Thursday, November 29th, 2007

4 HEALTHY MUST EAT SUPERFOODS

by Kristen in exercise, raw food, superfoods

Check out today’s feature on Yahoo: 4 Healthy Superfoods and why you should add more of them to your diet…Raw, of course, or you risk destroying the very nutrients you’re trying to get! Here are some easy ways to get more folate (lowers homocysteine levels), sulforaphane (cancer fighter), lycopene (not from tomatoes!), and lutein and zeaxanthin (retina protection).

Today’s food intake:
Upon waking: warm water with fresh squeezed lemon and lime juice
Breakfast: 3 large bananas
Snack: 1/4 cup soaked pumpkin seeds (getting more zinc in my diet)
Lunch: 2 cups Lemon Mint Zucchini Bisque with 1 cup chopped beets
Snack: small Green Smoothie (water, swiss chard, banana)
Dinner: 1 cup Lemon Mint Zucchini Bisque, large Perfect Salad

Today’s exercise:

I’m doing a few minutes of jump rope every couple of hours. Tonight, I’ll take one of my epic walks.

Exhale
As we look deeply within, we understand our perfect balance.
There is no fear of the cycle of birth, life and death.
For when you stand in the present moment, you are timeless.
~Rodney Yee

The Perfect Salad is Here!

by Kristen in dressing, raw food, raw recipes, The Perfect Salad

I’m getting ready to send my email newsletter detailing The Perfect Salad… you don’t want to miss this. If you’re not subscribed, you can do so by visiting Kristen’s Raw.

Super Raw Thanksgiving Holiday Celebration

by Kristen in Kristen Suzanne, raw food, raw recipes, Raw Vegan Chef

We had a terrifically successful Raw Thanksgiving holiday celebration dinner at the Mandala Tearoom this week. My 4-course Raw vegan dinner was sold out (way in advance) and we had tons of fun. In fact, we expanded service out onto the patio to accomodate over 70 guests! This is a picture of my Raw Pumpkin Pie…it’s all the rage! I’m still getting wonderful emails from customers raving about the food and asking for the recipes. Well, guess what? They’re available (plus many more) in my ebook, Kristen Suzanne’s EASY Raw Holidays (available at www.KristensRaw.com) where there are plenty of recipes, as well as the best tips and tricks for getting through the holidays…Raw vegan style!

Here is what one customer wrote me today:
I had the pleasure of meeting you at Mandala Tea Room at the most recent raw foods event. I don’t generally eat exclusively raw but I am now more intrigued to explore this lifestyle change. I thought your pumpkin pie was the best pumpkin pie I ever had. ~Suzan P. of Phoenix, AZ

Farmer’s Market Question, Monday’s Food & Exercise

by Kristen in Dr. Oz, energy, exercise, farmer's market, raw food

It’s a lovely day, and I am so happy. I LOVE BEING RAW VEGAN!

Farmer’s Market:
Here’s the thing…I recognize the importance of eating locally (for my health and the environment). But, here’s my question: How do I really know if my local “un-certified” farmers are organic just because they say so? The last time I went to the farmer’s market I was discouraged because no one was certified organic, although they tried to assure me that they follow organic farming practices. They blamed the cost of certification as the reason for not having the label. I was bummed because I wanted to buy local and organic. I left with my canvas bags empty and opted for Whole Foods Market. I later asked a small grower in California and he stated that it’s not that expensive to get certified. Hhmmm. I would love nothing more than to buy the most locally grown produce, but I’m a stickler for organic. I know they “say” they are….but how do I truly know (apart from visiting the farm)?

Today’s food:
Breakfast: watermelon (I love watermelon!)
Snack: Dr. Oz “Fresh” Green Smoothie with 3 figs added (large)
Lunch: Big salad of celery, carrots, red bell pepper, cucumbers, and olives topped with Tahini Gingered Carrot Dressing
Snack: Spinach-Banana smoothie (large)
Dinner: Same as lunch

Exercise:
Back and Bicep weight training
Long-ass walk tonight under the stars (6-miles) for my “double” workout

*These double workout days feel so great! I love them.

Food & Physical Activity

by Kristen in exercise, Joy, raw food

Happy Friday!!!

Yesterday’s Food:

3 Green Smoothies

2 Perfect Salads I wrote about the other day that I’ll include in the next Kristen’s Raw email Newsletter (sign up here)

Kombucha

4 dates and 2 bananas

Yesterday’s Physical Activity:

Swam 20 minutes (a.m.)

Weight lifting at the gym (Back and Bi’s)

60-minute walk under the stars at midnight

Today’s Food:

2 Green Smoothies

2 bananas

3 tablespoons of Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto (Recipe here scroll to Aug 23)

2 Big chopped veggie salads with a smashingly-delicious-never-to-be-duplicated-dressing-recipe. I took a couple tablespoons of the pesto and blended it with water, olive oil, garlic, basil, onion powder, Himalayan crystal salt, lemon juice….I think that was it. No recollection of amounts, but it’s so lovely. Damn proud of myself, but then again, when you’re working with nature’s fresh organic ingredients, it’s hard not to make something scrumptious.

Today’s Physical Activity: Want a reason to exercise? Read this great article.

Swam 2o minutes (a.m.)

90-minute walk under the stars

JOY

Joy is inside you. Not in attainment of things desired, nor in the achievement of goals made. But in the simple feeling that lies within you. Know that this JOY is unaffected by outer circumstances, and joy will be yours forever.

~Zen Cards by Daniel Levin

Tuesday’s (MORE) Exercise & Food

by Kristen in aging, exercise, green smoothies, raw food

I’m going to start working out twice a day a few days a week (aka “double workouts”). The goal is more physical activity in my life, which is important for slowing down aging. I saw Dr. Oz on Oprah yesterday drinking green juice (Yay! We’ll be mainstream before we know it), and he was discussing the importance of physical activity (I love how he described having muscle on your body to burn more calories and chew up the fat).

I work out quite a bit, but I want to kick it up a notch on some days. When I was a competitive bodybuilder, we had “double workout days” before competition, and it made huge improvements in our physical composition. To give you an idea of what I’ll be doing, my double workout days will consist of doing any of the following twice a day (each single session lasting between 20-60+ minutes, depending on the intensity): swimming, long walk, jog, jump rope, tennis, hiking, lifting weights, etc. In fact, I might go to the gym and do chest weight exercises for 45 minutes and go back later to do 30 minutes of tricep exercises, while throwing a little cardio into the mix. Now, I’m not gonna get all crazy here…but my goal is to make sure I’m more physically active. I spend a lot of time on sitting on my butt in front of my laptop, so I want to shake it up a bit…even if it means taking an extra walk or an extra 15 minute swim in the evening.

Today I swam laps (I love Arizona….swimming under the warm sun in November), and tonight I’ll take a long walk under the stars with my dog (3-5 miles).

Food:
Breakfast: large organic smoothie (water, bananas, parsley, spinach, fresh cranberries, and some red jalapeno pepper)
Lunch: A Perfect Salad…so delicious! It’s basically plenty of chopped veggies with a fabulous tahini dressing. I’m emailing the recipe to my newsletter subscribers this month, so if you’re not signed up yet….hop over to Kristen’s Raw and do it. Some recipes are only available to my subscribers so that you feel extra special.
Snack: Kombucha
Dinner: Large portion of A Perfect Salad again because it’s scrumptious, alongside a small green smoothie. Also had 2 bananas.
After Dinner Treat: organic tea sweetened with stevia or agave
Extra after dinner food: I’m hungry so I’m having another green smoothie

In what ways are you moving your body?

Into the Wild – Movie, Food Intake & Exercise

by Kristen in exercise, Into the Wild, Kristen Suzanne, raw food, Veg News

I recently saw the movie, Into the Wild, and was inspired to think “outside the gym.” So, Friday we took our dog hiking (into the wild – well, kind of wild). It was gorgeous, relaxing, exhilarating and best of all…fun. It’s important to find physical activities you really enjoy because it’s the easiest way to get more exercise into your life. Other ways I get more physical activity…hula-hooping (I’m lousy, but it’s fun), dancing (lousy here, again, but I love it! I think I heard the words, “Girrrl, you ain’t got NO coordination!” – haha, oh well), and playing golf and tennis (all of these qualify as great physical activities). Oh yeah, and when I go to the store, I park way out in BFE so I get more walking into my life.

Saturday, I went to the gym and lifted weights (chest/tri – heavy weight and low reps). I want to build more muscle to burn more fat all day long. Sometimes weight lifting is fun and sometimes it’s just “okay,” so I rely on great music to keep me motivated. Same story for the gym cardio. I do have days when I’m not thrilled to be on the treadmill, but when I have a great magazine (my favorite is VegNews!) or a super book to read, then I truly look forward to my time with the treadmill or stairstepper. It’s about being smart and making it work for you.

Food for Friday and Saturday are the same (I don’t mind eating the same delicious food a few days in a row).

Breakfasts: 1 qrt Smoothie (water,bananas, cranberries, basil, red jalapeno pepper)
Snacks: Kombucha
Lunches: 1 qrt Smoothie (replaced cranberries from before with Raw chocolate)
Dinners: Large portion of Carrot Pasta with Indian Marinara
Desserts: Chocolate Hazelnut Cheesecake

Zen Mind – Experience all things with the enthusiasm of a child, as if you were seeing it for the first time. This is the Zen Mind. Always new, always aware, always that of a beginner.

~Daniel Levin, Zen Cards

I Dream of Jeannie Halloween Costume

by Kristen in green smoothies, Halloween, I Dream of Jeannie, Kristen Suzanne, raw food

Happy Halloween! Here I am all dressed up for a day and night of excitement! I hope everyone is having as much fun as I am. This is just one of the reasons I love Arizona…I can wear a costume like this at the end of October and the weather is glorious.

My food today:

1 banana

1 quart green smoothie (spinach, apple, kiwi, cinnamon)

large salad of chopped veggies and Raw Italian dressing

1 quart banana, chocolate, red jalapeno smoothie

plenty of water

Let’s move our bodies in new and joy~full ways.

Dance with color ecstatically!

~Juicy Living Cards by SARK

Raw Holidays ebook Now Available

by Kristen in holidays, raw chocolate, raw food, raw recipes, Raw Vegan Chef

Hooray! My newest ebook is now available, Kristen Suzanne’s EASY Raw Holidays. This ebook has the perfect Raw vegan recipes for the holiday season. You’ll find one of my favorites, Oktoberfest German Chocolate Brownies (pic here), along with many others. My mom and I taught a handful of them yesterday at our class, Raw Holidays, and everything was a hit!

Now, you can try them, too. Learn how to make some of your holiday favorites, except now they’ll be healthy, delicious, and Raw! They’re easy to prepare, great to take to parties, and perfect for your family gatherings. At a time when the rest of the world is packing on pounds and clogging their arteries with all kinds of yule tide crud, you’ll be getting super healthy and full of energy by eating this amazing food — at the time of year when you need energy the most!

And, it’s not just recipes. I’m giving you great ideas, tips and tricks that are sure to help you breeze through the holidays while living the Raw lifestyle. Hurry up and get your copy today by visiting Kristen’s Raw.

Hazelnut Chocolate Snowballs – A Great Gift

by Kristen in eco friendly, holidays, raw chocolate, raw food, raw recipes

The holidays are my favorite time of year, and now is a good time to start planning. One of the things I love to do is give Raw desserts as gifts. Gone are the days of giving unhealthy, fattening, processed chocolate to people. Make way to usher in gifts of healthy exquisiteness…Raw organic cookies and candies. What better way to introduce this amazing lifestyle to others, right? Keep in mind, Raw desserts as gifts don’t have to apply only to the winter holidays. You can do this all year long with birthdays, retirements, anniversaries, house-warming gifts, etc. Go to a craft store and buy cute little bags and boxes. Or, do what I did and look for things to reuse…see those gold boxes in the picture? They were given to me last year with gifts in them. I’m reusing them to be environmentally friendly.

To get you started, here is a delicious and easy recipe. The richness of the hazelnuts alongside the decadent raw chocolate will surely get anyone excited about Raw. For resources on where I get my organic ingredients, please visit Kristen’s Raw Resources.

Hazelnut Chocolate Snowballs
Yield 15-20 cookies

1/2 cup dried, unsweetened coconut flakes
1 cup hazelnuts
2 tablespoons raw chocolate powder
pinch Himalayan crystal salt
3/4 teaspoon hazelnut extract
8 dates, pitted
1/2 cup raisins

Process a 1/4 cup of the coconut (reserving the other 1/4 cup for rolling the cookies in) along with the hazelnuts, chocolate and salt in a food processor, fitted with the “S” blade, until coarsely ground. Add the hazelnut extract, dates, and raisins. Process until it is a texture, which holds together when gently pressed between your fingers. Roll into balls and then roll in the coconut. These freeze wonderfully.

Variation
~ Use raw carob instead of raw chocolate
~ Replace 4 of the dates with 1/4 cup dried cherries