Pumpkin Pie Persimmon Breakfast Bowl (Raw Vegan) (GF)

Do you ever have a meal that just takes you back in time with fond memories or a certain warm feeling? I know I do, and I think of them as “comfort foods”. They make you feel good bringing you back to a happy place that you associate with that food. One in particular for me is oatmeal. It makes me think of many different things. It brings me back to my childhood when my mom would be in her robe cooking it for me, I think of sitting around the table in my Nonna’s (grandma’s) kitchen as she’d eat it often. I also think of a chilly fall leisurely morning enjoying breakfast as a family.

So, when I began the raw food diet I found myself missing oatmeal. But, after just taking a spoonful of it, I realized it no longer tasted good to me but it was the moment I was missing, the feeling it gave me. For a minute there I was beginning to feel like I was missing out, that I was deprived of my comfort foods. As if I could never have that feeling back. Isn’t it odd how attached we can be to food? But it’s something very real.

I started replacing oatmeal with what I call “fruit oatmeal” like this persimmon oatmeal and I absolutely adore them! They’re hearty, filling and totally fill that craving of oatmeal. They’re so versatile too, you can change up the spices and nuts, add extra fruit or seeds, even some fresh made coconut or nut milk to make it more of a cereal and it’s just the best! Not to mention it’s ridiculously easy to make. There’s not a lot of chopping or cutting, which can be especially challenging for you if your fibromyalgia affects your hands.

In case you’re not familiar with persimmons, it’s simply one of the best fruit out there. There are two varieties so for this recipe please make sure it’s the Fuyu not the hachiya. The Fuyu are more like apples, in that they’re eaten crunchy. The hachiya’s are eaten when they’re super gooey, totally different but also wonderful..just not for this recipe.

Let’s talk health benefits for fibromyalgia. These jewels are a rich source of fiber which is so important for digestion. They’re also loaded with anti-oxidants giving them wonderful anti-inflammatory benefits. These anti-oxidants also help eradicate free radicals helping to combat disease, and slow the aging process. They help eliminate harmful substances from the body through the detoxification process. So needless to say they’re a wonderful fibro fighter food

Here’s the recipe, enjoy!

Servings 1

Recipe:

5 Fuyu persimmons, chopped (tops removed)

1/3 cup pecans, soaked 6+ hours in filtered water then drained, rinsed and pat dry

Handful dried mulberries

1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1/8 teaspoon turmeric

(optional) 5 dried apple rings

Place above ingredients in a food processor and pulse blend until it becomes a coarse mix. Scoop out into a bowl and top with more dried mulberries. (Optional) sprinkle coconut sugar on top, it adds a nice carmel-ly rich flavor.