may johnstone – 11 questions i ask raw foodies

I’ve been into raw foods, to a varying extent for over three years. As a life-long vegetarian raw foods had always been an important part of my diet; my Mother provided a hearty salad for lunch every day, and we at mainly wholefoods, so I had a good start!

2. How did you discover raw foods?

It’s too long ago to remember, but I expect it was online, and probably through green smoothies.  I discovered my online friend, Vicky White (of LifeDesignStrategies.com) in Vancouver had also started to eat raw, so we decided to support each other.  For more than two years we emailed each other every day listing everything we had eaten, our challenges, insights and discoveries.  Once a week we had a phone chat where we reviewed the week, and set targets for the coming week.  We went through a long journey together, swapping recipes, checking our pH, dealing with emotional eating, and much more.  This definitely helped me keep on track, as I knew I had to write up my lapses!  Vicky eventually moved to almost entirely raw, whereas I aim for more than half my food to be raw.

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

Early on I shed an excess stone, my skin got clearer and I found myself more focused on my work.

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

Vicky started going to potlucks, whereas I felt isolated from sharing raw food with people here.  It wasn’t until 2009 that Vicky sent me Judy Barber’s website (JudyBarber.com), and through her I discovered the Raw Meetups that had recently started up here in Scotland.

5. How did your family and friends react?

My husband was sympathetic, and soon started to ask for his share of the green smoothie I made each morning!  Our teenagers weren’t so interested, and rejected some of the dishes I made, though my daughter quickly waffled down the exotic fruits I bought!  Friends were intrigued, though I think some of them felt it was a bit extreme

6. How did you handle reactions? any tips?

Trying to eat a significant amount of raw food within a family of non-raw is a challenge, even though our household is vegetarian.  Eventually my solution was that we had traditional fare eg a lasagne, and a large salad.  I would eat mainly salad, while they ate mainly lasagne.  Over time though I found myself making larger and larger salads as everyone ate more salad.  Sometimes I would decide to have a little lasagne, and from there it was easy for the taste to get bigger and bigger.  It is a challenge eating raw when there are lots of processed foods around.  Another challenge is kitchen space, I’d like a juicer and dehydrator, but there’s not much space with all the traditional kitchen gadgets still there.

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

Start by finding something raw that you really enjoy, for me it was green smoothies.  Go to some Raw Potlucks to experience other raw foods and be with like-minded people, and expand from there.  More recently I’ve learned to ask my body what she wants to eat – which is usually, but not always raw.  This feels more authentic than setting myself rules for what I will and will not eat.

8. What is your number 1 raw tip?

Find like-minded people to support you on your raw journey.

9. What is your favourite raw food and why?

I recently discovered sunflower shoots, and was amazed how yummy and filling they are, so now I’m growing my own!

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

Mmm, I think I would be a succulent blueberry, because I don’t know anyone who dislikes blueberries!

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

About Emma
This blog was written by Raw Food Scotland's previous owner, Emma Calvert. You can reach her at her new website, https://missmanifestation.com/

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