Salutations from Wyoming!

It’s quite an honor to be here to share my life, my struggles, and my successes in leading my children to live the healthiest lifestyle possible beginning with their diet and environment. I want to take a moment to share about myself and my amazing little people who run around my feet all day.

I was only 11 when I discovered something amazing when my feet hit the pavement. I was free from pre-teen and teen troubles. I loved running so much that I began increasing the distance I ran with each passing day. By the time I was 16, I ran 7-10 miles per day. Since then, I have found great enjoyment in biking, rollerblading, and hiking. Some of those activities encompass my life still today. As a teen, I learned that I required greater calories to balance the energy I was expending. At first, I didn’t care what I ate, just so long as I had food (calories) to burn. It didn’t take long before I realized that the quality of food I was eating effected my ability to run at top-speed. I began researching foods and their benefits to develop a system that worked best for me.

Twenty plus years and three-children later (I’m a 30-something woman with one child who passed away in 2000), I still pay careful attention to the foods I eat and the beverages I drink to ensure my body is receiving adequate nutrition to sustain any activity that comes my way. My love of food is extensive and sharing those foods with the little people in my life hasn’t always been easy. My oldest son (J) had severe allergies as an infant. His diet was so limited that teaching him how to eat a variety of foods was challenging after he outgrew most of his allergies. My youngest son (S) arrived at 24 weeks in gestation. His dietary issues revolve around dysphagia; the inability to swallow thin liquids without aspirating and sensory aversions.

With each of my children, I have worked diligently to find the least invasive ways to introduce raw foods that meet their dietary needs without causing additional issues. My experiences with them have helped me assist other parents in similar situations.

I look forward to sharing tidbits about my life, my family, and how we work to create a home filled with fruits, vegetables, and children who beam with excitement to enjoy them!

Michele L. Tune (aka Raw Juice Girl) is a freelance writer and blogger, with a focus on health and eco-friendly living topics. She loves garden-fresh produce and enjoys weaving live ingredients into fresh juices, smoothies, and meals. Incorporating raw foods and liquids helped her lose over 100 pounds several years ago. A newlywed, Michele’s husband brings his passion for gardening, fresh air, and exercise – particularly bicycle riding – to the table. Visit www.healingwithjuices.com to learn more.