Before Raw Food
After Raw Food Diet
Today I am very excited to bring you the results of my interview with Cecilia Kinzie. You can see her inspiring before and after pictures above. Many years ago, when I was first researching the raw food diet I came across her blog and was very touched by her story. I was honored when she contacted me a few weeks ago to write a blog post featuring some of my recipes. You can read her blog post here. In return I asked to interview her for my blog and was thrilled when she accepted. I hope you are inspired and informed from the interview below!
1. How long have you been eating a raw food diet? How did you first hear about the raw food diet?
I discovered the diet in 2002, so about ten years ago. I was exclusively raw for the first five years and for 5 years I been high raw but not exclusively raw. I was searching for a way to recover from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and was very open at the time to anything that might help me feel better.
A friend of mine mentioned that a friend of his got better from CFS through raw foods. That same night I did a web search and discovered a few raw food websites which had a lot of great information. The next day I bought my first raw food “cook” book. I started going to raw food potlucks and dived into not only the diet, but the lifestyle as well. It was like a whole new world opened up to me!
2. How has eating a raw food diet changed you (physically, mentally, and spiritually)?
I was able to heal from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Asthma, depression, and significantly reduce my symptoms of Interstitial Cystitis (IC). I no longer think about my weight, dieting, or calories. I feel satisfied and nourished by what I am eating and no longer have cravings or the desire to binge eat. I have lost all desire to eat any type of junk food. I feel more comfortable and confident in my body. I am able to really listen to the messages my body is giving me. I have more compassion for animals and much more awareness of where my food comes from and how it is grown. I am so much more in tune with nature and the seasons because I eat mostly local. I feel much more aware intuitively and awake in my life. I guess you could say I feel more me!
3. What percentage of raw food works best for you (50 %, 75 %, or 100 %)?
I played the 100% game for 5 years. I guess now you could say I am high raw.
Now I don’t even think about percentages unless someone asks me.
These are the only things I worry about:
Does the food I eat satisfy and nourish me?
Does the food I eat make me feel good and look good?
Do I feel good about how my food was grown, raised, or processed?
4. What is your diet like on a typical day?
It is constantly changing but the one thing that is constant is simplicity. Vegetable juices, blended foods (smoothies, soups, purees), and I enjoy steamed veggies, squash, sweet potato, and/or rice and quinoa in the evenings with a special mineral broth that I make. Over the years, I have gravitated towards the lighter easier to digest blended foods and less nuts and dehydrated foods.
5. What are some of the biggest challenges you face as a raw foodie?
I think the biggest challenge we face is the cost and availability of organic produce. I live in sunny California, so I am luckier than most, but not everyone can afford the raw food diet and lifestyle. In order to afford the best organic produce and supplements, I definitely make financial sacrifices in other areas of my life because my diet is so important to me.
Another challenge I face, is the time it takes to make all my meals from scratch and feeling like I am cleaning the kitchen constantly. That is why I stick to such a simple diet, if not, I wouldn’t get anything else done! I also try to teach others simple raw food recipes because most people are balancing family and work and just don’t have time for fancy food preparation!
6. How did your friends and family respond to you when you first began eating this way? Did you deal with any negative feedback and if so how did you handle it?
My family is a group of free spirits who encourage individuality and they have always been extremely supportive. When I first went raw, I was finishing up college and still living at home. My dad bought a special refrigerator just for me, because all my produce didn’t fit in the family fridge anymore!
I have gotten very little negative feedback, probably because I was so clear that what I was doing was beneficial for me. I would tell people, “I got my energy back, I got my life back, and my Asthma is gone from eating this way”. They really couldn’t say anything negative after that.
7. What are some of your favorite entrees or desserts to eat?
My all time favorite raw entrée is a sprouted buckwheat salad with mashed avocado, garlic, and parsley. My favorite raw dessert is the no nut coconut cream pie from Café Gratitude.
8. What are some of your staple foods in your kitchen?
I get two organic produce boxes delivered to my house every week, so I guess whatever is in season in Southern California is a staple for me. Since I do a lot of green juices I always have cucumbers, greens, and apples on hand as well.
9. What is an interesting fact about yourself that readers might be surprised to find out?
I try to spend at least an hour in deep meditation and energetically send love and blessings to the earth or to people in need every single day.
10. What are your hobbies and interests outside of raw foods?
I love my two Chihuahuas, love taking long walks in nature or on the beach, I love dance and yoga, and I love to meditate and teach meditation. Besides my raw food website and blog I also have a healing meditation website and blog as well, that teaches meditative self healing techniques.
Thanks for reading about me and to learn more about me and the raw food diet, please check out my raw food blog .
Hugs,
Cecilia Kinzie
http://www.rawglow.com
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