1. What brought you to raw food, what’s the story there?
I decided to experiment with raw foods to boost energy and to help me cope with IBS. After a few weeks of increasing my raw intake, I felt great and my IBS was much better; I was hooked!
2. What is your favorite savory raw recipe? (you can just link to your blog, or include it here, either way)
Kale salad. Massaged. With avocado.
3. What do you think about eating disorders like orthorexia and the association with raw foods?
I think that there’s a big difference between caring about the quality of what you eat, and obsessing unhealthily over an idea of purity or perfection. But this is a problem of the mind, not a problem that’s confined to food, raw or cooked. To say that raw food is to blame for orthorexia is like saying that, because some women abuse exercise, exercise is to blame for exercise bulimia. It’s not. These are psychological conditions, and need to be approached from a psychological standpoint.
4. What has been the most life changing aspect of eating more raw food for you?
Learning what it means to eat food as close to its natural state as possible has put me more in touch with my body, and has invested me with a sense of culinary creativity.
5. Once someone has transitioned into the raw lifestyle, what would be the next step to take their health to the next level?
To figure out how much raw works for them (from a health standpoint, a digestive standpoint, and a lifestyle standpoint). This process can take time. Most imbalances and problems I see with raw purists have to do with their having made extreme changes overnight, or radical programs like fasting or fruitarianism, or their refusal to listen when their bodies ask for cooked foods in some degrees. It’s not a contest in self-mortification.
6. To you, what is the meaning or purpose of life?
Ha! What a question. To improve oneself, I suppose, and to learn.
7. Tell me about your latest project and how people can get their hands on it.
A food-based, customized spring detox with two other holistic health counselors. Read all about it here.
8. If you could summarize your experience with raw food, what one word would you use?
Educative.
Incredible Insights
Thank you Gena for taking the time to answer our questions in this interview. I looove your insights and agree with you whole heartedly in the anorexia arena as well as the best next step for folks.
If you want more information about Gena and what she’s up to click here to visit her at Choosing Raw.
Note: I’m changing the format of these interviews a bit, and haven’t decided whether I want to do another voting round. I want everyone to feel comfortable answering the interview questions so that it doesn’t feel so competitive. I truly believe in the power of building an open minded loving community! Let me know what you think in the comments below.
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Thanks for the interview of Gena. She has a great blog with informative posts.
Thanks for the interview of Gena. She has a great blog with informative posts.
Thank you for stopping by Rosie! :) I love Gena's approach and her blog is definitely a great resource chock full of recipes and info. :)
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