Happy Thursday everyone!
We wanted to go over a few things going along with our coconut kefir video. Michelle forgot to mention a few things. Many of you might see kefir starter packs in your local stores or online. The difference between the kefir starter packs and the grains is that the packs only last a few times while the grains could possible last a lifetime. That way you really only have to buy the grains once because they will continue to populate and make more. Though if you are just curious and starting out with making kefir the starter packs are a great way to go.
Going along with the grains there are two types water and milk. Both are great! We use both. And now for the ‘milk’ grains you do not necessary have to use dairy to make them as you saw in our video coconut milk seems to be working out just fine. Yes you all may be thinking that the ‘milk’ grains are not vegan, which is true. But we do not make our kefir using ‘real’ milk just coconut or hemp milks and we are loving it because it is very similar to real kefir and it has the sour and creaminess that we love. So to us it is ok even if it started out with real ‘milk’ grains. Though you may experiment with whatever type of grain and liquid you feel most comfortable with doing. We plan to show more on making water kefir later this week.
Anymore questions please just let us know. We are here to help and would love to see more of you trying out making your own kefir!!!!
Ok enough of kefir now onto our eats for over the past few days.
Going along with Gena’s theme of saying “I LOVE TO EAT!” And you all know Michelle and I love to do that. Though we have struggled with eating disorders too. Our journey was a little bit different (our food issues all were based around our stomach issues- we would not eat because we did not want to feel like crap) though eventually over time we finally learned to love food again and embrace ourselves and the food we eat. We also struggled with our body images that we know many of you deal with as well though we will save that big topic another day!
Therefore in honor of National Eating Disorder week we wanted to show you all that eating healthy can be fun, delicious, and comforting! And of course great for your body and mind!
A great lunch filled with coconut oil, pure2raw sunflower cheez flatbread and sauerkraut!
Heavenly! Everyone needs to make this and taste a bit if heaven 
Snack was some cilantro mixed in with some fermented veggies and pumpkin seeds (grounded into flour) of course
And avocado for dinner/dessert – yes please!
Avocado key lime pudding mixed in some sunflower lecithin 
Hits the spot of us both every time. We are huge fans of key lime!!!!
And of course to start our day today …. green smoothie 
This delicious smoothie was filled with dino kale, grapefruit, coconut oil, sunflower lecithin, stevia and lots of fresh ginger
Lately all I have been craving is sauerkraut and grapefruit! Not sure why but I guess those are not bad things to crave
Ok well I challenge of all you to say you love FOOD and yourself!!! And talk about food and why you eat food. Remember food is not your enemy as long as you are eating what is right for your body and it makes you feel good. It took Michelle and I a very long time to realize this and now we are happier than ever! Though not every day we are perfect or 100% happy with everything, though we are grateful with the food choices we make and know that we are on the journey to a better health!
Now go out there and make some delicious food and tell us all about it.
Till next time,
Lori
The Twins
L&M
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi I am really enjoying your blog. I am trying to follow a mostly raw vegan diet (due to health reasons) and blogs like yours help me to stay interested and motivated, so thank you. I too have had many stomach issues throughout the years. I am now trying to follow proper food combining to see if it helps with my digestion. Question: If you soak Quinoa overnight does it then combine as a protein or a starch? Also, sprouted bread- would that combine as a protein or a starch? Very confusing!!! Any advice you could offer would be appreciated. Thanks!
Michele, thank you so much for your lovely comment. We are so happy and honored that we inspire you to try more raw vegan diet
We hope that we can answer all your questions. Now for soaking quinoa I would say that it would be considered a protein because soaking/sprouting does make it easier to digest. When you soak quinoa it does increase the protein content. And sprouted breads would still be looked at as a starch especially if they are cooked. I would play around with those too and see how you body does with them and keep a journal of how you feel. Food combining can be tricky and different for different people. Good luck. Let us know if there is anything else! Take Care.
I LOVE FOOD! And while I’m not always terrific at loving myself, I’ve gotten a whole lot better at it.
Beautiful post — thank you for embracing self nourishment and love.
Now, I gotta make that pudding!
Thanks Gena you inspire us everyday to keep going and reminding ourselves that raw foods is a journey but one worth doing.
I ordered a few treats from your store the oter day and received them today–soo delicious! I had some purple kale chia flatbread with my black bean soup for lunch and 3 chocolate macaroons this afternoon. And I loved my sample of the pumpkin kale crackers so I definitely see another order in my future. Keep doing what you’re doing! I just wish I could try one of those oatmeal creme cookie sandwiches or pecan banana cupcakes. Yum.
Those green smoothies look delish. I am not 100% raw but being vegan, gluten-free & sugar-free has helped my health sooo much and I like reading about your journey, too!
What a good blog from Gena and I am so glad you echoed it on yours!! I LOVE FOOD!
And I LOVE YOUR FOOD!! Nom nom nom!! 
I am pretending to be eating some of the yummy macaroons you sent me from the contest!!
Thanks so much for the info and the quick response. Very helpful- I appreciate it!
I love this post! I love that you are open in discussing your past and where you’ve come from and are so positive about food and your outlook.
This: So to us it is ok even if it started out with real ‘milk’ grains”
When i posted about making kefir, I got more rude anon comments on that post than i think any other post. People accused me of not being a vegan, of not knowing what i was talking about, and some of them were really nasty. I am so glad you addressed this issue like this; I did the same on my post. AND there are water grains if someone is so inclined, they can order them which i linked for people but yeah, I had quite an inbox that day
xoxo
I love FOOD!!! Especially Breakfast foods!!!!!!!! I love breakfast yogurt messes that I have almost daily!!!
Thanks for the comment on my pup!! I was pupless for a long time too, now it was the right time to have one and I got her!!! She is ALOT of work! Feel like I have a baby again!! lol!!
Love ya girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! xoxo
I loooove food! And food loves me
. Especially when I make healthy choices, which I’ve been doing more of lately. Thanks for all of the lovely daily inspiration here. Just bought some fermented beets, thanks to all of your fermented veggie posts I was craving them.
I’ve been eating grapefruit everyday, as well as green smoothies and puddings. I still need to get around to making some fermented stuff. I enjoy it, but am too lazy to make it.
I LOVE FOOD! Such a great post of Gena’s. I’ve been on the grapefruit/citrus bandwagon too recently. Makes me happy when the weather is so blah!
That last statement was so wonderfully put. Yes, we should love ourselves and realize that food is there to nourish us! We need it. And it’s just an added value that our food choices taste SO good!
Thank you for clarifying about the kefir… but the ones that I have seen are dairy based, for the starters… oh well! I’m going to try it this weekend!!!!
Thanks!
Yes Lori most store bought grains are dairy based. The only dairy free are the ones for water kefir! Which you have to buy online. Good luck!