So So Vegeliciously Victorious

As I thought about what I wanted to share this month, I found myself smiling, cause my return to better nutrition once again is proving itself to be all that and a bag of kale chips! (Speaking of which I made my very first batch last month & yum!) Anyway, I am excited and happy to report that my transition back into eating more raw foods and healthier nutritional habits, is paying off GREATLY!!!!!

I have lost over 10lbs & this includes inches and my hair is shining again, my energy level is awesome, my skin is glowing, I'm receiving compliments from others on the apparent physical change and I am regaining my positive attitude (but not without some challenge--the "enemy" still tries to distract, but God is with me). Overall, I'll have to say, I'm feeling like my confident self again. I now have the motivation I've needed to soberly continue a permanent lifestyle change and I am overjoyed.

I have set reasonable new goals for myself and am steadily, bit by bit attaining them, this is so wonderful to me because I have been refreshed and reminded that I am capable of making permanent positive change. As stated last month, I'm taking one day at a time, and taking that time to stop and think about my choices. This is also affecting other areas of my life positively as far as my decision making goes. This leads me to speak to you about my next thought, that is, what I'm choosing to eat. I got to looking around the grocery store at what most folks have for choices and as you all know, its not that great. I remember less processed foods when I was a child, tons are available now. I mean all kind of weird colored/flavored, man made junk. I don't live close to a good health food grocery so I have to choose wisely and work within the minimal "health food" isles at my local grocery. I'm ok for produce, plenty of places (including friends who grow stuff) but when it comes to other items, its a challenge.

To keep things simple, I have chosen to ask myself, "did God make it?" if something I want falls into a yes, then it will come home with me. Beyond just whole foods, I include foods made from whole foods, so that I have more variety. For instance, I don't have access locally to young coconuts, but I do have access to their milk in the health food isle. I know fresh is best, but, I can still access something. I'm learning that when doing this thing "ghetto style", you do the best you can, but always strive for better when the opportunity presents itself!

I love how this way of eating also KILLS cravings for unhealthy foods. I can finally go passed the "baked goods" isle and not once be tempted. If the voice of cupcake rebellion shouts at me, I remind myself that it was stuff like them that put me into my misery in the first place and do I want to go back into bondage or stay free! Uh, that would be stay free for me thank you!

I guess the way I want to encourage you over the next couple of months is this,

• When making your food choices, keep it simple. Simple can be satisfying, not to mention easy on the digestion.
• Ask yourself if God made it? I mean blue jello, really?
• Whole & raw foods really are convenient, think of a beautiful large Fuji apple or Gigantic Haas avocado. Seriously, you can't get faster fast food than that!
• Want some variety? Its ok to choose foods made from whole foods, but read your labels!

If you are in transition, then perhaps how I structure my meals will help you: if you're not 100% raw (which is ok by the way) select only 1 cooked item per meal. I actually try not to have more than 1 cooked item per day. my schedule doesn't always allow for this, but I stay conscious as to what that cooked item(s) is and if its not a good choice for me, I skip it.

Most of all, don't forget you are not on your food journey alone! Yeshua (Lord Jesus) is willing to help you along if you ask Him

God bless & Shalom
Miss Yna

Here are some cool resources and check out my Amazon Kitchen store before you leave!

The Donsbach Foundation
http://www.donsbach.com/

Dr. Kurt W. Donsbach, a leader and innovator in Wholistic Medicine for over 50 years shares his of lifetime of knowledge and experience.

While Dr. Donsbach has been considered very controversial, there are countless individuals who can attest to his experience with regards to health & healing. As with anything, check it out for yourself and make up your own mind. His site offers a wealth of nutritional & healing info.

RAW GLOW. COM
http://www.rawglow.com/charts.htm

This site is definitely a Ghetto Raw Choice! Whether you are new to veganism/raw foods or been around a while, you'll appreciate the "Raw Glow food charts"! People are always asking me, "what should I eat, how do I get started?" Well, here you are! Visit the Raw Glow site and you can have your questions answered in an easy to read chart and they also offer online groceries!
visit them today!

Local Harvest/Farmers Markets & More!
http://www.localharvest.org/

The best organic food is what's grown closest to you. Use our website to find farmers' markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area.

So much info on this site, you're sure to find what you couldn't find here!

RECIPES

Miss Yna's Raw Kale & Okra Salad with Sweet & Spicy Mustard Sauce

I love Okra, but not cooked! This is a salad I created to incorporate fresh raw okra into. The combination of the greeness of the kale and the sweet & spicy mustard made a deliciously flavored meal. Enjoy!

For the salad you will need:

1 bunch of beautiful leafy kale, washed & thick stems removed
3-4 sweet peppers ( I like the red, yellow & orange kind) sliced
1 small jalapeno pepper seeded and chopped fine
4-5 slender fresh okra (or more if you like!) chopped in rounds
1/4 cup chopped sun dried tomatoes
1 to 2 tablespoons of your choice nuts and/or seeds (I use pumpkin & sunflower)
Sprinkle onion powder, garlic powder & cayenne to your taste

Tear kale into bite sized pieces and arrange on plate. Add and arrange all other ingredients.

For the Sweet & Spicy Mustard Sauce you will need:

1/2 tsp of Wasabi paste or fresh horseradish sauce
4 tblsp of brown mustard
1 - 2 tblsp of Agave
Mix well and pour over salad. If more sauce is desired, double recipe, but I like to be able to taste all the flavors and not drown the salad in the mustard sauce.
1 tblsp mayo (works with vegetarian (vegginaise)

This is a filling meal I follow with a glass of fresh squeezed lemonade!
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Flaxseed Crackers & Raw Hummus!

"This is one of the most popular types of raw crackers. Flaxseeds have a property that makes them ideal for making crackers. When soaked in water, they become viscous, and then when they’re dried, they become crispy. And now I give up my prized recipe for hummus. It’s so easy, and it keeps well for a few days in the fridge. Besides being a great dip/appetizer, it also can turn any salad into a real meal. So make enough for a few days, and you’ll always have a delicious and very nutritious boost to add to salads or wraps."-Rob Rotondi, author of Raw Food for Real People: Living Vegan Food Made Simple by the Chef and Founder of Leaf Organics

SERVES
Makes 60 to 80 crackers

INGREDIENTS
1 3/4 cups flaxseeds (brown, golden, or mixed)
1 medium carrot, chopped (about 2 cup)
4 one-inch pieces fresh ginger, peeled and minced (about 4 cup)
3 medium cloves fresh garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

To get the rest of these recipes, click below at "the daily green" for this and other awesome recipes!

Read more: http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/recipes/flaxseed-crackers-hummus-recipe#ixzz0vbQl051N

Photo: Raw Food For Real People © 2009 by Rod Rotondi

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Flaxseed Crackers

"This is one of the most popular types of raw crackers. Flaxseeds have a property that makes them ideal for making crackers. When soaked in water, they become viscous, and then when they’re dried, they become crispy. And now I give up my prized recipe for hummus. It’s so easy, and it keeps well for a few days in the fridge. Besides being a great dip/appetizer, it also can turn any salad into a real meal. So make enough for a few days, and you’ll always have a delicious and very nutritious boost to add to salads or wraps."

-Rob Rotondi, author of Raw Food for Real People: Living Vegan Food Made Simple by the Chef and Founder of Leaf Organics.

Read more: http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/recipes/flaxseed-crackers-hummus-recipe#ixzz0vbQCKzXO