkin pie on her site before Thanksgiving, and Shannon, our thanksgiving is about a month earlier than yours :o)

4. When I was pregnant with my twins, I was afraid to have a little boy. The thought of toilet training was too much for me (maybe hormones had something to do with that one). I can proudly say that my son gives me so much joy, and I honestly couldn't imagine the world without him. I will always remember driving down the highway, and him asking me what certain trucks where called, and I always referred to them as "Mighty Machines". He quickly began correcting his mother! The world is exciting through the eyes of another.

5. For my 40th birthday, I wanted a tattoo and I wanted to spend (the thanksgiving) weekend in New York City. Neither happened for my 40th... maybe for my 45th :0)

So, there it is, five things about me that you may not have known.

Hope everyone is enjoying this Easter Monday! And I have to admit... Raw dinner for Sunday Evening didn't happen as planned this week, understandably, but this week for sure! I loved Keely's idea to have the kids pick out a recipe and help with the preparation! I will ask Laurenne if she would like to be in charge of the menu plan for this weeks celebration (hopefully!)

Green Juice for St. Patrick's Day

The Green Smoothie Queen has arrived and is in full green-mode! I celebrated yesterday with green smoothies and of course, a green juice of cucumber, celery and pears.

I love how Shannon has a "raw" food night once a week, and tries to get her family to enjoy the "fruits" of her labor, so I mentioned this to my kids.... the noses immediately went up, and the thought of a "raw food dinner" didn't get too many excited responses, until I brought out the fondue pot - I figured that I'd better start out with something good!

I immediately got two thumbs up at the thought of a raw chocolate fondue for dinner (but I had to make some good old KD for back up)... This was lots of fun and I was given the okay to create a totally raw meal once a week.

And of course, my "leftover" fondue ended up in my juicer Sunday Morning!!

The Green Smoothie Queen once more!

Okay, Keely, I’m in.... (not that you had to talk me into it too hard!)

I’ve re-signed up for The Raw Diva’s 3-Day Green Smoothie Challenge.

I won’t have to dust the dust off of my Raw Diva Jug though, this handy little jug accompanies me on most days, filled with water and slices of lemon. It will once again be filled with wonderful green smoothies come Monday.

The Green Smoothie Challenge is a wonderful way to add "greens" to your daily diet in their most natural form. According to Green for Life, they are more easily absorbed by the body when they are blended up; our bodies cannot chew and break down the greens as they once could, so when the greens are already broken down for us, our bodies can absorb all the wonderful nutrients in them.

Green Smoothies.... "does a body good!" (Sorry, have that catch phrase in my head)

The BEST part about the Green Smoothie Challenge is that you don’t even have to be "raw" to join! My dad joined me in the last challenge, and he has continued to add green smoothies to his diet every day! You can simply add one green smoothie to you day, or you could replace all your meals with green smoothies... choice is your’s! Once you sign up, you will get a letter and daily support emails from The Queen herself (trust me! Its true) filled with wonderful tips, encouragement and recipes!

So, if you want to "do your body good", hurry and sign up today... you can join me for the best St. Patrick’s day yet!

ps - if you have signed up, let me know how you are doing! I'd love to hear from you!

Carrots and Celery

Every time I drink my carrot juice, I remember the Magic School Bus episode where Arnold turns orange from eating too many "seaweedies". Think you would have to be in your teens, or have kids in their teens to remember that one. My favorite combination for juice is carrots, celery with an apple thrown in. Wonder if I will turn orange, or at least look like I have a nice tan before the summer comes!

Do you have a "kindred spirit"? I think Elizabeth is mine. Even though we are worlds away, and have never met, we seem to experience the same things and go through or do the same things without knowing what the other is doing.

It seems that we both ended our juice feast over the weekend, for different reasons, without knowing what the other was doing. I enjoyed feasting for 7 days, and I would do it again in a moment, with the intentions of carrying it farther. It was an experience to remember, and one that my body thanks me for.

Even though I have technically stopped my Juice Feast, I guess I am doing a modified juice feast at this time. I have been juicing and bringing my juice to work with me, but I am enjoying a meal either at lunch time, or in the evening, depending on the day.

So, for those of you, who are continuing their juice feasting, I wish you luck and I send you good intentions for keeping it up! For those of you like me, who have chosen to end their feast, congratulations for juicing for as long as you did, for me at least, it was definitely worth every juice of it!

Michelle asks, "I might have to try that ginger tea. How did you make it?"

Well Michelle, I have to credit my friend Elizabeth with this one, but I ground fresh ginger (about 1 tsp), placed it into a mug and added boiling water, I let it steep, then I had to filter out the ginger (I used a coffee filter). I added about 1/2 tsp of raw honey. Just a word of caution - don't steep for too long, my daughter tried to make her own tea, but the ginger is really strong if left for too long!

And Shannon says that she makes her own ginger-ale by mixing the ginger with agave and sparkling water. Thanks Shannon, have to give that one a try! But first, think I might give her newest post a try this weekend!

I have to say, that I love Charissa's idea of a binder for all her favorite raw recipes. Sometimes simple ideas have to be shown to us before we think of it! I think I'll run out and get my pretty binder this week! Just like when Raw Food Right Now did an article on growing your own herbs inside! Still haven't started my pot... but my excuse is I'm waiting for my new house!

Day Seven: Ginger Tea

"When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.” Mark Twain. Have you caught my quote theme yet - its gonna get harder and harder!
Seven Days to Create the World, Seven Chakras, Seven Signs, Seven Sacraments, Seven Wonders of the World, Your Body Renews every Seven Years, Seven Interior Mansions to the Soul (can you tell I'm a Carolyn Myss fan).

In the Book of Revelations there are seven churches, seven spirits, seven stars, seven seals, and the list goes on from there. The Number seven is said to symbolizes Spiritual Perfection. Did I ever tell you that Seven was my favorite number?

I think there is something to be said for the number seven... exactly what, I’m not entirely sure, but it does seem to follow a spiritual path... I think there is something profound about making it to the seventh day on this Juice Feast. So for everyone out there, who has come this far, congratulations, and for those of you who have decided to end your feast earlier, congratulations for listening to your body. That is the most important thing you can do.

Thank you for all the well-wishes I received yesterday. I'm happy to report that I'm feeling better today, still a bit queasy, but better. My friend Elizabeth suggested that I brew myself some ginger tea to help with my stomach dilemma. It did wonders! I think ginger tea is something that I will have on a more regular basis, no pun intended.

Chris from Far Far Away asks "If you eat natural food, will you die a natural death?"

Well, Chris, not too sure about that, but I do know, if I eat natural food til the end, I'll look damn good in that coffin - no cakey makeup for this gal!

That's all for today folks! Off for a nice relaxing weekend... so until Monday... Happy Juicing!!

Day Six: Water Water Water

“Sometimes I wish I could go back to the days when I was six and my biggest problem was what kind of dress to put on Barbie" Author unknown

Today I don't feel well. I was up all night long with a rather upset stomach and this morning it wasn't any better.

I woke up this morning, jumped in the bath (didn't juice prior), jumped out of the bath and right back into bed. I think this is the firt time I have called in sick in about 3 years. I spent half the day in bed, and I still felt a little queasy after I woke up.

It's a funny feeling in my tummy. It is upset, but I'm not sure what it wants. It doesn't want food, it doesn't want juice, I will just have to let it be and see what happens. I think it may be too many greens inflicted too fast, too much MSM or maybe a bit of a stomach flu.

Today's consumption: Water, Water and more Water.

Readers Question: (hmm, heres a new concept, think I like it...if this keeps up, may have to change my blog to "Dear Raw Abbey..."

Robin from Nantucket asks "What is MSM?"

Well Robin, (not that I'm a medical expert, or any expert for that matter) MSM stands for Methylsulfonylmethane (I can't even begin to pronounce that one, glad I'm blogging and not speaking!).

It is a Natural Source of Sulphur. It is one of the main components in our bodies. From what I gather (and again, I'm no expert), a diet high in fruits and veggies a person gets their MSM naturally, but by juicing, the pulp is removed and I am assuming we are either getting less or none at all, therefore the addition of MSM to the water in the morning. MSM is absorbed best with the addition of vitamin c, that is why the lemon and MSM are added to the water. It detoxifies and regenerates...

I have also purchased MSM lotion, which is said to be good for the skin and joints. I have noticed a significant difference on fine lines and wrinkles (boy, do I sound like a commercial) from using it everyday on my face. It is also suppose to help heal and repair scars and damaged skin (hmm, think about that one!).

Here is a link if you want a more medical answer, and here is a link if you want a more simpler answer.

This is where I get my MSM humor from:

"On the Juice Feast: Up to 1 Tablespoon in your Morning Water, and 1-2 more Tablespoons during the day in your water. If you are new to MSM, make sure to place lemon juice in your water, and begin with 1 teaspoon per quart and work up. MSM is completely non-toxic: it has a toxicity level the same as water. However, you can, early on, use more than your body knows how to access. This will result in loose stools..." - I would change those last two words to something a bit stronger if they were my words!

Oh, and for something really exciting! Check out Raw Food Right Now today! I couldn't believe my eyes!

So, dear readers.... keep coming with your questions, and I will do my best to keep you entertained...

Okay, and today I guess I need a real disclaimer.... I'm not a doctor or medical professional. All of the posts are for informational and mostly entertainment purposes only. This site cannot be held responsible for any consequences regarding your use or intended use of any information provided. Always check with your medical professional before making any changes to your diet, especially if you are considering any type of juice fast or juice feast.

Day Five: Juicing 101 (written by a novice)

"The greatest gift of the garden is the restoration of the five senses" Hanna Rion

****Disclaimer: What you are about to read is true and has been tested by a novice juicer. We do not recommend that you try this at home, and if you do, we cannot be held accountable for any thing that may or may not happen...

Top 10 Tips I have learned regarding Juicing:

10. If you want to sleep, don't drink green juice past 7:00 pm.

9. Always juice before your morning bath! You don't want to show up to work with Celery spatter in your hair!

8. White shirts are a must not when drinking carrot juice from mason jars.

7. Much to my disappointment, bananas don't juice :0( And I really did try!

6. You get more juice from a carrot than you do from an orange - go figure.

5. They include the plunger for a reason :0) The only trick is getting it in quicker than the fruit splattering on the ceiling!

4. Equal amounts of carrot juice and green juice in a mason jar turn your juice brown, which gets more crazy looks than green juice does!

3. Avoid using too much celery in your morning juice, it may cause accidents on the way to work (see yesterday's post)

2. Avoid using too much msm in your morning lemon water, it may cause accidents of a different kind :0)

AND THE NUMBER ONE TIP REGARDING JUICING:

1. Always make extra juice for the people that you reside with, it will ease the grumpies that are caused by being woken up at early hours of the morning by "varooooom-chunk-chunk-crunch-varooom"

If you want to see a real cute video, check out Terilynn's video! This is her first solid food after a 93 day Juice Feast!

Today's consumption:

6:00 am - 1 litre msm and lemon and water (still at 1/2 tsp)

8:00 am - 1/2 litre carrot, cucumber and nutmeg

11:00 am - 1/2 litre green apple and blood orange

2:00 pm - 1 litre of green apple, celery, cucumber and lime

4:00 pm - 1/2 litre of carrot and celery

6:30 pm - 1 litre of green apple, celery and cucumber

Day Four: Celery Cucumber Apple

“One out of four people in this country is mentally unbalanced. Think of your three closes friends; if they seem OK, then you're the one" Ann Landers Today I woke up at six o'clock, figuring that I had 1/2 an hour to spare yesterday, but it made things a bit tight this morning. I was still out the door, 2 1/2 quarts (litres) of juice in hand, by 7:45 am.

HOWEVER, this morning, I had a full litre of lemon water and msm and 1/2 litre of carrot and celery juice before I left the house. I went pee right before I left, and then I had to pull off (during the 20 minute drive to work) to use a bathroom, and I still had to race to the bathroom when I got to work. Sheesh! Hope the bathroom trips calm down slightly!

Today's Consumption:

Today, I am taking Sonja's advice, and trying to cut down on the fruit intake to see if it helps with the headaches. So far today, I don't have one! However, I did juice 1/2 litre of apple/orange juice just in case I need it at work today!

6:00 am - 1 litre lemon juice and 1/2 tsp msm

7:00 am - 1/2 litre carrot and celery

10:00 am - 1/2 litre celery, cucumber and apple, this one was so good! Good thing I made 2 - 1/2 litre jars this morning, gave one away at work!

12:00 pm - 1/2 litre carrot and celery

3:00 pm - 1/2 litre carrot and celery

5:00 pm - 1/2 litre celery, cucumber and apple

(PS - Sonja, I didn't drink the fruit juice, and no headache today!)

7:00 pm - 1/2 litre celery cucumber and apple - shared with my dad!

And yes, you read that right! I had to share one of my mason jars at work today! Seems the girls at work are getting used to me toting along mason jars with "wonderful" concoctions in them. Ruth enjoyed a nice apple, celery, cucumber juice this morning!

It is so nice to know that Elizabeth is along side me for the ride. This is our third "venture" together. We have done The Raw Diva's 7-Day Detox, The Raw Diva's 3-Day Green Smoothie Challenge and now we are part of The Global Juice Feast.

It is funny, I have constant contact with Elizabeth through email, she is probably the only person I know personally who is Juice Feasting, or even knows what Juice Feasting is, but somehow I feel a part of something really big on this adventure.

For those of you who are not yet ready to attempt a Juice Feast, how about a 3-Day Green Smoothie Challenge: "This program is IDEAL for introducing new people to the Raw Food Diet and healthier eating habits. We strongly encourage you to sign up as 60% of the proceeds go to an organization promoting action and awareness in the name of environmental responsibility" The Raw Divas. Check it out! The next adventure starts March 17, 2008!

Day Three: Apple Lemonade

“There are three classes of people: those who see. Those who see when they are shown. Those who do not see" Leonardo da Vinci
Today I feel as if I have an extra bounce in my step, I feel lighter somehow, even if only mentally.

This Juice Feasting is not at all how I pictured it. I anticipated feeling great hunger, at least for the first three days, until I got over the "hump". Well, today is "hump" day, and besides the normal hunger before meals (none of which is uncontrollable) and the headache yesterday (which is still slightly there today, but manageable), this Juice Feasting is relatively easy. I do find that I am really cold all the time. I think being in the middle of a long-cold winter in Southern Ontario doesn’t help this fact. I have begun adding Organic Chai Rooibos tea to my day to help warm me up.

I was up at 5:30 this morning, and had 4 litres of juice plus an extra ½ litre for the girls (the apple lemonade) juiced and cleaned up before 6:00 am. I had my bath, incorporated my new morning routines and was out the door, feeling great by 7:45 (most mornings I’m rushing out at 7:58). I toted two ½ litres of fruit juice and one 1 litre of carrot/celery/apple juice, together with my new tea box to work this morning. The cooler was a bit too much, so I wrapped my juices in tea-towels and carted them in my PC Green Bag until I got to work, then I placed them in the fridge.
Today’s consumption:
5:30 am - ½ litre water, juiced lemon and ½ tsp msm (cutting back on the msm a little)
6:30 am - ½ litre carrot and celery (no apple!!)
9:00 am - 1/4 litre Chai Rooibos Tea
10:00 am - ½ litre Blood Orange and Apple Juice
(boy do I have to pee, Its about 10:30 am and I’ve gone 4 times already)
12:00 pm - 1 litre of carrot/celery/apple

(and I thought a litre of water and lemon made me go... thats nothing compared to a bunch of celery! Its 12:48 and I've lost track of my bathroom visits!)

2:00 pm - 1/2 litre of Blood Orange and Apple Juice

2:30 pm -1 litre water

3:30 pm - 1/4 litre Chai Rooibos Tea

5:00 pm - 1 litre of Carrot, Celery and Apple

7:00 pm - 1 litre of water.

Boy, no wonder I spent half my day in the bathroom, thats a lot of liquid! Funny how it was easier to consume the required amount of juice while I was at work, I actually found my tummy rumbling today too!

Tonight, before I go to bed, I am going to journal about the things that I would like to see, or experience, or attempt during this juice feasting experience. I did weigh myself before my adventure began, but I’m not sure at this point, whether I am going to weigh myself on a regular basis like Heidi did, or whether I will resist the temptation of the scale like Terilynn did. I don’t have to make that decision until Friday, but knowing me, I think I might be tempted....

I hope that everyone that has embarked on this amazing journey, less than 72 hours ago, is finding this wonderful journey as easy and "fruitful" as I am....

Day Two: Carrots Celery and Apples

“The world is divided into two classes, those who believe the incredible, and those who do the improbable.” Oscar Wilde

Day two was just as easy as the first, except for a major headache; fighting kids didn't exactly help matters.

My headache started around lunch, I drank some fruit juice and that seemed to help for awhile. It started coming back again before dinner, so I made myself a big mason jar full of carrot juice, celery and an apple. This is my juice of choice for today. I experimented this morning, and had this wonderful combination for lunch. When the headache returned, I knew that I had to make myself some more. My two vegetable juice combinations from yesterday were a bit yuck to try and get down. I drank approximately 1/2 a mason jar of each.

Today, I have consumed 1 mason jar of water and msm with lemon juice plus 2 1/2 litres of juice. It is really difficult to consume the 4 litres a day. Right now, I am satisfied, and I still have 1 1/2 mason jars to consume. I don't think that I will make it to 4 today.

Instead, I think that I am going to go to bed early, get some well deserved sleep, and hope that this headache goes away. Speaking of sleep, my dreams were very vivid last night as well as this afternoon, if that is what you can call them.... I'm going to go draw a nice hot bath, add some bath salts and call it a night.

Day One: Apple Blood Orange Feast

"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go" T.S. Elliot

This is how we keep our juice cold in Southern Ontario... Good thing we got extra snow this year, after building my igloo, I was able to build this nice refrigerator....

Well the first day of juice feasting was relatively easy. My day was somewhat out of routine, so the juicing just seemed to go with the flow.

I drank my litre of lemon water and msm this morning, followed by 1/2 litre of apple/blood orange juice for lunch. I tried a few green juice combinations, but they didn't seem to satisfy me the same way that the fruit juice did. I made myself another 1/2 litre of apples and blood oranges early afternoon. I was surprised that I wasn't hungry for the most part. I did get hungry just before lunch and again just before dinner, but the (fruit) juice was quite satisfying.

The day isn't over yet, but I just had a nice relaxing soak in the tub, accompanied by a litre of watermelon/mint juice, and I'm planning to go to bed at a decent hour. I have so far consumed about 2 1/2 litres of juice, so I need to get a bit more into me before the end of the day...

Elizabeth, I hope your day was a good one too!

Okay, call me strange... here is my eye colour today... one of the things that I find amazing and incredible is the change that occurs in a juice feasters eyes. They change colours and get amazing clarity... Here are what mine look like today....

Was the night before Juice Feast

and all through the house, lots of fruits and veggies were juicing...

Tomorrow is the beginning of a Global Juice Feast for many people. Tonight, I am sure that there are lots of people who are getting mentally, physically and mason-jar ready.

I have gotten my journal, my msm lotion, mason jars, hot water bottle, fruits and veggies galore (although I'm sure I will be stopping by the local grocery store over the weekend). I hope that I have prepared myself enough physically and mentally for this amazing journey. I'm not sure entirely what that requires; but that is the nice thing about adventures, you never know where they will lead or what they will entail.

One of the best mini-vacations that I have ever been on was last summer. Chris and I jumped into his jeep and drove. I'm not sure if he was entirely sure where we were going, or if he planned exactly where we ended up, but the whole trip was a total surprise to me. We went to the farmers market to get vine rippened strawberries for the drive, a winery, an ice cream store (oops), a craft market (while we enjoyed the ice cream), enjoyed a nice lunch in a small town, drove to the Lake on the Mountain, and ended up in Belleville for the night. I think this was the most romantic trip that I have ever been on. What I enjoyed the most about this trip was the unknown. It was all unplanned and spontaneous and we didn't know what was around the next corner.

It a way I hope my Juice Feast will be the same...It will be an adventure and I hope that there is excitement and wonder at every turn. Just as my weekend away, this Juice Feast will lead me on a new path of awareness.

I don't know how long this feast will last. I'm sure a lot of other people preparing for a similar journey tonight are thinking the same thoughts, preparing the same things and anticipating the same things. I only hope I can see my way past the next three days.

In my fridge, sits a litre mason jar filled with the juice of 1/2 a lemon and 1 tsp msm powder and another mason jar filled with juiced kale, lemon, green apples and lime. Let the adventure begin...

In Anticipation and Preparation

In just a few more days, Elizabeth and I will be partaking in the Global Juice Feast. Elizabeth is my "raw buddy" that I have referred to in previous posts. I am very excited about this new journey that she and I will be embarking on.

There is a lot of preparation and work that is involved in preparing for a juice feast. I am glad that it is starting on a Saturday, then I can be fully prepared for how much Juice I will need to prepare for the day, before Monday comes around and I have to tote my juice to work. I will be loading up Mason Jar after Mason Jar after Mason Jar in order to consume a Gallon of Juice (or as close to it as I can) for the feast.

I first thought that I would have to consume 4 GALLONS! That is between 15 and 16 one litre Mason Jars (had to call on Dad to add to my supply). I will tote my juice to work in a cooler (which I have to look for tonight when I go shopping). The girls in the office will really be wondering what the heck I’m up to next week! I am really glad that I won't be toting 10 Mason Jars, just possible two or three.

My initial plan is to hopefully feast for one week; if I get farther, I will be really excited; I have no intention to carry this feast over 30 days. As this is my first feast, I will be very pleased if I make it past the first three days, which are the hardest to get through on any new adventure.
The next few days will be filled with more reading from the Juice Feasting website, stocking up on produce and supplements, as well as trying to schedule a new routine to accommodate this new feast.

I will be contacting my Naturopath to schedule an appointment. I like her to be informed of what I am doing, as well, I will look to her for guidance on any supplements that I may need for my feast. I will hopefully visit her on a weekly basis as long as my feast continues; for moral support, but also because I love my naturopath!

So, the next few days will be full of preparation and anticipation, and I look forward to giving you my update next week.... wish me luck!

LIVE, Organic Food Bar

Okay, without further delay, here is my review of LIVE, Organic Food Bar:

I have to admit, this was something that I have been anticipating for a very long time. Chris and I used to eat out at a lot of different restaurants, but since going raw, it makes it a bit more difficult; not to mention that I hate paying restaurant prices for a salad.

When I first learned about a raw lifestyle last spring, I looked up "Raw Food Restaurants" on the Internet for my area. There aren’t too many. Live was listed, which is in Toronto, approximately an hour drive from my house. So, now I had a restaurant to attend, and I would somehow have to make it a special trip to try the "raw cuisine". This didn’t stop me, and I looked to the future to pick a date to attend.

I originally thought that it would be great to go for valentines day, but of course, that plan didn’t work out (too many kids!)... so, the next plan was for a weekend stay in Toronto to celebrate our Anniversary...

We arrived in Toronto on Friday night, and stayed at the Sheridan Hotel, which overlooks Nathan Phillip Square. It was perfect. We had dinner at a nice Italian restaurant on Friday (I forget the name of it - of course I had a salad). Saturday morning, we had nice freshly squeezed juice for breakfast, and I toted my lemon-water in my Raw Diva Smoothie Jug, and we hit the streets of Toronto. We had lots of fun shopping and sight-seeing... then the best thing happened!!!! Chris got hungry - actually, I got hungry sooner than Chris, guess my juice didn’t last as long as his hot-cakes! It isn’t very often that I’m hungry and have to wait for him, but Saturday was one of those days. We jumped in the jeep, and made the drive to Dupont and Spadina.

The restaurant is very quaint, and decorated in bright cheery colours. They even have cute sayings on the bathroom walls! If anyone knows me, they know that I can’t go too many places without checking out the bathrooms - especially after drinking my lemon water all morning!!

It was pretty crowded in the restaurant, but we managed to find a table close to the back, which was more romantic in my opinion; however, there was no "romance" to speak of going on at our table, unless you count my love affair and excitement over the food - it was more of a infatuation any ways, you know, the guidy excitement you feel, you can’t wait, and then before long, its over!

The staff were very friendly and courteous, and before long, we had our menus in front of us. Have to say, the decision was tough. The one REALLY GREAT thing about LIVE is that I could choose a NUT FREE OPTION! I was concerned about going to a raw food restaurant, when so many of the gourmet raw foods contain nuts, and having to miss out on some great food because of it. THIS WAS NOT THE CASE AT ALL, I didn’t miss out on a thing due to my tree nut allergy.

It was early afternoon, and I was really hungry. I think I have that condition known as "eyes are bigger than your tummy", because I ordered the Spreads N’ ‘Breads’ for Chris and I to share as an appetizer, and I ordered the Nachos Fiesta, Chris had the Pizza Pandemonium.

The food was absolutely incredible. The Spreads N’ Breads was a sample of the humus and pate for the day and sample of their different flat breads. Wish I knew what the spreads were, one spreads tasted just like tuna salad! I was very impressed. The samples of the flat bread was also amazing and has renewed my interest in a dehydrator! They even had some flatbread at the front to purchase on your way out of the restaurant! The Nacho dips were also some of the best that I have ever tasted. The Nacho chips were absolutely incredible. I don’t know how the Pizza Pandemonium tasted, must have been good because Chris didn’t share! This was the first time, eating raw food, that I stuffed myself! My eyes were definitely bigger than my stomach. Good thing that we had an afternoon of skating planned so that I could "work off" my lunch.

I do have one complaint about my visit. This complaint has nothing to do with the restaurant, and more to do with the author. Seems that I filled my belly so full, that I didn’t have any room for dessert. I don’t think that has ever happened in all my days as restaurant connoisseur. I could have purchased a piece of chocolate mint pie, or raw rice crispies or cheesecake to take with me back to the hotel; but I opted to save that for my next trip to Toronto, which I will have to plan very soon!

Okay, I lied....

Work is a little crazy this week, so I am a busy, busy girl... I will update you with my full report on Live soon, but for today, I will just tease you with a picture of our leftovers (soon to be "doggie bag"). I wish I would have thought to take a picture before I gobbled down all the delicious food that we ordered, but I was too excited (and maybe a bit hungry)!

Have a great Tuesday!!!!

Raw Food, Skating and a New Pair of Shoes!

I had a wonderful weekend in Toronto; full of fun, raw food, shopping, exercise and fresh air. What could be better than that!

I was like a kid in a candy store when we went to Live. It was a real treat - I’ll give you my full review tomorrow. I also got my raweo cookies as well as other products from upayanaturals.

While shopping at the Eaton Center, I bought the girls all a new lululemon headband, Ani’s Raw Kitchen and real cute pair of red heels! I came across Ani’s Raw Kitchen at the Indigo store there. I was so excited, I started reading it right then and there, while Chris continued to browse the store (we like to go to bookstores together). I love the fact that the recipes are so simple. Sometimes raw recipe books contain ingredients that I have never heard of, or equipment that I don’t yet possess. Not in this case. This morning, I enjoyed a wonderful mug of almond mylk (although I think I am going to have to invest in a nut milk bag). The book is also full of wonderful ideas and life tips. I like her idea of trying to keep the raw food intake to 1/3 nuts/seeds/oils, 1/3 green veggies and 1/3 fruit. Think I’m going to try and follow that for the next week.

The Global Juice Feast starts this Saturday, I still need to create the perfect green juice :0(

Wish me luck... Here Chris and I are skating at Nathan Phillips Square on Saturday! It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining and our tummies were full of raw! Oh, and I forgot to mention, my new juicer travels well!

PPS - have to say, Chris was pretty talented with this picture!!! It is a "self-portrait", he held out his arm and snapped the photo with one hand, while holding me up with the other, as we were skating around the rink. Trust me, this was no easy task as skating isn't one of my finer skills!

When I grow up, I want to drink Green Juice

So, when I grow up, I want to drink Green Juice: When you first start drinking coffee, very often you need to have three cream and three sugars to be able to drink it; and then you slowly wean off the sugar and cream until you can tolerate a more "grown up" coffee (even at the end of my coffee drinking days, I only got as far as two creams and one sugar).

When a person switches to raw food (at least in my case), there is a love affair with fruit. The natural sweetness of the fruit is very satisfying. Another blogger, Darice Michelle is pursuing a "14-day no fruit" diet right now. She too is a fairly new rawbie, and seems to have fallen in the fruit path, much like me. I wish her luck, not sure if I could have a salad for breakfast every day! Heidi, from Raw Food Right Now, also eluded to enjoying the fruit juice over the green juice at the beginning of her Juice Feast.

There are days when I find myself only consuming fruit. Not only is it delicious, I find that it is very easy to "take and go" when I am leaving the house for work in the morning. I know that I have to add more greens to my diet and I also know that my body starts to crave the greens if I have gone without them for very long. It is amazing to me, since becoming raw, how easy it is to "listen" to your body. The food cravings seem to melt away (well, maybe not the chocolate), and you are left having your body tell you what you need. I find that there are times when I love nuts, and can eat them by the handful, then there are other times, when the same nuts taste awful. This is my bodies way of telling me "enough"!

I am TOTALLY LOVING my juicer! Every morning since its arrival, the kids and I have been enjoying a fresh glass of juice in the morning. Experimenting is one of the exciting aspects of a juicer. I will be incorporating more greens into my juices for the Global Juice Feast, but for now, I am being a child, and enjoying all of the excitement and pleasure in a simple fruit juice.

Today, I made a small mason jar of naval oranges, blood oranges and clementines, to take to work with me. I juiced a glass of a naval orange, clementines and an apple for me to enjoy while soaking in the tub this morning (I’m not much of a shower person - I enjoy a nice soak much more). The kids all had a professional activity day, so I had the juice, the kitchen and the bathroom to myself this morning! APPLES AND ORANGES: surprised that the juice makers haven’t come up with that combination yet. It was truly amazing and so simple!

I will be spending the weekend in Toronto. I have packed my ice skates (for Nathan Phillip Square) and my juicer (glad it’s a portable one) to treat Chris to a nice glass of juice tomorrow morning (think I’ll save the zucchini pasta for another time). I’m also very excited because at some point over the weekend, we will be visiting the Live Food Bar, my first trip to a Raw Restaurant. This is a very special Anniversary for us, and I look forward to what the weekend has in store....
Hope your weekend is off to a great start! (Pretty neat colour for Blood Orange Juice!) Happy Friday!