Interview with Raw Chef Ani Phyo

Ani Phyo, whose lovely face often graces VegNews TV, is our go-to gal when it comes to all things raw. With a new, totally vegan, all-raw dessert book due out next May, Phyo knows best when it comes to taming your sweet tooth. While the rest of us are busy furiously baking to our hearts’ content this time of year, Phyo celebrates in high style, minus the oven mitts. Whether you’ve been raw for years or are simply trying to put a dent in the number of holiday cinnamon buns that you devour, Phyo shares a few precious tips on how to have a happy, healthy, raw holiday season.

VegNews: As someone living raw during the holidays, how do you deal with all the amazing smells coming out of the ovens at holiday parties and gatherings?
Ani Phyo: I’ll use my dehydrator—our raw-food oven equivalent—to create recipes that smell just as delicious, like cookies, breads, pizza—even Save the Turkey Patties. Using fresh herbs and spices, they fill up my home with the aromas of the holidays!

VN: How is the raw lifestyle an advantage, specifically during this time of year?
AP: Most people worry about gaining weight, overeating, and feeling guilty during the holidays. Raw foods are made using only fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds: all things that are good for us. Since the food is free of wheat, sugar, dairy, and guilt, you can eat up and feel great! Eating raw will even help you lose weight, because the water and fiber in raw foods will fill you up before you can eat as many calories. Plus, this is all nutrient-dense food that satisfies our bodies. So feel free to eat up as many cookies, pies, ice creams, and cakes, and know you’re doing your body good. It’s all 100-percent guilt free!

VN: What are your favorite no-fail recipes that are sure to impress at potlucks?
AP: Persimmon Cobbler (just substitute persimmons for the mangos in my Mango Cobbler recipe in Ani’s Raw Food Kitchen), pizza, Cauliflower or Brazil Nut Mash, and Pumpkin Pie.

VN: How do you handle the desire to heat up the house with baking during the colder months?
AP: I heat up with hot chilies, garlic, onion, cinnamon, and spices. Sometimes, I’ll let my soups run a bit longer to heat up in the blender, making sure it doesn’t get too hot with my finger. My raw foods are packed with fresh herbs, spices, and balanced with the right amount of healthy fats so they are really satisfying. Good food is delicious, regardless of the temperature.

VN: What’s your favorite thing about a raw holiday season?
AP: Guilt-free, clean-karma indulging. Knowing that every bite is cruelty-free, healthy, and good for me and the planet takes a huge load off. I let myself go nuts and never worry about how much I’m eating, or gaining.

Want more un-cooked good times? Make sure to check out Phyo’s website.