32 Comments so far

1. Maria on August 3, 2009 Monday, 2:14 pm

   The saying “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink” comes to mind when I think of the raw food lifestyle. One has to model how great the rawfood lifestyle is in order to help others change. Inspire yourself in order to inspire others!

   Hi Maria so very well said. Thank you for your wisdom! So true, so true. I couldn’t agree more. “Lead by example” is another expression that sums up what you write here nicely. :-)

2. Isabelle Gagnon on August 3, 2009 Monday, 2:29 pm

   To answer your question:
   After 30 years in the financial field, with a growing passion for Health and Wellness, I left the financial field and became a Professional Health Coach and Lifestyle Educator in 2007. I currently practice in San Jose Del Cabo, in the BAja (Mexico), where there is a huge need for information/education and change. My goal in exercise leadership in prevention and wellness, is to help and show a Nation how to eat and live to be healthy and fit.

   I love raw food (would say I am 60% raw)and believe it is an essential component of health. I am working in cooperation with a Raw Foodist here in San Jose (Wendy Ruddell), slowly teaching them the benefit of incorporating raw food in their diet…it’s all very new to them. Just to get the Mexican population to get off sugar is a huge endeavour…however, being the #1 in the World for diabetes, more and more are ready. I am part of the Women Wellness Foundation here in Cabo, and I volunteer my twice a month to teach breast cancer survivor how to “eat to heal and prevent”.

   Thanks for stopping by Isabelle – congratulations on being raw, 60% is great! You are doing great work and I applaud you. :-)

3. Raw.la - Raw Food in The News and Around The Web on August 3, 2009 Monday, 2:31 pm

   [...] Angela Elliott :: An Interview and Book Giveaway [...]

4. Nicole on August 3, 2009 Monday, 3:05 pm

   Great interview! She almost died twice? My, my!

   To answer your question, I am going back to school to become a nutritionist with and emphasis on Raw. I hope to better the lives of many with the information I learn. I am also trying to get a degree in kinesiology so I can be a personal trainer/physical therapist. So much to do and so little time:)

   Nicole – I know, I just learned of this! This is great news, to hear you are going to school to become a nutritionist and study kinesiology ~ congratulations!!! :-)

5. earthmother on August 3, 2009 Monday, 3:09 pm

   I first became acquainted with Angela and her delicious cuisine through the Raw Divas. Loved this interview and learning more about her background and what/who inspires her creations.

   What do you do or aspire to do to help people improve their life as well as improve your own?

   One year and one hundred fifteen pounds ago, I made the decision to stop dieting and start living. It’s been a year of big changes, not the least of which has been leaving behind the SAD world of highly refined and processed foods and entering the world of raw living foods.

   I really aspire to be a living example to others that lifestyle change is possible, particularly those who are suffering from the debilitating affects of morbid obesity.

   Earthmother – you have certainly come a long way and I think you are an inspiration.

6. VeggieGirl on August 3, 2009 Monday, 3:09 pm

   In order to help people improve their life as well as improve my own, I like to share my journey to better health and how raw foods and working with my raw foods counselor (Gena from the “Choosing Raw” site) have helped me manage my Crohn’s Disease.

   Hi VeggieGirl … and I’m sure you are helping an untold number of people with all the wonder information you share on your blog. Gena seems like a wonderful person. I know of her and had no idea she was your raw food counselor. How awesome is that! :-)

7. Jane Kowalski on August 3, 2009 Monday, 3:37 pm

   I would like to be a raw food diabetes educator. Simply Raw was what got me interested in raw foods to begin with, and since then, the world has exploded for me. So many wonderful people out there, and the food…OMG!!!! How can anyone feel deprived in a world with Cashew Creme?

   Jane – wasn’t that documentary “Simply Raw” an eye-opener. I finally watched it a couple weeks ago. The word deprived and raw food sure doesn’t fit in the same sentence.

8. MarathonVal on August 3, 2009 Monday, 3:42 pm

   As a school social worker in Chicago’s inner-city schools, I strive every day to make a difference in the lives of at least one student. The vast majority of my students live in poverty and come from broken homes, and I try my best to offer them hope and to help them set goals for themselves!

   Hi MarathonVal – what a beautiful gift you offer your students as a guide/mentor/teacher. Thank you!

9. Rachel Devlin on August 3, 2009 Monday, 3:47 pm

   What do you do or aspire to do to help people improve their life as well as improve your own?

   I am a Bikram yoga teacher in NYC and aspire to bring yoga and raw foods to my neighborhood of Bushwick, Brooklyn. This community is in a food and health crisis, and rates of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease are some of the worst in the NYC area. The population here is poor, mainly spanish-speaking, and has very little access to healthy options. I hope to empower my neighborhood by providing education and access to opportunities to make better health choices!

   Hi Rachel – I love your vision! I’m sure you will reach many people and help them with the knowledge you share. :-)

10. Aurora on August 3, 2009 Monday, 3:48 pm

    As a teacher of young children, I feel it is my duty to set an example of healthfulness with my food choices. I encourage my students to bring “no garbage” lunches – this includes the food as well as the containers they bring it in! We spend time in the school garden, raising our own food and making yummy raw snacks. I also bring my juicer and encourage the kids to bring whatever organic fruits or veggies in that they can juice! They love it! I aspire to help our children become more conscious of the food they eat and the impact they have upon our planet; after all, they ARE the future.

    Hi Aurora – What a wonderful job you are doing sowing the seeds for a bright healthy future for these kids, and I love that you are teaching them about sustainability too! :-)

11. Patrica Halverson on August 3, 2009 Monday, 3:56 pm

    Well…I guess my journey to raw foods happened out of my desire to help my 2 special-needs children. My daughter Alexandra USED to be autistic until I changed her diet in 2002 and detoxified her. My other daughter Abigail was diagnosed with type1 diabetes at age four. Both girls went on to receive many other diagnosis before I changed their diets.. ..including sensory problems, adhd, odd, iritis, arthritis, learning problems, mild mr, anxiety, capd, vision processing….etc. I’m a single mother also and also have a almost 2 year old son.
    Anyway, I remember the doctors telling me there’s no hope….that alex would probably shred paper the rest of her life and they wanted to lock abby up in a day-treatment program fro “troubled” kids. To make a really long story short….I changed both girls (and mine) diets to organic and allergy-free in 2002. We’ve evolved into a raw food lifestyle over the last three years. Abby is in process of “healing” from type 1 diabetes through intense genetic deep tissue detox and tissue regeneration. I’m now a detoxification specialist working with raw-living foods, juices and high-frequency-tissue specific organic herbs. I’m studying to be a Master Herbalist. Alex starts college in 2 weeks and just completed her first year without county services and help in school.
    Don’t settle…don’t lose hope and dont ever under-estimate the natural healing power of the human mind, body and spirit. Be Love!
    Patricia Halverson

    Patricia – I wish I could give you and your beautiful children a great big hug! Thank goodness you didn’t listen to the hopeless doctor. Have you seen the DVD Simply Raw? There is a natural cure for everything and how exciting that you are continuing on the healing path. This is such good positive news! Thank you so much for sharing your story here and I wish you and your family continued health and success. :-)

12. Judy on August 3, 2009 Monday, 3:57 pm

    I am a nutritionist, so I consider it to be not just my job, but my life’s work to help people improve their lives with food. I improved my life – I saved my own health by slowly incorporating new foods and practices, and eliminating others. My 2 blogs allow me to reach a wider audience, so that I can help people eat better, feel better, be better.

    Hi Judy – Thank you for all you do. I will check out both your blogs. :-)

13. lisa on August 3, 2009 Monday, 4:57 pm

    I share the knowledge I have learned over the past several years living with my husband who has many major food sensitivities and some allergies with others who also choose to eat more whole/non processed healthier foods and live a more chemical free lifestyle. We have now just delved into raw to try healing his permeable intestines and to help me detox and hopefully finally lose the weight that i attribute partially to the stress that comes with struggling on one income. We would love to win a copy of your book to help us on this new journey we are beginning. I also help those people who are affected by a suicide in their life, by spreading awareness through the American foundation for suicide prevention and their awareness/fundraising walks.

    Hi Lisa – Congratulation on starting on a raw food diet. But it isn’t simply a diet, it’s part of a lifestyle. Eliminate processed foods and you will see a huge change overall in your health and well-being. Thank you for sharing your story with us. :-)

14. Lau-raw on August 3, 2009 Monday, 5:25 pm

    I will love to share with others that life can be good and healthy no matter your age, that it’s important to have a motivation to live and that motivation will give you the strenght to keep going no matter what hard seems to be your journey.

    Hi Lau-raw – Great point! Age is simply a number. It’s what we think that matters.

15. Rachel on August 3, 2009 Monday, 6:04 pm

    I think the biggest thing I can do to help others improve their life is to first be a good example of healthy living.

    Rachel – That is so true. :-)

16. Jess on August 3, 2009 Monday, 8:04 pm

    I try to help them eat healthier by making small changes that they will stick with, for example, i’ve gotten my family to cut back on red meat by replacing ground beef with ground lean turkey, my parents actually love it more now!

    Hi Jess – that’s a great strategy because going cold turkey [pardon the pun] doesn’t always work. Baby steps. :-)

17. Serena on August 3, 2009 Monday, 8:06 pm

    I am a physical therapist and practice yoga-based physical therapy with clients. I have been an avid yoga practitioner as long as I have been a physical therapist and I have been able to decrease pain, and improve strength and flexibility in my own body. Whereas when I used traditional physical therapy methods to achieve the above-mentioned goals, I was not successful. I have been much more successful with the yoga-based approach with my clients than I was with traditional physical therapy. This also goes very well with my own lifestyle of high-raw.

    Hi Serena – Physical therapy with yoga ~ that makes perfect sense. I thing yoga and raw go hand-in-hand. You ought to open your own yoga-base physical therapy clinic. Thanks for stopping by. :-)

18. ttfn300 on August 4, 2009 Tuesday, 5:18 am

    great interview! i like to get people excited about doing things outside, trying to find something that they ENJOY doing (for exercise or fun), so they keep doing it :)

    Hi ttfn300 and thank you! It’s always a great thing to get outdoors, exercise, and enjoy nature.

19. Lauren on August 4, 2009 Tuesday, 6:04 am

    I would say with my journey with Crohn’s I am helping other realize they don’t have to be in pain all the time, or have to eat only white rice and toast. I feel like I am showing people that with raw and vegan foods crohn’s can be a thing of the past! :)

    Hi Lauren – isn’t it amazing how we can rid ourselves of disease and pain by simply eating the all natural vegetation that nature provides us. Wishing you continued great health. :-)

20. Sans on August 4, 2009 Tuesday, 6:04 am

    Nurture the spirit within them so they make the move to living the best life they want. Angela is an Angel!

    Hi Sans – I love what you said, and I think Angela is an Angel too. :-)

21. Arlene on August 4, 2009 Tuesday, 8:35 am

    In answer to your question (for the book drawing) — I aspire to help others improve their lives by working passionately for causes/campaigns that teach and provide literacy services. The ability to contribute and succeed in our society is highly dependent upon individuals being able to read and write.

    Hi Arlene – “The ability to contribute and succeed in our society is highly dependent upon individuals being able to read and write.”, I absolutely agree and thank you for your work in helping increase literacy.

22. Stacy on August 4, 2009 Tuesday, 10:22 am

    I have recently become a certified trainer, so I hope to really impact people by getting them to exercise and live healthier lives

    Hi Stacy – fitness is an important part of a holistic lifestyle ~ congratulations on becoming a certified trainer! :-)

23. andra on August 4, 2009 Tuesday, 2:32 pm

    Well, I currently work as a mental health therapist in a community mental health center. For the longest time, the center’s philosophy has been based in the medical model. I have been slowly and gently incorporating many ‘holistic’ concepts into the work that we do. For example, our agency had a health fair for the clients we serve; most of the booths were focused on disease management philosophies. I decided to have a booth where I made green smoothies; I got two local stores to donate pineapples, lemons, limes, pears etc and I brought in my vitamix and made smoothies all day (I also did strawberry/banana smoothies). THEY WERE A HUGE HIT WITH THE CLIENTS AND STAFF. This was very ‘cutting edge’ for my agency (obviously not cutting edge for the readers of this website).

    So, I guess my simple answer would be that I try to be a positive message wherever I go; I do not preach but try to live my message. And I am up front about my own issues and difficulties and try to show that I can still possess hope despite my difficulties.

    andra

    Hi Andra – Try? You are a positive role model with a positive message! I love what you said “I do not preach but try to live my message”, and again Lead By Example sums this up perfectly. I applaud your efforts and cheer you on to keep at it and continue introducing and offering a the holistic approach.

24. Amanda on August 4, 2009 Tuesday, 4:59 pm

    I eat a healthy balanced diet and try to encourage others to follow my example. I love to make food for the people that I care about and help them make better food choices.

    Thanks for stopping by Amanda – offering encouragement and healthy food choices is a wonderful thing.

25. Zoe Poeschl on August 4, 2009 Tuesday, 6:00 pm

    In the fall I’m starting school as a nutrition major. I want to travel the world advising people and helping them with their diets and thereby help the planet. The reward of helping others and the earth will be plenty to improve my life in every way!

    And Aug. 6 is my b-day, so that’d be super cool if I won the drawing ;)

    Happy Birthday Zoe!!! Oh I hope that random number generator picks in your favor and congratulation on majoring in nutrition at school this fall. :-)

26. Angelique on August 5, 2009 Wednesday, 7:57 pm

    Thanks for interviewing Angela Elliot!

    To answer your question, I aspire to help others by soon launching http://www.rawshopper.com, a price-comparison site to help make raw more affordable and fun for everyone. I’ll be giving lots of free info and tips and am hopeful that it will help many people. After that, I’d love to spread word about love-based parenting and to share raw/nutritional advice to parents of kids with challenging behaviors. But first, Raw Shopper! It would be fun to someday be as accomplished as Angela — that’s quite a list of accomplishments she has. Good for her!

    You are so welcome Angelique! It was a pleasure interviewing Angela and yes indeed she is amazing as a person and with all that she has accomplished and still accomplishing. Sharing information and advice on love-based parenting and raw/nutritional is a great thing to aspire to. Congratulations, best of luck and much success with http://www.rawshopper.com! :-)

27. Teresa on August 6, 2009 Thursday, 8:33 am

    Great Interview!

    I’m pretty fresh out of college and am aspiring to work in a farm to school type program. I want to educate kids about gardening and reaping all the wonderful benefits- for their health and our environment. It is a skill that all kids can benefit from and should be exposed to. Of course there would be a food preparation component that includes all the fresh produce!

    Hi Teresa and thank you! We certainly need more people and school programs teaching our children all the wonders of gardening.

28. Talia Lapid on August 6, 2009 Thursday, 11:59 am

    I think this is a very important question to ask, and one that I’ve started asking myself a lot more lately. This summer I took an internship on the east coast, and had my first real experience living alone. Because I spent so much time by myself I was able to really connect with true values and beliefs I didn’t know I held. I became vegan, and more importantly I realized that the field I am interning in isn’t something I want to make a career out of. It doesn’t make me happy, and I believe its much more important to make a difference in the world by promoting the *good*, not trying to prevent the bad.

    I hope now to start a career in health and holistic lifestyles to help others (and reinforce in myself) realize that our actions have effects on our minds, bodies, souls and also on the world around us.

    Hi Talia – your time on the East Coast was such a blessing. When you can remove distractions, stop the chatter, quiet the mind, reflect, contemplate, and go within, things start to become clear. It is good for you and everyone else when you do what bring you happiness and joy. Thanks for sharing your story. :-)

29. Candice Stauffer on August 6, 2009 Thursday, 8:42 pm

    I have always had a strong connection to the natural green world. Currently I am preparing to put together some wildcrafting classes to be presented next spring and summer, hoping to help folks in our area re-connect with the wild ones just waiting to assist us to better, healthier living. Part of that prep has segued into one of my blogs, titled EarthHeart (http://cstauffer.blogspot.com/)
    I have just started my raw journey (2 days old) so I can say, “I’m 100% raw *U* – and loving it!

    Hi Candice – wildcrafting classes sound like fun! Congratulation on your second day on your raw journey! :-)

30. Ingrid on August 6, 2009 Thursday, 9:02 pm

    Congratulations:

    VeggieGirl of VeggieGirl

    and

    Lisa of CupCakeBreath

    and

    Teresa

    each of you will received a copy of Alive In 5: Raw Gourmet Meals in 5 Mintues by Angela Elliott. Enjoy your new book!

    Thank you to everyone who took the time to participate in this drawing and shared their amazing stories and aspirations when asked “What do you do or aspire to do to help people improve their life as well as improve your own?” and for participating in the drawing, and I hope you enjoyed Angela’s interview. :-)

31. glidingcalm on August 8, 2009 Saturday, 9:39 am

    Thanks the giveaway!! I would love to win her book!!!

32. Spaghetti with Aioli Sauce : Raw Epicurean on September 13, 2009 Sunday, 3:25 pm

    [...] two individuals via email. If you participated in the giveaway of this book in last month’s interview with Angelina, you are more than welcome to participate [...]