This Is Our Last Good-Bye

Hello, everyone -

This will be my last post on "What This 'Raw Vegan' Eats." This has been a roller coaster of a ride. What started out as a blog to document my daily diet as a high-raw vegan has transitioned into an account of my diet as a local, organic, whole food kinda thing... very far away from vegan, though I'm still incorporating a lot of the raw. I am quite thankful to those who have inspired me along the way, especially when it came to listening to my body and doing what was right in the moment.

To stay in touch and learn more about my journey with food, tune into Sweet Peas Podcast at http://ritefoodandcompany.com/Podcast/index.html.

Thanks to everyone for reading.

Love,
Lisa Marie

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

What are the signs that an old habit is ready to be let go? Do you recognize the signs and abide them? Or do you try to ignore them and hope they'll go away? Change can suck. But sometimes not changing can suck even more.

Note: Capitalized recipes are my own.

Day 142

• cup of spring water
• cup of hot yerba mate and Frank's Finest Cosmic Chai with raw cream and stevia
• cup of Spicy Herbal Blend (my own concoction of rooibos, carob pods, cinnamon, and stevia... I think) tea; one of my Salvaged Brownies (chocolate candy-making nightmare that was saved by inventing another recipe)
• handful of corn and flax chips; Sunspire chocolate-covered peanuts
• cup of Chaga brew
• cup of cold horsetail and nettle tea
  
• big green salad (mixed greens, yellow bell pepper, cucumbers, black pepper, balsamic vinaigrette); bowl of Beatrix Potter Soup (cannellini beans, carrots, celery, onions, leeks, mushrooms, water, Bell's Seasoning, black pepper, sea salt) ladled over brown rice and raw butter; two Salvaged Brownies; spring water
• spring water
  

Today's Observations
Weird food day. Was really thirsty today and not hungry so much. Hmm.

Hot-Headed

I had a dream that I was standing alone in the middle of a forest of birches. The animals were all making a ton of racket. I stood there with my hands over my ears. "Quiet! Damn!" The animals quieted down. The forest got unbelievably silent. I closed my eyes to listen. The Divine filled the middle of my head with a hot white light and spoke: "The chaga has been put here at this time for a reason. It eats all the viruses the humans have created and uses them for nutrition. When we consume the chaga, we have the antibodies it has created for us."

Note: Capitalized recipes are my own.

Day 141

• cup of spring water
• cup of hot yerba mate with stevia
  
• bowl of Mo's Garbage Cereal (oats, walnuts, sesame seeds, chia seeds, dried apricots, raisins, cinnamon, ginger powder, homemade raw goat's milk kefir, honey)
  
• small cup of Chaga Brew; few pieces of my Top Secret Raw Chocolates
• lunch out at a salad bar (big salad with various veggies and 2 boiled eggs); bottle of spring water; Sunspire chocolate-covered peanuts
• baked acorn squash with raw butter; brown rice with raw butter, black pepper, and sea salt; Veggie Frittata (eggs, raw goat's milk kefir, spinach, mushrooms, garlic, Tabasco, black pepper, sea salt); spring water
• cup of hot Thai tea; 2 pieces of my Top Secret Raw Chocolates
  

Today's Observations
Gotta spend some time re-evaluating my relationship to sweet foods.

Stupid Dream

Sometimes your dreams are stupid. And that's o.k.

Note: Capitalized recipes are my own.

Day 140

• cup of spring water
• bowl of Mo's Garbage Cereal (oats, raisins, chia seeds, sesame seeds, walnuts, homemade raw goat's milk kefir, honey)
• cup of hot yerba mate with stevia
  
• few pieces of my Top Secret Raw Chocolates
• small cup of Chaga Brew
  
• cup of hot ginger and mint tea with honey; samples from teaching a friend of mine how to make raw vegan food (nut cheese; salsa; blueberry-raspberry sorbet; zucchini hummus)
  
• take-out from Thai Dish: 2 fresh veggie spring rolls; 1/2 portion of veggie Pad Thai with tofu and extra veggies (though I ended up giving half my tofu to Jim); spring water
• cup of hot yerba mate with stevia
  

Today's Observations
GREAT day listening to my body's portion needs today. Really feel good.

I'm So Excited!

How often to you say, "YES!" to the idea of preparing food or consuming food? Folks, we gotta get a little more thrilled about what's going into our bodies. What we put into it is what we get out of it. I mean, if you're looking for survival, then just eat. But if you're looking to thrive, then let's hear some excitement!

Note: Capitalized recipes are my own.

Day 139

• cup of spring water
• cup of hot yerba mate with stevia
• 2 pieces of my Top Secret Raw Chocolates
• cup of hot jasmine green tea with honey
• big bowl of leftover Vegetable Soup (water, tomatoes, purple cabbage, onions, sweet potato, broccoli, honey, curry powder, garam masala, black pepper) with a bit of raw butter
• small cup of Jim's Coffee Smoothie (espresso, Chaga Brew, spring water, ice, frozen bananas, frozen blueberries, sprouts, oats, lucuma, maca, cacao powder... I think this is everything...)
• sips of spring water; chocolate-covered caramel (BUZZ!)
• baked Carola potatoes from Maine with raw butter, homemade raw goat's milk chevre, black pepper, and sea salt; baked onion; kale salad (kale, tomatoes, cucumbers, sunflower seeds, garlic, nutritional yeast, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, black pepper, sea salt); spring water; more of my chocolates
  

Today's Observations
OK. I don't think Lisa Marie should be doing the coffee. I had that coffee smoothie and that chocolate-covered caramel back-to-back and my skin was literally CRAWLING! LOL! So funny. Good lesson though. Yeesh.

Streaming Thoughts

There is so much freedom in thinking that our lives, our food choices, our friends... everything... is all on a continuum. If we get too attached to one way of thinking, to one idea, to one person, then we tend to lose the plot. Stay in the flow and keep it moving all downstream, as Esther Hicks/Abraham would say. Life is so much more fun when it's easy.

Note: Capitalized recipes are my own.

Day 138

• cup of hot yerba mate with stevia
• cup of spring water
• 2 pieces of my Top Secret Raw Chocolates
• apple slices dipped in tahini
• 2 pieces of my Top Secret Raw Chocolates
• 1/2 of a baked Delicata squash with homemade raw goat's milk chevre
• cup of Chaga Brew
  
• mug of Miso Soup (miso, spring water, brown rice, black pepper)
• quinoa (quinoa, raw butter, garlic, chives, black pepper, sea salt); Vegetable Soup (water, tomatoes, purple cabbage, onions, sweet potato, broccoli, honey, curry powder, garam masala, black pepper); few more pieces of those lovely Raw Chocolates dipped in tahini; spring water
• cup of hot yerba mate with stevia
  

Cooking my pot of vegan Vegetable Soup. Look at that crazy stock colour! Beautiful!

Today's Observations
Chocolates dipped in tahini? Ooooh, YEAH! My new favourite. Kind of like a peanut butter cup... but better. : )

Try This for Sighs

Expectations have simultaneously destroyed and saved. How do we figure out which ones are which?

Note: Capitalized recipes are my own.

Day 137

• cup of hot yerba mate with stevia
• cup of spring water
• small bowl of Mo's Garbage Cereal (oats, raisins, dried cranberries, chia seeds, banana, cinnamon, homemade raw goat's milk kefir)
• small cup of decaf Earl Grey tea with honey
• Veggie Fritatta (eggs, spinach, mushrooms, garlic, water, black pepper, sea salt) topped with homemade Sauer Kraut
• few pieces of my Top Secret Raw Chocolates
• cup of Chaga Brew
  
• brown rice with raw butter, black pepper, and sea salt; baked Delicata squash with raw butter; kale salad (kale, tomatoes, sprouts, garlic, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, black pepper, sea salt); few bites of homemade raw goat's milk chevre; spring water
• cup of Chaga Brew
  

Today's Observations
Kefir, butter, eggs, and chevre all in the same day... Phew. I think this was a bit much for me. Felt like a ton of rich food! Tomorrow... Let's go lighter, shall we?

Looking Up From the Bottom of the Barrel

Ha. I love this. This has happened to me so many times... especially in judging myself.

"Anyone who has declared someone else to be an idiot, a bad apple, is annoyed when it turns out in the end that he isn't." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Note: Capitalized recipes are my own.

Day 136

• cup of spring water
  
• cup of hot yerba mate with stevia
• 2 little homemade Sprouted Spelt Biscuits with raw butter; 2 scrambled eggs with black pepper and sea salt; homemade sauerkraut
  
• 2 bananas; a couple of walnuts; a couple of almonds; a few dried cranberries
• big honkin' glass of Bunny Juice (carrots, green leaf lettuce, apple, ginger)
  
• 2 homemade raw Crispy Mint Truffles
• a little homemade Sprouted Kamut Biscuit with raw butter; Choco-Nana Shake (frozen bananas, spring water, dates, mesquite powder, cacao powder, maca)
• 2 gluten-free, vegan chocolate chip cookies; cup of cold horsetail-rooibos tea
• bowl of Pea Soup (split peas, carrot pulp, sweet potato, onion, celery, water, marjoram, black pepper, sea salt); 2 little homemade Sprouted Kamut Biscuits with raw butter

Today's Observations
I am all OVER the map today with cool homemade food! WOW! So much fun eating today! I am so fortunate to have the creativity, the joy, and the resources needed come up with exciting new recipes!

Daniel's Word: SurThrival

If the economy collapsed and you had no access to electricity or grocery stores or restaurants, could you survive? Could you thrive?

Note: Capitalized recipes are my own.

Day 135

• cup of spring water
  
• cup of hot yerba mate with stevia
• 2 homemade raw Crispy Mint Truffles; cup of hot rooibos tea with stevia
• small bowl of oatmeal (oats, spring water, dried apples, honey, cinnamon, sea salt)
  
• big bowl of air-popped plain popcorn
• few little homemade Sprouted Spelt Biscuits with raw butter
• handful of Sunspire chocolate-covered peanuts; bottle of spring water
• cup of hot vanilla rooibos tea
  
• take-out from Thai Dish: 2 fresh veggie spring rolls; 2/3rds of an order of Vegetable Pad Thai with tofu
  

Today's Observations
YAY! More sprouted breads! These are rockin' my WORLD! I'm going to have to get into a routine of having sprouts available all the time for breads. Crazy good.

Ask and Receive

Can you listen hard enough to really hear what your body is asking for? How good are you at listening? And maybe more importantly... how good are you at honouring those requests?

Note: Capitalized recipes are my own.

Day 134

• cup of spring water
  
• Banana Mash-Up (bananas, walnuts, cordyceps powder); cup of hot yerba mate with stevia
  
• two homemade raw Crispy Mint Truffles
• mug of Carrot Ginger Juice
• very small bowl of Rabbit Poop (raisins, dried cranberries, tahini, cinnamon)
• cup of Chaga-Fo-ti Brew
• lunch at a friend's: 2 eggs fried in butter; green salad (mixed greens, yellow bell pepper, cucumber, broccoli, mushrooms, snow peas, avocado) with Balsamic Vinaigrette (olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, garlic, tarragon, black pepper); 2 decaf Earl Gray teas with honey
• few bites of Chocolate Sauce (cacao powder, coconut oil, honey, cinnamon, sea salt)
• bowl of sushi rice with raw butter topped with lentils, homemade sauerkraut, and hot sauce
  

Today's Observations
Yep, I broke out the juicer today. I've been craving juices. Don't know why. I've never really been into them, but ginger-based juices are calling to me. More experimenting to come.

Pride (In The Name of Love)

What is the value in pride, humility, vanity? They each totter those fine fines: going to far to the left or right and you'll be mocked or pitied or canonized. If applied to your outlook on your health, that could be precarious as well. There is value in recognizing your self-worth. How much do you need to be reminded?

Note: Capitalized recipes are my own.

Day 133

• cup of spring water
  
• cup of hot yerba mate with stevia; a homemade raw Crispy Mint Truffle
• brown rice (raw butter, nutritional yeast, hot sauce, black pepper, sea salt); cup of hot rooibos tea with stevia
• bowl of Superfood IceScream (ice, almonds, walnuts, 2 homemade raw Crispy Mint Truffles, cold dandelion tea, honey, cacao powder, lucuma, mesquite powder, maca, sea salt)
• cup of hot rooibos tea
• Guacamole (avocados, garlic, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, black pepper, sea salt) with cucumber slices and celery sticks
• few bites of Chocolate Sauce (cacao powder, coconut oil, honey, cinnamon, sea salt); cup of Chaga-Fo-ti Brew
• dinner out at Bruce's Burritos: chips and salsa; Veggie Burrito with sweet potato
• cup of hot yerba mate tea with stevia
• humongous cup of spring water
  

Today's Observations
Because of tight timing, I had to grab dinner out. I was trying to think of where I could go that would have the least amount of impact on my digestive system with the maximum amount of satisfaction... meaning, I didn't want to feel hungry in an hour. I decided to go to Bruce's. In hindsight, I find it funny that I didn't go to, say, a grocery store or a natural foods store, but chose a restaurant instead. Habitual. Anyway, I ate the burrito in the car on my way to pick up a friend. After I ate it, I thought... Did I even taste that?!? Fortunately, it's been quite a while since I've eaten in the car. I really don't like doing it. I feel totally ungrounded. Funny that. Anyway, good (re?)lesson for me tonight.

Mind-Free

Why weren't we taught about proper food combining? Why is there such an emphasis on sugar-free, fat-free, calorie-free foods? Why are there even trends in diet at all?

Note: Capitalized recipes are my own.

Day 132

• cup of hot yerba mate with stevia
• couple pieces of my super-delicious homemade raw vegan Almond and Raisin Chocolate
• bowl of green salad (greens mix, carrots, beets, tomatoes, Spicy Seeds, balsamic vinegar, olive oil)
• cup of spring water
  
• few tastes of my Crispy Mint Truffles (not giving out the ingredients yet... still in test mode)
• cup of spring water
• cup of Chaga-Fo-ti Brew
• Apple-Raisin Salad (apple, raisins, tahini, cinnamon); few pieces of Ally's raw vegan Indian Bread with raw butter and a couple of bites of Beet-Seed Pate from last week
• cup of Chaga-Fo-ti Brew
  
• 2 vegan, gluten-free cookies; bottle of spring water
• Veggie Frittata (eggs, sweet potato, spinach, garlic, black pepper, sea salt) topped with homemade sauerkraut; brown rice with raw butter, black pepper, and sea salt; piece of boiled sweet potato; spring water
• couple pieces of my homemade Medicinal Mushroom Chocolates; cup of hot mint tea with stevia and honey
  

Today's Observations
BIIIIG dinner! Think I had too much food today. Ugh. I feel like I used to feel a year ago after dinner. This is not good.

Skin Meals

Did you know that your skin absorbs over 50% of what you put on it? Holy cow, now I need to start monitoring what my SKIN eats?!? LOL! Yep. Sure 'nuff. I am really careful about what I put on my skin. I don't wear make-up, only use essential oils for scents, and "lotion up" with a homemade cream made out of coconut oil, vitamin E, and essential oils. I've heard Ani Phyo say that she only puts things on her skin that she would eat. Great rule of thumb.

Note: Capitalized recipes are my own.

Day 131

• cup of spring water
• cup of hot yerba mate with stevia
• few pieces of my lovely homemade raw vegan Almond and Raisin Chocolates
• brown rice with raw butter, black pepper, and sea salt; Veggie Frittata (eggs, onions, broccoli, red bell pepper, garlic, chives, black pepper, sea salt); homemade sauerkraut; spring water
• very small cup of Coffee Smoothie (espresso, ice, frozen bananas, frozen blueberries, lucuma, honey)
• taste of our friends' Rebel-made chocolate sauce (I have no idea what the ingredients are, but I understand it's a top secret recipe!)
• big glass of spring water
• dinner out at Thai Dish: fresh veggie spring rolls; Veggie Pad Thai with tofu; spring water
• cup of hot jasmine green tea with honey; piece of my lovely homemade raw vegan Almond and Raisin Chocolate

Our lovely Frittata Brunch

Today's Observations
Oh, my! Today was over-the-top day for food. Lots of rich, lots of cooked, lots of decadent! I've just gotten so into experimenting lately. I've been having fun!

Package-Clinging

What package have you been sold about your health? What packages are you defending like crazy? What would happen if you... just... dropped... those... packages? Would your health suffer?

Note: Capitalized recipes are my own.

Day 130

• cup of spring water
• cup of hot yerba mate with stevia
• Figgy Pudding (chia pudding, dried figs, honey, cinnamon)
• couple pieces of homemade raw vegan Almond and Raisin Chocolates; cup of Chaga Brew
• few sips of Mo's Green Smoothie (spinach, frozen blackberries, frozen strawberries, frozen bananas, dates, cold dandelion tea)
• small bowl of leftover beans and tomatoes with hot sauce; rooibos tea with stevia; couple more pieces of those lovely chocolates
  
• cup of spring water
• avocado with balsamic vinegar
• small bag of corn and flax chips; small cup of Chaga Brew
• quinoa with raw butter, black pepper, and sea salt; baked spaghetti squash with raw butter, black pepper, and sea salt; homemade sauerkraut; spring water
  
  

Today's Observations
I weighed myself today for the first time in a couple of weeks: 190.1. This down from 232 in April of 2009. The more weight that comes off, the more these things can occur: high energy, less need to sleep, less obsessive thinking about food, less obsessive thinking about portions, more joy from eating, less guilt from eating (and this is mainly because of WHAT I'm eating), and the ability to stand tall and take up space. The only thing that's making me crazy is that... I need new clothes. Can I have a sugar daddy, please? Or a sugar mama. I'm not picky.

The Hunger

When we have a hunger or thirst, our immediate reaction is to squelch it. Even when we hear "hunger" or "thirst," we tend to associate it with negativity. I've been working to reprogram these triggers from "warning bells" to "friendly reminders." I told my kid that I forgot to feed the dog yesterday. She was shocked and told me (jokingly, I think) how cruel I was. It got me to thinking about how we've become so comfortable in our food gathering and consumption.

I would challenge you to start thinking about what happens mentally when you don't immediately satisfy your hunger or thirst. What kind of broken-record thoughts start to go around in your head? Do you panic? Is there fear attached to that lack? Do you start to obsess about the food or drink you're going to consume? This type of noticing always makes me wonder how those reactions got programmed in the first place.

Note: Capitalized recipes are my own.

Day 129

• cup of spring water
• cup of hot yerba mate with honey; couple pieces of my raw vegan Medicinal Mushroom Chocolates
• cup of Chaga Brew; couple little chunks of my homemade Carrot and Raisin Sprouted Grain Bread with raw butter
• few bites of oatmeal with raisins, honey, cinnamon and sea salt
  
• cup of hot rooibos tea with stevia; couple pieces of raw vegan Almond and Raisin Chocolates (made with Bridget!)
• big bowl of spinach salad (spinach, tomatoes, avocado) with Hope-Full Miso Dressing (Hope's rosemary-infused olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, miso)
• handful of clover sprouts
• cup of Chaga Brew; handful of Spicy Seeds
  
• cup of hot Blackcurrant Vanilla herbal tea
• weird dinner concoction of sushi rice (sushi rice sauteed with raw butter, eggs, and sea salt), adzuki beans (adzuki beans, garlic, chili powder, cumin, black pepper, sea salt), and tomatoes
  
  

Today's Observations
All about the hot teas! Still having a hard time staying warm. Ugh. Been pining for hot baths, heating pads, and piles of blankets. I'm sure that's the nature of winter in Maine, but I'm a Southerner at the core. The spinach salad today was so lovely! I was grateful to have it. Unfortunately, it also made me pine for warmer weather and fresher greens. Alas...

The Times They Are...

"If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it." - Mary Engelbreit

Note: Capitalized recipes are my own.

Day 128

• cup of spring water
• 2 eggs fried in raw butter; chunk of my homemade (!) Carrot and Raisin Sprouted Grain Bread with raw butter; small cup of Chaga Brew
• cup of hot yerba mate with stevia
• handful of Sunspire chocolate-covered peanuts; cup of ice water
• couple pieces of my raw vegan Medicinal Mushroom Chocolates
  
• cup of Butternut Spiced Soup (butternut, onions, tomatoes, miso, water, honey, garam masala, black pepper, cumin); scoop of Smashed Potatoes (sweet potatoes, white potatoes, garlic, raw butter, black pepper, sea salt); small chunk of my homemade Carrot and Raisin Sprouted Grain Bread with raw butter; small chunk of my homemade Cinnamon Date Sprouted Grain Bread with raw butter; spring water
• cup of hot yerba mate with stevia
  
  

Today's Observations
I need greens. Tomorrow: salad!

Durian-Headed

Sit in silence, let the top of your head crack open like a durian, and just be with that for a moment. What kinds of things slide in and out? Information? Fears? Old habits? Persuasive words? ... ... You?

Note: Capitalized recipes are my own.

Day 127

• cup of hot Chaga Brew
• cup of spring water
• 2 leftover (from last night's raw vegan potluck) Cinnamon Rolls
  
• little chunk of my homemade (!) Cinnamon and Date Sprouted Grain Bread with raw butter
• cup of hot decaf chai tea with honey
• lunch out at Mehkong: vegetable soup; crunchy things with that spicy sauce stuff; 1/2 portion of Vegetable Pad Thai
• few pieces of my raw vegan Coconut Goji Medicinal Mushroom Chocolates; spring water
  
• dinner was a weird layering thing of brown rice, scrambled eggs (eggs, raw cream, chives, black pepper, sea salt), homemade guacamole, homemade salsa; spring water
  
• few more pieces of my raw vegan Coconut Goji Medicinal Mushroom Chocolates with a small cup of hot Chaga Brew
  
  

Today's Observations
Today was all about the portions. I was SO PSYCHED that I stopped eating when I'd had enough. For all those that have this down pat, just go look at something else. For all those that don't, I have to admit that this was a physical challenge. I got about halfway through my Pad Thai and looked down at my plate. My friend was talking about something and I was listening to her while trying to process this huge mass of food still left on my plate. I thought, If I eat this, I will feel pain in my stomach and sides and then will feel like crap emotionally. I sighed and pushed the plate away from me. It was tough because it tasted great. I could have kept going on that alone. But I made a different choice. I feel like Mel Gibson in Braveheart: "FREEEEEEEEEDOOOOOOOM!"