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Guess Who Wrote the Latest Raw Mom Club Menu Planner?

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by Fiona Hollis

carissa

Author, chef and raw mom extraordinaire, Carissa Leventis-Cox has written an amazing December menu planner for our lucky Raw Mom Club members.

Carissa is a raw mom who understands that recipes need to be simple to make – yet ridiculously tasty, in order to tempt your kids and cooked partners to beg you for MORE!

Not only does Carissa give clear instructions on what you’ll need and how to make these wonderful recipes – her photographs are beautiful and really help show what you’re aiming to create!

jointheclub

1. How long have you been raw? What got you interested in raw?
I have been raw for 1 1/2 years.  I decided to go RAW the day my 2 year old son had a CT scan because of a suspected growth in his body.

As life would have it, at around the same time, my yoga teacher and I were in the process of writing our book, Yoga For Cancer: Esoteric, Yogic and Dietary Remedies.  I learned and discovered through research
that the Preventative and Curative Cancer Diet is a RAW foods diet.  1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women in America will probably get Cancer in their lifetime – why risk it?  I wanted to create the healthiest environment for our family and nutrition is a big component of health.  Moreover, the raw food diet has so many other positive effects.  What was there to lose?  A big plus was a very supportive husband!

2. What did you do before you were a mom? What are your passions now?
I worked in Fine Art Management, then the restaurant industry.  Then turned to my own personal chef and catering business, which was geared towards people with health issues: diabetes, heart problems, food
allergies, obesity, cancer, etc.

I have always wanted to make people happy and discovered that FOOD does just that.  A simple dish can bring a smile to someone’s face and spark a strong emotion in people that few things can.  But there is
short term happiness and there is long term happiness.  My passion is to create food that not only makes people HAPPY (short term), but also food that promotes HEALTH (long term happiness).   In becoming a
mother, my passion for creating happiness and health through food has grown exponentially as I recognize how popular culture increasingly challenges the power of parents to prevent disease and maintain health
in the family through raw, organic, local, in-season and unprocessed food.

3. What is your favorite recipe right now?
Raw Veggie Filled Enchiladas.

4. If you have ‘PMS type’ comfort food cravings – what do you eat?
Garlic, sea salt, cacao and a ridiculously big bowl of Kale Salad with sunflower seed dressing.  Not all at the same time!

5. What are you planning to eat over Christmas!?? Are you with family?
It’s Winter time again – so the body usually asks for more heating spices and fat.  Rosemary Spiced Pecans, Banana Pomegranate Smoothie, Coconut Curry with Cauliflower, Sprouts and Raisins and lots of GREENS.

Yes, we will be with family.  I am lucky in that my family welcomes the Raw Food Diet.  In fact, my parents, my aunt, my mother-in-law and cousins own Vitamix blenders.  They are open to and love trying my creations.  Makes life easy!!!

6. What are you excited about at the moment?
I am excited about creating new recipes all the time and making information available for families with children.  On my blog, I share research, new recipes and write articles on transitioning families with children into a more raw foods diet: http://cardinalfoods.blogspot.com

For more information on Raw Mom Club click here.