Striped Multi-Fruit Smoothie!

Give your tastebuds a variety of surprise with layered smoothies! Packed with antioxidants, minerals and vitamins, these striped smoothies are loaded with all things good. You can switch up the colours based on the array of fruit colours that match the rainbow. For instance, if you wanted a rainbow smoothie you would start with a raspberry-based smoothie blend on the bottom (red), followed by a persimmon blend (orange), then mango (yellow), then a green-smoothie blend (green), followed by a blend of blueberries (blue). 

The fun you can have with these is endless! They make a wonderful activity for you to create with your friends or children, and will be a number one hit at any party or gathering you so choose to have. For directions, continue reading below!

If you want an amazing blender, I highly suggest you purchase a vitamix! It makes the smoothest, most creamiest smoothies, raw soups and sauces I have ever experienced! If you purchase a vitamix through Live Love Fruit, you will get FREE shipping and handling! Click HERE to purchase.

You can make a double layer, triple layer, quadruple layer, or a many-more-layer smoothie! Choose the colours of the fruit-rainbow which would most accurately mimic that colour and blend with some coconut water, coconut meat, or some chia seeds to give it a little more holding power (and so that the colours will not blend as easily). 

For red, you can choose things like raspberries, strawberries, goji berries, or a blend of the three. There are also things like papayas too!

For orange, things like oranges, persimmons, mangos (sometimes they are more orange than yellow), or cantaloupe.

For yellow, you can use bananas, mango, golden berries, pineapple or starfruit. 

For green you can use honeydew or kiwi, or you can make this section more green by adding kale or spinach to a smoothie made of just banana, chia seeds and your greens of choice!

For blue you can use blueberries or blackberries, or grapes (but grapes are more purple!). Blueberries usually work best for blue-tinted hues. 

To make the layers, simply pour one layer into the bottom of a cup and let it sit for 5 minutes (the fruit will gelatinize naturally, as it sits out). Once this layer has settled, pour the next layer, and repeat! Enjoy :)

Raw Chocolate Coconut Date Balls

These date balls are an explosion of flavour for your mouth! They are raw, vegan and 100% gluten free! The reason I chose to use carob powder over cacao is because cacao contains incredibly high levels of caffeine and stimulants are not my cup of tea (if you would rather use cacao powder in this recipe, you are more than welcome!)

These date balls make a wonderful snack (especially around the 4pm hunger curve). You can make them ahead of time, store them in the freezer, and pop them into your bag in the morning commute to work or wherever your life journey takes you that day! Having these balls an hour or a half hour before a workout will also boost your energy levels for a powered, successful workout. 

These date balls are sweetened naturally (with the magic of dates!) and are full of nutritious goodies like goji berries, spirulina and hemp seeds, providing you with antioxidants, iron, and plenty of plant-based protein. 

Ingredients:

- 1 cup raw carob powder

- 1 ripe banana

- 6 - 7 large medjool dates, pitted (soak for 30 minutes)

- 1 tbsp. spirulina

- 1/4 cup goji berries (soak for 30 minutes)

- 1/4 cup raw hemp seeds

- 1/2 tsp. vanilla bean

- Raw shredded coconut to roll

Directions:

1. Drain water from medjool dates & goji berries

2. Put all ingredients (except raw coconut) into a food processor (or blender) and blend until it is the proper consistency to roll balls (if consistency is off, add a little bit more ripe banana for more moisture (or some water), and add some more carob powder if it is too wet).

3. Form the chocolate balls and roll them in shredded coconut

4. These will keep in the fridge for a couple weeks - you may also freeze them!

Metabolism-Boosting Grapefruit Infusion Cocktail

We often try to eat less in order to lose weight. This mentality is not the best, mainly because it can lead to a metabolism that shuts down and makes us end up gaining weight instead of losing weight. When we eat such little calories our bodies, naturally, go into starvation mode and begin storing fat at any cost possible. This doesn’t mean, however, that you can eat all the junk food you please and expect to lose weight. 

In fact, there are many plant-based foods out there can can help boost your metabolism while you still consume the recommended amount of calories your body is meant to have. You may even be able to eat much more than you do now and still lose weight. Choosing nutrient rich foods that boost your metabolism will allow your body to efficiently turn food into energy which will allow you to reach your desired weight without feeling hungry all the time.

Start with this metabolism-boosting grapefruit infusion cocktail!

Need a juicer? Want a juicer that extracts all the nutrients without heating to high temperatures and thus preserves phytonutrients and energy life force? I swear by the Omega 8005 juicer! If you order the Omega through Live Love Fruit, you will get FREE shipping! Click HERE to order.

Ingredients:

- 2 large organic grapefruit

- 5-6 large carrots

- 4-6 inches ginger root

- 1 lime

- Optional: hot pepper (cayenne, habanero, etc.) for added metabolism boosting effects

Take the above ingredients and juice them in a juicer (such as the Omega 8006 - or other juicer). Alternatively, you could blend these ingredients then strain them in a cheese cloth/nut milk bag. Enjoy!

Raw Presto Pesto!

Do you love pesto? Well then you are going to LOVE this raw pesto recipe! The explosion of garlic and freshness of the basil and arugula make this dish a recipe for success! Making pesto raw/vegan is incredibly simple - all you do is omit the cheese (and who needs cheese anyway?). 

Without the dairy, this recipe will leave you feeling energized and content, with no added mucus to boot (mucus, a major downside of consuming dairy products, clogs our lymphatic system and coats our intestines and lungs with nasties). You will thoroughly enjoy this recipe! You can use it as a dip, spread, or of course, as a sauce on top of freshly spiralized zucchini noodles!

If you want an amazing blender, I highly suggest you purchase a vitamix! It makes the smoothest, most creamiest smoothies, raw soups and sauces I have ever experienced! If you purchase a vitamix through Live Love Fruit, you will get FREE shipping and handling! Click HERE to purchase.

Ingredients:
- 1 cup raw pine nuts (soaked overnight, or for 8 hours)
- 2 small green zucchini
- 1 1/2 cups organic basil
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 cup arugula
- ground black pepper to taste
- little squeeze of lemon

Directions:
Drain the pine nuts and put the pine nuts and rest of the ingredients into a food processor. Pulse blend until just mixed, but not completely smooth (unless if you like your pesto completely smooth, then you may do so). Serve over raw spiralized zucchini noodles and top with fresh basil! Presto!

*Note: You may substitute the pine nuts with cashews, or with 1/2 and 1/2 sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds (if you suffer from nut allergies)

Vitamin Water Infusions

Creating your own vitamin water is one of the simplest things to do! All you need is some fruit, herbs and water and you are set. Don't settle for the "vitamin waters" you might notice in grocery stores. Those waters are full of artificial chemical flavourings, plenty of refined sugar and bone dissolving acids all of which promote illness and disease. 

Making your own vitamin water infusions is quick and easy! They are packed with natural vitamins and minerals (not synthetic alterations of them) and thus they are better recognized and utilized in the body. Make sure to create larger batches so that these waters will last you all throughout the week!

Directions:

1. Pick a non-citrus fruit - I like to pick things like berries, kiwi, mango or pineapple. 

2. Pick a citrus fruit - you can choose from orange slices to lemon or lime slices!

3. Add herbs - choose things like mint, rosemary, basil or other favourite herbs

Once you have decided on the combination you want to use (and you may add as little or as much as you please of each - I like to add in about 1/2 cup of each fruit and 1/4 cup of herbs for 2 litres of water), put them into a large jug of water and let them soak in the water in a fridge overnight. In the morning you will have yourself a wonderful vitamin infused water that you can enjoy over the day!

Favourite combinations of mine:

1. Strawberry, lemon, mint

2. Lemon, lime, mint

3. Kiwi, lemon, lime, mint

4. Pineapple, lemon, basil

5. Mango, orange, rosemary

*You may also choose to add some ice to your water for an even cooler treat!

Delicious Raw Vegan Apple Crisp

This raw apple crisp recipe is incredibly simple, full of flavour and nutrition. Apples are rampant in fall (when they are in season) and prevent a variety of ills. Researchers are uncovering the many ways that apples keep us healthy. Modern research has proven that apples really can maintain a healthy heart and colon, give one a fuller head of hair, as well as smoother skin.

Some benefits of apples include: reduce bad cholesterol (LDL), prevent Alzheimer's disease, decrease your risk of developing diabetes, increases your endurance, protects against colon cancer, boosts your immune system, prevents cataracts, great for radiant skin, protect the heart, offer whiter and healthier teeth, reduce the risk of asthma, protect against Parkinson's, control high blood pressure, improves weight loss, flavonoids that fight cancer, protect the bones, good for your brain, prevent gallstones, neutralize IBS, treats anemia!

Ingredients:
- 5 - 6 apples
- 5 pitted, medjool dates (soaked in water for about 30 minutes)
- 1/4 cup raw buckwheat groats (soaked in water overnight, and sprout until little tails appear - about 1 day)
- 1/4 cup raisins
- 1/2 tsp. fresh vanilla bean
- 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp. ground ginger

Directions:
1. Slice your apples very thin. Next, put your dates and vanilla into a blender with a tablespoon or two of the soak water and pulse blend so there is still a few chunks (unless, if you do not want to bite into chunks, blend until smooth). Coat your apples with this thoroughly.
2. Next, take your buckwheat groats, raisins, cinnamon and ginger and gently pulse in a food processor (or chop/mix in a blender) just until chopped.
3. Layer the apples & buckwheat crumble in a shallow dish, ending with buckwheat crumble on top! Enjoy!

*Note: the buckwheat is optional - if you do not consume young buckwheat sprouts, then you can simply make a crumble out of dates (1-2), raisins (1/4 cup), cinnamon (1/2 tsp) and ginger (1/4 tsp) and some coconut shreds (1/4 cup)!

Raw Mint Chocolate Chip Smoothie

Who knew healthy could taste soooo good?! Carob is a magical alternative to chocolate! It is rich in antioxidants (protecting your body from free radical damage) and tastes mildly sweet with a caramel/chocolate type flavour. It does not contain caffeine, so you can drink this smoothie at night if you please! If you decide to add blueberries to the mix, then you have yourself some powerful brain-boosting antioxidants (including those antioxidants found in carob). 

The best thing? Carob has about 1/3 of the calories and half the amount of fat found in chocolate! Enjoy!

If you want an amazing blender, I highly suggest you purchase a vitamix! It makes the smoothest, most creamiest smoothies, raw soups and sauces I have ever experienced! If you purchase a vitamix through Live Love Fruit, you will get FREE shipping and handling! Click HERE to purchase.

Ingredients:
- 2 ripe, organic bananas
- 4 medjool dates, pitted
- 1 cup young thai coconut water
- 1-2 sprigs of mint
- 2-3 tbsp. raw carob powder
- *optional: 1 cup blueberries, 1/2 tsp. fresh raw vanilla

*Note: you may substitute cacao and cacao chips for carob, but I am not a fan of the high caffeine content in cacao. The "chips" can be the cacao chips, if you please!

Take all of the above ingredients, and stick into your blender (get FREE shipping on the Vitamix HERE) - pulse blend for 20-30 seconds and enjoy!

Raw & Natural Raspberry Jam

This raspberry jam is easy to prepare (it takes less than 5 minutes!), and is GOOD for you! It doesn't contain any nasty preservatives, gelatin, or refined sugar which most conventional jams contain. The jelly-like power of chia seeds when they come into contact with moisture makes them an excellent substitution for gelatin which is the main ingredient used in jams and jelly's to make it thicken up. You may use this spread on anything! It can even be used as a sweet dip for fruit or vegetables!

Ingredients:
- 1 cup fresh organic raspberries (or frozen)
- 2 soaked medjool dates, pitted (or you may use 3 soaked prunes)
- 1 tbsp. chia seeds

Put all ingredients into a blender or food processor, and blend until smooth. Put into a small jar and let settle in the fridge for 2-3 hours - Enjoy!

Dairy Free Coconut Yogurt

Homemade raw vegan coconut yogurt is a great addition (and replacement) for regular dairy yogurt. It will not create mucus or inflammation in your body (like dairy yogurt does) and it tastes about 500 times better than regular yogurt (who doesn't like the taste of coconut?!)! There are many additions you can make to the yogurt after it has finished culturing - you may add your favourite raw granola, some berries, pineapple, peaches, or perhaps some raw walnuts or almonds - pretty much anything that comes to mind!

Ingredients:
- 1 cup coconut meat (from young thai coconut, or mature coconut - if it is from mature coconut then you should for sure have a vitamix blender to properly blend)
- 1/2 tbsp. coconut kefir
- 1/2 tsp. dairy free probiotics
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla
- 1/4 cup young thai coconut water

Directions:
1. Blend all of the above ingredients in a Vitamix blender (or other high speed blender like Blendtec), until smooth and creamy with no chunks.
2. Take this mixture and pour into a bowl (or jar) and cover with a cheesecloth or lid NOT tightly sealed, but simply lightly placed on top.
3. Let your coconut yogurt to culture on the tabletop at room temperature for 8-16 hours. The longer it sits, the more sour, and more like yogurt it will taste (this is SAFE).
4. The yogurt should last one week after this point, in the fridge! Enjoy!



If you want an amazing blender, I highly suggest you purchase a vitamix! It makes the smoothest, most creamiest smoothies, raw soups and sauces I have ever experienced! If you purchase a vitamix through Live Love Fruit, you will get FREE shipping and handling! Click HERE to purchase.

Additions (add to your yogurt after it has cultured):

- For SWEET yogurt, add:

-3-4 pitted medjool dates

- For Herbed yogurt, add:

- your favourite herbs! Dill, basil, mint, etc.

- For Fruity yogurt, add:

- Berries, peaches, nectarines, etc.

Dairy-Free Mango Ice Cream

I absolutely love this mango ice cream recipe - it is simple, only requires 1 ingredient (or two, or three or four, depending on how many fruit varieties you want!), and it is incredibly fast to prepare. You need an omega or champion juicer or a blender to create this amazingly tasty treat! Enjoy!

If you want an amazing blender, I highly suggest you purchase a vitamix! It makes the smoothest, most creamiest smoothies, raw soups and sauces I have ever experienced! If you purchase a vitamix through Live Love Fruit, you will get FREE shipping and handling! Click HERE to purchase.

Ingredients:
- 1-2 cups chopped mango, frozen
- love

Tools: Omega 8006 juicer or a vitamix

If you have an Omega juicer, you can use it to make ice cream! This will make it very soft, smooth - almost like soft serve! Simply run the frozen mango through the juicer and you will have yourself some wonderful mango ice cream!

If you have a blender, you can also make ice cream! Especially with a high power blender such as the vitamin - put the frozen mango into the vitamix blender and blend it until smooth and ice-cream like!

Berries & Raw Coconut Date Cream

Who needs Cool Whip? Try this guilt-free recipe any time of day and power your body with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants! Berries are in full-force this time of year, meaning the bioavailability of phytonutrients is HIGH, providing your body with everything it needs to stay strong, healthy & happy. Conventional "whipped creams" or whipped creams made at home have the ability to create lots of mucus in the body, which is a major cause of many diseases and illnesses. Ditch the dairy version, and go plant-based with mouth-puckering sweet dates and creamy dreamy coconut!

If you want an amazing blender, I highly suggest you purchase a vitamix! It makes the smoothest, most creamiest smoothies, raw soups and sauces I have ever experienced! If you purchase a vitamix through Live Love Fruit, you will get FREE shipping and handling! Click HERE to purchase.

Ingredients:
- 5-6 pitted medjool dates
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla
- 1/2 cup young thai coconut meat (young thai coconut meat is more jelly and not as thick as the meat inside the dark brown coconuts)
- 2 tbsp. raw coconut flakes
- Young thai coconut water (measurement depending on how thick or thin you want cream)

- Organic berries (or any other fruit) of your choice!

Directions:
Using a high speed blender, put the dates, vanilla, coconut meat and coconut flakes and around 2-3 tbsp. coconut water into the blender. Blend on high speed, adding more coconut water as you please, to get the desired consistency you want. Put berries or other fruit in a bowl, put a few dollops of coconut date cream on top and enjoy!