Barefoot - Grounding...

I'm one of those people who has a problem keeping their shoes on - especially in the summer. As soon as I get home at night the shoes come off and my toes rejoice. Okay to be honest I don't always wait until I get home. I've been known to pad around the office sans shoes because I've forgotten to slip my flip flops back on from time to time.

I'm a beach walker, a water wader - I love the feeling of mud, grass, warm soil, cool cement & sand on my feet. I feel more peaceful and connected when I'm barefoot. When I was younger I wanted to become a surfer and I swear one of the biggest draws was the idea that I could walk around barefoot all day.

So when I received an email from David Wolfe this week on Barefoot walking and Grounding Technology I was intrigued. He claims there is enormous benefit to walking barefoot and connecting with the earth "skin to skin". Wolfe says the earth is mobilized with antioxidant (negatively charged) electrons that flow into our bodies the moment we connect without shoes to the ground. The human body conducts electricity and we pick up static. When we wear rubber soled shoes the rubber acts as an insulator preventing our electricity from flowing into to ground. Another site states "The incidence of mental illness dramatically increased when people started wearing rubber shoes (became popular in the 60s). Before that most people wore leather, which allowed the electricity to pass through." Some people feel that connecting barefoot with the earth helps to reduce inflammation in the body and reduces the effects of aging - even if it is just for a few minutes a day. When you walk barefoot pressure points in the soles of your feet are massaged. Doctors have been recommending to patients with varicose veins that they try walking barefoot when at home to reduce swelling for years.

Hey it can't hurt it, might help and it feels good so I'm keeping my shoes off...

Raw Gingerale

My favourite summer drink...

• 2 fresh knots of ginger peeled and sliced (the more ginger the spicer it will be).
• A large mason jar
  
• 1 lemon sliced. Fill the jar with fresh water ginger and lemon slices.
• Agave or honey to taste (I don't use any sweetener in mine - if you don't like a sugary taste try it without - very gingery and delicious!)
• Club soda (if you want some fizz - but yummy mixed with plain water as well)
  

Put ginger, lemon and water in a jar, cover and set in a sunny hot window or on the porch for a day. This makes your ginger base. Mix to taste with club soda/sweetener and lots of ice any time you want a refreshing summer drink ( I use about 1/4 cup to one can of club soda - I like mine spicy - experiment by putting in 1T at a time until you get the ratio right). Keeps in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Raw Summer Treats

Here is what I'll be filling my picnic basket with this July 1st.

RAW SLAW

(makes enough for 2)

Dressing

• 1Tbsp Honey
• 1.5 Tbsp Tahini Paste
• 2 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1Tbsp Lemon Juice
• Pinch Dry Mustard
• 1 Tbsp Sesame Seed Oil
• 1 to 2 Tsp Water

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and let mellow while you make the salad (dressing should be pourable but quite thick - sticks to the "slaw" best this way)

Salad

• 2 Cups Shredded Cabbage (red and green mixed is nice)
• 1/2 Cup Shredded Carrot
• 1/2 Cup Chopped Red Apple (or Raisins)
• 1 Tbsp Sesame Seeds

Toss salad and dressing together squeeze .5 of a fresh lime over and toss again.

HUMMUS WRAPS

Large leaf lettuce for "wraps"

Raw Cheezy Hummus (you may want to double up on this - it is tasty)

• 1/2c mac nuts (for a lighter version use 1/2c chopped zucchini)
• 3T fresh lemon juice
• 3T tahini
• 1/4t pink sea salt
• 1 clove of garlic (more if you love garlic)
• 1T Nutritional Yeast
• 1/4c water (don't use water if you are making the zucchini version)

Blend all ingredients in a high-power blender until smooth. Let sit for at least 3 hours (I leave mine over night) - so flavours blend.

Marinated Veggies

• 1/2 cup Zucchini Sliced
• 1/2 cup Red Pepper Sliced
• 1/4 cup Red Onion Sliced
• 1/4 cup Mushrooms Sliced

Veggie Marinade

• 4 Tbsp Olive Oil
• 2 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1 Clove Garlic Chopped/Crushed
• 1 Tbsp Tamari
• Pinch of Sea Salt

Let veggies and marinade sit in a bowl for 1-3 hours.

Assemble

Spread Cheesy Hummus on large lettuce leaf. Add one layer of Marinated Veggies on

top of hummus. Top with spouts or chopped

tomato and field greens. Roll up and enjoy. (You can layer 2 lettuce leaves for wrapping if you go overboard on the stuffing). *Note - if the lettuce leaves have thicker spines to make rolling easier cut the largest part out at the bottom - v shape - and put another leaf upside down on top of it (so the "holes" are filled). I find that if I wrap the lettuce cone style with the top of the

cone folded over and wrap a napkin around the bottom while you eat they stay together better. If you have a better method for wrapping I'd love to hear it (post a comment).

SUN TEA

• 2 Bags Herbal Tea (I like berry blends for this)
• 1 Sliced Lemon
• 1 Large Jar with a lid

Put Tea bags, fresh water and lemons in a Jar cover and let sit on a sunny porch or window sill for a few hours. After the Sun has steeped the tea add

in a squeeze of Agave or some Honey to taste. Pour Sun tea into Mason jars half and half with crushed ice put on jar lids and pop into your picnic basket (great for keeping the tea cold and your other goodies as well).

ENERGY BALLS
In a food processor grind into a fine powder

• 2C Raw Almonds
• 1C Raw Cashews
• Add to nut powder 1C Chopped Dates, 2C Organic Raisins and 1 lime juiced

Pulse till goopy and smooth

Add in a bowl (mix with your hands)

• 1/2 Cup Shredded Coconut
• Handful of chopped walnuts
  or almonds
  

Roll into balls sit in fridge for 1-3hrs till set (will be chewy but less sticky after cooling).

I'm back (day 26 post feast)

It is so strange to be home. I turned off my link to the world (my laptop) as planned as soon as I hit the prairies and spent most of my 3 week vacation outside painting a little house near my parent's farm that was left to me by my grandfather.
So food wise how did it go?
I really stuck to my plan for coming off the feast for the first week. Sticking to mainly juice with fruit salads. By week two I brought in salads, soups and more juice but, the weather was so cold the first week that I started having cooked vegetable broth to warm myself up a bit. Then by week three still lots of juice and salads but, also a few meals with beans and rice, and a glass or two of wine right before I came home. I plan to go back to 100% raw for the summer - now that I'm back in my own kitchen. The most amazing thing about all of this is that I still want my juice! You would think that I'd be sick of it but, I'm not. If I have a headache, feel grumpy, or just blah my first thought has consistently been - have some veggie juice - 9 times out of 10 I feel great again just a few minutes after I drink it. Below are photos of my painting project.

Day 94 (+3 post feast) - Calgary Airport

I love Calgaryl. Waiting to change planes and... they have a lovely Jugo Juice stand right beside the place where I picked up my baggage AND free Wifi - does it get any better? I think not. I'm stuck here waiting my connection until 10pm it is 7:28 right now -but I don't mind because I have a large Carrot/Apple fresh pressed juice sitting beside me and a connection to the world on my lap. And here I was worried I'd have juice issues when I arrived thinking I'd have to wait until midnight tonight to have my last juice of the day - people must have thought I was insane - acting like I'd won the lotto I said "YES!!" out loud when I spotted the stand and was smiling ear to ear as I quick stepped over to order a large juice YUM.. Calgary 7:30 and life is good :)

Day 93 (Day 1 Post Feast)

So the prunes - I have to admit the first prune was a little scary - what it represented, how it would make me feel. I sat and looked at my bowl of soaked prunes for at least 10 minutes before I could bring myself to eat one of them. Let me just say this about prunes - prunes work - I'm glad I was full after 4 and stopped (plenty of fiber in that many for me). I broke my feast via video chat with a supportive friend. I think because I took the time to make a ritual/event out of the prune eating - the whole feasting process has been reinforced in my mind as a big event in my life. I know a lot of people say they feel they aren't ready to stop at 92 days. I woke up yesterday elated. I've been feeling like it was time to stop for a little over a week now but, wanted to make it to 92 days and am glad I waited. I'm in transit tomorrow - off to the prairies. I'm excited and nervous to take my feast breaking on the road. A challenge but, I'm sure it will be a good one. It will probably be a while until I have a chance to post again - when I do I'm sure I'll have lots to report!