Tracy’s Raw Food Journal

Well, it’s been a week since I last wrote in this blog, so I wanted to update it today.

Last Monday hubby and I drove to the beach to have a little over-night, mini-vacation the day before we drove to Portland to pick up my daughter (who works on a cruise ship in Alaska and I only get to see every 6 weeks or so) and his 15 year old son who is coming to spend the school year with us. I decided I would allow myself to enjoy the vacation and not worry about sticking to raw-foods so intently since there are really very few options out there for raw foodists when it comes to eating out at restaurants and such. Mostly you can choose a green salad or some variation on that theme…not my cup of tea for enjoying a vacation with Honey.

Anyhow, I did quite well on the trip and for dinner when we arrived we both went for the fish tacos, which were DIVINE and grilled rather than fried, so that was nice! They had lots of yummy coleslaw and vegies on them and were wrapped in corn tortillas, so I didn’t feel bad about my choice…even though it wasn’t raw. I also had a nice glass of red wine.

Later, though…we decided to buy a big bottle of lambrusco (a cheap, slightly sweet and sparkling, italian red wine…the only red wine you drink chilled!) and a deck of cards…and I gave in and bought a bag of Chips Ahoy chocolate chunk cookies. <eek!> Over the course of the evening we had a GREAT time playing cards and laughing and drinking and nibbling…but, I ended up eating 6 or 8 of those cookies and I had a HORRIBLE time sleeping because I felt so lousey! I think my system is becoming more and more sensitive to junk food the longer I am putting only healthy food into my body, which is a GOOD thing! But I sure felt crappy!

Anyhow, fast forward to the week since then…I have been pretty good about staying raw, but have allowed myself a few “vegetarian” dishes when out with my daughter and not eating strictly raw. I have also been drinking more alcohol than usual and have had a bit of chocolate.

Bottom line…I haven’t gained any weight back. In fact, I am down another 1/2 pound! 182 exactly. BUT, I am feeling the need to cleanse my body. So, today I am doing a modified Master Cleanse. Only drinking water with fresh lemon or lime juice, pure maple syrup and cayenne pepper in it. I will continue on this cleanse for 3 days, assuming I don’t have to do jury duty, which I am supposed to start tomorrow, if my number is assigned. I won’t know until after 5:30 each evening over the next 2 weeks whether I have jury duty the next day or not…so I am having to play this by ear.

Ok, that’s it for the update.

Weight – 182.5!!! Woo hoo! Down 1.5 pounds!

Today was almost a repeat of yesterday, with the exception of dinner. Here goes:

Breakfast -

Raw Granola “Cereal”

Same as yesterday’s recipe, except today I shredded the apple instead of dicing it and I like it SO much better! It makes it juicier and less chunky, which I prefer.

Lunch -

Again, I had the Thai Peanut Sauce over Bean Sprouts and Coleslaw

Dinner -

I ate left-overs of Yam Salad and Sante Fe Corn Salad (but this version had no avocado)

Snacked on about 6 dates and a couple handfuls of raw almonds. Had a glass of cabernet before bed.

Tomorrow and the next day we will be out of town, so I probably won’t update this until we return…I am going to eat mostly raw, but will allow myself to eat “vegetarian” since we will be staying the night in a hotel at the beach!

Here is the food list of Non-Raw items I allow myself:

Wine and occassionally beer, decaf coffee and hot teas, diet sodas, prepared sauces and salad dressings, honey – occassionally. Chocolate, occassionally.

Didn’t weigh myself today… but woot! Made it through day 1 with no problem-o!

Today I started my day with one of my favorite breakfasts -

Raw Granola “Cereal”

1 whole banana – diced

1 whole fuji apple – cored and diced

1 handful raw almonds – chopped

teaspoonful of vanilla

sprinkle cinnamon & salt.

Toss all together in a bowl and ENJOY!

Lunch was deluxe! You will notice that I tend to find a couple of favorite meals and repeat them frequently. Then I will find something new and drop something from my old routine for a while. It’s just a personal comfort thing. Ok, so here is what I had:

Thai Peanut Sauce over Bean Sprouts and Coleslaw

Ok, so peanut butter and soy sauce aren’t “raw” but I go with the 98% raw rule and allow myself a few ingredients that aren’t raw in order to expand my choices and create dishes that I truly LOVE! I figure, I’m doing WAY better than I was when eating all the other highly processed and animal-based foods I used to eat!

1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter – put in bottom of large “cereal-type” bowl

Add -

3 tablespoons soy sauce – mine is the Lite version – less sodium

heavy sprinkling dry ginger – you could grate fresh, if you prefer

1 packet Stevia – natural, no-calorie, no carb sweetener. Get it at the health food store. Or use Agave Nectar

2 – 3 shakes Tobasco sauce

Mix well with spoon or whisk. Then add -

lots of bean sprouts!

about equal amount of pre-packaged-pre-shredded coleslaw mix – mine had green & purple cabbage & carrots

Stir well to mix the sauce throughout the vegies! WOW!!! Truly yummy!

For dinner we were invited to a birthday party at a local pizza joint. The pizza DID look awesome!!! But, I got the salad bar, instead! (I _did_ allow myself 2 mugs of India Pale Ale to compensate!) My salad consisted of: romain lettuce, shredded carrot, frozen green peas, and raisins topped with a drizzle of honey dijon dressing. I also had a glass of cabernet when we got home and later snacked on a few dates and raw cashews.

Today I got up and decided to re-commit to my Raw Foods Lifestyle! Woot! I am excited to see the results!

Starting weight: 184 pounds

I started my day with a Green Smoothie! Here is the recipe:

Green Smoothie

2 cups orange juice
large handful fresh spinach leaves
Blend well in blender
Add 1 medium banana
1 cup frozen strawberries
1 cup frozen mango, papya and pineapple chunks

Blend all till smooth.

Enjoy!

For a mid-morning snack I ate some left over Yam Salad I made yesterday – TWO SERVINGS!

Yam Salad

1 medium yam – raw, peeled and shredded
2 fugi apples, peeled, cored and shredded
1 cup shredded, raw, dried coconut
1 cup raisins
1 cup chopped almonds or nut of your choice (best to soak over night first then dry out)
about 2″ peeled and shredded fresh ginger root
Mix well

In seperate bowl combine:

juice of 2 oranges
juice of 1 lemon
couple tablespoons agave nectar or honey
few shakes cinnamon

Pour over salad mixture and stir well. Refrigerating over night will enhance the flavors.
** This makes a TON of salad…so you will either have plenty to eat for 2 or 3 days or cut the recipe in half or thirds.

Lunch was one of my all time favorites, my own creation -

Sante Fe Corn Salad

2 cups fresh or frozen corn kernals – if frozen, put in strainer and run under hot water to thaw
1 medium avocado – diced
1/2 red bell pepper – diced
1 slice sweet red onion – minced
Combine in bowl
Drizzle with olive oil
Season heavily with:
ground cumin
garlic salt
onion salt
fresh ground black pepper
a dash of tobasco sauce

YUMMMMYYY!!!

Dinner consisted of two servings of -

Spinach Salad with Garlic/Basil “Cream Cheese”

Salad -

Fresh spinach leaves

chopped red bell pepper

minced large garlic clove

sliced english cucumber

halved black olives (ok, not technically “raw” but they really add a LOT!)

Garlic/Basil “Cream Cheese”

Soak raw, unsalted sunflower seeds in water for several hours. Drain. Place in blender. Add couple cloves minced fresh garlic, fresh basil leaves would be best – but I used dry, drizzle olive oil, sea salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste. Add warm water to facilitate blending but just enough to get a nice, “cream-cheesy” texture. Voila!

Top big bowl of salad with big dollop of “cream cheese” Delish!

I also had two glasses of a nice, dry merlot with my dinner.