• Tweet

• Tweet

Most of my clients are shocked when I tell them I don’t own a dehydrator. It goes something like this:

“What do you mean you don’t have a dehydrator?! You eat almost entirely raw foods! How can you possibly survive?!”

OK so maybe that last point about not surviving without a dehydrator was made up (I’m not sure by whom) but you catch my drift.

Before I answer that, today is the last call for my Delicious Detox Recipes raw food preparation class on tomorrow, Saturday the 10th, from 1 to 4pm. There are only two places left so don’t miss out!

We will be making desserts (this one is a game changer…if desserts can change games, which surely, they can), dips, dressings, salads, raw soups, main meals and more!

Simply email me to reserve one of the last two spots.

I’m sure if I had a dehydrator I might use it occasionally.

It would be fun to make a few foods that mimic old favourites at times but to be honest, I don’t think I have ever thought to myself “I wish I had a dehydrator to make x”.

The thing is, the health of a whole plant food is in its liquid! Sure fibre is very important and we absolutely need to consume it in the form of fresh whole fruits and vegetables (not Metamucil guys!). But most of the nutrients, enzymes, vitamins, phytochemicals are in the liquid of the plant, and of course there’s the hydration factor! That’s why juicing is the bomb.

Eating some dehydrated foods is absolutely fine, just as eating some cooked foods is. In fact lightly cooked foods are far less dense and difficult to digest than a rock hard dehydrated nut bread and when you are at certain stages of health and healing, if not always for most people, eating a good amount of lightly cooked vegetables is very helpful.

However, you want to have as much fresh food in your diet as possible, alongside these denser, less hydrating foods. The worst thing you can do (other than a big mac, fries and coke topped off with a beer, ciggie and antacid) is to eat a meal of just dense dehydrated foods such as dry raw bread made with nuts and seeds, topped with nut butter, all on its own.

Instead, if you pair this with a big fresh hydrating salad of high water containing vegetables, you will be far more able to move the density of the other foods through your body and far less likely to feel as though you swallowed a brick.

Of course, the impact of eating all dehydrated or heavy foods is different dependent on your level of health and your current diet. If you are coming from a diet of steak, chips, soda, chocolate, bacon and hash browns, I’d say the nut cracker with nut butter might be quite the improvement!

Eating a diet very high in dehydrated or dense foods will not leave you feeling light, trim, slim or full of that beautiful natural energy you have as your birth right.

You might feel stimulated by such foods initially, as they are in fact a stimulation to your body and will require all your energy to digest so other issues you are experiencing in your body (and emotionally) may temporarily feel better. But you will notice not long after and certainly the next day that you are more tired, heavy and constipated.

This is not to say that having a dehydrator is not a wonderful thing. It is and it allows for so much creativity and fun in the kitchen! Just be sure to balance your dehydrated foods with water containing foods and make the dehydrated portion no more than 20% of your plate.

Coming back to my personal choice, I am 100% satisfied with the way I eat now without a dehydrator and I feel incredible so at this stage I haven’t felt the desire to buy one. I imagine one day I’ll pick one up, especially when it comes to creating foods for little ones, but right now I love my dehydrator free diet and it loves me .

On that note, I have a wonderful raw burger recipe to share with you today that uses green juice pulp (yes I know you have been wondering what to do with it all!) and does not require a dehydrator. This would, however, be wonderful dehydrated too!

Just have it with fresh veggies.

I know, I know, I’ve said that like 100 times already . You get the point.

The wonderful thing about this recipe is that it’s so easy! It’s also extremely quick (takes about five minutes for the sauce and burgers), super tasty and really feels different to just having another salad (although you know my thoughts on this and how to create variety and interest). This recipe is also a fantastic demonstration of how to make a salad satisfying.

I used a few spices and dried herbs to create the flavour of the burgers but you could definitely just use one or two – say cumin and chilli.

Raw Juice Pulp Burgers with Carrot Cheese Sauce

Ingredients:

For the burgers:

2 cups leftover green juice pulp (any you like! I had kale, cos lettuce, zucchini, cucumber, parsley and lemon. Please note I wouldn’t normally recommend eating raw kale for many people. It is more digestible steamed but a small amount shouldn’t be a problem)

¼ large or ½ small avocado

1 tsp dried dill

¼ tsp ginger

¼ tsp chilli

½ tsp cumin

1/8 teaspoon sea salt

Pinch of nutmeg

1 clove of garlic, chopped finely

2 tbsps fresh coriander

Juice of ½ lemon

For the sauce:

1 recipe of Carrot Cheese Sauce (without cumin), and add:

1 clove of garlic

1 tsp flax oil (for creaminess and omega 3s)

1 small handful of basil

Directions:

For the burgers:

Place the juice pulp in a food processor with the lemon juice and spices and process for a few seconds until it combines. Add the avocado and process. You don’t even need a food processor for this! You can simply mash it all together with your hands.

Form the mixture into patties and set aside.

For the sauce:

Blend all the ingredients together. That’s it!

Serve the burgers on top of a big salad like I did, or place a patty in a cos/romaine lettuce leaf or cabbage leaf. Or place in a whole grain bun (ideally gluten free and/or sprouted). Spread with carrot sauce and add any other vegetables and toppings of choice. Tomato, onion, olives, pickles, mustard, sprouts and lettuce would be perfect!

Eat it all up. Don’t share.

OK, do share, if you must.

Question of the day: Do you own a dehydrator? What do you make with it if so? Leave me a comment to let me know.

Who knows, if you inspire me enough maybe I’ll get one! Alternatively, just send me a sample of your creations .

This recipe was entered into the Wellness Weekend competition at the lovely Rikki’s blog Diet Dessert N Dogs.

Have a great weekend!

P.S. We have had a sensational response to our Total Body Tune Up cleanse starting on the 22nd of September. If you want to lose some weight, get a clear and focused mind, rejuvenate your spirit and just feel great inside and out, come join us!