Day 98 - 100

And so it ends...ironically with a cooking class, yes we began out ten with course at Jamie's Ministry of Food on day 100. We learnt to cook eggs in all manner of ways - boiled, poached, scrambled and omellete. After downing the first two rounds of both our eggs, my master chef man was done with eggs and the more sophisticated versions were taken home for breakfast. At the beginning of our class we were asked to share why we had signed up and as I pondered this question the answer that formed on my lips was to simply learn more about food, real & wholesome food that nourishes the body and soothes the mind. In the past I would often feel incongruent which left me uneasy, what I ate was not always what I believed instinctively that I should be eating. I have not felt that way during this past three and a bit months and have been at peace as a result. From time to time if I had too many figs for example, I knew I was eating too much sugar and needed to fill up more on greens, my body would tell me. On the whole though I feel fantastic and healthier than I have been in years. Listen to your body, if you feel pain in your stomach after eating something - don't eat it anymore! I cannot say for sure that raw is the definative answer to better health and there probably isn't scientific data to back it up - all we have is anecdotal evidence and what works for you is what you need to do. I think general keys are ones we all know already: eat food in it's natural state, serve portion sizes that your grandma served up (visit some vintage haunts and pick up some old crockery sets), half of your plate with fresh green vegies, a quarter with a good wholesome grain and the last quarter with clean protein - limit refined sugars and fructose (fruit sugars) to minimal and take plenty of water. Here here are some of the photos I have taken along the way to inspire you of what is possible in the raw and I am so encouraged by everyone who has followed my journey and is indeed on their own journey, we are all headed in the same direction friends - let's continue to inspire one another. About two weeks ago I reviewed the documentary Hungry for Change which exposes the food industry and the mass production of imitation food products that are calorie dense but leave consumers starving at a cellular level. For me the decision to go raw protected me from consuming any of these products or ingredients. Committing myself to this challenge has changed my life. People have asked me what lies ahead and whilst I am still unsure of the answers, I know that I cannot go back to my previous food practices and continue to explore what works for Shaun and I as sharing fellowship together over food is a big part of our family and community life. Christopher Columbus said: “You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.” And courage it does take to make changes in your life, to grow, to stretch to reach out for what was not formerly possible. My ship has sailed and ahead lies my brave new world which I continue to embrace, one day at a time.