I went to the bookstore yesterday and started reading Natalia Rose’s Raw Food Detox Diet. I have to thank a few people for intro-ing this to me – Cindi, Sarah, Kimberly, Lara, Erin, and Danielle (and I’m sure there are more). Natalia talks a lot about food combining, which has to do with combining foods in specific ways so that they are easier to digest.
When I got back home, I had to eat lunch. I tried to follow Natalia’s advice and this is what I made:
- 6 stalks of chopped organic celery
- 1 organic zucchini (small), chopped
- an ear of local corn cut off the cob
- the bigger 1/2 of a huge avocado, chopped (what. what?? and yes, dad, I know that if it’s bigger it’s not a half.)
- raw dressing (recipe below)
I made a take on Natalia’s Liquid Gold Elixir dressing. Sorry about the estimations – I didn’t measure everything; just tossed it in the food processor. It had… (I didn’t use all of it – maybe less than half):
- juice of 1 lemon
- 5+ cloves of garlic (mm. love garlic.)
- bragg’s liquid aminos (1+ tablespoons?)
- soy sauce (1-2 tablespoons?)
- honey (1-2 tablespoons? I think this honey was actually raw, unintentionally.)
- 3 tablespoons raw coconut butter (thanks Justine!! I’ll post more about this soon)
Okay, so the coconut butter might not be exactly right for food combining (it’s a nut/seed/dried fruit, I think? correct me if I’m wrong – is this a good combo? … actually, I think it is. nevermind.) but give me a break – it was my first try. And it was farfegnugen delicious.
The thing that made this whole bowl so farfegnugen delicious was actually the raw corn. It was like little bites of heaven. And the mushy ripe avocado, which I never eat much of. And… okay, it was all good. Even the celery (I thought I didn’t like celery).
And then for dinner… I just couldn’t stop. I made an avocado-honey pizza on a pre-made pizza crust from Whole Foods. This crust is by a company called Rustic Crust. The ingredients rock. The package says that it has 8 servings… what a crock!
Bobby and I split it in half and we each finished our part (his was chicken, spaghetti sauce, and cheese though). This was my first 2 pieces; I quickly followed it with the other two. It was pretty rockin. And then I went for this, HEABS style…
Heck yes for 100% dark chocolate.
I am teaching a math SAT prep class all day today (Saturday), and I hope to meet up with Jenna tomorrow at a wine-tasting. It’s a bit of a drive, but I think things will work out. Today I’m bringing an arsenal of fruit (watermelon and cantaloupe), a repeat salad, and a banana and raisins (thanks for the idea, Sarah!) for an afternoon snack.
Yay for trying new things! That avocado pizza looks delish. I just bought two avocados at Shoprite with Dad—I want to make guacomole 🙂 And I remember how he would always correct us if he cut something in two and someone said, “I want the bigger half!”
I used to make the assumption that I didn’t like dark chocolate. But now it’s the only chocolate I can eat, so I’ve learned to love it 🙂 Not sure if I could go for 100% dark, though.
As a new chocoholic, 100% dark chocolate is my choice too!! 🙂
I need to find some super-dark chocolate! Sounds so yummy!
And raw corn! I’ve been dying to try it. I think I might pick some up today =)
I feel the same way…I have found I am taking bits and pieces of information and tips but not going nuts with following it exactly. Yes, the raw corn was such a pleasant surprise! It really perks everything up, right?
I might have to give in and try this 100% choc. I’ve been adjusting to 85% and thinking I’m hard-core just with that!
Got your email, thanks for getting back to me 🙂 I can’t wait to see what new things you try.
raw corn? i never would have thought of that!
hope you get to meet up with jenna! so jealous!
I’m so excited for you Mags! I’m also excited to see what new things you eat & what I can copy! I’m pretty sure coconut oil/butter is neutral, so your combo was fine. Hope you have another great day!!!
i had the exact same reaction when i first started seeing raw foods. but i think what changed was my perspective – at least for me, i was looking at everything from a restrictive perspective. i was so caught up in everything being about calories and portion sizes and all of that, that i couldn’t understand looking at food for how it made me feel. and as i overcame that, i became much more receptive to the raw way of life. i’m certainly not going to become raw, but i have so much more respect now for people that do, because i realized that they aren’t doing it to have an excuse to be restrictive, they’re doing it because they love living that way. and i am in full support of that!
your meals look delicious btw! avocado honey pizza is genius!
P.S. – I totally just saw that same 100% chocolate bar at Whole Foods a little bit ago, and immediately thought of you, hahaha 😀
100% dark chocolate!? Wow I didn’t even know they sold that!
i love raw corn so much more than cooked corn! that salad sounds really yummy. and 100% dark chocolate…crazy! i’ve never tried higher than 85%.
Avocado honey pizza!?!??! VERY interesting. Any other ingredients in this I should know about? I may give it a shot, I’m so curious!
Mmm the pizza crust sounds amazing and that chocolate too!
That bowl looks delicious–I’ve never had raw corn before. I should try it! 100% dark chocolate?? Crazy! I’ve never had anything close to that before 😀
you GO GIRL!
I knew you’d LOVE her book! I’m still getting the hang of better combining (I think it’s more habit than anything)
happy happy for you!!
maggie i am lost…why are you
1. embarrassed
2. annoying
3. hiding your head
??
ps chayote yeeeehawww! more to come on my blog tomorrow.
Hey, I glad you are feeling better. I might have to just give in and check this book out and while I am at it I might have to give 100% dark chocolate a try as well :). Since your doing raw/food combining does that mean you will be missing out on oat bran+coconut heaven?
~Justine
I have–now I know never to judge a book by its’ cover(literally!)
I have similar thoughts around diets that limit/restrict foods but am intrigued by the raw movement. I want to read Natalie’s book…not sure if it’s genuine healthy interest or if it’s just another thing for me to obsess over. I’ve worked hard to introduce foods back into my diet, but gah…it’s complicated. I think I am going to read it and try to take what I can without going overboard.
Your pizza looks incredible! I want to try the raw corn- how do you get it off the cob?!
I totally feel you on being skeptical of restrictive diets! I totally think the raw food/combining thing is different though, because as you’ve said, its more about combining foods that will be good to your tummy!
Good for you for being open minded 🙂 I can totally relate to being hesitant and I think that’s a great self-protective measure, esp given your history – so, rock on mama.