Euphoria Loves Rawvolution
Matt Amsden’s book, Rawvolution, was an inspiration to me when I went raw in January…the photos, the information, it was all exactly what I needed at the time. He even has a burger called “The Big Matt”. 🙂 I knew that when we finally got to L.A…we just HAD to go there. Many times 🙂
I was positively giddy when I saw Rawvolution’s green exterior paint in the distance…I practically bolted away from Matt and Bella to get in the door faster 🙂 The inside of the restaurant is very…purple. With lots of really bright colored pictures gracing the walls. Books, superfoods, and t-shirts line the wall as you walk in. The tapestry covered couch in the corner calls out to you…so inviting! There is a juice and elixir bar in the front left, and you place your order on the right. This isn’t a full service restaurant, but rather a “order and go” or “order and stay” kind of casual dining place (or don’t come in at all and order “The Box” raw food delivery service from anywhere in the country!). The whole set up is a bit confusing for newbies…especially when it’s super busy, but we figured it out and were soon diving into our raw feast.
I would have to say that I wasn’t overly impressed with the food. It was TASTY… but it was hit or miss…some was great, some was…”eh…”. With all the hype surrounding this place, I half expected the food break into a song and dance for me on my plate before I ate it. If it was my first raw restaurant experience, I would probably feel differently…but I really wanted to be blown away. I will give the thumbs up for their elixirs, however. I loved the Springtime Protein Shake. So much, in fact, that I came back 3 different times to get the same thing. Yes, it was that good. The great thing is, you can buy the mix online! I found it in their cooler…and wrote down the website. You can find it here. In the winter, they serve it warm…cold for the summer. It was really unique tasting…and you just blend it with a nut milk. Ooooh, I’m getting cravings for one right now!
The thing that I LOVED about Rawvolution? It was like raw “Cheers”. You wanna be where everybody knows YOUR name…right? Well, the vibe in here was pretty amazing. Everyone was so open…talking…sharing…laughing. Each time we went in, we made new friends and had wonderful, lengthy conversations with them. Bella always makes friends especially fast. But here, she was on overdrive… joining some girls on the couch for hugs one time, and then talking Heather, another new friend, into letting her write on her very fancy Mother’s Day cards 🙂 Another day, we all sat with a delightful couple who were into the raw scene in Santa Monica. They were thoughtful enough to grab Matt Amsden as he was breezing through the restaurant and introduced us to him. Very fun.
Not everyone eating here was raw…or even vegan. They just enjoy the creativity and textures of raw food. They enjoy the people and the atmosphere. It was truly addicting. I wanted to be there everyday…to people watch, to make new friends, to enjoy the food, and especially for that Springtime Protein Shake! There is just something about people who are eating primarily raw foods…they are more focused, more intense, more alive. And when they have a place to come together and share ideas over good food…it’s magical.
Rawvolution is definitely worth a stop (or two…or three) when you’re in Santa Monica!
Photo album here.
Terra Bella Cafe
L.A. is well-known as one of the premiere raw food “hot spots”…and while we were there in May, I wanted to experience all the raw goodness that I could. I had picked up the Spring ’08 copy of “Get Fresh“…a raw magazine that just happened to have an article titled “Raw Guide to L.A.”. Sweet! It detailed all the raw restaurants in the city and surrounding areas. There was no way we could make it to them all, but we picked a few that looked yummy and off we went.
The first restaurant we tried out was Terra Bella Cafe. It’s a quaint little spot just a short walk from the beach…with a front patio full of flowers and greens and a warm interior decor.
The first thing I noticed here was the staff and how friendly they were. We were immediately greeted as “friends”…and they took a special interest in Bella … really making her feel like part of it all. The food here was TRULY amazing. It really was. I’ve been to a lot of raw restaurants, and most of the time, they all have the same taste profiles. But this one was different. The thai coconut soup…oh my. The burger…wow. The caramel roll…loving it.
We also had the chance to meet Melissa and her new head chef, as they were sitting at the bar talking while we were in there. She is a beautiful woman who clearly knows how to run a restaurant. I would go back again in a heartbeat! See all the photos here.
(Side note: Melissa is one of the executive chefs at the Raw Spirit Festival this year!)
Sara’s Personal Food Journal
I have been keeping a sort of “private” blog for a few months now…tracking what I am eating and how I feel. I’ve decided to make this blog public, for the simple reason that I know I love to read what other people are eating. It’s very inspiring for me, and I hope that my journal will inspire YOU and help you in your quest towards a healthier way of life.
I don’t update with any sort of regularity, just when I think about it. I might enter a bunch of days in a row and then not post for a few weeks or more. Lists of food just aren’t super exciting when it’s the same thing over and over 🙂 This site is mostly just for your reference…because I know that a lot of people wonder, “…so what do those raw food people eat, anyway?!”. 🙂
Sometimes I will include what Bella ate…sometimes what Matt ate. Most of the time, Matt and I are eating the same thing. If I have a deep thought for the day, I will include that as well. My goal is always to each as much raw food as possible, but I also allow myself to splurge on my favorite cooked foods once in awhile. I feel that this is the only way for me to stay raw in the long term. Life is too short to give up pad thai and the occasional soy caramel macchiato. 🙂 I do try to stay vegan though.
Feel free to comment and/or leave questions and I will do my best to answer them.
Here you go!
Raw Delight
http://rawdelight.wordpress.com/
Bunny Berry’s 100 Day “Raw Fu” Challenge
The 100 Day Raw Fu Challenge is about to begin! August 1st is the big day. If you have been wanting to get serious about raw foods…now is your chance. Join the challenge on Bunny’s site and you’ll have tons of support and community during your adventures into raw goodness (be sure to join by July 31!). Bunny is hilarious too…which is a nice bonus! 🙂
Check it out here: http://www.rawfu.com/
Bunny’s personal raw blog here: http://www.bunnyberry.blogspot.com/ (great videos!)
Berries and a Blog
When I first went raw back in January, I was gravitating towards a low fat raw vegan diet…sometimes referred to as the 80/10/10 Diet, or 811 for short (this term comes from Dr. Doug Graham’s book). I finally got around to reading the book (a great read…tons of info on raw diet in general), and have been inspired to go that route again. It’s basically a fruit-based diet with lots and lots of greens…and a few nuts, seeds, and fats.
For the last week or so, I’ve been back on a lower fat raw diet and I can tell a huge difference in how I feel. I have more energy, I wake up much more rested, and my cravings for cooked foods, sweets, and fatty raw foods are noticeably less. Basically, I try to consume only ONE or maybe 2 of the following:
- 1/2 – 1 T olive oil or hempseed oil for my salad
- 1/4 – 1/2 avocado
- Small handful of nuts
- 1/8 cup of hemp seeds
The “official” 811 way of doing things calls for NO salad dressings with oils…but I just can’t do that right now. A mixture of tomatoes and pineapple poured over lettuce makes me one unhappy girl 🙂 I love just a little oil on my salad! I do try to use as LITTLE as possible, however.
I have also been trying to eat my heaviest meal of the day at lunch instead of supper…so that my body has time to digest and process the foods/fats while I am active and not while I am sleeping. If your body is constantly trying to digest the heavy foods that you eat at night (especially after 7:00pm)…it is unable to do the more important work of HEALING and refreshing your body. Supper lately has been a light meal, such as a mono-meal of watermelon or bananas…sometimes a very light salad or smoothie.
If you are currently eating a high fat raw diet, I would encourage you to cut out some of that fat and focus on eating more fruits and greens for your calories. You should also pay attention to the amount of dried fruit and dehydrated ‘gourmet’ raw food you are eating. Cut most of it out and add back only fresh, juicy fruits. You’ll find that your cravings will dramatically decrease and your energy level will go up!
Eating a lower fat raw diet is my IDEAL…I can’t say that I follow it 100% of the time, but I am learning my body and how it reacts to different foods and I love that. I still “splurge” on my favorite things…like spring rolls with almond butter sauce (yummy!)…but for the most part, I am much lower fat than I was before.
To end, I wanted to highlight one of my very favorite raw bloggers…Sarah at Going Bananas. I can’t even tell you how much I ADORE this blog. She’s a great writer, she’s knowledgeable and funny 🙂 , and she blogs A LOT! And the bonus is that she eats a low fat raw diet…but of course anyone can benefit from reading her blog. I know you’ll love it too!
Raw Butternut Squash & Apple Soup
Raw Butternut Squash & Apple Soup
1.5 cups water (or enough to make the consistency that you like)
2 cups butternut squash, peeled and diced
3-4 stalks celery
3 apples
2 tablespoons tahini
2 green onions
1/2 cup fresh basil
1/2 teaspoon sea salt (optional)
1/2 teaspoon paprika
A squirt of agave is a sweeter taste is desired.
A high-powered blender, such as a Vita-Mix is going to work the best with this recipe. Add the squash slowly to the water, then add the rest of the ingredients and blend until smooth. I like to blend it to the point where it’s a little warm, but not “cooked”.
Top with your favorite things! Texture is KEY when you are making super smooth raw soups. In order to avoid “baby food syndrome”, I love to add some CRUNCH to it!
Here are a few ideas:
- Shredded carrots
- Sprouts
- Avocado
- Basil
- Cilantro
- Tomatoes
- Red cabbage
Watermelon Salsa
We recently spent a fun evening at a friend’s house…eating, chatting, and playing games. Deea, the hostess (and one of my favorite people!), made this watermelon salsa for everyone. It’s so perfect for summer…and being that I am obsessed with watermelon, I had to post it! It’s perfect for those of you who don’t like tomatoes or perhaps can’t have them due to the acidity. Perfectly sweet and tart…and wonderful on flax chips or on top of a salad!
Thanks Deea for the photo and the recipe!
Watermelon Salsa
2 cups watermelon – diced
1 cups Nectarine – diced
Juice of one lime
1/4 cup cilantro – minced
2 jalepenos – diced (more or less depending on your spice tolerance!)
Sprinkle of salt
Turn gently together to mix flavors and chill one hour or longer.
Boost Your Smoothie
So you’ve been making green smoothies faithfully now for months…and you’re wanting to spice things up a bit, right? Ok. The list below contains some little goodies that you can add to your smoothies for a little extra boost. HOWEVER, I want to make it very clear that these are optional. They are not necessary for optimal health…I believe that they can make a difference…but whole fresh fruits and veggies are still BEST! Personally, I don’t use them on an every day basis…maybe 3-4 times a week.
Powdered green superfoods in general are a bit on the expensive side, and in my opinion are a little overemphasized in the raw movement. The best thing to do is just try them and decide for yourself if they are beneficial. Add them consistently for a week and then determine if you have more energy. There are many boosts that you can add that aren’t as expensive…flax, chia seeds, hemp seeds, etc. Lots of options! 🙂
Vitamineral Green:
This is what I am currently using the most. It has tons of different things in it…including probiotics. I can taste it in the smoothie, but it doesn’t have an overpowering taste. You can also take it straight in water…but I’ve never tried it. There is another supplement called Pure Synergy that I hear a lot about…it has similar properties but I haven’t tried it either.
Ingredients: 100% Organic/Wildcrafted
Land Vegetables:
Whole Leaf Barley Grass , Whole Leaf Wheat Grass , Nettle Leaf , Shavegrass (Horsetail) , Alfalfa Leaf Juice , Dandelion Leaf Juice , Kamut® Grass Juice , Barley Grass Juice , Oat Grass Juice , Burdock Root , Broccoli Juice , Kale Juice , Spinach Juice , Parsley Juice , Carob Pod , Ginger Root , Nopal Cactus , Amla Berry
Algaes:
Spirulina , Broken Cell Wall Chlorella
Wildcrafted Aquatic Vegetables:
Icelandic Kelp , Nova Scotia Dulse
Enzymes:
Optimum absorption of Amylase, Lipase, Protease, Cellulase, Bromelain and Papain (rawguru.com)
Spirulina:
When people are going on and on about protein content in my diet…I like to tell them about GREENS! And spirulina falls into that category. It’s a complete protein. I have a big jar of Spirulina…same brand at the Vitamineral Green. The Vit. Green also has spirulina in it…so I haven’t been using the straight powder as much.
“Spirulina is an exceptional food and an incredible source of concentrated, non-toxic, absorbable nutrients. It is a highly beneficial substitute for protein powders. The protein in Spirulina contains all 8 essential amino acids, making it a complete protein. Spirulina (a blue-green algae), also contains vitamins A, B-1, B-2, B-6, B-12, E, and K. In addition, Spirulina also provides minerals, trace minerals, cell salts, phytonutrients and enzymes, as well as an abundance of chlorophyll & other beneficial pigments. ” (rawguru.com)
Hemp Seeds:
Hemp seeds are super versatile and I use them in everything! I add them to smoothies and salads. I sprinkle them inside of wraps and also on top of Bella’s oatmeal.
These are the Earth’s most nutritious seeds. This shelled hemp seed is 33% protein, rich in vitamin E and iron, as well as Omega-3, 6, 9 and GLA. hemp nut offers complete, whole food nutrition. Canadian Farmers grow hemp without pesticides or herbicides making this a safer product for you and the Earth. Hemp is a weed, grows anywhere easier and has no natural pests. Growing hemp (a nonpsychoactive crop) restores our soils and conserves forests, contributing to a healthy sustainable world. Start a hemp food tradition, save your health and the health of the planet. This hemp nut is raw, vegan and delicious. Sprinkle this raw Hemp Seed Nut generously on salads, cereals and soups – or eat by the spoonful as a delicious snack by itself. Hemp seed nut goes great in smoothies. (rawguru.com)
Maca:
Maca is known to be an energy, fertility, and libido enhancer. Take with caution! 🙂 ha ha. It does have a bit of an aftertaste…I think it’s best in chocolate smoothies, but I’m able to get it down in a green one as well.
Chia Seeds:
I haven’t used these much, but I did pick up a small bag a few cities back to start adding them to our smoothies. They can be sprinkled on anything, much like hemp seeds…although most sources say to soak them before eating (they do not need to be ground).
Chia seeds provide the essential omega 3 & 6 oils. Chia seeds are 30% oil, of which 30% is omega 3 and 40% is omega 6, and have a long shelf life. They also have approximately two times the protein concentration and up to ten times the oil concentration of other grains, and are digestible without grinding. Other seeds with harder shells, such as flax seeds, require grinding to make them digestible and have a very short shelf life in the ground form.
Chia seeds are small and have the unique feature of a shell that turns gelatinous (mucilaginous) when it gets wet. This gel is thought to create a barrier in the stomach between the carbohydrates and digestive enzymes – slowing the breakdown of carbos into sugar and prolonging endurance. The seed can absorb more than 10 times its weight in water which can prolong hydration and retain electrolytes in body fluids. The name, chia, is Maya for strength or strengthening. (rawguru.com)
Flax Seeds:
To obtain the most nutrition from flax seeds, they must be ground. I use these in smoothies and salads. They have a really nice flavor and texture…I love it! There are just too many benefits to list here, so go and read them here! 🙂
So that’s my list…there are many, many more supplemental foods out there, but these are the big ones for us. What is your favorite boost?
Cilantro Live!
While we were in beautiful San Diego in May, we enjoyed some delicious raw food at “Cilantro Live!”. They have three locations in the San Diego area…and the closest one to us was the Hillcrest location. Situated within a cute little neighborhood in the heart of the city, Clilantro has a very open and relaxed feel. The entire front of the restaurant is open to the sidewalk, and the wall of green plants make it feel so fresh and fun.
My parents were in San Diego with us as well, and luckily they are very adventurous with food and have already been to the Ecopolitan with me in Minneapolis. They were excited to check it out. My mom’s very favorite food is cilantro, so that was a good sign.
We tried a good variety of things from their menu:
- Cilantro Live Soup: “warm avocado and cilantro broth topped with diced tomatoes”
- Cheeseburger: “our home made burger patty made of sun-dried tomatoes, flax seeds, bell peppers, garlic, & mushrooms served on an almond pulp & buckwheat bun. with freshly-made cashew cheese, ketchup, mustard, mayo, lettuce, tomato, & onions.”
- Entree Sampler: “two nori rolls (“daikon, bell peppers, cucumbers, avocado, wild rice, & a pine nut pate. served with a japanese dipping sauce”), one spring roll (“broccoli sprouts, red & yellow peppers, cilantro, mint, cabbage, avocado, & jicama wrapped in find sun-dried rice paper. served with a hoisen dipping sauce”), one buenos vida wrap (“cilantro pate, wild rice, & house nut cheese, topped with salsa fresca”), two rawviolis (“thinly sliced roma tomatoes stuffed with pine nut-basil cheese & pesto sauce”) & two mini pizzas (“sun-dried tomato sauce on a crisp multi-seed crust, topped with onions, olives, & house nut cheese”) … served with a house salad.
- Walnut Fig Wrap: “walnut & fig pate topped with tri-colored onions, tomato, & olives”
- Pizazza Wrap: “sun-dried tomato pate, tri-colored onions, red bell peppers, olives, & house nut cheese”
- Rawberry Shortcake: “with a scoop of vanilla cashew ice cream & coconut flakes”
- Carrot Cake
- Banana Split
- Cacao Mousse
- Several scoops of vanilla cashew ice cream with strawberries on top for Bella
Yes, we enjoyed it ALL. My favorite was definitely the “rawviolis”…so rich and delicious. And of course, the desserts were amazing 🙂 In fact, we went back the next day just for more desserts! Yum! yum. I also really enjoyed the little pots of wheatgrass on each table. It made me feel ALIVE just looking at them! 🙂 The next time you get to San Diego…make it a point to dine at Cilantro!
Click here to view the photo album from our visit.
Summer Goodies
We’ve been busy, busy, busy around here…but here are some of the things we are really enjoying this summer:
- Watermelon! I could eat this all day…every day. I get giddy at the thought of cutting one up and sitting in the sun with a book in hand. Ahhhhhh….bliss.
- Kale avocado salad…same thing. Total addiction. I’ve been eating this nearly every day for a long time. I’ve tweaked it a bit from my original posting…you can find the updated version here. I am loving the addition of raisins and pine nuts. Oooooh! And the nori! Snipping up some sheets of untoasted nori into your salads give it a delicious sushi flavor.
- Tropical green smoothies. We’ve been stuck on one concoction around here: 1 frozen banana, 1 whole orange, frozen mango/papaya, FRESH pineapple, spinach, a tad bit of stevia, and enough water to blend smooth. Delicious!
Happy Foody 