Choosing Raw, Day 7!

Wow. I can't believe a week has passed already on the Choosing Raw Challenge, my commitment to follow Gena Hamshaw's 21-day meal plan (with modifications for my schedule) from her Choosing Raw cookbook. This whole foods-based, mostly raw (but partly cooked) "cleanse" has been the easiest January diet I've ever tried! I've only had a couple of cravings (for potato chips), but I don't miss sweets since I get to have healthy raw desserts daily. And I haven't even missed beer that much. I'm allowing myself to have red wine, but I haven't had any yet.

I do have a good cheat planned for this weekend when my friend Leslie hosts a tea party. There will be cookies there, and I will eat them. But other than that, I plan to be good. Lots of great weekend meals planned!

Thursday morning, I woke up for my planned outdoor run at 4:50 a.m., and it was 10 degrees outside! 10 DEGREES! For those of you who live up north, that's probably just another winter day. But in Memphis, the world might as well be ending. But I could not skip this run, and even though I have a treadmill, I refuse to use it for more than my usual 10-minute warm-up. So I bundled up.

I did about 10 minutes on the "dreadmill," and then I hit the street. It was cold. Damn, it was cold. But it wasn't as bad as I anticipated. After my run, I warmed up (okay, not really) with a cold smoothie! I'm working on a recipe for a Vega One Mocha Carob Chip Protein Smoothie, but it's not quite perfect yet.

I had a doctor appointment this morning to get some hip issues checked out. Turns out, I have IT band bursitis. But no biggie. It won't affect my running. But I will need some physical therapy to learn the proper stretches. After the appointment, I had a Fuji Apple in my car.

I got to work just in time for lunch — Ginger Almond Pate Nori Rolls with Bell Pepper and Cucumber! These were so much fun! The slightly spicy almond pate stands in for rice to make these totally raw. I had mine with wasabi, of course.

On the side, I had a Side Salad with Chickpeas, Sprouts, Carrots, Shiitake Mushrooms (which I ended up picking out because I didn't like them), Romaine, and Ginger-Sesame Dressing.

I almost forgot to photograph my afternoon snack before I ate it all! This is the Sweet 'n' Savory Trail Mix —roasted chickpeas, raw almonds, and raisins. I loved the combo of tangy chickpeas, crunchy almonds, and sweet raisins.

My dinner was leftover Acorn Squash & Brown Rice Salad with Lemon-Turmeric Vinaigrette and Toasted Hazelnuts. Yesterday, I made this with spinach, but I was out. So I used romaine instead. I think I like this best with romaine.

I went to my friend Shara's house after dinner to catch up on the latest episodes of American Horror Story: Freak Show, and I snacked on leftover Chocomole (no picture, sorry!).