There is a new raw food restaurant in Dallas called Bliss Cafe. It is surprisingly delicious. Like, really good. Good enough, in fact, that it inspired me to seek out a cookbook on the subject and begin to make some raw meals at home.

In case you do not know, the raw food movement is based on the notion that food heated beyond 116 degrees kills the enzymes of the food, thus the body no longer receives the “energy” it needs for proper digestion, assimilation, and nutrient absorption.

While it’s a nice idea to eat a raw food diet, most of us live in the real world of pesticides, genetically modified organisms, additives, preservatives, fast food, and other highly processed food items. For these reasons it’s never seemed to be a practical diet to follow, but incorporating a few raw meals a week into your diet is an effective way to cleanse the body of the multitude of extraneous daily pollutants.

Some swear by the raw food way of life while others are a bit more skeptical. I am by no means proposing you adopt a raw food diet; however, especially in the summer heat, it is nice to avoid the stove top for the occasional meal or two.

And at the end of the nutritional day, it is all about how good you feel. If incorporating more raw fresh fruits and vegetables into your diet makes you feel better, well do it. Because the other thing I’ve noticed about raw foodists, is that they’re all eerily happy. You know, the genuine type of happy that most don’t often experience or at least trust, especially when you live in a large, pretentious city? It’s kinda weird.

You probably don’t have the time (patience, desire, etc.) to make a ton of raw food at home, but this breakfast porridge takes less than 5 minutes to prepare and is a super healthy way to start the day. It is an especially nice way to begin a summer day as it is cool, crunchy, and sweet.

This vibrant morning treat contains a mixture of green apple, raspberries, dried figs, almond butter (to make it creamy) and fresh ginger, whirled up in a food processor until coarsely chopped and topped with nuts, seeds, and berries. If eating more raw fruits and vegetables is something you’ve been meaning to do, begin here with this simple and energizing breakfast of champions.

Apple-Raspberry Breakfast Parfait

Serves One

1 granny smith apple - cored and coarsely chopped

1/4 cup fresh raspberries

1 tablespoon raw almond butter

1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger

1/4 cup fresh blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and/or sliced apple, for topping

1 teaspoon hemp or flax seeds

In the bowl of a food processor with the ‘s’ blade, add apples, raspberries, almond butter, and fresh ginger; pulse until chunky. Transfer the porridge to a bowl. Top with berries and seeds. To make it super gangsta’ top it with a dollop of coconut whipped cream.