There is a lot of evidence out there to support eating a healthy diet. Everyone seems to be going raw, leaving you wondering if it's just the latest fad.
While a strictly raw diet may not be the answer for everyone, certainly all of us could benefit from eating a few more veggies. Increased energy, better mental clarity, and vibrant hair, skin and eyes are just a few reasons to try to squeeze more fresh ingredients onto that plate of grilled chicken.
I don't need to remind you about this, do I? You already know that "real" food is better for you than fast food. Yet you only venture into the produce department as far as the banana display and can't tell a rutabaga from a romanesco. Microwave dinner wins again.
Maybe you've tried to serve tofu burgers with sprouts, but no one would even come to the dinner table so you decided that it wasn't worth the effort. You wish you and your family could eat healthier, but it's just too hard. Or is it?
What if you could prepare delicious raw foods that everyone will enjoy? I have been feeding people all my life, and over the years I have developed a sense of what even the pickiest of eaters will and won't go for. I can even get kids to like tofu!
So I've got three amazing raw salads to share with you that are tried and true. These dishes are packed with nutrients, each delivering more than just flavor. No one even minds that they are outrageously good for you because they are that appetizing.
Green Power Salad
This upgrade from a standard green dinner salad goes with almost any main dish. Leafy greens are a nutritional powerhouse, while the dressing is herby and fresh with just a little kick.
Salad
* 3 1/2 cups red chard, shredded
* 1 cup fresh spinach, shredded
* 1/4 cup carrot, shredded
* 1/4 cup walnuts, crushed
* 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
* 2 Tbsp. lemon juice (1 lemon)
Dressing
* 1/4 c. peeled garlic, minced
* 2 sprigs fresh oregano, minced
* 4 sprigs fresh mint, minced
* 1/2 jalapeno pepper, minced
* 2 tsp. sea salt
* 3 Tbsp. walnut oil
1. Wash all produce. Shred greens and carrot, and toss all salad ingredients together in a large bowl; set aside.
2. Mix the dressing ingredients in a blender or small food processor.
3. Add dressing to mixed salad ingredients, and toss well.
Raw Roots
An easy way to bulk up on folates and other trace minerals, beets can't be beat for nutritional value. The earthy sweetness of these root veggies will have you helping yourself to seconds for sure.
Salad
* 4 large beets, peeled
* 2 carrots, peeled
* 1 Pink Lady(R) apple, washed and unpeeled
* I fennel bulb
* 2 bunches scallions, cleaned then thinly sliced
Dressing
* 2 Tbsp. lemon juice (1 lemon)
* 2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
* 4 Tbsp. olive oil
* 1 Tbsp. honey
* 1/2 tsp. sea salt
* 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
* 2 Tbsp. fresh mint leaves, chopped
* 1 Tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped
Garnish
* 1/3 cup chia or sunflower seeds
* 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
1. Thinly slice beets, carrots and apple using a paring knife or mandolin, then stack and julienne, meaning to slice into long strips. Add all to a large mixing bowl; set aside.
2. Trim off the fennel stalk and one outer layer of bulb. Slice bulb into thin rings, and add to bowl.
3. Chop fresh herbs, and mix with dressing ingredients in a blender or small jar.
4. Toss all ingredients in salad bowl, and sprinkle with seeds and feta cheese.
Poppy Seed Apple Slaw
I haven't met the child (or adult) who doesn't love this salad. Packed full of crunch with a tangy dressing, it's a staple for old-fashioned picnics and summer adventure.
Salad
* 1 small cabbage (red or green), finely shredded
* 2 Fuji apples, peeled, cored, julienned
* 2 medium carrots, peeled, julienned
* 1/4 cup red onion, diced
* 2 Tbsp. fresh parsley, minced
* 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds, toasted
* 1/2 cup flame raisins
Dressing
* 1/4 cup plain whole milk yogurt
* 1/4 cup mayo
* 2 Tbsp. raw honey
* 1 1/2 Tbsp. raw apple cider vinegar
* 1/2 Tbsp. poppy seeds
* 1/2 tsp. sea salt
* 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1. Shred the cabbage, rinse, and dry thoroughly. Place in a large bowl; set aside.
2. Julienne the apples and carrots, and finely dice the onion and fresh parsley. Add to bowl with shredded cabbage.
3. In a small bowl, whisk dressing ingredients together until well blended.
4. Drizzle the dressing over the slaw, and toss to combine.
----------------------------------------------------------
In addition to being good for your mind and body, eating more raw foods is good for the planet too. There is less packaging involved when you buy whole foods, and a lot of these ingredients can be grown in your backyard or found at the local farmers' market. Serving more veggies is easy on your pocketbook too as they give more nutritional bang for your buck than meat or seafood.
You won't believe how good these are until you try them. I guarantee that everyone in your family will find something to like about these raw treasures, and you can feel great about serving healthy foods that your family will request over and over again.
Before I go, I suggest that you go straight to the link below and check out this shocking video about an "extreme" diet system, that melts away pounds of fat while you eat foods that increase your metabolism, health, and energry levels:
Click Here to see that "extreme" diet system
Yorumlar
Yorum Gönder