Wednesday, July 8th, 2009
Today I had a high energy, organic, raw vegan food day. It’s been AWESOME and I feel on top of the world. Yowza!
Watermelon (3 1/2 cups)
Bleh Protein Smoothie
Watermelon (2 cups)
Remember! One of the main food combining rules (to always follow) is eating melons alone. So, I had this watermelon more than an hour after my protein shake (giving my shake time to digest and leave my stomach).
Fresh Green Juice (3 cups)
Vibrant, delicious, nutritious… this stuff made my cells dance all day long. Green juice, or as you know I love to call it, Plant Blood, is SO good for you!!! Today’s concoction had (all organic) dinosaur kale, celery, dandelion greens, oranges and apple. I used my good ol’ Green Star for this baby! That machine is amazing and is truly worth every penny.
Watermelon (3 cups)
What can I say? I LOVE WATERMELON!!!!!!!!!!!!
Plain Sauerkraut (1/2 cup), 3 Prunes
I made another batch of sauerkraut today but this time I made it with cabbage, carrots, and a little cayenne pepper. I shot some video of the process and will post it later this week. Stay tuned!
Giant Fresh Salad
Tonight’s salad was a big bowl filled with romaine lettuce, shredded carrot, diced avocado and a special dressing that I made using an ingredient I’ve not used before now. I will report back later about what it was. Know this, it was scrumptious!
Plain Sauerkraut (1/2 cup), 2 Prunes
I suspect I’ll get hungry later. If (when) I do, I plan on eating organic cherries and maybe the organic white peach I picked up at Whole Foods last night.
Similar Posts:
~
We saw Food, Inc. at the Film Forum in New York City tonight. It was amazing. I was moved to tears a couple of times. I was riled up. My blood boiled in parts. I was humbled. I was motivated. And, I was inspired.
After the movie finished, the director of Food, Inc., Robert Kenner, was there for a brief Q&A session, which I recorded for my readers.
Food, Inc. is a MUST-SEE documentary. I’ve heard a couple people say, “Oh, it’s stuff I already know and has already been shown.” It doesn’t matter. Food, Inc. is to be praised. We will effect change only by getting the message put out there multiple times, until more and more people learn about these problems with the food industry. Multiple impressions and repetition work.
Even if you think you’ve heard this stuff before, I’m sure you’ll learn some new things. You’ll be motivated all over again.
Over the next few weeks, the movie will be shown in more cities around the United States, and you can expect the dvd to be available in September/October 2009. I definitely plan on picking up a copy of the Food, Inc. dvd so I can loan it out to people, who I know aren’t going to get to the theater to see it.
Even though the movie had me upset and frustrated in many instances, there is still hope for change. We have to keep pushing. Vote with your dollar. Buy locally. Buy organic. Read labels. Avoid genetically modified foods (GMOs). Go to your farmers’ market and join a CSA. I love my CSA, and after seeing this film, I love my local farmer even that much more! Throughout the film I couldn’t help but feel very protective of him and the food he makes available for my family.
If you’re as fired up as I am about making change, then tell everyone you know to go see the movie, and check out this link: Take Part.
Similar Posts:
~
Thursday, June 11th, 2009
Today was a cloudy day in NY (many of them have been) so it felt like a good day to take the Kindle2 to Starbucks and enjoy some warm tea. I haven’t used my Kindle2 since I arrived so I was excited about checking out the new books I recently added to it. However, once we arrived at Starbucks and I was all nestled in my chair, warm tea in hand, I opened my Kindle cover and was met with: “Your battery is empty.” See in the photo to the right… the picture of the batter is EMPTY! Bummer. And, I hadn’t even been using it, so I’m not sure how this happened. Oh well. I just drank my tea and we “people watched” through the window. Good times.
Later in the day we ate a late lunch at Cafe Blossom – I am LOVING that place. I enjoy the Raw items, the cooked vegan foods, and the fresh organic juices they have. YUM! As I sit in the hotel writing this past 10pm, I’m wishing very badly that it was early enough to go grab some of their green juice and an order of their (Raw) Autumn Sweet Potato Rolls. All I have in the room is water and a Vega bar (chocolate) and if you followed my Twitter and FB update earlier today, you know that sometimes I don’t like those bars because they taste like soap?!? Hence, my apprehension to tear into the lone bar sitting by the TV across the room.
-A new Organic Trade Association report reveals sales of organic products in 2008 grew 17.1% over the previous year. Organic food sales grew more than three times the rate of nonorganic food sales.
-According to the Journal of Applied Nutrition, organically grown fruits and vegetables have significantly higher nutritional content than conventional produce: “Organically grown apples, wheat, sweet corn, potatoes and pears were examined over a 2 year period and were 63% higher in calcium, 73% higher in iron, 118% higher in magnesium, 178% higher in molybdenum, 91% higher in phosphorus, 125% higher in potassium and 60% higher in zinc than conventionally grown produce.” In addition, organic meats were not only found to be leaner, but also have about five times the omega-3s.
-In a conventional diet, we are exposed to over 70 pesticide-related pollutants on a daily basis. A recent 2009 report found that switching to an organic diet reduces pesticide exposure by over 95%.
-The Environmental Working Group published a list of the 12 most pesticide ridden foods based on 87,000 tests. Nectarines, peaches, apples, strawberries and imported grapes topped the list. The most pesticide-free non-organic produce includes onions, avocados, and sweet corn.
And… last but not least… a recipe of mine was featured in VegNews Recipe Club email newsletter today (my recipe for Teriyaki Noodles). Go to VegNews.com to subscribe.
Similar Posts:
~
For those of you in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area, if you’re not a part of the CSA, you’re truly missing out on the most amazing, fresh, organic produce ever.
The CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) I wrote about previously is better than I ever imagined. I’m absolutely thrilled (and so very proud!) to be a part of this within my community. When I was a regular shopper at the farmer’s market, I thought I “got” how cool it was to buy my weekly produce from a certified organic, local farmer. But, I had no idea my experience was going to be taken to new heights once I was a part of Doug’s CSA. My connection to my food is that much stronger and, frankly, it moves me. Every bite is special because I know it was grown close to my home, it’s carbon footprint is minimal, it’s loaded with nutrition because it’s locally grown and just picked, and I helped finance the farmer (way cool!). I’ve had an important part in helping this farmer grow.
On top of all that, the price is awesome (and remember… it’s ORGANIC!)! And, get this… he even offers a payment plan for those of you who are super excited about this opportunity but don’t have the upfront cash. Not only that, but Doug’s CSA is year round! Do you realize how lucky we are to have a year round CSA? This is not common in other parts of the country.
Before I joined the CSA, I actually didn’t think I’d ever be a part of a CSA because most are operated with the program giving you a box of produce that you don’t select yourself. For me, I thought that might be a waste in some instances because I wasn’t sure I’d end up using all of the produce. I’m quite particular about my weekly shopping list. However, Doug’s CSA is different! Each week he emails the members an excel spreadsheet that serves as our shopping list. I select what I want, it tallies the total, and I email it back to him. Voila! Easy Peasy!
Pick up is on Saturday, when the normal farmer’s market is going on. Because I’m a member of the CSA, I’m treated as a VIP. My food is already paid for and set aside (unless I want to get extra goodies not included in my list), so I don’t have to wait in line. I simply pick it up. It’s an efficient system.
I could go on and on about how happy I am to be a part of this very cool program… but, you don’t have to take my word for it. Here are a couple of testimonials from other super happy customers.
“I’ve been buying produce from Lewis’ Hen House for over a year now and was very excited when I heard they were starting a CSA, and that the pick-up location is very conveniently the market I was already going to every week! The produce is always the best quality – certified organic, fresh, and delicious. Very reasonably priced, too. The really great thing about this CSA is you get to pick exactly what you want each week! No getting strange veges you don’t really want or you don’t know what to do with! I’m really happy I decided to join.”
~Heather
“Being a part of a local CSA is a great way to give back to the community, support local farming, and enjoy the freshest seasonal produce available. The produce I buy from Lewis’ Hen House is incredibly fresh and you can really taste and feel the difference. It is an honor to know the people who grow the food that nourishes your family!”
~Marci
UPDATE! The CSA is no longer, sadly. They have a new program, called a Discount Club and you can view the details here.
Similar Posts:
~
The following blog post is for people living in the Phoenix area. As many of you know, I love visiting the Road Runner’s Farmer Market because my favorite farmer, Doug (that’s Doug in the picture), is there selling his super fresh, delicious, certified organic produce. (Read about my experience with Doug’s food here.)
Doug emailed me this week tossing around the idea of possibly starting an organic CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). I was stoked at the thought of this. Well… he asked me to try and gauge whether people I know locally would be interested in this. Here is what he had to say:
I would like to establish an “Organic CSA” in the Phoenix area. CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. Essentially, it’s like a subscription club where customers sign up for a set period of time (3, 6, 9, 12 months), pay a set amount of money and then receive a set amount of fresh vegetables on a regular basis from the farmer. The subscribers would be partners in the produce grown on the farm. They would share in the success and or failure on the farm. They would then receive whatever produce was in season from the farm. The farmer then uses this income to sustain or expand his farm and provide an income for him. I would like to find out if you and your subscribers would be interested in something like this, if it existed. I’m just in the investigative stage, but if you could get an idea of interest, I would really appreciate it. If there seems to be interest, I can start working out the details.
UPDATE! The CSA that was started is no longer, sadly. However, they do offer a Discount Club and the details are here.
Similar Posts:
~
Tuesday, November 25th, 2008
Last week I blogged about President-Elect Obama considering Vilsack for Secretary of Agriculture. Well…
WE WON!
WE WON!
WE WON!
CHECK IT OUT!!! Here is what Organic Consumers Association reported:
In last week’s Organic Bytes, the OCA alerted readers that President-elect Obama was considering former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack for USDA Secretary of Agriculture. Vilsack has been an ardent supporter of Monsanto, genetically engineered crops, and corn and soy-based biofuels. Thanks to vocal opposition from thousands of you in the OCA network, Vilksack’s nomination has now been withdrawn. Although Vilsack told the Des Moines Register he didn’t want to comment on why he had been sacked, sources at the Obama transition headquarters reported “a flood of calls and emails” from organic consumers opposing Vilsack’s nomination. Thanks to your participation, the OCA office in Washington, DC is submitting a petition with 8,000 signatures to Obama’s transition team this week, urging Obama to take a strong stand in support of organic food and farming.
Similar Posts:
~
Wednesday, November 19th, 2008
According to the Organic Consumers Association:
It has been widely reported that former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack is being considered for the Secretary of Agriculture position in the Obama Administration. (WTF???) Vilsack is no friend of organic food and farming and his appointment would represent a major disappointment for the organic movement.
But there is still time to make your voice heard.
Speak your mind! If you agree that Vilsack would be a bad choice for secretary of agriculture, then sign the petition here right away. Or, you can tell President-Elect Obama your views on his website here. Heck, while you’re at it, give him a call at (202) 540-3000!
Take this another step beyond signing the petition and pass it on! I posted this on the Crazy Sexy Cancer forum and it’s getting a lot of play, so if you know of somewhere else to post (including your own blogs), then let’s do it!
Similar Posts:
~
Saturday, October 18th, 2008
Eating Raw and Organic doesn’t have to break the bank for you. Here are 14 great tips to help.
1. Keep it simple. Eating a couple of bananas or apples is an easy and inexpensive option for breakfast. As well, keeping your snacks to plain fresh fruit or veggies (carrots, celery, etc) will also help keep your costs down while keeping your nutrients and energy both sky-high.
2. Super foods can be expensive (goji berries, maca, raw cacao, etc) so keep an eye out for that. A good rule of thumb here is to keep in mind that with super foods, a little goes a long way. For this reason, consider ordering with a friend and splitting the cost and the super food. Personally, there are times I enjoy them and times when I don’t have them for months on end. I can really stretch a bag of raw chocolate or maca.
3. If you’re HRAV (High Raw, All Vegan) then you have some additional inexpensive options. Shop in the bulk aisle of your health food store for things like organic quinoa, lentils, grains, etc. Remember that you’ll likely eat out less at restaurants with this diet and that alone will help you save money.
4. Grow your own sprouts. This is a great and inexpensive way to add loads of nutrition to your diet. Load up on these for salads, soups, and smoothies. Very inexpensive. Buy the organic seeds in the bulk bins at your health food store or buy online. Fun! Learn how to grow your own here.
5. Buy nuts, seeds and dried fruit in bulk online. Check places like Sun Organic for increased savings as you buy larger quantities. Nuts, seeds, and dried fruit have a long shelf life, especially when stored in the refrigerator or freezer, so stock up and save.
6. Check the store you’re shopping at for their own brand of organic. For example, the 365 Whole Foods brand and the Safeway Organic brand seem to consistently have the best prices as compared to the competition.
7. Substitutions are a great way to save money. When making a recipe that calls for expensive nuts, you can often easily replace them with less expensive sunflower or pumpkin seeds.
8. Be content with minimal variety. Organic spinach banana smoothies are inexpensive, and my Fluffy Green Smoothie (recipe here)doesn’t cost much either (especially in the fall when apples are in-season). Having something like this for breakfast, snack, lunch and/or dessert can save money. For add variety, change it up by adding cinnamon one day, nutmeg another, vanilla extract yet another. Throw in a date in or some soaked raisins for pizazz on other days.
9. Buy fresh produce in bulk. Ask the store you frequent if they’ll give you a deal for buying certain foods by the case. (Just make sure it’s a case of something that you can go through in a timely fashion so it doesn’t go to waste). Consider this for bananas or greens especially if you drink lots of smoothies or green juice.
10. See if local neighbors, family or friends will share the price of getting cases of certain foods. When you do this, you can go beyond your local grocery store and contact places like Boxed Greens or Diamond Organic. Maybe they’ll extend a discount if your order goes above a certain amount or if you get certain foods by the case. It never hurts to ask.
11. Pay attention to organic foods that aren’t very expensive to buy relative to conventional prices (bananas, for example). Load up on those. Make salads, smoothies, and soups with ingredients that tend to be less expensive such as carrots (year round), bananas (year round), zucchini and cucumbers (summer), apples (fall), etc.
12. Be smart when picking what you buy as organic. Some conventionally grown foods have much higher levels of pesticides than others. For those, go organic. Then, for foods that aren’t sprayed as much, you can opt for conventional. Avocados, for example, aren’t sprayed too much so you could buy those as conventional. Check out this list for more details.
13. Buy things on sale. Pay attention to which organic foods are on sale for the week and plan your menu around that. Every little bit adds up!
14. Buy seasonally; hence, don’t buy a bunch of organic berries out of season (eat more apples and bananas in winter). Also, consider buying frozen organic fruits, especially when they’re on sale!
Similar Posts:
~
Wednesday, June 4th, 2008
Times are changing and it’s exciting. Check out this article about some fast food chains going organic. As a High Raw All Vegan (HRAV), I love knowing that our nation is starting to desire healthier food choices, which, in my book, means more people learning about Raw in the long run. We have to start somewhere and fresh organic food is a great place.
Organic and eating locally grown foods are both “hot” trends for chefs right now, and this means more organic options at restaurants. Yippee! How great would it be to enjoy gobbling up fresh salads and dishes made from organic ingredients when you dine out?
My HRAV Food Today
Organic coconut black tea
1 quart Blueberry Power Packed Green Smoothie (recipe below)
1/4 cup Manitoba Harvest Hemp Seeds
that’s it so far…
Blueberry Power Packed Smoothie
Yield 1 quart
2 cups water
2 cups blueberries
1/4 cup Manitoba Harvest Hemp Protein Powder (the best available)
1 tablespoon Vitamineral Green Powder (my favorite!)
1 tablespoon chia seeds (these are so fun!)
3 handfuls spinach
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Blend this power packin’ goodness up and enjoy some mega energy and fulfillment!
Daily Conversation Question
If you could have front row seats to any concert, who would you like to see?
Similar Posts:
~
I have been craving spumoni ice cream lately, so I had to come up with an alternative – Raw Vegan style. Here it is! Super delicious and yummy – enjoy!
*Side note: I hope it goes without saying that I only use organic ingredients whenever possible, which basically means that 99% of everything I create is organic. There are instances where I simply can’t procure it – so I either try to find an organic substitute of some sort or I begrudgingly use conventional.
Spumoni Dessert Smoothie
Yield 4 cups
1 cup raw shelled pistachios, soaked 1-hour, drained and rinsed
1 1/2 cups water
1 (10oz) bag frozen cherries
1/4 cup Raw agave nectar
3 tablespoons Navitas Raw chocolate powder (my favorite!)
1/2 teaspoon cherry extract
pinch Himalayan crystal salt
Blend until smooth and creamy – enjoy!
Update: My class over the weekend was a huge success! We rocked the house at Whole Foods with a sold-out class and had a blast. Get ready for another incredible class May 17 when I teach some of my favorite Raw Vegan dessert recipes.
Similar Posts:
~
I'm Kristen, and welcome to my blog. I'm a wife, mom, author, and I love to eat so food is usually the topic of my blog posts. I'm a former (almost decade long) vegan turned back omnivore who enjoys reading, rebounding, coffee, and dark chocolate. 
