Observations.

So as you could tell from my last post, I have been really trying to add lots more raw foods into my diet, and surprisingly I bought so much fresh things and haven't gone out to eat- so it has actually been the majority of what I have been eating lately. It hasn't been an entire week, even. But you know what? I actually feel AMAZING. Like.. I don't know how to explain it. It's like feeling very light and clean. I have lots of energy throughout the day, and I don't even crave junky things when I'm eating this way which is a major deal, as I almost always crave something sweet after every meal, and I can eat SO much food...but I even get full faster and am satisfied with less. Like, for dinner I can have an apple, almonds and some dates and be full. I in fact just had a small bowl of Mango-Avocado Salad and I am very full.

And even crazier- I haven't worked out in about a week because my body has been resisting daylight savings time every morning (I know..shameful!) But I actually feel like I have LOST weight. Paradoxical, yet wonderful haha. That doesn't mean I'm giving up on working out at all, I still need to get some heavier weights and start on phase 2 of P90x! But maybe it's not as important as eating correctly. It makes you think, no?

So just in case you were wondering what exactly have I been eating- Celery sticks? Frozen Peas? I'll let you in on what I've been eating.

• For breakfast, I still have been eating cooked oatmeal, about half a cup with sliced strawberries or bananas. Although I cook it on the stove, and it is the pure raw oats, not the 'flavor packet' kind. It is a good, cheap breakfast that keeps me going and is very tasty. I also sprinkle a bit of brown sugar and cinnamon too. Yum!
  
• For lunch/dinner I have been eating the Kale salad I made in the earlier post, and I have also made avocado and spinach sandwiches on Ezekiel bread. (Ezekiel bread- the ultimate healthy bread. Contains no flour, made completely from sprouted grains and legumes and it is a perfect combination of protein. You put it in the toaster- it tastes great, like a hearty wheat toast. I like the sesame kind with sesame seeds on the crust. Make fun of me all you want- but this is the best bread out there in my opinion and worth the price as it is a bit more expensive than normal bread, You can find it in the freezer section as there are no preservatives to let it last on a normal shelf.)
  
• I've also made a few green smoothies as a meal, a really great combination I have found is like 6 strawberries, a banana, a big handful of spinach, some ground flaxseed (provides a fat source- that keeps you full!) some ice and water. It comes out looking really gross, I'll admit. But it tastes fruity and delicious and it makes a really large smoothie that holds you for hours! You can use pretty much any combination you want. It is so good to get those fresh greens and if you don't like the taste of spinach or kale- you can disguise it with the fruit! And who doesn't love fruit?
  
• Once I made guacamole out of one avocado and packed that with a sliced up red bell pepper and scooped the guacamole with the pepper. That was my whole meal but it was SOO GOOD and SO filling! The red pepper was a great substitute for chips that would leave you feeling "Blagh" if you ate alot of them.
  
• Since I am on the go constantly, I have even just used a piece of fruit and some dates/almonds as a meal and have found that it satisfies me well.
  
• By the way, dates are really great. You can find them in the dried fruit area, and I have been stuffing the centers with almonds or dipping them in peanut butter as a snack and they are so good because they are sweet, and also really good for you! They are also a great energizing boost if you need it!
  

So, basically, I have found that since eating raw food for the majority of my meals for less than a week, I have found that I feel awesome, I don't need to eat as much to be full ( Probably from the high water content of fruits/veggies!), and that I feel leaner. I definitely think that instead of doing what I have been doing which is cooking a big pot of stew and reheating it in the microwave everyday for lunch, that I will continue to eating alot of raw meals. This doesn't mean that I will never eat anything cooked again, because that is just ridiculous, and I know I will and I know I will probably eat some junk food every once in awhile because I am in college, and I am a human. But to be honest- I really enjoy eating this way better... like I will see other people's plates with a greasy hamburger or chicken fingers and fries and I don't want anything like that in the least! People think that it must be tempting for me but it really isn't. Because I think back to when I ate that all the time last year and how horrible I felt all the time...you really don't realize how bad you feel eating junk all the time until you stop and you are just amazed at how much better you really do feel!


I know that going from eating hamburgers and fries every day to eating raw vegan the most of the time is virtually impossible, and raw vegan may not even be a lifestyle certain people could ever do, but it is just little steps that will make you feel better...For example, instead of fries grab a side salad with olive oil and lemon juice as a dressing. Or grab one of those Naked smoothies with an Odwalla or Kind nut bar. Or grab some of the fresh fruit that is sitting out in the market (Sometimes... they need more in my opinion- but if people don't buy it they won't provide it!) And it doesn't hurt to grab some candy every once in awhile, but eating a candy bar after every meal is adding unneeded calories and sugars, etc. that will hurt you in the long run.

Things to remember:

• YOU deserve the best. Your body is all you have. It wants to be treated right. It doesn't want Taco Bell at 3 AM, 4 nights a week. I think everyone deserves to feel great and live with clarity and peace. I know food may be an afterthought to certain people, but it is important to really think about what you are putting into your body. Read the labels of the things you eat and read the ingredients. You eat many times a day- just keep in mind teh things that you are putting into your body over and over. Also realize that you may get away with it at this point in life if you are a college student, but if one continues to eat horribly throughout their life, it will catch up to you in some way. Diseases such as cancer, etc. are unnatural. Processed foods are made with unnatural chemicals. There IS a direct correlation between diet and disease. Wouldn't you rather eat better now than suffer consequences later? The medical industry is having a heyday with the way our nation eats. Every fast food place has a new dollar menu and processed, unhealthy frozen meals can be purchased for a dollar. But with these things come with dangerous chemicals and toxins that can result in lots of money in medications you really wouldn't need if you just didn't eat crap.
  
• I have realized that people will think I am the biggest health freak ever. But I'd rather be labeled as a weird health nut that feels awesome, doesn't contribute to the torture of animals, and is in good shape for eating foods that help my body. It's a pretty good trade, if you ask me. :)
• I also have realized that people have their own journeys to take in life, and just reading a blog from an over-enthusiastic girl like me is not going to make anyone stop eating meat or dairy, or quit hating anything that is supposed to be healthy for them. But I am just relaying information I have picked up on or experienced, and I hope that it can benefit whoever may happen to stumble across this blog.
  

Again, the whole reason I write this blog is not for me to preach or get on my high horse about how I eat is better or anything like that- I really don't want people to get the wrong idea- but I just really want everyone around me to feel as great as I do, because I care about those around me. If I didn't care, I wouldn't take the time to research and write this blog! And I just think health is such a priceless thing... We only have one life to live and I want to be able to live with health and vitality while I can, and enjoy my life. And yes, it's possible to eat really really healthily and still enjoy your food- I hate when people say things like "well I'd rather enjoy this triple bacon cheeseburger and enjoy my life" because in all honestly, they think they are enjoying it, maybe they are for a few minutes, but afterwards see how your body feels. Suffering from indigestion and being really sluggish is not making one able to enjoy life too much, if you ask me! So don't feel sorry for me with my fruit, veggies and crazy bread- I'll be doing something fun and enjoying myself. And I want company! So put down the triple bacon cheeseburger, grab a pear, and let's dance :)

Raw?

Lately, I notice how horrible I feel when I haven't eaten anything fresh in awhile. It's a hard feeling to describe..but its kind of heavy and sluggish? Whatever it is, it's a bad feeling. Recently, I saw a video on Youtube of a woman who was around 70 years old, yet looked about in her 40s or so. She was gorgeous, disease/medication free, and attributed her youth to her diet which actually consisted of 100% raw foods- basically just fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, olive oil, etc. No meat, no dairy. While it may be hard to imagine such a diet- when you really think about it, it makes alot of sense.

It seems in every magazine we read, there is a new article that says :

"(Such and Such vegetable/fruit) has been tested to reduce cancer!" or,
"New study finds that (such and such vegetable/fruit) helps with (such and such disease!)"

So, of course eating a diet consisting solely or the majority of these things (most people who follow the "raw" diet only follow it 75-90% or so) would lead to a life of health, right? That's my thinking.

Now before you think I've really gone off the deep end on you, I'm not "going raw" so to speak, haha. But I am definitely going to incorporate raw meals into my diet more, and I am going to start making smoothies, specifically "green" smoothies which include any mixture of fruit and then greens such as kale or spinach. (It colors them green, but most of the time you shouldn't even taste it! Kind of like those green "Naked" smoothie drinks.)

I definitely feel that incorporating more raw food (to reiterate, not raw as in "raw fish" but raw as in, fruits and veggies that are not cooked- eaten in their most nutritious state!) into your diet
can be nothing but beneficial!

From happycow.net:

Why go Raw?
The benefits of going raw-vegan are boundless. Rawfoods are easy to digest, and they provide the maximum amount of energy with minimal bodily effort. Studies have shown that living foods have healing powers that can alleviate many illnesses such as low energy, allergies, digestive disorders, weak immune system, high cholesterol, candida, obesity and weight problems (weight normalization), etc.. Research and real life experiences have also shown that a person can prevent the body's healthy cells from turning into malignant cancerous cells by consuming mostly a raw food diet that includes whole organic foods!

If you are not eating any fruits and veggies, and consider a slimy piece of lettuce and tomato slice on a hamburger at McDonald's your sole source of fresh food- I am willing to bet you are suffering from fatigue, headaches, aches and pains, trouble with losing weight,etc. It is SO IMPORTANT to eat fresh food! And for people who say they can't "afford" eating healthy... save your money on Tylenol and prescription pills, cigarettes, sodas, junk food, etc. and use it to buy food that tastes great, gives you energy, fights disease, and makes you feel great!

After doing some more research on raw recipes, I found one that I was eager to try and I made it tonight. It's a Mediterranean Kale salad with kale, olives, lemon juice, olive oil, and red bell pepper. It's so healthy you feel your cells thanking you with every bite, haha. And it's very tasty as well!

You can find the youtube video explaining the recipe here . It provides the technique for making kale palatable without cooking it. (The woman comes across as a bit awkward at first haha. But I'd rather watch her than Paula Deen.... the Food Network demon of all that is unhealthy and life-threatening!)

An introduction.

So, I decided to start an additional blog focused on vegetarian/veganism, health, and fitness in general.

Here's why:

• I have a strong passion for the health of myself and others
• I want an outlet to rant about food, the health of our nation, and other related topics without feeling like I'm being overbearing on my personal blog, and just in life in general...those around me... I have to refrain myself in everyday life so here I just let it all out! If you come to this blog, you know what you are getting yourself into, hehe ;)
• I love to explore and find new yummy veggie recipes, and here is a place that I can share them with other veggies or omnivores who are trying to eat healthier!

About Me!
I'm Janine, and I'm a junior in college. I am a theatre performance major and I love to sing, act, dance, and perform in general. Visit my other blog where I talk about those kinds of things! :P
I'm a creative soul- so it doesn't stop at theatre! I also love to create jewelry and accessories, and sell them on my etsy store., and I'm a freelance makeup artist. I also love quirky fashion, vintage things, the 40s, makeup, bright colors, kickboxing, yoga, indian fabric, incense, laying out in the sun, dressing up, cats, painting, blogging, youtubing, belting showtunes in the car, sequins, flowers, and sprinkles. =]
I am a strict vegetarian meaning I don't eat any meat at all, including fish, and I don't purchase milk, cheese, or eggs- though I may eat them on occasion if I am out somewhere or something like that, so I can't really call myself vegan, although I pretty much eat vegan at home. (I live in Columbus, GA- not exactly a mecca of healthy restaurant selections.) Apart from my dietary habits, I also believe very strongly in being active. Right now I'm actually doing the P90x workout system, and I absolutely love it! I've fallen a bit off the wagon lately as I've been out of town quite frequently and things have been a bit wonky schedule wise, but now Spring Break is over and I'm ready to jump right back in. So far it's a major kick in the butt but I love it! Whenever I workout I feel so much better in general. I sleep well- I have more energy, and I feel more focused on life in general. It's good to get some sweat goin'!

Why did I become a vegetarian, and why is it so important to me?
It took one read of the book "Skinny Bitch" from cover to cover in one sitting to convince me to become vegetarian completely. Contrary to the cover, it is not all about how to "get skinny," but it really is a wake-up call on how the things that are normal to most people such as meat and milk are really making us fat and are detrimental to our health. It also sheds light on the horrors of the animal food industry. After more research regarding the sickening and disgusting ways animals are treated to then produce meat laden with hormones, antibiotics, and disease and infused with torture and hate- I decided that I just couldn't eat animals anymore.
Also, At this point I have a hard time differentiating between an animal bred to make food such as cows, pigs and chickens, and cats or dogs. I mean, what is the real difference? Cats and dogs are not socially acceptable to eat in America even though they are in other countries. Most people wouldn't dream of eating their beloved pet, yet have no problem slicing into a rack of ribs from a pig. It honestly seems a bit hypocritical to me! I just believe that it is completely possible to live a healthy lifestyle (actually, much healthier) without the consumption of meat. Yes, you need to do your research, and yes, you will probably need to learn to cook and be familiar with different types of produce. Once you figure out all the wonderfully interesting and delicious veggie meals out there, the standard "Meat & Potato" American diet seems awfully boring and bland! Becoming vegetarian has probably been one of the best decisions I have ever made for my own health and well-being and it makes me feel good to know that I am not partaking in cruelty of animals. =]

(I couldn't resist posting this. It is too adorable.)