Plant Based Nutrition & Living Raw Food Recipes

100 Healthy Raw Food Snacks does exactly what it says on the tin – gives you recipes for 100 raw food snacks and treats. These recipes will be unlike anything you have ever tried before – they will satisfy your sweet tooth at the same time as helping you to lose weight and improve your overall health. The recipes were devised by national bodybuilding champion and fitness professional, Carolyn Hansen, whose own weight loss efforts were constantly hindered with cravings for McDonalds food and sugary snacks! After making the switch to raw food treats, she was able to indulge her cravings for snacks and lose those unwanted pounds easily.

What The Program Involves
The 100 Healthy Raw Food Snacks is not a diet plan per se, but it will completely revolutionise the way you eat, by re-programming your body to crave healthy foods, instead of refined sugar and fatty junk food. If you are simply looking to improve your current diet, or are wondering what all the fuss is about raw food, then this plan is a great introduction.
It is also the perfect addition to any weight loss plan you are currently on, and if you are already following another raw food diet but are running out of inspiring recipes, then this eBook could be just what you’re looking for.
Some of the all-natural, delicious, raw treats that you can look forward to include almond cookies, white chocolate gogi fudge, and coconut fudge bars!

Pros Of The Program
• Easy to make, delicious recipes that will instantly improve your current diet
• Can be used in conjunction with a current weight loss or raw food plan
• The recipes will satisfy your immediate desire for sugary, fatty junk food while reprogramming your body to crave healthy snacks
• No special equipment required

Cons Of The Program
100 Healthy Raw Food Snacks is not a complete program in itself, so you will need to use it in conjunction with another diet plan for maximum results. However, even if you make no others changes to your diet other than swap your normal unhealthy snacks for the recipes here, you will see significant health and weight loss results.

Whats Included With ’100 Healthy Raw Food Snacks’?
The 100 Healthy Raw Food Snacks is delivered as a PDF eBook, and contains Carolyn’s top 100 best raw food snacks and treats recipes, put together through years of research.

Is ’100 Healthy Raw Food Snacks’ For Me?
This raw snacks and treats program will be terrific for you if any of the following apply:
• You really want to lose weight and improve your health through small, simple tweaks to your current lifestyle
• You are considering switching to a raw food diet, and want to try out the foods first before you commit to a full time raw food diet plan
• Your current snacking habits are sabotaging your weight loss efforts, and you need a healthy alternative

You can revolutionize your health by skipping your morning cup of coffee and starting your day instead with fresh, live juice. That is why I am always experimenting in the kitchen with my juicer and my Vita-Mix to create delicious ways to drink health through a straw.  You can see some of the juice creations I’ve made on the beverage section of the Recipe Page.

What I want to share with you today is a book that I am totally in love with. The book is called RAW FOOD JUICE BAR and it is written by a man named Philip McCluskey.  The recipes are not mine to share, so I hesitate to give away any hints of his delicious elixirs.  But I am certain he wouldn’t mind if I told you about him.  After all, it was what I learned about him that inspired me to try his book, which I assure you is well worth the $15.97 he charges.

One of the best ways to boost your immune system and to promote over all health and nourishment for your body is by consuming raw foods.  My favorite way to consume fresh vegetables is by drinking them, it will be absorbed instantly.  You can prepare fresh squeezed Raw Food Juices for your daily boost of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and antioxidants.

I came across to this great e-book called “Raw Food Juice Bar” Simple Recipes, written by Philip McCluskey and Natalia KW.  It is a great resource full of valuable information regarding making Raw Food Juice.

-40+ Fresh Recipes
-Juice Nutrient Profiles
-Descriptions and Directions
-Super Food Blends
-Plant Based Diet

It is a great information for you to use; whether you like to detox, lose weight or just give your body a boost of instant nutrition to promote healthy life style.  I am very particular when it comes to choosing the right sources for food and nutrition.  I’m happy to share Raw Food Juice Bar with you.

The Lazy Raw Foodist’s Guide is written by Laura Bruno, an author, life coach, medical intuitive and Reiki master teacher.

This book includes information and support for those who wish to follow a raw diet but don’t want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Bruno also addresses the nutritional and psychological aspects related to eating a raw food diet that often create stumbling blocks for those who attempt to follow this way of eating as a long-term lifestyle approach.

Lazy Raw Foodist Basics

Bruno initially asks you to define why you want to eat a raw food diet because this will make it easier to discover what is going to work best for you.

She then outlines a variety of approaches to eating raw foods including low fat diets, 100% raw, superfoods, cleansing and detoxification, fruitarianism, natural hygiene, raw gourmet and raw animal products. You are encouraged to explore and experiment to find the way of eating that best suits your goals and your lifestyle.

A variety of nutritional topics are discussed including food combining, the importance of leafy green vegetables, how to avoid vitamin and mineral deficiencies, avoiding food poisoning and practical advice about fasting and cleansing. Additionally Bruno addresses dental issues, raw food kitchen equipment, eating disorders and living with a partner that doesn’t eat a raw food diet.

An emphasis is placed on the emotional sensitivity and heightened awareness that is commonly reported by those who increase their intake of raw foods. Bruno offers advice on how to cope with these adjustments including creating a social support structure and focusing on the positive changes you wish to create in your life.

The Lazy Raw Foodist’s Guide includes 45 “Super Lazy Recipes”, contributed by a variety of top raw chefs, which don’t require you to spend too much time in the kitchen. There is also a “Super Lazy Bonus Section” with resources for raw food restaurants, home delivery and mail order services.

The updated and expanded “The Raw Secrets,” is a fantastic book. I love that he included a chapter on the Vital Law of Accommodation. He’s also included a new bonus book “Optimal Breathing,” by breathing expert and raw foodist Mike White. I can’t wait to read that book as well.

Fred has added lots of new, and important information, to the updated version of his book.

What I’ve read so far is information that will show you the right and natural way to eat a raw food diet. Fred shows you many of the pitfalls new and experienced raw foodists run into, on their path to radiant health.

The chapter on detoxification was a little on the light side. I would have liked a little more information on that subject. But what he wrote about it was quite good. So far this book has been excellent and the best guide by a current writer on how to do an Optimal Raw Food Diet.

I’m going to mine some of the golden nuggets in the book. Stuff about what happens when you eat too much fat. What our closest primate relatives eat. What percentage of the Great Apes diet is meat, etc?

So What are These Raw Secrets?

I’m going to let you in on some of the secrets behind Frederic Patenaude ‘s book “Raw Secrets.” I will give you some of the concepts he covers and add my own commentary.

Keep in mind that the conclusions I draw may not be exactly the same as Fred’s. While I am drawing from his book, I’m also including my own information and experiences. So what I write below isn’t necessarily purely from Fred’s book unless it is something quoted directly from the book. I just want to let you know that up front.

Introduction: In the Raw

In this chapter Fred shares his experiences with the raw food diet. He tells about his ups and downs. It’s a very interesting story that he has to tell. He had many problems eating raw and he shows you in the book, how he eventually solved them.

Below is a quote from his introduction that gives you an idea of the purpose of the book. From pg 11.

“Radical ideas have much more power than common advice. But in their power lies danger. Like an explosive charge, radical ideas must be handled carefully.

The raw vegan diet is such an idea. It can save your life. It can help banish “incurable” conditions. It can help you feel great all the time. It can give back your joy of living. It can give an entirely different direction to your life or turn it upside down. But it s p ractical application may be difficult. Pitfalls line the path of raw eating. Many people have fallen into them – and they will continue falling into them until they know what these pitfalls are and how to spot them.

Some people are damaging their health by eating the raw diet incorrectly. Mostly, this is because they received poor or confusing advice. This book is my antidote to the false information that is being spread in the raw food movement, hurting people as it goes. This is the book I wish someone had handed to me six years ago when I started on thi s p ath. (My emphasis) I intend it not as an introductory book on the subject, but rather as a book for those who have some knowledge of and interest in the raw diet.”

Why Should we Base our Diet Upon what Animals Eat?

I recently had someone say to me, “Why should we base our diet upon what animals eat? This person was thinking that we as humans are superior to animals and so he believed there wasn’t a good reason for comparing us to animals.

Actually, we should base our diet upon what our natural diet should really be. One of the easiest ways to determine that is to compare ourselves to our closest biological relatives the bonobo’s and then the chimpanzees.

The problem with many people is that they attribute all the childhood sicknesses and diseases that people get as they age, as being the normal way of living. Therefore, why should we compare ourselves to animals if what we are doing is just fine?

It’s a sad statement but, being sick is normal for most people. They have no conception of the happy, energized and disease free life they can be living.

Taking antidepressants and being obese is not healthy. But some people think that is normal and even argue that they are healthy by eating this way. They think they are completely normal and healthy with conditions such as these.

I’ve also come to realize that people’s brains on a cooked diet often do not function at their peak level of effectiveness. They are often irrational, I know I certainly was. Cooked food got me into a depression for six and a half years. So this can explain the so-called logic of some cooked eaters.

What most people don’t realize is that human diets vary tremendously and the health results vary tremendously as well. We have the capability of eating many kinds of foods without dropping dead immediately, because of this many people think they are omnivores.

However we also know that cows eat grass but in this day and age they are fed dead cow meat as well. Does that now make them omnivores? I think not.

Humans have actually been classified as frugivorous or a primarily (not exclusively) fruit eating species. Humans are also classified as primates. Wouldn’t it make sense that we would eat a diet similar to other primates?

The closest primate to us is the bonobo which has 99% the same DNA as humans. They eat primarily fruit and eat less than 1% of their diet from animal products and they eat very little in the way of nuts and seeds.

Wild animals don’t get the diseases of man. Sure they can get sick but if they eat their wild diet, their health and strength is superior to humans. It isn’t normal to get a cold three or four times a year. It isn’t normal to get arthritis. It isn’t normal to have asthma or allergies. All of these health conditions and many more, are directly related to a poor diet.

But the average person doesn’t realize that. So when I say that we should compare our diet to that of primates that are closest to us in design, it doesn’t make sense to their egotistical minds. Most people have next to no knowledge of nutrition and even less about raw food nutrition.

They are living in a delusion as to why their health is deteriorating. They think they are getting old. But we should be active, happy and living life to it’s fullest till our last days. Ageing is really the accelerated disease process, it doesn’t have to be this way.

Face it, you need as much raw support as you can get. Every blog, recipe book, friend (online or offline), natural foods store…these are all amazing resources to not only keep you going, but to keep you going further.

There is a new raw food chef on the scene. Her name is Kristen Suzanne and she was recently featured on We Like it Raw.

We will let Kristen talk about herself using her bio on her website:

Kristen Suzanne is a former competitive bodybuilder and Associate Chef and Instructor in Raw Gourmet Foods, certified by the world-famous Living Light Culinary Arts Institute in Fort Bragg, California.

Kristen is based in Scottsdale, Arizona, but don’t let that stop you. For people that don’t live in Scottsdale, she has developed a series of “Easy Raw” recipe ebooks. And being big fans of “easy and raw” here, we couldn’t pass up an opportunity to promote another raw-and-easy-kindred spirit.

Kristen gave us a copy of her “Easy Raw Sides & Snacks” ebook for review.

In each of her ebooks, she gives a great introduction on raw foods for those who are new to this way of eating, or who need that occasional refresher. Also included are many of her favorite tips for new (and perhaps even us seasoned) raw foodists, from dehydrating to kitchen equipment tips.

Although many of the recipes in her ebook are simple and easy, some of them do include quite a few ingredients that may overwhelm the beginning uncook. Some familiarity with uncooking may be necessary to get started with some of these recipes.

Personally, we are both very fond of recipes that are of the “I’ve-gotta-get-out-of-the-house, what-the-hell-am-I-going-to-eat?” variety. Less is always better, in our opinion.

Overall, these books are an excellent addition to anyones raw book and ebook repertoire. We should all be expanding our raw food horizons whenever possible, as a growing movement and as individuals, it is up to us to show the world how insanely nutritious and delicious raw food can be.

Bonus!

Kristen was kind enough to give us permission to post one full recipe from her ebook. We chose her Tuscan Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto. We absolutely love pesto recipes and found this recipe especially tasty. Great for keeping in the fridge for a week to snack on when you need something quick to grab.

Tuscan Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto

Yields 4 servings

1 cup sun-dried tomatoes, soaked 2 hours in enough water just to cover, reserve soak water
1/2 cup fresh basil, packed
1/4 cup pine nuts
1 teaspoon garlic, pressed
1 teaspoon Himalayan crystal salt
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

In a food processor, fitted with the “S” blade, combine all of the ingredients except the olive oil, adding a little of the sun-dried tomato “soak” water, if necessary. While the mixture is pureeing, add the olive oil.