Got that blender and food processor yet?

We covered this topic in a previous module, but it's so important that it bears repeating!

Raw food recipes are made using different equipment than youʼre used to cooking with. Ideally, your raw food kitchen would have a high-speed blender (for wet recipes, like smoothies, sauces, puddings, etc.) and a food processor (for drier recipes, like nut pates, pie crusts, etc.).

To follow this 30-day plan you will need a blender and a food processor.

Blender:

You absolutely must have a blender in order to go raw. You can use an inexpensive blender on this plan, and many people do. But if you can afford it, please buy what we call a professional grade, high-speed blender. I use a VitaMix ($400++), but it is worth every penny because they can turn hard items—like nuts—into liquid and the motor wonʼt burn out.

Why should you shell out the big bucks on a professional blender? Because with a low-grade blender you will get small chunks of food that wonʼt blend any further. With a VitaMix you get satiny-smooth smoothies, nut butters, nut sauces, etc. So worth it! Honestly.

Food Processor:


You do not need a fancy food processor. If you donʼt have one already, simply buy one at your local big box or kitchen store. You should be able to find a reasonable food processor for $60(USD). Just make sure you get one that holds at least 6-8 cups of food. (Don't get a tiny one.) Food processors are used to make nut pates, pie crusts, crumbles, truffles, etc.

Do you really need both?

A commonly asked question is, “Do I really need a blender AND a food processor?” Yes is the answer! Blenders are used for more liquidy stuff, food processors are used for dryer stuff, capiche? You need both to succeed on the plan!

Assignment:

  • Sheesh! Yes, I really do own a blender!
  • Jeez! Yes, I really do own a food processor!

Make two raw recipes right now.

Before you go raw for 30 days, it's integral that you put your blender and food processor to the test with a couple of raw recipes.

Bonus: Audio Training (optional)

In this audio training, The Rawtarian dishes all the dirt on making raw food recipes in a food processor! What's a food processor, how is it different from a blender, do you need both, and  examples of recipes you can make in a food processor. Listen to the audio training right now by clicking here.

Assignment:

  • Make a recipe using your food processor:

Make The Rawtarian's raw brownies!

Assignment:

  • Make a recipe using your blender:

Make The Rawtarian's lemonade smoothie

Buy specialty foods

I advocate making really simple recipes that donʼt require a lot of specialty items. That being said, to follow this plan you will need to buy “chia seeds” and “nutritional yeast.” Please do buy these two items because they are integral to the recipes in the plan.
Chia seeds are a tapioca seed substitute, and they are really important for making pudding. Chia seeds are a thickener. Nutritional yeast comes in powder form, and it gives food a very nice cheesy flavor, so itʼs important for recipes.

These two items arenʼt always easily found locally, so get a jump on whether you can find them.

I recommend getting out your phone book and calling your local health food stores. If you canʼt find them locally, you can buy both chia seeds and nutritional yeast online.

Start with a clean, organized kitchen

Prior to going raw, you will benefit from a kitchen blitz. Go through your cupboards and cull all those old and nearly empty items.

Create a place in your cupboard for your dry raw food products. Also consider where you are going to keep your fruits and vegetables that do not require refrigeration, such as bananas and onions.

Itʼs a weird time when youʼre transitioning from Standard American Diet ("SAD") to raw foods. You may have some SAD food in your fridge that wonʼt get eaten and that will go bad, especially if you live alone. Try to give it away if possible, but also be open to simply chucking out stuff that will spoil. You are changing your life here!

Over time if you stay raw, you may end up throwing out a lot of things that you no longer use. However, donʼt go too crazy at the beginning. In terms of making room in your kitchen, you may consider buying a plastic tub and filling it with the dry goods you will not be using. Tuck the tub away and see how you get along.

Assignment:

  • Tidy up your kitchen. Use a large plastic bin to store dry goods (ex. white sugar, flour, cereals) that you will not be eating during your raw challenge.

Increased grocery budget

Unfortunately, in our culture, junk food is cheap and organic produce and healthy food is expensive. This is a reality.

Your grocery bill will increase, especially when you first go raw because you will be stocking your kitchen with items that you donʼt already have. If you are on a really tight budget, I encourage you to take a serious look at your spending. I guarantee you will find some other places to scrimp to free up some money for groceries.

And reminder, healthy food means better health, which equates to fewer sick days, higher productivity so you can accomplish more (equates to more earning potential) and less money spent on medical expenses.

The grocery lists in this course do not require you to purchase exclusively organic produce. This is for two reasons. First, organic produce is generally more expensive than non-organic produce so this is up to your discretion. Second, depending on your location and your time of year, it is not always possible to purchase all of your produce organically.

When deciding whether or not to purchase organic, I like to consider whether I will be eating the outer "shell." For example, bananas aren't as crucial to purchase organic since you will be removing the outer layer (peeling) before consuming. However, cherries, for example, are sprayed directly without any protective layer, so I would try to get those organic if possible. Again, this is up to you and may depend highly on your budget.

Assignment:

  • Allocate extra money in your grocery budget.

Assignment:

  • I own a blender and a food processor. (Honest!)
  • I have ordered chia seeds and nutritional yeast.
  • I have made at least two raw recipes: one recipe in my blender and one recipe in my food processor.
  • I have decluttered my kitchen to simplify my kitchen experience.
  • I have allocated extra money in my grocery budget.