The holidays are among us and In The Raw’s staff gives us a glimpse at their holiday favorites:

Bare Minerals Loose Powder

Our team swears by Bare Minerals and their loose powder is no exception. This powder provides invisible long-wearing coverage yet feels like nothing. BONUS: it provides hydration for your face which keeps your skin feeling smooth and fresh and looking younger.

EcoTools Bamboo Brushes

EcoTools is a leader in eco-conscious beauty products and known for its soft cosmetic brushes.1 percent of EcoTools annual sales is donated to 1% For The Planet, an alliance of businesses committed to leveraging their resources to create a healthier planet. These amazing brushes are available at Target and Drugstores nationwide.

MAC sheen supreme lipstick

MAC’s Sheen supreme lipstick combines the color impact of a lipstick with the shine of a Lipgloss. It is lightweight, non-sticky, slick to apply and comfortable to wear. This is a must-have for all those who crave this kind of fusion.

Alba Botanica Emollient Body Lotion

This exquisitely light, unscented, natural body lotion packed with rich botanical emollients gives the body what it wants. It soothes and soften even the most sensitive skin while providing 100% daily hydration

Toms Simple White Toothpaste

Love Chef Kim’s beautiful smile? Her secret: this toothpaste! With its formula from naturally sourced silicas, derived from sand, this toothpaste improves cleaning and whitens without bleaching ingredients by removing surface stains. Simply White toothpaste helps to restore the natural whiteness of your teeth.

Aura Cacia Sweet Almond Oil Moisturizer

Using Fatty Acids and Lipids, Sweet Almond Oil has a rich, skin-nurturing consistency. It’s especially great for massages!

Dessert Essence Tea Tree Oil Cleansing Pads

These Cleansing Pads were among the 2010 winners in Better Nutritions Best of Beauty Awards. They reduce the oil that leads to break-outs and smooth and calm skin. Used regularly, these convenient pads help improve skin texture, clarity and radiance. Plus, their convienent size makes them perfect for travel, in your purse or gym bag.

Desert Essence Throughly Clean Face Wash

This product, Chef Kim calls her lifesaver. This wash leaves the skin feeling clean and silky. It works gently as it cleans thoroughly
and helps improve skin clarity through regular use. This product was a 2009 winner at the Better Nutrition Best of Beauty Awards.

Auric Blends Scent Oil in Egyptian Goddess

Auric Blends Scent Oil are high quality, natural perfume oils. Staff favorites include the Egyptian Goddess scented oil, the line’s bestseller. It is soft delicate musk scent.

Tarte Cosmetics

When it comes to Cosmetics, we swear by these. Tarte specializes in good for you glamour. Their make up and beauty products are both eco-friendly and cruelty-free.

Juice Beauty by Alicia Silverstone

When our favorite, eco-friendly, vegan Celebrity, Alicia Silverstone teamed up with Juice Beauty, we know it was going to be good. Now, we swear by her collection: Simply Pure Chamomile Cleanser, Simply Nourishing Moisturizer, Simply Flawless Pressed Powder, Irresistible Glow Facial Highlight and Purely Kissable Lip Color. All of her products reflect her motto living a healthy and happiest life to the fullest while taking care of mama Earth at the same time.

Tammy Fender Holistic Skincare

When it comes to skincare, Tammy Fender, is one of In the Raw’s favorite products. These products are custom blended and created based on the healing traditions of holistic medicine.

Looking for a deeper way to detox or challenge yourself to something different?

This December, In the Raw launches a 10-day Kidney Detox Program with licensed and certified Health Coach and Author, Dr. Dena Mendes (http://denashealthyu.com/). This program consists of 10 days of a combination program with two juices, a superfood smoothie, plus raw lunch and dinner each day. Dr. Mendes has designed the specific juice and menu to promote kidney support and detoxification. Each season correlates to an organ and healthy kidneys are the key to surviving the winter. Below, Dr. Mendes gives us some insight on herself, along with the detox program she’s created.

What’s the importance of supporting kidney health during the winter?

The winter is Kidney season, it is important to cleanse the kidney by reducing the typical heavy burden of animal fats, wheat/gluten, sugar and alcohol. The Kidney’s rule the throat and ear so naturally I am seeing an increase in strep and ear infections. The emotional component of the kidney is fear and anxiety. When we detox and then strengthen the kidney bladder, we are strengthening our core, which helps to reduce the emotional distress most of us live in everyday.

Can you name specific foods and ways in which to achieve the support for healthy kidneys?

The foods that we can eat to support the kidneys in this season are warming and grounding foods. These foods include, aduki and kidney beans, cumin/coriander, cinnamon, ginger and of course all roots (turnip, rutabaga, parsnip, carrot beats and burdock root).

Tell me a little bit about your background and the programs you’ve created?

I have quite an extensive background. I’ve worked as an NBC Medical Correspondent, Naturopathic Doctor and am the author of A Survivor’s Guide to Kicking Cancer’s Ass. Other activities include, Share the Health Cooking Show & Cookbook. I’m also the Director of Dena’s Healthy U and the Creator of the Food Detectives Program designed for schools to share stories of health with students and staff.

What are the benefits of detox programs?

The benefits of a detox program are immeasurable as you gain physical strength, mental clarity and emotional stability. You will feel more energized during your day and sleep better at night. This cleanse will not only strengthen the immunity of the kidney, it will have far reaching effects for all the other organs.

Contact Dena for your customized kidney cleanse: dena@denashealthyu.com

Beth, how do you make a Raw / Vegan Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving happens to be my favorite holiday. I love the coziness of it all. I have a very close family and love hanging out in front of my fireplace with my kids, husband, mom and my brother’s family. The Raw/Vegan Thanksgiving is not as difficult as one may think. For me, it’s very easy, due to the fact that I own a restaurant with a talented chef and pastry chef. I will be carrying out from In The Raw. But, for those who don’t have the luxury, make it simple.

Veggies and dips, soup, salad and get creative with vegetables. I always use google for ideas. I just made a Carrot Osso Bucco off the Internet that my kids loved and it was easy. When making a recipe off the Internet, or even a cookbook try changing it up a little to make it your own, I did with the Osso Bucco by adding more vegetables that my children enjoy.

What does it entail to be a good host or guest for Thanksgiving?

I love entertaining. It’s important to know your guests and what their likes and dislikes are so you can be prepared and have something for everyone. For gifts, that’s easy, I only go to one store to purchase gifts, Style Shack in Highland Park. It’s down the street from the restaurant and the owners are two amazingly talented women, Dawn & Sherri. They have an array of hostess gifts and more.

Kim, as you’ve mentioned you are the only Vegetarian in your family, how do you come prepared for this holiday?

I don’t want hosts or relatives to feel worried that they have to make something special for me. I like to bring a couple large dishes to share with everyone. This is a great way to thank the host by reducing the amount they have to make and also introduce guests to healthy, flavorful, and fresh alternatives to traditional dishes. I enjoy it most when guests will try my dishes I’ve prepared and not even notice that is Vegan.

What are some of the dishes you make?

I make a sweet potato and banana dish with maple pecan that is a healthier twist on a traditional Thanksgiving side dish. I also will usually make a kale salad with cranberries and sweet tahini sauce. Our pastry Chef Jade, makes an amazing pumpkin cheesecake with pecan pie that can always win over the skeptical guests. 

Sweet Potato Whip & Pecan Pie

With Chicago’s rapid season changes, monitoring what you put in your body is the key ingredient for a healthy lifestyle. In the Raw, Highland Park’s living food café is the perfect place to fight off cruel fall allergies. Below, Chef Kimberly Polsen educates us on some of In the Raw’s menu items that are packed with all things healthy!

For the fall, In the Raw introduces an autumn quinoa bowl that is packed with antioxidants, vitamins and immune boosters. The autumn bowl has protein-packed gluten free quinoa, sweet potato whip, greens, cranberry-apple chutney and orange miso dressing. Sweet potatoes are high in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. These are all ingredients that help support immune health and prevent colds.

Autumn quinoa bowl

In addition, the cranberry-apple chutney has an extremely high level of antioxidants, which fight free radicals and help prevent disease. The orange miso dressing (that happens to be served with several menu items) is high in vitamin C, another immune booster. Miso has healthy bacteria, all amino acids, vitamin B12 and medicinal properties.

Cranberry apple chutney

 In the Raw is also implementing warm and comforting spices to chime in on the Holiday spirit – nutmeg, cardamom, sage and cinnamon! You will find nothing more satisfying than the savory crepes on the menu. They have a nutmeg and pumpkin filling, and thyme butter, all earthy and traditional autumn flavors.

Crepes

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