100 g Medjool dates

40 g dried raisins

30 g coconut flakes ( you can add more if you want )

1 tbsp gluten free steel cut oats

1 tbsp vegan chocolate chips


Combine dates, coconut flakes, gluten free steel cut oats in food processor, add raisins, quick pulse. Scrape the dough mixture on unbleached non-stick baking paper, add chocolate chips press evenly, and chill for an hour before serving.


Number of servings: 4 

Calories 186    Carbs 33   Fat 6   Protein 2    Chol 0  Fiber 4 

I love raw food, and I think raw chocolate is something perfect.

raw + chocolate = perfection!


It is raw, vegan and organic!

The Raw Chocolate Company sent me 6 chocolates for review. :)


You probably know that chocolate can be full of amazing anti-oxidants, nutrients and minerals. Bad production methods destroy most of these, The Raw Chocolate company makes their chocolate on low temperature this preserves as many of nutrients as possible, plus they add some really supreme ingredients!

What goes into chocolate;

” Raw cacao

Un-roasted and minimally processed, our cacao contains more than 300 nutritional compounds, and is high in anti-oxidants, essential minerals and feel-good neurotransmitters like serotonin.

Cold pressed virgin cacao butter

With its silky smooth texture and rich luxurious chocolatey scent, cacao butter won’t raise your cholesterol levels like other fats, is less likely to cause weight gain compared to refined or hydrogenated oils, and also provides essential fatty acids.
   
Xylitol

Derived, a little surprisingly, from the birch tree, wholly natural Xylitol offers all the sweetness of common sugar with 40% fewer calories. With a low GI, Xylitol is considered suitable for diabetics and hypoglycaemics and has also been given a thumbs up by dentists for its kindness to teeth. ‘The Darker Side of Delicious’ range is sweetened with Xylitol.

Vanilla pods

Added to our chocolate for their sensuous aroma. “

Organic Vanoffe - for me it is like heaven sent, everything I need from chocolate; it is tasty, creamy and sweet. I think that is due to the Lucuma! Yummy . Really buy this chocolate, Vanoffe is ”your new best friend”. 

Organic fairtrade raw chocolate pitch dark - It is bitter and dark, if you love dark chocolate = this is your new favorite! Be sure to buy it!!

Vanoffe dark - in my top 3 :) I have to say it is a little bit bitter than vanoffe but I love it.

Raw chocolate + goji berries & orange - Great, you can feel real orange with little bit of goji berries. For me it’s fresh and really citrusy.

Dark raw chocolate with mint & xylitol - yum yum yum I love mint and this is like healthy ‘after eight’ chocolate. I really know a lot about mint and this is something perfect yummy dark chocolate + mint delicious!!

Dark raw chocolate with orange & xylitol - I don’t know why but I love orange + goji more. It is tasty, bitter and really dark chocolate.



My Top 3:

1.Vanoffe

2.Raw chocolate + goji berries & orange

3.Vanoffe dark


You can get other amazing products from them like raw chocolate mini, organic cacao nibs, organic acai powder, goji berries, organic cacao powder, chia seeds, raw lucuma powder, organic hemp protein powder, organic coconut palm sugar, bee pollen and much much more!


You can find out more about them :

www.therawchocolatecompany.com

www.facebook.com/therawchocolatecompany

www.twitter.com/TheRawChocCo 

(Source: health-heaven)

1tbsp light olive oil
75g (3oz) onion, finely chopped
175g (6oz) carrots, diced
150g (5oz) parsnips, thinly sliced
½ tsp ground coriander
800ml (1⅓ pints) light stock
350g (12oz) cooked beetroot (not in vinegar), sliced
4tsp fresh dill, chopped
1 pomegranate

To garnish

4tbsp soya yogurt
2tbsp walnut pieces (optional)


Heat the oil in a large saucepan and sweat the onion, carrot and parsnip for 5 mins until it starts to soften. Add the coriander and cook for a further 2 mins.

Add the stock and beetroot. Bring to the boil and then simmer for 20 mins, adding 2 tsp of dill for the last 2 or 3 mins.

Cut the pomegranate in half and extract the juice using a lemon squeezer. Blend the soup and add the juice to taste (up to 4 tbsp).

Garnish with the yoghurt, walnut pieces and remaining 2 tsp chopped dill. Serve with walnut bread or granary or rye rolls (bread is optional and not included in calorie/fat count).

www.vegsoc.org 

(Source: health-heaven)

Serves 10

1 cup cooked beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup whole wheat breadcrumbs ( add more if you need )
1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
1 medium shredded carrot
1/2 tsp chili powder
2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dried celery
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp salt
1 tsp natural seasoning
egg substitute


Combine all ingredients in a bowl, add them to food processor, mix it. Put mixture in a bowl and squish with your fingers to get it all to mash together. Add more breadcrumbs if needed. Form into patties, put them on a baking paper and bake on one side for 15-20 minutes without moving or turning it, and 10 minutes on other side ( 180 °C ). Serve with swiss chard like I did or anything you like. :)    

(Source: health-heaven)

The day before you start, dramatically reduce your intake of caffeine, sugar, wheat, dairy, and alcohol. Eat light, focusing on raw greens, steamed vegetables, legumes, beans, and raw nuts.

Day 1

Morning

Wake up with yoga. Ease into your first day with a bedside series of cat and cow stretches, alternately arching and flexing your spine to wake up your body.

Sip lemon water. To stimulate the bowels and detox the liver, drink a cup of hot or room-temperature water spiked with the juice of half a fresh lemon. Make a pitcher of lemon juice and filtered water (use the juice of half a lemon for every 8 ounces of water), and drink a glass every hour throughout day. If you want a little sweetness, add a bit of stevia. Substitute green tea as a gentle source of caffeine to help avoid energy slumps and caffeine withdrawal headaches; studies also show it’s rich in compounds that boost liver detoxification.

Have a light breakfast of steamed vegetables. “A main goal of detoxing is to reduce inflammation,” says Mark Hyman, MD, author of The Detox Box. “That involves removing the most common triggers for inflammation, like sugar, dairy, gluten, caffeine, alcohol, trans fats, and processed foods.” Carrots, sweet potatoes, zucchini, and kale have a sweet taste that’s surprisingly satisfying for breakfast.

Afternoon

Mix up a big dandelion salad (see the recipe for Detoxifying Dandelion and Bitter Greens Salad with Lemon-Tarragon Vinaigrette). “Dandelion and other bitter greens are rich in phytochemicals that boost the liver’s capacity to eliminate toxins,” Hyman says. Have a 2-cup serving of salad for lunch, and store the leftover salad and dressing separately in the fridge. You’ll need them later.

Go for a walk. After lunch, head outside for a brisk walk or gentle hike, to get your blood and lymphatic fluid circulating.

Sweat it out with a steam or sauna. “As you’re cleansing your body, you’re stirring up a lot of toxins,” says Schoffro Cook. “You want to get these out of your system as quickly as possible.” Saunas encourage perspiration, sending toxins out through the skin, the body’s largest detox organ, says Haas. Most gyms, community recreation centers, and YMCAs have saunas or steam rooms; or check your local spa if you’re feeling extravagant. If you don’t have access to a sauna or steam room, relax in a hot bath with Epsom salts.

Take a nap. After your sauna, take a short nap, or rest quietly and check in with your body. Do you notice any subtle changes in your digestion? “When you take a break from wheat, sugar, and dairy, you may notice differences in bloating, gas, or stomach sensation almost immediately,” says Jamieson.

Write and reflect. Make notes in a journal about what you’re thinking and feeling. Are you angry with someone? Do you feel sad? Was it surprisingly painful to give up your morning muffin? “Toxins do’t exist only in the body,” says Natalia Rose, author of The Raw Food Detox Diet. “It may be that you have some poisonous thoughts or emotions to cleanse as well.”

Evening

Eat a light supper. Start with another dandelion salad, followed by 1 to 2 cups of steamed spinach or collard greens, topped with 1/2 cup cooked lentils or 1 tablespoon of raw nuts, and a dash of cayenne pepper.

Spend a quiet evening. Choose an after-dinner activity that feels soothing: knit, paint, or read.

Prepare for sleep. Sip a cup of chamomile tea, and quietly reflect on your day. Note your observations in your journal. What emotions came up when the world was quiet around you? See if you can find a message or inspiration for the day.

Drink your fiber. Before retiring, take 1/2 to 2 teaspoons psyllium seed dissolved in 1 1/2 cups warm water to keep the bowels moving.


Day 2

Morning

Repeat Saturday’s wake-up routine. Start the day with cat and cow stretches, followed by hot lemon water, dry brushing, and a warm shower.

Try asparagus for breakfast. Include it in medley of steamed vegetables.”Asparagus is rich in folic acid, which is key in the production of glutathione, an enzyme that boosts detoxification,” Hyman says.

Meditate. Recent studies show that meditation lowers stress, decreases rumination, and promotes forgiveness. If you’re new to meditation, try it for 5 to 10 minutes; if you meditate regularly, try 20 to 30 minutes. Make notes in your journal of anything that comes up. Check out


Afternoon

Lunch on dandelion salad and a steamed artichoke. Artichokes are rich in compounds that boost liver function, Hyman says. Check out the recipe for

Perfect Steamed Artichokes.

Take a walk or gentle hike. It’ll boost blood flow and help keep the bowels moving.

Indulge in a massage. Deep tissue work that improves circulation and stimulates the lymph system is ideal for transitioning out of your detox. If a professional massage doesn’t suit your budget, go to

Rest and reflect. Take a short nap, and write in your journal.

Evening

Take a light meal. For dinner,have a dandelion salad topped
with avocado and crumbled nori. “Sea vegetables are a wonderful source of minerals that help alkalinize the body,” Hyman says. “That’s important, since most people are too acid, from gluten, sugar, and toxins in food.”

Luxuriate in a warm Epsom salts bath. The body absorbs magnesium from Epsom salts, which helps relax the muscles and detoxify the lymphatic system, Schoffro Cook says.

Prepare for restorative sleep. Take your psyllium seed, meditate for 15 minutes, then curl up with a cup of chamomile tea and your journal. What did you learn over the weekend? What new habits do you want to continue? Make notes of three life lessons to take away from your weekend, and drift off to sleep.

Your First Day Back

Ease into the day. You may feel tired, and might be experiencing symptoms of withdrawal from caffeine, food additives, and other toxins, says Hyman. Take the morning off, if possible; if not, take it easy. Make time for another Epsom salts bath and take a walk if your bowels need a little help to get moving.

Meditate on new habits.

Think about where you can modify your established routine to add more healthful habits. Could you commit to adding a big green salad every day, or a 15-minute meditation session? Can you substitute green tea for coffee, and stevia for sugar? “Simple changes add up fast,” says Schoffro Cook. “And those changes are the ones that make a lifelong difference.”  

vegetariantimes

(Source: health-heaven)