LA JOLLA.  If you were a celebrity, would you hire a vegan chef to prepare all of your meals?  If you are nodding your head in agreement, it’s time to learn about Bee Green, a company that prepares and delivers organic, plant-based meals to your front door.  This blog post chronicles my experience on the 3-day meal plan.

How Does the 3-Day Meal Plan Work?

Bee Green delivered the food to my doorstep in a reusable cooler bag with ice.  Unzipping the cooler bag was like opening a birthday present.  I couldn’t wait to see what surprises were inside!  I assembled everything on my counter: 6 drinks, 3 entrees, 3 salads, and 3 small snacks/desserts.

Bee Green also sent a helpful email with instructions and suggestions on how to maximize my meal experience.  My favorite suggestion?  Bee Green recommends eating your biggest meal between 10am – 2pm because that’s when your body burns the most calories.   Who knew?!

This meal plan is designed for maximum convenience.  All of the drinks, salads, and entrees are easily portable.  Also, the entrees are all housed in microwave friendly containers.

Day 1:

I started my first day with the Bee Green Super Food Bliss Smoothie.  This was a mild tasting creamy drink made from avocado, almond, coconut, and banana.  It filled me up and gave me energy for a morning work out.

Soon after my run, I began obsessing about the Butternut Squash Rito.  I love (and I assure you that “love” is not too strong of a word) butternut squash.  Unsurprisingly, I could not resist this burrito.  I put it in my toaster oven and tried to wait patiently as the intoxicating aroma filled my kitchen.

The burrito tasted as good as it smelled.  Warm vegan cheese clung to brown rice and black beans, and the roasted butternut squash melted in my mouth.   And all of this rolled up in a delicious spinach tortilla!  I applaud Bee Green for “making over” the traditional burrito – heavy with meat and dairy – into a healthy and energizing entree!

Later in the afternoon, I drank my Immune Boost Cleanser made from grapefruit, garlic, lemon, acidophilis, Udo’s oil, and cayenne.  I was not familiar with acidophilis or Udo’s oil, so investigation ensued . . .

Acidophilis is a bacteria that lives in the intestine and consuming acidophilis can help support a healthy intestinal tract and aid in digestion.  To learn more about the benefits of acidophilis, click on the following link:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/lactobacillus/NS_patient-acidophilus

Udo’ Oil is a certified organic, plant based oil (no fish!) designed to provide you with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in the optimum 2:1 ratio.  For more information on Udo’s Oil, check out:

http://www.oilthemachine.com/About-The-Oil.html

The drink tasted like spicy grapefruit juice with a small aftertaste of garlic.  I really liked it.  The spice complimented the citrus, and the drink kept my hunger at bay for a surprisingly long time.

I finished off my first day with the Mediterranean Salad made from baby kale, chickpeas, zucchini, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, chia seeds, and dill/mint/lemon dressing.   The crunchy veggies in this salad contrasted nicely with the soft chickpeas.  My favorite part was the zingy, minty dressing.  It was a delicious entrée salad.

I had been eying the snack/dessert box – the Banana Bread Bar – since unpacking my bag that morning.  It looked like my favorite kind of food – one that feels like an indulgence but that is actually good for you!  A quick glance at the ingredients was reassuring:  oats, whole flour, banana, almonds, pecans, hemp, flax, chia seeds, and coconut oil.  As a helpful bonus, Bee Green had cut the banana bread into three pieces – one piece for each day.

Day 2:

I started off Day 2 with one of Bee Green’s new drinks, the Green Monster.  Made from gala apple, collards, chard, kale, coconut oil, and orange, it is sweet and easy to drink.  Luckily, its dark green color serves as proof of the dense nutrients inside.  And it paired well with my second piece of the Banana Bread bar – I couldn’t wait!

That afternoon, I was ready to try the Spinach Pie, which consists of spinach, onions, sundried tomatoes, garlic, basil, chives, and tofu in a spelt crust.  The spices and the sundried tomatoes ensure that there is plenty of flavor in this pie.  And the flaky vegan crust is both ingenuous and delicious.

My mid-day snack was the Super Food Bliss smoothie.  It was just as good as I remembered from the day before!

Next up was the Green Tahini Salad.  Here, we have kale, red onion, red potato, red pepper, carrots, pecans, and cranberries with a tahini dressing.  In case you just skimmed the ingredient list, I will emphasize that, yes, this salad has red potatoes!  They add gravitas to the salad, filling the belly.  I also enjoyed the strong taste of the tahini dressing.  One of the most unique and tasty salads I have had.  Ever.

Day 3:

I began day 3 with the Banana Rama smoothie, a mix of banana, spinach, almonds, coconut, and raw protein.  This smoothie was thick, like a milkshake, and had a light taste of banana with a hint of coconut.   And of course, while drinking this smoothie, my last piece of Banana Bread Bar disappeared.

Lunch time came, and I was excited for my final entrée, the Fideua Spanish Pasta.  This dish is made from quinoa pasta, mushrooms, onion, red bell pepper, parsley, tomato, asparagus, soyrizo, and garlic.  (People are making pasta from quinoa!  How did I miss this?)  Before Bee Green came into my life, I usually put pasta and red sauce in the “boring” category.   But the Fideua has rebooted my whole outlook on pasta.  I loved the abundance of veggies in the dish – every bite contained crunchy asparagus and delectable mushrooms.  I also appreciated that the dish wasn’t smothered in tomato sauce.  Rather, everything was in perfect balance, filling, but not heavy.

My final drink was the Amazon Power Antioxidant drink, blended from acai, red chard, red cherries, banana, and coconut water.  Perhaps it was fitting that my final drink was also my favorite drink.  This drink confused my taste buds in a good way – it started off sweet, but evolved into tiers of tartness.  It is wonderfully unique.

And my final day ended with my favorite salad.  The Roasted Veggie Salad combines beets, carrots, zucchini, grape tomatoes, spinach, basil, and vegan feta, served with balsamic dressing.  I will be buying some vegan feta soon.  Very soon.  It adds tremendous flavor to the salad.  Further, this salad also reminded me how roasted vegetables can have more flavor than their raw counterparts

Conclusions:

I looked forward to each portion of my Bee Green 3-day meal plan.  The drinks were excellent.  I liked the variety of ingredients and the resulting energy boost.  The entrees were also special.  They demonstrate how fresh, whole foods are powerful, filling, and satisfying.  And Bee Green has renewed my interest in salads, especially those born of diverse ingredients and creative combinations.  Most importantly, this meal program unlocked valuable hours in my day and eviscerated the stress of seeking meals on a busy schedule.  My only task was to enjoy the food.  Mission accomplished.

To find out more about Bee Green (they also offer cleanses and cater!) check out their website at:

http://www.beegreenworld.com/

If you want to see the upcoming meal plan menus, take a look at:

http://beegreenmeals.com/category/menu/

The post Bee Green: 100% Vegan appeared first on The Fussy Fork.

NORTH PARK.  Casa de Luz is a 100% vegan, 100% macrobiotic, 100% organic, and 100% gluten free restaurant in North Park.  Further, Casa de Luz offers itself as an educational community center.  This is what makes it special.  Casa transcends the common boundaries of a restaurant to focus on events, classes, and bringing the community together.

What is Macrobiotic Food?

For most folks walking into Casa for the first time, the question immediately becomes:  “What is macrobiotic food?”  Turns out, however, that this is a challenging question to answer.

The word “macrobiotic” derives from Greek and means “long life.”  But the diet originated in Japan, then spread across borders of nationality and culture.  Today, many advocates of the macrobiotic diet embrace both principles of East Asian philosophy and the objectives of the western vegan diet.  And for many, it is a lifestyle choice.

Whether a diet or a lifestyle, macrobiotics promotes eating local, seasonal foods that are “balanced.”  Specifically, this targeted balance is a function of (1) each food’s inherent acidity versus alkalinity, and (2) the dueling energies of yin and yang.  First, because most people in modern society consume highly acidic foods – which yield a lower pH level in the blood – macrobiotics recommends more alkaline food and drink.   The list of highly acidic foods is long and surprising.  For example, both milk and sugar are highly acidic.  If you want to see where other foods land on the spectrum of alkalinity and acidity, here is a good website:

http://landsofwisdom.com/?p=3820

Second, and much more mystifying to me, is the pursuit of a balance between the energies of yin (the expanding, outward force) and yang (the contracting inward force).  The good news:  the body seems to crave a balance between the two.  The bad news:  it often craves the extremes, paired together.  Wine (yin) and cheese (yang).  Beer (yin) and burgers (yang).  Unfortunately, each of these foods is highly acidic and – huge surprise – not so good for you.  As a result, macrobiotics relies on foods that are inherently balanced – even on their own – such as certain grains and most of the plant kingdom.  Here is a more robust listing:

http://macrobiotic.about.com/od/gettingstarted/a/YinYang.htm

Bottom line, with macrobiotics, it feels like you need at least a Masters degree just to put together a single meal.  But this is where Casa de Luz comes in!  Casa has the experts who do all the thinking, all the planning, and all the cooking for us simple folk.  All we have to do is show up!

Meals at Casa de Luz:

The menu at Casa de Luz changes daily.  If you don’t like surprises, simply check Casa’s website for the daily menu!  You can also consult the schedule outlining which cuisines (Asian, Italian, etc.) are served on certain days.  Except for Friday and Saturday, because those days are Chef’s Choice!

Lunch: 11:00am – 5:00pm

Dinner: 5:00pm – 9:00pm

For both Lunch and Dinner, Casa offers two options: (1) Plate or (2) Seasonal Bowl.

1. Plate:

The Plate consistently offers the same building blocks for a true macrobiotic meal: leafy green + grain + bean + veggie + pickle.  The Plate also comes with soup, salad, AND tea.   In fact, you pick up your soup and salad immediately after ordering and paying at the front desk.  Then, later, a Casa staff member will bring the main Plate to your table.

On my most recent visit, the soup was Wild Rice and Veggie.   The veggies, celery, zucchini, onions, and carrots, were perfectly tender (but not overly soft).  The flavor, sublime and wonderful, is an excellent example of how macrobiotic food stands apart.  It is not salty, not spicy, and not infused with other flavors seeking to dominate the taste buds.  This soup relies on the quality of its vegetables.  And this soup disappears quickly.

Next up was the salad: mixed greens, carrots, and cabbage with a nutty fig balsamic dressing.  Casa’s salads never disappoint.  The greens and veggies are always fresh, and the salad dressings are unique and home made.  The nutty, fig, balsamic dressing was a special treat.

The Plate showcased how simple, sturdy blocks can build something wonderful.  The leafy green was kale with a walnut-dill sauce.  The grain was a blend of coconut quinoa and brown rice.  The bean of the night was the reliable black bean, and the vegetable was lemon-herbed broccoli.  Finally, the pickle was not a single stick of cucumber but, rather, a fun medley of unexpected veggies.

The delight is in the details.  The walnut-dill sauce brings the kale alive, and the grains are cooked to the point of perfection – not beyond.  Also, pickled vegetables inject the plate with acute flavor that somehow ends up on the alkaline end of the spectrum.  It is a weird science, but delicious.

2. Seasonal Bowls:

Your second option when ordering lunch or dinner is one of two Seasonal Bowls.  These bowls are a recent (and welcome!) addition to Casa’s menu.  They are great for those times when you are not hungry enough to eat a soup, salad, AND entree plate (or when you don’t have a lot of time to eat).

The two Seasonal Bowls available right now are the: (i) Tempeh Chili with Tofu Crema and Cornbread and (ii) Grilled Pineapple Curry with Brown Rice.  I recently tried the Tempeh Chili.  Wow.  The chili was warm with a hint of spice.  The tofu crema was creamy (move over, sour cream) and the cornbread was soft, moist, and full of actual kernels of corn.  Always real food.  Always amazing.

Weekend Brunch

Casa de Luz has recently stopped serving breakfast on the weekdays.  However, rumor on the street is that Casa will begin a weekend Champagne/Kombucha brunch in November.  This is one brunch I don’t want to miss.  Stay tuned for a follow up post!

Dessert:

If you have room for dessert after your meal, take a look at Casa’s display case to the left of the cashier.  Cookies, puddings, maple bars, cheesecake, and more!  How are they vegan?  Casa magic.

Most recently, I tried the Mexican Chocolate Mousse.  To say it exceeded my expectations would be a gross understatement.  This was the richest, most intensely chocolate mousse I have tasted.  Ever.   The type of rich where you close your eyes each time you take a bite.

Smoothies and Juices:

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the special smoothies and juices offered at Casa de Luz.  Casa offers four smoothies or you can create your own juice!  Because the ingredients are of the highest quality, each smoothie and juice is a standout.

I enjoy the Leafy Green Smoothie.  Made from kale, green, apple, cucumber, Vitamineral Green, almond yogurt, almond milk and dates, it is smooth and creamy.  You would never know by its taste that it’s full of veggies!

Drinks 

Water: 

Even Casa’s water is special, as it is somehow filtered and transformed to an alkaline friendly pH level of 9.5.  Drink it straight up, or infused with cucumber.

Tea and Coffee:

I have mentioned that the lunch and dinner plates come with complimentary tea.  Customers are able to fill (and re-fill!) their glasses with Kukicha Tea.

Before Casa de Luz, I had never heard of Kukicha Tea.  It is made from the twigs of the same plant that produces green tea.  Because they come from the same plant, Kukicha Tea shares the same antioxidant properties as green tea.  It has a smoky flavor and has 90% less caffeine than coffee (green tea has 60% less caffeine than coffee).

http://www.oprah.com/food/Superfoods-List-2012-Sunchokes-Adzuki-Beans-Chia-Seed/5

If Kukicha tea doesn’t sound appealing, Casa also has a variety of herbal, green, and black teas available by the pot.

I don’t drink coffee but if I did, Casa de Luz would be my first stop.  I often see individuals sitting with a blissful look on their faces as they wrap their hands around their Guatemalan French Press Coffee.  And don’t worry, Casa has non-dairy creamers and sweeteners if you don’t like your coffee black!

Seating:

Casa’s space is the product of the owner’s passion for community.  The main floor has beautiful dark wood tables of all shapes and sizes, including large community style seating.  The outdoor patio offers a sunny spot for those with dogs.  And the upstairs features an educational utopia, complete with extensive seating, state-of-the-art kitchen, and vast counter space for demonstrations.  Casa is ground zero for food and cooking enthusiasts.

Events:

As I mentioned earlier, Casa de Luz is more than a place to eat.  Casa’s online calendar shows the upcoming community events to be hosted in house – check it out at: http://sandiego.casadeluz.org/events–classes.html

I could never list all of the events Casa offers, but I will take the time to highlight a few!

Test Kitchen Tuesdays:

Test Kitchen Tuesdays is a series of vegan cooking classes, taught by Liz Gary, that are held every Tuesday morning from 9:30am – 11:30am.  The class is a donation based, hands on cooking class – attendees break up into groups to make the recipes in Casa’s amazing upstairs educational space.  I attend almost every week.  Our creations range from vegan doughnuts to quiche!

Casa de Luna:

Casa de Luz holds its donation based “Casa de Luna” celebration on the first Saturday night of every month beginning at 9:30pm.  The event features activities like partner yoga, meditation, and an art show.  And no event would be complete without delicious food and drink: Casa offers organic wine and sake, juice, tea, and desserts to attendees!

Kale University:

On many Wednesdays at 6:30pm (check the Casa calendar for an detailed list!), Casa de Luz is home to the Kale University Meetup group.  Kale University advocates a whole-food plant-based diet and is open to individuals who are interested in taking health into their own hands.  Kale University uses Wednesday evenings to bring in speakers and to provide classes for its members.  To learn more check out Kale University’s Meetup page at:

http://www.meetup.com/KaleUniversity/

In sum, life at Casa de Luz is always evolving.  Although breakfast will be missed, I expect that the upcoming brunch program will be something special.  Hope to see you there!

http://sandiego.casadeluz.org/

2920 University Ave

San Diego, CA 92104

619.550.1857

The post Casa de Luz: 100% Vegan appeared first on The Fussy Fork.

POINT LOMA.  If you are curious about vegan food, there’s a good chance you have heard about vegans who only eat raw foods.  And if you are like me, you have questions.  What are the parameters of raw vegan diet?  Is raw veganism healthier than the typical vegan diet?  How difficult is it?  Do you have more energy on a raw vegan diet?  Before answering these questions, however, I want to make sure everyone is on the same page.  So let’s start at the beginning…

What is a Raw Food Diet?

Raw food is food that has not been heated above approximately 118 degrees.  Why would you not want to heat your food, you ask?  Raw foodists argue that important enzymes and nutrients are destroyed when they are heated and, thus, the nutritional content of raw food is typically greater than its cooked counterpart.

Also, many raw foodists describe their diet as a lifestyle choice.  And this lifestyle includes eating “mindfully.”  The concept is simple.  When you are eating, just eat.  In other words, they discourage multitasking with television, talking on the phone, driving, etc. – it diminishes the connection with the food.

Whether or not you are interested in adopting a raw diet, eating mindfully is a small, healthy choice we could all make for ourselves.  If you want to learn more about mindful eating, here is a link to great article on the subject:

http://www.rawpeople.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=695&Itemid=110

Tracing the boundary of raw food is tricky.  Proverbial “gray area” is everywhere.  Can you take supplements?  What about coffee and tea?  Are frozen foods included in a raw diet?  For answers to these questions and more, take a look at the comprehensive FAQ page produced by Rawpeople.com:

http://www.rawpeople.com/index.php?option=com_simplelists&view=simplelist&layout=toggle&category_id=73&Itemid=111

How do Vegan Food and Raw Food Intersect?

Often, raw food is also vegan.  But not always.  For example, some raw foodists each things like sashimi (raw fish without the rice) or raw cheese.

In general, however, raw food restaurants are trending in favor of raw vegan food.  Ingredients include a variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, sprouted grains, sprouted beans, spices, and herbs.  If that list sounds short, don’t fear!  If there is one thing I’ve learned about raw foodists, it is that they are CREATIVE.  They make cheese out of nuts, bread out of seeds, and desserts out of almond meal and dates.  Amazing!  To learn more on the basics of the raw vegan diet, click on the link below (and don’t miss the “Recipes” tab!)

http://therawfoodcoach.com/what-is-raw-food/

The Go Raw L.I.F.E Center

Tucked away in a quiet corridor between a fitness studio and a fitness club, you can find Go Raw – a 100% vegan, organic, raw food restaurant.  Actually, they don’t call it a “restaurant.”  Rather, it is a L.I.F.E. Center—Living Inspiration For Everyone.  And for me, it has been an opportunity experience the surprising creativity of the raw food community.   The L.I.F.E. Center makes a variety of delicious juices, smoothies, snacks, appetizers, and entrees.  The juice and smoothie selection remains constant, but the food options evolve throughout the year based on the shift in seasonal ingredients.

Go Raw built its name creating and distributing healthy raw snacks.  Some of you have probably seen their energy bars or granola in specialty stores like Co-Ops, Jimbo’s, or Whole Foods.   They distribute products nationwide – including online – but San Diego is lucky enough to have the only L.I.F.E. Center.

I started out by picking up a snack or juice at the L.I.F.E. Center every once in a while.  One day, however, I read a handout explaining the raw food meal “program.:  I became curious.  Go Raw would prepare all of my food for the day and all I had to do was pick it up?  I had to try. How could I not?  I wouldn’t have to shop, cook, or think about what I had to eat.  So, I signed myself up for the 6-day program.  After extensive documentation – and eating! – it is now time to share my experience with you . . .

How Does the Go Raw Meal Program Work?

Go Raw offers 1-day, 6-day, 21-day, and 90-day meal programs.  You can sign up for these programs in person or by phone.   Call two or three days ahead of when you want to start, and Go Raw will add you to the list!  There are three different sized meal packs: small, original, and large.  (I chose the original.)

The Original Program includes: 1 specialty entrée, 2 salads, 2 fruit bowls, 1 snack, 1 dessert, 1 small Go Raw bar, 1 oz. of Go Raw Cookies, and a smoothie or juice of your choice.

If you decide to participate in the Small Program, you will receive 1 fruit bowl and 1 salad (instead of the 2 you receive in the Original Program).  If you decide to participate in the Large Program, you receive 3 fruit bowls (instead of 2), 3 salads (instead of 2), and 2 small Go Raw bars (instead of 1).  If you are not sure what size you should pick, simply ask someone at Go Raw!  They will walk you through all of your options and answer all of your questions.

Two options for picking up the food: (1) Visit the L.I.F.E Center on the morning of your program (opens at 7am) or (2) Come the day before, anytime after 3pm.  Either pickup puts a full day’s supply in your arms – including the drink of your choice!

Those who are on programs that are longer than 1 day also get a 6-day membership to the Point Loma Sports Club, located next door to the L.I.F.E. Center!

So let’s get started . . .

DAY 1 MENU 

I showed up my first day hungry and ready for some raw food!  First impression:  everyone is in high spirits.  Despite the early hour, the person behind the counter was excited to walk me through the process:  (1) a big bag of my food emerges from the back; (2)  I pick out a small Go Raw bar (any flavor that I want, and I choose a new one each day); (3) I pick out two large packages of raw cookies (these will last me for the entire 6 days); and (4) I order any juice or smoothie (even the Sunbutter smoothie!).  I walked out of there with a full arsenal.

I drank my Sunbutter Smoothie on the way home.  It is made from raw sunflower seed butter, banana, raw cacao, carrot juice, coconut oil, and dates – officially on my “favorites” list.  I never would have thought to pair sunflower seed butter with carrot juice and cacao, but I’m glad someone else did!  The smoothie is rich, creamy, sweet, and filling.  I could drink one every day.  Forever.

(Editor’s note:  I don’t know if drinking the smoothie while driving home is “mindful” eating.  But I challenge anyone to possess a Sunbutter Smoothie for an entire ride home without taking a sip.  Not easy.)

Go Raw doesn’t have rules about when you are supposed to eat what.  After my smoothie, I decided to try sample some fruit.  I tried the grapefruit.  It was farmer’s market fresh.

I was feeling so good that I went for a run.  I came home hungry and ready to try a salad.  I opened up the Sorta Caesar salad made up of red leaf lettuce, green leaf lettuce, butter lettuce, cucumber, red pepper, tomato, spicy chia chips, and “Is This Caesar?” dressing.

I liked all of the different types of lettuce in this salad and loved the dressing.  As a vegan, I don’t usually get the chance to eat Caesar dressing.  This one tasted creamy and smooth and like a lighter version of the not-so-good-for-you traditional version.

The salad was good but, like I said, I was hungry!  The Flax Snax with Nut-Cho Cheese caught my eye.  I first tried a flax cracker, which was shaped into a convenient bite sized circle.   On its own, the cracker had good crunch but didn’t taste like much.  But with the cheese, this snack came alive.  The Nut-Cho Cheese was rich and spicy with a slight barbecue flavor.  It disappeared fast!

Later in the afternoon, I tried the juicy looking honeydew.  Again, super fresh.

It was also time for the next salad – That’s Amore – made up of green leaf lettuce, red leaf lettuce, arugula, red bell pepper, cucumber, celery, red onion, cherry tomatoes, and Italian dressing.

All of the ingredients were fresh, and the salad was chock full of vegetables.  Not my favorite meal of the day – because I am not a fan of Italian dressing – but it’s hard not to feel healthy eating all of those veggies!

So what did I do next? I dove into the small, apricot Go Raw bar that I had picked out that morning.  It was small but surprisingly full of flavor.  It also took the edge off of my hunger.

I saved the Teriyaki Bowl for dinner.  (Usually, I lack this type of discipline.)  The bowl includes cucumber, red bell pepper, portabella mushrooms, and teriyaki sauce, layered over a tasty bed of butternut squash rice.  Yes, “rice” made from minced, raw butternut squash!  Pure creative genius.  In addition, the mushrooms were firm, the flavors were bold, and the bowl proved filling.

I love chocolate.  Choosing the Chocolate Super Cookies that morning at Go Raw had been an easy decision.  The cookies are made from organic coconut, sprouted organic sesame seeds, organic dates, and organic cacao.  They were crunchy and had a good chocolate flavor.  I always appreciate a food that helps satisfy my sweet tooth without making me feel guilty!

Finally, it was time for dessert – the daily piece of raw chocolate.  It has a consistency like fudge, and this particular piece tasted like a Peppermint Patty.  A great way to end my first raw day!

The Next Five Days…

Juices/Smoothies:

The next 5 days continued much the same.  I can ruin the surprise about my future juice/smoothie orders.  I had the Sunbutter Smoothie EVERY morning for 6 days.  Each day, I knew I should order something else, so my blog post could have more variety.  And yet everyday the words “Sunbutter Smoothie, please” came out of my mouth.  It is good.  Really, you should try it.

Salads:

Overall, I was extremely impressed with the quality of the salad dressings Go Raw provided.  Some of my favorites included Sesame Ginger Dressing, Rawzy Ranch Dressing, Honey Mustard Dressing.  They made eating salads more fun.

Fruit:

The fruit continued to be fresh and exceeded my expectations.  I also appreciated the variety.

Go Raw Bars and Super Cookies:

The delicious Go Raw Bars come in a variety of different flavors sure to keep anyone from becoming bored.  During my 6 days I tried the apricot, pumpkin, banana bread, and spirulina flavors.  The Carrot Super Cookies also turned out to be just as delicious as their chocolate counterparts.

What continued to be extraordinary were Go Raw’s “specialty entrées” and “snacks” included in the meal packs.   Below I am sharing the menus and pictures of these items for each day.

DAY 2 MENU:

Tex Mex Bowl:

Broccoli Sweetness:

DAY 3 MENU:

Avocado Sandwich:

Rise and Shine Cereal:

DAY 4 MENU:

Pesto Pasta:

Chocolate Granola With Sprouted Almond Milk:

DAY 5 MENU:

Not Ahi Spicy Sushi:

Butternut Bread and Spread:

DAY 6 MENU:

Tostada:

GuacaKhan Flax Snax:

Takeaways:

Thank you Go Raw L.I.F.E. Center for making raw vegan food accessible.  And for six days, I did not have to think about grocery shopping or cleaning dishes.  I did not have to worry if I was tipping a server too much, or too little.  I did not have to debate whether to go back for “seconds.”  So much of my day can be spent on answering the question, “What am I going to eat?”  The absence of this question for six days lowered my stress level considerably.

Go Raw did a great job of providing creative dishes.  Sushi with no fish (or rice) that tastes like sushi?  I didn’t even know such a thing was possible!

I was hoping I would notice a noticeable increase in my energy.  Although I felt good on the raw vegan diet, I did not feel a difference in my energy.  I did, however, appreciate that I could continue my normal exercise program during the entire six days.

Although the salad dressings were great, by the final day, I was ready to take a break from eating salads.  I was also ready to eat something warm.  Personally, I think my body might benefit the most from a combination of raw and cooked foods.  But the investigation is ongoing – probably for a lifetime.

I would recommend trying the Go Raw meal program to anyone curious about the raw vegan diet.   But even if you’re not ready to take that step, try one of the raw juices, smoothies, snacks or entrees to see how you respond!  And when in doubt, start with the Sunbutter Smoothie.

2751 Roosevelt Road, #103

San Diego, CA 92106

619.222.3600

The post Go Raw L.I.F.E. Center: 100% Vegan appeared first on The Fussy Fork.

DOWNTOWN/LITTLE ITALY.  You might walk by Vitality Tap without noticing it.  But that would be a mistake.  Because Vitality Tap, though it is tucked away inside a Nutrition Zone store, fills a critical void in the downtown area – superfoods.  Specifically, the newly established Vitality Tap sells vegan smoothies, juices, superbowls, sprouted nut milks, shooters, coolers, kombucha, boosts, and juice cleanses.  And it’s 100% organic!

We arrived hungry and focused first on the “Superbowls.”  You can customize the bowl by choosing from different bases, like acai and pitaya, and then a list of toppings like granola, berries, and other fun options.

I took our server’s recommendation:  the vegan Half & Half Bowl made from acai, pitaya, banana, and coconut water, topped with granola, goji berries, coconut, and extra almond butter.  Success!  The smooth base was not too sweet (like so many bowls are these days), and I enjoyed the combination of coconut and almond butter.  I would definitely order this bowl again!

We also ordered the vegan Almond Butter Bowl.  Here, the almond butter is part of the base, which also includes acai, banana, and almond milk.  We topped it with granola, coconut, and goji berries.  (Again, superfoods are running wild at Vitality Tap.)  The Amond Butter Bowl is equally delicious, but thicker than the Half & Half Bowl.  I highly recommended it for the hungry crowd.

In addition, Vitality Tap has a large selection of vegan juices and smoothies.  Most impressive, however, is the variety of “Superfood Boosts.”  The menu offers 33 boosts and illustrates their respective health benefits through in a helpful diagram entitled, “Superfoods Directory.”

I am a fan of green juices, so I ordered the vegan Popeye Juice – a blend of kale, spinach, romaine, celery, cucumber, and jalapeno.  I “boosted” with the nutrient dense, tasteless Chaga mushroom.  I loved this juice, but WARNING:  it is NOT for those looking to dip their toe in the juice pool.  It has an earthy taste with a spicy kick from the jalapenos.  However, if you prefer sweeter juices, there are plenty of options on Vitality Tap’s menu.  One insider described “Drop Some Beets” as liquid candy.

On a side note, I was curious to learn more about the Chaga mushroom.  The Chaga mushroom is not soft like traditional mushrooms, but hard like wood.  In order to survive harsh climates, the mushroom stores nutrients for its protection.  These nutrients are then passed on to the lucky person who eats the mushroom.   It’s essentially a party of phenols and minerals like copper, calcium, potassium, manganese, zinc, and iron.  If you want to know more about the Chaga mushroom check out this link:

http://www.chagaknowledge.com/chagabenefits.htm

Vitality Tap also has a tap for their homemade kombucha.  Kombucha is a vegan, carbonated, probiotic, fermented tea.  Kombucha is my “go to” drink when I’m tired, starting to feel sick, or want something to quench my thirst.  Usually, I buy bottles in the grocery store.  To drink it as a “draft” was a treat.  To learn more about kombucha click on:

http://beyondkombucha.com/about/what-is-kombucha/

Another reason to love Vitality Tap, you ask?  Free samples.  After making a vegan juice or smoothie, they pour any extra into sample cups for customers.  I was able to try both the Lunch Box and Stay Classy smoothies while waiting for my food!  (The Lunch Box is now first on my list for next time.)

The biggest highlight of Vitality Tap was the service.  Everyone was super friendly and patient while I asked my many, many questions.  And knowledgeable – I received excellent menu recommendations.

Vitality Tap does not have indoor seating, but the outdoor space is plentiful.  The tables are a great place to get some sunshine, relax, and enjoy the superfoods!

Vitality Tap does not have a menu listed online, so I am posting pictures I took of the menu.

650 First Avenue

San Diego, CA 92101

619.237.7625

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POINT LOMA, SOLANA BEACH, ENCINITAS, and CARLSBAD.  Naked food is good food.  Specifically, Naked Café offers satisfying dishes built from natural, whole foods.  Beans, greens, and rice play a large role in the bowls, plates, and wraps, while fresh herbs, spices, salsas, and sauces produce robust flavors.  The vegan options are excellent.

My favorite item on the menu is the “OM.”  The product of an enlightened yogi, perhaps?  Lotus root, corn, celery, carrots and shitake mushrooms are sautéed to perfection, then laid enticingly over brown rice and black beans. A whole grain tortilla and fresh salsa come on the side.  I like to mix everything up together and pile it onto my tortilla.  This dish is filling, but not heavy.  Perfect.

While writing this post, I realized I didn’t know anything about one of OM’s ingredients, the lotus root.  I have learned that the lotus root is an aquatic tuber that offers a strong nutritional punch with nutrients like Vitamin C, copper, and iron.  For more information and facts on the lotus root check out:

http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/lotus-root.html

Next, the Green Transcendence Wrap.  With a name like that, how could it not be good for you?  Your spinach tortilla holds tofu, siracha, basil, onions, tomato, and fresh spinach.  The tofu in this wrap may catch your eye, but it is the siracha, basil, and onions that will make your taste buds dance.  The dish comes with two sides: (1) organic quinoa and  (2) organic baby greens.  The quinoa is light and fluffy with a tangy dressing.  I could eat a whole plate of it.  And the greens do not disappoint.

And what would lunch be without a sweet ending? Cool and refreshing, the Banana Blackberry Smoothie is an excellent choice.

Naked Café has four locations.  The restaurant in Solana Beach is tucked away next to the grass park overlooking the ocean.  It is a beautiful spot to walk around with your smoothie.  The Point Loma and Encinitas locations are ensconced in strip malls.  It is a testament to the quality of the food that people drive into these vicious parking lots.  As for Carlsbad, it is next on my list!

Finally, keep your eye on the clock.  Naked Café closes at 2:30pm, because it is focused on the breakfast and lunch crowd.

Point Loma

3555 Rosecrans St #109

San Diego, CA 92110

619.226.7866

Solana Beach

106 S. Sierra Ave.

Solana Beach, CA 92075

858.259.7866

Encinitas

288-C N. El Camino Real

Encinitas, CA 92024

760.635.7866

Carlsbad

300 Carlsbad Village Dr.

Suite 107A

Carlsbad, CA 92008

760.720.7866

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LA JOLLA.  Lean and Green stays true to its name.  The restaurant, set back from the busy street, is an oasis for those seeking organic and vegan wraps, bowls, smoothies and juices.

Slight digression.  Being a soup loving vegan is not easy, right?  Often the following scenario plays out when I go to a new restaurant.  I flip to the soup section of the menu and see an option like tomato soup.  I smile, thankful that the restaurant has a vegan option.  But just to be safe, I ask the server whether the soup is vegan (it is surprising how often restaurants fail to list a soup’s ingredients!), only to learn that there is cream in the soup.

Lean and Green avoids such disappointment with its seasonal, vegan soups.  My most recent obsession is the Spicy Pumpkin Soup.  A combination of pumpkin, coconut milk, and curry, the soup weaves rich, smooth, and spicy flavors together.  A strong start to the meal.

I love that Lean and Green dedicates a whole section of the menu to “Bowls.”  The bowls have a base of organic brown rice.  Next, there is a layer of vegetables, nuts, beans, and other delicious toppings.  An enticing sauce tops off the bowl.

My current favorite is the Miso Bowl made from brown rice, broccoli, carrots, fresh jalapenos, and topped with a sesame miso sauce.   The miso sauce is tangy and lightly coats the rice and fresh vegetables.  Perfect.  (Note: the bowl portions are not huge.  If you are super hungry, you might need more than just a bowl!)

Another great option is the Teriyaki Bowl – brown rice, broccoli, and pine nuts, topped with gluten free teriyaki sauce.  The pine nuts take this bowl to the next level.  They add crunch and a richer flavor.  (Veterans of the bulk foods aisle know that pine nuts are ridiculously expensive.  So I appreciate a restaurant willing to include them in a dish.  Crazy delicious.)

Not feeling like a bowl?  Lean and Green makes a delicious Vegan Delight wrap.  Roasted eggplant or tofu is wrapped up with basil, roasted red bell peppers, baby spinach, sunflower seeds, extra virgin olive oil, and balsamic vinegar.  A great meal on the run!

The menu would not be complete without a selection of juice and smoothies.  My favorite is the Crazy Jungle smoothie made from almond milk, spinach, cucumber, avocado, banana, and ice.  This bright green smoothie is sweet and creamy.  An easy way to get some vegetables without trying!

Upon entering Lean and Green, your eye is first drawn to the tree growing out of the middle of the floor.  The two walls are made completely of glass and ensure that plenty of light enters the restaurant.  Customers order at a register and are then able to sit at either indoor or outdoor tables.  It’s a great place to grab a quick bite or settle in with a book or laptop.

7825 Fay Ave

La Jolla, CA 92037

858.459.5326

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LA JOLLA/UTC and ENCINITAS.   The vegan movement in San Diego is building momentum.  Menus are dedicating more space to vegan options, the farmers markets are flourishing, and bold establishments are opening with exclusively vegan fare.  On June 21, 2013, another key player opened its doors in San Diego.  Nekter Juice Bar has taken over a charming cottage in the heart of La Jolla, offering a full menu of vegan juices, smoothies, and snacks.

Steve and Alexis Schulze founded Nekter in 2010 and opened the first location in Costa Mesa.  Then, explosive growth.  Eleven locations sprouted from Orange County to Los Angeles.  Now, the San Diego grand opening.  Next, more cities in California, Arizona, and Texas.  Vegan wildfire!

Juices:

On opening day, I tried “The Cure,” made from beet, broccoli, kale, parsley, celery, grapes, and apple.  The beets produce a vibrant pink color.  Even better, the beets, grapes, and apple sweeten up the hard-core healthy green goodness.

Smoothies:

So obviously I’m hooked – a few days later, I’m back at Nekter.  (I don’t live anywhere near La Jolla, but this doesn’t seem to matter.)  This time around, I ordered the Tropical Cooler—a puree of spinach, kale, pineapple, banana, coconut water, and coconut butter.  Yes, coconut butter.  Is there anything more delicious?  And the combination of coconut and pineapple is well established magic, decidedly tropical.  I couldn’t even taste the spinach or kale, although the bold green color of the smoothie assured me that they were in there!

Bowls:

Nekter provides a selection of vegan bowls—most are acai based.  However, I decided to try the Pitaya Bowl made from a blend of pitaya, banana, pineapple, coconut butter, and coconut water and topped with hempseed granola, raw coconut flakes, and bananas.  For more information on pitaya, see my post on Lotus Café.  And if you are looking for a more comprehensive run down, click on the link below:

http://pitayaplus.com/what-is-pitaya-plus/

The bowl was big and delicious.  The bright, pink pitaya tasted sweet and smooth.  The hemp granola gave texture to the bowl, and the bananas sweeten things up even more.  Shredded coconut on top?  Yes, please.  (Are you getting the tropical vibe yet?)

Nekter simplifies everything for the customer.  Three separate menus for juices, smoothies, and bowls are posted on the wall for easy reading.  There is also a refrigerated section where you can pick up snacks, pre-bottled juices, and even cocktail mixers!

Nekter also dedicates space to its first ever Nekter Cleanse Bar.  A cleanse specialist will be available to answer questions.  And in July, I’m going to tackle one of Nekter’s cleanses.   I will document my experience on The Fussy Fork, so be sure to check back soon!

Nekter’s indoor and outdoor patio seating areas create a fun, casual atmosphere.  It’s the perfect place to sip on a juice after a workout, escape from the office for a restorative smoothie, or sit with a book and a snack.  As an added bonus, Nekter provides free WiFi!

834 Kline St

La Jolla, CA 92037

800.385.1650

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