I was a sickly child. I inherited a weak immune system, so I was susceptible to ear and throat infections and suffered severe cold and flu symptoms annually. I was the canary in the coal mine; the first to pass out from carbon monoxide poisoning in high school auto shop, and I remember losing conciousness from heat exhaustion numerous times during my childhood.
I was brought up on a typical southern diet consisting of overcooked, oversalted high-fat foods, obviously not a healthy situation. I continued the tradition after leaving home until the age of thirty. I did not connect my diet with my health problems when I was young. Once I realized the connection, I became impassioned with the desire to educate myself in dietary nutrition, ultimately completing a Bachelors degree in nutrition. Possibly the goal that has taken the most perseverance and determination to accomplish in my life is going from an extremely poor diet to what is probably the most healthy diet imaginable, a 100% raw vegan diet.
My wife was the catalyst for my change to a healthier diet over the years. She had been raised in a household with much better awareness of healthy eating habits, and she began my dietary evolution by gradually eliminating meat from my meals. The major milestones of my dietary journey included becoming vegetarian, dairy-free, sugar-free, re-introducing raw dairy, and then finally raw vegan. I have made it a habit to read ingredient labels and to avoid all toxic substances. I only purchase organically grown produce.
There were temptations and peer pressure along the way. Coworkers warming barbecued elk, asking "Doesn't that smell good?", or "Don't you miss eating meat?" Friends made comments like "That would be way too much trouble - I like being able to get something to eat on any street corner. You're going to die of something anyway - why not enjoy yourself?". Visits to family are always challenging. They just don't understand why I don't eat the same things I always ate growing up. People are often defensive when they learn you are a vegetarian, as if they think you are judging them. Finding raw food restaurants when traveling can be a big challenge. I choose where I live and plan travel around the availability of food.
Most of my childhood maladies have disappeared as I get healthier over time. I can honestly say that I am much healthier at age fifty-five than I was at age five. I look forward to every meal, and savor the delicious flavors and sense of well-being that comes from knowing that my diet is nourishing my cells and improving my body and mind.