came dangerously close to eating cooked

[theresaann]

thank GOD for this board-for some reason, I came VERY close to eating cooked food, like the same feeling I had after the first few days raw, like some visceral reaction like I can barely restrain myself. Both times now it's been about mexican food (lol). wow. that's scary. It's amazing how powerful this addiction is. I was feeling really freaked out and then realized I can share this on the board-even just writing this I feel like I have the support I need. MAN! What an insidious addiction eating cooked food is!! That one really sneaked up on me....

[English Tracy]

When you are over a certain age (40 plus in my case but only a bit!!) and have spent most of them eating cooked food, it will obviously be difficult overcoming cravings. It's probably a comfort issue. However, I don't know your personal circumstances so may be completely wrong here.

Don't feel bad about it - just move on and think of the benefits os a raw future. After all, "tomorrow is another day". Nobody thinks any less of you as we are all human and prone to various failings. (I have a list of mine somewhere................)

Tracy

[karenbeel]

Yes having those thoughts and cravings is awful and yes it is so easy to get drawn back in but you conquered that by resisting, what a fantastic step you just took. Maybe make some Raw Tacos or a Raw Taco salad to satisfy that taste.
Karen

[JinxieKat]

I did the same thing today, but it was pizza. I had a meeting at another bank branch and at my usual branch I had one person on vacation, I was gone, then another called in sick. That left three people in the bank, yikes! It wasn't so busy that it was an issue, but for security reason they couldn't do lunch until I got back. I didn't get back until 1:30pm and just as I walked in the pizza that they had ordered for lunch arrive. I love pizza, wait! I _loved_ pizza, I _adored_ pizza.. and I wanted that pizza. They offered me a piece, I said no and ran to my desk. :D Fortunately the pizza smell stayed in the lunch room. I decided not to take my usual lunch today and just nibbled at my desk. I was not strong enough to resist that twice in one day!

Jinx

[karenisraw]

FYI,

Just for your information, almost every day that I have forgotten to take my coconut oil, I have cheated and eaten cooked. When I forget to take it, I eventually start looking for things to eat with bread and cheese and grease in it.

k :)

[theresaann]

hey, karenisraw, what do you mean "take" your coconut oil? I'm intrigued, that helps ease cooked food cravings?

also, Englishtracy, I am 41, so I can relate!! I figure it will be at least 6 months before I feel those manic cooked cravings go away. So, I'm committed to waiting it out. hmm.....in the past I thought those cravings meant that my body NEEDED cooked food or something, now I know it's just withdrawal and I can ignore them. Geesh...cooked food is probably harder to kick than herion! :eek:

[greeninlosangeles]

For me:
Greens(kale in the smoothie, wheatgrass juice, kale chips)take care of physical cravings
Books, magazine and forums works for encouragement and information
Potluck and calls to other raw fooder takes care of social cravings
Unfortunately binging(on raw foods though)works for stress relief...
I am raw for3 and half months.

[Shivananda]

Here's my advice... when you get that overpowering, visceral need for Mexican food... make some Mexican food and eat it!

That's the beauty of Alissa's approach, that you don't need to deprive yourself of having the food you like. I think all the struggle I keep reading about here in so many various postings is mostly unnecessary. Y'all just aren't making yourself interesting enough food! So you're bored! So you eat cooked food because it's more tasty than whatever you've been making.

Alissa has recipes in her book for raw chili, enchiladas, chile rellenos, tacos, and more. And there are many other good raw Mexican theme recipes on the internet. Same for pizza. I've had raw pizzas that were completely awesome. Calzones, cannolis... it's all there. You just have to do a little work for it.

>>cooked food is probably harder to kick than herion!

Nah, I really don't think so. If I put two plates in front of you, and one of them is bland cooked food with no visual interest and the other is tasty, vibrant raw food that looks as beautiful as it tastes, you will eat the raw food and be happy and ignore the cooked food. No kidding.

For St. Patricks day, I'm making raw shepherd's pie and having a green juice. :)

[macybare]

Ha I agree about the cooked food being harder to kick than heroin, but also agree that I would definently choose the RaW food. It's just that cooked food is so much easier to get ahold of when it comes to an easy delivered pizza or a go out and get ingredients to make a raw pizza. However, I love to prepare food. So I guess that's a bonus for me! sometimes tho I don't like to hunt and hunt and hunt and get home to realize I forgot an ingredient! Lists are always good! ha

[Nenyath]

Are there any easy solutions for those who do not have a dehydrater when it comes to making pizza, tortilla and all that?

Fly forever free,
Nenyath

[macybare]

Don't know how anyone else feels about this, but when I want something crunchy I slice potatoes into real thin slices and place them on a cookie sheet and place them by the window so the sun hits them. It takes 1/2 to 1 day but they kind of curl up and dry up and make a crunch snack. However, there isn't much flavor so I've been letting them sit in apple cider vinegar and then dry them out.