Traveling raw can sometimes be a challenge. It’s easy to pack fruit, nuts and raw energy bars for a trip, but I often find that getting in as many servings of veggies as I like per day (usually 8-10) is more difficult. I especially miss my Vitamix while on the road — it just doesn’t feel right to go too many days without a green smoothie!
Eating high raw becomes a lot easier when I’m visiting my mom in PEI, where I grew up. For starters, she has a gigantic garden, which I raid with reckless abandon. Her garden is bigger than my entire community garden in Toronto! And because my mom’s also a vegan (we went vegetarian together when I was 12), the cupboards are usually well-stocked with vegan and raw staples. My mom’s also into fermented foods, and makes her own water kefir. She’s giving me some water kefir grains to take back to Toronto!
Mom's garden
Yesterday morning I was feeling low on leafy greens, so we went across the road to the neighbours’ place to grab some kale – they have a huge market garden. I loaded up on kale, spinach and beet greens. According to them, kale is finally taking off on PEI. They tried to sell it last year at farmer’s markets but no one was interested/knew what it was. But this year, kale is the new hottest thing – it’s popularity has exploded! I’m pleased that so many more people are catching on to its health benefits.
Sadly, my mom doesn’t have a Vitamix. She has an Osterizer from the 80s (seriously). I used spinach instead of kale in my blueberry-nectarine green smoothie since it makes for a less chunky smoothie if you’re Vitamix-deprived.
We went to the beach in the afternoon. If you’ve never been to PEI, the beautiful beaches, red cliffs and stunning sand dunes alone make the trip worthwhile.
For breakfast this morning, I concocted a chia pudding, with Sun Warrior (yes, I brought some with me), hemp protein, cinnamon and dates.
Today, I think more beach time is on the agenda before the wedding rehearsal tonight, and then tomorrow I’m a bridesmaid in my friend’s wedding. So excited! I’ll be back next week with an update from a raw blogger fun day in Toronto on Monday, with Heather, Kelli, Marlie, Nelly, Lisa, and Kristin! I can’t wait to hang out with these ladies.
Before I go, I want you all to take a minute to vote for everyone’s favourite raw dessert chef Heather — she’s running in the Hot Raw Chef contest sponsored by the Living Light Institute. If you cast a vote, you’ll get a free raw recipe e-book with all the recipes demonstrated by the contestants in their entry videos. To cast your vote, go to http://www.hotrawchef.com/, fill out the entry form, and cast your ballot for Heather. You can also watch her entry video to see her recipe for a raw vegan summer berry tart, which I know I’ll be making some day soon. Help Heather stay in first place!
Hope you all have a fabulous weekend! xo
Raw Candy 