Healthier holiday options

CRANSTON, R.I. – Turkey, lasagna, and lots of desserts are usually part of the typical holiday meal. The holidays are a time to indulge, but all the overeating can take a toll on your body.

"The average American is said from Thanksgiving to Valentine's Day to pack on anywhere in between 7 and 10 pounds," said Raffa Raw owner Christine Raffa.

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But we've got some raw recipes that can help keep the pounds off and detox your body.  One of them is a lasagna roll up.

Instead of pasta use slender strips of raw zucchini and instead of cheese, make a nut cheese. In a food processor, add cashew nuts soaked in water, lemon juice, salt, herbs, and process until smooth. Add one tablespoon of water at a time until a ball of cheese forms.

To create a paste to replace the sauce, put sun dried tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, salt, dates, basil, and cayenne pepper if you like it spicy.  Mix in a blender until you get a paste-like consistency.

Spread a little nut cheese on a zucchini slice, roll it up, add your paste and serve.

And for dessert you can make a sweet chocolate avocado pudding.  Scoop out two avocados, mix in a half cup of all natural cocoa powder, add a quarter cup of agave to sweeten things up, place in blender until it is creamy smooth.

"A wonderful party addition when you are trying to keep things thin during the holiday season," Raffa said.

Full Recipes Below:
(Printable Recipes)

Zucchini Lasagna Roll-Up

  • Zucchini
  • Cashews soaked in water
  • Lemon juice
  • Salt
  • Herbs of your choice
  • Sundried tomatoes
  • Olive oil
  • Garlic
  • Dates
  • Basil
  • Cayenne pepper (optional)


Slice thin pieces of zucchini. Process the nuts, lemon juice, salt, and herbs until a soft paste forms, add water until you can ball it up. Process the sundried tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, salt, dates, basil, and cayenne pepper, until you have a paste-like consistency. Spread some nut cheese on a slice of zucchini, roll it up, and top off with some of the tomato paste.

Sweet Chocolate Avocado Pudding

  • 2 avocados
  • ½ cup cocoa powder
  • ¼ cup agave


Seed the avocados, put in blender with the other ingredients, and blend until smooth. Add agave as needed for sweetness.