The Complete Book of Raw Food (113 page)

Together, Jackie and David have created Cosmic Pepper Productions, a unique cutting-edge company dedicated to bringing light into a dark (cooked) world. They are David Wolfe’s personal chefs, and have catered many raw events, including the raw party of the century on March 30, 2002. Some of their recipes are featured in David Wolfe’s new book,
Eating For Beauty
. Their mission is to bring the finest dimensions of health, passion, excitement, rejuvenation, flavor,
stimulation, creativity, originality, and, of course, beauty, to the widest variety of delectable “goodies and treats” ever conceived of on this planet.

    Phone: 619-596-7979

Elizabeth Baker, M.A., university professor, novelist, and travel writer, turned to nutrition and alternate therapy when faced with terminal illnesses. Since taking responsibility for her own survival, she has battled the long road back to complete recovery and vibrant health.

Elizabeth attributes her remarkable recovery from four terminal illnesses and many lesser ones to faith and a raw diet, which includes wheat grass juice. In addition to spreading the word about the efficacy of raw foods, she is dedicated to teaching others how they can survive and conquer by adopting a lifestyle that includes all-natural foods and supplements, a positive attitude, regular exercise, sufficient rest and relaxation, and faith.

In addition to years of research, travel, lecturing (with her scientist husband), holding seminars, counseling, and appearing on TV and radio, Elizabeth has authored seven books:
The Gourmet Uncook Book; The Uncook Book
,
The Un-Diet Book
;
The UnMedical Book
; the best-selling
UnMedical Miracle—Oxygen
(In an oxygen poor world, it is the book every adult should read); and
Does The Bible Teach Nutrition?
Recently released is her new book
Unbelievably Easy Sprouting
.

Due out in the autumn of 2003 is
Unsuspected Killers: Mercury and Mold
.

Elizabeth Baker is 90 years old. Her hair is its original auburn color, her teeth are her own and she wears glasses only to read fine print. She walks and exercises everyday. She entertains, drives her car, and travels out of country. She credits all the above to her lifestyle. And the most important of that is eating raw foods and smiling instead of frowning.

    Email:
[email protected]

Victoria, Igor, Sergei and Valya Boutenko are 100-percent raw food eaters, chefs, writers, and world-renowned raw food teachers. They are often referred to as the “Raw Family.” They have thousands of followers. As a result of their teachings, many raw food communities have been formed throughout the world.

Nine years ago, the Boutenkos were desperately ill with serious diseases, including juvenile diabetes, arrhythmia, asthma, obesity, hyperthyroid, depression, chronic fatigue and arthritis. Conventional medicine did not help them. The family went on a raw food diet on January 21, 1994. By radically changing their diet to 100-percent raw food, they managed to completely heal their bodies and learned to live in happiness. The Boutenkos became famous among those who eat raw food not only because they went on raw diet as a family, but mainly because of their sincerity in communication, compassion and dedication to helping people.

The Boutenkos believe that knowing how to prepare delicious raw food is very important. Complicated and time-consuming recipes simply don’t survive. Raw Family recipes have proven to be tasty, quick and inexpensive.

Victoria Boutenko lives in Ashland, Oregon. She is the award-winning author of
Green For Life, Raw Family, 12 Steps to Raw Foods
and several raw recipe books. She teaches classes on raw food all over the world. As a result of her teachings, many raw food communities have formed in numerous countries. She continues traveling worldwide sharing her gourmet raw cuisine and her inspiring story of change, faith and determination.

Igor doesn’t speak much but the few words he shares have a big impact on every audience. Most people know Igor as a silent, hard-working man who single-handedly prepares delicious raw meals for hundreds of people. Igor’s flax crackers are everyone’s favorite. His live gardenburger on a cracker makes a sandwich “to live for.”

Sergei Boutenko, a raw foodist for 15 years, graduated from Southern Oregon University with a Bachelor of Science in Human Communication. He is the co-author of the books, “Raw Family,” “Eating Without Heating,” and “Fresh.” Sergei holds numerous certificates from different culinary schools. He is a raw food chef, has taught classes all over the world, and has co-produced an award winning movie, “Interview With Sergei Boutenko.” Sergei resides in Ashland, Ore., is an avid hiker, biker, runner, and a student of capoeira, a south American dance-fight-game.

A raw foodist for 15 years, graduated from Southern Oregon University with a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art. Valya is a certified raw food chef who specializes in
desserts. She is the co-author of the books, “Raw Family,” “Eating Without Heating,” and “Fresh.” as well as the co-producer of the award winning movie, “Interview With Sergei.” She has been researching the ways to inspire children to eat healthier. She practices nonviolent communication and is a student of Byron Katie. Valya enjoys gardening, dancing, sewing, and painting.

Lillian Butler has a knack for creating delicious live meals from traditional recipes. Her Down Home Greens is a classic example of her ability to take a favorite family recipe and turn it into a healthy raw offering, while maintaining its cooked flavor and texture. Her goal is to recreate many of the southern dishes that she grew up with and that hold such fond memories, into tasty raw/living specialties. By instinctively marrying the freshest ingredients from organic farmers with the indigenous flavors of the south, Lillian has created the culinary magic that is Raw Soul. Lillian continues to expand her knowledge in living foods preparation by bringing together many master chefs through workshops, food demonstrations and educational lectures.

Lillian’s indoctrination into the Living Foods Lifestyle began in 1999 when she accompanied a friend to the Ann Wigmore Institute in Puerto Rico. Upon returning home, Lillian shared what she learned with her husband, Eddie, and they began slowly incorporating living foods into their lifestyle. After two years, Lillian visited the Optimum Health Institute in California for a “tune up” where she increased her knowledge, understanding, experience and level of commitment.

One day on the way to work at the law firm, Lillian realized it was time to leave that job. She could no longer stomach the “corporate” environment. She didn’t know exactly what she was going to do, but knew instinctively that something great was on the horizon. Soon afterward, she visited the Optimum Health Institute in Austin, Texas. It was during this visit that it became evident to Lillian that she must teach others about living foods. She recalls asking herself, “what about all the people who cannot get to the institutions, how do they gain firsthand knowledge about live foods?” Upon her return home, Lillian created The Living Foods Workshop. In June of 2002, with Eddie by her side as chef, Lillian conducted the first Living Foods Workshop, a one-day workshop in which participants learn all about living foods, including sprouting, wheat grass and food preparation, and are served a delicious four course lunch. But Lillian’s pride and joy is the workbook that she developed, containing the information discussed in the workshop, recipes, a local resource directory and additional reading on topics not covered in her workshop.

The workshop has grown quickly and has expanded its programming to include a monthly support group, a quarterly open house, food preparation courses and demonstrations, lectures and participation in health fairs and expos. Additionally, Ms. Lillian’s Organic Treats can be purchased at many health food stores through New York City.

    Phone: 212-875-7112

Website:
www.rawsoul.com

Karyn Calabrese is one of the most popular and innovative leaders in the holistic health industry, and the owner and founder of KARYN’s in Chicago, IL. KARYN’s includes a vegan raw-food restaurant where one can find delicious, organic raw food entrees, and a holistic center where clients receive nutritional counseling and other holistic therapies.

Karyn strives to create an all-encompassing environment of food, health, guidance and care where we can all participate in our own well-being. “If you don’t take care of your body,” Karyn asks, “where are you going to live?”

Karyn has been a guest on numerous radio shows such as “For Your Health Matters.” She has been featured on local television news programs as an expert in the holistic health field, and has spoken at the Black Women’s Expo. Karyn has made numerous appearances on local and national television broadcasts, including “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and “Bill Campbell’s CBS Show.”

Karyn has done extensive counseling with clients on a fee basis and for those who could not afford her services, on a charitable basis. Her ageless physical appearance and boundless energy at age 56 directly demonstrate her message of good health. She is a glowing model for men and women who feel the need to change their lifestyles.

Karyn’s philosophy is that we can heal ourselves naturally to correct damage done to our bodies from unhealthy environments and poor food choices. Her restaurant and her philosophy have been featured in numerous magazines and newspaper articles.

Karyn is an often sought after guest speaker at events with community clubs, churches, service groups and youth groups. She also enjoys providing delicious raw food samples and events at her restaurant.

Karyn has a son, a daughter and two grandchildren. She has been a student of classical piano for 17 years and studied acting at the Ted Liss School of
Acting and at the Jane Brody School. She currently lives at home with her entrepreneur husband and Bengal tiger cat.

    E-mail:
[email protected]

Phone: (312) 255-1590

Website:
www.karynraw.com

Over six years ago, Rose Lee Calabro began a journey that would enable her to achieve things she never thought possible. It started on July 1, 1992, when Rose went to see a nutritionist for a host of health issues that included high cholesterol (239), high blood pressure (154/95), allergies, chronic fatigue, depression, hypoglycemia, hypothyroidism, early signs of cancer in her breasts and lungs, and a severe case of gout.

Rose had endured these health issues for over 20 years, but was not motivated to address them until her father passed away at age 59 from lung cancer and her mother, age 69, died of heart failure. Her mother had also had high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and gout.

Rose began seeing a nutritionist every week to learn about vitamins, minerals, healthy food, and the role they play in better health. She began eating a low fat diet and stopped eating red meat. The first thing she noticed was that she began to lose weight, although that had not been her original intention. As the weight came off, she began to feel better about herself and eventually made the commitment to lose all her excess weight. She made two promises to herself at this point: First, that she would never give up; and, second, that she would never regain the weight. Covert Bailey and Rhonda Gates were a big inspiration in Rose’s life and furthered her knowledge of weight loss, exercise, and nutrition. The first year of her diet, Rose lost 60 pounds, her blood pressure dropped to normal, and her cholesterol dropped from 239 to 219. Rose struggled for the next few years, sometimes gaining and sometimes losing weight, but she never gave up and continued her search for answers.

Rose eventually became a vegan. Her health continued to improve and her cholesterol dropped to 198. In April 1996, she attended Pam Master’s introductory raw food class and then signed up for an eight-week course. Within three weeks her diet consisted of 80-percent raw living foods. She was delighted to find herself once again losing weight—up to three, four and five pounds a week. Rose had finally found an answer to controlling her weight: raw living foods. And the longer she ate living food, the better she felt.

Rose began to change—mind, body and soul. After six months of living food her chronic fatigue was gone, and she lost an additional 55 pounds—a total of 150 pounds of fat.

Rose has been on raw living foods since April 1996, and her body has gone through some dramatic changes. Her cholesterol has dropped to 151, and she no longer has chronic fatigue, allergies, depression, hypoglycemia, hypothyroidism, gout, or cancer.

Raw living foods have given Rose joy and a new purpose for being on the planet. She has experienced a spiritual awakening and closeness to God. Rose lives in Santa Cruz where she publishes and promotes books on living food. She is the author of
Living in the Raw
, and hopes to one day start a retreat facility to teach people how they can heal their bodies and have radiant health.

    E-mail:
[email protected]

Phone: (877) 557-4711

Web site:
www.rawlivingfoods.com

Karie learned to love the kitchen from her Nana, yet she never really enjoyed preparing foods until she found the Raw Food Diet. Starting in the late 1990’s she found like-minded friends at the local Health Food stores around San Diego and when she “found Wolfe, Dini and Arlin in a tree,” on the cover of their first book,
Nature’s First Law
, she knew she had to meet them, and …“the rest is history!” Karie watched, and participated in, the beginnings of the raw food movement and was swept along with it; to retreats at Harbin Hot Springs, Arizona; Maui for
Nature’s First Law
second retreat, “where almost everything was simply blended and tasted pretty bland, but we were ‘raw!.’ … We really didn’t know how to do a tasty raw food diet yet.” But it wasn’t until Karie’s went to a Chef training in Northern California at Living Light International that her actual raw food preparation greatly improved. When her family moved to Utah she “starved at first,” due to the lack of organics and fresh foods in her local grocery stores at the time, but she started training and teaching and meeting wonderful support all around town and “we changed all that!” They got together often for “kitchen fun” at her home where each in attendance would bring a recipe with the ingredients and they would, “Figure out how to make these mysterious raw food recipes in our own kitchens,” said Karie. “However, the best part, beyond the delicious meals we created were the lasting friendships we forged.” Now Karie, her family, and her community
truly benefit with more awareness of living foods in a daily diet. “At any time, we can drop into Agi’s Raw Food in Provo and grab a healthy snack, or attend a weekly food lecture somewhere in Utah, buy organics in every grocery store and drive up to Salt Lake City and enjoy a leisurely raw food meal at Sage’s Café.” Karie suggests for those just starting out, “Start slow, one meal at a time and bring your friends and family along with you, respecting their diet decisions always! If your friends won’t come along, make new ones, but keep the old friends and definitely, keep your family! After all, love is what matters in the end.”