Food Phases & Winner Announced
Sometimes I just love eating the same thing over and over and over again, until I get sick of it, and then I am onto my next foodie phase. Now this is great for me, as it keeps things simple, from shopping to ingredients, to knowing the recipe back to front, inside out, but it’s not so exciting for my readers who might just continue to see the same food photographs all of the time.
Victoria Boutenko actually talks about this on her 12 Steps to Eating Raw DVD, where her kids just want to eat only mangos or only olives. She believes this is intuitive eating and obviously the body knows what the body needs. What do you think?
One of my biggest phases of late (if you didn’t know already) has been MY ALL TIME FAVOURITE Avocolada. Seriously, if you never thought an avocado could rock a smoothie then you have never tried one of these. I was first introduced to this baby at 105degrees when Megan, the Raw Food Daily instructor, made us all a glass whilst learning about Natural Beauty. This smoothie is GREAT for healthy glowing skin. I proclaimed then and there, “this is the best smoothie I have ever had!”
The Avocolada Smoothie from Matthew Kenney’s Raw food, Real World (serves 2-3)
1 ripe avocado
3 cups of diced pineapple
2 cups of coconut water (from a Young Thai Coconut – available at most Asian Supermarkets – here is a video on how to open one!)
3 T agave nectar or 2 packets of stevia
3 T of lime juice
1 T of coconut butter or oil (available from most health food stores or organic supermarkets)
2 tsp of vanilla extract
pinch of salt
Green Smoothie & Avocolada - onboard my plane
I then began asking the caterers on board my flights to start making it for the crew and the passengers, although they didn’t love it as much as I do, they didn’t quite mind it. Mind you, they are still coming to terms with the green smoothies I also order from the caterers to serve onboard, but slowly but surely I WILL convert them (insert evil laugh)
Another of my food phases right now is Rocket (Arugula) and Fennel Salad with Lemon Honey Dressing. Oh. My. Goodness.
This is a show stopper. I never used to think you should mix your dessert (sweet) with your dinner (savoury) (ie I hate sweet and sour Chinese dishes etc), but this dish puts that thought to shame. SHAME indeed. I even lick my plate clean of the dressing when I am done.
Lemon & Honey Dressing
4 whole lemons peeled
3 T raw honey
1/2 cup of olive oil
1/4 tsp sea salt/Himalayan salt
1/4 tsp cracked black pepper
Blend all ingredients in a high speed blender then serve atop Rocket (Arugula), shaved fennel & orange segments
Also ruby grapefruits. I can go through a whole bag of them in just a couple of days. I love their tart sweetness and have always been a fan of grapefruit juice as well.
Oh and my lemon craze does not just end there. Apparently I used to eat lemons like oranges when I was a kid, with my grandfather, so I guess they were destined to be a food staple in my future.
I shared this recipe with An Opera Singer in the Kitchen the other day and she promptly made it (with some slight variations) and reported back to me that she LOVED it. And it has always been a hit in my household.
Step in the Lemon & Mint Drink. Quite a popular drink in the Middle East, available at all restaurants, but I am certain they don’t make theirs halfway near as healthy as mine.
Lemon & Mint Drink
5 peeled whole lemons
2 cups of fresh mint
3 cups of water
2-3T agave nectar (to taste)
Blend all ingredients in high speed blender and serve either straight or over ice.
Give it a try and see what you think!
What kind of food phases do you go through?
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My UK Based Giveaway closed on Wednesday and there were 3 lucky prize winners drawn randomly.
First Prize: Lurch Spirali Spiralizer (valued at £39.95) goes to Maureen
Second Prize: Lurch Spiralo Spiralizer (valued at £29.95) goes to Steven of Lustruous Musings
Third Prize: Lurch Dyskus Mandolin (valued at £29.95) goes to Sarah of Gluten Free Tries Vegan
Please could the winners contact me at robyn@girlonraw.com with your postal address so I can forward these directly onto UK JUICERS to forward you your prize
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I definitely go through food phases where I just crave the same thing over and over again. Fortunately these cravings of mine often correspond with the seasons – for example, right now I cannot get enough of the fresh berries and stone fruits that are overflowing at my local farmers’ markets!
Oh I had a berry phase not too long ago as well. And like you said, even better when it is seasonal!
This avocolada smoothie looks divine! Thanks for posting this!
Oh sorry I was so excited about the avocolada I forgot to add that I definitely have food phases! And I have been that way my whole life, just ask my mama. I find something I like and I stick with it for a while. I am currently in love with veggie loafs that I make and frozen cherry/pea protein post workout smoothies !
Oh yum! I could have a phase for them too!
I *definitely* go through food phases!! Oatbran at any time of the day is a big one for me right now, and raw beetroot
I’ve never liked avocado but it’s mostly a textural issue, so your drink actually does look delicious!
Hey I used to be the same Hannah with the whole texture thing. I used to think, yuk, squashed frogs, but in the smoothie it is a great way to thicken it up, get some good fats and you hardly taste it at all!
love the recipes! ok so it’s funny you posted something w/ honey in it! I plan to post a tofu recipe w/ honey in it in the next day or two…how do you think most vegans feel about honey? i personally eat very little of it, just b/c i dont seek it out, but I dont take issue with it being non vegan. I also wear leather belts that ive had for 15 yrs so ya know…anyway though, your thoughts on honey, did they discuss it at 105?
Hey Averie! Good question. We did use honey now and then at 105 and it was a question I posed as well, and I guess because the focus at 105degrees was more raw food than vegan it was never really an issue, however no other animal by products were used whilst there.
Remember I posted about this some time ago too. Do Vegans eat honey? Well this is another example of where I don’t always fit into a stereotype or label
I believe honey is antiviral, antibacterial and even antifungal (when consumed raw) or even placed on wounds for healing.
Even Mercola says this on his website about raw honey:
“Honey can also help with diarrhea, insomnia, and sore throats. Eating raw honey is likely to promote health as long as it’s used in moderation and you do not suffer from signs of elevated insulin such as:
Overweight
High blood pressure
High blood cholesterol
Diabetes”
All in all I won’t consume a great deal of honey, but when I do it will be raw and local
Woo hoo!!!! This is my first ever win!!!! Thank you Robyn! So excited.
I love the look of your current food phases. I’m very much the same when it comes to food. Although I’m needing a new phase now and the salad in particular is looking good! With the lemon and mint drink, do you have to strain out the pips from the lemon or do they get blended up with the drink?
Thanks for the prize!
Congratulations Sarah, so glad you won! As for the pips, I usually cut the lemon into quarters and pull out any obvious pips, then just blend up the rest (the vitamix is a god!)
No worries for the prize, thanks for taking part!
I go through food phases too, currently I love creamy hemp sauces and lots of watermelon. It seems to change with the weather, new recipe excitement and just what makes me feel good. Great recipes, I’ve never put and avocado in a smoothie before, but love using them in Vita-Mix salad dressings.
Hello there! I’m a new reader on your blog and although not very raw, I am definitely vegan! I don’t go through many food phases because I like to mix it up as much as possible but I definitely do believe that you should always follow your body’s cravings because it is a master machine that knows what it needs to balance out any deficiencies so I say go with it! Within reason of course! Also, that mint lemonade looks great, I’ve been wanting to make some lemonade with the fresh ginger mint from my windowsill garden, but I certainly hadn’t thought of blending it together so I will be sure to try that out! Thank you for the recipe.
Love all the recipes!! Love the mint lemon drink!!!
Avocolada sounds delicious! Intuitive eating….yes I believe in that. Sometimes I crave a certain fruit or veggie likke crazy and I can only imagine it is what my body is asking me to eat and that it needs. I love your picture in the plane!
Thanks for the mention!
oh my – these are some fantastic ‘phases’
I must give that avocado smoothie a try – I am intrigued 
Just made the avocolada for breakfast and it is goooooooooood!!!! OMG! So glad you shared the recipe – didn’t have the book and can’t get it here, and was going nuts to try this!
I definitely go through food phases. Two recent ones have been brussels sprouts and instant colcannon – mashed baked potato w/ steamed kale and nutritional yeast.
And as for honey, I don’t eat it. I’m a vegan, honey comes from an animal, and it’s not mine to take.
I can relate to you’re food sublime choices(especiallly the lemon and pink grapefruit thing, I can’t get enough of them:). I love the sound of the lemon and mint drink(Refreshing or what?!).
xoxox
I can relate to you’re food sublime choices(especiallly the lemon and pink grapefruit thing, I can’t get enough of them:). I love the sound of the lemon and mint drink(Refreshing or what?!).
xoxox
Very refreshing!
Oh And I’ve got to get my kale / celery / cucumber / granny Smith apples in to!
xoxox
i jUST read that in 12 Steps to Eating Raw last night! I’m on page 80…. how funny! I really love her books; green for life changed my outlook completely.
did you go to 105 degrees? I’ve researched it and thought about it for myself–i’d love your input and what your doing with that info.
and why are you on a fancy jet!?!
Hi Kenzie!
Yes I did go to 105degrees you can read my daily run down on my month there starting from here if you like?
http://girlonraw.com/2010/04/day-1-isnt-she-beautiful/
As for the fancy jet, I am a flight attendant on it, here in the Middle East
Hi Robyn!
I am a total creature of habit when it comes to food – if I like something – it’s all I want to eat!!!
I think this might just be my first comment on your blog – but I have been reading for quite some time! I must admit I am quite envious of your well travelled lifestlye
I loveee all the recipes you posted and can’t wait to try them!! Avocado is my absolute favourite smoothie ingredient – it makes them so rich and creamy
xoxo
Hiya Krissy and thanks for commenting.
Travel is fun, but sometimes when it is not for pleasure and for business it can be tiring but I am definitely very fortunate that is for sure!
I think everyone goes through food phases….such as sometimes I’ll juice every day for a week and then I’ll forget about it for weeks (typically because the clean-up is so cumbersome!!)
Right now I’m on a green smoothie and salad kick… cold food hit the spot right now!
Congratulations to all the giveaway winners!
Thank you so much for sharing these beautiful recipes, they all look so refreshing right now
I recently went through a salsa phase…and would just eat a cup of it with a spoon!