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Today, The World Suddenly Got Alot Smaller

Monday, March 8th, 2010 by admin

To all the multi-tasking mamas who are the peacemakers, the boo-boo kissers, the tear wipers, the lull-a-bye singers, the grocery shoppers and menu makers, the domestic engineers and working Wonderwomen, the visionaries who see the best in our children and work tirelessly, invisibly…the list of our titles and duties goes on and on…

TODAY is International Woman’s Day! And I invite you to join with me and about 10,000 other women around the world, in a celebration of our womanhood! We are gathering like women have done since time immemorial to tell our stories, share our collective wisdom and concerns, offer support and solutions, and have communion- united communication in the spirit of building community.

Tera and I have been excitedly working together to produce the biggest, most world-class event of its kind to celebrate Women’s Day. It’s called WISH Women’s International Summit for Health.

If you enjoyed the raw Mom Summit you are going to love this!

We have included over 40 of the world’s most sought after speakers for this, in and outside of the raw community including Marianne Williamson, Dr Mercola, David Wolfe, Janet Attwood, Tonya Zavasta, Marci Shimoff, Victoria Boutenko, and many, many more!

We discuss all the things on the minds of modern women today: Finances, Health, Beauty, Relationships, Self-Worth, Parenting, Sustainability, Spirituality etc etc and yes, it is available for FREE over the next 10 days.

WISH Women’s International Summit for Health

They say it takes a village to raise a child, well, the global village just got smaller because we are bringing a stellar line up of world speakers right to you. With this online banquet of delicious topics and speakers, all made with love for you to be lavished with and enjoy, my hope is that you feel as I do, that the world is getting smaller and that women are getting closer. Our connection regardless of our physical proximity is enhanced when we can come together in the spirit of celebration and empowerment, and that is what WISH is all about.

christine_aruylo These people I interviewed and their contributions just opened my world to so many things, it is truly a gift that will keep on giving as I continue to assimilate everything I learned. For example, I’ll leave you with this teaser which came from one of the calls that just blew me away that will be made available as a BONUS~

One of the key distinctions I became aware of just this week which has actually CHANGED MY LIFE came as I interviewed Christine Arylo who wrote the book Choosing Me Before We- It is that Self-Esteem is NOT the same thing as Self-Love…Do YOU know the difference? Overwhelm and exhaustion are sure signs you may not…Please post your answers below.

Happy Women’s Day!

xoShakaya

Tags: Food for Thought, organization, Shannon Leone
Posted in Shannon's Thoughts, Uncategorized | No Comments »

A Fish Story

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 by Lisa

by Lisa Marie Lindenschmidt

Mo has this uncanny ability to make the supposed mundane have great spiritual significance. Take the fish incident.

Over the past 13 years or so, my family has moved through a myriad of dietary choices. We’ve gone from vegetarian to vegan to raw vegan and are now focusing on a whole food approach. We still consume a lot of raw vegan foods, but have been experimenting with incorporating raw, local, organic dairy (such as homemade goat’s milk kefirs and chevres and raw butters), local eggs, and sprouted and cooked whole grains. We have had amazing success with this, I believe, because we cleaned out our systems first with a high raw vegan diet. Also, after reclaiming our stomachs and their true needs, we’ve all gained a new perspective on appropriate portions. Now, when we eat, it is from a place of true appreciation – for the taste of the food, yes, but more for its medicinal value. Our food consumption has truly become ritualistic in nature… something I’ve been striving for for years.

So, when the idea of meat came up, we had to talk. Mo, who’s been a vegetarian all her life, decided she’d like to try some fish, specifically salmon. She told us that she’s been getting signs from the Divine that are all pointing her towards salmon. We listened. We talked a lot about what bringing home salmon, cooking it, and consuming it would mean for our family. We are the family that has never had meat touch our dishes, our utensils, or any of our cookware. Would this change anything spiritually for our house? Would it be possible to do this in a way that fostered honour and reverence for all involved – including the fish?

The night we decided to do this, we had a massive rainstorm. The wind was howling and the rain was being slashed sideways. Mo said, “I think it’s cool that it’s raining outside. The Water energy wants us to pay attention tonight.” In our religion, the Water Element symbolizes emotions, flexibility, growth, change, fluidity. It was a great observation given the situation. This was the weather I ventured into to find our fish.

Because fresh salmon is hard to find this time of year, I went to a natural foods store and picked up a pound of the best salmon I could find. (We have a great market here that carries amazing “natural” meats.) I brought it home and we all stood around while I opened the package. “Wow, it smells strong,” said Mo. “Can I touch it?” Jim and I encouraged her to touch it, pick it up, notice the way that the fish felt in her hands, and think about how those muscles needed to move in the environment it was living in. Jim discussed the way that salmon can move from fresh water to salt water. We talked about the symbolism of the fish jumping upstream to mate and the mythology inherent in the salmon’s wisdom.

Jim and Mo then rubbed melted coconut oil, garlic, lime juice, black pepper, and sea salt into the fish, covered it, and baked it. Before we sat down to eat, we said a prayer to thank the fish and to ask for some of its wisdom.

As we were sitting down to take our first bite, Mo said she was nervous, that this was a huge step for her. This was hard for me. I was raised on meat and had a familiarity with it that she’s never had. I had none of this trepidation. She took the first bite and said, “Wow. It’s really good. It kind of taste like mushrooms.” I loved the irony: a vegetarian kid trying to fit the fish into the only world she’s known!

She ended up eating only half her portion, claiming that it was really rich – which I thought was cool of her. She’s always been so good at listening to her body. I asked her how it felt to eat it: did she feel different energetically? How did it feel in her stomach? “It’s a lot to process. There’s a lot going on at one time,” she said. I let it go at that.

The next morning she came to me and said, “I’ve done a lot of thinking and praying about this, and I think that I don’t want to eat meat. I’m glad I tried it, but I don’t think it’s for me right now.” I told her that was absolutely OK and that I probably wouldn’t be eating it again for a while myself. “It was pretty intense, hungh?”

Maybe that salmon did pass some of its wisdom onto us after all.

Lisa Marie Lindenschmidt is a raw foods chef and teacher and owner of Rite Food and Company (www.ritefoodandcompany.com), which offers workshops on intentional and joyful eating. Lisa Marie and her homeschooled daughter, Mo, record a weekly podcast – called Sweet Peas Podcast – chronicling their raw foods journey together.

Tags: children, conscious parenting, Food for Thought, Lisa Marie's Thoughts
Posted in Wild Parenting | 5 Comments »

Raw Movement

Sunday, February 28th, 2010 by Shannon

Judgement is like an eclipse of the sun…It blocks the light. ~ Marianne Williamson

shakaya-feb-2010 Have you noticed there seems to be a movement sweeping through the raw community..? Many people are discussing it, many are doing it, and some are advocating it. I’m talking about the idea of widening our conception of what in fact is the healthiest diet. Let me ask you something, do YOU know what the optimal diet is? Most of us here would say a raw diet. Buuuuut, what exactly is a raw diet? How raw are you supposed to be to be considered raw? Is it all or nothing, or how important is the percentages of raw to cooked ratio for health? Does being raw mean being vegan? How healthy is the struggle of striving for a particular ideal, only to fail time and time again? How about when you desire certain goals, but the stress of striving for them outweigh the results? What about if there is judgement from other people or YOURSELF? Are there issues that lie underneath that aren’t being addressed through diet alone? Is focusing solely on diet as the means of obtaining health balanced? Or can it become toxic? What about the kids?? What does all the hyper-focus on the food mean to them? Is being raw a rawligion? What does it really mean to YOU?

There are truly amazing people in the raw movement who seem to be quite adept in their ability to trust their instincts and do due diligence with their research- using both hemispheres of the brain to ascertain what is right for them on their health journey- and we have learned much from them and been so inspired. However, it was always what worked for THEM that they did and eventually espoused. Of course, when anyone has the clarity and passionate beliefs and acts upon them with conviction, the innate strength and rightness of being which one is imbued with naturally shines a light outwards- not only guiding them onwards, but also attracting others.

Many people noticed this light in these particular individuals, and started to investigate this idea of becoming Raw for themselves. And for a decade now, many of us have been raw. The effects of changing our diet, our personal standards about not only food and nutrition, but also the ethos and ethics of our choices, and the consequences socially- for many of us have been profound. Some have found their purpose. Some have regained their health. Some have been released of the burden of excess weight or addictions. Some have reversed disease. The list goes on and on of the benefits of eating a raw diet!

shannon-leone_food_bounty I have always wondered…just because it worked for some, does that mean it will work for you and me? These people found what worked for them. THAT sounds like the real message to me. I don’t think anyone can say for sure what the perfect diet is for everyone, at every stage of their life.

For me, life is a process, and so is my awareness of what makes up real health; and it isn’t all about diet, though diet is a cornerstone. Many of you listened to speakers of the Raw Mom Summit and so you know that there ARE many models of the raw food diet. And every one of them attracts people that claim it is working for them even though it contradicts another version of raw foodism.

We have seen Dr. Graham passionately refute anything other than a 100% high-fruit, low fat diet, with lots of facts and stats to back it up. And we have seen David Wolfe suggest that certain people with particular metabolisms do well on a high fat all-raw diet. Dr. Brian Clement eats 70% raw and cooked grains. Many people say all grains, whether gluten-free or not, cooked or raw, are unhealthy. Victoria Boutenko consumes mostly green smoothies and soups but has recently added some steamed veggies occasionally. Shazzie was concerned about her daughter lacking in certain nutrients so added some eggs. Kate Magic raises her kids on a high superfoods diet. Sally Falon a widely respected author/researcher recommends raw dairy. Dr Weston Price who so many of us health-seekers have studied found that primitive people’s who lived the farthest from modern dentistry but ate a non-processed omnivourous diet (both plant and animal) had perfect jaws and teeth- and how many raw foodists can say that? Daniel Vitalis says raw veganism is a great cleanse, but not sustainable or even healthy for most people long-term. Aujanous Vonderplanitz cured himself from cancer by eating raw meat and now consults with thousands who do the same.

(Btw, I wouldn’t have thought this could possibly be good for anyone to do until I met a girl who was so robust looking, with perfect skin and clear eyes and beautiful teeth- an absolute natural beauty- who was the ‘healthiest’ looking person I have ever met. So I asked her about her diet. She said she ate all raw. My heart leapt for joy! Until she added ‘Meat. Raw meat’. I couldn’t even imagine it. But she vibrated such calm and yet powerful energy- kind of like a wild animal that is focused and peaceful yet totally alert and full of energy. I asked her how she came upon this way of eating and she told me about this man and his book called We Want To Live, and so I read it. Not for me, yet I could never discount it if it helps others.)

That was 8 years ago. The strange thing is that although I didn’t believe anyone could heal from this type of diet, I have to admit I have met very few raw vegans, if any, before or since who radiated the strength and beauty and physical health of this girl. My quest has always been for health, and I would love to look like she did, but being a raw vegan seems infinitely ‘superior’ to any other diet, and so it has been the path that I have chosen. Well, I no longer believe diets are superior or inferior…And neither am I 100% raw or vegan. The judgement that comes with those kind of concepts don’t seem ultimately very health giving, so I just hold that some diets are more nutritious.

Susun Weed who isn’t a raw foodist firmly believes that women and children need nourishment that plants alone cannot give. As a woman in my mid-forties, I want to ensure I do whatever my hormones may need for my later years, and so I hear that. Plus, any dogma which leaves no room for the emotional healing and is so confining is lacking in spiritual sustenance. My children are growing up and I constantly keep alert to ensure they are getting everything they need to meet their rapid growth spurts. I go in and out of being all raw, down to being about 90%, my kids a little less than that. And I used to beat myself up over it, now I just accept it and honour myself and my body and my mothering of theirs. Like I said, it’s a process, for all of us.

electrc-woman I most care about creating a safe haven for mothers on their journey. If I can do anything, it would be to support and encourage, offering some inspiration perhaps. But never to tell anyone what to do. I will always share what I do or what I would do in your situation if you ask me. And I would love to see other raw moms here with a variety of approaches so people can gravitate to what they resonate with. This will become a living community with a diverse and vibrant approach reflecting the evolution of sacred parenting at every stage. I’m not an authority. I’m no guru. Gosh, I’m so bored of gurus, aren’t you? I’m just like you- a mom- who loves my children dearly and wants to give them the best foundation I can in life.

Where are YOU in your raw health journey? Are you vegan, vegetarian, or omnivore?

I’d love to know, and I am sure others would too. We are going to set up a forum that is so user friendly and beautiful that we are all going to love going there to check out everybody’s profile and see what is happening with everyone. In the meantime, remember this, no matter what you eat, or what you don’t, it doesn’t define who you ARE, or the gifts that you came here to bring. Our diet is vitally important to our health, and natural raw foods are wonderful to include in a big way- but it isn’t the only aspect of health. My biggest hope is to get and keep our kids and ourselves off of junk food, to have people eating real nourishment, and even more importantly, is to address the underlying causes there, dietary, and emotionally. May we all be nourished. May we eat with mindfulness and gratitude, and be able to enjoy however we choose to nourish ourselves. And may we find love and support here on the journey.

Tags: children, conscious parenting, Food for Thought, parenthood, Raw food, raw mom, Shannon Leone
Posted in Family, Food for Thought, Health and Wellness, Shannon's Thoughts, Uncategorized | 16 Comments »

Warming Advice

Sunday, February 7th, 2010 by Lisa

by Lisa Marie Lindenschmidt

I was born in Georgia where the temperatures range from hot to dang hot. That’s it. No real variable to speak of. I can’t remember ever wearing a hat as a kid. Actually, I remember complaining once that I was chilly and someone suggesting that I put on a hat to stay warmer. I stood there, utterly confused, trying to figure out how anyone could contemplate wearing a hat after spending 45 minutes spraying their hair. (When I was a teenager, proper hair placement was imperative.) Maybe that’s why more people use hairspray in the South.

As you can imagine, when I moved to Maine, I had a bit of a climate shock. I’ve been here for 15 years and am still adjusting… though it’s gotten a bit easier. Last winter was my first winter as a raw foodist and I’ve learned some valuable lessons about staying warm.

Are you wearing enough clothes?

OK, this may seem logical, but I’ll walk around my house in the winter in shorts and a t-shirt and hear myself complaining about being cold. We keep the heat between 68 and 70, so that should be pretty livable. I finally decided to try out that hat advice and put one on with my shorts and t-shirt. It really works! Now this may only be a solution for those with shaved heads, so find your own article of clothing that may be missing and give it a shot. Rarely is our entire body cold; it’s usually just one part. So, take care of warming that one part and the rest will usually follow.

Are you moving around?

Most of us are not getting enough exercise. I know I’m not. If I’ve been sitting at the computer for a while and getting a bit chilly, I’ll get up and do some jumping jacks or Breaths of Joy (fantastic yoga movement for increasing your heart rate). We weren’t meant to be sitting at computers for hours at a time or watching TV all day. Your body wants to move around. Make sure to continually honour your body by doing just that!

What are your thoughts?

This is huge for me. If I’m cold, my immediate, habitual response is to complain. Our bodies don’t want to be cold. They love being warm and pliable. They love freedom of movement and not being constricted by massive amounts of down and wool. When we get cold, we sometimes get cranky. But getting cranky means that you are energetically stagnating. When you choose to hold onto a negative emotion or thought, you are blocking movement of energy and are miring yourself in the “crank.” Make the decision to have another response. When I get cold now, I purposely jump up and laugh and say, “Wow! It’s brisk! This is awesome!” I focus on appreciating the cold to better appreciate the warmth. I work on feeling grateful for this change in weather to deepen my relationship with the Earth. In the beginning, you may feel silly, and that’s OK. Silly is better than cranky.

What are you eating?

I leave food for last. I am changing my relationship to food and have to be careful not to rely on food to do my work for me – even warming me up. Having said that, there are several foods and drinks you can work with to help keep the blood flowing in the colder months. Teas are a fantastic way to warm up and get medicinal herbs into your body. Purposely choose teas that will benefit your body. Learn more about herbs and their properties and explore some different combinations. Miso soups are also a great way to warm up and satisfying that savory food craving. Generously add warming spices to your foods like cayenne, turmeric, ginger, garlic, black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves to open up those blood vessels! There are also some foods that warm the body because of the energy needed for digestion. These include root vegetables, walnuts, and dates. (Check out Karen Knowler’s article, “How to Make Raw Food Taste HOT!”, for more delicious ideas!)

Winter can be challenging for a lot of people. Find the joy in this season and celebrate the differences in Nature and in you during this time of year.

Tags: Food for Thought
Posted in Inspiring Families, Wild Parenting | No Comments »

Strictly Speaking

Thursday, February 4th, 2010 by Lisa

by Lisa Marie Lindenschmidt

Have you ever had someone comment on your diet seeming “strict” because of what you’re not eating? I love this! I taught an introductory raw foods class recently. At the beginning of these classes, I give the definition of raw foods as centering around fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and sprouted grains… and then I pause to check reactions. They’re always the same: a little glazed-over stare and then the mumbled, “Um, OK. That’s it…?” I love this part of class because I can see people’s minds spinning. They’re about to go into panic and rejection mode: “This diet has too many restrictions. Forget it!”

Well, I wish my students were here now. I am typing this article while eating my Top Secret Recipe Raw Vegan Chocolate Candy while drinking yerba mate tea with honey… for breakfast. Help me! I’m suffering over here because of my restricted diet! (Note: That was sarcasm.)

But, seriously, let’s look at this idea of restriction. When I became vegetarian, almost everyone I told reacted the same way: “Oh, man. I don’t know if I could live without meat.” When I became vegan, people bemoaned that perceived loss as well: “No dairy, eggs, or refined sugar? Not me!” Raw vegan? “No bread?!?” What’s happening here? Why did no one comment on how good I must be feeling? Why did no one say, “That’s awesome! I couldn’t imagine living without my green juices!”

American society seems to be focused on choice – having choice, having a myriad of choices, and ensuring that we always have the freedom to choose. When those choices are threatened or perceived as being threatened, we get defiant, we rebel, we puff up and defend our “freedoms”. But my challenge to my students – and to you – is to look at this on its head. What if we turned it around?

Many people I encounter are not happy with their health, their weight, or their food choices and they’re trying to find ways to change. Inevitably people list off their “sins”: pizza, cigarettes, alcohol, coffee, candy. I am then regaled with all the things they “know they should be doing”: exercise, greens, herbal teas, smaller portions. Sound familiar?

Ever wondered why it doesn’t work? Who wants to take away all the things that give them pleasure… to find health and happiness? Doesn’t this seem a little counter-intuitive? When I was transitioning over to a raw vegan diet, I found myself eating mostly raw and vegan… and then ordering pizza in. At first, I really struggled with the hypocrisy of it. Then, I realized that, at the time, I associated pizza and a movie with my family as something that brought me joy. Over the next few months, those pizza orders got further and further apart as I began to work on my emotions around food and incorporate healthier foods into my diet. We haven’t ordered pizza in months and, more importantly, I don’t crave it. I couldn’t start from a place of subtraction and denial; I had to start with adding and accepting and working with.

I remember telling a student once, “I don’t care if you eat steak or not, if you’re enjoying it – but you have to define enjoyment for yourself. Where does it start for you? Is it in the eating of the food? How the food was produced? How was it packaged? What your emotions were when you were preparing it? Who you were eating it with?” What’s really missing in our health is not some magical cure-all pill or goji berries or green smoothies. What’s really missing is joy, intention, and appreciation.

If we can start thinking in terms of adding things back into our lives and, hence, our diets, then we’ll begin to understand that the real restriction was our separation of ourselves from our experiences and our food. The more you begin to add healthier options and attitudes to your diet, the less room you will have for the unhealthier ones.

So, when people ask me now if I feel like I’m missing out on certain foods because of my dietary choices, I always say, “Dude, I have candy for breakfast. Are you kidding?!”

Lisa Marie Lindenschmidt is a raw foods chef and teacher and owner of Rite Food and Company, which offers workshops on intentional and joyful eating. Lisa Marie and her homeschooled daughter, Mo, record a weekly podcast – called Sweet Peas Podcast – chronicling their raw foods journey together.

Tags: Food for Thought, health, Raw food, raw foods, raw mom
Posted in Food for Thought, Wild Parenting | 4 Comments »

45 and SO Alive!

Friday, January 22nd, 2010 by Shannon

birthdaycake

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.

thewidesea

A magical side-effect of doing something like this is how strong I feel. I remember trying to do these detoxes when I was younger and it always felt like torture because I would feel weak and tired and so hungry. Now, although the first 2-3 days I do feel hungry, my energy is just perfect- high, happy and balanced. In fact, instead of feeling delicate and sensitive to the cold, I am actually doing Polar Bear Dips and long barefoot hikes in the snow. I used to suffer in the cold winters before I went raw. Now, although I still prefer balmy sunny summers, I actually enjoy all the seasons now and love to be out in the cold.

After re-reading the Daylight Diet and realising how important it is to eat early in the day, and knowing this is one of my biggest personal challenges, doing this little detox program is hopefully helping me to create a whole new habit for when I do return to eating.

dreamboat

What I love too is how my family gets to see me taking care of myself. My husband actually joined the juicy fun on day 2 and although I don’t feel it is necessary or appropriate to fast healthy children, I do notice that it feels really easy to prepare all-raw for them instead of the warm grains or seaweed soups or steamed veggies. They just feel so happy they don’t have to fast that they are grateful to be eating and it makes them more aware of their bodies and they tend to do more stretching and brush their teeth longer and little things like that whenever I take on my mini-cleanses.

I am even thinking of doing a one day a week juice day- I used to do this in my 20’s with a boyfriend who was a vegetarian too, and a black belt in Karate and we would juice fast on weekends together. It was always so much fun and something we looked forward to. It really helps having a partner to stay motivated. Here’s to everyone out there taking wonderful care of yourselves! And it’s a good thing for our kids too! Next post I will share some of my best tips for doing a successful cleanse if anyone is interested in using simple things like neti pot, oil pulling, tongue scraping and others, so watch for these coming soon.

Blissings

Tags: conscious parenting, Food for Thought, health, Living Food, Raw food, raw foods, raw mom, Shannon Leone
Posted in Food for Thought, Health and Wellness, Meditation, Natural alternative to drugs, Raw food, Shannon's Thoughts | 5 Comments »

Raw Diva—Mary’s Thoughts

Sunday, January 10th, 2010 by admin

I was on jury duty for four days recently, my second time in 32 years. The first time, the jurors were taken out to eat at restaurants each day and all sat together so they could keep an eye on us. This time we were sent out to forage on our own. Most of the other jurors bought lunch in the courthouse café. But since I did not want to pay five dollars for a salad the size of a tea cup, I brought my own lunches.

I decided I wanted to keep it simple and not have to prep too much before I left the house or worry about spoilage before lunch time. I also had to consider that forks and knives are not allowed past security, so finger foods were best. Here is what I took—though, not all on the same day ;-):

Quart jars of green smoothies
Head of pre-washed lettuce in plastic container with a jar of homemade salad dressing to dip the leaves into
Jar raw pistachios
Pint of grape tomatoes
Big bunch of rinsed raw green beans
Whole avocado (sliced in half in advance) to eat with a spoon
Chopped asparagus, sliced mushrooms and chopped sundried tomatoes marinated in oil and vinegar (this took less than five minutes to toss into a container)
Little jar of handmade raw cookies

Whether you get called for jury duty where you are trapped in the courthouse, need to attend business meetings where they usually serve donuts and pizza or are on a weekend road trip with only fast food restaurants along the way you do not need to sacrifice your tastes, dietary preferences or budget; just take along your favorite portable whole foods instead. Other great options for “naturally wrapped” snacks are fruits like bananas, pears, oranges and apples…just eat them in the order of most likely to ripen quickest. Raw corn on the cob is another of my favorites, just shuck and eat.

Happy Eating!
Mary
www.voiceofthevegan.com

Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose, prescribe or treat illness. It is valuable to seek the guidance of an alternative health care professional before making any changes to one’s diet and lifestyle.

Tags: Food for Thought, Raw food, raw food recipe, raw foods, raw mom, Tips for Moms
Posted in Food for Thought, Inspiring Families, Organics | 2 Comments »

Holidays are over, THE DAYLIGHT DIET is On- My Way!

Tuesday, January 5th, 2010 by admin

shannon-dave-wolfe Wow! The first week in January of 2010. Into the New Year we go! Happy Happy Joy Joy! Holiday time can be very busy and sleep and dietary concerns are not my top priorities between all the raw parties and events, polar bear dips and barefoot hikes in the snow, night skating, tobogganing, visiting old friends and other festivities which included TV appearances, I really let things slip a bit. I am rather strict and disciplined 90% of the time, my diet is 90% raw, and come to think of it, my marks in school were that too… I leave a good 10 % for total spontaneity and adventure. Now it’s time to get back on track! I looooove the fresh start feeling of a clean slate before me to create upon, and I do make resolutions in the form of setting intentions. Speaking of which, I am still loving the Daylight Diet which I started in November that I promised to let everyone know how I am progressing. I have such a long way to go, yet I am encouraged by my progress already. I am making baby-steps and if I didn’t love and honour myself so much, I would think I was pathetic actually because of how slow I am going! Hahaha.

There are 3 stages to the Daylight Diet, and although I have accomplished several things since I started it, I must admit I am only at stage 0.5. That’s right, I’m not even at stage 1 yet! Stage one is where you eat only when it is daylight- simply stop eating after sundown. I have not been able to do that exactly, however, I have stopped eating after dinner, which is usually around 6 or 7pm now. This is not ideal, and not what the book recommends at all, yet for me who usually would eat my dinner around 9 or 10 pm, plus have a big snack 2 or 3 hours later, this is a BIG improvement for me and definitely a step in the right direction.

Just doing this has not been easy because I usually do not eat at all in the day but Paul says unless you eat enough nourishment in the day, you will be hungry at night and it will be very difficult not to eat late. Since going raw 8 years ago, I have pretty much been drinking only water until noon, having either a green juice or green smoothie around 1 or 2pm, and then just nibbling with the kids when I serve their dinner at 6pm, and not really eating mine until the house is all quiet around 9 pm.

The Daylight Diet explains clearly why anyone who wishes to improve their health would do better to eat the biggest meal earlier in the day and completely cease eating after sundown. So I am getting closer to this goal. I have started the habit of making my green juice or smoothie earlier, around 10am, and although I am not totally consistent with this yet, I am getting there. I am also eating something in the afternoon to get some nourishment in so I won’t be hungry after my next and final meal at dinner. I find eating in the day really different for me being used to not stopping for lunch, and just being very productive. I now realise there is just no point keeping a beautiful home and making healthy meals for my family and working on my rawmom books and projects for my world-family if I am not taking time to properly nourish myself.

So, I am sitting down in the middle of the day, and making a small and beautiful meal of simple fare like raw soup with homemade flax crackers I make with my green juice pulp and spices, or avocado and cucumber with dulse or zucchini pasta with tomatoes and olives- just reeeeally simple and quick meals which I can enjoy in silence- just like I used to love to do at night- I find I digest food so much better when I eat very slowly and peacefully, almost meditatively. To enhance the experience and ground me in this new ritual, I like to light a candle and either eat outside, or at least sit by the window and eat watching the birds and chipmunks play in the beautiful snow. Oh, and I have also started using chopsticks at every meal which I adore! That slows me down too, and I find food actually tastes better off of wood instead of cutlery. I find myself blessing each bite and feeling the love that is all around which surrounds me, and I may only spend about 15 or 20 minutes, yet, I feel soothed and satisfied on all levels after this little meal.

I have to admit, most nights after dinner, I still find myself wanting to eat and so I have been doing a couple of things which have been helpful. One thing is to make a cup of hot lemon water or ginger tea, or herbal infusion or even an elixir based on Daniel Vitalis’ work. I make one with milk thistle seeds which is great for the liver, and it tastes so delicious!! I’ll share all about this in an upcoming post so you see how easy and amazing doing this is. I have occasionally been enjoying either a ruby red grapefruit, or a pomegranate late at night, which isn’t ideal, but it’s a treat. I love both because they keep my hands busy and I love working for my food- that satiates me more somehow when it isn’t so instant. So, although this is cheating a bit, it is so much better than what I would normally do making chocolate pudding or raw brownies or walnuts with braggs and garlic and cayenne pepper, or anyone of a number of raw goodies I would normally make late at night.

I am also working on breaking the habit of late night stimulation from computer work or tv. My habit is usually to work until at least midnight or 1, and then relax in front of the tv folding laundry watching a movie while planning the next day’s menus and errands and work . I am pretty sure doing that makes me want to eat more too, so I am turning the computer off by 9 or 10 most nights and heading upstairs to read. I still stay up pretty late, but I am turning in around midnight or 1am, not the usual 3 or 4am… so for me this is great progress, and just the beginning!

arcticshannon It’s a lot of habits I still wish to change… and it isn’t that I didn’t realise this before, its just that I was fooling myself into thinking if I was raw that I could get away with all this late eating and lack of sleep. I feel that as challenging as this is for me to make these changes, that the results will be worth it. I am already noticing that I am waking up more refreshed. And there is a slight euphoria that I cannot totally understand or describe… a physical sense in my body that something HUGE and exciting is happening. I just feeeeeel like my body is happier. And will continue to become happier still as I continue to progress through the stages of the Daylight Diet. Before I can move on to stage one or two or three, I need to really accomplish maintaining my food intake during the day and taper my last meal back from 6 pm to 5 pm before it gets dark.

Having goals and setting intentions and knowing why I am passionately striving to create myself anew every year is an adventure. I figure I can either pay with a bit of discipline now, or regret later! How about YOU, my lovelies? What one habit, if you changed, would change your whole life for the better? Think about it, set your intentions around it, and if you care to share, I’d love to support you. xo

To read more about Paul Nison’s The Daylight Diet, go here…

Tags: Food for Thought, health, Life, raw foods, raw mom, Shannon Leone
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Fruity Wipes

Friday, December 18th, 2009 by admin

by Christina Menefee

Hello Raw Moms!

The flu season is in full swing! I just thought you’d love this recipe for natural Fruity Travel Wipes. These are great to throw in the glove compartment of your car so you will have something to clean up with when you are out and about. You can make these in a jiffy and it gives you a chance to recycle some old t-shirts.

Enjoy!

10 drops lemon essential oil
4 drops grapefruit seed extract
6 drops lime essential oil
2 drops tea tree essential oil
10 squares cut from cotton t-shirt (5×8)

*Fold each square in half and place in a zip-loc bag or old wipes container or any other air tight container. Add enough water to saturate each cloth, but not enough to cover them.

*Press down on the cloth with one hand and drain excess water into a cup. Add the remaining ingredients to the water and stir. Pour this mixture over the cloths once more and seal the container.

That’s It! Hope you have fun making them!

*Recipe from the book The Naturally Clean Home by Karyn Siegel-Maier.

http://www.livingonliquidsunshine.blogspot.com/

Tags: children, conscious parenting, Food for Thought, Raw food, raw mom
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The Yoga of Breastfeeding

Saturday, December 12th, 2009 by Jamie Abrams

I have had a few strange, but often curious looks from people when I have mentioned the topic for this TM column. Understandably so. I don’t think many people see the deeper connection between yoga and breastfeeding or that many people associate a successful breastfeeding relationship with having a supple, strong body and peaceful mind.

jamie-happy-breastfeeding Even though I was in reasonable shape when my breastfeeding career began, I was utterly surprised by how physically taxing breastfeeding could be on my muscles. In the early days, when my babe seemed to suckle for what felt like hours on end, I would wind up with achy arms, shoulders and back. My legs would feel restless like I had just been sat on an aeroplane for 12 hours without moving. I laugh now at my initial weakness of body.

Not only was I tackling the purely physical side of nourishing my buttercup, I was grappling with my cerebral thoughts. During those long feeds or those times when I felt like all I did was have my ta-ta’s hanging out all day, my mind would alternate between the ecstatic bliss of what I was doing and the monotony of it all.

Even with my many years of familiarity with meditating and yogic practices of softness and mindfulness, I still struggled with the monkey living in my mind. I was/am still working at entering my own silent abyss with ease. The stillness of breastfeeding could rattle up my monkey, causing me to feel trapped or like I was being held hostage. When it got all too much for me I couldn’t transport myself out with mind-dulling TV, and my head generally was too full of fogginess to comprehend a good book. My self-love and yogic practices were being put fully to the test! [Personal note: I do not feel that self-love and yogic practices can be separated - rather they are a mutually exclusive entity.] While I can’t speak for every lactating mama, I can only assume every mom has had instances during nursing that weren’t all filled with creamy hues and rosiness.

Fortunately, Mother Nature designed us perfectly to, by and large, experience enormous ripples of satisfaction and love while we nourish our cherubs. While it could be very easy to blame my modern western lifestyle for any short-comings and for all the counter-intuitive messages it gives me every day about raising my child, I would rather not squirt my precious breastmilk on the antagonist. Instead, I tried (I use that word because, after all, I am human, too!) to tap into that peaceful space that dwells within me at all times and not to allow myself to be totally consumed by the guilt of feeling bored or wondering when my nursling would ever release my breast.

jamie-yoga-1 For me this is where the ability to utilize yogic thinking truly ups the anti. My interpretation of the meaning of yogic thinking is just that it is another phrase for positive thinking and affirmations: believing in something greater, the law of attraction, meditation, mantra japa etc. Basically, if I remain calm, allow positivity to abound, it is the natural order of the Universe to sort the rest of it out. If I was really in a mental tizzy it is paramount for me to find a mantra to soothe my soul and begin deep yogic breathing. This would eventually bring me back to a euphoric equilibrium.

Of course, I can’t possibly leave out the importance of proper breathing or yogic breathing on my triumphant breastfeeding passage. Like many women in modern society, I had never seen a baby breastfeed (although I was breastfed) and had very little practical knowledge. Everything I knew about breastfeeding was theoretical from books. Although I was aware that I might have a slight disadvantage for not having practical familiarity, it wasn’t enough to prevent me from doing everything humanly possible to make my breastfeeding relationship with my angel work.

In the first weeks after birth I battled to get a proper latch-on. My nipples were severely cracked. I cried at nearly every nursing session. But in my heart I knew I had to march forward – for me there was NO other way to feed my baby. While my midwives and my LLL leader patiently helped us, I would begin deep three-part breathing, fully oxygenating my body, and then I would get on with it. As with any relationship, there is ebb and flow, so later when things became awkward due to teething, toddler titty twirling, tot boobie gymnastics or my own restlessness, I would call in the goddess of yogini breathing to get me through.

Not only had yoga been a crutch for me pre-pregnancy and during my son’s birth, but it helped me create a magical breastfeeding bond between us. You don’t have to have years of experience on a yoga mat to benefit from its healing powers, just a little faith and motivation. I also think it is worth mentioning that it does not matter where you are in the spectrum of life - now is as good as any time to breathe more deeply and realign your body and mind. So lactating or not, mama or papa, old or young, the following yoga postures (asanas), yogic affirmations (mantras) and yogic breathing (pranayamas) will manifest a more easeful body, peaceful mind and blissful life. While I can’t make any guarantees, you don’t have anything to lose unless you call spontaneous laughter a side-effect.

Yoga asanas to nurse a woman’s body into a full-time lactating queen:

Eagle (Garudasana – just the arm position)
Cow Face (Gormukhasana)
Wide Legged Forward Bend – variation w/ hand interlaced behind back and moving towards head (Prasarita Padottanasana)
Cat-Cow, Cobra (Bhujangasana)
Camel* (Ustrasana)
Fish (Matsyasana)
Downward-Facing Dog (Ardho Mukha Svanasana)
Thread the Needle, Rag Doll, Sun Salutations (Surya Namaskar)
Half Locust – Superhero variation (Ardha Shalabhasana)

As with any yoga postures, proceed with care, listen to your body, and if you are a complete newbie seek the advice of a qualified yoga instructor. *Camel ~ the beginner’s variation ~ is suitable for new mamas. Wait until at least six months postpartum to enjoy the full pose (hands to feet) to ensure your uterus has returned to its pre-pregnancy position. [Psst…go to www.yogajournal.com most of the above poses are pictured and thoroughly explained.]

Yoga mantras (affirmations) to quiet your inner-monkey:

~ I am at peace with myself and my surroundings.
~ I breathe in the serenity of my beauty.
~ I am peace (use any descriptive word such as love, happy, exuberant etc.).
~ Om Shanti
~ Om Tat Sat
~ Om Mani Padme Hum

There are a boundless number of mantras/affirmations that can be used to transmute the negative mind-chatter. They all don’t have to be cheesy and new-agey either! The key is to use one that feels delightful to your soul and just keep repeating it (in your mind or vocally – your darling will love to hear such positive vibrations exiting your mouth). Eventually, the constructive thoughts will prevail!

Yogic Breathing ~ Pranayama:

Hands down, my favourite pranayama is deep three-part breathing. From this base of expansive breathing all other breathing techniques become possible and it allows your body to fully unfold in any yoga asana. Safety note: yogic breathing should never be forced or laboured. If at any time you feel shortness of breath, dizzy or faint, discontinue the practice and resume your normal breathing.

Start by sitting in a comfortable position – any position that allows your spine to be long and expanded (you can lay supine on the floor). Place your right hand on to your abdomen and your left hand on to your chest. All exhalations and inhalations happen through the nose. Begin by inhaling through your nose, drawing the breath down to your belly. You should feel your right hand expanding out as the air presses the abdomen out. Continue to draw the breath up through the diaphragm into the lungs and then into the chest/heart. You should now feel your chest expanding into your left hand. Continue the breath up into your collar bones and throat. Now, slowly exhale through your nose in reverse order – chest, lungs, diaphragm, and abdomen. As you exhale you should first feel your left hand soften on your heart and your right hand on your abdomen. With each inhalation you are working to expand and each exhalation naturally contract and relax. Eventually each one of these parts will flow one into the next making it a seamless breath. Continue breathing wholly and completely.

This should be our natural breathing pattern, but stress and modern life have shifted us into shallow chest-breathers. If this three-part breath is practiced often enough it will eventually become your natural breathing rhythm. If you are lacking in inspiration watch any sleeping baby to see how they entirely employ their full lung capacity.

I extend a special kudos to every goddess mama who embarks on a yoga journey at such a precious time in her life. Conceiving, birthing, breastfeeding and raising aware kiddies is a monumental task and by inviting yoga into your family’s life you are coming one step closer to relishing more moments of infinite bliss.

(This article was originally published in The Mother < www.themothermagazine.co.uk > Magazine issue 37.)
If you truly want to see yogini breastfeeding in action follow the link to watch a one minute video ~ this is not to be missed and most likely the best minute you’ll spend all week!!

http://tinyurl.com/ykweute

Jamie can also be found on www.RawYogaTeacher.com .

Tags: Food for Thought, Life, Yoga
Posted in Jamie's Musings | 1 Comment »