In my quest for convenience foods that work with a raw, vegan lifestyle, I came up with this trail mix recipe. Alot of commercially packaged trail mixes are expensive and are high in sugars, causing me to look to homemade... I buy my ingredients from a local coop, thus reducing my cost below bulk food store costs as well. If something comes in too large a size for our family, I split it with another family.

 

Cia's Cherrylicious Trail Mix

 

1 cup each (raw without salt): cashew pieces, pumpkin seeds, dried cherries, sunflower seeds and dried coconut

1/2 cup chocolate drops (I prefer milk chocolate, but dark ones are more true to vegan...)

Mix in an airtight container and store in refrigerator.

Take along on hikes, road trips, or just to enjoy over a good book or movie.

 

I've been really concentrating on Dr. Fuhrman's advice on Health=nutrients/calories...and it's been at least in my brain and slowly, slowly in my heart. I have a sister who is stronger than I am who's been encouaraging me by her own example to just get going on this. She suggests taking your food along when invited away, making no apologies for it. "I'm not eating for anyone else's pleasure" she says. She also told me of a couple who, less than 6 weeks ago decided to give this a try, and they've lost around 15 pounds, plus got rid of numerous health issues, including the use of an inhaler numerous times a day, an item in their health plan for years. Needless to say, I was impressed! It was the fire I needed to get cracking and just do it. Anyone else out there contemplating this life change? Post me a comment. I could use a support group... :)

 

I've been making my smoothies. I make enough for a week and freeze them in paper cups. My husband and children and I each eat a smoothie first thing in the morning. I also have dusted off my juicer and am drinking more veggie juice again. Maybe, just maybe I will shed those extra pounds and have beautiful skin and abundant energy. I would love to be a living, breathing testimony for those of my friends who wish to be well but lack the knowledge or power to help themselves.

 

I thank the Lord, creator of Heaven and earth, for giving me knowledge, power, and good food to help my body create healthy, new cells every day, which in turn, cause me to be and feel healthy.  And I thank him for those who have passed along the knowledge I need.

Besides www.drfuhrman.com, another good website for info and help is www.hacres.com. I encourage you to go find out for yourselves how food is healing.

 

Also for those wishing to converse by email, post your email to me and I'll write back.

A healthy, happy summer to everyone.

According to Dr. Fuhrman, a medical doctor interested in getting people healed thru nutrition, eating alot of cruciferous vegetables is the best way to beat cancer, among other illnesses. It is hard to eat enough of these in a day's time and I've discovered a grand invention for getting more of these good foods in my diet: Smoothies. Don't turn up your nose just yet. They don't have to be green or a tastebud turnoff. Check out a few recipes below that I have come up with. Even my finicky daughter eats these with gusto. My family each has their smoothie for breakfast before eating their meal and it gives me great pleasure to be serving them a salad at every meal, even breakfast!

 

 

 

 

My mother's old faithful Celery Seed salad dressing is a faithful standby in my house. My husband and 2 of my 3 children really like this, as do I. Following is a suggested tossed salad that works great with this dressing. However, use your own inspired ideas when it comes to combining veggies for your salad.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add to your salad, a steaming bowl of baked rice (see following recipe) or a baked potato.

 

 

1 cup brown rice

2 cups hot water (if using butter for non vegan recipe) or vegetable broth

2 T butter (optional) or oil

1 tsp salt

2 T parsley flakes

1/2 tsp black pepper

 

Place all ingredients into a baking dish. Stir to coat rice with butter/oil. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Toss and enjoy!

 

For dessert, how about a lovely tray of fresh fruit. Make an eye appealing array of fruits by combining grapes, apple slices, bananas, kiwi slices and/or orange slices.

It has been said that serving food attractively makes the meal much more appreciated. Those of us trying to change our ways from junky eating to healthy eating are much more inclined to "desire" these dishes if they are appealing to the eye. So go ahead, give it a try. You'll be pleased with the results!

A question that came my way from a reader in my post on Rawlicious Foods has led me to write about sugar. I understand that white sugar, the highly processed "stripped model" sugar that most everyone in America has been used to cooking with, has some serious dangers attached to its prolonged use and overuse. It has become a widely known fact that sugar in its white form is hard on the pancreas, let alone causing obesity, yeast infections and other such maladies.

 

For many years, I struggled with health issues that led me to discover that white sugar, as well as white flour and other processed junk were ruining my health. I studied and read reliable sources and began using whole grain flours, chiefly wheat and spelt, since the wheat we use in America does cause allergies in some people while spelt is easier digested by the body.

 

I discovered, in my search for a substitute for white sugar, evaporated cane juice. I do not know if this is all that good or you, but it is better than white sugar. I use maple syrup and honey or agave (which is raw and doesn't crystalize like honey does over time), all which our bodies process much slower than pure white sugar. In answer to the question about cane juice: Evaporated cane juice can be bought at most health food stores that sell food, or as "raw" or "demerra" sugar in bulk food or grocery stores. It is grainier and browner than white sugar but it dissolves in most things ok. If you are mixing it into grape juice or other such things, you may want to just use a liquid sweetner such as maple syrup.

 

While sugar is sometimes pleasing to the taste, we do well to limit the intake of that substance in our bodies. Cutting out things like sodas and other highly sweetened drinks and baked goods are several good ways to turn unhealthy habits into good ones.

 

I have never regretted turning myself away from white sugar and flour. In fact, it has been a blessing to my health these 8 years since I quit. I do not crave sugar nearly so much and when I do, I try to go for a piece of fruit or a cup of freshly pressed juice, knowing they are so much better for my health than a can of soda or a brownie would be. (I still do allow that brownie or chocolate chip cookie fresh from the oven on occasion but I do try to make them with my own ingredients and altered recipes. That way I know that I'm getting whole grains, non hydrogenated oils-I might do another write up about them someday soon- and better sugars besides baking soda without aluminum, etc.) Don't kid yourself. Going the extra mile in your eating routines is well worth it. Plus, it helps you to take care of the precious gift of life and health given by Almighty God and you in turn are better able to fill the capacity He created just for you to fill in your lifetime.

 

 

Happy winter, everyone. Enjoy hot tea and read good books. What a good combo!