Start your blenders!

There a few kitchen appliances that seem to be a must for every raw foodist.  Juicer, blender, food dehydrator and food processor.  I use my juicer at least once a day.  There are so many awesome recipes that I want to try, but I don't have the right appliances to do it. I found a cheap blender just before Christmas and I rushed home and made my first smoothie and it was amazing.  Kale, banana, blueberry no dairy required.  When I was little, I went to Granville Island and had a frozen yougurt.  On the way home I threw it up and after that I could never mix dairy and fruit.  This is why I never tried smoothies. 

I also tried dates for the first time.  Fruitarians rave about them.  I haven't eaten sugar in 3 months, so the first taste of date was so sweet, it was overwhelming.  |It's amazing how your taste buds change!  Now when I'm craving something sweet, I have a date or two.  I've also been adding them to smoothies.  I have a few favorites:

• banana, almond milk, vega protein powder, a couple of dates
• So Delicious coconut milk, banana, date
• young Thai coconut (meat and milk), juice of 1 lime, 2 oranges, 1 banana (and sometimes I add pineapple juice)
• kale, banana, blueberry

The smoothies are pretty darn filling.  I have a juice, a smoothie, some snacks and ginormous salad for dinner.  It is so much easier to be raw than to be a gluten-free vegetarian.   

My new favorite juice is: Watermelon and pineapple.  After drinking it, I feel A-MAZING, so much energy, it is definitely not a night time drink.

Other things I have noticed- my nails.  I always had pretty weak nails, they peeled, cracked and chipped.  My toe nails were discoloured from nail polish.  I noticed a few weeks ago that my nails don't do that anymore.  They are so strong and shiny, I don't need a french manicure.  I did a bit of research, turns out all that yummy kale is rich in silica and silica is great for nails.  yea for kale!