Friday, December 20, 2013

A pre-review of *What I am Currently Reading*…and why you should read it too!





The holidays are here and before you know it, so will 2014, which means only one thing: New Year Resolutions. We all know “going to the gym” is on the list of resolutions as we pray and hope we can sweat off the holiday sugar cookies and champagne, but in all reality, there’s more to going to the gym. 

80% DIET, 20% EXERCISE

While this saying tends to have several different meanings, it stands true to the fact that a lean body requires one to focus more on clean eating than on exercise.  Now don’t get me wrong, daily exercise is extremely important, but you can’t outrun a bad diet. You just can’t. So if you’re looking for a new resolution this year, ditch the gym and start eating clean! And I know just the book that can help you get started: Brad’s Raw Made Easy by Brad Gruno (aka the maker of the best frickin’ kale chips EVER!)

For the last month, during rare moments of spare time, I have been diving into Brad’s new book, Brad’s Raw Made Easy. The title fits the book every well as it is easy to read, easy to understand and the recipes in the back are quick and easy to make. As someone who has been a raw foodie aka a rawsie for quite a while now, I find this book something I wish I would have had when I first started my journey to a raw food lifestyle. The information Brad supplies would have been extremely helpful. 

Throughout the book Brad provides some basic science behind the raw food diet as well as a chapter on the benefits it can provide the body. Think detoxification, energy and of course, weight loss. The FAQ section is extremely helpful as many new to this diet tend to ask many questions. Can I drink tea? Do I HAVE to have special equipment? What’s considered raw? And so on and so on. After all the basic questions have been answered, Brad offers his readers the opportunity to start their journey following his 60-day plan, complete with details on what to focus on each week and meal plans to keep you on track with your transition. He even provides a list of must have ingredients and several recipes to try out to make sure you’re meals are never boring, only fun and delicious. One of my favorites, the Mayan Chocolate Truffles! Oh, and let’s not forget the food diary to help you track your progress.

This book is a must have for those looking to start eating clean this upcoming New Year. It gives you everything you need to get started on your journey to healthier, new you. And the best part is Brad follows the 80/20 rule: 80% raw, 20% cooked. That’s right! You get to cook on this plan!  No deprivation! It’s not about restrictions but about learning to eat clean. So if you’re looking for a different kind of resolution that still focuses on your same goals, then I recommend grabbing a copy of Brad’s Raw Made Easy. You’ll feel  amazing once you start feeding your body with living foods!

Need someone to get started with? Starting January 6th, a co-challenger of Brad’s 7 Day Raw Food Challenge and I plan on starting Brad’s 60-day plan. We both like a good challenge and figured, what better way to start the New Year and get our eating back on track then with a raw-food challenge.  It’ll be fun and nothing is better than having a support system to keep you motivated. If you’re ready for a new you, grab Brad’s book, and let us know you’re in! (PS: They're offering some pretty awesome perks when you order the book!)

To celebrate the holidays as well as the upcoming release of Brad’s Raw Made Easy, I’d love to share with you the recipe for my current favorite go-to treat: Mayan Chocolate Truffles. These are sweet, chocolaty, and creamy and that hint of spiciness totally kicks it up a notch!

Mayan Chocolate Truffles
By Brad Gruno from Brad’s Raw Made Easy
Makes several 1 inch truffles


  • 1 cup cashew butter ("raw", freshly ground is best!)
  • 1 cup raw honey (I actually used a bit less to adjust to my preferred sweetness)
  • ¾ cup raw cacao or carob powder
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • ½ tsp ground cayenne
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • 2 tsp maca powder
  1. Place all of the ingredients into a food processor and pulse until well incorporated.
  2. Place 1-2 Tbsp of additional cacao powder onto a plate.
  3. Roll the dough into 1-inch balls (I used a Tbsp measuring spoon) and then roll them into the cacao powder.
  4. Store in the fridge until ready to serve.
  5. These are best cold!

So do you plan on joining us for the 60-day journey to clean eating?

Keep an eye out for a follow review on Brad's Raw Made Easy. As soon as I get my life back from this holiday, year end chaos! I may have some more recipes to share too!

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