It’s the last day of my second month. Wow, though being vegetarian has always been easy for me, I can’t believe I’ve had no dairy, rice, pasta, bread, or processed food in that long! Yes, I’ve had the odd cooked veggie, and I’ve had plenty of alcohol (however preservative free and/or organic), and the occasional bit hidden salt or sugar in some restaurant salad dressing or whatnot. But for the most part, I think I’ve been doing a fairly good job so far.

When I pass Starbucks, see world cheeses in the import store, or smell fresh-baked bread from he bakery, yeah, sure, I lament, but it’s getting easier. I’m almost, but not quite, ready to say that I’m a raw foodist. Like I said in my “ABOUT” page though, I hate labels and the connotations that come with them. I’m sure I will be allowing myself the occasional slip, whether a healthy baked satsuma potato or a dare I say a slice of pizza (?) - Don’t want to do that though!

As I may have mentioned before, I think I have to lighten up on the fats. I haven’t lost weight this month, as far as I know - I don’t have a scale, but I find that the fit of my clothes is very telling. I certainly have not gained, though. And trust me, I do not go hungry!

By biggest savior in the cravings department has been my banana ice cream - just a chopped up, frozen banana whipped with cacao power, chopped dates, and walnuts. This meets all my sweet-tooth needs. Beats real cream and processed chocolate any day. Yes, I know, not low in calories or fat, and hardly good food-combining, but way better than the crap I used to inhale.

That new pair of Birkenstocks I picked up at Costco yesterday let me down, big time. Blisters on the tops of my feets, and really sore bottoms. Why is it I always have such difficulties finding good shoes! Umm, that doesn’t seem like a statement that will allow the law of attraction to work for me. Revision: “With a little effort, I will find ideal shoes!”

Speaking of the law of attraction, I was thinking just before logging on to my Mac this evening that I really have to work at getting some income coming in. I had just received my tax for 2009, and it will be pretty much impossible to pay unless I get more money coming in. (The taxes are based on last year’s salary, when I was working 3-4 times the amount and got just over twice the salary.) I open my mail box, and, low and behold, one direct job ofter and another posting! Hopes are high! Rather like working just 3 days a week, mind. Umm, must enjoy while it lasts!

Today I had:

green smoothie
raisens
dried mango (no crap in it!)
leftover cauliflower salad
cherries
raw mushooms, bean sprouts, peppers and humus (I really should try another dip!)
cacao banana ice cream
MonaVie

I wrote a whole bunch of BS here a little while ago, but it all was lost due to a bleep in my internet connection. I hate it when that happens. The main thing I wanted to say about today was my discovery that Costco sell raw vanilla bean pods. Haven’t opened the tube all day - just been stiffing at the tube while doing work. Smells like a lovely, sweet, smokey tobacco!

Today I had:

green smoothie (apple, banana, spinach, squirt of agave & lots of water)
papaya
cauliflower salad
humus with orange peppers, cucumber, string beans, cauliflower
raisens
mangosteen
cheeries
raw radish (western style)

June arrives tomorrow. Amazing how time flies! It rained all day today, and the raw food potluck I was supposed to be attending in Yoyogi Park was canceled. Bummer, but I enjoyed surfing for raw food sites online all afternoon instead. Yeah, I know, I should be doing some work instead…

I did do a bit of “cooking” though - my usual fair, though I did try a new version of Italian tomato sauce: I added green onions, basil, soaked, sun-dried tomatoes, and dates. What an improvement to just the red peppers, tomatoes, garlic and olive oil! In fact, I reckon you could skip the oil. I do like a little sea salt, mind.

My mini Cuisinart processor overheated after making a bigger-than-normal batch of ice cream. I thought that was it for the little guy, and it would have made the second appliance that frozen bananas have killed this month alone, but thankfully after a little rest, the little chopper powered up!

Today I ate:

green smoothie
cauliflower salad
cabbage salad
zucchini pasta and tomato sauce
banana cocoa walnut ice cream

The Meatrix has been online for while now, but even for those who have seen it, it still provides and laugh and reinforces what a lot of us already know. Enjoy:

Today I made a really awesome batch of humus, using sprouts for once, and also my first successful batch of raw chocolates, using simply Artisana’s Raw Vegan Amazon Bliss (coconut butter with supefoods such as acai, yakon, cacao nibs,and goji berries) melted slowly via hot water beneath a class bowl, to which I added cacao powder, and agave syrup. I think I used equal portions of each. I didn’t blend it as well as I could, so after I took the (frozen) little pieces out the the heart mold I bought last week, I could see where the coconut fat had clustered. Tasted pretty darned yummy regardless of appearance! Very rich, but I still managed to eat all of them. Ummm, and I wonder why I am not losing weight. I am definitely eating too high a percentage of fat in my raw diet! Anyway, my roommate was almost convinced that my chocolates were “professional.”

Today I had:

melon
MonaVie (half the bottle!)
tomato, avocado and greens with oil and balsamic
raw button mushrooms, broccoli, and cauliflower with humus
raw chocolates

Fast talking, super enthusiastic Arnold and a successful client rave about losing weight with raw food:

OK, I should already know this by now, but it is imperative for a raw foodist to always carry emergency stock in her/his bag when out for a whole day. Problem is, you never know when you will be out for a whole day!  I packed leftover cauliflower salad and some fresh fruit for later on after lunch at work, but I was invited by my old students to hit the town (if you want to call Nagayama station a “town”) for an evening of excess straight after work, and of course I accepted. I had intended to shop (which I did actually do with great success beforehand - please read on) but I was famished by evening and ended up ordering a grand total of 6 raw salads, but I allowed the toppings of fried burdock root and fried lotus root to pass through my lips and…. I loved it! As I did the wine. Resistance becomes futile when surrounded by the borg; beginning raw foodists should avoid surrounding themselves with temptation by not letting themselves go hungry and then dining out with…. gasp, beer-slopping, fried food-eating carnivores (not that the meat part tempts me).

However, the great wonder of the evening was my little shopping expedition beforehand- I discovered that Nagayama’s Seiyu store has really made some phenomenal changes. I found a fruit, nut, and sembei store that sells raw peanuts, and an organic store that sell raw shouyu and raw miso. Soy sauce and miso are omnipresent in Japan, but do you know how long I’ve searched for the real macoy, raw stuff? Very happy! Cost a fricken’ fortune, mind!

After returning back to my station on the late train, tonight was the first night I was actually tempted to buy a helping of McDonald’s fries since getting on this raw food gig. With clenched fists I passed the tacky franchise and made it home. No sooner had I entered my apartment than my bag of raw peanuts ripped open, almost on their own accord. I don’t remember tasting anything as delicious and completely satisfying as a simple bag of peanuts. It must be PMS. No other explanation. But can I just say: God in her divinity has really and truly blessed us by dreaming up THE PEANUT. Though I do wish there weren’t that horrendous amount of calories and fat involved, especially considering the quantity I have just now finished ingesting….

Today I had:

green smoothies
cauliflower salad
kiwi and lichies
daikon salad
fried burdock and lotus root sald
sesame cucumber salad
kimuchi
peanuts (what, seemingly 2 cups worth!)
white wine (organic and preservative-free, of course!)

Here’s a goodie I found earlier on today: Storm of www.thegardendiet.com has this video comparing the cooked and the raw:

I spent WAY too much time surfing the NET today instead of getting work done. Amazing how we procrastinate until the very last minute. I am being followed by and am following one Ms. Leah Salmon on Twitter now, who has a great little website, on which I discovered the following great wake-up advice:

Today I had:

papaya
leftover Asian slaw
leftover humus with broccoli, button mushrooms, and bean sprouts
leftover cauliflower salad
cacao and banana ice cream
wine

I taught a colleague and his wife their first French pronunciation class today. As a non-native speaker of French, I hardly feel qualified to instruct pronunciation (in particular!) but then I remember that a) my spoken French actually isn’t half that bad, having been born and raised in Quebec - though it has deteriorated having lived in Japan all these years b) I must recall where I am living: there are people teaching English here that can barely hold a conversation (in English), albeit mostly in the countryside. In any case, I quite enjoyed it!

I brought a grocery store salad mix to work today (with added dark greens, tomatoes, and dressing), but I was amazed at how quickly it browned. Still totally edible, but remind me to avoid iceberg lettuce and other relatively nutrient-deficient leaves! Thank goodness my dressing rocked!

Today I had:

green smoothie

(greens, banana, berries, honey. My smoothies never cease to illicit questions and awe from my morning class students- yes, I bring my giant green watery mush to class!)

mixed salad with honey mustard dressing
banana
Asian salad with honey, sesame, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce and olive oil
cauliflower olive mix
humus (made with sprouts and miso!) and raw broccoli
frozen banana ice cream (with coconut butter, cacao powder, and coconut flakes- this was a winner!)
white wine (for a change- I think my teeth are permanently purple!)

I STILL have heartburn, I assume from the excess of wine 2 days ago. Have tried to eat alkaline today.

I had:

green smoothie (spinach, berries, banana, honey)
green salad with tomato and avocado
raisens
baked satsuma potato (was tired and desperate at bus stop- forgive moi! (I do!))
papaya
lychies
lettuce, cabbage, greens and avocado salad with spices and oil & vinegar, pecans
MonaVie
mushrooms with pesto dip

Got three more raw books in the mail today: Raw Chocolate, Naked Chocolate (yes, there is a theme here), and Raw Food for Busy People. Will let you know how they are after reading.

Definitely drank too much last night. My tongue has an icky feeling to it today. The morning green smoothie helped some, but I do need to watch my alcohol consumption, me thinks! Also, my teeth seem to be attracting some permanent grape stains (don’t have that problem with the non-organic stuff for some reason) Finally, I this came about later this afternoon- I have heartburn!

Today I had:

green smoothie
green salad with sprouts and tomatoes
kimchi and natto
MonaVie
papaya
banana-strawberry ice cream

I slept very soundly last night, and I reckon it was due to the fact that I consumed a relatively clean diet yesterday. Actually, I had another nap on Friday afternoon on my colleague’s couch - while he was there doing work in his office - and he noted how incredibly quite I was sleeping. Let me assure you, this is not my reputation. I am not a hardcore snorer or anything, but I usually have major heavy breathing. This has obviously not been the case of late.

I have been sprouting some beans over the last few days, and although they could stand a bit more time getting their greens out (they are still crunchy), I indulged in a few today. Sprouting is really not difficult. It’s just perceived as a pain in the butt because you have to remember to rinse them twice daily! It’s a habit, just like everything else. Personally, for some strange reason I associate my sprouts with sleep - I just rinse them before and after I hit the sack. C’est tout!

Today was a food-prep delight. I made 2 sauces and 3 veggie dishes. A mate came over for dinner and we enjoyed it all over a few flicks and lotsa wine.

Today I had:

green smoothie (apples, strawberries, honey, greens)
leftover Asian slaw
leftover cauliflower salad, with added olives (great addition!)
raw veggies dipped in green sauce
MonaVie
green salad with sprouts, mushrooms, and honey mustard dressing
humus and raw veggies
zucchini pasta and pesto (another version of the yummie green sauce)
banana icecream with cacao and walnuts
red wine (too much for sure…)

Today was a very green day. I finished reading Green for Life and was prompted with the help of the Rawvolution cookbook and my notes from a fast I did years ago in Koh Samui to do some food preparation, seeing as how fully stocked and colorful my fridge looks after having shopped last night before going out. I made 3 yummy dishes.

Green for Life is a publication of the RAW FAMILY and basically advises that we eat a variety of green leaves every day, and the easiest way to do that is through green smoothies. I guess I am on the right path in that regard. What I found interesting was the author’s analysis of the diet of our cousins, chimpanzees, who eat far more greens (in volume) than bananas or other foods. It makes sense that our diets should more closely resemble theirs than the Standard American Diet (SAD- appropriate acronym)

Today I ate:

green smoothie (berries, spinach, apple, banana)
cauliflower salad
Asian slaw
green lettuce dipped in green sauce
banana cacao ice cream
red wine

I brought leftover pesto and zucchini pasta to work today, but I have relearned that it is best to eat raw foods fresh. It was by no means off, but definitely was not tasty. I got a lot of work done after classes at the office, and then went out for dinner and drinks with a friend, ending up going off my raw diet in the process, though it could have been much worse. The salads I had were raw, and I asked them to hold the eggs, fish, cheese etc., but they still came with undesirables, such as bonito flakes (dried fish bits) that I had to whisk off. I broke down and had a few slices of fried gobo (burdock root) too, which I don’t regret, though it tasted greasier than I remembered. Can’t vouch for the dressings- I’m sure there was egg or dairy in the ceasar sauce, but I didn’t eat much of that.

Today I had:

mango smoothie
bananas
raisens
pesto and zucchini pasta
sunflower seeds
daikon salad, ceasar salad, and burdock root salad (raw-ish, but no no to the condiments)
red wine (not the healthy kind)

I explored Matt Amsden’s Rawvolution cookbook today, written by a fellow Canadian who’s most definitely turned hippie and relocated to hippie land in California. He wears his hair long and curly with his brown, embroidered 70s clothes and patched jeans, and judging by his yoga poses seems to be quite a bendy boy as well. A few good recipes though. One of my favorites is the cauliflower salad, which I’ve adapted a bit by adding cumin powder. The result is a dish rather like tabouli, except the ground cauliflower takes over from bulgar or couscous. Very tasty indeed.

RAWvolution: Gourmet Living Cuisine

Today I had:

cauliflower salad
melon
fruit smoothie
raisens and cashews
cauliflower salad
banana and walnut icecream
mixed greens salad with avocado and olive oil
kiwis
bananas

A busy Tuesday as usual. I stayed pretty raw though, although lots of yummy fats were consumed. I made my first raw chocolates today- they weren’t the best, but they were far from lacking in yumminess. I have to order more cacao butter….

Today I ate:

fruit smoothie
cauliflower salad
bananas
carrots, zucchini, daikon pastas and pesto sauce
almonds
red wine
home made chocolates (cacao powder, coconut butter, coconut flakes, hazelnuts, agave)