November 2009 Archives

Martine is passionate about raw living foods, and loves to create recipes. Her dishes are colorful, delightful, and original. She is a graduate of both the Gourmet Raw Food Chef Certification Series and the Raw Culinary Arts Professional Chef Certification Program at Living Light, and is currently pursuing an 18-month Culinary Management Training Program. She was the kitchen manager for Living Light Culinary Arts Institute, and is the first Living Light student who has completed all of the Living Light certification programs, including all of the Science of Raw Food Nutrition classes, in addition to a one-year internship at Living Light. I met up with Martine at the Raw Food Festival this past June and I wanted to share with you our interview - Enjoy!

While out and about at the Raw Food Festival this past summer, Chef Tina Jo met up with Kevin Gianni, the host of the Renegade Health Show and the creator of the widely viewed "Rawkathon" series, including in-depth interviews with leading experts in the raw foods movement:


Kevin Gianni is a health advocate, author, interviewer, and film consultant. His expertise includes exercise, energy techniques, nutrition, paradigm shifting, and stress relief. Through his programs and online seminars, he has helped thousands of people from over 21 countries learn more, improve their health, and reach a level of fitness they never thought was possible.


Kevin got his start in graduate school researching holistic modalities at Western Connecticut State University. While doing so, he learned many different non-traditional approaches to solve very traditional fitness and health problems. Since then, he has been studying and putting those techniques and philosophies into practice through one-on-one and group sessions. His techniques are embraced by busy people because they are simple, easy-to-use, and guaranteed to get results in just a few days. He uses a simple, "take action" approach to fitness that is welcomed by many who've been duped by the gadgets, magazine articles, and flavor-of-the-month scientific studies.


Kevin is the creator and co-host of The Renegade Health Show, a fun and informative daily health show that is changing the perception of health across the world; the author of High Raw - A Simple Approach to Health, Eating, and Saving the Planet, which in 5 easy steps helps people transform their bodies and minds naturally and without confusion; and the co-author of "The Busy Person's Fitness Solution." Along with business partner Mike Adams, Kevin created HealthBookSummaries.com, a free service that allows you to stay well informed about health, nutrition and fitness in just a few minutes each week. Kevin also created the widely viewed "Rawkathon" series, including in-depth interviews with leading experts in the raw foods movement.


He has been quoted and interviewed by many national publications including, among others: WebMD, Ediets, Cooking Light, Woman's World, Skiing Magazine, Today's Diet and Nutrition, The Chicago Daily Herald, San Antonio Express-News, NBC 30, My Family Doctor, and STL Today. Kevin has also interviewed many of today's top health and wellness experts, such as Dr. Mark Hyman, Mike Adams, Bob Doyle, David Wolfe, Dr. Michael Breus, Victoria Boutenko, Danny Dreyer, Marion Nestle, and hundreds more.

Friends, Thanksgiving is just 2 weeks away and Christmas is only a short 6 weeks away and I don't know about you, but this is the always the busiest time of year for me! When I first started eating raw foods nearly 10 years ago, I panicked at the thought of how I would make it through all the holiday food affairs.  Parties, snacking, nibbling, cooking, entertaining, food gifts, weight gain worries and my carnivorous family and friends' appetites sent me into panic mode!

But, thankfully, over the years I have learned not to worry so much about staying raw and true to myself during the holiday season. Here are my tips to help you get through this time of year and still maintain balance and harmony while enjoying all the festivities.

Whether you're new to raw foods or a seasoned expert, this is not the time of year to be fretting about that  nibble of stuffing or the sweet potatoes you just ate.  If it makes you feel good, do it. This is no time to worry or criticize yourself; this is the time to begin celebration and giving thanks, for blessings received and given, to absolutely embrace Aunt Susie's mashed potatoes, to stay true to your compassionate self and your loved ones. As the New Year approaches you have plenty of opportunity to grow stronger in your convictions about your loving path toward optimal health, by way of a raw vegan lifestyle, all year long.

Here are a few tips to help you enjoy the holidays:

Stop the bad self-talk. Now is not the time to lecture yourself over any past wrong turns, diet slip-ups, or mistakes made this year. Love yourself completely and abundantly. Enjoy food offerings in whatever form they take. You need not indulge, but temptations will be everywhere; so moderation is the key. Your cooked food cravings aren't going away unless you've been totally raw for many, many years. Staying consistently raw is not easy during the season, especially if you've just begun a raw diet, so think about it as making individual healthy decisions one situation at a time.  Don't sweat it, tomorrow is another day. 

Meditate. Do this while standing in front of a table full of cooked food. Take a long deep breath. Walk away. Stay calm, while remembering why you went raw in the first place. Reconnect with those reasons while you walk away. Concentrate then on focusing your full attention on talking to someone that is far away from the food. Educate yourself during the holidays with all the raw food literature you can find, so you can intelligently inform your friends and family of all the reasons you are committed to staying raw.

Start new raw traditions. Take your beautifully wrapped dehydrated breads (or any converted traditional holiday dish) to your relative's house, serve up that decadent sweet raw chocolate mousse at your party, pass it around and let everyone savor its goodness. Make it a point to share your raw food delicacies with your family and friends now and everywhere you go during the holidays and forever!  Don't be shy, or embarrassed, don't be afraid to let it all hang out, you care deeply about your health and your future, so let everyone know it.  Maybe your healthy passions will catch on. 

Eat beforehand.  Before attending any party, fill up your belly with as much of your own raw splendiliciousness as you possibly can. If it's a work party, bring your own food there, then take a break and eat first, or load up that morning before leaving. Indulge in your all-time favorite, refreshing green smoothie right before you go. Have plenty of fresh cold water on hand at ALL times. Never be without it. Buy yourself the prettiest portable water bottle possible, which helps you savor your water all the more. Wear that bottle like a diamond ring. 

Try attending only Raw Potluck Holiday Parties.  I know this is not always practical, but here you will find fellowship with like-minded individuals who fully support and understand your lifestyle and there are no food temptations. You'll meet new friends who will help you stay on track throughout the rest of your raw food journey.  You'll also learn new recipes and that is always fun no matter how long you've been raw!

Have you considered hiring a private raw food chef?  This way you can fully enjoy and get ready for your own celebration without the worry of what to make or what to serve, stress-free and guilt-free.  I'm available for catered events, retreats and private lessons! 

OK, I got a bit ahead of myself last week and covered our Part 4, How to Sprout.  So, this week I'm going to give you:


9 Simple and Delicious Ways to Enjoy Sprouts

1. Add them to your tossed salads or make a sprout salad
   
   
2. Use in coleslaw (cabbage, clover, radish)
   
   
3. Try in wraps and roll-ups (alfalfa, sunflower, radish)
   
   
4. Stir-fry it with other vegetables (alfalfa, clover, radish, mung bean, lentil)
   
   
5. Mix with soft cheeses, tofu, yogurt of kefir for a dip (mung bean, radish)
   
   
6. Stir into soups or stews when serving (mung bean, lentil)
   
   
7. Add it to sushi (radish, sunflower)
   
   
8. Pair it with a main course as a side dish
   
   
9. Blend with vegetable juices (cabbage, mung bean, lentil) or juice it plain (wheatgrass, broccoli, alfalfa, pea lettuce, kale,