First off, I wanted to tell you that my Good Morning America segment this weekend is SUNDAY, not Saturday (oops!!)! So it will be this Sunday, 8/9 at 8:45 am.
So I wanted to remind you of a a really easy snack you can make, or even make for lunch. It is nuts on a log, but revisited to make it healthier and even better than an older version you may remember from childhood, made with peanut butter and raisins. It’s so great when you are starving and want something fast, or are too lazy to make anything else!!
We want to avoid peanuts and peanut butter in general!!! I do not advocate consuming peanuts at all. Popular peanut butter brands like Jiff and Skippy are laced with sugar. Peanuts are also said to be one of the most toxic foods in the American diet. They have naturally occurring poisonous molds called aflatoxins present that grow on them, which is probably why so many people have intense allergic reactions to peanuts. These molds can infect our blood and our livers. Ewwwwww!!
Almond butter can be purchased without sugar, and almonds are full of minerals, antioxidants, Vitamin E and protein, without the dangerous MOLD!! Plus they are a great blood sugar stabilizer.
Raisins are decent, but Goji berries are even better!! Goji berries are the super berry from China and Tibet. When I was in that part of the world I ate them like candy every day. They are a good source of B vitamins and antioxidants, which protect against harmful free radicals that damage cells in your body. They’re also rich in polysaccharides, have 18 kinds of amino acids, and are a rich source of potassium and fiber.
We do NOT want to spread almond butter on apples or other fruits. This is not a healthy combination. Fruit should not be eaten with heavier foods that take much longer to break down. The Goji berries (or raisins) are okay in this case as the are dried, and are no longer water-containing fruits.
Whenever I think of so many delicious fruits, some of these pair really well with good desserts I always make. These nutritional desserts keep things healthy and allow me to indulge a little while maintaining balance.
Well have a great weekend!! And hope that you will be able to catch the GMA segment this Sunday!
All my very best,
Kimberly
I’m glad you shared that peanuts are actually a toxic food, I didn’t know that. I’m going to avoid them now.
I’ve learned that many organic food brands and other products that are marketed as natural or organics are actually owned by big corporations. This has left me not knowing what brands I can trust. I have been buying more organic food from the supermarket(which may not be really organic) and I know it is best to buy local, organic food like from a farmer’s market, but there are no year-round farmer’s markets near where I live. Is there any way of knowing what is truly organic and what companies use ethical practices and are socially responsible?
I just saw these berries yesterday. Tried them for the first time and did feel they tasted “nutty”. I’ll going to put this on my list of recipes to try.
Hi Kimberly!
I have a question that is not relevant to this particular post…I just bought a blender and made my very first green smoothie. Luckily I have a boyfriend that is open minded and also wants to drink the green smoothie…but he also wants to eat regular breakfast after drinking it and at the moment is also drinking coffee afterwards. Is that reversing the good effects of the green smoothie? How long should one wait after a green smoothie before eating anything else?
P.S love your blog and thank you for being so inspiring!
hi Kimberly
I’m on raw food lately and enjoyed it very much.But I’m not sure if I get the sufficient nutrients ,I drink mainly green smoothies ,green juice and fruits,and handfull of nuts.Should I take some supplements or other things.I really appreciate if you give me some advice.Thank you
giran
Hi Arzun,
It would be hard for me to do a full health evaluation on your nutrients as I don’t know your health history. It sounds like you are doing great by having all those greens- but you might want to check with a doctor or someone else if you are feeling off in any way. How is your energy, your hair, your skin looking?
Also, since you have a high raw food diet, chances are you are stirring up a lot of old toxicity in the body. It is important that your body is cleansing a lot. Do you take a probiotic every day? That is one supplement I definitely recommend to everyone. Make sure you are going to the bathroom a lot!
Keep having your greens every day!
Please come visit again!
xx Kimberly
Hi Kimberly~
Is there a certain probiotic supplement you would recommend? Thanks.
Lisa
Hello Kimberly,
I seen you on GMA several times and I need a change in my life. I am 6’4″ 350# I need agood heathly diet to follow and lose weight I am 55 years old. I like every kind of food could you help me! I need a outline for the meals and snack that I need to do this.
Thanks,
Don
Hi dear Don,
I am shorter & bigger than you…I am trying many things here.
If I could just share, I would say – all is too much. Just try one recipe. The green smoothie or even the chocolate macaroons are a great start….of course, one is for every day so that may be better – the green smoothie.
Plus, now I’m walking at least 5 days a week for 25 minutes. I know it doesn’t seem like much but at the same time when someone is as big as we are they truly know it is.
If you want it then you will do it – if you don’t do it then don’t worry because you are not emotionally ready too – that’s my personal thinking anyway.
Best, best, best to you and the choices you make for yourself.
Thanks for publishing the benefits of the Goji Berry. I have been sharing this information with people ! Wonderful Goji berry!!!!!!!! Create A Great Day!
Hey Kimberly!
Just got done @ my local farmer’s market & bought some beautiful produce!! all the colors of the rainbow! I was wondering, do you have any good recipes for bell peppers? I always cut them up & add to salads (or eat raw as a snack) :-)
but i was hoping to get a little more creative with them… Any ideas?
Have a good RAW day!
HI Amanda!
Great idea, I will post a recipe soon with them. I use them in a lot of blended spreads and foods. :)
xx Kimberly
Hi Kimberly,
I tried this recipe today and was relieved to discover I like Almond Butter (I used to eat a lot of peanut butter but after reading this blog I eliminated it along with dairy). I never knew that you should not mix almond/peanut butter with fruits though. Are there other common mixes that I should avoid? Also, do dried fruits lose any of their nutritional value? I’ve been buying dried fruits to snack on at my health store (organic) so I’m just curious. Thanks!
Hi Shannon, fruit should also never be eaten for dessert, after any cooked food. Dried fruit should have no additives- sometimes even at health stores they have preservatives and additives. They are okay (unless you have a sugar or yeast issue). They do combine well with nuts.
xx Kimberly
Thanks Kimberly! I assume this means I should stop mixing fresh apples and/or applesauce to my steel cut oats in the mornings? Also, do you recommend any books/recipe books for starting a raw diet (or adding more raw foods to your diet)? Thanks!
Hi Kim
I love yoour blog, book, recipies. Yesterday I have tried this one but I have used mulberry since I can digest goji properly. The result I love it!!!. Do you have any ide why goji make me sick. I mean when I eat them I my belly hurts 1-2 hours and somtimes I throw up. But I have found when I soak them for hour and blend them in smoothie I have no problem. So I eat them in my green smoothie for digestive reason. Thanks a lot
Hi Kimberly! I love almond butter and have recently bought millet bread (after reading your book and trying to stay away from gluten products), I used to love almond butter on my toast, but now realize mixing the protein and grains isn’t so great. Any suggestions on more almond butter ideas or what else to put it on!?
PS absolutely LOVE your book, I’m a sophomore in college and thrilled to have a kitchen this year in my dorm to have space to make all your delicious and healthy recipes!! I plan on becoming a nutritionist myself and you have really inspired me, thank you!
Hi Kimberly~I love your blog, but sometimes you are the biggest fun sponge ever! That being said, you always have some great information and I put a lot of it I use, but some things in life I enjoy too much to give up…like a bit of almond butter on an apple. Certainly better than a bag of Doritos. You certainly serve as inspiration. Do you have a “top 5” eating tips…where if you didn’t have time to do anything else, for sure do this…or don’t do this?
I appreciate the info on peanuts as I often feed my little ones PB&J sandwiches. Knowledge is power!
What would you recommend as a substitute for someone who is allergic to almonds?
I have been surfing trying to get information on losing weight and landed on your site. Very informative. Thanks