Have you met frank?  Well, let me introduce you.  Frank Ferrante is a 58 year old Sicilian from Brooklyn; a lover of life, great food, beautiful women, and a good laugh.  Four years ago, he was also a drug addict, morbidly obese, pre-diabetic, and fighting Hepatitis C. He was estranged from his daughter, single, and struggling with depression. Frank knew that life could be better, and was looking for a way out.

When he walked into Cafe Gratitude and his server asked him, "What is one thing you want to do before you die?" he responded, "I want to fall in love one more time, but no one will love me looking the way I do."  That server, Ryland Engelhart, arming himself with a camera and a wide open heart, enrolled his brother and his best friend in taking Frank on a transformational journey. The final agreement was made that for the next 42 days, Frank would turn his life over to three twenty-something young men committed to his healing and prepared to coach him physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Setting out to help Frank lose weight and get healthy, no one anticipated the profound impact this journey would have on the lives of countless others.  Through Frank’s story of love, redemption, and transformation, the viewers witness the power of change for themselves and the world.  To find out more about his journey, visit MayIBeFrankMovie.com

"In spite of the anxiety and uncertainty, I am so grateful to be alive and to participate in this adventure. I get to do my dream job; travel and emotionally connect with people. The Beatles were right, “ …and in the end. The love you take is equal to the love you make.” I plan to make as much as possible. "

Now, Frank is extending his invitation of love to you.  "Change Your Life" is Frank's first ever retreat, held at a spectacular Malibu mansion overlooking the sea. This 4 day intensive is an opportunity to "make over your self," and includes inspirational seminars with Frank, daily yoga sessions, gourmet raw catered meals, and a swimming pool and private beach.
 Fees for the retreat range from $1200 to $1500. When you call to register we will give you additional details on the available accommodations.

Tim VanOrden had retired from collegiate cross-country skiing at the age of 20. At the time, bad knees and a case of athletically-induced asthma knocked him out of the game, despite living in Vermont, one of the cleanest air environments in the United States. For 18 years, he did not train, trek, or cross anything.

I so highly recommend the wondrous book by David Wolfe: The Sunfood Diet Success System.  This book is an awesome resource for the science behind, the power behind and the results from living foods.  David has a great way of bridging together the hard science and the easy-to-digest explanation of raw foods.  

In The Sunfood Diet Success System, David Wolfe puts together a masterpiece of introductory lessons in raw foods and their impact, on the importance of healthy enzymes and the impact of eating mutated foods (allergies, chronic pain and even terminal illnesses).  Not only does he have the know-how in the impactful way that raw foods impact the body, but David also lays out plans for how to transition successfully or experiment with raw foods, how to plan cleanses for yourself, weekly menus and full recipes.  Below I bring you a few of his recipes for rapid results.  These work sort of like teasers to introduce impactful eating for some of our everyday health challenges.  Try some of these out the next time you might otherwise reach for an over the counter drug.

We are happy to feature a friend down in Cupertino: a raw foods nutritionist, photographer, etsy entrepreneur, and professional oil painter... Claire!  This miracle mom and type I diabetic has been serving up health to her whole family, and has proven herself a true dehydration master!  Really though, don't those kale chips look good?

Visit her blog to view her take on breakfast cereal, homemade cookies, pecan crisps, and more!

Heather has a way with food.  She knows the science of, the obsession with, and the art of food.  She is articulate and on top of every new twist and turn in the culinary arts of raw cuisine.  She is dedicated not only to healthy sustainable food, but to satisfying even the most critical omnivorous tastes.  I’ve taken classes with Heather and have radically changed how I make food in my kitchen at home.  I’ve actually passed on simple tools learned through her to several of my friends and family members.  

Heather inspires me to stay conscious and love making food, no matter what I’m making.  She is a wealth of knowledge and an excellent resource to grasp onto through her passionate and down-to-earth speaking.  I love listening to her teach because I both love what she stands for, and I know that she’s available to talk to any level of chef, and any level of diet commitment.  

Heather is good at keeping it simple, and making raw foods just as easy as any peanut and butter sandwich or burrito.  She also has a great talent for wowing crowds with her creations.  Her raw minestrone soup from her Italian class is by far the best minestrone (raw or cooked) I’ve ever had.  She can go from 5-minute coconut yogurt to 5-layer lasagna and walk you through safely to the end.  

Meet Bernando LaPallo, an incredible human being who has been eating primarily raw foods for over 100 years!  In these videos he  explains how he lives his life and what how he takes care of himself.  Every morning he goes for a 1.5 mile walk and sets up his juicer and blender.  Every day he enjoys clean water and fresh raw vegetables and fruits.  Watch interviews with him here and get to know what keeps him up and out in the world.

In the comments below, tell us what stops you from treating yourself.  What can you gift yourself today?

Hey all,

Maybe you have heard one (or one hundred and one) miracle stories about a raw foods diet saving someone's life, restoring their health and vigor, or giving them a second chance to live a life they love.  At Cafe gratitude, we hear these stories like these all the time.  The truth is, many people have made it their life's work to heal themselves through diet, and have spread their word far and wide to those who will listen.  Being in the business of self-transformation, we would like to extend an invitation to you to consider that simple changes in your diet and lifestyle could allow you to be the next miracle story!

Check out these resources to clear your mind, free your body of sluggishness and pain, and re-commit to self-healing in the coming weeks:

At Cafe Gratitude, we hear miraculous stories every day.  While bartending at the Berkeley Cafe last week, I happened to meet Dave, a handsome man with rugged hands and sparkling eyes.  A professional Over-The-Road "Big Rig" driver by trade, he had just come off of a day long trip, and was simply radiating joy to be in the Cafe.  A coworker of mine swung by to tell me that Dave juices wheatgrass with an extension cord at gas stations as he travels, and also carries a blender in his cab.  Intrigued, I began to pull him a double-shot of his favorite elixir while he told me his story.

In 2008, Dave weighed 430 lbs and had been diagnosed with colon cancer, type II diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and failing kidneys.  He was on a host of medications, and doctors thought that he would soon need to go on dialysis and go on the kidney transplant list.  Luckily, Dave met two people who introduced him to raw foods, and put him on a diet that allowed him to transform his life.  He sat before me, alive, joyous and invigorated, as he told me how after just 4 days of his new diet, he was able to go off all of his diabetes medications.  A year and a half later, he stood before me, 230 lbs lighter, both kidneys intact, and the spirit of gratitude lighting up his being.

Nowadays, Dave has quite a following.  Check it out yourself at TheRawFoodTrucker.com or Dave's Facebook Page.  People have come out in droves to support Dave in his transformation, to share inspiration, and to practice what Dave calls “Gratitude Rocks.”  I invite you to try it yourself:

Practicing “Gratitude Rocks!”

Notice what you are focusing on at the moment.  Now, find something in the moment to be grateful for.  Now, observe where your attention is, and find something else to be grateful for.  Repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat...

Dave began doing this meditation on gratitude during his long hours on the road.  The longest he has ever practiced “Gratitude Rocks” was 9 hours!