Raw Foods and Green Smoothies

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LIW +2.0
Overnight LOSS 0.4

Here is my menu for the day before - this is what I ate:

Breakfast: WW bagel and cream cheese, coffee with half and half
Lunch: (kinda ate breakfast late, and dinner early)
Dinner: Chinese buffet, two times to the Mongolian Grill using shrimp, scallops, squid, zucchini, green onions, onions, cabbage, Kalbi, chicken wings
Snacks: banana, broccoli and blue cheese dressing, beer

A total of 1753 cals divided: 47 fat grams (24%), 137 carb grams (31%), 153 protein grams (36%)

Raw Foods

My focus recently has been on the benefits of raw foods - you heard me tell this story before, but the more I preach about it and the more people start to listen (including myself) the more I believe in the full benefits of eating "mostly" raw.

I started my challenge today - my goal today will be to eat at least 50% of my food (in weight) raw - with the focus on anything that is "green". I made a little button for us to put on our blog somewhere that shows that we are doing the challenge:

What would be extra cool is if you went ahead and linked it back to this post so that whoever wants to join in can. I haven't really thought about any 'prizes' - I still owe more than a few people prizes from pasts contests (and don't think I have forgotten because I haven't!) but I am sure they will be forth coming. I just really want to start creating a BUZZ on doing at least 50% raw.

I already provided you with some links to the benefits of 'green', but today, I want to focus in on the benefits of eating 'raw'. Tomorrow, if all goes well, I will be focusing on what are termed "superfoods" - that is quite an interesting topic I tell you!

I guess it pretty goes without saying how beneficial it is to eat raw foods whenever we can. Some of the other benefits of eating raw foods are:

• Increased Energy
• Weight Loss
• Reduced chance of heart disease
• Better digestion (includes great colon health)
  
• Better skin
• Ease of preparation (one of Regina's favorites)
• Ease of cleanup (again, one of Regina's favorites)

Now people, I hope you don't think that I have completely gone bonkers with my pushing of 'raw foods' - I am still in the real world, still living the fast paces life that causes one to have to deal with outside influences. All I am doing is trying to get into this body a bit more nutrition so it can last longer. My eventual goal is to go 75% - 85% raw. That would mean pretty much that the only thing I would be eating that was cooked would be my proteins. And even some of that can be 'raw' (can you say SASHIMI???)

Here is an excellent article on Green Smoothies - I am actually drinking one right now, and for the person that has constantly said - I would rather eat my meals than drink them, I am actually enjoying this quite well. I made it with:

• 3 oz spinach
• 4.5 oz banana
• 6 oz of mango / strawberry

If you can get over the green look, the taste is pretty nice. In fact, at first I thought it had sort of an aftertaste, but have now discovered, after consuming about one third of it, that the after taste has disappeared. I have also discovered how incredibly FILLING this is. GOOD GRIEF! After my first smoothie, I do believe I am sold.

You willing to try?

On to my commenter's - these are my responses to yesterday's comments:

Lili - Actually, it's not at all bad, I am very much enjoying my drink this morning!

Mary - Mary, my sweet Mary, eat more RAW! Find SOMETHING you like raw and eat it ok? Make me that promise, I need you to live a long healthy life!

Regina - YES! I knew you would be in my corner! I can't believe it girl, I honestly cannot believe how much I am enjoying this smoothie right now! Thank YOU for making me do the research.

B - try some different salad greens, spinach, spring mix, romaine, all of those are HEALTHY! We will get you on the Green Smoothie kick, I promise you! ROFL - shoot, if I can do it, anyone can!

Crystal - You starting again? WOO HOO FOR YOU! Excellent my friend, totally excellent. I sure hope you keep up with your blog on your progress!