Raw Kourt!

Raspberry Green Smoothie

Raspberry Green Smoothie (Raw Vegan):

• 1-2 cups frozen raspberries
• 210g frozen pineapple
• 350g frozen mango
• 3 bananas
• spinach as desired (I usually do 4-5 cups)

Add all ingredients in blender with a little water and you’re done! So good and refreshing! Perfect high carb raw vegan dinner!

Weekend Recap (I’m TAN!)

Sidenote: this weeks posts will include my favorite organic/all natural beauty products and other exciting things, stay tuned!

Friday: Regular work day, lunch included crazy good veggie rolls (pictured) that were filled with strawberries/mango, cucumber, avocado, carrot and wrapped in romaine. I dipped the strawberry rolls in balsamic and the mango in my homemade cayenne honey vinegar.

Saturday: Started the day by playing tennis and laying out in the sun reading. Then babysat my ‘second family.’ We rode skateboards and bikes, played at the park, played freeze tag, had a dance party, and had so much fun. We always take silly pictures together, isn’t Abby so cute?!

Sunday: Lots of running around, got a pedicure, played beach volleyball with the family, watched my litlte cousins baseball game, did all my grocery shopping and errand running, cleaned, tanned, and brought lots of stuff to my apartment that has been at my parents house. Living on the third floor is amazing because I always have to make at least 2 trips when I get home and it’s a nice little work out. Today I made at least 10 trips from my car to the apartment and down to our storage in the basement, etc. so I incorporated a lot of ‘moves’ into my day today. Lots of running, lunges, stair climbing, arm work bringing in heavy groceries (yes I do curls and arm moves with the bags…).

It is usually “What I ate Wednesday” but I forgot and so many of you ask what I eat being a high carb raw vegan so here is Sundays menu:

Breakfast: 16 oz warm lemon water and 2 lbs of watermelon 

Lunch: Green smoothie (spinach, mango, pineapple, banana, raspberry and water)

Snack: Fresh Squeezed orange juice and grapes

Dinner: Course one - Chocolate Shake 

             Course two - zucchini noodles with cayenne honey vinegar. 

If you’re wondering about the order of things- yes it is very important. Here’s why: Lemon water should ALWAYS start your morning. It cleans you out and starts your body right. Melon should always be eaten in the morning (if you choose to eat it) because it is the fastest digesting fruit, it is processed within 45 min and if you eat it on top of other slower digesting foods it pushes them out without fully digesting causing gas and bloat, or gets stuck and ferments on top of the food in your stomach. My green smoothie was huuge and so filling! Lastly, all veggies and greens should be eaten as the last meal of the day, hence the course one and two. You should wait 30-60 min between courses. Greens (such as your zucchini noodles, salads, etc.) are eaten last because they take the longest to digest and need the whole night. Spinach or a similar green is the only exception and ONLY if you blend it in a smoothie with lots of fruit, you can eat it in the middle of the day. All of this info can be found in The 80 10 10 Diet by Dr. Graham. 

I much prefer being active and having fun throughout the day if it is really nice out rather than stuffing myself in a gym and running like a caged animal. That’s saved for this week as the forecast is rain 4 days in a row! How do YOU incorporate exercise into your daily routine?

Karyn’s Fresh Corner: Deep Dish Pizza

After class one day last week I stopped by Karyn’s Fresh Corner and picked up this deep dish pizza and some other treats. It would outstanding, the tomato sauce was my favorite, and it was filled with mushrooms, tri colored peppers, and more. I also got a sprouted lentil and dill soup, Hawaiian thin crust pizza, and a curried broccoli and cauliflower salad to have throughout the week.

I frequently post about my favorite raw restaurant in Chicago, Karyn’s. However, I think in all my posts, I failed to mention that she actually has four! In Lincoln Park, there is Karyn’s Raw Cafe which is connected to Karyn’s Fresh Corner. The Cafe is the sit down, and Fresh Corner is where you can make a big salad, get smoothies/juices, and food to go as well as homemade desserts, veggie chips, ice cream, and she also carries supplements, tonics, beauty supplies, cleaning supplies…it’s great! And on top of that, connected to these two is her Wellness Center where she holds seminars, classes, and all sorts of fun stuff!

Her other two are Karyn’s on Green and Karyn’s Cooked. Being a raw vegan with soy and gluten allergies it is not as easy for my to eat at those two because they are mostly cooked comfort food involving some sort of soy or gluten. 

If you are in the Chicagoland area I highly recommend you visit her!

Strawberry Mango Banana Frostie!

Strawberry Mango Banana Frostie (Vegan, Gluten/Soy/Sugar FREE!):

• 6-7 Frozen Strawberries
• 1.5-2 Frozen Mangos
• 1-2 Bananas
• Water

It was 80 yesterday and so beautiful, summer is here! I had to make a tropical frostie to celebrate. Put all ingredients in blender and blend! Here is the deal on the estimates for the fruit: Bananas, I have used 1 really large banana, or two small ones. Bananas can vary in sweetness and flavor so taste it, and decide how many to put in. For the Mango, I put in half of the bag I had from Trader Joe’s, same with the Strawberries. I have to do some grocery shopping and will pick up some more of them so I can give actual measurements. :) Enjoy!