Results of March 2013 GSC

Here is my experience following this 2-day GSC. Today I was in the zone and it was lots of fun! I find that each Green Smoothie Challenge brings me to a place of gratitude, clarity and knowing, where I clearly see that we are the creators of the lifestyle we experience - the choice is ours!

Breakfast:  Today it was like my body took over and was telling me it wanted blueberries and bananas - I could almost taste them. Then as I opened the fridge to get some greens, pictures of rainbow chard and sunflower sprouts were dancing in my head. This can happen if you pay attention to the messages from your body!

Lunch:  There was no thought or decision about what to make . . . only an absolute knowing.  My hands simply began putting together a hearty bowl of EZ Raw Cereal, and with the very first spoonful my choice was confirmed.

Dinner:  Today, from the moment I jumped out of bed, I knew that I would make soup. I like it when these ideas just jump into my mind, so happily following my intuition I made a pot of cooked Spicy Sweet Potato and Leek soup (remember I am now eating 90% raw 10% cooked).

One reason for this blog is empower others to explore other ways of being. I invite you to join me by sending in your stories to uplift and inspire - for the benefit of us all!

Did You Take Part in this GSC?

Stinging Nettles

For those of you who participated in this Monthly GSC, Clive of RawBC is requesting your assistance.

To record your participation and complete your 2-day GSC, there is one final step that you can help us with!

Simply send an email with "I Did It - your name and your city" in the subject line (example: I Did It - Maureen - Courtenay).

You can then forward your email to info@rawbc.org - which helps Clive to track the numbers of people participating in each 2-day Green Smoothie Challenge!

Even if you live in another country, we welcome your participation and would love to hear from you!

Day 2 - March 2013 GSC

When the next blueberry season comes around, plan to get out in the fields and hand pick these little gems. Berry picking is a great way to have fun with your family while enjoying Mother Earth's bounty. A good stock of berries in the freezer will last throughout the winter. I still have a few bags from last year's picking of Organic Blueberries in my freezer!

Blueberry Blast GS

Yield: 1 quart

2 cups water

1 handful spinach
1 cup fresh pineapple

1 cup frozen blueberries

1 orange, peeled and seeded

1 Tbsp Hemp seeds

• Add all ingredients to a blender and blend together until smooth

Nutri-Tip:

• Blueberries have sky-high levels of antioxidants, which combat the damage done by inflammation. Anthocyanins, the natural plant compounds that give blueberries their deep colour, may have antidiabetic effects as well. And new research suggests blueberries may protect the heart muscle from damage.
• Pineapple contains the powerful enzyme bromelain which can ease inflammation, relieve pain and stimulate digestion.

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Herbal teas can be an ideal way to get the healing power of herbs into your everyday diet. If you enjoy drinking your daily cup of fresh herbal tea like I do, then adding nettle tea to a Green Smoothie may be the next logical step!

Stinging Nettle Tea GS

Yield: 1 quart

2 cups cold Nettle Tea

1 cup Spinach

1 mango, peeled and seeded

1 cup fresh pineapple, chopped

1" chunk of fresh ginger
1 Tbsp Hemp seeds
Optional:  Unpasteurized honey

• Make 2cups of Nettle Tea:  Fresh nettles (1 cup nettles in pot with 1 cup boiling water); Dried nettles (1 tsp dried nettles to 1 cup boiling water is a moderate dose) 
• Let the nettle tea steep a minimum of 10 minutes, then cool overnight
• Blend all ingredients together until smooth
• For a sweeter taste, simply add more pineapple or optional honey to taste

Nutri-Tip:

• Stinging Nettle has a well-earned reputation because of its high alkaline-mineral content (silicon and iron) and blood-building properties.
• Silicon is present in blood vessels, bones, cartilage, connective tissue, hair, ligaments, lungs, lymph nodes, muscles, nails, skin, teeth, tendons - nettles contain one of the highest levels of silicon found in any food.
• By neutralizing and flushing out acidic waste, nettles can help with weight management, and being high in iodine they can benefit the thyroid gland.
• Fresh nettles can be added to a blender drink, or boiled in a pot of water and poured through a strainer for tea. Putting fresh nettles through a juicer is another way of accessing the high-quality minerals and oils without being stung.
• Nettle leaves are usually collected, eaten and/or dried in May and June, just before coming into flower.

Day 1 - March 2013 GSC

Welcome to our Monthly Green Smoothie Challenge!

Next month the Two-Day GSC will be on April 15 and 16 - mark your calendar!
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 Sometimes it is nice to enjoy a light and refreshing drink first thing in the morning. This citrusy burst of flavours is a wonderful way to wake up your taste buds.

Citrus Refresher GS

Yield: 1 quart

 

2 cups young Thai coconut water

Meat from 1 young Thai coconut

1/4 of a fresh pineapple

1 pink grapefruit, peeled and seeded

1 orange, peeled and seeded

1/4 tsp Turmeric powder

2 large Chard leaves

• Blend all together in a high-speed blender
• If your regular blender will not puree the grapefruit and orange, simply use the fresh squeezed juice from each
• This GS has a refreshing light citrus flavour 
  

Nutri-Tip:

• Young Thai coconut water and meat, containing soluble fibre, soaks up water and forms a gel which can help slow down digestion.
• Coconut water is very beneficial for replacing fluid loss and can replenish the electrolyte composition in body fluids.
• Did you know that during World War II, doctors used the water in young coconuts for blood plasma? They discovered it is sterile, cool, easily absorbed by the body, and doesn't destroy red blood cells.

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Growing my own veggies makes me feel good, and fills me with joy when I go into the yard each morning to hand pick the tender leaves. This Red Russian kale plant was just bursting with life - so I took a picture!

Basic Kale GS

Yield: 1 quart

2 cups water

1 cup Red Russian Kale

1 cup sunflower sprouts

1 apple, chopped

1 banana, peeled
1" slice of fresh ginger
1 Tbsp Chia seeds

• Place ingredients (except chia seeds) into a blender and blend together until smooth
• After blending, now add Chia seeds and blend another 10 seconds only to prevent the Chia seeds from being ground into a powder, which can catch in your throat
• Let blended mixture sit for 10 minutes allowing the Chia seeds to plump up

Nutri-Tip:

• Chia seeds are 20% protein, 34% oil, 25% dietary fibre (mostly soluble that binds with fatty acids and prolongs stomach emptying time so that sugar is released and absorbed more slowly). The oil from Chia seeds contains a very high concentration of omega-3 fatty acid. Chia seeds are gluten-free!
• Ginger can be used to maintain normal blood circulation and remedy motion sickness. It can improve absorption by stimulating gastric and pancreatic enzyme secretion, is a natural treatment for colds and flu, and ginger is ideal for assisting digestion and food absorption.

March 2013 GSC Guidelines

Instead of a detox, or a fast, I prefer to refuel my body, and refresh my senses, by taking two days off each month from food and just drinking blender drinks containing an abundance of organic nutrient dense dark leafy greens, fruits, and water.

So from Mon March 18 until midnight March 19, I am drinking only Green Smoothies and eating fruit only for these 2 days! YOU'RE WELCOME TO JOIN ME!

2-DAY GREEN SMOOTHIE CHALLENGE:

• Each month I take 2 days to Regenerate, Reactivate, and Restore this body, mind, and spirit - and this is how I do it!
• I disconnect from cable TV, newspapers, radio, outside opinions, and material things
• I connect with nature, movement of energy, the Universe within, and the formless
• I give my digestive system a well deserved rest - drinking a blended drink requires less energy
• Each day I will post my Green Smoothie recipes, let you know how I am feeling, and share new awarenesses as they come
• A basic Green Smoothie is usually 60% organic fruit, 40% organic dark leafy greens (no starchy vegetables), and 2 cups water
• Combining starchy root vegetables with fruits can cause gas in the intestines
• Dark leafy greens are the only food group that helps digest other foods through stimulating the secretion of digestive enzymes - so greens can be combined with any other foods - from Victoria Boutenko
• During these 2 days (Mar 18 and 19) drink as many blenders full of Green Smoothie as you want - and trust me you will not feel deprived
• Contact me at ezrawliving@gmail.com with your questions!

Raw Simple Orange AB Dressing

Today I wanted something quick without much fuss . . . and this dressing made from all organic ingredients definitely fit the bill. Simply pour dressing over a bowl of mixed greens, a handful of Sunflower sprouts, a few orange slices, chopped Calimyrna figs, and unhulled Sesame seeds for a satisfying, nutritious lunch. 

Raw Simple Orange AB Dressing

2 oranges, peeled and seeded

2 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar

2 Tbsp Almond Butter

• High-speed blender:  blend until creamy
• Regular Blender:  use fresh squeezed orange juice for easier blending 
• This recipe is about as simple as it gets with tasty results . . . a creamy, slightly citrusy and tart salad dressing

Cooked Spicy Sweet Potato Leek Soup

It has been some time since I cooked a pot of soup (a really, really long time), but I do remember making delicious soups from simple healthy ingredients that were full bodied, creamy, and very good. When I made the switch to eating raw I didn't keep any of the old recipes . . . and here I am beginning anew but this time with a raw food perspective that I didn't have before.  

Adding cooked anything to my diet is a big change for me, but I have decided to include the odd pot of cooked soup while paying close attention to how I feel. My food ratios have been gradually shifting towards 80% raw and 20% cooked, as part of my Digestion Experiment, and so far all is good. 

Rather than using broth from a package, making my own broth was a simple and wholesome solution. Creating this soup was a fun process. I used fresh organic veggies, organic spices, purified water, and my own homemade organic sun-dried tomatoes. I am very pleased to share my first cooked soup creation with you . . . it is a keeper for me!  

Cooked Spicy Sweet Potato Leek Soup

Yield:  3 cups

 

Broth:

1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped

1/2 cup water

 

Soup:

2 cups water

2 small sweet potatoes, chopped

  (in Canada sweet potatoes are white inside, yams are orange)

1 leek, 1" thick, chopped

1 medium carrot, chopped

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes - from small Thai chili
  (red pepper flakes can be hot - you may want to start with 1/4 tsp)

1/2 tsp Himalayan salt

1/2 tsp Rosemary, ground (or other seasoning)

• To make broth:  Soak sun-dried tomatoes for 10 minutes in 1/2 cup water. Pour soaked sun-dried tomatoes together with the soak water into a blender and blend until creamy (I use a Tribest mini blender).
• To make soup:  In a soup pot, combine the broth (from blended sun-dried tomatoes), 2 cups water, sweet potatoes, leek, carrot, pepper flakes, salt and seasoning
• Cook over medium heat for only 15-20 minutes, just until the veggies are softened a bit (sweet potatoes cook quickly)
• Pour 3/4 of the soup from the pot into a large blender and blend until smooth
• If you leave some whole pieces of sweet potato and carrot in the 1/4 of the soup that is not blended, you will have a thick creamy soup with chunks of veggies
• Pour the blended 3/4 of the soup from the blender back into the soup pot
• Stir to mix with the remaining 1/4 of the soup in the pot and serve!