This Labor Day, when deciding what you will bring to the picnic, be creative. Beat the heat by choosing to go raw. Bring a dish that inspires your friends and demonstrates that living healthy can be fun. Organic ingredients are the key to rich flavor and satisfaction. The taste is a given, but the nutritional difference is just as important. You will find that you eat much less when you eat organic and you will be much more satisfied.

Broccoli Salad
1 head broccoli

1/4 cup raisins

1/4 cup chopped celery

1/4 cup soaked sunflower seeds

Dressing

1/2 cup vegenaise (grapeseed mayonaise substitute from Follow your Heart)

2 T apple cider vinegar

2T agave nectar

Soak sunflower seeds in pure water for 4 hours, drain and rinse. Cut broccoli floret into bite size pieces, peel and shred stalks. Mix together with onions, celery, raisins and sunflower seeds and add dressing.

Lettuce Wraps
3 large romaine leaves

1 avocado

1 tomato

Sweet clover or alfalfa sprouts

Shredded carrots

Place 3 slices Avocado, 1 slice Tomato, sprouts and carrots, onions and any other vegetables you like in a romaine leaf, fold like a taco, wrap and enjoy.

Raw Apple Pie

crust

1 1/2 cup walnuts

1 1/2 cup brazil nuts or almonds

2 cup sunflower seeds

14 dates

¼ tsp coconut oil (optional)

filling

6-8 apples

1 cup raisins

1 cup walnuts chopped

squeeze of lemon or lime juice

Grind nuts and seeds in food processor until consistency of graham cracker crust. Add dates and blend until contents ball up like dough.

Shred, pulse, or chop apples, skin and all. Remove 2/3 of mixture and blend the remaining 1/3 until applesauce. In a large bowl combine apple mixtures and add raisins and chopped walnuts. If apple mixture seems too juicy you may want to strain it so that the crust stays firm and dry.

topping

1 cup cashews

3/4 to 1cup H2O

agave nectar to taste

Beginning with 3/4 cup of water, blend cashews and water in blender adding water as needed until thick and creamy. Add agave to taste.

Kimberle Smith is the owner of A-Live & Healthy Organic Eatery & Juice Bar. The restaurant is located at 205 McLeod in Merritt Island. For more information call 321-576-0990.