declan blench- 11 questions i ask raw foodies

hello hello have I got a lovely interview for you? Before that though, I’m starting a juice fast tomorrow so the blog might be a bit quiet orrrrr I might get inspired to write lots of lovely stuff, we’ll see eh?  Meantime here’s the gorgeous, fantastic and just plain amazingly funny Declan with his fantastic and gorgeous interview.  I’ve known Declan for about er 11 weeks?  Feels like years, don’t you love it when that happens?  But it can’t be years cos he’s such a wee young thing, he was only really born a few years ago you know…

1.How long have you been in to raw foods?

I’ve known about it for a few years now but have been high raw for about 6 months

2. How did you discover raw foods?

I went vegan in 2007 and one night came across the website Total Raw Food. I thought to myself “these people are quite clearly insane” and put it out of my head but then it kept popping up in a few places. Shazzie and Kate Magic’s websites were the first ones I saw that made me take raw food seriously (ironically enough!)

3. What were some of the first benefits you noticed?

In a much better mood almost all the time and can see the positive side for almost everything, much more energy and zest for life. It also expanded my social circle quite a bit and even got me a new job – believe it when they say going raw really can change your life

4. Were there any drawbacks? If so, what and how did you handle them?

I don’t think it’s so much a drawback ass just something to be aware of – it helps if you know your stuff nutrition-wise! I’d really recommend the book “Becoming Raw” by Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina

5. How did your family and friends react?

My family had a hard enough time getting their head around me going vegetarian when I was a teenager – now they just sort of shake their head and leave me to it! Friends have generally been very supportive of it.

6. How did you handle reactions? any tips?

I think there are three ways to handle negative reactions, depending on the situation and who you’re dealing with. You can ignore the ones who are only there to cause trouble, laugh along with those who are there to make fun of you – because hey, they’re right, you probably are a bit crazy but that’s fine – and actually talk seriously with those who are taking you seriously but maybe have concerns for your health. This is where being up on nutrition comes in handy again!

7. What advice would you give people who are interested in raw foods on how to get started?

I’m a big fan of the way Shazzie and Philip McCluskey advise people to go raw – Philip calls this “the replacement method”. Basically, you start by making your breakfast every day raw, and then when you’re comfortable with that make your lunch raw too, followed by all your snacks, and then dinner. Take it at your own pace and gauge your body’s reactions to things, and don’t let a potential detox put you off – it’s better for you in the long run! Don’t focus on always being 100% raw and remember that the only person that can set the rules for your body is you (though try to be sensible with your cooked food choices too – a vegan bean burger in a wheat-free bun with egg-free mayonnaise is a lot better for you than a kebab, obviously!) . It also helps if you can join a group, I’m really glad I found mine and have made loads of good friends through it. If there isn’t one – start one! Meetup.com is a good place to start, put up flyers in local health food shops, whatever you can think of!

8. What is your number 1 raw tip?

If you don’t or can’t reach your goals straightaway, or you fall of the bandwagon a little, don’t beat yourself up over it and don’t stress yourself out too much about always being perfect. Just write it off as experience and start again.

9. What is your favourite raw food and why?

Avocados! They’re so versatile and so tasty and so good for you! I have one almost every day when I can.

10. If you could be any raw food what would you be and why?

I’m tempted to say avocado because I also have all of those qualities 😉 but seriously, I’d probably be something like maca – sparkly and brilliant, but a bit of an acquired taste for some!

11. How do you see the raw movement in five years time?

In five years in the UK and the US and most western countries, raw food will have the status that veganism does just now – it will have gained more acceptance and more people will be aware of it even if they don’t know a lot about it and it’s not all that commonplace. In Glasgow we’ll have two raw food restaurants (or at least restaurants with half their menu raw) plus the vegan restaurants we already have will have a couple of raw options and places with a couple of vegan options will be adding a raw one too. Edinburgh will have a raw restaurant too, and there will be more juice bars popping up (the day one opens in Bathgate we’ll know something’s gone well!).

***************************************************************************

Gorgeous!

Declan has just started his own blog Raw Student Scotland and is working on his first book which I reckon is going to be awesome but I won’t spoil the surprise of what it’s about.

Anyway, hopefully will blog some over next few days.  I’m loving this song the last few days (don’t forget my formula, R + E xM = O).  Me and my friend Muz made up some words to it a few years back… You’ll find me in the factory, the Walls sausage factory… you MIGHT’VE needed to be there at the time 🙂

xx