Now for breakfast! What will it be today? Carrot/ginger juice? A fruit salad? Maybe pears with flax and sesame seed butter. So many options. Your kitchen is full of fresh, ripe fruit; luscious papayas and juicy watermelon. You decide on a coconut banana smoothie for breakfast. The coconut water is so sweet, just like nectar from the gods. Why would anyone ever drink a milkshake when they could have THIS? As you take a sip, you feel so connected with nature, connected with all the animals and the entire Earth itself. You are a part of her many cycles and you play an important role. You are spirit, a preserver of life, a vegetarian, and a raw foodist! A huge grin spreads across your cheeks and you think to yourself, "This truly is the best day ever."

A raw world may seem like a far off dream; however, it is a dream worth striving for. My journey to raw veganism began with a simple vision. It was not only a vision of a healthy, happy planet and humanity, but also a vision of powerful healing energy, a force that I saw surging into my body. However, reality was far from my raw world dream. In fact, it was closer to that of a nightmare. The only thing I can truly say, is that I've come so far in the last 2 years, my life has completely changed, I've made enormous discoveries about myself, and I've become much more aware of my purpose in this world.

My life began as a vegetarian. When I was very little, I ate rice cakes and peanut butter, carob coated raisins and soy cheese pizza. My mom was pretty careful about my nutrition, as I had a lot of food allergies and digestive troubles. As I grew older, I didn't care for myself as my mom had. In junior high I ate terribly. I was pretty much a full blown sugar addict, most of the time eating nothing for breakfast, candy for lunch, and then more junk after school with a slightly more nutritious dinner provided by my mom or dad. While with friends, I completely gave up my vegetarian ways and felt fine about eating chicken, turkey, fish, eggs and dairy products. I may have seemed like a healthy kid, but really, I felt awful. I had allergies, fatigue, acne and a host of digestive troubles.

On my 15th birthday, things got much worse. I was put on antibiotics for my skin, and all of my digestive problems escalated. I started researching how food could be used as medicine, to help heal an unhealthy body. This concept really sparked my interest. My mother took me to a naturopathic doctor who told me that I was dairy intolerant, so I made up my mind at this point to be vegan, completely avoiding all animal products. Once I started eating a vegan diet, I found it to be a lot of fun! I felt great about not using animals as a food source, I felt better about myself because I knew I was no longer supporting the suffering and exploitation of animals. Yet, my health problems remained. I wanted something more, so I kept on searching.

I stumbled across raw foodism on the Internet (where else!), and I decided to give it a try. I met a great friend on a raw food bulletin board and we helped each other along, since we started eating raw at about the same time. We shared information and ideas. At this time I was eating mostly fruit, and I started feeling a difference in myself. I felt SO connected with the Earth. It was summer time, and I was eating massive amounts of garden tomatoes, berries, melons, and plums right of the trees in our yard! I went to the dentist and they couldn't figure out why I had an orange stain on my teeth! It was mango! That summer I also went to the International Raw Food Festival in Portland, Oregon. It was GREAT! I learned so much and I loved being around other raw foodists. I had found a community of people that I fit in with, finally.

In many ways, my health did improve, but it really wasn't until recently that I've felt a huge shift. There are many ways to eat raw, and the high fruit/low fat and greens way began to have a negative affect on my overall health. I felt pretty good actually; I was on this sort of "raw high" so to speak. My weight had dropped pretty low, however, and my mom and dad felt getting some blood work done would be a good idea. Well, I found out that I was extremely protein deficient, and I had an overgrowth of candida. This is when I went to the Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center in Patagonia, Arizona to be treated by Gabriel Cousens. He is very well known in the raw food community, and runs an awesome health practice in Arizona. The diet I eat now is pretty different than when I started. I eat lots of dark leafy greens (collards being my absolute favorite), non-sweet fruit (cucumbers, tomatoes, bell pepper), lots of young coconuts, seed and nut butters, and all vegetables. I've found that I need a lot of fat and protein every day, so I love to eat spirulina and chlorella (give it a try, it's an acquired taste), and many nuts/seeds and avocados! Finally things are feeling really good. I also take supplements to help support my body, things like enzymes and probiotics. I'm no longer protein deficient, and the candida is definitely better. Since my first visit at the Tree of Life, I've noticed that my skin is beautiful and glowing, that my eyes are clear, that my energy is much better and that my whole outlook and mental state is more positive. Through the Tree of Life, I discovered yoga and meditation as well. I've finally found balance in my life, and new opportunities keep arising. This summer I go to Arizona for a work exchange, where I'll work in the café preparing raw foods.

Everyone's journey is so different. I hope by sharing my experience, others can feel confident in making the leap towards raw foodism. It's not only a giant step in finding true health within yourself, but it is also a service to humanity. Just think, no more plastic garbage, no more factories processing your food until it's no longer even something your body can recognize. We all know that it is best to be vegetarian, that it is the healthiest and most ethical way to live, but raw foodism is so much more than that! We all deserve nothing but perfect health. No person should have to suffer with illnesses that are diet related. The Earth has provided us with the most nourishing, healing foods.

There is immeasurable beauty and potential in every single human being. Raw foodism isn't just a way of eating. In fact, as strange as it may sound, that's the least of what it is for me. For me, it's been a journey of self-discovery. I truly CAN be a happy, healthy, compassionate person full of love and peace. I can be kind and carefree. I can surround myself in a golden aura of love, and as I eat that cool cucumber, feeling the sun's energy absorbing into every cell of my body, I know that raw food is where it's at. To say it has been easy would be a lie, but through the struggles I've gained so much. I've gained life, which is a gift of indescribable value.

This essay was the winner of the "How I Went Raw" Essay Contest 2003.