We Like It Raw - Raw Food Goodness

Store Wars

The Organic Rebellion Has Begun - "Store Wars"
by Free Range Studios

Now this is how you raise awareness. Thank you Free Range Studios for the work you do.

Eating Raw Is Just Not For Me

At We Like It Raw, our favorite version of raw-comedy is intense forum conversations. Some of the funniest conversations in our community get written up in forums, (the humor is in the intensity and the seriousness of the tone). So its only natural that we take this delight of ours and share it with you. This comes via the Nature's First Law Forums:

Top 10 Reasons why "Eating Raw Is Just Not For Me"
by "Colino"

"6) I've never seen a more pasty looking bunch of people than at a raw potluck. Honestly, whether or not I have my SAD specs on, they all look like they could do with a big plate of pasta, a glass of wine and some convivial company, instead of hovering over a dirt-tasting kale salad asking if the olives in it are raw."

To which one author replies:

"I personally have friends and family who have died or are dieing from the diet that you are a proponent of. They were not overeaters, not fat in any way, but are sick to the point of death nonetheless. I also have personal friends who have cured, wholly, mortal illnesses. So, quite frankly, f$%k you for promoting such a diet."

Raw-Food is not "it"

One of the challenges that many rawfoodist go through is holding on to the belief that raw-food is "it". Raw-food is not "it".

"It" is the constant thing that one is searching for outside of themselves. "It" is what you tell yourself that, ”Once I obtain this thing, then my life's story will finally work out." "It" is an illusion and mirage of being completed by something external.

The raw-food diet at its best is a vehicle. Vehicles are useful for getting from one experience to the next. For instance - you are tired of experiencing an un-healthy state, you choose to take on a raw-food diet and soon enough you start to experience a different level of health. Beautiful! There is nothing wrong in wanting to experience a different level of health.

The challenge comes when one tries to find themselves in the diet. When one says to themselves, "Once I start eating raw (healthy), then my life will work out." This searching for one's self in something external always leads to some sort of pain. Yo-yoing, cook-food binges, defensive & dogmatic mindsets about the raw-food diet, loneliness, guilt about not eating completely raw, worry about the future - all these states are a directly caused by the initial approach of trying to find yourself in the diet and a search for a greater sense of self identity.

Individuals who succeed long term on a raw-food diet, nutritionally and mentally, have a sense of calmness about their lifestyle. They aren't dogmatic, they don't have the same experience of cravings, they are at ease about other’s choices and they see raw-foods for what it is, a vehicle.

If you've been struggling in your raw-food diet approach, or any aspect of life for that matter, start to notice the mental burden that surrounds the conversations in your head about why things are the way they are. As soon as you become present to the reality that you might be looking for yourself in your life circumstances, in this case your diet, doors of insight will begin to open and letting go of the pain will be effortless.

Wellness for the Hip Hop Community

In many parts of the world, especially here in the United States, low income = exceptionally poor diets. Not only are fruits and vegetables (relatively) expensive, but they just aren't readily accessible in urban communities. Mini marts and Mc-Garbage franchises with secret sauces of addiction supply the demand for hunger, and in the end, there is very little room or incentive for CO-OPs and farmers markets to flourish.

All that being said, urban wellness and black health consciousness are on the rise, (yes, things are getting better and worse at the same time!) With community mentors such as hip hop mogal Russel Simmons, artist Erica Badu, rappers Common, KRS-One, & Andre 3000 all on the vegan, vegetarian and alkaline train, the African American community is slowly making holistic health a priority.

David Wolfe Radio Interview MP3s

As a follow-up to our earlier post on David Wolfe's 3 hour radio appearance on "Coast to Coast AM", we bring you the audio MP3s via Nature's First Law:

• Part 1   (41:42/19.09 MB)
• Part 2   (43:42/15.00 MB)
• Part 3   (43:44/15.01 MB)

Raw Agave?

Looks like the raw-food community is up to some agave muckraking. Via: 'From SAD To RAW':

"Agave Nectar is a natural sweetener taken from the Agave cactus plant. There are many different opinions on whether Agave Nectar is truly raw or not. Therefore, I've contacted several of the companies that produce or distribute the Agave Nectar and asked them to clarify their interpretation or explanation of Agave Nectar - whether it is raw or not, whether it can be made raw or not, and whether they sell it raw or not.

Below are their responses to my question, "Please tell me the temperature that Agave Nectar is produced at. There is a big discussion right now to determine if Agave Nectar is a raw food or if it is cooked." Now, you have information straight from the horse's mouth, so you can make up your own mind."

Read 'From SAD To RAW's Raw Agave Breakdown

Door to Door Durian

If you don't live in a major city or can't seem to find a local Asian market, chances are you've never tasted the King of Fruits. Fear not, your opportunity has arrived.

The Raw Bakery, the wonderful folks who brought us Raw Snakkers, is selling durian to the masses via their website:

"Imagine the best, most delicious, and sensuous banana pudding you can imagine, add just a touch of butterscotch, vanilla, peach, pineapple, strawberry, and almond flavors, and a surprising twist of — garlic??!! Like many of life’s greatest experiences, eating durian cannot be adequately described with words. Durian has a characteristic delicious flavor, creamy texture, and tantalizing fragrance that is just... durian! — the king of fruits, Nature’s most magnificent fruit gift."

How To: Buy Fresh, Organic, & Local Farm Produce

Via Christy's Blog, (The Raw Food Diet):

"I just recently found out about CSA's, otherwise known as Community Supported Agriculture projects. I am so excited! Joining a local CSA will be  so much cheaper than buying produce from the health food store."
Check out: LocalHarvest.org

Shazzie Cooked, Shazzie Raw

UK raw-food author and Chef Shazzie went from many years cooked (left) to 22 months raw (right). Can you say,"WHOA!"

"Born in East Yorkshire in 1969, Shazzie had a typical northern lifestyle and diet in her formative years. As an adult, she suffered lethargy, depression, brain-fog, period pains, bad skin, and aches and pains -- until she created a detox and rejuvenation programme for herself."

Check out Shazzie & David Wolfe's newest book: Nacked Chocolate: The astonishing truth about the world's greatest food

Raw Food Blog Roll

We Like It Raw isn't the only raw-blog out there. Check out these other great sites that 'like it raw' just as much as we do:

The Raw Foods Evolution - by Mike Snyder
The Raw and Living Foods Diet Blog. Discover the latest living foods news about the healthiest and most delicious diet on Earth. Related to Mike's website newsletters at TheRawDiet.com and Raw-Vegetarian-Food.com

Positive Rantings in Raw food land - by Bob Dagger
Raw food Insights by the owner of Hive Vibe, raw-food store in NYC.

Sketchgrrl (Raw Food News) - by Judy Pokras
Raw foods, topical observations, humor from the writer Editor and Founder of Raw Foods News Magazine.

Cocaine to Coconuts - by Joel Odhner
Joel's Raw-Food Success Blog. Joel is the Chef & CEO of Rawlifeline.com, (and in full disclosure, a client of my company Dharmaboost.)

Do you have a raw food blog? Post it in the comments section and we'll be sure to drop your name sooner or later.