Rich, Creamy, Dreamy, (and Raw) Chocolate Pudding

Honestly, I hadn?t heard of Jesse Anderson.

Similarly, a raw diet wasn?t something that I knew a whole lot about, either. Bits and pieces, ingredient familiarity, yes...everything that goes into the diet? No. The 4 types of diets were clarified for me, though: (1) Standard American Diet (S.A.D.) ? includes processed and refined foods, (2) Vegetarian ? includes dairy and cooking food, but no meat, (3) Vegan ? may cook food, but does not include meat or dairy, and (4) Raw Vegan ? does not include meat or dairy in diet, and does not cook food. Looking at the four?I am S.A.D.?but like vegetarian!

Anderson was very friendly and enthusiastic when we arrived to the class, as well as all through the presentation. The class started a few minutes late, but no big deal. Once it began, she jumped right into her story, the yo-yoing of her weight, trying aspects of a raw food diet, etc.

A lot of the detailed story telling included similar aspects of stories those of us who struggle with weight have heard, or experienced. After having a major issue with her gall bladder, she decided to go 100% raw, no if, ands, or butts. Anderson had done all the research, studied for 2 years, and heard how a 100% raw diet is healing. Her experience? After going through her journey, she asserted that the lifestyle change was what healed her gall bladder, carpel tunnel , as well as improved her eye sight.

Before all that could occur, however, before she embarked on her 100% raw diet, Anderson felt she needed to figure out why the continuous yo yo, why she reverted back to cheating. Her conclusions? 1. She was addicted to food and 2. Even with all the reading, training, etc, she never had a specific plan of action. So, she took the top 12 books of the hundreds she read, noted what she liked in those books and made a plan. A complicated plan. (And, I think this part is key for anything we do in life) Recognizing the complexity and unrealistic characteristics of what she compiled, she didn?t just move ahead with uncertainty. Instead, Anderson took that plan and fine tuned it until it made sense for her. Key.

All this said?what exactly is a raw diet? Anderson only eats fresh organic foods, fruit, veggies, grains, nuts, and seeds. Like I mentioned above, she does not eat any meat or dairy, nor does she cook any of her food since cooking foods over 105% changes the foods? molecular structure and kills much needed enzymes.

Now, I know what you?re thinking. You?re probably thinking raw foods? Gray hair, long floppy ears, and a bushy tails are not the going fashion, and a raw diet seems a lot like something Bugs Bunny would embark upon. No. There is so much more to a raw diet and raw carrot and celery sticks. Plus, you don?t have to be 100% raw. Anderson says those who partake can decide to what degree raw their diet will be. Maybe 80% raw, 20% cooked? It really depends on the individual.

Anderson ended the class with a recipe, ?Rich, Creamy, & Dreamy Chocolate Pudding?.

A wise recipe to introduce (directions included througout the pictorial), the unusual main ingredient showed audience what a little creativity, patience, and knowledge can produce. Had Anderson just handed the recipe, without the demo, skeptics would have completed brushed off the idea of a Raw Diet and not believed that avocado could be the base for such a tasty treat.

Avocados...yum!

To include the pit, or not...the ongoing debate...I will pass.

In a blender, add the flesh of 4-6 avocados

See....sometimes it's a good thing not to ask what something is until after trying it. Who would know there is avocado in there?! Cool huh? I thought so, even though I couldn't try any because of the chocolate content. But everyone loved it! One lady, a self professed sugar addict, said she was actually surprised to think she should use less sweetener. No bad!

Having the recipe is cool, although I will never make it for myself (because of my chocolate allergy). That being said, it would have been nice to leave with one or two additional never-cooked-raw user-friendly recipes to try.

Overall, it was an interesting class and I am glad I attended. She did offer some good tidbits of information. However, if I am being honest (oooh, that was very Simon of me), I don?t know if it was the right place/audience for this information. Why? (The former educator is about to come out?) When I go to a class, I want to learn things I can easily remember, take home and implement (at least parts of whatever it may be) immediately. Otherwise, the disseminated information becomes moot. The whole concept of a Raw Diet is huge to too large and complex for a ?drive by? training. Some of the terminology and science behind the concept was too much and my mind wandered.

The ingredients for the recipe were all wonderful. But, Anderson went through them so quickly; if the names are new to participants, I am not confident the ingredient/what they did were memorable. And, the ingredients are pricey. A little mention about the importance of the new/different ingredients, and how to adjust for the cost differential, might make a difference. If a coupon or discount for the ingredients, good for the day the class/demonstration was offered might make the atypical, yet important, element accessible.

In addition, I am not a fan of going to a class and then being ?encouraged? to go to another class to learn more, at a (high) cost. Sure, I understand that presenters of trainings need to be paid, which contributes to fees; I have been those trainers. But, typically, I don?t attend a class to listen to ?plugs? for the next thing. Maybe if there was a caveat explaining that the free class was ?the preface? to raw diet education training, I wouldn?t have minded the class and registration information for the all day class.

All in all, I am glad I went. And, I look forward to signing up for the next one that sparks my interest. The ?This is my year to?? Whole Foods is going for is interesting and has a lot of potential. If planned well, a lot can come of a series like this. Not only would it be great for the participants, but the classes could be profitable (financially and in popularity) for the company as well. But, that's just my brain working overtime.

To end, here is an interesting list Anderson emailed after the class, information it appears she obtained from FoodNews.org. or from We Like It Raw (Her sourcing was unclear.) The first list are foods you may want to keep to organic, as they are consistently the most contaminated with pesticides.

12 Most Contaminated Produce Items (Highest in Pesticides)
ApplesBell PeppersCeleryCherriesGrapes (imported)NectarinesPeachesPearsPotatoesRed RaspberriesSpinachStrawberries

These foods are lowest in pesticides, so its not necessarily needed to go organic...

AsparagusAvocadosBananasBroccoliCauliflowerCorn (sweet)KiwiMangosOnionsPapayaPineapplesPeas (sweet)

And, with that...I will leave you with two quotes Anderson left us with - her favorites.

Hospitals are filled with people digging their graves with their forks. ~Annette Larkins

If you don?t take care of this body, where are you going to live? ~ Karen Calabrese