Penni's gift, became my gift to another

[Diana Catlin]

What a wonderful resource Raw Food Rehab is!  I was thrilled to be able to receive the "It's Easy Being Green ebook Penni gave away on St. Patrick's Day.  I glanced through it as I rushed through my life. (Four of my daughters began this year by telling me they were pregnant.  One of my girls lost her baby this week...) So it's been a little rough here and there, and a lot of fun, and delightfully challenging. 

My daughter, Emily, is my 'little bird'.  She doesn't like to eat much, ever, and it has been a challenge to feed her sufficiently most of her life.  Now, the midwife has informed her that she needs to eat even more, yet Em feels she's eating more than she's ever eaten in her life already.  She called me, in tears. "I want to be a good mother, but I just don't know if I can do this...!" (meaning eating more food)

I took her shopping this evening for spinach, oranges, bananas, frozen fruit, oatmeal, etc.  We also picked up the string cheese and nuts on the list of 'must eat' foods.  She's so tired of nuts.  (Emily has a history of fainting dead away if she doesn't eat enough protein.)

She needs to eat at least 1 apple, 1 carrot, and 1 stick of celery every day.  Except for the apple, she just can't eat it before her stomach cramps up, and she feels very ill.  I took my juicer to her home, and we juiced 1 apple, carrot, and 1 celery stick-putting it in a cup.  As we prepared other things, she turned around and picked up the cup, took a sip, and then exclaimed in delight, "Did you see that?!  There it was, and I drank it. It was so easy.  It was prepared and just sitting there, and I reached for it.  Wow, maybe I can do this - - maybe I can...."  We all grinned. But that was just the beginning.

There are many recipes I wish to show her, but for tonight, I knew exactly which recipe I wanted to introduce to Emily.  The Super Smooth Breakfast Shake on page 13.  (Spinach is on her 'must eat' list, at least 1/2 c. day, and she hasn't been able to do it yet.)  So, we threw in the handfuls of spinach, and the oranges.  We didn't have frozen bananas, so I used a regular one.  We threw in about 6 frozen strawberries, and a handful of a variety of nuts (not having the hemp seeds available.)  The blender couldn't blend it.  Emily watched as I pulled out one orange, and stuck the other one near the bottom w/ the banana, moving the spinach to the top.  Then we blended it, and it became an odd green (not as vibrantly green as your photo because of the strawberries). We threw in the other orange and another little handful of spinach, and blended some more.  We left it just a little chunky with the nuts.

Emily was awe-struck. She had NEVER considered blending spinach in a blender before, or an orange.  Then she tasted it.  Her eyes grew wide. "Mother, I like this...  I like it alot!" She finished about a quarter cup.  (We'd had carrot/apple/celery juice earlier, so I knew she wouldn't be able to finish more just now.) "Mom, I wouldn't have known to put the orange on the bottom.  I'm so glad I watched you make the juice smoothie.  Now I can do it without being afraid, and knowing I won't blow anything up. (Em's a cook with a penchant for destroying things :) )

As we cleaned up and I got ready to head home, she got on her knees and hugged mine tight - she was so silly, and yet so utterly sincere.  "Mother, a day with you always ends up making me feel this way. I'm so glad you came to see me!  Now I know I can take care of my baby, and eat enough nutritionally to provide proper nourishment for us both.  Thank you, thank you so much!"  (Emily had truly been very frightened she couldn't eat enough to have a healthy child.)

I, in turn, wish to send my thanks along to Penni, and her crew of raw-some people.  Your ebook was so fun to look through, your recipe has saved my daughter's sanity, and will allow Emily to feed her body and her baby with fabulous, quick and easy nutrition (and you made ME into such a hero at the same time)! 

Thanks again for your generous sharing of recipes.  Teaching my family about nutrition, and green food became even easier this month.  I'm so grateful!

[L.]

This was lovely to read. :) Your daughter sounds wonderful!

[Ruchira]

Beautiful post!!!!

We all are here to support each each other, we are one big family!!

Congrats on the babies and my prayers for the lost one.

Blessings

[Diana Catlin]

Update on Emily : she messaged me on FB this morning.  "Mom, I ate today - and I don't feel sick.  Thanks again!"  I'm so glad for her.  I'll let you know how it goes with the other recipes I introduce her to.  I have 3 expectant daughters, and it's going to be an incredible year.

[Supermom]

Diana, that was a beautiful post, that brought me  a few tears, happiness and hope. I am so sad for the loss of your grandbaby. I am so joyful about how you helped Emily!  How incredible that Penni's passion, effort, and generosity empowered you to help Emily and her baby. I wonder how many other lives have been, and will be, improved by Penni sharing her gifts. I am one too! 

[Wendi Grant]

This is a BEAUTIFUL post!  Hearing how your daughter is overcoming her eating disorder.  Pregnancy is serious and her health is so important!  YOU are such a wonderful mother!!

Congrats on the babies, and prayers for the family as a whole, as you grieve for the one you lost!

[Penni]

This all makes my heart sing!!  Thank you so much for your post and for sharing the message of how delicious and simple raw food preparation can be with your children!  LOVE IT!!!

[Bette Bliss Shaw]

YAAAAY! Maybe she has been raw the whole time and just found out! Now she can eat, or at least drink! Hoooray!