 Each day we are bombarded by good marketing. Billboards, magazines, TV commercials, TV shows, movies, commercials on the radio, in the schools, in our workplaces....everywhere you turn you are being told what you need to eat, how happy it will make you, how good it tastes. There is a war taking place that most people aren't aware of. Most of us are losing the battle. Americans are getting larger and larger, sicker and sicker, and aren't sure where to turn.
So how do we fight? How do we take our health back from those who are trying to make money off us? Anyone in the military will tell you the first step of battle is preparation. When we find ourselves tired, hungry, emotional - we turn to food. If we don't have anything premade - we turn to what is inexpensive and quick to satisfy our immediate needs. So we need to be prepared...equipped properly to fight our own weaknesses that others prey on.
What are our weapons that will equip us? We have food in our houses that we can turn to when we are hungry that are nutritious and life-giving. We do NOT have food in our house that will perpetuate our weigh gain or our illnesses.
How do we become that muscle-bound warrior? We build our strength of saying no to tempting food that only makes us larger and sicker. We build our self-control only one way...we practice it over and over. We make mistakes, but they don't stop us...we press forward and continue to say no.
Haley, this all sound well and good, but what does this look like? I'll share with you how I equip my own family.
1. I educate them on what is in their food, what it does to their bodies, why it's being sold to us, why others eat it but why we do not. No "because I said so"...I want my kids to be able to make their own choices when they are not with me because they have the knowledge to do so. It's also amazing to hear them tell their friends or each other why certain foods are better than others and what they need to eat when they don't feel well. I didn't have to do as much educating with my husband, in fact he asks questions that make me do more and more research and verify if what I'm spouting is fact.
2. I don't allow certain foods in the house. It's not a hard and fast rule - you don't get a lashing if you bring cheetos into the house. But "snacky" type food - chips, pretzels, etc...I'll only purchase healthier ones with fewer ingredients and they are rationed out for treats. You won't find desserts in my house, unless they are raw vegan. Those are the trickiest - you will eat an entire gallon of ice cream and still want more - it's designed to enable you to do so. If you bring candy into the house...keep a close eye on it as it will make its way to the trash can very quickly and sneakily.
3. I make sure that everyone has food available to them. I make 128 ounces of Green Smoothie for my husband every morning to take with him to work. That's all he drinks (most of the time) until evening. Ask him sometime how his health has improved. I pack my children lunches for school every day. There are three components to every meal they eat: 1. Fruit 2. Vegetable. 3. Other. For example, today's lunch was 1. Orange slices and Bananas 2. Cherry tomatoes 3. Dry Cereal (one got a healthy form of honey nut cheerios, the other got cracklin' oat bran)...I try to buy ones that mimic what's out there, but healthier versions. After school they will get home and I'll make them Raw Vegan Ice Cream for snack. It's my oldest's turn to pick the flavor. ;) The third category is usually smaller than the first two and I try to find things my children look forward to - which empowers them to eat their fruits and vegetables. Oh yes, you must eat them in order. Vegetables, Fruits, and THEN other. Fill up on the good stuff first. As with many patterns, we do what we dislike first and then move to what we like. Chores first, play second. Vegetables first, pasta second. Homework first, socializing second.
4. When we are out and about (birthday party, Disney on Ice, Ball game, etc.), nothing is forbidden, nothing is taboo - they can choose what they want (within reason of cost and availability). If they ask, I'll educate them, but I won't lecture them on their food choices. I do gently remind them when they are hyperactive, can't sleep, can't go to the bathroom, can't focus, or other lovely side effects...why we don't eat those foods on a regular basis. The choice must be theirs in the long run, not mine. You need to give your kids room to stretch their wings and make their own choices sometimes (but just like chores and homework...they need guidance at home). Likewise, I don't nag my husband, I don't tell him what he should and shouldn't eat, it is his choice as an adult. I try to provide options for him as well - although he's a little more entrenched in the snack foods that he turns to. Start young - it will pay off! ;)
Needless to say, it's a life-long war. Some battles you win, some you don't...don't beat yourself up, just get back up and fight another day. When all else fails...call me. :) I'll be your drill sergeant, your coach, your muse. Contact me if you need a battle plan.
I reviewed the Vitamix, Blendtec, and the Healthmaster in a previous blog post here, however that was over a year ago and needs to be updated! My experiences with each machine have evolved and I've used a new appliance, the Ninja, which I need to add to the mix! Vitamix  This is the cream of the crop - the ultimate blender that everyone should own. My use of my Vitamix (I've had both the 5000 and the 5200) over the past four years has cemented my unwavering loyalty to this brilliant machine. I bought my high powered blender the instant I decided the raw lifestyle was worth investing into. I've taken it on trips, on airplanes (checked & carry-on!), even on my honeymoon! Not only does it help me create all my raw vegan dishes, but it saves me tons of time. It grinds nuts and seeds, completely bursts the cell walls of plants to release that incredible chlorophyll, breaks down frozen fruit to make ice cream, in fact I haven’t found anything my Vitamix cannot do. When people ask if I miss hot foods (as I don't cook anything), I demonstrated how my Vitamix warms up my food. There is no heating element, but it runs at 240 mph and the friction heats up my soups, sauces, dips, etc. The only problem with the Vitamix? It’s expensive!!!!! If you buy a new Deluxe Vitamix 5200, with all the bells and whistles, it comes out to $650 (and that’s without S&H!). HOWEVER! You can also buy a Vitamix that has been “factory reconditioned” for 329.00!!!!!!!! If you put in this code when you check out , you get free shipping ($25 savings!): 06-005351.
People are always asking if there are other blenders out there that are cheaper, yet have the same performance. I have personally used three others that come close, but I will stress that NO BLENDER have the same performance as the Vitamix, in my experiences. Now mind you, I use my Vitamix 3-8 times a day, and have used each of the following blenders at least a half dozen times each while teaching classes.
Blendtec  The first is a Blendtec, the rival to the Vitamix. It’s much more affordable, coming in at $454 for the “Wild Side” (deluxe version), $434 for the Basic Version, and $384 for the Factory Reconditioned Basic. It’s actually slightly more powerful than the Vitamix, coming in at 1560 Watts vs. the Vitamix’s 1380 Watts. The Basic comes with a 32 oz. pitcher, the Wild Side has a 44 oz. pitcher, and the Vitamix has a 64 oz. pitcher. The Blendtec has a broader based pitcher – easier to get your food out and nothing gets trapped under the blades. Lastly, the Blendtec is programmable and you can set it and walk away and it will shut itself off The Blendtec can also warm up your liquids and dips, which is awesome for a raw foodist. All in all, the Blendtec is a GREAT BUY. If you can find one, go for it. BUT…there are some major drawbacks. First, it does not come with a tamper – an instrument to push food into the blades. Therefore, you need to cut and dice your food smaller so it will move AND you CANNOT make Ice cream in this blender. :/ That’s a big part of my diet, so I cannot imagine having the Blendtec permanently. Second, even though the base of the pitcher is larger (my Vitamix pitcher is tapered), it has problems with small amounts of food. The blades will spin if there isn't enough food to move around - and while it's difficult to do small amounts in the Vitamix, the tamper makes it possible. Also you cannot fill it to the top with food and expect it to blend. I can make a full 64 ounces of Green Smoothie in my Vitamix, but you can only fill the 44 oz container (the largest one that Blendtec makes) half way! Third, the larger motor doesn’t do any more than I need, but it is a LOT louder – which is not so good when you have kids with sensitive hearing, babies, or need to do any food prep when people are sleeping. And fourth, with all its settings (ice cream, dips, smoothies, etc.), it's much harder to work manually. When trying to make a dip out of cashews, for example, you need to run the dip setting three or four times to get the same consistency with the Vitamix. It's a good machine, but you can get a Vitamix for roughly the same price. I'd spend the money on the Vitamix.
HealthMaster  I have had the opportunity to try out Montel William’s HealthMaster. At 4 easy payments of $49.99 (plus S&H), it’s by far the cheapest at $200. It comes in at 1100 watts of power, which isn’t much less than Vitamix’s 1380 watts. It has a monster 70 oz. pitcher that has a nice broad base where no food gets stuck. It comes with a tamper! Yaaay! Ice cream, here we come! AND…the base is programmable just like the Blendtec. Here come the con’s. First, like the Blendtec, even though the base of the pitcher is larger (my Vitamix pitcher is tapered), I have problems doing small amounts of food. One cup of dip in the HealthMaster just spins…doesn’t mix, even with the tamper. Second, the lower wattage means that it just isn’t as powerful and doesn’t blend as smooth or creamy as the Vitamix or the Blendtec. I tried to make a pie crust (crushed nuts and fruit) in the HealthMaster and it got stuck in the pitcher, and I had to take it all out and use another appliance. The pitcher has pockets where food gets caught and I can’t just spatula it down to the bottom…I’m not sure if you can see from the picture. The motor is ridiculously loud and slightly smelly (which the manufacturer says will wear off within six months). Lastly, it has two locking mechanisms that sound like a wonderful safeguard but are actually quite annoying. The thing won’t run unless the pitcher is locked to the base and the lid is locked to the pitcher. Both locks are quite difficult to engage and after working with it for a half an hour, my fingers were starting to blister. I got used to it quickly, but my friend said she was less likely to work with it because of this feature. It also doesn't run at the speeds of the previous two machines, which means it won't warm up your food. It's a great machine for the price, at nearly half the price of the other two machines, so the frugal girl in me gives it one thumb up!
Ninja  Lastly, I've had more experience with the Ninja than with the previous two machines because it's far more affordable, available, and everyone seems to be getting one! This machine is wonderfully unique in that it has multiple blades. Because of this, a tamper is less necessary to push food into the blades - there are blades in the middle and on top! It has a programmable base with 1000 watts of power (only 100 less than the HealthMaster!), has a wonderfully easy to use 72 ounce container. All in all, they have taken a little bit of everything and made a great machine. AND - it's only $100!!!! That's crazy!
 I've also gotten to play with the Ninja Prep - which is even cheaper at $50-75, depending on where it's sold. However, it has more than HALF the wattage of the blender (400 watts!), and in turn cannot do many things (like make dips & sauces out of nuts) well. It does make small batches of things rather well and I was able to make a few dishes with ease (my Orange UnChicken, Green Smoothies!, and Pinky Pudding)
However, you get what you pay for. With the Ninja, you pay a fraction of the price for a fraction of the ability. I cannot make the same quality of dips, sauces, desserts, smoothies, and ice cream is out of the picture. It does many amazing things and is far better for making Green Smoothies than a traditional blender (Oster or Hamilton Beach). Each of the machines listed come with recipe books that are definitely a part of the price - wonderful recipes that get you to use the machine and eat healthier. Sure, they aren't raw vegan, but they are homemade from scratch and encourage you to move away from processed foods. That's the first step - less processed, more whole foods! So there we are. Four different high speed blenders. Each of the blenders tackled Green Smoothies with ease and are amazing blenders. I still recommend the Vitamix. It is worth the investment and even if you aren’t raw in any capacity it is wonderful for your kitchen. Not to mention, the Vitamix has been around since 1937 and is made in the US. If a machine has a warranty, I would trust a company that has been around more then ten years and has perfected the craft that they are in. Just my two cents... If I have moved you toward the Vitamix and are interested in purchasing one, use this code for free shipping (06-005351) and go here! I hope this helped!!!!
Grocery Shopping!  I have a new love in my business - taking people grocery shopping!!! I've done it a dozen times now and it's so much fun teaching others all the little tricks I've picked up over the past few years. It seems silly to some to pay someone to go shopping with you, but there is lots to learn!
1. What your grocery list should look like: Many people list what they need, but not quantities and aren't fully prepared with the right amounts of ingredients for the recipes they decide on.
2. How to pick produce to last the whole week: I teach people to only go grocery shopping once a week, which cuts down on impulse buying each time, as well as the cost of gas it takes to drive to and from the store.
3. How to pick ripe produce: Pineapples, Mangos, Avocados, Bananas, Greens...what do they look/smell like when ripe, when do you need to eat them, and how to you prepare them?
4. Inexpensive Deals: I teach how to price match, good questions for your produce managers at your stores, how to affect change in prices/selection where you shop the most.
5. Budgeting Groceries: If you know how much you have to spend, not only will you achieve that goal, but have a little left over for special grocery treats that you might not otherwise get.
6. Unknown Fruits/Vegetables: There is a good segment of the produce section I doubt you have even visited! I will introduce you to things you've only heard about, give you ideas as to how to use them, tell you why they are good for you, etc. :)
We usually spend 1-2 hours at the grocery store - and I can come to you if need be. It's a blast - wonderfully educational - and fun!
Price Matching  Let's talk about Price Matching! Does it seem like a lot of extra work? Don't feel as though you have the time/patience/energy for it? Well, I'm now offering my services! For $10/month, I will send you weekly emails regarding how/when/what to price match. If you would like to sign up for the year, it's a discounted $100! This pays for itself, for I save far more than $10 every time I shop, let alone per month. Imagine shopping for $100 worth of groceries, but only spending $35! That is what I did with my Green Smoothie Detox Program clients - I took them all shopping and we cut our budget by 2/3!
 I try to tell people that I have this curse. It's called frugality. It can be a blessing at times, and I'm grateful for how God has wired me. And in most cases it is beneficial to those around me. For example, I price match my groceries each week. This week I'm running a bit late and am going grocery shopping today. The ads always change over on Wednesday, which is when I usually shop, but I'm dangerously low on bananas. If you know me, you know what a travesty this is. ;)
So this week, these are the specials I'm going after:
RANCH MARKET
Bananas - .33/lb
Tomatoes - .33/lb
Avocados - .33 each
EL SUPER
Mangos - .50 each
FOOD CITY
Celery - .33 each
Broccoli - .50/lb
Fuji - .33/lb
SPROUTS
Grapes - .88/lb
Bell Peppers - .88 each
I'll get the rest of my produce from farmers markets, CSAs, and the organic isle at Sprouts. These are the deals I'm going after to save money. All of the produce above will be conventional, which isn't ideal but the prices allow me to buy organic at other times. I'll try to post these sales every week. :)
Trying to figure out how to add more organic in to your lifestyle, but are finding it hard to stretch your budget so far? Eat your fruits and vegetables! The health benefits of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables FAR outweigh the risks of pesticide exposure. Use EWG's Shopper's Guide to Pesticides to reduce your exposures as much as possible, but eating conventionally-grown produce is far better than not eating fruits and vegetables at all.
The Shopper's Guide to Pesticide in Produce will help you determine which fruits and vegetables have the most pesticide residues and are the most important to buy organic. You can lower your pesticide intake substantially by avoiding the 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables and eating the least contaminated produce.
*Commodity crop corn used for animal feed and biofuels is almost all produced with genetically modified (GMO) seeds, as is sweet corn sold for human consumption. Since GMO sweet corn is not labeled as such in US stores, EWG advises those who have concerns about GMOs to buy organic sweet corn.
EWG's Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce
Dirty Dozen: Buy these organic
1 Apples
2 Celery
3 Strawberries
4 Peaches
5 Spinach
6 Nectarines– imported
7 Grapes – imported
8 Sweet bell peppers
9 Potatoes
10 Blueberries – domestic
11 Lettuce
12 Kale/collard greens
Clean 15: Lowest in Pesticide
1 Onions
2 Sweet Corn
3 Pineapples
4 Avocado
5 Asparagus
6 Sweet peas
7 Mangoes
8 Eggplant
9 Cantaloupe - domestic
10 Kiwi
11 Cabbage
12 Watermelon
13 Sweet potatoes
14 Grapefruit
15 Mushrooms
Green Crisps
What?! It's been almost three months since I've blogged?! Bad Haley! :)
So today I made a breakthrough. It was a long time coming...I've procrastinated this step for far too long. You see, I love snack foods...who doesn't?! I've always enjoyed pretzels, chips, popcorn, crackers, etc....and when I was single and on my own they were very often entire meals for me. Yeah, you know what I'm talking about!!! Well, as a Raw Vegan....my choices are limited. I make an awesome Flax Cracker (otherwise known as Flackers ;), but they take a while to dehydrate and are a bit thick and dense. I've even developed an equivalent to Goldfish Crackers, but again....slightly time consuming and not very inexpensive.
I have been toying with the idea of Green Crisps for quite a while now. Kale Chips are nothing new - they are everywhere...but you don't always have to use Kale. I loved the idea of Nori Crisps, or Collard Crisps. You see, it's quite easy, inexpensive, simple, and quick compared to any other Raw Chip out there...and very versatile as well. You can make it complex and complicated(many people do), but I made some UNBELIEVABLE Kale Chips today...so simple I've gotta share it with you!!! Kale Chips (Green Crisps)- 1 Bunch of Kale (or Collards, Nori, Spinach, Cabbage, etc...)
- 2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 Tbsp spices (I used Garlic Salt - unbelievable! Also good: Italian, Cumin, Curry, etc.)
Tear Kale off the stem/stalk and into small pieces (see picture above). Pour Olive oil and spices in a bowl and toss your kale in. Massage your kale with the olive oil and spices until well saturated and soft. Place on your dehydrator sheet (non-stick for they will be oily) and dehydrate at 105 degrees for 4-6 hours. They should come out paper thin and crispy. Careful not to add too much spice - it will concentrate in the dehydrator!If you do not have a dehydrator, bake on a cookie sheet at your lowest temperature for 20-40 minutes until nice and crispy. Voila!
I never know how to explain what I do. I am a teacher. Yes, I am a raw vegan, but I NEVER ask or expect anyone to follow in my footsteps. In fact, I encourage everyone to NEVER ATTEMPT TO GO 95-100% raw. It's hard! It is only by the grace of God that I can continue on this path. He has endowed me with the health I currently are able to enjoy and he provides grace when I need it most. When I am faced with temptation, say my daughter is invited to a pizza party, He provides me with substitutions, with alternatives, and with the motivation to withstand the smells, the sights, and the enjoyment everyone around me is partaking in. So again, do not do what I do, unless you have inner motivation!
Okay, let me get off my soapbox. ;) What I do: I share. I teach. I inspire. I encourage. Oh yeah, and I demonstrate how to make ridiculously simple and inexpensively healthy food. People who come to my classes get 3 new recipes to add to their diet. They don't have to change their lifestyle, they don't even have to replace regular ranch dressing with my Raw Ranch Dressing. It's their choice...I am providing tools for healthier decisions. However, it is exciting and everyone tends to dive in headfirst. Then....they are left overwhelmed and discouraged.
 Where do I begin? How do I keep it simple? What do I add? How do I plan what I make? How do I keep my expenses down? I get these questions ALL THE TIME. I love getting emails, phone calls, but very often people need more. They need me to sit down with them and show them where to begin. How to plan. Where and what to focus on. That's when I put on my other hat: Consultant. I take you through what works for me, how I am able to make this lifestyle easier, simpler, healthier, and cheaper than when I lived "normally." I have two and a half years of experience under my belt. That's a lot of failures that I have learned from. I am not coaching you to become raw, but coaching you toward adding more and more health. Baby steps, people. So if you are interested in me coming to your house and going through grocery lists, meal planning, making food together, or just sitting down and talking, contact me.
If you do not live close to me, never fear! Living Raw By Grace has gone digital! If you do not live in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area, or you are too busy to attend one of my classes, you can now speak to me, watch me demo, and begin moving towards health from the comfort of your own home! Virtual Consultation through Skype. :)
 I made my first green smoothie without using my Vitamix this week. I used a hand blender, because that’s all I had to use. Now, because it was much smaller and less powerful, I made four batches. Smaller quantities and smaller pieces. I blended my greens with water first, and then I started to add fruit slowly. An apple and a pear, diced very fine. A banana, broken into small pieces. More water. Technically, in order to have a full liter of smoothie, I made four small ones. They all tasted slightly different; one had a pear in it, one had three bananas, one had more cabbage. They were all wonderful and very healthful. I loved my Green Smoothie, and I loved that I could make it no matter where I went, no matter what equipment I had at hand...
 There was one big difference, though. It wasn’t chunky, but it wasn’t smooth. Now this isn’t just a texture preference. Green leafy vegetables have remarkably strong cell walls. The life giving chlorophyll lives within these cell walls, unable to be crushed by our feeble jaws. That is where my Vitamix comes in. It runs at 240 mph and completely ruptures those cell walls, releasing the chlorophyll that is so life-changing and disease-fighting. As I was slightly chewing my hand blended smoothie, I realized that I was only getting part of the nutrition that was available to me.
Now, mind you, that smoothie was more nutrition than I had EVER gotten ten years ago. Just by drinking a daily Green Smoothie, you are filling your life with more DISEASE PREVENTION than almost any other addition into your lifestyle. So, I tip my smoothie to yours...whether it be a hand blended, high speed blended, commercially blended, or that inexpensive blender on your counter…let us fill our lives with more health! It’s delicious and just what your body has been craving…
 I’m a bit of a people person, if you cannot tell. All my life I have adopted families left and right, and I doubt that will ever change. My current adopted family has come down with several illnesses. A few have the flu, one has bronchitis...so there is coughing, sneezing, blowing, and all sorts of stuff floating around. I can FEEL my body fighting back, not to catch what is going around. I have a slight sore throat and I have less energy than usual, but so far no further symptoms. Now I am NOT a physician. I do not give you medical advice, only share what I do and what works for me. If you do not feel well and want to seek medical advice, please do so! (Although my recommendation is a D.O. or a naturopath…I have yet to find an M.D. that does anything but overmedicate.)
 There are two things that I do myself, and I recommend to others when you think you are getting sick. First – STOP EATING!!! Your body has been perfectly designed to heal itself and protect itself from foreign invaders. The more things we ask of our bodies, however, the less it’s focus is on staying healthy. We have been conditioned as a culture to reach for chicken noodle soup when we are sick…or crackers. As soon as we engage our digestive system, we cut our defenses in half. Then, if we engage in eating foods that our bodies have difficult times digesting (i.e. meat, milk products, complex grains, high sugar foods)…then we take more energy away when we crucially need it. Our bodies very often tell us that we aren’t hungry when sick – and sometimes even induce vomiting. Listen to them – don’t put food in! We have also been conditioned to believe that we derive energy from food, and need to keep our energy up. False. Quite the opposite! If you can water fast while sick – do so…your body will thank you for it, and you will recover much faster. If you cannot (I have always found it difficult to water fast and have not succeeded yet), then eat foods that are easily and quickly digested. I prefer blended foods or fresh juices – Green Smoothies or freshly squeezed Orange juice. They are blended or juiced – less for your digestive system to do. They are quickly assimilated and eliminated. They provide wonderful nutrition that your body craves while sick – vitamin C and other immune boosting vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. They also fill you up so you aren’t craving items that you have programmed your brain to desire when you are sick (i.e. soup).
 My second recommendation is to drink a concoction I call “Cold-Buster Water.” It’s quite simple. We know of MANY medicinal herbs, spices, fruits, and vegetables that have been around far longer than the synthetic compounds we have created within the past hundred years. The water I drink has crushed garlic, lemon juice, raw honey, and cayenne powder. Sounds weird? Perhaps, but it does the trick!!! Lemon is ridiculously high in vitamin C – an immune system booster which protects against illness and aids in healing. Garlic, Raw Honey, and Lemon are all anti-bacterial – which prevents, protects against and helps cure bacterial infections. Garlic, Cayenne, and Honey are all anti-fungal as well. Garlic and lemon are also anti-viral which helps against these viruses (flu, etc.). Raw honey is also antiseptic – which means you can apply it to an open wound and it will guard against infection, as well as keep it sterile! Cayenne is wonderful as well, and researching it was eye-opening! This incredible spice helps to flush your system out (without any mess), and aids in heart health. It regulates blood flow from your head to your feet! Here is what I usually do.
 A pitcher of “Cold Buster Water” (A.K.A. Spicy Lemonade)
- 2 lemons, juiced
- 2 tbsp raw honey
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled
- 5 cups water
- 2 tbsp cayenne pepper
Now…I usually blend this mixture in my vitamix – until it makes a smooth juice. It’s delicious and has quite an after kick. It yields 6 cups and I drink it slowly for a meal. If I’m not planning on making a whole pitcher, I’ll just squeeze half a lemon into a glass of water, a spoonful of honey, and crush a clove of garlic into it.
 I have had several conversations with women in the past six months about poor eating habits. One that I hear about most often is the ability to stop eating when full. If the food is exceptionally incredible it is hard to put the fork down even when your belly lets me know it has had enough. Usually the taste and enjoyment of the food overrules self discipline. If this sounds like you, you are not alone. Before I went raw, this was always something in the forefront of my mind when eating, snacking, or dining with others.
This is not why I eat raw food, but for the first time I don’t worry about overeating, getting too full, feeling poor afterward. I can eat my full, even eat more than is necessary but feel no negative effects. This is part of the hope that the Lord has given me and that I am excited to share with others, especially with women. We can enjoy food again, without paranoia or feelings of guilt.
When eating “normal” food, it’s not wise to eat half a cake, a batch of cookie dough, or four burgers in one setting. The amount of sugar usually found in desserts will actually slow your immune system – which is why flu and cold season begin right after the holidays.
 However, considering one of my raw cakes consists mostly of fruits and vegetable with no added sugar, no gluten, no dairy, and is low glycemic, and helps to PREVENT illness and disease…eating half the cake in one sitting is not only not dangerous or ill advised, but healthy and encouraged!
 So if I’m feeling down and would like some chocolate to help pick me up, I can make some brownies using nuts and dried fruit – enjoying the simplicity of what God has created, without all the garbage man has developed. High Fructose Corn Syrup, Maltodextrose, Aspartame, Monosodium Glutamate, Artificial colors, and a host of lesser known carcinogens (cancer causing “foods”) are found in so many products, and often disguised by aliases, that it is difficult to protect ourselves. Especially from ourselves.
 This is why raw food can be so exciting. Easy, fast, simple foods that we know are good for us because we make them ourselves. Inexpensive and fast…isn’t that we all seek these days? We don’t have to eat ONLY raw foods, but turn to them when we know we are vulnerable. Rediscover your comfort foods, learn to prepare them in a different way, and prepare things ahead of time so you can turn to them if need be.
I hope I get to see you at the next class, where you can add a few more recipes to your arsenal of health.
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