Lisa Viger’s Easy, Affordable Raw: How to Go Raw on $10 a Day is a beautifully written, approachable book, filled with gorgeous photographs and tempting ideas. Although I personally eat a plant-centered diet, it’s clearly not raw-only. But I love the idea of including more raw foods in my daily routine, and this book is written for all of us, whether we’re exclusively raw or not, who would like to do the same.

Lisa’s book makes it pretty easy. She answers questions about why raw foods can benefit health, and what tools and techniques are essential to eat a nourishing high raw diet. Then she busts the myth that it has to be expensive to do so.

This book is inspiring, and maybe it’s the nudge you were looking for to eat more raw foods. She teaches us everything from how to make nut milk, to how to sprout seeds – and from how to dry fruit, to freezing herbs. Plus, recipes like Romaine, Broccoli, and Caramelized Onions with Lemon Tahini Dressing and the Blueberry Lemon Swirl Cheesecake sound amazing.

This morning I thought I’d make the Strawberry Lime Smoothie, but, alas, I was without strawberries in the house. I substituted blueberries. With the flavors of fruit and advantages of greens, it’s a great way to start the day.

Lisa recommends setting up smoothie packs in the freezer ahead of time, and then just adding water in the morning to blend (brilliant!). Today in my kitchen, although only the bananas and berries were frozen ahead, it was still very lovely.