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Robin Moyer, Kelly Ayers, RAWphoriaLIVE :: An Interview + Giveaway
January 19, 2009
Raw food is growing rapidly in popularity across the globe. It’s making its healthy impact in the Midwest with the help of extraordinary individuals like Robin Moyer and Kelly Ayers. These two gourmet raw chef’s merge mutual enthusiasm for sharing their knowledge of healthy, vibrant living.
Last year in late January 2008, they launched RAWphoriaLIVE, a company that specializes in providing raw living snacks to help promote a healthy lifestyle.
Robin and Kelly have come a long way in a short time. Let’s learn a bit more these dynamic ladies, shall we?
Tell us a bit about your background and what lead you to become a nutritional consultant?
Robin: I had migraines and celiacs disease since I was 2-1/2 years old, and on top of it my body had an over growth of yeast from all the antibiotics I had been all my life. My parents took me from doctor to doctor, I spent most of my childhood and early adulthood on some kind of medication(s) or in some trial study for some new wonder drug that was suppose cure all, which usually only gave me new symptoms, the only wonder that came from it was me wondering what ill effect would I have next from this test drug. I have had my appendix and tonsils both removed and a complete hysterectomy by the time I was 28 years old and several other unnecessary surgeries.
Finally the light bulb went on when I turned 40. Enough was enough! I began to realize that masking my health problems with medications and/or treating them with surgeries was not the solution. I started reading everything I could get my hands on about preventive health care. I read books like The Yeast Connection by William G. Crook, M.S., The China Study by Dr. T. Colin Campbell and Thomas M. Campbell II, The pH Miracle by Robert O. Young, Ph.D. and Shelley Redford Yound, A Diet for a New America by John Robbins, Your Body’s Many Cries For Water by F. Batmanghelidj, M.D., Health According to the Scriptures by Paul Nison, Seaweed by Valerie Gennari Cooksley, RN, Confessons of a Body Builder, by Bob McCauley, The Wheatgrass Book by Ann Wigmore, and then, I bought my first “raw” food book, RAWSOME! by Brigitte Mars, the BEST, raw food book for a beginner on the market. Very informative. A great read! I am a visual person though so I bought my second raw food book, Raw Food, Real World by Matthew Kenny and Sarma Melngailis, with lots of picture. It is still one of my favorites.
Thanks to all these wonderful people who share their wealth of information with the rest of the world. Because of them I live a very healthy life now. Since going vegetarian to vegan to raw over the past 6 years I am thrilled to say I no longer suffer from anything! My migraines, celiacs disease and yeast over growth went away almost overnight after I removed all white sugar, white four, yeast, wheat & gluten, dairy and preservatives from my diet. I believe diseases are caused by our diets, we are what we eat, and I am living proof of that!
Becoming a nutritional consultant? Wanting to share my knowledge about healthful, vibrant living and to inspire and educate people about the benefits of eating raw and living foods! I want “everyone” to be healthy and ALIVE!!
Kelly: I was diagnosed with Adult ADD when I was 35 years old and was prescribed Adderal. The medication made me very sick and I started to search the net for other causes of my symptoms, which all arrows pointed to nutrition.
When did you become interested in raw food?
Robin: Six years ago.
Kelly: Two years ago.
How did you meet and when did you decide to join forces and become a dynamic team who educates and inspires other to be healthy?
Robin: We meet 2-1/2 years ago through our husbands at a dinner, that I was reluctant to go to. Kelly was not raw yet but was a vegetarian and lived on 11 acres with her family and had the most incredible organic garden. She was very interested in my life style and I was very interested in her gardening. One thing lead to another, which spurred a beautiful friendship and partnership. We both are high-energy people with a passion to share, nurture and love the world and the people in it.
Kelly: We met through our husbands and soon the magic started.
In the Midwest, is the level of interest in raw food growing?
Robin: It is! And it is so exciting to see and be a part of it. Sheree Clark of Des Moines, Co-Owner of Sayles Graphic Designs and a Certified Gourmet Raw Chef is also founder of the local Des Moines Raw Food Meetup Group. Sayles Graphic Designs also created our labeling and packing for our products. (which is eco friendly rice paper) They were recently awarded the American Package Design Award presented by Graphic Design USA Magazine for RAWphoriaLIVE gRAWnola Packaging!
Kelly: I think there is a high interest in healthy eating. I think Robin, Sheree Clarke and myself are all helping educated our local area on the raw food lifestyle.
Name some of your natural health heroes and mentors, who have educated and inspired you?
Robin: You know, I have a ton of them. I hope that everyone who crosses my path in some way or another is inspiring to my life. That is why we are here, right? But to name a few, God, Dr. Ann Wigmore, Mike Adams the Health Ranger from www.naturalnews.com and you Ingrid have been a on going inspiration with your news letter and recipes! Keep up the GREAT work!
Kelly: Robin and Sheree have taught and inspired me more then words can say. I also enjoy the teaching of David Wolfe and Mike Adams.
What raw food has become a staple in your diet?
Robin: Green Lemonade every morning for my whole family!
Kelly: Wheat grass!
What fruits or vegetables are your favorites, least favorite, and why?
Robin: Wow…. that’s a tough one, I have not tried a veggie or fruit yet that I didn’t fall in love with! That’s the wonderful thing about being raw, I taste things now in a whole different light! And everything is incredible you just have to take the time to appreciate them each in their own.
Kelly: I love beets and apples the most. Not a huge fan of celery but appreciate and respect the health benefits of drinking celery juice.
You must have a blast working together and creating. Tell us one of your most amusing stories from an event or a behind-the-scenes in the kitchen.
Robin: We do!!! Sometimes probably too much if you asked our hubby’s! Too funny you should ask. We teach in home group classes and at one of these, the Vitamix top blew off and covered everything and everyone! Thank goodness everyone had already had a couple glasses of wine and thought is was hilarious……..;)
Kelly: Every time we get together it is giggle fest! We both just enjoy our work so much!
What is/are your favorite kitchen tool(s)?
Robin: I have four I can’t live without, my Blendtex blender, Cuisinart food processor, Excalibur dehyrator and Sampson Ultra twin gear juicer!
Kelly: Cuisinart, Magic Bullet and a great spatula!
What one word would you use to describe yourself?
Robin: ALIVE!!!
Kelly: Curious
What’s the one thing about you few people know?
Robin: I honestly I don’t think anything, I’m pretty much an open book.
Kelly: That I own 4 goats!
If you could be or do anything else, what would you be or do?
Robin: I’m always wanting to be more, do more, create more. Whatever I do I hope always benefits the lives of others.
Kelly: If I could do anything else?? I really don’t think I would. I had a very dear friend call me a “healer” recently. It was the nicest thing anyone has every said to me. So I guess I am doing what I was born to do.
Which product from your raw food product line is your personal favorite?
Robin: That’s a tough one, every day is a new day and a new craving. That’s the beauty of raw delights. I am a bit partial to the Cilantro-Lime Corntilla Chips though cuz if I could bottle cilantro I’d wear it! :)
Kelly: Corntillas
Which of our your products is/are the most popular?
Robin: The Nutty Berry is our number one selling gRAWnola, the Red Pepper Corntilla is our number one selling chip, and the Very Berry has become a very popular Cracker with the kids and the Tomato-Basil with adults.
Kelly: Nutty Berry Grawnola
There are exciting things happening for you and RAWphoriaLIVE. What’s the latest news you can share?
Robin – Of course you can always purchase our products at our Internet Store, but starting this month will now be able to find them at the Hy-Vee Health Food Market in Ankeny, Iowa and at Gateway Market in West Des Moines, Iowa and at Gemini Personal Training in Urbandale, Iowa! With more retail locations to be coming in the near future.
Kelly: Gateway Market, Hy-Vee our webiste.
Is there any particular nutritional advice you’d like to share with those of us who have chosen raw food as our diet of choice?
Robin: It can all seem very intimidating and overwhelming at times, everyone has an opinion, but the best thing you can do for yourself…..is to take the time to listen to your own body. Let your heart and soul guide you not that evil little controlling brain………”Look! I have given you the seed-bearing plants throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food.” Genesis 1:29
Kelly: I would like to answer by borrowing a quote from someone (I can’t remember who said it) but they are words that I live by!
“It’s really about balance, one word: balance,” “I think it’s essential to eat a large proportion of fresh, organic, highly mineralized, hydrating foods, but even more importantly, to do it consciously, so you’re eating what you want when you want it, not following a book.”
Four (4) Raw Epicurean readers will soon experience gRAWnolas, raw crackers, and raw chips by RAWphoriaLIVE, courtesy of Robin and Kelly. Thanks ladies! I’ve tried their products. I love variety and enjoyed all the flavors.
Here’s how to enter the draw. Answer the following question:
What healthy choices have you made to maintain proactive with your health?
Friday, January 23rd, I will use my favorite random number generator to choose the winners. The names of the winners and what flavors they will receive will be announced in a post following this interview.
Visit RAWphoriaLIVE to view their line of gRAWnolas, crackers, and chips. The winners will be asked to choice one (1) flavor from each category of snacks.
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Comments
25 Comments so far
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I think one of the healthiest choices I’ve made recently is to focus on balance-both nutritionally and in my life. Also, to continue to research and read about health and nutrition.
I’ve never really been a chips person, but for this year i really made a conscious effort to not eat junk food. If i do, which is very rarely, i only eat to taste and not to get full =)
Healthy choices I have made in the past year:
Quit smoking (pack a day for 20 years. I literally quit over night)
Quit drinking (this was harder, it’s been about 3 wks since I last imbibed)
Moved out of the city to a beautiful, pristine small town with a lake out my front door (practically. It’s across the street)
Stopped eating dairy products.
And finally, lost 60 lbs! (I’m still losing!)
Howdy Ingrid, I got your message over at mine. new addy is bigrawblog.blogspot.com
All the links worked for me, I don’t know what you mean by you couldn’t visit? Anyway, have a great day and hope to see you at the new blog soon. If there is a problem, I should fix it I suppose… but I have to figure out what it IS!
Cheers, have fun!
To be persistent in my quest to live my best healthy that I can. Everyday I wake up with purpose to eat, be and live healthy.
Great interview! Healthy choice… I switched from a cooked vegan diet to a raw vegan diet 1 year ago. I work out at the gym 4 days a week.
We are currently trying to eliminate coffee.
And replace it with fresh green juice.
We also planted our first garden this year so we don’t have to eat all of the chemicals and pesticides.
And have been trying to add a few new superfoods like chlorella and hempseed to the mix.
Becoming a vegetarian 15 years ago, dabbling in vegan and raw cuisine, exercising every day – weights, cycling, pilates and yoga.
But most importantly, making decisions that will make me a happy, whole person in every aspect of my life.
I still can’t claim to be 100% vegetarian but I am incorporating more and more veggie, vegan, raw foods into my diet, and loving it! I might be going about it in a slow manner but I feel it is slow and steady and it works for me. I am eating less and less meat down two once of twice a week now.
Great interview! I think the best thing I have done for my health is to quit consuming sugar or anything processed completely. With the amount of raw dessert recipes out there, who needs sugar?
Seeing a great naturopath to see what I am lacking and what to concentrate on, as it changes and I can’t tell on my own. It has really helped!
this year i have decided to eat healthier. No corn syrup for me and I am eating more veggies too
My healthy choices include giving up refined sugar and all wheat products. I am eating mostly raw vegan, having given up meat years ago. I am also exercising regularly.
I run everyday, try to eat more green leafy vegetables, and try to sleep more regularly.
I eat a lot of fresh organic fruits and vegetables and get plenty of sleep!
A Green Smoothie every day!
Great and informative interview, thank you!
I have been incorporating more and more raw foods into my families diet over the past few years and always seeking new healthy alternatives to improve and energize our lives.
I went 90% raw after battling inconsistent blood sugar readings and after being diabetic for almost 20 years. My blood sugars are stable and I have an excess of energy to keep up with my two small children. Next step…eliminating coffee…
Staying vegan, no sugar or any other food that makes me crazy, no food that makes me feel sluggish or hard to digest (fried food and too much of any fat), exercising for endorphins.
I’d love to try some of these products. I was just saying the other day that I have yet to try any raw bread, crackers or chips. Think it’s about time.
HEALTHY CHOICES
* Transitioned from SAD to raw, living foods
* Drink a quart of fresh green juice each morning
* Went from sedentary to walking 6+ miles a day
* Started a yoga practice
Hello,
great interview! I think the choices that are most important in my lifestyle is staying consistent with what works best for me and adding exercise in everyday. Even on raw, I notice a HUGE change when I exercise and it totally makes me feel great! So staying consistent with superhealthy eating and exercise is great maintanance for a healthy lifestyle.
: )
I, along with my wife, decided to go raw this year. We’re committed to being 100% raw, mainly vegan (99%) but with occasional raw goat milk cheese, sashimi, raw milk yogurt, and raw egg, as appropriate.
Our approach is to not be dogmatic about it and to not let “being raw” interfere with other relationships or even our overall wellness. We’re doing what feels right: a simple but difficult task.
We started this process during a late 2008 (during the holidays) juice fast, and it just made sense to continue going raw — so we celebrated our eighth day of 100% raw on New Years Day. We are inspired by Natalia Rose and Brigitte Mars (among others).
In addition to raw foods I try to find balance, through yoga, breath-work, long aromatherapy baths, and by spending a great deal of time outdoors (and in the woods) learning about and communicating with plants.
Juicing green is by far the most impactful healthy choice I have made! My juicer is my best pal!
love deb
Congratulations to:
Cheris Courtney of Chocolate Orchid
Bryan of Multi Sport Chi
Robert
Melina
you each will receive 3 delicious RAWphoriaLIVE products of your choice!!!! Thank you all for your participation in this draw.
Read the announcement here.
This giveaway drawing is closed, however, please feel free to leave a comment or answer the question
What healthy choices have you made to maintain proactive with your health?
I’d love to read your answer.
I just happened upon your website and I want to say how grateful and inspired I am by what you are doing. I’ve just started on the raw food journey in the last year and it’s so wonderful to find people who are creating healthy products. Thank you so much!
Dear Susan – you are welcome and thank you for your kind comment. I hope you find value here and congrats and best of healthy to you! Let me know if there is anything I can do to help you on your raw food journey.
Robin…I just want to thank you for Saturday night and am sorry we needed to leave so soon. We really enjoyed all your recipes!! I have heard Karla and Stacy talk about Rawphoria but I never had much of a chance to understand what it is. Really enjoyed meeting Kelly too! You both radiate with energy!!!!