Raw Food Resources & Links
Must-Read Books
My EASY Raw Recipe books and eBooks - You're going to love these recipes! Check out the testimonials page to read what others are saying about them.
The China Study- This is the earth-shattering book by Columbia University researcher Colin Campbell. If you eat meat or dairy after reading this, you're in the same category as people who ride fast on motorcycles without wearing a helmet. On ice. Drunk. While doing Sudoku. Seriously, if you want to know the meticulously scientific, scary truth about meat's causal linkage to cancer, heart disease, and numerous other killers, this is the most important book to read on this list. The chapters on how doctors, hospitals, FDA and the meat/dairy industries have responded to this will get your blood boiling.
Food Revolution
Skinny Bitch- If you need a swift kick in the butt to motivate you to embrace the vegan diet, then this book is for you. It has moxie written all over it. Skinny Bitch is a no-nonsense, super funny, give-it-to-you-straight, can't-put-it-down, sassy book. It's one of my favorite gifts to give out during the holidays. Rumor has it that they're writing a book for the dudes out there, too!
Foods - Organic, Bulk, or Other
Organic Raw Vegan Chocolate Powder - 16 Ozs.
- This stuff is a-freakin'-mazing. The best Raw chocolate powder for all of your chocolate needs. It will change your life. There should be a bag of this in everyone's household.
Organic Raw Vegan Cacao Chocolate Nibs - 1 Pound- Throw in your DVD of Apocalypto, dress up like a Mayan Princess, and grind your own chocolate in the original fashion using a stone mortar. (Ok, truth be told, I do it in 1/1000 the time with a coffee bean grinder wearing jeans and a t-shirt, but it's fun to pretend!) These are perfect for adding texture and crunch to your Raw vegan smoothies, nut milks, ice creams and so much more.
Organic Raw Vegan White Cacao Butter - 1 Pound- Talk about decadent! This organic raw cacao butter is the stuff that dreams are made of. If you want to make the most impressive and delicious raw vegan cheesecakes, chocolates, and desserts, then you have to buy this.
Vitamineral Green 16 oz. - My all time FAVORITE green powder. This is a must have in every kitchen cupboard. I include a tablespoon of this amazing nutrition in my life almost every day. By far, this is the most effective green powder on the market that I've tried.
Fruits of the Earth 360 grams - Get ready for some extra sassy smoothies, or just use this to create the most nutritious water you've ever had! It's a phenomenal potent combination of nature's most nutritive fruits from around the world. Your smoothies (or just plain water) will never be the same.
Maca Powder - Organic Raw Superfood, 16-Ounce- It's true, I'm not the hugest fan of maca (it kind of smells like feet to me - haha) but this is one of the most popular superfoods among Raw vegans. It's noted for giving you tons of energy and increased stamina for exercise, long days, and your libido!
Goji Berries - Organic Himalayan Superfruit- These little red gems are a wonderful addition to anyone's life. I eat them by the handful, stir them into Raw oatmeal, puree them in various desserts - the options are endless. They're full of top-notch nutrition including 18 amino acids (all 8 essentials are accounted for) and contain over 20 trace minerals.
Amazing Grass Organic Wheat Grass Powder, 8.5-Ounce Canister- Wheat grass is an important part of my diet. But, I'll be honest... I sometimes just cannot stomach the fresh kind (the smell alone can make my stomach turn). So, I keep a supply of Amazing Grass' powdered wheat grass in my freezer all the time. It's easy to mix and much easier for me to tolerate than the fresh stuff. Don't get me wrong though, I still go hardcore and drink the fresh stuff from time to time - haha - but for the most part I drink the powdered version of Amazing Grass, which is very impressive!
Himalayan Crystal Sea Salt
Light Raw Agave Nectar - Raw and Organic- This is the best light agave nectar on the market. Madhava promises that when you use this particular agave of theirs, you can sleep peacefully knowing that it's truly Raw (produced at a temperature lower than 115F). If you make a lot of Raw vegan food then this case of agave is worth it because of the price and the fact that it has a long shelf life. Sometimes I buy a case and split it among family and friends, too.
Blue Agave - Organic and Raw- While I typically use light agave (Madhava's agave above), there are recipes that call for a richer flavor - step in "Blue Agave." For example, my pumpkin pie recipe, "I Can't Believe It's Pumpkin Pie" calls for a darker Raw agave and this is the brand I use. This agave is truly Raw - produced at temperatures below 118F.
Hemp is commonly referred to as a "superfood" because of its amazing nutritional value. Its amino acid profile dominates with the 8 essential amino acids (10 if you're elderly or a baby), making it a vegetarian source of "complete" protein! Manitoba Harvest is my absolute favorite source for hemp products. I use their hemp seeds, butter, powder and oil to make many delicious raw vegan recipes all the time (I have an entire ebook dedicated to hemp recipes - that's how important it is to me. Here are links to these wonderul hemp food products.
Hemp Protein Powder
Hemp Seed Butter
Hemp Seed Nut, 5-Pounds (it's worth stocking up!)
Hemp Seed Oil
Sun Warrior Protein (Chocolate) - Made with 85% protein, Sun Warrior Protein has the highest (non soy) raw (not heated over 90 degrees) whole grain sprouted vegan protein on the market. Naturally rich in vitamins and minerals. Sun Warrior Protein contains high amounts of antioxidants tocopherols, and tocotrienols and other essential nutrients, such as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, phosphorous, iron and potassium. When I make my protein shakes I like to use a combination of this rice protein powder along with Manitoba Harvest's Hemp Protein Powder (see above) for the ultimate mixture.
Chia Seeds 1 lb (Chemical Free) - The Chia Seed is an amazing food. I use them in my shakes almost every day because they're so nutritious and they make my shakes and smoothies deliciously thick and filling.
Lewis' Organic Farm - I'm excited to share this amazing source with Arizona friends. Here is my truly LOCAL and truly ORGANIC source for fresh and delicious vegetables, fruit, and herbs. I'm lucky enough to get my goodies from Doug and his family on a weekly basis when I visit the Roadrunner Farmer's Market on Saturdays. Let me tell you, there is nothing better than the pride and delicious experience of biting into locally grown, just picked(!), organic fruits and veggies that were nurtured by the hands of people I've met. Remember, eat locally grown produce for maximum nutrition because it minimizes the time between picking and eating.
Living Tree Community - By far this is the BEST olive oil available. The flavor is so fresh. And, by the way, this is where you get black tahini (used in some of the recipes in my ebooks).
Mountain Rose Herbs - Exceptional quality certified organic products with a strict emphasis on sustainable agriculture. I adore all their organic herbs, spices, extracts, essential oils and herbal teas.
Non-GMO Soy Lecithin Powder- Although this ingredient isn't Raw, it is not uncommon to find this in some Raw vegan desserts because it helps give the food a firm texture (for example... pies, cheesecakes, etc). You can use psyllium powder instead, but for the best results you'll want to use soy lecithin. Important: make sure you only use non-gmo soy lecithin like the one indicated here.
Sun Organic Farm - Save money by buying organic nuts, and dried fruits in bulk.
High Country Kombucha - My favorite brand for delicious and refreshing kombucha is from High Country. Every time I open a bottle, I get a smile on my face because I know I'm going to be loving every sip. Yum! My favorite flavors: Regular, Wild Root, Chai, and Honeysuckle.
Mumm's Sprouting Seeds - Everything you could ever want to know or get for sprouting.
Raw Kitchen Essential Tools
There is a short, simple, and finite list of items that, once you own them, will make an absolutely great, complete Raw kitchen. It's easier than you'd think: a powerful blender, a good food processor, 2-3 excellent knives, and a few more odds and ends.
MAC Knife
Knife Sharpener
Kyocera Ceramic Knife 5.5-in
Vita-Mix 5200 Blender - I'm a fan of both Vita-Mix and Blendtec (details below), because they are both great blenders. However, the Vita-Mix 5200 has won my heart. I am a huge fan of this impressive piece of machinery. For starters, the Vita-Mix 5200 model comes with a container that is BPA-FREE (Hello! BPA-FREE!) with improved sound dampening so it's not crazy loud, even though it comes with a powerful 2 peak HP motor. It also has a fantastic, easy to use lid and pour spout. This bad boy pulverises berries - skins, SEEDS, and all - that ROCKS, because those seeds are loaded with nutrition that would normally get passed right through your body!
With this amazing kitchen appliance, you can have healthy whole food meals that are quick, EASY and delicious! A whole food diet is the key to a long and healthy life. This is easily accomplished by eating terrific-tasting, nutrient-rich whole food meals made in the Vita-Mix machine. The Vita-Mix 5200 can be used to make all kinds of Raw vegan foods including smoothies, juice, ice cream, purees, soup, nut butter, sauce, mousse, pesto, salsa, slaw, nut/seed flours, sun-dried tomato powder, flax/chia meal, and more.
Yes, it's true that you can do many of those things with the Blendtec, but the Vita-Mix 5200 Model comes with a whopping 7-year warranty (base and container)! I'm so glad I have a Vita-Mix 5200. Start your 30-day no-risk in-home trial today and you'll receive FREE Standard Ground Shipping!
Blendtec Blender - One of the best high-powered blenders on the market. It's great for making all kinds of Raw vegan recipes. One of my favorite aspects about Blendtec is the shape of the container. The four flat sides (and the two-pronged blade) make it easy to get the food out, simple to clean, and the whole unit fits neatly on my counter under my cupboard. High powered blenders like this, and the Vita-Mix 5200 (details above), make Raw food preparation FUN!
KitchenAid 12-Cup Food Processor
Multi-Pure Undercounter Water Filter
Turning Vegetable Slicer
Spiral Slicer (Saladacco) - Less expensive version of the turning vegetable slicer. If you're on a budget, start with this one. When you can, get the turning vegetable slicer, too. They make different noodles.
Kyocera V-Slicer
Matfer Mandoline 2000s
Green Star GS-2000 Juicer FREE SHIPPING to 48 States - This Bad Boy isn't cheap, but it's life-changing. Nothing — and I mean nothing — beats juicing. Wanna go hardcore? This is it! Like the vegan version of being a vampire, you feel absolutely super-human when you drink down pure "plant blood." The juice you make with this can be stored in an airtight container for a couple of days without much oxidation (perfect for people who can only make juice once a day or less). This juicer also squeezes out every bit of juice, leaving you with very dry pulp. For a notch down on the intensity (and cost) scale, pick up a great blender and start with daily smoothies. (If you've not had green juice, try some at your local health food store before deciding which gear to invest in.) Juices and smoothies both go great with my Raw recipe ebook, "EASY Raw Smoothies, Juices, Elixirs & Drinks."
Breville Fountain Juicer
Miracle 7.5 Liter Harsch Fermenting Crock Pot- Having Raw, Organic, Unpasteurized sauerkraut (and other fermented veggies) is a staple in my family's diet. The benefits are numerous (friendly bacteria, vitamins, minerals, enzymes)! The problem is that it can get pretty expensive when buying this from the store on a regular basis. That's why I invested in this awesome fermenting pot. Now, I can make my own homemade (Raw, Organic, and Unpasteurized) sauerkraut and fermented vegetables for much cheaper. And, it's FUN and totally bad-ass!
Making Sauerkraut and Pickled Vegetables at Home: Creative Recipes for Lactic Fermented Food to Improve Your Health- Here is a great little book that I used for learning all about the benefits of raw, organic, unpasteurized sauerkraut and other fermented vegetables. It gave me great confidence when I was just starting out. It has some delicious recipes, too! (Even though there is mention of whey in the book, I make my sauerkraut with just organic cabbage and Himalayan crystal salt.)
Excalibur Dehydrator - Dehydrating your Raw food is a great addition to your Raw lifestyle because it adds tremendous variety to your diet as well as shelf life to some of your food. Now you can have crunchy foods, warm foods, marinated foods with a texture reminiscent of cooked food, and foods that can last a long time in your refrigerator or freezer. Learn everything you need to about using this magnificent piece of kitchen equipment, along with some of the best dehydrating recipes ever, with my ebook, EASY Raw Food Dehydrating (available Fall 2007).
Tribest FreshLife Sprouter
AeroGrow AeroGarden Garden
International Basil Seed Kit
Tribest Personal Travel Blender
Offset Spatula
Offset Spatula 6-inch
Spring Form Pans, Set of 2
The Scoopers!
Wide-Mouth Glass Mason Jar 1 Qt., Case of 12
Wide Mouth Glass Mason Jar 1 Pt., Case of 12
FoodSaver V2440 Advanced Design
Kitchen Food Scale
Fitness Equipment Must-Haves
Needak Half Fold Platinum Edition - $245 includes shipping - One of the BEST ways to easily get into shape, get your lymph system circulating and have FUN while you're doing it.
Lex Loop Exercise Bands
Get Your Jump Rope
Non-Food Organics
Terressentials - Organic body care for smart people - Hand-crafted, USDA Certified Organic which means these products are truly 100% Natural. I'm so glad I found them. Currently, I'm using some products from their frangrance-free line (hair and body), as well as their citrus handsoap (smells divine!).
Raw Gaia - Beautiful, living skin care products created from cold-pressed, organic and vegan ingredients, infused with essential oils and floral waters of the finest quality. I'm a fan of their Sun-dried Green Clay Face Pack and Floral Face Toner (two spritzes on my face, and the scent immediately relaxes me - talk about aromatherapy!).
Zosimos Botanicals - When it comes to makeup, I want the healthiest possible. Zosimos Botanicals is one of my favorites. I use their loose powder mineral foundation. And, what's more... they're an environmentally conscious company. They handcraft their own line of mineral makeup and natural skincare in a 100% wind-powered workshop. Cool!
Coastal Classic Creations - My makeup has to be as pure as possible, eco-friendly, cruelty-free, all natural, and non-toxic. Enter: Coastal Classic Creations. This company makes a great blush (Stargazer), eye shadows (I use these for liner and shadow - I like the following colors: Surfer's Beach, Shell, and Coastal Evenings), and lipsticks (my favorite color: Seacoast, a gorgeous red-orange that will always be a staple in my makeup bag).
futurenatural - Modern organic beauty boutique. There are a lot of great brands available here, including Suki (skin care and makeup). I'm extremely impressed with their customer service. And, your goodies come wrapped in an organic cotton bag that can be re-used as a shoe bag, for toiletries, gift wrap, or even produce (sweet!).
Raw Fitness
Raw Runner - The name kinda says it all.
Tonya Kay - Raw food athlete and professional dancer
Restaurants
Mandala Tearoom - 100% organic vegan restaurant in Scottsdale, AZ, where I am the Raw guest chef on special occasion.
Drop me a line to add your link here.
Raw & Health-Related Travel
Drop me a line to add your link here.
Friends of the Cause
Go Veg! - Are you eating a plant-based diet yet? Visit GoVeg.com to learn more.
American Vegan Society
Vegetarian Women
Veganica
A Delicate Balance - This is the single best and most compelling primer I've found for explaining to newcomers why people should adopt a plant-based diet. The question always comes up. Rather than try to explain, I simply refer people to the link for this movie. Truly amazing!
The Hemp Shop - Europe's leading hemp retailer with the largest selection of hemp and hemp blended products. From Foods to Clothing, Body Care to Paper, Luggage to Fabrics if it's made from the world's greatest Eco plant, come to The Hemp Shop, the UK's oldest Hemp company.
Ecoforest
AZ Vegan - Calendar and information source for vegans in Arizona.
Live-Food.com - Lively pictures and videos, live food locations, resources and more...
Wellness Coaching
Women's Radio
Ohio Raw Vegan Food Delivery
Foraging with the "Wildman" - Learn about medicinal herbs, greens, fruits, nuts, seeds, and mushrooms. Read excerpts from his books and find out what happened after he was arrested by NYC park rangers for eating a dandelion in Central Park!
Gentle World - A non-profit group educating the public on the benefits of a plant-based diet and sustainable living.
Real Raw Food
Catch A Healthy Habit
RawPeople.com
Art of Vibrant Health
L.O.V.E. Raw
Raw Food and Natural Hygiene