Yes Jos it is lovely with banana. It is quite sweet and can be added to any fruit smoothie or puree to thicken it and add sweetness. I quite like it added to things like pawpaw, apple and pear when i puree ithem, it makes it nice and thick and adds a nice caramelly sweetness. Try it with any of you favourite fruits. Gabriel Cousins used it a lot to sweeten dishes, also good with coconut cream!

Hope this helps....as always just have fun, enjoy!

Karen

Hi Annette,

Are you pushing yourself really hard in your workouts? It's ok to take it easy sometimes, especially when you need extra energy for a family.....rest is just as important as exercise and if you are not able to get as much as you need or require, recovery is much slower. Listen to your body it may be telling you it needs a little break, still do it, just cut back on the intensity a bit until your energy returns.

You may also be going through a little bit of a transition time, stick with it you will come out the other side feeling awsome! Oh and i find that for my lunch and afternoon meals i feel really energised if i have fresh sprouts...i think they are the ultimate living food. (eg mung, lentil, alfalfa and fenugreek - easy to sprout at home, and cheap!) They really energise me, especially for the after school onslaught... i always come to life again just as the rest of society are pittering out after SAD lunches!

Just some suggestions from someone that understands the demands of 3 kids!!!! You'll master it, keep up the great work, it's all worth it.

cheers
Karen

I think all we can do is lead by example......so Shakira your kids are so lucky you will be a great role model. I can say now that it's one of those things that doesn't happen overnight but it does happen! I can see my teenagers really taking in the good that comes from good healthy clean eating.

As for this Raw Retreat.......im thinking ..........summer, beach walks, runs, lots of yummy fruit, good conversation and relaxation!..................and then i see wilderness!!!

What does everyone else see in this great raw food retreat for 'Endorphine Junkies'?

Can't wait to hear from all the fit chicks!!!

Karen

On TV Wednesday night they said that compared to 20 years ago the average person is 7kg heavier! If you take out those that are not overweight, then it would be even higher.....pretty SAD I say.

Karen x

Go the Gym Girls!!!!

Raw running, raw recovery and raw enthusiasm before each workout!!....it doesn't get any better.

It is so good to see you guys on this forum, we all seem to come from the same place, love our cardio and our gym workouts, hey Neet, can't live without that endorphin fix.

Just letting you know Shakira, you will be a great role model for your children, i have 3 aged 10, 16 and 18, and guess what they all want for there birthdays this year.....GYM MEMBERSHIP!!!! they all asked me out of the blue,and individually, i didn't mention it at all. And if they ever complain about the healthy unprocessed food i feed them, i tell them to buy there own rubbish, it's not in me to feed them nasties....i get a quick reply of 'No No mum we like the healthy food, please keep making it for us!' So keep it up, i don't know how old your kids are but i am seeing the results of my years and years of healthy eating and daily exercise!!!

Georgia you are on the right track, when you finish the challenge you will feel so awsome you won't want to go back to your old ways.

And i can't wait for the 'Ultimalte Raw Retreat' Neet, we must start thinking and planning!!....looks like we could put together a great crew.

Can't wait to hear how your strengthening and toning is coming on LouLou.

cheers to all
Karen

Hi Glowgirl,

You will be able to make the most amazing grated coconut with this little gizmo!!

Just crack the coconut in half, after poking out the holes and getting all of the coconut water out! I just place the coconut on a hard surface and hit it hard right in the middle, quarter turn them hit again - i use the back of a big heavy knife or similar - it will crack into 2 even halves. Then you just wet the bottom of the grater a little and attach it to a counter so that it is really firm. Hold one half of the coconut over the round grater, turning at the same time, it may take a little practice but once you get the hang of it it is easy and really quick.
What wonderful creations do you have in mind for the coconut?

Have fun, Karen

For me its a sprinkling of Kelp Powder, Maca and spirulina and a dash of chilli - the salad has to have a nice juicy tomato in it, this is delicious!!!! and as a extra treat, add Baltic Moglai curry powder, (thanks Sheryl!) and add a cut up avocado to the salad, this ones heaven!!!
chow
Karen

Lovely to have you here....welcome.

There are a few of us that are 100% raw, workout, and also have to prepare meals for the familiy. Being raw is a journey and a wonderful one at that.....i personally have found it to be one of the easiest things i have ever done, so therefor cannot relate to cravings for cooked, so cannot help in that department.

Just go with the flow....throw the whole carb/protein thing out the window and enjoy the small amounts of raw fats and the great things that they do for you. Enjoy the sweetness and the energy gained from eating lots of fruit. Never heard of anyone getting fat on fruit! You will learn quite quickly what works for you and what doesn't, namely eating to many nuts, seeds and dried fruit....but i think it is something you have to do, some are fine with this type of food, others find it way to much but they are great transitioning foods and it will be up to you how long you last with them. I was able to eat them and still managed to drop a couple of kg's, which i didn't need to do....but they have come back on and I don't have a problem with that. I also do 5 x cardio per week and 3 x resistance training and have a family of 3 kids and hubby...so i understand your workload!!!! (They are about 50% raw, they all have GS for breaky plus wheatgrass shot (sometimes), and raw granola, fruit and nutmilk i make them. Plus raw crackers during the day)

Spiritually you are definatly on the right path...raw is a wonderful way of life..enjoy!

Just stick with the forum and all of the wonderful support available here and you will do very well...good luck, you sound motivated so you will do very well. I won't be long and you will be telling us how great you feel!

Cheers
Karen

Thanks Neet, will definately try both if it happens again.

Thanks Rabbit, theres good karma happenning here, i was very close to asking the same question myself as i had a bad headache last week, something i am not that familiar with.

So 'Thanks Jos' if it happens again i will make a fennel and apple juice.

And Rabbit i do hope hubby is feeling better and I agree with you it is very hard to give our loved ones something we would not take ourselves, but when in that much pain them feeling better is definately a much nicer option!

Karen

You where smart enought to make the connection....You've got to be thankful for that!

Hi RE,

I have made the pumpernickel rye essene bread from Juliano's book. He has a few recipes for sprouted breads.
Here is the recipe

2 cups sprouted rye
1 1/2 tbl minced garlic
1/4 cup olive oil
1/3 cup raw carob powder
1 tbl caraway seeds
1 1/2 tsp celtic sea salt

Combine all ingredients in food processor and puree. Form into 1 1/2 inch tall by 1 1/2 inch wide by 6inch long loaves and dehydrate for 13 to 17 hours. When done it should be crisp on the outside and moist on the inside.

You may not want to follow the recipe to a T, i didn't add that much olive oil. You could substitie a lot of the ingredients to make a good essene loaf. If came out ok but the caraway seeds and the carob was a bit to strong. Other than that it came out quite good.

I hope this helps.
cheers
Karen

I have had yellow skin for years and always blamed it on yellow fruit and veg. Then about 6 months ago I was allergy tested by my doctor (using a muscle technique, very natural) which showed I was actually allergic to Vit A, we then treated it and now my body accepts the Vitamin A and used it properly the yellow has definately subsided and also my dry skin and hair have improved.
The treatment does not involve any drugs and is completly natural.
Karen

Thanks for that one DR, will try that on the boys.......hopefully it will bring back childhood memories for Craig.....his mum actually bought him coco pops!!!!

If you are up to your elbows in Dates and Coconut you are having the best birthday ever!

Have a fantastic day Fig

cheers
Karen