Today in your purview, there’s a chocolate cake in the work pantry, M&Ms on a co-workers desk, and a Pumpkin spice Frappuccino catching your eye at Starbucks. It’s a sweet world; you just live in it.

As you start this journey into eating healthier, real foods, dessert will still be on your eating roster. The dessert “consensus” among many women new to eating more whole, natural foods with less refined sugars is that a good piece of dark chocolate (>70% cocoa) finishes off a meal nicely.

And why shouldn’t it? From campfire s’mores to hot fudge sundaes, chocolate has been an integral part of your sweetest childhood memories.

Switch to a few dark chocolate covered almonds, or hot cocoa with almond milk

The goal of course is to try and whittle down your sugar and enriched flour dependence – so the bakery pastries are obviously out. A small piece of dark chocolate bark with a few almonds or walnuts is also a nice option. A few chocolate covered nuts would be fine too. A sweet potato harvest smoothie made with rice milk, a half of a cooked sweet potato and a bit of honey is also a favorite of mine. Some women love a date or two with almond butter.

In the wintertime, perhaps a cup of almond milk with some cocoa would also work for you – it is surprisingly satisfying. Definitely go with this hot cocoa route if you find yourself starting to nibble on an entire bar of dark chocolate per day. It really does hit the spot.

If you do drink, wine is better than liquor or beer

If you do choose to drink, Miss Scarlet, red wine is better than liquor or beer in this way of eating. All good things in moderation, of course.

Just make sure and skip fruit based desserts

The only thing that you want to avoid is a fruit based dessert. Fruit digests so quickly that if eaten with other food tends to ferment and cause gas…not good for you as you work to boost your lightness and energy. Gas also gets trapped in the body and ultimately can contribute to cellulite.

Yup despite what you may have been led to believe, there is a place in today’s contemporary raw food diet for cooked foods and even lean animal proteins. These foods are even preferred over dense nut patties which (while raw) are too heavy to efficiently digest.

No need to declare war on anything that’s not a raw vegetable

In general, as you start to eat more whole, natural, raw foods no need to declare war on anything that’s not a raw vegetable, fruit or leafy green. As you know enjoyment of cooked foods is encouraged to help with your transition to more raw foods. Even the occasional enjoyment of a serving of lean meat, fish and even dairy will still put you far ahead on your detox and cleansing adventure – which is what eating more raw foods is all about. It’s the “blockages” in our bodies from a poor diet, overeating, environmental toxins, and a few big nights of indulgence over the years that are contributing to these blockages and preventing us from rising to a higher plane of health.

Its about eating light, clean foods the body knows how to fully utilize and eliminate

The belief in this healthy living lifestyle is that processed foods and too much foods leave residue in the body which gunk up its flow. So we want to try and eat as many “clean” foods as possible; “clean” in this instance refers to foods that the body knows how to fully ingest, digest and then fully eliminate (in case you were wondering these “foods” that the body can fully eliminate are fruits and veggies!). Any excess waste or food stuff the body doesn’t know how to digest eventually turns into excess weight.

Lean meats, fish and dairy can aid in a successful transition to raw foods

Lean meats, fish, dairy in small amounts, will be comfort foods and will aide you in your migration to eating more whole, plant based foods. They are actually stimulants for you, which is why you may feel withdrawal symptoms if you go cold turkey on them and suddenly do not to eat them.

Skip the dense nut patties, they’ll just inhibit the body’s detoxification work

Interestingly, however, lean meats and fish actually digest faster than a dense vegetarian nut patty giving the body more energy and time to spend elsewhere on healing and repair work. So in a choice between the two, the meat and fish is preferred over the dense nut patty. Be patient with yourself and the journey. And remember that any dietary change that is quick to take place – no matter how healthy its supposed to be – never lasts. But making small, consistent changes gives your body the foundation it needs to support optimal, long-term health.

Today, in some circles, being a raw foodist has almost become a religion. Some notable names in this field cringe when thinking of raw food newbies eating anything other than enzyme filled, living foods. The original goal of the raw food movement – to help cleanse, detoxify and heal the body – has been lost.

The reality is that a focus on only raw foods alone is misguided for those in the beginning looking to eat more natural foods. Living foods act as “natural cleaners” in the body’s work to detoxify, cleanse and heal. It’s about using raw foods to help mobilize toxins and excess waste in the body to promote health. But often in the early stages of eating more raw foods, a pairing of cooked foods is essential in helping the body slow down detoxification. The incorporation of cooked foods including steamed vegetables and even lean meats, fish and dairy help to prevent over cleansing. They are also helpful in providing enjoyment and stimulation without hindering the cleansing work of the raw fruits, vegetables, leafy greens and fresh pressed juices newly added into your diet. To see how stimulating many of the foods are that we eat today (even the non-boxed ones) try eating all raw until dinner one day.

For best whole body cleanse results, enjoy lots of raw fruits and vegetables, a healthy amount of cooked veggies, and a lesser amount of more calorie dense cooked starchy veggies (such as beans, sweet potatoes, squash, cooked corn) and grains and nuts. Meat, fish and dairy become more of a compliment to this way of living, rather than the main course as they do not possess the healing and rejuvenating power of living, raw foods which are loaded with life supporting enzymes.

One surprisingly enjoyable way to eat more whole foods, starts with leafy green vegetables. Leafy green vegetables are packed with chlorophyll (which is like “sunshine” in a green form that is purifying and healing to our bodies), antioxidants, and good-for-your-blood nutrients for superior health and energy.

The easiest way to eat and enjoy more leafy green vegetables is in a smoothie form for breakfast. So, for those of you worried that you were going to have to choke down another plate of “rabbit leaves,” not so.

Green smoothies are easy and quick to make

In addition to being packed with nutrients, green smoothies are easy and quick to make. They are also extremely hydrating and easy for the body to digest (which means less energy spent on digestion, and more of the body’s energy spent on its healing and repair work). Have a green smoothie in the morning, and you’ll have a few servings of leafy greens under your belt before it’s noon!

Green smoothies actually taste like fruit

A green smoothie can be individualized and can be prepared in many different flavors. While these smoothies are filled with leafy greens such as baby spinach, a green smoothie will actually only taste like the fruit its paired with. For instance, you may choose to add a banana or a few slices of papaya. This way you get in a serving of greens in a fun way; You almost don’t even know you’re eating them!

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e-mail info@wecarespa.com

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Have you heard of this retreat? Would you be interested in participating in such a detox escape?

Curious as to what foods are the most easily digestible for the body?

Curious as to why this matters? Simple. What the body can not effectively metabolize turns into excess weight on our bodies.

Waste = weight.

Check out this guidance from raw foodist Gena Hamshaw at choosingraw.com . She was kind enough to provide me with a very loose approximation in response to an email I sent her. Thank you Gena!

Gena writes, “There’s no pyramid/hierarchy, but a VERY general one would look sort of like this (from easiest to digest to toughest to digest)…again, this is an approximation.”

foods that are easiest to digest start with coconut water from a young thai coconut……….

……..and foods that are toughest to digest are meats, poultry, eggs and dairy.

Eat simply and at meal times to ramp up your body’s detoxification system.

Enjoy lots of real foods including raw fruits and vegetables, a healthy amount of cooked veggies, and a lesser amount of more calorie dense cooked starchy veggies (such as beans, sweet potatoes, squash) and grains and nuts. Meat, fish and dairy become more of a compliment to your diet, rather than the main course.

“Keep your center clear. When your intestine is clear, you’ll feel the bliss of free-flowing energy coursing through you. By contrast, a dense, weighted digestive system and impacted colon is a recipe for depression and sluggishness. To clear your intestine, eat quick-exit foods in quick-exit combos and spotlight bowel cleansing. Maintain this and enjoy the constant high!” – Natalia Rose, Detox Guru and author of the Raw Food Detox Diet

Curious to what foods are the most easily digestible for the body?

Check out this guidance from raw foodist Gena Hamshaw at choosingraw.com . She was kind enough to provide me with a very loose approximation in response to an email I sent her. Thank you Gena!

Gena writes, “There’s no pyramid/hierarchy, but a VERY general one would look sort of like this (from easiest to digest to toughest to digest)…
Again, this is an approximation.”

foods that are easiest to digest start with coconut water from a young thai coconut……….

……..and foods that are toughest to digest are meats, poultry, eggs and dairy.

Why does this matter? Simple. What the body can not effectively metabolize turns into excess weight on our bodies.

Waste = weight.

Contrary to popular belief, even “baked” Lays aren’t that good for you. The body doesn’t know how to fully digest many of the ingredients in boxed and bagged goods; White bread, pasta and baked goods also fall into this category. What the body can’t effectively metabolize results in waste (which then turns into excess weight) on our bodies.

If the concept of not eating pre-packaged, overly processed breads, crackers or cereals seems overwhelming to you, go slowly – no need to go cold turkey. But start to think about more natural, whole food alternatives to incorporate into your daily meals. The less processed your food is, the less artificial ingredients it contains and the easier the food is for the body to metabolize and then eliminate.

Experiment with some of these healthier, less processed foods choices:

• Sprouted grain breads

  1. Food for Life
  2. Alvarado Street Bakery

  Both make some good sprouted grain breads.
  The benefit of sprouted grain breads is that the grains are kept in a form which makes their nutrients and vitamins more readily assimilated by the body. Additionally, these breads do not contain chemical preservatives nor additives.

• Carrot “fries”

  Seasoned with butter and dill, carrot “fries” make a nice alternative to greasy, deep fried potato fries. They are so easy and quick to make.

• Homemade sweet potato “fries”

  They taste just like fried sweet potatoes without the frying. I like mine baked simply and sprinkled with a little sea salt. If you get the oven hot enough, the “fries” will caramelize on the outside and develop a nice crunch.

• Sprouted grain crackers are also nice

  And for the more adventurous of you out there, cheesy kale chips are also delicious.

Sprouted grain breads are a better, healthier alternative to regular store shelf breads.

Food for Life and Alvarado Street Bakery both make some good organic, sprouted grain breads.

The benefit of sprouted grain breads is that the grains are kept in a form which makes their nutrients and vitamins more readily assimilated by the body. Additionally, these breads do not contain chemical preservatives nor additives. Unfortunately, most breads found on our store shelves today contain many artificial ingredients and are overly processed (which strips much of the natural fiber, bran, vitamins and minerals out of the wheat kernels) to elongate shelf life.

Both of these sprouted grain companies make loaves of bread that are fantastic toasted with a little natural almond butter (make sure you see the natural oils on top!) or a little pure butter (go organic if you can).

I would stay away from the sprouted grain tortillas in the beginning though. They are a little tough in my opinion unless you plan to toast them in the toaster first and then top with your favorite tomato sauce and veggies to make little homemade pizzas. Even in this case actually, I would buy the brown rice based tortillas from Food for Life.

In the meantime, if you have a good recipe for the sprouted grain tortillas where they don’t taste like cardboard, please send it over!

I find these sweet potato fries more satisfying and flavorful than french fries. Next time you want to satisfy a salty fix, whip up a batch of these goodies.

You can make sweet potato fries at home in less than 30 minutes. I like mine simple – baked and sprinkled with a little sea salt.

If you get the oven hot enough (~400-425 degrees), the “fries” will caramelize on the outside and develop a nice crunch. For ideal crunch, half way through the baking process flip them with a spatula.

Serving Size: 1

Directions

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

Slice the sweet potato in long thick wedges. The easiest way to do this is to slice the potato in half, lengthwise. Then cut each half of the potato (while the potato is on its flat side) into long, thick strips. Try and keep the slices about the same size for even cooking. Combine the ingredients listed above into a bowl, making sure to coat the sweet potato slices well. Place the sweet potato fries on a baking sheet in a 400 degree oven for 20-25 minutes, or until brown and golden. For ideal crunch, half way through the baking process flip them with a spatula.