Juice Fast anyone?

I am so horrible at blogging! It's one of those habits that needs some work!

So I FINALLY watched Fat, Sick, & Nearly Dead - it was really inspiring. There is a corresponding website - all free - www.jointhereboot.com. I was surprised because there was so much fruit juicing going on! I've always been told to juice with mostly greens. But, I also realize you can't do a 60-day juice fast on just the same thing! (Although I'm sure some people do that - especially with wheat grass.)

So I've been putting off juicing for quite some time for several reasons. I think it's not going to be fun is probably number 1...lol  But I was so worried about doing it correctly - getting the right juicer, doing the right program, etc. that I realized if I kept worrying about doing it perfectly I would never do it!

So here's to trying! I'm going to start a juice fast. How long will I go? I guess as long as I need to.

I'm starting with the green juices as I have been told those are necessary for maximum detoxing, but I'm not going to be so vigilant about it that I can't have fruit juice now and then.

Here's how I started my morning...

 It took me an HOUR to make this much juice! It's not the juicing part per se, it's all the prep work! This juice contains about 1-2 cups of spinach (what was leftover), 6 very large cucumbers, 2 stalks of celery (the whole thing, not individual stalks), and some ginger. So I'll see how long it lasts! I've had 2 big glasses already and will just keep drinking it until I'm not hungry!

I've heard the first 3 days are the hardest, so hopefully I can get through that and it's smooth sailing!

If anyone wants to join me on my juice fast, just drop me a line and we can be juicing buddies!

Wishing you peas and good health,

VeggiePatti

Update on juicing

So I've been juicing away with the green juice. I just have to wonder...why does the juice from the raw food restaurants taste so much better? LOL I'm thinking I better keep experimenting with the amount of each veggie to put in! Anyone have any good recipes to suggest?

Also, I have some exciting changes to VeggiePatti.com coming soon - I will be making an announcement this week! Stay tuned!

In peas and good health,

VeggiePatti

Check out Healthy Living Detroit's Downriver Expo and Pet Expo!

Metro Detroit Raw Food Offerings

I just put this together for one of my classes. Let me know if there are additions! And if you know of any of the raw food caterers, please share!

Raw Food Restaurants Cacao Tree Café 204 West Fourth St Royal Oak  248-336-9043 www.cacaotreecafe.com The Raw Café 4160 Woodward Detroit 313-778-9774 www.therawcafe.com Red Pepper Deli 116 West Main St Northville 248-773-7671 www.redpepperdeli.org The Treehouse for Earth’s Children 22906 Mooney St Farmington 248-473-0624 www.treehouseforearthschildren.com Detroit Zen Center 11464 Mitchell St Hamtramck 313-366-7738 www.detroitzencenter.org Chartreuse Monthly Pop-Up Restaurant Detroit www.chartreusedetroit.com

Raw Food Options Greengos 15104 Kercheval Grosse Pointe  313-432-2373 www.urbangreengos.com Zerbo’s – Harry’s Health Bar 34164 Plymouth Rd Livonia 734-427-3144 www.zerbos.com Goodwell’s Natural Foods Market 418 West Willis St 313-831-2130 Natural Food Patch 221 West 9 Mile Ferndale 248-546-5908 www.naturalfoodpatch.com (Carries Detroit Zen Center items) Eastern Market 2934 Russell St Detroit 313-833-9300 Detroit Zen Center items in Shed 2 Whole Foods Market Ann Arbor, West Bloomfield, Troy, Rochester Hills www.wholefoodsmarket.com Detroit Evolution Raw Food Catering 313-316-1411 www.detroitevolution.com Various raw food chefs offer catering services

"You know you'd feel better if you just ate meat..."

OK - how many of you have heard this from well-intentioned friends and family? Ever wonder how to respond without blowing your top? While every situation is different, here's something I found myself saying today (I'm paraphrasing of course).

Newsflash! Vegans are not superhuman. We are not always the picture of perfect health. We get sick, just like everyone else. And some of us have medical conditions or illnesses, just like everyone else. However, I do believe that a vegan diet based on whole foods (all other things held constant) helps us to get sick less often and navigate more serious illnesses and conditions better than if we ate a SAD diet.

That being said, what I really wanted to add was the following:

By the way, when you make a comment like that, I take offense to it. I do not believe that I have to kill and consume another animal to lead a healthy life. If my decision to be vegan was due to religious beliefs, you would never make that suggestion to me! So why is it so difficult to understand that I came to this ethical decision on my own without religious doctrine telling me it's wrong? And why is it so difficult for you to respect my decision? Would I get a free pass if I said it was for religious beliefs? In the future, please refrain from trying to push your animal-consuming beliefs onto me, no matter how well intentioned you think they are, as I find them quite offensive.

Although I have actually said that to people before, in this instance, I did not. Know your audience, right?

So, for anyone out there who may be reading this blog, how do you respond when someone says that to you?

Wishing you peas and good health,

VeggiePatti

Green juice is on the way...

I've finally ordered my first juicer! It should arrive next week. I haven't watched it myself yet, but Fat, Sick, & Nearly Dead has been making a splash and getting people interested in green juicing. I've decided to test out the waters and report back to you about all the wonders of green juicing!

Stay tuned!

Wishing you peas and good health,

VeggiePatti

Last Chance to sign-up for the Green Smoothie Challenge

For anyone still interested in signing up for the 6-week Green Smoothie Challenge, there's still time. There has been a great response to the program so far! Last night to sign up for the entire program is the first night of class. Drop-in classes are also available for $20 per class.

If you are interested in signing up for the entire six weeks, the cost is $90 - here is what you will get.

·        6 classes – lecture and personalized support - $120 value

·        Access to daily private blog - $30 value

·        Cookbook - $8 value

·        Discount on T-shirts

·        ~$70 savings – almost 45% off

·        One person to get free tee as chosen by class