While all raw foods contain enzymes, the most powerful enzyme-rich food is sprouted seeds, grains, and legumes. Sprouting increases the enzyme content in these foods enormously.

A diet rich in enzymes can increase energy and stamina, as well as support weight loss, healthy skin, and overall good health.

Here is a delicious recipe for a raw, vegan smoothie that’s especially full of enzyme rich foods to aid in digestion.

Enzyme Rich Tummy Tamer

• 2 C coconut water
• 1/2 C fresh or frozen papaya
• 1/2 C fresh or frozen pineapple
• Juice from 1/2 lemon
• few fresh leaves of mint

Raw Food Diet: Eliminate the Damaging Foods

The number one benefit for eating a (mostly) Raw Food Diet is that you are (mostly) eliminating all the processed foods that are DAMAGING to the body. For people eating the ‘Standard American Diet’ (SAD), this is a hard transition to make, but a worthy one. The most important thing is to get MORE raw, natural, unprocessed foods into your daily habits and hoepefully take out some of the cooked, unnatural, processed ones. (which cause food addiction)

Eating enzyme-rich raw foods is not the main reason why people heal and regenerate their bodies. They heal because they are leaving out all the damaging foods. Now don’t get me wrong… these enzymes and raw foods are GREAT and they do nourish the body, especially if you are consuming them as vegetable juices and smoothies. When you cook food it changes in its molecular composition, which in turn makes foods more damaging to the body.

Most important take-home message: You can eat enzyme-rich raw foods until you are blue in the face, and you are not going to heal unless you also eliminate these processed foods from your intake.

We can help you! Start with a Universal Luv Pak (long distance cleanse program) and we’ll work from there.

zuddhagirls@gmail.com

I stared at my fruit bowl today and felt sad. My pears and apples were going to go bad any minute and I knew we wouldn’t eat them in time. There were just too many. What to do?? Make a raw pie crumble of course!! This dessert can obviously be just made of apples and use as many different varieties as you like.

Ingredients for Crust:

* 2 cups almonds (soaked 12-24 hours)

*2 cups pitted dates

*1 tsp orange or lemon zest

Ingredients for filling:

*5-6 organic apples

*3-4 organic pears

*1 cup raisins (soaked several hours in just enough water to cover them)

*2 tbsp ground flax seeds or psyllium powder

*2 tsp cinnamon powder

*1/2 tsp allspice powder

*1/2 tsp nutmeg powder

*1 pinch Garam masala

To make crust:

place all crust ingredients in a food processor and process with the S blade until it resembles dough. It will form a ball in the processor, then you know it’s ready! Press into a pie plate or 9×12 pan.

To make filling:

*Core and chop the apples and pears into medium sized pieces. Place half the apples into a food processor along with the rest of the ingredients, including the water from the soaking raisin’s, and process until smooth. Set aside the mixture in a mixing bowl.

Place the rest of the apples in food processor and pulse until a chunky texture is achieved. Mix the batches together. Pour into the pie shell or pan and enjoy!

Letting the pie settle in the refrigerator for a few hours will stiffen up the filling. Or place in the oven on low for a few minutes with vegan ice cream on top! yum!

Garnish with apple slices and sprinkle spices on top!

ARE YOU READY??????

do you live in Los Angeles?

apple, carrot and ginger juice

WHAT IT IS: We prepare organic, vegan whole foods cleanses and deliver them to your door. Three days of pure foods that will satisfy and fill, while aiding in weight-loss and energy gain. Not a big time commitment for 5 lbs, is it? It’s really that simple. And for further cleansing and lifestyle maintenance, we send you home with a packet complete with recipes, tips and meal plans to continue your transition into the new year and the new you.

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Sign up by calling (323) 422-5348 or (310) 291-5266

or by emailing sophie@thephilosophie.com

This is a one time, never before seen special price to get YOU healthy and happy for the New Year. Start out 5 pounds lighter, save money and get the tools to keep your abundant health going with our nifty packet!

——–> click here for VIDEO RECIPE!!! <———-

This is good for ANYONE and EVERYONE… moms, dads, nanny’s, and just about any person trying to get more energy and feel good…in a natural way! If you aren’t getting the sleep you wish you were, this is for you! Lots of superfoods and healing herbs will  deeply satisfy your system so that you don’t need anything else. Give it a try and let me know how it goes!!!

make an epic Superfood Smoothie! Recipe:

1 tsp Tumeric (healing, antibacterial, anticancer)
1 tsp Holy Basil (stress relief, immune stimulator, powerful antioxidants/vitamins)
1 cup Kale (powerful superfood vegetable full of chlorophyll and nutrients!)
1 tsp Spirulina (protein, cleansing, B vitamins, happy food!)
1 Banana (frozen preferably, add more for sweetness)
1 tablespoon Hemp Protein (excellent source of vegetarian/vegan protein)
8 oz Coconut Milk (or almond/rice) (good source of healthy fats!)
Agave to taste
Ice to temp!

Keep in mind that every body is different and unique. Listen to your body, the signs it sends you. The take home message for diet is to eat for nutrients, not to worry so much about calories. If you eat nutrient dense foods, you will be full and satiated for longer.

I’m not saying calories don’t matter. They do. Calories in have to be less than calories out to lose weight. My point is that if you chose more nutrient-dense foods, your body will be more satiated and you won’t have as many cravings or be as hungry.

Diet: what did I eat?

lots of veggies!

Here’s what I do as far as eating goes. The proof is in the raw-pudding! Remember that when you’re breastfeeding, you need to get at least 500 extra calories per day to support your milk production and the health of your baby. Don’t worry, you burn it during breast feeding! (about 500 calories/day) The rule of thumb when you’re eating is to think about NUTRIENTS not just energy/calories. Ask yourself what NUTRIENTS are in your meal, not just putting empty calories into your body. For example, when reaching for a snack, don’t eat 5 rice crackers because they are low in calories, eat an apple and a handful of almonds because then you’re getting vitamins, fiber, protein and good fats. (and you’ll stay fuller longer!)

Some bullet points of what I’ve been doing in any given day:

*Every day I get some raw juice or smoothie. 4-5 days a week I get a green vegetable juice, and every single day I make a Super-Mommy-Power smoothie. I also have 1-2 coconut waters per day-I feel so dehydrated from breastfeeding that coconut water is really the only thing that quenches that thirst.

Here’s a recipe I make variations of just about every day:

Super-Mommy-Power Smoothie

• 1 Cup Almond, Rice or Hemp Milk/Coconut Water
• 2 teaspoons maca (excellent for energy and to balance crazy mommy hormones!)
• 1 tablespoon cacao powder (chocolate in it’s most raw form, super high in antioxidants!)
• 1 tablespoon coconut butter or almond butter (both have GOOD fats and are good for skin, nails, etc)
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil (speeds up metabolism) or flax oil (omega-3)
• 1 scoop raw protein powder (keeps me full for longer, no soy or whey)
• 1 banana (tip: after bananas get ripe, put them in Tupperware or a Ziploc in the freezer for easy smoothie access!)
• 2 teaspoons spirulina (blue-green algae, great for iron and protein)
• 1 tablespoon agave or 2 drops of chocolate stevia
• 1 handful of ice

top with goji berries and granola! (this smoothie also satisfies my cravings for sugar and  chocolate… only this is all the right stuff!)

*once or twice a week I get animal protein. Free range, Hormone-Free, Organic steak or fish. I’m not much of a chicken/turkey person but I learned to really like steak during my pregnancy. I’ve always loved fish. I add greens and veggies to every meal. Make sure you get double the veggies vs quantity of protein. We eat sushi A LOT, but make sure if you’re going this route that you don’t just get rolls-lots of white rice/empty calories. Try and get some sushi or sashimi so you get more protein and less rice. Use the green lid soy sauce (lower in sodium) and don’t use a lot of that either! you only need a little bit, especially if the fish is fresh! I also always get a seaweed salad which is excellent for digestion, iron and calcium.

sprout salad with veggie buger

*I eat a huge spinach or mixed green salad for lunch almost every day-lots of sprouted seeds, nuts and beans to get as much protein as possible. I add a veggie burger to the salad also and use lots of flax oil and/or olive oil for the good fats. (tip: good fats get rid of bad fats, we NEED good fats for our brain and body functioning!)

*I always have snacks with me in the diaper bag or in my purse, I usually snack on 1 protein bar every day and some type of trail mix I make. My favorite blend is a trail mix with: cashews, goji berries, dark chocolate covered cacao nibs, soaked almonds, sprouted pumpkin seeds, sprouted sunflowers seeds.

I found during these months that I would get FAMISHED If i didn’t eat every 2-3 hours. If I waited more than 3 I thought I would die. DON’T get to this point! You are exerting so much energy taking care of the baby, nursing, etc… never mind if you get an exercise in TOO! Besides, when you let your blood sugar drop this low it does crazy things to your metabolism and your body goes into starvation-fat-protection mode, aka something you don’t want.

Exercise/Body/Fitness

The first 2 weeks I was very gentle with my body and focused on bonding with my baby.I was eating very healthy and nourishing foods and was wiped out from the surgery.

The 3rd and 4th week I got to WORK! I worked with a friend of mine who’s also a personal trainer twice a week to start building strength, but mostly to build my confidence. I was scared at first to do anything ab related (since I had a c-section) but he quickly and safely helped conquer this fear as well.

Each session I felt stronger and stronger. We mostly used resistance bands or exercises using my own body weight (like plank, pushups, yoga) so you don’t need a gym to lose weight! Here’s a great workout you can do at home in place of the training session I did.

Some people don’t think exercise makes a difference. What I know is that I feel better when I exercise than when I don’t, and I’m more mindful of the food I’m putting into my body when I do. Also, when you look at the calories in vs calories out rule, it means you have more wiggle room in the calories in.  Works for me!

Here’s what my work-out/exercise schedule basically looked like:

Monday-walk outside with baby/hubby/doggy for 30 minutes, baby squats and baby abs (see pics below) for 10 minutes

Tuesday-30-45 min with my trainer, Trent (resistance bands, kettlebells, light weights, light cardio, ab work)

Wednesday- Yoga class 60-90 minutes

Thursday- 30-45 min with my trainer, Trent (resistance bands, kettlebells, light weights, light cardio, ab work)

Friday- off day, maybe some baby exercises while holding him and/or some stretching/yoga while watching tv

Saturday-walk outside with baby/hubby/doggy for 30 minutes, baby squats and baby abs for 10 minutes -or- Yoga class

Sunday-walk outside with baby/hubby/doggy for 30 minutes, baby squats and baby abs for 10 minutes

baby sit ups!

On the days I’d walk outside with Kai in the stroller I usually took the dog too. Sometimes my hubby would join. But those were days I set out with an intention to be out for 30 minutes for exercise, so I’d walk a little faster than a normal walk. On other days I still would walk the dog but I didn’t count it as exercise.

I also didn’t count walking around in general, carrying the car seat everywhere, carrying 3 bags around plus baby, cleaning, standing, etc. I considered all of this stuff bonus, plus it speeds up your metabolism to be active.

It’s been so much fun using Kai in my exercises, especially because he LOVES IT! (see pics and video to come!)

I’ve now lost ALL MY BABY WEIGHT, and it took 3 months! This

3 months post-pregnancy

is definitely something I wanted to share with you, since many moms are nervous it will take them a whole year to lose their weight. Some people say “give it a year, they were in your body for 9 months it should take that long to lose it.” I don’t agree. I definitely worked hard, but in my opinion, if you worked half as hard as I did you should lose your baby weight in 6 months, tops. I think a huge factor in my ability to jump back into a workout routine was that I exercised up until the last possible second in pregnancy, so my “off time” was only about 4-5 weeks total, not 9 months. If you ARE pregnant, check out my article about pregnancy and exercise. Thanks for reading and GOOD LUCK! let me know how it goes, share your stories with me!

Plant based diet is when a person gets the majority of their nutrients from plants (fruit, vegetables, seeds, nuts, crops)

Look at how great he looks, feels and how energetic he is! This is how I feel every day (when I eat mindfully). When I eat too many meat/dairy products, I feel weighed down and lethargic. It’s so important to notice how you feel and react to different foods! Every person is unique and there’s a perfect balance for each of us. It’s your job to start to tune in and really listen to what your body needs and DOESN’T need!

Here’s the video:

video

let me know your thoughts!

Here’s an example of a recipe I created for Rivva:

Cafe Rivva’s Westside Post Yoga Refresher

(Serves 1)

½ c. blueberries

6 oz. coconut water

½ banana

½ tsp. spirulina

½ tsp. maca

1 c. ice

Blend all ingredients and enjoy.

Rivva also has organic frozen yogurt in a variety of flavors and amazingly fresh and creative vegetarian salads. What I like most about the salads is that you can pick a few different kinds (like the restaurant Lemonade) so that you have more choices on your plate.

The owner, Chris, is from Ireland and is an absolute gem. He’s so kind hearted and you feel that energy coming through the store and products.

I definitely recommend going in and checking out the place, if anything, just to try my smoothies!!

here are some reviews on Rivva!

**eater

**urbanspoon

**yelp

This is a staple healthy, raw, vegan dish in our home. Everyone loves it! My husband, friends AND PUPPY! It will store for a few days in your fridge after marinated and prepared.

• 1 bunch fresh kale, de-stemmed and shredded
• 1 avocado, cubed or sliced thin
• 3 stalks celery, sliced thin or minced
• 1 green apple, sliced thin or minced (in the same size as your celery pieces)
• 1/3 C lemon juice
• 1/2 t sea salt
• 2 T Bragg’s liquid aminos
• 1/3 C olive oil
• 1 T honey or agave nectar

Put the shredded kale in a large bowl with the salt. With your hands, squeeze and massage the kale and mix it well with the salt. Keep massaging the kale for up to 3-5 minutes as the kale will darken, shrink in size and the fibers will break down. Once this happens, mix in all of the other ingredients into the bowl, except the avocado.

Serve on a pretty plate and garnish with pretty avocado pieces on top.

note: you might want to experiment with how much lemon juice, bragg’s, and agave/honey you put in this. the above recipe is a pretty good guideline but you’ll find that you’ll have your own preferences. Go with whatever tastes good to you!

you’ll need the following ingredients:

• 3-4 ripe bananas
• 2-3 Tbsp Agave or Honey
• 1 C ground rolled oats
• 1 C almond meal or raw almonds
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 Tbsp flaxseed meal
• 1 1/2 t cinnamon
• 2-3 T melted butter (or vegan butter alternative)
• 2 free range eggs (or vegan Ener-G Egg replacement)
• 1 tsp Vanilla

1. Begin by processing the almonds with a food processor until they are close to a flour consistency (or you can buy almond meal pre-made). Add oats into food processor until mixed well. Put into large bowl.

2. In large bowl combine “flours” with cinnamon, baking soda, sea salt and flax meal.

3. In a separate bowl, melt butter. Let butter cool for a bit. Then add eggs and vanilla to butter.

4. In a 3rd bowl, mash ripe bananas with a fork. Add agave to bananas and mix. (you may leave the bananas chunky or puree until super smooth, depends on your taste preference). Add bananas and agave to egg/vanilla/butter to the flour bowl. Mix all ingredients together with a large spoon. Then use that spoon to scoop mixture into muffin pan.

5. Bake muffins 25-30 minutes. Test with a toothpick, it should have residual dry crumbs only. (no moisture)

This recipe is dedicated to Riley Carrington, my god daughter

I’m writing this review as I sit in this lively raw organic vegetarian restaurant (and Vegan) in Camden Town, London. I’m sitting at a small wooden table with uneven chairs, by the glowing Himalayan sea salt figure light source, while the energetic African music smiles in my ears.

I just finished eating a raw nut burger, what they call their “Sunfood Burger”. It was a little dry, but overall very tasty and I basically swallowed it whole.With every dish you purchase, you get 3 sides included, so I chose 3 raw salads with bright, vibrant colors and distinct familiar tastes. It’s been 3 days since I’ve had this food I love so dearly, so I practically licked the plate.

My husband and I drove back to London today from Belgium in order for me to work for this restaurant, InSprial. This is our “honeymoon”, or at least our version of it. It’s not that we aren’t enjoying each other, or totally infatuated with each other: it’s just that we love our jobs that much. We are in Europe and by day we walk around on the bustling streets and go have European cappuccinos (mine with soy obviously) and for a few hours each day we bring our computers and tap into our clients, blog readers and the jobs we love so dearly.

Which brings me to this moment:

At first I thought it was oxymoronic to say “healthy food in London” BOY WAS I WRONG!

I emailed InSprial before leaving for England, after finding them on the internet, explaining I was coming to London for two weeks and would love to do a workshop for them on raw food or help in the kitchen. A week later, I received an enthusiastic reply, indicating they would put me in touch with their head chef. A few days later Enzo, their vegetarian cook, wrote asking if I could help the restaurant recreate their raw menu for the New Year. I obviously said Yes… with zero attempt at hiding my zealous vigor.

I met with Enzo last week and we discussed his ideas and what he needs from me. In the quickest hour of my life, I told him what I thought of the dishes they already have, he told me what he thought, and within 60 minutes we had a plan. He needed 7 new raw salads with superfoods in the dressings or in the salad & 2 new entree’s-one raw sushi dish and one random dish using my incredible imagination

We decided on my hours for this week (so that Adi and I could go to Paris and Belgium for a few days) and voila! Here we are! I showed him all my work–the 7 new recipes and 2 entrees–and he loved all of them.

Here’s a sneak preview on my ideas:

• Sprouted Mung Bean Salad with Sesame Seeds and a Raw Tahini Lime Dressing

• Edible Flower Mixed Greens Salad with Fresh Raspberries, Agave Soaked Goji Berries and a Creamy Lemon-Maca Dressing

• Raw Caesar Salad with Baby Jam Lettuce, Raw Parmesan and Capers with A Cacao-Balsamic Dressing

for my “creative” entree I decided on a Mock Loaf with a Raw Mushroom Gravy…

PICTURES TO COME!!!!! Things may change a bit once I get into the kitchen, but that’s when the fun & gratification really begins!

Stay tuned.