Breakfast can either support our weight loss, beauty, and energy goals, or take us down…
Today I had a very interesting nutritional consultation with a beautiful, super tall ex-model who I’ll call Jillian.* She was super sweet (and far nicer than most of the models I remember from my own modeling days!), and I instantly felt like we were old pals. What is ironic is that she fully expected me to take a look at her diet, say she was doing great, and just recommend a couple of extra recipes.
Weeeeell….. it’s really not that simple. We can mistakenly think we are getting the proper nutrition or doing things “right” just because we are eating all raw food, we are taking a ton of different supplements, eating things we have read about in health and fitness magazines that tell us are healthy, or read in a few books.
The problem with most of these sources of information is that they do not take the biochemistry of the body into account, including the fact that our bodies are a hot 98 degrees, and that our bodies expend a LOT of energy in digestion, and secrete specific gastric juices to break down certain foods. We need to streamline this process so we free up energy to rebuild our skin and hair, detox our bodies on an ongoing basis, and make our bodies function as more efficient machines.
Here is what Jillian was currently eating for breakfast:
7:30 am: 2 cups of coffee, black
1 orange
9:00 am: 1 package of raspberries
1 bio-k soy probiotic drink
A chunk of manna bread with a good portion of cashew butter
My quick thoughts:
Jillian and I were together for 2 hours today, so there is a lot more to it and there was a lot of individualizing to her overall diet based on her exact health at this moment and her specific goals.
But I’ll say, that you can see by this summary there is a SMORGASBORD of food swirling around in poor Jillian’s tummy within her first few waking hours. The fruit, which digests in 20-30 minutes, is mixed in there with a mucus-forming, unfermented soy product, the starch of the manna bread (which by the way, is still heated to over 150 degrees so is definitely not raw, contrary to popular belief), and all the protein of the cashew butter. That is a lot! We don’t get nutrition or energy from our food until it reaches the villi in the small intestines. If it is sitting in the stomach for hours and hours with other foods trying to get out also (!), it will actually take our energy, not add to it.
Let’s keep it simple in the morning, so our bodies do not have to expend all its energy on digesting 50 things.
The best way to get easy assimilated nutrition into the body is my Glowing Green Smoothie. It is already blended, so our body gets the nutrients without all the work. The proper way to drink it is on an empty stomach, as it does contain fruit, and we want to let that pass first. After that, we can add more food on top of it, but I wouldn’t do it all at the exact same time.
Recommendations for Jillian:
7:30 am: 1 cup of coffee (for now!)
1 pint of water with a probiotic supplement
9:00 or whenever she TRULY starts to feel hungry
My Glowing Green Smoothie
Wait 20-30 minutes.
If still hungry, follow with the manna bread or sprouted bread toast OR the best quality unprocessed bread you can find. Toast lightly.
Raw unpasteurized butter is okay because it doesn’t have the casein protein that other dairy products have, and digests okay with starch.
Under this plan, she is separating food groups, and eating foods from fewer food groups. We’ve removed concentrated protein at this meal, since it moves the slowest and Jillian is not active in the morning anyway. She is going to start feeling great and more energized! She will be full enough to get to lunch and won’t feel hungry, or that she needs to snack. Foods that increase metabolism are ones that are light and nutritious, to keep you going throughout the day.
I am trying an experiment. I’ve never announced this publicly, but I want to open the door for nutritional consultations at this time. I find them really rewarding, and there is so much more to say that can’t all be said in general blogs. I also can’t thoroughly answer specific health questions you may have in the comments without knowing your background or diet, etc.
Consultations involve me looking at your goals, and your current diet and lifestyle, including when you are eating and what you are eating. It includes helping you create customized shopping lists and meal plans. If you are interested in finding out about the cost and format of a consultation,contact:
info@kimberlysnyder.net.
Have a great holiday week, and I will write more soon!
Love and Peace, Kimberly
Hey Kim,
This post is so helpful! One question though, a lot of Raw Foodies start their day with Juice instead of a smoothie. is this ok? would it be good to do a juice then later a smoothie? i’m a little confused and would appreciate advice!
HI Kate, Green Juice is good, and different. There is not a one diet fits all. Juice hits the system in a harder way since there is no fiber in it. I usually recommend people starting out on the Green Smoothie, since the fiber keeps you fuller than a juice, and when just starting to cleanse you want to avoid throwing your blood sugar out of whack. It needs to be personalized for each person, and the health place they are coming from and starting from, as well as their goals and lifestyle. xx Kimberly
What do you thin about adding some manitoba hemp protein in the green smoothie? Is it ok or does it make the digestion hard on our stomachs?
That is a question of individualizing the diet, depending on many other factors!
Hi Kim,
This was VERY informative -thanks. My tough time is in the morning, I crave for carbs and protein, I typically eat Ezekiel toast with almond butter along with 2 cups of coffee. I will take your advise and start replacing it with your smoothie -which I usually have about 5 times a week. However, I workout in the morning – approx. an hour after I eat – and am still a little hungry, do you suggest that I eat anything else with the smoothie before I workout?
Any help would be much appreciated:)
Thanks – Nicole
HI Nicole! Often our morning cravings have been built up from habit. I used to eat very heavy breakfasts, and I am pretty active in the mornings too. Not any more! I shifted my diet and my cravings are not there in the morning anymore. Individualizing the diet in this case is key, and looking at what you are eating overall, and what your goals are (weight loss? more energy? building muscle tone? etc.)
xx Kimberly
Hi Kim,
I just found your blog and I think you are truly terrific!!! I am going through the whole thing because everything you write about is so inspiring! I have crohn’s disease and I eat a high raw vegan diet to keep it in check.
Thanks for sharing! :)
Lauren
Hi Lauren! yes, Crohn’s disease can be very challenging. One of my good friends has it. Good for you for supporting your health with your diet. What a difference it makes!
xx Kimberly
I am really trying to get the hang of the green smoothies but the consistency and green-ness of it is killing me. This is harder than I thought. Your pictures are always so yummy looking, Kimberly!!
Hi Pickle!
It is really important to have a good blender. You can get a refurbished Vitamix or try the Blend Tec.
xx Kimberly
Hi, yes, I have a Vitamix, it does a superjob and I STILL can’t get with the taste and feel of the smoothie. I am going to keep drinking them because I think this is happening because I rarely ever eat greens generally, so… maybe my taste buds need to learn, I guess, a new taste/texture. Btw, thanks for the reply to my comment on teeth care. I’m going to try Tom’s to see how it works for me :).
HI Pickle, good ideas from Bria, and adding ice might really help! Because it will make it super cold. xx Kimberly
A couple of thoughts to help Pickle out:
If the color throws you off (I personally think it’s gorgeous, but everyone is different), try putting it in a glass or mug that isn’t see-through. Trick yourself if you have to, because drinking it is soooo worth it. ;-)
As for the taste, sometimes I use stevia powder to level off the taste if it tastes too “vegetal” for me on a given day. Some days it does, and some days I find I don’t need the stevia at all, depending on what else is in the smoothie on that particular day.
If it feels too thick, add a bit more filtered water and re-blend.
Good luck!
Hi Kimberly,
I have just started the green smoothies about a month ago and have been having atleast one for breakfast per day –maybe missed a day or 2 ;. But I noticed that you add celery and a few spices. Mine usually consists of greens, 2 apples, 1 pear and 1/2 lemon. If I add the celery and spices, will it drastically change the taste. I am not a huge vegetable lover, and don’t like drinks like V8, will it give the green smoothie that taste. Or will the fruit still overpower the celery and spices?
Hi Cheryl! Your smoothie sounds great. The most important thing is the greens!! As long as you get that, you are all good. :) xx Kimberly
If I have a mango and then a green smoothie and later a piece of raw bread/almond butter, when can I have another green smoothie?
Very interesting, as usual :D
Speaking of breakfast, I heard about one and wanted to know your opinion about it. It’s based on the Kusmine breakfast, minus the diary.
Here’s the recipe:
– at least 3 fresh fruits, chopped
– 1 Ts of flax seeds & 1 Ts of sesam seeds, grounded
– 2 Ts of colza oil
– 1 Ts of 3 differents kinds of nuts
– 1 smashed banana
Mix the smashed banana with the oil, add the grounded seeds & the nuts, and top with the fruits.
I tried it, it’s good, it’s nourishing, but the 2 Ts of oil scare me a bit…
Have fun tonight,
Ophélie
What scares me is everything else in there mashed together!!! That is a recipe for being TIRED.
xx Kimberly
Kim, I love how you break it down and explain why eating a certain way doesn’t work. I know alot of raw foodists that say drink green smoothies but they don’t go into detail and explain why! Thank you for that. You are very informative! I am def interested in your nutritional councel! I seem to have had a problem with “belly” fat on and off in my life. Would love to get rid of it for good! :)
HI love, yes belly fat resting on the organs is a big no-no. If you are interested in finding more, email me at info@kimberlysnyder.net.
xx Kimberly
Hi there,
Would like to know your thoughts on adding young coconut to the morning green smoothie. I normally blend up a few coconuts(flesh and coconut water) and keep a jug of this blend in the fridge, and use sometimes to create more creamy smoothies. Are these considered a nut rather than a fruit? Or would plain coconut water be a better option?
Thankyou and all the best for the new year.
Hi Kimberly, Thank you for your amazing blog! I have learned about raw food only recently and I have been adding some raw food into my diet. I have made morning smoothies for a while now. I have usually made a smoothie with soaked nuts and seeds (cashew, sun flower seed, brazilian nut, sesame seed), dried fruit (date or fig), banana, lettuce and berries (strawberry, bilberry, raspberry) and also added coconut oil and hemp seed powder. I have felt great otherwise but my digestion has gone a bit worse. Is it ok to mix seeds, nuts, berries, fruit and greens in the smoothie?
I made raw brownies the other day and my husband tried them and liked them a lot but his stomach got very upset. There was no pain but he had to go to the toilet for about five times in half an hour right after eating one brownie. (He said that the waste was like water). I had no symptoms. I used sun flower seeds, brazilian nuts, hazel nuts, sesame seeds, raisins, dates, raw cocoa powder, vanilla and himalayan salt. Is there some ingredient that could have caused this reaction? My husband has a sensitive stomach that irritates sometimes but I didn´t think that these ingredients could cause this kind of reaction.
All the best to You for this year!
Maria (from Finland)
HI Maria! that is a lot to mix in one smoothie. Why don’t you save the seeds and nuts for later on in the day? The greens and fruit mix better. Happy New Year! xx Kimberly
Thank you Kimberly and Bria. I did add a lot more water than usual and also added frozen pineapple to the smoothie this morning and it was actually really delicious. Ok, I put a bit less greens than normal :D but hey, at least I got my smoothie down without gagging and I was all energetic throughout the morning. I can’t believe I actually felt the difference in my energy level; it’s pretty fantastic. Thank you again. I love this blog.
Happy New Year, Kimberly!
I really hope that everyone who is able takes advantage of Kimberly’s help with a consultation. I was blessed to have one (over the phone)and it was the best present ever. She did a great job of looking at my current life and making easy suggestions that weren’t all that drastic on their face, but ended up changing my life. Plus she explained everything really well…again, if you’re able to, it is the best!!
Hope everyone has a wonderful 2010!
Thank you so much Morgan!! I am SO happy to hear that you are feeling great.
I may use this with only your first name in a post. :)
Thank you so much, for trusting me with your health.
wow- you bring a great perspective to waking up to a healthy breakfast having visited many parts of the world in your travels! thats why as a cereal maker i have decided to incorporate fruits that are not currently popular in North America but should be and have been popular for centuries with people from other nations outside NA! Yogactive bring a fresh cereal to your mornings ,try it ,you ll love it! Danny Yogactive cereal founder soon available as a prebiotic and probiotic
Hi Kimberly,
I am so inspired by you! I’m currently on a raw vegan “cleanse”, aka the best diet experiment I’ve ever embarked on. I’m having so much fun, especially because I aspire to become a vegan chef–and now a raw chef too.
I start my day with a green smoothie and add a tablespoon of coconut oil for taste and because I’ve heard it will slow the digestion of my food allowing me to run on that energy for longer. Do you know if it interferes with the way my body absorbs fruit before veggies?
Thanks so much. Congratulations on the new book!
Thank you Kimberly for all the information! If I double, even triple the greens in the GGS is that OK? Will it still be as effective at the top of the day, or have I thrown off the balance? I just add more ice cubes so it’s not too thick. Thank you!
Hi Kim,
I am from the other side of the world,the Borneo, Sabah to be exact.and to read about ur fantastic blog is a very alien experience especially the food combination rules.but i am very excited to try ur way of eating and astonishingly almost all good stuffs that u suggested are easily be found n even cheap in my place here such as the coconut oil,fruits,greens.except the Vitamix of course:-).
Btw am going to try to make my first GGS tomorrow using conventional blender and am looking forward to experience all the positive changes in energy like the others! Wish me luck!
Owh and Kim,may God bless you.
Thank you!
Hi Kimberly,
Thanks you for all your information. I love reading your blogs. You inspire me!
I usually drink the GGS 3-4 days a week. I have a hard time at lunch. I try to be good but its hard.
Hi Kimberly,
I am 20 years old and a big fan of the beauty detox program! I have seen a lot of positive improvements to my health since following the program. Acne has been the primary reason for switching to a healthier lifestyle and it has really improved with this program.
I love the GGS but every time I drink it, I break out the next day. When I stop drinking the smoothie, the breakouts go away (even though I have 3 salads a day). Is there a reason this may be happening? I want to incorporate it into my diet but not if it makes me break out.
Thanks,
Sabrina
Hi Sabrina and thanks for your great question. Since it takes time to remove toxins from our body we want to be sure that our whole way of eating (morning, noon and night), is filled with Beauty Foods. This will help in knowing if there are any foods you still need to remove from your diet (dairy, sugar, etc.). Reevaluate what you’re eating and take down notes in a journal. For me, it took quite some time to rid my skin of acne and I had many moments when it would come back, but I knew this was just the process of eliminating unhealthy toxins from my body. It takes time but it’s well worth it. I wouldn’t give up the GGS because it has so many nutrients that will aid you towards your goals. You can also check out my personal story…here’s the link: https://bit.ly/2hPqBPo Sending you lots of love and continued support! ;)