New Groove~ "Brad's Raw Chips"~Coconut Water Kefir

I am trying an old approach to my eating pattern. One that I used when trying to recover from multiple issues stemming from systemic candida. I do not have a problem from candida right now, but I want to use this approach to re-set my metabolism and gain muscle and tone up a bit. When I ate in this fashion before, I lost excess weight quickly and re-shaped my body by adding exercise to my life. I am not really trying to lose weight, but I have been feeling a bit out of balance from not having sufficient fuel from not eating as much or as often as I should.
I will be endeavoring to eat at least six small meals a day with a bit more protein than I have previously been accustomed to. I am also going to add some brown rice cakes and Mary's Gone Crackers to my menu. I am wanting a bit more carbs for my workouts and my physically demanding work. I am not sure how my body will take the grain, but we will see.
I will still be on a High Raw Vegan Diet, but I want to be more thoughtful about timing and content.

Today's eats~

7 a.m. smoothie~raw almond milk, banana, maca, mesquite, lucuma, cacao nibs

9 a.m.Green Juice~celery, lime, ginger, liquid stevia
brown rice cake with raw almond butter

Noon~
Green juice
celery
raw walnuts
4 Mary's Gone Cracker's~caraway...my tummy was not very happy with this combination...

3 p.m...After my 3 mile walk...I ate
1 whole yellow pepper
handful of strawberries

soy free (non-raw) fake meat crumbles ~I made into
CONEY SAUCE for the kids vegan hot dogs...organic catsup, red onion, garlic, cumin, red (hot)pepper powder

5:15 p.m. I wrapped my meat crumbles into a romaine lettuce leaf
cucumbers
coconut water kefir

7:30 p.m.smoothie~raw almond milk, 1/2 frozen banana, Amazing Grass ~chocolate~1 scoop, 1T cacao nibs, 1 t. mesquite, ice

I am still a bit hungry tonight..so I am eating a bowl of shredded romaine lettuce with nutritional yeast sprinkled on it and
Brad's Raw chips

~~~~~power yoga today and power walked for 3 miles

I am still drinking my coconut water kefir every day and love it. Pure2Raw has some great video's on how it make it. Click here to watch them.

I received a package of samples from "Brad's Raw Chips" they generously sent me two flavors to review. They are Raw, vegan, gluten free, rich in protein, high fiber,a source of Omega-3's and made from locally grown and organic ingredients....sounds good already!
We received Kale chips and Red Pepper chips.
My adult (Vegan) son and I have tried both of them and we prefer the Red Pepper. They are flavorful, light, crunchy and slightly remind me of eating a cracker. They would go great with a dip or spread as they are firm enough to hold up under it. I could not sit down and eat the whole bag, because they are dense and provide a satisfactory full feeling.
The Kale chips also have the same qualities as the red pepper chips. My son says the Kale is a bit overpowering for him, but I like kale so I didn't notice this.
Brad also has some of the 11 flavors in the Hot variety, which I actually think I'd prefer...I'm a spicy girl...and I think this would kick up the flavor a notch.


Here is what Brad has to say about them~

Coconut Noodles and Peanut Sauce~Sowing and Reaping Good Things!

My daughter is visiting from Tenessee so I've been pre-occupied. I am also trying to complete a nutrition class to receive my certification. In the meantime life goes on.
My husband is just about 1 week away from the completion of his Biggest Loser contest at work. He has lost a total to date of 25 lbs. following a high raw vegan diet (with a couple of slips) For the first two months he did nothing but talk about what he couldn't have and imagine eating those things. Yesterday he said to me, "Eating a hamburger sounds gross"....can you believe it?? I've heard you can establish a new habit in 21 days....but usually we need more time to transform our minds... our thinking....and it is in our nature to look back and to long for some things in this life. Sometimes we forget about the benefits of doing the right thing or eating a healthy diet. It is a good idea to remind ourselves of the benefits of eating healthy and living a good and clean life.
Garbage in...garbage out...If we fill our minds with unclean thoughts, our actions will reflect this. If we fill our bodies with unhealthy foods our health reflects this too!
If you have a set-back, get back on the horse and continue to do what you know is right, remind yourself of your goals and of the positive results that you will reap by healthy living.
If we live a godly life in Christ Jesus we have a reward in heaven and this pleases God and we are at peace with Him. If we fail, He forgives us and cleanses us from all unrighteousness.
In my life, being at peace with God comes first and then peace comes to me as I live out His life in me.
The Bible tells us, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" 1 Cor. 10:31 My desire is to use my life and this body he has given me in a way that honors him. One way is by eating a healthy diet and not abusing my body with eating or drinking things that are bad for me. I find that when I do this, there are present benefits. Not that this is the goal, but this is the result. This is the law of sowing and reaping.
Please consider what you are sowing in your life today.

**************************

Coconut Noodles and Peanut Sauce

2 young thai coconut~meat only
click here to watch a video to show you how to open a coconut
Cut the meat into thin noodle like strips
set aside

Peanut Sauce
1/2 c. no salt, no sugar organic peanut butter
1 T. Braggs Liquid Aminos
1 dried hot red pepper
water to thin

mix in Vita-Mix until creamy. pour over coconut noodles and mix together
top with basil and or cilantro. I sprayed on a little more Braggs.


I am also enjoying my Kefir water

kefir water grains from Marilyn the kefir lady
1 qt. of water
1 c. raw sugar
1 T. rapadurra
1 c. coconut water

ferment 12-24 hrs.
remove grains by straining. start a new batch.
add chopped fresh ginger to kefir water and let sit until desired taste is achieved and then refridgerate.

Loads of probiotics...find out about Kefir from Don here
it might be more than you want to know. :)

My Coconut Milk Kefir is delicious and I'm on my way to make some waffles for the rest of the family using it.

Coconut Milk Kefir

Kefir grains
1 can of coconut milk (organic unsweetened)
I add some fresh almond milk also to make it add up to 2-2 1/2 c. of liquid
let set for 12 -24 hrs.
it's done...strain and begin again

Last night it got finished very quickly and my kefir exploded onto the counter like those 4th of July snakes that grow when you light them...hehehe!