Basic Grocery List

[khackett]

Okay, a lot of people say "just go to the produce section and go bananas!", but I'd like something more specific for all those items NOT in the produce section and stuff that we may not be familiar with...

Things like nuts? What sprouts? Beans? How the fark do you not cook a bean? Do we not eat beans? Sprout bread?

[Rawkinlocs]

Hi and welcome!

Well, everyone is different and eat differntly. Some raw foodists advocate eating sprouted grains, sprouted legumes (beans) and the like while some steer far clear of them.

But if you decide to do many of the raw recipes found in books or online, then you will want to base your stock on the things you find yourslef wanting to try or the things you find you love to make and/or eat.

Here is a basic list of things to have on hand:

nuts (walnuts, almonds, cashews, brazil nuts, pecans and macadamias are most commonly used in many recipes)
seeds (sunflower, sesame, pumkin, brown and golden flax)
grains (wheat or spelt berries, buckwheat groats - though not technically a grain, oat groats, barley, rye)
beans/legumes (garbanzo/chick peas, lentils are the ones I've seen commonly used in raw recipes)

All of the above are to be soaked and sprouted. There are many resources online that deal with sprouting.

Some other things that many seem to have in their kitchens are:

Nut butters
dates
raisins
Bragg's Amino acids or Nama Shoyu and/or Miso (fermented soybean paste or something like that) - neither techinally raw, but considered "live" often used in recipes especially during transition
Sea salt
Apple cider vinegar
Spices/seasonings
herbs
honey or agave nectar
and of course, your fresh produce!

I'd visit www.fromsadtoraw.com and check out the recipe section to get a feel for the raw recipes, what they entail, what you'll need and to start trying them out. Then most definitely get Alissa's book! ;)

Hope this helps

[khackett]

I think my second question is...

What the heck do I DO with these beans and grains and stuff once I have them?!

I know how to cook BREAD, ya know, with yeast n stuff, but ... grain bread? (ha. that can't be the right name)... do you see why/how I'm confused?

[flutterfly]

Do yourself a wonderful favor and get Alissa's book. You will never regret it and it will tell you everything that you need to know. There is no other book you will ever need.

[khackett]

Any bookstore?

(I'm also a VERY poor college kid; if there are free recipes online, that's what I have to do, not buy a book... ironically, my money goes to books and food. Har.)

[Rawkinlocs]

You are going to have to do a little research. I highly recommend investing in Alissa's book and DVDs as they will provide a WEALTH of information to you...motivation, inspiration, what to do with the seeds, etc (how to sprout them) and the array of recipes and how to prepare them. The DVD shows Alissa demonstration how to make some of her most popular dishes right in her (then) kitchen.

Keep in mind that the sprouted grains and beans are usually used in recipes and the recipes are most commonly used for those who feel they NEED to re-created their favorite cooked foods in order to make the transtion to raw smoother so they don't feel deprived. Not everyone needs that...maybe you don't, I don't know. But I'll try and see if I can find a good online starting point for you or perhaps one of the other members may have one to pull out of their hats before I get one posted.

For now, just focus on getting more fresh, raw produce into your diet, check out that website link I gave you to get a feel for raw recipes and what they entail. Start doing searches for raw foods websites on Google and do what most of us did...absorb as much information as you can because there is an abundance of it right here on the 'net.

Edited to add: You posted your circumstance as I was typing. Yes, there are plenty of free recipes online. The link I gave you above is a great source (once again, it's http://fromsadtoraw.com); http://living-foods.com has a large recipe section on their site; many more...type in "raw food recipes" into Google and you'll be sure to come up with more! ;)

[khackett]

Awesome! I'm really excited about trying this way of eating on for size. I bookmarked both those sites.

[monkeyboy]

Hi Everyone,

It's best to listen to Rawkinlocs. She's a freakin' moderator. Oh and by the way she has a nobel prize and she has great hair!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yo....Kate Winslet Hackett welcome to the site. Raw is a cool journey.

Peace,

M.B.

[yani]

ever tried being a comedian? you are hysterical. i can't tell you how i laughed while reading your thread. That is exactly how i felt at the beginning. What you need is a soaking and sprouting chart, I have found Alissa's to be the best because it is very specific and has more info than most. REmember that small grains, legumes are better done in a jar and bigger ones (garbanzos) are better done in a strainer. (learned that lesson the hard way).
You won't regret it. You can make some fantastic "refried beans", "falafel", and "hummus" with this stuff!

[twinyoga]

When I first attempted eating 100% raw I went crazy trying to re-create dishes and was spending way too much time in the kitchen. Now I'm raw again and this is how I'm doing it (a slower transition to being a un-cook):

Breakfast: fruit salad and I blend a banana with some raw tahini and pour over the fruit. Then I sprinkle some flax seed and wheat germ and sometimes a little raw honey drizzled on top. I love big breakfasts and this fills me up.

Lunch: more fruit, or a salad with some chopped up fruit and some seeds or nuts sprinkled on top, vinegar as a dressing, sometimes olive oil, too. Salt and pepper for seasoning.

all snacks: fruit or carrots or nuts or a combination of those

Dinner: raw soup (I have two that I make at this time), salad, or a big smoothie. my desserts are fruit and nut mixtures sometimes with some honey drizzled.

As you can see this is pretty much 101 raw food basics. As I get more confidence I will slowly try a new dish maybe once a week or so. With 9 month old twins, I don't have a lot of time and this works for me.

Hope this helps.