Simple and Clean Raw Meals

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Berry Tropical Smoothie


I posted a few days ago that I am keeping my meals simple during the 40 days of our Lenten season. I am focusing my attention on the Lord and trying to increase my prayer time and also working on fasting, abstinence and almsgiving. This week, the third week of Lent, our family is working on "Good Thoughts". Filling our minds with The Truth, filling us with light; keeping any dark and ugly thoughts out. Powerful to say the least; difficult as well, considering our world is filled with so much darkness. We have to make an effort to be the light for others. Not always easy, but paramount.
 And we continue to add to our Jesus Tree the symbols representing scripture readings we are focusing on. Look how our tree has blossomed!

Here are some simple, clean raw foods that I have been eating lately. Let's start with some power packed green smoothies. My Berry Tropical Smoothie was a hit with the children!! And of course I loved it too. You can't see the strawberries in it due to all of the greens, but the taste of them shined through. We have been getting some awesome, local organic strawberries lately. Makes me very happy!! I've been buying extras and freezing them for the months that they aren't available here.


Berry Tropical Smoothie
8 organic strawberries, fresh with green tops in tact
handful of frozen pineapple
1 ripe banana
3 large collard leaves, organic
2 C baby spinach, organic
3 tsp chia seeds
water to blend

Another amazing green smoothie, today's breakfast in fact, was a combination of fresh orange juice, banana, loads of greens and some complete amino acids, in the form of hemp seeds. I threw in some chia seeds for additional nutritional benefits!! I am putting chia in all of our smoothies and am loving it. I don't have a photo of this smoothie, it was blurry and I drank it before I had a chance to take another pic--oops!

Get Your Aminos Smoothie
juice of 2 oranges
2 small bananas
1 large kale leaf
2 C baby spinach
2 heaping teaspoons of hemp seeds
2 heaping teaspoons of chia seeds

Heirloom tomatoes have been appearing at all of the markets around town and I am always eager to buy some. I made the most amazing meal out of one yellow Heirloom tomato. So simple, so fresh and so clean. I feel the best when I have simple meals like this at dinner. It seems like I have been having my larger meal at lunch time lately. When evening rolls around I find that I am not very hungry so I am trying to pay attention to the signs my body is giving and eating lighter at the evening meal. So far, so good. I prefer this way of eating and feel so much better the next day.


 Yellow Heirloom Tomato Salad

1 Heirloom tomato, sliced into rounds
drizzle of Grapeseed oil
splash of balsamic
sprinkle of black sesame seeds
pinch of Himalayan salt
garnish with fresh cilantro and parsley

+JMJ+Today I am grateful for a loving husband. I love you honey!! XOXOXO


Comments

kelli said…
i can't wait to eat some local heirloom tomatoes! looks great!
March 28, 2011 at 2:10 PM
Cynthia said…
Alright what the heck did he do? Forget it, I don't want to know. It's probably way sweeter than I can handle. Those tomatoes look amazing!!! Can you send me some? Or pack your suitcase full. Our tomatoes are sick. I'm off to make your Cherry Smoothie and yes I'm adding the chia pet seeds and hemp and everything but the cherries they give me gas.I'm sure your happy I wrote that! C
March 28, 2011 at 8:23 PM
Katie said…
Yummmm! I am so jealous of your ability to buy fresh, local produce. What a gorgeous tomato.
March 28, 2011 at 11:22 PM
HiHoRosie said…
Your smoothies sound great! And those tomatoes...yummy!
March 30, 2011 at 5:50 PM
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