It is truly healthy for you... No longer a guilty pleasure, Raw Cacao or Dark Chocolate is rich in plant compounds called flavonoids which are natural antioxidants that help the body’s cells resist damage that may contribute to cancer and other diseases.  In addition to their antioxidant properties flavonoids help lower blood pressure, improve blood flow to the brain and heart, lower bad LDL cholesterol levels and raise good HDL levels - all of which protect against heart attack and stroke.  To reap it’s benefits though, choose raw home made chocolate or dark chocolate that contains at least 70% cacao or cocoa; the milk chocolate with dairy and sugar is not healthy for you.  Some research suggests to get the full benefit from chocolate you should eat a small amount a few times per day.  Is life just getting better all the time or what?

From a Mother to a Mother…
I know how important it is to feed my son healthy food that will give him the nourishment his body needs to grow into a strong vital man.  I want to give my children the best head start in life that I can give them.  For me that means living an organic vegan lifestyle with exercise, play and of course community sharing with other families and children.

Being a vegan, organic, predominantly raw food chef for over 18 years, I have figured out how to get those important nutrient dense foods deliciously into the tummies of my family and everyone else I serve.  It is a great passion of mine; to combine excellent health with excellent taste.

Bringing vitality into the lives of our loved ones is slightly more expensive, but think about it… wouldn't you rather pay upfront for creating health and preventing disease than pay later with sickness, hospital bills and drugs - yuck… Health is Wealth!  Not to mention the bad moods and energy swings that are apparent in an unhealthy diet and lifestyle that bring so much negativity into family life.  It is easier in the long run to just be healthy from the start!

Here is a quick, delicious and healthy recipe that kids love (adults too!):
Caramel Apple Chips
Ingredients:
1-2 Crisp Organic Red Apples
Raw Almond Butter
8 Medjool Dates
1/4 Cup Organic Hunza Raisins (optional)
1 pinch Sea Salt

1. Core the apples and slice into thin apple chips (leave the skins on - that's where most of the nutrients are!).  Place apple chips on a plate like rays of sunshine.
2. Drizzle raw almond butter over the top of the apple chips, make sure every piece of apple gets a little almond butter on it.  Sprinkle a pinch of sea salt on top of the almond butter.
3. Take the seeds out of the medjool dates, chop into small pieces and sprinkle on top of the apples.  Sprinkle the Hunza raisins on top as well.  Serve to happy little hands and watch how fast the Caramel Apple disappears!
Yum!

Note:  I am aware of how much more expensive the raw almond butter is compared to the toasted… it is worth it!  The taste is more delicious, but more importantly, any time you dry cook (bake) or fry anything in oil carcinogens are created (carcinogens are those things that create cancer in your body).  When you cook, it is healthiest to steam, boil or sautee' in water.  It is so totally worth it to buy the raw almond butter - you are worth it!  

This pasta made from golden zucchini and sun dried tomatoes with fresh herbs is so fun and really has the consistency of pasta.  At Mama Earth Cafe' we eat power packed nutrient dense divine flavor with every bite.

Banana Yogurt - Vegan and Raw!
Raw cashews blended in the Vitamix with lemon, maple syrup, vanilla, and a pinch of sea salt... open and sprinkle a capsule or two of natural probiotics and you have all the benefits of yogurt without the detriments on your body that dairy products can bring.  Delicious and healthy - just the way we like it!