I needed a challenge!

[lallen13]

I have been eating about 50% raw for a while but I have trouble in the evening when I have to cook dinner for my family. Even if I don't eat their dinner I have trouble in the eveings with snacking. I needed a challenge because I believe this is the diet for me. I believe it can help with some health issues. Any ideas for my afternoon cheating? Lorna

[veggiemom2]

I have a bowl of coconut meat chunks in the fridge, a bag full of dehydrated crackers on the counter, and various nuts.

When I get the muchies while I am making my familes foods, or when they are snacking on junk food in the evening, I will grab one of these items. The funny thing is that they will usually curb the munchies wonderfully for me (especially the coconut meat).

[RawGranny]

Welcome Lorna. I am new to this too. Only 2 1/2 weeks. I also find that having finger food around to pop into your mouth really helps alot. I have a husband that does not eat Raw so know what you are going through when meal time comes around. Night time is my worst time for cravings. Maybe because we are getting tired. In Alissa's dvd she says that anything less that 100% raw keeps you addicted to cooked food. If you are going to break the cycle you need to be 100% and stick with it. Cooked food is an addiction and I know it is not easy, at least for me it isn't. But the end result is worth all the struggle. :)

[heatkins]

Hi there! I like to have salted non-roasted cashews in the evening. This is my replacement for snack foods, like chips. It works like a charm. I get the cashews wet with water to make the salt stick.

Heather

[sweetgoddess]

Greetings Lorna. I have to cook for my family to.. What I do is make my meal first so that it's all ready and then make theirs. Also, I keep ALissa's date/nut torte on the counter beside the fridge and when I wander in the kitchen in a naughty mood I have a nibble of that.
Be creative and do anything you can think of!
Best wishes to you~

[SedonaSun]

RawGranny shared these with me recenlty... I've only tried the carob almond balls so far, but they're good. I didn't have a food processor at the time, so mine are a little chunkier than they're supposed to be, I'm sure, but they still squished up into balls and are really yummy! They might help your afternoon cravings :)


Carob Almond Balls
1 c. sunflower seeds
1 c. raisins
2 T. raw honey
2 T. carob powder
1 c. almond butter
1/2 c. sesame seeds (optional)


In food processor, chop all seeds/nuts. Add remainder of ingredients to make smooth thick paste. Roll into 1" balls,(1 Tbsp.) Roll in finely shredded coconut.


Makes 2 dozen


*** note from Michelle: the sesame seeds are optional, but I suggest using them --- makes the texture like a Nestle Crunch Bar


- from Wholistic Life Center


Variation:
Trail Mix Balls
1 c. Raw Trail Mix (brazil nuts, almonds, pecans

[askcassyfirst]

You can do it!

I have found that the longer I have been raw, the less the SAD snacks apeal to me. However, I still eat at night. This is because I get home from work around 7. I don't like eating late, but it can't be helped. Typically I eat a small salad and a piece of fruit, or a BIG bowl of half frozen berries. That is one of my favorite snacks.

I would agree with veggiemom2, coconut meat is a great way to satiate your hunger. When I first went raw, I would buy about 8 or 9 mature coconuts a week, and chop them all up and freeze the chunks. throughout the week I would pull the little bags of them out and munch. They are REALLY filling. I would sometimes marinate them in a bit of braggs and then dehydrate them like jerky. THe coconut oil in them is great for your metabolism, and it is also good for killing fungus and bacteria in your system. And, it tastes great. Despite the calories, I lost weight eating a ton of coconut, so I sing its praises!

Having plenty of fresh fruit around is great, as is trail mix. If you like to cook, check out the recipe section as there are many great ideas there.

Welcome to the boards!

Cassy.

[SimplyRawesome]

Okay, for all you coconut experts. How the heck do you get the meat out of the coconut??? I can see this is going to be an all day project. Is there a secret to doing this?

All I want to do is make those freakin' Lemon Chew cookies and since I need dried coconut, I have to stick the meat in the dehydrator. I'm really hoping I can make and eat these cookies before I go through menopause!! LOL!!

Any suggestions???

[waken]

nutrimom,
There is a big long thread on the subject of opening coconuts.
Coconut Smoothies!!!! AMAZING!!! (http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1421)
I'm jealous.

[Ireland]

How do you make coconut smoothies and can you use young coconut instead cuz that's what I have here...? How about pineapple...I have onea those too..

[tracyinfo]

How do you make coconut smoothies and can you use young coconut instead cuz that's what I have here...? How about pineapple...I have onea those too..

The young coconuts are easier, the "meat" comes out like jelly.

Fresh pineapples slices are great sweet treats. After slicing downward around the skin, place the pineapple on its side and slice away. Sometimes I add diced pineapple to my wild rice (soaked about 3 days) salad. Chopped onions, cherry tomatoes, any veggie chopped up, mix with the wild rice and pineapple and toss with just a little oil and salt. I love it!

Good luck with both the coconut and pineapple.

-Tracy

[SimplyRawesome]

nutrimom,
There is a big long thread on the subject of opening coconuts.
Coconut Smoothies!!!! AMAZING!!! (http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1421)
I'm jealous.Thanks Waken. I got the sucker open - I'm just having trouble getting the meat out of it. I guess if I got away from this computer, I'd be making a whole lot more progress!! LOL.

[Rawist]

In Alissa's dvd she says that anything less that 100% raw keeps you addicted to cooked food.

I like this, I can't eat a percentage raw, if I do, I'll eat all cooked.


If you are going to break the cycle you need to be 100% and stick with it. Cooked food is an addiction and I know it is not easy, at least for me it isn't. But the end result is worth all the struggle. :)

I need to be 100% and just wait until I get used to it, even if it takes years. Cooked food is an addiction for me. It's a constant struggle for me to stay raw. I hope the end result is worth all the struggle. ;) :( :o

[SamL]

I don't have trouble drilling the holes to drain the milk out, I take it outside and throw it on the concrete, that halves it... as far as getting the meat out easily... thats a task in itself..

I know some people put them in the oven, to warm up and the meat is supposed to come away from it's shell.

[SimplyRawesome]

I don't have trouble drilling the holes to drain the milk out, I take it outside and throw it on the concrete, that halves it... as far as getting the meat out easily... thats a task in itself..

I know some people put them in the oven, to warm up and the meat is supposed to come away from it's shell.
I about got to the point where I wanted to throw it threw the wall! I didn't think of knocking the little eyes out to drain the milk! Noooooo, I slammed the thing several times with a hammer and then it cracked and the milk drained all over the counter. Uh-huh!! And THEN I couldn't get the meat out! I resorted to the oven method and the meat came out all right, but the inside lining of the shell was stuck to it! So, THEN I had to peel the lining away. Let's just say that next time there will be NO raw coconut! If there is, I will open it with my husbands 30:06 shot gun!! But then there won't be any coconut left! It will be blown to smitherenes! Can you tell it was a frustrating experience????

These flippin' cookies BETTER BE GOOD!!!

[askcassyfirst]

opening mature coconuts is an experience that grows on you. Back when I used to eat them all day and night, I would just sit and smash them and then use a butter knife to peel the inner from the outer shell. It really is easy on some, and harder on others. If you smash them small enough, it is quite easy. When I was in the islands, they were so cheap I didn't mind losing the juice. (They were sometimes less than a dime each.)

The locals used to use a machete. They were easily able to open them, especially the young types of coconut, the green ones. I kind of miss cheap coconuts. Here in florida they cost a buck and an half each!

Cassy.

[Helen Of Tennessee]

Hey Nutrimom,

Are you using young coconutes (the ones that are white and the top comes to a point?) I just use a spoon and the meat slides right out. To me, there is no taste. The texture turnes me off - it's slimmy.

When those of you who say you cut chuncks and put them in the fridge, are you using the older brown coconutes? Or are you using the young coconuts, and if you use the young ones, do you dehydrated the meat first?

<>< Helen of Tennessee