Getting Raw & Natural on a Budget!

noreply@blogger.com (GhetToRaw!) — Sun, 03 May 2015 04:43:00 +0000

Well it's already into Spring....
Once again attempting to break my silence. Like the catepillar who's been asleep. I awaken.

noreply@blogger.com (GhetToRaw!) — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 03:08:00 +0000

Well my friends I will finally be back on track posting very shortly! Starting in May my computer which has been over hauled will be returned and I will again be able to write with ease! I know it's been a while, but soon, you'll be hearin' some fun and interesting news so check back in May!

Happi New Year!

noreply@blogger.com (GhetToRaw!) — Sat, 04 Jan 2014 01:29:00 +0000

Well, here we all are! We made it through 2013 and with God's help have crossed over into 2014 (I'm told that Biblically, this number represents double portion/restoration) and that's good news to me!

I have to admit, I am rather excited about what God has in store for
me this year and I hope you are too! I'm strongly sensing that this year will be one which will require taking leaps of faith in many "spiritually uncharted" areas of our lives--you know, those areas that you have learned to function so well in without any second thought, I.e. your
"routine". I think that all of our little places of normal are going to be shaken even upset by circumstances that will put what we currently think we know about ourselves, our ways of living and what we believe spiritually to a huge test. So, what does it all mean? That maybe we
better strap not just our skates on but our socks, pants and everything else! I think this year is gonna be one wild ride but a very good and exciting one!

This year, I'm truly looking forward to expansion with our natural foods classes, products, vendors and introducing as many as we can to a healthier way of living. With the addition of my new Gardening Administrator (Laurie Dowdell) I am hoping to motivate those of you who follow to grow something this
year even if it's just kitchen herbs! I will also be hoping to restructure and implement my present wellness business through a "care and share" program which in the very near coming months I'll be discussing.

This year, you can expect more updated information on natural health awareness as well as more frequent updates from me!

Last year was an odd and inconsistent year for me personally. I found many things I thought were solid, to in fact, be very unstable. And while my gut is telling me that 2014 is gonna include a whole lotta shiftin' goin on, I also sense some major divine intervention!

Anyway, I am really excited to see how all will manifest blessings and I want to encourage you to share them with me as they happen cause that
is ALWAYS encouraging!

Keep your head to the sky, that is, look up!

I' ll be in touch, Lord willing,
Miss Yna

MOSES REALLY WASN'T FAT!

noreply@blogger.com (GhetToRaw!) — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 22:22:00 +0000

October has finally hit and I'm so excited!!!!

Our next gatherings for our Moses Wasn't Fat connect group will be starting up shortly and I will have the pleasure of introducing yet another group of people to a more nutritious way of living and being!

Our last garden of "sprouts" (members) grew so beautifully and are moving on to produce their own harvests of health and wellness! I feel so privileged to have been able to plant them into the garden God gave me and then nurture them on into their wellness journeys.

Scripture says: "one waters, one plants, but GOD gives the increase"! This is a right before my eyes, true statement!

I would like to thank all of my Graduating students who completed the whole 8 weeks and pray that all of you received something from our gatherings! I love ALL of you who attended. I look forward to hearing your progress over the next year! Shalom to you all!

Those who attended complete sessions and graduated:
*Liz McClain B.
*Koala C.
*Laurie D.l
*Elba R.
*Wini F.

Jesus n KimKraut

noreply@blogger.com (GhetToRaw!) — Tue, 24 Sep 2013 23:47:00 +0000

For the last week or so, I've been wanting to get back into the kitchen and make my 2nd batch of homemade sour kraut. After coming off of a long weekend, I decided that today would be that day! I'm also going to try my hand at making pickles for the first time using a recipe from one of the participants from my group.

Having a small group is such a rewarding experience for me. I kept hearing back from my participants how blessed they were to get the knowledge I had to share, but in fact, I was the one blessed to also enjoy the knowledge they had to share. Food lends itself to being artistically beautiful. All of the colors, shapes and sizes in addition to its vast flavors and aromas! Also, the preparation of food is an art. Having an artistic bent, like most who tend towards being creative, my eye view tends towards seeing things--like food, people and their talents or what they have to offer as art. My small group was full of artists!

You can find art just about anywhere if you know how to see! That's the tricky part for some though. I say tricky because to truly embrace art through others or even the world, one must have a purity about their heart. A childlike state of being that is always open to new things, possibilities, ways of doing and being along with the courage to step perhaps where no one has gone or to even take the path where someone else has gone and journey it farther. True artists are not threatened by another artists work, or abilities and giftings, because they understand where it all emanates from and they understand their own giftings and abilities including their strengths and weaknesses--so, why be jealous or bent out of shape! Those whose hearts have been muddied and clouded can never come to full freedom within their artistic potential because they fail to realize this. It is amazing how when the heart is given to God, He can purify it if we allow and then our "art" is always balanced. We see as we should. Then our art will glorify Him and uplift those who get the opportunity to enjoy it!

Meanwhile back at the kitchen....

I gathered my ingredients to make my kraut which, I'll call KimKraut for now. See my Group Co-facilitator made us some pretty 'slammin' kimchee and I couldn't make up my mind on if I was going to make kimchee or sour kraut so I thought, why not do them both--and together! So my sour kraut ended up being a combination of her kimchee and my kraut recipes! That's what I love about whole foods, truly you can work with what you have, and it seems for the most part to turn into something better than what you started with, kinda like 'art'. Anyway, that's why I named it KimKraut!

As I put all the ingredients into the bowl, I salted them and waited a bit, then came back to knead the mixture. (kneading the ingredients are necessary to release the juices which become the brine when making kraut or kimchee)Now, this is where Jesus comes in.......

I am a firm believer that when you prepare food, LOVE should be the main ingredient. This is real folks, I don't care what anyone says. Consider how good food tastes when its been made for you by someone you know loves you, you don't have to eat much of it but it's so good! Now think about a frozen dinner from a box. Ain't no love comin out of that box and you can taste that it doesn't! So love makes the food taste better and its healing.

When I prepare food, I pray as I go. I really do. Why, cause God (Jesus) IS love! I want my food to be filled with love and joy to those who eat it! But as I was kneading that cabbage, it occurred to me how the cabbage had to be bruised, just like Jesus. I also began to think about how as you continue each step of making the KimKraut, it was like what happened to Jesus, you bruise/knead it, you pack it in a jar and submerge it, then you put it into a dark place so it can ferment and then in a few days, its ready and you can bring it forth to eat and enjoy! The flavor is amazing and filled with LOVE! The kraut and veggies actually become something different, and absolutely better for us after having undergone the process of fermentation.

It has now transformed into a super food that if we eat it, not only tastes good, but helps to heal us as well! (if you've not learnt the benefits of eating fermented foods then look it up!)Now that's art!

Anyway, I finally finished my 'KimKraut' and thought more deeply about the process in comparison with what our Lord had gone through and my final thought is this,

Cabbage has to go through a process to become Kraut. And so do we. Even Jesus did!

This process reminds me of what Jesus went through for us--He was beaten and bruised, submerged in a tomb, went into the depths of darkness & hell, but arose days later coming out with ALL power so that each one of us could have a life filled with love, healing and lasting joy, that when accepted lasts throughout all eternity!

If you haven't had the opportunity to get to know Him for yourself, you should. Don't take my word for it! None of us is perfect. We've all made mistakes. Sooner or later we all end up bruised, but His bruising is the only one that makes us better! Ask Him to forgive you. Ask Him into your heart today! Finally, thank Him for taking that bruising for You! Then, eat the KimKraut, its all good!

Shalom,

Moses Wasn't Fat!

noreply@blogger.com (GhetToRaw!) — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 05:55:00 +0000

I'm so excited to offer my new natural foods connect group! We'll be using the workbook Moses Wasn't Fat! Our group will meet up and connect on July 30th and thereafter for a total of 6 weeks covering a varity of subjects related to natural whole foods and a raw food diet. Can't wait to share more, Y

noreply@blogger.com (GhetToRaw!) — Fri, 31 May 2013 19:48:00 +0000

M.I.A.

noreply@blogger.com (GhetToRaw!) — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 21:13:00 +0000

Hello everyone! I know, I have my nerve, after nearly a year, and no updates, I dare to post. Yesss! Absolutely, that is the nature of blogging, at least in my world!

So much has happened, good and not so good, never the less, getting back to this blog was always in my heart, so just a quick note to state that in the coming year, I plan to take this project up again, with a renewed passion.

I hope that you'll all check back from time to time to see that grand renewal in action!

Shalom,
Miss Yna

So So Vegeliciously Victorious

noreply@blogger.com (GhetToRaw!) — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 00:39:00 +0000

As I thought about what I wanted to share this month, I found myself smiling, cause my return to better nutrition once again is proving itself to be all that and a bag of kale chips! (Speaking of which I made my very first batch last month & yum!) Anyway, I am excited and happy to report that my transition back into eating more raw foods and healthier nutritional habits, is paying off GREATLY!!!!!

I have lost over 10lbs & this includes inches and my hair is shining again, my energy level is awesome, my skin is glowing, I'm receiving compliments from others on the apparent physical change and I am regaining my positive attitude (but not without some challenge--the "enemy" still tries to distract, but God is with me). Overall, I'll have to say, I'm feeling like my confident self again. I now have the motivation I've needed to soberly continue a permanent lifestyle change and I am overjoyed.

I have set reasonable new goals for myself and am steadily, bit by bit attaining them, this is so wonderful to me because I have been refreshed and reminded that I am capable of making permanent positive change. As stated last month, I'm taking one day at a time, and taking that time to stop and think about my choices. This is also affecting other areas of my life positively as far as my decision making goes. This leads me to speak to you about my next thought, that is, what I'm choosing to eat. I got to looking around the grocery store at what most folks have for choices and as you all know, its not that great. I remember less processed foods when I was a child, tons are available now. I mean all kind of weird colored/flavored, man made junk. I don't live close to a good health food grocery so I have to choose wisely and work within the minimal "health food" isles at my local grocery. I'm ok for produce, plenty of places (including friends who grow stuff) but when it comes to other items, its a challenge.

To keep things simple, I have chosen to ask myself, "did God make it?" if something I want falls into a yes, then it will come home with me. Beyond just whole foods, I include foods made from whole foods, so that I have more variety. For instance, I don't have access locally to young coconuts, but I do have access to their milk in the health food isle. I know fresh is best, but, I can still access something. I'm learning that when doing this thing "ghetto style", you do the best you can, but always strive for better when the opportunity presents itself!

I love how this way of eating also KILLS cravings for unhealthy foods. I can finally go passed the "baked goods" isle and not once be tempted. If the voice of cupcake rebellion shouts at me, I remind myself that it was stuff like them that put me into my misery in the first place and do I want to go back into bondage or stay free! Uh, that would be stay free for me thank you!

I guess the way I want to encourage you over the next couple of months is this,

When making your food choices, keep it simple. Simple can be satisfying, not to mention easy on the digestion.
Ask yourself if God made it? I mean blue jello, really?
Whole & raw foods really are convenient, think of a beautiful large Fuji apple or Gigantic Haas avocado. Seriously, you can't get faster fast food than that!
Want some variety? Its ok to choose foods made from whole foods, but read your labels!

If you are in transition, then perhaps how I structure my meals will help you: if you're not 100% raw (which is ok by the way) select only 1 cooked item per meal. I actually try not to have more than 1 cooked item per day. my schedule doesn't always allow for this, but I stay conscious as to what that cooked item(s) is and if its not a good choice for me, I skip it.

Most of all, don't forget you are not on your food journey alone! Yeshua (Lord Jesus) is willing to help you along if you ask Him

God bless & Shalom
Miss Yna

Here are some cool resources and check out my Amazon Kitchen store before you leave!

The Donsbach Foundation
http://www.donsbach.com/

Dr. Kurt W. Donsbach, a leader and innovator in Wholistic Medicine for over 50 years shares his of lifetime of knowledge and experience.

While Dr. Donsbach has been considered very controversial, there are countless individuals who can attest to his experience with regards to health & healing. As with anything, check it out for yourself and make up your own mind. His site offers a wealth of nutritional & healing info.

RAW GLOW. COM
http://www.rawglow.com/charts.htm

This site is definitely a Ghetto Raw Choice! Whether you are new to veganism/raw foods or been around a while, you'll appreciate the "Raw Glow food charts"! People are always asking me, "what should I eat, how do I get started?" Well, here you are! Visit the Raw Glow site and you can have your questions answered in an easy to read chart and they also offer online groceries!
visit them today!

Local Harvest/Farmers Markets & More!
http://www.localharvest.org/

The best organic food is what's grown closest to you. Use our website to find farmers' markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area.

So much info on this site, you're sure to find what you couldn't find here!

RECIPES

Miss Yna's Raw Kale & Okra Salad with Sweet & Spicy Mustard Sauce

I love Okra, but not cooked! This is a salad I created to incorporate fresh raw okra into. The combination of the greeness of the kale and the sweet & spicy mustard made a deliciously flavored meal. Enjoy!

For the salad you will need:

1 bunch of beautiful leafy kale, washed & thick stems removed
3-4 sweet peppers ( I like the red, yellow & orange kind) sliced
1 small jalapeno pepper seeded and chopped fine
4-5 slender fresh okra (or more if you like!) chopped in rounds
1/4 cup chopped sun dried tomatoes
1 to 2 tablespoons of your choice nuts and/or seeds (I use pumpkin & sunflower)
Sprinkle onion powder, garlic powder & cayenne to your taste

Tear kale into bite sized pieces and arrange on plate. Add and arrange all other ingredients.

For the Sweet & Spicy Mustard Sauce you will need:

1/2 tsp of Wasabi paste or fresh horseradish sauce
4 tblsp of brown mustard
1 - 2 tblsp of Agave
Mix well and pour over salad. If more sauce is desired, double recipe, but I like to be able to taste all the flavors and not drown the salad in the mustard sauce.
1 tblsp mayo (works with vegetarian (vegginaise)

This is a filling meal I follow with a glass of fresh squeezed lemonade!
****************************

Flaxseed Crackers & Raw Hummus!

"This is one of the most popular types of raw crackers. Flaxseeds have a property that makes them ideal for making crackers. When soaked in water, they become viscous, and then when they’re dried, they become crispy. And now I give up my prized recipe for hummus. It’s so easy, and it keeps well for a few days in the fridge. Besides being a great dip/appetizer, it also can turn any salad into a real meal. So make enough for a few days, and you’ll always have a delicious and very nutritious boost to add to salads or wraps."-Rob Rotondi, author of Raw Food for Real People: Living Vegan Food Made Simple by the Chef and Founder of Leaf Organics

SERVES
Makes 60 to 80 crackers

INGREDIENTS
1 3/4 cups flaxseeds (brown, golden, or mixed)
1 medium carrot, chopped (about 2 cup)
4 one-inch pieces fresh ginger, peeled and minced (about 4 cup)
3 medium cloves fresh garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

To get the rest of these recipes, click below at "the daily green" for this and other awesome recipes!

Confessions of a backsliding Vegan

noreply@blogger.com (GhetToRaw!) — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 02:00:00 +0000

Where to begin....(sigh), how do I (sigh),

Well,
I have been taught confession is good for the soul and while that may very well be the case, it doesn't mean it feels so good while you're doing it. In fact, I'm kinda feelin like it feels if you've ever been constipated. You know, that severe, if I could just get it out and be done with it kind.

I've been away for nearly 7 mos. What have I been doing? How bout, what have I not been doing?
I have not been living nutritionally any way in the manner that I vowed to, that is healthy, natural & raw.

I found myself making choices and decisions based on my circumstances more than my health in these last months. I have paid dearly for it. Weight gain, fatigue, slow growing hair, lack of radient glow & old age aches, bad attitude, all of which were eliminated in my earlier nutritional diligence. While I didn't return like a "dog to its vomit" and eat meat, I might as well have! Cause I dang sure ate everything else!

Every time I chose to put some unhealthy, man engineered concoction into my mouth, I could hear this little voice speaking to me and saying, "don't do it"! "love yourself"! "you're gonna pay!" and yet, I pushed the food past that voice and into my mouth. As time continued on, I felt worse and worse. I began to fall deeper and deeper into a mental fog, discontentment and dislike of myself. Yes, I wore my "happy face", but my heart was far from smiling. I was daily confronted with the lie I was living whenever looking into a mirror or passed by a shop window. Every time I observed an elderly person who was physically so broken down and on a gazillion medications, I would be reminded of the direction I was taking my body and myself and that if I didn't stop, well, you know.

It's like being a smoker, I mean, they all know, that they're dying a slow death, yet, they do it anyway. After while, I didn't even make excuses for my nutritional backslidings. I just gave up.

I knew when I found the vegetarian (raw) lifestyle, that it was God's leading for my betterment. Somehow, I felt I had let Him down, and certainly, myself, because after all, He gave me this wonderful gift of nutrition, that proved over and over how good it was for me, that is my temple.

You know the funny thing about being a backslider though? If you've ever had a real conversion to something really powerful--that is life changing, you are changed. You clearly know the difference between the before's and afters. You can't get away from it no matter what you try to do. It's as though it became a part of your DNA, and in fact, in the case of good nutrition, it does, its like once you know better, "you can run, but you can't hide!

Somewhere in the Bible, God Himself states, "I am married to the backslider". Thank goodness! See I was genuinely converted in my "rawness" or better yet "healthy lifestyleness"! I entered the marriage of good nutrition & physical stewardship and understood what I had chosen. As low as I got nutritionally, my "husband"(good health & diet) kept wooing me. I could never get away from the truth of what I had learned! Slowly, I began to find myself longing for it like a forlorn lover, missing the only true love I'd ever had. The result of this longing was me crying out to my God and asking Him to empower me fresh to live proper for Him even in my diet.

While I know that I am not under any form of bondage with regards to my diet. I also understand now, that when God graces one with truth on a matter, there is an obligation to uphold that truth as best as we know it and as best as we can because it brings honor to Him and because He saw fit to entrust us to shine that truth to others. This is a gift from God. (selah)

I am back. I have refreshed my commitment but in a new way. One which I believe to be more sober. I am making a steady "raw" recovery. I have regained the discipline to exercise daily, and to slow down and think before I choose. As far as my "rawness" goes, I have chosen to eat mostly raw. I will eat some dairy(limited to some cheeses, eggs & yogurts) I still choose to stay away from meats and thank goodness, that was always settled. My biggest enemy "processed sugar" I have decided to eliminate all together, choosing natural healthy alternatives in the form of fruits & fruit products in moderation.

While I can't call myself a "raw vegan" any longer, I can call myself "healthy and getting healthier"!

One more thing my backsliding taught me, that is that I can discern the good from the bad. I have to take each day at a time and consciously choose to do what's best for my body & life. Jesus gives me that power! I am grateful that He is married to the "backslider" and me, well (smile)

I choose to live.

Confessions of a Raw Food Newbie

noreply@blogger.com (GhetToRaw!) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:21:00 +0000

Happi Late New Year's to you all!

My prayer is that you are kicking into gear with the entrance of this year. As with most, I've had plenty of time to reflect on 2009. I must join the many who have stated that they are glad for its passing. I decided that in the Spirit of tithing, I'd like to "tithe" a protion of my heart to each of you as an offering for the first month of the new year.

This "offering" is me continuing to be who I am. Yes, publicly and all. Probably first and foremost on my offering list is the subject of LOVE! I have chosen this year, to endeavor to release more of it but not ignorantly or without thought. What I mean is, I want to understand and learn more the depths of it and how to better care for it. I want to be selective and protective but not paranoid or aloof as so many are when it comes to this subject. I realize its a process, and I'm committed. I have come to understand to a certain degree that attempting to do this requires full acknowledgment of my Creator because of this I am sure, He is love. I have discovered about myself that I LOVE LOVE! Love in itself reminds me of a rose. So beautiful to gaze upon, so lovely to look at, so fragrantly intoxicating, yet grasp it in the wrong way and one might get stuck! As beautiful as a rose is, it doesn't come without thorns!

At this time, I'm wanting to understand the "thorns" too. What are they really? Truth, I think is one of them (thorn). I love truth even though at times it has been very "sharp" and even painful in this last year. Never the less, I find myself wholly addicted because when all is said and done in truth, there is NO ROOM left for any of the opposite of truth. Perhaps another thorn of love is, "what you see is what you get!" Lord willing, I've got the rest of this year to discover what I don't know and re-assess what I think I do know. Well, we'll see what comes of it soon enough.

Anyway, on to my "confessions". I don't know about any of you other "raw foods newbies"but I have found myself to be more a vegetarian in this winter than raw foodie. My diet of raw could have been better within the last 3 months of the year! I found myself opting for more cooked food than I had ingested in the whole year! Cooked soups, some cheese,(yes! I know, Father forgive me!), too many items with sugar. I did remain in position about not indulging in meat. I have found the smell of meat to make me somewhat nauseated and so it wasn't as much a challenge for me as the other. The great thing is I experienced the symptoms in my body I had prior to being a raw food newbie (I felt like the opposite of heaven!) not to mention I GAINED WEIGHT!!!!!!! This was enough to slap me back into a raw foods mindset! Being that truth is a part of "love" I needed to share with you. I did realize however, that once we make up our minds to do something, we can really do it! That might seem obvious, but I believe "mental ascent" is more prevalent with most of us when it comes to true decision making.

I will say this, one of my most favorite raw foods guru's Paul Nison, announced that while he is no longer 100% raw but primarily raw (and I was a 90/10er) that he has introduced into his diet raw goats cheese and dairy. Much to my relief and surprise, I am rather happy with this and have decided to be free in my thinking and diet with regards to this. I agree with him that the bulk or majority of what we eat should be raw plant based foods, but adding the raw goats cheese and dairy is also of great benefit when done in conscious moderation. The scripture says that "a wise man receives correction and becomes wiser still". I believe this is wisdom. Each of you must do as the Lord leads you.

Well,

I don't have but one new resource for you that I love, and that is Bishop Truman Berst's Alternative Health & Herbs ministry.

Here is their bio:

"Alternative Health & Herbs Remedies is a church outreach of Good Shepherd Ministries an Evangelical Christian Church. We are a non-profit Christian Marvingroup of natural health professionals committed to helping ALL people to better health through God, healing, education and manufacturing the highest quality tried-and-proven herbal and natural health products."

One of my favorite things about this resource is that herbal health education is a priority with this ministry. You can even speak with well trained herbalists or Bishop Berst himself concerning historical uses of herbal foods! He is a wealth of tried and true herbal health knowledge. Classes are also available to those who want to learn more.
I invite you to click the link underneath my bio on the top of this page that says "affordable herbal foods". or if you want to be "ghetto" and not take the time to scroll up, click the link here: Affordable Herbal Foods

As you progress into January, I encourage you to find somebody and love them! I want to also say to some, let someone find you and love you too! Be real with yourself this year and if you don't really know what love is, ask the Master Yeshua to lead you into love by praying a simple prayer where you just say, Lord, teach me what love is and how to do it. I am confident, He will.

Love, & Shalom
to you all

Miss Yna

noreply@blogger.com (GhetToRaw!) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 17:30:00 +0000

Merry Christmas My Darlings!
(click Here to enjoy a special song to you!)

Thank you to all my Ghetto Raw Members! You made my first year blogging a success! I look forward to the new year with you and those you love!

May Yeshua keep you and bless you in the year to come, may He bless you with His wisdom & protect the labor of your love in 2010. May you come to know Him in a deeper and more personal way, and may your testimony in Him be stronger and more sure than ever before! May the Lord bless your spirit, soul, & bodies in 2010
Amen!

See ya in January 2010 Lord willing!
Shalom!
from Miss Yna!

Creating a RAWsomacious Kitchen!

noreply@blogger.com (GhetToRaw!) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:18:00 +0000

Happi November All!

I was thinking about how it was for me when I decided to take this raw journey. I had to ask myself what you're probably asking yourself since you decided to make the raw journey and that is,

"what do I need to do this?"

When I got started, I combed the internet & books to try to make sense of it all. As is common in the "natural foods" world, there are always a variety of methods, protocols and procedures. One thing that has held true for me, in this natural health journey is, find what works best with you, glean from what's being offered and go with it! This doesn't negate the fact that you may need to make somelifestyle & dietary changes, and be realistic in your approach.

As stated in blogs past, my goal for this site is to be a wealth of resources to help you succeed in making the changes you need. This helps me too, because it keeps me accountable.

I want also to reiterate that my reasons for doing "raw" are purely for health reasons and I want to look and feel as good as I can for as long as God allows. I care about animals and the planet
and acknowledge that even God says "that good people take care of their animals"
( prov 12:10NCV) and also that we should properly steward the earth (and that's according to biblical principles and not man's) but the key in all of it (living, caring, loving etc.) is "homeostasis"! Perfect balance i.e.! Which by the way can only be achieved through relationship with Yeshua (Jesus Christ) as far as I'm concerned.

Much of the information available on raw out there is indeed extensive.
Again, glean from the good and tailor it to what works best for you. And another thing, if you choose to be a little different with it, be confident in that difference. i.e. for your situation and do what you need to do and your homework! Your situation may warrant that you may need to be 100% raw, where the next person may do well on an 80/20 (despite some teaching 100% raw) those who choose to do have found what works for them! All is based on you understanding what your needs are and remember, "there is therefore NO condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus!"

Seek and pray to know what is best for your situation and go with that. I also ask that if a resource is offered here, that you take the time also to look into it carefully to see if it is something you should embrace. I do my best to glean from the best information, but much of it as with most natural health philosophies are laced with some type of "spiritual" reference that may not be the way you believe. I glean the practical applications, methods and tangible evidence with regards to these raw foods resources, but I ONLY glean my spirituality from the Word of God. (and even some teach perspectives supposedly from scripture that I personally view as out of context. One particular health teacher teaches all should abstain from all forms of meat and they do this using scripture, yet Yeshua himself ate fish!) This is not to "dis" anyone's biblical belief but Yeshua is always our first example. I choose not to eat meat personally because I don't want to eat it. That's it, plain and simple! If you have issue with this, and are a believer, please, please read Genesis chapter 9:1, which many of these teachers seem often to overlook!

All in all, let the Holy Spirit (our teacher) lead you, He knows what will work for you best!

Well with that said, let's talk about setting up your RAWsomacious Kitchen so you can succeed on your raw foods journey! Now remember, where ever we can, we'll be doin it ghetto style(on a budget) but keep in mind, some stuff, you just gotta pay for, cause in the long run, it ends up being more cost effective, so if you have to, save your pennies to get what you need, shop from some of my resource listings, or join some of my affiliate programs listed on this site by clicking through the links to earn some extra cash towards the things you need, this is called getting the cash from someplace other than your pocket (an dats ghettowise!)

Blessings,
Miss Yna
______________________

Your RAWsomacious Kitchen!

Here are my suggestions for getting started:

I think these are the most important appliances & tools you will need to get started, remember, if you don't have them or can't go heavy duty yet, then work with what you have! You will find the importance of owning good quality appliances a necessity as you delve further into your raw foods lifestyle, because these appliances are to your raw foods kitchen what your pots & pans were to your "cooked" kitchen.

1. KNIVES.
You'll want to have some decent knives to prep your delicious fruits & veggies. You'll also want knives which can "handle" their business, i.e. they need to be able to chop through a variety of textures and even nuts. Good knives are so important when you may not yet have that much needed blender or food processor.

Especially beneficial for cutting produce are Ceramic Knives. Reason being, Ceramic blades are far more hygienic than metal - they will not react with your fresh food (will not turn produce brown as with metal knives) nor do the change the taste of your produce by depositing metal ions. Another great reason to use Ceramic Knives is the blades are said to stay sharper longer than steel blades under normal home kitchen use. A ceramic blade's sharpness can last years without needing sharpening.

2.MANDOLINE SLICER Here's a Kitchen Buddie that can make slicing super thin or crinkly cut veggies easy. This tool is perfect for slicing root vegetables and extremely helpful when making raw chips! Using your mondoline slicer benefits you when using your dehydrator, allowing you to uniformly cut your fruits & veggies and potentially improve your drying time. The mandoline slicer is really cool for making your raw foods dishes look more decorative and appetizing!

3.COFFEE GRINDER
This Kitchen Buddie will be a blessing to you especially if you don't have a decent quality blender or food processor, because you can actually use it for grinding flax seeds and other nuts into flour to use in your raw recipes. They are relatively inexpensive and are a cheaper alternative to most grain mills.

4.VEGGIE SPIRAL SLICER
This is a RAWsomacious gadget! The spiral slicer allows you to create raw delicious veggie pasta! Use zucchini, squash, sweet potatoes, cucumbers etc. to make a healthful alternative to traditional pasta. The spiral slicer also makes ribbons & slices.

5. A QUALITY BLENDER
GhettoItes, if you don't have a blender yet know that when you are ready to purchase one that YOU MUST HAVE A QUALITY BLENDER in your RAWsomacious Kitchen and there is no avoiding it. Though this item is listed as #5 it is integral to your daily eating routine because it will be used to prepare your purees, morning smoothies, *nut milks, soups and dips.

In my research and reading the reviews of many raw foodist, the VitaMix wins hands down everytime! It is pricey, but you have to view it as one of those items that is an investment not only in your raw foods kitchen but your family's health. A good quality blender is one of those things "you just gotta pay for", there's no skimping on this one. Now if you're not yet where you can afford a VitaMix, then do your best to get the best your budget can handle. Look for a strong powerful motor (if possible over 600 watts) as blenders with less power WILL burn out quickly with the heavy use it will be getting from you. A BLENDER IS A STAPLE IN THE RAW FOODS KITCHEN!! You will use it EVERYDAY! Take it from someone who knows, you'll regret cheap! ( I thought I was being ghettowise buying a lesser blender once and I got 4 mos good use out of the thing-motor burned out and it became clear that I was not being ghettowise, but just ghetto! (there is a difference you know!) So invest wisely, whatever level you're at.

*ghettowise tip: How to make nutmilk in a not so great blender - Be sure to invest in a good coffee grinder if you don't have the greatest blender. When trying to make nut milk, grind nuts in coffee grinder first then place into purified water in your blender and blend. With the nuts being broken down already, it should be easier for your blender to handle it and you may actually use less nuts to make your milk.

More RAWsomacious Kitchen Tools!

*DEHYDRATOR
A dehydrator is a great special addition to your raw kitchen because you can make your own gourmet crackers & live breads. You can also use it to warm your favorite raw soups, gently dry your fruits and veggies and create awesome granola's & even fresh corn tortillas. A dehydrator is another item you will want to consider as an investment in your health & life. When making a decision towards a purchase, look for one that has temperature controls (remember, we don't heat anything over 118 degrees), also consider the shape and size based on your kitchen space. If you plan on using it frequently, then you'll want to invest in something higher end made for more heavy duty use. Also, check to see what the warranty offers. (This should be done with all appliances you purchase) this can become a life savor should something go wrong later. All in all, no raw foods kitchen is complete without one!

*JUICER
WARNING! Cheap juicers may be hazardous to that glass of fresh expressed juice you've got a taste for!

Juicers are another appliance you'll want to invest in-- many things are to be considered when getting one. Consider that what you want is a "juice extractor" which actually extracts the juices from the produce being juiced, leaving pulp behind. Consider your time. You can easily pre-prep produce for juicing a couple of days in advance. Once you start juicing you'll love a juicer that has easy cleanup and doesn't require a lot of scrubbing of all sorts of pieces. Consider space & portability when selecting your juicer. You might want to choose a juicer that doesn't take up much space and, if necessary, can be easily moved from one spot to another as the need arises. It's a good idea to learn the features of your juicer. I like appliances that can be used for more than one thing. (perhaps its the female in me that thrives to multitask!) My juicer of choice not only juices but makes nut butters, frozen desserts and more. In addition, its important to consider if it can handle the wear and tear you'll be putting on it in your raw foods kitchen. In the long run, a cheaper machine may have to be replaced several times a year, in which case you could have been ghettowise and saved the money to buy a more long lasting appliance.

*FOOD PROCESSOR
When it comes to a food processor, I've also experienced the disappointment of having a "cheaper" model. Let me say this, it's important to select appliances that can hold up under heavy use. They need to have strong powerful motors and built to last long enough til you're ready to purchase another. I prefer two sizes of food processors, a medium sized 6+ cup and a mini 1-1/2 cup type. The cool thing is some processors come with both types of cup attachments and give you the best of both worlds. In the raw kitchen, a food processor is handy for those quick and in a hurry chopping jobs. No doubt you'll find it a useful addition to your kitchen.

*KITCHEN BUDDIES!
I am a kitchen gadget queen. I don't have all of the kitchen gadgets I'd like but it doesn't stop me from eying the latest one to arrive on the scene. I just love em'! In our new Ghetto Raw Kitchen shop you'll see where some of my favorite "gadgets" are and simply some additional kitchen aides to have in your raw kitchen, be sure to take a look, each item was hand picked by yours truly and I hope they will be a blessing to you too!

Now, let's talk about Ch, ch, ch, CHIA!

I have recently been made aware of a tiny little seed that offers your body all sorts of tremendous health benefits. It's called "Chia seed" and it is an amazing health food that does far more than grow on the heads of little ceramic creatures!

What are Chia Seeds?
Chia Seeds are a raw highly nutritional food high in Omega-3 acids.

Whats it taste like?
Chia alone has a subtle flavor, but when mixed into something generally takes on the flavor of the thing it's been added to.

So how does it benefit me?

Again, they are high in Omega-3 acids and Omega 6, and are a good source of manganese, they are low in sodium and are cholesterol -free. Top it all off with chia being great source of fiber.

Chia also has many life- giving nutrients that nourish your entire body.
Chia seeds have twice the protein of any other seed or grain, five times the calcium of milk and boron (a trace mineral that helps transfer calcium into your bones).
Chia is great for those dieting because carbohydrates are released slowly when eating them they will in turn give you a feeling of fullness.
Chia is an awesome replacement for wheat flour, so those with sensitivities may, in fact, enjoy this as an alternative.

So, how do I eat them?

Put 1/3 cup dry seeds into two cups of warm water whisk, wait fifteen minutes then whisk again then store gel in refrigerator .Use three tablespoons three times a day of the gel (seeds hydrated). You can mix them into any drink or food and may even just take the gel. Once a day you can take up to one tablespoon of the dry seeds and add them to fluid or sprinkle them on food, and drink fluid at the same time so the seeds hydrate from the fluid.

* To learn more about chia or to purchase your own click the link on the right near the top that says (Chia Health or click here)!
-------------------------------------------
Raw Foods Chia Carrot Soup

Ingredients:
3 Large carrots
1 Cup water or nut milk
1 Table spoon 100% Chia Seed Flour
¼ Cup raisins
Sea Salt to taste
Cilantro
Sweeter optional

Preparations: Wash carrots. Cut carrots into chunks and place in blender along with water and sea salt. Blend to a creamy liquid. Add Nuchia 100% Chia Seed Flour and optional sweeter, blend once more. Pour equal amounts of the blended mix into two medium sized bowls. Chop chives or scallions into small bits and add equal amounts to each bowl. Add raisins. Top with whole leafs of cilantro. Use organic ingredients where possible.
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WHAT'S NEW?!

What's new is our new Ghetto Raw Kitchen Shop! As mentioned earlier in the post, I've added some of the items I talk about so that you can see them and shop for them. As time goes by I will add or take away items within our little shop. If you have suggestions or are looking for something, let me know, we'll see about adding it. Take a moment and click the link to the right of the page that says NEW! Ghetto Raw Kitchen Shop (or click here!)

Also, if you're new to raw foods, I'd like to encourage you to sign up for our weekly recipe list. I generally include 3 to 4 recipes each week of some of my own personal recipes and some from my favorite Raw Foods chefs & websites. Click the little envelope at the right and send me your email to get started today!

RAW BEAUTY

Did you know you can really reverse the aging process without surgery? Well you can, I have discovered a wonderful Raw Foods Veteran Tonya Zavasta. She is 50 and fine! Check out her website "Beautiful on Raw" to learn the secrets to looking and feeling younger the RAW way!

Speaking of raw beauty, I also want to introduce you to my FB friend Mimi Kirk. Mimi is a Raw Foodist who happens to be 71 years young! ya heard! Take a look at the awesome video posted towards the top of the page! If you needed another reason to go raw, consider Mimi!

Here are some cool natural foods beauty masks you can make with things you pretty much may have at home. I've included their links so you can visit and find more informative & natural beauty care tips.

Disclaimer- try these masks at your own risk. The recipes have been written for educational purposes. If you have any skin disorders, check with a licensed practitioner before attempting to use these.

Honey anti-wrinkle mask

Take one and half tablespoon of honey, half teaspoon of carrot juice, a pinch of soda bicarbonate. Mix carrot juice and honey and apply on face for 20 minutes with a cotton ball dipped in soda bicarbonate water. Then wash with warm water.
www.realwrinkletreatments.com

PUMPKIN FACE MASK
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/pumpkin-face-mask-vitamin-rich.html

Get your skin ready for fall with one of Mother Nature’s most beneficial products, the pumpkin. Pumpkin makes an excellent face mask ingredient for all skin types, especially environmentally damaged or sensitive skin. High in Vitamin A (skin healing), C (anti-oxidant) and Zinc, the pumpkin soothes, moisturizes and acts as a carrier, assisting the other mask ingredients to absorb deeper into the skin and intensifying the results. Give your skin this healing mask for a healthy glow!

Ingredients

2 teaspoons cooked or canned pumpkin, pureed (see above for benefits)
one-half teaspoon honey (humectant, regenerative)
one-quarter teaspoon milk (or soymilk)(alpha hydroxyl acid, enzymes digest skin cells)

Optional Ingredients
For Dry Skin
one-quarter teaspoon heavy whipping cream (moisturizing; alpha hydroxy acid)
-or- one-half teaspoon brown sugar (exfoliates, moisturizes, alpha hydroxyl acid)

For Oily Skin
one-quarter teaspoon apple cider (tonic action promotes skin circulation; alpha hydroxyl
acid; regulates pH). -or- one-quarter teaspoon cranberry juice (high in antioxidants critically important to the utilization of essential fatty acids to maintain balanced, nourished skin.

Directions
Combine the ingredients for your facemask. Mix gently and apply to your face avoiding the eye area. Rest and relax for 10-15 minutes while your pumpkin pie facemask gently exfoliates, nourishes and conditions your face. Rinse with warm water and apply the appropriate oisturizer for your skin type.

Contributor Deborah Burnes is a founding partner behind Sumbody, a line of chemical & preservative free skin care products. For more information, visit www.Lpiman World.

Well kiddies,
that's it!

Shalom & Blessing,
Miss Yna

The Value of Eating Produce In Season

noreply@blogger.com (GhetToRaw!) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:45:00 +0000

Hello, September has left us and here in Tennessee the cool fall air has set in. I enjoy "harvest" season because it seems as though everything turns golden and orange and vivid. As the land prepares to enter into its Winter slumber, I prepare to receive the nutritional bounty left behind in this earthy season.

For me, this season holds warm and comforting memories. I reminisce of my childhood Fall experiences spent in Ohio with my Grandmom.

Closing my eyes I remember the smell of the cool air mixed with yellowing and browning leaves as I went out onto her front porch, (she had a wonderful porch swing I loved to lay on and sing songs) I remember buckeyes all over the yard and her constantly reminding me not to put them into my mouth because "those ain't chestnuts!" I remember wearing my special Bonney Doon wool socks (and they always seemed to rise above my knees) I also remember the smell of her cooking and its aroma wafting through her screen door mixed with autumn air and hitting my face. I smile as I am reminded of that little cup of hot apple cider and cinnamon she would prepare with so much love just for me.

God in all His loving, marvelous & magnificent ways has also prepared for us a special bounty for all the special seasons of our lives! In His great intelligence and design, He created unique and specific foods that the human body needs at the various times throughout the year. It is a good idea to eat from the harvest He provides according to the seasons so that our bodies can receive the ultimate nutritional value from those foods we eat. In summer He has created high water content fruits, like watermelon to keep us hydrated. In fall and winter, our bodies require more immune building and protective nutrients so that we may better withstand the climate change and so He provides a variety of winter fruits and veggies that contain higher amounts of vitamins like "C, D, E, Beta Carotene," etc.

I encourage you to take time and discover in your local markets (if you don't have a garden or can gather from someone who does) to choose fresh produce that is "in season". Eating your fair share of these may mean the difference between a healthier fall/winter and one plagued by colds and other winter discomforts.

If you don't know what produce is in season in your area, then scroll down on the right side of our page to our handy "What's in season in your area" tool. Click on the appropriate state and your seasonal fresh produce will be shown!

To celebrate the beginning of the Harvest month I'm highlighting one of my favorite squashes (drum roll please!)

The Glorious Great Pumpkin!

To honor the Great Pumpkin I've got some awesome RAW PUMPKIN recipes for you to try! Like many, I enjoy hardy soups during cooler weather, so I've included this Raw Pumpkin soup recipe for you to create. This recipe is loaded with all sorts of vitamins and minerals your body needs during colder seasons. These soups may be served cool (as a form of beverage) or the way I like mine, warmed. (Remember, we don't heat our food above 118 degrees in order to retain the vitamins, minerals and most especially the cell building, life restoring enzymes! I hope that you will take a moment and think about your favorite autumn fruits and veggies and will make an effort to serve more of them to your family this season. I also hope you will open up to new and exciting ways to prepare them and in a raw manner.

I've included one recipe here, but you can get the rest by subscribing to my weekly recipe elist go to the right side of the page, click the blue and white envelope. In the subject type "send recipes" and you will be added to our weekly raw foods recipes list!

RAW PUMPKIN SOUP
Chef: Kymythy R. Schultze
*NOTE: (This is a savory pumpkin soup, while some of our recipes are considered more sweet).

Choose a pumpkin that’s firm and heavy for its size. The skin should be free of blemishes, and some of its stem should remain on the squash; store in a dark place and refrigerate only after cutting its skin.

Ingredients
2 cups pumpkin, peeled and diced
1 1/2 cups apple juice
1 cup carrot juice
1 avocado, peeled and pitted
1/4 cup raw pumpkin seeds
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic
1 teaspoon fresh ginger
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions
Place all ingredients in a food processor or blender and puree. Pour into bowls and garnish with a sprinkle of chopped pumpkin seeds. Makes about 4 cups.

*HEATING NOTE: If you do not own a dehydrator don't despair , then you can use your oven to warm this soup. (if you have dehydrator:) Place soup mixture into a pyrex and place in dehydrator.
(If using an oven), turn oven on lowest heat setting and leave door of oven slightly open. Let warm for about 45 minutes.
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I have now started a "Ghetto Raw Moms" group on Facebook too! Take a moment and visit and join if you're on Facebook by clicking the link on the right side of the page!

Now,
Let's look at some fun new resources:

First,
I want to promote my new resource - The Ghetto Raw Weekly Recipes!

This started as a help to some of my family members toying with the idea of eating raw. What I did for them was create a weekly list that includes a minimum of 3 raw foods recipes. Some are my own discoveries and others are from recipe sources and chefs I totally love and admire! The goal was to get them to substitute at least 1 cooked meal with a raw meal over the course of their week.

I'd like to especially encourage those of you who are new raw foodies like me to subscribe to my weekly recipes as well as those of you who may want to incorporate more raw foods into your current diet. These recipes will be a blessing to you and I have chosen recipes for the most part that don't require super exotic or expensive ingredients and require minimal specialty kitchen equipment to get them done! Most can be prepared within 10-15 minutes (minus any overnight soaking) and ready to serve fresh and fast! To subscribe, click the link on the right with the blue and white envelope and we'll add you to our weekly list.

Next,

Here's a wonderful Christian based Natural Health Retreat! I know for most vacation season is over, but here's a really cool place to consider for next summer or if you are currently in need of alternative health assistance for a health challenge.
It's the TOTAL HEALTH INSTITUTE RETREAT CENTER.
Located at:
23 W. 525 Saint Charles Road
Wheaton, IL 60188
(630) 871-0000
Fax (630) 871-9450

Their mission is as follows:

"Our mission is to touch the world with the revelation of the total health of the body, mind, and spirit one person and one family at a time. God created mankind to live life to the full- in total health of body, mind, and spirit. At Total Health Institute, we believe everyone in the world can experience this abundant life....."

This retreat offers a place of prayer, fasting & expert therapy for the recovery of many modern diseases. It is definitely a place you'll want to consider if you are being challenged with any sort of physical disease. Take a moment and visit their website and sign up for FREE updates on their site. The Total Health Institute may very well be your answer to prayer!

Looking for a one stop shop for all of your Raw Foods Needs? Have a very limited budget to work with? Then may I suggest: http://www.discountjuicers.com
This place is awesome! and it has every type of kitchen appliance or gadget specific to raw foodies you can imagine! The cool thing is, they even have a place where you can buy or sell your used kitchen gadgets which can save you dollars! Click on the link to learn more. Discount juicers is also a part of one of the largest raw foods communities on line.

Here's another resource for natural, raw & healthy food & personal care items!
Visit the Whole Food Farmacy!

The Wholefood Farmacy opened for business in March 2003 with a mission to supply healthy, convenient, whole food based meals & snacks, non-toxic personal care items, and to educate the public regarding a preventative based lifestyle.
This is one of my favorites. The snacks are DELICIOUS!!!! I have enjoyed a variety of their personal care products as well, like their tooth paste, sinus relief products & deodorant. I love the raw fruit blend called "Fruit-a-licious" it really is and my mother loves their whole foods soups (which only require the adding of water). The other thing is you can join their affiliate program and earn some cash for your referrals and as a member get a discount on your product purchases. Right now they have Pure Virgin Coconut oil on special, when you buy one you get the 2nd jar FREE! I encourage you to take a moment and give them a try and become an affiliate as well.

Well,
Until I blog again!
Blessings & Shalom!
Miss Yna

What is Raw?

noreply@blogger.com (GhetToRaw!) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:34:00 +0000

What is Raw?

I like the way Purely Delicious Magazine describes "Raw":
"Fresh, raw and living, plant-based foods provide a bountiful array of delicious,
all-natural, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that we can all use to increase energy, lose unwanted weight, and improve general health and mental disposition."

One of the reasons eating a diet primarily of raw foods is so good for you is because raw natural uncooked whole foods contain energizing enzymes. From a raw vegan standpoint, any food heated over 118 degrees is considered "dead" food This is because those precious enzymes are destroyed by heat. Without enzymes, we could not live. Enzymes are considered the "sparks of life" feeding and rejuvenating the cells!

Enzymes are the life force in all living things. We need enzymes to think straight!
Enzymes build, cleanse and help our bodies heal. Enzymes are necessary for us to break our food down and absorb it. (and by the way ladies, the older we get, the less of them our bodies produce, & a tell tale sign is feeling bloated, sleepy or sluggish after meals). In addition they regulate tens of thousands of biochemical functions within our bodies. seeds sprout and produce ripens because of enzymes.

You will find adopting a "raw" lifestyle can be very advantageous to your overall health because it comes with quite a few benefits including:

*More energy
Do you always find yourself thinking "if I just had more energy"? Well eating a raw enzyme rich diet of plant based foods can give you increased stamina and more energy.

*Improved Sleep
You'll find that overall, you'll rest better when your diet primarily consists of raw foods. The main reason being, raw food is easier to digest and easier to eliminate. Eating your final and lightest meal by sundown as Paul Nison recommends, is easier on the body when its time to rest. During sleep time energies are not diverted & the body can easily perform its healing, repair & rejuvenation.

*Eat as much as you want
A great advantage to a raw foods diet is you can pretty much eat all you want! With some
exception to grains, nuts & seeds, eating a diet in raw high water content foods is like having your own all you can eat buffet. I don't count carbs or calories or worry about portions.

* Raw foods will keep you Regular!
No need to worry about constipation being a part of this lifestyle. When raw foods are eaten in proper balance & combination, you'll go & flow!

*Regulate appetite
The cool thing about eating raw is your body will begin to regulate its appetite. Eventually you begin to intuitively eat the foods you need as your body will tell you. For the most part, negative cravings will cease while your body will cause you to crave or gravitate towards healthier more nutritious foods.

*Weight loss is a side effect
By eating a diet of primarily raw foods, you'll find your weight will regulate itself. Interestingly, it seems the more you eat, the more you lose. The powerful thing here is that the weight will re-balance and stays off as you continue to make healthy raw food choices.

Oh and on that note, I re-started my Raw jouney in July, to date I have lost 14 pounds and lovin it!. Once I fully reach my weight goal, I will let you all know the exact starting weight and total of pounds lost. I love this so much because IT'S NOT A DIET FOR ME but a LIFESTYLE and I'm not counting calories or carbs or starving myself!

I might also add here that I am not 100% raw, I am a 90/10 er(90% of my diet is raw and the other 10% consists of some cooked food-but don't go crazy! I'm not talkin about chicken wings or BBQ(unless its tofu) or the like) I mean flatbreads, crackers, some chips you catch me?

I could go on and on and eventually I will, but right now, I'd love to hear from you about your thoughts, comments or questions on raw lifestyle!

That said......
On to some new resources!!!!

I've got some new resources for you! This has got to be one of my absolute favorite discoveries on my raw journey.....

Have you ever wished you knew how to tell which watermelon would be the sweetest, or how to choose the perfect ear of corn or how to buy the sweetest juiciest grapes?! Well, now you can by visiting one of my new favorite blogs and it's called The Produce Blogger
Author: Richie Chang

This site has all kinds of information on how to choose the best produce (an important skill I might add if we're going to eat raw) in addition to delivering humorous stories as to how the business got started. There are all types of links to visit for a variety of services they offer and I love the specific way they describe the different produce with full color mouth watering pictures (ugh how could anyone look at those pics and not believe in God!) Whew! O.k. I got to calm myself down....it's just fruit & veggies, it's just fruit & veggies.....Wow!
My suggestion is when you get there, scroll down on the left and read "My first Post", this will give background and history on the author as well as his expertise. Enjoy!

Also there's one more I'd like to showcase is Little House in the Suburbs!
Author: Ivory & TL

Ivory & TL are two friends who say "We’re just two gals that garden, cook, build, soap, and raise smallstock in the ‘burbs." O ma goodness! We should all be so blessed to have friends like these! These ladies have made country living possible in the suburbs and they make it work quite well! This site is a plethora of "how- to's" for sane self sufficient living. From recipes, to gardening, raising your own chickens (yes in the city!) to making your own laundry detergent, they do it all! It is a super fun blog and these two keep it real. With its nearly 3000 blog followers it offers something for everyone. Oh and if you don't see a subject you're looking for (which I doubt), just ask!

Well, that's all for now, but I will be hittin you up later about possibly living in a Raw Foods community through the means of Co-Housing.

Until I write again

Shalom & blessing to you!
Miss Yna

As Promised, More resources!

noreply@blogger.com (GhetToRaw!) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 21:54:00 +0000

Hi All!

I just wanted to share some more awesome natural living resources with you. I'm constantly seeking a variety of informative places and resources for you guys to visit. My hopes, that as the resources grow, the blog will too! You can certainly assist me in the effort by taking a moment to share this blog with others. With all the talk going on about "health care", you'll probably want to start really looking into what your options may be (while you still can) and begin taking your own journey into seriously controlling your own health care. I believe one of the best ways to do this is to learn all you can and employ a positive healthy lifestyle change. True preventative care in my opinion is learning what you need to know to possibly prevent sickness & disease and then applying what you learn to ensure it. I don't think we're any longer in a state where we can just "talk" about getting healthy, but we're needing to actually put a plan into place and take action!

I believe there is a great move as never before to control, suppress and monitor the type of health care you can obtain, but especially the type of health information you can receive. It's really up to you now, to make and put positive healthy changes into your life as well as those you love. You'd better think about it, consider the health care reform plan and how it plans to affect your loved ones.

How will it really affect your children? Right now its your choice to immunize, in the near future, maybe not. Do you have elderly parents? Right now they may have quite a bit of their independence, in the near future, maybe not, you may be asked to "put them out of their misery" (old age), kinda sounds like we're referring to animals and not people when I hear some of the stuff related to the elderly with regards to this new "health care reform".

Oh, let's not forget that flu shot! Actions are being put into to place to make you accept certain kinds of medical "care".

Oh, and a woman's "right to choose", interesting a woman can choose to have an abortion, but in the near future your right to how and where your baby is born may not be your right.

For those of you over 40, doesn't this remind you of that movie in a way called "Logan's Run"?!

People have laughed and mocked those who practice survivalist lifestyle, hmm, I'm just wondering if now wouldn't be a good time to make friends with some of them.

Anyway,

Check out these new resources I've added, I'm especially excited about "Purely Delicious" Raw lifestyle Magazine! It offers a lot of informative info for those interested in a healthier lifestyle naturally and even has teaching/training resources available. Be sure to visit them by clicking on the banner above this article or go to: www.purelydelicious.net

Also, if you're local to Tennessee, check out Dr. Josh Axe from the Exodus Health Center. This site is not completely raw, but certainly offers a wealth of sound natural health information & resources you can definitely use. Visit: www.joshaxe.com

Next, visit the "Natural News" website. I love this site because it keeps me up to date and informed about all things natural and what's going on with the current health care reform not just locally but worldwide! Click here: www.naturalnews.com

Are you looking for local farm fresh produce? Want to join a farm cooperative or CSA? then visit the following link to locate resources in your area: www.localharvest.org

Here's a really cool link I just found out about:
http://72hours.org/

Well, that's it for now, I look forward to hearing from you and hope you find this blog useful.
Shalom & Blessings to You!
Miss Yna

NEW RAW FOODS RESOURCE!

noreply@blogger.com (GhetToRaw!) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 03:21:00 +0000

Hello!

I'm finally able to do this again!!! Being as I injured myself before I could really promote this blog, it never got out like I desired, but now its full steam ahead!!!! I am re-transitioning into my Raw Foods Lifestyle and am totally fired up! I plan to spend this month contacting and recontacting my original email list to invite friends & fam to visit here. Also my son has started a new blog for his group "Goddisciples" they make some really powerful music and are in the midst of completing their sophomore cd project. Its an exciting time for this group of young dedicated men who are seeking to impact their generation with a positive and inspiring sound & lifestyle.

Next,

I've got a new Raw Foods resource, as you'll find out, this is what I live for! Take a moment and visit "The Fresh Network"!

It's a lovely compilation of Raw Foods resources, news, marketing & more! So check it out.

Well, that's all for now!
Blessings & Shalom in Yeshua's name!

I'm Back....Sorta!

noreply@blogger.com (GhetToRaw!) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 17:29:00 +0000

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to keep up with my blog in the last few months due to the transitions in my life.

First, my youngest child has moved from home and this has been interesting, I now find myself having to re-learn what it is like to come home to an empty house, (with exception to my feline who shows up every now and then) next,

I recently broke my ankle! Can you believe it? At 46 I end up breaking a bone! Lord, that was totally unexpected! As the situation would have it, I've been staying with friends until I can move around a lot better.

I have often desired to write, but in truth, my rawness kinda went south, though I have maintained a determination to not stray all the way a-way.

I am currently in a position now where I'm being proven in this 'raw thing". Funny thing is, many of my friends saw how good it was going and started to ask me questions about "how to".

Being a nail tech, if I'm not working, I don't earn, so I have been ripely postioned to prove the whole "ghetto raw" concept. Challenging, but, I am undaunted. I was clearly distracted for a moment, but the awesome thing is, that my being away from this dietary lifestyle for such a period of time worked in its favor to motivate me to return to it. I realized how much I missed getting in the kitchen for myself and creating all those healthy concoctions! Its a bit difficult to do if outside of your own kitchen, you know?

Anyway, I should be back on top of my game shortly which will allow me to continue to post interesting info and raw food recipes and such to those who are interested.

I will also resume promoting the blog in order to create the community I was seeking to establish for those who need a viable "raw foods on a budget resource". Truly, that's the purpose of what I'm trying to do.

Well,
until next time,
Shalom to you,
Miss Yna!

Sugar Woes

noreply@blogger.com (GhetToRaw!) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 04:03:00 +0000

The article below my suggestions was sent to me this morning & I found it to be interesting, (yet I'm not surprised by the findings within the content). As a natural health enthusiast and formerly working in alternative health, we advised against this "food" from the onset. It is unfortunate however, that for the most part people continue to be deceived into thinking this product was & is o.k. even when many in my former field released information and studies showing these side effects and more.

My grandmother used to say "a story can always sound good from one side, its important to get the other side as well so you can make informed decisions".
Miss Yna

So, what are the alternatives?
There are many (if you just have to have something sweet)

Whole organic fruits - nothin' beats the desserts God created!
Stevia - comes in liquid or powder or the leaves. (using the leaves leave less aftertaste) 0 calories by the way!
Agave nectar -one of my FAVORITES! Tastes like light honey with a hint of butter! A low glycemic food with little calories.

Yacon - is a distant relative of the sunflower with edible tubers and leaves.The undigested portion of yacon serves as food for "friendly" bacteria, such as Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus species, in the colon.Yacon syrup has a strong potential in international markets as an ingredient in diet, diabetes, and colon-related heath food products. (notice it helps the good bacteria unlike splenda)(can be a bit pricey, but, its your health)

SweetLife - a sweetener made from an ingredient called "Lo Han". In China, Lo Han is commonly used as a beverage and a seasoning, and it has even been declared a "national treasure". Lo Han is 15 times sweeter than sugar, making SweetLIFE a delicious replacement for other less desirable artificial products‡. With no unpleasant aftertaste, zero calories and fat, and less than one gram of sugar (from low-glycemic fructose) per serving, it's perfect for beverages, cereals, meal replacement shakes, yogurt, and all of your favorite baking or cooking recipes‡(this is another one that promotes healthy bacteria in the gut)

Finally, there's always pure organic cane sugar, but just remember, this form of sweetener is acidic and let's face it, sugar is highly addictive. If you choose to use this one, discipline in its use is certainly a necessity!

If you'd like more information about these products and where to find them, visit my links. If you don't see what you're looking for, you can always email me as well.
Blessings,
In Yashua's Jesus' name
Miss Yna

Chairman of Citizens for Health Declares FDA Should Review Approval of Splenda

New Study of Splenda and Sucralose Reveals Shocking New Information About Potential Harmful Effect on Humans

MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 22, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- James Turner, chairman of the national consumer education group Citizens for Health expressed shock and outrage after reading a new report from scientists at Duke University. "The report makes it clear that the artificial sweetener Splenda and its key component sucralose pose a threat to the people who consume the product. Hundreds of consumers have complained to us about side effects from using Splenda and this study, published this past week in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health Part A, confirms that the chemicals in the little yellow package should carry a big red warning label," said Turner.

Among the results in the study by Drs. Mohamed B. Abou-Donia, Eman M. El-Masry, Ali A. Abdel-Rahman, Roger E. McLendon and Susan S. Schiffman is evidence that, in the animals studied, Splenda reduces the amount of good bacteria in the intestines by 50%, increases the pH level in the intestines, contributes to increases in body weight and affects the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in the body in such a way that crucial health-related drugs could be rejected. Turner noted that the P-gp effect "could result in crucial medications used in chemotherapy for cancer patients, AIDS treatment and drugs for heart conditions being shunted back into the intestines rather than being absorbed by the body as intended."

The study was conducted using male rats over a period of twelve weeks. The manufacturers of Splenda also used a rat study when they applied for and received approval to market the product from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. At the time, the findings from their rat studies were extrapolated as to possible effects on humans. This is standard FDA practice and this study is consistent with that practice.

Turner said, "This report followed accepted policies and procedures and the results make clear the potential for disturbing side effects from the ingestion of Splenda. It is like putting a pesticide in your body. And this is at levels of intake erroneously approved by the Food and Drug Administration. A person eating two slices of cake and drinking two cups of coffee containing Splenda would ingest enough sucralose to affect the P-glycoprotein, while consuming just seven little Splenda packages reduces good bacteria." Although the effect of consuming Splenda does not result from a one time use, the side effects do occur after accumulated use. Turner also noted unmistakable evidence that Splenda is absorbed by fat, contrary to the claims of Johnson & Johnson.

Turner announced, "We are calling today on the FDA to immediately accept our petition filed over a year ago and initiate a review of its approval of sucralose and to require a warning label on Splenda packaging cautioning that people who take medications and/or have gastrointestinal problems avoid using Splenda. The new study makes it clear that Splenda can cause you to gain weight and lose the benefits of medications designed to improve and protect your health. The FDA should not continue to turn a blind eye to this health threat."

Citizens for Health will testify in Sacramento, CA, on October 3, 2008, before the California Assembly Committee on Health which is examining the use of deceptive advertising to promote sales of potentially unhealthy food additives, particularly artificial sweeteners.

About Citizens for Health

Citizens for Health (www.citizens.org) is an international non-profit consumer advocacy group working to broaden healthcare options, create an integrative health system based on wellness, and advance the freedom to make health choices. The group promotes the fundamental policies needed to improve health choices and information in the U.S. and internationally. The group works with grassroots and education organizations and partners to ensure consumer access to dietary supplements, safe foods, a healthy environment and a wide range of healing therapies. Citizens for Health fosters active citizen leadership and organizes natural health consumers to create political and legislative solutions that support those rights.

CONTACT:  Citizens for Health
  Jim Turner
  202-255-8040
  jim@swankin-turner.com

My Raw Journey

noreply@blogger.com (GhetToRaw!) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 05:33:00 +0000

I decided to write this blog because this January 2009, I began a long planned transition to what is known as a "raw foods diet".

For a long time I had toyed with the idea of adopting this way of eating & living. I hate to use the term "diet", cause it's not a diet, but more of a lifestyle change.

I already had an interest in natural foods & herbs which led my family to open and run a small food buyers club & health food home based business to offset the costs of eating natural foods. We did this for a few years til I moved out of state. So I have been open to healthier ways of doing things for most of my adult life.

I decided to further my knowledge of herbs and foods by becoming a C.N.H.P(certified natural health professional) . While studying in the program in 2000, I had an instructor that I came into contact with who was a "raw foodist". I sat in shock as she revealed her age to be in her 40's I think closer to 50, she looked amazing! The woman didn't look a day over 30! Her skin was bright, she was trim and healthy looking but most of all, she looked really young, I kept staring, cause her age didn't seem to match her face & body. I specifically remember her telling us that she ate very little "cooked food". I thought how weird is that! Later on in my life, I would go on to find out it wasn't weird at all, I made a mental note that one day I was gonna find out more about this "raw food" thing.

In 2005, I began combing the internet for info on how to "do raw". While I found a number of extremely informative sites, there was also an overload of info out there on the subject. As with any subject, there are many voices, ways & means as far as the "how'to's" were concerned. It can definitely be overwhelming to a newbie not to mention, it seemed complicated, time consuming & expensive! So, I put it down until 2008!

I continued to eat a predominately organic diet, & learned to do this on a very limited budget. Still I always had the "raw" thing in the back of my head.

So, as stated before, in 2008 I felt compelled to really learn more about this "raw" way of living. My number one reason is because, well, I turned 46 in December 2008 and felt it was time for some change (I'm a late bloomer/boomer!) I wanted to lose some excess weight, and forgive my vanity, I also wanted to not only feel younger but look younger! I always had that instructor's appearance stuck in my head!

I once again set out to learn about raw.

The how-to's of raw seemed to be encrypted in language that required massive amounts of decoding (i.e. it did not seem as though there was anyone with a simple get to the point explanation on how to do this) and much of the "decoding" (or info) required payment of some sort and not that there is anything wrong with that, I wanted to see if I could locate good info without at this time having to come out of pocket. I decided that probably the easiest way to really get some understanding, was to join a raw foods forum or two, look at some recipes and approach it from a self discovery angle.

With that, I prayed to God and asked Him to lead me on this path, that I felt was calling me to better health. I have to add here that the idea of going vegetarian was a bit nerve racking for me, cause I enjoyed my meat even though it wasnt eaten often, I ate it!

Well, I then decided to look up some "raw foodist" via the internet to see what they had done and most of all, I wanted to see what they looked like. As I discovered site after site of testimonials from those who were "doing raw" I was absolutely shocked! Many of the individuals looked younger in their older years than when they were young! Could this really be the ultimate anti-aging thing without surgery?! As I read testimonial after testimonial I viewed "before & after" pictures of these individuals (I highly recommend you google "raw foods before and after pictures") and see for yourself. It will blow your mind! Some of these people lost hundreds of pounds and showed 6 month, 1-2 year on to 10 year progressions of themselves doing raw. One lady I saw was in her 80's and she posted a picture of herself climbing a tree! She looked at least 20 years younger than her age.

Well, that was it for me, I decided it was time, I was ready and I began my journey this January. In just my first month, I have experienced increased energy, weight loss in inches, skin clarity & minimization of under eye bags, a healed bowel situation, firming of my flesh and my teenage daughter commented on how much more youthful looking I appear.

I eat when I'm hungry, because doing raw really regulates your cravings. I eat as much as I want! No calorie or carb counting here! My body let's me know when I've eaten enough and I no longer over eat! It is WONDERFUL!!! If I hadn't experienced it for myself, I wouldn't have believed it! I'm excited to see what I'll look & feel like in a full 6 months.

All that said, I need to mention one of the main reasons I waited so long to do raw, was because I didn't think I could afford to. I have found that there are some resourceful ways to accomplish raw while on a budget. It can take a lot of research and time to locate places where you can get what you need, and one of the goals of my blog is to help you do that. As I discover, I'll share, and if you've got info, you're welcome to share!

I called this blog "GhettoRaw" cause I don't proclaim to be an expert. My ways of suggesting how to get things done might not be fancy and for the most part won't be expensive unless absolutely unavoidable. For instance, nut butters are a staple in the raw foods diet, but some nut butters can cost $27 a jar(12-15oz) in my "ghetto" opinion, you done lost yo mind! The average shopper cannot pay $27 for a jar of nut butter(even though there are citizens out there paying it) So, my goal is to show you how you can get the best for less, there really is a way!

Raw should not be a lifestyle for the elite & privileged few!
I hope to spread the blessing of raw to those who would like to eat healthier and live better but are on a budget or fixed income. Sadly, most of the people who fall into this category have the worst health because they often must purchase substandard, cheap food. I hope to alleviate some of that through knowledge for those who want it.

I will continue to keep you updated on my personal progress and in my next writing, I'll deal with the differences between vegetarians, vegans, & raw foodist. I want to also share my starting points with you in terms of resources as well.

Also, I'm letting you know up front. While I am not at this time any longer retailing health foods, I do still retail natural products and supplements and have been for over 16 years. I promote what I use myself and feel comfortable with and do my best to offer the best for less.

I am one of the resources that will be listed as this blog continues. I will also discuss the different aspects I've learned so far concerning raw, how to start where you're at and work with what you have to be healthier.
I hope to create a fun and easy to understand environment for those who choose to follow me in my journey
I look forward to sharing & learning on this my raw journey
blessing to you in the name of our Lord & Savior
Yashua, Jesus
Miss Yna