Recipes from CHI! Part 1 of 2
"Going off sugar" has always been hard for me, because when I'm tempted to eat something I know I'll regret, I tell myself, "I could have that if I wanted to. I choose not to." I'll even list the reasons I choose not to in my head sometimes. And yes, there are times when I say yes rather than no, and I eat chocolate! I "went off" junk food years ago, but I have never stayed completely away from sugar for more than a few months at a time.
Telling myself I can't have something does a weird number on me psychologically, brings out my demonic inner rebel. However, I'm up for the challenge. And having things to eat that you love that contain no sugar or chemical sweeteners is key! Here are some ideas I picked up at CHI.
Joyce Oliveto's Favorite Dessert
Ingredients
- 1 qt fresh blueberries
- 3 tbsp date paste (you can make this yourself with dates and a little water)
- pinch of cinnamon
- pinch of vanilla powder
- raw almonds, soaked and chopped
Directions
- Add blueberries, date paste, cinnamon, and vanilla powder to blender and blend until smooth (or to your desired consistency).
- Layer over soaked, chopped raw almonds and enjoy.
Chef Madeline
Here's a photo of 67-year-old Madeline (far right) with director Bobby Morgan and raw-food book author Hiawatha Cromer. When I found out how old Madeline was, I shrieked, "SHUT! UP!" (It's a really dumb thing to say, but I live with three teenagers and stuff like that comes out of my mouth.) I finally have the picture of what I want to be when I am a full generation ahead of where I am now! Madeline golfs competitively. She's organized and ego-free and constantly learning and an articulate teacher. She's just a positive-energy dynamo, and she's sexy as heck, too. Her husband is almost 80 and is the same way!
Her recipes include some superfoods you might not recognize. Research them if you want, but in a nutshell: maca is the best libido-enhancer I know, lucuma is a low-glycemic sweetener from a Peruvian fruit that makes caramelly-tasting raw desserts, and mesquite is from a pod in North American trees, high in protein and minerals, that regulates blood sugar and sweetens with a molasses-like caramel note.
I am making this shake today. I've added my own twist of freezing some of it so it's a frozen shake rather than a thinner drink like Madeline makes it.
Choca-Laca-Maca Shake
Ingredients
- 2 cups sweetened almond milk, divided (here's a recipe you can use!)
- 1 frozen banana
- 1 tbsp lacuma
- 1 tbsp raw cacao nibs (optional)
- 8-10 drops toffee-flavored stevia
- 2 tsp maca
- 1 tbsp mesquite
- ½ tsp vanilla
Directions
- Freeze 1 cup almond milk in ice cube trays.
- Blend frozen cubes with all remaining ingredients until smooth in. Drink immediately
Read next: 43 Healthy Food Storage Staples (and 23 Non-Food Items to Stock Up On!)
Robyn Openshaw, MSW, is the bestselling author of The Green Smoothies Diet, 12 Steps to Whole Foods, and 2017’s #1 Amazon Bestseller and USA Today Bestseller, Vibe. Learn more about how to make the journey painless, from the nutrient-scarce Standard American Diet, to a whole-foods diet, in her free video masterclass 12 Steps to Whole Foods.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links that help support the GSG mission without costing you extra. I recommend only companies and products that I use myself.
Posted in: Recipes, Whole Food
Just curious if you are going to post 5 of 5 for CHI. Been waiting for it, then you went on the sugar bet, to the recipes. Just love soaking up all the fabulousness of what you write about.
melissa, you got it. two recipes today, one or two tomorrow!
May I suggest Hail Merry Raw Chocolate macaroons? They took care of mmy sweet tooth lusciously when I first changed my diet and they are actually better than any truffle I ever tasted. Also, raw cacao, raw coconut, raw molasses–nothing you can’t have there, right?
I have been so in awe of this cancer series, I’ve literally had nothing to say – I’m just soaking it up. But this post made me laugh – and feel not so alone. I have eaten so well, really, since early June. Off gluten and dairy, which automatically cuts back on sugar and fat. No headaches, some nice weight losss – but this weekend – sugar got me, BIG TIME. Or more correctly, I got myself, with sugar – gotta take full responsibility. Trader Joe’s Milk Chocolate Covered Soft Peanut Brittle. And do you know what the dumbest, saddest part of it was? I didn’t even like it! It sounds good, but it was actually pretty awful. Yet I ate half the bag and now have my first migraine since June. What a dope! I was feeling so disappointed in myself. This post has help me reset my knowledge and my wisdom, forgive myself, with apologies to my entire system for putting it through this, and tomorrow will be a new day. I know what you mean about the ‘inner rebel’ – right now now mine has a rippin’ headache…
I can relate mgm. Lol I will feel so great eating the healthier foods but I get bored or see something and it looks so good so I eat too much and feel awful. It’s never worth the way I feel but I keep doing these things over and over like the hamster running on the wheel. I do make it harder for me to eat the junk by not keeping it in the home on a regular basis such as shopping trips but it’s not easy! I’ve been going slowly replacing one bad item for a healthier one for the last 3 years. I can only purchase a few things but without the meat that helps my budget a little as well. I can’t wait to be able to purchase the entire whole foods collection and have all these recipes at my fingertips. If I have my place filled with “better options” then I notice I’m less likely to grab the junk but we are only human. Everything I seem to pick up contains sugar so this sugar thing is killing me right now. I’m still down way less sugar than I ever have but I’m struggling. Way to go Robyn your such an inspiration to us all!!! 🙂
Really interesting! It’s hard to imagine some smoothies without sugar or honey, but it looks like it’s time to experiment!
I live in layton and I am wondering if you know the name of a good health care practitioner that practices natural solutions up in this area? If you don’t know anyone up North would you give me the name of the provider that you go to.
Brenda, we are going to start a resource for natural practitioners nationwide, and, Wiki-like, let people add to it. Meantime, I don’t know that area, but Judith Moore is in Heber now I believe, and Hugo Rodier in Draper, and Vaughn Johnson in the Provo area. Bioidentical clinics include Utah Wellness Centers run by Francine and Catherine, nurse practitioners, in Utah and Salt Lake counties.
To Healthy homemade smoothies: try liquid stevia instead. It tastes just as good as honey or surgar as long as you don’t add too much!!
Robyn, a cook book that you might be interested in, that I ADORE (love, love, love) is Rebecca Katz “The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen.” Her “Best-Ever Oatmeal” recipe instructs you to soak your oats overnight! Seriously-fantastic, delicious recipes–totally healthy. And she has a chapter with ‘dessert/treats’ that you might like. My 2 year old drinks her chicken mineral broth plain and loves it, it’s that yummy.
Also, there is a blog that might give you some personal inspiration for your sugar quest…I stumbled upon it several years ago, and although I only have checked it, uhm, maybe 3 times, it fascinates me:
http://myyearwithout.blogspot.com/
I TOTALLY agree with her (above website author) that as your body learns, well, more appropriately, as YOU learn to read your body’s response to sugar, and if you don’t eat it frequently, then you will notice the immediate effects of sugar consumption. For me, it’s my tonsils. Even too many fresh dates will do it. Sore tonsils. Crazy.
Keep up the great work! (and really, if you haven’t already checked out/ purchased the above-mentioned cookbook, you *should*!!)
Annabeth, thanks for that! My Ch. 9 of 12 Steps to Whole Foods also has you soaking your oats overnight, with an explanation about why (phytates, etc.).
These recipes sound amazing, especially the Choca-Laca-Maca Shake! I love the idea of using natural sweeteners like lacuma and dates. Has anyone tried substituting ingredients or adding their own twist to these recipes? I'm curious to hear about your variations