There are a number of reasons why many of us just love chocolates and even more reasons why we should eat raw chocolates. Isn’t it just music to your ears when you hear that something that tastes so wickedly good is actually really healthy for your body?

Yes, raw chocolates are in fact very rich in antioxidants and many other vitamins and minerals like magnesium. And the best part is you can make lots of very easy and very yummy raw chocolate recipes right in your own kitchen! Let me share with you some really good ones that you can try at home.

Raw chocolate fudge in 1-minute. No equipment!

Chocolate treats that are so easy are definitely a perfect fix for sudden sweet tooth cravings. You can whip up this raw chocolate fudge in one minute and you don’t even need to sweat or need any equipment at all. All you need to do is mix coconut oil, honey, and cocoa powder… and enjoy eating! That’s just how simple and fast it is.

No equipment required to make chocolate haystacks.

Another easy, yummy treat you can add to your list of raw chocolate recipes is this sweet, no-equipment-required raw chocolate haystacks recipe. It’s great to have quick and uncomplicated confections like this around. Just put coconut oil, maple syrup, raw cocoa powder, pure vanilla extract and sea salt in a bowl and mix well. Once it’s blended, add the shredded coconut and continue mixing until the mixture is well combined. The next step is to form them into small mounds, place on a plate (optionally, you may want to roll them in shredded coconut too), and store in the freezer for at least half an hour. These chocolate haystacks are best eaten right out of the freezer.

Make traditional chocolate bars with a blender.

This recipe is very basic and easy, yet tastes absolutely great. Simply mix coconut oil, maple syrup, raw cacao powder, and pure vanilla extract in a blender. (You can also whisk the ingredients in a bowl.) Also make sure your coconut oil is in a liquid state before you start mixing. Once the mixture is well blended, pour it into molds or into a glass dish and place in the freezer. Easy peasy. You may also want to add your own twist to your raw chocolates recipe by adding nuts or raisins to make it more interesting.

Make white chocolate with a food processor.

This recipe might be a little confusing because there isn’t even any chocolate in it at all. But trust me, the raw white chocolate bars you end up with after making this recipe are really sweet and quite surprisingly white chocolatey-ish. First (and very important instruction), you need to process dried shredded coconut alone in a food processor until it becomes moist. This can take quite a while! When it does, add maple syrup, vanilla extract and sea salt, and continue processing until the mixture becomes rather wet/oily in consistency. Put the white chocolate mixture into molds or a shallow dish and press down firmly. Freeze for at least 30 minutes before serving. If you visit this recipe directly, you can watch me make these white chocolates on video.

Raw truffles ready in minutes with your food processor.

Truffles! Yum! Here’s how you can make this awesome raw chocolate truffles recipe in few easy steps. Put walnuts and sunflower seeds in a food processor and blend well before adding dates, sea salt and raw cocoa powder. Continue processing until the mixture thickens and holds together. Finally, roll it into small balls and serve. If you prefer it to be a little fancier, you can also roll the truffles into shredded coconut or raw cocoa powder.

Which raw chocolate recipe will you make next?

With all these mouthwatering raw chocolate recipes, I bet it’s now even harder to resist such sweet yet healthy goodies, yes? You don’t really have to. Just go ahead and indulge! Of course, it’s always best to keep in mind that moderation in all things is most important. But whatever you do and whichever recipe you decide to make, remember to have fun!

Chia seeds are used to thicken and add texture to many different types of recipes. Did you know you could thicken smoothies and shakes with chia seeds? Same with sauces and puddings and more! Plus, they are a dandy source of dietary fibre!

Here is a selection of recipes that use chia seeds. These versatile little seeds are a total must-have in my kitchen!

Raw Porridge

Here's a hearty breakfast to start your day right - Raw Porridge! Chia seeds, raisins, and coconut are the top ingredients, along with other nuts and seeds of your choice (almonds, pumpkin, sunflower...).

I prefer to use milled (ground) chia seeds in this recipe.

Raw Strawberry Sauce

Liven up your raw desserts with this delightful Raw Strawberry Sauce. The chia seeds thicken the sauce to the perfect consistency - yum!

This is crazy easy to make - just 3 ingredients: strawberries, dates and chia seeds!

Raw Chocolate Chia Pudding

Chia seeds thicken up puddings like there's no tomorrow! Try this Raw Chocolate Chia Pudding on for size and you'll have to agree!

Cashews, chia seeds and cacao powder are the primary ingredients in this lovely chocolate-y recipe!

Raw Strawberry Milk

Strawberries + chia seeds + sweetener + water = the ultimate Raw Strawberry Milk recipe! Thick, syrupy-smooth sweetness describes this smoothie perfectly.

This is a healthy and delicious drink for kids, too!

Raw Banana Bread

This Raw Banana Bread gets its firm texture from plumped-up chia seeds. This easy recipe (yes, it's easy even tho' you have to use a dehydrator) will satisfy any banana bread cravings you may have ever had!

Bananas (of course!), dates, carrots, chia seeds and pecans are the main ingredients in this scrumptious banana bread!

Sold on Chia Seeds?

As you see, chia seeds can be used for more than to thicken puddings! Make sure you've got a container of 'em on hand in your cupboard, and make sure to use them, m'kay?

Check out The Skinny on Chia Seeds to discover more about these useful little seeds!

Easter is edging closer (yay!), and Easter chocolate is one of my fave treats! Do you remember scarfing big chocolate bunnies and running around looking for those little foil-wrapped chocolate eggs? Well, just because you're raw doesn't mean you have to miss out on Easter goodies!

I present to you 5 delicious raw vegan recipes that feature, you guessed it, chocolate!

Raw chocolate truffles

Surprise and delight kids and adults alike with these Raw Chocolate Truffles. These delights are both chocolatey and nutty, and oh-so-good. And you can shape them like an egg if you're really creative!

Serve in Easter-themed foil cups for a more festive feel!

Raw chocolate fudge

For a creamy chocolate hit, try this Raw Chocolate Fudge for maximum taste impact. These little morsels are about as chocolatey as you can get!

Mold into little eggies, wrap in festive foil, and voila!

Raw chocolate cake

If you're making Easter supper and need a chocolatey dessert, this Raw Chocolate Cake fits the bill. Guaranteed to be the hit of the party! If you have a bunny-shaped cake pan, better yet!

Ice with Raw Chocolate Icing for maximum chocolate factor!

Raw white chocolate bars

For the white chocolate fans in your life, serve up a batch of Raw White Chocolate Bars and bask in the praise! I used to love those white chocolate Easter bunnies back in the day.

Arrange these lovelies with chocolate truffles or fudge on your favorite Easter serving tray for a festive feel!

Raw chocolate haystacks

Another Easter treat: Raw Chocolate Haystacks! Easy to make and oh so chocolatey-coconutty good! So they are perfect to whip up before your Easter gathering.

Wrap in Easter-themed foil and surprise your guests with these sweet Easter treats!

Simple & sweet

There you have it! This Easter, spoil your partner, kids, friends and family with a collection of raw vegan chocolatey Easter treats. And make sure the Easter Bunny leaves a little something special for you!

It's going to be my 30th birthday next month (born in 1982), and I have to say that I feel great about it!

My husband tells me that I look better now than in years gone by, and I choose to believe him :) Losing those extra pounds through raw foods has certainly helped define my face and let the real me shine through. I've been 100% raw for about 5 years now, and I feel fabulous. Clear skin, high energy, at my ideal weight, no mood swings, etc. I feel like a different person now.

And let me tell you, exercise actually turns into FUN when you are not lugging around extra pounds. It's so much easier to move and be active when you're lighter. So it's kind of a catch 22 when you are heavy though.

Accepting You Today, But At Your Best

Now, I doubt that I will look as good as Mimi Kirk at 72 but she sure is setting a fabulous example to strive toward. Long hair looks great at any age when done right. I am not convinced that she hasn't had work done, but who knows? Who cares? She looks great :)

I hope to age gracefully and accept the changes that occur, but also to do my best to look my best, like keep off extra pounds and keep my mental health well too by taking care of myself both mentally and physically. Plus, I am trying to be a little trendier with fashion lately since I've been stuck in a rut living in the past with my clothing for the past decade.

I've also gotten clear, removable braces on my teeth (called Invisalign) this year to straighten them--I am about halfway through the dental treatment. I've always wanted to have straighter teeth and I thought, "Why not?" I thought I would feel weird as an "adult" with braces, but most people don't notice and/or couldn't be bothered to care.

What Other People Think

One of the most useful truths in life that I've learned is that everyone is so wrapped up in their own lives that they actually don't take much time to think about what other people are wearing or doing. Think about it. When you are at a party wondering, "Who should I talk to? Is my dress okay? Is my pimple noticeable?" Well, everyone else is thinking the same thing about themselves. So very few people are actually paying attention to other people in the same way that we pay attention to ourselves. :)

How do you feel about your age and how you look in it? Have raw foods helped you feel younger? Or do you really want to make a change to help you feel better about yourself?

If you are a raw food newbie, you might be asking yourself... what ingredients are essential to making great-tasting raw recipes?"  Good question! There are many raw products and ingredients out there in the big 'ol world--so what do you really need?

Now, think about a carrot for a moment. A carrot tastes good, it's crunchy and it tastes like a carrot! But what does it bring to a recipe? It doesn't really do anything but be a carrot (and we're totally fine with that!). The following must-have ingredients have attributes that contribute universally to a wide variety of recipes. They may add texture or sweetness or a unique flavor. Some add creaminess or thickness or body. Do you see where I'm going with this? :)

If you peek into my kitchen cupboard, you will for sure see these 7 raw ingredients...

Coconut oil

Hardens & adds texture

Coconut oil is liquid at room temperature, firm-ish in the fridge, and solid when frozen. This attribute makes it the most versatile and useful raw food must-have. Check out how I use it in this Raw Pumpkin Pie recipe. The filling is liquid-y to start with, but lo! after a stint in the freezer, the pie is ready to slice and eat. Yum!

Raw Cream Cheese Icing, on the other hand, is kept in the fridge. In this recipe, the coconut oil loses its liquid quality and nicely firms up so that the cream cheese is now spreadable. Like real cream cheese!

I also use coconut oil in its liquid form, as in this Raw Egg Nog. Here it adds texture (body) to the nog.

Olive oil

Adds flavor & texture

Here is another oil that I consider a must-have. Olive oil adds flavor and texture (body) to certain recipes. And it is versatile. It stands alone drizzled over a salad. Or it can be added to recipes - like this Simple Raw Garlic Salad Dressing!

Olive oil also ramps up the flavor and crisp-factor in this scrummy Raw Kale Chips recipe.

Sea salt

Adds flavor

"Flavor" pretty much sums up why sea salt is a must-have! Sea salt revs up any recipe, both savory and sweet.

Erm, not much more to say on the subject of salt!

Cashews

Adds creaminess & texture

Cashews are da bomb when it comes to adding creaminess & texture to recipes. When blended, the nuts take on a lovely, creamy texture that is perfect for a variety of recipes. Note that cashews don't add a lot of flavor- they are best used as a 'base' ingredient.

Blend cashews into soups -  check out this Raw Tomato Soup - and sauces for a nice, thick texture. Or use them in desserts and fillings like cookies, cheesecake, and Raw Fudgsicles!

Lemon juice

Adds acidity & flavor

You can't beat lemon juice for adding major zing to your recipes! Its tartness takes a recipe from ordinary to OH YES! Like these Raw Cranberry Lemon Cheesecake Bites. Lemon juice is the surprise ingredient that elevates the taste factor.

You can add lemon juice to recipes like smoothies, sauces and desserts. Our tastebuds can always use a little extra kick, yes?

Chia seeds

Thickens & adds texture

Ah yes, chia seeds. This ingredient definitely makes my must-have list. Chia seeds are tiny hard seeds that absorb up to 10x their weight in water. Hence their super-power ability to thicken anything you add them to! If you haven't tried chia seeds yet, get a move on! Here is a de-lish breakfast recipe for you to start with: Raw Porridge.

I use chia seeds in puddings, sauces and smoothies. A very useful little seed!

Dates

Adds texture & sweetness

Dates are never missing in action in my kitchen. Never! They add both texture and sweetness to raw food recipes. You won't miss white sugar when you use dates, trust me! Dates are 'sticky', which makes them ideal for binding recipes together, like my Raw Brownies. This recipe is a classic example of how dates excel in a recipe.

Besides using dates in many of my desserts, I also blend them into smoothies. Again, the dates add body to the smoothie, as well as sweetness. A total must-have ingredient!

Must-have ingredients... yes?

I hope I've given you some ideas here, though I'm pretty sure you have tried many, if not all, of these ingredients. You can see how important they are. What other must-have raw ingredients do you keep in YOUR kitchen?

Have you been contemplating going raw? Do you spend hours browsing raw recipes, but never seem to make that shopping list? Do you tell yourself, “I’ll start next week”? Or you think, “When I eat up all the other food in the house…”? Maybe you say, “When I can afford all the kitchen appliances, then I’ll start.”

I know firsthand starting something new can be challenging and a bit overwhelming, but starting a raw food lifestyle is a change you won’t regret. The health benefits are so worth it and it’s easier than you think!

And you don't have to do it all right now. You don't have to go raw overnight. It all start with the next bite. Can you try a raw meal for your next meal? Or your next dessert?

If you’ve been a long time “meats and sweets” kind of person, you may want to ease your way into it. Just start with one raw meal a day. Perhaps add a delicious green smoothie to your morning routine. You’ll start feeling the difference right away. Soon your body will start craving the good stuff and you’ll find yourself reaching for a piece of fruit instead of a bag of chips (unless they’re dehydrated kale chips, of course).

You don’t even need any special appliances to get started. There are several delicious recipes that don’t require any equipment at all. They do make it more fun though! Start with a basic blender and work your way up to the big stuff. However, you may find when you aren’t spending money on meat, processed food and at the drive thru, there might be a little more in the budget for those kitchen gadgets than you realize!

So go ahead, grab a pen and paper and start making that grocery list or better yet, download one of my helpful apps and get started today. Your body will thank you!

You will feel amazing. Eating raw increases energy, clears up skin, helps you sleep better, promotes weight loss and reduces the risk of disease. It’s even thought to slow the aging process. That should be enough motivation to give it a try. You can do it! 

Easy raw desserts don't have to involve soaking, sprouting, dehydrating or thinking much in advance at all. Just make sure to keep the basic easy raw dessert ingredients on hand, like  dried coconut, some nuts (pecans, almonds, etc), a sweetener (agave nectar, dates, etc) and raw cocoa powder and you can whip up easy raw desserts in no time!

When I am craving a simple raw food dessert here are a few of my go-to easy raw dessert recipes.

Easy raw desserts - 3 best ideas

Raw brownies (with optional raw chocolate icing) - This is a perfect raw dessert to feed to your family as a simple raw dessert that satisfies. Even teenage boys like this one, I am told!

Raw chocolate fudge in 1-minute - This easy raw dessert is awesome because you can make it in just a few minutes, and no special equipment is required. This is a small chocolate fix perfect for one person.

Raw sesame seed bars -Try this recipe as one that you keep on hand in the freezer for when you're looking for an easy raw dessert that keeps well in the freezer so that you always have something sweet on hand. No equipment required!

What are some of your favourite easy raw dessert recipes?

Wondering what you could be chowing down on for a raw lunch? This sample lunch menu includes a few creamy, spicy and sweet recipes for you to choose from.

Get started with a bowl of raw spinach avocado soup. Then chow down on veggies or raw crackers dipped in scrumptious (chickpea-free!) raw hummus. Then the icing on the cake: raw chocolate mousse for dessert!

Raw Spinach Avocado Soup

This simple and creamy Raw Spinach Avocado Soup is delicious and super easy to whip up in your blender. Feel free to tweak the spices in this recipe.

For extra flave and texture, toss in some finely sliced spinach, shredded carrots, or chopped celery to your bowl of soup.  

Raw Chickpea-Free Hummus

For some garlicky love, check out this Raw Chickpea-Free Hummus recipe. I use zucchini instead of chickpeas - and voila! a perfect creamy dip or spread - yum!

This hummus is great for dipping raw veggies into, or for spreading on crackers.

Basic Raw Crackers

These Basic Raw Crackers are the perfect partners for your bowl of soup, or for slathering your favorite spread on.

I always keep a batch of these tasty crackers on hand for snacks and meals. Or you can sub your fave vegan cracker instead.

Raw Chocolate Mousse

To finish off your delish raw lunch, how 'bout a light fluffy Raw Chocolate Mousse? This recipe is oh-so-chocolatey good!

Avocados are the surprise ingredient in this recipe!

Say yes to raw lunch!

It's easy to skip lunch when you're too busy or tired or dare I say it... just not in the mood! But these options for a raw lunch are so simple and delicious and good for you! You'll feel better the rest of the day if you take the time to nourish your body, trust me.

What you eat affects every aspect of your life, like your mood, how your body fights disease and how you maintain your health. It's also a major consideration when looking at the causes and contributing factors of many health issues like high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and high cholesterol.

You can experience many health benefits, like better absorption of fiber and vitamins, by adding more raw food to your diet. Whether you're in the process of transitioning to a raw food lifestyle or just experimenting with adding more raw foods to your diet, here are some simple tips to help get you started.

For more ideas on how you can incorporate more fresh food into your daily routine, check out these tips on transitioning to a raw food diet. Do you have a plan or goal for adding more healthful foods to your life?