Choosing Raw, Days 11 & 12

I'm halfway there! On January 2nd, I embarked on a 21-day high-raw meal plan using Gena Hamshaw's Choosing Raw cookbook (and supplementing with my regular Vega One morning smoothies). Plus, I'm limiting refined sugar, booze, and gluten. Unlike in "cleanses" past though, I'm not putting any restrictions on caffeine this time. And man, that has saved my ass. Going on a healthy diet with coffee is so much easier than trying to eat healthy sans caffeine. I highly recommend never giving up coffee.

Anyway, here's what I ate on Monday (Day 11). The day began with a 5K tempo run followed by a Whole Beet Smoothie! This is a recipe I found on the Vega One website, and it literally calls for a whole beet, greens and all. It's a good thing I have a Vitamix now because my old blender would have just died if I'd tried to stick a beet in there. Besides the beet, this has blueberries, chocolate Vega One protein powder (the new formula, full review post coming soon!), coconut water, coconut butter, and lemon juice. Odd combo, but it works!

My morning snack was my favorite one on the challenge thus far — Zucchini Ranch Chips! These are from Gena's book, and THEY ARE SO GOOD! Very thinly sliced zucchini is coated in olive oil and ranch seasonings and then dehydrated.

Lunch was Collard Wraps with Sweet Pea Hummus, Tempeh Bacon, and Yellow Bell Pepper. Gena's recipe called for the hemp hummus from the book, but I still had some sweet pea hummus leftover from last week. It also called for tempeh, but rather than add plain tempeh, I made the tempeh bacon from my own cookbook, Cookin' Crunk. Also, when I make collard wraps, I blanch the leaves for five seconds to zap out the bitterness and make them easier to roll.

On the side, I had a Salad with Romaine, Yellow Bell Pepper, Brown Rice, Carrot, Avocado & Cilantro-Lime Vinaigrette. Salad dressing is from the book. Very tangy and sweet. Good stuff.

My afternoon snack was more of the Superfood Trail Mix I've shown here before. And dinner was leftovers, which I ate while reading the Memphis Flyer (the newspaper I work for). Apricot Quinoa Salad with Mint & Pine Nuts and Kale & White Bean Caesar Salad. 

Oh, and for dessert, I had more Coconutty for Chocolate Chip Cookies! These raw walnut-date cookies are flecked with crunchy cacao nibs.

This morning — Day 12 — began with another cold outdoor run! And then I had this Vanilla Latte Smoothie — French Vanilla Vega One protein powder, instant coffee (the concentrated liquid kind), cashew milk, and a frozen banana. Yum!! So glad I'm allowing caffeine!

My morning snack was another liquid treat — Green Lemonade Juice from Choosing Raw. Apple, lemon, cucumber, celery, ginger, kale, and parsley.

Lunch was a new dish from the book — Sweet Potato Salad with Miso Dressing. I'd never think to combine miso and sweet potatoes, but it works. It lends them a fun Asian flair. The recipe also called for chives, but I didn't have any, so I added parsley instead. On the side was a salad with black beans, brown rice, romaine, and apple cider vinaigrette.

My afternoon snack was leftover Tempeh Bacon. I just ate it cold at my desk. Love cold tempeh!

Dinner was so coloful! Raw Ratatouille Over Red Quinoa! Gena is such a genius. This recipe was just so full of flavor. Basically, you toss veggies (zucchini, tomato, carrots, bell pepper) with olive oil, herbs, garlic, and some other seasonings and you dehydrate them for about an hour to warm them and remove some of the liquid. Chickpeas are tossed in after dehydration. Then it's served over warm cooked quinoa, which I seasoned with veggie broth. I'm so glad I have leftovers for tomorrow!

Finally, I had more Coconutty Cookies for dessert! Still have a ton left!