Meal Plan Monday with a Kris Carr Influence

I took a much needed internet break for a while, but here I am again with a week's worth of meals and a grocery list.  

Breakfast:

I've been reading Crazy Sexy Diet, and I want to try starting my day with green juice instead of protein smoothies on some days this week.  Apparently, greens help alkalize your body and contain massive amounts of chlorophyll, which is super fab for you.  I'm thinking of trying this smoothie in addition to some recipes from Kris Carr:

• Chocolate Vegan Protein Powder (I like Biochem)
• Chocolate Green SuperFoods
• Kale
• Frozen Banana
• Almond Milk
• Maybe some almonds 

      I've also come to love this juice combination:

• some kale
• half an organic cucumber, with the skin
• 2 green apples
• a peeled lemon
• ginger root

I found this deep blue sea smoothie recipe that I'm dying to try as well.

Lunch:

Kris Carr and many other health experts recommend a lot of raw food in the diet because of the enzyme content, among other things.  Your body has to work less at digesting food which frees up energy for other crucial things.  She recommends an 80/20 or 60/40 goal ratio of raw to cooked.  I've been going close to 100% raw for lunch with salads for months now, so I'll continue that.  I like an organic salad made up of mixed greens, romaine, chickpeas, cucumbers, carrots, avocados, walnuts, and berries or chopped apples.  I like to sprinkle my salads with nutritional yeast and cayenne pepper.  My dressing of choice lately has been olive oil and balsamic or sesame oil and apple cider vinegar.

Dinner:

I'm thinking Buddha Bowls.  Grains, greens, and beans with a yummy dressing.  I bought one of those Amy's frozen vegan pizzas on sale recently, which I like to cover with vegan cheese like Follow Your Heart Monterrey Jack or Daiya Mozzarella shreds (not very raw, but whatev!).  I found this lentil walnut loaf recipe that I want to try.  It's also been cold recently, so I think some soup would be perfect this week.

Here the shopping list:

•  almond milk
•  organic, raw almonds
•  bananas
•  organic mixed greens
•  organic romaine
•  organic kale
•  avocado
• organic, raw walnuts
• organic cucumbers
• organic celery
• organic broccoli
• organic green apples
• lemon
• ginger root
• organic cauliflower
• organic spinach
• organic red onions
• organic scallions
• garlic
• mushrooms

I'll probably get some of the produce today, some a few days from now.  I think it's better than way because the veggies are fresher.  In addition to that:

• lentils
• millet
• quinoa
• black beans
• tofu
• tempeh
• chickpeas
• vegan cheese
• spirulina
• Amazing Grass Chocolate Green SuperFood

I like my sweets and desserts,  so I'll most likely pick up a dark chocolate bar or two for a little after dinner treat.  I'd like to try Vanilla Chia Tapioca Pudding from Crazy Sexy Diet too.

Raw Vegan Chocolate Mousse with Raw Vanilla Sauce

I have yet to try a raw dessert that I didn't like.  I usually find that they're on the expensive side at restaurants, so I thought I'd try making my own.  This raw chocolate mousse was super rich, crazy chocolate-y, and so easy to make!  

The accompanying vanilla sauce was a nice complement that balanced out the intensity of the mousse.  I got these recipes from Raw Food Made Easy for One or Two People, which has consistently surprised me with easy, raw, vegan, and insanely flavorful food.  Seriously, this is the best chocolate mousse I've ever had.  It's that good!  Wondering how to get that amazing mousse like consistency?  Avocados!  I was a bit skeptical when I put all the ingredients in the blender, but what came out was heaven!  Check out the mousse tart video on Jennifer Cornbleet's webpage for the recipe and the how-to on making this amazing raw dessert.

What is your favorite raw dessert?  I'm looking for more raw vegan cookbooks, so any recommendations would be most appreciated!

Green Pasta

 

Recently, I was super hungry and short on time.  I had originally bought spinach fettuccine and organic edamame for something from Appetite for Reduction, but I didn't have the patience to follow a recipe on this particular evening.  Instead, I quickly cooked the pasta and defrosted the frozen edamame in boiling water.  I think the original recipe I was going to follow called for pesto, which would have been great, but I opted for some earth balance, olive oil, and salt instead.  So not low fat, but so simple and sooooo good.  There was a nice salty buttery-ness coating everything, which is so perfect with pasta.  The edamame was fun and saved this dinner from being too carb-tastic.  I'll definitely make this quickie again!  And, I still want to try the Appetite recipe I originally bought these ingredients for too.