Adding more raw food into your diet and nutrition can be a simple way you incorporate more health conscious choices into your life.  Not only will you appreciate the many benefits your body will experience from adding more raw food such as better digestion, weight loss, better skin, hair, nails, increased energy, vitality, clarity, hormone balance, better sleep, less allergies and the list goes on and on.  Going raw and adding more raw options is good for the planet too!  In fact, it's the best decision we can make to decrease our reliance on oil see previous blog:

Be Informed Choices Matter!

This article will focus on what you can do to make an easy transition toward more raw choices every day.  The coach in me always wants to start with where you are and what you want.  I can hear the reminder from the movie Contact, Ellie aka Jodi Foster's dad says:  "small steps Ellie".  This applies to everything you do.  It's important to make sure you are making incremental steps and changes in order for you to continue to be successful for the long run.  Too many times people take on more than they are able to sustain and within a few days or weeks they no longer have the motivation because it was too hard to incorporate into their lives.  What is the next step you can make that you know you will be successful?

When making changes to your diet and nutrition it's important to raise your awareness about the choices you make every day.  To improve these choices ask yourself:  "Is this the best most nutritious choice I can make at this moment?"  See what comes to your mind.  Empowerment is the freedom to authorize or decide.  It takes awareness and a connection to your values of what you really want in order to make decisions that will be most beneficial.

I personally believe will power is over-rated.  I know shocking, right?  I believe when people know what they want and are able to connect it to the why or the passion/drive behind what they want they will be successful.  Coaching is a way to support people to get to the truth and connect to the why behind what they do.  There is no wrong decisions, for every choice is part of the journey.  There is no failure involved either.  There is just more feedback and more choices to make next time.  It's a journey not a destination.

Most raw foodies have a lot of equipment to support their ability to blend, process, slice and dice their pates, dressings sauces and smoothies from nuts, seeds, veggies and fruit.  However, you probably already have enough equipment to get started.  

The first place most raw foodist started on their transition to becoming raw are smoothies, particularly green smoothies.  You will have to have some sort of blender.  If you do not have a blender, who do you know that you could borrow their blender while you are getting familiar with smoothies?  My favorite blender is the Vita-mix 5200 variable speed.  We use our bender at least twice a day so it's worth having a good one.  Vita-mix has a great warranty plus the company has good customer service and stands behind their products!

I could share a ton of successful smoothies I have in my repertoire; however, I'd rather teach you the principles of making smoothies so you can have long term success and create your own nourishment that resonates with you.  LIsten to your body and it will help you create what it needs.  If it says ice-cream and chocolate ask again.  

Most people as they are starting out prefer smoothies that are sweeter.  Something in our brains or too many trips to Jamba Juice have trained us to think that smoothies should be sweet.  Most of us are addicted to sugar and it's a process to transition to more wholesome food.  No worries, eventually you will start seeing there are plenty of vegetables that have their own natural sweetness.  The best thing is that if you are adding fruit and even dates or honey to your smoothies they are still whole foods and not highly processed.  One principle worth sharing before I launch in is not just specific to smoothies but all food prep.  It's important to balance the 6 tastes.  I'll be writing an article soon to discuss this topic but for now please check out this website:  http://www.eattasteheal.com/ETH_6tastes.htm 

Principles of making Green Smoothies:

1.) Balance the 6 tastes: sweet, salty, sour, bitter, pungent and astringent

2.) Add at least one piece of fruit such as banana, strawberries, blueberries, mango, peach, nectarine, figs, grapes  etc

3.) Add at least one handful of greens:  spinach, chard, kale, romaine, arugula etc

4.) Add one or two other nutritious veggies: cucumber, celery, bell pepper, fennel, carrot, beet 

     (only what your blender can handle)

5.) Add fat such as 1/2 avocado, 1/2 raw young coconut meat, 1/8 c nuts or seeds or 1 T nut or seed butters

6.) Add some type of citrus: 1/2 lemon or 1 lime

7.) Add liquid such as water, coconut water or nut milk for consistency (only add nuts once)

Here is one of my favorite smoothie recipes to get you started:  serving size = 1

Handfuls of Spinach, handful of grapes, 1/2 cucumber, 1/2 lemon squeezed, 1/2 banana, 1/2 inch peeled ginger, as little water as necessary for consistency.  (please note if you prefer more protein just add a few nuts or seeds)

We do not need to add protein with each meal.  As long as we obtain the 8/9 essential amino acids throughout the day our bodies will assimilate the necessary proteins it requires from these building blocks for proper utilization.  Remember too that veggies and fruits all have amino acids just not as highly concentrated as nuts and seeds.

What makes sense for you right now with adding more smoothies into your life?  I recommend at least one smoothie per week or per day!  It's fast and easy prep and clean up!  Smoothies are also easier to digest.  Notice how you feel during and after you drink your smoothies.

May you feel the nourishment and connection to your food!  If you like this article please let me know!  If you have any questions about raw food please ask, I love to share my experience!  Please let me know how I can support you in your transition!  

What are your favorite smoothies?

Coming soon a blog on Simple Meals

Be well, nourished and blessed!  Lou Ann