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About Marie "Mayat" Heriveaux
When Marie "Mayat" Heriveaux
was a young child in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, she always had in
interest in food and eventually became a folk cook in her home
in the United States. She recalls as far back as the fifth grade
making carrot juice for her family using a blender in Miami, Florida.
No one showed Mayat how; she just knew how to do it. Today, she
makes a variety of juices using a juicer.
During her high school years, when most students would go to
the mall or beach, she would go to her friends' houses to prepare
meals. During those days she used to say, "Sharing my food
with someone always makes me feel fuller than eating it alone!"
This old saying of hers is still true today.
Mayat's interest in nutrition grew when she took an Essentials
of Nutrition class in college around 1997. From the class, Mayat
learned about eating "whole" grains, a variety of fruits
and vegetables, and not washing and draining rice because it depletes
the nutrients from it. It was from this nutrition class that this
native of Haiti started to be more conscious of what she ate and
decided to add more fresh fruits and vegetables to her culture's
standard rice and beans diet.
In 2001, Mayat earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, became a Certified
Yoga Exercise Instructor, started studying yogic philosophy, and
initiated her spiritual path. She also coordinated all aspects
of food for the Sema Institute's 2001 Winter Solstice Program.
It was during this time that she was introduced to the Kemetic
Diet Lifestyle (KDL). Simply stated, the KDL describes a healthy
person as having health of body, mind and spirit. Through the
KDL she was introduced to Dr. Ann Wigmore and the Living Foods
Lifestyle. She attended Ann Wigmore's Living Foods Institute in
Puerto Rico in 2004. Two years later she compiled her popular
recipes into an ebook, The More Greens the Merrier. After that,
Mayat went through some metamorphoses as she struggled to redefine
herself.
Today, Mayat believes even more firmly that eating more fresh
fruits, vegetables, seeds, legumes, and nuts can lead to better
health. Research has proven again and again that a diet rich in
those things can prevent and in some cases reverse many common-day
ailments like high blood pressure, cancer, etc. Because she believes
we are all on a journey, Mayat respects everyone's choices as
far as what they choose to eat. She is a firm believer of Dr.
Robert Anthony's philosophy: we always make the best choices for
ourselves at the time, even when we would like to do better.
It is this compassion and love coupled with her great tasting
recipes that people find most enchanting about Mayat. She knows
what it is like to fall back on a diet or lifestyle, and then
to pick yourself up again. She has felt alienated by some friends
and family who make different dietary or lifestyle choices than
she does.
With a sense of camaraderie and understanding, Mayat proclaims,
"I put love, people, and compassion on the top of my list.
I don't look for more ways to discriminate; we have enough of
that going on in the World. My message is clear and simple: eat
more fresh fruits, vegetables, seeds, legumes and nuts!"
In her creation of new recipes, Mayat defines herself as a food
artist. She has said, "It brings me so much pleasure, watching
someone enjoy something I've prepared." She encourages people
to open their taste buds to new tastes and ways of eating. "Break
out of the same old food and try something new!" she exclaims.
As an amateur gardener, this food artist has grown romaine lettuce,
cucumbers, turnip greens, snow peas, radishes, sunny greens, and
wheatgrass. Mayat loves diversity, music, yoga, and dancing. She
currently lives with her young daughter in Georgia where she's
learning motherhood and plans to purse a degree in nutrition.
From a young child in the streets of Port-au-Prince to a loving
compassionate mother, Mayat's down-to-earth personality and flair
for healthy food is inspiring and contagious. The vibrant colors
and tastes of her recipes are enticingly delicious. She reminds
us to be compassionate loving people, foremost, while motivating
us to eat more fresh living fruits, vegetables, seeds, legumes,
and nuts.
Marie "Mayat" Heriveaux is the author of Mayat's Healthy
& Easy Recipes, 39 Things to be Thankful For, and the ebook
"The More Greens The Merrier."
She is available for interviews, lectures, workshops and/or presentations.
Love,
Mayat
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