COCONUTS! Wow, there's so much to write about coconuts I barely know where to begin. First of all, coconuts are an important part of most raw foodist's repertoire. They contain important saturated fats that otherwise would be lacking in a standard raw food diet. There are so many ways to eat coconuts!

1) Young Thai Coconuts- These are my favorite type of coconuts, and those that are most often used in raw food recipes. They are an easy to digest form of fat, especially good for those avoiding or allergic to nuts, as the coconut is actually a large seed! The sweet water of these coconuts is great for replenishing lost electrolytes, making it an ideal after workout drink. If you crave something creamy and filling, just blend the meat and water of a young coconut to make a delicious shake.
If you miss creamy sauces on your veggies here is a great cream sauce recipe:

-Meat and water of 1 young coconut
-Juice of a lemon
-1 cup shelled Walnuts
-2 tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
-generous pinch of Italian Seasoning
-pinch of sea salt

Blend all these ingredients up and pour this cream sauce over your favorite veggies. I love it over bok choy, leeks and snow peas, but any of the freshest veggies in season at the market will do! Remember to buy what's freshest and local! Nutrients of veggies begin to deteriorate as soon as the food is picked from the earth!
It's even better the next day or after it sits at room temp. for a few hours to let it marinate and let the sauce absorb.

2) Mature Coconuts- These are the very hard brown husked coconuts that most of us are familiar with. The water is not quite as sweet as that of the young coconut, but that can be a good thing. I like to use this water in my fruit smoothies to add more flavor and liquid (instead of using water). Use a hammer and nail to hammer the nail into 2 eyes of the coconut (the second eye is used to release the pressure to allow the water to come out). Insert your straw into one of the holes you made and drink up! (Or drain the water and save it for later...) Coconut meat is delicious in small amounts, just crack the coconut in half using a hammer (or let out your anger and frustrations in a productive fashion and throw it against some concrete). Once it is cracked in half you can then use a knife to simply pry the meat from the shell. Eat it straight or throw some in your salads and smoothies...You also get A Lot of good calories for your money when buying mature coconuts (even the organic ones are usually less than a dollar).
If you're too lazy to go through this whole process (although it is worth it for a good fresh coconut...) Just buy dried shredded coconut from the bulk section of your Health Food Store. I like to use it in a type of almond butter candy that based on Narz's Infamous Almond Butter Chocolate recipe:

~1 tbsp shredded Coconut
~2 tbsp Almond Butter
~dash of Flax Seed Oil
~pinch of sea salt
~2 tbsp Carob powder
~1 tbsp Honey
~1 tbsp Cacao Nibs

Mix all of these together in a bowl. It tastes like raw cookie dough...Mmmm all those delicious essential fatty acids...

3) Coconut Oil- Has been a staple of the diets of the indiginous peoples of tropical climates for thousands of years. Coconut oil is the best oil to use if cooking, as it remains stable and undamaged even at very high temperatures. So if you choose to cook and need to use some oil, coconut oil is your best bet, as even much of the beneficial properties of Olive oil are damaged by heat.

Most importantly coconut oil has high amounts of lauric acid, a particular fatty acid also found in mother's milk, that helps prevent babies from getting infections and that aids in protecting against coronary heart disease.

Coconut oil is also known for its strong antimicrobial benefits, adversely affecting any bacteria, yeast, fungi and viruses. Thus it is highly recommended for those overcoming candida or other infections or viruses. Coconut oil, often called Coconut butter because it is solid at room temperature, can be used in much the same way that you use butter, and to me it tastes very similar. So if you are missing that buttery rich taste reach for the coconut oil. And it's even good for you!