by Fiona Hollis
“I made the mistake of putting off reading this book because my children are all grown and on their own.
What could possibly hold any interest for me in a book about raising healthy children? If I’m going to take the time to read an entire book, I like it to be applicable and relevant.
Let’s repeat the cliché- “Never judge a book by its cover!”
Karen Ranzi’s book marries the two most important foundations for creating healthy children: fresh living foods and attachment parenting, a term originally used by pediatrician William Sears in describing a more natural and intuitive parenting philosophy than most people in this day and age practice.
Attachment parenting sheds light on the truths about raising and truly ‘nurturing’ children from the heart and not the head. I loved reading about the mothers, and fathers returning to the practice of following their parenting instincts and each child’s individual needs for the mutual benefit of all, and not following whatever current popular parenting trend comes along.
From the first few pages, I was thoroughly engrossed. Karen’s writing style is very easy to read, yet highly informative. This book was seven years in the making and it shows. The research is impeccable and covers the entire spectrum of parenting healthy children from pre-conception, to pregnancy, breastfeeding and beyond. It also includes information on vaccinations, circumcision, exercise, education of children, obtaining sufficient nutrition from plant foods at every stage of a child’s life, transitioning older kids to a healthy diet focused on fresh, unprocessed foods, meeting emotional needs, and would you believe there’s more?
You can see that no stone is left unturned and it seems every aspect of a child’s life is examined in light of the raw vegan lifestyle, not merely diet. By the time I was done reading the hefty question and answer section from real people with real life questions, I realized how valuable this book will be. It will help ease the minds of parents and soon-to-be’s, showing them that having healthy, natural children and families is entirely possible and within their grasp if they are willing to follow their hearts and dedicate themselves to this most noble of tasks. There is such a lovely balance of first hand experience and nutritional research related between the covers of this book that no one, parent or not, could read it without becoming thoroughly informed about avoiding the most common pitfalls in the raw food diet.
By the time I finished chapter two, I felt as if I had already taken away an entire book worth of valuable and motivating information and had hardly scratched the surface. Nearly every page is peppered with research, resources, personal experiences, websites, quotes from experts, and even recipes. The extensive chapter on the controversial B12 issue is, in my opinion, worth the price of the book alone.
Reading this book rekindles my hope and yes, that utopian vision, for a new generation of healthy, naturally birthed and raised children. You might be tempted, as I was, to gather your tribe and head off to greener pastures in Costa Rica!
Having said all that, I must admit there is one thing I didn’t like about Karen’s book: she wrote it after my children were already grown! How I wish I had this information 20 years ago. I had the desire, the inner vision, but not the information. We parents are famous for saying “I want my kids to have what I never did.”? Thanks to Karen’s dedicated work, I feel like I now have a gold nugget of my own to pass along to the next generation: their very own copy of Creating Healthy Children.” Review by Kelli Haines
*GET YOUR COPY – LAUNCH OFFER*
In keeping with the festive season we are offering YOU a free gift.
When you buy your copies of Creating Healthy Children we will email you a transcript of
David Wolfe’s incredible Raw Mom Cooked Dad interview, with his special elixir recipe.
(Offer ends December 1st 2010)
What People Are Saying About the Book
Karen Ranzi has written a most important book, Creating Healthy Children, that is must reading. The scientific evidence is now clear that a plant based diet means optimal health, and the sooner young people are started on this diet, the better. The storyline in this book is personal, professional and very, very sensible.
– T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D., Jacob Gould Schurman Professor Emeritus of Nutritional Biochemistry, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; Co-author of The China Study
I’m very appreciative of Karen Ranzi’s wonderful book, Creating Healthy Children – a powerful expression and guide on how to raise our children to their highest potential as healthy, full spirited human beings living in harmony with all of creation. This book helps families transition away from the worldwide disease culture and teaches the Culture of Life. For all prospective parents, this is your book.
– Gabriel Cousens, M.D., M.D.(H), D.D., Diplomate American Board of Holistic Medicine and Diplomate in Ayurveda, Director of the Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center, and grandfather of two. Author of Spiritual Nutrition, Conscious Eating, and Rainbow Green Live-Food Cuisine.
Creating Healthy Children is a valuable compilation of research and findings on different aspects of children’s health. Karen Ranzi is an honest researcher and a dedicated mother, and I envision this book being embraced by all loving parents seeking optimum health for their children. Karen’s bold suggestions, sincerity, passion, genuine style and interjection of personal anecdotes make this book a valuable read.
– Victoria Boutenko, award-winning author of Green for Life and 12 Steps to Raw Foods
About Karen
Karen is not only an author and lecturer, but a member of the Raw Mom Team, providing one on one support in our Raw Mom Club.
Karen has been interviewed on TV and radio on the topics of vegetarian and raw food parenting. For the past eleven years, she has presented her class “Creating Healthy Children” at numerous seminars, festivals and health institutes throughout the United States – an empowering, transformational workshop that can revolutionize the way your kids eat! Karen recently presented “Creating Healthy Children” during 10 talks in 8 days on a Florida book tour, including a class she taught for the health educator students at Hippocrates Health Institute. She has presented at Raw Spirit Festival 2007 and 2008 in Sedona, 2009 in Maryland, and will be a presenter in 2010 in Prescott, AZ.
Karen is the Co-Founder of the non-profit organization, Health Liberties Network, which was organized to protect the freedoms of individuals and families in their health care choices. Karen has been the Coordinator of the New Jersey Raw Food Support Network from 2006 until present, and she led the Accent on Wellness raw lifestyle support group in Manhattan from 1996 to 2006. Karen found the natural path that enabled her son to heal from asthma, chronic ear infections and allergies. She has maintained a 100% raw vegan diet since 1994.
In addition to her work in vegan nutrition, Karen holds a Masters degree in speech pathology from New York University, and is a speech therapist working with children of all ages for over 30 years, specializing with autistic children for the past 8 years. She has found that switching to raw plant foods has the ability to heal children of learning disability, attention deficit disorder and autism. By means of her education, life-changing personal experiences, and sincere desire to share her message, Karen has been able to guide thousands toward developing excellent health.