30 Days 100% Raw: Day 31 Conclusions

Well yesterday marked 31 days 100% raw and I have to say the journey was amazing.  I know I have said that before but really looking back it was.  This last week I stopped thinking so much about what I was going to eat and just ate and it wasn't hard to be raw.  I am so glad I decided to start 2013 this way.  Here what I learned:

1. Raw foods make me feel good.  Not just physically but emotionally, mentally, and spiritually
2. I learned to put my health first.  When I went on vacation with my hubby's family I stuck to 100% raw and while it wasn't the easiest thing I did it and am so glad I did.
3. Meat and dairy are not good for me.  They weigh me down again not just physically.  I find that I do not need them in my diet.
4. Strict 100% raw is not for me.  I need versatility and if that means using spices and such that aren't raw but are vegan is okay with me.
5. I need cooked food every once in awhile.  Psychologically I feel the need for cooked food and it seems right to me at this time to allow myself to do that when needed.

So what does this mean for me?  Well you are now looking at a high raw vegan.  I am not going to worry about percents because that is so hard to judge in my opinion but I am committed to eating mostly raw foods and every once in awhile eating cooked vegan food.  I am such a big fan of plant based diets that as I am going to go to school to become a certified health coach that is what I am going to promote.  I want to help others ease into eating plant based diets with high raw foods.  Now I just need to finish my book because I do think others would be interested in this story.  I think they may want some recipes I came up with and it just might inspire someone else to give this a try.  Thank you January resolution.... you changed my life for the best!

30 Days 100% Raw: Day 30

Wednesdays are always so weird for me because it is the one day per week that I work in the morning.  It completely changes how I approach eating.  Day 30 brought me:

Apples with Almond Butter
Handful of Blueberries
2 Oranges
2 Pears
Raw Vegan Nori Rolls

  Only one day to go until January is over!  Wow!

30 Days 100% Raw: Day 29

It is soooooo close to the end of this month and I cannot believe how fast and relatively easy it went!  I have learned so much about myself and I now am certain that plant based vegan diet is the way I need to go to feel my best.  Once January is over I am not going to be as strict about being 100% raw as I was for January.  I plan to eat very high raw with some cooked vegan food every once and awhile but there is no need for me at this point to set strict rules for myself on percentages.  So what did I have to eat?

Apples with Almond Butter (so obsessed with this right now)
Mean Green Soup (this is now one of my favorite go to meals!)
Dates

I didn't eat much on day 29 but that is due to lady time.  I am not hungry on day 1 of that time and usually have to force myself to eat.   That might be a little TMI but it's the truth and it can effect how and what you eat.  So there you go :)

30 Days 100% Raw: Day 27 & Day 28

I didn't blog yesterday because I was an idiot and hurt myself.  I apparently thought it would be a great idea to kick the wall and almost break my toe.  Man did that hurt.  The past couple of days I have not been really hungry.  I am so glad I did this little challenge, my body is seriously happy with me right now.  So what did I have to eat the past couple of days:

Lots of:

Dates

Apples with Raw Almond Butter

Mini Sweet Peppers with Pine Nut Hummus

Apple, Celery, and Ginger Juice

Pico de Gallo Salad

Raw Dehydrated Almonds

Oranges

Pineapple

Bananas

I haven't been into making large meals lately but frequent smaller meals.  It's worked for me this week.  I have decided my resolution for February is to work out at least 3 days a week as well as maintain a high raw diet.  Now on to Day 29...

30 Days 100% Raw: Day 26

For the life of me I cannot remember what I ate for breakfast yesterday.  I had to work at the co-op last night so when that happens I tend to forget to write down what I ate and when.  I do remember what I ate for lunch and dinner though:

Bean-Free Pine Nut Hummus on Cucumbers
Raw Pesto Crackers topped with Avocados, Sprouts, and Cucumber
3 Bananas
A couple of Dates

I was soooo thirsty yesterday and I know I did not get enough water.  We were so busy at work that I was running around the whole night.  I should have had some water before I went to bed last night but I didn't.  My goal for Day 27 is to drink more water.  We should never be thirsty... if we are it's time for water. 

30 Days 100% Raw: Day 25

We are still in a cold snap here in Minnesota and it is not fun at all.  Today I had a pretty good day... it was date night with my husband.  I am finding that I am craving some cooked food, but not the kind of food I would have craved before I started doing this.  I now know that for me meat and dairy and I do not get along very well as do gluten and I.  Once January is over if I do eat any cooked food it will be gluten free and vegan.  It will be interesting to see how my body reacts to that when I do choose to eat cooked.  I am going to still maintain a high raw diet regardless though.  So what did I have to eat today?

6 Blood Oranges
Chopped Cucumber, Tomato, Sweet Pepper, and Green Onion Salad
Garden Salad from Buffalo Wild Wings
6 Dates
1 Granny Smith Apple with Raw Chocolate Almond Butter

I can't believe that I am nearing the end!  Who knew it was going to be so educational and fast!

30 Days 100% Raw: Day 24

I had a hard time getting my act together today.  I don't know what it was, well I do have a theory.  We got a new white noise sleep CD and I had such a hard time waking up.  I am going to blame the CD because I can! Haha!  I noticed an interesting change last night.  Ever since my first miscarriage I've had heart flutters (or murmurs I guess) and a racing heart beat.  The doctors really didn't have any advice for me and said it was all stress related.  Anyways I noticed that I haven't had a heart flutter this whole month and my pulse has slowed down to a nice steady rhythm.  I really think I can thank the raw foods on this one.  So what did I have to eat on my disorganized day?

2 Apples
4 Mini Sweet Peppers stuffed with bean free Pine Nut Hummus
4 Raw Pizza Crackers topped with Avocado, Sprouts, Mushroom, and Olives
1 Navel Orange

I started this whole thing doing more 80/10/10 but I find myself going more toward veggies in the middle of the day and a bit higher fat.  I think it has to do with it being so cold in Minnesota at this moment.  My body is needing some more overt fats to help stay warm and satisfied... well that's my theory anyways.  I have been listening to what my body wants and going with it.

30 Days 100% Raw: Day 23

Yesterday was such a great day.  I felt physically good, mentally good, spiritually good... seriously I feel better then I have in a long time.  I have been starting to think about what I am going to do when February gets here.  I am going to do Raw Food Rehab's 28 Day Restart which I am really excited about.  But I am not sure what February's resolution will be.  I have time to meditate on it though so I'm not worried.  What did I have to eat today?

2 Grapefruit
1 Cucumber sliced and put on Homemade Flax Crackers and Eggplant Bacon (this was sooooo good and sooooo filling!)
Large Salad topped with a Red Pepper Tomato Dressing
More Eggplant Bacon.

I need to stock up on some fruits and veggies soon because my choices are getting limited.  I am down to greens, green onion, apples, sweet peppers, tomatoes, and 1/2 a jalapeno!

30 Days 100% Raw: Day 22

Day 22 brought about fun food day.  Sometimes playing with your food makes it fun and different.  It was a day of veggie "chips".  It's been cold here in Minnesota with having big time below zero temps.  If I can stay raw during that time I really think anyone can.  I relied on a hot shower, layers, room temp food, and tea to keep me warm and it worked out rather well.  So what did I have to eat?

2 Grapefruit
Cucumber "Chips" topped with bean free pine nut hummus and tomato
Zucchini "Chips" that I dunked in Red Pepper Tomato Dip

I took the leftover dip mixed it with some flax seeds and put them in the dehydrator.  Oh my did they turn out great (I tried them this morning, Day 23).  I also made up some eggplant bacon that's still in the dehydrator too.  I need to get a hand on some onions so I can make some onion bread and then I could make a delicious sandwich.  Oh, the raw possibilities are endless my friends and I can promise it gets easier to think of ideas as you go along.

30 Days 100% Raw: Day 21

Well I am proof that you can be 100% raw in the winter.  Day 21 brought about -30 degree temps with wind chill and I maintained a 100% raw diet through it all.  I think room temp food really helps as well as layers and hot showers.  So what did I have to eat today?

Large Mean Green Soup
Sweet Potato chips w/ almond butter
Sun-dried Mulberries (now addicted thanks to Megan Elizabeth!)
High Country Kombucha

I am so glad to be back home where I have yummy fruits and veggies to make delicious raw foods.  I am finding that I am having more energy lately and not having to sleep as much.  My digestion is starting to get back to where it was before I went of vacation as well.

30 Days 100% Raw: Day 18, 19, & 20

Well I am back from my vacation to the Wisconsin Dells.  I think I did pretty good overall, never ate cooked food, and learned a few things along the way.  Once huge thing I learned is that I cannot count on others to bring food I can eat.  I was in charge of bringing fruit and someone else to bring cut up veggies.  While they did bring veggies most of them were pickled.  I did eat some olives but they gave me some gas and an upset stomach.

I ate a lot of fruit, mostly satsumas during our stay.  I am a bit sick of them right now to tell you the truth.  Even when people were eating pizza I munched on satsumas and raw dehydrated almonds.  On our last night at the hotel my hubby ran to the store to get me some greens so I could make a huge salad.  I ate spring greens with some peppers, satsumas, olives, carrots, onion, and I cannot remember what else.  That kept me very full until that night and I wasn't even tempted at the second round of pizza they ate.

So all in all, it's very doable but do yourself a favor and bring all your own food.  That way you know there will always be something to eat.

30 Days 100% Raw: Day 15 and 16

I just realized I forgot to blog yesterday!  Sleep is still my best friend but I can sense healing taking place.  On day 15 I had an amazing Red Pepper Tomato Soup with Cucumber "chips" for dinner.  It was heavenly and something I would make again.  I have been working all week due to the fact that we are going on vacation Friday through Sunday.  It will be interesting being 100% raw while in a hotel room with my hubby's family.  I know it'll go fine but a part of me hopes I will have enough food!

Today I had some cravings for warm food.  It really didn't matter what it was but I was so cold that anything warm sounded like a great idea.  It was probably due to the fact that I had to walk home and it started raining then snowing.  I didn't partake however in any cooked food.  Instead I ate 3 bananas and felt much better.  What else did I eat today?

1 Grapefruit (I've been obsessed with these lately)
1 package of Strawberries
Broccoli Slaw with a Ginger Orange Dressing
Handful of Raw Sweet Potato Chips
Handful of Raw Potato Chips

I am still going strong though cravings do pop up now and then.  I find it is usually when I am hungry.  To help combat this I have been eating a banana or two or three and they go away.  I also took a free web class tonight on Spiritual Nutrition and Healing The Emotional Body.  It was very interesting and made me realize that as I heal myself physically I cannot forget to heal myself spiritually and emotionally.

30 Days 100% Raw: Day 14

Sleep is becoming my best friend lately.  I am in big belief my body is doing some major healing to cause this.  We heal best when sleeping so it makes sense to me.  Since I woke up so late again I got to start my day with some lunch.  Here's what I had to eat today:
1 Qt Banana Blueberry Smoothie
3 Bananas
1 Pinata Apple

I was really busy at work again so I didn't get a chance to eat dinner.  Once I got home it was already 9:30 pm and I didn't feel like making a large meal right before I went to bed.  I am hoping this sleeping in thing goes away eventually.  Here's to healing!

30 Days 100% Raw: Day 13

Lucky thirteen has brought about the most delicious thing I have made yet in the raw food life.  I woke up ridiculously late today and got to start my day with lunch.  I decided to use up some greens I had in the refrigerator and make some mean green soup.  Since I love you all I am going to share my recipe...lucky you!

Mean Green Soup
Handful of the following greens:
-Green Pea Tips (if you don't have these you could sub snow peas)
-Spring Lettuce Mix
-Dino Kale
1 Cucumber
1 Zucchini
1-2 Tbs Coconut Aminos
1 Tbs Apple Cider Vinegar
1 tsp Smoked Paprika
1 -1.5 tsp Cumin
1 Clove Garlic
3/4 Cup water (depending on your blender you may not need all of this)
Diced Red Pepper and Celery for garnish

Put everything but the garnish in the blender and blend on high until nice and smooth.  Pour into bowl and add garnish.  It's easy, delicious, full of beautiful greens, and fast.  Since I have to work tonight at the co-op the rest of the night I am going to eat some fruit (usually it's an apple or two, maybe a satsuma, or manderinquat) and if I am still hungry I will get a salad at the salad bar.

30 Days 100% Raw: Day 12

Well I am still rawkin it and still feeling great.  Lately I have been sleeping a lot, like 10 + hours which isn't normal for me.  I believe my body is doing some super healing which is great.  The great mucus machine is starting to go away as well.  So what did I have to eat today?

Large Blueberry Lime Smoothie
3 Apples w/ Date Caramel
Cucumber "Sushi" filled with carrot and walnut taco meat
2 Manderinquats
4 Dates

It was all yummy and I love eating this way.  Now I just need to invest in a large salad bowl so that I have something big enough for them.

30 Days 100% Raw: Day 11

I am feeling amazing right now.  Who knew that all it took was live food to change a person's outlook.  My husband and I were talking about raw foods and he said he was proud of me for doing this.  I told him that I thought that this was the way I needed to eat, maybe not always what I want to eat.  But it's what my body needs.  It's getting easier to think of meals and cravings are going away.  I don't have many but sometimes I think about warm bread right out of the oven or pizza.  Funny little cravings that don't last long.  I took some beets that had been in the refrigerator for awhile and sliced them up thin and put them in the dehydrator to make chips.  I don't eat lots of dehydrated foods but I also don't want foods to go bad.  It's nice to have a snack item too for both my hubby and I that is healthy.  They turned out great so I know they won't last very long in this house.  So what did I have to eat today?

1 Qt. Ginger & Grapefruit Juice
2 Apples
3 Dates
Large Garden Salad with Avocado
3 Dates

We decided to go out to eat yesterday for dinner.  I know, gasp!  A raw foodie at a bar?  What in the heck did I order?  I asked for a large garden salad without croutons and some avocado.  I paid extra for the avocado but it made it a little hardier.  It worked out great, it was raw, and I got to go on a dinner date with the hubs.

30 Days 100% Raw: Day 10

I had a food filled fest of a day on Day 10 and it was fabulous!  I was told that I was like sunshine yesterday too, it totally made my day!  Oh and I hit a milestone... I have officially lost 30 lbs since starting my healing journey 2 years ago!  I am not a big weigher but I like to check every once in awhile and to my surprise I am down to 139 lbs.  I haven't been that low in a loooooong time.  Other than that I woke up, ate, went to work, worked my butt off, ate, came home, and went to bed.  Ah life!  So what did I have to eat?

1 QT Blood Orange Blueberry Smoothie
1 Mandarinquat
A large salad with sprouts, sundried tomatoes,  tomatoes, cucumber, and avocado
1 bag of raw sweet potato chips

It doesn't look like it was a lot but it was and it was super filling and awesome.  I had a bunch of tomatoes going bad so before they did I threw them into the dehydrator to make "sundried" tomatoes for later.  Waste not want not right?!

30 Days 100% Raw: Day 9

Day 9 is flying by!  I am loving this, I am feeling great, I am losing weight (not a goal, but nice bonus).  I need to get some more fruit for tomorrow.  I have enough to make a nice smoothie for tomorrow with my new coconut yogurt I made today.  I am noticing that I am falling asleep faster and seem to be staying asleep better at night.  So what did I eat today?
2 Apples
1 Satsuma
7 Baby Bok Choy w/ leftover Raw Hoisen Sauce
Raw Homemade Coconut Yogurt
5 Dates
Green Juice with tons of greens, citrus, jalapeno... it was yummy and had heat
I have an idea for a new recipe for tomorrow so that's exciting.  Yesterday I tried one of Ani Phyo's recipes and it turned out great.  That's all for now...life hasn't been too exciting the past couple of days (but that's okay with me!)

30 Days 100% Raw: Day 8

Hello my lovelies... Today was such a weird day for me.  I just wasn't hungry.  I really had to force myself to eat anything.  So I kept it small.  I also didn't have any coffee today and now I have a huge headache!  I ran out of almond milk and forgot to soak some to make more so that meant no coffee.  Instead I had tea.  Other than that I have noticed that my underarms don't smell anymore.  I know that sounds weird but for the past 3 days I haven't put on any deodorant (I make my own).  They smell fruity on their own! Haha, I even had my husband smell them to check!  So you are probably wondering what I had to eat today:

2 Grapefruits
2 Figs
1 Apple
Ani Phyo's Raw Pho Recipe
Coconut Water

Now I am just taking it easy sipping lovely fresh coconut water.  I took the meat from the coconut and blended it up with some probiotics and we are going to see if we make yogurt by tomorrow.

30 Days 100% Raw: Day 7

I cannot believe I have been doing this for a week.  It's felt pretty easy so far.  Yesterday I had my first craving and it was for chicken nuggets of all things!  I haven't had a chicken nugget in years, so it was so weird to want it now!  I think I just need to up my overt fats today by a little bit and that craving will go away.  I am still detoxing, and going through Kleenex like I have stock in it.  So what did I have to eat today?

1 Quart Chocoblue Banana Smoothie
1 Apple
2 Satsumas
1 Pint Raspberries
2 Spoonfuls Homemade Almond Butter
5 Dried Figs

I know you are probably thinking that's it?  Work was so busy last night I never got to take a break to eat dinner.  There are so many people starting new diets this week I couldn't keep up.  Since I didn't get home until 9:30 pm I just had 2 scoopfuls of Almond Butter and some dried figs.  I didn't want to make a whole meal knowing I would be going to bed soon.  Well it's on to Day 8!