Surprise!!!
Welcome, readers, to a new and improved Choosing Raw 
Yesterday (April 8th) was the one year anniversary of the day I unveiled my blog. In honor of this little milestone, I thought it was time for a fresh face.
My first year as a health blogger has been one of the most exciting, rewarding, and rich experiences of my life. It has been an honor to get to know you, my intelligent and inquisitive audience of readers, and for me to join the amazing health blogging community. I’ve learned so much, not only about health, but about topics that range from photography to bargain hunting to stress management. Thanks, fellow bloggies, for being a constant source of wisdom.
There’s so much more that blogging has offered me. In the last year, I’ve:
…learned to conquer my fear of sharing my writing with a public audience:
…gotten encouragement in my efforts to keep unhealthy habits at bay
…made lasting and significant friendships:
…I’ve gotten over my fear of the dehydrator
…and even experimented with a few raw desserts
I’ve learned to like foods I didn’t used to
And shared a of frozen bananas with a whole lot of bloggers
I’ve learned that real women everywhere love to eat:
… and that I’m not the only lady who loves her morning java
I’ve learned that we’re all passionate about women’s health:
…but that we’re also very grateful for, and interested in, the men in our lives
I’ve learned that veganism is a position that can be constantly evolving…
…but one that always fills me with happiness, and a passion for sharing
…and, most of all, I have learned that there are many, many brilliant men and women out there who take an active, curious, and joyous attitude towards nourishing their bodies with quality foods.
Thank you all for teaching me so much.
Today, you’ll see that Choosing Raw has been given a whole new look. This is thanks to my friend Cory, of the incredible ZestyCook blog. Cory listened to what I wanted (a brighter, cleaner appearance) and also generated a constant stream of dynamic and exciting ideas for me. He’s a wonderful and professional person to work with, and I recommend his blog makeovers wholeheartedly. Thanks, Cory! I am thrilled.
You’ll also notice that my slogan has changed a bit. One of my goals this year is to shift my emphasis away from raw foods per se, and more towards the idea of a natural, unprocessed, and simplified approach to health and living. This doesn’t mean I won’t be sharing oodles of raw recipes, or that I won’t still be discussing health topics, such as digestion or energy enhancement, that are of particular interest to people who seek out raw foods. Believe me, I will!
What it means is that I’d like you all to think of this blog not as a place to gawk at photos of food that haven’t been heated above 118 degrees, but rather as a place to discuss eating (and living) in a way that’s close to nature. My definition of raw foods, as I’ve said before, has less to do with temperature, and more to do with methodology. I’m interested in raw cuisine because it has the power to remind us that food is delicious and satisfying in the state that nature gave it to us; we don’t always need heat and complex preparation to render it satisfying. I embrace raw foods because they remind us how to get creative with the “raw materials,” as it were; raw cuisine is nothing if not a humbling lesson in working with the very building blocks of food. We don’t need to eat that way all the time, but we could all probably afford to eat that way more often than we do. Most of all, we can all benefit from taking the lessons we learn from raw food prep (namely, how to create taste and flavor without excessive tampering and processing) and applying them to our cooking and eating habits, whatever they may be.
As I continue to learn about raw foods (and help others to learn about them, too), I feel increasingly uneasy with the term “raw foodist,” at least insofar as it applies to my own life: it implies a level of commitment to raw (in the sense of uncooked) that doesn’t always describe me. So from now on, I welcome you all to envision Choosing Raw not so much as a strict raw foodist’s blog, but rather as a place that celebrates nature’s raw materials–food whole and as simple. Sometimes this means unheated, and sometimes it means cooked, but it always means food that bears a pretty close resemblance to what nature provides, in the state that nature provides it. This year, you’ll probably see some more of my cooked recipes; I tend to shy away from posting them because they’re even more basic than my raw ones (a plate of quinoa and steamed veggies, or a cup of oats, seems less worthy of sharing than raw pizza cheese), but I know from your reactions that you guys like to see my cooked food, too, and I’m happy to oblige.
And this year, as always, I want my blog to be a place that welcomes readers of all dietary persuasions. A few days ago, a reader of mine told me that my article on simplified food combining read like an article for “the SAD diet.” Maybe it did, but in my mind, that’s not a bad thing: I’d like to inspire people who eat relatively mainstream diets to think about simplified combinations of food. This blog will always be a place where everyone is welcome. I started Choosing Raw to show people that a lifestyle that seems high maintenance (veganism, with an emphasis on raw food) can be joyous and fun; it can be an active choice. I hope I’ve done a decent job there.
There’s so much I want to do with my blog this year, but a few of my main goals are:
- Talk more about body image, disordered eating, and appetite
- Invite more guest bloggers over
- Talk more about my beauty and skincare routines
- Give you all a tour of my fridge
- Talk about some green household tricks of mine, from cleaning to vegetable storage
- Cook and uncook some fabulous new recipes (it’ll be hard this month, but hopefully May will mark a new beginning)
I would love to hear what you guys want to see more of on the blog. What do you like? What do you think I need to show more of? And what sorts of cool recipes, tips, or Q+A would you love to see me tackle? I write for all of you, and I’m dying to know what you think.
So with at, thank you all for reading my blog, and for giving me such a wonderful and rewarding year as a writer. I am infinitely grateful, and hope you’ll all stick around to see what’s next!
xo
I'm a Certified Clinical Nutritionist, a former book editor, and a post-baccalaureate pre-med student at Georgetown University. I'm passionate about helping people to discover and enjoy plant based foods in a simple and healthy way. My name is pronounced like "Jenna." 
{ 98 comments… read them below or add one }
Your layout looks beautiful, Gena!
I have learned so much from you this past year, and while you were key in helping me transition to a higher raw, vegan lifestyle, you taught me so much more about myself. Like you, I’ve learned to write without fear, but more importantly, I’ve learned to eat without fear. I am so happy to have grown such much as a person and your friendship and support have been integral in that process.
As a fellow lover of words, I really enjoy your posts that are less food porn (not that I don’t love me some banana soft serve), but that are more of your prose, your thoughts, YOU.
No matter what though, you’ve got a reader and a friend for life. Happy Bloggiversary!
I love everything Gena! The layout, the goals, the shift in focus…I’m looking forward to it
I have always loved your blog. I’m far from high-raw, and I’ve transitioned from vegetarian and vegan lifestyles, but through it all I’ve always looked forward to your posts! They’re always well-thought out, and I always finish with a new awareness. I love the new layout, and I would love to see a fridge tour! I’m just nosy like that
Gena, I love, love, love the new layout! And I’m looking forward to enjoying all your future posts, no matter the subject matter, as I’ve enjoyed all the posts from the past year. Happy Anniversary to ChoosingRaw.com, and to you, and thank you so much for allowing us to get such great information in such a relatable, accessible way through the blog. Here’s to many more years.
I like the new look and I like the direction that you are heading in regards to the goals for your blog.
Congratulations on your blogiversary!! I’m a rather new follower, but I love your blog and I look forward to continuing to get to know you through your posts. The new layout looks great!
Congratulations Gena! Thank you for all that you have done for blogging and for me this year. I am looking forward to your next year. I would love to hear your thoughts on all you mentioned, but you know me – I am particularly interested in the sociological and psychological aspects of body image, food, feminism, etc. I would also personally love to hear more about your ED recovery.
P.S. The new blog is pretty.
Hi Gena! I love the new look of your blog! And I really like that you are broadening the range of recipes that you will be preparing.
I agree that the most important thing about food we put into our bodies is that it is as “close to nature” as possible! I have just entered the blogging world, and I find your website to be one I’m learning a great deal from. 
I’m excited to read your posts this year. Happy Blogging Anniversary!
-Heba
The new site looks gorgeous, Gena!!! You and your blog have been so invaluable to me over the past 10 months since I first found it.
As I’ve shared with you before, I credit YOU as being a great deal of the reason why I finally went vegan last July, and for that I am forever grateful. I love, love, love your creative, delicious-looking recipes and I love your thought-provoking posts just as much.
Happy blogiversary!!!
love the new look gena…it’s so fresh and crisp looking!
congrats on your 1 year anniversary…and i love your blog just as it is…everything about it…you have a great talent my dear…keep shining! thanks for sharing yourself with us!
<3
Great new look! I look forward to reading your posts this year
You have been SO inspiring to me, your non-dogmatic attitude towards food is so refreshing (especially in the raw food blog realm), it really resonates with my own relationship with food. I found your blog knowing quite a bit about how to eat cleanly and close to nature, but I’ve absorbed so much more knowledge through your shared experiences and information. I’ve let a lot of inhibitions go since following you, and really have the best time in my kitchen these days.
I personally loved how you opened up about your path to becoming a more passionate vegan when you visited the Animal Sanctuary a few months back – veganism in general can be a precarious topic but your approachable and non-judgmental conversation about these things is the best way to educate and inspire. You da best, Gena! Oh, aaaand I’m not afraid of thai coconuts anymore
I’m curious to hear about your skincare routines (I’ve shunned all nasty, chemical-y makeups). Please keep the simple raw recipes coming too, love ‘em!
Beautiful new layout, and felicitations on all the wonderful things blogging has brought you. I’m in my first month of health/food blogging and am already feeling inspired and so much more aware of my own nutrition!
Thank you for being inspiring.
Love it, Gena! I love how crisp and unfettered the layout is…very much like your own way of eating, and the way you write!
Cannot wait for another new year of Choosing Raw’s wisdom!
I’m loving the new look!
Happy Bloggiversary!
Hi Gena!
and I really like your new sub-title.
Lovely fresh new appearance
I so hope you keep posting lots of raw recipes here! I have a mini Gena book in my recipe binder that I’d really like to keep adding to. Your blended soup post is a favorite.
Happy Birthday to Choosing Raw!
xo
Happy Bloggieversary, Gena!!!!!!!!!!
The new look is fabulous! It’s just lovely but I adored your old look, too. Always so clean and crisp. Perfect.
As for this: celebrates nature’s raw materials–food whole and as simple….
And not so much about temperature but a pretty close resemblance to what nature provided…YES. Love this.
I feel so stymied by the language to use on my blog, raw, almost raw, high raw, no-bake b/c I feel if I make a mistake, the haters come out. I am trying to un-label and back off of it and i LOVE The direction you’re taking things!!!
xoxo
Hello!
LOVE the new look. And I also love your new ethos. I’m excited to see what this year brings.
Thanks for your commitment to your blog and your readers
xxx
Gena,
I love the new look and the new focus you will be presenting on your blog. It is a perspective that I have more openly embraced on my blog as well. I think the goal for all of us should be wellness and whatever foods and behaviours move us closer to that reality should be respected and celebrated.
Congratulations Gena!!!! I can’t believe I’ve been reading your blog for 4 months already. It has truly helped me a lot!
“Talk about some green household tricks of mine, from cleaning to vegetable storage” — I am DEFINITELY down on hearing your household tricks. I live in a student-shared house with twelve other housemates (share the fridge with 2 others) and I need as much help as I can get in storage and such.
I would like to see a continuation of raw recipes (as I cannot digest starch very well and most starchy foods are cooked, and also because I’m in dire need of raw recipes that try to follow food combining). I would personally like to hear your story of your past disordered eating/body image issues and how you handled that, but it’s also totally cool if you don’t want to share that.
Thanks again!
LOOOVE the new look! And happy “blogiversary.” I was to see more just about your own experiences with new things in life.
Love the new look, Gena and Happy Blogiversary!
Your blog (and counseling) have been such an inspiration to me. You completely changed the way that I see vegetables. Um, hello, sweet potato slices as snacks! My life is forever changed and I can’t wait to impact people the way you have impacted me. I can’t wait to see what this next year brings to your blog, I am certain it will be fantastic!
I really love your blog (and linked to it in my blogs that spoke to me post yesterday) for its commonsense approach to eating.
Not to mention the recipes — haven’t gotten around to them yet — so many recipes! So little time!
I am not high raw vegan. I’m not even vegan. I’m a little bit of everything (altho I eat very little meat and dairy, but still do eat some). But I appreciate good food in whatever form in comes in.
Oh, and I love hearing about where you’re eating out, especially since I’m coming to NYC next month and have been plotting to eat and shop my way thru the city.
happy blogiversary
congratulations on all ur accomplishments!!
This is such a wonderful blog and i love everything that u stand for and staying true to urself!
I like the new look. I think Zesty Cook is a talented guy. I have always enjoyed your blog simply for the informative perspective you take up. And for a good debate
I don’t necessarily agree or disagree with a lot of it. I am not even vegan or vegetarian for that matter! But its interesting nevertheless. Congrats on the blog-versary.
Congrats on the new layout! And love the new tagline, too. As someone who has more recently started reading your blog (beyond sporadic pop-ins in the past), I didn’t realize that you weren’t full raw, so that really helps clarify things! It’s great to hear that you promote a sensible approach to this lifestyle – realizing that not everyone will understand it or want to join in, but still welcoming them to the blog to understand it better. Elitism never helped anyone, right?
Anyway, my long winded way of saying keep up the awesomeness. I’ll be reading!
WONDERFUL new layout, and I am so excited of things to come! I think an all-natural community type site is a great way of doing things! I have always loved your site, I can’t wait to read more =D
xo
K
Congratulations on so many delicious accomplishments. You are always inspiring and always delightful. Dropped you an email a few days ago about an interview- I can see you’ve been busy with other things but let me know if you are interested!
Aw Gena, I will like your blog no matter what it looks like
.
But that being said, I do love the new look!
You rock!!
Congratulations on your new look! Just love it!
I had tried raw food last year and I gave up because the recipes I found were not very tasty (sometimes I felt I was eating shredded cardboard!). I felt sorry after eating, and went back to my old ways. But since I found your blog, I plunged with a renewed enthusiasm in a more healthy and merry way of feeding myself. There will not be any going back. I like your balanced approach, combined with common sense and perfect taste. Your blog’s redo is perfectly in tune!
congrats on a fabulous year!! new site looks great, and the directions you’re taking things sound spot-on. love reading
Happy one year, and I love the new look / layout!
I think this next year will be great
I’m looking forward to reading!
I just happened across your blog a little bit ago, through Kath’s link to you when she chronicled her weekend in NYC. I had quit smoking for a week, a week ago, but couldn’t keep it up! Then I came back to your blog yesterday to find a whole ‘nother post on quitting – really inspiring you are. I hope to muster up the courage again soon.
I really really REALLY like this particular post of yours. I totally am subscribing to your blog.
You’re admirable! I love your approach!
Like the new look too.
Lots!
I love the new look! And yes yes yes to focusing less on “raw” and more on “natural.” I can’t wait!
Wow great new look!
I love the new layout! I am also really excited that you will be discussing both body image issues and skin care routines more! I’m excited!
Love the new look and also the revamped image of what your intentions for this blog are. It’s always nice to reassess something a brainchild of yours after a while and see where it has come. It’s great to have a place to have these sorts of discussions, and I am very happy for your 1yr anniversary!
I’m interested in raw cuisine because it has the power to remind us that food is delicious and satisfying in the state that nature gave it to us; we don’t always need heat and complex preparation to render it satisfying.
Amen Amen and Amen! I think I’d like to hang that quote on the wall in my kitchen. Perfect.
Wow, just a year? What’s that old ad campaign? … You’ve come a long way, baby. Indeed you have! You’ve built up quite a following and stellar reputation in the blogosphere these last 365 days. From my heart to yours, “Congratulations!” It’s been an absolute joy to come along for the ride. And, such a blessing to meet my soul-sister-spirit-twin-separated-at-birth.
Here’s another goal to add to your list this year: sit down for a meal (or two) with Earth Mother. How ’bout it?
xo!
EM
Looks really nice – and I’m looking forward to another year of reading your posts
So gorgeous!!! You and the blog!
Love it! Congrats, looking forward to more and more and more from you!
Congratulations on the new look and your 1 year anniversary!
Congrats on an amazing anniversary, and an amazing blog! You’re this popular for a reason, so I hope you don’t change things up TOO much
I love your recipes, and love your articles on health and those that prompt us to examine ourselves and our motives more closely. Beautiful new look, too! 
Congratulations, Gena! Your new blog layout is beautiful, and your updated message is even more gorgeous
What an inspiration you are!
congratulations on one year, gena! i can say without doubts that you filled an incredible void in the blog community, and i enjoy your writing each and every time you post. beyond your words though, you have taken the mystery out of raw food for me and made it accessible – i don’t know if i ever would have experimented with “un-cooking” without being a reader of yours first, but you opened up an entirely new (and delicious) world in the kitchen for me. your welcoming, “everyone is an individual” philosophy has consistently reflected my own, and it’s just a pleasure to be one of your readers! and of course i can say that you are fabulous in person as well.
i love the new mantra because it is 100% the way that i feel about food. i have always appreciated your emphasis on simplified food from the ground (as opposed, for instance, to the “healthy” packaged products we see so often). i’m very excited to see where the next year takes you!
Congratulations on a great year of blogging!!! The new site looks wonderful
love the new look! keep the great posts coming!
Congratulations on 1-year of blogging! The new layout is lovely.
I have to say that a light bulb went off in my head when you described eating raw food – not for nutrient/enzyme/heating basis – but close to nature.
Looking forward to more recipes, and more thought-provoking posts!
Congratulations Gena!
It’s a pretty new layout and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for this year.
I love your approach to not labeling yourself (or anyone else).
xoxox
Happy Blogiversary! I love the new look, LOVE your blog, and look forward to hearing everything you have in store.
I really liked the feature (excuse me for not being able to think of the name) where you addressed specific peoples raw food problems/questions. For example, MarathonVal talked about her journey to eat more raw foods and how it was hard to keep up in the winter and how she gained weight, etc. I know you aren’t going to focus primarily on raw foods necessarily, but maybe you can have raw/vegan diet dielemmas and such? Just a suggestion. I think your blog is great how it is, so keep up the awesome work!
This post is PERFECT! I love the way you describe how we need to eat food close to nature. That is so very true. There is literally NO NEED for the processing that has been pushed upon us by the food industry – food tastes delicious without all of that! As I’m in the midst of the food processing chapters of “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” this is something I have been thinking about a lot lately, and your thoughts here perfectly echo how I’m feeling, but in such an eloquent way. You are wonderful with words! Congrats on 1-year of blogging, and here’s to hoping there will be many more to come!
Hi Gena, I love the new look of your blog! Congratulations. I have loved your blog this past year and I’m so excited to see how it keeps evolving. You have completely inspired me to eat more natural foods, and I have never felt better. I no longer deal with acne, and I have so much more energy. Thank you for all that you do. I was always a bit intimidated by the “raw” label, so I’m very happy to see that this is something that can be more fluid and flexible. I love your approach. I am thrilled that you’ll be talking about other things as well. I have been searching for beauty, skincare, and housecleaning info but I can’t find anything appealing and “green”/natural. I’ve often wondered “what does Gena do?” So I cannot wait for your tips. Thanks again for everything!
Love the new look of your blog and your upcoming goals. As always I can’t wait to learn more from you Gena!
Congratulations on your first year!! Your new look looks great and I can’t wait to keep reading.
This is great. And I love the shift of focus. Congrats!
Oh wow this is gorgeous! Congratulations on the new layout!!!
Hi Gena!! happy blogiversary
and i must say i love the new look of your blog!!! but most importantly, i love the new approach. Living close to nature is more important than not heating your food. Raw foods are great! but as you pointed out one time, a plate of steamed veggies might be healthier than a bag of nuts, and some “raw foodists” are so extreme with their approach they don’t oblige on things like this!
Your blog has helped me a lot in my life and my relationship with food! i used to hate salads and think they were boring, not anymore! thank you Gena!
congrats to one year and a new look! i’m a recent follower and i keep coming back because you are great at reminding me that it’s great when i can eat as healthy as possible and it’s not the end of the world when i can’t–which my job in the restaurant biz makes finding a balance challenging. keep up the great work and thanks!
I love your new layout Gena, and congratulations on one year of blogging! You have changed so many lives, and helped so many people. You are seriously an inspiration to me and so many others as an advocate for being a healthy, happy, (vegan!) woman.
Wooo!
Gena, Your blog looks great! I can’t believe you had a fear of sharing your writing! I’m the English teacher, remember, . . . if everyone wrote as well as you – it would be amazing! Your writing is a pleasure to read both technically and the rich, informative content. I really like your new approach; food in its natural state – beautiful and simple! Looking forward to another great year of writing.
Cheers to your new look!
Patrizia
I’ve been following your blog for a few weeks now and LOVE it! I’ve tried several recipes you’ve shared and they are all wonderful. Just today we tried your banana soft serve….holy cow! What a fabulous creation! My kids LOVE it – I LOVE it – my hubby LOVES it! We are ice cream fanatics, but I worry about the sugar and dairy, so THANK YOU so much for sharing this amazing creation!
Ahhh, congrats, Gena! The new look is gorgeous & sophisticated – the perfect way to celebrate your blogiversary.
Love the new look! WTG on one year in the blogging world. You’re a bright spot we can all learn from.
Hey Gena, I love the new design of your website! Congrats on another year smoke-free, I wish you all the best!
Gena love the new look! I am so excited that you are following areas that are tugging at your heart! I love all the new directions you are going to be going and I can’t wait to read more. What an amazing year you had and so happy anniversary!
I think the new look is GREAT! I miss the soft green banner heading and beautiful avocado, though. Happy 1 year anniversary! I find your blog to be an informative and helpful way to learn more as eat healthier and healthier. I would love a peek inside your fridge and pantry. It would also be neat to hear about the type and frequency of your work outs, work out attire and food prep ( for the week ). Hope year # 2 is even better for you and your blog than last year!
Happy birthday, Choosing Raw! I’m so happy for you, Gena
I tried your banana ice cream last week. It was fabulous! I’m not a big ice cream person anyway, so it doesn’t make much sense to keep a tub of ice cream on hand, but frozen bananas find their way into lots of goodies. An ice cream made from bananas is perfect. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
xoxo
Gena, I love your goals for the year! I have to say, though, that I’ll really miss those avocados on your old page! It really set the tone. I love everything on your blog- recipes, discussions of body image, feminism, veganism, the food industry, etc… I also love guest blogs, especially hearing from experts in some area, or people who have had an interesting journey with food. I am very excited for tips on veggie storage!
One thing I would love to see continued is discussion of nutrition- I have really appreciated your posts on food combining, protein, and others than provide information or perspectives on nutrition. I like hearing about how people have overcome health problems through dietary changes and how their vegan and/or raw diet has evolved to be nutritionally optimal for them. I find these really helpful and inspiring kinds of posts.
Thanks for everything you do… you’re always my #1 source!
The new look rocks, happy blogging anniversary! So many great posts and recipes and many more to come I’m sure.
The new site looks awesome! I can’t believe you’ve only had your blog for a year. Your posts are so informative and well-written. I can’t wait to read more. Your soft-serve banana definitely changed my life.
I’ll let you know if I think of anything I’d like to see on your blog!
Hi Gena!
I am a fairly new but very enthusiastic reader. I love what you say in this post about your new/refined focus. In my own life I am finding that part of my path to wellness and happiness involves letting go of strict labels and rules.
I love the new feel of your blog. I think it would be really cool if you covered how to stay vegan and eat whole, plant-based food in college. I’m really nervous about that next year. Especially because it is a small school and the meal options are slim.
Congrats on 1 year! PS- I met Brendan Brazier last Monday!
happy blogiversary, lovely friend!
i’m so fortunate to have read your blog from the very beginning and so grateful for the knowledge you are so generous to share with all of us.
your new layout looks AMAZING- so fresh, so clean. lurve
have a great weekend <3
Wow! I’m in love with the new look! It will be exciting to see all that you have planned come to life. I’m looking forward to it! Keep up the wonderful work! You continue to inspire me to lead a more healthful life.
The new blog looks great! I have followed and loved your blog for the past year and your posts are always so honest and inspirational! I’m excited to see what the new year of blogging will bring!
wow! I love the new look, thank you so much for sharing yourself, I enjoy your blog very much, and I am excited for this new approach.
By the way, I’ve got a new food-blog, in english! (at last!) hope you check it out
Gena, I adore the cleaner fresher look of your blog (I was thinking about doing the same with mine soon). I cannot believe you have only being going for a year, because I feel like you have been sharing your knowledge for a hell of a lot longer. I think I am definitely not alone when I say thank you so much for all your fun, fact filled and interesting posts. I look forward to more over the next year.
PS I love the focus you are heading towards this year.
Hi Gena, I live in Devon Uk and discovered raw food and you about 3 months ago and you have been a great source of knowledge and inspiration……and so many people here now enjoy your frozen banana ice cream, thanks. Living in Devon near to Totnes is the best place in the Uk to explore raw food ingredients and I consider myself to be very lucky to have found your blog and to live here. Love the new look. Lynn
WHEEEE!!!! What a great surprise, Gena! This is just beautiful, so bright and airy and clean. I love how you’ve framed the page with points of interest, just brilliant! Thank you for all that you do, I can’t wait to see what your next year brings. Best wishes and congratulations! x
Gena, I LOVE the fresh spin on your food philosophy – and the design is SO crisp, clean, and beautiful!!!
Happy Blogiversary!!
And, yes, I’ll definitely be sticking around. Your blog is one of my all-time favorites!!!
Hugs,
Michele
Happy 1 year birthday, little blog! You’re one of my favorites.
I thought I’d arrived on the wrong website today when your new site loaded — love the new look! So crisp, clean, easy to navigate…it’s zesty
Thanks for doing what you do here, Gena — I’m always grateful for your ‘food for thought’
hey gorgeous girl! I tried to comment on the bus from my phone yesterday but it wouldn’t go through. It is amazing how much our yourself and your passion you have given to others over the last year. I can’t imagine my life without you, not even for a second.
I hope you are enjoying this sunny sunday. xoxoxo
Congratulations on your blog’s anniversary! I’m really happy to learn that it’s helped you accomplish and celebrate some of your goals. I have enjoyed reading your blog for quite some time now and I hope to continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Congrats again and best of luck for the upcoming year!
The new layout is absolutely beautiful!!! And I love your goals for the blog after your one year anniversary!
can’t wait to see you!
This looks so awesome! I love all of it so much including your new ideas! Quick recipes are my fave of yours!
Just stopping by to say how much I am enjoying your blog:) Personally, I don’t feel like I fit completely in the “raw” or vegan catagories…although 90% of my meals one or the other. It is such a journey to decide what is most ethical, most healthy, most life-enriching. Congrats on one year blogging & I look forward to reading throughout the next year!
Hi Gena. I adore reading about food. Every day, when I open my little apartment mailbox, I hope that VegNews or Vegetarian Times or Utne will be waiting inside. I forget how I stumbled upon your blog, but it’s been in my google reader for a while and I usually quickly skim your posts when I’m trying to relax. Today’s change made me really perk up and pay attention. I think you delivered your message with a lot of subtelty and elegance that I appreciate. The fact that you embrace moderation and a focus on your motivation is also great! I realize that I’m rambling, but I just wanted to say how much I look forward to your upcoming posts. I’d also love it if you could recommend other great food blogs with a focus on healthy and eco-conscious living. If you’re ever in Houston, stop and say Hi!
My blog is so neglected that I typed the address wrong in my first post… always a good sign when you can’t remember your own web address. http://vegtestkitchen.blogspot.com/
Your new design and layout looks wonderful! I’m always fascinated by your raw food creations, but I also look to see cooked versions, too. I love food in all forms, it’s a form of art to me. The more, the merrier.
Congrats on your blog’s anniversary!!
Jenn
Happy Blogiversary! here is to another year of Choosing Raw! (and many more after that!!)
The new layout is gorgeous! In the past few months I’ve already come to consider your blog as “a place to discuss eating (and living) in a way that’s close to nature,” so it’s great to hear that you’ll be focusing even more on that topic.
Congrats on your blogiversary!
looove the new look!
i cant believe its only been a year (it feel like more). ive enjoyed each and every post, and i cant wait for the year(s) of quality reading to come. you have single-handedly opened my eyes to the entire raw food world, and for that, i will always be grateful for you and your blog coming into my life.
I love the new layout! Ironically, I just revamped the look of my blog as well and I can’t stop admiring it, hah. Anyway, I’ve been enjoying your blog since day one and I love how well thought out and in-depth your posts are.
That said, I would love it if you talked a bit more about vegan protein and protein in general. I’m not a vegan but I rarely eat meat and don’t like consuming copious amounts of dairy because I think I have a bit of a sensitivity to it. I also don’t want to rely on soy products or protein powders. I’d rather get my nutrients from “real food.” I know you touch on this a little bit in your FAQ but I’d love it if you could expand upon it. I’m trying to build muscle right now so I feel like protein is especially important. Some specific questions I have are: What are good sources of LEAN protein for vegans? How much protein should one be getting in a day?
Thanks so much for all the wonderful information you’ve already provided. Looking forward to what’s to come!
I’ve got to admit… I LOVE the new website, but I really miss the avocado at the top!
Since finding your blog a year ago you’ve completely changed how I look at food. Your posts are always so balanced, well-written and well-researched. You really have taught me so much- so thank you
Can’t wait for your fridge tour, green household cleaning tips and green beauty tips.
Really dig the new look! Congrats on your blogiversary!!
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