Mostly Raw

Last week, I made Rawvioli with fresh basil pesto and a white "cream" sauce (made of cashews). Last night, I mixed what was left of the pesto and cream sauce to create a "Pesto Alfredo" sauce. I poured it over brown rice pasta, and tossed in some artichoke hearts, broccoli, garlic-marinated tomatoes, asparagus tips, and roasted red peppers. It was a nice, healthy, mostly raw, 100% organic and vegan dish, that was hearty, filling, and rich. I created this "on the spot" in an attempt to utilize the foods in my refrigerator with a short shelf life. This coming week will involve a lot of "transitional" meals, as I attempt to use what fresh produce I have remaining, before having the time to go to the store and restock the staples. Menu planning is on the docket for this weekend.

I'm still trying to get into the groove of Raw Foodism. It requires less cooking, but significantly more planning (I can't just pop something in the microwave, for instance). My goal over the next couple of weeks, now that I have a grasp of what is required, is to get a workable system in order (like remembering to soak beans, seeds, and nuts over night, etc).

Also, once I complete this research project on the Ethics of What We Eat for my Environmental Ethic course, I will have the time to sit down and compile some recipes to share, as well as useful facts and info about the impacts our food choices have on the environment, our health, and the economy.

Stay tuned...!

Taste Buds, They Are a'Changin'...

I have a confession to make. I decided to take a vacation from Raw Foods this past weekend. Not all weekend, not even that much of it, but enough to notice something inspiring...

For breakfast on Sunday, I made blueberry corncakes (all organic and vegan). I had a "BLT" for lunch. I used raw L and T, but the Facon was smoked Tempeh (not too bad) and the bread was sprouted (Ezekiel) sesame bread, which is an approved transitional food. Dinner was salad. Oh, and remind me to share with you my latest dressing recipe...OMG good!

Monday I had raw oatmeal for breakfast, knowing that I'd be splurging for the rest of the day, as I went on a mini road trip with a friend, solely for the purpose of eating. :) I had a vegan (tempeh) reuben with RAW seaweed salad...and I had a (don't judge me) cheese board, and chocolate. But here's the beauty of it...

I realized, as I was eating the cheese (which I haven't had since December 31st), that it wasn't all that enjoyable. Had I overcome my cheese addiction? All my favorites were there (okay, not ALL of them, because that would be a lot of cheese) and, though they tasted good, they didn't taste GREAT and I didn't feel like I was satiating a craving. I could have taken it or left it, and will definitely have no issue passing it up in the future. TRIUMPH! What an empowering feeling, to not be enticed by cheese. I know that may sound silly, but it truly was my weakness. I also noticed, after "indulging" in the fromage, that the cheeses left an icky sour milk taste in my mouth that lingered for quite a while. Physically, I had no adverse reactions, which I sort of expected. The point is, I no longer feel like I'm depriving myself by not eating cheese, it's no big loss. It's convenient, sure, and I may at some point opt for some soy cheese on a pizza, but the days of cheese and crackers (and fruit, and veggies, and bread, and chocolate, and wine...) are behind me. I'm going to make a good vegan after all.

What about raw food?

Okay, so back on the road to raw. Today started typically, with green juice, followed by a robust salad at lunch. I've been eating the same salad, every day, since the beginning of January: Romaine, Spinach, Beets, Onions, Cucumbers, Green Peppers, Chickpeas, Raisins, Broccoli and Cauliflower. It's good. It's boring. And, now that my appetite has changed, but the food hasn't, it simply isn't filling me up. So, today, after gorging on salad (for the raw goodness: nutrients, vitamins and enzymes), I decided to add some cooked veggies as a supplement. What a mistake and disappointment that was. They were mushy and bland and lifeless. The colors were muted, the flavor was like water, and they only filled my belly with gas. Yuck.

Another victory!!! I actually prefer raw veggies to cooked. Who would have guessed it!?

So you see, it can be done. I am as human as it gets, with weaknesses, cravings and guilty pleasures, but I am inadvertently conquering them, and you can too!