Green Smoothie Anniversary & Experiment

This month marks my one year anniversary with green smoothies! One year ago a dear friend told me about these seemingly gross pond-sludge drinks that she concocts in her kitchen. Multiple times each day. I read the book she suggested ("Green For Life" by V. Boutenko). I gathered the greens, fruit, revved up my K-tec motor, and got busy with the smoothies.

My health improved. Simple fact.

Food cravings - gone.

Energy - up.

Weight - down.

Recovery from physical exertion - fast.

Hair - thicker.

Skin - clear.

Nourishment of body - excellent.

Food craving amendment - crave fresh veggies & fresh fruit.

Blood sugar levels - better control.

Insulin - dosage cut in half.

All in all, green smoothies have done wonders for my health, including my Type 1, child-onset, insulin-dependent diabetes. My insulin requirements have cut way, way back. Amazing. Some even believe that I will be "cured" of my diabetes if I stick to this. 

*(Please be advised that Type 2 diabetes for the most part, I think is self-induced with gluttony, lack of exercise, and lack of knowledge--the pancreas still manufactures insulin, the body just gets really mixed up on how to use it. To the contrary, with Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas makes no insulin, making injections or insulin pumps mandatory.)

If you are new to this site, please revisit previous posts regarding green smoothie facts & recipes, also look here for an intro to green smoothies. And it is true, I don't write as much here as I used to. Life is happening. God is leading. My family is following. That takes priority.

By the way, I conducted an experiment on myself. Oh yeah. I must say that I learned a lot. And I must also say that I would like to smack my forehead and say "duh" about my findings. You know, I did it for your sake. For the sake of those who doubt about why I eat this way. And drink this way.

Two days ago I ate some store-bought, non-raw food corn chips. Oh yes I did. I ate probably 15 of them. I also got out my hubby's tub of store-bought, non-raw food salsa and I dipped away. My taste buds didn't know what to do. My mouth burned. My stomach churned and gurgled and protested. My tongue started to swell. My mouth felt coated and gross. In a fit of desperate regret, I downed a bunch of live culture acidophilus. 

I went on my merry way for the rest of the day. 

Results from shocking my raw food body...

Same day: felt sluggish, grouchy, slight head ache, by bedtime was beat, did not sleep well that night.

Next day (yesterday): Made an intense green smoothie with lots of cilantro (blood purifier) and felt worse before I felt better... sick to my stomach, felt like I was gonna blow for the first half of the day, wanted to lay down with my ugly guts, clear skin replaced with the opposite, felt flu-ish (and foolish), slept like I was riding a rail car last night...  

Today: ready for green smoothies, lots of lemon water, and for my system to get back under control.

My experiment proved to me that eating a raw-food diet, complete with green smoothies is the best thing for my body. I have no desire to indulge in that sort of food fare again--the chips and salsa from the store. 

I will make my own flax crackers. And my own salsa. Thank you very much!

Living bodies do thrive on living foods!

Nori Rolls, Noodles & PAUC

Oh, I can hardly believe that it has been over two months since my last posting. Winter weather, big changes in my husband's job, and an impending move have played a role in my time away from the keyboard. I do miss plucking out health tips, raw and/or whole foods ideas and suggestions. 

Recently my son and I had a lunch of raw food Nori rolls. He also ate some cooked food--whole grain noodles with an oriental sauce. I added black beans to his noodle mix as well.

For Christmas, in celebration of Jesus' birthday, we made a special PAUC. What is a puac? Pineapple Apple Upsidedown Cake. We made a vegan recipe and used whole grains. Everything that we toss the bowl, pot or pan is organic. As a reminder, I would suggest that you buy the majority of your ingredients as organic. 

Vegetables we had on-hand for the Nori rolls... Avocado, carrot, cucumber, celery, carrot, and tomato. Just use whatever you have. If you want to plan a special menu for your Nori rolls, then go do it. But just remember that this Simple Raw Food Mamma doesn't fret about details of perfection. 

Place the strips of veggies on the nori sheet. Don't bother toasting the sheet as per the instructions. Keep it raw! Moisten both inner ends along the edges. Roll from one end, tighten the wrap with a gentle squeeze, and keep wrapping and rolling.

Here is my son's lunch. Yum. And yes, he eats all his veggies! I cut my roll in bite sized pieces while he likes the chewy nature of a whole nori roll.

Our birthday cake for Jesus. My son and hubby said it was really good. Let me tell you that it smelled awesome. Here is a link for where I got the cake recipe. We used pineapple, but as a modification, we added chopped apples and honey. Like I said, don't get caught up with the details of perfection, just make food that nourishes a living body.

Simple Eating & Drinking

Simplicity. 

If you are a regular follower, you know that I am certainly a Simple Raw Food Mamma. There are two reasons I have not written much lately. The first is that I am homeschooling my son and it takes time...time that I gladly devote to him and his education. The second reason is that I have been eating and drinking so simply that I don't know what to tell y'all about! 

But alas, as the cold weather settles in, I am sure that those vegan raw comfort foods with substance will soon make a comeback in my dietary realm. So stay tuned for raw food recipes and how-to's for crackers, holiday desserts, "burgers," and even breads. With less time outside, more time will be spent inside doing food prep and eating.

So, what have I been eating that is so basic and simple for the past month? I start out the day with a green smoothie. I make a large batch and put half of it in the fridge for later.

Basic Green Smoothie

- water (1 cup)

- kale or rainbow chard (crammed in the blender to the 3 cup mark)

-> blend until smooth

- frozen blueberries (1 cup)

- frozen strawberries (1 cup)

-> blend again to smooth

Then for lunch I eat a 

Simple, Simple Salad 

- zucchini chopped

- tomato chopped 

- hemp seed sprinkled on top

or

I eat a 

Simple Raw Food Wrap

- zucchini cut into strips

- tomato sliced

- greens (kale, lettuce...)

- 1/2 avocado sliced, smeared, or chopped

- red pepper sliced

- raw (do not toast) nori sheet(s)

-> follow directions on nori sheet package; put veggies onto wrap at one end, moisten edges, roll wrap tight with sushi mat (or just use bare hands), cut if desired

~ here is a link to a previous post a nori wrap recipe & photos

And then for dinner, I usually make my two fellas something cooked (whole wheat pasta with sauce, baked potatoes, rice & beans...) and a bowl of mixed raw veggies. I either eat the veg. salad or drink my remaining green smoothie or both.

So, it has been a simple culinary autumn around here as we have been busy with dehydrating and freezing foods for wintertime...and doing homeschool.

I been requested to teach a raw food class concentrating on holiday dessert ideas. Keep an eye out for that event.

Welcome new readers. I hear there are a couple of you.

Keep it simple.

See results.

Feel better.

Stick with it!

Oh yes, watch out for some mustard greens! Yum-yum-yum. If you are a mustard green newbie, start with small bites. Oh, they are so good and add such a flare and flavor to your salad or even your smoothie. I grab wads of the greens throughout the day and cram into my mouth! Yeah, love that spicy sensation...

Catch-up--recipes & photos

Even though it has been many days since I updated this blog, I still have been snapping photos with the intent of posting. So, here is a little catch-up...

My son and I made a salad of sorts a while back. I did cook the blue potatoes, but the rest is raw. 

We snapped green beans, popped out some peas, chopped some tomatoes, cucumbers and zucchini. We tossed those fresh veggies with made a simple olive oil-lemon juice dressing and the cooked potatoes. Viola! 

Simple Raw Kiddo is the one who reminded me to take a photo. He said, "Mom, take a picture of my salad. The people will want to see it."

Do take the time to involve your kids in food preparation. They will not only learn basic kitchen skills, but they will learn to love food for its nourishment.

Well, I don't know about all these people he thinks are spending time at this blog... I do hope that someone is encouraged to improve their health by the ideas I share, facts I pass along, and photos I post.

Here are some homemade pizza photos too. I made a wheat-free crust, spread some homemade pizza sauce (olive oil, chopped tomatoes, italian seasoning--smash & simmer), topped it off with lots of fresh veggies and a little vegan mozzarella cheese. 

A healthy pizza that tastes as good as it looks. My boys ate it up! Yummyumm.

With autumn fully upon us we have been busy harvesting and preparing food for winter storage and ultimately winter consumption. My son helped me make some spiced plum butter and spiced apple butter. Mostly he helped with the clean-up--licking the spatulas and bowls.

Even boys can be in the kitchen. It does help if one wears camouflage pants under their mamma's red apron though!

Another use for ripe plums and apples... 

Cooked Vegan Dessert: 

Slow Baked Plums & Apples

Core 'em, chop 'em, smother 'em in honey, sprinkle in some pumpkin pie spice, top 'em off with oats & chopped almonds, cover and bake at low heat (250) for a couple of hours. Before serving, take off foil and bake at 425 for a few minutes. The house smelled marvelous and my guests said the dessert was delish too!

* I have made this with the crock pot too.

I have been making green smoothies all week with some lovely collard greens. 

-water

-collard greens

-pear

-blueberries

-blend until smooth!

Whew, until next time...

Please remember that health and vitality 

is as close as your next mouthful of food! 

Make it fresh.

Make it from scratch.

Make it simple.

Make it count.  ;-)

Protein--Healthy Truth

How do you get enough protein in your diet?

That is one of the most common questions I get in regard to eating a raw food vegan diet. 

Well folks, quite simply put, there has been way too much hoopla regarding "complete" & "high-quality" protein in one's diet. The fact is, you can achieve and maintain a very healthy body by consuming plant-based proteins! Steaks, chops, roasts and burgers have been scientifically proven to promote diseased bodies, whereas the plant-based proteins have been linked to longevity.

If you haven't heard of, read, watched/listened to an interview with Dr. T. Colin Campbell in regard to his book "The China Study," you must make the time to do so. In trying to prove that the meat and dairy way of eating is the best, he came across startling evidence so he undertook a 20-year long study looking at and establishing a cause & effect between protein sources and incidence of disease. Startling evidence...

Early in his career as a researcher with MIT and Virginia Tech, Dr. Campbell worked to promote better health by eating more meat, milk and eggs -- “high-quality animal protein … It was an obvious sequel to my own life on the farm and I was happy to believe that the American diet was the best in the world.”

The research project culminated in a 20-year partnership of Cornell University, Oxford University, and the Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine, a survey of diseases and lifestyle factors in rural China and Taiwan. More commonly known as the China Study, “this project eventually produced more than 8000 statistically significant associations between various dietary factors and disease.” 

The findings? “People who ate the most animal-based foods got the most chronic disease … People who ate the most plant-based foods were the healthiest and tended to avoid chronic disease. These results could not be ignored,” said Dr. Campbell.

above quote taken from http://www.thechinastudy.com/news.html

Why are his findings so startling? And why isn't this making headline news on more airwaves, doctor's offices, hospital hallways, and around water coolers? The answer really is simple. Human nature. Human nature dislikes change. Human nature is resistant to reality. Human nature doesn't like to be startled.

I would like you to be startled just enough to educate yourself and then make an informed decision about the health and welfare of you and your family. At least take the first step by reading an excerpt from his book right here. After that, it is up to you to reclaim your health and vitality. I am here to pass along pertinent information and promote an eating style that has proven itself time and again...

China Study excerpt 

Oh yes, back to the protein topic. We learned in our high school biology class or basic nutrition in health that amino acids are the building blocks of protein. Some amino acids we make within our bodies and others we must consume. In the old days, food combining was thought of as the best way to assist our bodies in the manufacture and utilization of "complete" proteins. But nowadays, it  has been shown that our bodies keep an amino acid pool. And from this pool, our body can assemble and assimilate "complete" proteins! 

These amazing bodies that God gave us in the Garden were first made to consume only plant-based foods, remember? So, God already made our bodies with the intent to survive and thrive on a plant-based diet. Hmmm.

I for one have noticed over the years as I refine my diet (my story) that my muscle mass is more lean, I recover from athletic endeavors quicker, and I have way more energy. Tri-athlete (Brendan Brazier) and even some champions in the Mr. Universe and body building world are vegans. Hmmm.

Cows. Horses. What do they eat? Where do they get their muscle mass? Where do they get their energy? How do they grow, reproduce, lactate, and live? Yes, indeed those massive animals eat plant-based diets. Hmmm.

In a future post or two I will go into more detail about protein, but I just wanted to give you a taste (pun intended) of what your protein source is doing to your health --or lack thereof.

 

Coke & Pop-tarts Are NOT Breakfast!

This video clip is Ann Cooper, the director of Nutrition Services for the Berkeley Unified School District. Ms. Cooper is the author of "Lunch Lessons: Changing the Way We Feed Our Children." In this clip she is speaking at a 2007 conference. 

Ann Cooper is also known as the "Renegade Lunch Lady." It is sad that when one is an advocate for wholesome, healthy food they are called a renegade. Well, then that makes me an official crazy lady too! Crazy for kids. Crazy for health. Crazy for you to make informed decisions.

Back to the video clip...she tells it exactly like it is. If I were standing on a stage voicing the facts and stats on this topic, this is exactly what I would want to come outta my mouth! Please take the time to watch this and pass it along to anyone you know who has kids in the public school system. 

What are the kids eating at your public schools?

What diseases are your kids at-risk for by eating at the public schools?

I love this breakdown she gives in her address:

- $110 billion spent on fast food

- $100 billion spent on diet pills

- $50 billion spent on veggies

- $200 billion spent on diet-related illnesses

Spend less on fast food & more on veggies, then the other amounts will decrease! Duh. This is a huge "duh" moment.

Do you know, we more money is spent on one gourmet cup of fancy-pants coffee than is spent within the school system per child, per week for their lunch food! 

Watch out for the crazy ladies. We are comin' round the mountain!

Upcoming Class

Howdy! It has been so long since I posted a message here on Simple Raw Health. 

We have been busy around here with home schooling, a vacation, and getting all the autumn harvest and end-of-garden-growing stuff done.

For my Longview WA, Kelso WA, Rainier OR and other nearby readers, please take note of the post prior to this one... I am teaching at Longview's Country Village this Saturday. In addition to reading about Green Smoothies here, you will have the chance to learn more about the how-to's & health benefits of these blended beauties. I will teach, demonstrate, give out samples, answer questions and point you in the right direction for resources.

You may call in to have your name added to the list and/or stop by in-person before Saturday to register.

I hope to see you there!

Green Smoothie Class Information

Country Village 

Café & Nutrition Shoppe 

in Longview, Washington

presents the

Saturday 

Health Education Series

with

An Introduction to

Green Smoothies

 

 
1.               What is a green smoothie?
2.               What are the health benefits?
3.               How do I start?
4.               What are some easy recipes?

 

These and more questions answered.

Samples provided.

Resources available.

Lose Weight  ~ Increase Energy 

~ Improve Health & Vitality

 

Do you constantly hear the news reports & read the articles that tell you to add 5-8 servings of fruits and veggies into your diet? Truth be told, even vegetarians/vegans/raw foodists do not get the amount of veggies, let alone greens needed to thrive. Let me teach you how to nourish your body all while increasing your consumption of amazing & healthy raw produce.

 

Space is limited so please pre-register by signing-up today!

date:   Saturday, September 27^th

^{time:   12pm-1pm}

^{cost:   $5/person}

 

Darlene is a local health educator & raw food/healthy living coach with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Idaho in School & Community Health Education (minors in Physical Education & Athletic Training). She was a guest lecturer at the University of Idaho, implemented a Women’s Health Education Series in Rainier, & teaches at various health-related venues in the area. Darlene also has in-depth knowledge of Type I, insulin-dependent diabetes and a background & knowledge in alternative medicine & health care.