INSPIRATIONAL MIND MOVIE

Here is a great mind movie someone has done. I just love it! Great song and feel to it.
You can get a program that can do this at www.mindmovie.com

You can receive 6 premade mind movies also by entering name and e-mail. They are great.
But if you want a personalized one you can purchase mind movie 2 which looks great.

Here is the mind movie:

ENJOY LIFE!

INTRODUCTION TO RAW FOODS IN PARKSVILLE

I am holding an Introduction to Raw Foods Class in Parksville, Vancouver Island on June 27, 2010.

Come and learn more about the health benefits of raw food and how you can easily prepare some delicious food to add into your diet.

The course information is as follows:

When: Sunday, June 26, 2010
Where: Hot N Cool Yoga Club
hotncoolyogaclub.com
2A - 1209 East Island Hwy
Parksville, BC
Contact: E-mail me at rawgoodsdiana@yahoo.com or
Hot N Cool Yoga Club at:
info@hotncoolyogaclub.com or 250-586-4202
Time: 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Cost: $30.00

This is a great venue for it and they have been selling some of my raw snacks for a while now.
This afternoon will be full of fantastic information, raw food preparation and of course - lots of tasting!!

MY BLOG IS IMPROVING & MOVING

I have not been writing much in my blog because I am having getting a new blog/web site done. I am hoping to have it live this weekend. Sorry for the delay!

LIVE HAPPY & HEALTHY

RAW BREAKFAST IDEAS

DELICIOUS RAW BREAKFAST IDEAS

When people are transitioning from their regular diet to a more raw food diet they are usually not sure what to have for breakfast. They are used to their cereal, toast and coffee.

I know, because that used to be me also.

I loved my cereal and crispy toast with peanut butter. I didn't eat fruit at all in the morning. It didn't really occur to me to eat fruit. People are always saying how you need a hearty breakfast with protein to get you through the day.


Ok, maybe when we used to farm, work out in the fields, do hard physical labor all day sure - then we need the protein, the starchy carbs, etc to fuel our body. But sitting in an office, in front of a computer for 8 hours! No, we do NOT eat a heavy breakfast when we are going to sit around all day.


What I enjoy for breakfast now is fruit. I usually start with a grapefruit and/or orange. I have that at home and what I bring to work is:


Fruit & Chia Gel Cereal
Apple cut into small pieces
Frozen blueberries (in summer fresh ones)
Frozen raspberries or blackberries (some times)
Chia Gel
Cinnamon (I love cinnamon)
Ground flax (sometimes add this)


I love this breakfast! It is so easy and fast. I just put the ingredients into a glass container with a lid and pack it with my lunch.


If this would not be enough for you then add:
Some sprouted oat groats OR
Some sprouted buckwheat groats
Honey or agave
You can even add some soaked nut pieces and coconut flakes

I do not miss the cereals I used to consume now. The cereals above have so much more flavour and nutrients.

I love oat groats because of their dense texture and they add a chewiness that I miss sometimes with just fruit.

Oat Groat Cereal:
Bananas
Cut apples or another fruit
Chopped sun-dried figs or even fresh figs (optional)
Coconut Flakes
Soaked walnuts
Oat groats
Cinnamon
Honey
(add some cacao powder for a chocolate flavour - yum)

Buckwheat Porridge:
Sprouted buckwheat groats
Almond Butter
Banana
Coconut
Cinnamon
Dates

Add all ingredients to a food processor and pulse. If you want it creamier, add a bit of water and processor longer. The amount of each ingredient does not really matter. Go by taste.

Simple, Fast, Chia Power Breakfast Ideas:

• Grapefruit with chia gel
• Oranges & kiwi with chia gel
• Blueberries, ground flax and chia gel
• Chia gel, cacao powder, raisons (or dates or figs), touch of honey

How to make chia gel: Start with 1 tsp chia seeds and add about 8 tsp of water. Let stand for about 30 minutes. (stir a few times as it sits)

Chia gel does not really have a taste so you can add pretty much anything to it or add it to anything. It is high protein (complete protein) and gives you energy! Super for athletes. I also love it because it is not heavy or too filling.

For those who want something easy that you can bring in your car and drink as you drive - try a green smoothie! Fuel you with nutrition, a great way to start the day if you just don't have time to sit and eat.

Green Smoothie:

1-2 handfuls of Spinach (or other green)
1 Apple
1/2 - 1 Banana (best when frozen and cut up)
1 C Water
1/2 Lemon Juiced
Dash of cinnamon (optional)

This is a basic green smoothie - there are so many varieties. Add any fruit you want to try and all greens are good (but if you are a green smoothie beginner, you may want to stick to simple greens such as spinach, lettuce or a bit of kale).

I hope you enjoy these breakfast ideas. I know there are no exact measurements or amounts in each but please believe me that the amounts don't really matter. Start with a smaller amount and when you find the right combinations, etc, then you can increase the amount you make at one time. Everyone has their own taste.

LIVE HAPPY & HEALTHY!

SEAWEED SALAD RECIPE - That Tastes Good!

RAW SEAWEED (Wakame) SALAD

This raw seaweed salad not only looks good but it is good and it is also extremely good for you!

I made this with Wakame seaweed, which is inexpensive to buy and very easy to find at grocery stores and health food stores.

Wakame is a mild flavoured seaweed and not that salty. It blends with veggies really well. I love sea vegetables but some people have a problem with their slippery texture. It may be something to get used to but the benefits of including sea vegetables are numerous. (more below on their nutrition)

Salad Ingredients:
1/4 C Savoy Cabbage
1/4 - 1/3 C Red & Yellow bell pepper
1/4 C Cucumber
Pieces of slivered carrots
2 Green onions
1/4 C or less of Dried Wakame Seaweed (soak in filtered water for about 20 min then drain)
Sesame or hemp seeds to mix in after (optional)

Dressing Ingredients:
5 Tbsp Grape seed oil (or Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
2 Tbsp Braggs (can use nama shoyu or tamari)
1 tsp Sesame Oil
3 Tbsp Lemon Juice
1 Tbsp Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar
(Taste dressing and adjust ingredients to your taste)

For Salad:
Put the dry wakame in a bowl. Add filtered water to cover it and more. It will swell a lot in the bowl. If needed, add more water as you see it needs it. It usually takes about 20-30 minutes until it is ready.

Cut veggies you are going to add to salad. I like cutting them in thin strips.

Once Wakame is soaked enough, pour the seaweed and the water into a colander and let it drain. I then take the wakame in my hands and squeeze the excess water out of it. You can also use paper towels to try and dry it a bit.

For Dressing:
Start with oil and then add lemon juice and apple cider vinegar. Mix well. Then add other ingredients and mix, taste and see if you need to add more lemon or other ingredients.

Put the wakame in a bowl and add cut veggies. Then mix in dressing a bit at a time. Taste as you mix it in and how much you add depends on your taste.

Why include seaweed (or sea vegetables) into your diet?

Because of the nutrients they contain.

Studies have found that a compound in wakame can help burn fatty tissue. It is also used in topical beauty treatments.

Wakame is rich in protein, calcium, iodine, magnesium, iron, lignans and folate.

In oriental medicine it is used for blood purification, intestinal strenth, skin, hair, reproductive organs and menstrual regularity.

If you are not sure if you would like this, start with less wakame and more vegetables. That is the best way to include something new into your diet, especially if you have never tried it before.

I hope you enjoy this recipe

LIVE HAPPY & HEALTHY!

RAW KELP NOODLE RECIPE

I JUST LOVE KELP NOODLES! Have you tried them?




If you have not yet tried Kelp Noodles then I suggest you give them a try real soon. Once you do and realize their versatility and goodness you will add them to your weekly meals.


All they require is rinsing and soaking in water for a bit and then mix them with your favourite ingredients. I love them with cucumbers, carrots, bell peppers, cilantro and green onions. You can also add tomatoes, broccoli, daikon, etc. The possibilities are endless!!


The dressings and sauces you can add to them are also endless. You can make Pad Thai, you can make a delicious peanut sauce (with raw almond buter), for them which is really good!! You can simply add an oil with lemon juice and some himalyan salt. Flavour them as you wish.


They do not have any flavour themselves. They are a lot like rice noodles but do not require cooking so are very fast. I have not put them in a soup but I am sure you can.


In Nanaimo, BC I got the Kelp noodles at a place called Clinical Nutrition which is in the Cline Medical Clinic on Pirdeaux Street. She also has many other great raw food supplies as well as dehydrators and blenders.


If you live in a big city that has many sources to buy raw food then you probably won't have a problem find them.

It is always good to try something new. I know I get in the habit of preparing the same food over and over, even though I love it, I still need to grow and expand my recipe base. If you don't, you may get bored of eating this way and be tempted to grab an old favourite that may not be good for you. That may then lead to more old "favourites" or "junkie" food that is different and easy to grab. Old habits.......

Remember - keep it interesting - but keep it simple!!

LIVE HAPPY & HEALTHY!

SIMPLE, TASTY RAW SNACKS

MY FAVOURITE RAW BREAKFAST

Each morning I have been eating this breakfast and I have been loving it.

Cinnamon Apple Chia Chunks

• 1 Apple (my fav is delicious apples) Cut into small chunks (better for chewing and digestion)
• 3-4 tsp chia gel (or more)
• 1 tsp ground flax, or more (optional)
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon (or more I love it!)

I put this in a glass storage container and bring it to work. I add a bit of water to it and let it sit and then eat it when i am ready. It is filling, contains protein, omega oils, vitamins, minerals - great way to start the day!

The next snack recipe I have for you is a great cookie that is made with pecans, coconut, cacao and dates - people LOVE this one and so do I! I really like the taste of dates, pecans and coconut combined. You don't even need the cacao on this one.

ONE OF MY FAVOURITE RAW TREATS

Chocolate Pecan Coconut Cookies

• 1 C pecans (soaked)
• 1/2 C coconut
• 2 heaping Tbsp Cacao
• 4 dates + 1/2 tsp agave (depends on how sweet you want it)
• 2 Tbsp cacao nibs (optional)
• 1/2 C combined dried cherries & cranberries, soaked (or just one of them)
• 1/4 - 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp vanilla
• Dash of salt
• A bit of soak water from cherries/cranberries (soaked them for maybe 20 min, you don't have to)

Grind pecans up in food processor, add dates and process some more. When sticky and you can pinch into ball, add other ingredients and process until mixture starts to form a ball. May need to stir a couple of times, adding a bit of soak water if needed. You can also add some melted coconut butter for creamy texture and flavour.

Form into whatever shape you want. Last night I formed into balls, then flattened them and then put 1/2 pecan on top. Enjoy!!

MY FAVOURITE AFTERNOON SNACK

This is an afternoon snack idea that I just love.

Quick Avocado Tomato Guacamole

• 1/2 avocado
• 7 or so grape tomatoes
• 1 tsp or more of braggs or nama shoyu (unpasteurized soy sauce that is not that salty)
• bit of lemon juice (optional)

Cut the avocado into small chunks, cut grape or cherry tomatoes in half or smaller, add the braggs, tamari or nama shoyu and mix! That is it

You can also put this in a lettuce leaf and eat - so good!
Spread it on a flax cracker
Add on top of a bed of lettuce or sprouts
Add into a salad and mix so it becomes the salad dressing

Try some of these and let me know how you like them.

I would love to hear your favourite snack idea - keep it simple!!

LIVE HEALTH & HAPPY!

Raw Food Snacks

It has been too long since I have written in here and I must make it more often.

What I want to cover today is raw food snack recipes and ideas. Basically I don't follow too many recipes. I look at a recipe and then adjust it to my taste and also get ideas from other recipes for combining ingredients, etc.

I love browsing blogs and looking at the pictures and the recipes, I can do that for hours, but then, I don't get my own blog written.

I have always been a snacker, probably snack more than most people. Although I snack often, I usually always snack on healthy food. I have always been that way. Sure the occassionaly snack that is too sweet or too full of fat but since I do not eat any preservatives to most, my snacks are healthy.

I used to have an addiction to peanut butter but that is gone - thank goodness! But I truly LOVE tahini and have even gotten to love raw tahini. I can put that on basically anything.

Tahini on celery sticks, tahini with carrots (very good), tahini in a lettuce wrap, on a cracker, etc. I also use it in salad dressings. I will mix tahini, braggs, a bit of oil and some lemon juice - maybe a bit of sweetener.

One of my favourite snacks are lettuce wraps. I always have some washed lettuce in my fridge and it is so easy to do:

• Take a piece of lettuce
• On it put some cut bell peppers
• Add some avocado, tomato, cucumber, etc
• Roll it up or fold it over and eat

You can basically add anything in the middle - tahini with some veggies, just plain almond butter is great also. Sprouts and cucumber with some pate.

I take some of the wrap recipes and use the pate that you would fill a wrap with and put that in lettuce instead of a dehydrated wrap.

You can make raw chili and put in a lettuce wrap. You can use collard greens instead of lettuce. Or what about swiss chard.

You can add fruit such as mango - mango and avocado, or mango and cucumber, etc.

Even a date in the middle of a piece of kale is good.

Another one of my favourite snacks is avocado, tomatoes and braggs. I love those flavor combinations!! So easy, so fast and ingredients you probably always have. Of course with this you can add bell peppers, celery, etc and it can become really chunky and almost like a chutney or salad.

Raw food is geat because there is so much variety. You don't have to be exact with the ingredients and you don't have to cook it!! You can bring ingredients to work such as:

Cucumber, lettuce, tomatoes, bell pepper, sprouts, avocado, tahini, hemp seeds, etc. And during the day you can add ingredients together and make something.

I do this often, I just bring the raw ingredients, in a bag, in a container, etc and then snack on them, make them into a salad, etc. I always have some oil, apple cider vinegar, braggs (or nama shoyu), tahini, almond butter and lemon at work to make a dressing or add to a snack or meal.

I have put oil, apple cider vinegar, tahini and almond butter in small glass storage containers with lids and they are in the fridge at work so I don't have to bring them every day.

Another great snack I was doing for a while was a pudding. Fruit and avocado and sometimes I would add chia gel to it.


The above picture is a pudding made with mango, avocado and blueberries.
One of my favourites was mango peach with a bit of chia gel. I just use my food processor and frozen fruit. It only takes a few minutes and it is fantastic!!

• Frozen Mango
• Frozen Peaches
• 1/4 - 1/2 avocado
• 1 tsp chia gel

First mix mango and peaches until blended. Then add avocado and chia gel and mix until creamy. Good to eat then or you can put in freezer or fridge. I even would make a larger batch and then store in small glass containers with lids in freezer and then when I wanted some I just took it out of freezer and thawed for a bit and then I could eat it. I had a few of these at work also.

I eat a very high raw diet but I actually don't consume a lot of nuts. When I do, they are in truffles and cookies. These I always have in the freezer and they can last for a very long time.


Fast and easy!!

Truffles can be made with any nut really. The kind of nut changes the texture and taste of the truffle. I love coconut so usually add coconut or roll them in coconut.

The basic ingredients I use are:
Nut of choice or combination - almonds, cashews, walnuts, pecans
(you can also use seeds in these)

• Cacao powder
• Cacao nibs (sometimes)
• Dried cherries (sometimes and very good)
• Coconut
• Dates
• Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (just a little melted, makes them creamy)
• Vanilla Powder
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg and other spices sometimes
• Possibly other dried fruit

I always use raw organic nuts and seeds and I soak them before I use them but if you are in a hurry you don't really have to. Better for digestion if you do.

There are hundreds of varieties and ways of mixing and making truffles so it is fun to experiment. I added some mint essence in a truffle the last time I made them and it is sooo good! I love chocolate mint flavoring (if it is done right).

As for other snacks, I do usually have 1-2 larger salads that I have made and I will snack on some of that. It doesn't have to be something separate and different than what you had for lunch, or breakfast.

Fruit is great, a fruit salad, grapefruit and chia gel is wonderful! Grapefruit and oranges cut in a bowl is so good.

Celery sticks, carrot sticks and some small grape tomatoes are some of the things I love to munch on while on computer or when I feel I want a crunch.

I would love to hear your snack ideas. Please leave a comment below

Here is to HEALTHY SNACKING!!

LIVE HAPPY & HEALTHY!

6 WEEK RAW FOOD COACHING GROUP

I have been coaching 8 wonderful women for the last 5 weeks and have really enjoyed it!!

It is a 6 week coaching program - A Pathway to Wellness - or a journey to eating healthy. Whatever we call it, I have learned so much from them and am so happy to hear about their successes.

I will have some comments from them on my blog next week, once the program is finished. I also hope to put up video real soon - but I will be changing and moving my blog.

The 8 women are all different and all starting from a different stage of healthy eating. That is what makes it so interesting and I am sure they have enjoyed learning and sharing with each other.

We just had our 5th week meeting last night (we meet 1 x a week for 2 hours on a Thursday night), and I cannot believe how fast the time has gone. I will miss them when the 6 weeks are over but hopefully we can continue on in some way.

It is so exciting for me to hear how they have changed their eating and lifestyle for the better and how much have learned about themselves and their body in such a short period of time.

5 weeks may sound like a long time but with regards to our eating habits and patterns that took us years and years to develop - 5 weeks is a very short time.

Awareness, knowledge and understanding in why it is important to eat healthy and when you do how you become more aware of how your body feels when you don't. That is huge and I remember when I began to notice the subtle changes in my body and when my body awareness changed. What a difference that makes!

We talked about how with other diets you end up taking a lot away - things you used to eat and enjoy. The "good-tasting foods" but didn't have anything "good" to replace them with.

With what we have done during this journey - is to learn what great tasting and healthy foods you put into your diet. You are adding very nutrient dense foods that taste as good as they are for you. This helps tremendously! If we just focus on what we "cannot have" then we will always feel there is a lack of something. That we are "missing" something. When we focus on what we "can" have and enjoy the process of learning to prepare the good, wholesome and great tasting live foods then there is no feeling of lack.

I am very grateful to have the opportunity to have worked with them and assisted them on this journey into wellness and I look forward to a new group of people anxious and willing to learn about the health benefits of incorporating whole, live foods into their diet.

I love showing them how and what they can prepare and providing recipes that they take on and make their own.

I hope to start a new 6 week coaching program in June. If anyonen is interested my contact information is on the side of this blog or send a comment and I will get that.

I am doing a FREE Introduction to Raw Food session tonight in Parksville at the Hot N Cool Yoga Club (a beautiful yoga studio). I love what I do because I get to share health with people and it is my passion.

It is not about "eating ALL raw" it is about finding what works for you and learning why it is so important to eat healthy because how you eat now and how you treat yourself and your body will directly affect what your future looks like.

WHAT DO YOU WANT YOUR FUTURE TO LOOK LIKE?

I would love to hear your comments!

LIVE HAPPY & HEALTHY!

McHappy Day - Not a Happy Day

It is McHappy Day here (maybe other places in North Americal also, I am not sure).

I think this is really crazy! I mean selling "junk" and as I believe "poisonous food" to raise money for children's hospital and or Ronald McDonald House!! Absolutely crazy! I strongly support and believe in the children's hospital and the fantastic facility of Ronald McDonald House but bringing kids to McDonalds and having them eat that junky, fatty, unhealthy food is really the wrong way to do it.

I don't know if that bothers anyone else but it really bothers me. Getting more people to eat Big Macs will only contribute to the disease and obesity that is already growing in North America.

I agree with raising money for charity, well actually I believe more in raising awareness as to what people can and need to do to prevent disesase, illness and obsesity.

It is like fighting and protesting against war but not promoting peace.

Promoting the very high fat and unhealthy food, chemicals, preservatives just so $1.00 of each sale can go to cancer research or Ronald McDonald house, etc is so wrong to me.

We need a place where people can go, buy healthy, nutritious food and then $1.00 of that be donated. At least we would be spreading health! What example is being shown by encouraging kids, teenagers, parents to come in and buy food that lead to disease.

I JUST DON'T GET IT!!!

I know there are fantastic movements out there promoting healthy, nutritious foods - real foods - and that is great. We need to step it up! We need to reach the masses and let them know that the way to STOP illness, obesity, and all forms of cancer is to PREVENT it it!!!

Obviously all the money that has poured into cancer research in the last 10-20 years has not stopped it - it is bigger than ever! There are more people than EVER being diagnosed with some form of cancer and what will our future hold!!

People MUST realize that WHAT YOU EAT DOES determine your health.

Sorry for this post that seems a little angry but I just came back from lunch and the radio station I love was promoting McHappy Day (and has been big time all day) and encouraging people to go to McDonalds and "buy a Big Mac" - I say buy one then throw it out!!!

Better yet - DONATE MONEY TO THE CHARITY OF YOUR CHOICE - whatever it is!

Now I take a deep slow breath and relax myself. I do feel good that I am holding classes and coaching sessions promoting healthy eating because I believe in my heart that nutrition is the answer.

LIVE HAPPY & HEALTHY!!

LEARNING DEHYDRATING BASICS

On April 25th I held a raw food dehydrating session in Nanaimo.

I had 6 fabulous people attend and I had a great afternoon with them. Here is the group:

I spent a few days preparing for this - especially when it comes to dehydrating food - it is a lot of preparation and then a lot of time to dehydrate the various dishes that I prepared.

I have a few pictures below of some of the things we enjoyed on this day.

Here is a picture of some raw granola that I made. It was sooo good!! I loved granola (cooked) when I used to eat cooked. Food. I made my own back then also but it was a lot different!!

I love crunchy food and I used to LOVE my granola. I have included the recipe for you to try:

RAW GRANOLA
Ingredients:
Ground soaked almonds, Raisins, Sesame Seeds, Sunflower Seeds, Pumpkin seeds, Walnuts, cashews, pecans (cut into pieces – all optional), Coconut, Soaked buckwheat (optional), Honey or agave, 4-5 Dates (soaked), Water, Cinnamon, Vanilla, Nutmeg

(amount of each that you use depends on how much you want to make. Delete some ingredients or add others - whatever you like. It really doesn't matter.

Directions:
Soak almonds in a bowl for about 8-10 hours
In another bowl combine all ingredients except dates and spices
Add filtered water just enough to cover the ingredients

You can soak these ingredients overnight or soak them for about 1 hour.
Put the soaked mixture in a strainer and drain the excess water.
Place the soaked almonds in a food processor and process – keep them chunky
Add the chopped almonds to the big bowl containing the other ingredients – add the spices

Put dates in food processor with some water and honey – process until creamy
Add the date paste to the bowl of ingredients and combine. Use your hands or spoon and mix well. The amount of dates you use depends on how much granola you are making. If the date paste does not cover all the mixture - make more date paste and add it.

Transfer that mixture on to dehydrator sheet(s) and dehydrate to desired crunchiness.

Below are some other delicious things that I made for the group to try:

-

KALE CHIPS - is there anything better!

& BRAZIL ENERGY BARS - full of goodness!

RAW ALMOND BISCOTTI

LEMON HEMP SESAME CHIA TRIANGLES

These are just some of the things that we had at the session. I also showed them how to improvise a cracker and bread recipe with ingredients you may have left over and in the fridge. That part of love - I hardly ever follow a recipe. I look at a recipe and see what ingredients are used, I may use those and add more or use the recipe, delete some ingredients and ad some others I know would taste better.

It is all about personal taste. With practice and trial and error you learn what combinations work best and what you like best. I do the same with the energy bars, granola and biscotti. Dehydrated cookies are the same.

Have fun! Be creative!

Start with a base - for crackers it can be ground flax or buckwheat. For cookies and energy bars it is usually ground nuts. Seeds, spices, dried fruit and herbs are what you add and play with.

You need an ingredients that binds them together. For crackers and bread it is the soaked flax meal or soaked chia seeds or whole flax seeds. For energy bars or cookies it is the dates or dried fruit or even honey or agave.

Taste as you add ingredients. One thing that is great about raw food is that you can taste it as you make it and get a pretty good idea what it will taste like when done.

Make a smaller batch if you have not made something before. Or divide batter up and put in different bowls and then in each bowl add something different for a different taste and see which one you like.

You can add soaked sun-dried tomatoes, tomatoes and italian seasonings to a cracker or bread batter.

You can add curry, cumin, corriander, salt, cilantro to another.

Etc, Etc. There are just so many things you can do. Be inventive!! and BE FEARLESS!

LIVE HEALTHY & HAPPY!

OPEN YOURSELF UP AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS

It is wonderful when you open yourself up and see what unfolds.

So often I am closed and stressed and busy in my everyday life. I become very focused on ‘Me” what do I have to do, what am I worried about? What is next for me?

Things that keep me in myself – and not in a good way – disconnected with the world.

Even though I am a yoga teacher and raw food chef – both that are supposed to bring you closer to the universal consciousness and the connection between everything and everyone, I see myself controlled by my ego for much of the time.



Because I have my own business and am trying work at a “job” and do my own business on the side, I tend to always have something to do and think about. It gets pretty overwhelming. Many people have been where I am so that gives me comfort.

I now have 2 days off a week (from my regular job) to go to coffee shops, work on my business and just be. I am becoming clearer on what I really want in life and what is important.

I have been on raw food for almost a year now and I have to say that it has been the last month of so that I am feeling – an extra something – CLARITY! I have been waiting for this!!!

Funny, I thought it would have to come at a time when I was alone, in a retreat, relaxed, with nothing on my mind or nothing else to do. Here is comes at an extremely busy time of my life. But hey – I welcome it.

I have met some great people in the last 2 weeks. Just being open and noticing and making eye contact and not being afraid to strike up a conversation. It is great!!

I have put out to the universe the type of people I want to meet and what I need help with.

I have met some of those people so far and it is so cool when this happens.

I know we are always manifesting – good and bad. That is how our universe works. Look around you – you have manifested everything in your life, whether you want to believe that or not and whether or not you want to accept the responsibility.

I have had my first colonics session today and wow!! This has added to the clarity I have to say. Getting cleaned out! I have two more sessions to go.

I have also done recent juice fasts (just short ones). I have been trying to heal my body more and I feel the layers are being peeled away; the layers that needed healing.

What I hope to attract now is someone who can help me with fixing up this blog and setting up a nice looking web site. I have also wanted to connect with like minded people so that a community can be formed of people wanting to work together support each other, do some joint ventures and sessions together. I feel that is really important.

Connections and more connections. I believe we attract the right people into our lives at the right time and when we are ready. Everyone is a gift and has something to teach us about ourselves.

I was given some excellent advice from a woman - she simply said “Do more of what you love.”

So simple yet so true. I was always waiting until I could do it, waiting until I had time, waiting until I had a web site, waiting, waiting …….. and not doing.

After she told me this, I took action and simply began doing what I love. It was the best thing I could do! When I get frustrated and discouraged I think about her simple, yet powerful words.

“Do more of what you love.”

It grounds me and brings me back to my purpose, my mission, etc.

It is very exciting to see things unfold and to accept them, let them happen and stay in the flow. I also notice that when I am feeling good – keeping positive then life flows and people come to me and things happen.

When I am down and being negative, frustrated, angry and sad, then I feel stuck and things around me are stuck. It is all about energy so I move the energy – get out of the rut and into thinking about what I want, doing more of what I love and believing that I can have the life I really dream about having.

LIVE HAPPY & HEALTHY

RAW FOOD & DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS

Many people transition into a raw diet because of a health reason. That was it for me.

Over the years I have been eating cleaner and cleaner. Not necessarily because I knew it was the right thing to do but because of how "bad" food was making me feel.

My sensitivities to preservatives and white flours, fried foods, etc made me feel so horrible that I had no choice but to stay away from them. If I wanted to feel good - I had to eat clean.

The only thing is, the cleaner I eat, the less of the "bad" foods I can tolerate. Which is good for health reasons but it does get hard when travelling or gone for the whole day and trying to find foods to eat that will agree with me.

Even though I am almost all raw now, I still have problems with my digestion. What I am finding is that food combining is a HUGE thing for me and I have to follow the rules or else....

This for me is a great challenge because I am a snacker. Even though I snack on good foods, I had never paid attention on how I was combining the foods, what I was eating when and how I was mixing the various foods together. That caused me so much grief.

Below is a salad that I am going to eat for a few days now - it is simple and a few ingredients

The salad contains: Cucumbers, lettuce, parsley and quinoa.

You can use sprouted quinoa or cooked quinoa. I soak quinoa overnight or all day, then I boil some water, add the qunioa and then cover and let sit. It will cook very fast. I have used sprouted quinoa and like that also.

The dressing I use is:
Olive oil, lemon juice, cumin and cinnamon. That is it!

Great, simple, tasty and easy. Also - a few ingredients so it is easy on digestion. I chop the parsley very fine and make sure I chew it well.

Parsley is high alkaline, a rich sourc eof Vit K, C, A, folate and iron. Good source of antioxidants.

Cucumbers are also highly alkaline. They are good for your hair, skin and nails. They contain potassium, silica, Vit A, C manganese, trptophan, magnesium and chlorophyll. Cucumber juice is a great cleansing juice.

I add cucumbers into my green smoothie also.

Food combining is very important if someone is transitioning into raw foods and have digestive problems. Different foods digest at different rates. When we eat various foods together, the digestion of foods that nromally pass rapidly through the digestive track can be delayed by more slowly digested food. This results in gas, bloating, heartburn and other digestive problems.

Fruit digests fast whereas nuts and seeds digest slow. Sugar and sweets diegest faster so dessert is actually better before a meal or hours after once food has been digested.

It seems easy but if your digestion is really slow then you are faced with wondering how many hours after a meal can you eat a piece of fruit or a dessert. Since everyone is different you have to get to know your body and that can take a little while.

My digestion is extremely slow so I eat all my fruit in the morning and then I eat the veggies - salads, etc then I get to heavier food. So if I feel like an apple in the afternoon - I cannot have one. Or I pay for it with a lot of discomfort. I hope this eventually gets better the longer I eat healthy and let my body heal.

If you are transitioning to a more raw food diet and are noticing some real discomforts then you may need to pay attention to food combining. A way to start is by eating simple foods without a lot of ingredients.

More on this in future posts
LIVE HEALTHY & HAPPY!

FAST TASTY RAW SOUPS

RAW SOUPS are great for a fast meal. You can make them as simple and as complicated as you want. I was on a juice/smoothie fast the last few days and then today I was hungry so needed more.

I have a favourite tomato soup I usually make but I wanted to try something different.

I didn't have a recipe so this morning I made this up:

Creamy, Dreamy Green Soup

Small handful of spinach

2 carrots

2-3 celery stalks

1/2 cucumber

1/2 avocado

3 lettuce leaves

Himalyan Salt

Bit of dulse

1 tsp braggs

1 tsp lime juice

1 tsp lemon juice

1/2 tomato

oregano - couple shakes of the dry herb

basil - a couple shakes of the dry herb

1 - 1 1/2 C water

Yes, this was a green soup. I added some cinnamon and sliced grape tomatoes and sliced cucumber when I ate it. I liked it. It may not be for everyone but it is healthy, nutritious and easy on digestion.

Below are some soup recipes I found that you can try and I will be trying them this week.

Cream of Tomato

1/4 C onion

1 clove garlic

4 celery

2 carrots

1/2 C basil

4 tomatoes

1 C water

1/2 C cashews (soaked)

4 dates (soak first)

dash of cayene

1 - 1 1/2 tsp braggs

Throw all in blender and blend! You can eat like that or add some cut up veggies, greens and seeds or hemp seeds.

Broccoli Soup

3 C almond milk

2 C broccoli

1 avocado

Garlic to taste

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cumin

Pepper to taste

Add some water if you use soaked almonds instead of almond milk

Cut up ingredients and add to blender. If you do not have almond milk - use soaked almonds and they will blend but the soup would be a little crunchy or gritty - which I actually prefer. Add some Cut tomatoes, nutritional yeast, sunflower seeds, etc.

GIVE THESES A TRY - What I like to do is wash and cut up the veggies the night before and then it is fast to blend them in the morning. Pour them into mason jars or a big glass blow with a fitted cover and your set! Great with dehydrated crackers!

LIVE HAPPY & HEALTHY!

TRAILS IN NANAIMO & REFLECTION

BECOMING CLEAR ON A JUICE FAST

When I am feeling stressed, the best thing I can do is go out for a walk. Luckily I live by some beautiful trails, lakes, rivers, streams and ocean. That is why I LOVE living here!!

I did not bring my camera today but I did another time and here are just a couple of pictures of a place that is really close to my home called Westwood Lake.

Those are ferns above - there are tons of them! I come from Alberta so this was so new to me when I first moved here 9 years ago.

Being around water takes away negative emotion. It does! I end up feeling calm, relaxed, centered and it is a time when I can just be in the moment.

I have been on sort of a juice fast the last few days. Lets say, juices and a bit of fruit and some light veggies. Mostly juices. My digestive system was off and I was not feeling that well so.....I ended up having fruit puddings and juices and smoothies.

Below is what my regular green smothie looks like every day. It is usually:
MY FAVOURITE GREEN SMOOTHIE
Kale
Romaine Lettuce
1 Apple
Dash of cinnamon
1 Date (sometimes)
Squeezes of lemon and or lime
Water
Some mango chunks (not always)
The juice I made this morning consisted of:
VEGGIE JUICE
1/4 of a beet
1 1/2 carrots
2 stalks celery
1/4 cucumber
5 lettuce leaves
1/2 apple
3/4 - 1 C water

I put it in my Blentec Blender - which is so great and high speed - just love it! I blended it up and then put it through a straining bag. I usually just drink smoothies with some fruit, greens and maybe some cucumber so never use strainer. The strainer bag is actually also a sprouting bag but works well.

It was very refreshing and full of nutrients. This is what I have been drinking. I made a fresh batch this afternon.

I have done a fast before and it was unplanned like this one. I did not feel very good yesterday but today - just amazing!!! I am so clear, I have energy, the fog has totally lifted and my vision is incredible. During my beautiful walk it was like all my senses were hightened!

When I was young I did drugs - yes, that was the 70's and I can kind of compare this to when I took acid or mushrooms. Where your vision seems to expand and your senses are alive and you just feel so great!!! So glad it is without the chemicals this time.

It is a high feeling and I am going to continue on the juice fast as long as I feel is right. I do not stress myself out about how long I should or NEED to do this. It just happened and it feels right, right now.

The walk calmed me and gave me focus. I realized also that I do not "feel" hungry. I love chewing and eating, I really do. I love snacking and always have. I tend to bring way too much food to work and constantly carry it in my car so being on a juice fast is a nice break. Just need to make juices!! It frees you. It is 6:30 p.m. and I don't have to prepare dinner, I didn't have to prepare lunch, etc.

I hear about people who plan when they are going to go on a fast - whether juice or just water or even just strickly raw food. I have never been much of a planner so doing it spontaneously works for me.

NO STRESS IS BEST!!

If you are not prepared yet to do a juice or water fast try one complete day with just raw food, then when you get to the next day, try that day, on and on. Just live day by day and you will notice cravings and emotional things coming up but realize they are trying to clear themselves from you. They can seem to control you, they really do. But, it is your choice - does not mean it is easy.

Take steps - one day try just juice and or water for 1/2 a day. Then another time try a full day, etc.

DELICIOUS, NUTRITIOUS SALADS

RAW FOOD SALADS

Funny calling salads raw food - they are but weren't they always??

When someone hears I am a raw food chef that is what they think about. They think all I eat is salads and cut up raw veggies. It may be true that I do love salads and eat a lot of them, but I always have.

Salads are a main staple for me but raw food prep goes way beyond salads.

Today though I am going to talk about salads because the wide variety of salads you can make is amazing. You can put almost any whole food ingredient into a salad.

I started a 6 week coaching program for women wanting to transition to a healthier lifestyle. Whole living foods is the basis of the healthier lifestyle and with that comes salads!!

The group wanted me to keep it simple for the 1st week so the first week is going to consist of a lot of salads. Salads are familar to people - yet extremely healthy!

What makes a salad you buy at a restaurant or fast food place unhealthy is the high fat salad dressings full of preservatives and junk that they serve with the salad.

In this post I will share some healthy, nutritious salad dressings you can make fast and easy.

Cilantro - I LOVE CILANTRO!

This cilantro based salad dressing is so good, it is my favourite at the moment. It goes so well on a green salad - no matter what you throw on the salad. But, then again, I love cilantro.

The picture above is the cilantro dressing I made but it looks yellow in this picture. It is actually green. I just had a bit left.

Cilantro Salad Dressing
2 C Cilantro
1 C Apple Cider Vinegar
1/2 C Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 clove garlic
1 1/2 Tbsp honey
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

Blend all ingredients - adding cilantro last. If you are using blender or hand mixer. If you are mixing by hand, mix oil and apple cider vinegar first. Then add other ingredients and mix, cut cilantro up fine and add.

Cilantro is good and very good for you. It has fiber, iron, magnesium. It is great for detoxing. It also contains an antibacterial compound dedecenal which is a potent antibiotic. Early physicians, including Hippocrates, used cilantro (also konwn as coriander) for medicinal properties.

I love adding cilantro to a cucumber and tomato salad and I also add it in my green salads. You can also add it in your smoothie.

Another nutritious salad I want to share with you is a Beet & Bok Choy Salad.

This is another one of my favourite salads.

Beets contain healthy nutrients such as: Folate, manganese, potassium, fiber, Vit C, magnesium, tryptophan, iron, copper and phosphorus.

Beets contain a pigment called betacyanin that gives beets their color. It is a powerful cancer-fighting agent. It is extremely effective against colon cancer.

Beets are also good for protection against heart disease and help to reduce inflammation.

Beets greens are rich in vitamins and minerals as well as carotenoids such as beta-carotene & lutein/zeaxanthin. Beet greens are great to add to smoothies and in salads.

Bok Choy is similar to cabbage in nutrient profile. It is rich in Vit C, phytochemicals, potassium and very high in calcium, folate, beta-carotene, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, lutein an dzeaxanthin.

Beet & Bok Choy Salad (these are the amounts I used)
1 Beet, peeled and shredded
3 Baby Bok Choy
Shred beet and cut up bok choy.

Dressing:
Apple Cider Vinegar, Extra Virgin Olive Oil and some dashes of cinnamon. The way I do this is I start with Olive Oil, then I add some apple cider vinegar and mix to taste. If it is too oily I add some more vinegar, if it has too much vinegar I add some more olive oil.

Pour dressing over beets and bok choy and mix well. This is really good after it sits for a while or even over night. Enjoy this healthy, nutrient packed salad!

Here is another salad dressing to try. It contains tahini with is high in calcium. I also love the taste of tahini. You can chose to use raw tahini or use an organic tahini from toasted sesame seeds (which of course is not raw).

Tahini Dressing

2 Tbsp tahini

1/2 lemon juiced

1/2 orange juiced

1/2 C parsley

1 tsp honey

Blend well (sorry for double spacing again) this format is driving me crazy. I am going to change the blog format because this is just not working for me. Soon this blog will look differently

LIVE HAPPY & HEALTHY!

BERRY, MANGO PUDDING

This dairy free pudding is healthy and so good. Great for a snack or even breakfast.

I like smoothies but I don't like to add berries to my smoothies. I like to eat my berries on their own. I also like to chew instead of drink my meals. This pudding is a great way to enjoy berries and fruit without having to make a smoothie and "drink" another drink. I eat all my fruit in the morning so I was happy to find another way to enjoy fruit.

The Secret ingredient in this pudding is

AVOCADO!

Instead of cream, avocado is used. The recipe is:
1/2 Avocado
3/4 C frozen mango
1/2 C frozen blueberries

Add this in food processor and blend really well. Add a bit of water if needed. Careful not to add to much or you will have a smoothie.

If you don't like avocado that much then add less. Also the size of the avocado makes a difference.

You can use bananas in place of mangos. The bananas and mango have a creamy texture when blended that is why they work well in pudding.

Super easy and really good. Give it a try! This is even great as an evening snack.

A previous post I included a recipe for banana pudding (pictured below).


To view the recipe for the above banana pudding click on the link below:

http://rawgoodswithdiana.blogspot.com/2010/03/diary-free-ice-cream-soooo-gooood.html

LIVE HEALTHY & HAPPY!

MEDITATION, MANIFESTATION & CHERRY BLOSSOMS

I had another Introduction to Raw Food Session in Nanaimo, BC this Sunday, March 21st. I had a fantastic group of ladies attend and we had a great time and tasted some wonderful food.

I love doing the introduction sessions because it is exciting to listen and watch people who may not have been exposed to the variety of the raw foods that can be prepared. They come in not knowing what to expect and then leave inspired and motivated to begin a healthier lifestyle.

I LOVE IT!!

My passion is definately sharing my love of whole, nutrient dense foods with others.

So sorry I do not have pictures to share. I did not have an assistant that day so I was kept very busy and forgot to take pictures. Very disappointed about that.

After the session, I cleaned up and then went for a walk outside.

IT IS SPRING!!! AND I LOVE IT!

This is a picture of some cherry blossoms. They are so incredible! They are in bloom and when they fill a whole tree like they do - it takes your breath away.

(Sorry for the crowded content. I have tried and tried to add spaces - just not working tonight)

The evenings are lighter and warmer and perfect for a walk. I live in an area where a 5 minute walk takes me to beautiful rural pastures, acreages, country roads, vinyards, streams, lakes, etc. There are Gary Oak Trees, Cherry Blossom Trees, Cedar Trees, Maple Trees, Grape Vines, Fruit Trees and numerous others. The trees are budding and in bloom and the multi-coloured wild flowers are popping up everywhere.

Wild flowers and daffodils. Spring really inspires me and these walks are a perfect time for

MEDITATION & MANIFESTING.

That is what I worked on during that walk. I reflected on the wonderful people that I have met since holding the raw food sessions and the great contacts I am making with others in the industry and related wellness field. It is really great to meet like-minded people.

I used to try and meditate first thing in the morning or in the evening - these are times when I may have had a moment of free time. But when I tried - I usually fell asleep.

I noticed that the best time for me to meditate and manifest is when I am going for a walk or a run outside. I am calm, relaxed, in a positive state of mind, awakened by the fresh air and I am able to be IN the moment.

You don't have to be sitting in complete quiet and stillness to meditate or work on manifesting. You can do what calms you, what centers you. Maybe it is yoga, stretching, walking, running, etc.

I also use this time to go over all the things I am greatful for. I start my walks by going through all the things I am truly greatful for and thanking the universe for bringing those into my life. Then I think about what I want to manifest in the future. I become very clear, I visualize the life I want.

With the nicer weather and lighter evenings I am able to do this more and that is probably why I love Spring and Summer so much. Without taking this time to walk in the country side, to be in nature, I notice my energy and moods dropping. Spring gives me hope and makes my dreams come alive.

I hope you all take time to walk in nature, get outside. Breathe in the fresh air, feel the sun on your skin, calm your mind, be in the moment, soak in your surroundings and be in awe of the world. You will become inspired again.

Please comment and let me know what you love about Spring.

LIVE HAPPY & HEALTHY!

DIARY FREE ICE CREAM - SOOOO GOOOOD!

Hello everyone

It has been too long since I have written in this and I apologize. I want to commit to at least 3 x a week to write and put in recipes.

Soon I will be brave enough to add some videos - I know - I just have to DO IT!

This is a great sugar free, dairy free ice cream that is so very easy. The only thing you will need is some frozen bananas.

I buy bananas (always organic), then I wait for them to ripen - make sure they have brown spots on outside and are softer. You should always eat ripe fruit, it is better for digestion.

Cut ripe bananas up and put in freezer bags and pop in freezer. I am always buying bananas because they are green when you buy them so there is that waiting period until they ripen.

To make the Ice Cream:

• I use a small food processor for this.


• Put some frozen bananas into food processor - and process!

Yes, that is all!! See - it is super easy!

• Keep processing until it is nice and smooth. Be careful not to overprocess so that the bananas start to melt.
• Scoop out of food processor into a bowl and enjoy!!
• You can top with nuts, seeds, fruit, cacao sauce - anything. In the picture above I topped mine with some cacao syrup I made from coconut oil, raw cacao powder and some sweetener (agave).

I guarnatee you that everyone will love this and give it a try with frozen mangos or other fruit. Bananas work really well because they have a creamy consistency when blended.

Let me know what your favourite topping would be.

LIVE HEALTHY & HAPPY!

PROTEIN IN VEGAN DIET

Probably the most asked question I get is "How do you get protein if you eat a raw food diet"

I actually have become to love that question because of the look I see on people's faces when I answer it. I find that women, especially, love hearing the answer. Men...well, I think they are a little more addicted to animal protein than women are.

Below is information printed in the book "Eat To Live" by Joel Fuhrman, MD. This is a fantastic book. It is not new but I had seen other raw gurus mention reading this book when they got started so I thought I would check it out. It is so great! He has many cooked recipes but believes in a higher raw diet.

NUTRIENTS PRESENT IN 100-CALORIE PORTIONS

Protein:
Broccoli has 11.2 g
Romaine Lettuce has 11.6 g
Kale has 9.46
Sirloin Steak has 5.4 g

So now - what do you think??
Yes, people find it hard to believe that greens have protein. Well, they are not fat. They are actually 50% protein, 25% carbohydrate and 25% fat.

Then take a look at Cholesterol:
Broccoli has 0
Romaine Lettuce has 0
Kale has 0
Sirloin Steak has 55 mg

How about Saturated Fat:
Broccoli has 0
Romaine Lettuce has 0
Kale has 0
Sirloin Steak has 1.7 g

This is comparing 100 calories of each of these foods. How much is that in weight (oz)?
Broccoli - 12.6 oz (357 g)
Romaine - 25.1 oz (714 g)
Kale - 11.7 oz (333 g)
Sirloin Steak - .84 oz (24 g)

Now - that should tell you something. Think of how much you could eat of the greens and then how much steak.
ALSO - AND MOST IMPORTANTLY

The greens also contain vitamins, minerals and important amino acids that our body requires to stay healthy.

Steak has no Vitamin C or E. It is almost totally lacking in fiber, folate Vit A, beta-carotene, lutein, lycopene, Vit K, flavonoids and thousands of other protective phytochemicals.

Most of the calories in meat are fat whereas in greens most calories are protein.

When you consider the fiber, phytochemicals and the other essential nutrients, green veggies are the WINNERS!!

THEY ARE THE MOST NUTRIENT-DENSE OF ALL FOODS

EAT YOUR GREENS!

LIVE HEALTHY & HAPPY!!

RAW FOOD IN NANAIMO

Another great day sharing fantastic raw food!

This past weekend, February 28th I held a Raw Food Session in Naniamo, BC and had so much fun sharing my love for healthy food with everyone there.

We discussed acid/alkaline balance within the body and how it affects health and how important it is to keep the delicate balance of acid/alkaline in the body.

There was so much to say and time went so fast! Everyone had some fantastic questions and I hope enjoyed the sharing of knowledge and information.

We started with a few little snacks - as pictured above to the right. These are Mini Pecan Pies. 1/2 a date dipped in coconut then topped with a pecan. They are so good and help when you feel like something sweet. As you can see people ate them up!

After the presentation and information on acid/alkaline foods we all had a green smoothie and people who had not tried them before - loved them! I knew they would :-). For me, one thing I hope everyone take away from the sessions I hold is to start their day with a green smoothie. They are so simple to make!

GREEN SMOOTHIE RECIPE:
A fruit or 2 of your choice (I like apples)
1/2 a banana is great to add
A handful or more of some greens (spinach is what we used. Can be any green leafy veggie)
A squeeze or 2 of fresh lemon juice
2 cups of water (or a bit less - 1 serving)
Dash of cinnamon (optional)

Green Smoothies are a start and I suggest EVERYONE try it - you WILL love it!

We then began the food preparation demonstrations. At this session we preparing pates, dips and wraps. Here are some wraps prepared with pate and various veggies. The wraps can be collard greens, swiss chard and lettuce. When I make one for myself I use the whole leaf. These are cut into bite size pieces which is great for a group of people.

Here I am preparing a cashew, carrot pate which tends to be a favourite. I forgot to take off my reading glasses in this pic. I tend to be doing that more these days!!

Pates are great because you can make a big batch on a Sunday and they will last you all week.

Below are some wraps I made with my dehydrator and some were stuffed with a raw pate called "Better than Beef" made with carrots and spices and some were stuffed with a Mediterranean flavored pate. Very good!

As you can see from the picture below, there was a lot of food to sample.

I also encouraged people to make their own wraps from the ingredients provided. We also had stuffed mushroom caps (stuffed with the cashew, carrot pate).

Pates are great because they last for about a week in the fridge and you can put them ontop of a bed of lettuce or sprouts. Mix them in your salad, eat them with crackers or on dehydrated bread. And of course put them in a wrap. They are also filling and some have a "meaty texture".

One aspect I love about these sessions is the sharing amongst the particpants. Some know each others, some have just met but we all come together to share experiences, knowledge and fun! It is a great way to meet people on the same journey and with things in common. Sometimes when we choose a healthy path, there are not always people close to us who chose that at the same time. This way, people can meet and learn from others who are on the path to wellness (as I call it).

Here is more the group enjoying and experiencing the raw food.

I am so grateful to be able to do what I love and share my love for healthy, nutritious food!

I thank all these wonderful ladies for joining me. I truly enjoy the learning and sharing.

LIVE HAPPY & HEALTHY!

HEALTHY EATING ON A WEEKEND AWAY

This past weekend I went to Victoria, BC. I love spending time there. To me it is one of the nicest cities I have ever been to (and I have travelled a lot). The weather was fantastic! Especially for February in Canada. It was just amazing!

Below is a picture from a balcony outside our hotel room. It is a really old small hotel in the James Bay area of Victoria. Lots of older character homes. It is quiet there at night and a close walk to downtown. Look at the beautiful cherry blossoms on the tree outside. They were everywhere. Victoria has some amazing old HUGE trees throughout the city.

One thing about living on Vancouver Island is that there is a large community of health-minded poeple. That is one of the main reasons that I moved here from Alberta. Other reasons of course are the beauty of the island and the weather. Vancouver Island has the best weather in Canada.

I never have to worry about where I am going to get great healthy food when staying in Victoria. The city is loaded with fantastic options!

They have numerous vegetarian cafes and restaurants. One of my favourite restaurants is

The Rebar http://www.rebarmodernfood.com/

This weekend we tried the raw food restaurant

Cafe Bliss http://www.cafebliss.ca/index.htm

Check it out - very cool place!!

I have been eating about 80% raw (some days 100%) for a while now and I teach raw food prep classes so it is really nice to go and have someone else prepare food for me. I even convinced my boyfriend to have lunch there on Saturday. He has tried almonst all of the raw food I have prepared but still eats a diet of mainly cooked food.

Below is a picture of my boyfriend sitting in Bliss. I wanted to go there for lunch and he was going to go to another place (for cooked food) after.

I ordered and then saw these fantastic looking cookies in a jar and had to have one. So that is what I started with when waiting for my lunch. My boyfriend too 1 bite of the cookie and loved it!! I loved it also - it was THE BEST dehydrated cookie I have every had. Just look at it! What doesn't it have in it. I love crunchy, granola, seedy type cookies and have really missed them since going raw. Well - no more, this was exactly what I was craving and what I love!! Now to find a way to make it just like they did. I am experimenting.

I ordered their raw pizza with a salad and a shot of wheatgrass. Pizza is something I do not make at home, so it was a treat. Wow!!! the pizza was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! I savoured and enjoyed every single bite - it was BLISS!! That is where they got their name from I am convinced!

Since I was enjoying it so much and it looked SO DELICIOUS my boyfriend just had to have a bite. Then another bite, then another. GUESS WHAT??? He ended up having lunch there also. Skipping his cooked food restaurant and eating along side me at Cafe Bliss. He ordered the pizza and enjoyed every single bite like I did.

NOW JUST LOOK AT THIS PIZZA!!! The sauce on top - OMG! It was sooo good!! The crust was amazing - better than any cooked food pizza crust I have EVER had. My boyfriend was very impressed and so was I. We met and spoke to the chef. He was very humble but we told him how much we enjoyed the lunch and that we would be back.

Here is my boyfriend with his piece of pizza. He is inspecting a sprout.

I bought another cookie to eat the next morning for breakfast.

At home I usually start my day with a green smoothie so the next morning we went back to Cafe Bliss for a juice. They have a wide variety of fantastic fresh juices. I chose one I usually don't make at home. I cannot remember exactly what was in it but it had beets, carrots and ginger. So Very Delicious! What a great way to start the day. They serve their juices in glass mason jars - glass is so much better than pastic!

I got the juice to-go and off we went shopping and looking around. The day was sunny and warm. What a weekend!

When it was time for lunch I was craving another great raw lunch so back we went to Cafe Bliss. My boyfriend also ate lunch there too. He was actually looking forward to it!! We even ran into another couple from our home city of Nanaimo.

The atmosphere in the cafe is very friendly and different than a regular restaurant. People talk to each other more and I think it is because eating raw is not the norm so when you are around other people who do it, you just start to talk to them. One thing I love about the raw lifestyle is that it is a real community. You feel a part of something. People are excited about it, sometimes passionate about it and people new to trying the food have only good things to say about it.

If you have a chance, please check out a raw food restaurant/cafe close to you and I promise - you will not regret it!!

I also tried a heart-shaped chocolate - YUM! That is all I can say about it. Just a big YUM!

Live Healthy & Happy!