The story of how I found raw and living foods is, first and foremost, a love story.
The beginning: I fell in love with a man who had devoted himself to a raw vegan lifestyle. It was through him that I discovered raw and living foods, and so also began a long-standing love affair with the raw vegan lifestyle. Even after my relationship with the man ended, I knew I could never leave behind the foods I had come to desire, love, and crave as well as the way of life that felt so natural and so good.
For several years I ate as close to one hundred percent raw/live food as I could get (occasionally including things like couscous and oats in my diet that are not considered totally raw/live food). During that time, my health improved dramatically. I had so much more energy (no more "food comas"). Also, sickness from seasonal allergies disappeared. I threw away all of the OTC drugs in my medicine cabinet. I had decided to follow in the wisdom of Hippocrates letting my food be my medicine and my medicine be my food.
In the years that followed, I discovered that what I loved most about preparing raw/live food was the creativity involved. Although I still do follow some recipes now, so much more often, I am creating my own -- mostly from what is available in the fridge. I have learned how to feel the vibe of food and combine things that usually taste really good. Sometimes I will look up a "cooked food" recipe and re-create a raw version. Admittedly, it does help to have ingredients prepared ahead, such as having sunflower seeds soaked or chickpeas soaked and sprouted, and this is absolutely necessary for certain dishes. However, there is a lot that can be done with entirely fresh ingredients that requires no time soaking, sprouting, or dehydrating.
Food preparation is a form of spiritual devotion for me. It is about connecting with the life-sustaining energy that nourishes my body. When I prepare and consume food, I experience joy and gratitude. When I eat raw/live food, my whole being experiences the prana (life-force) in that food, and so, it has become something that I truly cherish. I am still very much in love with raw and living foods. I love what they do for my body, mind, and spirit. Born out of this love, is my blog, The Avocado Queen.
