Dehydrator Desire

I’ve decided to quit chewing gum recently. Apparently the aspartame in gum can kill brain cells as well as has numerous side effects. As much as I love chewing gum, this does not seem worth it. I’ve tried gum with Xylitol, both Spry and Pur, but they are so short lived it leaves me unsatisfied. I’d rather have nothing than be teased by the two-seconds of flavour.

I’ve also decided to give up sugar. I have been dealing with some health issues lately and this means that I am slowly trying to get to become a clean eating machine and that does not include sugar. It’s only been a week so far, but I did have some maple syrup on my pancakes yesterday  (my Sunday Funday – where I am allowed to break the rules a little bit). I totally had a carb coma immediately after and actually had to nap for a few hours like a child after their cotton candy high. My body really hates sugar and can’t process it.

These new changes have left me really wanting to nosh on foods, especially when I am working. I’ve eaten like two entire bunches of carrots and at least three cucumbers to curb that desire when I want to chew gum in the last week but I’m still struggling with the sweet tooth bit. I’ve been eating berries and fruits and really enjoying that but there is something about the texture of dried fruit that really hits the sweet spot.

Enter: Dehydrator. The answer to my problems. I have been wanting a dehydrator for a while now, but it’s really only been in the past month where I’ve actually been home and cooking up a storm. It seems like the right time to get more on this raw revolution. I am really wanting to go further into this realm and begin to make my own dried fruit.

Here are some foods I am excited to make:

Photo from Pride & Vegudice

Kale Chips – I made Joyous Health’s recipe in the oven earlier this week and it was so simple and easy to make. I really think I can do a better job of them if I have a dehydrator. I eat these at night if I’m craving chips or something salty.

Photo from The Copycat Cook

Fruit Roll Ups – Amazingly delicious and it reminds me when I was a kid. I love acting like a kid. Okay well some nostalgia is best left in the past, but fruit roll ups rock! Take that sweet tooth.

Photo from What the Hell Does a Vegan Eat Anyway?

Raw Wraps: No longer reserved for those special occasions when I make my way to Live or Rawlicious, I could eat wraps to my heart’s content right at home.

Photo from The Rawtarian.

Raw Pizza Crust: I miss pizza. Every single gluten-free pizza I have eaten is delicious, but I still feel bloated and like I am two months preggo after eating it, so I generally save it for special occasions. This one is made from almonds and flax meal. All safe there. OMG pizzzzzza.

Photo from Health, Home, and Happiness

Raw Cookies: Of course I saved the best for last. Cookie monster, I am, I am. These ones are practically guilt free. They are sweetened with coconut and apricots. I can’t wait to experiment with cookies, I’ve had little luck on the gluten-free cookie front as most of the flours make me feel very bloated (not sexy).

Benefits of Raw Food Dehydration:

-According to the Energise for Life website, “The dehydration process retains almost 100% of the nutritional content of the food, retains the alkalinity of fresh produce and actually inhibits the growth of microforms such as bacteria.”

-The ability to make a beverage like a juice or smoothie using the powdered fruits and vegetables from the dehydration process.

-Preserve foods for year long use.

-Less expensive than buying in store. (Have you tried buying dried blueberries? Insane.) 

I asked around for the best kind of dehydrator. Okay I asked one person but Mathieu and his wife are Vegan experts, so I knew they were the right people to approach … and it seems that the Excalibur is the way to go. I’ve got my eyes on a 4 tray model, as I want to start small scale and will only be making little batches. No need to go big here. It’s only $130, which makes me wonder why I’ve waited so long to get my hands on one.

P.S. Just found a coupon code for 10% off until August 5th using BlenderGirlEXC code.