Carolyn Akens :: An Interview + Giveaway

Thank goodness for the Internet and all the wonderful social networks that have helped us make connections that we might not have otherwise been able to make. I mention this here because this is how I meet Carolyn. We connected via Twitter and I have since discovered great things about this wonderful lady.

Carolyn is a certified raw food chef and instructor, nutrition consultant, and lifestyle coach based in Atlanta, GA. She holds Alissa Cohen’s Living on Live Foods Chef certification, and has acquired additional training.

Besides creating delicious recipes and passing on this knowledge and information by teaching others, her goal and passion is to assist those who deal with weight and food-related health issues learn the importance and benefits of raw and living food to nourish and help maintain a healthy lifestyle.

In this interview Carolyn shares with us how she became interested in raw living food, who inspired her as a chef, lists some of the favorite raw vegan foods, and more.

Meet Carolyn!

RE: Tell us a bit about your background as a chef and at what point in your culinary career you became interested in raw living food?

CA: I began my culinary career in 2001, and became a personal chef. I prepared health-conscious meals for clients based on the Mediterranean-style of cooking, which consist of proteins (lean meat and fish), vegetables, whole grains, fruits, beans, nuts, and unfiltered extra virgin olive oil.

I became interested in raw living food after the death of my younger brother who died because of obesity. I knew I didn’t want anyone else to go through something like that. I also knew in order to be a change that I had to make a change in me before my family and friends would truly listen. I’m 5’4 and at that time weighed 175 lbs., which made me obese. I also was dealing with my own health issues…high cholesterol, migraines, arthritis, and weight fluctuation. I went to the Internet and began my quest. I took a raw food class locally and knew there had to be more.

I flew to Chicago and was trained at Raw Gourmet International Culinary Art Institute by Chef Mehmet Ak. I returned home and decided to go on a green smoothie fast after reading Victoria Boutenko’s book Green for Life and fasted for 30 days. I made raw foods a standard of living and went through an amazing transformation. I have no health issues; I’m a size 6; and have so much energy and mental clarity.

RE: What do you enjoy most about being a chef?

CA: Artistry! You have the ability to create delicious and beautiful food using various canvases.

RE: What advice would you like to share with aspiring raw chefs and those of us who love to prepare raw food at home?

CA: Be creative and have a wonderful time with food; try various herbs and spices; step outside the food box, and always incorporate love in each dish created. Continue to learn and improve your skills.

RE: Do you see raw living food growing more popular in Atlanta?

CA: Absolutely! There is a great movement going on in Atlanta and surrounding cities.

RE: Are there many raw food restaurants in Atlanta?

CA: No. We have one, Loving It Live, and one that is vegan and semi-raw, R. Thomas Deluxe Grill.

RE: Who and/or what inspires you as a chef and why?

CA: My late grandmother was my inspiration. She wasn’t a “chef” but a home cook with tremendous talent. She won many awards at the county fair and was the best cook in our hometown in AL. She had her own vegetable garden and only used fresh ingredients. My love of food is because of her.

RE: What do you enjoy most about being a raw and living food instructor?

CA: I love sharing my knowledge of raw foods, various techniques, and knowing the difference that each one of my students will make in their own lives/health and the lives/health of their love ones.

RE: If you could be or do anything else what would you be or do?

CA: A pathologist.

RE: What one word would you use to describe yourself?

CA: Love

RE: What’s the one thing about you few people know?

CA: I love being around the elderly…they have so much wisdom.

RE: What have you accomplished that makes you most proud?

CA: Knowing that I am making a difference in the lives of people who struggle with obesity and eating disorders. Obesity is not hereditary, but what we put in our mouth!

RE: Name some of your favorite raw food recipes – savory and sweet?

CA: Kale salad, enchiladas, couscous, lasagna, tacos, onion rings, dolmas, corn chowder; pistachio & walnut baklava, Georgia pecan pie, carrot cake, lemon coconut cake, pineapple gelato, strawberry tart.

RE: I know there are many incredible raw food recipe books currently available, but if you could only have one, which one would that be?

CA: There are many great ones and I have several, but my one consistent is Everyday Raw by Matthew Kenney, (and I must add RAW by Charlie Trotter & Roxanne Klein).

RE: What are some of your favorite kitchen gadgets?

CA: Vita-mix, Cuisinart FP, mandoline, microplane grater, peeler, pepper mill

RE: Tell us one of your most amusing behind-the-scenes kitchen stories?

CA: My grandson and I were making a strawberry tart and I wasn’t paying attention when he asked which bottle had the agave and I said the one on the counter and he used extra virgin olive oil!

RE: How about the most amusing response you’ve experienced or reaction you’ve received when you told someone about the raw food diet?

CA: You eat raw meat, gross!

RE: What has a raw food diet and lifestyle revealed to you?

CA: We can end obesity; diabetes can be reversed; and diseases can be cured.

RE: What project(s) can we look forward to from you in the coming months?

CA: I’m working on a dessert book (my grandmother was a phenomenal baker and I’m transforming her dessert recipes into raw). I’m working on a project for obese children with a local organization. Marketing my nutrition bars (www.agapenutrtionbars.com) and they are also sold on www.foodoro.com

Thank you Carolyn for sharing your story and being a part of Raw Epicurean!

Three [3] Raw Epicurean readers will soon experience Carolyn’s nutrition bars – Agape Nutrition Bars™ which come in 4 flavors: Apple Cobbler, Apricot Walnut Cinnamon, Blueberry Ginger, and Cranberry Orange. Each is perfect for breakfast-on-the-go or a healthy snack anytime! These bars are gifts offered to Raw Epicurean readers, compliments of Carolyn! Thank you!

In this interview, Carolyn mentions a few of the excellent books that she reaches for often, her go to books. Raw Epicurean would like you to enjoy one of these books too and is offering one of each as part of this giveaway.

To participate in the drawing for one [1] of these gifts, simply answer one of the questions below before midnight PST on Monday, June 1st, and if you have a gift preference, please indicate it in order of preference.

Raw Foodists: What was the most amusing response you’ve experienced or reaction you’ve received when you told someone about the raw food diet?

If you aren’t a raw foodist: What is the most amusing response or reaction you’ve expressed to a raw foodist or about raw food?

On Monday, June 2nd, I’ll announce the names of the winners and which gift they won.

About Carolyn Akens

Visit Carolyn’s website Carolyn’s Raw Foods for information on raw food classes, chef and chef instructor certification, pastry unbaked training, and 30-day raw weight loss system.

Visit Agape Nutrition Bars or to find Agape Nutrition Bars™, a breakfast-on-the-go or a healthy snack anytime!

See Carolyn’s upcoming recipe contributions here on Raw Epicurean

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