Your whole food, plant-based life.

Raw Food Recipes: Inspiration

I am having a hard time believing that it is September 1st. Waking up to a beautiful, refreshing breeze, I am reminded of my childhood. I was one of those kids. The one that couldn’t wait for school to start in the fall. Armed with my new pencils, fresh paper and a few new outfits to boot, I was always filled with excited anticipation. There was so much to learn about and I couldn’t wait to get started!

Last night I was asked how I got started with raw food and creating raw food recipes. I realized it was the same curiosity that I have carried since childhood, that set me on this path. I was introduced to raw food at a time in my life when I desperately needed a change. Something about raw food resonated in me and the journey began.

When I teach classes, I often tell the story about my first raw meal. I saw a TV show were the chef made a raw meal. It consisted of zucchini noodles and pureed tomatoes with some spices as the sauce. Excited to try this new food, I made the dish for my daughters and I. One bite and all three of us deemed it not edible. That was my first experience with a raw food recipe.

Even though the meal didn’t go well, the spark was ignited. I knew that many of the problems I was experiencing, weight gain, shortness of breath, chest pains, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, constant acid-reflux, combined with morning joint pain, and a constant feeling of low energy, were directly related to how I was eating. I was a foodie, a gourmet, a sommelier who had the pleasure of pairing wines for some of the best chefs. Their creations were amazing but decadent. The food was delicious, but not health promoting. I knew that I was in trouble and raw food looked to be the answer.

There in came the challenge. I already knew that raw food was healthy…now how to make it delicious. How to make it resemble the food I was used to eating, but in a much healthier way. The other challenge? How to make it easy. I can have a short attention span and recipes that required 24 ingredients, 7 steps and over 5 days of preparation just didn’t cut it for me. I started experimenting, and having success! I wanted to share this exciting journey and Rawmazing was born.

I often get asked where my inspiration comes from and what my creative process is. Inspiration comes directly from “main-stream” food. My deepest desire is to make food that everyone can recognize, easily make and enjoy. Food that is similar to the food that we are all used to eating so making the change to healthy versions doesn’t seem so dramatic. As far as my creative process, I always begin with the end in mind. I think food has to be beautiful as well as delicious so I start at the end, with a picture of the beautiful dish I want to make in my mind, and work backwards.

As you know, we are not 100% militant raw here. My goal is to encourage you to do as much as you can. Little steps or big leaps…all are welcome here. I will be launching some exciting new raw food  tools and publications this month. Watch for it.

I would love to hear what brought you to raw and your experiences with it! And also what your biggest challenge with raw is. What area do you need help with?

Happy September!!

*Note: We have had a major issue with the Photo 365 pages. So, I will be moving them to another place, and also starting a “food photography for bloggers” blog there! Also, we will have a store where all the photography will be for sale along with note cards and calendars!  Look for it in the next few days!

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17 Comments

  1. Welovesuperfoods.com wrote on September 8, 2010

    I remember first trying a week of raw with my wife, Pia, and we were blown away by the massive increase in energy and inspiration. Its fun to think back at the transition into raw foods. For energy and to maintain weight, I think having your raw protein daily is important. We love protein smoothies in the morning!!

    Reply
  2. Susan wrote on September 6, 2010

    Susan, your website is beautiful and the recipes work – they taste great and eating healthy does not feel like a chore! I appreciated your story about what brought you to raw. Since you asked, my biggest challenge with raw food is my metabolism. It is very fast and I lose weight very quickly such that friends and family are often worried. In the past, this has meant a lot of meat and diary although, lately I have found that whole grains, legumes and veggies with occassional meat and dairy support my body well. However, I am euphoric on raw food – literally – and want more of this. Tips for quick metabolism and also for blending raw and cooked – I find that it is either one or the other for me – neither being entirely sustainable so I’m looking for that balance. Finally, and forgive me if this is already on your website and I just haven’t seen it – a list on the time factors- “Thoughts about time, how to save it and still eat raw” – something like that – time saving secrets you’ve discovered, from soaking nuts ahead of time, to why some equipment fits better with a modern lifestyle than others, to the learning curve – how to eat raw and survive while learning and making lots of inedible mistakes, to what a daily cooking routing looks like. Thanks – and thanks for all the inspiration.

    Reply
  3. Eco Mama wrote on September 5, 2010

    YOU are a huge inspiration! Great backstory Susan, you are such a natural for creating the most intriguing healthy raw foods. My first encounters stemmed from just wanting to refine my already healthy diet and make it even more healthy. I wanted more energy specifically. And it works! I’m doing high raw and that works great for me. I think your creations demonstrate that healthy raw foods can be celebratory and decadent and even more exciting and delicious than the other stuff.
    xo
    Eco Mama

    Reply
  4. Elle (thewaybyelle.blogspot.com) wrote on September 5, 2010

    I’m so glad that you put it all this way. I really want to go 90% raw, but it is so hard for me since I’m cooking for two who are carnivores (technically my husband is a flexivore), a three year-old, and myself. Often by the time I cook for them, I don’t have time to spend on food for myself. I also won’t be able to get them to go more vegetarian, vegan, or raw until I can make them food that is comparable to what they are used to eating. (I added a link to this post to my “best of blogs” for the week on my site!)

    Reply
  5. Jessica wrote on September 4, 2010

    I found veganism after reading The China Study. This led to to raw. Even though I haven’t started eating “raw” I am in the process of learning more about it. I plan to start incorporating it into my current diet till I’m at least eating 90% raw. Thanks for your very informative website. I love the pictures especially!

    Reply
  6. Joanna Rawvelous wrote on September 4, 2010

    Fall is my absolute fav time of year! Thanks for your inspiration Susan, and looking forward to the 21 day challenge!

    Reply
  7. Jodi wrote on September 2, 2010

    Always look forward to your beautiful photos and inspiring recipes.
    Thank you for keeping it beautiful and simple.

    Reply

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