RAW THANKSGIVING

Trying to explain a Raw Food Thanksgiving to someone who doesn’t fully grasp the idea of Raw Food can be challenging. A year ago I probably would have had a hard time visualizing it myself. “It’s all made from fresh and natural ingredients--nuts, seeds, mushrooms, vegetables, fruits and herbs.” I tried explaining it several times this week but it just didn’t seem to make sense. My mother worried I wasn’t going to get enough to eat. Friends thought I was being difficult. My elderly neighbor was just confused. But it made perfect sense to me. The image of all the ingredients coming together in my head was beautiful and delicious.

I tried to make it more relatable: “Instead of turkey we’re having meatloaf, but it’s made from almonds, sunflower seeds, and mushrooms. The stuffing will be made from walnuts, pumpkin seeds and fresh herbs from the Farmer’s Market. The mashed potatoes are actually whipped cauliflower. And the apple and pumpkin pies are just as they sound, only not cooked.” The nods of recognition and “oh, I see’s” came a little easier now. Still, I didn’t have anyone begging for an invite.

But as I labored over the various dishes on Thanksgiving morning I wished they were all there with me. I was sure if they could see and taste the food I was creating they would understand. It’s not that I’m gifted in the kitchen by any means, but if they were to experience the freshness and goodness of the locally sourced ingredients and the simplicity of nature’s greatest gifts along with the love I poured into each dish, I was sure they’d find the pleasure and beauty of a Raw Thanksgiving irresistible. Maybe next year I’ll be able to convince them all to join me. But for now, I’ll have to rely on these iPhone photos to tell the story.

"Meat Loaf" from Juliano's RAW, Mashed "Potatoes" and Savory Herb Stuffing from Matt Amsden's RAWvolution, Caramel Apple Pie from rawon10.blogspot.com, and Pumpkin Pie from Ta-Raw.com.

GIVING IN TO RAW FOOD

The first time I heard about the Raw Food lifestyle I knew my life was going to change. I realized before even tasting the food that I had discovered the optimal way of eating: fresh, organic, and nutrient-rich—what could be better?

I was at Fresno’s Revive Café, a local restaurant and market devoted entirely to all things Raw. I bit into their “Matt Burger” and I’m pretty sure my taste buds skipped a beat. My mind was opened and there was no turning back.

I returned to Revive as often as I could. I started scouring the web for any information I could find on Raw Food. The more I read, the more I was convinced that this was a change I needed to make. Eating Raw spoke directly to my ongoing concerns about vitamin deficiency and reliance on processed foods.

But adopting a Raw Food diet seemed like such a huge commitment. My mind was full of excuses. I was training for a marathon as well as a century cycling event and worried about maintaining energy levels. I’d been hitting the gym a lot and didn’t want a calorie or protein deficit to lead to muscle loss. What would I do when traveling or socializing with friends and family? As I’d tick through the schedule in my head looking for the perfect time to commit to going Raw new doubts would emerge.

The answer finally showed up in my Facebook feed. Kyal announced he was starting the Rawvive Reboot: 30 days of juicing and eating only Raw/vegan/organic foods. No exceptions! I watched excitedly as the first Rebooters committed and embarked on their Raw Food journey. As the second Reboot rolled around I went to the café for an orientation session. The reservations I had about working Raw Food into my life lingered, but by the end of the orientation I realized that there was never going to be a perfect time and that I’d never have the answers without making a commitment and experiencing it for myself.

An experience it was! The first week I ate almost exclusively at Revive. It felt a bit like cheating, but it kept me from craving non-raw foods. It also helped me realize the variety that was possible with Raw Food ingredients. I began paying more attention to the dishes I was ordering and started reverse-engineering them as I ate. I began collecting recipes from websites and blogs and accumulating a new stock of groceries. Finally, I began experimenting with Raw foods on my own. I took my microwave to the garage, overcame my aversion to the kitchen, and began creating delicious Raw meals at home. I fell in love with the process.

I quickly learned what would work for my body, my schedule and my life. The sacrifices and conflicts I had imagined before the Reboot turned out to be rewards in practice. I had more energy for my workouts, runs and rides. I maintained my muscle mass but lost 12 pounds I didn’t realize I had to lose. Out of town travel led to the discovery of great new (Raw Food) restaurants. I introduced family and friends to the food at Revive and prepared meals for them at home.

Eating Raw has touched every area of my life. I’ve lost weight, my blood pressure has dropped, and my skin is clearer. My mind is sharper, I’m more energetic and I sleep better at night. Even my social life has changed. I’ve met amazing people who share my concerns about food and the environment and a commitment to good health. As I told someone recently, “Raw Food attracts good people.”

By committing to the 30-day Rawvive Reboot I had no choice but to give myself over to my own Raw Food journey. At the end of the Reboot my questions were answered and my reservations gone. I no longer consider eating Raw a challenge, and I certainly don’t consider it a “diet.” It’s a part of my life and I haven’t eaten cooked food since.