Holiday recipes usually conjure up visions of mashed potatoes, stuffing and pumpkin pie. Am I right? Well, you can have these recipes (and more!), raw vegan style! No need to deprive yourself of seasonal favorites, plus your guests will love them, too! I myself cannot do without raw eggnog during the festive season. Must have my eggnog!

So, without further ado, here are my favorite top raw vegan holiday recipes:

Raw Eggnog

Serve your guests a glass of this delicious Raw Eggnog. Oh so rich, this eggnog will soon get them into the festive spirit. Cashews, dates, and coconut oil are (crazily enough!) the main ingredients in this easy-to-whip-up recipe.

Just blend and serve immediately, and listen to the cries of delight!

Raw Mashed Potatoes

Every holiday meal has to have mashed potatoes, even a vegan meal! This Mashed Potato recipe is hearty and filling with a garlicky flavor. In case you are wondering, no raw potatoes here! These mashed potatoes are cauliflower and cashew based.

Make sure to include raw mashed potatoes as part of your festive meal!

Raw Stuffing

Walnuts, dates and celery are the key ingredients for this scrumptious Raw Stuffing. Include this stuffing at your next holiday meal - your guests will be asking for seconds!

Bonus: you can make this recipe in advance.

Raw Cranberry Relish

What's a holiday meal without cranberry relish? This incredibly simple Cranberry Relish recipe has just two ingredients - cranberries (of course!) and dates. It's also super tasty, and a must-have for your table.

For extra oomph and color, you can add a diced orange. Yum!

Raw Pumpkin Pie

Eating raw does not mean giving up your favorite foods. Whip up a Raw Pumpkin Pie for a holiday dessert. This pumpkin pie is light and creamy, and oh so good!

Keep this pie in the freezer. When you want to impress your guests, just pull it from the freezer, slice and serve!

Holiday favorites, raw vegan style...

Which of these recipes are you going to make this holiday season? As you can see, being a raw vegan does not mean depriving yourself of old favorites. And these recipes are so good, you can serve them to your non-raw guests with confidence.

And if you're making raw eggnog, I'll be right over!

Cookies. Need I say more? Well, yes, but I don't really need to! Who doesn't love cookies? They make the best snacks, everyone loves 'em (most everyone!), and being raw cookies, these won't leave you feeling guilty about eating too many!

Keep some on hand for lunches or treats, or for serving up to unexpected visitors. It's always wise to have cookies tucked away for any occasion!

Raw Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Tahini is the magical ingredient that makes these Raw Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies stick together and taste 'peanutty.' Note: there are actually zero peanuts in this recipe (because raw peanuts are a no-no). Chunky pieces of almond add to the texture, and cacao nibs are the 'chocolate chips.' 

You can use raisins instead of cacao nibs, but whatever you decide, these cookies are sweet and delicious!

Raw Cinnamon Raisin "Oatmeal" Cookies

While these Raw Cinnamon Raisin "Oatmeal" Cookies don't contain oatmeal, they really do taste like 'real' cinnamon raisin cookies! Trust me on this one, okay? Almonds and honey provide texture and sweetness to this recipe. Coconut oil holds it all together (because it solidifies when it is cold).

Serve these delightfully tasty treats up with a cold glass of almond milk or ... ?

Raw Vanilla Drop Cookies

Super easy peasy cookies and no equipment required! For an amazing sweet fix, whip up a batch of these Raw Vanilla Drop Cookies. These are freezer cookies, so it's easy to keep a batch on hand for guests (or personal emergencies!).

Coconut oil, coconut and tahini (and vanilla, of course!) are the main ingredients that make these cookies so darn delicious!

Best Raw Chocolate Cookies

So named because they simply ARE the Best Raw Chocolate Cookies! Seriously, these are my fave chocolate-y, fudgy cookies! You can mix everything up, form into cookies and eat right away. Or you can dehydrate for a few hours for optimal warm gooey goodness! (I like 'em warm, myself!)

Either way, these chocolate cookies are truly divine.

Raw Lemon Cookies

Just for you, these simply sinful Raw Lemon Cookies. Only four ingredients - cashews, unsweetened coconut, one lemon (only one!), plus a sweetener (maple syrup or agave nectar). Sweet, creamy, and oh so lemony, this recipe will please every lemon cookie lover in your life, including yourself!

Yes, you have to use a dehydrator but don't let that stop you! You simply must try these lovely lemon cookies!

Easy Almond Pulp Cookies

Here's a recipe that will use up your leftover almond pulp, yay! Easy Almond Pulp Cookies are really super easy to make! Mix everything up, form them into little cookies, and dehydrate. The end result is a light tasty cookie that reminds me of a vanilla wafer.

Other ingredients include coconut and a sweetener (maple syrup or agave nectar).

What's your fave cookie?

Chocolate, lemon, vanilla? The flavors of oatmeal, cinnamon, or peanut butter? Whatever your pleasure, one of these raw cookie recipes will surely hit the spot! You'll def. want some on hand for when I pop over, all righty?

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.

Do you eat all raw? Or are you a little raw, a little not? Have you thought about it lately? A lot of folks try to start 100% raw, but take it from me, that's not always a good idea. Most people fall in between all-raw and not-at-all-raw. It's a rare person that doesn't eat some sort of raw food on a regular basis (even if just a banana now and then). And increasingly more people are becoming completely raw and/or vegan.

How do YOU rate? Maybe it's time to reassess your eating habits!

All raw, baby!

You're 100% raw and proud of it!

Simple definition of raw: eating nothing that has been heated over 115 degrees. By going all raw, you exclude meat, fish & eggs, dairy, and the big baddies: processed foods.

The raw food diet consists mainly of vegetables, fruits & berries, nuts & seeds, fermented & dehydrated foods, certain oils, spices, coconut, and sweeteners like agave syrup or dates (as organic as possible). As an all-raw afficiando, you've learned how to make smashing recipes (rather than exist on carrot sticks and lettuce - a big myth about raw foodists!). You've learned to balance your nutritional needs so that you don't feel hungry and that you are getting enough nutrients.

Raw food isn't just about food for you: it's a way of life!

Mostly raw, and also vegan

Vegans avoid eating any animal product. You eat mostly raw food, but you'll also occasionally eat cooked (like steamed veggies and rice). While "regular" vegans don't eat meat or fish, "ethical" vegans also promote the humane treatment of animals. They avoid eating/using any animal product or by-product, including eggs, honey and leather.

As a raw vegan, you eat a healthy varied diet. You avoid processed & sugary foods.

Somewhat raw, and somewhat vegan

Eating healthy is always on your radar but you're not die-hard about it. You'll most definitely nosh on a burger when the mood strikes! And you eat meat and fish and eggs. As a rule, you are aware of what is good for you and what is not. And you do try to eat your daily ration of fruit and veggies...

But you're also happy to chow down on roast turkey on special holidays, or share a hot fudge sundae with your BFF!

Dreaming of being a raw vegan...

You'd like to eat more raw, and make better food choices. And you try! But it isn't that simple! You're not quite there yet - your life (family, work, health, kids, travel) makes going raw and/or vegan impractical at this point.

And that's okay! Even just upping your raw fruits and veggies every day is good practice. Don't let that bag of apples in your fridge go to waste. Eat one right now!

Raw? What's that?

If fruits, veggies and other raw & healthy foods don't appear on your grocery list, this is you. And you don't care! But wait... Are you googling raw recipes & lurking about on raw websites? You must be, or you wouldn't be reading this. Busted!

Since you're here, why don't you take a peek... Raw Food Recipes For Beginners.

Ultimately...

Raw? Not raw? A bit of both? Should I have that piece of fudge? As you can see, everyone is different. No one way is right or wrong (although NOT eating any fruit or veggies ever can't be a good thing!). What I mean is you can eat meat or wheat, and still be healthy. Some folks avoid certain foods because of allergies (like gluten or eggs). Others because of personal ethics. Others eat a certain way to lose weight or to recuperate after an illness.

Are you any or none of the above? Wherever you are, share your thoughts and reasons for eating the way you do!

Maybe the statement “you are what you eat” is a little worn out. But, hey, that doesn’t make it any less true. Actually it is very true. Food is one of the main essentials in life that sustains us all. Whatever we take into our body becomes a part of us; therefore it “builds” us. So why eat raw? What exactly are the benefits of raw food?

Firstly, raw food is food that is uncooked, unheated, unprocessed, and most ideally organic. Secondly, there are numerous reasons why we should eat raw food, but I won’t overload you with jargon, so don’t worry. That's not my style! Simply put a raw food diet is the consumption of food in its original and natural state. And because the food has not been modified or chemically changed, all the nutrients and the enzymes are still intact. Now let’s list down the major benefits of raw food!

Get to eat live food

Yes, "live" food, as in "alive!" This is because raw food, like fruits and vegetables, naturally have live enzymes which are very sensitive to heat. Basically you are killing the enzymes or the life force when you cook food at temperatures above 118 degrees. These enzymes help break down the food you eat and also help your body to absorb the nutrients from the food.

Convenient

Most raw food recipes are very quick and easy to make so it’s actually time-saving, especially since you don’t have to spend your time standing and waiting in front of your stove or your oven. And because you don’t have to cook, you also save gas/electricity! Moreover, one of the convenient benefits of raw food recipes is that you don’t need to use too many kitchen tools or utensils! Certainly that’s a plus to those who don’t like washing the dishes. Generally, if you have a blender and a food processor (and optionally a dehydrator) you're good to go.

Better Digestion

Plant-based food have natural fiber and contain antioxidants. These fibrous raw foods help in digestion by cleaning your intestines and regulating your bowel movements. That means you don’t have to worry about constipation at all! Another benefit of raw food is the antioxidants. Our bodies have accumulated lots and lots of toxins over time because of the cooked food we have consumed in our lives. Because the enzymes have already been destroyed, nothing is aiding our body in the digestion of the food we eat. So our body takes more time to digest and all the toxins it could not eliminate build up. The antioxidants work to remove all these toxins that are slowly poisoning our bodies.

Extra Energy

One of the benefits of eating raw food that you will notice is that you will feel less tired and sleepy. You get to wake up in the morning ready to take on the day without that feeling of wanting to sleep in. With a proper raw food diet, it feels like you’re energized the entire day. One reason is because with a proper raw food diet, your body won’t have to use more energy and work harder at digesting the food that you eat. Protein that comes from plant-based foods are also much easier for your body to digest and absorb. And even when you’re full, you won’t feel heavy. You will also be able to sleep well because you won’t be constipated.

Sustained Weight Loss

You can eat substantially when you’re on a raw food diet. You will lose weight mainly because your body will get rid of all the toxins it has accumulated. Yet once you adapt to the raw food lifestyle, you won’t have to worry about storing toxins anymore because your body will regularly get rid of them everyday. A lot of fresh fruits and vegetables and other raw food are also low on calories but packed with vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients, so you will be able to sustain weight loss without going on a hunger strike! These weight loss benefits of raw food are actually healthy and natural.

There are still numerous other benefits of raw food and I could go on with the list. Eating raw organic food means avoiding more toxins and absorbing more nutrients. And nutrients are what we need to sustain life. The raw food diet is ideal because it doesn’t only benefit us in our health, but also our time, resources and environment. Therefore, if we are indeed what we eat, it’s better if we eat healthy!

Do you love eating fresh, green alfalfa sprouts? You can easily make them at home. And they are so cheap to make!

Let me explain how to grow sprouts (for example, alfalfa sprouts or lentil sprouts) at home using only a mason jar, some cheesecloth and sproutable seeds.

Step 1

• 1. Get a large clear mason jar (will hold approximately 3 cups water.)
• 2. Place two tablespoons dry sproutable seeds inside jar. (Example of seed types: alfalfa seeds, clover seeds, quinoa seeds, etc.)
• 3. Add 2 cups cold water.
• 4. Cut a piece of cheesecloth into a small round circle - about the size of a big hamburger bun. Place round cheesecloth on top of jar.  
• 5. Secure cheesecloth with the metal ring that came with the jar. (You don't need the round disc that also came with the lid. Discard it.)
• 6. Let sprouts soak like this on the counter for 8-24 hours.

Step 2

• 7. After soaking for 8-24 hours, take jar to sink. Tip it over, drain all water out into sink.  (You do not need to remove lid. Cheesecloth acts as strainer.)
• 8. Get a medium bowl. Place jar upside down inside cereal jar, leaning a bit to the side. (So that any excess drips will collect in cereal jar but the jar can still "breathe.")
• 9. Throw a teatowel or cloth over the jar, so it's in the dark. Let sit for 24 hours.

Step 3

• 10. After 24 hours, remove cloth. Your sprouts should be starting to grow! Take jar to sink. Add 2 cups cold water, then drain immediately. (The point is to moisten the sprouts a bit.)
• 11. Replace in bowl, similar to last time. Cover again with tea towel. Let sit for another 24 hours.

Step 4

• 12. After waiting another 24 hours, remove cloth again. Your sprouts should be getting big! Take jar to sink. Add 2 cups cold water, then drain immediately. (The point is to moisten the sprouts a bit.) Let sit for another 24 hours.
• 13. Your sprouts are now ready, or close to being ready!

Eat immediately. Feel free to let them grow for another 24 hours or so. (If you ever want them to stop growing, just put the whole jar in the fridge.)

When I first started learning how to make green smoothies I would follow recipes rigidly.

There are thousands of free green smoothie recipes online. Just google them or buy a book. (Victoria Boutenko's Green Smoothie Revolution has everything you ever wanted to know about green smoothies.)

But now that I'm used to making green smoothies myself, I've taught myself how to make green smoothies that work for me.

I don't like them to taste too green, so I generally keep the ratios as follows:

In my blender I add:

• 1 to 1 1/2 cups of water
• A large handful of greens (spinach, romaine lettuce, carrot tops, etc.)
• Approximately a banana and an apple's worth of sweet fruit

Adding bananas to your smoothie

I almost always use a banana in my green smoothies because bananas make the texture so smooth. If my green smoothie tastes too green, I'll add a date or two (medjool dates are my favourite), some fresh sweet pineapple, or a sweetener such as raw agave nectar.

Depending on what I've added to my green smoothie the liquid will congeal really quickly. For example, by the time I've finished drinking my first cup the remainder in the blender will be all strange looking and congealed. Usually I'll just blend it up again for a few seconds and it will return to the more liquid state, which I prefer.

The Rawtarian's favorite smoothie

My favourite, simple, economical green smoothie is as follows:

• 1 to 1 1/2 cups of water
• A medium handful of romaine lettuce (or two big lettuce leaves, ripped into small bits)
• One banana
• One apple (or just half an apple if you like it thinner)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Learning how to make green smoothies is a snap. Start with some good, clear recipes. After you've made about twenty or thirty green smoothies, you'll notice that there are some definite commonalities to the ratios of fruit to greens. You'll be making your own raw smoothie concoctions in no time.

Happy blending!

We all know the health benefits of peanuts (and most of us love the taste!), but what about the down-side?

How could raw peanuts possibly be unhealthy for you?

And should you eat raw peanuts?

The good thing about peanuts...

Peanuts are good for you, right?. As far as nuts go (and peanuts are actually a legume!), peanuts are an excellent source of protein. They are also provide fiber, certain vitamins/minerals, and fat. And they make really good peanut butter! But should you eat them raw?

Raw peanuts are not poisonous

Raw peanuts are not poisonous to eat. They are a crop that have to be dried, and the drying process is where contamination can occur. If peanuts are not dried correctly, they are prone to growing molds, particularly one called aflatoxin. Aflatoxin primarily affects the liver: chronic exposure can lead to cancer, hepatitis, or cirrhosis.

What does the government say?

The U.S. FDA does provide guidelines for its own peanut crops. However, Canada has stricter guidelines, and has been known to return shipments of U.S. peanuts that exceed their own safety requirements. Raw peanuts and raw peanut products from other countries may not be subject to such standards. Even if your favorite raw peanut butter is made in the U.S.A., the peanuts themselves may have come from another country.

So you still want to eat raw peanuts…

If you choose to eat raw peanuts or raw peanut products, ask a few questions: what country do the peanuts originate from? How fresh are they? Make sure to toss peanuts that are old, or look moldy, shriveled, or discolored.  Don’t over-indulge in them. Long-term exposure increases the risk of ingesting toxic levels of aflatoxin. Keep in mind that children are more susceptible to aflatoxin than adults. Jungle and Valencia peanuts are apparently safer to eat than ‘regular’ peanuts, though I’ve not researched this. Also, stick with well-known, name brands.

Do I eat raw peanuts?

I do not advocate eating raw peanuts, and I don't eat them. The risks outweighs the benefits, especially when there are other raw nuts you could substitute for peanuts. Do your own research - you will read many articles that say raw peanuts are safe to eat, and other articles that say they are not. It’s up to you to make the right decision for yourself.

For more information:

• Cornell University
• Food Safety Watch 
• Nut & Seed Comparison Chart

Simple raw food recipes are the best raw recipes hands-down.

It's no secret that a raw diet requires a bit (or a LOT!) of planning and some advance preparation for certain dishes. However, that doesn't mean that your raw food recipes have to be complicated—in fact, quite the contrary is true! Eating a raw diet is definitely part of a lifestyle, but preparing meals doesn't have to consume your life.

Simple raw food recipes should be the back-bone of your daily eating routine, and here are four reasons why simple raw recipes are best:

1. Simple raw recipes save time 

A huge trap for people eating a variety of diets—from SAD all the way to vegetarians and vegans—is reaching for pre-packaged convenience foods. Why? Because they require little to no time to prepare, and can be easily transported when you're on the go.

By loading your arsenal with simple raw food recipes and utilizing a little menu planning, you can prepare simple, versatile foods to grab throughout the week, as well as have plenty of choices for when you need to whip something up quickly (or satisfy a craving)!

Try this simple raw recipe: Raw brownies in 10 minutes

2. Simple raw recipes mean that you'll stay versatile 

Most people thrive on variety (it is, after all, the spice of life), and it should definitely not be neglected in your diet. When making a drastic dietary change, it can be easy to get stuck in a flavor-rut, but by familiarizing yourself with simple raw food recipes you will open yourself up to a whole new world of raw culinary delights. The obvious beauty of following simple recipes is efficiency and easy, non-intimidating prep. However, as you master fundamental techniques and get comfortable with the raw diet staples and basic recipes, you can begin to experiment with different flavor combinations to create delicious and truly unique dishes.

Try this simple raw recipe: Creamy celery soup in 10 minutes

3.  Simple raw recipes are maintainable 

Blending, pureeing, chopping, chilling, dehydrating, sprouting, planning—it can become overwhelming if every meal is a chore. By having a strong foundation of simple raw food recipes to fall back on, you can take a break from heavy-prep and more time-consuming recipes without falling off the wagon. Knowing that you can take it easy while still maintaining your raw diet is crucial to your success. And it doesn't hurt to know that you can whip up some 1-minute raw chocolate fudge on a moment's notice, either!

Try this simple raw recipe: Raw chocolate fuge in 1 minute

4.  Simple raw recipes are best because success is contagious 

You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who isn't interested in hearing the secrets to your success—how you lost the weight, cleared up your skin, seem to have so much more energy—but much of our society is focused on quick-fix solutions and low-effort trends. The real “secret” is that there are no magic pills or food sprinkles that will make you feel as incredible as going raw will. And with simple recipes to follow, and real results to motivate, sharing this message is easy!

Try this simple raw recipe: Raw alfredo sauce

Find your own favorite simple raw recipe

Looking for simple raw recipes to start your raw journey? Check out The Rawtarian's Raw Recipe Index, for simple, satisfying raw recipes. Whether you are just beginning your raw food journey, or you're a seasoned veteran looking for something new (raw carrot cake, anyone?) you're sure to find something to delight your taste buds!