Naraya Cooking Health Recipe

This was what I had for breakfast this morning after finishing my short juice fast last night (I had raw zucchini noodles with kale pesto) because chia is a great cleaning food. Its soluble fire gels up when stirred with water and when you eat it, it literally goes through your digestive system soaking up toxins and junk you don't want in there. Think of it as a sponge. But then that's not very appetizing... hmm. A yummy sponge? No, never mind.

Anyways - it's delicious and SUPER nutritious. It is one of the most nutrient-dense seeds on the planet as a matter o' fact. Just look it up on the world wide interweb and see for yourself! Make it anytime of the day for a filling snack or meal.

• 1 small head of cabbage
• micro greens, sprouts, or purple cabbage, optional
• 1/2 of the Creamy Lemon Herb Dressing dressing recipe
• himalayan salt & cracked pepper to taste

• 1 cup almonds
• 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon himalayan salt

Start with the parmesan by adding all four ingredients into your food processor/blender and pulse until you have a somewhat chunky to fine meal. Depending on how you like it...it can be chunky or of a finer consistency. Store parmesan in and air tight container in the pantry or refrigerator. Will last up to a couple months, longer in the fridge.

Rinse quinoa gently under running water to remove any dust. In a medium size pot, add quinoa and 1 1/2 cups water, bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Once done, remove cover and let stand 15 minutes, fluff with a fork. Perfect quinoa!

While quinoa is cooking, combine all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl, taste for seasoning and let set.

Chop and dice your remaining vegetables, except the edemame. Place chopped vegetables and edemame in a large bowl, add the dressing tossing gently to coat.

Once ready, add quinoa to the vegetables and toss together. Serve with a little more sea salt & cracked pepper and squeeze of lemon on top. Pairs well with a nice glass of refreshing lemon water. Makes appx. 6 serving.

More juicing for detox! Cleansing your beautiful body is the perfect way to start off the new year, in my opinion. I'm going to do a juice fast, starting this afternoon. (This juice recipe is from yesterday afternoon after I worked out.) I would start right away today but I'm staying at my boyfriends and he is not fortunate enough to have a juicer. Sad face.

Anyone who wants to join me is totally welcome! It'll probably last about 5 to 10 days and I will be posting frequently on the blog (here) and facebook.


Even if you're eating 100% raw (or whatever you consider to be the most optimal diet for you), exercising daily and all that other good stuff, it is never a bad idea to do a juice cleanse - I use the words "fast" and "cleanse" interchangeably by the way - because you are not necessarily restricting your calories so you won't be starving or malnourished.

In fact, on a juice fast you will most likely be enjoying the most nutritious diet ever because - like I just said - you're getting adequate calories, but you are also receiving the highest quality, most nutrient-dense and high water content foods on the planet that are ridiculously easy to absorb and digest. Fresh juice is delicious and can save lives. It has already.

The juice I made today was to give my skin a boost in health and colour. Winter does a number on my skin and hair because both are pretty sensitive. Cucumber is excellent for your skin, as is celery and they are both included in this recipe. Want glowing skin? Drink cucumber juice.

Happy New Year, everyone! I have been saying for a while now that it seems to me 2013 is a distinctly new phase in the history of humankind - don't know why. "2013" just sounds more epic and futuristic than 2012 or any previous year. Think about it: "Twenty Thirteen"... wooaah.


I figured after the holiday you guys are probably not feeling your cleanest. I, for one, was enjoying the abundance of wine that is a primary necessity for any successful social gathering. As well as the raw vegan cheeses my mom and I made. If you're like me - you just wanna clean up your system a bit and feel some detox. Juice is great for detoxification since it is nutrient-PACKED and absorbed into your juicy bloodstream in about 15 minutes.

Which reminds me - let me go off on a tangent here - you should watch this documentary called Hungry For Change and show it to everyone you care about! I loved it. It is exactly what Standard American Dieters need right now. It is made by the same people who did Food Matters (another solid doc) and it applies to anyone who wants to finally experience superior health and happiness in an affordable, natural and easy way. Okay, tangent done.

Clean out your system and get back to that fresh, clear-minded feeling you learn to adore on the raw food diet. Make juice.

this glass of juice:

2 apples
3 carrots
1/2 cucumber
2 pineapple slices
1/2 cup cilantro mint leaves
1 tomato 
1/2 lemon 

Peel and slice as needed, then throw everything in your juicer! Enjoy. 

Ingredients

• 2 large tomatoes
• 5 or 6 grape tomatoes
• 1 red bell pepper
• juice of 1/2 lemon
• 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
• a few cilantro, parsley or basil leaves
• a few chives
• pinch of red pepper flakes
• himalayan salt to taste

Quarter your tomatoes. Core and de-seed your bell pepper, cut into slices. Place all ingredients in food processor/blender and blend until a soup consistency. Taste for flavor adding extra ingredients to suit your taste. Serve with a squeeze of lemon juice over top and some chopped chives, parsley or basil. Serves one or two small as an appetizer. Feel free to warm gently.

Notes: 

Would be great with julienned or spiralized zucchini noodles.