Raw in Norway?

How possible is it to be a rawfoodie in Norway? I've been living in Australia on the Sunshine Coast for some years now, full of beautiful beaches with smoothie bars and natural cafe's. I also spent 3 months in California where they nearly have a raw food cafe at every corner! It was easy to be raw over there.. 


In Oslo the story is another. I smell middle eastern kebabs as I pass through the streets.. or the warm pizzas from 7 eleven.. and the gluten-full temptations sell at Deli de Luca and Bit. Warm and nourishing. But lacking life-force that lasts longer than the calories. Those foods fill a searching cold soul. Hot coffee is another bestseller. Perfect for tired mornings and the high working expectations we pose. In Oslo one can find the best coffee bars in the world. Some may even say we're better than the French and Italians. (Oouups, sorry what did I just say!?) But "it is typical Norwegian to be best". At least, that is what we think, consciously or subconsciously. 


Luckily, I thank the heavens for the health stores that have a few raw food products available (although a bit costly) and for Helt Rå in Tollbugata 31 and in Sandvika near the train station. I thank Madhu and Lars for starting such an wholesome concept in Norway, in a country where we love and take pride in our nature, and have an intrinsic passion for what is pure and natural. 

This beautiful picture is borrowed from this site: 

http://www.oustravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/trollfjord-norway-lofoten-ireland.jpg 

The smoothest Caribbean cloud ever....

This is the perfect smoothie. At least if life's a bit too harsh, to cold and you need to soften up your day with something well deserved. I don't even need to mention how easy this one is, as all of my recipes I post will be kind and user-friendly. I learned this recipe when I lived for a while in the paradise island Commonwealth of Dominica. You put pieces of 2 frozen bananas in the blender. Pour over a small cup of milk (eg. raw wholesome nutmilk), add 2 tbsp good quality peanut butter, a tsp of cinnamon and a tsp of nutmeg. Mix it. That's it. I think it's even better than milk shake :-) 

Life is too short to not eat as much chocolate as you can....

There is no need to eat chocolate with guilt no longer. Raw cocoa, full of goodies full of Love. It lifts up any lost soul, it nourishes and gives. There is nothing selfish about the cocoa, just a longer & better life! 

These truffles are simply made by blending a good nut butter with raw cocoa powder and something sweet. One can add spices such as vanilla, cinnamon or clove. One can also add some raw coconut butter for a more decadent treat. Or for the health nut -add hemp powder, goji's, spirulina or maca powder. 

At the end you roll them in raw cocoa nibs.

The liquid detox lasted only about a day and a night .....

Just ordered some amazing raw products from the U.S.A on the internet, I got them sent to me for only $US 4 a package under 1.8 kg :) and yes.... as I got home from the post office I did not even bother asking myself (by MRT, kinesiology test), I simply just ate. Yum. Those products are absolutely Gourmet! My favorites are the kale chips with herbs de provence. I ordered some organic food bars too, and wasabi chips (not raw organic but natural and free of MSG). Halleluja, I think this is Christmas Eve! 

The cystitis seems to be gone though, but I'll still drink plenty of liquids, cranberry tablets (that unfortunately contains synthetic (...) ascorbic acid), wild blueberries, herbs, and keep warm and nice.

Liquids only detox.. inspired by Penny Shelton and Dara Dubinet

I'm starting a raw liquids detox time from today as I am treating myself for cystitis. I have this burning hurting sensation when going to the number one... ouch! Will by time to time ask myself (my subconscious self) by kinesiology, muscle response testing, when to start on solids again.

I keep warm, rest (in front of the computer ;) and drink lots of warm herbal teas as well. I include ginger, garlic, cinnamon, turmeric, lemon, cranberry juice and tablets (although the juice contains way too much sugar..), avocado, a bit of raw organic coconut butter and other vegetables. I'm trying to reduce the sugar rich fruits as the bacteria and yeasts thrives on sugars.. I may even add some spirulina or sprouts for the protein content.


The image symbolizes these days, how I'm going from one stage to a next somewhat unknown.. I embrace it, I embrace life and feel extremely grateful for my family, friends and all other people that I meet randomly. Oh what a cliche, but that's okey too :o)

Synergy explosion....

Raw pasta easily be made by slicing cute little linguini's from the mild and kind zucchini... or one can use parsnip (rich in inulin that is an amazing natural pre-biotic) or other tender and willing vegetables. Today I made a pasta sauce of zucchini, the middle parts that was left after slicing the linguini), avocado, soaked pecans, lots of basil leaves, garlic, salt and pepper. I sprinkled a blend of spirulina and spice mix on top. 

Later on, this sultry summer day in Oslo, I blended a smoothie by using only 3 ingredients and.... what a delight! :) I'm so happy it just happened like that. It is by coincidence most great inventions take place. I give you this precious recipe: 3 moist peaches and around 15 raspberries mixed with cranberry juice. It is a 'must try', so easy and so available here in Norway. One can even get these ingredients at Rema 1000 haha, how uplifting is that!

Feeling the sweet blues on the tongue

One of my favorite breakfasts consist of wild blueberry smoothie (eg. pineapple juice, frozen wild blue berries, kefir/ coconut milk, mango) with a granola of choice. In this easy one, I added raw buckwheat, cocoa nibs, raisins, almonds and some honey... 

Oats -the versatile and hearty super grain

To be a raw-foodist does not need to cost you a fortune. Neither does it require excessive brain-twisting or exceptional culinary talent. With simply smart food choices and clues about how to prepare your own delicious treats at home, quick and easy, can you eat super healthy super foods for a vibrant and long life!

Oats are rated of many to be the most healthy grain. It's so rich in the soluble fiber beta-glucan (that are shown to reduce the 'bad' cholesterol and thereby improve the blood lipid profile), high in B vitamins, essential fats, proteins and minerals! Isn't that amazing? :)

So, make your own raw oat milk by mixing uncooked oats with clean water and strain. I prefer to add a pinch of raw vanilla powder and himalayan crystal salt...

You can also add raw organic oats to your smoothie to boost the protein content and all the other goodies present in the oats.

And why not add oats in sushi-pastes and dips or make a cooked porridge once in a while. For me and many others, to be a raw-foodist does not mean you can't heat up food at all. It's about focusing on raw foods and it's amazing benefits and allowing oneself other interesting foods. It's a life-style more than a strict religion.. And for health and well-being, remember that the digestive and nervous (taste, sight, experience) system are closely connected.

Raspberry Starfruit dream with super cocoa..

The perfect treat for a rainy day in Oslo.. the cocoa nibs are so extremely rich in magnesium. Studies are indicating that consumption of dark chocolate may decrease perception of psychological stress!
http://www.acu-cell.com/choc.html

I also found a literature review on chocolate: http://journals.cambridge.org/download.php?file=%2FBJN%2FBJN99_01%2FS0007114507795296a.pdf&code=a9192d031fea3586e5fb4dfe7e2a40f0

So.... this lovely and easy recipe:

2 chopped bananas
1 cup frozen raspberries (you may add more if you like ;)
1 carambola/star fruit with the seeds removed
A tiny bit of nutmilk just to make it move in the blender

--> into the blender, then sprinkle a generous amount of raw organic cocoa nibs on top. Absolutely summery yummy...

Roll the delights: sushi paste, ginger, and raw corn..

In addition to the sushi paste, raw sweet super delicious corn and chopped tiny ginger bits (also raw), I added cashews, rocket/arugula, bell pepper, raw buckwheat and of course lots of Love ;)

Sushi paste

This hot summer morning in Oslo, I used the 'leftovers' -the fiber rich substance that's left after the nutmilk, in this very yummy paste.. so this is the recipe:

Half a cup moist 'nutmilk leftovers'
2 cloves chopped garlic
Some chopped leek
Hemp flour (until the paste gets right consistency)
A tbsp nutbutter, I used peanut butter
A tbsp whole raw buckwheat grains
Salt, pepper

Just blend this in a cup with a spoon -too easy :D

Good tips: This paste can be used as a fish/meat substitute in sushi's and other foods f.ex like a spread (preferably on raw crackers). Some more dryness can be added, in form of flour or nut butter, to roll them as tiny balls and cover them in for example sesame seeds or pumpkin seeds. How pretty...

Why spend lots of $ on expensive skin care..

... if you can simply blend some yourself? 

One of my favorite natural masks is the easy blend of cocoa powder (so rich in magnesium) and honey (antibacterial and rich in trace minerals).

Another one is the blend of organic strawberries (pureed) with plain yoghurt. Strawberries, rich in Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA's), exfoliate mildly while the yoghurt has a calming effect on the skin. This one is excellent for acne prone skin and mature skin for beauty preserving purposes.

All these ingredients are readily available in stores -even in little Norway! One can pick wild strawberries outside.. make own yoghurt .. have bees. But the cocoa needs to come from somewhere more exotic.. I remember making cocoa powder/paste from scratch in Dominica, gee, what a process -it took couple of days. At the end, it was well worth it.

Wrap the goodies (I mean the veggies..)

In memory of the delicious wrapped dreams from Euphoria Loves Rawvolution (my favorite raw food restaurant in Los Angeles), I found myself attempting to copy and paste this into where I live now -in Oslo.

I made two versions:

First, I made the sauce/paste of 1 celery root, 1/2 avocado, 1/2 cup water, 3 tbsp soaked nuts, 2 garlic cloves, fresh thyme, sea salt and black pepper. All these were put into the blender.

1. Cabbage leaf was filled with the celery root sauce, avocado, cauliflower, carrot, bell pepper, pumpkin seeds (rich in zink), more fresh thyme, some tiny chopped date bits, a bit of turmeric powder and sea salt.

2. I really liked this version best (and the colors looked great!): fill the cabbage leaves with celery root sauce, avocado, pumpkin seeds, some grape bits (without seeds), more fresh thyme sprigs, and a generous amount of sea salt and black pepper. I got so exited about the tastes that I completely forgot to take any pictures..

Welcome to this inspirational blog

The raw food vibrant lifestyle is for those that wants to:

*Feel happier and more euphoric
*Glow and feel/look vital
*Achieve healthy weight
*Learn how to prepare easy and fun raw foods
*Eliminate or reduce allergies
*Learn more about the science behind (e.g Biophotonics/life-force/chi/prana, enzymes, nutrition density)
*Prevent cancer, diabetes and other modern (oh so boring!) lifestyle diseases


Warm regards,
Victoria Flatebo