Yum Yum: Apple & Raisin Salad

 It can be difficult to eat well, especially when you don't know where to start, are hooked on packaged food or have been reusing the same recipes over and over. Food can be pretty straight forward and incredibly rewarding for both mind and body when you know how to use it.
In Yum Yum we will look at simple ways to prepare easy, delicious meals that won't drain your budget or your patience.

I am all about simple and easy in my food choices lately. I am fortunate enough to have an amazing hubby who will spend time planning and preparing a meal, but when I'm left to my own devices it's fast and dirty. Okay, well not dirty but you know what I mean... Hehe! This pregnancy has very much changed my relationship with food into something that I guess can only be called utilitarian. I need food to give myself and my growing child the most nutritional value in the quickest amount of time. There's no standing in front of a stove for 45 minutes for this mama anymore. Don't get me wrong. I love, love, love food and I cannot wait to rediscover my adoration for long, drawn out meal experiences, but I am just not in that place right now. Lucky for me good food doesn't necessarily have to be time consuming. One can easily put together nutritionally dense meals in a just a few minutes with very little planning.

A few things to always remember:
1. Organic does matter, especially with exposed food (greens, most fruit, skinned veggies, etc...).
2. Local and seasonal are always the way to go and you will reap the benefits in taste, quality and price.
3. A good portion of what one consumes should include raw, living food.
4. A vegetarian and/or vegan diet is ideal for our planet and our bodies, but if you do consume meat try to keep a high percentage and variety of veggies in your meals.
5. The less processed your food the better. 
6. Eating well does not have to be stressful or overly expensive. With a little planning and knowledge you can nourish yourself with great food for much less than you might think.

Apple Raisin Salad

What most people think of when they think of salad is actually not much of a salad at all. Anything covered in croutons, ranch dressing, and highly processed cheese is not a salad in my book. A good salad is an amazing, yummy thing and hey, it's great for you. The chlorophyll molecule is similarly structured to the hemin molecule of blood. So basically it recharges our blood with oxygen as well as building new blood cells. Pretty neat, right? And there are as many varieties of salads as you can imagine. Once you learn a few basics you can easily find what works for you and make your own creations.

A Few Things About Fruit:
Fresh fruit should only be consumed on an empty stomach, ideally as your morning meal. Never eat fresh fruit immediately after a cooked meal as it will cause fermentation.

What you'll need:
One apple
A handful of raisins
Two handfuls of spinach
Either balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, or a light, fruit dressing (such as Amy's Raspberry dressing)

Now prepare:
1. Chop the apple into 1/4 inch pieces.
2. Place apple pieces, raisins, spinach, and dressing of choice into a bowl, mix, and eat right away.

Seriously, could this be any easier? If you're looking for something a little more exciting feel free to add grape tomatoes, scallions, chives, bell peppers and/or cucumbers into the mix. Enjoy!

Namaste!
Tara