DAY TWENTY - DOWN 10 POUNDS!

I will admit it, I am such a cheater!  Even when I know how much better I feel when I stick to raw, given the opportunity . . . given?  No, let me re-phrase that, I create opportunities to cheat!  A friend came to visit over the weekend and I grabbed her by the hand and whisked her away to one of my favorite little Middle Eastern restaurants in town.  Their fresh pita bread is out of this world and it begs for a side of babaganoush!  I ordered a salad, but it is the gluten that really bothers me and it is the gluten I crave.  Monday morning came and I was back on the straight and narrow!

Yesterday I forgot to weigh-in, so was pleasantly surprised when I balanced the scale this morning to see I am now down a full 10 pounds, despite my indiscretions! Much to do today for the upcoming raw food chef certification class in a week and a half, so I must get moving.

Today's intention - "Today I will let go of my need for approval and my need to be liked.  Instead, I will choose to like and approve of myself.  The people who count (including me) will respect me when I am true to who I really am!"  

Throw your arms around yourself and give yourself a BIG squeeze - choose to LOVE and accept the wonderful person you are!

To sweeten your day, you might give this a try . . . another version of chia pudding/pops!   If you don't want or like the texture of the chia seeds, blend them with the almond milk and cacao powder first, then add the remaining ingredients.

Nothing is written in stone when it comes to chia pudding or any other raw food recipe, for that matter.  Taste it first, then if you want to "fix" it, fix away!  My goal always is to keep the recipe nutrient dense, low fat, low calorie and, of course, gluten-free.  Just because it's "raw", does NOT mean it is necessarily healthy.  Read a recipe, evaluate those points, then decide if there are ways you can improve one or all without compormising flavor.

This is a tweaked recipe that was sent to me by my FB friend, Deniece Young. I cut the coconut butter, maca and cacao nibs from the recipe and added goji berries.  If you want this thicker, add another T of chia, but for frozen bars, this works beautifully!

2 c unsweetened almond milk

1 t pure vanilla extract

1 T cacao powder, unsweetened (I do not use raw, but Valrhona...the #1 best in the world!)

5-6 T chia seeds

2/3 c organic unsweetened coconut flakes

2/3 c goji berries

3 T PURE maple syrup

Whisk the almond milk, cacao powder, and chia seeds together in a large bowl, until the chocolate is incorporated into the mixture.  Give it a stir every 30 minutes or so, until the chia have expanded and the mixture is thickened.  Add the rest of the ingredients and thoroughly mix.  Let it soak in the fridge for at least 4-5 hours or overnight until all ingredients are plumped with the almond milk.

Pour into popsicle molds or return to the fridge to eat as pudding.   Serve with fresh fruit and chopped walnuts . . . or with anything you like.  SUPER healthy and very simple to make!

http://www.forbes.com/sites/hannahelliott/2011/10/11/the-next-superfood-chia-seeds/

http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/content/en/dave_foreman/chia.jsp

http://www.gaiahealthblog.com/2012/02/18/goji-berries1/

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=115

http://www.livestrong.com/article/30473-health-benefits-coconut-flakes/

Santé, To Your Health!

Sue Ansari, RN
CancerGuide 

Raw Food Chef and Food for Life Instructor
www.santetoyourhealth.org

www.laughteryoga-michigan.com

http://twitter.com/#!/MICancerCoach 

DAY FIFTEEN - Half-way there!

So sorry I missed yesterday, very exhausted from my IRS "experience" which is now re-scheduled for a later date, but ALL is good!

I can't believe we are already through half of this challenge and I have learned, even more this time than when I was doing it here at my home with Rosemary, this cannot simply be a 30-day challenge; at least for me, it MUST be a life-long challenge.  Weighing myself daily, seeing the fluctuation in what one muffin or one "thin" slice of pizza can do to my progress, is so eye-opening. For sure, I am NOT 30 years old, I don't have years to correct bad habits.  Time is fleeting and my health and mobility with it, unless I do something about it NOW, not later!

The past two days I have had fun creating frozen bars.  I looked online for silicone molds and found a wonderful, easy-to-use commercial one called, ColdMolds.  It was so simple to create eye-appealing and delicious frozen bars by simply tweaking some of my tried and true dessert recipes.  All this tweaking and sampling and still down a pound and a half....gotta love that!

My Bars . . .

Pina Colada

The Crazy Monkey

The Chi-Chialicious!

Thus far, "The Crazy Monkey", with its coconut/cashew base, packed with unsweetened coconut flakes, fresh pineapple and bananas is my personal favorite. This morning I am making "Jumpin' JOY Juice" bars from one of my green smoothie recipes . . . all of this is simply TOO much fun, no suffering here!

For anyone wanting recipes, please email me at raw.reboot@gmail.com and I will be happy to share with you.

Before I get busy with food orders and bars, the intention for the day - "Today I will be open to the process of change.  I will trust my Higher Power and believe that the place where I will be dropped off is better than the place where I was picked up.  I know that change is necessary to take me wherever I need to go."  Indeed, indeed.

Have good one, friends!

Santé, To Your Health!

Sue Ansari, RN
CancerGuide 

Raw Food Chef and Food for Life Instructor
www.santetoyourhealth.org

www.laughteryoga-michigan.com

http://twitter.com/#!/MICancerCoach 

 

DAY TEN - Sweets for the SWEET!

First thing this morning, my intention - "Today I will tell myself that I am lovable.  Just because some people have not been able to love me in ways that worked, does not mean that I am unlovable.  I have had lessons to learn, and some of them have hurt deeply, but I can still love and I am still loved."

A very good intention for me, because sometimes I forget that and start beating myself up.  No beating today, just ALL sweetness! Yesterday seems to have been a "sweet" day, since I created two delicious, nutritious sweet recipes, one much sweeter than the other.

Whether a dessert, snack or breakfast delight, I don't know of anything I like any better than chia.  Not only is it packed with protein, fiber and Omega-3's, but the ease of creating with it can't be beat!

I looked in my cupboard and threw some ingredients together, lel tthem soak overnight and had enough for breakfast AND lunch!

Chia Pudding with Goji Berries

Simple, simple recipe....

2 c almond milk, unsweetened

2 T chia seeds

2 T maple syrup (or to taste)

2 T goji berries

1/2 c unsweeetened coconut flakes

1 t almond extract

Stir the milk and chia together BEFORE adding the other ingredients or you will end up with a gloppy mess. Stir every 30 minutes X2, then add the remainder of the ingredients. Refrigerate overnight. Garnish with fresh fruit and nuts....soooooooo good and GOOD for you! (or if you are like my friend, Ellen, and just can't wait, drink it down!)

Chia Pudding with Goji Berries - YUM!!