Salubrious Thoughts and Scrumptious Truffles!

It's stifling to be in someone else's body. 

I'm starting to look at myself as the thinner, healthier Kathy who I know is in there—waiting to appear. And I'm starting to act like she's already arrived. That identifies a whopping change to me. It's invigorating . . . I want to do more of the things I love, experience new things! Hey, I'm headed to the beach in a few days . . .

I'm almost at the 4 week marker—so how am I doing? Is this new mostly raw diet even feasible? Am I losing weight?

The main question I should ask is, "Am I healthier"?  

After all, that's the main purpose behind this trial lifestyle change. The folks at Hallelujah Acres have me convinced that eating an 85% raw vegan diet will make significant changes. I've met a number of people that ate that way for months reporting many benefits, from significant weight loss to a diabetic who was told he'd soon need dialysis, who no longer needed it. I'm eating at least 85% raw, though I've had just a few small portioned "meats" and probably two fresh eggs, and some plain yogurt (so I'm not totally eating vegan). And I cooked and ate just a few baked goodies made with spelt flour.

• My blood pressure remains lower: 130/84 today. That makes me very happy, and I think it'll go lower if I can continue on this path. 

• I've lost 8 lbs. total so far. It's motivating to stay the course, when despite my snacking on nut-filled crackers and cookies and some sweet treats, I'm still losing steadily. I'm sure I'd lose more if I watched those nuts and high calorie foods closer (there are some hefty raw foodists out there I found out), but this was a trial time to make some of those collected raw recipes and be more concerned about health than actual pounds lost.

• My headaches are fewer, but not totally gone. I have several ideas about their etiology but I'm not certain. A wheat and or dairy intolerance may be one, and a structural neck problem is another.

• My legs are not aching like they do sometimes (varicose veins), and I have more energy and feel like exercising more than I have in past months.

• Last week was a bit stressful when our beloved companion of 15+ years, Gretel (miniature dachshund), died due to old age. I found myself wanting those comfort foods I had been used to in the past. I didn't go for that cappuccino, and I didn't do too bad, but I didn't like the feeling of "not caring" about my health and just being sad, missing our sweet little old dog. So it was tougher for me last week. I was in a different mood, and it does affect everything else around you.

Gretel

After this next week, part of which I'll be vacationing in Florida visiting my sister, I'm going to maintain a simple meal plan and still keep healthy snacks on hand (I've got garlic zucchini spirals  and  pumpkin spice cookies in the dehydrator today). If I don't have a healthy snack to grab, I'll grab the wrong thing. That means taking a piece of fruit or veggies or dried crackers with me when I travel a distance. I'm going to try to stay as much raw as I can even while in Florida. I can't wait to go to the beach! My sister has a condo on the Atlantic Ocean and it's heavenly . . .

 Do you really believe that raw crap? 

I've been asked this. And I've been given a list of websites that will poo poo anyone claiming that raw foods will cure anything and there are lists of alternative doctors to stay away from. It's up to you, but I don't put much faith in the million dollar corporations, the cancer societies, and those behind the pharmaceutical companies. I think that those that have less to gain are perhaps more reliable—plus, I believe the simple truth will be revealed, if you look closely.

I watched a video by Dr. Lorraine Day (she's on one of those lists) this week: Cancer Doesn't Scare Me Anymore. She has quite a testimony and it gave me some things to ponder. I find I need to stay focused and watching DVDs or reading uplifting, motivating books help me stay tuned to my healthy mission. According to Dr. Day (a practicing MD), many disease processes are the result of dehydration of our cells. I found that an interesting perspective. 

You know how people drink coffee and soda and sweetened juice a lot? (I even know of people who don't like water and never drink it.) How can the cells get hydrated that way? And so many people don't eat adequate fruits or vegetables (with high water content). Our bodies need pure water—that's mostly what we are. I'm making the effort to drink more water.

So, here's another of those sweet dessert snacks that I won't eat too often . . .

Scrumptious Truffles

For many years I made what we called No Bake Munchies, a recipe similar to this one, but where you'd boil honey and some butter for one minute together and then add in natural peanut butter and whatever other ingredients you wanted to amount to 3 cups worth. Now, I make a variety of nut/seed/fruit balls and bars that are mostly raw and better for you.

Benjamin Mixes the Truffles

Carob/Almond Truffles

It was fun to have Benjamin join us for this Desserts Class where he whipped up this truffle recipe. They're great!

1/2 cup honey

1 cup uncooked oats

2 tsp. ground flax seed

1 cup almond butter

1 Tbsp coconut oil

1/4 tsp. vanilla

1/4 cup carob powder

14 tsp sea salt

1 cup minced nuts (cashews, walnuts, or pecans)

Mix first list of ingredients together and roll mixture into one inch balls. Roll balls in nuts. Refrigerate.

"Sometimes one pays most for the things one gets for nothing."—Albert Einstein