Anytime I read about raw diets I feel like I’ve been eating out of trash cans up until now—the nutrients, the vitamins, the ever-loving enzymes of whole, natural, living foods.
Then I was given this gorgeous book, written by an adorable couple who went raw, opened a swanky restaurant, and wrote a book about it. Now I feel like gargling with bleach.
Even with some nutrition sense and a pretty healthy diet, I get overwhelmed sometimes. (Like where did chia seeds come from all of a sudden?) But raw and vegan just feels right for the most part. There’s no denying the nutrients that plant foods pack, and why clean pots and pans if you don’t have to? So I’m doing it whenever I can.
If you’re experimenting with raw, I might not start with this book. It’s beautifully written and full of great facts, but the recipes are complicated and a little expensive.
The smoothies, however, are beginner-friendly. So I give you this taste-tested, nutritious, and oh-so-alive smoothie that rocks more enzymes than a papaya facial.
ENZYME-BOOST SMOOTHIE
2 C diced fresh pineapple
2 C diced fresh papaya
1.5 C coconut water
3 T agave nectar
2 t vanilla extract
Squeeze of lime juice
Pinch of salt
Kristine Kieswer is the author of Ankle-Biting Terrier, the animal-centric, baby-free, 30-something blog. Follow Kristine on Facebook and Twitter.
Follow us [@thisdishisveg] on Twitter
Photo Credit: Kristine Kieswer
