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Zain’s Raw Pecan Pie

What better a way to celebrate the first day of autumn than with a healthy, homemade, pecan pie.  With three easy steps and no-baking, this little sugar free treat is sure to become one of your clean dessert favourites!

Guilt-free desserts are where it’s at and this is one of my most popular recipes (amongst my friends that is) so I thought it was high time that I shared it with you.

***NOTE: This recipe is raw, vegan and gluten-free, holla!!

Makes 8 Servings (for 2 individual pies 1/2 this recipe as shown in the photo or for a single pie 1/4 this recipe)

Ingredients:

Crust

1 Cup Ground Uncontaminated Oats (OR Almond Flour)

2 Tbsp Sunwarrior Protein Powder OR Protein Powder of Your Choice (whey, brown rice, pumpkin seed etc)

2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

25-30 Drops Vanilla Creme Stevia OR Clean Sweetener of Your Choice (2 Tbsp Maple Syrup works great here)

Pinch Pink Himalayan Crystal Salt

Pecan Pie Filling

1 Cup Medjool Dates (soaked for at least 2 hours, I soak mine overnight)

1 Cup Pecans

1 Tbsp Maca Root Powder (optional)

1 Ripe Banana

2 Tsp Natural Vanilla Extract

1 Tbsp Cinnamon

1/8 Tsp Nutmeg

Pecans to Top (optional)

Directions:

1. In a food processor, blend all ingredients for crust into a dough-like consistency

2. Pat crust into an 8 inch spring form pan (or 2 4 inch spring form mini pans) evenly

3. In a food processor, blend all ingredients for pie filling until thoroughly combined, scraping down the sides if necessary and pour batter over the crust.  Level off with a spatula or spoon to even it out

4. Top with pecans if you wish and freeze for at least 3 hours (I freeze mine overnight)

5. Remove from freezer and pan and serve with Zain’s Coconut Whip Cream

***Note, this is the perfect recipe to bring for festive harvest dinners and especially for Thanksgiving! 

Zain’s Raw Banana Chia Pudding

This delicious, healthy and raw recipe for banana pudding is the perfect treat for warm spring evenings.  Incorporating the nutrient rich, health benefits of chia seeds, which are high in omega 3’s, antioxidants, and fibre in combination with potassium-rich bananas and the sweetness of the superfood cashew.

Ingredients:

3 Ripe Bananas

11/4 Cup Unsweetened Almond OR Flax Milk

1 Vanilla Pod

1/3 Cup Dates (pitted)

2 Tbsp Chia Seeds (soaked in 1/8 Cup Water)

31/2 Tbsp Cashew Butter (Raw)

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in food processor or magic bullet until mixture becomes creamy. 

2. Separate into two bowls and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.

Zain’s Raw Brownies

Ok guys this recipe is going to blow your mind.  Super simple, 7 ingredients and completely RAW!!  

Ready?

Ingredients:

11/4 Cup Medjool Dates (Pitted, soaked in warm water for 5 mins)

1 Cup Walnuts (I used sprouted and dried walnuts, but regular will do fine here)

1/2 Cup Unsweetened Cacao 

1/4 Cup Unsweetened Cacao Nibs (optional, but highly recommended)

1/2 Cup Raw Almonds (chopped, I soak mine overnight but you don’t have to)

15g Chia Seeds (optional)

1/8 Tsp Himalayan Crystal Salt

Directions:

1. In a food processor, blend walnuts into a fine ground.

2. Add cacao powder and salt and pulse to combine, then add dates individually until the mixture becomes ‘crumby.’

3. In a square pan, press the walnut/cacao mixture down firmly pressing in the almonds, chia seeds and cacao nibs into the mixture.

4. Freeze for at least 2 hours and then slice into squares.

*Note, I can’t be held responsible for your addiction to this recipe 

Zain’s Raw Mixed Berry Pie

I know it’s mid-week and many of you probably have no time or desire to bake a pie but seeing as how it is a rainy, gloomy, day and I am taking a break from work, I thought I would make the best use of my time and create a quick and nutritious raw pie to enjoy later this afternoon with my cup of tea.  The best part is, I don’t even need to preheat!  

Ingredients:

*Note, this recipe is for a single serving pie, for whole pie, just increase the recipe by 8 times*

Crust

1/8 Cup Almonds OR Walnuts

1/8 Cup Unsweetened Coconut

1/8 Cup Soaked Dates

1 Tsp Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

Pinch Himalayan Crystal Salt

Filling

1/4 Cup Unsweetened Coconut

1/4-1/2 Cup Frozen Rasberries, Blueberries, Strawberries, Blackberries (mix or your choice of one or more)

1 Tbsp Honey OR Agave OR 1 Packet Stevia/Splenda

1 Tsp Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

Pinch Himalayan Crystal Salt

Directions:

1. In a food processor, blend ingredients of crust and press into a single serving pie pan.

2. Blend ingredients for filling.

3. Pour filling into crust and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

* Top with fresh fruit, coconut flakes, nuts or serve with Zain’s Vanilla Almond Ice Cream!

Spring Cleaning? Benefits of Juicing

As a Holistic Sports Nutritionist, one of the most important impressions that has stayed with me through my training and into my own diet, is the importance of juicing for health.  Consuming foods with extremely high enzymatic value, such as fresh vegetable and fruit juice, is essentially a practice that can regenerate the health of your cells by oxygenating them, thus, fresh juice can be considered the ‘fountain of youth’.  Not only is it excellent for your cells, fresh juice has a myriad of benefits

(info from the juicer guru):

• Juicing for health provides vital nutrients, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals for our bodies to repair themselves, strengthen the immune system and for cell regeneration and growth.
• Unlocking nutrients of raw foods is one of the vital benefits of juicing. Fiber is quite literally locked into many vegetables and fruits and the potential benefit of the fiber is lost as the digestive system does not unlock it. Juicing releases the fiber’s nutrition so that benefit may be realized.
• Normally we do not consume peelings, seeds and pits of fruits and vegetables. These parts are a rich source of vital nutrients we normally throw away. A good quality juicer extracts juice from the whole veggie or fruit, including peelings, pits and seeds to provide vitamin and minerals that would otherwise be lost.
• Heat kills live enzymes. A quality juicer minimizes heat in order to preserve the most live enzymes possible.
• Using a good quality juicer will cause the least amount of foaming in the juice. Foam is indicative of oxidation of the juice which lowers the antioxidant benefit. Less foam equals more antioxidant benefit.
• Juice is an excellent snack or meal replacement that is very filling. Many dieters claim that juices assist them to lose pounds with no hunger.
• The antioxidant effects of juices will help detoxify your body and help you eliminate the toxins, fats, preservatives and chemicals that a diet of processed foods leave behind in your body.
• Increased energy and mood uplift are collateral benefits of juicing. As your body becomes detoxified and “cleaned out” it will be more able to access and utilize restorative and sustaining nutrients which most likely will make you feel better in general. When you feel better you are more energized and happier.
• The most readily digestible or absorbable form of foods, not to mention the most concentrated form, is juice. Juicing makes foods easy to digest and thus, easier for the body to receive maximum benefit from the source food.
• Making your own juices allows you to make any combination of fruits or vegetables that you choose into juice – and you know what’s in it, unlike produce on the supermarket shelves.

In my experience and opinion, including fresh juice into your diet is excellent in aiding digestion and cleansing of the digestive tract, detoxifying the body and protecting it from potential diseases, and the nutrient content is off the scales good.

The important thing to remember is that fresh juice should be consumed immediately due to oxidation, where if left, the nutrient, vitamin and mineral value rampantly decreases over time. Temperature also affects the quality and nutrient value of fresh juice so keep it cool!

If you do not have a juicer (they can be quite costly), I would recommend picking up a fresh juice from your local juice bar at least once a week: Booster Juice or Jugo Juice (in North America) offer great varieties.

Lastly, remember that if you are enjoying a fresh juice, fruit juices have a very high fructose content which, if not consumed in portion, can affect your weight loss goals.  If you are trying to lose weight, stick with the following:

• Green vegetable juices
• Avoid too many beets, carrots, burdock root
• If fruit is included in the recipe, request that they halve the portion ie. 1/2 apple rather than a whole apple

Here are some recipes I love:

Rookie Greens:

½  head of romaine lettuce

½ cucumber

6 spinach leaves

1 green apple

Hardcore Green:

2 celery stalks

1 cup kale or spinach

½ cucumber

1 cup wheat grass

Green Energizer:

½ cup broccoli

3 celery stalks

1 handful fresh parsley

1 handful fresh spinach

½ cucumber

½ inch fresh peeled ginger

1 lemon, peeled

Directions:

1. Clean all produce well. Toss in the juicer in order and drink immediately.

 Check out My Favourite Drinks Page for some of my other 

Raw Food and Fitness

I am really excited to write about raw food and fitness.  Consuming more raw foods and living a green lifestyle has increased in trendiness over the last decade.  As a yogi, fitness model, and health fanatic, I must say I am a huge fan and advocate of raw food and I have personally experienced amazing changes in my own body in terms of energy, vitality, leanness, digestibility of food and the vibrancy of my skin and hair with the inclusion of raw food into my diet.

Although I am not completely raw, I have experienced a period of almost 2 years where I was eating only raw and now have found a balance where I eat cooked food and incorporate raw food principles into my current regime.  For me, balance works best.  I love my cooked meals but I also love including raw smoothies, live drinks and other raw ingredients and recipes into my diet.

I am certified as a Raw Food Nutritionist in addition to being a Sports Nutritionist and I have seen first hand what the addition of these enzyme rich foods has done for my clients and my peers in the fitness industry.

Competing in fitness and in any sport for that matter can be very taxing and depleting for the body.  Often after competition or a sporting event, athletes will feel fatigued and can even experience minor depression.  Refuelling the body with fresh, natural, raw ingredients helps to build muscle tissue and oxygenate and hydrate muscles making for faster repair and rebuilding.

My Favourite Raw Boosts:

• Bee Pollen
• Maca
• E3-Live
• Spirulina 
• Chlorella
• Unpasteurized Apple Cider Vinegar
• Chia Seeds
• Sprouted Sunflower Seeds

Zain’s Delicious Green Smoothie:

Ingredients:

2 Leaves Organic Kale (stems removed)

2 Leaves Organic Swiss Chard (stems removed)

1/4 Cup Organic Spinach

1/4 Organic Cucumber

1 Cup Organic Strawberries

1 Ripe Organic Peach

1/8 Piece Ginger

3 Sprigs Parsley 

1/8 Tsp Chlorella

1/8 Tsp Spirulina

1/2 Cup Water

2 Cups Ice

Directions:

1. Blend all ingredients in a food processor, add/reduce water to your consistency  liking.

Zain’s Raw Superfood Shake:

1 Tbsp Raw Cacao OR 1 Tbsp Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

30g Raw Coconut Meat

1 Tbsp Raw Organic Cashew Butter

1 Vanilla Bean Or 1/8 Tsp All Natural Vanilla

1 Cup Unsweetened Almond Milk

1 Tsp Raw Unpasteurized Honey

2 Organic Dates

1/4 Tsp Maca

1/2 Cup Ice

Directions:

1. Blend all ingredients in a food processor.

I would like to introduce one of my all time inspirations: The amazing Raw Food Trainer, Mary Luciano http://www.maryluciano.com/home

Here are some simple ways you can start incorporating raw foods everyday according to Mary Luciano:

1. Start by just having a salad on a regular daily basis. Make one huge hearty salad with a variety of colors from the rainbow. Add leafy greens, like romaine, spinach, leafy green, mixed greens, kale, and endive. Add crunchy vegetables like red, green, yellow peppers, celery, and cucumber. You can also add raw nuts and seeds to add more crunch and change the texture. You can even add some fruits like strawberries and blueberries to sweeten it up. Lastly add a healthy tasty dressing and Viola a full meal.

2. Try a fruit or green smoothie add some protein powder or hemp protein and flax oil to make it a complete meal for morning or afternoon. Or simple as a snack.

3. Add at least one type of raw food at each meal. 

4. Try making freshly pressed fruit and vegetable juices. If you don’t have a juicer visit a juice bar in your area.

5. Experiment with different fruits and vegetables you’ve never tried before.

6. Raw foods are becoming so mainstream you can purchase a raw cookbook almost anywhere. Buy one and commit to trying a new recipe once a week, one a month what works for you.

7. Do some research and see if there is a raw food restaurant in your area. Make a point of going out and trying it. This will help you to see that you can turn almost anything into a delicious raw food dish. 

8. Have fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds as snack. Adding nuts and seeds can also help you feel more full and satisfied.

9. Visit a health food store and see if you can find a raw energy bar such as Lara Bars or Smart Monkey Bars.

10.Try out various raw super foods such as Goji Berries, Algae (Sprilina, Chlorella, E-3live) and Seaweed (Nori, Arame, Wakame, Kelp and Dulse).

Incorporating more raw foods into your lifestyle does not have to complicated.  The more raw foods you add daily the better you will start to feel. The more you are committed to adding variation into your lifestyle the more you will see that raw foods can be delicious and fun.