My eating is extremely particular: I�m a raw foodist and I�m practically, though not entirely, vegan.

My eating is extremely particular: I'm a raw foodist and I'm practically, though not entirely, vegan. I've been interested in the raw food diet for almost two years now, but I decided to go entirely raw six months ago. I was at a retreat in Queensland, Australia, which is run by a guy called John Fielder, who's been eating raw food for decades. I was already not eating meat, fish, dairy or wheat. Even though I wasn't 100% raw at that time, I could already see what a difference it was making, to my energy levels, body weight, eyes and the texture of my skin.

This will be my first entirely raw winter, so it will be a challenge, but not all my meals are cold. I make a raw soup with broccoli and warm it up on the stove to under 40 degrees. I also have a clever contraption called a dehydrator, which extracts moisture, making the food crispier, giving it a cooked texture. I make crackers, burgers and nut roasts. I also make pesto-stuffed mushrooms. I'm at the stage where I'm loving gourmet raw food. There's a cafe in Edinburgh I'm dying to visit, called Red Sugar.

My typical breakfast would be a green smoothie. It's made of seeds blended with water to make seed milk, a very large handful of green leaves such as spinach, kale, romaine lettuce, watercress or rocket, then I'd probably add some superfoods like maca and sweeten with agave syrup, medjool dates or fruit. I would make a large amount and have at least a pint.

Often I have that for my lunch, too, though yesterday I had a large mixed salad. For dinner last night I had a raw soup and a large salad with carrot, cabbage, seaweed and a nut butter dressing, cold pressed olive oil and avocado. If I'm hungry I think, OK, now I'll eat. Yesterday I snacked on medjool dates, which are my equivalent of sweets. They're like toffee. I also have a raw chocolate bar, which is delicious - it's made with the unroasted cacao bean, cacao butter and agave syrup.

There still seems to be a lack of connection by people between what we put into ourselves and the health we enjoy or don't enjoy. I love food. I still have people over for dinner and they are always amazed by the taste of raw food. When it comes to going for dinner at friends' homes, they always ask "what would be OK for you?" I often take something along that everyone can try or take sunflower seed sprouts or avocado to make my own food a bit heavier. Even in restaurants, it's fine. I write a little card to the chef saying "Dearest chef, I would like a large salad containing any raw veg you have, with an oil and lemon juice dressing. I look forward to your creation." I always get a stunning meal.

Amanda Ryan is Cathy in Wuthering Heights at the King's Theatre, Edinburgh, tomorrow until Saturday. Call 0131 529 6000; www.kingstheatre.org.uk