Still Raw!

Ok, I DEFINITELY experienced what a lot of people experience when they go 100% cold turkey, sprinting from the gates raw: a lack of funds and variation. All geeked up and super motivated, I went to my local co-op and stocked up on a ton of veggies and green leaf lettuce (kale, collards, etc), and a few ingredients from Ecopolitan (lentil taco meat, raw cashews/raisins/pumpkin seeds, etc.). Everything went really well that week until I got so sick and tired of salads and seeds! I love eating at Eco, but it really adds up cash-wise if you eat there everyday. So, I hung my head in shame and basically gave up until I had the funds to do it the way I wanted to.

Finally, that day has come! I've created a pretty good system that I think I can really stick to. I'm really into these raw bars right now that I get at the co-op. They're called Raw Revolution, they are 100% raw and organic. They come in a ton of awesome flavors (my favorites being the chocolate & coconut, spirulina & flax, and cashew & agave nectar). These are what make up my breakfast, along with fruits, and sometimes they're great for an afternoon snack. At $1.99 each, they're comparable to the raw bars sold at Eco, but they are more filling and seem larger. Also, I absolutely LOVE Super Cookies made by Go Raw. They are 100% organic and raw; the chips are dehydrated under 105 degrees. I love love love coconut, so these little chips really satisfy my sweet tooth. I think it was abour $4.99 for a bag which lasted as about 3 days worth of snacks, not too bad. I love that they're made from unsulphured coconut and sprouted organic sesame seeds. NEAT!

For lunch I generally go to Ecopolitan everyday. I'm growing quite fond of them as they make the most delicious and creative dishes. I've tried to duplicate, but I end up spending more money and wasting ingredients that never can compare anyways! I love the Eco Burger, the Rawvioli, the Red Avocado Pizza, and the Macadamia Alfredo Pasta. Sometimes I'll get a shot of wheatgrass and sometimes I might get a chilled soup.

For dinner I usually have a green smoothie or some sort or a salad. My favorite recipe to make right now is from Eco and is the Orange Julia without the vanilla:

A handful of spinach

1 banana

3 oranges (peeled)

1 TBSP Coconut Oil

It's fun to make. You just juice the oranges first, then add the juice to a blender, or VitaMix, and throw in the other ingredients. Blend until smooth and viola! So good and FILLING!

Besides eating raw I've also added yoga to my regimen. I have found that it is helping immensely and I strongly recommend it (Ashtanga Vinyasa and/or Hatha). I have pretty severe anxiety and I feel really calm since I've started. Meditation has really helped fight cravings and has given me an overall sense of well-being. Plus when I work out and put good things in my body, I'm less likely to want a cigarette or cheat. I don't know if it's psychological or what but when I do yoga I don't get as many (or as severe) cigarette cravings, which is great since I'm quitting!

So basically, I'm back on the wagon and have been since January 30th. I quit smoking and haven't had a cigarette since Friday, February 3rd, so it's *almost* been a week. As I learn, and hopefully get some good feedback from others, I hope to be able to make more dishes easily and my biggest goal is to make raw bread. I'll need a dehydrator first, and a good recipe, but if I could tackle that I think I can really make this stick.