Kale is thought to be one of the first cultivated brassicas. Like broccoli, cauliflower and collards, Kale is a descendent of the wild cabbage Colewort, a plant thought to have its origins in Asia Minor. Celtic wanderers were said to have brought it to Europe around 600 B.C. Today this wild ancestor, Colewart, still grows along the coast of Western Europe.

There are several varieties of Kale, each with a different taste, texture and appearance.

Curly Kale: has crimped, curly leaves and is the most commonly available Kale. It has a deep green color and a strong pungent flavor with peppery undertones.

Purple or Silver Kale: this variety is used mostly as an ornament and is grown almost exclusively for display in gardens or as a salad display. Purple and silver kale has a more tender texture and mellower flavor.

Dinosaur Kale: is of the variety known as Lacinato. It has dark blue-green leaves is slightly sweet with a more delicate taste.

No matter which one you use for eating, they all are known for their rich nutrient content.

Kales benefits include:

• Cardiovascular health
• Contain organosulfur phytonutrients that help prevent cancer
• Optimizes our cells ability to detoxify
• Optimizes our bodies cleansing ability
• Lowers our risk of developing cataracts
• Promotes lung health
• Protects and supports the immune system
• Protects against rheumatoid arthritis
• It provides 27% of our daily need for manganese, (which helps produce energy from protein and carbohydrates, is involved in the synthesis of EFA’s for a healthy nervous system and is critical in helping the antioxidant enzyme - superoxide dismutase (SOD) which is found exclusively inside the body’s mitochondria (the energy factories inside our cells) which provides protection from the free radicals produced during energy production.
• Slows the loss of mental function
• Is loaded with calcium, Vit. E, Vit. C,Vit. A, Vit. K, folate, B vitamins, calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper, magnesium, selenium, fiber, manganese, quercetin and many other s.
• Has an amazing amino acid score of 92 out of 100.
• Is a strong anti-inflammatory. Has a IF rating of 257.
• Has a glycemic load of 3.
• Is nutrient-dense indicating that it is more filling or satisfying per calories therefore great for weigh loss.

Each whole raw/vegan food has so many benefits for our bodies. I look forward to sharing more with you on the history, benefits and nutrition profiles of these foods in the coming weeks and months.

P.S. You’ll find much more extended information on the foods from the plant kingdom in the upcoming book ‘Healthy Kids In A Toxic World.’ Not to worry ladies I’ll keep you all posted.

Until next time get RAWKING with some Kale!

Monique

Ahhhhhh, Happy Oasis…..I met her when I was in Hollywood for the premiere of my documentary RAISING CHILDREN RAISES US at the RAW LIFESTYLE FILM FESTIVAL (now called the green lifestyle film festie I believe).

It was an amazing weekend where I was meeting alot of the raw people you always here about in the community like MATT MONARCH, ANGELA STOKES, PATRICIA BRAGG, STORM AND JINJEE TALERIFO (who are raising 6 all-raw kids) SERGEI BOUTENKO etc.

I also met other filmakers from around the world and people who were there to see and purchase my film.  There were so many wonderful films and wonderful people.  But someone really stood out in my mind, and that was Happy!  Whenever I would see her, there was always a happy buzz around her, a flurry of excited people.

During one of the films being screened, I noticed a lithe petite blonde at the back quietly doing YOGA stretches!  I thought, ‘Wow, she’s got the right idea- It’s tiring sitting in a chair for hours on end at a film festie…I think I will join her’ so I did!  She smiled at me, and we quietly did our thang.  I just got a great vibe from her although we didn’t talk, we did definitely connect.   

I have since connected with her through emails because she has asked me to participate in the children’s program at RAW SPIRIT FESTIVAL, her HUGE raw festie that takes place every year and gathers thousands of people from all over the planet. she is incredibly positive and spirited!  when she talks it sounds like singing her voice and words are melodic.  And her stories…she lives OUTSIDE much of the year and has worked in isolated places for long stretches of time, or with tribes.  She has written books that are unlike anything you will find anywhere- you must check out her website when you get a chance!

She is completely non-materialistic.  And a very sassy Diva whom I am so excited to share with you all.  I know you will enjoy her most delicious words:

What was your first experience with raw?  Who inspired you, how raw are you, and how do you maintain it?

Every day I feel thankful. It is a miracle that I am still alive. If it had not been for the discovery of raw organic vegan foods nearly 15 years ago, I would likely be in another (body-free) dimension. I was often ill during youth and into my thirties with a hernia operation at 6 months old, tonsilitis, impetigo, measles, bronchitis, typhoid fever, tuberculosis, glandular fever, mild psoriasis, diabetes, arthritis, allergies, environmental sensitivity, and an unreasonable amount of influenza,  I took years of antibiotics and, of course, these conditions cumulated in severe chronic fatigue.  ALL were overcome via adopting a healthy raw vegan diet.

High up in the HImalayas, I was inspired while dying of pneumonia, between bouts of unconsciousness, to experiment with Kunjal Kriya as advised in ‘Yogic Cures To Common Diseases’ as a way to overcome pneumonia. Kunjal kriya entails drinking approximately 2 quarts of warm salt water, body-size depending, then bending over and “drinking it backwards”, or so I prefer to describe the process. Bending over so that with the force of gravity the water gently goes back through the esophagus and out the mouth, mucous in the system thereby exits with it. By doing this twice per day and for sustenance, as the yogic author recommended, drinking only fresh vegetable juice and water - consuming nothing else - my health not only returned with lightning speed but also, to my surprise, exceeded any state of health I’d ever previously experienced. I felt clearer and more poignantly brilliant than ever, the colors seemed brighter, and both nostrils opened simultaneously for the first time.

I like to say I am 99% raw. My only rule is no rules, yet it is a very strong preference and has been a heavenly daily habit to be organic raw vegan for many years.

What are a couple of your favorite recipes?

My favorite recipes are sunshine, laughter, loving-kindness, homeostasis, and consciously simple, natural living. When in the tropics, fresh coconut, fresh papaya, feral fruits and greens. Anywhere greens are growing, I love to pick the salad. I profoundly enjoy the serenity of eating without using electric appliances, though do use them for variety and expediency sometimes. I love to eat out of a wooden bowl, while sitting on the floor or grass or sand with a beautiful view which in for the occasional evening meal usually includes candle glow.

Do you have any tips for moms trying to get their kids to eat more raw foods?

I helped raise a friend’s two year old for a year off the grid on a remote New Zealand island. She was crazy for olives so I’d remove the pits and she would feast. To offer her daily greens I’d sometimes mash bananas with avocado and mix in a little green juice and/or spirulina. She would gleefully gobble it down. We would also go swimming in the ocean every day which would improve her health and mood and likely supply her with minerals from the water and essentials from the sun and wind and sand too.

Any advice for women trying to entice their men to go raw?

Be a shining cheerful example of an energized, balanced, grateful happening rawmarkable celestial terrestrial angelic dynamic woman and offer your beloved the most delicious nutritious foods imaginable and only tell him about your diet when he asks or when he is suffering and you can gently suggest simple straightforward solutions. Be prepared to accept differences in diet and this will ease unnecessary stress. Furthermore, when your raw-friendly partner makes other than raw vegan foods, depending on where you are at, it can be enticing sometimes, so let him know that if you eat foods that are not organic raw vegan, it will adversely affect your mood, health, energy and libido. If he is smart and caring, he will then be on your side and will encourage you to continue to be on your diet and will not let you go off of it!

What’s a raw beauty secret of yours?

When I am alone and throughout the day, my thoughts, during free moments, default into gratitude. I could spend all the rest of my days in praise of people and creation and there is a certain kind of internal beauty which, though we cannot see, this beauty grows slowly over many seasons in those who appreciate and radiate thanksgiving in all circumstances.

What is your typical sleep schedule?

Please do other than follow my example here. Due to extreme workload from being the founder and CEO/CVO of Raw Spirit, I sleep only about 4 hours per night. However it is my goal to sleep 8 hours which is optimal and essential for attaining and maintaining the most superb health.

How much water do you drink daily?

This depends on the climate. At home in Arizona, I drink two glasses of water upon waking, then several glasses throughout the day between vegetables juices, smoothies, and garden-fresh salad all year round. Sometimes soup too. I eat noticeably more fruit when it falls off of our trees and one may forage in the summer months than in the winter. During all seasons in Arizona, my diet is primarily liquid so as to focus on hydration. Here in Hawaii, in contrast, we use no electrical appliances. How peaceful.  I love to eat passion fruit and papaya fresh off the tree for breakfast. My diet here is so fresh, everything locally grown, most of it from the garden or foraged as we walk in the jungle and share and exchange with neighbours.

What does your typical meal schedule look like?

I often work from 3 am to 8 am, then stretch run or swim then enjoy breakfast prior to going back to work for the day often until late evening. Having abided at a Buddhist Jungle Monastery in Thailand on an off for more than a decade, we would rise by 4 am, breakfast at 7:30 and finish our lunch, as per the ancient Buddhist tradition, by noon. To this day, this body prefers to eat prior to dusk and enjoys eating when the sun is high unless the weather is quite hot.

How late in the evening do you feel it is okay to eat?

The earlier the better. However, if dining past dusk, eating by candlelight is essential for welcoming the subtle ecstasy which accompanies the evening air. The finest dinner is an appetizer of walking in nature, followed by a main course of playing music, sweetened with the dual dessert of yoga and meditation (with a touch of cuddling when possible).

Who inspires you most in the raw movement today?

You inspire me, Shannon. Virtually everyone I meet inspires me. I love hearing raw miracles of health and creative expressions such as poetry, lyrics, art, bird songs, symphonies, humour, inventions, reverence, beauty, appreciation and other enthusiastic outbursts which come plentifully in my direction. I give thanks.

What can you tell us about your spiritual practice?

I am of service to the raw vegan eco-peace community for about 12 hours per day. Also, rather than feeling separate from others, I feel the oneness of creation. My strongest virtues are unconditional forgiveness, empathy and cheerfulness. I am also dedicated to peaceful living. I love life! I openly treasure the beloved, family and friends, surrounding myself whenever possible with wonder-filled people and live in peaceful places of natural beauty. For this blessed lifestyle I am deeply grateful every day. This gratitude is the essence of a joyous spiritual life.

What projects or interests are currently inspiring you?

Expanding the Raw Spirit Festival to these THREE weekends in 2009 - California, East Coast and Southwest:

The Full Moon in June: Live Oak Park, Scenic Hwy 154, Santa Barbara, CA, June 5th- 7th

August in the East (Maryland/DC): Patuxent River Park, August 29th & 30th

Raw Spirit Arizona:  Gorgeous Granite Dells, Watson Lake Park, September 26th & 27th

Hosting the Raw Spirit Radio Show is a new love and a pleasure to share the vast knowledge, resources and mirth of so many talented friends.  Traveling virtually continuously this year, relating feral parables and the zaniest health secrets I learned while abiding with third world tribal families who adopted me. It’s a crazy-busy schedule these days and nights, speaking to increasingly larger groups at other festivals, etc, with more than 15 engagements most months in 2009. I am always open to speak at new locations, including at Raw Potluck Celebrations of considerable size.

I’m focused on improving the quality and affordability of the festival including this good news: Raw Spirit Festivals will be 50% less expensive than in 2008. Also, all three festivals are at new beautiful locations which delight and inspire. These specially-selected natural venues feature breath-making views, ample onsite parking, onsite camping, nearby hotels & rv camps (ask the Chamber of Commerce), good vibrations, easy airport access, weather-protective outbuildings, hiking trails, trees, lakes, ponds, meadows, rivers and/or streams… dynamic speakers, world-class music, rawmarkable restaurants, children’s program, … and fabulous friends!

Raw Spirit is expanding more than ever, Thanks Be To You!

Don’t you just love Valentine’s Day? I mean, we all know that love should be celebrated every day - and if you’re a regular of this site then it’s likely you’re making love celebrations a part of your daily life - but isn’t it nice to have just one day where the whole world focuses on something so wonderful? Ah, I can feel the love vibes right now…

Today I came across the most fabulous blog site, and I had to let you know about it. The site is run by a design-loving girl, and, in the true spirit of love and generosity, she’s created a free Valentine’s gift for you to download - it’s a gorgeous design for Valentine teabags!

You just download the PDF, print it out in color, grab a herbal teabag (or a teabag that is the favorite of your significant other), and put it all together. She’s even provided little heart-shaped tags! Using the design, I put together this teabag package (see picture) for my husband, Darren, and will serve it to him with a teapot of hot water when he wakes on Valentine’s Day. I’ve also put together another teabag that he will find in his wallet tomorrow, to use at work (no doubt much to the amusement of his colleagues…)! He’ll also be taking along some heart-shaped cookies, and my girls will discover these cookies in their lunchboxes, too.

I took the easy road of gluing the edges of the teabags rather than sewing them, although sewn edges do look pretty.

Perhaps you’d like to download this beautiful gift? If so, head here.

Or perhaps this could be a springboard for your own creativity and that of your children - can they think of Valentine-themed handmade gifts they could share with their family, teachers and friends?

Enjoy, raw moms! And lots of love to you! Mwuh!

I HOPE YOU ARE all enjoying the EXCITEMENT and ‘NRG’! of the wonderful RAW PIONEERS whose stories and articles we have been sharing with you lately!  These people are doing it for real!  I am sure they have had their share of criticism and obstacles to deal with personally, yet it doesn’t stop them.  This is good news for all of us who can feed off their beautiful INSPIRATION to nurture our own RAW LIFE.  And dear Readers, YOU are also invited to share YOUR inspiring stories, or questions, comments. It’s so good to be able to INTERACT all together however we can.

Ok, TODAY I wanted to share some great TIPS for those who have written to express your frustrations with ‘fussy’ ‘picky’ ‘finicky’ eaters!  Oh, some kids can really strike fear in our hearts at mealtimes…some won’t eat ‘anything GREEN’ some won’t touch ‘anything RAW’…some call it TOXIC- WHOA!  Well, we’ll see about that!  ‘BRING IT ON’ I say!  The FORCE IS WITH US MOMS who care enough to be insisting on ‘green and raw’ over ‘mac and cheese’! haha!

So, here are some turbo-charged, BIG GUNS for the really serious cases:

#1  BRIBERY CAN BE YOUR MOST EFFECTIVE TOOL.

If your kids are above the age of 5, then BRIBERY is a good tool to have in your toolbelt at all times! Hahaha! Kids all have special things they treasure…so capitalize on this and barter, 3 bites here  = more time at the park, or gold stars/tickets that add up the end of the month and can be redeemed for a PRIZE (toy, movie, outing, etc., whatever would truly be motivating to YOUR child).  GET THEIR ATTENTION and use it to your/their advantage by making healthy choices around their food intake.  Keep it FUN, LIGHT and EMPOWERING.  Everyone can win here!

And for goodness sake, set yourselves up for success by offering tasty and healthy raw TREATS over serious green slimy things…especially at the beginning, tempt your family with quick raw fudge or fruit salads or macaroon balls or mini-pizzas that THEY HELP make sprinkling their OWN favourite toppings that they HELPED cut up with you…Go through recipe books and find simple, quick, FUN and KID-FRIENDLY foods to keep on hand.  My book RAWMOM/COOKED DAD will be LOADED with just the right things to try- available SOON!

#2   KEEP A LOOOOONG TERM APPROACH IN MIND.

If you can get your kids to try and like even ONE raw food a MONTH, at the end of a year that is a substantial gain!  Especially when you realize that studies show most people eat the same 14 foods over and over again!  The name of the game in sales is ’show, show, show’ just keep showing the customer options, and sooner or later they WILL CHOOSE SOMETHING!   When your kids start their usual groaning, do NOT get ‘fatalistic’ about and feel like it just will NEVER work–YOU must, MUST hold that space inside of you that your family will come around, sooner or later…  Do not give up on them.

When kids are teens, play a game with them ‘Who can spot the healthy person’ when out in public.  Notice people’s POSTURE, DEMEANOR, ATTITUDE, SKIN and overall VITALITY.  ASK YOUR KIDS: HOW DO they want to look AND feel?  Correlate how food choices affect all these things. Never JUDGE or be mean- simply stay NEUTRAL like a scientist OBSERVING…when my boys tell me of the behaviours of certain friends in class who cannot concentrate, or whom get into trouble and cause disturbances, I ask them what that classmate has for lunch and snack every day.  When they tell me the horror-story of ‘pop, chips, candy bars, etc.’ I ask them to just try and IMAGINE how that poor kid must feel with all that toxic stuff going into his pure body every day, and to have compassion.

#3   MARKET YOUR MEALS.

Learn from the marketing geniuses out there- If your child adores Thomas the Tank Engine (like my little fella did for YEARS) or PO from ‘KUNG FU PANDA’ or Miley Cyrus- I don’t know who is HOT right now, but if there is someone your child looks up to, perhaps you could have a little bowl or cup with their picture on it or any favourite cutlery, etc., (see pic) so your child will enjoy their food more…And of course if you are really clever, you can tell them great ’stories’ about how their hero LOVES their GREEN SMOOTHIES and salads…everyone LOVES a great story…some of them may even be TRUE! Lol (The moral of the story is what matters most…) USE STRAWS for green drinks and smoothies.  This helps a lot as some kids who are ‘texture challenged’ and just can’t do them any other way.

#4  WITH TOP CHEFS AND KIDS,  PRESENTATION IS EVERYTHING!

If it doesn’t look appetizing, chances are it won’t get a second-look chance.  Some kids are afflicted with NEOPHOBIA (I address this issue in THE HEALTHY LUNCHBOX) and won’t even TRY anything that isn’t the WHITE FLOUR/WHITE SUGAR that all their friends are eating. We need to return their minds to a healthy, wholesome state…Think of how beautiful FRUIT Ka-Bobs would look, or a beautiful salad topped off with fresh little tangerine segments and pine nuts…Always use the 5% rule- most people finish their jobs without attending to that last 5%, that last little window of opportunity to make their job really shine and sparkle!

To stand out, use fresh FLOWERS, COLORFUL DISHES or STRAWS, pretty BERRIES or other fresh fruit, SHELLS, LEAVES, CRYSTALS, or pretty linens to jazz up your presentation.  For my last dinner party which included about 22 non-raw friends, I sprinkled ROSE PETALS all over the serving table that was LOADED with enticing little bowls of nuts, dates, veggies and dip, raw h’ordeurves, exotic tropical fruit and raw cookies and crackers with soup and a simple banana’ice cream’ cake (see pic).  No one even noticed there wasn’t any cooked food, and it had the look and feeling of a FEAST!

#5   IT’S ALL ABOUT PARTICIPATION.

YOU, Mom, are NOT running a HOTEL!  I tell my family all the time ‘It takes every one of us to keep this family running smoothly…’ No one has to do it alone.  For all that you do, everyone needs to help out…or Mom could go on STRIKE!  Let them see how FAST things can fall apart when Mom drops a few balls-  Laundry gets really stinky…and the fridge gets bare really fast.  I have let my kids know since they were toddlers that what I do for them is important work, and THEIR job is to LEARN HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES and ASSIST ME with everything I do for them.  And FOOD is a lot more FUN than housework.

Teach these ’skills for life’ by including your kids in your shopping, menu-planning, food-preparation and clean-up.  NO ONE feels good about themselves when they are constantly on the RECEIVING end and not contributing, so get them involved.  Juicing is a great place to start.  Eventually, after years of this type of training, it will be their turn to ‘make the meal’ for the whole family, and they will be ready!  PAYBACK TIME! (Just kidding…haha)

#6  HAVE FUN NAMING YOUR FOOD.

With kids young and golden, it seems everyone loves having their favourite dish named after them: SHANNON’S KEY-LIME MOUSSE, SHANNON’S SPICY CEASAR, SHANNON’S SASSY PEAR, etc. If there is something that your kids enjoy, raw or not, announce it with fanfare the next time you serve it i.e. JOE’s SPECIAL MEATLOAF, DAD’S FAVORITE POTATO SCALLOPS, etc.  The key is to just CELEBRATE your family by ACCEPTING and ENJOYING their enjoyment.  Don’t be a food-scrooge. Be sure to prepare a huge salad WITH their meal and serve everything in the spirit of REJOICING your family, the time you get to all spend together, and their individual preferences.  And over time, especially with this beautiful space of love and joy that you are cultivating within your home, it will be so fun to notice the CHANGES in everyone’s preferences…It happens gradually, but it does happen!  I promise.

#7   GROW YOUR OWN FOOD.

If you can grow a little garden with your kids, this is one of the most powerful ’seeds you will ever sew’ in their whole life…to plant and nurture and grow one’s own food is THE BEST!  Kids, everyone actually, gets so excited to see the miracle of life springing up all around the work they have put into it.  Harvesting your food is a fantastic feeling.  The food tastes better, because it just IS!  In the winter, grow sprouts on your counter top along with potted herbs.  My friend uses her city apartment balcony to grow pots of flowers, herbs, tomatoes and lettuces with her daughter. Start small, and just keep growing…

#8  PLAY IS THE CHILD’S WORK .

I talk about this more in my manual RAISING CHILDREN RAISIES US.  Because a child under 7 has such strong powers of imitation, they LOVE to copy us and everything we do, and this shows up in their play.  Take advantage of this built-in mechanism which can really make a strong impression on their psyche.  Set up a little play house or kitchen, and begin to make green Smoothies in your play and offer it to your child, the dolls, and have fun drinking some yourself.  This kind of role-play is incredibly real to your little one. Their imagination is so vivid- why not nurture that with this positive input…When my boys were really small I found them NATURALLY doing this and when I happened to over-hear them, I was thrilled and surprised.  They never went through the stage of pretending to ’smoke cigarettes’ which I assumed all kids did…no, I did that growing up because my mom smoked!  Perhaps you can really surprise and delight your child by actually serving a couple drops of smoothie in their little dolly cups and make it even more real to life.  This fosters the feeling that they are NOT the only kids who eat this way, even though it can feel like it at times…another great idea is to SHOW kids OTHER health-oriented kids and families- if you cannot actually find any locally, USE ME and my boys- sit down with them and watch my DVD- or go on the internet and find other little video postings of REAL KIDS!

We have created several videos on youtube which I hope will entertain and inspire your family.

#9   LET THEM BE THE CHEF.

At around the age of 7, your kids will want to start possibly making their own concoctions.  Helping you just won’t always be enough anymore.  When my boys started asking me to help them set up so they could make their own food, I was very curious to see what they would want to make.  It turns out it was POPSICLES!  They would make smoothies, and freeze them in those ice lollie trays with the handle sticking out.  They made their own and even NAMED their creations:  BANANA BLAST, ORANGE TURBO, LEMON- LIME TWISTER, GRAPE-PAPER, BERRY BUMBLE, etc.  They wrote their recipes down too- I WISH I could find them to share with you! Now my oldest makes a RAW CAULIFLOWER ‘POPCORN’ he calls it which he LOVES!

When kids get to the tween and teen stage, they should be able to handle themselves in the kitchen for the most part.  By now, handling a sharp knife is fairly comfortable, and using a blender is no problem.  Victoria Boutenko mentions in her first book how she bought at garage sales cheap blenders and equipment for Sergei and Vayla to use- and use they did!  Now, in their early 20’s, they are both proficient raw chefs and authors with their own recipe books.  This is how we need to think- loooooooong-term!  I imagine a time when my boys are teenagers, hanging out more with friends, and having to be able to feed themselves.  IF THEY DON’T KNOW some QUICK, SIMPLE and DELICIOUS raw recipes, how will they avoid becoming a fast-food junkie?

#10  GET OUTDOORS!

As a family, we need to get out in NATURE as much as possible.  This RE-SETS our mood and whole physiology.  If we are INDOORS too much, we are probably being sedentary, sitting watching TV or on computer or EATING!  This type of activity leads to certain sugar/simple carb cravings and behaviours.  We need to GET MOVING and enjoy FRESH AIR.  This type of activity actually changes what we feel and think and what food we want.  There have been fascinating studies that demonstrate this, and we can take advantage of this by simply doing a family hike in the woods on Sundays, or going to play ball in the park, or riding our bikes or whatever we would all enjoy.  Then when we return home, if a HUGE, beautiful bowl of colourful fruit or veggies with dip and crackers and olives are waiting, just watch how everyone digs in!  REMOVE chips and pop and the like from your home COMPLETELY so the only tempting choices available are healthy ones!

IF YOU won’t do this Mom, then you will be constantly fighting an up-hill battle!  Perhaps you can allow each child to pick ONE treat that the whole family will indulge in that week- and allow that, rotating every week so everyone has a turn, and just provide healthy LIMITS.  Also, take advantage of SEASONAL gifts of Nature~ go APPLE /BERRY/CHERRY PICKING and then go home and make wonderful food from your harvest.  This is an annual TRADITION you can enjoy as a family which creates healthy and happy memories and associations to raw, natural, healthy food!

We need to educate, educate, educate our kids!  They need to know about the benefits of raw food, and the pit falls of cooked food.  And they need a few favourite recipes they can make.

This is the GOAL. Do NOT put pressure on yourself or anyone- just go at the pace that is most do-able for you and your family.  Honour yourself, your family and your wishes for them and do what you can, in the Spirit of growing and learning and sharing and loving, TOGETHER!

xoxoxShannon

I’ve been lucky enough to land an interview with Sarma Melngailis, the strong, sexy, spirited co-author of one of my most-used recipe books,  RAW FOOD REAL WORLD.  I bought it when it first hit the stands just to GAWK at the beautiful PICTURES- the food looked great too- haha!  She’s also just completed her second book, Living Raw Food, due out this year.

But wait, there’s more!  Sarma doesn’t just author gorgeous recipe books, she’s also proprietor and co-founder of NYC raw restaurant Pure Food and Wine, and the founder and CEO of One Lucky Duck. Her company also produces and packages a line of raw food snacks that can be found at One Lucky Duck’s online boutique.  She’s now 36 and lives in NYC with her 2 (raw) cats and her boyfriend of 2 years.

Tell us about your first experience hearing about raw, who inspired you and how raw did you go?  How raw are you currently, and how do you maintain it?

I first heard about raw in the summer of 2003. I was completely intrigued and had no idea how I hadn’t learned about it before, since it seems so plainly intuitive. The full story is in Raw Food Real World (written in 2004, released in 2005) but basically I decided to go all raw for two weeks as an experiment. During that time I read as much as I could about raw food, and I also felt so amazing that after only a few days I realized the experiment had become a permanent shift.

I was much more rigid about staying raw during the first year.  I make exceptions now at other restaurants or when traveling and I’m more liberal in general.  But staying organic and natural is very important to me.  I don’t ever want to eat processed food, or anything that’s not made with care.  But in a fine restaurant where the opposite is true, I will try just about anything.  So I usually just say I am mostly raw, most of the time.  Operating a raw food restaurant, juice bar, and online snack business certainly makes it easier to maintain-I live just across the street!  There is also a huge NYC greenmarket only one block away.   I’m very lucky!

Would you supply us with a couple of your favorite recipes?

Pineapple Cucumber Gazpacho

4 cups chopped pineapple

4 cups chopped peeled cucumber

3 T minced jalapeno

3 T thinly sliced green onion

1 T lime juice

1 cup fresh pineapple juice

2 tsp sea salt

½ cup loosely packed cilantro leaves

½ cup finely chopped macadamia nuts

3 T avocado oil, or cold pressed extra virgin olive oil

Add to a blender 3 cups each of the pineapple and cucumber, 2 tablespoons of jalapeno, 2 tablespoons green onion, lime juice, pineapple juice and salt and blend at high speed until smooth.  Taste for seasoning.  Because the sweetness of pineapples varies, the amount of jalapeno and salt may need to be increased accordingly.

Add the remaining pineapple, cucumber and the cilantro leaves and 1½ tablespoons of the avocado or olive oil.   Pulse the blender quickly a few times - the gazpacho should remain chunky.  Add the macadamia nuts and stir to distribute them evenly.

Divide among serving bowls and drizzle with the remaining avocado or olive oil and sprinkle with remaining minced jalapeno and sliced green onion.

Chewy Chocolate Freezer Fudge

2 cups almond butter (one 16-ounce jar)

¼ cup raw cocoa powder (or use raw carob powder, or a combination of both)

½ cup plus 2 tablespoons maple syrup

1 heaping tablespoon coconut butter

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 teaspoon coarse sea salt

In a large bowl, combine the ingredients and stir well. You can also use a standing mixer with the paddle attachment, but it’s more fun to do by hand.

Spoon the mixture into little candy molds, flatten with a spoon, and cover with parchment or wax paper. Or line a square baking pan with parchment or plastic. Place the fudge into the pan and cover the surface with parchment or wax paper, pressing down evenly to flatten. Place in the freezer to chill. If using the pan, remove from the freezer after an hour or so, flip it out of the pan onto a flat surface and cut into squares or rectangles. These should be stored, covered, in the freezer.

What tricks or tips do you have for moms trying to get their kids to eat more raw?

I think it is probably best not to make a big deal out of it and just try to get them engaged in fresh food and in making their own food. Trips to the greenmarket, visiting farms to learn how food grows and where it comes from is all probably really helpful. I think also making sure that all discussions around food are focused on the positive things that food does for you, rather than making anything a “no-no” or trying to force anything. And of course being a good role model and making it clear how enjoyable your own food is to you would probably help get your kids interested.

I would also suggest making recipes together and letting them help in the preparation. A spiral slicer is a fun tool for kids to make ribbon noodles from things like zucchini (and it’s safer than giving your kids a mandoline or sharp knives!). And then of course making fun raw sweets, or giving your kids One Lucky Duck cookies, ice cream, and snacks! Part of my reason for wanting to name that brand “one lucky duck” with a duck logo is because of the cuteness factor that would make it appealing to kids too. Everything about raw food should be fun!

Any advice for wives trying to entice their men to go raw?

Same as all the above, plus you can tell them how much sexier you feel eating raw. If they see how much more energy you have, they’ll probably want some of whatever you’re having. Then if that doesn’t work you can tell them that Tom Brady ate Pure Food and Wine food the day of the record breaking game when they beat the Giants last year just before the superbowl. He is my all time favorite pure food and wine guest/duck customer. People are always surprised that we have a lot of athletes that come here. If your man is athletic, we carry a book on oneluckyduck.com (and you can find it in any store) called The Thrive Diet by Brendan Brazier, a triathlete. It’s not all raw (but all vegan and mostly raw) and it’s really informative and a good read. If they ask you the “protein” question… ask them what gorillas and huge hippos eat… leaves, grass, greens… and they’re pretty big and strong. Finally… if all else fails then well, you can tell them that on raw food, their own “juice” will taste much better.

Care to share a raw beauty secret of yours?

Coconut butter! It’s an amazing ingredient to put in shakes and desserts, but I also keep a big tub of our coconut butter in the bathroom and use it as lotion, lip balm, makeup remover. In the winter time when the air is drier I put it on my face at night on top of other face creams (I use mostly Alkaitis and Simply Divine Botanicals). But if you could only use one product, coconut butter is amazing! Perfect for shaving your legs in the shower too. And my cats love licking it off my toes in the bathroom. It’s also not a bad thing to keep in the bedroom for um… backrubs, and anything else.

For cosmetics, my amazing friend Rose Marie who is a big time make up artist finally came out with her make-up line and we carry it at oneluckyduck, it’s called RMS Beauty. It’s like nothing else out there, she’s totally amazing. That line is going to be huge pretty soon. People don’t realize that what you put on your skin soaks right through to your insides, so you may as well be eating your make-up and if it’s full of chemicals, it’s going right inside.

How much sleep do you generally get? What hours do you keep?

If I lived a more stress-free life, and didn’t have a restaurant, or a boyfriend who likes to stay up late, then I would probably get in bed at a more consistent time. I also don’t have a boss so if I stay up late working on a Sunday and want to sleep late on a Monday, I can do that. When I first went raw, I started sleeping like a baby after years of sleep troubles, so I know how good raw food is for sleeping. Right now, things feel a bit topsy turvy, so I can’t really answer this question other than to say that it’s very different all the time!

What’s your daily water intake?

A lot…though I’ve never measured how much. We have an amazing water filtration system at the restaurant (Tensui water) and I bring 5-gallon jugs of it back to my house all the time. I drink water all day long, starting with a full glass with lemon juice when I wake up. It’s good to get used to drinking more water and making it a habit. So many people out there are probably chronically dehydrated, and drinking coffee and soda only exacerbates that condition. People should spend more time at the water coolers in their offices.

What is a typical breakfast like for you?  What about lunch, dinner, and snacks?

This is a little bit like the sleeping question… there is no “typical” breakfast, lunch or dinner for me, or a regular time for any of them. I also go through phases based on what I’m craving or how I feel. For a while, about an hour after waking up I would have a bowl of One Lucky Duck cinnamon crispies with hemp milk, goji berries, and a big handful of raw cacao nibs, which gave me a lot of energy. Then I started feeling a bit dependent on the energy/caffeine from the raw cocoa nibs, and so let it go. I always try to start with a big glass of water with lemon juice, and I take some MSM tablets. Right now grapefruits are in season, so I’ve been eating grapefruit sections in a bowl with a tablespoon or so of thawed E3-Live and sweetened with stevia. Ideally I would have a big salad based lunch and then just graze lightly throughout the evening, but sometimes I have a dinner meeting or get too busy during the day to make lunch.  I love it when I have a green shake in my refrigerator and then I just have that when I feel hungry.

My step-sister saw my blog where I posted my favorite recipe for green shake, and so she made it at home. Her two year old daughter wanted a taste. She gave her a spoonful thinking she wouldn’t like it, but her daughter kept clamoring for more and more of it. Green shakes might look like swamp water, but if you make them right they taste amazing! And I wasn’t surprised that her two year old wanted more and more-I think kids intuitively know what’s good for them!!

How late in the evening do you feel it is okay to eat?

I don’t get that hungry in the evening but I also don’t like to let myself get hungry and not eat just because the clock says it’s past a certain time. I think you sleep better if you don’t eat before bed, but it also just doesn’t feel good to go to sleep hungry. If I’m hungry, I’ll drink some juice, kombucha, or eat a little bit of fruit. Ideally I would eat a really light dinner early in the evening, 5 or 6pm. But very often I have a dinner meeting or some other commitment. Or I will be working from home and just graze lightly. I think if you’re kids are hungry at night, raw nut milks or raw cookies would be fine, but just not something too chocolate-y since raw chocolate can get you wired up.

Who do you admire most, or who are you inpired by in the raw movement today?

Good question. I think I’m over the guru-worshipping phase, and now what inspires me daily is the e-mail I get from people or the feedback I get from people I meet at the restaurant. In fact, I meet a lot of moms who tell me of their success with healing their kids with raw (or just a gluten/casein/processed free diet). It’s really moving to me, and when I’m feeling down and tired and not having “the best day ever” then it gives me the strength to keep going. I am hugely inspired to make raw food fun, cool, hip, sexy, and of course yummy-whatever it takes to get young people in particular inspired and that starts at home with parents. Rather than any particular shining raw example, it’s just all the individual people out there making a go of trying to make their own lives better that inspire me.

Is there anything else you’d love to share?

Thank you for creating such a great website and helping to inspire and support people! AND as a special love shout-out to all you rawmoms, here is a little coupon for everyone:

At oneluckyduck.com, enter the code “RAWMOM” at checkout to receive free ground shipping in the U.S. This offer is available through March 1st.

I wanted to share with you today about a raw chef who breaks all the rules:  Ani Phyo.   Ani is a beautiful woman, whose training was really her upbringing–she LIVED raw food from an early age. Ani loves kids and has a youthful quality, she’s just RAWDORABLE.  What I love about her is how generously she shares her knowledge by posting recipes all over the internet.  She has traveleed around in her car with her dog and proves you CAN eat raw and travel. Ani loves to go to local markets wherever she is visiting spreading her Raw Message around.  And her recipes are ALL very simple and delicious!

Ani Phyo is the author of the best selling cookbook ANI’S RAW FOOD KITCHEN, awarded Best Vegetarian Cookbook USA 2007. Her next book, ANI’S RAW FOOD DESSERTS, will be available early May 2009. Ani has received 4 Best of Raw 2008 Awards for Best Chef, Favorite Cookbook, Sexiest Raw Vegan Woman, and 2nd place for Favorite Educator. Ani is the host of ANI’S RAW FOOD KITCHEN SHOW, the award winning #1 uncooking show on ‘YouTube’. Ani has been seen on the Travel Channel’s BIZARRE FOODS, Channel 7 ABC, and has been featured in numerous magazines including FOOD & WINE, ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE, OXYGEN, VEGNEWS, YOGITIMES and GET FRESH. Ani is currently working on her next book and shows for TV, DVD, and Web. To watch Ani’s videos, view recipes, and keep track of her latest projects, visit her at: www.AniPhyo.com.

What message would you like to share with our moms today?

Greetings Raw Super Moms! I know how busy you are raising your little ones, and how important it is to you to feed your family healthy food, but that you have very little time to spend in the kitchen. Here’s where I can help by offering my fast, easy, delicious, and nutritious recipe ideas. Most you can make with you kids. It’s fun play that nourishes our body and soul, while preserving our planet for future generations.

Since fresh raw organic whole foods offer the highest nutrient content, we’re getting more for our money. Shopping locally and seasonally means produce is fresher, lasts longer, spoils less, and less is wasted. Keep your money in your community and support your local organic farmers. To save more money, pack your own healthy food and snacks to take with you and your family when you’re in your car, out for the day, or on a road trip.

How long have you been raw, how raw are you and have there been anyone in particular in the raw community who inspired you or inspires you?

I was 100% raw for 8 years, was raised on about 80% raw by a raw foodie dad. I was forced to drink veggie juices holding my breath, did lots of mono dieting, and tended to our organic garden as a child. The past 2 years I’ve added some cooked foods back into my diet, and have been studying macrobiotics. Today, depending on time of year and my goals, I’ll fluctuate between 100% and 80% raw. I embrace moderation, and take my climate, weather, fitness, schedule, and well-being into account.

You are so gorgeous! Do you have any raw beauty secrets you could share with our readers?

Nutrify by eating nutrient-rich, fresh, whole raw foods and superfoods like veggies, fruits, nuts, and seeds for vitamins, minerals, and omegas. I love using coconut oil on my skin and in my hair. I enjoy fresh (rather than dehydrated) foods to stay hydrated. Water keeps my skin moist and plump. I make sure to sweat daily by enjoying some form of cardio. I have a daily mediation practice. Plus, I do my best to find time to do fun things that make me happy, like taking Improvisation classes and laughing my head off, listening to my favourite music and dancing, and playing and hiking with my dog in nature.

What does a typical day in your life look like?

My days vary depending on the projects I have on my plate. Lately, I wake between 5 and 8, meditate anywhere from 15 min to an hour. I then feed my Rhodesian Ridgeback, Kanga, then take her for a walk. Feed myself a smoothie. Check emails and messages, have meetings. I’ll workout, run, or hike from about 11 to 1 or so, then eat lunch around 2ish. Sometimes I’ll have meetings to attend or errands to run in the afternoon, other days I’ll be at my computer and on the phone. I eat dinner between 6 and 8pm. Then either get more work done, or take time to read. I’ll meditate 15 min to 1 hour before bed. Bedtime is between 10pm and midnight. Some nights it’s later.

When do you eat your meals, at what times?  Do you have a time that you don’t eat after?

Breakfast: 8-10am

Lunch: 12-2pm

Dinner: 6-8pm

Snacks throughout the day until 11pm, sometimes later, if I’m hungry.

How much sleep do you get?

It various. Ideally I enjoy 6-8 hours a night, but sometimes I go on a couple hours.

Please share with our moms one of your favourite recipes!

SURE! Kids love making my Cranberry Coconut Almond Cookies and they keep and travel well.  I made these for a kid’s fun shop, you can see photos here.

Cranberry Coconut Almond Cookies

makes 12 servings

• 1 1/2 cups pitted Medjool dates

• 1 cup almonds, process into chunks

• 1/2 cup cranberries

• 1/2 cup shredded coconut

• 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract, alcohol free

Place all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Use your clean, washed hands to mix well. Form batter into balls, or press into cookie cutters to make shapes. Will be devoured immediately.

One last question. Please tell us what is the latest project you are working on?

My next book, my shows, and my appearances at Expo West in early March in Anaheim.

My Desserts book, called “Ani’s Raw Food Desserts”, will be available early May. Working on my book tour for May, and will be in the UK and London in early June. Please write to me if you’d like me to come to your city: ani_phyo@yahoo.com. I’d love to hear from you, and will do my best to visit! Thank you Shannon, and all the RAWMOMS- you RAWK!