Published on January 9th, 2009
This year, one of my new year’s resolutions was to eat more raw and living foods. I recently started attending a monthly raw food potluck and have been inspired by all the delicious recipes and information. I have learned that eating uncooked plant foods is healthy for several reasons: raw fruits and veggies contain lots of fiber, are packed with nutrients, and also retain many useful enzymes that cooking destroys. Having a plot in my local community garden has definitely helped me eat more raw fresh produce as well as eat more sustainably.
As I try to add more living foods to my diet, I’ve tried eating salad with just about every meal, eating raw snacks like trail mixes and fresh fruit, and making more food from scratch. One way of incorporating raw foods into my diet that has been really easy is making fresh juices and smoothies. With the help of gadgets like my Green Star juicer and Vitamix blender, I’ve made many a healthy and scrumptious snack.
One word of juicing wisdom that I’ve learned is that you don’t want to overdo it with fruit juices. Because of their high sugar content, fruit juices can raise blood sugar levels. It’s healthier to drink vegetable juices, or a blend of fruit and vegetable juices. Juices are best in moderation because they deliver many nutrients but since the pulp is removed, they don’t have much fiber. Smoothies, on the other hand, use the entire fruit or vegetable, so the fiber is included. Both juices and smoothies are a great way to get digestible nutrients and add more raw fruits and vegetables to your diet. Read the rest of this entry »
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Published on December 3rd, 2008
“If you can make a batch of cookies, you can can.”
If the idea of home canning leaves you in overwhelming, uncomfortable culinary territory, take heed of the above advice from Linda Amendt, a woman on a mission to help us rediscover the joys of homemade preserves. Winner of over 900 awards in state fair culinary competitions and author of two cookbooks — Blue Ribbon Preserves: Secrets to Award-Winning Jams, Jellies, Marmalades & More and 175 Best James, Jellies, Marmalades and Other Soft Spreads – Amendt focuses on keeping things simple and satisfying.
Here are four starter tips from Amendt on getting started in canning homemade preserves, the easiest route for novice canners.. While the summer fresh produce season is – sniff – behind most of us, fresh apple cider is still available and makes a great beginner project (recipe after the jump) and creative holiday gift. Read the rest of this entry »
Published on November 11th, 2008
I was so inspired by the “lovin fresh - lavender-lemon soda recipe” and “Vanilla Rose Spritzer” in recent posts that I had to share this delightful treat called a Rosemary Lemon Fresca. Have you ever tried Rosemary flavored refreshers? This can be turned into a cocktail or healthy desert drink.
Lemon is cleansing and purifying for the system “Fresh squeezed lemon in a glass of ample water is said to cleanse the liver. It is also said that lemon helps to stimulate the metabolism.” Rosemary is clarifying and flavorful. Read the rest of this entry »
Published on October 28th, 2008
Editor’s Note: This post was provided by one of our sponsors, the juice manufacturer Odwalla.
These days, consumers are increasingly interested in the environmental and social responsibility of the companies that manufacture their favorite products. Public companies must answer to shareholders and have largely adopted transparent reporting initiatives that detail their corporate responsibility. Food and drink manufacturers that depend on raw materials – like fruits and vegetables – are committed to environmental stewardship programs that ensure consistent supplies of produce. Read the rest of this entry »
Published on October 28th, 2008
Editor’s Note: This post was provided by one of our sponsors, the juice manufacturer Odwalla.
A glass of fruit juice can be the ultimate refresher and thirst quencher. Fruit juices, like their whole counterparts, are high in nutrients, vitamins, and antioxidants. However, a juice’s freshness and processing can significantly affect its flavor and nutrient profile. The USDA recommends that Americans consume upwards of six servings of fruits and vegetables per day and a glass of juice is a convenient way to squeeze in extra servings. To fully reap the benefits of juice, you’ll want to consider some important factors. Read the rest of this entry »
Published on October 27th, 2008
Lettüs Organic Cafe in San Francisco is an organization committed to furthering sustainable practices and healthy living. Winner of several awards, and on the top of the foodie review lists, this cafe is truly the best of the bay area, in my humble opinion. The cafe features delicious freshly squeezed juices, smoothies, salads, yummy bowls, sandwiches and their famous mouth watering garden burgers, that even carnivores yearn for. In their own words:
“In many cases, food has been growing only a day or two before it is served to our customers. When it is not available locally, we search the globe in our quest for the best organic, natural or artisan quality ingredients as reflected in our coffees, teas, and spirits.”
While the organic ingredients for Lettüs’s dishes are practically all locally sourced, that is not so with the unique materials used for the interior…For example, Read the rest of this entry »
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Zero Waste
This year, one of my new year’s resolutions was to eat more raw and living foods. I recently started attending a monthly raw food potluck and have been inspired by all the delicious recipes and information. I have learned that eating uncooked plant foods is healthy for several reasons: raw fruits and veggies contain lots of fiber, are packed with nutrients, and also retain many useful enzymes that cooking destroys. Having a plot in my local community garden has definitely helped me eat more raw fresh produce as well as eat more sustainably.
