Female Firefighter Goes RAW

I’m so happy to guest blog on Joline’s site. Joline and I became fast friends at the Living Light Culinary Arts Institute and it’s quite an honor that such an amazing woman has asked me to write my experience with RAW food.  I grew up playing sports and I learned that in a “man’s world”, if you want muscles, energy and to do well in sports, you must eat meat and pasta and other forms of complex carbohydrates.  Continuing on the SAD diet until the age of 20, I started to see that food was affecting the way my body was performing, both at school and on the field.

When I was first introduced to RAW foods, the very first question I asked was “Where do I get my protein?”.   Just like everyone else I was afraid of not obtaining enough proper nutrition from plants.  Because I was absolutely sold on the idea that raw food could give me more energy I began my search into eating mostly RAW.

For the last year and a half, I began adding more and more RAW foods into my diet, until finally I feel best with a 80% raw consistant diet.  I have been continuously training with rigourous physial exercises in order to be hired by the San Fransciso Fire Department, racing road motorcycles on the track, traveling in Europe and always finding time to go to the gym.  With all of this physical exertion and a hugh emphasis on strength and cardio, I have bypassed the typical ailments which come from that kind of intensity, because of my fantastic diet.  Being off dairy and meat and replacing that with vegetable juice, fruit, young coconuts, trail mixes and once in a while stir-fry and salads, I am reaching my physical goals.  I can confidently say that what I eat has kept me from getting sick, staying clear of physical injuries and has boosted my confidence and self esteem!

In an effort to become more educated and benefit to an even greater extent, I choose to attend The Living Light Culinary Institute.  I wanted to learn how to feed myself and become more efficient at preparing raw foods.  I can say I wish I was enlightened earlier in my life.  I can just imagine how much more physically capable I would have been if I had eaten raw foods throughout high school sports, not to mention more mentally stable and capable of learning.  Well, honestly I could write a novel about how raw foods has enhanced my life!  I am feeling better then ever and find myself smiling for no reason!!  Hopefully my fellow firefighters will be up for buying a Vita Mix for the station!

Heather McCarthy, San Francisco, California