First week of raw food school

Today was the first day of raw food school in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  I am on another food adventure, this time raw.  It is getting to be the "trendy" way of eating.  As a nutritional consultant, I want to learn about preparing some dishes which can be incorporated into some of my other cooked dishes.  Today we prepared a raw lasagna with thinly sliced zucchini to replace the noodles, a ricotta cheese-like filling made with soaked macadamia nuts to replace the ricotta cheese and a pesto sauce.  Here is a photo of the finished project.  The second photo is beet ravioli with microgreens and a yellow pepper sauce.  Why raw?  A certain amount of food should be eaten without cooking to derive the benefits from the enzymes in the food.

Nutritional information

One of the guests at Sewall House wanted to learn more about how to eat better.

What grains should I incorporate into my breakfasts?

I suggested that the grains include steel cut oats, amaranth, quinoa, sweet brown rice and teff and they should be rotated in order to get the nutrients from all.

How do I use the grains?

I suggested that they be soaked the night before as a time saver and also because they contain phytates or phytic acid which the body can not readily digest. The soaking makes them more digestible.

How do I prepare them?

I suggest two and a half parts liquid to one part grain.  Put the liquid in a sauce pan with a pinch of good quality sea salt, cover and let boil.  Then add the grain.  Keep an eye on the grains.  Once they absorb the liquid, you may need to add a little more until the mixture is creamy.  Top with slivered almonds, cinnamon and fruit.  The sweet rice can be enjoyed sweet or savory.  If savory, I suggest topping with a little soaked seaweed (arame is best) for iodine and minerals.

How is the seaweed prepared?

The arame is dried.  Break some off and put into a bowl.  Cover with water.  Let stand for about 10 to 15 minutes.  Then drain, and add minced garlic, minced ginger, a little tamari, rice vinegar, a splash of sesame oil and sesame seeds.

What other nutrients can I obtain at breakfast?

I suggest grinding chia and flax seeds in a coffee grinder and sprinkling them on your food.  This will assure you that you are getting the essential fatty acid known as omega 3 which is a crucial component of the diet.