I love eating a raw food diet. I especially love eating a raw food diet in the summer. Many of you know that I frequent our farmer’s markets. Not only do I get great prices on produce, but I get fresh, just picked veggies and fruit. I also get to support local growers and see produce that I normally don’t have access to year round.

Right now, lettuce is beautiful and plentiful. I have been buying a lot of romaine and eating a lot of salads, not to mention putting it in green drinks. I have to tell you, I have never been a big salad eater. I love my raw food diet but salads can seem like a lot of work, not only to prepare but to eat. With all of these beautiful greens around, I couldn’t resist and  have been making quite a few.

Here’s where it get’s interesting. As I eat more salads, I find that my cravings (normally for potato chips) have shifted. Now I am craving salads! It is quite amazing how you can retrain your taste-buds. As you eat healthier, your cravings for not-so-healthy food will eventually be replaced by cravings for healthy food!

I love mixing fruit with my greens. Don’t worry food combiners, greens are different than veggies. They are considered a leaf and closer to fruit than vegetables. Still, listen to your body as we are all different.

This is my current favorite salad. Mangoes, strawberries, jicama, and avocado, over romaine topped with a beautiful little blueberry vinaigrette and pumpkin seeds for that extra little boost. This is a hearty salad that works great for any meal.

I still have turmeric on the brain. All of the wonderful, healthy benefits that you get from eating this spice, let alone how tasty it is, inspires me. I have been craving easy, hearty raw food salads for lunch. Since I am up in the frozen tundra, I like to have a little more substance to my meals at this time of year. Starting with pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds, I added some of my favorite veggies and came up with a satisfying, flavorful salad that is perfect for lunch or dinner. Read more about turmeric here.

Equipment needed: Blender, food processor (optional)

The holidays are over along with tables full of beautiful festive food. While my body is craving clean, healthy raw food, my mind still is looking for beauty. Time for a festive salad! Oranges, pomegranate, pecans and greens topped with a orange chia seed dressing. Quick, festive and delicious!

I love to make raw food versions of traditional recipes. One of my favorite salads from the “old” days was broccoli, raisin salad.It is a favorite that appears everywhere. You will find it at salad bars, and potlucks. The original is filled with bacon, mayo and sugar. That no longer fits into my needs for healthy, raw food. I still find myself craving this salad so I decided to make a raw food recipe version. The bacon has been eliminated and the sugar and fat laden dressing is replaced by a healthy cashew based dressing.  I am pleased with the results and hope you will be too. No one will ever guess this is raw!

Avocado Mango Broccoli Salad

Years ago, there was a dessert that I would occasionally treat myself to.  It involved a brownie, a scoop of ice cream, a little cast iron skillet, hot fudge and a hot caramel sauce. The brownie and the caramel sauce were heated in the  oven until sizzling. It was topped with the ice cream and hot fudge. What made this dessert so special was the combination of hot and cold, and the opposing textures of smooth and crunchy. Why is this being discussed before a recipe for a salad? Opposing textures apply to all food. They creates a more interesting mouth feel and are a simple way to add complexity. This quick and easy salad uses opposing textures and flavors. The result is divine.

As we hit the “dog days” of August, salad for dinner is an appetizing alternative to heavier meals. A dinner salad requires some substance. Avocados and mangoes are a great flavor combination but very similar in texture. By adding broccoli and a red onion, you introduce the crunch, and a big nutritional boost . Broccoli provides vitamin A, C, folic acid, and a healthy dose of calcium, magnesium and iron. Broccoli also contains Indoles, which can inactivate harmful estrogens that promote tumor growth, Sulforaphane, which stimulates cells to make cancer fighting enzymes, and beta carotene which is another known cancer fighter. Broccoli contains 26% protein and a healthy dose of calcium.

Summer is the time to celebrate locally grown produce. Strawberries take on a whole new personality when they are grown close by. The berries, with their deep red flesh burst in your mouth with flavor. Evoking picnics by the lake, bare feet and sweet fragrant breezes, local strawberries are truly a summer indulgence.

As we move into August, salads can become the focal point of the meal. Heavier foods are no longer appealing as the long, warm days ask us for a refreshing meal. Strawberries are a wonderful addition to greens. Combined with a raw strawberry vinaigrette and almond brittle for an extra textural crunch, this salad will easily take center stage. This recipe will require advanced prep time for the almond brittle.

How wonderful it is when life throws something completely unexpected your way. Recently, I was shopping at a local cooking store. Having sent the sales person off to look for some small tart pans, I went back to being completely distracted by all the cooking gadgets surrounding me. “How are things?” Looking up I instantly realized  that the woman checking on my tart pans was a former bridesmaid of mine! A dear friend that I had lost contact with over the years. She didn’t recognize me either, and we both had a good laugh. Connections made, we were thrilled!

After much catching up, we started talking about raw food. Kim is a very good cook and was quite interested to learn about the health benefits and techniques used to make raw food. What followed was an entire day of raw food creating. She brought some of her favorite recipes and we converted them with fabulous results. For lunch, raw wilted spinach salad with pine nut tarragon hit the spot and she was pleased to see how easy it was to prepare. For one of her first raw meals, it went over well.

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Visiting the produce section is always a fun adventure. I love to see what is new and what has just shown up that wasn’t there last week or even yesterday. On my latest trip, I found blood oranges. They taste similar to regular oranges but have a deep scarlet color. A couple of them came home in my bag and inspired this raw food recipe for strawberry salad. Once again, coconut and chia seeds were used to compliment the fruit and add a nutritious punch. This is a great salad to welcome in the warmer weather.

For more raw food recipes for salads click here: Raw Food Recipes

What do you think about when you hear, Chia? If you are like a lot of people, the commercial, chia…ch ch ch ch Chia…starts playing in your head. Did you have a chia pet? I did. Little did I know that those tiny chia seeds…the ones that grew the mad “hair” on the little terra cotta figures… are packed with nutrition and a great addition to your raw food diet!

Chia seeds contain more omega 3′s than any other natural source. And unlike flax, you do not have to grind them to release their goodness. They are easily digestible and provide one of the highest degrees of anti-oxidant activity. Because of their unique blend of protein, essential Fats, fiber, complex carbohydrates, and antioxidants, chia is unrivaled among seeds and grains for providing energy to your body. These are just a few of the known benefits of Chia seeds. There is a great article on chia on “The Living and Raw Foods” website. You can access it here: http://www.living-foods.com/articles/chia.html Make sure you buy chia seeds that are meant to be consumed. Don’t eat your pet’s potential hair.

This fruit salad not only contains chia seeds but also walnuts, coconut, craisins, and fruit. This raw food chia salad recipe is a great way to serve up a bowl of health.

For more great raw food salad recipes click here: Raw Food Recipes