Raw Food Store
Must-Read Books & Must-See DVDs
My EASY Raw Recipe books and eBooks - You're going to love these recipes! Check out the testimonials page to read what others are saying about them.
The China Study- This is the earth-shattering book by Columbia University researcher Colin Campbell. If you eat meat or dairy after reading this, you're in the same category as people who ride fast on motorcycles without wearing a helmet. On ice. Drunk. While doing Sudoku. Seriously, if you want to know the meticulously scientific, scary truth about meat's causal linkage to cancer, heart disease, and numerous other killers, this is the most important book to read on this list. The chapters on how doctors, hospitals, FDA and the meat/dairy industries have responded to this will get your blood boiling.
Food Revolution
Skinny Bitch- If you need a swift kick in the butt to motivate you to embrace the vegan diet, then this book is for you. It has moxie written all over it. Skinny Bitch is a no-nonsense, super funny, give-it-to-you-straight, can't-put-it-down, sassy book. It's one of my favorite gifts to give out during the holidays. Rumor has it that they're writing a book for the dudes out there, too!
Food, Inc. DVD
Food Matters. DVD
Foods - Organic, Bulk, or Other
Organic Raw Vegan Chocolate Powder - 16 Ozs.
- This stuff is a-freakin'-mazing. The best Raw chocolate powder for all of your chocolate needs. It will change your life. There should be a bag of this in everyone's household.
Organic Raw Vegan Cacao Chocolate Nibs - 1 Pound- Throw in your DVD of Apocalypto, dress up like a Mayan Princess, and grind your own chocolate in the original fashion using a stone mortar. (Ok, truth be told, I do it in 1/1000 the time with a coffee bean grinder wearing jeans and a t-shirt, but it's fun to pretend!) These are perfect for adding texture and crunch to your Raw vegan smoothies, nut milks, ice creams and so much more.
Organic Raw Vegan White Cacao Butter - 1 Pound- Talk about decadent! This organic raw cacao butter is the stuff that dreams are made of. If you want to make the most impressive and delicious raw vegan cheesecakes, chocolates, and desserts, then you have to buy this.
Vitamineral Green - My all time FAVORITE green powder. This is a must have in every kitchen cupboard. Sometimes I add it to green juice for extra power, smoothies, and sometimes I chug it down (not so tasty, but fast!) with a cup of water. By far, this is the most effective green powder on the market that I've tried.
Fruits of the Earth 360 grams - Get ready for some extra sassy smoothies, or just use this to create the most nutritious water you've ever had! It's a phenomenal potent combination of nature's most nutritive fruits from around the world. Your smoothies (or just plain water) will never be the same. My husband loves when I add this to his protein shakes.
Maca Powder - Organic Raw Superfood- It's true, I'm not the hugest fan of maca (it kind of smells like feet to me - haha) but this is one of the most popular superfoods among Raw vegans. It's noted for giving you tons of energy and increased stamina for exercise, long days, and your libido!
Goji Berries - Organic Himalayan Superfruit- These little red gems are a wonderful addition to anyone's life. I eat them by the handful, stir them into Raw oatmeal, puree them in various desserts - the options are endless. They're full of top-notch nutrition including 18 amino acids (all 8 essentials are accounted for) and contain over 20 trace minerals.
RAW Protein - Garden of Life
Amazing Grass Organic Wheat Grass Powder, 8.5-Ounce Canister- Wheat grass is an important part of my diet. But, I'll be honest... I sometimes just cannot stomach the fresh kind (the smell alone can make my stomach turn). So, I keep a supply of Amazing Grass' powdered wheat grass in my freezer all the time. It's easy to mix and much easier for me to tolerate than the fresh stuff. Don't get me wrong though, I still go hardcore and drink the fresh stuff from time to time - haha - but for the most part I drink the powdered version of Amazing Grass, which is very impressive!
Himalayan Crystal Sea Salt
"Real" Raw Agave Nectar - - This is the best agave nectar on the market. You can sleep peacefully knowing that it's truly Raw (produced at a temperature lower than 115F).
Blue Agave - Organic and Raw- While I typically use a light agave ("Real" Raw Agave Nectar noted above), there are recipes that call for a richer flavor - step in "Blue Agave." For example, my pumpkin pie recipe, "I Can't Believe It's Pumpkin Pie" calls for a darker Raw agave and this is the brand I use. This agave is truly Raw - produced at temperatures below 118F.
Hemp is commonly referred to as a "superfood" because of its amazing nutritional value. Its amino acid profile dominates with the 8 essential amino acids (10 if you're elderly or a baby), making it a vegetarian source of "complete" protein! Manitoba Harvest is my absolute favorite source for hemp products. I use their hemp seeds, butter, powder and oil to make many delicious raw vegan recipes all the time (I have an entire ebook dedicated to hemp recipes - that's how important it is to me. Here are links to these wonderul hemp food products.
Hemp Protein Powder
Hemp Seed Butter
Hemp Seed Nut, 5-Pounds (it's worth stocking up!)
Hemp Seed Oil
Sun Warrior Protein - Made with 85% protein, Sun Warrior Protein has the highest (non soy) raw (not heated over 90 degrees) whole grain sprouted vegan protein on the market. Naturally rich in vitamins and minerals. Sun Warrior Protein contains high amounts of antioxidants tocopherols, and tocotrienols and other essential nutrients, such as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, phosphorous, iron and potassium. When I make my protein shakes I like to use a combination of this rice protein powder along with Manitoba Harvest's Hemp Protein Powder (see above) for the ultimate mixture. Sun Warrior comes in Chocolate, Vanilla and Natural flavors.
Chia Seeds (Chemical Free) - The Chia Seed is an amazing food. I use them in my shakes almost every day because they're so nutritious and they make my shakes and smoothies deliciously thick and filling.
Sunflower Lecithin - RAW - Choline is reputed to be an important nutrient for brain development in children. It's also used as an emulsifier in recipes. Soy lecithan is a common "go-to" source for it, but not everyone wants a soy product. Well, that's all changed NOW! Whoo hoo! My refrigerator always has a jar of this inside it. I like adding it to raw soups, smoothies, desserts, and more.
Living Tree Community - By far this is the BEST olive oil available. The flavor is so fresh. And, by the way, this is where you get black tahini (used in some of the recipes in my ebooks).
Mountain Rose Herbs - Exceptional quality certified organic products with a strict emphasis on sustainable agriculture. I adore all their organic herbs, spices, extracts, essential oils and herbal teas.
Sun Organic Farm - Save money by buying organic nuts, and dried fruits in bulk.
High Country Kombucha - My favorite brand for delicious and refreshing kombucha is from High Country. Every time I open a bottle, I get a smile on my face because I know I'm going to be loving every sip. Yum! My favorite flavors: Regular, Wild Root, Chai, and Honeysuckle.
Mumm's Sprouting Seeds - Everything you could ever want to know or get for sprouting.
Raw Carob Powder - Raw carob is delicious in desserts and smoothies. It adds a lovely, sweet caramel-like flavor that is fantastic!
Raw Kitchen Essential Tools
There is a short, simple, and finite list of items that, once you own them, will make an absolutely great, complete Raw kitchen. It's easier than you'd think: a powerful blender, a good food processor, 2-3 excellent knives, and a few more odds and ends.
MAC Knife
Knife Sharpener
Kyocera Ceramic Knife 5.5-in
Vita-Mix 5200 Blender - I'm a fan of both Vita-Mix and Blendtec (details below), because they are both great blenders. However, the Vita-Mix 5200 has won my heart. I am a huge fan of this impressive piece of machinery. For starters, the Vita-Mix 5200 model comes with a container that is BPA-FREE (Hello! BPA-FREE!) with improved sound dampening so it's not crazy loud, even though it comes with a powerful 2 peak HP motor. It also has a fantastic, easy to use lid and pour spout. This bad boy pulverises berries - skins, SEEDS, and all - that ROCKS, because those seeds are loaded with nutrition that would normally get passed right through your body!
With this amazing kitchen appliance, you can have healthy whole food meals that are quick, EASY and delicious! A whole food diet is the key to a long and healthy life. This is easily accomplished by eating terrific-tasting, nutrient-rich whole food meals made in the Vita-Mix machine. The Vita-Mix 5200 can be used to make all kinds of Raw vegan foods including smoothies, juice, ice cream, purees, soup, nut butter, sauce, mousse, pesto, salsa, slaw, nut/seed flours, sun-dried tomato powder, flax/chia meal, and more.
Yes, it's true that you can do many of those things with the Blendtec, but the Vita-Mix 5200 Model comes with a whopping 7-year warranty (base and container)! I'm so glad I have a Vita-Mix 5200. Start your 30-day no-risk in-home trial today and you'll receive FREE Standard Ground Shipping!
Blendtec Blender - One of the best high-powered blenders on the market. It's great for making all kinds of Raw vegan recipes. One of my favorite aspects about Blendtec is the shape of the container. The four flat sides (and the two-pronged blade) make it easy to get the food out, simple to clean, and the whole unit fits neatly on my counter under my cupboard. High powered blenders like this, and the Vita-Mix 5200 (details above), make Raw food preparation FUN!
KitchenAid 12-Cup Food Processor
Multi-Pure Undercounter Water Filter
Turning Vegetable Slicer
Spiral Slicer (Saladacco) - Less expensive version of the turning vegetable slicer. If you're on a budget, start with this one. When you can, get the turning vegetable slicer, too. They make different noodles.
Kyocera V-Slicer
Matfer Mandoline 2000s
Hurom Juicer
Green Star 3000 Deluxe Juicer / Juice Extractor - This Bad Boy isn't cheap, but it's life-changing. Nothing — and I mean nothing — beats juicing. Wanna go hardcore? This is it! Like the vegan version of being a vampire, you feel absolutely super-human when you drink down pure "plant blood." The juice you make with this can be stored in an airtight container for a couple of days without much oxidation (perfect for people who can only make juice once a day or less). This juicer also squeezes out every bit of juice, leaving you with very dry pulp. For a notch down on the intensity (and cost) scale, pick up a great blender and start with daily smoothies. (If you've not had green juice, try some at your local health food store before deciding which gear to invest in.) Juices and smoothies both go great with my Raw recipe ebook, "EASY Raw Smoothies, Juices, Elixirs & Drinks."
Breville Fountain Juicer
Miracle 5 Liter Harsch Fermenting Crock Pot- Having Raw, Organic, Unpasteurized sauerkraut (and other fermented veggies) is a staple in my family's diet. The benefits are numerous (friendly bacteria, vitamins, minerals, enzymes)! The problem is that it can get pretty expensive when buying this from the store on a regular basis. That's why I invested in this awesome fermenting pot (this link is for the 5-liter and I actually have the 7.5 liter, which seems to be unavailable right currently). Now, I can make my own homemade (Raw, Organic, and Unpasteurized) sauerkraut and fermented vegetables for much cheaper. And, it's FUN and totally bad-ass!
Making Sauerkraut and Pickled Vegetables at Home: Creative Recipes for Lactic Fermented Food to Improve Your Health- Here is a great little book that I used for learning all about the benefits of raw, organic, unpasteurized sauerkraut and other fermented vegetables. It gave me great confidence when I was just starting out. It has some delicious recipes, too! (Even though there is mention of whey in the book, I make my sauerkraut with just organic cabbage and Himalayan crystal salt.)
Excalibur Dehydrator - Dehydrating your Raw food is a great addition to your Raw lifestyle because it adds tremendous variety to your diet as well as shelf life to some of your food. Now you can have crunchy foods, warm foods, marinated foods with a texture reminiscent of cooked food, and foods that can last a long time in your refrigerator or freezer. Learn everything you need to about using this magnificent piece of kitchen equipment, along with some of the best dehydrating recipes ever, with my book (ebook also available), EASY Raw Food Dehydrating.
Tribest FreshLife Sprouter
AeroGrow AeroGarden Garden
International Basil Seed Kit
Tribest Personal Travel Blender
Offset Spatula
Offset Spatula 6-inch
Spring Form Pan
The Scoopers!
Wide-Mouth Glass Mason Jar 1 Qt., Case of 12
Wide Mouth Glass Mason Jar 1 Pt., Case of 12
FoodSaver V2440 Advanced Design
Kitchen Food Scale
Fitness Equipment Must-Haves
Rebounder - One of the BEST ways to easily get into shape, get your lymph system circulating and have FUN while you're doing it.
Get Your Jump Rope
Non-Food Organics
Dr. Alkaitis - Skin Food - This has become my ultimate favorite for skin care. There is a lot of truth that a healthy, raw, organic, plant-based diet will help give your skin the glow, but it's not fool proof all of the time. We also have to take into account what we put on our skin. One of the general philosophies I follow is that if I can't eat it, I probably don't want it touching my skin either. Enter: Dr. Alkaitis products. Holy moly! These are amazing. I started using them after coming off a little breakout session from hormones and within a couple of days had extreme improvement. I actually couldn't believe my eyes, so I didn't say anything to anyone, I just kept with the program. And, weeks later, my skin is more gorgeous than it's ever been. Now, I'm telling the whole world about them! I'm going to be hard pressed to use any other company. (But, you know me, I'm a girly-girl and I love trying new products. Heck, how would I have found out about Dr. Alkaitis if I hadn't given them a run?) Almost all of their products are vegan, and my favorites are: cleanser, toner, soothing gel, treatment oil (love this on my body), eye cream, and I've used the day and night creams sparingly but tend to just stick with the aforementioned products on a regular basis. The Travel Kit is a great way to get introduced to the line. It's how I tried it out when they sent me one. Loved it!
All of their products are made with organically grown or wild-crafted plants (or unpolluted sea life), and their herbal extracts are made in-house! The base is organic aloe, making the products very concentrated, so a little goes a long way (my 7-day Travel Kit lasted almost two weeks). All the products are raw, living, not heated above body temperature. And, to preserve freshness, they make small batches at a time and products are only two-weeks old when they get shipped to you (for US shipments). Rockin' huh?
Morrocco Method Int'l Hair Products - This has become my favorite line for hair care. I've been using Morrocco Method's products on my hair for almost a year. The awesome thing about their products is that they're organic, vegan, gluten-free, and even Raw! They are pure, baby! Prior to finding Morrocco Method, I was using Terressentials mud to wash my hair. That was an interesting and neat experience. But... after a while, from time to time, I was getting flakes. Eek! I tried using an apple cider vinegar/water rinse and I tried using coconut oil, but without success. Also, (after washing) some days my hair was soft and clean feeling, other days it wasn't. (Don't get me wrong, I still love many of Terressential's products, but I want better results for my hair). At that time, I decided to look for another line that was as natural as I could get. I even thought I was willing to compromise a tiny bit with the ingredients (and not be such a purist), so I looked at Aubrey Organics, Suki, and some others. But, every time I read the labels, I couldn't help but feel a little disheartened when comparing them to the purity of Terressentials' mud. I mean, come on(!), I work so hard to keep my body clean internally and externally that I just didn't want to compromise.
Morrocco Method came to the rescue! I did some searching online and came upon Morrocco Method products. I was immediately intrigued because the website boasts about its products being Raw, Vegan, and Eco-friendly. My pulse quickened and my eyes devoured the entire website. So... what happened to the scalp problems I had? They went away immediately. Ever since I started using Morrocco Method, my hair has been so freakin' soft, shiny, and silky. It's extra gorgeous! My husband is amazed and loves touching my hair (he's always commenting on how soft it is).
I love their line of shampoos, 2 conditioners (Chi and Pearl Essence), and elixirs. I haven't tried their colored henna, but plan to some day (I did use the neutral henna last year though - didn't notice anything huge, but glad I tried it). I also use their conditioning mists and Blood of the Dragon styling gel from time to time (don't you just love that name?!). I'm not crazy about the agave styling mist because of the sprayer - it comes out in more of a stream instead of a spray. Overall, I'm thrilled to have found them. I know that I'm having only the purest of products touch my scalp. I love the smells of the shampoos, too - they're sexy, sultry, and earthy. I will say this... if you're color treating your hair or using other toxic, crappy products on your hair, then you might not get as great of results using Morrocco Method. Check out their website and read the powerful testimonials. I've had people write to me after trying these products praising them.
Terressentials - Organic body care for smart people - Hand-crafted, USDA Certified Organic which means these products are truly 100% Natural. I've tried many things from this company: mud shampoo, face cleanser, body cleanser, face toner, hand soap (the citrus smells divine!), intensive shea butter moisturizer (great stuff), and deodorant (it's the best natural deodorant on the market in my opinion - love it, although most days I don't use deodorant - a perk of clean eating! - but I admit there is a day here and there, maybe from hormones, where I like a little help and this is what I turn to). I will most likely try some of their baby line, too, when the time comes. I was a fan of their mud shampoo, but then my scalp started flaking. I'm now using Morrocco Method's hair care line (detailed above).
Zosimos Botanicals - When it comes to makeup, I want the healthiest possible. Zosimos Botanicals is one of my favorites. I use their loose powder mineral foundation. And, what's more... they're an environmentally conscious company. They handcraft their own line of mineral makeup and natural skincare in a 100% wind-powered workshop. Cool!
Coastal Classic Creations - My makeup has to be as pure as possible, eco-friendly, cruelty-free, all natural, and non-toxic. Enter: Coastal Classic Creations. This company makes a great blush (Stargazer), eye shadows (I use these for liner and shadow - I like the following colors: Surfer's Beach, Shell, and Coastal Evenings), and lipsticks (my favorite color: Seacoast, a gorgeous red-orange that will always be a staple in my makeup bag).
100% Pure - Want to pretty up your face and body with organic fruit and veggie extracts? Then check out 100% Pure, which has a spot in my heart. I'm a fan of many of their products - they smell amazing, and why wouldn't they? They're mostly made from fruit and veggie extracts and other awesome smelling natural ingredients. I stick with the products of theirs that are vegan and I've been very happy with them. Some of my favorite picks from 100% Pure are: hand lotions (vanilla is true heaven), rose facial mist (total aromatherapy relaxation in every sprtiz), body butters, powder blush (I apply a couple of layers to get the color I want), and the vegan lip options. I also love their compact powder "Healthy Flawless Skin Foundation Powder." You'll notice that the description on their website says it's vegetarian, but there are only vegan ingredients. I called to confirm and I was right... it's vegan! Yay! A unique aspect about 100% Pure's products is that they pretty much do not contain minerals (except where she uses mica for a shimmer effect), because the owner, Susie Wang believes that fruit and veggie extracts are the best option for your skin.
futurenatural - Modern organic beauty boutique. There are a lot of great brands available here. I'm extremely impressed with their customer service. And, your goodies come wrapped in an organic cotton bag that can be re-used as a shoe bag, for toiletries, gift wrap, or even produce (sweet!).
Raw Food Delivery
Drop me a line to add your link here.
Raw & Health-Related Travel
Drop me a line to add your link here.
Friends of the Cause
Kristen Suzanne's Green Mommy Blog - Check out my Green Mommy Blog where I write a sassy and fun guide to all things green and mommy related.
Go Veg! - Are you eating a plant-based diet yet? Visit GoVeg.com to learn more.
American Vegan Society
Vegetarian Women
A Delicate Balance - One of the best and most compelling primers I've found for explaining to newcomers why people should adopt a plant-based diet. The question always comes up. Rather than try to explain, I simply refer people to the link for this movie. Truly amazing!
The Hemp Shop (UK) - Europe's leading hemp retailer with the largest selection of hemp and hemp blended products. From Foods to Clothing, Body Care to Paper, Luggage to Fabrics if it's made from the world's greatest Eco plant, come to The Hemp Shop, the UK's oldest Hemp company.
AZ Vegan - Calendar and information source for vegans in Arizona.
Live-Food.com - Lively pictures and videos, live food locations, resources and more...
Wellness Coaching
Foraging with the "Wildman" - Learn about medicinal herbs, greens, fruits, nuts, seeds, and mushrooms. Read excerpts from his books and find out what happened after he was arrested by NYC park rangers for eating a dandelion in Central Park!
Gentle World - A non-profit group educating the public on the benefits of a plant-based diet and sustainable living.
Art of Vibrant Health
L.O.V.E. Raw