I Am Superwoman

Mo dedicated this song to me. Made me cry.



Note: Capitalized recipes are my own.

Day 126

• small cup of hot yerba mate with honey
• small cup of hot yerba mate with honey
• bowl of Chia Pudding (chia, water, banana, walnuts, honey, cinnamon, sea salt)
• veggie salad (cucumbers, carrots, red bell peppers) with Hope-Full Miso Dressing (Hope's rosemary-infused olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, miso)
• Superfood IceScream (ice, cold dandelion tea, almonds, goji berries, cacao nibs, honey, maca, lucuma, mesquite powder, sea salt) topped with yacon syrup
• some Lil Lad's popcorn; cup of cold dandelion tea
• Millet Scramble (millet, eggs, mushrooms, purple onions, chives, black pepper, sea salt) with hot sauce and homemade sauerkraut
• cup of hot yerba mate with honey
  
  

Today's Observations
Drink yerba mate much?

Self-Violence

All that chastising yourself? That's a form of violence. Is violence too harsh a word? Well, maybe that's the light we need to put it in to stop us from doing it. Cuz it ain't gettin' ya anywhere doing it. It's just making you feel worse and worse. And who wants to implement any kind of change from that place?

Note: Capitalized recipes are my own.

Day 125

• cup of hot yerba mate with stevia
• leftover quinoa with raw butter, chives, black pepper, and sea salt; Spicy Chickpeas (chickpeas, garlic, raw butter, coriander powder, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, sea salt); spring water
• small cup of hot yerba mate with honey
  
• small handful of Sunspire chocolate-covered peanuts
• Apple-Fig Bowl (apple, figs, tahini, cinnamon)
• bottle of Summit Springs water
• Smashed Potatoes (white potatoes, sweet potatoes, garlic, nutritional yeast, smoked paprika, sea salt); green salad (romaine, scallions, red bell pepper) with Hope-Full Miso Dressing (Hope's rosemary-infused olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, miso); few bites of the leftover Chocolate Pudding (avocados, coconut oil, honey, cacao powder, sea salt); rest of the Summit Springs water
  
  

Today's Observations
OK. That Apple-Fig Bowl was rockin' my world. VERY nummy and satisfying. Mo looked at it suspiciously, asked to try it... then asked me to make her one. Too funny. I made it for her and she looked down into the bowl and said, "Nice presentation!" I know, Heidi, I should have taken a picture of it. Will soon. ; )

Mirror Time

Facing your fears is scary as shit. Just sayin'.

Note: Capitalized recipes are my own.

Day 124

• cup of hot yerba mate with honey; few pieces of Super Secret Recipe Raw Vegan Chocolate Candy (nice breakfast!)
• Butterscotch Banana Shake (frozen bananas, raw cream, spring water, dates, maca powder, lucuma, mesquite powder, sea salt)
• cup of hot rooibos tea with stevia
  
• Vegetable Frittata (eggs, raw cream, sweet potatoes, onions, mushrooms, chives, black pepper, sea salt) with homemade sauerkraut; spring water
• small bowl of frozen blueberries
• spring water
• lovely large glass of fresh carrot-ginger juice from Whole Foods
• tastes of things made in my raw vegan class: banana slices with Raw Vegan Chocolate Sauce (honey, coconut oil, cacao powder); Chocolate Pudding (avocados, coconut oil, honey, cacao powder, sea salt)
• quinoa with raw butter, chives, black pepper, and sea salt; kale salad (kale, olives, olive oil, black pepper, sea salt); Spicy Chickpeas (chickpeas, garlic, raw butter, coriander powder, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, sea salt); dandelion tea
  
  

Today's Observations
Whoa! Waaaaaaaaaay too much candy, dairy, and eggs. Wow. I feel really ugh. Just like I've had too much food, not like any of it sat weird on me. The carrot-ginger juice though really spoke to me. I want to start incorporating more of that in my diet. The ginger was so perfect! Nummy!

Eye of the Storm

"Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no trouble, noise, or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart."
- Lady Gaga

Note: Capitalized recipes are my own - except when they're the restaurant's.

Day 123

• cup of hot yerba mate with honey; few pieces of Super Secret Recipe Raw Vegan Chocolate Candy (nice breakfast!)
  
• cup of hot Mate Dark Roast herbal tea
  
• cup of spring water
• Superfood IceScream (ice, spring water, Brazil nuts, honey, cacao nibs, goji berries, maca powder, lucuma, mesquite powder, sea salt) drizzled with yacon syrup
• cup of hot Aztec Fire herbal tea with cinnamon
• few Savory Chia Crackers with raw butter; dried figs; spring water
• dinner out at Tandoor: Mango Lassi; Tomato Soup; Vegetable Samosas; Shahi Paneer with basmati; water
  
  

Today's Observations
I've been doing so well with portions lately. I wonder if that panic is something from a past life...? Did I starve or have to fend for myself? A number of years ago, I remember eating something and someone asked me for a bite. I mentally heard a little click in my head and felt like I immediately had to protect my food. I don't think that's anything from this life. I was raised an any child, so it's not like there was any competition around eating. Over the past few years, I've been trying to reassure that side that I will always have enough to eat... and that there's enough for others. It's like taming a wild beast - sometimes unpredictable, but I think it's learning to trust me.

R.I.P.

Sometimes in the middle of eating dinner, a little panic settles in my chest. I wonder, Will there be enough food for me? Recently, I've been just watching that panic come up... acknowledging it... and putting it to rest. There always seems to be enough. I think I'm finally starting to get that.

Note: Capitalized recipes are my own.

Day 122

• cup of spring water
• few pieces of Super Secret Recipe Raw Vegan Chocolate Candy; a pear; a few Savory Chia Crackers with butter; spring water
• cup of Rehmannia-Chaga Brew
• small cup of Jim's Coffee Smoothie (get ready for this ridiculous list of ingredients: espresso, spring water, ice, walnuts, frozen bananas, frozen blueberries, goji berries, dates, raw cream, honey, maca, milk thistle seed powder, mesquite powder, cacao powder, vanilla bean, sea salt)
• big bowl of green salad (red leaf lettuce, celery, broccoli sprouts, seaweed flakes, nutritional yeast, balsamic vinegar, Hope's rosemary-infused olive oil, black pepper)
• cup of hot jasmine green tea with stevia
• Veggie Frittata (sweet potatoes, red bell peppers, mushrooms, garlic, Hope's cheeken's eggs, raw cream, chives, black pepper, sea salt); barley with nutritional yeast and sea salt; buttercup squash and acorn squash with butter, black pepper, and sea salt; few more pieces of Super Secret Recipe Raw Vegan Chocolate Candy; spring water
  
  

Today's Observations
Oh. My. GOD! I feel like my world is totally turning upside-down with regard to food. I feel like with the raw vegan diet I was able to clean out a lot of toxins (mental, physical, and spiritual) and break ground for some new ways of thinking through food gathering, prep, and consumption. Lately, we've been adding raw cream and raw butter. This has been working really well on my stomach.... surprisingly. Or maybe not. Today I cooked eggs for the first time in years. It was really magical for me because they were from Hope's Cheeckens(tm). I'm not saying that we're not going to continue eating a high raw diet, but I am appreciating the importance of incorporating more local, organic whole grains and dairy products. Don't think I'm quite ready for meat, though. That's gonna take a while, if ever....

Building an Army

What are you using for your health support system? When I started thinking about this today, I was positively floored at how much of a system I'd built around me. Here are some tools I use: family, well-chosen friends, books, videos (some delivered to me daily via email subscription), podcasts, email subscriptions, the classes I teach, the monthly potlucks I hold, and my writings. Wow! So much encouragement from so many fronts! Bring it on, world! I got me some back-up! LOL!

Note: Capitalized recipes are my own.

Day 121

• cup of Rehmannia-Chaga Brew
• Banana Mash-Up (bananas, walnuts, cacao powder, cordyceps powder)
• cup of Rehmannia-Chaga Brew
• handful of Sunspire chocolate-covered peanuts
• few bites of Mo's super-thick smoothie (frozen bananas, frozen raspberries, frozen mangos, frozen strawberries, cold rooibos tea)
• bowl of green salad (romaine, carrots, celery) with Spicy Miso Vinaigrette (apple cider vinegar, olive oil, miso, honey, garlic, Frank's Finest Smokey Southern Spice)
• couple of my Top Secret Recipe Medicinal Chocolate Candies
  
• few oat crackers with Almond Punkin Pate (almonds, pumpkin seeds, carrots, celery, garlic, balsamic vinegar, sea salt)
• cup of Rehmannia-Chaga Brew
• tried a few bites of our first successful batch of sauerkraut (cabbage, carrots, hot peppers, salt)
  
• brown rice with butter and sea salt; baked butternut squash; (very lightly) sauteed mushrooms, broccoli, and onions in balsamic vinegar and nama shoyu; cold rooibos tea
• a piece of my Top Secret Recipe Medicinal Chocolate Candies
  
  

Today's Observations
So, I was feeling all loopy on the top of my head again today and realized... too late, maybe... that I was dehydrated again! I always forget to drink just straight water. Technically herbal teas are considered a food and that's all I've been chugging down. Gotta do better at that. It's just that I'm usually a little chilly and always want to go towards the warm stuff. Alas... But the good news is: I finally got my cacao order in! 5# of cacao powder, 5# of cacao butter, and 5# of cacao nibs! That should last us, oh, a week or so. LOL! So nice to have my lovely candies back in the house. ; )

Clearing the Path

I think it's funny that people look at me askance when I tell them about different things I am trying on my health quest. People are so committed to the lock-and-load response to others: "Wait - I thought you were vegan!" or "But that's not raw!" or "Why didn't you test that spring water before you drank it?" When I began to listen to my body, a whole new world opened up. I started hearing things that surprised me. I changed portions, I changed food types, I added things, I subtracted what wasn't working.

But, to be fair, I need to watch how I sell myself, so to speak. Do I introduced myself as a raw vegan chef? What am I touting? Am I trying to push a particular thing in a conversation? I've been noticing that when I'm talking to people, I've been talking more and more about my ideas around intuitive and intentional eating and less about shoulds and shouldn'ts. I think my friend, Michael, would tell me that's a very good thing indeed. ; )

Note: Capitalized recipes are my own.

Day 120

• cup of spring water
• Chia Pudding (chia seeds, water) with banana
• medium baked sweet potato and teeny baked white potato with butter, nutritional yeast, black pepper, and sea salt
  
• 2 gluten-free vegan chocolate chip cookies; spring water
• cup of hot Mate Chai
• Green Smoothie (frozen bananas, frozen raspberries, sprouts, cacao powder, cold nettle and Pau d'Arco tea, stevia)
• few oat crackers
• baked white potatoes with nutritional yeast, black pepper, and sea salt; kale salad (kale, carrots, sprouts, garlic, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, nutritional yeast, black pepper, sea salt)
  
  

Today's Observations
OK. I've gotten my freakin' fill of baked while potatoes! Ugh! I've been comparing what affect white potatoes has on me versus sweet potatoes. Totally different animal. White potatoes make the top of my head all loopy, like I'm drunk. How weird is that?!? So, I'm sticking with the sweets. They sit so much better on me and they're actually more fun to eat. I don't know why. Maybe it's because of the butter? Probably it's because I'm eating them with Mo... who looooves sweet potatoes. LOL!

Next Step on the Journey

The time for me to beat myself up over my food choices, to guilt myself out about how things could have been done differently, to chastise myself for not being good enough... that's done. I don't want to regret that that side of me was once there, rearing its ugly head; that side of me got me here.

Note: Capitalized recipes are my own.

Day 119

• cup of Chaga Brew (chaga, coconut flakes, cinnamon sticks, cordyceps powder, vanilla bean)
• 2 small baked sweet potatoes with homemade raw butter; cup of cold cat's claw and nettle tea
• bowl of Superfood IceScream (ice, hazelnuts, mulberries, honey, raw cream, carob powder, maca, mesquite, sea salt)
• cup of cold nettle and Pau d'Arco tea
• apple; half of a Coconut Cream Larabar (raw! cool!); bite of Mo's Peanut Butter and Jelly Larabar (not raw, but vegan and unbelievably delicious!)
• take-out from Bua Thai: veggie and tofu Pad Thai; spring water
  
  

Today's Observations
I haven't been doing too much with greens lately. I need to pay more attention to that. BUT I am psyched about the snack choice at Whole Foods today! Mo and I were wanting a snack and I remembered the last time we were at Whole Foods (candy, headache, blech), so I decided to get an apple and a Larabar for us to share. Mo got a Larabar for herself, too. VERY good choices... and no headache! Go, me! LOL!

Prioritizing

Do you trust yourself to make the best decisions possible about your health? Or do you look outside yourself for the final answers? Learning to listen is tough - especially since most of us were never taught how. I've found I've had to learn how to listen by forcing stillness. My head goes a million miles an hour, I've got a thousand projects to do, attention being pulled in a hundred directions... so it comes down to putting myself as the priority. Sometimes I have to do a little pep talk. Whatever works as a good brake... make it happen.

Note: Capitalized recipes are my own.

Day 118

• small cup of hot yerba mate with stevia
• Green Cream Smoothie (green leaf lettuce, frozen raspberries, bananas, cordyceps powder, raw cream, spring water)
• cup of hot jasmine green tea with honey
• small bowl of Superfood IceScream (ice, almonds, mulberries, honey, cold cat's claw and nettle tea, lucuma, mesquite, maca, carob powder, sea salt)
• small cup of decaf Earl Grey tea
• big honkin' green salad (green leaf lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, carrots, sunflower seeds, seaweed flakes, black pepper) with Jim's Miso Vinaigrette (miso, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, Frank's Finest Smoky Southern Spice)
• cup of Chaga Brew (chaga, coconut flakes, cinnamon sticks, cordyceps powder, vanilla bean)
• baked onion with nutritional yeast and black pepper; roasted garlic cloves; sweet and white baked potatoes with homemade raw butter, nutritional yeast, and sea salt; spring water
  
  

Today's Observations
Since I've been paying more and more attention to only eating when I'm hungry, I'm finding that I've gotten into some really bad habits. Yesterday Mo wanted me to make her some ice cream and I said I'd make it later. What I was really doing was waiting until I was hungry. That way, I wouldn't have to make it twice. But that's silly. I realized that I was ignoring her hunger so that we could sync up. I ended up making her some ice cream and didn't have any myself. Sounds like such a simple solution, but there was so much emotional baggage around it. When I pulled myself outside the situation and looked at what was really happening, I quickly rectified it. Nice to have that ability. : )

Questioning the Question

Make sure the questions are right. If the questions aren't right, the answers will be all wrong.

Note: Capitalized recipes are my own.

Day 117

• cup of hot yerba mate with stevia
• Oatmeal (oats, raisins, homemade raw butter, honey, cinnamon, stevia, sea salt); spring water
• big bowl of Miso Soup (spring water, miso, woodear mushrooms, garlic, seaweed flakes, black pepper, sea salt); small scoop of Almond Pate (almonds, carrots, celery, garlic, Bell's Seasoning, nama shoyu, sea salt) with wasabi powder
• piece of Blueberry Lime Cheez-cake (crust was almonds, dates, sea salt; filling was cashews, blueberries, lime juice, coconut oil, honey, sea salt)
• cup of hot yerba mate with honey
• apple
• handful of Sunspire chocolate-covered peanuts; spring water
• Mexi-Mass (following in layers: spinach, brown rice, homemade guacamole, homemade salsa, jalapenos, nutritional yeast); spring water
• small cup of Wysteria's Warming Woo-Woo tea (blend of roses, rooibos, cardamom pods, and fennel seeds! Mmmm!)
  
  

Today's Observations
I've really been watching myself when I'm feeling called to eat. Most of the time, it's not when I'm hungry. Today I only ate when I was hungry. Weird! What's funny is that Mo and I were getting a little peckish while shopping and chose the candy. Why we didn't choose a piece of fruit or something is (almost) beyond me. About 30 minutes after eating it, I got really flushed and felt nauseous. Then... it passed. Good lessen for me: eating something that has a strong emotional tie (candy = fun times! ; ) may not always bode well physically. It also helped me redefine "convenience foods."

Heart Revolution

"If you take the responsibility for your life you can start changing it. Slow will be the change, only in the course of time will you start; moving into the world of light and crystallization, but once you are crystallized you will know what real revolution is. Then share your revolution with others; it has to go that way, from heart to heart."
- Osho

Note: Capitalized recipes are my own.

Day 116

• Superfood IceScream (ice, Brazil nuts, cold nettle and cat's claw tea, honey, goji berries, carob powder, maca, mesquite powder, lucuma, cordyceps powder, sea salt)
  
• cup of Reishi and Chaga Brew (reishi, chaga, coconut flakes, goji berries, vanilla bean)
• 2 bowls of kale salad (kale, tomatoes, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, garlic, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, nutritional yeast, seaweed flakes, black pepper, sea salt); 2 Seed Crackers with butter
  
• Yumpot (coconut oil, honey, lucuma, sea salt)
• big glass of cold nettle and cat's claw tea
• cup of hot blueberry white tea
  
• handful of chocolate-covered cranberries
• baked delicata squash with butter; brown rice with butter, (very lightly) steamed broccoli
  
  

Today's Observations
Mmmm... lovely Maine butter. Love it.

Change in Blog Entries

I've been having some problems with my arms again. Too much time on the computer. So, I'm having to change up my computer usage. For a while, I will only be posting blog entries Monday through Friday. I know, I know. Dry your eyes. But wish me a speedy recovery. ; )

Head Games

If you're in your head while you're eating, you won't be able to enjoy the other sense experiences.

Note: Capitalized recipes are my own.

Day 115

• cup of hot jasmine green tea with honey
• Banana Mash-Up (bananas, sesame seeds, cordyceps powder)
• cup of hot rooibos tea
• small serving of Almond Pate (almonds, carrots, celery, garlic, Bell's Seasoning, nama shoyu, sea salt) with homemade Seed Crackers
• Green Smoothie (frozen bananas, frozen blueberries, frozen mangos, spinach, spring water)
• snack from Whole Foods salad bar: seaweed and sesame salad
• Yumpot (coconut oil, honey, cacao powder, lucuma, maca, sea salt)
• brown rice with butter; Kidney and Mushroom Stew (kidney beans, mushrooms, red bell pepper, onions, oregano, black pepper, sea salt)
• 2 cups of Reishi and Chaga Brew (reishi, chaga, coconut flakes, goji berries, vanilla bean)
  
  

Today's Observations
Lots of wonderful numminess today! I'm so loving the direction of our food choices lately. We're putting more intention into where we're choosing to get our calories and nutrition from. Lovely!

Between a Rock and an Apple

When we spend more time thinking about what we're eating and less about enjoying the food itself, we get out of balance. In other words, if you're caught up in working through your emotional baggage around food issues and not spending time learning how to enjoy your food, you're missing the crucial component to reprogramming. Reprogramming our thinking around food involves not only uncovering those places of pain and shame, but also making opportunities for and taking great pleasure in joyful eating. I get that it's not easy, but it is essential.

Note: Capitalized recipes are my own.

Day 114

• handful of chlorella nuts
  
• Blackberry Pudding (frozen blackberries, avocados, bananas) topped with coconut flakes and homemade granola
  
• cup of Reishi and Chaga Brew (reishi, chaga, coconut flakes, goji berries, vanilla bean)
• small serving of Almond Pate (almonds, carrots, celery, garlic, Bell's Seasoning, nama shoyu, sea salt) with carrots, celery, and homemade Seed Crackers
• Superfood IceScream (ice, Brazil nuts, cold nettle and cat's claw tea, mulberries, cacao nibs, honey, maca, mesquite, carob poweder, sea salt)
• celery with Olive Sesame Dressing
  
• cup of water with Watch Your Back flower essences
  
• cheese and flatbread sandwich from Dunkin Donuts [hard admission... be gentle]
• take out from Bua Thai: veggie spring rolls; veggie and tofu Pad Thai; cold nettle and cat's claw tea
  
  

Today's Observations
OK. The Dunkin Donuts. While driving to teach my raw vegan class (LOL!), I realized that I was hungry. I also was craving cheese - which is really rare for me. So, I tried to think of what I could have that was low-impact, but also I knew I needed to get to my class quickly. So, it wasn't the greatest choice. I get that. I'm trying to not beat myself up over it. I'm actually more frustrated with myself for choosing that particular establishment than I am for choosing that particular food. Dunkin Donuts isn't known for their organics. ; ) Tomorrow: lots of chlorella.

Sidenote: I actually debated not putting that Dunkin Donuts foray in the list. I really did. Then I thought, you've never excluded anything on this blog and to start not would lead you down a slippery slope. So, I really had to work through some serious baggage to be able to type that in.

Turning Off and Tuning In

When you compartmentalize your foods, you miss the whole experience. If I think in terms of where I'm getting my calcium, my vitimin C, my fiber, I'm not listening to my body. If I turn off my Talking Self and turn inward and listen to what I need, I find the answers. There's no need to do all that Food Math.

Note: Capitalized recipes are my own.

Day 113

• cup of hot jasmine green tea with honey
• Banana Mash-Up (bananas, walnuts, cordyceps mushroom powder)
• small bowl of Lickety Split Pea Soup (water, split peas, carrots, potatoes, celery, liquid smoke, marjoram, sea salt); Seed Crackers (my homemade dehydrated seed crackers... can't remember ingredients) with butter
  
• mini Yumpot (butter, coconut oil, honey, cordyceps powder, maca, lucuma, cacao powder, sea salt)
• couple of big handfuls of Sunspire chocolate-covered peanuts
• big glass of spring water
  
• made a wooooonderful dinner for my friend, Larry: green salad (romaine, carrots) with Olive Sesame Dressing (sesame seeds, date, olives, olive oil, water); roasted spaghetti squash with Pesto Cream (fresh basil, garlic, hazelnuts, olive oil, sea salt); baked potatoes with Garlic Butter (roasted garlic, butter); spring water
• 2 cups of Reishi and Chaga Brew (reishi, chaga, coconut flakes, goji berries, vanilla bean)
  
  

Today's Observations
Goooooooooo, medicinal mushrooms!!! Goooooooooo, butter!!!

Help!

When people don't want to take you up on an offer to help, let it go. The energy you've put into the Universe just by offering alone is as important as the help itself.

Note: Capitalized recipes are my own.

Day 112

• grapefruit with honey
• brown rice with butter and guacamole (avocado, garlic, chili poweder, cumin, sea salt); spring water
• cup of hot jasmine green tea with honey
  
• few pieces of my not-so-great chocolate candy experiment from last night
  
• big cup of Reishi Brew (reishi, horsetail, Pau d'Arco, carob pod pieces, vanilla bean)
• small packet of roasted and salted cashews at Starbuck's
• bowl of Mo's Garbage Cereal (oats, chia seeds, sesame seeds, raisins, mulberries, coconut flakes, banana, Brazil nut mylk)
• dinner out at some unpronounceable Thai restaurant... like Srjeworj9iegnfio or something: fried sweet potatoes; vegetable and tofu soup bowl; water
• glass of spring water
  
  

Today's Observations
I want 4500 hot homemade chocolate chip cookies. Just sayin'.

Naked Empowerment

If you let your fears fall to the side, you will be left naked and vulnerable. The next step is to decide what you will pull to you. Sometimes that pulling towards you can be vulnerable, too: can I handle the energy of this new thing that will empower me and make me more authentic?

I encourage you to read this quote out loud with fiery joy each day... until you believe it in your heart.

"Everyday Grace" by Marianne Williamson

My deepest fear is not that I am inadequate.
My deepest fear is that I am powerful beyond measure.
It is my light, not my darkness that most frightens me.
I ask myself, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who am I not to be? I am a child of God.
My playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing
enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel
insecure around me. I am meant to shine, as children do.
I was born to make manifest the glory of God that is within me.
It's not just in me; it's in everyone. And as I let my own
light shine, I unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As I am liberated from my own fear, my presence automatically liberates others.

Note: Capitalized recipes are my own.

Day 111

• cup of Reishi Brew (reishi, horsetail, Pau d'Arco, carob pod pieces, vanilla bean)
• big bowl of kale and spinach salad (red kale, spinach, carrots, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, dried cranberries, garlic, olive oil, nutritional yeast, balsamic vinegar, sea salt)
• cup of jasmine green tea with honey
• 16 oz. Katalyst schizandraberry kombucha
• banana with peanut butter
• handful of sunflower seeds, handful of Spicy Seeds
• Green Smoothie (beet greens, spring water, frozen banana, frozen blueberries, cacao nibs, maca, lucuma, sea salt)
• dinner out at a friend's: outstanding egg and veggie frittata (with pickles!); cabbage soup (with lovely chickpea miso!); spring water; weird and wonderful reishi brew (I think it had reishi, chaga, coconut, and vanilla in it); homemade chocolate candy attempt (made with nasty-ass cacao paste!)
  
  

Today's Observations
Written in the morning: I've decided I need to start working towards drinking more spring water (straight and not just in teas) and incorporating more fermented foods/drinks. Written at night: Well, good intention! I did just that today! : ) Outrageous dinner at our friend's tonight. I really loved the frittata. I could tell it was made with such love and I so appreciated that. : ) xoxo

New Work Ethic

"We either make ourselves miserable or make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same."
- Carlos Castenada

Note: Capitalized recipes are my own.

Day 110

• cup of hot jasmine green tea with honey
• bowl of leftover brown rice with butter mixed with some of the leftover Spicy Chick Peas
• cup of Reishi Brew (reishi, horsetail, Pau d'Arco, carob pod pieces, vanilla bean)
• bowl of leftover brown rice with butter mixed with some of the leftover Spicy Chick Peas topped with hot sauce
• Superfood IceScream (ice, hazelnuts, Brazil nut mylk, goji berries, cacao nibs, cacao powder, colostrum, maca, lucuma, mesquite, sea salt)
• cup of Reishi Brew (reishi, horsetail, Pau d'Arco, carob pod pieces, vanilla bean)
• roasted delicata squash with butter; kale and spinach salad (red kale, spinach, carrots, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, dried cranberries, garlic, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, sea salt); water
  
  

Today's Observations
Now why would I get lightheaded after my breakfast this morning? Could it have been the caffeine? The honey? I can't imagine the food would have anything to do with it. Strange. Been doing too much cooked food lately. Feeling bloated. Also, I've been craving green smoothies. Think there's a connexion? ; )

Swimming Trunks

When I lost weight, naturally my clothes got baggier. But I haven't replaced them yet with smaller versions. I'm still revelling in the swimming around.

Note: Capitalized recipes are my own.

Day 109

• cup of hot rooibos tea with stevia
• Blueberry Pudding (avocados, bananas, frozen blueberries) topped with coconut flakes, Hunza raisins, and homemade granola
• cup of hot rooibos tea with stevia
• plate of the following in layers: spinach, brown rice, Spicy Chick Peas (chick peas, garlic, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, black pepper, sea salt), guacamole (avocados, garlic, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, chipotle powder, sea salt), Nik's homemade salsa
• cup of hot jasmine green tea with honey
• Superfood IceScream (ice, hazelnuts, Brazil nut mylk, mulberries, honey, lucuma, maca, mesquite, stevia, sea salt)
• 2 vegan, gluten-free chocolate chip cookies
• small bowl of Smoky Veggie Soup (onions, carrots, celery, zucchini, broccoli, raisins, water, miso, honey, Frank's Finest Smoky Southern Spice, smoked paprika, tarragon, sea salt)
• small cup of Reishi Brew (reishi, horsetail, Pau d'Arco, carob pod pieces, vanilla bean)
  
  

Today's Observations
Lots of cooked today, but some great choices in cooked. The cookies were a bit over the top. I mean, the first one was o.k., but I ended up finishing off the second one just because it was in the package... and not because I wanted another one. I know you can relate... ; )

Gourmet Defined

Take away the dogma and the complexity and you have gourmet food.

Note: Capitalized recipes are my own.

Day 108

• cup of spring water
  
• Coffee Elixir (espresso made with Reishi Brew instead of water, spring water, coconut oil, hazelnuts, honey, vanilla bean, maca, colostrum, stevia, cinnamon, cayenne, sea salt)
• bowl of Smashed Taters (sweet potatoes, white potatoes, olive oil, garlic, nutritional yeast, smoked paprika, sea salt) slathered in hot sauce
• cup of spring water
• Superfood IceScream (ice, hazelnut mylk, Brazil nuts, mulberries, irish moss, honey, carob powder, fo-ti powder, lucuma, mesquite, maca, sea salt)
• an orange
• 16 oz. bottle of water; celery and peanut butter
• 20 oz. bottle of water
• kale salad (red kale, sprouts, tomatoes, Jim's Vinaigrette, nutritional yeast, kelp flakes, black pepper, sea salt); steamed veggies with local butter
• mini Yumpot (coconut oil, honey, lucuma, sea salt)
• a taste of Jim's weird-ass tea (spring water, St. John's Wort, yarrow, mandrake root, splash of homemade mead, honey)
  
  

Today's Observations
I have been crazy hungry and thirsty today. What's up with that? Maybe I need more minerals? More calories? More fat? Experimenting around with different combinations to see what helps.

You Are The New Exhibit

I made a new friend today named Lauren Michelle Kinsey (http://laurenkinseyraw.wordpress.com). She calls herself a "Health Exhibitionist." Makes me wonder what I should be doing to fall into that category. After all, some boxes sounds more fun to play in than others. ; )

Note: Capitalized recipes are my own.

Day 107

• cup of hot rooibos tea with stevia
• bowl of Mo's Garbage Cereal (hazelnut mylk, oats, banana, Hunza raisins, figs, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds)
• Yumpot split between Edgrrr and Mo (coconut oil, honey, sea salt)
• bowl of brown rice mixed with guacamole, nutritional yeast, hot sauce, and sea salt
• Coffee Elixir (espresso made with Reishi Brew instead of water, spring water, coconut flakes, hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, dates, vanilla bean, maca, colostrum, cacao powder, cinnamon, cayenne, sea salt)
• bowl of Smoky Veggie Soup (onions, carrots, celery, zucchini, broccoli, raisins, water, miso, honey, Frank's Finest Smoky Southern Spice, smoked paprika, tarragon, sea salt) with a little brown rice in the bottom
• taste of my Inebriated Banana Chip Ice Cream (frozen bananas, cacao nibs, homemade vanilla rum extract)
  
  

Today's Observations
This is the first time I've had a pot of caffeinated espresso in YEARS! I totally expected to be jacked, headachey, and OCD-triggered (caffeine usually triggers my OCD symptoms), but... nothing. I just felt good. It tasted amazing. Thanks, Jim, for turning me onto these! This was the first time I've tasted the homemade vanilla rum extract. Yowza! Nice!

Eating Awake

Dinner doesn't have to be an elaborate affair. Eating foods as they are, without sauces or spices, is a wonderful way to reacquaint yourself with the true taste and qualities of the food. As I eat more meals with fewer ingredients, I am aware of perspective changes on all levels: who am I when I eat this? What are my expectations around this food? How is this food changing me?

Note: Capitalized recipes are my own.

Day 106

• cup of hot jasmine green tea with honey
• cup of homemade spicy herbal tea (rooibos, carob pod pieces, cinnamon, stevia)
• banana
  
• lunch out at Silly's: falafel and veggie vegan wrap; sweet potato fries with spicy vegan dip; spring water
  
• cup of hot nettle tea
• cup of hot decaf vanilla nut tea
• Superfood IceScream (ice, cold horsetail tea, walnuts, hazelnuts, mulberries, honey, lucuma, mesquite, maca, colostrum, sea salt)
• several pieces of romaine dipped in Olive Sesame Dressing; about 30 chlorella nuts; a couple of handfuls of homemade apple chips (Mmm!); an Energy Ball (almonds, dates, sea salt)
  
• cup of Reishi Brew (reishi, astragalus, cat's claw, Pau d'Arco, elderberries, vanilla bean)
  
  

Today's Observations
Ate too much at lunch. Damn Silly's makin' good food. They'd better knock that shit off. ; )

More Inspiration

Inspired again.

"Beautiful" by Christina Aguilera

Every day is so wonderful
And suddenly, it's hard to breathe
Now and then, I get insecure
From all the pain, I'm so ashamed

I am beautiful no matter what they say
Words can't bring me down
I am beautiful in every single way
Yes, words can't bring me down
So don't you bring me down today

To all your friends, you're delirious
So consumed in all your doom
Trying hard to fill the emptiness
The piece is gone left the puzzle undone
That's the way it is

You are beautiful no matter what they say
Words can't bring you down
You are beautiful in every single way
Yes, words can't bring you down
Don't you bring me down today...

No matter what we do
(no matter what we do)
No matter what they say
(no matter what they say)
When the sun is shining through
Then the clouds won't stay

And everywhere we go
(everywhere we go)
The sun won't always shine
(sun won't always shine)
But tomorrow will find a way
All the other times

'Cuz we are beautiful no matter what they say
Yes, words won't bring us down, oh no
We are beautiful in every single way
Yes, words can't bring us down
Don't you bring me down today

Don't you bring me down today
Don't you bring me down today

Note: Capitalized recipes are my own.

Day 105

• cup of hot jasmine green tea with honey
• cup of hot jasmine green tea (using previous tea's leaves)
• cup of Reishi Brew (reishi, astragalus, cat's claw, Pau d'Arco, elderberries, vanilla bean)
• 1/2 cup of hot coca tea
• bowl of Mo's Garbage Cereal (hazelnut mylk, banana, oats, coconut flakes, goji berries, Hunza raisins, sesame seeds, chia seeds)
• lunch out at the mall: steamed white rice with steamed veggies; water
• handful of Sunspire chocolate-covered peanuts
• cup of water
• bowl of green salad (romaine, red bell pepper, sunflower seeds) with Olive Sesame Dressing; Smashed Potatoes (white potatoes, sweet potatoes) with a little Olive Sesame Dressing
• Superfood IceScream (ice, cold horsetail tea, walnuts, few pieces of my Mulled Berry Chocolates, mulberries, honey, lucuma, maca, mesquite, colostrum, sea salt)
  
  

Today's Observations
I miss my usual homemade chocolates. I can't wait til my cacao butter and cacao powder order comes in.

Paying It Forward

I read Carmella's (of Sunny Raw Kitchen) post today and was quite moved while reading this excerpt:

When we were staying at Hanna Park, one particularly chilly evening a young woman and her father walked over to our site, holding Tupperware containers. She said that they had lots of left over soup and since we were camping in the cold, she thought we might enjoy something warm. Although I was in shock about her kindness and thoughtfulness, I somehow had the wit to mention that we were vegetarians. She candidly replied that the soup was made with cheese tortellinis, Portobello mushrooms, onion and chicken broth. Yep, pretty much as un-raw and non vegan as can be, but humbly and gratefully accepting her offering felt like the right thing to do. It was such an act of genuine kindness that I simply couldn’t refuse. Can you picture me telling her, “Thanks very much but I’m sorry, we actually don’t eat wheat and animal products. As a matter of fact, we usually don’t even cook our food!” How do you think it would have made her feel? Surely wouldn't have encouraged her in future to listen to the wild impulses of her generous heart!... Don and I ate the soup huddled in our tent, and you know what? It tasted delicious! And in spite of the fact that it contained three major ‘no-nos’ for me, I had zero adverse reaction whatsoever! Not even a runny nose from the wheat! Wowsers!

- http://thesunnyrawkitchen.blogspot.com/2010/01/sunny-raw-kitchen-tour-adventures.html

I really appreciated the insight into how her own actions could have adversely affected the future actions of the woman giving her the soup. I am going to work to incorporate this type of forward thinking more often. Thank you, Carmella.

Note: Capitalized recipes are my own.

Day 104

• 2 glasses of spring water
• bowl of Strawberry-Raspberry Pudding (frozen raspberries, bananas, avocado, coconut flakes, Hunza raisins)
• cup of Reishi Brew (reishi, astragalus, cat's claw, Pau d'Arco, elderberries, vanilla bean)
• bowl of Jim's Bean Stew (layer of shredded romaine, layer of brown rice, layer of some black bean and veggie spicy stew stuff)
• Superfood IceScream (ice, cold horsetail tea, a few of my Mulled Berry Chocolates, honey, hazelnuts, goji berries, colostrum, maca, lucuma, mesquite powder, sea salt)
• cup of homemade spicy herbal tea (rooibos, carob pod pieces, cinnamon, stevia)
• 1/2 cup of hot decaf chai tea
  
  

Pudding and Cosmic Wimpout... the morning standard for Mo and me

Today's Observations
I don't like to weigh myself much because it tends to act as a trigger for old patterns. I have to watch that. But, that being said, after getting back from vacation, I weighed myself this morning just out of curiosity. After busting my ass to eat as responsibly - and joyfully! - as I could... I lost 1/10th of a pound! LOL! I seriously thought I'd gained a few pounds, but I guess not! So funny!

Mourning

There is a time for hanging onto old patterns... but that time has passed.

Note: Capitalized recipes are my own.

Day 103

• 2 glasses of spring water
• handful of cashews
• couple of pieces of my Mulled Berry Chocolates
• few mulberries
• big, fat bowl of Lima Vegetable Soup (water, miso, potatoes, carrots, celery, onions)
  
• cup of homemade spicy herbal tea (rooibos, carob pod pieces, cinnamon, stevia)
  
  

Today's Observations
It's so good to be back home, eating my own food, drinking my own spring water... AH! Didn't eat much, but I'm so damned tired from all the traveling. I think my body must be sleeping. ; )

Eatin' Time

Eating to bide time is dumb. This is from personal experience.

Note: Capitalized recipes are my own.

Day 102

• cup of hot jasmine green tea with honey
• 3 slices of Carrot Raisin Manna Bread with coconut oil
• few sips of Mo's Green Smoothie (kale, frozen bananas, frozen strawberries, water)
• bowl of vegetarian baked beans
• food on the road: green salad (spinach, cauliflower, tomatoes, carrots, quinoa with Spicy Thai dressing), kombucha, some raw vegan chocolate nut bar thing, apple, cashews, hot herbal tea, hummus with celery
  
  

Today's Observations
It's official: eating dairy makes me phlegmy. A couple of weeks ago I was getting really stuffy in the nose and it was running down my throat and giving me a sore throat. I thought, wow, this is weird. The last time I felt like this was ages ago. I started taking pulsatilla and ascorbic acid and that helped a bit, but didn't fix the problem. Since I've been here on vacation, I haven't eaten any dairy except for in the past couple of days. That whole phlegm thing went away within a couple days of being here. I didn't even put 2 and 2 together until now. The last couple of days I've had a few bites of conventional cheesecake (which is funny because I don't even LIKE cheesecake, but have been craving MY raw vegan cheesecake... thought maybe I could substitute one for the other... HA! ; ). I woke up this morning and am phlegmy again! Wake up, Lisa! So... I need to go back to square one. I would like to try doing the goat's milk kefir only and see how that affects me. In kefir, the lactose that causes phlegm gets eaten by the bacteria, so it becomes a non-issue for those intolerant. I did notice, however, that kefir made me gassy. Hmmm... Alas... LOL!