Stay Cool and Stay Raw

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I’m sure by now everyone has noticed, the heat has officially set in this summer. It’s time to cool off with some delicious fruits and vegetables that actually help lower your bodies temperature and keep you nice and hydrated. The raw food diet is probably the most ideal diet for summer time as everything yummy is in season, lower in price, and there is no need to turn on that hot stove or oven to whip up a delicious meal. Nature provides an abundance of foods this time of year to help keep us cool and nourished. Many fruits and veggies that have a shorter season like summer squashes, cucumbers, and melons come into their full glory during the hottest months, and have the most cooling effect. Some cooling vegetables include crunchy lettuces, mixed baby greens, celery, crisp sunflower greens and sprouts, and broccoli which make great salad fixings. Chop up some fresh corn into your summer salads as well, I have certainly been enjoying that lately. For a light dressing try a high quality extra virgin olive oil like bariani, and our brand new coconut vinegar and coconut aminos. Combine with minced fresh herbs and a pinch of salt and our salad will be rawkin and ready to go.

Aim for high levels of juicy fruits during the summer. Melons of all kinds are amazing, watermelon being especially cooling to the system. Try also different varieties like galia, crenshaw, canary, Tucson cantaloupe, and casaba. Some of these melons are so sweet and delicately flavored and textured that they nearly melt in your mouth. Keep your melons in the fridge once ripe to avoid spoilage and to heighten their cooling effect on the body. Make sure to load up on lots of tomatoes, fresh bell peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, and yellow summer squashes too, as these are cooling fruits that will make great bases for savory meals when fruit isn’t hitting the spot. You can make veggie chips out of the summer squashes by simply marinating in a little olive oil, salt and herbs and dehydrating until crisp. Also, one of my ultimate summer meals is zucchini pasta, which is so light and flavorful, even your cooked food friends will be amazed that it is raw and so easy to make. Great for summer potlucks and family meals.

Here are just a few of my favorite summertime recipes:

Cilantro-Lime Watermelon Juice- (Brrr…this juice is SURE to cool you off quickly)

1/3-1/2 of an organic seeded watermelon- chilled in the fridge. Rinse outer rind thoroughly because you will be juicing the rind as well. The rind of the watermelon is very mild in flavor and packs a punch of minerals, and will help balance the sweetness of the flesh.

1 handful fresh cilantro

juice of 1 whole lime

3 handfuls fresh sunflower greens

Optional- 3 large lacinto kale leafs (black dino kale)

Juice together and serve right away.

Cool Cucumber Dill Soup

3 cucumbers peeled

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1 whole avocado

2 tbs fresh dill

2-3 tbs bariani olive oil or Ruth’s hemp seed Oil

a few pinches Bali sea salt to taste

Simply blend above ingredients until very smooth, garnish with a bit of fresh dill and chunks of avocado. This soup is amazingly light, refreshing, and yet filling Great with flax crackers for a light evening meal.

No Heat Pasta

*Spiralize both green zucchini and yellow summer squash for a nice color variation

Summer Noodles:

2 zucchini, 1 yellow summer squash spiralized

sun dried tomato Sauce:

2 medium heirloom tomatoes

1 cup sun dried tomatoes- soak for a few hours to soften

1/4 cup bariani olive oil

1/3 cup chopped fresh basil

fresh herbs to taste such as oregano, sage, and thyme

A few pinches of Bali sea salt

-Optional- 1 clove garlic (will increase the heat element of this dish)

hemp seed Pesto:

1/4 cup hemp seeds

1/2 cup walnuts

1/4 cup bariani olive oil, hemp oil, or pumpkin seed oil.

1 cup packed basil

1/8 cup lemon juice

A few pinches of Bali sea salt to taste

Optional- 1 clove of garlic.

Both of these sauces can be blended until smooth or left a bit chunky in a food processor depending on your preference. spoon onto zucchini noodles, garnish with fresh basil leaves

Follow your bodies natural gravitation towards light, refreshing raw foods this summer to stay balanced and active. Also remember to drink plenty of fresh, pure water along with your fruits and vegetables to ensure our body is perfectly hydrated even as the temperatures rise.

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Source by Alex Malinsky