Skills For Raw Food Recipes

One of the great things about Raw food is that nature has already taken care of much of the preparation for you, and it is pretty much ready to eat the way it is!

But, by taking your culinary skills to the next level with Raw food recipes, you will be able to add even more variety to your diet which can save you from becoming bored.

None of the recipes in Eating For Energy require any special skills or equipment, and you could easily eat a varied and exciting Raw food diet without any of these extras.
However, today we will explore the world of dehydrators, which can add some “warmed” dishes to your Raw food experience.

Dehydrators For Raw Food Recipes

What is a dehydrator?

A dehydrator is a piece of equipment that will both warm and dehydrate food. The great advantages to a dehydrator are that:

a.) It warms the food without heating about 115. This means the nutrients are still intact, and that the food is still classed as Raw.

b.) Dehydrated foods have a much longer shelf life, so they are ideal for for long journeys and trips away from home when your access to Raw ingredients may be limited.

c.) Dehydrators can be used to make Raw treats such as crackers, breads and even Raw pizza crusts. This means you can still enjoy the texture and warmth of many familiar foods, which can make the transition to a Raw diet easier and more enjoyable.

d.) Dehydrators can make use of the pulp left over from making nut milk and juices, which can be used to make delicious Raw desserts and crackers. This means less waste and higher savings on food!

Raw Food Recipes That Can Be Made With A Dehydrator

Here are some ideas of Raw food recipes that can be made with a dehydrator:

Raw granola
Raw burgers, warmed
Nuts and seeds can be soaked and hydrated which switches off the enzyme inhibitiors
Home made sun dried tomatoes
Raw curry, warmed
Raw flax crackers
Raw pizza crusts
Raw flours can be made with the left over nuts from nut milk.

If you are looking to add dehydrated recipes to your repertoire then it is advisable to obtain a collection of recipes designed specifically for dehydrators. These can be found for free with a little research, or special recipe books can be bought

Many Raw foodies recommend the Excalibur range of dehydrators as being by far the best quality available. However, you can find dehydrators much cheaper than this on Amazon or eBay, which may be fine to start off with so you can first see if dehydrated food will play a large part in your diet.

Skills To Prepare Raw Foods

For the most part, there are not a great deal of skills needed to prepare Raw foods. That’s the beauty of them – a little chopping, peeling or blending, and you’re done!
However, there are a few extra Raw food skills that you could take the time to learn, which will increase your repertoire of Raw meals, and enable you to make an increasing proportion of your meals Raw.

Learning how to make your own nut milk is a great start when learning how to prepare Raw foods. Some of the benefits of making your own Raw nut milk include:

Extremely quick and easy to prepare, so you can enjoy fresh, warm milk each morning
Environmentally friendly – no carton to throw away
Can be flavoured to your own taste
Kids love it

These recipes are adapted from recipes by Joy Houston of The Delicious Revolution.

How To Prepare Raw Foods – Nut Milk

Ingredients:

1 cup nuts (almonds work great, but you can experiment with other nuts and seeds)
7 cups water (adjust to make more or less creamy)
1 fresh vanilla bean, or few drops vanilla extract
Dates to sweeten if desired
Other flavouring as desired e.g. Raw cacao for chocolate milk

Method:

Blend everything together in a high powered blender such as a vitamix, for a couple of minutes until a creamy, frothy consistency is achieved
Leave to strain through a nut milk bag or a mesh produce bag, which can be bought cheaply on the internet

Once the liquid is strained you will be left with warm, creamy, delicious nut milk.
This recipe will make around 1.5 litres of milk, which can be stored in a glass container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
You will also be left with the pulp from the nuts, which can be to prepare Raw foods desserts if you have a dehydrator.

An even quicker way to prepare Raw foods nut milk

If you don’t have enough time to make this recipe, but still want to make your own nut milk, then there is an even quicker way to make it.

Simply whip up a batch of Raw nut butter with some dates, vanilla extract, agave syrup and water.

There is no need to strain this milk, so it is ready in seconds.
This milk will not have the exact same consistency of nut milk made in the traditional way, but is still much better than using boxed milk.

Raw Vegan Transition For The Whole Family

Here are some great tips on how to include more Raw vegan foods into your diet. This is a fantastic way to sneak more Raw foods into your families diet as well, without them even realising! As you become more used to eating Raw foods, and realise how fantastic you feel, you can make the whole meal Raw.

Partly Raw Vegan Recipes

Invest in a spiralizer – this inexpensive piece of equipment will enable you to create Raw vegan pasta and noodles out of vegetables such as cucumber, zucchini and sweet potatoes.
Top the Raw pasta or noodles with your favourite warm sauce. This is an absolute winner with kids and adults alike!

Served warmed pasta or noodles with Raw sauce, which is the opposite of the meal above! Use regular pasta and noodles and cook as normal. Whip up a delicious Raw pasta sauce by blending any combination of fresh vegetables (e.g. garlic, tomatoes, zucchini and bell pepper work well), along with olive oil, fresh herbs and seasoning. Pour over the warmed pasta.

Delicious Raw rice can be made simply by chopping cauliflower florets in a food processor for a minute or two until it resembles rice. Both the texture and appearance are remarkably similar to rice which the whole family will love. Start off by serving the Raw rice with the rest of the warmed meal – e.g. it is delicious with hot curries or any other meal which is served with rice.

100% Raw Vegan Foods That The Whole Family Will Love

The following recipes are made entirely from Raw ingredients, but are so delicious no one will even notice!

Raw salads – one simple way to increase you and your families Raw food intake, is to serve a huge Raw salad with every meal. As well as the raw veggies and salad ingredients you can also maxmimize the flavour and nutrition of the salad by throwing in nuts, seeds, fruit and oils.

Raw smoothies – Drinking Raw smoothies for breakfast is a great way to ensure that your family is getting super Raw nutrition at the beginning of each day. Experiment with different fruit combinations, and increase the nutritional value of the smoothie by adding “booster” ingredients such as wheatgrass, hemp, linseeds or fish oil.

Raw nut milk – Raw milk is delicious and easy to make. By switching from dairy to Raw vegan nut milk, you will be making a huge step forward for your health. If you plan on making fresh nut milk every day then you will get best results using a powerful blender, and some nut mylk bags Experiment with different flavours, such as almond and brazil. Nut milk can be used in smoothies, and also poured over non Raw cereal as a delicious way of incorporating more Raw vegan foods into your families diet.

Raw Foods For Immediate Energy

Creating beautiful Raw dishes may sometimes appear complicated but there are so many Raw foods that require no preparation whatsoever. If you are in need of immediate energy, whether for exercise or just to get through a hectic day, then simple Raw foods cannot be beaten.

Here are some Raw foods and snacks that either need no preparation, or can be thrown together in less than 5 minutes, for a long lasting burst of immediate energy.

Grab and Go Snacks For Immediate Energy

Fresh fruit is perhaps the quickest, most effective snack for instant energy. The simple carbohydrates in fruit will give you an immediate energy boost.
For the quickest burst of energy choose fruits that are high in glucose, such as dates.
Glucose, unlike fructose, is already an instantly useable form of energy – it doesn’t need to be broken down further by the body.
Glucose will provide you with an immediate but short burst of energy, however, if you need a more sustainable energy source, then you should also fuel up on foods high in fructose (for medium-term energy), as well as some high-quality protein for slow releasing energy.
All fruits are a great source of fructose – simply grab whatever is to hand.
Add a handful of nuts or seeds to be eaten with the fruit for an instant snack that provides both immediate energy and more sustained energy.

Quick Preparation Snacks For Immediate Energy

Fruit smoothies take minutes to prepare, and can effectively provide both short and long term energy. Simply throw in some fresh fruit, along with some agave syrup, and some protein powder and you’re good to go.

Raw hummus and veggie sticks – make Raw hummus the same way you would usually make hummus, except we use sprouted chick peas (garbanzo beans) instead of cooked. The sprouted chick peas are blended with tahini, olive oil, lemon juice and spices (such as cumin and cayenne), and you could also experiment by adding ingredients such as jalapenos or bell peppers for variety, Serve with Raw veggies sticks such as celery, cucumber and carrot for a snack that provides both short and long term energy.

Raw sports gels and puddings – the most amazing sports gels and puddings can be made from Raw ingredients such as fresh fruit, nuts, seeds, cacao and oils. They can be used both pre and post workout, or for providing immediate energy throughout the day.
There is a whole section in Eating For Energy devoted to snacks for immediate energy such as these, where you will find mouth watering recipes that can be put together in minutes.

6 Must Eat Living Foods For Optimal Health

Living the Raw food lifestyle gives you amazing opportunities to incorporate living foods for optimal health into your diet. Here is a delicious sample of foods that you can look forward to including in a diet that is high in Raw, living ingredients:

Living Foods For Optimal Health – Fruit

Blueberries: Blueberries often get overlooked in favour of more exotic berries such as goji and acai berries. Blueberries, however, also pack a huge nutritional punch, and can be more economical to purchase. Blueberries contain compounds that inhibit cancer cell growth and bacteria such as e.coli. They also contain useful nutrients that are claimed to protect and improve vision. Enjoy them in smoothies, mixed with raw granola, or simply enjoyed on their own.

Dates – Dates can be eaten fresh or sun dried, and are an excellent source of iron and calcium. They can be used to sweeten desserts and drinks, as well as being delicious in salads and wraps. They are also a great pre workout snack for athletes. In “Eating For Energy”, you will find many innovative recipes that use dates in new and exciting ways.

Avocado – avocados contain a higher proportion of protein than any other fruit known to man. They are an essential source of fats for vegans, as well as being rich sources of vitamin E, B vitamins, potassium and vitamin C. They are especially useful in a Raw diet, as they add a satisfying, creamy consistency to foods such as soups and desserts, which can help wean you from cooked foods to Raw. They can also be enjoyed in salads, wraps and smoothies, as well as being delicious on their own. Avocados, therefore, are extremely high up on the list of essential living foods for optimal health.

Cacao: Raw cacao is packed full of phytonutrients and is another of the ideal living foods for optimal health. It contains huge amounts of antioxidants, and is one of the richest known sources of magnesium and chromium. Enjoy raw cacao nibs as a high powered snack combined with berries and seeds, or mix raw cacao powder into smoothies and desserts.

Living Foods For Optimal Health – Sea Vegetables

Kelp – kelp is part of the family of sea vegetables which are among the ultimate living foods for optimal health. Sea vegetables are used in many raw recipes, including Raw sushi and wraps, as well as sprinkled on salads. Kelp in particular is a rich source calcium, containing over 1000mg calcium per 100g. It also contains iron, sodium, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium.

Living Foods For Optimal Health – Sprouts

Sprouts: Growing and eating your own sprouts encapsulates the very essence of what it is to enjoy a diet high in living foods for optimal health. Sprouting is cheap, easy and fun, and having a variety of different sprouts continually growing in your kitchen means that you will have a constant supply of delicious living food. Experiment with sprouting a variety of crops such as alfalfa, chick peas, lentils and quinoa.

If you are looking for inspiration on how to get more of the above foods into your diet, then my 12 week meal plan included in “Eating For Energy” will show you exactly how to do this. Inside the 359 page guide you will find information and recipes on how to include a whole range of the most essential living foods for optimal health into your life.

How To Make Eating Raw Foods Exciting

Eating Raw is without a doubt the most exciting and nutritious way to eat. Raw foods provide a feast for the senses with their amazing textures, bright colors and incredible taste and smell. However, if your knowledge of Raw food cuisine is limited, you may find yourself eating the same few things every day which can get boring and repetitive. If you are in the early stages of experimenting with a Raw food diet, you may find yourself lacking motivation and inspiration if you are not adequately armed with the knowledge you need to make a successfully eat in this most amazing and natural way.

Seek Out Those Already Eating Raw Foods

Get inspired from those who are already eating raw foods as a way of life. There is a vibrant Raw food community out there, who gather in blogs, forums and at local meet ups and pot lucks around the world. By actively seeking out this information and these experiences, you will gather a wealth of information, tips, recipes and inspiration to get you excited about eating raw foods.

Focus Only On The Positives Of Eating Raw Foods

If you are thinking of switching to a mainly Raw diet, it can be tempting to focus on what you feel you are giving up. You may find yourself craving or reminiscing about cooked foods or junk food. Instead of focusing on what you are “giving up” as a negative, view this as a positive. You will be giving up tiredness and lethargy; you will be giving up feeling bloated and sluggish; you will be giving up needing so much sleep; you will be giving up bad skin! When you look at it this way, you will be happy to give up these things.
Also, focus on what you are inviting into your life – effortless weight control, energy and vitality, glowing skin and shiny hair.

Put Together A Plan For Eating Raw Foods

Those who fail to plan, plan to fail. It may be an over used cliche, but it is also very true. Not having an adequately stocked kitchen, or being unknowledgeable about how to prepare Raw food recipes, will leave you reaching for the first thing you can find to eat when you are hungry and there are no healthy ingredients in the house. Arm yourself with some Raw food recipes, or a diet plan such as that contained in Eating For Energy. Next plan your meals for each week, and ensure you are stocked up on the ingredients you need. There are some excellent free apps and software programs (many of them free) that you can use on your computer or smart phone for organizing your grocery shopping. This makes it easy to create shopping lists, meal plans and recipes, allowing you to plan what you need to buy and when. Alternatively, just create a list with a pen and paper to keep with you when you visit the store, so you will know exactly what you need to buy.

Just implementing these few basic tips will mean you are fully prepared to start eating raw foods and begin your journey of feeling amazing!

Quick and Easy Raw Food Breakfast Ideas

If you are only going to make one meal of the day Raw, then make it breakfast. Raw breakfasts are quick, simple, delicious and packed with nutrients.

Also, by starting your day in the healthiest possible way, you will be more likely to continue these good eating habits throughout the day.

Here are some Raw food breakfast ideas to get you started:

Quick & Easy Raw Food Breakfast Ideas

• Smoothies – Raw smoothies can be whipped up in just a couple of minutes. They will provide you with an instant burst of energy ready to face the day, and provide you with mega nutrition. There are endless combinations of Raw smoothies that you could make meaning you never have to get bored. Simply choose your combination of fruits and vegetables and add water or nut milk. To boost the protein content of the shake and get some essential omegas, try adding spirulina, hemp, ground flax seeds or fish oil.

• Juices – Raw juices are by far the quickest way to give your body a huge dose of alkalinity,  and infuse it with essential nutrients. Raw juices are like a pure shot of goodness, and can leave you completely energised and raring to go for hours.

• Shop bought Raw food bar – if you really don’t have even 5 minutes to prepare a Raw smoothie or juice, then keeping a stash of organic Raw food bars will enable you to enjoy a Raw breakfast any time. Couple with a piece of fruit for a Raw breakfast on the run.

If you are not feeling very creative at this point, the check out Eating for Energy where you will find a whole section of amazing Raw smoothie and juice recipes.

Raw food breakfast ideas for when you have more time

If you have a little more to to spend preparing breakfast, then why not try out some of these raw food breakfast ideas:

• Whip up a batch of fresh, delicious Raw nut milk and pour over Raw granola, or serve with sprouted oat groats and fresh fruit.

• Treat yourself to a Raw dessert for breakfast! If you are used to eating sugary breakfast cereals, muffins or croissants for breakfast, then you may be craving something sweet. Raw desserts are packed full of sweet but healthy ingredients such as Raw cacao, agave syrup and coconut, as well as nuts, seeds and fruit. While it’s not a great idea to make these your breakfast choice every day, they could easily be enjoyed without guilt as a breakfast option one or two days a week.

If you are looking for a complete done-for-you Raw meal plan, which gives 12 weeks of Raw food breakfast ideas (as well as lunch, dinner and snacks!) then be sure to check out my 359 paged Eating for Energy eBook.

Design Your Own Raw Food Diet Weight Loss Plan

If you have decided to incorporate more Raw food meals into your diet with the specific intention to lose weight, then the good news is that by switching to more Raw meals, this will happen automatically! Raw foods are so dense in nutrients, that they will fill you up and satisfy for a fraction of the calories in your current diet! Eating foods that look delicious also creates a feeling of satisfaction, and Raw food dishes such as those in Eating For  Energy, are some of the most brightly colored and attractive looking dishes you will find anywhere!

The mouth watering gourmet dishes that can be created from Raw ingredients means that you can discover a whole new world of tastes, textures and flavor that are natures way of filling you up without piling on the pounds!

If you are looking for a specific Raw food diet weight loss plan, then by following the 12 week program in Eating For Energy you will be able to shed pounds effortlessly, while at the same time completely transforming your health. If you are looking for some general direction to create your own Raw food diet weight loss plan, then here are some things to bear in mind:

Don’t Be Afraid To Include Fat In A Raw Food Diet Weight Loss Plan!

You might think that if your intention is to lose weight then you should avoid fat completely. While it’s true that staying away from the harmful fat that you find in processed foods, meats and dairy products is a good idea, some fats will actually help you to lose weight! The good fats you find in Raw foods such as nuts, seeds, olive oil, avocados and coconuts actually play an important role in the fat burning process, and are essential to regulate metabolism! You may want to include these foods in smaller quantities while you are in the process of losing weight, but cutting them out altogether would be a mistake.

Drink even more water when on a Raw food diet weight loss plan

Drinking fresh spring water should be a top priority whether you are losing weight or not, but be even more mindful of this fact when you are trying to lose weight. Starting your day with a cup of warm water with a squeeze of organic lemon juice is the ultimate cleansing way to kick start your metabolism. Aim to drink another cup of water with lemon half an hour before each meal and sip water throughout the day to help regulate appetite and metabolism.

Up Your Veg Intake

Green leafy vegetables are among the lowest calorie, most nutritious foods you can eat. Therefore, include a high proportion of these into your smoothies, juices, salads, soups and snacks. As well as helping you lose weight, organic greens will also supercharge your body with essential nutrients, making you feel on top of the world!

Exercise Is An essential component of a Raw Food diet weight loss plan!

You will reap far more benefits of your new healthy way of eating if you combine this with exercise. Luckily, including more Raw foods in your diet means that you will feel much more energetic, motivated and willing to invest in your health. In fact, you will feel so good that it will be hard to sit still! An exercise regime will significantly speed up your weight loss efforts when combined with a Raw food diet.

Incorporating these simple strategies into your Raw food diet weight loss plan will make it even more effective!

How To Maintain A Raw Food Diet Meal Plan When Travelling

For those of us who try to maintain a high Raw lifestyle, or are considering doing so, one of the most challenging aspects is maintaining a raw food diet meal plan when travelling.

Most of us are faced with some form of travel that involves making food choices outside of the home on a weekly or even daily basis.

This includes travel to work, staying with friends, meals in restaurants, business trips, weekends away and family vacations.

While it may seem like an impossible task to maintain a Raw Food Diet Meal Plan during these times, with a little forward planning and know how it can become second nature to live “Raw” and still be able to lead a normal life!

Tops Tips For Maintaing Your Raw Food Diet Meal Plan “On The Go”

Tip #1: Research “Raw” Restaurants, Shops and Take-Outs On Your Route

If you are taking a road trip then do some research before you set off, of places that you will be able to stop off that will have Raw food diet options. This could include restaurants, take-outs or grocery stores. If you can plan your route so that you are able to stop off at some of these places, it will save the need for packing so much of your own food.

This also applies to your daily trip to work, or other places that you regularly travel to locally. There may well be a vegan restaurant, or a health food store which is only a couple of blocks away from your regular route that you don’t even know about! You may be pleasantly surprised at how many options are available to you once you start looking!

Tip # 2: Always Travel With Foods To Help You Stick To Your Raw Food Diet Meal Plan

If you find yourself in a situation where there are no Raw or healthy food choices available, then having your own supply of healthy Raw snacks can keep you going until you are able to access more suitable foods. This will also stop you from becoming ravenously hungry and giving in to unhealthy options. Some Raw food options that are great for travel include Raw granola, nuts, seeds, dried fruit and smoothies (kept in a cool bag).

Tip # 3: Get Raw food delivered to your destination

If you will be travelling away from home on vacation or business, then there are a number of options for having Raw food delivered to your hotel or place you are staying. For example, research in advance having an organic fruit and veg box delivered to your destination. In many countries where the Raw diet is beginning to gain more momentum, there are now companies that will deliver a complete daily or weekly Raw food diet meal plan to your door. Check out what options are available in your country.

Tip # 4: Plan Ahead When Eating Out

There is no need to refuse invitations to eat out with friends when following a Raw food diet plan. After all, you are likely to lose your resolve to stick to this lifestyle in the long term if you feel as though you must miss out on social situations. Research local restaurants in your area that provide Raw options, and suggest these as venues for your next meal out. If you do not have control over where you are eating, then plan ahead by checking out the menu online. This way you can decide on the healthiest option, and won’t need to spend hours agonising over the menu when you arrive at the restaurant. Lastly, if you do need to stray away from your Raw food diet plan for the occasional meal then don’t stress too much. Just make an effort to choose the healthiest options possible, and remember that as long as you aim to eat Raw around 80% of the time you will still reap enormous health benefits.

I hope these tips have given you some great ideas on how to stick to your Raw food diet meal plan, while still living in the real world!

4 Common Myths About Following A Raw Food Diet Detox

Are you contemplating a Raw Food diet detox, having realised the incredible health and weight loss benefits that this can bring, but have some preconceived notions that it is going to be difficult or involve deprivation in some way?

Well, with a little planning you will find that following a detoxifying Raw food diet is a quick, simple and economical way to eat, and you need never go hungry!

Here are the most common myths, and how you can avoid them interfering with your Raw food detox!

Myth # 1 You will be hungry on a raw food diet detox

This is completely untrue! The majority of foods on a raw food diet are high in water content and low in calories, so if you do still feel hungry, then simply eat more! The higher calorie foods that are integral to a raw food diet such as coconut, avocados, nuts and seeds, are naturally satiating, which will curb your appetite anyway. Also, as the foods you will be eating are so nutrient dense, your appetite and cravings will diminish as your body is being given everything it needs.

Myth # 2 You can’t consume enough protein on a raw food diet detox

Those who are not in the know about the wonderful array of foods that are involved in a Raw food diet may have visions that it’s all about living solely on fruit and vegetables and little else. Totally wrong! Raw foods include some of the richest sources of protein in the world! Spirulina, for example, is one of the richest sources of protein in the world, containing the full 22 amino acids, as well as being a rich source of chlorophyll, gamma linoleic acid, and omega 3 fatty acids.

Myth # 3 A raw food diet detox requires hours of preparation each day

While it may be true that certain aspects of a Raw food diet require a little forward planning (soaking nuts and grains for the next day for example), the vast majority of Raw Food meals can be prepared from start to finish in under 10 minutes! With a little organization, a Raw Food diet is far quicker than spending hours slaving over a hot stove preparing cooked meals. Best of all, many of the meals are easily portable, so will fit perfectly into the busiest life!

Myth # 4 A raw food diet detox is expensive

Overall, eating a raw food diet can work out much more economical than purchasing expensive pre-packaged and ready made meals from the supermarket. Once you have invested in the store cupboard staples for a Raw food diet detox, then the weekly top up cost of fresh fruits and vegetables will be much lower than those of your normal weekly grocery shop.