Raw Food Recipe : Brownie Bites & Update

Oh Dear Blog:
My apologies for neglecting you since this summer. Truth is, I have been doing more living, and less time on-line and bloggin’.
Wow! I had no idea that Zavi being mobile would need so much of my time to the point that I wouldn’t even have time to give you a quick update. So here it is. The Update and of course a lovely recipe just in time for the Holidays. Chewy-fudgy-Brownie bites!

Zavier is now a year young! We celebrated by going to Au Lac Restaurant in Fountain Valley Ca.
What an amazing little man he is! At about 1o-ish months he began taking his first steps! Since then he has been helping me with things like sweeping, mopping the floor with his favorite fruit and of course reorganizing the lower cupboards and drawers in each room. He absolutely loves the access to clean water found in the toilet and thinks the stick with the brush is a fabulous tool to bless things around the house.
If he can reach the baskets of seasonal fruits in the kitchen pantry shelves, he will pick out the perfect juicy one (persimmons this time of year) and have an elaborate ceremony all over the kitchen tile floor and himself. He really knows how it’s done and with such passion!
We purchased a high chair off of craigslist.org which was a brilliant purchase I must say! It is an Eddie Bower all wood high chair with a clever second table design for quick clean up without having to remove the child from the chair. Because we dine at a low to the ground table (similar to a large coffee table) with cushions around it I at first did not see the point of getting a tall chair for him to look down on us while we eat. We have a routine now that Zavi seems to be a huge fan of. We place him in his wooden throne and feed him the green smoothie while we stand near him and sip ours. This way we can all be together enjoying our meal at relatively the same eye level, connecting. When we take time to connect through the eyes or through close conversation with Zavi I have noticed makes a big difference in how he acts and behaves. Zavi sits calmly and talks to us (in his language) and feels “included” which is important.
Not only does Zavi sit still while we feed him his green smoothie every morning; it gives us a few moments of uninterrupted time to clean up after his reorganizing adventures and fresh fruit sacrifices.
Now onto the food. There is one recipe in particular I want to share today because I have given it out at least five times in the past two weeks for treat ideas friends can take to Holiday gatherings.
Brownies are one of the simplest recipes and are incredibly decadent!

Fudge Brownies / bites Serves however many are closest to the plate
2 c walnuts
2 c packed of medjool dates pitted
Pinch of pink salt
½ tsp cinnamon (more if you wish)
1/2c -3/4 c cacao powder ( the more you use, the more chocolaty it will be)


Step 1: In an emergency Must-Need-Brownie-Now situation you may omit this soaking the walnuts step. There may be a slight bitter flavor because of the walnuts not being sprouted, but it will still be delicious.
Two days before brownie time, place walnuts in water and soak 6-8 hrs. Rinse well then place in dehydrator and dry at 118° until all moisture is removed. Apx 1 full day.
Ding so will get rid of the “bitter taste” or tannins walnuts have when not sprouted.
Step 2: Place all ingredients into food processor and pulse several times until brownie consistency is reached.
Step 3: Using a small ice cream scoop or TB measurer, form brownies into fun shapes. You may also gently press the brownie mix into a lasagna pan or round torte pan and cut into desired brownie sizes/ shapes.

Place these brownies on a decorative platter and watch them disappear!

Recipe variation: You may press this into a pie pan as chocolate crust!

Enjoy!
Melissa Mango

For 112 more recipes, nab a copy of Melissa’s Ebook here!

Mango Mail & Raw Food Recipes

Dear Miss Mango
As a breastfeeding Raw Momma do you find it sustainable? Do you find it lessens or increases milk production? What do you eat on an average day?

Thanks so much for your time!
Angie P. Madison Wisconsin

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hi Angie in Wisconsin! Thanks for your questions!
I am exclusively breastfeeding which typically demands an average of 500 to 1000 extra calories or "fuel" more than what I would normally eat in a day just to sustain.

Now I am not big on counting calories; however I do recognize my body needs more “fuel” in order to feed my baby as well as a intense workout or daily yoga I have gotton myself back into. It is important to plan smart.
I do several smaller meals or shakes throughout the day to keep me sustained and fueled for mega milk production. Doing so also keep my metabolism revved.

I find that my milk production now is perfect for my son’s needs! The only time I noticed a decrease was when I was figuring out how to pump so I could be away from him for periods of time. The more he eats, the more my body produces. He is well fed, has big bright eyes, is growing perfectly through me which tells me I am doing something right!
Based on the facts that I am breastfeeding a four month old, working out as well as eating a fairly clean diet high in raw foods; here is what I consume that is really working for me in this now.

Tuna pate inside a nori with bells, romaine and cabbage.

8am Upon waking I have 2c hot herbal tea or 3c water with lemon
8:30am Do my work out OR go right into my breakfast smoothie
*Post workout smoothie (recipe below)I drink this within 30 minutes of my INSANITY workout.
*Breakfast smoothie if not working out (recipe below)
12 noon Seasonal salad or nori roll with homemade dressing and tu-not pate (recipe below). Sometimes I do a little steamed quinoa.
2pm Deep Green coconut smoothie (recipe below)
4pm small seasonal greens salad with avocado and homemade dressing.
And or Raw soup gently warmed with sometimes quinoa
6pm Hot tea or a raw soup
10 pm Bed time
I try to make it a habit of having a glass of water every time I nurse Zavi Hope this helps!

Recipe note: I don’t mind a room temp smoothie, so if you desire cold smoothies I would freeze your bananas or place your smoothies in a sealed jar into the freezer for a few to chill. xx

Breakfast smoothie serves one hot momma
1 orange peeled / seeds removed
1 banana (frozen if you like it cold)
½ tsp Spirulina (or more if you like it reaaaaly green)
Three 4 inch dandelion greens from the back yard
OR 2 leaves of kale or 2 loose cups baby spinach
Blend all ingredients until smooth. add a litle water to help turn and get the desired consistantcy. Enjoy!

Momma tip: Iron in greens helps your body absorb the vit C! Momma's needs good amounts of Iron and Vit C.

Post workout smoothie serves one recovering momma!
1 banana (frozen if you desire a cold smoothie)
1 pitted date
1 c pure water
6 whole cashews soaked in water overnight
2 loose cups of spinach
3 wild dandelion greens from my back yard.
Step1: Place banana, date and water in blender. Blend till smooth.
Step 3: add remaining ingredients and blend for 5 seconds.

Deep Green Coconut Smoothie serves one breastfeedin’ momma
One whole Thai coconut water and meat
¼ tsp Spirulina
2 pitted dates
2 loose cups of baby spinach
Step 1: Open Thai coconut. Place water and meat in blender along with dates. Blend till smooth.
Step 2. Add spinach. Blend for 5 seconds. Enjoy!
If you want a colder smoothie, simply add a few ice cubes or place this in a sealed jar in the freezer for a little bit.

Tuna pate Yields 6c pate
2c sunflower seeds
3 celery sticks chopped
3green onions chopped
¼ c fresh dill
1 TB dulse flakes
Dressing
3/4 c pure water
1 c already soaked sunflower seeds (or cashews for a creamier texture)
1 tsp garlic powder
1/3 c lemon juice
3/4 TB salt

Step 1: Place sunflower seeds in water before you go to bed. In the morning, rinse and drain. Then they are ready to be used! Grind them in a food processor then place in bowl.
Step 2: Add celery, green onions, dill and dulse. Mix well.
Step 3: Blend dressing ingredients until smooth. Pour over seeds and veggies in bowl. Mix and serve!
This can be eaten with cucumber rounds, with celery, in romaine boats or atop salads!

Did I mention that I am currently a spinach freak! I will blend, chop and stuff it into anything and everything I eat throughout the day! It's in season too!

xxxMelissa

Raw Recipe: Carrot cake shake

“C” is for cake! Carrot that Is!

I have been big into smoothies lately mostly because I prefer to drink my food rather than sit down and eat it, being so close to my due date! There is little room in there these days, but there is always room for carrot cake shake!
With fall and winter flavors making their ways into my daily foodie routine I craved a morning smoothie that would deliver the nutrition I have been used to as well as boldly take the place of my orange-banana green smoothie. Mmmm…who can say no to cake first thing in the mornin’? This smoothie is the real deal! Delicious, nutritious and very simple to make! Enjoy!
Originally from Asia, the mighty carrot is easily assimilated by our bodies even left raw; with numerous health benefits. (Why am I not surprised that ever fruit or vegetable has amazing health benefits!) Chinese practitioners say that carrots are not only a tasty sweet root vegetable; it is good for the health of spleen and stomach. It is also believed to improve impotence (lower sexual drive), sexual dysfunction, night blindness, long term cough (or call hundred days cough in Chinese medical prescription) besides strengthening kidney and eliminating excessive wind and cold in our body. Can you turn orange from too many carrots? Sure…but that would take A LOT!
When picking carrots, try shopping at your local farmer’s market and seek out the organic, smaller, more “rustic” stubby and fat carrots. Over the past 150 years of modern day agriculture, carrots have been hybrid (altered genetically) to be the size of walking sticks! Most if not all hybrid produce is a far cry from what nature intended, yet still fine to eat. No need to completely avoid hybrid produce like carrots, juts be aware that these foods should be enjoyed minimally and that if you have a choice for the OG (Original) v.s the perfectly nubby carrots: go that route! Hybrid foods do contain a little more sugar than the non hybrids. Again, awareness is fine. Fanaticism isn’t. Now, back to the cake part!

Get 111 more recipes in Melissa E Book HERE!

Carrot cake shake Serves 1
1 c ice
1 small ripe banana (Frozen is suggested for thicker texture)
½ c fresh carrot juice
½ c almond milk OR: ( ½ c water + 1/3 c soaked cashews)
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ TB Pumpkin pie spice
3 big, juicy medjool dates pitted
Place all ingredients into a blender. Blend until smooth
Garnish with ground pecan pieces and cinnamon

* Optional health-nut kick: Add ½ tsp of Spirulina if you need a boost of protein. This may slightly change up the flavor, but deliver the nutrition you deserve.

To nab a copy of Melissa’s Amazing E-book Click HERE!
A total of 112 delicious recipes! Nut free & agave free options!

xxMelissa

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

Raw Foods & Pregnancy: Avoiding deficiencies

Sitting in the pastel colored office of “Dr. G” waiting for my first prenatal exam I had a gut feeling I was in the wrong place. “Dr. G” is a MD/ OB who shutters at the mere whisper of words like natural birth, home delivery, water birth, midwifery, etc. I didn’t even mention to her my diet choices of high raw for fear of a colorful debate. After three what appeared to be a waste of insurance money-visits to her un-supportive to my personal needs- office I made the decision to go elsewhere. Due to my insurance plan’s coverage I was unable to have the privilege of a home for the awaited November birth. To our relief we had the option of The Sutter Birthing Center where they are fully staffed with licensed Midwives, and actively initiate more natural birthing methods with water tubes, specialty beds, stools and ropes. Even though they do offer C-section surgeries, epidurals and emergency surgeries, I felt well supported. The Center is free of noisy intercoms, white walls and the token lame cafeteria. Sutter offers private plush rooms that look more like luxury hotel rooms with large jet tubs, shady balconies and stereo systems for your plug in Ipod music for the mood. I exhaled in relief. This was a beautiful option to our original Home Birth dream.
Visits with my new OB/ Midwife Dr.”A” & her partner “T”, were routine so I am told. I tried not to get offended when they asked me to take a gestational diabetes test and other blood work to insure I was healthy. One month prior to this visit I had some tests done back at “Dr G’s” that showed my blood was dynamic and I was clean as a whistle. G’s office was surprised by my results given the fact they knew I didn’t eat meat. This was a strange and dangerous concept to them. After getting my test results from the diabetes screening, Dr A’s partner had a different opinion. She said I was borderline anemic and that I needed to get on supplementation right away and even suggested I eat meat to make up the difference. I declined her offer to write me a prescription for something generic from the standard pharmacy and polity asked what other optioned I had.
“You’re a vegetarian right?” She prodded while listening to the baby’s heart beat through a monitor.
I hesitated for a moment keeping in mind I didn’t want her to be alarmed I was eating primarily fruits and vegetables.
“Yes…yes I am.”
She looked a bit disappointed “Where do you get your iron?”
“All leafy greens have iron!” I answered “couldn’t I drink a few fresh green juices a day to get enough?”
“Where is the scientific proof that will work?” she asked adjusting her glasses and grinning as if I had said something completely outlandish.
Her response was disappointing to me. At that moment I knew once again that my inner voice and intuition was right on track with my dietary choices. According to these test results what made me borderline anemic and how could I remedy the situation in a realist manner and still follow a cleaner diet for my baby?
In closing to my visit, “T” mentioned to me her experience with vegetarian mothers and that most of them were very unhealthy. She went on to say “They don’t eat meat but they eat chips, breads, cakes and doughnuts.” I understood where she was coming from. She was placing me in a category of her experiences of the standard junk food vegetarians and the poor unbalanced choices they make especially during pregnancy. I assured her I eat lots of leafy salads, fresh fruits and super foods along with my New Chapter prenatal vitamins.
I found out most if not all women who are pregnant experience iron deficiencies, so I was not out of the ordinary. This is because when a woman becomes pregnant, her blood volume increases to help support the growth of a new being! Since iron is needed for the production of hemoglobin (an oxygen carrying protein in red blood cells), if pregnant women don't have enough iron it leads to anemia. It is suggested you need about 30-60 mg of elemental iron during pregnancy a day.
Symptoms of anemia are fatigue, weakness, irritability, short of breath and fainting spells. There's some research that shows babies of anemic mothers are at a higher risk for prematurity as well as risks for the mother during labor.
Most doctors and magazines will advise mothers to eat more meat to make up for the need of more iron. If you are like me, and prefer to go vegetarian or the high raw route here are ways to get balanced and be sure there is no need to be freaked out about not getting enough iron.

Bread is Dead: Like “T” mentioned, most vegetarian proudly drop the meat, yet pick up the bread, and refined processed foods to feel full and get the recommended whole grains in. This is a very common slippery slope. Drop the meat, but pick up on loads of fresh or lightly steamed vegetables, fresh fruits and maybe a little steamed quinoa. Quinoa is a great clean food that is a complete protein as well as light on the digestion. Breads today do not offer anything but a clogged colon and pasty completion.

Eat more fruits and Veggies!: Dried fruits such as apricots are great sources of iron, and they're easy to snack on. Be sure to only eat a handful so you stay hydrated and keep the bowels “flowing”. Large amounts of dry fruit can not only hurt your teeth, but be very dehydrating especially during pregnancy.
Other good sources of iron include spinach, pumpkin, collards, kale and turnip greens. Beans such as green peas, sprouted lentils and chick-peas are also good sources of iron. Now I am going to offer the same advice that was given to me by another raw mother just recently. During her pregnancy she went to a local organic farmer and purchased eggs. She blended one in her nut milk everyday and that seem to work for her. I was squeamish and a bit judgmental at first, yet now I understand and respect that if having an organic, truly range-free egg a day keeps momma’s iron and other nutritional needs up, I am supportive of that. Eggs are a complete food, so it is up to the individual where they stand with eating eggs.
Most fruits and vegetables have nonheme iron, which is why “T” wasn’t a big fan. These foods are a little harder for the body absorb so it's very important that you take these iron-rich foods with iron helpers such as Vitamin C so your body absorbs the iron rather than flushing it away.
My secret iron boost is spirulina. I try to do at least 3 tsp a day on salads, in smoothies or stirred into fresh juices.

Eating food high in Folic acid is key as well to prevent anemia and insure your baby is free from potential birth defects. For a folic acid boost, enjoy foods like fresh organic peanut butter on celery, asparagus, collards wraps, sprouted almonds (pate’), ripe peaches, oranges, bananas, marinated broccoli, and wild mushrooms such as shiitake.

Increase the “C”: It's not enough to just increase the amount of iron you eat; you also need vitamins that will help you absorb the iron. Vitamin C is a great "helper" in iron absorption. Try drinking a glass of fresh, non pasteurized orange juice or using OJ as a base in your smoothies as you eat foods high in iron. If you can't stomach that due to morning sickness, add a side of brightly colored vegetables such tomatoes or bell peppers to your meal.Steer clear: You can be eating all the right foods, however known that there are foods that can decrease your absorption shouldn't be taken with iron-rich foods. Calcium and caffeine both decrease the absorption of iron. To best insure you are absorbing iron properly, avoid food items such as caffeinated teas, all animal milks, soy protein, and coffee to name a few. While you shouldn't cut calcium out of your diet, a better solution is to enjoy calcium rich foods between your meals so that your body can fully absorb the iron. See nut milk recipe below.
Fresh Live Foods rich in calcium such as sesame or sunflower milk, parsley, fresh figs, dandelion greens are among the many choices you can feast on. There is no need to be fanatical, just be aware of what foods and in what combinations you are eating to best serve you and your little one.

Over the past six months I have become more and more comfortable with my natural ability to use my best judgment when it comes to my nutritional needs during pregnancy. Deciding to take a truly more unconventional-natural route with fresh live foods especially during pregnancy takes great care and knowledge. Educating yourself on your food choices and being prepared for the occasional skeptical doctor is important. I found that it is easier not to argue or try to battle the “system” and the opinions of the average doctor, rather take full responsibility and go for it! The doctors have a reason to be concerned because most mother-to-be vegetarian that stroll into their office are not balanced and it stuffs the rest of “us” into an uneducated/junk food vegetarian category.
Needing scientific proof that fresh fruits and vegetables have what it takes to feed my body right during my pregnancy is not my concern. I have all the proof I need when what happens when you do not consume fresh foods as a lifestyle choice and that happen to suffer from bloating, pale skin, weight gain, diseases, deficiencies and other lack of health foods related issues. These issues can easily be taken care of through a high mineral rich diet, adequate rest, proper hydration and of course belief. Making sure your pregnancy is a healthy one is not simply a matter of consuming the commonly recommended diet of 2500 calories, tons of meat for iron and so on. A pregnant woman’s daily calories need to be of high quality and nutrient dense from whole natural and plant based foods. Your must source your nutritional needs from a large variety of fresh foods.
If you are a woman who hopes to have a healthy child someday or as an expecting mother, stand strong in your decision to take great care of your health and diet choices during your pregnancy. No need for fanaticism or fit into a hardcore “ideal”, simply use common sense when choosing foods for fuel and building blocks. It is every woman’s responsibility to tap into her primal instincts and feel confident in her decision to thrive on primarily fresh, live foods which will give her baby the greatest gift!

Melissa Mango
MelissaMangosGreenCuisine.blogspot.com
Kitchen Tips: For a nutritious, energizing and clean breakfast, I personally recommend making a huge green smoothie that includes the following:
1.) A base such as nut milk, water, or Orange juice
2.) Fresh, ripe and seasonal fruits such as peaches, berries, mangos, pears.
3.) 1 tsp spirulina
4.) 1 leaf of kale, collard, rainbow chard or big handful of wild lambs quarters.
5.) If you need it to be sweeter, try using bananas, mangos or a few drops of stevia or a touch of raw honey
This smoothie below is packed full of iron, contains vitamin C for smooth absorption as well as mega protein fit for your baby.
Have at least one glass of fresh sesame milk (the highest source of live food calcium) with vanilla, cinnamon and sweetened with stevia or honey 2-3 hrs after breakfast, an hour before a meal or whenever you need a snack.

Perfect smoothie Recipe
Mango kisses Serves 2
1 c mango
1 large banana
1 orange peeled, seeded
1 c lambs quarter greens
Or 2 handfuls of kale
Blend well, enjoy!

Blackberry Season and some routine testing..

Today I get to go in for a "routine" so they say, gestational diabetes screening. Now when I was first given the paper work to go this done from my OB, I thought.."Are you nuts!" I don't have diabetes..and my baby certainly does not and will not have that issue!

The nurse told me that when a women is pregnant her blood sugar is all over the place, no matter how healthy they eat. Hmmmm..


I guess this is yet another hoop I must leap through because I am after all seeing a hospital midwife which is covered by my insurence.


My midwife Kris, is actually very down to earth, encouraging and has given birth to both her babies at home (2o yrs ago). So she does not have the mindset that hospitals/brightlights/conventioanl medicine is the way to go. Pheww
I will tell you later about my last Ob I was seeing that was not so encouraging...eeee Let's just say that is why I am no longer with her and moved over to Kris.


Back when Kris gave birth there were not many women taking a more natural route, so home birth was her savior!
Today we have wonderful places like birthing centers, birth networks and a whole movement of women encouraging other women into bringing their little one's into this world by ways in which we were designed and are capable of doing. Naturally!

So, I guess I don't mind being poked and proded just a little as long as I can still enjoy the miracle and power of natural birthing.
Earlier this morning I went foraging for Blackberries for my routine walk then morning smoothie! Dahveed (Baby's Daddy and of couse my lover ) and I picked about 3 cups of juicy berries on the side of an abandon road near our house in Santa Cruz. We go at least 4 times a week in the morning and each time there is a gold mine of berries to be feasted on! This beats the 6.00 pack in the store!
It's important that we get more greens into our diets especially if we are carrying a little one. My breakfast smoothies have been fruit based and included wild greens growing in our back yard! Freeee! The smoothies have been suprisingly amazing and really satisfying.

Here is our eat-more-greens but not taste it Black berry smoothie recipe .

Blackberry Shake serves 2+ little one


3 c fresh blackberies


2 c pure water


Gently blend then strain in nutmilk bag and place liquid back into blender.


Then add:


1/2 dropper of vanilla cream stevia


2 ripe bananas


1 leaf of swiss chard or 2 leaves of kale de-stemmed


6-10 leaves of lambsquarters


Blend well. enjoy!

I am off to get poked for my screening test....this smoothie is going to keep me going for a few hours! They say I can't eat for 3 hrs. Should be good!

xxMelissa Mango

MOTHER'S INTUITION : New-trition

The week I found out I was pregnant in Feb 09 I was over-joyed, scared, curious, anxious and friggen hungry! Wow what a surge of "feelings" to experience all at once. As a predominately "rawFoodist" or what I like to call "High-Raw"advocate, I was experiencing some interesting cravings already.
"Gimmie the Mexican Food!" my body demanded.
After giving in a few times to my inner Mexican demands at a local Organic Mexican restaurant, I thought why the heck am I craving this stuff I rarely eat anymore? Tons of Cheese, re fried beans and soft warm tortillas? My mother along with many others suggested that I must have a nutritional need that my body is trying to make up for since I am now building a baby. The fact I need more "building blocks" makes total sense to me however blocks from processed dairy, canned beans and the oh so sinful soft melt-in-your-mouth tortilla? really? I wasn't going to argue but I was not going to just eat whatever.
My school of thought about your average super market's pasteurized dairy products is that dairy is highly mucus forming (especially cow) and that it digests slow in the body, makes one sleepy and of course leaches calcium from the bones. Hmm....my body knows better than this right?
With a mouth stuffed with the most delicious veggie and cheese burrito I could reach, I thought to myself...there has got to be more to these cravings! If I keep going at this rate I am going to have corners on my butt and it won't be due to "healthy pregnancy weight gain".

After a few weeks or so I began experiencing morning sickness. Oh goodie! My morning sickness took place most of the day at odd times. I was told that morning sickness was the body's natural way of wanting to cleanse the liver for the baby and that I should drink 1 liter of room temp water with lemon to aid this "flush" first thing in the morning. I was also instructed by experienced moms, close friends and my partner Dahveed to eat little bites of food all day and even in the middle of the night to rid the morning sickness. I force-snacked myself only few times and that wasn't working for me. Fact was, I could not stand the thought of food most of the day, so I just ate lighter. What was even more confusing is that the thought of anything green like salad, most vegetables made me even sicker. But greens are building blocks of life!

Knowing the vital nutritional value of fresh fruits and vegetables it was hard for me to pass up my normal raw food cuisine and reach for the only thing I could stand to put in my mouth and that was a sprouted bread : Ezekiel toast with tomato, avocado and sometimes a few slices of raw goat cheese. Finally! Something I could eat! And I felt great with my decision.
I continued this way of eating for sum weeks and felt good as long as I didn't over do the cheese or the bread. If I overate the cheese and bead I wouldn't poo for 3 days and I would have mucus in my eyes referred to as "sleepie". Sleepie in the eye is a sign your body is trying to get something out of the system.
I also enjoyed fresh raw vegetable soups made from blended tomatoes, avocado, onion, pink salt, spirulina for protein and other various spices. I usually had red raspberry leaf tea in the mornings, or a fresh fruit smoothie with fresh OJ or almond milk as the base. This routine seem to really work for me. I very rarely ate "Mexican" food and if I did, I would make it at home or have lot sof veggies added and toss the tortilla and rice. I was feeling better about the type of foods I was feeding my unborn child.
As the pregnancy progressed I felt better emotionally and physically. My morning sickness went away and so did my cravings for Mexican flavors. I came to realize that my cravings were not dietary calls for help, it was simply my system calling out for help with coping with the shift to pregnancy. Pregnancy can be a lot for women to adjust to and prepare for. I notice a pattern in my food cravings and it flares the most when I am "stresses" or feeling as tho I have a lot on my mind and need the comforts. This would explain the insane dash to the Mexican restaurant only 2 weeks pregnant.
Instead of reaching for processed, dry and greasy foods I try to make my own soups, lucious salads of fresh fruit smoothies. To relieve tension I try to go for a walk, yoga, or dance. What has been successful for me so far is to have back up plans for when those feelings or emotions arise and have foods ready for an easy transition.
Here are a few tips

1. I keep the fridge stocked with fresh foods you can easily dive into such as ripe juicy fruits, avocados and tomatoes.
2. Have a nice rich salad dressing already made to satisfy the need for something more substantial like a hemp seed ranch dressing.
3. Have sweet little snacks pre-made so you don't need to wait an hour to have what you are craving at the time it is needed. Make raw macaroons, Date and pecan balls or raw chocolate truffles. Recipes can be found on line.

In conclusion: I realize it is my soul responsibility to eat like I give a damn. All women who are carrying babies are responsible for feeding their babies high quality foods so that they too can then live better lives through proper nutrition and healthy eating habits. New-Trition needs to be taught to our children through our practices. This is a matter of choosing the best foods available to you that will insure a healthy prenancy, give you more energy and make childbirth much easier on the body.
If mother's are going to consistantly eat junk all through their pregnancy and expect to feel better, we are fooling ourselves. We must choose pure, clean foods, move our bodies and prepare for giving birth to the next generation who will learn from our example.
What an amazing gift!