Trying to eat “warmer” foods on a raw diet while maintaining raw preparation can be difficult, unless you have a dehydrator. Dehydrators help to keep living foods alive, provided you don’t exceed the 115º Fahrenheit temperature. Usually, dehydrating food can take some time, but this recipe doesn’t require as much time as it takes to make chips or dehydrated fruit. This recipe only requires four hours in the dehydrator, which is great!

These raw meatballs exhibit less of an Italian flavor profile than you would expect from a traditional meatball. Instead, the flavor is a little sweeter and more akin to Swedish meatballs, minus the overly sweet glaze that comes with them. If you prefer a more savory flavor, omit the dates in the recipe. The rest of the ingredients have notably intense and briny, cheesy, and aromatic flavors.

One thing to keep in mind is that you want to thoroughly blend the ingredients, but not so much so that it turns to a paste. Everything should stick together very well, which will help the raw meatballs stay together during the dehydration process. Lastly, these meatballs will work with myriad zoodle recipes. We find that they go great with a creamy avocado sauce (click here for recipe), but a raw marinara sauce (click here for recipe) is quite nice as well. If you are a pesto lover and can’t get enough of it, click here to make a raw vegan pesto to go with your meatballs.

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Americans love table salt, and they eat too much of it. Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends keeping daily intake of sodium to under 2,300 milligrams (mg), most American adults exceed this figure. In fact, it’s estimated that people eat an average of 3,000 to 3,500 mg of sodium per day. All of that excess sodium increases your blood volume and with it, your blood pressure. High blood pressure increases your risk of serious conditions like stroke and heart disease. 

Sodium is a necessary electrolyte that the body needs for many bodily functions. For example, the body requires sodium to maintain fluid balance, transmit nerve impulses, and to maintain muscle movement. If you are worried about high blood pressure, especially if it runs in your family, you should aim to limit your sodium intake to 1,500 mg per day. Cutting back to 1,000 mg per day could improve your blood pressure even more. 

While most people are mindful to steer clear of certain salty foods, they may not be aware of sneaky sodium bombs. French fries and movie theater popcorn are common high-sodium foods, but you need to be on the lookout for less obvious sodium sources. From canned veggies to bread and tortillas, beware of the following salty foods. 

Vegetable Juice

In theory, vegetable juice should be healthy, but it is a sneaky source of salt. Always read your labels! Sodium content is always listed per serving size, and a low-sodium serving should be 140 mg or less, according to the National Academy of Sciences. A can of tomato juice can contain more than 900 mg of sodium per an 11.5-ounce serving. If you want to enjoy healthy vegetable juice, make your own with a juicer or strain a blended vegetable mixture through a mesh sieve. 

Pasta Sauce

Pasta is an easy dinner choice because it doesn’t require a lot of time or effort, especially if you use jarred sauce. If you want to be more mindful of your sodium intake, you may want to rethink how you prepare your dish. On average, one cup of spaghetti sauce has nearly 1,000 mg of sodium. If you enjoy meat sauce, then you have to factor in additional sodium from the sausage or meatballs. Alternatively, make your own sauce by using ripe plum tomatoes, garlic, onion, and fresh basil. You can also toss your noodles with fresh vegetables and olive oil for a healthier, sauce-free pasta dish. 

Breakfast Cereal

A large percentage of the sodium that most Americans consume comes from cereals and other processed foods. One cup of cornflakes, for example, contains almost 270 mg of sodium, which can add up quickly if you don’t measure portion sizes. When you get into sugary cereals, you enter a world of food dyes, artificial flavors, and added sugars, all of which sabotage your health. Pre-made pancake mixes can also be secret sources of sodium, exhibiting over 450 mg of sodium per serving. 

Deli Meats

Sliced deli meats, hot dogs, bacon, and even turkey bacon are packed with sodium. One hot dog, for example, can contain as much as 700 mg of sodium. Two slices of regular deli ham can have close to 250 mg of sodium. People often consume more than one serving of these types of food, which only increases sodium intake. If you want to enjoy animal protein, opt for grass-fed/grass-finished beef or wild caught fish. Always check nutrition labels on meats because you never know if they are “plumped” with sodium to help them retain moisture. 

Canned Soups And Vegetables

Anything in a can typically contains sodium, especially canned vegetables and soups. That’s why you always have to check the nutrition labels and choose low-sodium products or “no salt added” products. A 10.5-ounce can of Campbell’s chicken noodle soup contains 2,225 mg of sodium, which nearly accounts for the recommended daily allowance. Canned beans or vegetables can contain nearly four servings of about 400 mg of sodium or more. To reduce your sodium intake, opt for fresh vegetables instead of canned varieties. If you want soup, use low-sodium stocks with fresh vegetables!

Bread And Tortillas

A six-inch flour tortilla can contain more than 400 mg of sodium, but this depends on the brand and ingredients. That number only increases as the tortillas get bigger. If you want to eat tortillas, opt for plain corn tortillas, which may only contain 15 mg of sodium per tortilla. Another sneaky source of sodium is bread, with an average slice containing 100-200 mg of sodium. This, of course, depends on the type of bread and the brand. If you want to watch your sodium and carb intake, opt for a lettuce wrap or portobello mushroom bun for more nutrients and extra flavor.

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Get ready to enjoy hardy texture and savory flavor of these homemade vegan meatballs. Packed with protein and fiber, these meatballs can be made in under 30 minutes. They are perfect for your weeknight dinner or your next vegan pasta night. This recipe doesn’t include pasta instructions, but we have faith that you can tackle the difficult task of boiling noodles. We did, however, provide a simple marinara sauce, which you may want to doctor up to your liking.

The great thing about the sauce and the vegan black bean meatballs is that you can make them your own. For example, if you want to give the meatballs and Italian flair, add up to one teaspoon each of dried oregano and parsley flakes. If you want to impart a flavor that helps the meatballs mimic the flavor of Italian sausage, add a teaspoon of fennel seeds and a half teaspoon of dried basil. You can continue experimenting with flavors to the point where you transform this recipe into sweet and sour meatballs. We do have to say that once you venture outside of the Italian flavor profile, you may want to ditch the marinara sauce. Teriyaki meatballs may not go great with a red sauce!

Once you make the meatballs, you have to bake them in the oven. The meatballs require about 20 minutes to bake, during which you make the sauce. Let that sauce simmer the entire time the meatballs are baking in the oven and then introduce them to the sauce directly after baking. Simmer on the stove for an additional five minutes or so and then serve with the sauce.

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Raw Pasta And Tomato Sauce Spicy “Meatballs”.

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Get out your dehydrator and ready your taste buds for some serious deliciousness. These raw vegan “meatballs” are a game changer, especially if you miss cooked food while cleansing. They are more labor intensive than a simple salad, but sometimes you have to get manipulate ingredients to create raw entrees.

This recipe is purely for the “meatballs,” but we imagine that you’ll want a sauce to go with them. We recommend pairing these with our raw vegan marinara sauce recipe (click here to view that recipe). Leave the sauce blending for a few extra minutes to naturally warm it up. Sauce up the “meatballs” and dig in! You can enhance the dish even more by adding zoodles to the mix!

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All we can say about this recipe is, “Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmm.” It is a tasty entree for anyone, especially for people on a raw foods diet. You get to enjoy the savory flavors of a classic Italian dish without the carbs!

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Holy mother of flavor these are good! These black bean balls are giving traditional meatballs a run for their money. The rich, bold spices delight your palate with classic Italian flavors, but surprise them with robustness of the portobello mushroom. We recommend using crushed tomatoes that come in a glass jar as opposed to the ones that come in a can. The cans have an unhealthy toxin that can be detrimental to your health. And if you have a few secrets from your grandma’s marinara sauce, or just feel like adding a few of your own creative spices, go ahead and season the sauce to taste. You can also make some quinoa pasta to have with this dish.

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Not only are most people mad in their everyday escapades during the Fall and Winter holiday season, but they are just as mad when it comes to their holiday diet as well. In fact, most people’s diets get worse during this time of year.

Emotions

There is a proven connection between food tastes and emotions. There is a direct correlation between weight gain, emotional imbalance and food consumption.

What is it about the Winter holiday season that makes our emotional states change? Why do we eat so much during this time of year? Is it because of energy? Or does it have something to do with commerce, or perhaps custom?

How to avoid feeling depressed during the holidays

There are things you can do to keep your spirits up, which will help you make smarter, healthier food choices:

• Listen to upbeat music
• Keep your expectations realistic-you’re going to enjoy some parts of the holidays more than the others
• Make time to take care of yourself. Schedule a massage, or take a long hot bath with your favorite book. Meditate. Do anything that helps you stay centered and balanced during a hectic holiday season.
• Make a list of what you’re grateful for in your life.
• Make a list of what you’re proud of.
• Ignore holiday TV commercials. Them telling us it’s the happiest time of the year can actually create sadness or depression if we don’t emotionally agree that it is, in fact, the happiest time of the year.
• Spend time outside, even if it’s a short walk around the block. Getting out of the house has a big impact on how we feel.
• Avoid tough situations. If a family member who’s known to cause problems wants to stay with you, let them know that it just won’t be possible and give them suggestions for affordable hotels near by. Don’t get drawn into petty arguments. If you feel that some one is trying to pick a fight, simply walk into another room and find something (or someone) who makes you feel better.
• Volunteer your time to a local charity. Giving back uplifts the spirit and helps put things into perspective.
• Lower your expectations. There is no such thing as perfection, so the “perfect” holiday isn’t likely to happen. Just roll with the changes and accept that the holidays come with very little control.
• Say ‘no’ to at least one holiday party invitation and instead spend quiet time with your family or on your own.

Holiday Foods

During the holiday season, many people become emotionally unstable and they indulge in unhealthy foods.

Holiday dietary madness begins with Halloween and all of the candy that is basically 100% sugar, the number one drug on the planet. Sugar profits are highest during these particular holidays.

So the first attack during holiday dietary madness begins with the sugar hit during the Halloween season whereby we honor the dead, ghoulish, sinister, and macabre.

Next up is Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving puts a major hit on people. Most will eat between 2,000 and 4,000 calories in one sitting. It’s a lot of work for the mouth, stomach and colon to process all of that food we eat at Thanksgiving dinner. No wonder most folks fall asleep after eating Thanksgiving dinner.

People really get off into some madness and dietary madness during the Christmas season. Christmas madness encompasses turkey, eggnog, chocolate and candy, alcohol, fruit, nuts, pastries, and just about everything else.

Some healthy alternatives to traditional holiday foods are:

• Only eat appetizers featuring fresh fruit and veggies and are free of any glaze, marinade or sauce.
• Avoid all sauces and gravies
• Prepare steamed wild rice instead of stuffing or dressing baked inside the bird
• Mash sweet potatoes or cauliflower instead of traditional mashed potatoes
• Don’t eat the crust of the pumpkin pie
• Use olive oil instead of other cooking oils
• Leave room on the plate. If you can’t see the plate under the food, you’ve over served
• Eat breakfast and a light, healthy snack at lunch. Drink an 8 oz glass of water about 20-30 minutes before eating. This will help you from over eating.

Holiday Foods Hall of Shame

These foods are notoriously bad choices during the holidays:

• Swedish meatballs-up to 400 calories per meatball
• Eggnog-up to 350 calories per measured cup
• Pot roast-up to 280 calories per 3 ounce serving
• Fruitcake-up to 410 calories per serving
• Pecan pie-up to 500 calories per slice
• Cheesecake-up to 700 calories per slice
• Candied yams-up to 410 calories per serving
• Cranberry sauce-up to 400 calories per serving
• Yorkshire pudding-up to 625 calories per serving
• Prime rib-up to 750 calories per serving
• Hot buttered rum-up to 400 calories per serving
• Yule log-up to 420 calories per serving
• Starbucks Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha-up to 540 calories in a Grande size
• Sugar cookies-each cookie can have up to 200 calories (before icing is applied)
• Beef Wellington-up to 710 calories per serving
• Cinnamon rolls-up to 730 calories per serving

Dherbs Solutions

Post-holiday cleansing can help set things right. Dherbs recommends:

• FULL BODY CLEANSE

Thank you for reading!

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