Hemp Seed & Almond Meal Crackers

Hemp Seed & Almond Meal Crackers

My husband still buys plain ol' saltine crackers. I don't even try to dissuade him anymore, but once in awhile I'm tempted to. Recently, he bought several pounds of hemp seed and he likes to just eat it by the spoonful, but I wanted to use it in a recipe other than the usual throw-it-in-a-smoothie or on-a-salad (which is great too). Besides, I want wheat-free goodness!

Hemp seed is a superfood—A heart healthy, brain food, high in protein with many health benefits! 

I recently saw a raw Zucchini Hemp Banana Bread that sounded interesting, but I didn't have zucchini or bananas and I was in the mood for crackers and I wanted them quick, baked in the oven, to go with a chicken and wild rice soup I had planned for lunch. I found these Grain-Free Almond Sunny Seed Crackers from which I adapted my recipe. 

Yum! I loved these crispy Hemp Seed Crackers! 

(The soup was perfect too!)

Roll out and score

Baked

Hemp Seed & Almond Meal Crackers

by Kathy's Kitchen

Cook Time: 15 - 20 minutes

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High protein hemp seed crackers, baked to a golden brown.

Ingredients (Approx. 50-60 crackers)

• 1/2 cup hemp seed
• 1 and 1/2 cups almond meal (or flour)
• 2 Tbs. flax seed
• 2 Tbs. sunflower seeds
• 1/2 tsp pink salt
• 2 Tbs. nutritional yeast
• Pure onion and garlic powders
• 2 Tbs. olive oil
• 4 Tbs. cold water

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Mix all ingredients together, adding in olive oil and water last. I did not measure the onion and garlic powders, but sprinkled generously over the batter. Let sit for about 10 minutes.
• Take half the batter and roll into a ball and place on parchment paper that will fit a flat baking (cookie) sheet. Roll thin between two pieces of parchment paper to desired thickness.
• Remove the top parchment paper, place the bottom parchment paper with cracker dough onto your baking pan. Score with a knife to make cracker shapes.
• Bake for 15 - 20 minutes depending on thickness. Watch closely as they can turn very brown in a matter of minutes.
• Break apart, cool, and enjoy!
• Repeat, using the remaining batter to make a second batch of crackers.

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Break apart

Have you experimented with hemp seed? Do you have a favorite hemp seed or cracker recipe?

Linking up with Wellness Weekends 
and Whole Food Fridays

It's Detox Time! 3-Berry Smoothie

It's Detox Time!

For the past month I've made fresh vegetable/fruit juice just about every day. My husband and I have been trying to replace at least one meal a day with juicing. It's been a precursor to the detox diet that we started 5 days ago, and it's going great!

I liken our detox diet to the Hallelujah Diet of which I am familiar, but without the BarleyMax (I use my own powders/supplements). They promote an 85% raw, 15% cooked diet, made up of vegan choices. And glance at their testimonials and you'll see what a blessing it is to eat this way—for life!

But I'm not espousing a particular diet really, just whole "vegan and gluten-free" foods, mostly raw, and with no meat products for this time of detoxifying. And of course, fresh juicing to maximize our daily nutrient content and give the body something to enable us to heal.

What our detox includes:
Drinking a variety of fresh juiced vegetables and fruits
Healthy fruit and green smoothies
Raw fruits, vegetables and dehydrates
Big green salads
Steamed vegetables (been eating a lot of Brussel sprouts)
Homemade vegetable soups
Herbal tea
Fresh lemon/limeade
Nuts (no more than a handful)
Coconut oil

You're not ready, until you're ready!

Hubby and I both are beyond middle age. We're still young-at-heart, and so it's not fun when health issues interfere with life's enjoyment and our abilities. I feel like if I don't get serious now about true healthy living I might as well give up. I know we'll be making sacrifices—albeit good ones, as we change to better eating habits. I'm determined to—once and for all! I'm ready already.

I'd like to eventually proceed forward and make it a juice only detox, so I'm really preparing myself for when I feel the time is right. I'm inspired by documentaries like Fat, Sick, & Nearly Dead and Hungry for Change. I find that a big part of making a lifestyle change or going on any diet for that matter, it takes the right timing, the right mental focus, and the right environment to make it a successful journey. I knew that now was the right time to begin. And having hubby on board makes it much more doable.

Our very first juice on day 1 was:  

Apple-Broccoli Juice

4 Granny Smith apples
1 lime
4 celery ribs
Bunch of cilantro
1 head of broccoli

I had never juiced broccoli before, but since I had plenty in the fridge I wanted to make good use of it, and I saw a recipe for Green Apple Pie Juice that stirred my interest. My Apple-Broccoli juice was so GOOD! I'm getting used to the taste of cilantro and it's useful to draw out heavy metals in the body.

This week I made another awesome smoothie recipe using blueberries (since we got such a great deal on frozen blueberries):

3-Berry Antioxidant Smoothie

This was a great tasting and so-good-for-you breakfast smoothie that utilizes three different berries: blueberries, blackberries and cranberries. One of the best sources of antioxidants, berries help to fight against aging and the chronic disease processes that many of us know about first hand. Even the American Institute for Cancer Research admits that blueberries are “. . .  substances that can slow the aging process and reduce cell damage that can lead to cancer.” Here are 7 Berries You Should Eat Everyday.

Not included in that list of 7 are cranberries, which when consumed in their raw form or juiced, have huge health benefits warding off urinary tract and yeast infections, dental plaque, and helps with blood sugar issues such as insulin resistance. See Cranberry juice benefits made simple.

3-Berry Antioxidant Smoothie

by Kathy's Kitchen

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Keywords: juicing raw gluten-free raw vegan

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A so-good-for-you antioxidant fruit smoothie that utilizes blueberries, blackberries and cranberries.

Ingredients

• 1 cup blueberries (raw, frozen or partially thawed)
• 1 cup blackberries (raw, frozen or partially thawed)
• 1 cup cranberries (raw, frozen or partially thawed)
• 1 Tbs. coconut oil
• 1/2 cup apple juice
• 1 cup almond milk
• 2 Tbs. lime or lemon juice
• 1 tsp. spirulina powder (optional)
• 2 Tbs. green powder supplement (optional)
• 2 tsp. coconut sugar, maple syrup, or other sweetener

Instructions

• Add all ingredients into a high powered blender (like VItaMix) and using the tamper, blend until well combined. Pour and serve.

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Right now I've got naked kale chips in the dehydrator and when I get some more sunflower seeds I'll make some red hot snackers crackers, but I won't indulge, and now at day five I'm feeling past the terrible late afternoon cravings (thanks to the wonderful nutrients I'm giving my body and cells). I'm not having the sugar and chocolate cravings but hubby is still dealing with it, and at 270 lbs. he requires more food than I do so he eats a tad more. (I don't scold, I'm very glad and proud of him and he's losing weight faster than I am!)

So today, I look forward to feeling good, staying active, and slimming down. How about you?

Linking up with Gluten-Free Cat and  Raw Foods Thursdays 

Pom-Blueberry-Apple Cider

Pom-Blueberry-Apple Cider

We had some lovely frugal finds over the holidays recently. $2.00 for a gallon-size bag of frozen blueberries was almost a steal, so we stuffed five in our freezer. At the same discount store they offered apple cider for $2.50 a gallon. At Aldi's, the pomegranates were getting a bit too ripe so my hubby asked for a price reduction and picked up a boxload full for 25 cents each! It was a no-brainer to mix up a delightful pom-blueberry-apple cider concoction and BOY it was DELICIOUS!

How I did it:
In the Vita-Mix blender I put two cups of the apple cider and mixed in half a bag of the blueberries that I had thawed. (Leaving them frozen makes it taste like a yummy smoothie but my hubby is sensitive to cold right now.) I broke apart and seeded six pomegranates using the wooden spoon whacking method, I juiced the arils (using a few carrots also), and added this juice to the blueberry mixture, mixing everything together utilizing a half gallon of the apple cider.

Knowing the nutrient-filled, antioxidant rich benefits of pomegranates and blueberries I think we did alright! 

What else can you do with pomegranates? You may want to check some recipes online like those at Simply Recipes. 

A few of my sons love to eat the pomegranate seeds by themselves, but take a peek at the Chocolate Pomegranate Clusters at Lexie's Kitchen!



What are some of your best frugal finds and deals, and what did you make?

Apple Fritter Flaxcakes—Focus on Wheat-Free

It's a brand new year and great timing to start implementing a wheat & gluten-free diet plan. This morning I fixed a delightful pancake alternative that reminds me a lot of a yummy apple fritter.

 Apple Fritter Flaxcakes

I'll get to this easy recipe in a few minutes, but it looks like I took a six month hiatus—and in fact that's exactly what I did! This summer I went to Florida on vacation where I conveniently decided to let my diet choices have a lot of flexibility. I stuck to whole foods where possible but I allowed wheat and dairy to make a prominent return. In a way I looked at it as an experiment of sorts. Were my dietary choices at the time really making such a difference? I was to find out.

Well, six months and several holiday feasts later, my clothes are fitting very tight! Though I felt stagnant with weight loss last summer, at least I wasn't gaining, and there's something to be said for that. Health wise, I've had great success with supplementation help from my ND in curbing my Atrial Fibrillation attacks. I've had ZERO attacks in six months! I couldn't be happier there, so despite my thicker waistline, I'm wearing my happy face every morning! But, it's time to get geared up and deal with the inflammation issues, again. 

My main focus: WHEAT-FREE

This recipe was one I adapted from a recipe I saw in Nourish & Heal magazine.

Apple Fritter Flaxcakes

Prep Time: 15 minutes

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Focus: wheat-free A tasty, yet healthier pancake alternative.

Ingredients (6 flaxcakes)

• 2 organic eggs
• 4 Tbs ground flaxseed
• 2 medium apples
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 4 tsp sucanat (or other dry sweetener)
• coconut oil

Instructions

• Combine eggs, flaxseed, spices and sucanat. Cut apples into small chunks and mix into batter.
• Coat bottom of frying pan with coconut oil and when hot, spoon batter to make three flaxcakes, and flatten and form to shape.
• Cook several minutes over medium heat and when browned flip and cook opposite side 'til lightly browned.

Apples are cut into small chunks and mixed into batter.

 Batter, ready to make flaxcakes.

Top with fruit or maple syrup and enjoy!

A Juicing Lifestyle

Ten Days—
A Juicing Fast or Feast?

Almost two weeks ago, I announced to the world (you out there) that I was going on a juice fast. A fast where all I "ate" was fruit and vegetable juice—like in the film Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead. At the time that's sort of what I had in mind.

Well, on day two, my mind was flip flopping on what was really the healthy thing to do, and I thought about the fact that what I was honestly after, was a lifestyle change, not a quick fix, nor a deprivation disaster, that when I went off of it and started eating again, that I'd gain all the weight back that I had just lost. (Weight is secondary to health, but I've been there—done that). 

We actually  "juice fasted" for many meals over a ten day period—just not for 24 hours straight. And it was FUN searching for ideas and recipes and making up a lot of my own juice (and a few smoothie) recipes. You'll see, as I'm listing many of them at the end of this post, and I have plans to compile them all into a PDF for quick reference here at some point. I do not want to lose these recipes, and I'd love to share them with you too!

We hadn't really prepared to fast!

It's agreed that eating whole foods (we do that), and a lot of fresh vegetables and fruits, contribute to a healthy way of eating. Our family has been involved in getting our act together for a long time as we've made healthier choices every year. With wisdom should come change! And juicing those fresh veggies and fruits makes a lot of keep-out-of-the-doctor's-office sense. So we've been doing that—just not so frequently. 

Hubby was eager to be on this journey with me. We (especially him) had not prepared ourselves to jump into a full-fledged fast—I mean, the day after Easter? That awesome (non-raw) pineapple-walnut carrot cake I made, and nontraditional shrimp and steak kabobs on the grill? I wanted us to be successful, but my will power is only so willing. 

So let me explain that after those first few days of juicing, I decided that what I desired was to claim a juicing lifestyle—one that included juicing every day (if possible) and basically continuing on with what I had already been doing—adding in those wonderful raw dishes, snacks, and desserts (in moderation). That's it! That's what most made sense to me.

I wasn't hungry!

I did find that the nutrition from the juices I drank was satisfying and I wasn't hungry. But I still wanted to feel my teeth bite into something. Raw nuts and some dehydrated fruit were fill-ins. Habits are hard to change.

While these past two weeks have been loaded with a variety of raw juices and soups, we've kind of hit upon what seems to work for us, and I suppose after a period of time, we might make some further changes, but . . . 

 Here's what our eating pattern looks like:

I made two different juices each day, often with some left over for later in the day. We ate one meal that included a hearty amount of a steamed vegetable, or a juice soup with some sauteed veggies added, or a big salad.  We've eaten so many brussel sprouts that I almost feel like we're on the brussel sprout diet (great prices right now). We ate fresh fruit and raw nuts here and there also. And Hubby ate a little extra on his own—he did really good (only one Little Debby Nutty Bar on day 12)!

After one week, I added in a smoothie here and there (I missed those green smoothies) and we designated Sundays to be our treat day (to relax and eat what we want within reason). Hubby had BBQ beef and cheese with his salad on Sunday. And Sunday is the day our older son visits so I will make a nice meal with meat included then, and perhaps a fancy raw dessert. So, we're juicing and eating lots of raw all week, and indulging on Sunday. 

Curb the cravings.

I also wanted to get to the point where the cravings disappeared. I so hate the feeling that food is controlling me! I needed to get to the place where I am in control. Am I there? Much better, but not quite yet. As an emotional eater in the past, it's something I've struggled with. Though the physical desire and cravings to eat were diminished, the emotional craving found it's way there on a few days, especially when I wasn't feeling well. The hardest day so far was day 10, and I didn't feel well for 3 out of 10 days. 

Was it a typical detoxifying reaction that I experienced? Spring-time allergies? Or just my usual self? I had two bad headaches, a runny nose most every day, and a very low BP (for me) a few of those days. The days I felt good though were great! I had a lot of energy and my mood was soaring. Kind of typical for me though—I'm like that song "Moody Woman" sometimes. What could I expect anyway in just 10 days?

Well, I did lose 8 pounds in 10 days! Just water weight maybe? Not sure. I'm losing, and that's icing on my raw cake! Though the last two days I added in some rice and two pounds came back! 

I'm exercising about every other day with either T-Tapp Basic Plus, Tempo Arms, or Jazzercise. I'm convinced that I don't lose an ounce unless I keep moving and exercise. (That's Teresa Tapp on the right.)

So, what about those healthy changes since January?

The biggest change for me has been to cut out the wheat (I do make an occasional dish using small amounts of spelt flour and I'm intrigued in using almond flour). And starting last year I ditched cheese and cow's milk (plain yogurt still allowed, though I haven't added it back in yet on my juice fast), and I consume many less eggs and meat, as well as I cut out many processed foods (of course). For me, it comes down to eliminating the foods that I know I don't agree with or harm me in some way, and sticking to a basic mostly raw, anti-inflammatory diet.

If you have kids or family that live with you, an adjustment would be in order I'm sure. Our youngest son still lives at home but his job takes him on the road and we really don't see him much. When he was here for a few days recently, he ate what we did, but I fixed him a little something else to go with it. To suddenly make huge habit changes in your family won't work, you need to make them gradually.

We miss going out to eat!

We were in the habit of going out to eat  at least twice a week, but my usual fare was a healthy salad anyway. I can still maintain that if we decide to enjoy a restaurant meal. Two of our favorite places have the best salads anyway! I've already conquered this problem but Hubby would have a hard time if we went to a restaurant and he wasn't committed to eating healthy foods. He has switched to the salad, instead of the sandwich at our favorite spot (pictured here) but he likes to get dessert there too. If we go on Sunday, he can have it! (BTW, after two weeks of eating this way, he's lost 15 pounds.)

My list of yummy juices and recipes:

These are just a few of those I've made and many I've posted online. Check back to see when I've completed the PDF that will include recipes for those not yet available plus a few more.

• Pineapple-Fennel Surprise 
• Pear Pineapple Juice
• Don't Skip a Beet—Juice
• Tropical Sunshine Smoothie
• Veggie Juice Soup 
• Banana Berry Frozen Dessert
• Cinnamon Pears (dehydrated)  
• D & D Juice
• Co-Co for Oranges
• Pretty Pink, Fennel Fusion Juice 
• Green Goddess Juice 
• Bunny Booster
• Ginger Spiced Delight
• Josh's Jacuzzi Green Smoothie  

And how many of you noticed our new look and the fact that I changed our name? The blog was named Kathy's Kitchen & Raw Nutrition and now it is what it is! The changes you may find here are slight, but I may throw in a paleo recipe or two, a cooked food dish or dessert that is otherwise healthy too, and perhaps a little more commenting on health concerns and issues.

Thanks for visiting and sticking to the end of this long post! I'd love to hear your comments. Maybe what worked for you, or what you might relate to, or even to share your blog or recipe with me!

Linking up with Wellness Wednesday,
Raw Foods Thursdays, and Thank Your Body Thursday

Our Fresh Juice Fast — Day 1

Our First Day of a Juicing Fast starts with 

Green Goddess Juice

The day has arrived!

In the past year we've watched Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead along with Forks Over Knives and several other documentaries that expound on the wonderful benefits of juicing for improved health. I've been a member of Raw Food Rehab, I've done green smoothie challenges, and I've explored the healing and juicing nature of Gerson Therapy, and most of you know I'm a fan of raw foods. I've been thinking that since hubby and I both have some serious-enough health issues, that we need more bombardment than just adding more raw food recipes into our lives and drinking raw juices here and there, and that a juice fast might be the best way to go for us.

I'm really excited about this, which sort of surprises me—I mean, not eating food . . . "me" . . . who is really addicted to food!  I imagine it would be hard for anyone, to abruptly change that habit of eating so often, from eating big meals to drinking meals, and consuming nothing else but water and a few supplements. But I'm also thinking that with the nutrition we'll be getting, I won't be hungry at all, and that has been the case today. I'm not hungry, but I have to get over my habit of nibbling something so often. 

Nothing is as beneficial as a daily green drink. 

And we'll be getting much more than one a day!

The amount of nutrition you consume from juicing is much greater than you could ever eat. According to Mimi Kirk (voted Sexiest Vegetarian Over Fifty, and she's 70+) says in her book Live Raw:

"It (green drink) can pack more nutrients in one drink than we can consume in a plate of salad. One large glass of juice can supply us with more nutrients than we could get from eating three vegetable meals a day."

That's what we need, to jump-start and continue the healing process!  

What is a green juice exactly?

A variety of fruits and vegetables can be juiced with a juicer. I use an Omega Juicer similar to this one. Through the mastication process (some juices use a different method), the fiber is taken out and you get a predigested juice that is very healing to the body. Most all of its nutrients remain in the juice, and we benefit as it quickly goes into our systems to all cells, tissues, and organs. Fresh juice also helps to flush the colon. Doing a juice fast allows the colon to rest and heal, especially good for G.I. symptoms and diseases.

I'm envisioning myself being drenched in enzymes, nourished with minerals and chlorophyll, and flushing toxins and disease out of my body. Plus, dropping a pound a day (just a hopeful guess), as I continue to exercise, feeling bright-eyed and alert, with more energy, and no aches or pains or migraines. Honestly, there have been many days the past year that I have not felt well and the brain fog has got to go. I look forward to seeing what I'll feel like at the end of a week, and then some.

We're going to take it a week at a time, but I know I'm going to want to continue somewhat longer. How long? I don't know actually. We'll see how it goes.  

 

I'm Excited to Get Started!

I did a "Master Cleanse" maple syrup lemonade fast for 10 days many years ago and I remember then, that the third day was the hardest. I managed, (I remember saying no thanks to the homemade ravioli at my neighbor's house) and I lost too much weight. I was a skinny rail, just in that short period of time, but then the weight quickly returned and I found myself pregnant with baby boy number three (yes a long time ago)! This is much different—I won't be starving myself, but feeding all my cells what they crave, at the basest level.

Hubby may need a bit more juice (or nutrition) than me (he's 6' 4" and 280 lbs), and he did eat some steamed broccoli, a handful of grapes, and Brazil nuts today in addition to his juice. That's perfectly fine!! If he goes without enough food, he gets terribly grumpy. I'm 5'10" and 200 lbs. wanting to drop 30 lbs. Since I'm tall, the weight hasn't always been a problem, but a few years ago when I was 170 lbs. it made a big difference in the way I looked and felt, so I'm wanting to get back to that weight.

Our chiropractor told my husband that for every 10 pounds overweight you are, there is a greatly increased pressure of 40 pounds on all of your joints. We all know that, right? That's something both of  us need to consider, especially at our age (too close to 60—YIKES!)

Green Goddess Juice 

I think it was the fact that I LOVE pineapple and I happened to have four of them sitting on my kitchen counter, but the name grabbed me . . . and with this fresh juice, hubby and I started our juice fast.

I found this great tasting recipe here through Karen Knowler. My version was only slightly different.

Ingredients:

2 cups of organic spinach

5 celery stalks

1 cucumber unpeeled

2 Granny Smith apples

1 large ripe pineapple

Juice from two lemons

Instructions:

Wash and cut all ingredients into pieces and then put through your juicer.

Have you done a juice fast before? I'd love to hear how it went for you!

To Your Health, and Mine—
Delicious! 

Linking up with Wellness Wednesdays

Cool It ! Raw Foods vs Inflammation

A Healthy Lunch—

Tossed Greens with Blueberries

The first week of March I attempted to eat a 100% raw foods diet. My plan is to make a habit of doing this the first week of each month.

At this stage of my health goals, I've been aiming for a daily 50% raw food intake, but I have consistently missed the mark and I wanted to boost myself into a higher percentage somehow. A gradual habit change is the best way I know how to do it.

My 100% RAW week was a success whereby I maintained close to 90% raw! So now I know what it looks like and what I need for next time! Additional planning and building a raw recipe base of excellent choices and tasty dishes will go a long way. (Just so you know, I've been at this healthy change thing for years!)

Though I'm an advocate for adding in high quality, nutrient-dense, living raw foods to my daily intake, I'm not a RAW Foodist at this time (anyone who eats more than 75% uncooked food). And though my meat consumption is very low, and there are a number of things I simply avoid (wheat and most dairy) I still believe that high quality natural meats and animal products can be part of a healthy diet. Going all raw may be ideal for some, but not everyone, and though it has a simplicity, it is not easy to adopt to at first. We are all different and need to research and follow what is best for each of us personally.

You may have heard of the Hallelujah Diet which advocates an 85% raw / 15% cooked food ratio. At the end of this post you'll find a link where you can read testimonies of people who have gotten off of medications and have greatly improved their health and even reversed disease processes. I've known a few personally.

For me, eating more raw foods is a means of decreasing inflammation. I want to cool, or severely slow down, the inflammatory processes that have inhabited my body and caused disease. 

Basic Veggie Snack Cracker (Dehydrated) 

with Guacamole

So, let me ask a simple question . . .

What are some benefits of eating more RAW foods?

• A raw food diet contains a higher concentration of nutrients, and it is high in fiber and  lower in calories. You can fill up on delicious food and it'll keep you regular!

• Eating raw alkaline-based foods is a key feature of an anti-cancer diet regimen and a long life. Cooked food = acidity. Raw foods don't disrupt your body's delicate acid/base balance.

• The more whole raw foods you eat, the less processed ones you'll eat—they fill you up. If eating high energy organic foods, you'll naturally be less hungry due to the more nutrient-dense content, and you'll have more energy to do the things that matter most.

• A raw plant-based diet may help prevent and treat chronic illnesses. Uncooked foods retain vitamins and all of the enzymes that aid in proper digestion, and leaves the proteins, fats, and carbohydrates intact.

• Living raw foods are an alternative and sometimes better way to achieve optimal health, when compared to prescription drugs, chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery.

• Eating raw foods can boost your immune system. Chronic inflammation in the body is a sign that the immune system isn't working properly. 

• Eating raw foods  and a plant-based diet will treat the cause of inflammation, whereas taking medication does not.
• Eating a mostly plant-based diet aids mental clarity.
• Eating raw (non-GMO) foods is the natural way God provided for us to eat. 

Foods that cause inflammation are those high in toxins, artificial ingredients, unhealthy chemicals, poor fats, and undesirable sugars. When cooked foods are eaten, leucocytosis occurs. The white blood count rises (natural immune response). The  standard American diet or a junk food diet leaves our immune system working in overdrive. Trans fatty acids, caramelized carbohydrates, and coagluated amino acids from cooked and poor food choices causes the immune system to treat those substances as foreign invaders. (Heard of leaky gut syndrome or autoimmune disease?)

Tips to adding more raw foods:

Start gradually. Eat something raw with each meal. Or try replacing one meal a day with only raw foods, and work your way up to where you are only eating one cooked meal a day.  Snack on raw foods. Have fun making an awesome raw dessert for your family!

Peruse the Internet. Discover raw food delights you may like and start a recipe collection. There are hundreds of simple recipes you could start with. Green smoothies are a great way to start! Consider purchasing a raw foods recipe book (or two). 

Experiment in the kitchen. Buy a high-powered blender like a Vita-Mix. Ask for a dehydrator for Christmas. Give juicing a try (in a few years from now, I bet a juicer will be a standard kitchen appliance). Treat yourself to the tools that will make a difference for your health.


Keep a check on yourself, and record your body's response. Many arthritis and Fibromyalgia  sufferers see a remarkable improvement pretty quickly. Eating this way will take time getting used to.

Educate yourself. Find out if there is someone in your community giving a raw foods class or if there is a raw foods potluck you can attend. Many health food stores have information on these kind of meetings. I already mentioned the Internet, but it could be helpful to join an on-line raw food, juicing, or green smoothie community like Rawfood Rehab.

The photos featured are of a few simple, thumb's up, 
delicious raw food recipes I made. Click on the links for the recipes.

Raw Cashew Apple Salad

Raw Apple-Cinnamon Oatmeal 
(Soak in your blender overnight, and enjoy in the morning)

1 cup raw steel cut oats

1 apple chopped

1 1/2 cup pure water

1 Tbsp. organic raisins

Sprinkle of cinnamon

Add all of the above ingredients into your blender to sit overnight. (Add the water first.) In the morning, blend briefly, just until you get an oatmeal-like consistency. Enjoy as is, or warmed slightly.

Sources and Informational Links:

Fibromyalgia and Why does a diet of raw food decrease inflammation? 

Leaky Gut information and Raw Foods to Avoid in Autoimmunity & Inflammation

Fibromyalgia Syndrome improved using a mostly raw vegetarian diet

Raw vs Cooked (Dr. Joel Fuhrman)

Dr. Weil's Anti-Inflammatory Food Pyramid 

Nutrition and the Anti-Inflammatory Lifestyle (Dr. Jessica Black) 

Hallelujah Diet Testimonies (85% Raw Plant-based Diet)

 

Linking up with Wellness Wednesdays