by Shannon Leone

It feels like forever since I posted something, its been so busy around here and I know you know what I mean- life with kids always is. Just off the heels of the holidays was my son's birthday and this weekend was my 45th and Ooooooh I feel better now than at 25! Now mind you, with all the celebrating and socializing I have definitely been kicking up my heels and over-indulging in festive cooked foods- mainly rice and pasta and sweets like the delicious raw cheesecake I made for Landon's birthday seen in the picture. I was also in several more magazines lately and seemed to make all sweet creations for them too… Fortunately, I have learned over the years to go with the flow and not bother worrying about it. So, instead what I do is a mini re-set of a week long juice fast. Today is day 5 and I feel fantastic!! It's so easy once you commit to just doing it!

I started the first 2 days with the Master Cleanser (although I don't use any sweetener- just tons of cayenne pepper and fresh squeezed lemon water) and then I juiced greens for 3 days: kale, celery, cucumber, parsley and a green apple. Today I made an almond mylk out of nettles infusion and tonight I will make a tea from milk thistle seeds to support my liver. Everyday for 'lunch' I also make a bentonite clay/caprylic acid/pysllium drink which is great for the colon. And every night a castor oil pack.

By Ann Meredith

If you would have told me a year and a half ago that I would be eating primarily a raw food diet, I would have looked at you in complete disbelief. I was 42 years old , well-educated (law degree and MBA) and ate, what I thought and knew at the time, was a reasonably well-balanced healthy diet. I ate meat, dairy, grains (breads, pasta and rice), fruit and vegetables. I did not eat fast food or junk food and didn’t drink soda.

I believed that if a person ate a well-balanced moderate diet they would be healthy. In my mind, people who followed and changed diets weekly based on the most recent best-selling diet book were gullible. And vegetarians were weird characters from the 60’s or wannabes who longed for that era, and they were a pain to eat with because they always questioned everything on the menus at restaurants (”Is the vegetable soup made with chicken broth?”).

However, at that point in my life I felt horrible. I had been struggling to recover from Chronic Fatigue and Adrenal Fatigue for a few years and I had an extra 25 lbs that I struggled to lose after I had my baby. I was tired all the time and couldn’t get out of bed, even though I would sleep for 12 hours. I was stiff and achy, like I was beat up or in a bad car accident. My inability to concentrate left many started and unfinished projects and my memory wasn’t sharp. My immune system was compromised. I was constantly getting colds that would last for 8 weeks at a time. My throat was constantly sore and lymph nodes swollen.

Finally after various blood tests, a CAT scan, MRI, heart tests, and visits to several conventional and alternative medical practitioners, I was referred to a naturopath who, I was told, could help me. After a very lengthy and detailed consultation with him, he simply said to me, “Well, the first thing I’m going to ask you to do is change your diet.”

It’s late and I can’t sleep…I have over 800 emails in my inbox and have been reading over the survey results we put out regarding the Raw Mom Summit, and it moves me how many people took the time to respond. I want to hear from everyone who cares enough to share about their experience, their needs, and their thoughts. Everyone matters.

As I read people’s testimonies and surveys, I imagine how much people care, what will make a difference, how to help…? And I wonder, How do YOU feel about how you are bringing up your children? Do you feel good about your choices and day-to-day decisions? Do you feel overwhelmed? Usually or just sometimes? What is the hardest part? Do you feel you are meeting your own standards? Or do you feel you are failing? What do you most need to improve? What do you need to make that happen? Do you follow or lead? Do you hug and touch enough? Do you listen well? Do you talk and teach too much? Do you observe? Do you take time to love and nurture yourself? Do you feel in or out of balance at this moment? Do you feel good about yourself as a parent? Do you laugh and love and ENJOY?