Should *You* Be Eating Raw This Christmas?

The picture left is of the raw food pizza I teach in my “Raw Food Made Simple Training”. It's also the same pizza recipe that was once seen by six million viewers live on TV being sampled by Lorraine Kelly, and it's also the same meal that I have been known to eat as my main course Christmas Day!

Yes, pizza for Christmas lunch - quite a concept!

But of course there are no end of possibilities about what we could eat this Christmas Day, however, what my concern is, in this article, is Should *You* Be Eating Raw This Christmas? Read on to discover why my question is as layered as the festive trifle!

"A Raw Christmas"

Now what's the first thing you think about when you hear those words? Be honest!

If it sounds like music to your ears then that would suggest that to have a Raw Christmas this year is what's right for you, both at the below surface level and ideally in real life. If, on the other hand, it makes you think of isolation and standing out like a sore thumb from your companions, then it will be worth reading on. And if it sounds like something truly awful that really isn't on your agenda, then you're definitely in the wrong place (at least as far as this article goes) and I congratulate you on your clarity! Happy Christmas, now go and have your fun!!

So this article is really for those of you who *think* that you'd like to be raw, but at the moment are yo-yoing between being ruled by your heart, your head, your eyes, your beliefs, your worries, and your belly! Which I think, if I know you at all, dear readers, is where most of you are going to be right now...

Let's start at the very beginning…

What is Christmas Dinner really all about?

Well, for many people it's seen as a time to feast and celebrate the birth of Jesus and all that goes with it, isn't it? But what it has become for most of us, is a yearly habit that typically involves spending lots of money on rich foods (and drinks) that we only eat once per year and sharing the experience with family or friends - often in large groups. Going on this basis, what we have here is therefore an environment where:

a) We are surrounded (usually) by un-likeminded people.

b) We are surrounded by foods that we might not have eaten or might not want to eat (intellectually speaking) in our usual everyday lives.

c) We know that if we do not "partake" at least to 50% of the "deal", we are going to stand out like a sore thumb and that might not feel good emotionally.

Bearing all of the above in mind, then add to this the fact that by our very (human) nature, we want to be included and part of the crowd, loved completely for who we are, and to share in the communal Christmas "glow" that can come with that, is it any wonder that the temptation to not eat raw is going to be stronger than most of us can bear?

My purpose in this article today is not to advise, map out, coach or anything else of a "prescriptive" nature. No, not at all. Today I want to pass on to you the message that, if this all sounds like where you're at, then you are definitely not alone. In fact, I have had different experiences around eating raw and different members of family every year since I first got into eating raw, and sometimes it has felt far from comfortable. However what feels the most uncomfortable of all is what I'm about to share with you now, and this extends way beyond Christmas Day as will become clear as you read on...

It's All About The Energy

If I have learned anything about raw foods and eating habits over the past 19 years it is that energy is at the heart and soul of what food is about. Yes, we can wax lyrical about nutrition, enzymes and calories, or talk about what's "good", "bad", "healthy" and "unhealthy", but as far as I have come to see it, this hits the dartboard but it doesn't come even close to the bulls eye.

And the fact is this: When you take food in, you take in the energy that comes with it. All matter is comprised of energy - that means you, the chair you're sitting on, the table you're eating from and the food itself, as well as everything else you can see right now. Therefore when you eat, your own personal energy will automatically shift accordingly; so when you eat "unhealthy" foods you will feel worse - your vital energy will dip, and when you eat "healthy" or "good" foods you will feel better, and ultimately more energised.

The further you go with raw foods, the more of this energy you start to feel, and the more sensitive you become to it. You really "get" that you're not just what you eat, but your experience of life is, to a larger degree than many of us even realise, a reflection of what you eat too! This means that as soon as you eat something "unhealthy" or "bad" you know it. And I don't just mean in your mind and your heart, I mean that you feel it in your body also - you sense your own shift, often startlingly so!

And so what you learn, whether it's consciously or unconsciously, is that when you eat raw foods your energy increases (and to be clear I don't necessarily mean the "jump-up-and-down" kind of energy, but mostly your sensitivity and overall vital energy shifts) and when you eat cooked foods you feel your energy go down.

Translate this information into the Christmas Day scenario we discussed earlier, and let's see what we have here if you choose to eat raw:

On the surface level you have the predictable comments, questions and quite possibly the sense of isolation/difference that comes with that. Some people thrive on this, they love being different - which is obviously a bonus! - but most people don't, and I used to be one of them. Now bear in mind, that all that's JUST on the surface level. On a deeper level, energetically speaking, when you eat your raw dinner and maybe have a juice, your energy is rising, and it's rising fast. And likely it is starting to rise in an environment where everyone is laying chilled out on the sofa, with the obligatory glass of wine or sherry in hand, watching TV and/or aren't really doing all that much! And your energy continues to rise. And their energy continues to fall.

So not only do we have your energy as raw as ever (which can be tricky even in normal everyday situations), but we have their energy dipping even lower at the same time. The gap widens even further. Big Difference.

Now what happens is that naturally you either want to go outside and burn up some of that energy (and you might if only it wasn't so cold!), or you want to put your energy into something productive or inspiring like fiddling with your favourite new toy, enjoying more enlightened conversations, or, quite frankly, being at home (or alone) doing what you want to do!

This becomes the reality. And whether this is conscious or not, it becomes clear pretty quickly to us now as to why it feels so tough.

So is it any wonder that the temptation to just go with the flow (now we have a better understanding of what this really means, right?), just for this one day of the year, is one that's too hard to resist? No, not at all! And, as I said a few moments ago, I am definitely not here to tell you what to do - and I won't - but what I am here to do is to help you see the reality of the situation more clearly so that you can drop any guilt that may be plaguing you, either now in the lead up, or on the actual day, and know this:

"When you dabble with raw foods you are playing at being an advanced alchemist. You can change your state in ways that others don't, and also don't understand. Trying to do this among those people is possible but not always pleasurable. When you fully get this, you can base your decision on a positive understanding of the situation and your own needs and values, rather than seeing yourself as a failure or a hypocrite... which is completely inaccurate."

So... as I said at the beginning, this article may not be relevant to everyone, but I have a very strong feeling it will be relevant to most of you, which is why I wrote it.

And I can tell you that there have been MANY times in my past, and my recent past too, where I have really felt this "energy gap" so massively that I have realised absolutely two things: The reality of "energy" among foods and people (and the multitudes of ways that all this can show up), and the importance of environment. Where you place yourself is absolutely key - and this comes up again and again in all fields of personal development, not just with food, and it also comes up with just about every client I work with, all of whom are usually in the wrong place, quite literally, for where their energy is trying to go.

So, if you are fortunate to be able to control your environment this Christmas and to shape your day and surroundings to the way you would like them, and eat raw, then a big hurrah for you! I expect nothing less than post-Xmas reports of "I had such a great day" and lots of smiles! But, on the other hand, if you are like me - and many thousands of other raw foodies around the globe who are doing the family thing this year - then please, be compassionate with yourself and recognise that this is the one day where things are different in so many ways (and as we have seen, not always the obvious ones) and do what you need to do - without guilt. Come from a place of knowledge and you come from a place of power.

One day is one day, and in coming weeks I'll be sharing with you some great ideas for how you can get rid of whatever you took in over the Christmas period and start 2012 all shiny and new which is I think where you'd like to be, right?

For the short term however, think energy and think compassion (for yourself as much as anyone else) and hopefully this will be enough to help you make your decision, which, as always, you are entirely free to change depending on what actually happens on the day! Either way, have fun and watch how this energy thing works. It will stand you in good stead not just for Christmas, but for the rest of your entire food-conscious life.

© 2011 Karen Knowler WOULD YOU LIKE TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR ON YOUR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Karen Knowler, The Raw Food Coach publishes "Successfully Raw" - a free weekly eZine for raw food lovers everywhere. If you're ready to look good, feel great and create a raw life you love get your FREE tips, tools and recipes now at www.TheRawFoodCoach.com.

Comments

[Melissa]

Where can I get your raw pizza recipe!!! :-)

[Douggy Harmon]

Wonderful article. It's funny I should be getting this right now, because I am going to my Dad's house for Christmas, and today I started a fast, that I plan to carry out for 1-2 weeks or more. Can you see how that might create some Silliness?

I Loved the Alchemist bit. I totally feel like a FoodShaman.

[Victoria Loveland]

Thank you Karen, What a wonderful gift of compassion to give us for Christmas:)
Victoria Loveland
victorialoveland.com

[Meherbani]

wonderful perspective/insight Karen, thank you. "energy" such a superficial word on some level.. but dig a little and what's there? life force...the fine tuning of the semantics, of course, for each of us, where we are at, etc. Heartfelt, generosity to you and yours..and happy compassionate-full holidays.

Meherbani

[Victoria]

Thank you a lot. We do, we needed the article... I feel calmed, it's ALL right! always, don't you think?
Best wishes!

Vicky

[Lovinleaves.wordpress.com]

Two words.

WISE LADY!!!

Warmly, Beth

[Shalas Wilks]

Hi Karen, thank you so much for the newsletters and Raw information. I have at least 4 days of the week that I eat raw with a quart of different fruit and vegetable smoothies and a raw salad 4-5 days a week. It is so much fun mixing up the raw meals. I love it and feel so much better with energy and weight loss. All my co-workers are asking what are you doing and keep up the good work. I also incorporate pilates and you every morning to get my day started. Have a wonderful weekend! Shalas Wilks

[Marion Schmid-Drüner]

Hi Karen,

thanks for this great post. I completely agree with you, compassion is key, for myself and my family. However, the last few times I "strayed" from raw because a "not-to-miss-opportunity", I felt awful afterwards like with a stone in my stomach, and I knew it would have been better to miss that opportunity... it was just not worth it.
And I think this is what it has taught me also for Christmas. I will rely on my health excuses and will bring lots of good books, so even if everybody is hanging around, I'll enjoy a good book...

Have a wonderful Christmas!

[Alison]

That makes an awful lot of sense. Thanks for removing the guilt trip - that in its self will make it easier to do what's right on the day. the pressure will most certainly be on but I will go with the flow - but who's flow I wonder!!!