RAW Week: Day Four Recap

Day Four of 2013's RAW Week saw me counting down the hours until I could go home and make some mac 'n cheeze. Seriously, I don't know how that craving developed, but it was pretty much all-consuming. Even as I ate my awesome cherries for breakfast and leftover Raw Asian Rice Bowl (minus the "rice") for lunch, all I could think about was mac 'n cheeze.

And, I have to be honest, it was AMAZING when I finally got to eat it for dinner. I loved it, but I didn't miss the bloat or sleepiness that I got after eating it. With raw foods, I never had that. This stretch of 4 days made me really feel great, even when I would fall asleep later than usual. I'm going to attribute that to raw food and say it was a success.

And you can bet your buttons that I'm making more banana chia seed pudding for breakfasts next week. That stuff is so delicious!! :D

Jes

RAW Week: Day Three Recap

So, I've decided to "call it a week" after most of Day Four (today). All I can think about is making a huge bowl of vegan mac 'n cheeze tonight, and I somehow have all the necessary ingredients at home. I wanna be swimming in cheeze sauce!

Day Three consisted of eating raw until about 8pm when I ate some candy. So I guess you could go with the Mark Bittman "Vegan Before 6" idea and call it "RAW Before 6." Ha!

Breakfast consisted of the last of my banana chia pudding (*sadface*), then I had strawberries, a banana, and tea in the afternoon. Lunch was this beautiful salad using some ingredients from the Raw Asian Rice Bowl that I planned for dinner.

{yummy salad with far mar greens, marinated portabellos/cukes/zucchini, and avocado}

Dinner was AMAZING. And since I had most of the components already marinated, it came together nicely.  I used THIS RECIPE but made it into a rice bowl instead of lettuce wraps. Also, I added some more spices to the jicama "rice" once prepared and then put a plate of the rice, zucchini, and portabellos into my dehydrator for like 20 minutes to warm up. Topped it with shredded carrots, sesame seeds, cilantro, and green onions. Not shown is the sriracha I slathered on...while not raw, it's delicious and mega-addictive.

{the jicama rice was neat and actually looked like cooked rice}

I'm on my last day right now, post-lunch, and craving the crap out of some mac 'n cheeze.


Jes

RAW Week: Day Two Recap

Day Two of RAW Week was a trial. I felt great but had a work dinner to attend during which I tried to eat raw. See? I would have already felt like a failure if I had set myself up for the "100% or nothing" model.

Oh, and then there are some cravings:

{some M-Fing cookies, dude}

{pasta}

{and more pasta}

{did i mention cookies...?}

I ate most of the same food as Day One: banana chia seed pudding, strawberries, salad for lunch, honeydew melon, chai tea, and a banana. My manager took several of us out to eat for dinner to visit with an associate in town this week, and I was able to find something I could easily veganize at the restaurant (here's a secret I've found--I ordered a chicken salad and asked them to just put the chicken on a side plate. This makes it so you don't get weird questions/looks from the server. I hate ordering anything with meat, but if there's a beautiful and edible salad it comes with, I'll do it). Besides the salad, I had a margarita and some guac with chips. They called it their "Perfect Margarita," and they certainly weren't lying. It was the shiz.

And then when I got home, I noshed on some cuke slices and a veggie hot dog (what? don't judge!).

Jes

RAW Week 2013: Day One Recap

Sometimes you just need a little life refresher. It's just a stretch of time where you take care of yourself (and not just physically but also mentally). I've been due for one of those refreshers for a LONG time, believe you me. I felt it was time for a RAW week. I don't plan on being absolutely 100% RAW during the week because I know that's just setting myself up for failure. I don't really know how long this "week" will last, either. I just wanted something different from the junk I've been consuming lately.

So I perused some of my cookbooks and a couple of websites and figured out my week. A stop by the farmer's market and the supermarket, and I was ready to go!

{Far Mar haul! strawberries, 2 portabellos, cabbage, basil, kale, and greens}

Day One (Monday, June 17th) was all about making as many meals and components for the week ahead of time as possible. I got breakfast knocked out through Wednesday with a freaking delicious banana chia seed pudding from Matthew Kenney's Everyday Raw Express. You guys...yoooouuuu guys...this is the tastiest chia pudding I've ever made. Srsly, get his book and try it out. The batch I made (which was short half of the chia seeds called for) will last me three breakfasts, and it's really filling and soooo delicious. I topped mine with cacao nibs. I ate some delicious and tiny far mar strawberries for my mid-morning snack.

{banana chia pudding from Matthew Kenney's Everyday Raw Express} 

For lunch, I had a kale salad that I whipped up with some far mar kale from the weekend. I tossed it with some lemon and oil and topped it with some cucumber and tomatoes and ate it along with some awesome honeydew melon that I cut up the night before. Mid-afternoon snack was some chai tea and a banana. I'm pretty OK with having tea here and there this week. Like I said, not 100% :)

{so proud of my pretty plate of "pasta"}

Dinner, though, was my favorite. I've made zucchini pasta before. I don't have a spiralizer (not sure why since they're only about $30-40, but hey!). My mandoline and knife worked just fine for the task. I threw together a marinara using 4 soaked sun-dried tomatoes, half a pint of cherry tomatoes, 1/2 tsp oil, handful basil, dried oregano/garlic powder/onion powder/black pepper/sea salt, and a little agave.  I topped the zucchini with the marinara and threw the whole thing into my dehydrator for a few minutes to warm up. Topped it with nooch, and proceeded to nom.

{zucchini "pasta" and homemade raw marinara, topped with nooch}

Ok, I might have lied about the "pasta" being my favorite food of the day now that I remember this banana soft serve I whipped up with some frozen bananas, frozen dark cherries, and cacao nibs. Absolutely dreamy!

{freaking delicious cherry-'nana-chocolate soft serve}

For the overall of how I am feeling...I feel better! I have a tad bit more energy. Just tired of daily carb-a-polooza, y'know? We'll see how this week progresses.

Jes

RAW Week: Day Eight...Er...I've had a RAW Failure.

Or, if you will, a fRAWlure. Nah, that doesn't so much work.

I ended up eating cooked food again for lunch and dinner on Friday. Just had to listen to my body on that one. And it felt good. So, I guess you could really call it the RAW Work Week. Still glad I did it, and I am sure to revisit RAW many more times in the future.

So, I made up for it in my own way by making Vegan Pho for dinner tonight. Yup, Vegan Pho, which I've totally f-ed up before (I cooked the noodles IN the broth...what was I thinking???).

No, this was good. And made me feel FANTASTIC. My sinuses are so clear right now, it's awesome.

I got the recipe from here, but ended up halving it and dropping the star anise (gross, licorice.) and the bean sprouts because I couldn't find any (I did only check one store, though).

It was PHO-tastic.

{omfg yum.}

On another note, I went to yoga today at 9:30am. We took a moment for 9/11 rememberance before class began. And I had a conversation again with Allen Ginsberg. This time, we were riding the ferris wheel at the KS State Fair (I probably thought of that because it's opening weekend). He got on the ride with me, and as it went around in the circle, we talked about stuff.

The other day (Thurs class), I asked him, "How will I know?" (not sure what about). And his reply, "You won't really know. We only think we know." Today he was on the subject of loving others. He said that we must love others, no matter what their affection for us.

He's become my own personal psychiatrist. Pretty rad.

Jes

RAW Week: Day Five!

Hey there. How's it going? I'm great because it's DAY FIVE of my RAW Week :D

That means two more days. And then I'm making Vegan Pho on Sunday for dinner, yup.

This has been pretty rewarding, especially combined with the yoga. For instance, I was about 158lbs last week. Yesterday morning, I weighed 152.2lbs. My wedding ring keeps almost slipping off my ring finger. I sleep REALLY well during the night (though I still get tired in the afternoons, but that's probably out of sheer boredom). My pants are more loose around the waist (yay!).

I'm almost tempted to extend it into a RAW second week...almost.

I've had cravings...oh, the cravings. And weird ones, at that.

I may have eaten straight up nooch as a snack the other night. I may have eaten about 8 pickle spears last night and drank some of the pickle juice (don't judge!). I may be found periodically staring longingly at bread/chocolate spread/popcorn/cans of beans/weird, cooked shiz in my cabinets, plotting for when I get to eat them again.

And then there's the Allen Ginsberg thing, which is kind of freaky (yet strangely wonderful). Yesterday, at the end of yoga, he was there in my mind again. This time, we alternated between floating in the air (like skydiving, but standing and not really falling) and floating on the lake. He asked me what lake it was, and I said, "It's the lake from Lake Trip" (as if he knew). Here's what he told me, though, which makes me laugh: "You're special, but I won't say that you are under-appreciated because everyone is under-appreciated, and that just wouldn't be special. But you are really special." WTF?

Once this week is done, I will probably make myself sick on cooked food. But I'll really REALLY try not to, I swear.

Day Four (evening)!

-Made "Better Than Any Mock Tuna" from VegWeb.com. Super, SUPER yummy.

-Once home from yoga, I had my Pickle Party. I must have been craving salt or something since I sweat a LOT in hot yoga.

Day Five!

-raw buckwheat groat breakfast with coconut butter (still solidified, but whatev)

-1/2" date-seed-nib "cookie"

-Rest of Mock Tuna in 2 huge romaine leaves

Dinner tonight is hopefully Mexican Lime Soup from Ani Phyo's Raw Food Essentials (pgs. 143-144). And more hot yoga at 5:30 :D

Jes

RAW Week: Day Four!

Day Four, Holla!

I'm loving hot yoga, and raw buckwheat groat breakfasts, and coconut butter that I made last night!!!!! from this recipe, and this lovely pre-fall weather (srsly, it's like 80 degrees tops here.)

I had another conversation with Allen Ginsberg yesterday while in the Savasana. I tried imagining myself on the lake again in stillness, but there was a bright light coming through the studio window, and then Allen was there again, asking, "Jessica, are you listening? Are you listening?" It's kind of weirdly-reassuring. We ventured to the subject of love, and Allen was saying that love conquers all. And I was like, "But weren't you cynical about love?" (Don't know where out of my head that came from.) And Allen replied, "Yes, but I see the capacity to love within you."

My mind is frakking weird.

That actually sounds like a rad kind of novel...imagined conversations with Allen Ginsberg while high on yoga.

Starting from where I left off yesterday, here is the DL on my raw noshing:

Day Three!!

-Quick MFing salad (last night after yoga): already chopped romaine, 1 tomato, rest of walnut-nooch "parm," sunflower seeds, rest of sprouted green lentils, lime juice, S&P, and 5 homemade pickles (on the side)

-And then I ate some more nooch. Alone, not topping anything. Wasn't my proudest moment, but I was having a major craving.

Day Four!!

-raw buckwheat groat breakfast (with only a few shavings of coconut butter because I PUT IT ON THE FRIDGE AND IT SOLIDIFIED, UGH!)

-1/2" date-seed-nib "cookie" bar thing

-Veggie salad in oil/vinegar that I picked up at Green Acres Market over lunch

-4 dried mission figs, also acquired at said market

-one green pear

-other 1/2" date-seed-nib "cookie" bar-thing

Dinner tonight is "Better Than Any Other Mock Tuna" from VegWeb. And more hot yoga at 7:00pm.

The Hubs said that if I start having conversations with William S. Burroughs, he's leaving me. LOL I agree.

Jes

RAW Week: Day Three!

Hey, kids! How was your Labor Day weekend? Mine went well, even got a few things done around the house.

Now get back to work.

I'm on Day Three of my RAW Week. Yesterday, here's the rest of what I noshed on:

-1/2" piece of date-sunflower seed-cacao nib bar that I HAD to try after making and adjusting this recipe. yummy. These are my snacks this week at work.

-3 pickle slices (homemade!)

-Tacos (which The Hubs said weren't actually tacos, but what does he know?). Here's the makeup: Romaine shells, soaked quinoa mixed with spices, minced green pepper and green onion, diced tomato, cilantro, shredded carrot, diced avocado, and a spicy cashew "cream" sauce that I whipped up (soaked cashews, water, cilantro, same spices as quinoa). SO FREAKING GOOD!! I inhaled the shiz out of these.

-5 frozen 'nana slices with cashew butter and cacao nibs

-hot tea and raw agave (again). Just helps me get into a sleepy mode, especially important coming off of a holiday weekend.

Plus, I made a massive amount of raw almond milk. Tonight I think I will need to make some cashew butter to replenish my stock...

Today, so far, as seen me eat:

-raw buckwheat groats (soaked overnight), shredded coconut, cashew butter, raw agave, and a splash of almond milk

-another 1/2" square of the date-seed-nib squares

-taco SALAD made from almost all the components of last night's meal (minus the quinoa, I ATE IT ALL.)

I'm feeling pretty great, so far. I still have cravings for certain things, but like I said before, it's nothing that can't be quelled by stuffing my face with something raw. The feeling of being full after meals is still there, but it isn't near as bad as the feeling after a cooked or oily meal. There are times when I get a little hunger pang, but that is quickly remedied :)

Tonight is Hot Yoga at 5:30pm!

Jes

RAW Week: Day Two

On to Day Two of RAW! So far, so good. I've had small cravings for sweet/sour/salty products, but I can generally fulfill those with RAW items. Here's what I ate yesterday, Day One:

-RAW strawberry & peach smoothie, referenced here.

-1 strip dried cantaloupe

-Almost-RAW sushi (the nori I have is NOT RAW, but it's kind of difficult to find here, unless I want to order it on Amazon. Oh wells.)

-A few quick pickles that I made yesterday afternoon

-Some "veggie tray" vegetables at the pool party (cauliflower, broccoli, celery, and carrots), along with some strawberries

-RAW pesto pasta: zucchini ribbons, pesto, sprouted lentils, diced tomato, and walnut+nooch "parmesan", idea from here. My pesto was this concoction: parsley, basil, lemon zest and juice of 1/2 lemon, nooch, sunflower seeds, olive oil (can't find cold-pressed right now, so the regular ole stuff), and 1 small garlic clove. Very, very tasty!

-RAW tart: almond meal/2 medjool dates, squeeze of RAW agave for the crust; soaked apricots (formerly dried) and water; and on top sliced strawberries. RAD. Ideas from here and here.

-Some hot tea (some RAW foodists are down with this. I just needed something to make me sleepy, since I had a lot of energy still going on at 10:00pm)

Day Two:

-Remainder of strawberries, sliced, along with some RAW cocoa nibs and a spoon of RAW cashew butter

-3 RAW almonds while out and about

-Leftover pesto with kelp noodles (kind of crunchy, I'm still on the fence about these), my walnut-nooch "parmesan," and some sprouted lentils

-1 strip dried cantaloupe

Dinner tonight is Tacos! (with a few minor adjustments).

How is your Labor Day going? Are you as excited to return to work tomorrow as I am?!?!?!? Right.

Jes

Can I do it? Week of RAW

Yeah, that's right. I'm becoming a RAW foodist for a week. And I hope that I like it.

This is not done without thorough research and 'vestigation, kids. I'm starting out each day with my regular vegan multi-vitamin (not RAW, but still needed) and a spritz each of liquid B-12 and D2. I'm also incorporating a variety of nuts, fruits, veggies (fresh and sea), and the occasional grain that I can soak. I've been planning my weekly menus since January 2010, so I got this.

Today is Day One.

So far, I've downed my vitamins and blended up a lovely smoothie: 1 farmers market peach, 3 org. strawberries, 1 medjool date, the scant rest of my RAW cinnamon almond milk (soaking more almonds as I type...), and some chia seeds. Whir, pour, yum.

I was going to hit up yoga again this morning at 9:30am, like yesterday (flow classes are FABULOUS). I even woke up on time but ended up looking around my kitchen/living room/whole house and realized that some serious cleaning was in order. I'll be going to yoga Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday this week (it's $20 unlimited for two weeks--otherwise $5 a session--I'll probably get double my money's worth).

Yesterday, at the end of class while in the Savasana, I went again to a happy place on the lake, floating. This quickly morphed into a vision of Allen Ginsberg, who was big into yoga, telling me a whole range of things about being happy.

{photo from here}

He would say things like, "Respect others" or "Love yourself." It ended with him repeatedly saying, "Be happy." It's just totally weird that my mind would think of that during the rest period. I completely zoned out and felt delightfully reassured.

Later today we're going to hang out at our friend's pool. I'm bringing the rest of those luscious strawberries. I'll probably munch on some raw sushi for lunch.

Anyway, here is to Day One!

Jes

PS--Here is a painting I did of my friend for his birthday yesterday. Just something I made when I was bored the other night.