Raw Food Potluck and Workshop Availability

Raw Food Potluck

I spent my bank holiday Monday at a raw food potluck on Hove beach. It was a gloriously sunny day and we had such a beautiful array of raw food dishes to sample and share. The delicious dishes included: Raw cherry chocolate cake (made by me), coconut macaroons with raw chocolate icing, raw chocolate brownies, raw falafels, raw vegan tzatziki, sea spaghetti with tahini sauce & watermelon, mixed salad, avocado, pesto stuffed mushrooms, banana and blueberry cookies, durian ice cream, plantain & blueberry ice cream and more!

I made a little video about it, I hope you enjoy:

Raw Food for Beginners Workshop

The Raw Food For Beginners workshop being held on 15th September still has a couple of spaces remaining.

You will enjoy a nourishing green smoothie as we talk about different aspects of raw food preparation, equipment, time saving tips, food shopping and sourcing, plus we will make and eat a yummy raw food lunch, a delicious healthy dessert, and some raw chocolate truffles for you to take home. You will also get handouts with all the information we cover plus recipes to refer back to at home.

Get £5 discount each when booking with a friend!

You can read more about the workshop and book online, click here to be taken to the page.

Wishing you raw health and happiness,

Natalie. x
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All Hail Kale - My Superhero Green

Kale is the true superhero leafy green food. It is massively high in most minerals, chlorophyll, vitamins, enzymes and vitality. Notably, on a per calorie basis, it provides more iron than beef, and more calcium than milk. It is also high in vitamin C (needed for a healthy immune system and for proper absorption of iron, isn't nature clever!), and the elusive vitamin K (for cancer prevention, bone health and blood clotting). Kale also contains protein, omega oils, and sulphur. Sulphur is known as the beauty mineral as it's great for the skin, increasing collagen production and circulation, regulating sebum production, and aiding in the renewal of cells. It is also important to help the body in detoxification and vitamin utilisation. Obviously kale is best eaten raw to preserve its amazing nutritional qualities.

As you may know, kale is quite fibrous and most people have only ever eaten it cooked. So how can you get more raw kale into your diet? There is a way that raw foodists prepare kale to soften and wilt it. We remove the tough stalks, chop the leaves and massage it with lemon juice, olive oil and salt. As you do this, you will see the kale magically 'cook' before your eyes! It will decrease in size as it releases water and take on a darker green colour and soft texture. You can then mix it with other salad ingredients and your favourite dressing. It makes a really filling and satisfying salad. Or, we mix it with a thick sauce and dehydrate it to make crunchy kale chips. Mmmm...sooo delicious! If you don't fancy it in a salad and you haven't got a dehydrator, keep reading for some delicious recipes that hide the kale completely...good one for the kids maybe..?

Hidden kale and mixed berry smoothie:
1.5 cups frozen mixed berries
2 frozen bananas (or 2 unfrozen bananas and 4 ice cubes)
1 large handful kale
2 tbsp. shelled hemp seeds
4 tbsp. goji berries
1-2 dates to taste if desired
3 cups pure water

Put the fruit in the blender first, then the kale and other ingredients. If you don't have a high speed blender like a vitamix then you may want to remove the fibrous stalks from the kale and chop the dates. Blend until smooth and creamy. Add more water if it's too thick. Give to your children and smile knowing how much nutrition you are infusing into them!

Pumpkin seed, kale, olive & sun dried tomato pate:
1 cup pumpkin seeds, soaked 2 hours or more in pure water
1 large handful kale
1 small handful basil
1 cup pitted black olives, rinsed well
6 sun dried tomatoes (the ones that come in oil. If you have dried ones, soak for a few hours first)
2 tbsp Udo's Choice Ultimate Oil Blend, or extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1/2 clove garlic, crushed
2 tbsp. water
Freshly ground black pepper

Udo's Choice oil is a blend of flax, sunflower, sesame, evening primrose, coconut, rice bran and oat bran oils, plus it has lecithin and tocopherols (vitamin E). This is available in health food shops. If you don't have this then just use olive oil, or flax or hemp oil. Put everything in the food processor and blitz until a coarse pate consistency is achieved. Taste and adjust the lemon and pepper if necessary. Store in an airtight tub in the fridge. Will keep for a couple of days. Eat with raw crackers, wrapped in cabbage or lettuce leaves, with crudités, or as we did, wrapped in nori sheets with strips of carrot, cucumber, pepper, avocado, alfalfa sprouts and shredded lettuce. Mmmmmmm.....!

Wishing you raw health and happiness,

Natalie. x
rawlifestylecoach.co.uk

Acai power berry smoothie, new raw food workshops and raw cake!

I have been enjoying the benefits of the beautiful acai berry recently. Many of the superfoods used by raw fooders are native to South America, and this wonderful fruit is no exception. It is rich in anthocyanins and flavenoids, both of which are powerful anti-oxidants, helpful in preventing diseases such as heart disease and cancer. These substances also help neutralise free radicals and so have an anti-ageing effect! My favourite way to use the acai powder is in this delicious smoothie:

Acai power berry smoothie:
1.5 cups frozen mixed berries
3 tbsp. goji berries
1 tbsp. acai powder
2 frozen bananas
2 tbsp. shelled hemp seeds
1 tbsp. maca
3 cups pure water

Blitz in the blender until smooth.

I am proud to admit that my raw food enthusiasm is starting to infuse out into my circle of family and friends. It was my brother in law's birthday last week and he requested a raw birthday cake! Of course I could not refuse, I love making raw cakes, and I love giving presents so I couldn't wait to get started! I decided to do a chocolate cake as I knew that's what Dan would like best. So I made a layer of squidgy chocolate cake made from brazil nuts, pecans, walnuts, cacao powder, cacao butter, dates and chocolate covered mulberries. Then I made a sticky toffee layer from dates, almond butter and cacao butter. The final layer was a chocolate icing crafted from cacao butter, coconut butter, cacao powder, agave, almond butter, hemp seeds and lucuma. I then made raw chocolates with fillings inside to go on the top of the cake as I wanted it to look extra special. I filled some with almond butter and some with coconut. I will show you a pic of the finished product but I am keeping the recipe a secret for now as I plan to put it in a new book I am working on, so watch this space for more details about that!

Announcing my new Raw Food for Beginners Workshop! You are invited to join us for a fun and informative half day workshop, learning all about raw living foods. Take part in making and eating a selection of dishes including a nourishing raw green smoothie, yummy raw lunch, mouthwatering raw dessert and luxurious raw chocolate truffles to take home. You will also learn about the basics of raw food, equipment, how to set up a raw prep area in your kitchen, food shopping and sourcing, time saving tips, my top 5 most harmful foods and my top 5 most beneficial foods. You will also receive all information printed out in beautiful handouts, recipe sheets, access to a private Facebook group, and a special bonus free gift from me.

The next workshop is taking place in Rusper, West Sussex on 15th September 11am - 3pm.
Places are strictly limited and are going fast so book your seat today! Only £60 including all teachings, smoothie, lunch, dessert, truffles, materials, hand outs and recipes, private Facebook group and special bonus free gift. Book with a friend and receive £5 discount each, two places for only £110!

Book online at: http://www.rawlifestylecoach.co.uk/#!workshops/c1krl

Wishing you raw health and happiness,

Natalie. x
rawlifestylecoach.co.uk