Monday, November 28, 2005

Recipe Book

For the past few months I've been working on a raw recipe book. There are a lot out there but I think my idea may work. I've been trying out recipes. I made my infamous (at least among raw foodists) tropical grawnola. It is really good. It's a combination of nuts, tropical fruit and agave syrup. Once I make it I have to give it away or I'll eat the whole batch. I thought the granola would taste great with milk (raw almond milk) but I wasn't digging it. I think it had nothing to do with the combination. I'm just not a cereal person even if it is raw.

Tomorrow I'm looking forward to jogging with my baby again. It was raining heavily today. I'll still go out in the rain as long as it is a light drizzle.

Saturday, November 26, 2005

Rough Days

A few days ago I was feeling a little down. My studies are tiring me and it's hard taking care of my son. I had a cooked meal and I could feel the changes to my body. Even though I'm not 100%, it's not good for me to eat cooked food in a negative state of mind. I normally choose a day where I know I'll be eating cooked food and I prepare for it. That way it's not a shock to my system. It's usually a vegetable soup. Unfortunately, this wasn't one of those days. I really started to feel sluggish and miserable. I want to fast but since I am breastfeeding, I won't do it. I may have to eat a high raw diet, which is mainly fruits, vegetables and some nuts. Nothing dehydrated for the moment.

Monday, November 21, 2005

Rainbeau Mars/Jogging

I was perusing other blogs on rawfood and I was inspired by a person named Rainbeau Mars. She is a yoga practitioner and rawfoodist who has a baby. She looks fabulous. She is living a very healthy, active, organic life. I like that. Another inspiration is Frederic Patenaude, a fellow Canuck. His website and information is practical and realistic.

I've been jogging with my son in this jogging stroller I won on ebay. It's fantastic. The ride was smooth and my son loved. I need to encourage fitness and good health at a young age. I haven't jogged in a long time and my muscles could feel it. But it's been getting better everyday. I feel a lot better. I'm trying to incorporate jogging at least 3 times a week and the other days will be Ashtanga yoga.

I celebrated with a raw carob/banana smoothie. Mmm...

Thursday, November 17, 2005

Winter's Coming

I normally don't do well on a 100% raw diet in the winter. I feel my body needs some warmth. My goal is to maintain a 75% raw diet during the winter months. I will keep eating my greens and making my raw crackers and biscuits. The cooked food part of my diet will consist of vegan soups. I should be fine with that.

Christmas is coming and I dread eating with the family because no one is raw or vegetarian. I'll have to prepare a dish so that I don't feel left out or tempted. Caribbean food still smells good. There is this Jamaican Christmas drink I love called sorrel. It is made from the sorrel plant. The plant is boiled in water and pieces of ginger until there is a deep red colour. While it's hot, you add sugar and sometimes pineapple juice and mint leaves. I'm trying to find a raw version of sorrel. Instead of the sorrel leaves I may use fresh cranberries. Hmm...we'll see.

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Why I Chose a Raw Food Diet

All my life I've been trying to find a healthy diet that works for me. I've struggled with my weight and it frustrated me. My relationship with food was complicated. I developed terrible eating habits. I was addicted to certain foods such as refined sugar, and coffee. I became an emotional eater and that led to eating disorders and problems with my weight. It wasn’t until a few years ago, when I went to Victoria and Igor Boutenko’s raw food workshop, I had learned about raw foods. I went to the workshop with an empty stomach but in the back of my mind I thought about the slice of pizza I’d be eating afterwards. I didn’t think raw food could be satisfying. I was in for a wonderful awakening. The food was terrific and the dessert was amazing! My body felt light yet satisfied. I didn’t have that heavy feeling in the pit of my stomach. I realized that this was the direction I needed to take.

Since having a predominantly raw food diet (the odd time I eat sashimi...it is raw :P), my energy has increased, my skin looks great and my eating habits have become more balanced. I still have my ups and downs (especially during my pregnancy) but this is a road I intend to stay on and there’s no turning back.

I'll be documenting my raw journey and I'm hoping to be as honest and open about it. It may not be for everybody but somebody may gain some insight on it.