So, I wanted a cheesecake for my birthday (April 13), but I didn't want to eat that much dairy and sugar, so I made a raw vegan one (recipe here.) It is mostly cashews - with some coconut oil, lemon, and water thrown in. It is super easy to make, but a tad bit pricey...I doubled it so I used six cups of cashews! The only sweetener is a few tablespoons of honey, and dates.
It is important to me that food is beautiful. Grammy Bette, my dad's mom, had a flair for this which she passed to me. More important than looks though, is how food tastes and how it affects the people who eat it. I believe that we can feel the love with which food is prepared. I also believe that we can feel the nutrients, or lack thereof, in our bodies and emotions as our food digests.
Over the course of my pregnancy in 2012 and the first year postpartum, I slowly realized that I was eating a lot of sugar; I was exhausted all the time and had a true addiction (my first ever). I did a group sugar cleanse (http://ashevillefamilyfitness.com/health-coaching/) this past February, and the thing that I noticed after just one week was the amount of energy that I had. I didn't have a mid afternoon slump, and I was able to feel great with less sleep at night (I used to want to sleep in every day).
Most pregnant and postpartum moms I know are drawn to sugar, and food that is quick to grab and toss in the chomper (most of which are sweet, right?). Most of us moms struggle with lethargy and exhaustion too. It takes a lot of calories and energy to grow a baby, give birth, breastfeed, and keep track of life! As a Postpartum Doula and Personal Chef, I am inspired to share foods that help you eat what you want to eat (like cheesecake), but with a slight twist so that the calories aren't empty sugar calories, but nutrient dense. I have learned a lot over the years about fats, proteins, fiber, etc, and now I can add sugars to the list of things to get geeky about!
So back to this cake...it was so yummy! Isn't this picture of it yummy?
Not only did it taste good, but I felt good after eating it, and had some for my post-birthday breakfast the next morning.
Yep, I am saving my pennies for more cashews...