Adventures in the Kitchen!

For the past couple of weeks, I've been experimenting with a raw diet. I've been following a blog dedicated to eating raw & have found a website full of raw recipes, making my adventures in the kitchen fun and enjoyable. :)

On the days when I actually stick with full-on raw meals, I feel so amazing. This just reiterates to me that I probably have several food allergies/aversions that I've always thought I might have. Eating raw cuts out gluten, most soy & processed foods, and is typically a diet that vegans follow. I'm not a vegan (not that there's an problem with vegans) but cutting out gluten and processed foods has made a noticeable difference in the way I feel after I eat.

I used to think that everyone had a stomachache after every meal. I distinctly remember talking about that with my BFF Jen in high school, and she told me that it wasn't normal. Turns out it was my normal to have stomach problems after eating. I never really thought much of it after that. I simply kept eating & feeling poorly. After awhile, my stomachache would go away and I'd be good to go again. I never complained because I literally believed it was natural to feel that way after eating. As I've gotten older, I've realized that there are so many foods my body seems to have issues with. I can't even name them all.

So I did some research and discovered the raw lifestyle. I jumped right in and switched to raw meals for breakfast & lunch. I'm eating at least one smoothie a day (as is Lily) and lunch is always a fun experiment. I'm buying foods that I never knew even existed...it's unreal how much good stuff I've been missing out on. I've also never felt better. When I stick to raw meals during the day, I don't have stomach pains or aches and I have a lot of energy. I'm also eating less at dinner time, as opposed to previous dieting where I would get through the day and just stuff myself  at supper. Having more fresh fruits and veggies to choose from makes it easier to grab a handful of grapes (or strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, etc) for a small snack as opposed to a handful of chips. Even though I did have trouble while Brandon was gone last week and I ate way more processed food than I should have. I paid for that, trust me.

I've also come up with an excellent system for me when it comes to smoothies. I have a printed list of my favorite smoothie recipes clipped to the fridge. I also have baggies (labeled with each recipe name) in the freezer, filled with the amount of frozen fruits each particular recipe calls for. Now in the morning, I can wake up, dump the preferred baggie of frozen yummy-ness into my food processor, add the fresh ingredients/almond milk and I'm good to go. I felt like a genius when I thought of this!

Smoothies are quickly turning into my favorite breakfast food. Now I know I'm getting enough fruits for the day and can focus on veggies at lunch/dinner/snack time. Plus I can throw in a handful of spinach with a few of these and get a veggie boost too! Anyone looking for an easy way to eat healthy but keep it simple-this is perfect. Seriously. Pick some smoothie recipes you enjoy, buy the ingredients and prep them on Sunday. You won't have any reason NOT to fix a yummy, healthy smoothie for breakfast during the week. :)

Love it!

Lunch time has also been fun. I've enjoyed making/eating new salads packed with all the good stuff. Two of my favorites are below.

Cabbage/Romaine Salad w/Smoky Avocado & Cumin Dressing

Sprouted Quinoa Salad

These are seriously delicious recipes. I cannot express how happy I am to have found so many recipes. I'm still experimenting and figuring out what all works best for me but my goal for being creative in the kitchen is still going strong thanks to eating raw.

I will say that most of the things I read recommended starting with one raw meal a day (simply to have a smoother transition & to learn as you go), but I always jump in with both feet. Most days I'm eating 85% raw and my body is loving me when I do.

I've shared the links of my favorite raw sites below, in case anyone is interested in trying some of the recipes. Hope you at least take a look-you never know, you may find some pretty good stuff!

Choosing Raw

Raw Food Recipes

Enjoy!