August 2013 ezine | Raw Food Week Edition
Transcription
August 2013 ezine | Raw Food Week Edition
AUGUST 2013 12 Where do you get your protein? 14 Raw food week schedule 24 YOGA, FOOD AND BEING YOUR BEST 27 TAHINI: A NUTRITIONAL POWERHOUSE 32 10 REASONS TO GO RAW From the Publisher This expanded edition of That’s Forkin’ Amazing! is chock full of ideas, recipes and useful information in celebration of the second annual Des Moines Raw Food Week. We are honored to have raw food luminaries, athletes and farming experts share their thoughts with us from all over the United States. In this issue, marathon runner Matt Frazier addresses the age-old “Where Do You Get Your Protein” question, while restaurateur, author and model Karyn Calabrese makes a case for microgreens in “Real Foods: Stop the Clock With Sprouts!” Local sustainability expert Matt Russell tells why it’s critical to view the food supply as a continuum in “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food.” Two of our guest contributors, Saskia Fraser and Russell James, are sending their wisdom from the United Kingdom; Saskia explores “Raw Food Energy For Busy Lives,” while Russell ponders “Are You Being Tested?” when others question your dietary protocol. The entire schedule for Des Moines Raw Food Week is located on page 14 of this edition. But you’ll want to keep this issue around long after Raw Food Week has ended, if only so you can test-drive such fabulous recipes as Amber Shea Crawley’s Pizza Kale Chips or Nomi Shannon’s Creamy Carrot Asparagus Soup. Aside from the valuable editorial, you’ll notice that we have introduced advertising into our pages. The people, practices and businesses represented here have joined forces with us to help spread a message of health and hope. I hope you will give our advertisers and sponsors a chance to win your trust. As always, because so many of you have recommended us to friends, our readership continues to grow. We’re within shouting distance of a monthly circulation of 3500, and we’re proud that so many of you have written in to say that you save your issues for future reference. Please keep your feedback coming! May all your forks in the road be delicious, 2 IN THIS ISSUE: Smoothies 04G—reen Jennifer Cornbleet ore Than Just Rabbit Food: 07MRaw food beyond salads! — Amber Shea Crawley Do You Get Your Protein?” 12“Where A no-meat athlete responds — Matt Frazier es Moines Raw Food Week 14DSchedule of Events 18Additional Free Events Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food: 30 Embracing the entire agriculture continuum — Matt Russell 10 Reasons to Go Raw 32 — Brigitte Mars Are You Being Tested? 34 — Russell James 36 Fork in the road Events Digest This! Are you 37 savoring ALL the flavors of life? — Nancy Lee Bentley Food Energy for Busy LiveS 21R—awSaskia Fraser Food and Being Your Best 24Y—oga, James Miller 27Tahini: A Nutritional Powerhouse — Nomi Shannon Fork on the road: 39 Fresh Cafe, West Des Moines Real Foods: Stop the 40 clock with sprouts! — Karyn Calabrese Green Smoothies By Jennifer Cornbleet Years ago, “smoothie” meant a sweet beverage made from fruit, fruit juice, ice and sometimes sugar and milk. Health-conscious people might have also included soy milk, yogurt, honey or added protein powder or other supplements. But in the new millennium, smoothies have undergone a revolution. The “green smoothie,” popularized by Victoria Boutenko in Green for Life, is a simpler and more healthful drink made by blending fresh fruits, leafy greens and water. Not too bitter and not too sweet, green smoothies are fresh, creamy and delicious. Kids love them, and so do people who typically shun green vegetables. Quick to make and consume, today’s green smoothies are the definition of ease and convenience. If green smoothies were the only rawfood recipes in your repertoire, you’d be making a substantial contribution to your health. Greens are nutritional powerhouses, containing vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, fiber, protein and even small amounts of essential omega-3 fatty acids. Greens are the most important food you can eat, but most people don’t get enough of them. For many, the challenge is making greens palatable and digestible. Greens have tough cellulose fibers and need to be chewed thoroughly. Chewing huge salads can be time consuming and arduous for the beginner, and they are not always easy to digest. Here’s where the blender comes in. It “chews” the greens for you, breaking down the cell walls and releasing the nutrients. So a green smoothie gives you all the goodness of greens without anything superfluous—no sugar or dairy products (as is often the case in conventional smoothies) and no salt or oil (as in many salad dressings). To make a green smoothie, start with a good blender. A high-speed model, such as a Vitamix, is ideal because it blends the greens (including tough stems) completely and allows you to make up to eight cups of smoothie. A basic blender will also work fine. You just need to remove tough stems, add a little more water and work in batches if you’re making a large amount. 4 Try an Apple-Banana Green Smoothie for an inexpensive drink made with common ingredients. A Garden Vegetable Green Smoothie is perfect when you want a savory alternative. You can improvise your own green smoothie by using your favorite ingredients. The basic formula for one (2-cup) serving is 2⁄3 cup of water, 2 cups of fruit and 2 cups of greens. Put the 2⁄3 cup of water in the blender first to allow for easy processing. If you are using very watery fruits, such as grapes, mango, melon or pineapple, you may not need as much water. Then add 2 cups of fresh or frozen fruit. (If you like, you can use the non-sweet “vegetable” fruits, such as cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini or a combination.) Finally, add 2 cups of coarsely chopped greens (remove tough stems, if necessary). The greens can be light (such as celery or romaine lettuce), medium (such as spinach or Swiss chard) or dark (such as kale, collard greens or dandelion greens). You can even include fresh herbs (such as parsley, mint or basil). If your palate isn’t used to greens, use fewer of them and be sure to include some of the lighter greens. Process all the ingredients on high speed until smooth, adding more water if needed. APPLE-BANANA GREEN SMOOTHIE Since apples and bananas are readily available, this smoothie is easy and affordable year-round. Equipment: Blender Yield: 3 cups, 2 servings Ingredients: 1 cup water 2 apples, unpeeled and chopped 1banana 2 cups chopped spinach or Swiss chard, packed 1 cup chopped kale or collard greens, packed Place all the ingredients in a blender and process on high speed until smooth. Stored in a sealed jar in the refrigerator, Apple-Banana Green Smoothie will keep for 24 hours. GARDEN VEGETABLE GREEN SMOOTHIE Not in the mood for a sweet-tasting breakfast? This vegetable-rich drink is savory, and it works well for lunch or dinner too. Equipment: Blender Yield: 4 cups, 2 servings Green smoothies make a great breakfast or even a light lunch or dinner. You might wish to double the recipe. This way, you can sip a large smoothie throughout the morning. Store the rest in the refrigerator and have it as an appetizer with lunch or dinner or as a mid-afternoon snack. Many green smoothies will keep for 24 hours. Ingredients: 1 cup water 1 ⁄2 zucchini, unpeeled and chopped 1 ⁄2 cucumber, unpeeled and chopped 1 tomato, chopped 2 stalks celery, chopped 1 ⁄2 apple, unpeeled and chopped 2 cups chopped Swiss chard, bok choy or spinach, packed 1 ⁄4 lemon, peeled Place all the ingredients in a blender and process on high speed until smooth. Stored in a sealed jar in the refrigerator, Garden Vegetable Green Smoothie will keep for 12 hours. Jennifer Cornbleet is a nationally recognized raw-food chef and instructor and a long-time faculty member at Living Light Culinary Institute in California. She lectures and holds classes in the San Francisco Bay Area and internationally. Her website, learnrawfood.com, is a comprehensive resource for online training and raw food recipes, information and products. 5 Did You Know? » Green Grounds has your meeting space. » Room for 45-50. Equipped with sound and large flat screen monitor. Perfect for networking groups, classes and offsite business meetings. » Free rental with minimum food purchase! Valley Junction’s Natural and Organic Coffee Shop Call to reserve the space today. Breakfast / Lunch / Light Dinner / Raw Treats No GMO / No HFCS / Locally Sourced / Real Food 117 5th St West Des Moines, IA 50265 | (515) 633-2326 | www.facebook.com/greengroundscafe 6 More Than Just Rabbit Food: Raw food beyond salads! By Amber Shea Crawley I have a confession to make: I am a raw/vegan chef and cookbook author and a high-raw foodist, and I don’t care much for salads. For my entire life, I’ve had a hard time stomaching the bare taste and, especially, texture of most leafy greens, at least in salad form. It’s true! As much as I’d like to, I just don’t often delight in a big pile of greens the way other raw foodies do. On the bright side, this “leaf aversion” of mine has led me to find numerous other ways to incorporate the stellar nutrition of greens into my daily diet. From the basics to a few unusual ideas, here are some creative ways to eat more leafy greens without chomping on salads all day long. Smoothies This one’s a no-brainer—every time you make a smoothie, be sure to throw in a handful of spinach or a couple de-stemmed kale or chard leaves. If you’re worried about altering the taste of your smoothie (especially when using tougher greens such as kale), include a handful of fresh or frozen berries. I find that seedy varieties, such as raspberries and blackberries, do an excellent job of covering up the taste of greens. fibrous leafy green into a delectable finger food. Eating a whole pile of greens can be as easy as picking up a storebought bag of raw kale chips, or–even better–making your own! (I included an entire chapter on kale chips in my cookbook Practically Raw.) Using cashews, sunflower seeds or hempseeds as a base, blended together with vegetables, herbs, spices or even sweeteners, the possibilities for kale chip flavors are endless. Wraps Discovering raw wraps was a green revelation for me. Dollop some of your favorite ingredients or fillings onto romaine leaves, de-stemmed collard or Swiss chard leaves, Belgian endive or cabbage leaves, and you have handheld party food at its finest. A couple of my favorites are raw taco nutmeat, nacho cheeze and salsa in romaine leaves, and raw hummus, sundried tomatoes, diced cucumber and Kalamata olives in collard leaves. Soups and Sauces Similar to smoothies, puréed raw soups and sauces are a great vehicle for leafy greens. Sure, it’ll change the color a little, but the added nutrition will more than make up for that. Blend one or two de-stemmed kale or chard leaves into your next savory raw soup, or include a handful of spinach or beet greens in a batch of raw marinara sauce. Juice When I first started juicing, I couldn’t believe how much I enjoyed green drinks! I love to make myself a tall glass of green juice first thing in the morning. My favorite blend is romaine lettuce, kale (stems and all!), cucumber, celery (including the nutritious, leafy tops), green apple or pear, lemon and ginger. Pesto Pesto can be made with more than just basil! Replace half (or more) of the basil in any pesto recipe with the leafy green of your choice. I find that tender baby spinach tastes best to me, but feel free to get adventurous and experiment with stronger-tasting greens, such as arugula, watercress or mustard greens. (Hint: change up the nuts and herbs too! Instead of pine nuts, try walnuts or pistachios, and/or use parsley or even cilantro in place of basil.) Kale Chips Is there anything better than crunchy, snackable, raw kale chips? When encased in a delicious coating and dehydrated until crisp, kale morphs from a Hummus and Guacamole Just half a cup of spinach in your next batch of hummus will lend it a lovely green hue (not to mention bonus micronutrients) without 7 PIZZA KALE CHIPS adding any unwanted bitterness. Similarly, if you purée your guacamole (as opposed to fork-crushing it), a handful of leafy greens makes a great addition. I also love to use romaine or butter lettuce leaves in place of chips or crackers to scoop up my hummus and guac. Kimchi Cabbage definitely counts as a leafy green! Get your daily dose in the form of kimchi, an often-spicy, fermented Korean condiment, commonly made of napa cabbage. Scoop some into a wrap or on top of raw “stirfried” vegetables. Sauerkraut and coleslaw are two more great ways to enjoy this nutritious crucifer. Garnishes A great way to hide leafy greens in plain sight is to very finely shred them and sprinkle them into or on top of other dishes. I combine broccoli stems, watercress and flat-leaf parsley in my food processor and pulse them to oblivion, then use them like a garnish. Include a bit of nutritional yeast, fresh garlic and/or sea salt for extra flavor. Chocolate Yes, seriously! A mild, green-like spinach will blend seamlessly into chocolate desserts, while the assertiveness of the cacao will disguise any hint of leafiness. Try adding a handful next time you make chocolate mousse, a chocolate milkshake or even raw chocolate frosting or ganache. As you can see, despite living a low-salad lifestyle, I still provide my body with plenty of leafy green nourishment on a daily basis. Even if you’re a bona fide salad lover, try adding a few of these ideas into your rotation—the fact is, when it comes to greens, there’s no such thing as too much! If you’re at all unsure about the gustatory merits of kale chips, try this recipe first. You’ll be shocked at how outrageously fantastic these pizza-flavored crunchers are. NEED TO Equipment: Blender, Dehydrator Yield: 4 servings SUBSTITUTE? Sunflower seeds: cashews or Brazil nuts Hempseeds: ⁄4 cup sunflower seeds, soaked additional sunflower seeds or cashews for 2 to 4 hours and drained 1 Red bell pepper: ⁄4 cup hempseeds 1 medium ripe tomato, 1 ⁄4 cup nutritional yeast cored, seeded and chopped 1 ⁄4 cup sundried tomatoes, soaked Oregano: dried basil for 30 minutes and drained 1 ⁄2 large red bell pepper, seeded and chopped 1 clove garlic, peeled 2 tablespoons lemon juice 2 tablespoons filtered water 1 ⁄2 teaspoon dried oregano 1 ⁄2 teaspoon fennel seeds 1 ⁄2 teaspoon sea salt 1 ⁄4teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional) 1 bunch kale, tough stems removed, roughly chopped (6 to 8 cups) 1 Combine all ingredients except kale in a high-speed blender and blend until smooth, adding a splash of water if needed to blend. In a large bowl, combine the kale and the pizza sauce. Use your hands to massage the sauce all over the kale, making sure it’s coated completely. Make it Raw: Arrange the kale in a single layer on a Teflex-lined dehydrator tray. Dehydrate for 8 hours or overnight, until crisp. Make it Baked: Preheat the oven to 300°F and grease a baking sheet with coconut oil. Arrange the kale in a single layer on the baking sheet and bake for about 15 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and use a fork or spatula to carefully flip the kale chips over (it’s ok if you miss a few). Bake for 5 to 10 more minutes, watching carefully to make sure the kale doesn’t burn, then remove from the oven and let cool completely. Per serving: 188 calories, 10g fat (1g sat), 17.5g carbs, 5g fiber, 11.3g protein Amber Shea Crawley is a classically-trained chef, linguist and writer in Kansas City, Missouri. Specializing in healthful plant-based food, Amber is the author of the vegan cookbooks Practically Raw and Practically Raw Desserts as well as the e-book The REAL FOOD Cleanse. She blogs at www.chefambershea.com and can also be found on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram. 8 marketing strategy goals budget brand wouldn’t it be great to have a blueprint for successfully marketing your business? Introducing the Cooper Smith and Company Marketing Blueprint. one session. one plan. one successful year. Learn more at coopersmithco.com or contact [email protected] to schedule. “it’s the best shot you will ever have in your life.” AUG 18-24, 2014 RawFoodWeek.com 100% pure organic locally grown wheatgrass Find us at the Downtown Farmers’ Market Shots • Smoothies • Salads • Wraps & More SAVE THE DATE 9 10 Windsor Heights Community Center Colby Park, 6900 School Street, Windsor Heights The Fleur Theater 4545 Feur Drive, Des Moines Orders due at 5:00 p.m. RFW Carry-Out Cost: $35 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. Cost: $5 Raw and Refined: A Community Dinner Cost: $20 Walnut Ridge Senior Community Center 1701 Campus Drive, Clive Michele Beschen presents “A Raw eXchange” (WoW Luncheon) 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Cost: Free of charge Adio Chiropractic 2925 Ingersoll Avenue, 2nd floor, Des Moines 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Meals that Heal with Dr. Jean Lorentzen 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. RFW Carry-Out Pickup $10/advance | $15/door $10/advance | $15/door Des Moines University, Windsor Heights Student Education Community Center Center Auditorium, Colby Park, 6900 School Street, 3200 Grand Avenue, Windsor Heights Des Moines 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Do You Really Have the Guts to Be Healthy? with Nancy LEE Bentley Cost: Free of charge Vom Fass 883 42nd Street, Des Moines 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. “Switchel” It Up Cost: Free of charge $10/advance | $15/door Meredith Conference Core 1716 Locust Street, Des Moines 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Raw Food Made Easy with Jennifer Cornbleet Cost: Free of charge Campbell’s Nutrition 4040 University Avenue, Des Moines Whole Foods Market 4100 University Avenue, West Des Moines 117 5th Street, West Des Moines Cost: Free of charge Noon – 1:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Noon – 1:00 p.m. Green Grounds presents: Cost: Free of charge The Juice Company 845 42nd Street, Des Moines Juice Blend Tasting 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Whole Foods Market 4100 University Avenue, West Des Moines Noon – 4:00 p.m. Raw Food Sampling Cost: Free of charge Jennifer Cornbleet Booksigning $69/advance $85/door Back Country Outfitters 2702 Beaver Avenue, Des Moines Easing Into Raw Foods with Katie den Ouden Mills Civic Hy-Vee 555 South 51st Street, West Des Moines 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. 24th SATURDAY Raw Food in a Flash: a Private Class with Jennifer Cornbleet 10:00 a.m. – Noon and Raw Breakfast Back Country Outfitters Presents: A Style Show 23rd FRIDAY Essential Oils and their role in Health Cost: Free of charge Kraline Low-impact Yoga Fork in the Road Presents: Sheree Clark’s Raw Tips, and a Shot of Juice! 9:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Tricks and Practical Pointers R Studio 11:30 a.m.– 1:00 p.m. 6500 University Avenue, Suite 203, Windsor Heights Des Moines Central Library 1000 Grand Avenue, Cost: Free of charge Meeting Room #3 Des Moines 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Spinal Hygiene 22nd THURSDAY 21st WEDNESDAY 20th TUESDAY Movie Night: “HUNGRY FOR CHANGE” Cost: Free of charge Des Moines Central Library 1000 Grand Avenue, Des Moines 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. RFW Orientation and Sampling w/ Chef Brandy and Sheree with beverage samples by The Juice Company 19th MONDAY CALENDAR of Events Cost: Free of charge Kris’ Hot Yoga 724 Alices Road, Waukee 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Detox Flow Class $10/advance | $15/door Location provided to registrants Noon – 1:00 p.m. RAW 21: An Orientation Event with Sheree Clark 25th SUNDAY Sample our juice cleanse drinks at these Raw Food Week events: Raw juice cleanses are super healthy. Monday, august 19 11:30 am to 1 pm Central Library Sample vegetable-based drinks & fruit blends from our standard juice fast. saturday, august 24 1 pm to 4 pm In-store tasting event of all the drinks included in the Dr. Oz three day juice cleanse. We’re just off the freeway in The Shops At Roosevelt, 845 42nd Street, Des Moines, Iowa. | open 7 days a week. inaugural issue october 2013! Pick up a copy at the Iowa City Yoga Festival October 11-13, or your local yoga studio. Interested in contributing, distributing, or advertising? Contact Angela at 515.979.5585 or [email protected] 11 “Where Do You Get Your Protein?” A no-meat athlete responds By Matt Frazier Try something for me. Tell a friend you’re thinking about going vegetarian, or that you already are, and listen to what he or she says. If it’s not “Where do you get your protein?,” I’d be pretty surprised. Vegetarians and vegans—athletes, especially—hear the protein question all the time. We hear it so often, in fact, that we tend to forget that some people really do want to know the answer and aren’t just aiming to poke holes in our silly, granola-crunchy performance diet plan. What do we really need? Personally—and I admit, subjectively—I think multiplying your body weight in pounds by 0.4 gives a nice number to shoot for in terms of grams of protein per day. So, for example, a 150-pound person would want to consume 60 grams of protein per day. Some successful endurance athletes, such as Michael Arnstein (see the Fruitarian.com), get as little as 5% of their calories from protein. Since a gram of protein contains about four calories, that’s less than 35 grams of protein a day for a 2500-calorie-per-day diet! At the other extreme are athletes like vegan bodybuilder Robert Cheeke (see veganbodybuilding.com), who gets much of his protein from soy products, primarily tofu and tempeh. Some of his meal plans prescribe up to 25% of daily calories from protein. As you can see, it’s possible for successful vegetarian and vegan athletes to thrive on a wide range of protein intake levels. 12 * A little protein, often My approach is to make sure I include a protein-rich food with every serving of food. If I don’t, it’s just too easy to slip into a routine of eating a mound of carbohydrates and calling it a vegetarian meal. So what does this mean in terms of actual foods? Try these: • Add protein powder to your smoothie. (10-15 g protein) • Load up on lentils. (18 g protein per cup) • Snack on hummus on a whole wheat pita. (10 g protein) • Put nuts and seeds on salad or eat them alone as a snack. (5-6 g protein per handful) • Try quinoa as part of a main dish or a side. (11 g protein per cup) •Occasionally incorporate good-quality soy products, such as tempeh. (30 g protein per cup) The point isn’t to get you to start counting protein grams throughout the day—I certainly don’t do that. But you can see just how easy it is to get the protein you need, especially when you factor in all the other foods you eat that contain small but significant amounts of protein, such as avocados, kale and broccoli. Mix it up! Getting your nutrients from a variety of sources is important: Don’t just pick one go-to food as your protein source. Different foods contain different amino acids, so we need a variety of them to get all the amino acids that our body doesn’t produce. What’s more, getting all your protein from a single source is almost always problematic. For example, if you pick soy as your primary protein source, you’ll deal with whatever health concerns there are with soy. Try to get all your protein from nuts, and you’ll eat way more calories and fat than is healthy. Get it from only beans, and you may consume an excess of the enzyme inhibitors in beans that make digestion difficult. Now you know So now the next time someone asks where you get your protein, you’ll be prepared to answer. Plant-powered endurance athletes the world over are proving that as a no-meat athlete, you can thrive in life and excel at your sport. If you do vegetarian protein right, you won’t need many pills or powders. Matt Frazier is a vegan marathoner and ultrarunner, author and founder of the blog No Meat Athlete (www.nomeatathlete.com), where he shares training tips, plant-based nutrition advice, recipes and the occasional dose of inspiration with hundreds of thousands of readers each month. Matt’s first book, No Meat Athlete: Run on Plants & Discover Your Fittest, Fastest, Happiest Self is due in stores October 2013. MaxiMize your health, MaxiMize your life! Maximized Living is a proven, medication-free way of approaching your health, your healthcare and your lifestyle. Powered by hundreds of dedicated chiropractors, the Maximized Living system targets and eliminates the root of many health problems and helps ensure that you know how to make life-long wellness changes. Fight the causes of chronic disease. Contact us today and maximize your health! Jeffery Stickel, D.C. Christian Abrams, D.C. 2925 Ingersoll Ave. 2nd Floor, Des Moines, IA 515-255-3021 www.adiochiropracticclinic.com ON A JOURNEY to good health? Have you tried numerous times to lose weight, quit smoking or change lifestyle behaviors with little to no long-term success? Your emotions, attitudes and behaviors could be creating road blocks. Shari Hudson, certified Holistic Health & Nutrition Practitioner and Lifestyle Coach, can help. Through her non-threatening, nonjudgmental coaching methods, you’ll get to the root of your road blocks. She will hold you accountable and support you as you make small baby step changes that over time will move you toward your goals. Shari Hudson, Holistic Journeys Treating the whole person — physically, emotionally, and spiritually. [email protected] | 515-321-4756 * 13 Are You ready To Make a Change? I’m Sheree Clark, founder of Des Moines Raw Food Week. I organized this week-long celebration simply to de-mystify the practice of eating healthy, fresh, whole foods. You see, I am a health coach and nutritionist. I help people get more out of life by helping them regain their vitality and zeal. If you’re ready to have more energy, look better, stabilize your weight and address chronic health issues, call me. Oh, and don’t worry: You don’t have to eat raw food 100% of the time or anything like that, I promise. Let’s talk! May all your forks in the road be delicious, Anyone who attends a Des Moines Raw Food Week event will be entered into a drawing for a $250 gift certificate to Campbell’s Nutrition. (The more events you attend, the better your chances of winning this valuable prize!) Monday, August 19 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Raw Food Week Orientation and Tasting Chef Brandy Lueders and Sheree Clark with beverage samples by The Juice Company Des Moines Central Library 1000 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA Cost: Free of charge Raw Food Week Founder Sheree Clark will walk you through the scheduled events, while guest chef Brandy Lueders offers a special tasting from the official raw food week carry-out menu. An overview of Raw Food Week’s activities will be given at 11:45 a.m. and repeated at 12:30 p.m. Preregistration is requested, but all are welcome. To register: MeetUp.com/RawFoodDSM/ ________________________________________________ 7:00 p.m. Whether you are already “raw,” or are simply interested in incorporating additional healthy and beautiful foods into your lifestyle, the events we’ve put together for you will get you thinking differently about what’s on the end of your fork. Come join other curious Iowans to taste and learn! For additional information, go to RawFoodWeek.com or email [email protected]. Also, please like us at Facebook.com/RawFoodWeekDesMoines! 14 Cinema Presentation Hungry for Change Directed by James Colquhoun and Laurentine ten Bosch The Fleur Cinema 4545 Fleur Drive, Des Moines, IA Cost: $5 Hungry For Change exposes shocking secrets the diet, weight loss and food industries don’t want you to know about—deceptive strategies designed to keep you coming back for more. Find out what’s keeping you from having the body and health you deserve and how to escape the diet trap forever. Tuesday, August 20 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Michele Beschen presents: The Raw eXchange Women of Worth Luncheon Celebrates Raw Food Week Walnut Ridge Senior Community Center 1701 Campus Drive, Clive, IA An Official Sponsor of Raw Food Week! Thursday, August 22, 5:30 – 6:30 pm “Easing into Raw Foods” with Katie Den Ouden Cost: $20 Reservations required, visit MeetUp.com/RawFoodDSM/ Saturday, August 24, 12:00 – 4:00 pm Sampling Saturday: Raw Foods Naturalist, do-it-yourselfer, creative artist Michele Beschen demonstrates the simple day-to-day eXchanges that can lead to a healthier life. See what can happen when you eXchange the grocery store for your own backyard. Learn some ways you can naturally eXchange everyday clutter for genuine peace of mind. Gain knowledge of the price you pay for convenience, and explore what doing it yourself might look like. A chef-prepared raw vegan lunch will be served. ___________________________________________________ 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Raw and Refined Community Dinner Windsor Heights Community and Events Center Colby Park, 6900 School Street, Windsor Heights, IA Cost: $35 Reservation required, visit MeetUp.com/RawFoodDSM/ Celebrate the rawsomeness of Des Moines Raw Food Week while you treat yourself to a luscious, gourmet, raw vegan dinner. Let us capture your heart and soul with this bounty of great food and vibrant health. With each successive course, you’ll become more convinced that raw food is life-enhancing and delicious! Adult beverages will be available for purchase. YOUR HOSTS: Sheree Clark Chef Bill Overdyk Fork in the Road Gateway Market 4100 University Avenue Facebook.com/WholeFoodsIowa Twitter.com/WholeFoodsIowa 15 Wednesday, August 21 Friday, August 23 Do You Really Have the Guts to Be Healthy? Jennifer Cornbleet book signing and raw food sampling event Nancy Lee Bentley presentation Co-sponsored by Agri-Culture Campbell’s Nutrition 4040 University Avenue, Des Moines, IA Windsor Heights Community and Events Center Colby Park, 6900 School Street, Windsor Heights, IA Cost: Free of charge 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Cost: $10 advance | $15 at the door To register: MeetUp.com/RawFoodDSM/ Nancy Lee Bentley is an internationally-celebrated, Wholistic Health Expert and author of Truly Cultured (naturally fermented foods) and Dr. Mercola’s Total Health Program. This healthy foods celebrity chef has done just about everything you can do with food, including baking Prince’s purple-topped birthday cake and developing wheat-free recipes for Cher. Nancy says that it literally takes GUTS—a healthy GI tract and good lifestyle choices—to be healthy. With her trademark direct approach, Nancy reminds us that in the face of busy lives, GMOs and politically-motivated food laws, it takes courage to be healthy! _________________________________________________ Thursday, August 22 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Meals that Heal Dr. Jean Lorentzen, DO Des Moines University, Student Education Center Auditorium 3200 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA Cost: $10 advance | $15 at the door To register: MeetUp.com/RawFoodDSM/ Dr. Jean Lorentzen, DO, is passionate about the role nutrition plays in good health. In this candid and enlightening presentation, you’ll hear startling information about how prescription and over-the-counter drugs can deplete your body’s nutritional balances. More importantly, you’ll learn what you can do about it, including which foods can help reverse symptoms of chronic illness and disease. 16 Noon – 1:00 p.m. Jennifer Cornbleet is a nationally recognized raw-food chef. Her best-selling book, Raw Food Made Easy for 1 or 2 People is newly updated and expanded. Meet Jennifer and pick up a copy of the book, which features over 100 foolproof recipes using common ingredients. Plan to partake in a variety of free samples available at this special Raw Food Week event! 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Raw Food Made Easy With Jennifer Cornbleet, co-sponsored by Campbell’s Nutrition Meredith Conference Core 1716 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA Cost: $10 advance | $15 at the door To register: MeetUp.com/RawFoodDSM/ Well-known raw food chef and author Jennifer Cornbleet will be sharing the secrets to flavorful, healthful meals made without cooking and without processed ingredients. In an unforgettable presentation packed with time-saving tips and essential techniques, Jennifer will prove that you don’t have to toil in the kitchen in order to enjoy mouthwatering meals made with delicious, all natural fruits and vegetables. Includes a delicious dessert sample. Saturday, August 24 10:00 a.m. – Noon Raw Food In A Flash: Easy Breakfasts, Lunches, and Dinners with Jennifer Cornbleet Private class, limited enrollment Mills Civic Hy-Vee Kitchen Classroom 555 South 51st Street, West Des Moines, IA C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Cost: $69 advance | $85 at the door includes materials and food samples Registration requested: visit MeetUp.com/RawFoodDSM/ A fast-paced, information-packed, two hour class devoted to a new way of looking at food. You’ll learn the basics of raw foods, pick up tips and techniques that get you in and out of the kitchen fast and sample everything that’s being made! This is a rare opportunity to learn from a true culinary pioneer. Seating is limited. _________________________________________________ What’s Next? RAW 21: a 3-week challenge Sunday, August 25 Noon – 1:00 p.m. Raw 21 Orientation Location provided to registrants Cost: $10 advance | $15 at the door Want to continue your “test drive” of the raw vegan lifestyle after Raw Food Week? RAW 21 is an on-line program, designed to help you break old thought and behavior patterns related to nutrition. Each day for three weeks, you will receive a comprehensive lesson around a different topic, such as juicing, emotional eating, cleansing and more! Holistic Health Coach Sheree Clark, M.Ed., AADP, CHHC is your guide for the program, which begins on August 26th. Tuition for RAW 21 is $147 (only $7 a day!). This orientation session is designed to answer your questions. Refreshments served. For more information, visit www.meetup.com/RawFoodDSM The Grateful Chef real.healthy.delicious food gourmet meals prepared weekly available as a personal chef, private dinners & small caterings Chef Brandy Lueders ~ [email protected] http://www.thegratefulchefdsm.com 17 ADDITIONAL EVENTS Several area businesses are holding events in conjunction with Raw Food Week. For more information, contact the business directly. All of these events are free of charge. Tuesday, August 20 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Spinal Hygiene Change your life with Maximize Living principles! Adio Chiropractic 2925 Ingersoll Avenue, 2nd floor, Des Moines (515) 255-3021 or adiochiropracticclinic.com Thursday, August 22 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Fork in the Road Presents: Sheree Clark’s Raw Tips, Tricks and Practical Pointers Cost: Free of charge Des Moines Central Library 1000 Grand Avenue, Des Moines (515) 249-2992 ______________________________________ Cost: Free of charge Wednesday, August 21 ____________________________________________ 9:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Kraline Low-impact Yoga and a Shot of Juice! Easing Into Raw Foods with Katie den Ouden Toning, balance, and core workout done on a yoga mat with light dumbbells R Studio 6500 University Avenue, Suite 203, Windsor Heights (515) 727-5300 or rstudiofit.com Whole Foods Market 4100 University Avenue, West Des Moines Space limited to first 25. To register call (515) 343-2600 or visit Customer Service desk. Cost: Free of charge Cost: Free of charge ____________________________________________ 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. “Switchel” It Up This Summer A demo of quick and easy vinegar beverages, perfect as a refreshing summertime drink Vom Fass 883 42nd Street, Des Moines (515) 244-5020 Cost: Free of charge ____________________________________________ Noon – 1:00 p.m. Essential Oils and Their Role in Health Green Grounds Cafe 117 5th Street, West Des Moines (515) 633-2326 Cost: Free of charge 18 ORDER IN THIS WEEK: Official Raw Food Week Carry-Out Menu Brandy Lueders, Grateful Chef Each week Chef Brandy Lueders creates a menu of entrees, sides and desserts for pre-order and pickup. In recognition of Raw Food Week, Brandy’s menu offering is entirely raw and vegan. » Orders are due by 5:00 p.m. Monday, August 19. » Pickup is Wednesday, August 21 between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. » To see the menu and to get more info, visit thegratefulchefdsm.com before August 19. Friday, August 23 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Raw Food Week 2013 is presented by: Back Country Outfitters Presents: A Style Show and Raw Breakfast Back Country Outfitters 2702 Beaver Avenue, Des Moines Reservations requested (515) 255-0031 Cost: Free of charge ____________________________________________ Through her health counseling practice Fork in the Road, Sheree Clark will help you unlock the healing power of delicious foods found right in your grocery store. Saturday, August 24 Noon – 4:00 p.m. Raw Foods Sampling Whole Foods Market 4100 University Avenue, West Des Moines (515) 343-2600 Cost: Free of charge ____________________________________________ Saturday, August 24 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Juice Blend Tasting Fruit and vegetable juices, hand-squeezed lemonades The Juice Company 845 42nd Street, Des Moines (515) 334-9917 Cost: Free of charge ___________________________________________ Sunday, August 25 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Detox Flow Class Campbell’s Nutrition is the source for local, organic food in Des Moines, Iowa, and carries a broad range of health promoting products, including vitamins and supplements. Sponsors: Adio Chiropractic Agri-Culture Back Country Outfitters Cooper Smith & Company Green Grounds Café Kris’ Hot Yoga R Studio The Juice Company Vom Fass Whole Foods West Des Moines Kris’ Hot Yoga 724 Alices Road, Waukee (515) 778-5499 Cost: Free of charge 19 With Thanks The 2013 Des Moines Raw Food Week would not have been possible without the help of these people and organizations: Adio Chiropractic Agri-Culture Back Country Outfitters Campbell’s Nutrition Cooper Smith & Company Green Grounds Café Kris’ Hot Yoga R Studio The Juice Company Vom Fass Whole Foods The 2013 Des Moines Raw Food Week Committee: Brooke Benschoter, Linley Bruess, Sheree Clark, Sally Cooper Smith, Sylvia DeWitt, Phyllis Jessen, Tracy Levine, Brandy Lueders, Debra Peckumn, Laura Reynolds, Jennifer Ruisch, Samantha Smith, Molly Spain REGISTER NOW » meetup.com/RawFoodDSM/ 20 Raw Food Energy for Busy Lives By Saskia Fraser When I first became interested in raw food, I found it hard to find recipes that were quick, easy and delicious. There were plenty of recipes that were delicious, but they had ingredients lists as long as my arm and took a great deal of time to prepare (sometimes days, with soaking, dehydrating, mixing, then dehydrating again). Raw food made so much sense to me, and I knew there had to be an easier way. And so started my exploration of how to make raw food quick and easy for people with busy lives like me! It isn’t necessary to be 100% raw to experience the energizing effects of raw food. By focusing on introducing more raw food into your diet every day, you will experience greater energy, clarity and motivation. Energizing yourself is also about cutting down on the daily intake of toxic foods that are hard for your body to process and that tax your adrenal glands. About energy Digesting takes more energy than any other single process in the body. By eating raw food, you include food enzymes in your diet, which naturally aid digestion, freeing up precious energy to heal and regenerate your cells. Food enzymes are only present in foods that haven’t been heated more than 105 degrees Fahrenheit. The majority of cooked foods contain 40-70% less vitamins and minerals than their raw counterparts. By eating raw foods every day, you are naturally increasing your vitamin and mineral intake by up to 70%. Over a lifetime of eating cooked and processed foods, our bodies get “silted up” with toxic waste. By reducing the amount of contaminants we ingest on a daily basis, we give the body a chance to rid itself of stored toxins from our previous lifestyle. The blood can only contain a finite amount of toxins. When there are too many pollutants for our eliminatory organs (liver, kidneys, bowels, lungs, skin) to deal with, our body will parcel the toxins away somewhere “safe” until the blood is clean enough to process these toxins out of the body for good. This safe zone is in our intercellular fluid and our fat cells, which is why healthy and long term weight loss is a common effect of eating raw food: Your body no longer needs the fat as a place in which to store toxins. We are what we eat Our bodies are continually regenerating and renewing cells. The cells of our intestinal lining are renewed every 2 to 30 days; our skin cells are renewed every 21 to 30 days; our red blood cells, every 90 to 120 days; muscles take 6 months to 3 years to be fully renewed; our tissues cells take 1 to 7 years, and our bones 8 months to 4 years. The matter that makes up these new cells comes from what we eat, drink and breathe. It makes sense that if we eat inferior food, our bodies will not function as well because they are made from inferior matter. Raw Food and emotional energy When eating a diet high in raw foods, you will experience much greater emotional balance. Having a cleaner system and sustained blood sugar levels helps reduce mood swings, depression, anger and irritation. Emotions stored at a cellular level are released, aiding healing on an emotional and physical level, releasing grief and trauma. As we eat more raw, our natural clarity and mental sharpness begins to emerge. Our brain cells become cleaner, improving foggy brain, toxininduced forgetfulness and emotional confusion. Through this emotional balance and clarity comes greater selfawareness, allowing us to understand ourselves and become more self-loving. 21 Five practical tips for busy lives Most of us want more energy and clarity, and we’d love it now! Here are my top five tips for increasing your energy when your life is busy. 1 2 3 Have a green smoothie or juice every day. Visit my website rawfreedom.co.uk for my favorite recipes! If you’re eating cooked food, make sure that at least half of your plate is salad. PEA AND MINT SOUP This is one of my favorite summer soups and is super quick and easy. Equipment: Blender Yield: 1 serving ⁄2 2 5 1 1 1 ripe avocado handfuls fresh or defrosted frozen peas mint leaves cup purified water green onion, white part only Unrefined salt, to taste Blend all ingredients until smooth and garnish with mint leaves. Snack on nuts, seeds and dried fruit instead of refined products, such as chocolate, cookies or chips. If you’re already on a high raw regime, snack on water-filled vegetables and fruit instead of eating too many nuts and dried fruit. 4 Reduce your intake of caffeine, sugar, alcohol, fried foods and wheat products. Replace any daily habits that include these. Drink herbal teas and plenty of water. Learn to relax without using alcohol (try a long soak in the tub or meditation when you get home from work). Replace fried foods and wheat products with healthy, gluten-free or raw alternatives. 5 Invest in a good blender. I use my blender every day to make raw smoothies, soups, patés and sauces, giving me a delicious meal in less than 10 minutes. Raw food is a lifestyle, not a diet, so take your time and enjoy exploring this energizing and empowering way of living. Saskia Fraser is an expert raw food mentor and life coach who has helped hundreds of busy, working women to experience greater energy, mental clarity and shining self-confidence. She offers one-on-one coaching programs and raw food detoxes, as well as telephone/Skype consultations and sample sessions so you can discover the magic of Raw Freedom for yourself. Visit her website, rawfreedom.co.uk, for free goodies and a lot more information about raw food. 22 » Get an initial consultation with holistic health coach Sheree Clark for just $35…a $50 value. If your dedication to your mind, body, and an overall healthy life is waning, it may be time to get some extra support. Because I understand how important it is to have encouragement during a time of transition, I would like to extend a special in honor of Raw Food Week, 30% off your initial consultation/health assessment with me. » Normally $50, if you mention the code RFW, you’ll pay just $35 for a one-hour preliminary consultation. Sheree Clark Holistic Health and Nutrition Coach fork-road.com » The appointment must be scheduled with me before August 25 (We can meet at a later date). If you feel as though you need a little push—or a big one—to get back on track with your health-related goals, this is your chance. Don’t wait—only a limited number of appointments are available. After August 25, the price goes back up to $50. Email [email protected]. Yoga, Food and BeingYour Best By James Miller You are what you eat. Who hasn’t heard that phrase? The original source of the often echoed concept translates more accurately to “man is what he eats” or even “tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are.” The more literally translated phrase then transcends the mere idea that healthy eating will lead to a healthy body, to include in its scope a healthy mind and spirit. Eating good quality food, therefore, would lead to the development of the whole human being. There was a time in my life when I was all but completely ignorant of this. I existed somewhat separately from my physical body, and I never for a moment connected my diet to the way I felt physically, mentally or emotionally. My body was young and a bit dumb. I wasn’t even remotely tuned in to the powerful forces that were evoked with each meal I ate, and the outcome was all but disastrous. At the age of 24—when I first discovered yoga—I was miserably tight, stiff and sore. My personality, not unlike my physical body, was rigid, and the effects this had in my life caused me, and the people I loved, great suffering. I can honestly say I do not know if I could have turned things around on my own. I needed something to teach me a new way to live. I needed something to show me what wasn’t working. I had no idea that anything was even wrong, but I think on some level, I realized I wasn’t happy. My yoga practice became my greatest teacher. As I spent time each day on my mat, I gradually learned important life lessons about the nature of who I am, 24 how I function and the power I have to consciously choose how I live my life. One of the most valuable lessons was simply how to eat. I learned that the way my body moved during my yoga practice had little to do with how much I had been practicing and much more to do with how well I had been eating. As a veteran personal trainer and experienced athlete, I had thought that inflexibility had everything to do with redundant movement patterns, but instead, I learned it had much more to do with inflammation. How did I learn this? By eating too much pizza. Once my practice had become very regular and I was rising early everyday to teach at 6:00 a.m., my practice quickly became an index of how I ate the night before. I became like a scientist, tracking how the foods I ate affected the way my body moved the next day. It became so clear! Pizza, while delicious, did not agree with my yoga. As my yoga practice became more and more important to me, I realized that pizza had to go. From pizza, I began to notice that all grains had an inflammatory effect on my body, as did dairy, sugar and soy. Through yoga, I had discovered the perfect tool to determine what foods did and did not agree with me, and I continue to refine my diet based on my observations to this day. Perhaps even more importantly, I noticed that I was also a happier, kinder person and more loving to the people in my life. The more I practiced, the more it became clear: Feeling good was making me a better person. When I ate well, I moved well, and when I moved well, I felt great! We truly are what we eat. I began to realize that I could choose who I wanted to be in the world by consciously making the small, seemingly insignificant choices more important— choices like what to eat or whether or not to practice on a particular day. Some might think, “it’s just a piece of pizza,” but to me, it’s so much more. What I choose to eat is a decision to offer the best person I can be to each and every situation I encounter, and each and every person I interact with. To me, that’s a decision worth making consciously. Maybe you’re finding it difficult to know what foods are best for your body. It can be a struggle to know what to do when there seems to be so many competing opinions and such a plethora of information available. Take it from me, learn to trust your body and use movement to discover what works. I know of no better index. If you already have a yoga practice, use consistency as a gauge of how your food affects your movement. If you don’t have a practice, consider starting one. For me, at this point in my life, I can’t imagine how I could ever do without one. James Miller is a former United States Marine, veteran personal trainer and licensed massage therapist. He has practiced yoga as his primary discipline for the past 15 years. A contemporary yogi, James is aware of the unique challenges presented by our culture, and his work integrates the needs of the present with the wisdom of the ancient traditions. In his role as a yoga educator, James has brought the message of yoga to literally thousands of students. He has personally trained and certified over 350 yoga teachers. Join us for an inspirational weekend of yoga, music and fun at the fourth annual iowa city yoga Festival. Register today! Early rEgistration discounts End august 31st! iowacityyogaFestival.com F es tival P rod uced By J ames m illeryo g a.c o m 25 We are a company based and founded in truth. We believe that in order to have health, we must heal our guts by choosing to eat foods that are high in “good” bacteria. Kombucha Tea Kimchi Cowboy Kimchi Vegan Kimchi Old School Sauerkraut Garlic Dill Sauerkraut Ginger Jalepeno Sauerkraut Chipotle Hummus Traditional Hummus PO BOx 524, Dallas Center, IOwa 50063 • (319) 400-2465 • lOve [email protected] Dr. Jean Lorentzen: specializing in care for women, including Dr. Jean Lorentzen, MD, DO Internal Medicine PC 2910 Westown Pkwy Ste 304 West Des Moines, IA 50266 (515) 225-7005 26 bio-identical hormones for women who seek alternatives to the synthetic hormones sold by large drug companies. “DrLorentzenistheonlymedicaldoctor thatIhaveeverseenthattakesthetime tofigureoutwhatisgoingonwithin yourbodyandfindtherighttreatment ratherthanmaskingsymptomswithdrugs. Sheisaone-of-a-kinddoctor,andIam verygladthatIfoundhertohelpmeget onapathtogoodhealthasIgrowolder.” Tahini: A Nutritional Powerhouse By Nomi Shannon Sesame seeds are best known as a topping for rolls and bread in North America, but in other parts of the world, they are an important source of high quality protein and edible oil. These tiny, light beige or black seeds are made up of 55% oil and 45% protein. The long shelf life of sesame oil is most likely due to its antioxidant properties. Whole sesame seeds are commonly ground into a butter called tahini, with a consistency a bit thinner than peanut butter. Available roasted or raw, the healthiest choice would be tahini made out of raw sesame seeds with nothing added, subtracted or refined, available ground from hulled or unhulled seeds The choice is a matter of preference, however. The unhulled variety could have more roughage than is desirable for some people. If the jar does not use the word “raw,” then assume it is made from toasted sesame seeds. A fascinating discovery created interest in tahini. During both World War II and the Korean War, Turkish aviators were well known for their physical and mental endurance. Upon investigation, it was discovered that tahini was an important part of their daily diet. Since then, growing interest in ethnic foods has introduced many people to hummus, a chickpea/tahini spread or dip that is a staple in the Middle East, and baba-ganouj, which contains eggplant and tahini. A nutritional powerhouse, tahini contains all the essential amino acids, making it a high quality protein, plus it is rich in lecithin, vitamin E and calcium. It is easily digestible because its high alkaline mineral content neutralizes the acid end products of the protein. Because of its non-acidic nature, tahini is an ideal protein source ORANGE TAHINI DRESSING This delightful light dressing only takes a few minutes to make. Its simplicity invites variation. Try adding 1-2 teaspoons tamari or 2 teaspoons poppy seeds and 1⁄4 teaspoon Chinese 5-spice powder. Yield: 20-24 pieces 2 ⁄2 1 1 1 ⁄4 1 ⁄8 1 tablespoons raw tahini cup fresh orange juice teaspoon dulse flakes teaspoon grated ginger root teaspoon cinnamon teaspoon unrefined salt Place the tahini in a small bowl. Add the orange juice gradually, blending it with the tahini. Add the dulse, ginger, cinnamon, curry and salt. HALVAH Halvah is a candy made from ground sesame seeds that is popular in the Middle East. For a lighter version, make this recipe with the almond pulp left over from making almond milk. (Use the almond pulp the day you make it.) Equipment: Food processor Yield: 1 serving 1 1⁄2 1 ⁄2 3 1 cups raw almonds cup raw tahini tablespoons honey, or 3-4 soaked dates teaspoon vanilla In a food processor, place almonds and process until finely ground. Add the tahini, honey and vanilla and process thoroughly. Press the mixture onto a plate or pan until it is 1⁄2” (1 cm) thick (don’t worry about filling the pan, just press the mixture to the correct thickness). Chill the halvah in the refrigerator for 1 hour or more, then cut into bite-sized pieces and roll into small balls. Variation: Add 3 tablespoons carob to mixture 27 FROZEN VANILLA BLISS for people with weak digestive systems, including invalids and young children. It is also an excellent source of quick energy for active people and athletes. This tastes very much like dairy soft serve ice cream, only better. The addition of carob or other fruit works very well in this recipe — let your imagination run wild! If you prefer a sweeter drink, add 1 or 2 soaked dates or a bit of maple syrup (which is not raw). Equipment: Blender Yield: 1 serving Raw tahini can be purchased online or in health food stores. Many stores carry only roasted sesame tahini, but if you ask them to carry raw tahini, they may comply because the same sources that manufacture the roasted tahini also make it raw. In the process of grinding the whole raw seeds into tahini, reputable companies keep the temperature of the grinding mechanism right around 100 degrees Fahrenheit, which is well below the 118 degrees it takes to kill enzymes. The jars are then immediately capped with a special lid, which creates a vacuum. There is no need for pasteurization or for the manufacturer to immerse the bottled, raw tahini into boiling liquids or steam. You should be getting raw tahini that really is a raw food product. Tahini is a useful food because of its healthful properties, pleasant taste and adaptability in recipes. At this point in time, it is also more economical than most nut butters. However, being a labor-intensive crop, as its popularity in the West increases, its price is likely to increase as well. Currently, a jar of tahini costs about one third less than a jar of almond butter. If you’ve never used it, now would be a good time to begin. You will be able to make many dressings, soups and main courses that take advantage of all tahini has to offer. 3 ⁄4 cup water 2 tablespoons raw tahini, or more to taste 1-2 frozen bananas, cut in chunks Dash vanilla (optional) Combine water, tahini, banana and vanilla in blender until thick and smooth. Serve immediately. CREAMY CARROT ASPARAGUS SOUP This could be called the king of soups. The fiber in the asparagus creates a delightful texture, and the tahini gives the soup a smooth quality. Do not use the woody ends of the asparagus; chop only the most tender part, about 2 inches from the end. Equipment: Blender Yield: 1 serving 1 cup carrot juice 1 cup coarsely chopped asparagus, or more to taste 2 heaping tablespoons raw tahini or almond butter 1 teaspoon chopped onion, or more to taste Nama Shoyu (a raw soy sauce) or celtic sea salt, to taste Dulse flakes, to taste In a blender, combine the carrot juice, asparagus, tahini, onion, nama shoyu and dulse flakes. Blend all the ingredients until smooth. Taste and adjust the seasonings. Variation: Heat soup in the top of a double boiler or over very low heat until it is warm to the touch. For extra spice, stir in 1⁄2 teaspoon wasabi powder. Or try it with a dash of curry powder or—for an East Indian flair—use some garam masala. Nomi Shannon is an award-winning author and world-renowned coach. Her book, The Raw Gourmet, has sold over 250,000 copies, making it one of the best-selling raw food books of all time. Raw for over 25 years and still going strong at age 70, Nomi’s website, rawgourmet.com, offers breakthrough information, product reviews, delicious recipes, an e-zine and an online course—all free of charge. She also offers online coaching courses, books, raw kitchen equipment, DVDs, phone consultations and live classes. 28 4040 Uni ve rsity Ave, De s Moi ne s — 2749 100th st, UrbAnDAle Campbellsnutrition.com des moines’ natural choice since 1938 Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food: Embracing the entire agriculture continuum By Matt Russell How we eat is intimately connected to how we farm. The “we” I speak of is both personal and all inclusive: It’s the we of my family and the we of all of humanity. However, in the United States, forces have been at work to convince eaters to distance themselves from the deep connection between growing food and eating food. Thinking along a continuum I like to think about food on a continuum. At one end of the scale is a highly industrialized, globally sourced and often very processed group of edibles that depend on a vastly industrialized agriculture. At the other end of the continuum is the food I grow in my garden and may even eat raw before getting it into the house. The two ends of this continuum have received a lot of attention in the past decade. This either/or dynamic has helped generate tremendous interest in food and agriculture from almost every demographic in the United States. From Baby Boomers to Millennials, food is on the brain more than it has been for several generations. People like dichotomies because it’s easy to camp up with your side against the opposing force. In this way, the either/or of American food and agriculture has worked well to motivate both ends of the continuum. Conventional farmers and supporters of these food sources rally around the technology, efficiencies and global scope of such foods. As an example, because strawberries are in season somewhere on the planet almost any day of the year, they can therefore be accessed anytime by American consumers and not limited to one summer month. Farmers growing and selling foods for a local audience— as their customers—boast of sustainability, freshness, variety, seasonality, taste and health. As an example, milk from happy, locally raised cows on pasture tastes better, is healthier and is better for the planet than milk from the cows in a factory farm. Each end of the gamut defends their position while taking shots at the other end. Variety is the spice of life Most of us eat along this continuum and not simply at one end or the other. Here’s how one Iowa family might eat: They garden during the summer. They buy Colorado peaches when they’re in season. They buy a hog from their local farmer and eat it from their freezer all year long. Their kitchen is stocked with pantry basics from the grocery store: salt, flour, sugar, oils, spices, pasta and vinegar. They eat several times a month in local restaurants, which feature some locally grown foods. However, most of the menu comes from global supply Matt Russell has been the State Food Policy Project Coordinator at the Drake University Agricultural Law Center since 2006. He is responsible for projects relating to improving the opportunities in Iowa’s food system and rural economy. Matt and his husband Patrick Standley operate Coyote Run Farm, a 110 acre farm in rural Lacona, Iowa. They market fresh produce, eggs and meat at farmer’s markets and other local outlets, as well as raise and sell mules. 30 kris’ hot yoga ~with hot barre JOIN US Aug. 25th 4-6pm FREE detox flow class sign up online at krishotyoga.com Call Us for more information on our 200 Hour Registered Yoga Teacher training. chains. They enjoy orange juice on a year-round basis. They buy their eggs from a local farmer who has the hens on pasture but also feeds them a commercial feed. This family looks to be enjoying a rich variety of foods delivered by modern agriculture, some of it local, some regional and some global in nature. They’re enjoying some fresh, seasonal foods, as well as some commodity staples. Fall/Winter training dates begin Sept. 2013 “The Hottest Workout in Town” www.krishotyoga.com 515.778-5499 Finding empowerment People are not empowered by blindly choosing and embracing one side of the food and agriculture continuum. Empowerment comes by developing a consciousness about the food we consume, and you can’t be conscious about food without also being aware of agriculture. A strategy for empowerment might be to reflect on all of our food and the fact that it just didn’t arrive on our plate. The food came from a farm. It might be a farm in our own back yard or down the road, in a neighboring state or from another part of the world. The more we know about these farms, the better choices we can make for ourselves, our communities and our planet. If we’re interested in food, we’d better also be interested in farms. Healthy, empowering food can come from the rich possibilities of diverse farms from around the world. But if we do not take the time to reflect on how our food is connected to farms, we risk being alienated from food and experiencing all of the unhealthy consequences that go with it. 31 10 Reasons to Go Raw By Brigitte Mars For the uninitiated, going raw might seem like a daunting task. However, for those who make the raw transition, there are many benefits. 1 2 Spiritual. Eating raw helps you better tune in to the universal plan and experience lots of synchronicity. If all our actions are of the highest possible vibration, God can more easily work through us. Living food promotes clarity and higher consciousness. Emotional stability and happiness increase as depression is dispelled. A raw food diet helps you feel emotionally healthier with a sense of well-being and vitality. E nvironmental. Less land is required to produce fruits and vegetables than animal products. Animals aren’t exploited when you eat a raw vegan diet. Think of all the energy saved from not cooking; less fuel, packaging and pollution! Most of what gets thrown away can be composted back to the earth. In many countries, cooking fires contribute to deforestation. 3 Flavor. The taste of raw food is vibrant, requiring fewer additives, such as salt, oils and sweeteners. Plus, there are more nutrients and fiber in raw food. Minerals are not leached out into the cooking water. 4 Beauty. Raw food diets slow down the aging process. You’ll feel better, have more energy and need less sleep. Bad breath and body odor go away. You will find you can easily normalize your weight without dieting. Eyes become brighter and your voice more clear. Skin and muscle tone improve. 5 Save Time. Once you get into the flow of raw food preparation, you will spend less time in the kitchen. Many raw foodists ascribe to the “5-5-5 rule:” No more than $5, five minutes or five ingredients to prepare a meal. Please check out my YouTube video, “Seven Minutes to go Raw”, where I make 7 raw dishes in under 10 minutes! Of course, it is totally possible to make raw food cuisine an art that requires the same amount of time, meditation and preparation as cooked food. But the bonus is that with a raw food approach, you never burn anything (including yourself)! Any recipe enjoyed as cooked can be even better raw. An apple by itself is delicious. When baked, it requires sugar, butter and spices to be tasty. 32 ... Living food promotes clarity and higher consciousness. 6 Nutrition. Every national health group (American Cancer Society, American Heart Institute, etc.) suggests we get at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily. There are more nutrients in the food when it is raw versus cooked. Some vitamins lose potency at 130 degrees Fahrenheit: Vegetables are usually steamed at 212 degrees. The fat-soluble vitamins, A, D, E and K are destroyed in cooking. High temperatures cause the destruction of vitamin C and most of the B complex. Vitamin B1 loss from cooking can be from 25 to 45%. Loss of vitamin B2 can be from 40 to 48%. Cooking disrupts the structures of DNA, and the anticancer compound indoles. Cooked food loses enzymes, which begin to be destroyed at 114 degrees. 7 ealth. A raw food diet can help you overcome H an array of annoying ailments. The raw path has been used to improve the health of those with allergies, arthritis, asthma, high blood pressure, cancer, diabetes, digestive disturbances, diverticulitis, fibromyalgia, heart disease, weakened immunity, menstrual problems, multiple sclerosis, obesity, psoriasis, skin conditions, hormonal imbalances and more. It is more difficult to camouflage spoiled raw foods than cooked foods, so you are unlikely to get food poisoning from eating fresh fruit or vegetables. No bottled supplement or prepackaged food can compare with the life force of fresh raw food. And don’t overlook the fact that raw food requires more chewing, which provides exercise for the teeth and gums. 8 9 10 E nergy. Most everyone will experience better work productivity and require less sleep when raw. Memory, ability to concentrate and reason become sharper. Rather than growing fatigued from breaking down hard to digest foods, you will have more energy, be happier, more beautiful and dynamic. E conomy. Raw foods cost less, with most raw foodists spending between 25 to 80% less on food. Better to spend money on good food as opposed to doctors, hospitals, medicine, vitamins and even recreational drugs! Getting sick is expensive. A raw foodist spends much less in restaurants. It takes less food to satisfy nutritional needs. Raw prevents overeating because you get to eat as much as you want (within reason, of course!). A big spinach salad, when cooked, becomes a measly portion. E asy cleaning. Imagine never having to clean the oven! Dirty dishes can simply go in the dishwasher after a simple swoosh. No more baked-on food, requiring soaking and scrubbing! Grease won’t collect on the walls, stovetop and ceiling. You’ll find that gentle, biodegradable cleaners actually do work. Never again leave the house and wonder, “Did I leave the stove on?” The raw movement is the future. By simply eating more raw food, you can experience a higher state of consciousness, better health and more beauty, while you eat more delicious food and save time, money and the planet’s resources. Why not say yes to raw? Brigitte Mars is a professional member of the American Herbalist Guild, and a nutritional consultant working with natural medicine for over 40 years. She teaches herbal medicine at Naropa University, Omega Institute, Boulder College of Massage, Bauman College of Holistic Nutrition and Culinary Arts, The School of Natural Medicine and others. Brigitte is the author of fourteen books, including The Country Almanac of Home Remedies, The Desktop Guide to Herbal Medicine, Beauty by Nature, Addiction Free Naturally, The Sexual Herbal, Healing Herbal Teas, and Rawsome! Visit her website, brigittemars.com. 33 Are You Being Tested? By Russell James You know the drill: You finally realize there are more options out there—that there’s a different way of doing things. You embark on a healthier lifestyle and embrace it with fervor. Without hesitation, you sing the praises of your new discovery to friends and family. Why doesn’t everyone know about raw food? Who would be crazy enough to ignore this? “It’s like, the answer to everyone’s problems, man.” At work/school/home you start getting questions, followed by looks of bewilderment and disdain. The questions turn to an interrogation, which eventually becomes a ritual of dinnertime ridicule. Though you are compelled to start defending yourself, you don’t; you just keep doing what you’re doing because you see the truth in it. It’s right, and eventually, they will see it. Sure, sometimes you may fall off the “wagon,” inevitably getting called out by the food police that always seem to be waiting in the wings, but generally, you’re pretty good, and people can’t help noticing that there might be something to this raw food thing. Then the questions start to change. They become a little more genuine; people seem intrigued by what you’re doing. Not in a patronizing way, but in a respectful way. You may even start to get compliments. Imagine this: I’m standing in line for tea where I used to work. I’d just come back from a one week detoxifying fast, and I’m eating mainly raw foods. I’m about to order some hot water for my peppermint tea, and I was behind another manager I work with. This guy is a man’s man; he’s all about beer, women and football. He has a cigarette behind his ear ready to light for his smoke break. So he turns to me, as I am clutching my herbal tea bag and box of salad, looks me right in the eye and says, “Your skin’s looking good, Russ.” Russell James It was the least likely thing that guy was ever going to say, and I was, in a word, amazed. My manager, in fact, subsequently came up to me on a daily basis and asked if what he was eating was alright. I tried not to be too strict with him, but there have been a couple of times where I told him that what he was eating was atrociously bad, and he actually threw the entire thing in the trash. It shocked me that my words could have such power—that another person would actually listen and believe the things I say. We’re tested every day, no matter who we are and what we do. We’re tested by the Universe (or however that shows up for you) to see if we’re ready for the next phase. We’re tested by potential and current partners to see if we’re up to the job-—to see if we’re “The One.” Heck, we even test others in this way too, right? When you make the change to a different lifestyle, you are setting an took a life-changing trip at age 28 to Koh Samui, Thailand, where he discovered raw foods. Today, Russell teaches thousands of people worldwide through his television show, podcasts, e-books, live classes and online courses. Hailed as the UK’s leading raw food chef, Russell has shared recipes and ideas with people from over 50 countries, via his community at therawchef.com. 34 example, so you will be tested to see if you can walk your talk. Yes, we know that everyone would benefit from eating at least a little more raw food, and most people who hear you talk about it know this on some level. That’s why it causes so much interest, but people want to see that you believe in it first before they jump on board with you. They want to see it’s not a fad—that it’s not a phase you’re going through. Raw food isn’t a phase, it’s a lifestyle. It’s not something you can unlearn when you know about it, even more so when you’ve experienced it—you can’t forget the energy, how much better you look, how much more inspired, connected and loving you feel. That stuff’s with you for life. So when you walk your talk, when you’re nonjudgmental and when you follow a path that people may not yet see as the truth, you give them a gift. You give them the gift of an example, and you make it easier for them to see the doorway, ultimately leaving it for them to decide whether they want to go through it or not, because you can’t save someone who’s not yet ready to be saved—I’ve learned this firsthand. You’re a pioneer, you’re maybe in the top 1% (that’s a generous estimate!) because you dare to be different. You’ve dared to ask questions of your own, and you just won’t settle. You won’t settle for mediocre health, not for you or the people you love. That really is an amazing thing. PAD THAI Don’t be put off by the list of ingredients or “sub recipes.” This dish actually comes together quite easily. Equipment: Blender Yield: 2 servings For The Noodles 2 cups butternut squash noodles, created with a spiralizer 1 ⁄2 teaspoon unrefined salt 1 tablespoon lime juice 2 tablespoons olive oil or cold pressed sesame oil Massage the butternut squash noodles with the salt, lime juice and oil and set aside. For The Vegetables 1 red pepper, julienned 10 snow peas, julienned Handfulmung bean sprouts 1 green onion, sliced on a bias several mint leaves, minced Add all the vegetables to the bowl with the butternut squash noodles and set aside again, ready for the sauce. For The Sauce 3 1 1 ⁄2 5 1 ⁄2 3 1 1 tablespoons tamari chipotle chili, soaked, seeds removed cup sundried tomatoes, rehydrated tablespoons lime juice cup almond butter dates, pitted clove garlic inch ginger, peeled Blend all ingredients together until smooth. For The Garnish ⁄4 ⁄4 1 ⁄4 1 ⁄3 1 1 cup enoki mushrooms cup cilantro, chopped cup chopped almonds cup sprouted mung beans Fresh chili to taste Take 3⁄4 cup sauce and add it to the noodles and vegetables. Mix this in thoroughly with your hands before plating. Garnish the plate and serve. 35 VISIT US www.fork-road.com for more classes & workshops Calendar of events August SEPTEMBER RAW 21: A 3-week challenge (Orientation) UNPLUG & RECHARGE: A 10-day detox program (Orientation) Sunday, August 25 | Noon – 1:00 p.m. Location provided at registration, Des Moines Cost: $10 advance | $15 at the door Monday, September 9 | 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Smokey Row Café, 1910 Cottage Grove, Des Moines Actual program begins August 26 Actual program begins September 13 Want to continue your “test drive” of the raw vegan lifestyle after Raw Food Week? RAW 21 is an on-line program, designed to help you break old thought and behavior patterns related to nutrition. Each day for three weeks, you will receive a comprehensive lesson around a different topic, such as juicing, emotional eating, cleansing and more! Holistic Health Coach Sheree Clark, M.Ed., AADP, CHHC, is your guide for the program, which begins on August 26th. Tuition for RAW 21 is $147 (only $7 a day!). This orientation session is designed to answer your questions. Refreshments served. Time to feel like a whole new you. Join us for a revitalizing and refreshing body and mind detox. There are two versions of the online Unplug & Recharge program. Choose the level of cleansing that feels right for you. To register: Orientation: meetup.com/RawFoodDSM/ To register: Orientation: meetup.com/RawFoodDSM/ $10 Actual program: meetup.com/RawFoodDSM/ $79 Extreme Lunch Makeover Monday, September 30 | 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. $10 in advance $15 at the door Actual program: meetup.com/RawFoodDSM/ $147 Indian Hills Junior High School, Clive Want to prepare healthy and delicious “fast food” in less time than it takes to order carry out? Forget the usual greasy-food-at-yourdesk lunch. The recipes shown are nutritious and take less than 10 minutes to prepare. Using simple techniques taught by a health and nutrition coach, you’ll be on your way to the lean and energetic body you desire. Eat healthfully in spite of your busy lifestyle! To register: http://www.wdmcs.org/commed/take-a-class/ 36 We are continually adding new classes, workshops and events to the schedule. Go to our website calendar for the latest additions and more details. If you join the MeetUp group, you’ll automatically receive notifications when new events are announced! www.meetup.com/RawFoodDSM $29 Digest This! Are you savoring ALL the flavors of life? By Nancy Lee Bentley We all like food to be tasty. In fact, for most people it’s the number one priority. Regardless of anything else—nutritional value, cost, whatever—it’s got to taste good. By combining fats, sugar and salt in innumerable ways, Dr. Kessler notes, food makers have essentially tapped into the brain’s reward system, creating a feedback loop that stimulates our desire to eat and leaves us wanting more and more, even when we’re full. Take bar food, for example. Salty sweet beer nuts and snack mixes deliver a brain-twisting, double whammy to make us drink more. By only being willing to accept the pleasant and delicious, the warm and fuzzy, so to speak, represented symbolically by the sweet and salty flavors in our foods, are we really short-circuiting our health and wholeness? Are we undermining not only our balance, but our ability to make the right choices and be responsible for ourselves? Is the way we’re eating now really working for us? Eating a less processed, whole, live, natural, nutrientdense, local, seasonal, organically-raised diet of real food keeps blood sugar balanced, and gives our body and nervous system what they need so they aren’t ramped up and driven to distraction with cravings. Remember: The more you eat, the more you want. This is true of anything—potato chips, candy bars or salad greens. We can use this knowledge in our favor to help us naturally form new, healthier habits. The key is to be conscious. Two thirds of Americans are overweight or have chronic disease. As a nation, we’re essentially overfed but undernourished: unsatisfied, cranky, constantly striving, driving, looking for more. Let’s dig a little deeper and take a look at the state of our current “taste bud map.” Choosing our battles Those who are familiar with the commercial food industry know there’s an operant war on for your taste buds. There’s a big, concerted push by manufacturers to convince (seduce) you into buying their processed, convenience foods. And it’s scientifically driven. In his book The End of Overeating, Former FDA Commissioner, Dr. David Kessler, finds some similarities between tobacco’s addictive technology and the food industry, which has technified foods in a way that taps into our brain circuitry and stimulates our desire for more. A matter of taste There are four—well, actually five—major tastes: sweet, salty, bitter and sour. And then there’s umami, (oo ma’ me), the fifth, indescribable flavor that’s neither any of these nor all of them combined. Best described as “savory,” the taste of umami, meaning “yummy” or “delicious,” was discovered both by the French master chef Escoffier and the Japanese chemist Ikeda. Later confirmed by scientists as the chemical glutamate, umami is aptly characterized by the French phrase, je ne sais quoi or “I just can’t say what.” Those who practice ayurveda maintain that we need to get a balance of each of these flavors every day. Even a squeeze of lemon, some fresh grated ginger or lemon peel or kale shreds atop soup or salad could contribute to the objective of achieving balance. 37 Macrobiotics would similarly agree, advising us to “eat the whole food, skin, seeds and all.” Why? This variety of tastes and textures offer us a simple map for how to nourish ourselves. Each taste feeds our body, mind, senses and spirit in uniquely individual ways, naturally guiding us to the major nutritional groups our body needs to thrive. The sweet element from fruit, grains, sugars and milk, for example, helps build tissues and calm nerves. Salt improves flavor, lubricates tissues and stimulates digestion. Sour fruits, yogurt and other fermented foods help cleanse, promote good bacteria, decrease inflammation and increase mineral absorption. The bitter of dark leafy greens, seeds, herbs and spices helps stimulate digestion, detoxify and lighten tissues. No question about it, we really love food that’s salty, sweet or both. But what about the other flavors, like bitter and sour? Not so much. Why is that? Our hunter-gatherer ancestors discovered that many bitter tasting wild plants were toxic, nauseating or—in some cases—even deadly. So a natural evolutionary process got started, with humans developing general preferences for the fruits and fats, which were also the most energy and nutrient-dense foods and less likely to cause stomach upset. Feel your pain Let’s face it. No one likes pain or unpleasantness. Yet even that’s a relative perception: We live in a culture that programs us to avoid discomfort at all costs, but discomfort has its purpose. It’s also true that gain— spiritual or otherwise—rarely comes from enjoyable experiences alone. In fact, when we’re fat and happy, we simply don’t have the motivation to do much, if any, changing of our lives at all. So, our higher selves often have to trick us, orchestrating things in 3-D so we have no choice but to confront or deal with unpleasant, even downright tragic or disastrous experiences. When was the last time you found yourself making significant spiritual strides without going through some hardship or difficulty? Consider the grain of sand, an irritant, at the center of the oyster’s pearl. We’re here on the planet for a reason. And though we may have forgotten, it isn’t just about pleasure and playing. Perhaps you’ve heard: “If you’ve got a body, you’ve got lessons.” I like this corollary, which I heard at a recent spiritual conference: “The more you get your lessons, the more your lessons lessen.” Lessons from food for a whole self The perception of taste, like everything else, is in the mind of the taster. Yet energetically, from a higher “as above, so below” alchemical and spiritual perspective, it’s all about frequency. The frequency or quality of what we consume is really more important than the quantity. It’s my contention, like many others before me, that we can actually be healthier if we embrace all the flavors. That goes for all the diets, too. No one eating plan is sacrosanct. All cultures have consumed live, cooked, animal and vegetable foods, as I share in “The Rainbow of Food and Dietary Trends,” a chapter from my book, Truly Cultured. (Download the chapter for free from www.WholisticHealthExpert.com.) So, my friends, let us feast fully from the “banquet of life.” By wholeheartedly embracing all the flavors—of food and our human existence—we are energetically supporting ourselves, naturally conditioning and better equipping ourselves to be able to face and handle all the experiences that life serves us. Nancy Lee Bentley is a dynamic, internationally-celebrated, Wholistic Health Expert, speaker, author and coach whose wit and wisdom, gleaned from doing “just about everything you can do with food,” truly makes her a “full circle” guide to body, mind, heart and soul health. 38 TRAVEL Periodically, we will be featuring reviews of products, events and places that you might want to know about. If you have suggestions for healthoriented restaurants, resorts, festivals or markets for us to cover (or, if you have a review of your own!) please drop a note to [email protected]. Peculiarly perched behind glass doors in an office building in West Des Moines, Fresh Café and Market is not the easiest to find. The food, however, is simple, natural and worth the trip for health food fiends and meat-eaters, alike. I stopped in for lunch with my friend, Sarah, who was up for joining me for round two of raw, vegan restaurant reviews after a positive experience at The New World Café (see our April issue of That’s Forkin’ Amazing!). The tiny restaurant had only a handful of tables, but the sun shining through the glass walls and the smell of wheatgrass shots made the atmosphere feel light and open. Ordering at the counter, I selected the raw veggie stir-fry, while Sarah chose the potato soup with flaxseed crackers. A tempting tray of frosted black bean brownies and vanilla cupcakes with strawberry frosting rested strategically next to the checkout counter. One for each of us, and we snuck off to a table near the side wall to enjoy dessert before our meals. If I hadn’t been told the cupcake was vegan, I wouldn’t have guessed it. The creamy strawberry frosting on top was perfect, just sweet enough without the gritty taste of some bakery frostings. The cake was moist, but just a bit crumbly. I would have enjoyed a touch of fresh fruit, perhaps a raspberry or strawberry slice either on top or mixed into the cake itself. At $2.50, it rang up less than most restaurant desserts, but Fresh also sells its cupcakes in bulk for even greater savings. Café h s e Fr Market reet and 25th St 1721 e 110 nes Suit Des Moi West Iowa “This is actually one of the best brownies I’ve ever had,” Sarah announced. Coming from a girl who knows her chocolate, this testimonial speaks for itself. I did not feel one bit guilty about eating dessert first with a soft, lightly frosted, black bean brownie like this one. I actually contemplated ordering another for the road, especially at just $3 for a generously-sized portion. The raw veggie stir-fry was a blend of broccoli, carrots, cabbage, sugar snap peas and mushrooms in a spicy sauce atop shredded parsnip and jicama. It was a filling, “feel good,” uncooked lunch. The shredded parsnip and jicama acted as rice, which absorbed some of the kick of the sauce when I stirred it all together. The top mixture was cool and crunchy, and the veggies were sliced in small, bite-sized pieces. The price was reasonable ($8.50). Sarah’s vegan and gluten-free potato soup was thinner than grandma’s classic recipe, but it had just the right amount of light spices, onion and a few small potato chunks. A side order of flaxseed crackers were great for scooping up the last bit of soup from the bowl, which held a standard one-cup serving. The half dozen crackers, while tasty, left me wanting at least a few more for the price ($4). Since my initial trip, I’ve been back to Fresh Café and Market several times, changing up my order on each occasion. All my visits have been more than satisfactory, but those black bean brownies hold firm as the number one reason for a return trip. — By Samantha Smith 39 Real Foods: Stop the clock with sprouts! By Karyn Calabrese Why use sprouts? Why are sprouts better than the seeds they came from? When seeds are soaked in water, enzymes emerge. Enzymes are the substances that distinguish sprouts from unsprouted seeds. Enzymes convert starches into sugars, proteins into amino acids, and fats into fatty acids inside the sprout. Enzymes also break down food in the human digestive system. The nutrients may then be easily used by the body. In cooked and processed food, exogenous enzymes are not present. When cooked food is eaten, the body must supply the missing enzymes. That is, the body is forced to produce more proteinsplitting enzymes (proteases), more starch-splitting enzymes (amylases), and more fat-splitting enzymes (lipases) to digest this cooked food. Thus, sprouts present enzymes into the body that help digest both the sprouts themselves and other foods. People are the only creatures on the planet, except 40 for their kept animals, who eat cooked foods. Many believe that cooked food is one source of degenerative conditions, such as cancer, that now plague our planet. Sprouts, fresh vegetables, fruits and their juices slow the aging clock and start the regenerative clock. Meats and other heavily-cooked foods lack the enzymes the body needs for fuel. To care for sprouts, keep them moist while adequately draining them. If they’re too dry, they’ll rot and spoil. Make sure to maintain appropriate air circulation, however, because if they are too wet, they may develop mold. If you’re growing sprouts in a jar, rinse seeds in fresh, lukewarm water and drain again. Lay the jar at an angle in a warm (70° F) place. Sprouts, like most plants, mature more quickly in warm weather. Carefully monitor the soaking times and rinse frequently, at least once a day, but preferably twice a day. Keep them out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources. Such heat can cook the sprouts even without direct contact. A balance of light and shade is adequate for greening the sprouts that require light. Usually, a kitchen counter is a good place for these types of sprouts. Sprouts do not like to be juggled too much, so try and limit how much you disturb them. Most sprouts develop a “tail,” the beginning of a new plant. Some, such as pumpkin seeds and almonds, will merely swell. Getting started Alfalfa and clover are great for those new to the sprouting world. For alfalfa seeds, soak them for about 12 hours and keep rinsing for 3 to 5 days. At harvest, their length is about 1⁄2 to 1 inch. They are easy to sprout. Try both the short and long types. They are a source of high-quality protein, iron and vitamin C. Incorporate them into casseroles, oriental dishes, salads, sandwiches and sprout loaves. Soak clover seeds 4 to 6 hours. They are ready to consume when they are 1 to 1 1⁄2 inches long. They mix well with other seeds and develop chlorophyll. They contain vitamins A and C. Use them in breads, salads, sandwiches and raw soups. Never cook a sprout or expose it to a temperature above a maximum of 105 degrees. Doing so kills the enzymes. NUTTY FLAX CUPCAKES Make these tasty vegan cupcakes to snack on while you wait for your sprouts to mature! Equipment: Blender, Dehydrator Yield: 12 cupcakes Ingredients: 2 1⁄2 cups pecans 2 ⁄2 cups walnuts 2 ⁄2 cups rolled oats 1 ⁄4 cups flaxseeds 1 cup agave nectar 1 1 1 1 cup coconut butter 1 ⁄3 tablespoon vanilla extract In a large blender, process the pecans and walnuts into a fine powder. Transfer the nut mixture to a large bowl. Place the oats and flaxseeds in the blender. Process to a powder. Transfer to the bowl with the pecans and walnuts. Add the agave nectar, coconut butter and vanilla extract. Mix with your hands until a dough forms. Form 1⁄2 cup of the dough into a ball and place it in on a dehydrator tray. Repeat with the remaining dough. Dehydrate at 115 degrees Fahrenheit for 24 hours. Stored in a covered container in the refrigerator, Nutty Flax Cupcakes will keep for 3 weeks. Karyn Calabrese is a successful entrepreneur and highly sought after holistic health expert who runs a thriving vegan wellness company in Chicago. At 66 years old, Karyn looks nearly a generation younger without the help of surgery or botox, and enjoys boundless energy and enthusiasm. The Karyn’s brand, including her three vegan restaurants, Inner Beauty Center, natural supplements, catering, home meal plan and skincare/makeup line, has enjoyed abundant success. 41 credits That’s Forkin’ Amazing! August 2013 Des Moines Raw Food Week edition Published by Fork in the Road, LLC. Publisher Sheree Clark Editor Samantha Smith Proofreader Jennifer Ruisch Design Cooper Smith & Co. www.coopersmithco.com Contributors: Nancy Lee Bentley Karyn Calabrese Jennifer Cornbleet Amber Shea Crawley Saskia Fraser Matt Frazier Russell James Brigitte Mars James Miller Matt Russell Nomi Shannon Editorial and advertising inquiries That’s Forkin’ Amazing! magazine, Fork in the Road [email protected] (515) 249-2992 © Fork in the Road and Sheree Clark, 2013. Reproduction of any of the contents of this e-zine is prohibited without express permission. Please remember that your health is your own responsibility. Nothing contained in this publication is to be construed as medical advice. The information here is not intended to replace appropriate care from a qualified practitioner. Sheree Clark | Holistic Health and Nutrition Coach (515) 249-2992 | [email protected] | fork-road.com 42