Raw Family: A True Story of Awakening

by Victoria Boutenko

There is no knowledge more important than the knowledge of listening to our body for the sake of our own health. We have an illusion that someone from the outside can heal us. If anybody can heal us, it is only ourselves. It will take centuries for science to learn the hopelessness of the attempt to push the everchanging human body into frames of scientific theories. But it is possible to know what we need to do here and now for our health. It is possible to learn to listen to our body's voice.

Genres: Health, Food, Nonfiction, Cookbooks, Diets

Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Victoria Boutenko is an author, teacher, inventor, researcher, artist and mother of three. She teaches classes on healthy living and raw food all over the world. As a result of her research and teachings, thousands of people are drinking and sharing green smoothies.

Source: http://greensmoothiesblog.com/who-is-...

Reviews

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not really a book to read if you're looking for information on switching to a raw foods diet, but it is an interesting story of how an entire family went from being rich in money and indulgent in food to diseased to healed (after they totally went out on a limb and switched their diet overnight) to broke and homeless to very happy and peaceful.
It's a very fast read (68 small pages - the rest of the book is recipes and photos), and one of the most interesting things is how each member of the family contributes to the telling of the tale. Each passage starts out with the name of the family member who wrote it. My favorite section was Sergei's message to teenagers. I love how he is so positive about his diet and how he talks about how easy it is to still be social even if your diet is radically different from that of your friends'.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read quite a bit lately on raw foods, and this book is different from them all. I finished it in one sitting because I couldn't put it down. The Boutenko's welcome us into their lives and share their journey from dire illness to raw foods as a family.

Written in such a way that each family member's voice is included, this book chronicles their introduction to raw foods in 1994 when Sergei, then in 3rd grade, was diagnosed with "incurable" juvenile diabetes. Following her instincts, his mother Victoria refused to put him on insulin, instead beginning to research the effects of diet on health.

Amazingly, the whole family went raw together a short time afterward, and this story includes all the thoughts and feelings, all the changes they experienced as a result of their live food diet. Reading it does something that other more technical raw food manuals and cookbooks cannot do: it allows the reader to actually see what life might be like as a raw fooder.

Though the Boutenko's and their children were experiencing health problems due to their diet and lifestyle which strongly influenced their desire to go raw and encouraged them to stick with it, their story offers hope that making the transition with older children is indeed possible.

This is an inspiring book, and it includes a small recipe section and some before and after photographs of the family. A gem!

[Read]

In this little and humble book the Boutenko family tells of their experience leaving Russia, coming to the US, getting fat and sick, and turning to a completely raw food diet. This book will give you an interesting way to think about food. Honestly, it is a life changing book. Their new lifestyle surpasses food, it affects everything about their life. For a person who likes wholesomeness, minimalism or implementing radical life changes, this will be exciting. It is controversial of course, but there are some great ideas in here. Kick back with a green smoothie and read it.

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very short book, but gives a good autobiographical story of a family that started learning about raw food. It was written in journal format - several family members traded off in different sections, and we see their thoughts and feelings. I like that it explained how and why the family made their food choices, and how it affected their health. All the family members are battling illnesses or disease at the start of the book, and all are healthy and not under a doctor's care by the end.

[Dr. Hicham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a highly entertaining and compelling one-day read full of fascinating information that definitely dovetails nicely with sustainable living. I'd say the common theme between the two is taking personal responsibility for our health as well as our future and those of our children and future generations. It's packed with tremendous food for thought, no pun intended.

[Emily Mellow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. Nice and short yet inspiring and educational. Sergei's message to youth at the end can be skipped, however, and the recipes in the back don't have an index. So that's sort of useless. But the story is life altering for anyone interested in optimal health for their family.

[Lorra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this before - in 2008, it was one of the first books I read about the raw food diet. Life-changing. Even though I now follow a low fat raw diet (5.5 years later), this little book is still a fantastic source of inspiration. Read it again today just for some nostalgia :) quick read.

[Wendy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very interesting story about a family who went raw.

[Mary Strack- Lebaron]

Their adventure of being on Raw food Wonderful!1

[Bobby · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good challenge - but the family seems a bit fake/extreme at times.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enlightening, encouraging, miraculous and my children LOVED listening to me read this to them.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Boutenko's are truly a family of wellness practitioners who eat their talk. It is a very short book but well written. Did enjoy their journey to good health.

[Shannon Salvatore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one changed my life on health!

[Laityfamily · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cool story. Even if you would never consider going totally raw there is a lot to learn about eating and living healthy in this little biography.

[Wendy · Rating 2 out of 5]

interesting quick read. Not sure I buy all their miraculous health claims, though.

[Peg · Rating 4 out of 5]

good read. inspiring story of the beginning and the ups & downs of becoming a raw foodie

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great testimony of an entire family whose lives were drastically changed and bodies healed through eating a 100% raw vegan diet. Inspiring!

[Shelfish Twitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant account of a very sick family bringing themselves back to ultimate health through the consumption of a raw food diet. Highly recommend!

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting. I wonder how they made it through the most recent recession. Maybe Ashland was unaffected.

[Alex Samanta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought This book Was amazing! Makes me want to do the same thing they did! :) i want to be Able to follow My intuition and know what things/foods My body/mind needs. :)

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's pretty awesome how this family overcomes some intense challenges. Some good recipes to try out and I will probably read another book from this family.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short book but with great impact!!!