Need to Overcome Serious Food Cravings?

I certainly do. I have proven in the past 7 months to myself that there is definitely a deep connection between the mind and body and what we eat and how we feel. This slight struggle is interesting to me because the 1st year raw I absolutely coasted - I ate entirely raw without giving it much thought. And then came the stress, unexpected emotions, and life changes... and one not-so-good food choice in February has cascaded into a pool of more, and of course with that, the emotions (the 'I know better' feelings) that come with it - at least for me. I know when I feel my best.

Eating raw has for the most part been pretty effortless in these past 2 years (w/ the exceptions I'm referring to) and I give the credit to Superfoods because they've been the foundation of my diet. Yet, when I am tempted by something, or have a craving (in times of comfort), AND GIVE IN, I must say I feel like crap for days.. and this, if not halted with full force, can lead into over-eating (even raw food) and produce feelings of guilt and heaviness (mentally and literally). For me, these choices have repercussions much worse than the actual physical ramifications (although I have to admit that I ONLY gain weight when I don't eat 100% raw, and very easily). I have much less clarity (re: life, decisions, daily living), energy (way more of a dragging feeling and sluggishness), and an attitude that could use some improvement.

Is this how the mainstream lives every day? Ugh... I can hardly stand it for a day.

My answer has been to do more green Superfoods powders (you already know if you read my blog regularly that I'm obsessed with Vitamineral Green and ReVitaPhi) to eliminate nutrient deficiencies that result in cravings (greens = alkalize the body). But sometimes, intense times have a way of pushing your good intentions aside and we consume food that we may not otherwise. I'm guilty and am taking on a personal challenge to see what I can do about it. I'm done with this feeling! I want to be back to effortless raw, easy choices, and not swayed for any reason because life gets in the way. Can anyone relate to this?!

As I write this I'm wondering what I should commit to in terms of a personal cleansing challenge. It's obvious to me that I need to do a cleanse - I've actually been craving a juice cleanse (in between mac n' cheese cravings) all summer but I've been happily eating so much raw chocolate that I couldn't imagine my world without it. I know my problems are tough, but a few days (or a week or two?!) without cacao? Sigh. What could be worse? Well, for me the cheese and mac n' cheese cravings are and I have to get rid of them. Now. Well, tomorrow to be exact...

I think what I'll do is have half my usual cacao Superfood (I put double the green powder in it than cacao powder) blendie in the morning (I'll do 16 oz or something) and green vegetable juice and/or smoothie the whole day until I have a small Superfood salad (half my usual) for dinner. But... is that really a 'cleanse'? For me, no. Hmmm. Why am I so hesitant? Because of plans I have, this is what I'll do this week, and beginning next Sunday I'm cutting out the blendies and salads and doing only green juices and green smoothies. Oh my, I have to click 'publish post' NOW before I change my mind.

Leafy Greens Salad - how to Superfood it up

What do you eat for dinner? We all get asked that question from time to time, no matter what type of nutritional plan you follow. I personally never used to understand how someone could be happy with just salads, but now I've found a way to make them much more exciting and definitely more filling. This has been my dinner for just about every night for the past 2 months (with some variation, yes - just play with it and see what you like):

For the Superfood Style Salad:
* handful of spinach
* handful mixed salad greens
* veggies from the farmer's market (cukes, pepper, tomato, squash - I'll eat anything local & organic)
* spoonful of ReVitaPhi
* spoonful of tahini
* few drops of Marine Phytoplankton (even better than crumpled nori sheets)
* sometimes I add 1/2 an avocado
* I like to add Lydia's Organics Seasoning or Living Intentions Superfood Synergy Salad Booster (sooo yummy!)

And the Superhero Dressing:
* equal parts of organic extra virgin olive oil and apple cider vinegar - I don't measure (sorry!), I make small servings good for a couple days, so I'd estimate I'm using 1/4 cup of each
* couple tbsp hemp seeds
* couple cloves of garlic
* spoonful of Spirulina (I'm crazy over HealthForce's Manna Spirulina)
* 1/2 tsp turmeric
* snip some parsley/rosemary/sage/herb into this if you've got it fresh!

Blend the dressing on high for 30 seconds (Vita-Mix), turn it down, and add 1/2 an avocado & turn it back up on high for 10-20 seconds - this makes the dressing! It's the best ever super green (it will be a beautiful GREEN) dressing and I call it the Creamy Dreamy Green Goddess Dressing, because it is! Keep some in a small jar in the fridge & have it ready to dip some veggies in, layer in to your collard or nori wraps, or put over whatever floats your raw boat.

What's in a Raw Superfoodists Fridge?

Given the Superfood lifestyle I strictly follow (in all fun ways), what in the world is in my personal fridge? I just returned home from a road trip down to Santa Barbara where many of the experiences throughout the week have left me speechless, and fortunately I came home to a fridge filled with food. The wonders of eating this way is that you can always keep staples in your fridge that keep for long periods of time and just replenish the fresh produce via a weekly trip to the farmer's market.

I don't travel anywhere without my Superfoods (see the top shelf for some of my favorites) and pack them into one box to have with me at all times. A bit co-dependent, I know - but this box is likely the most important piece of luggage that I carefully secure and tend to while traveling. Did you read the previous post about how my adoration for Superfoods is kind of like a love affair (where the infatuation doesn't end)? Whatever your lifestyle and food choices, I hope you experience this same overflowing joy and serious love for the food that nourishes your body and mind.

Some of the Raw Superfood goodness I like to keep around and always have whether I've made it to the co-op or farmer's market recently or not, is:

* raw cashews, pumpkin & sunflower seeds, hemp seeds, chia seeds, walnuts
* some sort of raw decadent treat ready to grab and go (sweet tooth here!)
* cacao powder, cacao nibs, cacao paste, chocolate bliss (chocolate LOVE)
* coconut water (preferably the real deal, but if not, some is better than none)
* ready-made nut mylk and raw granola (currently the one from Cafe Gratitude & Living Intentions)
* bee pollen, millet miso, olive oil, coconut oil, dates, nutritional yeast (not raw)
* several different frozen fruits in the freezer (the more the merrier)
* Heavy amounts of WildBar (the all-organic, raw Superfood nutrition cacao bar)
* ReVitaPhi, Vitamineral Green, Spirulina, Pure Synergy, E3Live, Elixir of the Lake (I like to have it ALL, and I use them ALL - so versatile to incorporate into your meals)

On top of all this, in a drawer you can't see in this picture, I've got fresh greens and fruit both in the fridge & on the shelf (fuji apples, my dearest half dozen mangoes, blueberries, strawberries, grapefruit and passion fruit - that crinkly thing on the right side of the 2nd shelf). I picked up a sapote from the Raw Spirit festival and devoured that too quickly - it tasted just like a succulent pear. I get chills thinking about how good my life is just from eating this way! I recognize it's not for everyone, and I never in a million years thought I'd be writing from this perspective, but I gatta say, IT ABSOLUTELY SUPER RAWKS!

Do You Really Want Thinner Thighs?

Then it's all about making what you put into your mouth a priority. Enough said, but I will go on. If you really want thinner thighs, a slender figure, and an irresistible body, what foods should you be eating to get you this alluring figure at the speed of lightening?

Well, let me tell you what is working for me, and possibly if you commit to the same general routine, you will achieve the same results by this summer. For starters, the more fresh, alive, juicy, high-water content foods you eat, the quicker the fat will melt right off. Coincidentally, you'll also feel more alive and vibrant (and look the part in your face too). You'll retain less water, be less bloated, and you'll notice your stomach is starting to look flatter. Anytime I used to eat cooked food (any cooked food), my stomach would always expand (and drive me crazy!). Although it was annoying, I figured that's just what happens when you eat... until I started eating foods that were ALIVE, and then noticed that I could eat raw foods without that dreaded side effect. Raw food is slimming, and even though thighs are difficult areas to slim down, you can absolutely do it (visualize your ideal thighs!). If you continue with fresh foods you'll see that your legs appear longer (thin always looks longer/taller), more toned, and certainly more sleek.

Juicing is something that greatly encourages weight loss in trouble areas because you are intensely hydrating your system (and therefore feel more satiated) and infusing it with massive amounts of needed nutrients (reducing cravings). Think of what the results would be if you just replaced 1 meal (or snack) with 1 juice. Instead of filling up with a heavy meal from the get-go, why not try eat according to the circadian rhythm and drink the 1st meal of the day? In the mornings, I make a fresh vegetable (or sometimes fruit) juice for myself, and drink it while making a green, fruit, or chocolate smoothie for lunch and tending to my morning duties. Creating a ritual like this is helpful for feeling grounded right from the start and is just a real good habit to have!

For the Top 20 Best Ever Superfoods List, check out: http://tinyurl.com/cq9ozz. You can order many of them at: http://www.HealingSuperfoods.net (cacao, noni, goji berries, marine phytoplankton, medicinal mushrooms, blue green algae, powdered grasses, and maca). Instead of eating ridiculous amounts of depleted food to get a small amount of nutrition, you can eat Superfoods, which are incredibly nutrient-dense, (without having to eat those massive amounts of food). Many Superfoods are complete proteins, providing your daily requirement for vitamins and minerals, and simultaneously kick up your metabolism (think goji berries, cacao, and beauty enhancing green powders). You'll probably want to check out maca as well if you're planning on incorporating exercise into your new slim-down routine since it's been used for thousands of years to build stamina and endurance.

Raw foods, juicing, and Superfoods are without question the best plan of attack for cellulite that won't go away, super-toned legs, and the quickest way to feel confident walking around in shorts. Thunder thighs are a thing of the past!

Why ReVitaPhi Absolutely Rawks

Many of you are already aware of the phenomenal benefits of green Superfood powders, and I'd like to go into great depth about the one that I consider superior to the rest. With the exception of Vitamineral Green, ReVitaPhi is simply where it's at. It has everything you need to cover all your nutritional needs - in a raw, vegan, organic, and wildcrafted kind of way. Formulated by Jameth Sheridan, N.D., creator and formulator of HealthForce Nutritionals (and Vitamineral Green) and distributed by Elements for Life, this green food is so comprehensive you will be able to eliminate the need for popping pills to ensure you reach your daily value of nutritional needs. And, to top it off, ReVitaPhi is 100% bio-available - meaning it's super digestible and utilized, in a form your body recognizes because it's food, and you therefore reap the benefits of MAXIMUM absorption. It can't get any better than that, because that is precisely what we are searching for when we turn to supplements (including multi-vitamins) to fill in the nutrient gaps.

With a green Superfood blend like ReVitaPhi (AKA the Alkalizing Beauty Blend), the intensely color of green shows just how much chlorophyll is packed into the bottle. Taking this internally will infuse your cells with life force, allowing the body to begin regenerating on a cellular level. This green makes your cells more permeable, letting the abundance of vitamins and minerals into those cells easily, and begins the process of eliminating nutrient deficiencies - and therefore cravings for unhealthy food that's lacking in nutritional value. It can be that simple: pack your body full of a supercharged, concentrated, nutrient-dense Superfood - in RAW form, and watch your health transform. This one is for those that want nothing short of superior internal health and flawless external beauty. Don't settle for anything less!

The best way to consume ReVitaPhi is to start off with 1 tsp per day and gradually work your way up, adding another teaspoon every other week. This will allow your body to acclimate and adjust to the deep detoxification and healing that's taking place. You want to work up to 1-2 tablespoons per day, all of which can be taken together or apart, any time of day. There's no stimulants in ReVitaPhi, so even if it's later in the evening and you realize you've forgotten your greens.. get up and eat them! Within a very short amount of time, you'll feel and see the results of using food to obtain and replenish vitamins, minerals, phyto-nutrients, anti-oxidants, protein, and absorbable amino acids - leading to greater physical, mental, and emotional balance.

You've been so patient - now it's time to mention what's in this outstanding bottle of goodness! But first, I need to mention that there are NO BINDERS, NO FILLERS, NO ADDITIVES, NO PRESERVATIVES OR ANYTHING UNNATURAL ABOUT ANY INGREDIENT IN THIS PRODUCT. Every single ingredient is a green plant, adaptogenic herb, enzyme, or probiotic. And, it's packaged in a glass jar, with a metal lid and an oxygen absorber to ensure the potency, which will be as potent today and in the future as it was the date of manufacture.

Ancient Herbs - Moringa Olifera, Indian Tulsi, Ashwaganda, Gotu Kola, Gingko Biloba, and Ho Shu Wu (Fo-Ti)

Land Vegetables - Barley Grass, Nettle Leaf, Horsetail, Alfalfa Leaf Juice, Dandelion Leaf Juice, Barley Grass Juice, Oat Grass Juice, Kale & Spinach Juices, Broccoli & Parsley Juices, Beet Juice, Carob Pod, Ginger Root, and Nopal Cactus (blood sugar regulator - great for hypoglycemia)

Wildcrafted Aquatic Vegetables - Icelandic Kelp, Nova Scotia Dulse, Laver Seaweed, and Bladderwrack Seaweed

Enzymes (for optimum absorption) - Protease, Amylase, Lipase, Cellulase, Bromelain (this one is plentiful in fresh pineapple), Papain, and Alpha Galactosidase

Full Spectrum of Probiotics - over 40 billion (yes, you read that right, over 40 billion different probiotic cultures and strains, whereas in a probiotic supplement or yogurt would be just 2-5 billion); you can imagine how happy your colon will be :) These are very therapeutic levels and you can't help but notice a difference!

To clarify the difference between ReVitaPhi and Vitamineral Green (both formulated by Jameth Sheridan), ReVitaPhi is adaptogenic, helping our bodies to become more resilient and more effective at managing stress. The herbs included are known as tonics, safe taken on a daily basis, to build the system and create a buffer between you and everything outside of you. ReVitaPhi is specifically formulated to enhance beauty - Ho Shu Wu (Fo-Ti) has been used for centuries as an anti-aging tonic and remedy for eczema that also stimulates the adrenal glands and purifies the blood (resulting ultimately as clear skin). In China, where it is called Ho shou wu, Fo-Ti is said to possess almost magical rejuvenating properties and it is especially popular with the elderly who believe it can help one maintain hair color and preserve youthfulness (source: http://tinyurl.com/cz2zjt). Tulsi is another herb that you'll find in herbal tea remedies specific to beauty and youth, since it's a potent anti-oxidant and adaptogen. Vitamineral Green contains algaes, such as Spirulina and Chlorella, which are exceptionally high in plant-based (raw) protein, and therefore a wonderful source of amino acids. Personally, I take them both every day because the properties of each totally resonate with my body.

You can order ReVitaPhi at www.HealingSuperfoods.net