I am just looking through recipes, so this is a general observation/question. When did our raw food recipe ideas become so unhealthy? How can we possibly think that, for instance, a dessert recipe full of fat and sugar could be at all healthy? I’d probably feel better eating a Snickers! I don’t understand how we’ve gotten so far away from what is truly natural and healthy and good for us and in our efforts to break our addictions to cooked foods, we’ve simply mirrored these same unhealthy and processed, fatty foods with mock recipes made mostly of fats and unnatural flavorings, etc. When did eating fat laden nuts, seeds, or recipes full of salty condiments such as nama shoyu and Braggs, or cocoa powder and maple syrup become healthy? What a joke…this is a journey and I realise we are all tryinmg to figure out the raw food lifestyle…but come on, we are WAAAAYYY off track here.

There is nothing unnatural in this recipe at all. Raw almonds, almond butter, cacao, and agave are all things that are very good for you. You speak of fats like they’re devil’s food. The body CANNOT function without them, so why not enjoy them when you have them. And everyone loves a dessert once in a while. Things like this are meant to be a treat, not something that you eat everyday without bounds.

Keep things in perspective. And also, the Raw diet is about finding balance. Finding what works for you personally.

And we should try to keep things positive around here!

I agree with you laurajean. But have you ever tried eating plain old nuts and fruit? I did that for a while, and just ended up eating a big bag of potato chips every week. One cannot survive without starving to death, you just have to eat something. And raw fats and stuff are completely natural, verus cooked fats and proteins, which are like eating poison. Does something in my recipe seem unnatural? If so, please tell, because almonds don’t seem very toxic to me. Raw cocoa powder is completely healthy, and don’t forget it prevents heart disease! :)

I agree with Shady Lady.

This is the thing that troubles me. In every single one of my raw food boks (exception is Dr. Graham), the authors encourage to eat as much as you want of their recipes, stressing how healthy and how you don’t need to worry about fat and that it is superior to a cooked diet, etc. However, the recipes are almost all made of nuts and seeds. Nuts and seeds have replaced grains and grain flours, cheese, meats, everything. The leaders in raw foods are amost explicitly promoting a high-fat diet. I do believe fat is essential in the diet. However, my concern is that there is an over-emphasis on using fatty foods to replace cooked foods in the diet. I read too often how many people start this lifestyle, not knowing much about it, and they end up feeling lousy because they are consuming too many fats. I would LOVE to find some kind of low-fat substitute for nuts, avocado, and seeds in recipes! Any ideas?

Perhaps Laura Jean’s comments would be better served on the forums page.

Laurajean, nowhere does raw claire advocate eating as much as you like of her creation. She simply posted it here like all of us do to share….People not doing well on raw foods who dont know much about it are not doing well because they lack education about the diet and /or common sence. please realize that everyone is on their own path, coming from many different dietary back grounds. If, for example, someone ate alot of junk food and goodies and switched to raw they would want to recreate their goodies in a more healthful way until such time as the goodies lost their appeal…Everyone here enjoys creative new recipes…I may not make them for myself but i appreciate the effort…maybe take these creations less personally. there are many raw recipes here with few or no nuts and fats…check out my fatleg burritos for instance. relax, you are among friends here;)

Laurajean, you may enjoy checking out Frederic Patenaude’s site – he explains how to thrive on a low fat raw vegan diet quite well. And I think for the most part, most of the more “complex” recipes on this site are really while transitioning to a cleaner, more pure way of eating. I think the body naturally will move away from the heavier foods and complex flavourings when it is time for the next level.

Not everyone needs to eat a low fat diet. I, for one, need those fatty acids to repair myelin. I don’t make the complicated recipes everyday, but it’s nice to have options when I do. Thanks for the recipe rawclaire.

These little delicious treats keep me from endulging in far worse SAD ones. Yes, moderation is the key, but so is finding alternatives and not feeling deprived, especially during transition. Sounds Yummy for me and my non-raw hubby!

how is anyone supposed to transition to a raw diet without these wonderful raw fats? This is transition food, and I think a lot of people are very grateful for recipes like this. I ate these things for about a year before my body stopped wanting them, a common experience. Go with what your body wants, learn to listen to it and trust it and you won’t go wrong.

Yes. I am one of those people who just ate fruit, juices, and a little cooked chicken broth for a while. (no noodles or chicken though, just broth), and a few nut creations here and there. I almost starved to death on that diet, and ended up eating these huge oily Indian meals of rice and potatoes periodically, which made me feel sick. And I would eat potato chips eat least every week. Now that I have more raw “delicacies” that I can eat, like raw brownies and ice cream, I really dont crave those things anymore, (except occasionally I indulge on a few potato chips) lol Glad everybody liked the recipe! :)

Wow, all your recipes sound fantastic! Can’t wait to give them a go.

I second what subbacultcha said, I am in awe of your creativity, rawclaire, and I would be very sad if you stopped sharing your creations. I can see the joy you get from creating and sharing, that’s the best part. Funny, I forgot what recipe we were talking about…oh yeah, brownies! I love brownies!

i would croak on a low fat diet! Anyhow, a lot of rawclairs recipes are for sweets and treats. The key word here being ‘treat’. Common sense states that you do not gorgee on treats every day. Actually, you shouldn’t gorge on anything for that matter, low fat or not! Calories are still calories!

Oh yeah, the recipe sounds like a yummy treat!

i would croak on a low fat diet! Anyhow, a lot of rawclairs recipes are for sweets and treats. The key word here being ‘treat’. Common sense states that you do not gorgee on treats every day. Actually, you shouldn’t gorge on anything for that matter, low fat or not! Calories are still calories!

Oh yeah, the recipe sounds like a yummy treat!