My journey to High Raw Food!

Blessed with wonderful living food!

2012-01-20T21:27:00.000-08:00

Beautiful people,

Today I was blessed to have for breakfast:

Super Teal Smoothie: 2 cups blueberries, 3TBSP Hemp Protein, 2 TBSP Ground Chia seed, 1 Tsp Ashwagandha, 3 tsp Tocotrienols, 2 tsp Bee Pollen, 1 Head of Romaine, 2 cups of Spinach - Blended in the Vitamix.....yummy!!

Lunch: Went out to Rickie's, made a dressing at home of Almond butter, Cocoanut Vinegar, Cocoanut Animos, and a little ****fresh**** Bee Pollen ( I save this melts-in-your-mouth stuff for a treat) and brought it along and ordered a Meal-sized Garden salad with a Grilled Chicken Breast on top.....

Supper: Snaked on Kale chips - goodness I love those, then had 4 Romaine sandwich leaves with Avocado, cucumber, tomato, a little pork sliced up with a Dressing on top with Almond butter and Plum vinegar.....

Today was a little heaver than I liked - but I choose snacks and meals that keep my blood sugar fairly level and I did not give in to the Baked Chips and Cheezes the rest of my family had for a movie treat....Oh Yeah and I watch this wonderful film above this last week too :)

Love You All,
Samantha

To the Exact Day -- But with new energy!

2012-01-10T13:09:00.000-08:00

Hello All Beautiful Inspired Folks -

Green Juices are super hard to track on Spark people so - in the fashion of Angela Stokes-Monarch!

So Far today I have been blessed with 1 L of Green Juice with celery, cucumber, lemon, parsley and carrot......

Very excited for this moment and all future moments and this year of Raw Juicy Living!
I will so try to keep up with this blog....obviously I need some internet accountability so for 2012 here it goes again!!

And I am still 310 lbs but going for a live blood analysis next week and will remember to tell you how it went....

Always Love,
Samantha

Why I think Raw Foods are Important to Include in You Diet

2011-01-08T04:32:00.000-08:00

If you look into the Raw Food Lifestyle or so it is called, you will see their are many controversies within it. Someone says this...others say that....I have been interested in the raw food experiment for a few years now and I think I have come to what are my conclusions about - please make your own. Sharing my opinion amongst the vastness of the World Wide Consciousness Web is really what it has now become - a World Wide Forum for Humans for or against a consentual reality or consentual culture (this or that, maybe both!).

In some Raw Food circles they consider the fact that when you are mostly Raw or even 100% Raw you are eating loads of live plant enzymes. These live plant enzymes for some, make it past the body's acid stomach juices and give your body somehow their own plant enzymes to digest themselves saving your body energy to produce it's own. NOW, I am sure that you digest these enzymes in your stomach, but I believe that there is something else going on here. Maybe the life force, the fact that I like my raw veggies straight out of my meager two gardens in Calgary in the summer, the energetic essence of plants that you are consuming and your energetic body is able to get the purest, most grounded form is one of the reason you feel so good when you stick to a High Raw Diet........other factors include the high water content, fiber content the fact that you are eliminating wheat, refined sugar, refined starch, and other allergens from your diet.

I don't believe that you would have to follow High Raw exclusively or even that it is for everyone. High or 100% Raw is very cleansing on the body, so it's great for losing weight, detoxing, spiritual dedication, and what ever reason resonates with your Heart. I am saying that going with you Heart feeling, and what your body truly craves is better than sticking to some idea of what your diet should, could and always will be.

I am not Vegan, I do not buy into the "popular" reasons for it. The planet is build on systems which to our digestive system mean consuming animal protein, it is up to us if it is sustainable and ethical. Look to Permaculture systems ! Killing plants is still killing, there are consciousness studies that show plants react to pain much like our nervous systems do. Soybeans (Tofu) are extremely genetically modified and hard on the planet.

For building the body up - cooked will do it, either with high protein grains such as Quinoa (my personal fav) or Animal protein (if it was up to me, every person who eats meat would be eating organically-raised, ethically-raised, Local, in small amounts, and possibly raise it themselves).

I have heard that heath is more about consistency, then what you actually eat. Crazy to think, if I have that consistent one chocolate bar a day I will be doing myself a favor, instead of putting myself on the train of Morbid Obesity.....

For me, it's as much fresh, local, organic if possible as I want with a little fish or chicken (from great sources) throw in, some grains I love, green juices I love. More stews and soups in the winter - look to the veggies that I can store in the winter to inspire me - Buttercup Squash anyone! Summer it's mostly whatever I can pick from my garden, pick off local berry bushes, local fruit trees or as much local fresh, alive beautiful food. Cleansing my body, dealing with the emotions that trigger eating for entertainment and escape, and exercising are important to me in this journey to Heath...

If you want to see how I am doing I am tracking what I eat with Spark ! Check it out at http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage.asp?id=SHUSSEY

I Love Myself and I Love You All,
Samantha

Sweet Onion Bread with Spicy Cashew Cheese Slices

2011-01-06T08:00:00.000-08:00

Beautiful People,
One of my favorite meals that is High Raw uses these two recipes - it makes enough for a week of "Sandwiches" for lunches....Use your Dehydrator - or use an oven with the door open and temp set low, like 200....

Sweet Onion Bread
3 large sweet onions
1 cup of ground sunflower seeds
1 cup of ground chia seeds
1/2 cup of oil
1/4 cup of Bragg's Liquid Animos (or to taste !)

I blend the oil, Bragg's, and Onions together, then add in the seeds after and blend slightly.....Dehydrate for 12 hours and flip then Dehydrate for another 6-12 hours.....

Spicy Cashew Cheese Slices
1 cup of cashews soaked overnight (soak water discarded)
1 and 1/5 orange Bell Pepper
Cayenne pepper to taste
Salt to taste

Blend the Pepper (use the plunger), and then add Cashews, blend and then add the spices - Blend and then dehydrate for 12 hours, flip and dehydrate another 4-6 hours.

Make a sandwich with Avocado, Green Onion, Kale, Lettuce, Pepper, Almond butter, Tomato.....I even add a little Salmon Salad (which of corse not Raw...but a great source of Omega 3's).

Love you All,
Samantha Hussey

The Next step is taken.......

2010-10-27T18:24:00.000-07:00

Beautiful People,

Today I loved:

- Vega Green Vibrance Bar
- Raw Asian Coleslaw from Community Natural Foods
- Slices of Apple
- Green Smoothie with Swiss Chard, Spinach, Saskatoon Berries, Frozen Berries, 2 TBSP Mesquite Powder, 2 TBSP Bee Pollen

Love reading Angela Stokes - Raw Emotions Book....so great!!!

With Greatest Love,
Samantha

OMGoddess Yumpot !

2010-10-21T22:10:00.000-07:00

I just found out about the Yumpot, a dish created, made famous by Angela Stokes-Monarch. SO delighted I did! The combination of Lucuma powder (low in acid, low in sugar and contains an excellent source of carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins and minerals. It is especially abundant in beta-carotene, niacin and iron with significant amounts of calcium and phosphorus) and Mesquite powder (high in protein (11–17%). It is also rich in Lysine, Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Iron, Zinc and Dietary fiber.The addition of some creamy raw Almond butter and Cinnamon spice to taste......Delicious.....enjoy!

I will note that the origin of these powders, Almond butter, and the Cinnamon all come from far places that require a fair amount of oil energy to get to Calgary. So, not as friendly as I would like it, maybe I could find a more local substitute....

Anyway, a sweet treat that is low glycemic and raw.....all good for the road to a Raw Food Lifestyle!

Love You All,
Samantha

Sweet Potato/Yam BBQ Chips

2010-03-01T13:22:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,

I just wanted to tell you of my favourite BBQ chip recipe using Sweet Potatoes or Yams.

1 large Yam or Sweet Potatoes
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
1 tsp liquid smoke (usually by the sauces in the grocery store - I use the mesquite flavour)
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp paprika

Slice the potato/yam as thin as possible - I use a mandolin slicer or a vegetable peeler. Put into a bowl large enough for massaging the sauce in. Then in a small bowl combine the spices, liquid smoke and oil. Mix well and pour over the chip slices. Massage the sauce into the chips with your hands until all chips have been covered/or at least have a few sprinkles of spice on them.

Then lay the potato/yam slices on the Teflon/Paraflex sheets in your Dehydrator in a single layer (this takes the most time). And set your Dehydrator to about 115 degrees F for 18 hours. Check on your chips after 12 hours (overnight) and then see how crispy they are. I find the more time you dehydrate, the "thin-ness" you are able to slice them, and adjusting the amount of oil affects how the crunchy they are ! Also, adjust the spices to your taste and hey look around for more recipes on the Web to try!

Between the Kale Chips and this recipe, I hope to keep away from the Ruffles for the majority of my snacking.

Love You All,
Samantha

Chia – Omega 3’s and Super Fibre

2010-02-04T22:14:00.000-08:00

Good evening wonderful people,

Just an update on where I am in my Raw Food journey, still eating cooked food, but with a few additions to my diet to experiment with and enhance my dietary intake. Chia seeds are experiencing a comeback from the inception of the Chia pet to the brand Salba which now graces Heath Food stores across the continent. Chia seeds have been eaten for thousands of years by the native peoples of Mexico, Central and South America until the Spanish conquistadors came and discouraged further widespread cultivation. On a very small scale Mexican Native American descendants still grow this summer annual to make Chia Fresca - where the seeds are soaked in water and fruit juice added and consumed as a cooling drink.

Chia seeds contain fibre (Mostly soluble), loads of Omega 3’s, Selenium, Magnesium, is one of the best sources of Hydrophilic Colloid, and a complete protein. I invite everyone to read more on Chia; I could not include it all in this blog. But, I want to tell you what I have experienced with eating Chia seeds everyday for the two weeks. Here is my daily dose of Chia recipe.....

Sam’s Chia Fresca –

I take ½ cup of Chia seeds

Mix with 1 cup of Juice

Then Add 2 ½ cups of pure water

(This gives me 7 grams of Omega 3’s, 6g of protein, 15 grams of fibre and my daily Selenium intake)

I recommend whisking the mixture for the next 3 minutes to avoid the Chia seeds from clumping up and it makes the mixture quite smooth. Drink and chew as you like. You can let it sit for more time if you like; it will become more gel-lee with time. Make sure to drink another 2 Litres of water during the day, this will help the Chia go through your system......

The fibre makes you very regular, and some people experience painful gas and bloating, reduce your Chia intake half or even to a 1/8 cup. Some people have crazy detoxification reactions to Chia, so please take your well-being to heart and if your body rejects Chia, stop!

Well, as usual I will let you know how my experiments go!

Love you All,

Samantha

My Favorite Raw Sweets: Crunchy Truffle Balls * Warning* - Good!

2009-12-15T01:32:00.000-08:00

Hello Beautiful Ones,

Check out this super easy recipe to make a raw dessert, with loads of Cacao! If you like that tempting chemical containing South American bean. Controversy or not it - it gives me a buzz!

1 cup cashews (ground to flour)
1/4 tsp - 1 tsp Chili power (spiciness)
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1/4 salt
3/4 cup cacao nibs (ground into powder)
1/3 cup of sweetener (maple syrup, warm honey, agave nectar, or date paste)

Grind the cashews, mix in the spices and salt until totally mixed. Add the cacao and mix again, then mix in sweetener. Form into balls and freeze. You can coat them with coconut flakes, nut flours, Cinnamon or even put a nut/dried fruit in the middle! (from Ani Phyo`s Desserts book - excellent one of the best Raw cookbooks around).

These have replaced any cravings I had for the Frank-en food that conventional chocolate has become :)

Love You All,
Samantha

Simple Raw Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

2009-11-04T16:30:00.000-08:00

Greetings Beautiful One,

Here is a really simple raw cookie, that requires a little preparation and is chewing and delicious. This recipe was inspired by Ani Phyo....

1 cup raw oats (or as close to raw as you can get!)
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup firmly packed Medjool dates
1/2 cup raisins (I put chopped dried cherries)
1/4 chopped almonds

Put the oats and cinnamon in your food processer and process the oats into small pieces. Add the dates and process until smooth. Then pulse in the raisins... Then roll the cookies into balls press almonds in...or press into cookie cutters on a tray that is lined with parchment paper. Press almonds on the top before taking them out of the cutter.

Put in the freezer for at least 30 mins - then serve or just eat right away!!

I have been experimenting with recipes and different green smoothie combinations......I made a few dehydrator goodies, and when they are tested I will post recipes.

Love You All,
Samantha

Movie Review - Simply Raw - Reversing Diabetes in 30 days

2009-09-30T09:54:00.000-07:00

Good morning Love-filled People,

I watched the movie Simply Raw Reversing Diabetes in 30 Days Official Simply Raw website ; powerful stuff. It follows 6 people, 2 with Type 1 and 4 people with Type 2 Diabetes eliminate or modify their dependence on insulin and /or diabetes medication in 30 days. Well, one beautiful Native American man left after 17 days, he has lost 30 pounds and reduced his medication, but couldn't keep up with the Living Foods diet.

I recommend this DVD to anyone who would like to watch sick people getting better, transforming themselves really with a Raw/Living Foods diet and exercise in a controlled environment. It is inspiring to me that they (mostly - Austin!!) keep up with the program at the Tree of Life and Dr. Cousens put them on. Also this DVD touches my personal heart being obese myself and having a history of diabetes on both sides of my family...seeing my grandmother with shaking limbs, physical and mental damage from her Type 2, and myself not wanting to follow that karmic/generational path. Hence, why I am on this journey to heath with Raw and Living Foods.

Watch the Trailer above and see if you can't buy it!

Love You All,
Samantha
Also, a free website to check out more details about Raw Food and Diabetes.....
http://www.rdnmovement.com/

I am not a medical doctor, my blog is for information purposes only !!

Day of Joy - Support is a Beautiful Thing!

2009-09-22T22:20:00.000-07:00

Wonderful Joyous Beings of Light - Hi How Ya' doing ?

Ok, made the Kale chip recipe inspired by Renegade Health (last post) - Oh my Goddess they are good! But I found them a little too "cheesy" so I think I would cut the nutritional yeast to 1/4 cup, just for me... Uncooking Raw foods require you to make your food to taste and not necessarily to a recipe anyway! Also, I am trying a Raw Salt and Vinegar Kale Chip Recipe overnight in my dehydrator, and if it is a success I will post it for you. Also, you can make the chips, crackers etc that I will be experimenting with in your oven at a very low temp. The nice thing with a dehydrator is that you can accurately control the temperature to make sure you are not going over the 118 F temp that will kill all the life force enzymes.

Tomorrow I am going to see Frederic Patenaude talk about the Low Fat High Fruit approach to Raw Food in Calgary, AB. I am very excited and also feel very appreciative that I currently live in a city where I can physically see and hear those raw food mentors that influence me.

If you are a Calgarian and want to see Frederic tomorrow night - please go and get tickets in Kensington at Gratitude Cafe or New Age Books and Crystals or just show up at 7PM at the Woodcliff United Church 5010 Spruce Drive SW. Calgary - it is 25$ a the door or 20$ to buy tickets. You get a Green Smoothie Recipe Book and a Green Smoothie.

I Love Mangoes! I Love Mangoes! Lately have been on a Mango fixation, and when I see them I buy them!

Love You All,
Samantha

Love Day ! Kale Chips inspired by Renegade Health !

2009-09-19T08:52:00.000-07:00

Hello Beautiful People - I Love and Accept Myself! Try these wonderful Kale Chips - going crazy with my new dehydrator!! Good chip substitute....

Raw Food Kale Chips

Annmarie got the idea from Rawbin at rawbinsrawbin.blogspot.com

Ingredients:

2 head Kale, Washed and Torn
3/4 cup Tahini - I only use about 1/2 cup
1/4 cup Tamari - I use Braggs you can use any Raw Soy Sauce....
1/4 cup Cider Vinegar
½ cup Water
2 scallions (some chives work too!)
1 clove garlic
1 lemon (juice of)
1/4 teaspoon Sea Salt
1/4 cup of nutritional yeast (I use less)

Preparation:

Place kale in a large mixing bowl. Combine the rest of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth to get a thick consistency. You may have to add more water. Pour over kale and mix thoroughly with your hands to coat the kale. You want this mixture to be really glued onto the kale.
Place kale onto a Teflex sheet, on top of a mesh dehydrator screen, and dehydrate for 6 hours @ 115 degrees. You’ll need to use two trays. Rotate kale occasionally to dry uniformly.

You can check Kevin and Annemarie out at their webspace, I watch them every weekday and get many recipes and ideas from them - so kudo's to you beautiful raw family http://renegadehealth.com/

Love You all,
Samantha

Day 94......well I guess I could have renamed my Blog!

2009-09-15T17:07:00.001-07:00

Hello all you beautiful, vibrant folks out there!

I am coming up to 100 days trying the raw food diet, and I am going to continue on this raw food journey. So, I may still be counting the days or I may not, don't be alarmed.

I love the feeling of vibrant food coursing through my body. And I have not created any stuckness to life and the road I am taking.

I have been doing pretty good this week so far, except yesterday had a little junk food at night with my hubby! Kimmapii Kids Festival was a hit, met a ton of new friends, and made a little money for my courses.......

Just want to share a really simple recipe for a No-fat Salad Dressing -
Mango Dressing
1 cup of tomatoes
1 cup of mango
2 TBS of Balsamic Vinegar

Blend in the Vita mix starting with Tomatoes....
Enjoy it over a supper salad.
Love You All,
Samantha

Day 89......Good Eats and please check out this!

2009-09-10T17:14:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!!

I just wanted to say Hello and tell you that I have been doing great since Monday.....most days are 2 meals Raw and 1 SAD meal a day.....SO, for example yesterday I ate a Raw fruit (2 bananas, 1 peach) breakfast, a SAD Subway meal, and a fruit Soup and Large salad for supper. Going to make myself a Raw Veggie Stew, and I will let you know how it is!

Today, I am busy making Medicine Bags, and Jewelry for the Kimmapii Kids Festival this Saturday. Please check out www.kimmapiikids.org

Also, I can't wait till Fredric Paternaude comes to Calgary September 23rd check out the information at Awesome Rawsome

Love You All,
Samantha

Day 85....somewhere in there! Update!

2009-09-07T08:47:00.000-07:00

Good morning all you beautiful perfect beings!

Well, I have finally settled back home after my month of travelling - attended a wedding, went to a pristine lake and hung out at in Saskatchewan. Eating well and exercising were not high on my list, so I went back to the cooked foods, little exercise and definitely felt the effects. When I returned to Calgary, I recommitted to eating more Raw foods, and had Fredric Paternaude's Low Fat DVD series waiting in my mailbox to get me moving along the road of eating raw.

I have been doing well, eating a high fruit diet with Breakfast being a Green Smoothie or just fruit, lunch may be a healthy cooked meal or more fruit/veggie and then Supper is always a fruit soup, and a meal salad (have yet to find a dressing that I can fall in love with). What I found helpful is the calorie-dense and higher sugar content of fruit to help satiate me throughout the day.

My dehydrator is on the order, so I will be including some dehydrated raw "breads" and other nut/seed creations to mix it up as well.

Here is a recipe for Fruit Soup -

2 bananas
1 bunch of grapes
1 Apple
1/2 pint of raspberries/blueberries
1/2 pint of strawberries
1 nectarine or 2 plums

Chop up and put in large bowl

Then blend the following to make the "broth" -

2 peaches (or other fruit)
the juice from 2 oranges
more liquid if needed - water, coconut water or another juice

Pour "Broth" over the chopped fruit, put in fridge for 15 minutes or more for the flavors to blend and intensify.

I eat a large bowl for supper each night.

Love you all,
Samantha

Day 31 - Yeap! I am still on the journey:)

2009-07-13T20:25:00.000-07:00

Greetings Everyone,

I have had a crazy couple of weeks, so I have not been at the computer or had time to write much with the Raw Integration....Basically I have been having my green smoothies most days for breakfast, and as much raw veggies as I can for snacks.....Supper has been SAD most days just due to my cravings for Bread and Eggs mostly...cheese a little bit and Sugar!

Anyway, I have been keeping my mind on the goals of 80% Raw, more water and more exercise......and I am aware when I go off the wagon too much and days when I eat well.....I wanted to share an interesting meditation retreat - experience called Vipassana check out - Vipassana Meditation Course that if I am accepted will be attending this fall. My goal is to create better awareness of my body to facilitate better eating and mindfulness of my emotions.

Love You All,
Samantha

Day 20 - All expectations are out!!

2009-07-02T21:45:00.000-07:00

Great evening everyone,

Day went well, learned that having a goal which I know is attainable is a great way to build confidence.

Morning - Had a Green Smoothie; 2 frozen bananas, 1 Apple, 10 cherries, 2 cups of Black Kale, some ice cubes and water....Had 1.5 L drank all of it!

Lunch - Huge Spring Greens salad with Balsamic vinegar, flax oil and Braggs for a dressing.....

Supper - Not RAW!! Stir-fry rice with vegtables.....it is all good!

So, had only 2 L of water, but had a 15 minute treadmill walk and had 2 raw meals....awesome....

I Love You All, You Wonderful You!!!
Samantha

Day 20 - Back on Track.......

2009-07-02T06:48:00.000-07:00

Good morning Everyone,
Family visit was very busy, so I did not get a chance to write anything AND my diet for the last 6 days has not been very raw too! There were salads, and raw green smoothies, but the majority of my food was restaurant cooked food.....I really don't feel well, and I am sure I have said this before - but repetition builds knowledge - When I eat SAD (standard American Diet) I feel Bad!!! So, I received my very own Vita-mix yesterday and I am glad, I had a very nice green smoothie yesterday morning and of course today!

So, I have to look at my willingness - I am willing to eat Raw Food at least 75%, I am willing to go without food if I do not have good raw food available, at least for a few hours.

Goals today are to eat 2 Raw Meals, 3 Liters of water and move some more.......

Love you All, and will be writing tonight!!
Samantha Hussey

Day 14 - Ouch! Detour Friday!

2009-06-26T23:22:00.000-07:00

Good morning - evening Everyone!

Ouch my tummy says! Well actually there is pain receptors in your digestive system and right now they are telling me I should/or could not have had pork and beef today........Wow, did not eat enough today, just had my smoothie, and flax crackers, but did not drink my other 1 L portion around lunch - Big Learning/Mistake (Challenge) there! Was totally hunger and gave in to McCrappies at 3PM! Had some bad food and felt you guessed it - Bad! So, then I thought might as well, eat a Ham Sandwich (gurgle, gurgle - my stomach just sounded) for Supper - yeah that's what I need Sugary Ketchup and Wheat Bread....anyway, my Raw Goals today got a little kiboshed, but a Detour is a lesson, and I am sure when I am up all night in the bathroom - it is one I will not forget.....by the way I am not kidding - It feel like someone punched me in the stomach right now........when you are on the Raw Food - your body is so tuned into what is not and what is good for you - It HURTS when you stray too far off into meat-land!

SO, at least I played with my daughter in the playground for a hour today, and got moving a bit - but my focus is to get structured walks in - not just play!

Beautifully and joyfully; tomorrow my parents are in Calgary and I can introduce green smoothies to my Mom and she what she thinks.......Hey, I am self-referencing as my teachers say - I just want to share not seek anything out side myself (my stomach gurgles again!).....

Wish me luck sleeping tonight! My Goals tomorrow are 3 Raw Meals, 3 L of water, and exercise a bit - going to the Calgary Farmer's Market (oh there is a stomach cramp....) tomorrow and will be loads of fun!

Love You All,

Samantha Hussey

Day 14 - Craving Fast Food!!!

2009-06-26T11:15:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

Goals are 3 L of water, 3 Raw Meals, and some movement - had some cravings for Chicken today, but I am preparing a Chocolate Mint Smoothie - so with my tummy full I am moving forward.....Lovely Mint, Kale, 1 Orange, 1 Apple, 1 Banana, 2 tsp Maca, 4 Cacao Beans.....love it...

I will let all you beautiful People how it goes today!
Samantha

Day 13 - Good Food...love smoothies and Maple Flax Crackers...

2009-06-25T19:22:00.001-07:00

Good Evening,

Today went well, 2 L of water so far (better..) and 3 raw meals, had with a few raw snacks....yumm! Breakfast and Snacks were Green Smoothies with cilantro, kale, mint, 1 banana, 1 apple with a few grapes. Also a handful of jungle peanuts, Curried Cashews, 2 Hemp Bliss Balls and some raw carrots...Lunch was Fresh Peas picked 2 days ago, from a local organic farmer. Supper was Broccoli Salad with some Maple Cinnamon Flax Crackers....I can''t wait until I get my dehydrator, flax crackers rock and they are full of fiber and Omega 3's!

So, I had four Carmel-Almond thingies due to hunger, when I was out and about with Rhiannon and felt frustrated.....lesson is eat, eat, eat....keep your stomach full of good wholes food and the need to perform emotional eating will not be as sharp.....

Love You all and Connect with you tommorow,

Samantha

Day 13 - Sleeping like a Serpent......

2009-06-25T08:20:00.000-07:00

Good morning Everyone,

Yesterday, fell asleep with my daughter again, lately have been very gentle with myself in conserving energy.....and this is how the day went...had my usual 2 smoothies, snacks of bananas and peanuts, made Sweet Broccoli Salad and had 2 cups of that for Supper......a bag of dried Mango....and not enough water only 1-2 L.....Remind myself that water is very important and I cannot live without it!!!

And I made Breakfast for supper for my daughter and husband so they had bacon, eggs and toast.....I snatched 3 pieces of Bacon and ate it....yes, I ate Cooked Pig Flesh....I was craving meat.....Raw Foodists that convert their family right away might have an easier time of it, for the transition from cooked; it is all a beautiful learning lesson for me and I love it!!! Note: I did feel really tired after and I had a little stomach issue this morning......

SO, journey onward today, I would love to eat 3 Raw meals, 3 Liters of water and some exercise.....

Love You All,

Samantha

Day 12 - Sprouts done......

2009-06-24T10:09:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,
Yesterday fell asleep with Rhiannon so no night blog entry....day 11 went Ok, but had a few tastes of cooked food - had 2 chocolate cookies and a spoonful of my daughter's Mac and Cheese...but as I have heard from a few sources...a little bit of what you crave is OK, and denying yourself %100 is not a good path to follow. Also, I learned that you want to make sure you get enough of your morning calories in, then you will not feel as hungry later in the day...Yesterday we had to get my daughter's check-up and I did not get my Morning smoothie in then I was hungry by the time I got home....and so I really wanted to eat lots of cooked food, but a few tastes saw me through to make a Smoothie when I got home....I ordered my Vita-mix yesterday, and I am very happy to offer a free shipping code for all my family and friends that want one in their home soon......My system does not enjoy raw garlic very much...I made the mashed cauliflower and put too much in garlic in, so I had to eat half mashed cauliflower and half spaghetti sauce on zucchini noodles.....

Mashed Cauliflower Recipe:
1 Head of Cauliflower
2 TBsp of Macadamia or Pumpkin Seed butter
1 TBsp Fresh Dill or whatever herb you like
1 tsp sea salt
1-2 TBsp olive oil
1 clove or Less (for Sam) of garlic

Put all in a Food processor or a Vitamix - chop it up on Pulse until it gets lower into the blades, then blend for a while until it is creamy....spoon out and eat!

The garbanzo beans, and marrowfat peas are done already - will have to make a yummy supper with those ingredients...

Today, 3 L of water, 3 Raw Meals, and some exercise!!! I will let you know tonight how the day went...also check out www.rawmomsummit.com

Love You All,
Samantha Hussey

Day 11 - Goals and B12!

2009-06-23T07:45:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

Goals today are to consume 3 Liters of Water (this is so important), 3 Raw Meals, and some movement of my body - especially cool if it was in Fish Creek Provincial Park.....Going to get a little fancy tonight with Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes and I am trying some Sprouting techniques with Chickpeas, Alfalfa, and Marrowfat Peas.....Trays and Bags, I will let you all know what happened and where I learnt my lessons about how to sprout these seeds and legumes later in the week. I am looking for a supplement source of B12 that starts with a Methy.......I have had advice that you should take a extra source of this vitamin, because it is difficult to find in a vegan diet.

I love our world and our journey today to get away from consentual reality - don`t be spoon feed your reality - use your body and heart to let you know - sense and be aware of everything!

Love you All,

Samantha

Day Ten - Wow! Great stuff....

2009-06-22T18:14:00.000-07:00

Hello all you wonderful people!!! I am back from Kimmapii South Altar Class with great tools, and interesting shifting with shedding some past energy that no longer serves me. Anyway, very cool class, nestled just below the Crowsnest Mountain in Southwest Alberta, so beautiful.....AND!

The Raw eating went well for being on the road...and yes the Vita-mix was a blessing for making enough food to keep me going all the weekend, though I brought lots of dried fruits and nut mixes (Hazelnuts, Coconut, Cacao, Macadamia, and Goldenberries).

My smoothies for breakfast and a morning snack were usually comprised of: 1 - 2 cups of strawberries, 1 banana, 1 apple, 3 cups of greens ( 2 cups of either endive/kale/spinach, 1 cup mint - yeah it's really tasty - thanks David Wolfe!), then a superfood mix of goji berries, bee pollen and raw cocoa/cacao beans about 2-3 TBsp and of course some water....usually made about 2 L, as usual 1L for the morning and 1 L for later, which I stored in a Thermos I chilled in the mini-fridge freezer for 30 mins or so! It keep till about 11AM quite nicely! One thing I noticed with my body/system was I would get super-hot about 15 minutes after eating/drinking my fresh raw food - I think it may be my metabolism ? Of course shifting my metabolism from super-slow to normal is something I look forward to!

Lunch which usually went a little later than noon was bought Flax Crackers (Go Raw brand) and I made guacamole with just smashed avocado (with a fork), chopped tomatoes and maybe 1 tsp of balsamic or red wine vinegar (raw-ish I know....). Also, made Nori Rolls with just sprouts, carrots, and cucumber for lunch that I took on the first day......Also, just Dried Fruit and Fresh Fruit (1 banana and 1 apple), and Nut/Fruit Bliss Balls.

Suppers were Spaghetti (Tomatoes, Soaked Sun-dried tomatoes, Honey or Agave Nectar, Basil - blended in Vita-mix until warm) and Zucchini noodles (I could not slice them as fine as the Saladacoo I have at home though..., Flax "Breakfast Crusts (Buckwheat, Flax and Sesame) that is thicker like a raw - "bread" with Fresh Fruit.

Over all; if you are prepared with lots of options to eat raw, then you will not slip into your past eating patterns, and if you do it is not a stop sign only a Detour that you can come back from.

Check out Kimmapii Kids, a %100 volunteer charity started by my teachers Shannon and Marv to assist poor, rural Peruvian children to get an education. If that resonates with you check out http://www.kimmapiikids.org/

Love You All,
Samantha

Day Six - See you all in 3 days.....

2009-06-18T21:54:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,
Day went well, just getting ready for all the fun at the Kimmapii Shaman's Altar:
Breakfast: Green Smoothie (see last post for contents)
Lunch: Green Smoothie
Snack: Rawnanimo bar from Raw Divine, Package of Pea Shoots, Banana
Supper: Raw Nori Rolls - also will have to share a Raw Un-Fried Rice recipe I found!!!
Sorry to make this so short, but I am still a little not ready and it is 11PM, and yikes, I got to get up at 5AM!!!!
Blog you in 3 days, Sunday evening or Monday morning....oh...yeah....taking the Vita-mix YEAH!! Green Smoothies are awesome......picked up some Raw Organic Hawaiian Honey today.....
Love You All,
Samantha

Day Six - Getting ready for Kimmapii

2009-06-18T08:42:00.000-07:00

Good morning all,

Well, had my yummy Breakfast Green Smoothie - 1 apple, 1 orange, 1 banana, handful of romaine and collard greens, 1 TBsp of Bee Pollen and Raw Cocoa/Cacao Nibs and water. I decided to add some "Superfoods" to my Green Smoothie this morning. Had these foods in my home already, just didn't know where to add them. 1 L worth, with 1 L for later....

My Goals today are to eat 3 Raw meals, 3 L of water, exercise, shopping for Kimmapii - I am taking the Shaman's Altar Inka Medicine Wheel training in the Crowsnest Pass this weekend. Starting tomorrow I will be without a computer, doing meditation and energy work, and learning how to eat raw on the road! SO, today I will be stocking up on nuts, seeds, go raw snacks, bars, pretty much whatever I can get my hands on - a big Thermos to carry at least tomorrow's 2 L of Green Smoothie.......I am excited and so thankful that I will have 2 wonderful , inspiring ladies to share a cabin with during the weekend!

Blessings of a Day full of sunlight and laughter,

Samantha

Day Five - Cooked Vegan for Dinner......

2009-06-17T17:42:00.000-07:00

Good Evening Everyone,

Here is how the day went - rainy day with no Fish Creek walk....Watched David Wolfe's 1 hour talk about Super foods find it here or on the Renegade Heath Show under Longevity/David Wolfe.

http://blip.tv/play/gbJOgYqQVIqtCw

Morning - Green Smoothie with 1 Apple, 1 Banana, 1/4 Pineapple, 1/2 lemon, Broccoli Sprouts, Handful of Black Kale and water.....made 2 L worth - Drank 1 L for Breakfast

Lunch - Yummy Sweet Broccoli Salad over 1 cup of Bean Sprouts, then later in the afternoon, I drank the other 1 L of Green Smoothie. Also, a handful of Inca Berries for a snack 30 minutes later.

Supper - Yes, I took Lawrence out for Vietnamese, and had some cooked Vegan vegetables over rice vermicelli. Was great tasting at first, but I noticed after eating it, my tongue felt coated (not as bad as pizza), and I was a little tired so this really convinced me that even cooked vegetables feel different than a prepared raw meal. Anyway, next time I will eat the veggie salad rolls, and bring my own cashew/jungle peanut dressing for dipping.

All you Beautiful Folks, I just want to let you know that in Peru right now the Amazonian people are fighting the Peruvian government for land rights...I find it sad we have not learned our lesson and protecting the Amazon/human rights is still second priority to sucking up oil and gas....

With Rainy Joy and Love,
Samantha

Day Five - Great Sleep!

2009-06-17T09:30:00.000-07:00

Good morning (barely) Everyone !

Day Five is upon me with gusto and joy, goals today are to drink 3 L of water (stirred with a Yellow Stirwand too!), eat 3 Raw meals, and get moving in some way, especially outside where I can touch my bare toes to the Earth for grounding, at least for a few moments.

I had a really great sleep! Even though I stayed up till 1AM, to write my blog, post some new things on my online store - check out http://www.walkinbeauty.ca/ and listened to more Raw information. So, my daughter and I slept in till 9AM - wow! Having a Green Smoothie with 1 Apple, 1 Banana, 1/4 Pineapple, 1/2 lemon with just rind removed, 1 whole container of Broccoli sprouts, 1 handful of Kale and water - again makes 2 L, drinking 1 L at the moment, with the other in the fridge for later.....but, feeling like I may have Sweet Broccoli Salad for Lunch, with some raw carrots.

In Greatest Joy and Love,

Samantha

Day Four - Being Prepared and Grounding

2009-06-16T22:22:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Day, with a few important lessons...Goals were to eat 3 raw meals, 3 Liters of water and some exercise......Here is how the day went -

Breakfast - Green Smoothie with Black and Red Kale (6cups worth), 1/2 cup lettuce, 2 apples, 1/4 pineapple, water....1 L and 1L saved in the fridge for later....went to my Doctor's appointment, and then to Planet Organic to get some lunch since my appt. went way over the time I thought it would take - so my daughter and I had fun picking up some Bliss Balls (super-yummy), Live Bars, Pea Shoots, a bag of Apples, some Pecans, Snap Peas and a Cookie for my girl!

Lunch - 2 Bliss Balls, 2 pieces of Live Apricot Bar, 1 Apple, Pea Shoots and a few Snap Peas.....but, I was still hungry by the time we got home and I had forgot that I had a yummy 1 L of Green Smoothie - I Ate a piece of my home-made cooked pizza, this is what happened to my body that totally convinces me that cooked food with dairy, meat and wheat is not good for me......OK, so I had a piece of pizza, first bite, my body went into a reaction - heart beat fast, had a weird sharp stomach pain, then a vibration went through my whole body - after eating it, and yes I didn't clue in!! My tongue felt like it was coasted with a slime (I scape my tongue morning and night), I had a horrible taste at the back of my throat - YUCK!! SO, I learned to be prepared and if I feel hungry eat more great raw stuff!!!!

Supper - Other half of Green Smoothie 1 L worth, and then later in the evening I had 1 Bliss Ball, 1 Apricot Live Bar piece, and I made some yummy Broccoli Sweet Raw Salad for my hubby's lunch tomorrow, and had 3 Tablespoons as well - here is the Recipe:

Broccoli Sweet Raw Salad

5 cups of Shredded Broccoli

1 cup of Pumpkin Seeds

1/2 cup of Raisins

1/2 cup chopped onion

-Mix in Bowl - I shed the Broccoli in my food processor

Dressing:

1 cup of cashews soaked

3 TBsp agave nectar

2 TBsp apple cider vinegar

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 water

Blend together in a high-powered blender or if you use your food processor soak the cashews for a hour to soften them....Pour dressing over salad and mix well (even with your washed hands) to get all the broccoli covered...

OK, Goals for Day Five - 3 Raw Meals, 3 Liters of water, and some exercise....Oh Yeah I forgot to mention - My daughter and I went for a walk in Fish Creek Park in the evening and I got in a great 30 min walk in the park.......it was really cool! And I got to stand for a little bit with bare feet on the earth for some healthy grounding!

Love you All,

Samantha

Day Four - Green Smoothies......

2009-06-16T08:35:00.000-07:00

Good morning everyone,

Day Four - feeling good, daughter has some crazy liquid poop, so I am a little worried about her and what is happening to her system. Going to weigh in today at my Doctor's office, I have a 2-4 week appointment with her for weight loss management, but her diet is all dairy and meat at every meal....so I will have to come "clean" about my new direction to health....FUN!!

Goals for today - 3 RAW meals, 3 L of water or more, get out to the Park.........Already had a 1L Green Smoothie (2 Apples, 1/4 Pineapple, 5 cups of Kale, 1/2 cup lettuce - water . makes 2 L), was a little thicker, but tasted great.....saved half for Lunch.....I had some guidance to make the majority of my diet raw veggies, then fruits, because I am going for weight loss.....but then there is the other side, that says hey...eat whatever you want....as long as it is raw.....so, I will be balanced and have my yummy avocado in the afternoon...

Love You Everybeing,

Samantha Hussey

Anyway, better get going....listening to David Wolfe in the background...great stuff,

Love and Light,

Samantha

Day Three - No Pizza for Me! Hah Hah Hah!!!

2009-06-15T20:45:00.000-07:00

Awesome stuff! Day went OK, a little low on energy, but didn't slip back into old habits of eating, stayed raw all day! This is how it went - oh but did not get full exercise in....just playing with Rhiannon. Rented a Vita-Mix from Journey to Health until mine arrives, to make Green Smoothies!!! Yeah.....

Morning - 3 Bananas, with a little made raw fruit leather, 1 L Water

Lunch - Hail to the Kale Salad, Raw Nori Rolls

Snack - Jungle Peanuts, Raw Food Bar, Water

Supper - more Hail to the Kale Salad and a Green Smoothie with Spinach, Blueberries, Bananas, and an Apple stem, core and all! I DID NOT eat the Pepper Pepperoni Pizza I made for my husband and daughter......even though I was craving it, but the look and smell convinced my mind/heart/body that I may get a little tummy upset if I went for it!

Raw-ish Hail to the Kale

Half a Cabbage chopped

3 Cups of shredded carrots

3 cups of Kale, washed and chopped

1/2 cup Raw Pumpkin seeds

1/2 cup Raw Sunflower seeds

2 Tbsp Raw Black Sesame Seeds

Dressing:

1/2 cup Flax seed oil

1/3 Braggs

5 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar

1 Tbsp fresh minced Basil

Mix fresh veggies and seeds together, then whip up the dressing separately in a bowl, and then pour on fresh veggies and seeds, toss and let sit in the fridge for 2 hours before serving.....super flavor if you enjoy Braggs...

Snack: Flax Seed Crackers with a few almond/date treats......1 L of Water

Love You All,

Samantha Hussey

Goals are beautiful !

Day Three - Ahh!! Yawn......

2009-06-15T07:10:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone, a little tired, a lot of not formed poop, and no morning exercise - my two-year old woke up 3 times in the middle of the night, and then woke up at 6:15 AM, so will have to see if Fish Creek Park is not rainy today for a walk at least some beautiful Earth-grounding activities! Maybe a little WiiYoga....

Also, wanted to mentioned another one of my physical symptoms - Mucusy throat and nose in the morning. Hoping that eliminating Dairy products will clear this up - I did smoke for ten years, and then quit in 2006 - 3 years ago.

Goals for today - 3 liters of water, 3 Raw Meals (yeap I might as well), and a walk or exercise of some kind.

I am going to "Journey to Health" Food store in Midpark today to order my Vita-mix and get the last containers of Jungle Peanuts (I LUV these!).

Love this wonderful Day,

Samantha

Day Two - It's all good and yummy!!

2009-06-14T20:26:00.000-07:00

Well, had a beautiful, sunny day in Calgary AB - with some nice Farmer's Market shopping time! My Raw experience today was really great - with some exercise in the morning and all eating today was of the raw or nearly raw variety!

To Recap the day:

Morning - Banana and 2 Oranges (by the way I eat Organic as much as I can!), and a little Raw Chocolate of the Gods Mousse - Had 2 L of water....

Lunch - Was snacking on Go Raw Pizza Flax Crackers, Divine Rawnanimo Bar ohhh good stuff from Planet Organic...

Snack - Blueberries and Cherries with a little more Mousse, 1 L of water

Supper - Awesome Rawish Nori Rolls - I love these rolls, I watch Alissa Cohen's DVD on Raw Food Preparation and I was inspired to serve these, here is the general recipe....I could not find Raw Wasabi Paste (it didn't say Raw anyway) but it was mixed with Braggs, and the Nori Sheets said Dried not Roasted so I think overall very Raw-ish.

1 cauliflower - processed in the food processor to look like rice

2 avocados - slices/sticks for "sushi" stuffing

1 half cucumber - sticks for again more stuffing

Place the "rice" on the nori sheet, spread out leaving 1 inch on each end, then put the cucumber and avocado in the middle of the sheet in a horizontal line. Slowly roll the sheet up from one end to the other using your hands or a bamboo sushi mat. Wet the joining end of the sheet and swish together - leave it to glue. Then wet your knife with water and cut into sushi slices.....serve with Raw (if you can find it, or make some from horseradish) Wasabi and Braggs or Nama Shoyu.

Great Day Two - my physical symptoms are some gas, but no discomfort, lots of energy and really feel great. Emotionally, I am happy that I did not eat cooked food - go to MacDonalds etc, and I am comforted by the support of my husband, daughter and all my new Raw Foodist friends.

Goals for tomorrow - 3 liters of water, some type of exercise, 2 Raw Meals......

Sweet Dreams to every being on our Mother Earth - Blessing to you all.,

Samantha Hussey

Day Two - Goals and Exercise

2009-06-14T06:21:00.000-07:00

OK, here I am! Feeling good, got up early due to a dream waking me up - lately have been dreaming every night, and remembering the last one before I wake.....just the past two weeks, and it is interesting.....Anyways.....I was able to get up and walk on the treadmill for 25 minutes, which I love, because I am sure it will help me with the detox that I have heard is associated with the first few weeks of Raw Food, especially if I go completely off meat......

So, Goals for today - Drink 3 L of water or more, Exercise (yeah!), and 2 complete meals that are 100% Raw.

I plan on going to the Farmer's Market today and get the weeks groceries.....also there is a bead sale (I make jewelry and medicine bags) downtown that I might venture to see.

Love You All,

Samantha Hussey

Day One - The Buffet that really hurt and meeting new Raw Food Friends...

2009-06-13T20:43:00.000-07:00

Well! Day One went OK, my goal of 3 liters of water was easy in the morning, but as the day progressed I had to make sure I get the last liter in. AND, I went a little off on my diet today.

Morning - Granola, Yogurt and Saskatoon berries with 4 Black Mission Figs cut up - not really raw but at least was vegetarian.....2 liters of water...

Lunch - Yuck! Went for the last hurrah of cooked Bad, with a capital B! We went to a Asian Buffet in the NE and we ate to gluttony - I had Sushi, Cuttlefish with Curry, Pork with Beans/Peppers, Raw Broccoli and Carrots, and some some very sugary cake. I felt the nausea, and stomach pain, and felt terrible ....Basically more fuel for the fire of commitment to eating Raw!!!

Supper -Attended a Raw Food Potluck by Kathryn at Raw Soul Calgary. Had Victoria's Broccoli, Raisin, Cashew Dressing salad....Kathryn's wonderful stuffed mushrooms, flax crackers with avocado, and wonderful fluffy cheesecake. Also brought some Chocolate of the Gods and Hail to the Kale Salad. - Totally appreciative of the support and love from these beautiful ladies!

OK, Here it is people.....I had my water, but my 2 meals, really turn into a raw food meal, a SAD (Standard American Diet) meal, and a vegetarian breakfast - pretty good start I think...

Good night and Blessings of Joy,

Samantha Hussey

Day One - Where I am right now!

2009-06-13T06:05:00.000-07:00

OK, Here is a test of my complete truth fullness, a principle that I teach in Munay-Ki, this is where I am currently in my life/health/the full spectrum of my being. My reasons for incorporating a Raw Food Lifestyle into my family and into me, is the high vibrational energy David Wolfe talks so passionately about - the Power of Love. I know in myself that when I eat good, eat great - I feel great too, and since I am tapped into the Energetic world and into healing myself to effect change in the world, this is just the next step for me. I have let go of most of the addictions that I have had in my life - smoking, power over others etc. One still remains - overeating and eating dead foods; there was a period after I had my daughter (who is just over 2 years old) that I ate a Dairy Queen Blizzard EVERY DAY....with my healing journey now focusing on my physical vehicle, my ultimate goal is to set an example for her eating habits, and not pass my disharmonious habits onto her generation.

Goal: To get to 75 - 80% Raw Food as my diet in the next 100 days

Current Weight: 290 lbs (yeap, that is what I typed! - my heaviest in my whole life)

My Height is 5'6 - I have a Metis background, with diabetes and heart diesase in my family.

The symptoms of my morbid obesity: pain and stiffness in all my joints - knees,hips and hands especially, a heel spur/pain that has just showed up in my right foot, back pain and sciatica that make standing and housework for more that 1 hour painfull, shouldars have very tender spots all over, bloating and digestive pain, and my poop (yeah!!) is daily, but not well formed.

My D1 Goal is to drink 3 liters or more of ceramic purified water today and eat 2 meals raw.

I plan on a daily blog on my progress which I hope will include what I eat and how I am feeling!

With Love and Gratitude in my Heart,

Samantha Hussey