The Anti-Nut Gut way to go!

A few months back I did a 5 minute interview with Shea Lynn Baird, organizer of the Monday night live events at Cafe Gratitude. She is an amazing woman who organized inspirational speakers to come to Cafe G every single monday for FREE!

After our 5 minute teaser phone interview, I did an hour talk at the cafe in detail how we can all gain balance within the raw food lifestyle.

Say Bye Bye to the ever-popular Nut-Gut I see a lot of raw foodist sporting these days unfortunatly. Success without distress!

Listen in on why so many Live-Food enthusiasts lose their enthusiasm! and how you can soar on Live Foods!

LISTEN HERE

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Honest Meals: What parents consider food

Honest Meals:

I have a few close girl friends back home who have one or two babies either breastfeeding or eating adult foods by now. All of my friends have seen me go through my transition towards more live foods over the past 8 years and have been intrigued about the whole deal but thought it was too extreme therefor not interested in applying any of the info I would share.
Wanting me to be proud of her, my friend Emily boasted about drinking “Naked” brand Juices and feeding her baby the “Organic” version of Gerber foods as fulfilling nutritional requirements for herself, her baby and her unborn only 12weeks into gestation. Emily, like most parents in the general public today, (me included 8 years ago) are under the impression that eating healthier means choosing whole wheat cereals, canned soups with less “fat” or sodium, brown bread verses the spongy white and making your own pizza from scratch instead of calling up Dominos for delivery. Some of these options are “better” yes; however there is plenty of room for improvement. I have realized just how much more information is needed to steer mommas towards truly healthier ways to not only feed their babies better but nourish themselves on a deep cellular level. Many parents are mislead on what is best for their children through creative advertising campaigns, commercials and poor public information about what is really food.
Now, eating an all raw food diet may seem a bit extreme to take on, but there is no need to feel intimidated. I invite all parents to just take a educated look at the types of foods in their fridges and cabinets and then take easy steps to improve the quality. This is not about taking on a all raw food diet, or even an all vegetarian diet. This it is about introducing more fresh, wholesome and alive foods and removing the junk.

How and what we eat has been taught to us mostly by the “industries” and food companies. What we percieve as "food" MUST be re-evaluated.

1. Canned and bottled foods are dead foods period. The nutritional information on the back of these packaged foods are measuring the nutrition of the fruits and vegetables before they were preserved. Once these foods are canned or bottled for preservation, they offer nothing but flavor. This is because once a food is cooked, canned or oxidized in preparation; it loses most if not all nutrition.
What to do: Blend your own baby foods fresh in a blender, food processor or baby food mill. Use fresh and ripe fruits, vegetable and even a tiny bit of seasoning. You can find recipe ideas to get you started free online. Purchase a case of small ball jars to store these fresh creations in so that you have them handy for convenience. This will take you literally 10 minutes twice a week to have a stock of fresh baby food available to your child. They are so worth it!

2. Plan simple. Receive complex mineralization! A well balanced dinner does not have to include the whole food pyramid scam. A well balanced meal is simply a meal that offers high nutrition. One or two dinner items are sufficient in feeding your family especially if these dishes are made of fresh wholesome foods.
What to do: A huge dinner salad made with mixed greens, leafy lettuces and or spinach with avocado, tomato, cucumbers and sprouts served with a side of cooked and seasoned lentils, quinoa or wild rice is a perfect meal! There is protein from greens and quinoa, and plenty of other rich minerals found in the fresh greens and vegetables. Eating this way may be very different than what you are used to offering your family. I invite you to try something new all for the purpose of feeding them right!
If your family is not quite ready to go all vegetarian (without meat) that is totally fine. Maybe go all veg a few nights a week as a test run or general practice. When you do cook meat, serve small portions with a large fresh salad to help digest. (bread with meat is a “sticky” internal situation and hard to digest) Most children do not have a taste for meat products. These preferences are taught to them thru repeated feedings from eager parents. Do not worry if your child is getting “enough” protein. They are getting plenty as long as you are feeding them fresh fruits and vegetables.
Eating more simple meals save big bucks as well as digest easily in you and your child’s bellies.

3. Boxed verses Real foods: Of course boxed foods are convenient and even fun to pack into lunch boxes. You must realize that anything on a shelf in a box is seriously lacking nutritionally and a waste of your money.
What to do: No matter what the colorful and catchy label says to sell you the product, think logically and rationally. Foods that have been man-made are no comparison to fresh whole foods found in the produce section. The bulk of your everyday meals should come from fresh produce not cardboard boxes and cans. Cans and boxes are cheaper and last longer yes. But at what cost to your health? HUGE!
If you want to indulge in a cookie here and there or make some brownies, go for it. But do not rely on this stuff for fuel, nutrition or as a true meal.
French fries, Cheerios, Mickey Mouse cheese sammich or a canned bean and cheese enchilada off the kids menu is not going to cut it nutritionally as a balanced meal for your child. Your baby’s are better off eating a single apple, orange slices or handful of grapes as a meal. And more times than not, a child will eat just that intuitively. If your child eats a few bites of fruit or fresh veggies and takes off to play again, let them. Their little stomachs are only the size of their fists and if they get hungry again, they will be back for more nibbles. There is no need to force them to eat more “bulk” or to eat foods void in nutrients just to “fill them up”. Parents must make the connection and feel confident that fresh foods grown from the ground are nutrient dense and will nourish their child far better! A little goes a very long way!

Examples of easy trade outs for superior nutrition:

Old option VS Better option

Instead of : bottled juices/drinks spend your cash on Fresh fruits blended in the blender or Home fresh pressed OJ.

Toss out the boxed Pastas and try Quinoa or wild rice.

Instead of Boxed dry cereals make Quick & Fresh granola (recipe in last blog post).

Instead of your regular Wheat or white Bread reach for Ezekiel brand sprouted bread.
Cows milk can and should be swapped out for Rice milk. Home-made nut milk (recipe). We are no baby calves! Instead of the normal routine of Meat based tacos try use More sauteed vegetables or nut meats (recipe).
Canned marinara sauce is nothing compared to Freshly blended marinara (recipe) .
Spaghetti noodles can easily be traded for better option called Kelp noodles . When warmed and added to any dish they are amazing and very low calorie!

Curious cat? Get Melissa's Ebook HERE!

XX Melissa

How you like ‘dem apples!? Quick Winter Apple Granola Recipe

Winter fruits are my absolute favs! For the next few months we are going to indulge in the pleasures of several varieties of apples being at their best and most vibrant state! Why? Because they are in season! Produce is so much more vibrant and delicious when enjoyed in the right time of year. I notice for myself, I snub apples thru the rest of the year yet once fall and winter are here I am sniffin’ them out like an apple monster, fondling each variety and scouting for the perfect one to crunch into.
A few common varieties that are at their peak in November are Lady, Pippin, Liberty, and McIntosh. When picking apples you want to go for organic first of all for obvious reasons. Locally grown apples are a treat if you have that opportunity and you need choose those varieties that are in season for the best flavor and texture. At a glance, look for a nice, solid and colorful apple. Imperfections or lack of shine is no biggie they are only “grocery store cosmetic conditioning”. Those apples are usually the treasures over the waxy or “oddly perfect looking ones”. The perfect apple should not have any soft spots when gently squeezing it. Most health food stores will offer the perfect apple during the winter months so don’t be shy to ask the produce clerk which variety they think is best. Typically they love giving samples to customers who ask.
Like all food grown out of the ground, apples have great health benefits! This fist-sized snack that needs little or no preparation is packed with health-boosting properties :
Help protect bone health
Help prevent asthma, heart disease, and cancers such as lung, breast, colon, and liver
New research also suggests that the phyto nutrient called quercetin may help to prevent Alzheimer's and Parkinsonism
Pectin in apples can help to lower LDL cholesterol
Good for diabetes and weight management
Good source of vitamin C
Good source of soluble and insoluble fiber
Excellent source of flavanoids and antioxidantsRead more: http://food-facts.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_nutritional_value_of_apples#ixzz0WPwR4IUJ

If you are like me and prefer not to dehydrate your snacks because of time or personal preference or the fact that you do not have a dehydrator, this recipe is for you! This granola is so simple to make and is very satisfying for a power packed breakfast and time of the day! Enjoy!

Quick Winter Apple Granola Serves 6
6 apples cored and roughly chopped
1 loose cup of dates pitted
1 c sprouted almonds
Pulse above ingredients in a food processor until well combined and mixture resembles granola in texture. Do not puree.
Place ingredients in large bowl, then fold in
1 c large style coconut flakes
½ c goji berries
1 tsp Pumpkin pie seasoning
2-3 tsp cinnamon
Pinch of pink salt
1 tsp vanilla powder
3 TB cacao nibs (optional) crunch
3 TB dry mulberries (optional)

Store granola in sealed container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Serve with fresh almond or cashew milk or sprinkle over yogurt or your fav smoothie for an added meal boost.

For more delicious recipes get Melissa’s amazing E-book here!

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Sunn Rooibos-Cinnamon latte

Warming the heart fall beverage:

Rooibos-cinnamon Latte. Dairy and sugar free! All raw-Vegan
Fall is full on and I am feeling the need to curl up on the couch with a warm frothy beverage and a heart-warming flick! Why get in the car and drive to a coffee shop when I can prepare a much healthier version of my latte I use to indulge in quite frequently.
Because of the pregnancy, I prefer to go caffeine and dairy free, so in this recipe I love to use Rooibos tea which is fantastic. My favorite brand is provided by a company out of Eagle Idaho called Sunn. I am sure you can use any brand if Sunn is not available in your health food store.
Rooibos is sometimes referred to as red bush tea, providing great hydration, replenishes electrolytes, a natural detoxifier and super energizing without the caffeine jitterz. Interesting enough It also shows anti-mutagenic, anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory and anti-viral activity. Rooibos is a legume from the Cedarberg Mountains in South Africa. It began its modern history around the turn of the 20th century, when local inhabitants discovered that the fine needle-like leaves made a delicious and aromatic beverage. Little did they know the amazing qualities.
Rooibos is said to slow the aging process! Well that is great news! The aging of our bodies is caused by toxic compounds called free radicals which are produced as a by-product of normal cell function. These free radicals attack our healthy cells and over our lifetime, will contribute to aging and a weakened immune system . This is why it is so important to keep the electrolytes and antioxidants into our daily routines.

Recently, Japanese scientists have found that Rooibos tea contains a mimic of the enzyme Super Oxide Dismutase (S.O.D.), an antioxidant which attacks the free radicals and limits their damaging effects.
Rooibos also helps to relieve stomach ulcers, nausea, constipation, and heartburn.

Rooibos-Cinnamon Latte Serves 1
Step1: Steep 1 bag of Sunn™ Rooibos tea into 2 c of water. Then place in high speed blender.
Step 2: Add remaining ingredients and blend on high for 1 minute. When you leave it to blend, a natural frothie texture will appear and be the perfect topper to your delight! Yummmm
2 TB soaked cashews
2 large, soft and juicy medjool dates pitted
½ tsp vanilla powder or vanilla extract
½ tsp cinnamon
Tiny pinch of pink salt
Pour into your favorite over-sized coffee mug or mason jar and smile!

Find more delicious and healthy recipes in Melissa’s Ebook All raw All good!