She Says: It’s On!
Two weeks is the longest I’ve gone without running since 2004 (minus the summer of the bar exam, which was more like a black hole than a life). It was rough people, but I did it. I was patient and today I ran for 30 minutes and enjoyed every second. I felt like I could have gone for much longer, but I didn’t want to push it. This week I plan to ease back into running and then start up with a modified version of Hal Higdon’s Novice Plan to train for the Brooklyn Half Marathon. It is back on the schedule, although with the caveat that the date might change, for May 30th.
And because I am having some troubles with cameras right now, I can only give you my pre-drive snack from Friday: an Oikos Greek Yogurt with banana, almond butter and flax seed. I love nut butters in Greek Yogurt because it gets so creamy that it’s almost like almond butter pudding! I also really like Oikos. It’s a little thicker than Chobani, but taste wise, they are pretty similar.
Please note the sad KitchenAid (circled in red), packed up to go back home to be abandoned and neglected by my mother. She uses it to collect mail everyone. It was v. hard for me to say good bye.
Raw Foods Update and Raw Nut Butter Question
So, we’re entering Week 2 of the Raw Foods Challenge. Although I wasn’t intentionally eating raw foods last week, I found myself taking note whenever I ate raw fruits or vegetables. Last week I also tried to learn a bit more about Raw Foods (and convey that information to Mark). I have a couple cook books that I got from the library, some great advice in comments and of course, Gena’s Guest Post.
The plan is to try to incorporate raw foods into our lives. We are not going 100%, or any % for that matter. This week, I hope to try out some new recipes and ways of thinking about raw foods. I’ll let you know what happens.
My mom asked me if peanut butter is a raw food. I told her that I thought so if the nuts were raw, but I am not sure that’s the case. I found this at the MaraNatha Website:
What is the difference between your "raw" and "roasted" products?
The terms raw and roasted do not have regulated definitions or meanings. At MaraNatha we have followed industry definitions from the time we began making nut butters, more than 20 years ago.
Raw nut butter products are not subjected to treatment or heat prior to the grinding process. These items are often preferred by people who are looking for minimally processed food that is "as close to Nature" as possible.
Roasted nut butters are baked or heated to produce a desired flavor and/or color prior to grinding. Some manufacturers use oil in the roasting process. At MaraNatha, we do not use oil. Instead, we carefully dry roast the nuts to produce a deep toasty flavor.
At what temperature are your raw nut butters produced?
During the grinding process for all of our products (and for most any commercially made nut butter), heat is generated by the friction of the nuts inside the grinder. We do not specifically monitor this temperature, but we know it is higher than the threshold set by anyone following a strict raw eating plan that calls for only heating foods at very low temperatures.
Can I eat your raw products as part of a raw foods diet?
It depends on how you define raw. The term raw is not regulated and we do not wish to mislead any consumer following a strict raw eating plan.
With over 20 years of producing nut butters, our professional suggestion for any strict raw food eater is this: Purchase a high quality food mill or food processor and conduct your own grinding trials to monitor the temperature of the finished product. With a smaller batch you may be able to better control the friction and heat produced during the grinding. We wish you every success in this process as this was how our business began over 20 years ago.
Have you ever made your own nut butter?
February 22nd, 2009 at 11:41 pm
I haven’t, but I just saw the other Heather make it today! It looks like fun. I may try it out sometime – with a combination of nuts. Yum
February 22nd, 2009 at 11:44 pm
I haven’t but I want too! Do you think you could make your own Nutella? I would die.
February 22nd, 2009 at 11:49 pm
No, but I want to after Heather’s post! I never knew it was so easy!
February 22nd, 2009 at 11:49 pm
glad you were able to run! i’ve just now been able to run without pain too! slow n steady wins the race right
better to not overwork it!! can’t wait to see what types of things you guys are going to have this week in terms of raw eating! i looove raw food! xo
February 23rd, 2009 at 12:43 am
wow where I have I been, your trying the whole RAW thing wow I can’t wait to follow. I actually considered trying to make my own nut butter, you know with being on a budget and all:)
February 23rd, 2009 at 12:43 am
I cannot wait to own a kitchenaid stand mixer. Oh man!
February 23rd, 2009 at 1:08 am
Oh man! At first I thought you bought your own kitchen Aide mixer!!!! So sorry to see it go for you! My mom’s sits in the closet.
February 23rd, 2009 at 1:28 am
heather eats almond butter JUST did!!
haha go check her site, she used a food processor and it looks amaze. Good luck with the rawness!
February 23rd, 2009 at 1:49 am
I frickin’ LOVE nut butter in Greek yogurt. I just made the most amazing dessert with it. You’ll have to wait until I post it because I’m still licking my bowl…right…now…
Congrats on your run! Ahh…I remember the black hole of BarBri. What were we doing?! That’s really coming in handy now, huh?
February 23rd, 2009 at 5:26 am
This is really helpful info on the roast vs raw nut butters! I can only find roasted almond butter here, but I had no idea that they could use oil to roast it. I’ll have to look for an alternative. Good luck with your running
February 23rd, 2009 at 6:47 am
i’ve never made my own but i saw heather from heather eats almond butter make her own almond/walnut butter last night and I’M JEALOUS!!!!
February 23rd, 2009 at 7:06 am
Gee darn, looks like you might need to experiment with making your own nut butters!
February 23rd, 2009 at 7:08 am
so glad that you can run and enjoyed it now!
I haven’t tried making my out nut butter, but will definitely try one day!
February 23rd, 2009 at 7:12 am
My mom has a KitchenAid she never uses too. So sad.
I’ve thought about making my own nut butters. I just haven’t done it yet. It seems easy enough. You should try it!
February 23rd, 2009 at 7:37 am
Hooray for running!!
I’ve made almond butter before – it’s fabulous and fun!! But definitely easier just to purchase it, haha
February 23rd, 2009 at 7:48 am
I made homemade white chocolate peanut butter a little while ago – yummmm! There are so many possibilities with add-ins… lots of experimenting to be done!
February 23rd, 2009 at 8:07 am
I’m so glad the disappearing half marathon has made its way back on the schedule
February 23rd, 2009 at 8:21 am
Hey Heather, sorry about the Kitchen Aid – I know you’re really going to miss it.
I roasted my nuts for my homemade almond butter. You can use raw nuts, but you have to add a little oil…raw almonds + coconut oil make an amazing nut butter!
I CANNOT wait to see some of your raw creations.
February 23rd, 2009 at 8:36 am
Technically, I haven’t, unless you count me chewing nuts and swallowing them! Uhh…a stretch.
I’m glad you didn’t push yourself while running. Take care of that ankle!
February 23rd, 2009 at 8:55 am
I’ve never made my own nut butter before…but that’s because I’m holding out for a Vita-Mix haha
February 23rd, 2009 at 9:03 am
You’re another one of us!!! Healthy lawyers that is!
lol Glad to know!
I thought it was just me and Healthy Lawyer!
I TOTALLY cracked-up when I read your bar exam comment. Sooooooooo true! It wasn’t that long ago that I finished that whole process (in late October) so I’m still getting back into the swing of things.
Anywho – just wanted to drop by and say hi and “Yaaaaaaaayy!! Another healthy lawyer!”
February 23rd, 2009 at 9:03 am
I’ve never made my own nut butter, but I definitely want to at some point! I think it’s a really cool idea
February 23rd, 2009 at 9:40 am
Hi Heather! I haven’t made nut butter before, but I’m sure it’s fun. I usually just buy nuts labeled as raw. I find peanuts very hard to digest, so favorites of mine include Woodstock Farms raw almond butter, Artisana raw tahini, and Artisana macadamia-cashew butter (which is expensive but hopelessly tasty!).
February 23rd, 2009 at 9:48 am
Oh lord, I make nut butter like its my job! Pistachio, macadamia, walnut, hemp… the list goes on!I love to blend them too!
February 23rd, 2009 at 9:48 am
Almond butter pudding – I need to try this out!
February 23rd, 2009 at 9:49 am
Great job on the run!! I’ve heard good things about the Hal Higdon plan.
Nope, never made my own nut butter- but you can grind your own raw butter at Central Market, so I just go with that. Because I’m lazy.
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:01 am
Glad you enjoyed your run!! Have a great Monday!
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:03 am
I’ve never tried myself but I’d love to try. Even grinding the nuts myself at the store really makes all the difference. Oh yum… I miss nut butters
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:31 am
This is a really interesting post! I am in love w/ raw foods, but I can’t honestly say I would have known the particular difference from roasted???I do looooove blending any kind of nut.
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:35 am
Oh! The Brooklyn Half Marathon that sounds so good
I’m a Long Islander and I’m looking for a good half marathon to run this spring/summer. Is it good? Have you done it before?
February 23rd, 2009 at 1:02 pm
I have never thought to put nut butters in yogurt, but it sounds like an awesome idea!!!
February 23rd, 2009 at 1:32 pm
I barely cook enough…and you want me to make my own nut butter?!
I think it sounds fun, just like making ice cream sounds fun, but I’m not that creative yet
February 23rd, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Interesting post.
Good luck with your training!
February 23rd, 2009 at 4:53 pm
yayyyyyyy, back in the running game!!! all that patience with your ankle is going to pay off
. brooklyn, here we come!
i have NOT ever made nut butter, but heather mcd’s post the other day inspired me. i have to figure out if the food processor i have is sufficient for it!
February 23rd, 2009 at 6:17 pm
I love Hal’s plans!!! Way to go
February 23rd, 2009 at 11:19 pm
The definition of “raw” is SO specific! Have yet to make a nut butter for myself… but its on the list of things to do. So good that you’re enjoying the running as much as you do.
February 23rd, 2009 at 11:27 pm
I’ve never made my own nut butter but I really want to after reading The Peanut Butter Boy and Heather Eats Almond Butter
It seems “possible” when other bloggers do it!
Hurray for being able to run again! I am keeping my fingers crossed for you and your goals.