Class Catalog

Raw and Vegan Food Preparation Classes

Taught by Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo

Introductory Level Classes

So What’s Left to Eat

With all the conflicting nutritional information about what is safe to eat and what isn’t, it’s no wonder that so many people are confused. In fact, if you were to take heed of everything that is published about unsafe things to eat, your dinner plate would be indeed be EMPTY! The goal of this class is to help you sort through the conflicting information, and offer suggestions about how to decide what is best for you and your family. We’ll offer guidelines for choosing the most nutritious foods available to you, given the circumstances of availability, scheduling and your individual needs. We’ll demonstrate some quick and easy recipes that are both versatile and delicious, and empower you to take charge of your health through what you choose to put in your mouth. (2 hours)

Introduction to Raw and Living Foods

If you think being on a raw foods diet, or adding more raw foods to your current diet means that you'll be eating just salads, carrot sticks and whole fruit all day long, then guess again. In this hour and a half introductory class we'll discuss the benefits of the raw and living foods diet and sample some delicious raw foods treats that you can whip up in minutes at home. Come learn about the benefits of including more raw and living foods to your diet, and discover how tasty this can be. You don't need to become a raw foodist to benefit from including more living foods in your diet. Adding a few meals a week, or a meal a day can be incredibly helpful. If you have already discovered the benefits of raw and living foods and want to share what you've learned with others, this class will help you to do that. (1½-2 hours)

Living Foods Product and Equipment Demo and Tasting

Wondering what equipment to purchase? Want to see things in action before deciding? Want to taste unfamiliar foods before you buy? In this class, we will demonstrate equipment that helps make food preparation easier and more fun. We'll also have available for tasting lots of raw foods...unusual fruits, nuts, seeds, snack bars, and prepared raw foods recipes. So come taste some incredible raw and living foods. See the food prep equipment in action. Compare juicers, blenders, slicers and other kitchen equipment. See a couple of simple recipes demonstrated and experience the delicious taste of nutritious raw and living foods. (1 ½ - 2 hours)

Children and Family Classes

Feeding Children Healthfully

This class provides information and techniques to help parents of young children to get them started on good nutrition habits that will benefit them for a lifetime. Basic facts and nutrient tables are provided to help parents choose foods that contain all the vitamins, minerals, fats and proteins that the growing baby and child so desperately need. Shopping tips, suggestions for stocking the pantry and simple recipes are included. Several recipes will be prepared and techniques for modifying recipes to suit the child’s individual tastes are demonstrated. (2 hours)

Allergy Survival: coping with individual food sensitivities in a family setting.

This is a 2 part course and the parts can be taken together or individually.

Part 1: Identifying food allergies and sensitivities: Food allergies are often a hidden source of ill health. Deciding that food allergies may be present is the easier part. Isolating the foods that are causing reactions can be more challenging. In this class we will discuss the pros and cons of the various allergy identification methods and the techniques that some people find helpful in eliminating the allergies. We will also discuss coping strategies, especially in a family setting where there may be several family members each with his or her own unique intolerances. (1 1/2 hour)

Part 2: Preparing family meals to accommodate individual food intolerances. In part 2 we will demonstrate common allergens, and show how to adapt recipes for the whole family, in spite of individual problematic foods. There will be foods to sample and take home if desired. (1 ½ hours)

Gluten Free Casein Free Family Food

Gluten, a protein found in wheat and other grains, and casein, a protein found in dairy products have been implicated in a wide range of health conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis, irritable bowel, asthma, ear infections, sinus congestion, eczema, autistic spectrum disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and sensory integration disorder. This class is intended for families who need help with finding delicious and nutritious alternatives to the gluten and dairy containing foods so prevalent in our culture. We will be discussing strategies as well as making foods to sample and to take home for the kids to try. (3 hours)

Parents and Children in the Kitchen! Creating delectable delights with your child.

This hands on class is an opportunity for parents and children to experience healthy, delicious foods together. All of the foods will be free of all animal products and common allergens, such as gluten, dairy, soy, and eggs. If your child has special dietary restrictions, we can accommodate if we know in advanceWhile most of the foods that we will prepare will be fresh and alive, we will discuss and have available to taste some of the more healthful packaged foods. There will be lots of ingredient choices to suit individual taste buds. You and your child will get to make “ice cream”, pudding, fudge, cookies, candy, pizza and pasta. Have fun and learn to create healthy foods easy enough for your child to prepare, either with you or independently! ( 2 ½ hours)

Hands on Food for Kids: Healthy food created for kids by kids, aged 10 and up.

In this class, Dr. Ritamarie is joined by Rachel Nayer, aged 11. Rachel has been vegan since birth and a raw foodist for the past 5 years. She will be showing the class some recipes that she finds delicious, satisfying and appealing to her friends. (2½ hours)

Handling Halloween Healthfully

This is a lively lecture and hands-on demonstration on how to healthfully handle a holiday that is typically filled with lots of unhealthy treats. Learn to make creative Halloween treats for the kids that are both fun to eat and a great alternative to the sugar and fat laden treats typically handed out. During this class you will be presented with creative strategies on how to appeal to your children’s, and perhaps your own, cravings for sweets in a way that won’t rot the teeth and ruin the health. (2 hours)

Dessert Classes

Do you love dessert, but not how you feel when you eat it? Concerned about the health risks of all that saturated fat, white flour and sugar? Concerned about your kids excessive consumption of sweets? Want to know how to make desserts for special occasions like Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, kid’s parties? Our dessert classes may be just what you need to satisfy your sweet tooth and social pressures while maintaining good nutrition, and gustatory pleasure.

Healthy Decadence Desserts Part 1

Easy to make dessert treats that you will not believe are good for you! In this class, you will learn to make healthy, dairy free, wheat and gluten free, refined sugar free versions of old favorites: chocolates, cheesecakes, cookies, cakes, key lime pie, tarts, ice cream, and puddings that nourish the body and the spirit. (2hour

Here’s what some of our graduates are saying:

“My husband loves desserts. I am so excited about what I learned at your classes. I keep a steady supply of healthy desserts on hand, and he stays away from the ice cream and candy bars”

“I have always had a sweet tooth. Once I start, I just can’t stop until I have gorged myself. These desserts are different. I get full, feel satisfied and save the rest for the next day!”

“Wow. On what other diet plan can I eat key lime pie and cheesecake and not be cheating!”

Healthy Decadence Desserts, Part 2

In our first desserts class, we introduced the ingredients, and make some simple sauces, dips, pies, candies and ice creams.This class will review the basics and expand on them to create more elaborate gourmet desserts like layered birthday cake, personalized with beautiful frosting messages,multi-layered pies, tarts, parfaits and more. Not only do these desserts look fabulous, the taste is beyond words.This is the perfect class for those who love to make fancy desserts to impress family and friendswhile keeping the nutritional content high and preparation relatively easy. (4 hrs)

If you've already attended the first desserts class, this is a great opportunity to learn some new techniques and have fun eating delicious treats. It is not necessary to have attended the level 1 class to benefit from level 2, but prior exposure to raw vegan desserts is helpful. While actual experience making a recipe or two prior to class is ideal, if you purchase and read the class notes from the level 1 class prior to attending, you should be ready.

This class is HANDS on!! Not only will you get to watch demonstrations and sample the creations, you will be able to participate in the making of them as well. Some of the recipes we have made in this class include black and white layer cake with chocolate frosting and creamy inscriptions, pralines and cream ice cream, personal tarts with coconut crust, chocolate marble "Cheese" cake or strawberry layered "Cheese" cake, dark and white chocolate candies and filled truffles, sandwich cookies and " Jelly Belly" cookies, macaroons.

Healthful Holiday Desserts

Living Foods Certification Classes

Living on Live Foods Level 1: Bringing the healing power of raw and living foods into your life (6 hours)

In this class you will learn:

what a raw and living food diet is
the benefits of eating raw and living foods
how to make delicious raw food meals that taste much like your favorite cooked food dishes
how to prepare gourmet raw food meals, simply and easily
how to shop for raw foods
how to stock your kitchen and set up your environment for easy preparation of the raw food diet
kitchen equipment use
basic sprouting techniques

You will leave this class not only inspired and motivated but knowing how to make delicious raw food meals for yourself and others, and how to incorporate raw and living foods on a daily basis. During this class, we will make and eat a delicious, full course meal, including soup, salad, appetizers, main course, dessert and beverage, and learn how easy it is to do the same at home.

The Menu for the class includes recipes from the Alissa Cohen book "Living on Live Foods” and may include: Cream of Broccoli, Mixed Greens and Spinach Salad with Caesar or Tahini Dressing, Arame Carrot Salad, Stuffed Portabella Mushroom, Nori Rolls, Collard Roll-Ups, Pad Thai, Date Nut Torte and Fudge Balls.

Upon successful completion of this course, you will receive a certification as a living foods chef from Alissa Cohen, best selling author of "Living on Live Foods", a Comprehensive how to and recipe book

Living on Live Foods Level 2: Advanced Techniques and immersion in the raw and living foods lifestyle. (2 days)

You've mastered the basics of raw foods preparation. Maybe you've even made some gourmet meals. This course is designed to go beyond the basic food prep and into more complex and gourmet raw food preparation, as well as helping you to own the details of living the raw foods lifestyle.

The following topics will be covered in this TWO DAY class (20 hours):

Preparing elegant gourmet meals
Sprouting and dehydrating techniques
How to encourage and help people stay raw
Dealing with daily raw food living such as environment, friends and family
Traveling while raw
What happens emotionally and physically on raw and living foods
How to adjust the raw food diet for personal needs
Raw food product and equipment demonstration
Additional components that make up a healthy raw food lifestyle
How to lead the Living on Live Foods Level 1 Chef Certification Course

During this class we will make some elaborate raw foods creations that involve the use of the dehydrator and sprouted foods, followed by assembly and possibly further dehydration. We’ll make pizza, calzones, enchiladas, bagels and more. In doing so, you will become familiar with the process of creating delicious, gourmet raw vegan meals that, when broken down into parts, are simple and easy to learn.

Upon completion of this course you will be recognized as a Certified Alissa Cohen Living on Live Food Instructor and Chef and will be able to teach individuals and groups in the art of raw food preparation and the raw food lifestyle. You will be able to teach the Living on Live Food Chef Certification prerequisite course for this certification as well. Whether you want to teach or just learn as much as possible about living the raw foods lifestyle, this class will provide life changing knowledge and experience.

For more information on this course, as well as a list of prerequisites, visit http://www.rawteacher.com/instructorcert.html

Advanced Classes

Advanced Techniques in Living Foods Preparation

This class is a combination of 4 classes that can be taken all together (recommended) or taken separately.

Day 1:

Part 1: Sprouting (1 hour)

Part 2: Basics of Dehydration (1 hour)

Part 3: Advanced dehydration and “fancy foods” (4 hours)

Day 2

Part 4: Assembling and final touches (4 hours)

Part 5: Raw Feast (2 hours)

Dehydrator Delights 1

Introduction to Food Dehydration. In this class we teach you the basics of dehydration: how and when to use the teflex sheets, determining how long and at what temperature to dehydrate various foods, and basic recipes to get you started. Amongst the recipes we teach are fruit leathers aka fruit roll-ups, crackers, dehydrated kale and other vegetables and burgers. (2 hours)

Dehydrator Delights 2

Advanced Techniques in Food Dehydration. In this class we teach you to make more elaborate foods and meals using the dehydrator. We’ll demonstrate how to make breads and muffins, tortillas, bagels, and cookies. We will teach you how to use the dehydrator to warm and solidify casseroles, assemble the basic foods into more complex dishes and the art of making potato chips. (4 hours over 2 days)

Holiday Theme Classes

Handling Halloween Healthfully

Raw Vegan Thanksgiving Feast:

This is a two part class that teaches how to create a complete Thanksgiving meal, consisting entirely of raw vegan foods. On Day 1 (2 hrs) we will make those things that require advance preparation. We will let them dehydrate or marinate overnight, then get back together on Day 2 (2 hrs) to finish the recipes and complete the meal. Class will be followed by a Thanksgiving Feast. You can take the class and invite friends and family to share in the feast.

Holiday Survival Guide: Tips for staying healthy throughout the holiday season

The holidays are upon us. Temptations abound. Turkey with all the trimmings, pumpkin pie, Christmas cookies, latkes, whatever your tradition, most of the foods that surround us around the holidays do nothing to enhance our health and usually tempt us to abandon our healthful eating strategies...for just this once! Two months later, the pounds have accumulated, our energy is not quite right and we start the New Year with resolutions to get back on track...again. Imagine how it would feel to maintain your health program throughout the holidays and to start the New Year on track health-wise? Sound impossible? Come spend an evening with us and find out how. We’ll discuss strategies for healthfully enjoying delicious holiday treats.

Party Foods: Hor’dourves and Appetizers.

It’s that time of year again. Lots of office parties, pot lucks, school events and open houses to attend. If you are watching your diet, bringing a vegetable or fruit platter is always an option. A nice dip seems to dress it up a bit, but the typical ranch dip is definitely not a healthy choice. It is easy to whip up a healthy alternative, and we will show you how. We’ll also show you how to whip up a beautiful hor’dourve platter that will wow the host and the guests. Join us for this fun and practical guide to whipping up delicious, nutrient dense party foods that you can take to a party or eat as a meal.

Healthful Holiday Desserts

December is upon us and with it all those cookies and festive desserts that seem to be a constant source of temptation. It is hard to resist unless we have coping strategies and some yummy, healthy treats to satisfy our palates and our emotional attachment to the foods of our past. This is a two part class focused on festive, holiday treats that are attractive and satisfying. You can take both parts or just one.

Part 1: Whole Foods, Vegan Alternatives to traditional Holiday Treats, including cookies, and sweet breads, pies and candies

Part 2: Raw Vegan alternatives to Traditional Holiday Treats including cookies, and sweet breads, pies and candy

Growing with Greens!

If you are looking for ways to enhance your health benefits by upgrading your diet, this class is for you. (2 hours)

Greens from the Land, Greens from the Sea

Most people, even raw foodists and vegans, tend not to eat enough dark green, chlorophyll and mineral rich foods. This is a 2 part course to teach you to deliciously include greens from both the land and the sea. Each part lasts an hour and a half and can be taken together or separately.

PART 1: Greens from the Land: learn and sample delicious ways to incorporate more greens in your diet, including soups, salads, and smoothies. (1 ½ hours)

PART 2: Greens from the Sea: Sea vegetables provide us with many nutrients not readily available in other foods. Most people do not include sea vegetables on a regular basis because they have no idea how to prepare them. Learn about mineral rich sea veggies that are power packed with nutrition, and sample recipes that are tasty and will add important nutrients that are likely missing in your diet. (1½ hours)

Pizza and Pasta

Wheat free, dairy free, vegan and raw versions of these favorite foods. If you love pizza and pasta, but not the effects that the white flour, cheese laden versions have on your health, energy level and waistline, this is the class for you. With a little creativity,it is possible to create favorites such as angel hair pasta marinara, fettuccini Alf redo, ravioli, lasagna and pizza in such a way as to support your health and vitality rather than detract from it. Most of the recipes are made without any grains. A couple of the pizza crust recipe variations contain sprouted grains,but alternatives are offered for those who choose to or need to avoid grains.

(2 ½ hours)

Living Dairy-Free!

Many people struggle with eliminating dairy foods from their diets, even though they realize that they feel better without it. In this class, we will prepare vegan cheeses,creams, milks and sauces, and desserts that please most people can’t believe are dairy free.They are foods that please the palate make the cells smile! (2 hours)

Breakfast Ideas

Choosing healthy breakfast foods are a challenge for many people. In this class you will learn to prepare and get to taste wheat free, nutritious live vegan foods that can be made quickly and easily for breakfast, including gluten free granola, nut milk, smoothies and breakfast puddings. (1hour)

Quick Lunch and Dinner Ideas

Lunch is a meal many people prefer to eat on the run. Sitting down and using a knife and fork is not the typical lunch. In this class, we demonstrate and you taste foods you can eat on the run - gluten free, dairy free, vegan alternatives to sandwiches and wraps that are easy to make, delicious and satisfying Nori rolls – “sushi”, lettuce wraps, “tacos” and “burritos”, pate, dips and more! (2 hours)

Dehydrator Delights 1

Dehydrator Delights 2

Classes are currently being offered in northwest Austin, Texas, within 5 minutes of the intersection of 2222 and 360, by Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo. She has a healthcare practice in Austin Texas. For the last 17 years, she has been guiding people to health through diet and lifestyle changes, herbal medicine, chiropractic care, stress management coaching and acupuncture. She is available for private consultations as well as group presentations and customized classes, at your location or hers. She is co-founder, along with Scott Claver and Dina Knight, of Living Health, a company dedicated to empowering health through education, inspiration, natural therapies and loving care.

Our classes have been designed to help you to improve your state of health through attention to what and how you eat. Fresh whole food is one of many components necessary for good health. Some of the others are movement, rest, fresh air, sunshine, positive attitude, fulfilling relationships, and pure water. The classes we teach use food that is fresh, locally grown when possible, free from additives, preservatives and pesticides, and free of most common allergens, such as dairy, egg, soy, wheat and corn, and it is vegetarian.

We like to say that our foods are filled with LOVE: Live, Organic Vegan Energy, because most of our recipes use ingredients that have not been cooked. We respect everyone’s diet choices and do not attempt to persuade anyone to adopt our chosen diet. Instead, we teach you to create incredibly delicious, whole foods that are bursting with nutrition. We encourage you to include as many of these foods in your diet as time, money and habits allow. We work with you on making healthy changes a permanent part of your life. We encourage you to change at a pace that is comfortable. We work with you in ways that are respectful and loving.

To find out our current list of classes, please click HERE

For details about the classes that are not currently scheduled but are available please click HERE

Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo

Phone: 512 349-9677
Fax (512) 349-7962
Connect via Email
http://www.drritamarie.com
Austin, Texas 78730

'Empowering Health through education, inspiration, natural therapies and loving care.'

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Hug Your Kids Today

My dear friend and Saavy Sales Coach, Michelle Nichols has a very touching story and a new newsletter to help working parents stay more connected to their kids. Read more about it here