There are several things agreed upon by most health experts today: we should eat more produce, eat more raw food, eat more greens and eat less animal products.

How does one change their eating habits with all the rush and stress in our lives today? Try gradually. Start in the grocery store and at produce stands by buying more produce. Summer is an especially great time of year for getting a wonderful variety of produce. If you are out doing errands and need to eat consider stopping at a produce stand for a sweet, raw snack rather than a fast food place. When sitting down to eat at home make your regular meal plus add another vegetable and a small plate of cut up raw vegetables. Eat the vegetables first, the fiber in them will fill you up and leave you less room for the less nutritious foods on the table.

Do you have a hard time eating greens? Try a green smoothie. Although this may sound unappealing, many people find them quite delicious, even people who are not usually into healthy eating. Make a delicious fruit smoothie and then add several leaves of a dark green vegetable such as a dark lettuce, kale, chard, parsley, or celery. A smoothie is as simple as a favorite fresh fruit or two and a frozen fruit or two, with enough purified water added to the blender to allow the fruit to be blended. Drink your smoothie from a nice glass or goblet and sip in a peaceful place. This will leave you much more refreshed than a cup of coffee, soda or alcohol.

The percentage of calories from protein in many plant foods is actually as high as or higher than that of animal foods and there is a good supply of calcium in dark green vegetables and some nuts and seeds. It does not always take a lot of time to produce a delicious meal of plant foods. Below is a recipe for a very quick and delicious nut and vegetable pate that can be made in minutes and served wrapped in chard or lettuce or served on top of a large salad.

Green Smoothie
Put into blender in this order:

½ fresh pineapple, skinned
2 bananas, fresh or frozen, cut in thirds
8 large frozen strawberries
1 cup purified water to start

Blend until smooth, adding just enough water for blender to blend. With blender on, add 3 leaves of a green (dark lettuce, parsley, chard or celery), one leaf at a time until well blended. Enjoy!

Vegetable nut pate
2 c. walnuts
1 large red pepper, cut into chunks
2 stalks celery, cut into chunks
1 green onion
¾ t. sea salt

Process in food processor until smooth. Serve wrapped in chard or lettuce leaves or on a bed of salad.

Teresa McKessey has been a "health nut" for over 30 years. She provides raw meals and raw dehydrated foods for those who want to eat healthier and education for those who want to know how to do it for themselves. She is currently teaching a 6 week series on Raw Food Living that started on June 8 and runs through July 13. For more information call her at 321- 961-1874.