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COMING RAW COASTIES EVENTS

BRAND **NEW** HALF-DAY COURSE AT WYEE

Raw Coasties presents an Introduction to Healthy Living with Raw Food from 1pm to 5pm on Saturday 28th August at Wyee Community Hall, 114 Wyee Rd, Wyee. The 4-hour seminar will focus on how to include more raw food in your diet, with samples of easy and delicious dishes, as well as more celebratory food. Presented by Sophie Knox and Shirley Hotchkiss, SPECIAL guests are Arlene Selman demonstrating fancy dishes, and Raw Aussie Athlete Grant Campbell talking about his raw journey to superlative health and fitness. The seminar costs $50 ($40 for those on a pension or benefit). Please book with Shirley@openwindows.com or phone her on 4341 9301 or email sophie@rawcoasties.com.

ELECTION DAY POTLUCK AT BROOKLYN
Join us on the 21st AUGUST at Sandy's place 1pm for a sumptous potluck. Please email sophie@rawcoasties.com for more details or RSVP. Or join http://www.meetup.com/RawCoasties/ for more info and to meet some of our members online.

COMMUNITY COLLEGE UNCOOKING CLASS
Uncooking class on Saturday 27th November at Berkeley Vale presented by Sophie Knox and Arlene Selman, so contact Sophie for more details 048 108 723 bookings through. More details available through Tuggerah Lakes Kincumber community college booklet for Term 4.
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SUBMIT YOUR FAVOURITE POTLUCK RECIPE FOR OUR NEW RAW COASTIES BOOK
We are in the process of putting together a Raw Coastie uncook book full of member's favourite recipes. If you would like to contribute just fill out our submission form and email it back to sophie@rawcoasties.com.

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OTHER HEALTHY LIVING EVENTS

Raw Reflections Retreat with Grant Campbell is on 13-16th August at Point Wolstonecroft Sport and Rec Camp, so book in with him to secure your place for another fantastic weekend of food, good company and learning in a beautiful environment.

Disease Proof Your Life MOVIE PRESENTATION continues on the last Monday of each month at Ettalong CINEMA with “The Future of Food” screening on Monday30/8 at 7pm. Book with Jenny: 0417 206 935.

Health Connections is holding an 8-week course on Thursday evenings 6.30-8.30 in Umina for people facing health challenges. Contact Shirley Hotchkiss on 4341 9301.

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EVENT REPORTS
'NATURALLY HEALTHY' presented by Rob McIntyre Sunday 8th August, 2010
by Sophie Knox

I went to this event last weekend and even though I knew some of this stuff it was still an eye-opener. I don't think I'll ever look at a Tim Tam the same way again! Some of the chemicals they put in today's food will make you want to run for cover! He is doing another seminar in about 6-weeks time so I'll keep my eyes glued for that one. This one was packed with over 50 people in attendance. Rob advocates at least 50% of your diet be raw as well as not using many of the chemicals we take for granted in our personal grooming and hygiene products today. If you like being shocked by what you're eating or using then I recommend going to his seminar. It was highly informative and entertaining though some of his jokes were borderline :)

JULY POTLUCK 2010
by Shirley Hotchkiss

The July potluck lunch was well-attended with an abundance of superb food and good company. Many thanks to Arlene and Gibran for hosting it, and to all who came along and brought the smorgasbord. I took a ‘backyard salad’ of about 12 different types of uncommon edible greens that grow in backyards, many of them called weeds. And I’ve been inspired to experiment with raw soups after tasting the two samples there: cream of cauliflower, and avocado. There were also plenty of treats. This month on 21st August we head south to Sandy’s place for a potluck lunch at Brooklyn after casting our votes. As well as a raw food dish, please bring your own plates and utensils so we can reduce our garbage. Please email sophie@rawcoasties.com to RSVP.

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Welcome to RAW COASTIES - Rawfood lifestyle for those who live on the Central Coast

Welcome! Do you live on the Central Coast of NSW and want to get more out of life right now? Would you like to join like-mind people who are embracing a world wide movement 'raw and living foods'? Do you have no idea where to start and would like to find out more? If you've answered 'yes' to any of these questions then you've come to the right place.

Raw food is not just about what you put in your mouth, it embraces a whole lifestyle including:

Organic gardening
Community supported agriculture
Permaculture
Using non-toxic cleaning products
Bushfoods
Drying and preserving foods

and a whole lot more...

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FAQs

1) What is a potluck?
Potluck is an American term for social gathering where everyone brings a dish for others to try and sample. Often you might see a dish that you haven't thought of trying before and instead of having to make the recipe you can try it and see if you like it. We hold them at different host people's houses through-out the year and hope to have them once a month. If you would like to join in on one of our potlucks just bring a raw dish (Check out the web if you want some inspiration - google 'raw cake' for example.) or just bring some cut up fruit or a salad with fresh dressing such as lemon juice. Garden salads always go down well so don't think you have to make something gourmet.

2) What do you mean by 'RAW'?
Raw means uncooked. Which means not heated above 46 degress celcius. When foods are heated they lose their nutritional value and at higher temperature toxic chemicals in the food may be created. Just think charcoal on the BBQ steak. It's not very healthy. All foods that are prepared by potlucks must be in their raw state. All fruits and vegetables bought at the fruit market are raw (if they are home-grown or organic that is an extra bonus). Nuts may or may not be raw depending on their treatment as some are pasturised before being sold and also may be heat treated. All canned and goods in jars are cooked except if stated otherwise such as raw organic honey and virgin cold-pressed olive oil and organic apple cider vinegar.

3) Do you have to eat a 100% raw diet to join Raw Coasties?
Absolutely not! I myself am not 100% though I'm trying to increase the number of 100% days. There are no prizes except robust good health for being 100% raw and you may decide that if two out three meals are raw than you're happy. There are no rules, no absolutes no judgements!

4) I want to eat more raw but my family think I'm nuts. What do I do?
Join Raw Coasties. We won't think you're nuts and there are of supportive people to help you in your rawfood journey.

5) I heard you eat weeds like dandilion. Is that true?
If people could learn to put weeds in their salads then the world would be healthier place. Weeds contain high amounts of necessary minerals and vitamins for living. Of course only pick the ones that you absolutely know are edible and have not been sprayed. Turkey rhuburb is very tasty!

6) My doctor thinks I'm nuts of contemplating a raw food diet.
Whilst eating mainly or even 100% raw may be very beneficial for most people we do not advise you to ignore the advice of the medical profession.. Please consult your physician if you are suffering from serious health problems and do not ignore persistant symptoms. Also, on that note please take it easy when trying out new and exotic ingredients as you may have a reaction to certain foods you have not tried before.

7) What about meat, eggs, milk etc
Whilst potlucks are a 100% raw VEGAN affair - meaning no animal products - some people still choose to animal products. The studies from Weston-Price and Pottenger suggest that if you are to eat animal products eat them as close to as their raw, organic state as possible eg organic raw honey, raw or lightly steamed fish, softly boiled eggs and raw organic goats milk. Listen to your body - If you feel dreadful after drinking milk then don't do it! I know this is a contrEversial topic as some people would prefer 100% raw vegan butmost people are not ready to give up their beloved meat and milk. We're not about 'don't eat this or this because it's bad for you' but just increasing awareness so you'll want to eat more raw vegan food anyway

8) Are you affliated with any religious group?
No however many of my own and my husband's values stem from believing in a loving and personal God

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Why Raw?

Would you like to get more out of life and your health? Then join the raw food club! So who are these raw foodists or raw vegans, as some call themselves? Let's look at other groups who are a bit more discriminating in what they choose to eat.

Vegetarians don't eat meat, fish or poultry and may also limit dairy or egg products. They may do so based on ethicial or health reasons.

Vegans don't eat anything that comes from animals including milk, eggs, and even honey and usually make the choice based on ethical reasons so as not to cause unneccessary pain and suffering to animals.

Raw Vegans eat virtually nothing derived from animals (some will eat honey) and everything uncooked! Some call themselves raw foodists or prefer the term living foods. Some do so for ethical as well as environmental reasons.

RAW food is what nature intended. Do you know any animals that choose to eat cooked food over fresh, living food straight from the source? Do you really think that our brain size is a result of our ability to cook food? Cooked food does taste yummy because that's the way we're used to it. Watch Valya Boutenko's 'Food Imprint' if you want to know why you prefer a milkshake to a juicy salad.

What's the upside of forgoing cooked food? Well, for starters you'll feel cleaner and your mind will be clearer. You will be running on light, its like putting premium grade fuel into your car and not fuel tainted with gunk and dirt. You will feel lighter and be able to live life fully not feeling sleepy after every meal.

So how can you make this change. Well, I'd be lying if I said its easy. Every cell of your body craves cooked food so it's going to take a while to transition. So.... first of all don't be hard on yourself. Going 100% raw is a process. Some people have done it overnight but its not recommended if you're on a normal or SAD (Standard American Diet). First cut out things like meat and dairy. Meanwhile increase your intake of fresh fruits and salads. If you can, eat as much organic produce as possible. Try and have one green smoothie a day - just this one change will make a HUGE change to the way you feel as greens are the healing foods that improve health and build up the body..