Delicious Cold Weather Raw Foods

Raw uncooked food is enjoyable in the warm summer months. The abundant fruits, vegetables, and fresh herbs make meal planning quick and easy. Icy blended fruit smoothies, fresh, crisp salads, wonderful lite lunches of watermelon or refreshing cucumber soups. Don't forget, decadent banana ice cream or berry sorbets! The ideas are endless, during the warmer months.

But, what can you eat during the winter months? The foods of summer- well, they leave you feeling even colder. How does a new raw foodies enjoy their fruits and vegetables when all you want is something warming and comforting when the wind is blowing and snow is falling?

I have good news for you. As a raw foodies myself, I know and have educated myself on ways to stay warm during the winter. First it is a myth that you have to eat just cold foods during the winter. You can eat warm foods, you don't heat them above 118F (water160F). When you cook food most people let their foods cool to 110F anyway, or you would burn your mouth or tongue, soups are a good example.

I have included in this article some helpful tips and also recipes to get you started on your Winter meal planning. I hope these tips and recipes are helpful.

Tips:

1. Cayenne pepper in your soups, on your vegetable or in your vegetable juices or smoothies will warm you from within. I have seen people perspire after eating foods with Cayenne pepper added to the dish.

2. Cinnamon and ginger are warming spices which also bring back memories of holiday desserts and dishes of the winter months.

3.Warm your foods up to 118F for 2 minutes on your stove over a low heat, or warm to touch. If you have a dehydrator, warm your food for 30 minutes on 118F. (I do this all the time.) Plus fresh raw breads are delicious fresh from the dehydrator.)

4. Warm your plates under warm water or in your dehydrator to take the chill of the plates or soups bowls.

5. Layer your clothes, removing as you become too warm. Keeping the cold out will help to ease your discomfort.

6. Almond milk warmed on the stove or in your dehydrator is wonderful when you add cocoa powder and agave nectar to taste for "hot" cocoa or add cinnamon and agave to your plain almond milk for a warm nightcap.

The following is a supplies lists of items available during the winter for your pantry.

Supplies for Winter Meals:

Fruits

bananas (my winter staple)
apples (abundant during this time of the year)
pears
tangerines,
clementines (I love these!)
pineapple
pomegranates
persimmons
Blood oranges
dried fruits (especially figs and dates)
coconuts

Vegetables

carrots
parsnips
cabbage
broccoli
cauliflower
sweet potatoes
onions
garlic
spinach
kale
turnip greens
mustard greens
romaine
beets
buttermilk squash (my favorite!)
acorn squash
spaghetti squash
pumpkin
jicama
spicy peppers
sweet peppers
dried herbs

Raw nuts of all kinds are plentiful now!

walnuts
hazelnuts
pecans
almonds
cashews
brazil nuts

Raw Seeds are also abundant!

sunflower
pumpkin
hemp
chia

Extras

ginger root
sea salt
young coconut (you can find these in Asian Markets)
agave nectar (can be found in your health food section of your grocery store)

Isn't this a delightful, colorful list of fruits, and vegetables? How about a recipe to get your started?

Spicy Carrot Soup
3-4 cups carrot juice
1 small avocado
1/3 cup young coconut pulp
1 Tbsp agave
1/4-1/2 red chili
1 small piece ginger root
1 small garlic clove
1/4 tsp sea salt

Blend all ingredients together until smooth, start with 3 cups carrot juice and add more to obtain preferred consistency. Warm the soup on your stove until it reaches 110F or until warm to touch. Or warm in your dehydrator for 30 minutes on 118F, until warm to touch. You may drizzle coconut cream on top of your soup. coconut cream consists of young coconut pulp, water, a bit of lemon juice blended together until smooth and creamy. Delicious! Enjoy!

Raw food is a way of life which can only make you healthier, gives you more energy and increases your life span. As time goes on, you will discover that you no longer need warm food to be comfortable during the winter. Stay warm!

Here is a list of Raw Food sites I enjoy visiting.

www.rawfoodtalk.com
www.learnrawfood.com
www.therawfoodsite.com
www.goneraw.com
www.sunnyrawkitchen.blogspot.com