JUICE-A-THON - Week 2

I've just finished week two of my liquid cleanse and I've been thoroughly enjoying creating all the colorful and nutrient dense concoctions, photographing them and sharing the recipes on Facebook. Much interest has been generated among my non-raw food friends, which has been really exciting. At least 3 people I know have gone out and bought juicers or blenders! Perhaps it's that the concept of doing a juice or liquid cleanse isn't as intimidating for some as jumping into a lifestyle of living cuisine. I totally agree with what David Wolfe says...."If the only thing you can change about your diet is to get 32 oz. of fresh green juice a day and add one big salad, then you're well on your way to seriously improved health."

I have felt really strong this week. No real detox symptoms to report. People have been asking about weight loss, and I only dropped 2 pounds this past week, so about 7 or 8 pounds altogether in 14 days. I have been drinking a lot, and there has been plenty of high calorie fruit in the mix, so that may be the reason for slowed weight loss. Also, my exercise routine has been really minimal, as I'm only finding time for evening walks with the dogs, which aren't much more than a 20 minute stroll. If I've had a downfall during this time of seasonal cleansing, it's been inactivity.

I'm wrapping this cleanse up on Wednesday, and will be adding solids back into my diet for my big weekend of festivities ahead. Because I've been having blended smoothies and some fats throughout this time, transitioning to solids will be pretty effortless. My birthday is this Friday and we'll be staying at the historic, chic Colcord Hotel in Oklahoma City to celebrate. Then Saturday, I'll be rolling with raw rock stars at OKC's 105degrees' Live & Learn event. I am still pinching myself over this deal and I sure hope some of you can make it.

Be sure to stay tuned to this blog or my Facebook page because next week I'll be rolling out the details on Raw Food Rehab's new and improved website and announcing all of the details about our group project, Raw For the Holidays, an eBook brought to you by the original "Cast" of Raw Food Rehab.

LIVE & LEARN at 105degrees - Come to OKC on October 3rd

OKLAHOMA'S FIRST LIVING CUISINE CAFE', CULINARY ACADEMY & LIFESTYLE BOUTIQUE PRESENTS:

LIVE & LEARN

LIVING CUISINE

An Afternoon of Learning - October 3rd

Presenting In the Academy

Ani Phyo

Sophisticated & Simple Desserts 1 -2 pm

Philip McCluskey

Living Cuisine for Weight Loss 2 -3 pm

Karen Knowler

How To Get Started With Raw Foods 3 - 4 pm

Tim VanOrden

Living Cuisine: The Real Fast Food 4 - 5 pm

Presenting In The Cafe

Anthony Anderson

Living Cuisine: The Diet For Beauty 1:30 - 2:30 pm

Hope Ferdawsian

The Link Between Nutrition & Health 2:30 - 3:30 pm

Courtney Pool

Rainbow Green Live Food Cuisine & Miracles In Healing 3:30 - 4:30 pm

Penni Shelton

Living Raw In Cattle Country 4:30 - 5:30 pm

Book Signing in the Shop

Ani Phyo

Ani's Raw Food Kitchen - Ani's Raw Food Desserts 2 - 3 pm

and then......

Evening of Living

by reservation only

Matthew Kenney

The Elements of Modern Living Cuisine and Autumn Dinner Serving $35

7 pm

For more information visit 105degrees.com

A Company You Should Know - The Giving Teas

Many of you may already know my dear friend, Angela Thomas. There are so many amazing things I could share with you about Angela, but today I'd like to tell you a bit about the latest project she has been passionately pursuing. Angela is currently putting the finishing touches on an artisanal tea company, The Giving Teas, which donate ALL its profits to sponsored children in Haiti, Uganda and around the globe. Angela has recently "adopted" 4 children in Uganda, all of whom are being fed, clothed and educated through the profits of her new organization. She has set an initial goal of being able to sponsor 100 children as soon as possible. This "company" is a way that Angela is able to marry together her love of fine teas and her heart's passion in helping to fulfill the world mission vision.

The Giving Teas currently distribute incredible hand blended teas and Angela is working to produce an additional line of Holistic teas to help promote peace and health.

It is an honor and passion to promote and spread the word about integrity filled organizations such as The Giving Teas.....companies that are dedicated to spreading the love, lending a helping hand and making a difference to our brothers and sisters around the globe. I want to invite you to join me in supporting Angela's noble efforts by reading and following her blog, linking to this post and perhaps....buying a spot of tea!

A Week of JUICE - Questions & Answers

The above slide show is a glimpse at what I've been enjoying drinking for the past 7 days. I made the decision to embark on a 2.5 week mini-cleanse, just as an effort to knock out a few cobwebs (and unwanted pounds) from my system leading into the autumn season and to be feeling my best for my birthday next week. I generally do this type of cleanse a couple of times a year now.

So instead of a "juice feast" this time, I decided to make my time on liquids a bit more doable and forgiving for my lifestyle. On Monday, September 14th, I started this fluid detox which consists of fresh fruit & vegetable juices, smoothies, smart cocktails, blended soups and broths. I've been sharing my photos on Facebook this past week and have received a number of questions that I wanted to answer here for the benefits of all of my inquisitive, health conscious readers.

WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU GET HUNGRY?

One of the cool things about doing a juice feast is that I don't allow myself to get hungry. On most days I take in anywhere from 3-4 liters of fresh juice/smoothies and I also keep plenty of pure water flowing in. I PROMISE you that when you are adequately hydrated and taking in this quantity of nutrient dense liquid, you won't be hungry. It is advisable to drink a quart/liter of juice about every 3- 4 hours.

WHERE ARE THE RECIPES?

If you go to my Facebook album and click on the photo, you'll find the ingredients listed under the picture.

WHAT'S THE BUDGET ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS....LOOKS EXPENSIVE?

I have found that I spend an average of $15 per day when I am on the juice train, so depending on your food budget, that may be expensive for you. I view it as a matter of priority and I usually plan to do something like this when I know I have the funds available to commit to doing this type of cleanse. I can honestly tell you that the investment in your health FAR OUT WEIGHS the cost. I have paid a lot more money for insignificant things in my past, and I never felt this good.

ARE YOU GOING TO SHARE HOW IT'S GOING....I MEAN, HOW ARE YOU FEELING, DO YOU NOTICE ANYTHING?

I always feel my very best when I do nutrient dense, easy to assimilate liquids. In 7 days, I've dropped 5 pounds (YIPPEE!) and my energy levels are noticeably improved. I actually feel motivated to get out and move my body and look forward to going on my daily walks. I did experience an outbreak of acne-like stuff on my cheek and chin within the first 3 days, which was a form of detox, no doubt. I had a very mild head ache mid-week last week, but other than that, no adverse symptoms. REMEMBER tho....I've been eating a very high raw diet for years now, so if you choose to do this you could have more pronounced symptoms.

I SEE YOU'VE USED WHEATGRASS AND WHEATGRASS POWDERS. I'M OFF GLUTEN CONTAINING PRODUCTS LIKE WHEAT, SO WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST IN IT'S PLACE?

Wheat grass powder or wheat grass juice rarely offends those with gluten/wheat sensitivities. Most people are allergic to the processed grain and the gluten....but the young, tender blades of grass are basically in the same category as other leafy greens....and oh so nutritious! But you might want to try a tiny bit of it to see how you react first.

I DON'T LIKE CLEANING MY JUICER 5 TIMES A DAY. CAN YOU JUICE A LARGE QUANTITY AND STORE IT? WHAT IS THE "SHELF LIFE" FOR FRESH JUICE?

The general rule of thumb in storing juice is to fill a mason/kerr jar to the top, seal and store in the frig up to 24 hours. As fresh juice ages, it slowly decreases in nutritional value, so drinking it fresh is always preferable. Juicers such as the Green Star helps the juice to oxidize less rapidly, but I still think it TASTES the best if drank within a few hours of making. If you work all day, I recommend juicing for your day in the morning and then juicing your final "meal" when you arrive home in the evenings. I don't encourage freezing your juice......but that's just me.

ARE YOU USING A JUICER OR A BLENDER AND WHAT BRANDS DO YOU RECOMMEND?

I use both my Omega Juicer and my VitaMix daily. I also have a manual citrus juicer that I use frequently. This type of liquid cleanse can be done with just a blender, preferably high powered, and a nut milk bag used to strain liquids into juice. I love the versatility of working with different gadgets to get my drinks and it really helps in the clean up part of the equation.

If you have any more questions, please post them in the comment section below. I'll do another juice report in a few days. I really enjoy your questions!

If you are interested in doing a more intensive cleanse, I want to recommend a One-On-One Coached Juice Feast by my mentor, David Rainoshek, which he will be starting on my birthday, October 2nd running through November 1st. For more information, please visit his website.

Another Trip to the Saturday Market with Pen & Jen

Just another fun-filled Saturday trip to Tulsa's Cherry Street Farmer's Market with Pen & Jen. Today you'll meet Ian, another favored farmer from Bootstrap Farms, and learn how to pick out the best watermelon.

Someone You Should Know - Eric Nies

Do you know Eric Nies? Nies first gained fame as a cast member on the first season of MTV's reality television program, The Real World. Nies was working as a model during the show's filming, and was sometimes shown on photo shoots. He was known for his impressive physique, often appearing shirtless in episodes of the show. After his exposure on The Real World, he went on to host the MTV series The Grind, which featured a studio audience dancing to popular dance tracks. He has also hosted and participated in a number of MTV's Real World/Road Rules Challenges.

photo courtesy of Penny Dinn

Eric was interview earlier this year about raw food and Hollywood by Chloe Jo Berman of GirlieGirlArmy.com. Check out the rest of the interview at GirlieGirlArmy.com

Eric told Chloe, “Eating a RAW food lifestyle is the purest and best way to live. Many of the strongest and longest living animals are raw, such as the panda bear and gorillas. Self love has brought me to a RAW lifestyle. Feeding my body with pure natural energy. Most people’s perception is what has been ingrained inside them by manipulation, but slowly there is a shift in consciousness, one person at a time. People will ask more questions, begin to stand up for themselves, go their “own way”, take better care of themselves, which will benefit everyone and everything around them.” But there is even more to the story....watch this powerful clip as Eric tells you about how he broke his cycle:

105degrees Opens in OKC This Saturday!

Photographs by Jen Hoppa

OPENING SATURDAY IN OKLAHOMA CITY

I predict that 105degrees will quickly become a destination location for the growing population of raw food enthusiasts around the country. Many of us have been eagerly awaiting the grand opening of this gourmet living foods destination that will be the first of its kind: an upscale 3,500-square-foot raw food café that also includes the nation’s first state-licensed culinary academy and a boutique lifestyle shop.

105degrees Café opens for its first official dinner service this Saturday, September 12 at 5 p.m. There will also be a dinner service on Sunday, and the café’s first full day of service, which includes breakfast, lunch and dinner, will begin Monday, September 14 at 7 a.m. The café hours are really impressive. 105degrees will be serving from their innovative, cutting edge menu 7-days-a-week:

Monday – Thursday from 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Friday from 7 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m. – 11 p.m. & Sunday 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.

My friend, Matthew Kenney, is among the world’s most celebrated raw foods innovators. He and I agree that Oklahoma is the ideal place to introduce the 105degrees concept because of its central location in the U.S. and the strength of the statewide growing community interested in sustainable living. Matthew was immediately drawn to the idea when he was approached by Dara Prentice, 105degrees director of business and external affairs. The concept was immediately fascinating, marvelously ambitious and he quickly sensed that the synergy of the project could be very successful.

Matthew recently shared this, "The community has been extremely supportive and we’re so pleased to have the opportunity to offer Oklahomans the very best in living cuisine.” I am also delighted that my dear friend and award winning chef, formerly of Tulsa, Chef Geoff van Glabbeek, is working directly with Matthew on every aspect of kitchen direction and menu planning. Geoff's impressive culinary background and interest in sustainable, organic and cutting edge live cuisine made him an ideal fit for the position of Chef de Cuisine for the Cafe'.

The photos above were taken last week when I attended a special private lunch serving. I was completely blown away by every aspect of the ambiance and food. Menus are custom designed for each season based on the availability of fresh produce purchased from local growers. The fall dinner menu features items including: shitake dumplings, red sweet pepper wrappers, golden beat ravioli, Portobello mushroom piccata, heirloom tomato lasagna, and a variety of fresh soups, sides and a dessert menu that includes fresh churned ice creams, cannoli, baklava and a malted chocolate tart (my personal favorite thus far!).


This video was taken during the wait staff training last week. It was so fun to meander around behind the scenes as things were coming together, but I can't wait to visit 105degrees once everything is officially open to the public and humming with LIFE! Prices range from $5 - $12 for appetizers, $11 - $18 for entrees, sides are $4 - $5 and desserts are from $5 - $8. In the video I mistakingly say that there is a very limited bar menu, but that is certainly NOT the case. You can order a variety of totally fresh smoothies and juices, as well as an impressive assortment of fresh sake-based cocktails and biodynamic wines.

The 105degrees Academy welcomed its first class of students on Sept. 8. The academy offers state-licensed chef certification courses for those who currently work or aspire to work in an upscale restaurant or culinary environment as well as community classes for those interested in learning culinary techniques that allow them to enjoy the flavor and health benefits of raw foods in their own kitchen.

For more details and to see the current fall menus please visit 105degrees.com

Renegade Health Show - LIVE in Tulsa

REAL FOOD TULSA IS DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE:

KEVIN & ANNMARIE GIANNI will be our guests as we kick off the new and improved REAL FOOD TULSA fall/winter series. Please mark your calendars for Sunday evening, October 18th for a fabulous raw food potluck and captivating lecture from the amazing couple behind The Renegade Health Show, Rawk-A-Thon and the Raw Summit.

Kevin is the creator and co-host of The Renegade Health Show, a fun and informative daily health show that is changing the perception of health across the world and the author of High Raw – A Simple Approach to Health, Eating, and Saving the Planet, which in 5 easy steps helps people transform their bodies and minds naturally and without confusion. Along with business partner Mike Adams, Kevin created HealthBookSummaries.com, a free service that allows you to stay well informed about health, nutrition and fitness in just a few minutes each week. Kevin also created the widely viewed “Rawkathon” series, including in-depth interviews with leading experts in the raw foods movement.

Annmarie and her husband Kevin are the founders of RHTV, a multi-media production company that strives to educate the public about true health and wellness and to empower people to take action in improving their own lives and the communities in which they live. As mentioned, Annmarie is the co-host of The Renegade Health Show where you can regularly see her “cooking” up something in the kitchen. Annmarie continually teaches others optimal health by being her own testimonial, always learning and growing.

You'll want to RSVP for this event as soon as possible to insure your place at this exciting event!

We will start the evening with a potluck, so please bring a raw food dish to share that will feed at least 8 -10 people. Bring or email your recipe to me so I can put a recipe collection together to share with the group! Please arrive promptly at 5:30 pm, as the doors of the building are locked at 6 pm for security reasons. If you have any questions, please email me directly, do not hit reply to this email!

If you're in the Tulsa area, I'll be looking forward to seeing you there and please share the details of this exciting meetup with your friends and family!

Someone You Should Know - Barbara from Silver Springs, MD

Video Temporarily Unavailable......

Meet Barbara.....She's one of the participants from my recent Raw Food Rehab Experiment and she is rocking the raw food diet while traveling in Colorado. What an inspiration and amazing dedication. Here's what Barbara had to say about her experience on the Raw Food Cleanse:

“The raw food cleanse has brought so many positive changes into my life. Saying goodbye to dairy products and gluten containing foods has been a huge aspect of my restored health. No more gas or bloating, YEA! Also my blood pressure went from being borderline to being well within the normal range. Incorporating more raw foods into my diet has helped me to love myself more, putting me in closer touch with the world around me. They say you are what you eat and I believe that is so true. Before I learned about raw foods, I was rushed, always choosing packaged foods that were full of artificial ingredients. Now I appreciate nature’s bounty and find joy in something as simple as a fresh tomato! Every time I chose to eat raw, I’m deciding to be kind to my body. This is a huge breakthrough. It’s like my diet before was self-abusive. I’m truly grateful to have found this life restoring path.”

The Green Beauty juice that she refers to in the video is one of over 150 recipes from my upcoming book, the Raw Food Cleanse. Here is the recipe and a little background on why it is soooooo good for you!

Celery is loaded with organic sodium, which is one of most important alkalizing minerals. Most of us are deficient in organic sodium from years of eating a standard or acid-forming diet. Putting organic sodium back into your system will reduce or eliminate acid reflux disease, ease gastrointestinal distress, heal the lining of the stomach, aid digestion of proteins, and alkalize the bile of the liver and gallbladder (acid bile creates gallstones). Celery is a key part of the alkalizing aspects of the raw food diet. Celery is most easily absorbed when it's juiced.

Celery mixes well with cucumbers in a juice. The organic sodium of celery transports the water and silica rich cucumber juice into your tissues, creating a state of ultra hydration. The following recipe is one of the most beautifying and cleansing of all juices:

Green Beauty

6 stalks of celery

1 small cucumber handful of spinach (or other leafy green)

1 large apple

Run all ingredients through a juicer and serve over ice in a tall glass for ultimate beautification!