Mindfulness - Your Present Moment

Mindfulness - Your Present Moment

Day 18 of Raw Food Challenge

Hi Folks :)

I like to put myself through different challenges because I always learn something about myself that helps me to grow and keep moving forward.  Whenever I'm engaged in any raw food preparation and consumption I get a happy feeling inside that lets me know that I really am in the place I should be.  Nothing feels better in the morning than whipping up a fresh raw smoothie! (Today's smoothie consisted of cranberries, apples, cinnamon, a handful of spinach, agave and water.  A refreshing sweet/tart combination!).

Wondering if I've been 100% raw, I would answer no.  However the closer I stay to raw the better I feel and look (all of the high water content of fresh raw smoothies and produce do wonders for my skin. It's like a 'natural botox' LOL!)  I have also been eating cooked dinners at times.  They consist of whole natural foods such as quinoa, cabbage stew, short grain brown sticky rice stew (Yum!) and some dark chocolate.  As I stated in previous blogs I plan on incorporating natural healthy cooked foods along with raw foods.  I feel they compliment each other well and I get the best of both worlds.

What this raw challenge is teaching me is that I hit the right way of eating for myself.  I was able to see that what works for me and makes me feel good is still and always to remain about 70-80% raw.  I'm comfortable with this and feel balanced.  We all have to learn to gain information and utilize it in a way that works best for our OWN lives, to personalize it.  Never follow anything anyone says  when you feel it really isn't going to work in your life.  Have your own mind and forge your own way of living based on what you learn is best for you.

I no longer put pressure on myself to be a certain way. I know that it isn't necessary. I am gaining better health and a peaceful sense of mind.  I now no longer feel a need for this challenge because I've learned from it what's best for me, and keeps me from rebelling back into foods I'm better off without.  (I couldn't imagine going through a Midwest winter without a hot heart stew or soup!)  I am grateful for this challenge and the knowledge I've gained from it.  What challenge can you grow from? :D

Audrey Hepburn’s favorite poem...an inspirational poem from an extraordinary woman - West Palm Beach depression | Examiner.com

Audrey Hepburn’s favorite poem...an inspirational poem from an extraordinary woman - West Palm Beach depression | Examiner.com

ConsciousLivingChick: One Hundred Day Raw Challenge

ConsciousLivingChick: One Hundred Day Raw Challenge

One Hundred Day Raw Challenge

Yesterday I began my 100 day raw foods challenge.  I've been raw off and on for about two years .  Nothing makes me feel better than when I'm giving my body live foods.  I feel lighter, have more energy  and have  a clearer head.  I have experienced healing benefits throughout the few years I've been on raw.  Having  multiple food allergies, I find it so easy to avoid all of the no no's eating real live foods, because there's nothing in them but nutrient dense goodness.  Also as I've stated before, I include natural cooked foods like grains and cooked veggies and some fish/chicken as well.  However, right now I really feel like I need the incredible healing abilities of what raw foods does for the body.  I will always be at least 80-90% raw,  but I don't want to exclude delicious cooked dishes throughout my life.

Here I'm showing just a few raw goodies that I've made.  Up top is a raw brownie/cookie before and after.  I also made some cheeze flax crackers using Nutritional Yeast (not a raw product) for the 'cheese'. Last I have a Hemp protein shake using Hemp powder, spinach, almond milk, and a banana.

I realize that I'm beginning this journey close to the holidays, but I'm doing this purposefully.  I will be able to keep control of what I eat and not delve into things that cause me problems.  Not having that post holiday oh-no-look-at-all-I-ate syndrome makes this all the more rewarding!

Enjoying old favorites

I always enjoy most of my raw foods meals but I find that eating whole natural cooked foods are complimentary to a high raw diet.  Here I've made a mini version of my favorite oven roasted chicken and vegetables.
I simply chopped what veggies I had on hand, carrots, golden potatoes, celery and red onion.  I sprayed them with olive oil and seasonings and placed the partially roasted chicken breast (I started roasting it first as it takes the longest to cook) in with the veggies.  I continued to roast till done and, voila an mini version to a whole roasted chicken with all the fixins!
There's something about chicken and roasted veggies that's so comforting to me, just wanted to share it with you.

The Power of Women Supporting Each Other