The Professional 800 is known as having the most advanced blending technology available. It's the blender that brings commercial quality blending right into your own home kitchen. The Stealth Technology enables the machine to operate at the sound level of normal conversation, which makes the Professional 800 the quietest, most capable home blender.
The Blendtec Professional 800 has a 3.8 peak horsepower motor and comes with 6 pre-programmed cycles, including batters, mixed drinks, smoothies, frozen treats, whole juice, and hot soup. It's very simple to operate with the touch of a button.
For the ultimate precision speed control, the blender features an 11-speed capacitive touch slider. This means you can achieve the perfect consistency simply by sliding a finger up and down the control panel. The pulse button is also a nice feature for when you need a burst of high-speed blending power.
We're having a BlendTec blowout sale and you won't want to miss out on the biggest discounts ever, including up to 25% off on all BlendTec products. For a limited time only, you'll receive a twister jar with your purchase for absolutely free (value of $149.99).
It is the best time to take advantage of our lowest prices and 0% financing.
Client TestimonialOur customers, like Mark W., can't stop raving about the Professional 800. He calls this blender "Simply Amazing" He wrote, "The Blendtec Professional 800 is the BEST blender out there - simply amazing. I own two of them in different places, that should tell you something." |
Whether you're new to gardening or an experienced green thumb, all gardeners will benefit from a Harvest Right Greenhouse.
Unlike outdoor gardening, you can control your climate and create the perfect level of moisture, humidity and temperature for growing plants by using a greenhouse.
Because your growing season isn't dependent on seasonal changes and weather conditions, such as dry spells, wind, hail and frost, you're not bound by the typical growing season. You have the flexibility to plant when you want and depending on where you live in Canada, this could turn a few months of gardening every year into a year-long venture! Bottom line, you'll have successful harvests year in and year out.
With the rising cost of produce, growing your own garden makes perfect economical sense. You not only save money, you have the added benefit of controlling your growing environment. Many home gardeners are choosing to grow organic, so you eliminate the use of harmful artificial or synthetic pesticides or insecticides or fertilizers.
Greenhouse owners will be able to see the difference in the quality. Hail, wind and snow resistant, the cover is made of woven polyethylene, which is tear resistant, and is treated to block 100% of harmful UV rays. When you purchase your Harvest Right Greenhouse with Juicerville, you get a full 5-year warranty. Combine that with our winter sale and our buy now, pay later 0% financing, it is the best time of the year to purchase your Harvest Right Greenhouse.
The frame is incredibly durable as the poles that make up the structure are made of high-quality rust-proof aircraft aluminum and the hubs that the poles snap into are made of UV-resistant nylon polycarbonate.
The geodesic design can remarkably withstand winds up to 144 km/hr, heavy snow, hail and even earthquakes and set up is ridiculously easy. It takes one person about 2-4 hours to set up the greenhouse, whereas comparable models would take days.
And it's incredibly easy to construct with its snap system, so there are no tools required to set up the greenhouse. You'll also appreciate the portable design, so if you need to move it, you can. Plus, you do not have to obtain a city building permit for this greenhouse.
You'll see that the Harvest Right Greenhouse gives you the freedom to grow what you want, when you want. From indoor and outdoor plants, you can choose to grow in the ground or in raised beds, pots, or hanging plants, and when your greenhouse is not in use, you can safely tuck away all of your gardening tools and supplies until you're ready to start planting next.
The 16' greenhouse provides about 200 square feet of ground cover and 9.5' of vertical growing space. For this size, you can grow fresh produce for about 4-8 people.
The 24' greenhouse provides about 450 square feet of ground cover and 10.5' of vertical growing space. For this size, you can grow fresh produce for about 8-14 people.
Other methods of preserving your food don't even come close to comparing to freeze drying. It's hands-down the best form of food preservation because it causes zero damage to the nutrition of your food, and you never have to compromise on flavour, colour or taste.
It's well known that fresh, frozen and canned foods don’t last very long, but with freeze-dried foods you never have to worry because they have a shelf life of up to 25 years. That's up to 8 times longer than any other method of preserving your food.
Prepackaged, processed meals typically include unhealthy additives, such as sodium nitrate, high-fructose corn syrup, trans fats, MSG, food dyes and artificial colouring. When you freeze dry at home, you have the reassurance that your food doesn't contain any of those harmful additives. Your Harvest Right Home Freeze Dryer will accommodate any dietary need, including food allergies, vegetarian, or vegan needs. It is the ideal kitchen tool to support a healthy lifestyle.
You can completely eliminate any food waste in your home using a freeze dryer, which translates into major savings. Surprisingly, the average family of four throws away 40% of the food it purchases each year, which represents about $2,250 or more. By purchasing a freeze dryer, the same family would see a return on their investment in less than a year, which makes it very affordable.
A Harvest Right Home Freeze Dryer allows you to prepare it and preserve it, which means you can freeze dry entire meals, like lasagna and casseroles or single servings, it's up to you.
The home freeze dryer is very user-friendly. The entire process is automated using highly intelligent built-in sensors that know exactly when the food is properly freeze dried. Just press start and the freeze dryer will signal when the cycle has finished.
James W. calls his Harvest Right Home Freeze Dryer the "Best small investment I've ever made! The machine works great. The food tastes good. Fruit and berries are like candy. The customer service has been great. It's felt like Christmas ever since it got here." Thank you for sharing your experience, James! It makes us incredibly happy to hear how satisfied clients are with their purchase.
Freeze drying has totally revolutionized household food preservation. You, too, can experience this amazing technology by purchasing a home freeze dryer today with our buy now, pay later 0% Financing.
Watch this amazing technology in action for yourself!
]]>
With its compact design, you never have to sacrifice space in your kitchen cabinets to store this juicer, and thanks to the versatility of the Kuvings EVO820 Whole Slow Juicer, clients discover it's much more than simply a juicer. This impressive 3-in-1 multi-functional kitchen tool comes with attachments to make smoothies and sorbets, so you stretch your dollars by getting more use out of this appliance. It always comes with a 10-year warranty and peace of mind that you have product that's constructed with the highest quality materials.
Client Review - Dependable, VersatileOur clients love the versatility of the Kuvings EVO820 Whole Slow Juicer, including Michelle B. who wrote, Love it! For juice and nice cream! Thank you, Michelle. We hope you continue enjoying the juicer for years to come. |
A major advantage of the Kuvings EVO820 Whole Slow Juicer is its extra large 3.2" feeding tube, which will drastically reduce your preparation time in the kitchen. It also makes clean-up ridiculously easy. The juicer comes with a set of cleaning brushes, including an exclusive patented cleaning tool for the juicing screen, which promises a super efficient clean-up every time by simply rotating the cleaning tool and the screen in opposite directions under running water.
Take advantage of the best deals in Canada and 0% financing!
Ankarsrum kitchen tools are Swedish made and trusted by chefs in kitchens across the world. They are incredibly durable, long-lasting machines that are sold in 30 different countries, and now finally available to purchase by home chefs in Canada.
With its classic and elegant styling, the Ankarsrum mixer combines professional functionality with superior quality. Our clients are thrilled by the recent upgrades Ankarsrum has made to the mixer, such as adding genuine chrome front panel knobs, extending the motor base warranty to 7 years, and offering a variety of colours to choose from. This is the ultimate kitchen appliance that you will want to show off on your counter top thanks to its compact footprint, sleek design and removable power cord.
If you have limited kitchen storage space, the Ankarsrum Kitchen Mixer 6230 Original will help you maximize your space while saving you money. This multi-functional, high-quality kitchen center boasts the versatility of a mixer, food processor, grinder, blender, and slicer all in one.
We offer accessories for your mixer that will enable you to:
You won't want to miss our winter sale event. It is the best time to take advantage of our lowest prices and 0% financing.
Client Testimonial
Our clients are continuing to give the Ankarsrum Kitchen Mixer 5-star reviews, including Christopher B. who calls it the "Volvo of Mixers." "Solidly constructed and up to the job on heavy doughs, batters, and the accessories for pasta, meat, veg slicing are all fantastic."
|
If you are fighting a fever, one of the best ways to squash it is by staying hydrated. Make sure to drink extra amounts of water, herbal teas, and fresh juice when you're feeling under the weather to avoid dehydration. If you're feeling congested, try drinking warm water mixed with fresh lemon juice and honey.
Elderberry is known for its antioxidant properties, which has shown to shorten the duration and severity of cold symptoms and reduce swelling in the sinuses and reduce congestion.
Good old-fashioned rest seems like a no-brainer, but we often go into denial about being sick and carry on with our busy schedules when in fact slowing down allows our bodies to use our energy to fight off any viruses and heal.
Tell us, what are your go-to cold remedies?
]]>There are many benefits to freeze drying herbs. For starters, there's very little preparation required before freeze drying plants, which makes it unique from other methods of preserving food. If you are working with organic plants, all you really need to do is rinse to remove any insects or residual soil. You don't want to over-wash the herbs because you may lose some of their oil.
The flavour of freeze-dried herbs is more concentrated, and what sets freeze drying apart from other methods of plant preservation is that it doesn't use any heat. Heat lowers the nutritional values of the plant, so not applying heat means your herbs hold virtually the same nutrients, minerals and vitamins as they did when they were fresh. Plus, you have the reassurance that your herbs are completely free of additives and preservatives.
Apart from nutritional values, freeze drying does not affect the colour or shape of your plants. Amazingly, you would not be able to see or taste any difference between herbs that were freeze dried 7 years ago from those freeze dried 7 days ago!
Herbalists and apothecaries have been using plants and herbs for their medicinal properties for centuries, so it goes without saying that herbs do more than add flavour and colour to your culinary creations. They hold powerful healing and restorative properties.
Herbs such as rosemary and thyme contain flavonoids which have antioxidant powers that are linked to health benefits, including a reduced risk of cancer, heart disease, asthma, and stroke.
The leaves of the ashwagandha plant contain anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and sedative properties. It is often prepared as a tea and the plant has been linked to relieving stress and strengthening the immune system.
Dandelion may seem like a nuisance on your front yard, but it's a rich source of beta carotene which our bodies convert into vitamin A. This plant also acts as a mild laxative that promotes digestion.
Freeze drying plants uses the same technology as used for freeze drying regular food items. There is no problem using a standard food freeze dryer to process herbs and plants, but if you mostly do plant material then one of our pharmaceutical freeze dryers is strongly recommended. These units are specifically designed for drying large amounts of plant material. The have more shelves and hold a lot more material than the standard food freeze dryers.
Hands down, raw juice is one of the best sources of nourishment you can include in your diet. Juiced fruits and vegetables are an easily digestible source of nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, enzymes, antioxidants, phyto-nutrients, and amino acids, as well as healthy fats. All of those wonderful nutrients will not only give you maximum energy, it'll also help to cleanse and detoxify your body.
Whether you need an energy lift, want to lower inflammation, boost your immune system, detox or improve your digestion, there's a juice shot for everything.
Bloody Mary Reboot
Tomato, carrot, celery, orange, fresh dill and a pinch of cayenne pepper.
The capsaicin contained in cayenne peppers has metabolism-boosting properties? It helps increase the amount of heat your body produces, which causes an increase in your metabolism. Not too shabby.
Ginger Juice
Ginger, lemon, and turmeric
Ginger and lemon contain compounds that help support a healthy metabolism, as well as support better digestion and reduce nausea. Ginger is a powerful antioxidant used to cure many ailments, while turmeric is a natural anti-inflammatory compound.
Wheatgrass Wake-Up
Wheatgrass and coconut water
Wheatgrass is a good source of a variety of antioxidants, which help lower your risk for chronic diseases. Likewise, coconut water is an easy way to replenish electrolytes stores after working out.
Rise N Shine
Beet, Pineapple, Carrot and Lemon
Did you know beets can help improve your performance? The sugar found in beets, carrots and pineapple will put more spring in your step during those early mornings at the gym.
Energy Elixir
Pineapple, Matcha, and Ginger
This sweet concoction will leave you feeling energized and bursting with energy. Matcha will increase your energy levels and ensure you keep going and going.
]]>August and September are prime season for filling your kitchen with all of those delicious fruits and veggies you spent months growing, so why not continue to enjoy your garden all winter long by preserving it using a home freeze dryer.
Freeze-dried foods can be stored for up to 25 years without compromising its nutritional profile, so your garden haul will be just as healthy for you as the day on which it was preserved. Amazingly, when you freeze dry food, it loses only a nominal amount of its precious nutrients, minerals and vitamins and it's the only method of food preservation that does not affect the flavour, colour or shape of your food. For these reasons, freeze drying is hands down one of the best methods of food preservation.
You can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars on your yearly grocery bill by preserving your garden using a freeze dryer. With the rising cost of food in grocery stores, freeze drying fruits and vegetables from your own garden is economical, especially when you consider freeze-dried food can be stored up to 25 years. It also means you can take advantage of a bumper crop year and bulk sales by preserving it.
In an average year, a family of four could easily save 2 to 4 months worth of food that may have otherwise landed itself in the trash. Having a freeze dryer at home will enable you to reduce the amount of food you're throwing away and that puts money back into your pocket, not the trash bin.
Rotting food produces methane, which is a greenhouse gas that has a negative impact on the earth's climate and temperature. It is largely responsible for climate change and in North America alone, food waste amounts to about 193 million tons of greenhouse gas. That's equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions that 41 million cars would produce over an entire year if driven continuously.
What sets freeze drying apart from other methods of food preservation is that virtually any food can be freeze dried and once treated, it's shelf-stable and can be stored at room temperature up to 25 years. The food itself requires little to no preparation before freeze drying and once processed, it'll be very light in weight since the water is removed, and the food can be reconstituted easily using water or eaten in its freeze-dried state.
Recommended reading: The essentials of freeze drying
]]>
Many people follow a modified diet as a result of allergies or food sensitivities. A food allergy is an immune system response, which occurs when your body reacts to a certain food (usually a protein) and creates antibodies to fight it. The most common food allergies include shellfish, nuts, fish, eggs, mustard, peanuts, and milk.
Different than an allergy, a food intolerance usually occurs when your digestive system reacts to a dish or specific ingredient. It's often a product of your body not having an enzyme needed to fully digest a food. Common types of food intolerance include gluten, dairy and soy.
At present, there is no cure for food related allergies, so prevention means avoiding the offending foods.
While packaged processed foods are labeled with a list of ingredients, it is often difficult for allergy sufferers and their families to put their confidence in these foods, especially when dealing with severe or potentially fatal reactions. The reality is, severe allergic reactions aren't predictable, so a mild reaction could be followed by a more severe reaction.
With a freeze dryer, you have the freedom to easily create a stock of your own favourite snacks and meals at home. You select the ingredients and can feel completely reassured that you are not consuming harmful additives that are used in conventionally processed foods to enhance the taste and colour of the food.
A wonderful aspect of freeze-dried food, which is of great benefit to people with food sensitivities, is that it retains the original fresh taste, texture, aroma and nutrition for many years, so you can always have a pantry full of food that is both safe and good for you.
Having freeze-dried food means no more going hungry, worrying about what or where you'll eat. No matter where you are, whether that's on vacation or at school, nothing beats having full confidence in knowing what you're putting into your body.
Did you know? The Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the federal body dedicated to safeguarding food, animals and plants, works in collaboration and partnership with industry, consumers, and federal, provincial and municipal organizations, to protect Canadians from preventable health risks related to food. For more information about food labeling laws in Canada, visit their website. |
]]>
Make a list and check it twice or better yet, strike it off. Creating lists helps to put those tasks on paper and have a visual reminder of what needs to be done, which will help you to prioritize and better manage your time. Lists also have a wonderful, positive psychological impact by helping to de-clutter your thoughts, while giving you a feeling of control and filling you with sense of accomplishment as you take care of your business.
There are many apps available to keep track of your task list, or go old school and use a pen and paper!
This seems like a no-brainer, but your body functions better on an adequate amount of sleep. When you're tired, the more difficult it becomes to stick to your healthy habits, whether that's eating loads of healthy foods, following your workout routine or simply managing your stress levels.
Try disconnecting from distractions 30-60 minutes before bedtime and allow yourself to decompress. Aim to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep every night to ensure you're running at peak performance.
Online shopping is incredibly convenient for people on the go. From kitchen appliances to groceries to exercise equipment, you'll always find what you're looking for online and you'll have access to better discounts, infinite choice and no pressure sales.
If you're like most households, you tend to purchase a lot of the same grocery items on a regular basis and nowadays online shoppers can maximize their time by saving a personalized online shopping list to place repeat orders, stay focused and avoid impulse buys.
With technology creeping into all aspects of our lives, we should all strive to live in the moment. In truth, often times our phones leave us more stressed, jealous, annoyed and sad as a result of the over consumption of information and social media overload. Unsurprisingly, more people are opting for screen time over the company of others, which means more of their down time is spent online rather than with their significant other.
We experience amazing health benefits when we disconnect from our phones, including reduced anxiety and depression, improved attention, increased happiness, greater self-awareness.
Make an appointment with yourself to exercise and don't cancel. It seems simple, but you're more likely to stick to your fitness routine when you make a point of scheduling time for it.
]]>Before you get started, you'll want to know the essentials.
Everybody will appreciate the convenience of being able to reach into their pantries and have a variety of delicious fruits and vegetables at their finger tips, especially in the dead of winter when fresh local fruits and vegetables are practically non-existent. Also, freeze drying your fruits and vegetables at home means you can buy in bulk and eliminate unnecessary waste, which translates into savings, a lot of savings.
TIP: Blanching your veggies before freeze drying them will help bring them back to that perfect texture when rehydrated.
Did you know you can turn yogurt, milk or even eggs into powder? You won't ever have to worry about having to make an emergency run to the grocery store. All of these staples will be neatly tucked away in your pantry, ready to be used. All you need to do is to add water to reconstitute.
TIP: Freeze dried (n)ice cream is highly addictive with its crispy, airy texture!
Meat can be freeze dried either cooked or in raw form, and can easily last up to 25 years if it's well packaged. That means it'll retain its same fresh taste, nutritional values and original look. Once you are ready to use the freeze dried meat, simply re-hydrate using hot water (for cooked meat or soy products) or using cold water (for raw meat).
TIP: Handle raw freeze dried meat as you would fresh raw meat
Which food would you freeze dry?
]]>Emergency preparedness is not a situation we want to imagine, but it's a reality that we cannot ignore. Preparing for a disaster by ensuring you have an adequate amount of food stored at home can reduce the fear, anxiety and losses that disasters can cause.
If you're curious to learn how freeze drying works, then you'll love this quick video on freeze drying meals. Yum!
Have you tried freeze-dried foods? Comment below!
]]>Most pet owners are looking for ways to keep their pets in tip top shape, which includes a healthy balanced diet and plenty of exercise.
Unfortunately, commercially prepared dog and cat food often contain the same hormones, pesticides, and antibiotics found in store-bought prepared foods for humans. On top of that, the meat that goes into commercially prepared pet foods is often unfit for human consumption.
A guaranteed way to gain control over your pet's diet is to prepare your own pet food at home, with ingredients from sources that you trust.
Many pet owners are using a freeze dryer to make their own pet food. There are numerous reasons why home freeze-dried pet food and snacks are better than store-bought; they're healthier, easier for your pet to digest, and tastier, plus you not only reduce your food waste at home, your pet has the benefit of better nutrition, improved health and higher energy levels.
If you're curious to learn more about freeze drying, check out our freeze dryer introduction.
Fast Fact: Each year Canadians spend over $4 billion on their pets and of that amount, a whopping $2 billion goes toward pet food alone. |
]]>
Summer is finally upon us and with that lots of great hiking and camping opportunities. In this video, Wendy shares with you how freeze-dried meals and snacks can make your camping trips and long hikes a lot easier.
With a home freeze dryer, Wendy tells us, she can pack most of the food her family needs for an entire trip in a big Rubbermaid container. But the biggest advantage, she says, is being able to make meals with very little prep time or dishes to wash. Now, who doesn't like the sound of that?
Comments? Suggestions? Let us know in the comment section below after you watch the video.
About the Author: Wendy Busse is a registered dietitian from Alberta, Canada with a passion for helping people embrace delicious dining through mindful meal planning and eating. She can be reached at www.wendybusse.com
]]>In this video, Wendy explains why having her own freeze dryer has been such a blessing. Soups are one of the easiest meals to prepare with freeze dried ingredients. She's written a pamphlet Hearty Soups with your Freeze Dryer - that has tips on freeze drying 15 different foods that you can combine into a variety of nutritious, tasty soups. You can download the free handout from the link below this video.
Comments? Suggestions? Let us know in the comment section below.
Hearty Soups with Your Freeze Dryer - Download Your Free Guide »
About the Author: Wendy Busse is a registered dietitian from Alberta, Canada with a passion for helping people embrace delicious dining through mindful meal planning and eating. She can be reached at www.wendybusse.com
]]>The use of plants for treating ailments is certainly not a new concept, in fact, archaeological evidence suggests that we've been using plants for their healing properties since the Paleolithic period, which is around 60,000 years ago. Phytotherapy is the use of plants for herbal medicines.
If you haven't heard of adaptogens, they're a class of healing plants that help protect the body and increase your resistance to stressors. They help your body adapt to internal and external stress and support your adrenals, which are the glands that manage your body's response to stress.
Most health-concerned people have heard of cortisol. It's the hormone released at times of stress and serves many important functions in your body, which is why having a healthy balance is essential to good health.
When you have elevated cortisol levels due to chronic stress, it puts your body into a fight or flight mode and this can be detrimental to your health. When in a state of constant stress or prolonged periods of stress, your adrenal glands will burn out and affect your body's ability to cope under stress.
Elevated levels of cortisol in your body will result in high blood pressure, feeling anxious and irritable, low energy, weight gain and bone loss, as well as an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease.
Adaptogenic herbs promote good health and overall well-being because they help you resist the effects of stress on your body, cope with anxiety and fatigue and reduce long-term cortisol levels.
By supporting adrenal function, adaptogens don't target a specific ailment, rather they help the body resist the adverse effects of stress and help to normalize body imbalances.
Adaptogens come in different forms (powders, pills, liquids), so they can easily be incorporated into smoothies, juice, and dishes. Here are a few examples of adaptogenic herbs:
Did you know that the idea of growing plants in controlled environments has existed since the Roman times. Fast forward to the 21st century, many technological advances have been made to make greenhouses more efficient, affordable and user-friendly, which is empowering gardeners to turn a part-time hobby into a full-time passion.
Greenhouses are for all gardeners, whether you want to dedicate a few minutes or a few hours a day to gardening. If you have visions of your kitchen fully stocked with delicious, homegrown fruits and vegetables, then you're not alone. Greenhouse gardening is growing in popularity among vegetarians, vegans, raw vegans and foodies in general and it's no wonder as it offers many advantages over outdoor gardening.
If you want to see for yourself the growing power of a greenhouse, then visit our Greenhouse product page to watch a fun Greenhouse video of Jared, a young boy who planted tomato plants inside and outside of his family's greenhouse. You won't believe your eyes.
]]>If you have never heard of or seen a greenhouse, it's an outdoor structure made out of materials such as wood, glass, plastic, metal and netting. Greenhouses are an invaluable tool for raw foodies or anyone who's interested in growing fruits and vegetables as they create the ideal environment for plants to flourish. Their warmth and humidity make them a perfect space for both small- and large-scale gardening and almost everything can be grown in a greenhouse.
Ideally, you want to install your greenhouse in a south- or west-facing location that offers either full sun or minimal shade in the afternoons. If you don't have the best light exposure for your greenhouse, you can always use artificial lighting and heating systems, which can be either basic or elaborate, but natural light is always the best for growing.
Keep in mind that you can grow your produce in or above ground in a greenhouse, so you may want to consider if the ground is flat and well-drained.
Scan the site to ensure that you do not have any surrounding tree cover or even any risk of damage due to surrounding structures. You may also want to consider if you can easily access water and hookup electricity to your greenhouse if you intend to use a heating or lighting system.
There are plenty of benefits to greenhouse gardening, whether you are growing fruits, vegetables, herbs or more.
Greenhouses create a safe, stable environment where your fruit and vegetable plants are protected from pests and inclement weather. You won't need to consider environmental factors such as the threat of overnight ground frost or curious animals looking for a snack, which gives greenhouse gardening a major advantage over outdoor gardens.
A wonderful benefit to growing your produce at home in your greenhouse is control over costs. You can choose the variety and number of plants you want to grow, so your garden can be very simple or very elaborate depending on your needs.
Since your greenhouse will provide you with a controlled environment, your growing season is extended by many months, which is invaluable in colder climates such as Canada where the growing season can be very short and unpredictable year to year. Your greenhouse will ensure that fresh produce keeps flowing into your kitchen and your bill at the grocery store (where prices can fluctuate greatly one week to the next) is manageable. On top of it, you will know exactly how your produce was grown, which is important to many raw foodies who are choosing organic foods.
Greenhouses offer a one-stop gardening shop in that you do not need to worry about the compatibility of plants as you would in an outdoor garden. In a greenhouse, you can easily mix the varieties of plants while not having to consider soil compatibility. From planting seeds to harvesting, a greenhouse will keep your plates full of delicious raw food.
"Raw vegans" tend to eat anywhere from 70-100 percent raw, but keep in mind that this ratio can be accomplished in different ways. The composition of a raw food diet can vary from person to person depending on preference. For example, some raw foodies choose to eat meals that are 100 or 50 percent raw or choose certain days of the week to eat 100 percent raw or eat a 75/25 mix of raw and cooked for each meal. Labels aside, no matter how you accomplish your goal of eating more raw food, your body will thank you.
If you have ever asked yourself what you can eat on a raw vegan diet, then wonder no more. Here's a list of raw foods:
Foods are considered to be raw when they are not heated above 48°C.
It is a common misconception that those eating a vegan or a raw vegan diet are hungry all of the time, get bored quickly with the lifestyle or are lacking in protein. What many people do not know yet is that being a raw vegan is much more than simply eating raw fruits and vegetables and can be just as or more satisfying than a conventional omnivorous or vegetarian diet.
You should always adjust your caloric intake according to your activity level, goals, and gender. Beyond that, it may take some trial and error before you find the right balance of healthy carbs, healthy fats and protein on a raw food diet.
No one should ever feel hungry on a raw food diet. Here are a few tips on how to stay fuller longer:
A raw food diets brings many rewards, some of them include:
Are you thinking of changing diets - let us know by commenting below.
Consider any food, such as an apple, eaten in a raw altered state is full of vitamins and minerals, nutrients and fiber, but when you feel that apple, cook it into a sauce and combine it with additives, such as sugar and preservatives, a lot of these nutrition benefits are inevitably lost in this process. It is undeniable that raw, unprocessed foods are healthier.
Raw foodies eat far more than just fruits and vegetables. In fact, the culinary possibilities are endless and comparable to a cooked diet given raw foodies can consume nuts, nut milk, sea vegetables, sprouted grains, and fermented foods. With a broad range of kitchen tools, such as dehydrators, food processors, mandolins, blenders and sprouters, raw meals can be as simple or elaborate as you choose.
Also, consider that you don't need to eat raw food cold or room temperature. To be considered raw, food can be heated up to 41C and in a variety of ways, such as using a dehydrator, heating plate, food processor or blender.
But it is not essential that you have these kitchen tools to eat raw and there is no requirement to spend hours in the kitchen if you don't want. These tools do, however, save you time when you want to make something more creative. Salads, on the other hand, are easy to throw together and so delicious. All to say, food preparation will depend on your own preferences.
By eating a diet rich in raw, natural unprocessed foods, you can reap all of the benefits of this lifestyle. Below are just a few examples:
Recommended Reading: Thinking of transitioning into a raw food lifestyle, then read this article on how to guarantee raw food success. |
]]>
With all of these fantastic fitness apps, you will no doubt achieve your fitness goals this year!
We want to hear from you - what's your fave app?
Whatever your goals may be, there are plenty of apps to help you be successful in creating and sustaining your healthy habits. If you haven't yet explored the app store on your smart device, here are few examples of categories of healthy living apps to choose from:
When determining whether an app will help not hinder your healthy lifestyle, consider these factors:
Comment below on what healthy living apps you would recommend!
Don't miss our next post on fitness apps!
|
]]>
With these tools, you'll be able to maximize your creativity in the kitchen, not the amount of time you spend there preparing your raw food dishes!
Juicing is an efficient and easily digestible way to boost your daily dose of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. Juicing involves the extraction of the juice of fruits, herbs, greens and vegetables by squeezing or spinning the produce (which then also separates the pulp or insoluble fiber from the juice). Blending, on the other hand, does not separate the pulp from the juice, so smoothies tend to be much more filling.
Juicing offers many health benefits, namely the soluble fiber contained in fresh juice helps balance blood glucose levels by slowing down the digestion of carbs. It also helps lower cholesterol levels by binding with the cholesterol and fat in your foods that is purged through your digestive system.
Juicing can be used to supplement your meals, treated as a snack or replace a meal entirely. It is hands-down the most efficient means of consuming a large quantity of fruits and vegetables.
Joe Cross was made world-famous when he documented his astonishing 100-pound weight loss in Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead by embarking on a 60-day juice fast to cure his auto-immune disease. Clearly, Joe's story is demonstrative of the power of raw food to heal the body.
A blender is an invaluable raw kitchen tool due to its versatility. You will likely be using your blender multiple times a day for a wide range of raw food recipes as they are great for pulverizing, grinding, chopping, crushing, and whipping and it can handle large volumes of produce. Pro-tip: Save yourself time by purchasing a tamper to go along with your blender. You won't have to make a point of stopping the blender to scrape, push down, stir its contents because a tamper is designed to push down denser ingredients into the cutting path of the blade while it is still operating. It also helps to remove any air pockets that form while blending.
Dehydration is a form of food preservation. It removes the water from food and adds shelf life to your food without the heat used to "cook" food. Most dehydrators will have temperature settings, and to be considered raw, foods should not be heated above 47C (118F). With a dehydrator, you can make raw versions of cooked foods and add some crispy crunchy goodness to your plate, such as crackers, cereals, cookies, or veggie burgers. Need some inspiration in the kitchen? Visit Raw Food Recipes to find a wide range of mouth-watering raw vegan recipes.
"Sprouting" refers to the process of soaking seeds until they sprout. Sprouted raw nuts, seeds, beans and grains offer dense nutrition and easy energy. An easy way to ensure you always have some hand to throw into your salads, smoothies or juice is to sprout them yourself.
Sprouting makes grains, nuts and legumes easier to digest. The amount of time required for sprouting depends on what you are sprouting (grains, beans, nuts or seeds), but sprouting generally takes anywhere from 1 to 5 days from start to finish, and your sprouts will keep up to 7 days in the fridge.
With all of the fresh produce that will be crossing your cutting board, you'll want to have a good quality mandoline in your kitchen arsenal. A mandoline will enable you to slice larger quantities of food quickly and slice consistently, anything from papery thin slices of radish to julienned carrots to shredded brussel sprouts.
Share your kitchen must-haves - we want to hear from you!
]]>Whole foods are an integral part of a healthy lifestyle as they are rich in vitamins, enzymes, and phytonutrients. A raw food, plant-based diet is typically low in sodium, and free from added sugars, preservatives, and unhealthy additives. When we eat food in its raw form, we feed our bodies natural enzymes that are vital to our health and digestion, whereas cooking at temperatures above 48C destroys these natural enzymes. By eating raw foods, we not only feel incredible, we look amazing too.
A diet made up wholly or partially of raw foods can help you lose weight, clear your complexion, improve your digestive health, promote better sleep, and lower your chances of developing chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
Whether your diet consists of 100, 80, 40 or 20 percent raw foods, this lifestyle has the power to transform your health. To help you navigate the raw food lifestyle, you will want to brush up on your raw food terminology. Here are 25 terms that will make you feel like an expert:
Are you considering a raw food lifestyle?
Tell us how we can help!
]]>
Fermentation is a process whereby the natural bacteria in food feeds on the sugar and starch and this creates lactic acid, which is that signature sour taste found in fermented foods (think pickles or sauerkraut) -- this process is also known as 'lacto-fermentation.'
This fermentation process creates healthy enzymes, B-vitamins, Omega-3 fatty acids, and probiotics, which sustains a healthy digestive system.
Eating a balanced diet composed of nutrient-dense foods and consuming probiotics are considered essential components to maintaining good health and an optimal balance of "good" and "bad" bacteria in your body.
The following factors can destroy this delicate balance:
Probiotics are the healthy or "good" bacteria and yeasts that live naturally in your body. They are mainly found in your digestive system and help your body maintain a healthy balance of microorganisms by reducing the growth of "bad" bacteria. Astonishingly, there are around 100 trillion bacteria in your digestive system -- that's about 10 times more probiotics in your gut than cells in your body!
A healthy digestive system is critical to your overall well-being as it is directly linked to your body's ability to absorb vitamins and minerals, regulate hormones, digest food, produce vitamins, your immune response, and ability to eliminate toxins. Ultimately, when your digestive system is not functioning properly, your health is compromised.
Getting your daily dose of probiotics has never been easier, especially with these delicious options from which to choose:
Raw Food Experience Recommended Listening: CBC News interviewed a professor of microbiology at the University of Western Ontario on fermented foods and why they should have their own food group in Canada's Food Guide. You won't believe your ears! |
Three factors that cause food to deteriorate are heat, oxygen and water. Freeze drying is currently the best method of protecting food from these elements, which makes it a superior method of preserving food compared to dehydrating.
While freeze drying may be a better method of preserving food over dehydrating, both have their advantages and disadvantages that make one better than the other depending on the circumstances and your individual needs.
Below you'll find a list that covers these key differences, such as a nutrition, taste, cost, convenience, so you can easily decide for yourself which option better suits your needs.
Freeze Dried | Dehydrated | |
Nutrition |
This form of preservation does not use any heat, so the loss of nutrition is minimal (mostly vitamins C, A and E); free of chemicals and preservatives |
This form of preservation uses heat, so it's inevitable nutrients and vitamins are compromised, but there is no change in fiber and iron content; free of chemicals and preservatives (some commercial dehydrators use sulphur dioxcide as a food preservative) |
Taste | Retains flavour | Change to flavour due to oxidization |
Texture | Hard and crisp (as is) and returns to original texture after reconstituting | Tough, stretchy, chewy (as is) and depending on the food;can be chewy or softer after reconstituting |
Aroma | Unchanged | Depends on the food (i.e., herbs become more fragrant whereas other food loses its fragrance) |
Appearance | Retains shape and colour | Shriveled, darkens and loses colour (some commercially dehydrated foods contain sulphur dioxcide so the food retains its colour and looks more palatable) |
Convenience | Lighter in weight than dehydrated food, but takes up more space; reconstitutes quickly (10 minutes or less) using hot or cold water; most items can be eaten freeze-dried | Light-weight and compact; most food needs to be reconstituted before eating; reconstitutes fairly quickly (20 minutes or longer) using boiling water |
Preparation | Food does not need to be treated in advance; food can be freeze dried whole, either raw or cooked | Some foods need to be blanched before dehydrating; cut to 1/4" in thickness; exercise caution when mixing foods as some foods will overpower others |
At-home cost |
An at-home freeze dryer is expensive and ranges anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000+
|
Price varies greatly, starts at around $60 for a small dehydrator, all the way up to $2,000 for a commercial-grade at-home dehydrator
|
Processing time | Process takes anywhere from 24-36 hours; can freeze dry from fresh, frozen or cooked | Varies depending on the equipment and food, process takes anywhere from 2-30 hours; can dehydrate from fresh or cooked (some foods need to be blanched before dehydrating) |
Storage & Shelf Life | No refrigeration required; store food in air-tight containers or bags; up to 25 years | No refrigeration required; store food in air-tight containers or bags; depends on the food, but anywhere from 2-5 years |
Foods | Fruits, vegetables, dairy, meats, full dishes | Fruits, vegetables, some meats |
Undoubtedly, there are advantages and disadvantages to both methods of preserving food, so determining which method better suits your needs depends greatly on how you intend to use the food, as well as how much time and money you want to invest. Freeze drying is the clear winner in terms of nutrition, taste, preparation and shelf life, but dehydrating is definitely more accessible with its low-cost equipment and quicker processing times.
Comment below if you have any experience freeze drying or dehydrating. We want to know which is your preferred method of preserving food.
While you may have noticed freeze-dried food has grown in popularity in recent years, this method of preserving food is not new. In fact, freeze drying was developed during World War II as a means of keeping vaccines from spoiling and from there, the technology was refined and used extensively during the NASA space program. Remember astronaut ice cream?
During the freeze drying process, food is initially frozen to -40C to -46C. Once the food is reaches the appropriate temperature, the freeze dryer creates a powerful vacuum around the food and as a soon as the temperature of the food rises just above -18C, the frozen moisture in the food is quickly evaporated off as a gas. This process takes about 24 to 36 hours from start to finish and removes almost 100 percent of the moisture from food.
It is remarkable how freeze-dried foods can be stored for up to 25 years without compromising their nutritional profile, which means freeze-dried foods are just as healthy for you as the day on which they were preserved. They hold virtually the same nutrients, minerals and vitamins, plus they're free of additives and preservatives. Most people are surprised to learn that freeze drying does not affect the flavour, colour or shape of their food as compared to other methods of preserving food.
Other methods for preserving food (canning, dehydration) use higher temperatures and typically up to 60 percent of the nutritional value may be lost. They also affect the taste, colour and texture of the food, which makes freeze drying the healthiest of all methods for preserving food.
Food should be kept in a moisture and oxygen proof package to ensure its freshness and stored at room temperature, no refrigeration required.
You can re-hydrate freeze-dried food and it will go back to its original flavour, aroma and appearance. You can also enjoy your food as is and still receive the same health benefits and all of the flavour.
You can freeze dry just about anything, it's pretty incredible. Beyond raw and cooked fruits and vegetables, think entire meals, including casseroles, smoothies, desserts, nut milk. The possibilities are limitless.
FACT: Half of the food we produce in the world never actually makes it to our plates. That means about two billion tons of our precious food has gone to waste and that doesn't even include the food we waste in our own kitchens. |
Activated charcoal (also known as activated carbon) is a material that is produced from different carbon sources, such as wood, bamboo, or coconut shells. When these carbon sources are treated with extremely hot temperatures, a chemical reaction occurs whereby the charcoal’s surface becomes very porous and it is given a negative electric charge. It is this negative charge that attracts positively charged poisons, toxins, chemicals and gas.
Activated charcoal works by trapping toxins and chemicals, although it doesn't absorb them; instead, toxins bond to its surface, so it has the power to flush out these harmful toxins and chemicals that cause damage to your body. Because activated charcoal is not absorbed, it is flushed away and you reap the benefit of a well-functioning digestive system.
Drink it: for the ultimate detox, try a charcoal lemonade. Charcoal doesn't add any flavour to your foods, but it can certainly add a lot of cleansing power. In addition to flushing away toxins and chemicals, a recent study suggests that activate charcoal has the ability to lower levels of bad cholesterol.
Breakfast: in your next morning smoothie, consider adding activated charcoal to help wash away toxins caused by environmental pollution, processed foods and pesticides. Activated charcoal also has the added benefit of soothing an upset stomach, treating acid reflux and reducing stomach bloat.
Add colour: make a statement in your culinary creations by taking advantage of activated charcoal's deep onyx hue and colour your foods naturally, without the use of harsh dyes.
Apply it: scrub away dirt and remove toxins from your skin using a facial cleanser or mask made out of activated charcoal or apply it topically to treat body odor, blemishes, insect bites and rashes.
Brush with it: brighten your smile and whiten your teeth without the use of harsh chemicals. Brush with powdered activated charcoal 2-3 times per week to receive the benefits.
Among the most powerful of foods, wild blueberries are nutrient-dense and loaded with antioxidants, which work to neutralize free radicals linked to the development of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other age-related conditions.
#1 - Choose blueberries that are deeper in colour (the richer the colour, the great the level of antioxidants) and frozen blueberries are as good for you as they are fresh.
#2 - Store your fresh blueberries in the fridge and don't wash them until you're ready to eat. The silvery sheen found on the exterior of the blueberry helps to preserve the fruit, so you prolong its life by waiting.
Quick Facts ~ Wild blueberries are also known as low bush berries and have been growing naturally in Canada for thousands of years. In fact, we are the world's largest producer of wild blueberries. |
]]>