1) What inspires you to eat raw food every day? 

I love the way it makes me feel and I miss it if I don't have it. I feel so close to nature and to our earth when I eat this way. It's amazing. I detail in question 3 some specifics that I get to enjoy as a result of my diet. 

2) Why do you think it is bad or unhealthy to eat meat-containing food?  

I'd highly recommend "The China Study" for those who want a thorough resource for why plant-based eating is important. Animal products and by-products are acidic, energy draining and unhealthy. They have saturated fat, cholesterol, no fiber, and they are often filled with tons of hormones and antibiotics. The longest living cultures in the world consume diets that are mostly plant-based.

3) How have raw vegan recipes helped you to be healthy and strong? 

They fill me with easy to digest nutrients that fuel my cells. I love that when I eat raw organic plant based foods, I'm giving my body the healthiest food available - loaded with phyto-nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and easy to digest amino acids. They load me up with pure energy that doesn't require caffeine! I go to the bathroom regularly, which important. I sleep peacefully and wake up refreshed! My skin glows! My hair and nails are super strong. The list goes on and on. 

4) How do raw vegan recipes provide all the necessary nutrients and strength during your time of pregnancy? 

I keep a balanced raw vegan diet that also includes days where I'm high raw, but I'm always all vegan. If I want more of a certain nutrient I either find a food that will provide it or I supplement. I eat locally and seasonally for a lot of my foods and it's always organic when that's available. If I'm at a restaurant, I can't always get organic, but when I'm home, it's the only thing I buy. I supplement with B12 and vegan DHA. Some days I take a prenatal. When I want more protein, I can easily obtain it with a fast raw vegan protein shake - I love making them with Manitoba Harvest's hemp protein powder and hemp seeds (I also love Sun Warrior's Sprouted Brown Rice Protein). My pregnancy is extremely healthy and I attribute it mainly to my clean and healthy eating. I don't have some of the experiences that a lot of pregnant women go through such as swollen extremities.

5) Since raw vegan diet recipes do not contain Vitamin B12 in adequate amounts, how do you take in this vitamin? 

I take this in the form of a vitamin supplement.

6) Can you give some examples of vegan dishes you use for a typical breakfast, lunch and dinner? 

I love fresh green juice, green smoothies or fresh fruit for breakfast. They're all simple, high energy and delicious. My lunches usually consist of giant organic salads that are loaded with flavorful items and a scrumptious dressing that makes me want to lick the bowl! Sometimes I have a raw vegan soup and crackers for lunch. Dinners vary between something that is all raw or sometimes part to high raw. For all raw dinners I might have raw vegan lasagna or tacos. If I have something cooked, I tend to start the meal with a huge salad and then follow it with cooked lentils, beans, veggie burger, or that kind of thing. And, sometimes I just graze and nibble on different things all day long without a real set breakfast, lunch and dinner schedule.

7) Can you give some advice to our readers on how to change to a raw vegan diet from a non-Vegan diet? 

Start with baby steps and have fun with it. Here's an easy way to get started! Pick one day a week to eat all vegan or all raw vegan. Then, you can build from there. Start the day with a delicious green smoothie. Eat lots of fresh fruit and veggies with flavorful and creamy raw vegan dips and spreads. Have decadent raw vegan pesto stuffed into cucumber boats. Eat raw vegan desserts! Then, once you get the hang of having one day a week this way, start having two days and then three. You'll love the way you feel on those "raw vegan" or "vegan" days, you'll become addicted to it and want to keep going!