Get your Greens In!

My clients and students always ask me what is one thing they can do to improve their health. Or which one food is the most important for a healthy diet. My answer is always GREENS! If there is any place to start – it is with greens. Most people do not eat enough green veggies. So no matter what your diet currently consists of – whether you are an omnivore, vegetarian, vegan, flexitarian (a little bit of this and a little bit of that), raw foodie – it doesn’t matter. Getting your greens in is the first step to optimal and long-lasting health.

Leafy green vegetables are one of nature’s richest sources of a full spectrum of nutrients. So look beyond spinach and broccoli and get familiar with things like kale, collards, swiss chard, arugula, bok choy.

Depending on what your taste buds are calling for, there are so many ways to get your green veggies in. The good news is that each green offers a very different unique taste and texture. Even if you have to sneak them into a smoothie for the fussy ones in the family, I promise you – there is always a way!

Whether you are following a vegan diet or just want to take your nutrition to the next level– greens should be an essential component to your day.

Choosing a leafy green such as kale:

1. Helps to purify your blood, supports bone health and prevents the risk of many diseases such as heart disease and cancer
2. Gives your body an extra dose of much needed calcium, magnesium, iron, antioxidants and fiber
3. Compliments anything and everything on your plate and will boost the nutrients in any meal
4. Is especially fantastic when it is just lightly steamed, sautéed or chopped up and marinated raw into a salad
5. Makes a super healthy “chip” that is kid and adult friendly. Try this delicious zesty kale chip recipe!

These benefits apply to most greens so really, you can’t go wrong and the possibilities are endless.

It is very common to get overwhelmed when it comes to greens. My suggestion is to start basic. Pick one new green a week to “play” with until you have found a way for you and your family to enjoy it. The number one complaint is that greens are too bitter. Well, yes collards and kale can be bitter – especially if they are new to your palette. Once you find a way to get them into a meal – whether they are added to a smoothie, tomato sauce, chickpea stew, chunky vegetable soup, grain dish or simply dressed with olive oil and sea salt, there is no turning back. You will be hooked because you will suddenly start to feel better, have more energy and you may even lose weight. That doesn’t sound bad does it?

Experiment with natures emerald gems, have fun and make sure you get your greens in everyday. Just remember that a meal isn’t a meal unless there is something green on your plate! Try the Green Garden Veggie Pasta Salad recipe below. We’re making this recipe and many more green veggie-packed recipes at Simple Spring Creations on May 23rd and Green Goddess on June 10th.

Green Garden Veggie Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

8-12 oz pasta (kaumt, spelt, Tinkyada brown rice or quinoa)

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup sliced red onion1-2 yellow summer squash or zucchini, quartered lengthwise and cut into 1/2 inch chunks to equal 2 cups

2 garlic cloves, crushed or minced

1-2 cups washed and chopped chard or kale

10-12 spears of asparagus chopped

1 tablespoon finely minced chives

1/4 cup finely chopped Italian parsley

1/4 cup finely chopped fresh basil

Salt and pepper to taste

How It’s Made:

1. In a large stockpot, bring 4 quarts of water to a boil with 1 tablespoon of sea salt.

2. Meanwhile, in a medium skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add onion and saute for 3 minutes. Add squash, asparagus and continue to cook for 5 more minutes. Add garlic and cook another 2 minutes. Turn off heat and set aside.

3. Cook pasta until al dente. Drain, place in a large, shallow serving bowl, and toss with remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil, sauteed vegetables, chard and fresh herbs.

4. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve immediately.

5 Ways to Lighten Up!

My favourite way to welcome spring is to lighten up my eating habits. As the weather gets warmer, as more local vegetables become available and as I spend more time outside, I crave lighter, colder, more refreshing meals. Instead of the soups, stews and grains that warmed me in the winter, opt for more green leafy vegetables, salads, smoothies, raw soups and juices. This not only results in simpler meals to prepare but I also feel lighter, more rejuvenated and more energized!

Here are 5 key ways to lighten up your meals this spring:

1. Start adding more salads to your diet. Whether for lunch or dinner, grab a big bowl and fill it up with fresh local greens. Salads help eliminate toxins, increase energy and provide a balance to your body. Learn how to naturally balance your body at Acid/Alkaline Balance on June 20th.
2. Drink your dinner. This isn’t ideal all the time. But some nights when I get home and don’t feel like making a meal or eating a heavy dinner, I just pull out my blender and make a yummy blended cold soup (see the deliciously refreshing recipe below).
3. Change the ratios on your plate. This is the easiest way to lighten up while sparing your body extra calories. For example, instead of taking an extra serving of grain, add more veggies, either steamed or fresh. Learn how to give your body a spring cleanse with Marni’s best-selling eBook Cleansing with Superfoods.
4. Use vegetables in place of grains. In the spring, it’s fun finding veggie alternatives to whole grains. For example, grind up cauliflower instead of rice or use kelp and Zucchini noodles for basic dishes or pasta recipes. Top this up with our fave Green Goddess Salad Dressing – we will be making this recipe and more Green recipes at Green Goddess on June 10th!
5. Make juice. This is the easiest way to start lightening up  in the spring. Making a tall glass of vegetable juice is an easy way to load up on nutrients instead of calories. You can learn how to make Super Alkaline Juices at Raw Essentials on June 3rd.

With the days lengthening, reach for foods like green vegetables that will hydrate and refresh you. To start, try this refreshing

Green Avocado Cucumber Soup.

What’s in it:

1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and roughly chopped

2 large ripe avocados

½ cup spinach or kale

2 green onions, roughly chopped

2 apples (crisp and tart apples like granny smith)

2-1/2 cups coconut milk or coconut water

2 Tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

Parsley for garnish

Optional additions: garlic, ginger, cayenne, dill

How it’s made:

1. In a blender, process all ingredients until smooth. Chill until ready to serve and garnish with fresh herbs.

This article was originally written for Chatelaine.

On The Go with Calcium!

When you eat a plant based diet, people never tire of demanding you’re not getting enough protein. I have literally never had anyone ask me about my calcium intake.

I have a pretty hectic schedule that is constantly changing. One day I may be taking acting classes and running to Hot Yoga class, the next I’m auditioning for commercials and then babysitting the world’s cutest toddler.  As much as I love cooking, I don’t always have time to micro-manage every single aspect of my daily diet. This means it’s so important to have a well-rounded diet that includes lots of Calcium rich foods.

One resource that I’ve found invaluable is CalciYum!, a vegetarian calcium based cookbook by David & Rachelle Bronfman. Marni gave me this book at my first consultation, and it has a ton of great recipes along with information about Calcium dense plant foods.  This has helped me to consider Calcium in addition to protein when I’m choosing different ingredients for my meals. I love beans, tempeh, and tofu which are great sources of Calcium. Incorporating leafy greens into my everyday life has made a big difference. I put kale, spinach, and collards, into my soups, salads, stir-fries, and baking.  You get countless benefits from consuming leafy greens, and there are so many to choose from and experiment with. The other high calcium food that I try to eat everyday is Almonds, I am a huge Almond lover. I like to have a little container of almonds with me or a Lara bar on hand as an emergency snack.

A great part of living in Toronto is the plethora of Vegetarian stores and restaurants at our fingertips. Last fall I was doing a class at Second City, and I would often have to rush to another audition, appointment or class, right after. Thankfully I could stop at Fresh on Spadina for a quick nutritious pick-me-up. Smoothies are an awesome way to get some extra Calcium into your diet! The Date Almond Smoothie and Tropic Thunder at Fresh are two of the most delicious beverages I’ve ever had. They both have Almond Butter, and the Date-Almond Smoothie can also have Almond milk in it, and you can add Kale to any juice or smoothie!

I also participated in my first cooking class with Marni this month called Grain Goodness. She showed us just how versatile vegetables and grains can really be. All of the dishes we made were so delicious, and I will definitely be recreating them all at home.What about you? Do you give much thought to the Calcium in your diet?

I’d love to hear any tips or thoughts. Reply in the comments section below or tweet @KristyLapointe or @NourishedFully

The Myths of Calcium, Dairy & Bone Strength Triage

March is calcium month and there is no better time to clarify the myths of calcium and bone strength! Despite what dairy companies lead you to believe, building strong bones is a lot more complicated than consuming calcium. There are three misconceptions when it comes to dairy, calcium and bones.

1. Building strong, healthy bones depends only on calcium

2. Your calcium intake is the only thing that matters

3. Dairy is the only good source of calcium

Let’s clarify these myths one at a time:

Clarification #1 – Calcium + Vitamins Build Strong Bones

Bone development is influenced by a number of factors, including nutrition, exposure to sunlight, hormones, and physical exercise. There’s no denying that calcium is important for bone health but bones need more than just calcium to grow and stay strong. Other important sources include Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Vitamin K.

Enjoy these foods that are bursting with calcium!

1. Green Leafy Veggies – kale, chard, beet tops, collards, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, dandelion, mustard greens and bok choy.
2. Root Veggies – parsnip, rutabaga, sweet potatoes, squash, okra.
3. Nuts and Seeds – almonds, pine nuts, hemp seeds, sesame seeds.
4. Beans, Legumes and Whole grains – kidney beans, black beans, quinoa and amaranth.
5. Fermented and Organic Soy – Tofu, tempeh, miso and edamame.
6. Sea vegetables include arame, nori, dulse, wakame and kombu. They can be found at your local health food store or in the condiment section of your grocery store. Another great place to look is at authentic Asian markets.
7. Other: carob, tahini, almond butter, cocoa, goji berries, figs and molasses.

Clarification #2 – Importance of Calcium Absorption & Retention

As we just discussed, calcium-rich foods is one source that helps build strong bones. But what you may not realize is that calcium is for more than just your bones – almost every function in our body requires calcium. Many degenerative diseases such as osteoporosis among others are a result of poor quality supplementation and an imbalanced diet.  Reaping the benefits of calcium is also about how much we’re able to absorb, and retain. Factors including our dietary habits, lifestyle, and aging process all contribute to calcium absorption and retention.

• Stress impacts normal digestion and can have a negative effect on calcium absorption.
• Age also impacts calcium absorption – on average, adults absorb approximately 20% less calcium than children.
• Protein increases calcium absorption and stimulates the production of hormones that promotes new bone formation.

Clarification #3 – Avoid Dairy as a Source of Calcium

People have grown to accept that you can only get your daily intake of calcium from conventional dairy and a calcium supplement. What you need to also focus on is whole food sources that are naturally loaded with calcium. These foods don’t contain dairy, but will provide your body with the calcium it requires to function in an easy-to-assimilate way along with a whole bunch of other minerals and nutrients that are vital to good health!

So skip the dairy, eat your greens, get some sunshine and exercise regularly and enjoy all of the health benefits of a whole, natural diet! For calcium-rich, plant-based recipe inspiration join us on March 18^th for Veggin’ Comfortably where you will learn some delicious calcium-rich recipes and you will receive a free copy of Marni’s best-selling eBook Veggin’ Comfortably.

Try this calcium-rich treat — Carob Fig Frozen Fudge

What’s In It?

1 cup figs, soaked

1 1/2 cups filtered water

1 tablespoon pure vanilla

1/2-1 cup nut butter (almond or sunflower)

1/2-1 cup raw carob powder

1/2 cup Manitoba Harvest hemp seeds

How it’s Made:

1. Place the figs in a bowl and cover with water and soak for about an hour, until soft. Drain reserving liquid.

2. In a blender, blend the figs, and vanilla until smooth, slowly adding soaking water as needed to form a creamy consistency.

3. Transfer the fig mixture into a large bowl, add the nut butter, and stir to combine.

4. In a separate bowl, mix the carob and hemp seeds.

5. Gradually add the dry carob mixture into the wet fig mixture. Stir well. Press evenly into a 10 by 18 inch brownie pan, 1 inch thick and freeze until firm (about 3 hours).

6. To serve, cut into 1 inch squares.

Happy calcium-eating!

New Year, New Snacks

By participating in Marni’s Fully Nourished Lifestyle Program, Kristy is committing to putting her health first. This year she has decided to not eat something simply because it’s available or cheap or chocolate-flavored. With Marni’s help and support she would like to become more mindful of what she’s eating and how it affects her body. Kristy has had her initial consultation with Marni and has started implementing some healthier habits, specifically incorporating healthier snacks in her diet.  Below she shares her favourite easy to make snacks for at home and on the go.

Snacks are the greatest, little bursts of delicious energy throughout the day. Unfortunately snacks are a really easy way to slide out of your healthy eating ways, a few cookies here, a bag of chips there. Now as a huge fan of snacking, my latest goal has been to upgrade the quality of my snacks. As an actress/writer/jack of many trades, my schedule is constantly changing. It’s hard to know what food options will be available to me in between auditions,work,meetings, etc, so Marni suggested I make a habit of always toting “just-in-case” snacks with me.

In addition to this, my husband Chris and I made a goal to not eat out at all for the month of January, so this has meant a lot more planning and prepping than we’re used to. We’ve been prepping a ton of veggies, beans and grains on the weekend to use in wraps,salads and stir frys throughout the week. It’s so awesome to open the fridge and have a variety of prepped healthy options at your disposal. This has made meals so simple, and I’ve had a little more time to experiment with some healthier snack alternatives. Here are some of the snack foods I’m obsessing over this month.

1.       Kale Chips          

Chris and I are big Kale lovers, so last week I pulled out our dehydrator to test out a no-bake Kale Chip recipe. These were one of the greatest snacks I’ve ever had, and such an awesome alternative to potato chips. It only takes a few minutes to prep, then throw in the dehydrator overnight. We’ve baked Kale chips before, but I much prefer dehydrating them. As Chris stated upon tasting them “These are amazing! Make them every day”! This will definitely stay in the regular snack rotation and I’m looking forward to experimenting with new flavors and seasonings.

2.       Carrots & Dip

Hummus,Salsa,Black Bean Dip. The combinations are endless. Something about the miniature size of these little orange morsels make them seem so appropriate as an in-between-meal go to. They’re easy to transport, healthy and refreshing. It’s fun to mix in sliced cucumber, celery, and other veggies but the carrots are definitely easiest with basically no prep time required.

3.        Trail Mix & Lara Bars

This has been a standard of mine for a long time, but I’m trying to make more of an effort to always have some kind of nuts on me for a quick energy boost. The Coconut Lara bar feels like such a decant treat and only has a few, natural ingredients!

4.       Homemade Popcorn

Coconut Oil. Popcorn Kernels. Sea Salt. Three simple ingredients, five minutes and you have a delicious treat without any of the nasty chemicals from Microwave or Movie Theatre popcorn for a fraction of the price. Chris and I make this every time we have a movie night or feel like a little treat. This is replacing me grabbing a bagel or other white-flour comfort food I’m constantly drawn to, it has that same filling effect.

I look forward to sharing this journey, and I’d love to hear from you! What are your favorite snacks? Have you found healthy alternatives to some old favorites?

Nature’s Sports Drink & Hangover Remedy

Can we say enough good things about coconut water? If you’re a follower of this blog, then you’ve read our internet version of ‘singing praises’ to the stuff. As you saw in the title, this drink has multiple uses. Sometimes we can get a little carried away on these warm summer nights, back yard parties, and veggie-q’s (yes, that’s how we refer to barbeque parties here in the office!) and we end up feeling like coconuts are knocking us on the head. You may have guessed that I’m talking about hangovers – the lovely dehydrated state of regret that we sometimes find ourselves in. Instead of reaching for the ibuprofen, why not grab a glass of nourishing, electrolyte rich coconut water that hydrates your body? Coconut water is fat free, naturally sweet, and loaded with essential minerals (or electrolytes) such as potassium and sodium that help re-balance our electrolyte levels and make for a fully charged you! Coconut water is especially good for dehydration. Since alcohol robs our body of water, replenishing with coconut water is the perfect solution.

As mentioned before, coconut water also makes an excellent sports drink for the same reasons listed above. When we exercise we end up using our electrolytes and water, and drinking coconut water is a perfect way to replenish yourself to optimal functioning.

Coconut water has many other beneficial properties outside of being a hangover remedy. In fact, drinking coconut water regularly encourages bowel movements, boosts immune function, helps to prevent bacterial and viral infections, and helps our thermoregulation during the warmer months as it keeps the body cool.

Living in Canada, which is clearly not tropical, it can be hard to access fresh coconuts year round, so we recommend trying Coco water, which can be purchased at Shopper’s Drug Mart starting on July 26th. Coco the natural drink has no additives and is the closest thing you can get to drinking straight from a coconut. Also, try drinking through a glass straw if you’re going to sip from a coconut directly to avoid any toxins that come from cheap plastic.

So go ahead, indulge in some coconut water – it’s ever so good for you!

Coconut Refresher

• 2 cups coconut water (Coco the drink)
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp ginger juice (from freshly grated ginger)
• 1 tsp coconut nectar

Stir together in a tall glass and sip with a glass straw!

 

The Backyard Party Essentials

Procedure:

1. Bring 3 cups water to boil. Add rinsed quinoa and cook on medium for 15 min.

2. Drain, rinse with cold water. Spread out on a plate to dry the grains. Then place into a bowl and combine with chickpeas, onions, tomatoes, cucumber, spinach, parsley and mint.

3. Mix dressing and toss into the quinoa mixture, and gently stir from the bottom up.

Who Doesn’t Love Frozen Desserts?

It’s the time of year again where I’m noticing shorts, sunglasses, and the smell of sunscreen in the air- it must be summer!

It’s probably safe to say that summer is the favorite time of year for most of us. It means swimming, sun tanning, not having to bundle up in layers of clothing to go outside, and most importantly – cold treats! This week on the blog we’re going to look at summer treat options: vegan style!

The sound of your neighborhood’s ice cream truck likely floods you with childhood memories of sticky, sweet, cold goodies. Most of those treats however, are loaded with highly processed sugars, syrups, dairy products, and even fillers containing gluten which aren’t really that great for you. The good news is that there are plenty of alternatives that actually provide your body with some nutrients.

To start with, let’s look at some dairy alternatives so that you can still enjoy cold creamy treats without the nasty side effects of consuming cow’s milk*.

Ice cream can be made with any milk alternative, but we highly recommend coconut or other nut milks given their creamy consistency. Using a dairy alternative as a base, you can add any flavor you like and completely customize your ice cream. Try chocolate chips, nut butters, fruits, cocoa powder, or even just honey. Check out the bottom of the page for a delicious ice cream recipe!

It’s a common misconception that you need an ice cream maker to make your own ice cream. Whereas having an ice cream maker might make the process a little easier, it’s not too difficult to do without one – it just takes a bit more dedication! Once you have mixed your ingredients together, put them in a freezer safe bowl and place your mixture in the freezer. Every hour the mixture needs to be stirred so that it freezes into a fluffier, more ice cream like consistency. An ice cream maker simply does the mixing for you. You can also pour your ice cream mixture into popsicle molds for delicious healthy popsicles!

You can also try making a sorbet, which is super simple and tasty, consisting of only three ingredients: fruit, sweetener (honey, agave, rice syrup), and lime juice. This can also be frozen into popsicle form. Again, compile your ingredients, blend, and freeze! It’s that easy.

I fully sympathize with not having the time to make frozen goodies yourself, so if you’re at the store and looking for something cold and nutritious, what should you choose?

We highly recommend Luna and Larry’s Coconut Bliss coconut ice cream. It’s free of major food allergens (although this varies slightly with different flavors) including dairy, soy, and sugar, yet it’s creamy and tastes amazing. Coconut Bliss can be purchased at most health food grocery stores. Luna and Larry’s also makes ice cream bars if you’re looking for something to enjoy on the run.

So there you have it- 3 alternatives to unhealthy summer treats that do not involve processed sugar or dairy ingredients!

As promised above, check out this delicious recipe below for coconut mango ice cream!

*What’s wrong with consuming cow’s milk? A few things come to mind: it has high artificial hormone and antibiotic levels, it can suppress your immune system, and it makes the body acidic. This is a big topic and will be explored in detail in another blog post soon, we promise!

Tell us your favorite summer treat and you’ll be entered to will a coupon for a free tub of Luna and Larry’s Coconut Bliss ice cream!

Coconut Mango “Ice Cream”

What’s In It?

• 3 cans of organic coconut milk
• 3⁄4 cup maple syrup
• 1⁄4 cup rice syrup
• 2 tablespoons grated ginger
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 4 cups of chopped mango

How It’s Made

1. Combine coconut milk, maple syrup, rice syrup, ginger, mangoes, vanilla extract and salt in blender. Process mixture until well blended. Pour into large mixing bowl.

2. Pour mixture into ice cream machine or food processor and turn on, occasionally scraping sides of bowl, until creamy and somewhat firm.

This non-dairy ice cream is a treat suitable for any and all types. With no sugar, preservatives, or colours, it allows the natural exotic flavours of mango and coconut milk to come out.

Bursting for Blueberries

Nearly at their seasonal prime, blueberries will be bursting their blue richness on Canadian soil over the coming weeks. If there were one berry to be consuming on a regular basis, it would be the blueberry. Blueberries are ranked among the top superfood fruits and vegetables for their antioxidant activity. Not only that but they are loaded with vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients that make them even more delightful to consume.

If you don’t already have enough reasons why you should be consuming these blue gems…here’s a few more.

5 Benefits of eating blueberries

1. Blueberries are a source of the antioxidant ellagic acid which blocks metabolic pathways that can lead to cancer
2. Blueberry skins contain resveratrol – which has proven to have anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and blood sugar lowering properties
3.  Blueberries are an excellent source of vitamin C, E and fiber.
4. They are only 81 calories per cup!
5. They’re a cool and refreshing fruit perfect for hot summer days!

5 Uses for Blueberries

1. Combine them in a fruit salad with other berries
2. Blend them into a smoothie for liquid nutrition
3. Bake them into muffins or pancakes
4. Eat them fresh right out of the container
5. Make a blueberry pie!

Wild Blueberry Tart

Pie crust:

• 1 cup almonds, roasted and cooled
• 3/4-1 cup oat flour
• 2 tbsp maple crystals or organic sugar
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• Pinch of sea salt
• 3 tbsp melted coconut oil
• 1/4 cup maple syrup

Filling:

• 2 tbsp agar flakes (natural form of gelatin)
• 1 3/4 cup apple juice
• 2 tbsp tapioca (or cornstarch) dissolved in 1/4 cup apple juice
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• Sea salt
• 2 cups fresh wild blueberries, washed and drained

Directions

Preheat oven to 350F. Oil a 9” tart pan.

For the Crust:

1. In food processor, grind nuts to a meal. In mixing bowl, combine nuts, flour, maple crystals, baking powder and salt.
2. In separate small bowl, whisk together oil and maple syrup.
3. Mix wet ingredients (oil and syrup) into dry ingredients (nut meal and flours).
4. Press crust mixture into tart pan. Refrigerate 15-20 minutes, then bake 20-25 minutes. Let cool completely.

For the filling

1. In a small pot, simmer agar flakes in apple juice until agar completely dissolves. When agar dissolves, add tapioca/juice mixture. Whisk until mixture thickens. Add maple syrup.
2. Add pinch of salt and berries. Cook 6-8 minutes. Remove from heat and let mixture cool partially. Pour into cooled crust pan.
3. Let set completely. Garnish with mint before serving. There may be a small amount of filling left, you can enjoy as a pudding by blending in food processor.

The Raw Truth

It seems of lately that more and more we’ve been hearing about raw foods. Which leads me to say that adding more of them into your diet is absolutely a great way to boost your health. Incorporating raw foods into your everyday eating means focusing on fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and sprouts. With these foods as the foundation of your diet, you will have more energy, lose weight and feel fantastic, as they’re loaded with enzymes, vitamins, and nutrients.

But it’s not about becoming 100% raw and following strict guidelines – it’s just about eating better and getting some pure, clean, and fresh foods into your body. Even if half of your meals each day consist of raw food, you’re on the right track. Your entire meal doesn’t have to be raw; simply enjoy a cooked meal along with a salad or a fresh juice.

My advice: don’t get too caught up with the details. Just start simply by adding more “raw” foods into your meals.

Here are a few ways to get started + a delicious recipe!

1. Have at least a serving or more of fresh fruit everyday. This can include an apple, pear, orange, berries or a fresh fruit smoothie
2. Have multiple servings of fresh vegetables everyday – cut up carrots, celery, peppers, a large dark leafy green salad or a fresh pressed green juice.
3. Enjoy a handful (or two) of raw organic nuts and seeds. Put them into a trail mix with raisins, goji berries, apricots – and you can even add some pure raw dark chocolate (cacao) into the mix
4. Grab a bag of fresh sunflower or pea sprouts from your local health food store or farmers market. These make a great addition to salads, sandwiches, soups, stir fry’s and smoothies
5. Get creative and try to prepare a few new raw recipes each week including smoothies, raw nori rolls, cookies and nut based spreads

If you’re thinking about reaping the benefits of incorporating more raw foods into your lifestyle and need a little professional help along the way, join me for a Raw Made Easy cooking class on May 16th. I will be showing you easy and impressive ways to prepare delicious, raw foods.

Almond Basil Pesto
A delicious spread to enjoy with raw bread, flatbread, and crackers or served with crunchy raw veggies, kelp noodles or shredded zucchini!

Ingredients:

2 tbsp torn fresh basil
1 tbsp chopped parsley
1 cup whole almonds, soaked overnight or for 8 hours
½ cup pine nuts
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 garlic clove
¼ cup olive oil (or more) for a creamier consistency

Procedure:

1. Place all ingredients in food processor and blend until smooth
2. Place in a small bowl and refrigerate
3. Serve with cucumber slices, zucchini noodles, carrots, whole grain or raw crackers or brown rice pasta/kelp noodles or steamed vegetables

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