Sorry, this giveaway is now closed. Check more recent blog posts for latest giveaway contests.

Welcome to another Friday Giveaway - who's excited?? Well, Better Raw HQ is definitely looking forward to giving away this week's must-have kitchen accessory which will keep you healthy all year-round, regardless of the weather outside. This is the best news ever, as David Wolfe would say :)

Make sure you keep your eyes peeled for the winner of the Planet Organic voucher - it will be announced in Better Raw's Newsletter which will go out this Sunday. If you haven't signed up to receive our Newsletter yet - now is your chance so go for it. Sign up here >>>.

Tribest Freshlife Automatic Sprouter (FL-3000)

RRP £129.95

Courtesy of: www.tribest.co.uk

I'm very excited to be able to share my personal experience with the Freshlife Automatic Sprouter. I started my first sprouting project just 3 weeks ago having NEVER sprouted anything before, except perhaps some veggies left too long in the fridge. So, equipped with my FL-3000 and carefully chosen organic seeds from Aconbury Sprouts, which consisted of mungbean seeds, alfalfa seeds and wheat berries (aka wheatgrass), I set off on a 4-8 day growing adventure. Fortunately, set up was very simple as there were only a few pieces of equipment that required assembly and the handy instruction booklet ensured I didn't go off track. Once I had my seeds spread evenly across my tray, a reservoir of fresh spring water in the base, it was just a matter of letting things run their course. As easy as that. The instruction booklet that the Freshlife Sprouter comes with includes a really helpful chart listing a wide variety of seeds together with the number of days each take to sprout, so I was well informed about when I could expect to harvest my sprouts at their tastiest and most nutritious. Apart from changing the water every 24 hours (this must be done to maintain freshness and avoid mould issues), my involvement was incredibly minimal, unless you count staring through the barrel when the automatic sprinkler kicked in. But this is great news for those of you who are short on time or maybe aren't very green fingered outdoors but still want to eat the freshest, most nutrient-rich food. Perhaps one thing that impressed me most about the Freshlife Sprouter, was how much I was able to yield from my fully-grown sprouts. 2-3 tablespoons of alfalfa seeds, 2-3 tablespoons of mungbean seeds and about 5 tablespoons of wheat berries gave me a harvest that lasted just over a week between two people. That's enough time to start and grow a completely new batch and never run out of having fresh sprouts in the house - definitely a bonus! Following this experience with the Tribest Freshlife Sprouter, I can confidently say that I am now a proven sprouting convert. 

You have until Friday 4th October 2013 before the giveaway closes and a winner is selected. Please note that this week's giveaway is limited to European entrants only. For full T&Cs, go here >>

Photo by Tristan Glinski

Here is an article I originally wrote for Planet Organic. I am still getting questions and love notes popping up in my inbox from those who've read it, so I decided to repost it here for my tribe also...


Raw Food is not just for Hollywood celebrities trying to preserve their superstar looks, slim down fast and have loads of energy, clarity and patience on a movie set. Raw Food is not a diet. Raw Food is not a phase.

It is a way of living and it’s taking the UK by storm (or a heat wave, which we've all experienced here during summer)!

The English are a careful bunch when it comes to making any changes to their diet and like to take on any new info -especially as radical sounding as ‘raw foods’- with a grain of salt. And rightfully so…

It would’ve taken me forever and a half to come around to the idea of eating this way if it wasn’t what healed my bruised and damaged organs in a near fatal car accident many years ago.

No doubt you’ve heard enough buzz on this 'diet' to want hot tips on getting started right away. If you are wondering where to begin with it or need a reminder, here are my top strategies on going raw in four easy steps:


ONE | KNOW YOUR WHY

Let’s face it- we don’t accomplish a thing without a reason. Even when we do a good deed ‘for no reason’, it is either to make ourselves feel good, to pay off some spiritual debts or maybe to clear your conscience. It may not be obvious right now, but you are reading this for a reason. So figure out why you want to go raw (or more raw) before you even attempt it, because this will be your drive. If you are suffering from an illness, your WHY may seem like a no-brainer, but ask yourself not how you can heal, but why you’d want to. Is it to live pain-free and have the energy to play with your children? Is it to be there for your grandchild’s wedding? Is it to be a good example to those you love? Your real reasons -those that will keep you motivated to stay on track- come from far deeper within.

TWO | MASTER ONE DAILY MEAL

It’s easy to add raw foods to your meals and you probably already have salad with your potatoes, fresh fruit with your yoghurt or raw snack bars with your coffee. But what about having a full meal per day, which is 100% raw? Food combining can be tricky for the body, as different nutrients require different parts of your digestive tract to be properly broken down. That’s why even when you add raw foods to your meals, they don’t necessary go well together and some people experience indigestion or bloating. When you have a meal that is totally raw, the benefits are pretty impressive and in most cases immediate. I suggest mastering your breakfast. It’s usually super easy and there are so many options of what you can make, like green smoothies, veggie juices, living chia seed porridge, nut milk and granola, coconut yoghurt with blueberries, dehydrated energy/muesli bars, superfood shakes, fruit salads and more. If you are struggling to come up with recipes, there hundreds right here on the blog, just enter a key word you are after in the search box on the right. When you master your breakfast, it will set the tone for the rest of the day.

THREE | DE-CLUTTER YOUR HOME

When your environment is supportive of your aspired eating habits, it becomes super easy to make healthy choices and stay on track. So clear out your cupboards, get rid of anything in your kitchen that is processed or contains fake ingredients (rule of thumb: if you can’t pronounce it, you shouldn’t be consuming it), keep your blender or juicer where you can easily reach it, so it never feels like an effort, tidy up your spice rack, clean out the fridge and de-clutter your work station. You will notice how all the energy within your home transforms to a place of where wellness belongs.

FOUR | DO A MINI SEVEN DAY DETOX

When you master the daily meal and start to enjoy your morning green juices regularly, your taste buds will begin to change, your cells will start to rejuvenate, your energy will shift and your body will get begging for more. It is now ready for a proper cleanse. My bestselling eBook ‘Purified- Your 7 Day Detox Program’ is so popular not only because every raw food breakfast, lunch and dinner recipe is clearly outlined for your successful cleanse, but I also explain why the ingredients of each meal are there on that particular day and in that combination and give you an option of two menu plans- one for a budget detoxer and one for a luxury detoxer. When you complete a week, you are going to be feeling so transformed from inside out, that you’ll likely not want to stop there, so most people carry on and complete both weeks. But aside from all the health benefits and the momentum you’ll gain, the best thing about doing this for seven days in a row is that you will come out having learned 21 brand new recipes in just a single week. What a pro you’ll become!

£20.00 food, health and beauty voucher

Courtesy of: www.planetorganic.com

You have until Friday 27th September 2013 before the giveaway closes and a winner is selected. This giveaway is open to everyone near and far (yay!) For full T&Cs, go here >>

Sorry, this giveaway is now closed. Check more recent blog posts for latest giveaway contests.

Welcome to another Weekly Giveaway! We have a very special one lined up for you this week. Something that will weaken the knees and rumble those appetites.

To check out our latest happy-go-lucky winner of the VegfestUK London tickets - don't miss Better Raw's Newsletter when it hits your inbox on Sunday. If you haven't signed up to receive our Newsletter yet - don't be shy. Sign up here >>>.

Now for the giveaway of giveaways - that dark, delicious substance that whispers our names and kisses our worries goodbye. CHOCOLATE, CHOCOLATE, CHOCOLATE... and lots of it too!!

RAW CHOCOLATE SUPER HAMPER!

Includes:

RRP £55.00

Courtesy of: www.therawchocoloatecompany.com

I had the good fortune of being able to sample many of the tasty raw chocolate treats in this week's fabulous hamper from The Raw Chocolate Company. I love the ethos behind this company and how it's grown from one man's vision and creative prowess to a growing tribe of chocolate enthusiasts who love what they do. It's still a very humble company of about 15 people which is how I believe they pour the highest quality into creating product masterpieces that taste personal and not factory-made. As you might expect from a company with a strong ethical and moral centre, a unique passion is infused into the taste and very essence of the chocolate itself. I have enjoyed carrying around the chocolate goji berries and mulberries as they make such satisfying snacks on the go. I'm also a big fan of their cacao powder which regularly features in my banana smoothies when I'm in an indulgent mood. However, the raw chocolate bars were a real sensory journey - with flavours such as orange, mint, vanoffe and goji berry and orange combined (this won the Great Taste 2013 award) - I have to doff my cap to this company. They really know their flavours and how to get it just right. I don't think you can ask more from a company than that.

You have until Friday 20th September 2013 before the giveaway closes and a winner is selected. Please note that this week's giveaway is limited to European entrants only. For full T&Cs, go here >>