Raw Vegan Berry Breakfast Bombs - Gluten Free Parfait

The combination of raw fruit and nuts never gets old for me. Throw in some berries and vegan cream for good measure, and you have a match made in piggy heaven, and a raw nutritional powerhouse. I almost didn’t include this raw vegan breakfast recipe, as I thought it was too easy and obvious, required no skill, and not really a recipe. But then I thought, "that is the whole point of this recipe blog!" So here it is. On of my favourite raw food breakfast recipes. My raw vegan breakfast parfait that was featured in one of my vegan Chow Tips. I am sure many of you have made similar things with granola and yoghurt. This gluten free dairy free vegan version is another reminder of how good the simple things can be; and a perfect example of how presentation is the key to turning the simple into the sublime.

This raw vegan breakfast parfait is not a new idea. You see different version of this idea in a lot of restaurants. My eyes always bug out, and my mouth waters desperately, as I longingly follow those towers of heaven to someone else’s table. It would be helpful if the restaurant Gods could pass this vegan, gluten free version around. Then I wouldn’t have to order the oatmeal. This, like so many of my other easy healthy recipes, is just a starting point to get the juices flowing. You can use any combination of natural raw ingredients. I just encourage you to stick to raw nuts and seeds to get the health benefits of these fantastic little treasures.

I like to use this combination of “Superfood” raw nuts and berries as a quick way of getting my daily dose of goodness; and I love the vibrant color contrast of the red raspberries and the blueberries; not to mention, the antioxidant blast. I read a fantastic book many years ago called Superfoods RX by Steven Pratt and Kathy Matthews. The cover said “Fourteen Foods That Will Change Your Life”, and this book delivered on its promise! Thank goodness I already ate most of the foods on the list, so it was very easy to incorporate them into my diet. I highly recommend this book for a quick read that is incredibly informative. There have been many books and articles written about about Superfoods since then, but this remains my favourite for its brevity and accessibility. Needless to say, I implemented the suggestions and have never looked back.

I had always been a lover of berries, but tended to only indulge in the Summer, when they were in season, readily available, and remotely affordable. But after reading Superfoods RX, I started eating 1-2 cups of berries a day, and soon reaped the rewards. Blueberries especially, are one of the most antioxidant rich foods on the planet. Sometimes referred to as the “brainberry” or “youthberry”, they have magical skills -- neutralizing free radical damage to cells, and promoting the production of good quality collagen. They provide anti-inflammatory benefits to the brain and muscle tissue; and improve digestive and urinary tract health. Just to mention a few wonders. Oh, I almost forgot the more important thing – they are scrumptious!

The same can be said for raw nuts and seeds. I eat a handful of raw walnuts, raw almonds and raw flaxseeds every day of my life. Walnuts are just a wonderful! They are one of the few significant plant sources of Omega-3 fatty acids, which I rely on heavily, not eating a lot of animal products. Flaxseeds are a wonderful source too. Raw walnuts are also the best nut to eat for antioxidants. Raw almonds are also a staple in my diet. ¼ cup of soaked raw almonds contains more protein than an egg. They are a great nut source of vitamin E and Biotin, a B vitamin which promotes skin health. They are also a good source of fibre, and also fight free radicals. Sunflower Seeds are a great source of selenium, magnesium, folate and potassium; and pumpkin seeds are fantastic for iron and zinc. Throw in the tofu for protein, calcium, iron and Omega-3, and you have a force to be reckoned with!

OK Tess. settle down. Remember, you are a recipe blogger, not a doctor. Sorry, I could go berry nutty promoting the health benefits! How about I promote the other benefits I am actually qualified to dribble on about! The quick, easy, gorgeous and delicious factor! These raw vegan berry parfaits take less than 10 minutes to assemble, if you make and chill your vegan cream beforehand. If you are looking for fantastic vegetarian breakfast recipes, raw breakfast recipes or vegan breakfast recipes these raw vegan breakfast parfaits hit the spot. They are gluten free, dairy free, egg free, soy free and refined sugar free. These raw vegan bliss bombs make fantastic centre pieces for your breakfast table at a Sunday brunch get together, or for a quick, easy raw vegan dessert or snack that looks like culinary art. The eyes light up, the tastebuds sing, and cells the body over, rejoice.

This raw vegan berry recipe is dressed to impress and berry berry yummy.