I need RAW help!!!

[VeggieFriend]

I am 21 yr old college student. I find it might be a bit tricky to be 100% raw because of the social situation. Most of my friends don't know what it is. Also, what do you guys do about going out to eat? I mean so many of my friends do and I don't want to miss hang out because of it. Also the prep for Raw seems a little time consuming/tricky with the sprouting.germinating/dehyrating techniques. I am sure that when a little trial and error those things will become easy. Anyway just looking for a little advice/support from all ages.

Muchas Gracias,
VF

[Ariella]

raw can be as simple or more complicated as you make it. the recipes are great! they definitely are awesome especially if you are transitioning but you can also just eat whole fruits and veggies. if you are going out to eat, you can always get a salad or ask about fruit! :) if you plan on ordering a salad you could bring baggies with a few extra goodies from home ie. avocado, or nuts or whatever extras you like on salads that may not be offered at the restaurant. it is all a matter of mindset. if you go and enjoy your meal while they enjoy theirs, most likely nobody will notice. and you will still get the benefit of going out and having fun and enjoying the time with your friends :)

hope that helps some. i am sure others will have some good ideas:)

Ariella

JUICE PLUS+
www.juiceplus.com/+dj73561

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[rawpriestess]

You can be raw, and still have a life, trust me on this.

welcome and you've got some great questions.

This is how I do it, when I go out, I order a chef salad or what ever kind they have, with everything on the side, this way if it comes with egg, or canned olives, or ham or something, I can just give it to a friend, or toss it, but if it comes with some great stuff like fresh mushrooms or tomatoes then I will eat them.

I also just ask for lemon and olive oil, alot of places hve them, or you can take a small bottle with you of your own dressing.

Also, there are lots of places that have a fresh fruit or veggie plate, I eat this alot.

I agree that you can make it as complicated or as simple as you like,

it's just like eating anything else, if you like gourmet and preparing food, then do that, if you like it fast and quick, then do that.

I like to make lots of fun gourmet stuff, so I do this, but I often just grab an orange or banana or some nuts etc.

there are lots of easy recipes you can make, or only 2 ingredient recipes too.

If you tell us what types of food you like, maybe we can give you some ideas.

I like Italian, pizza, ravioli, and Mexican, tacos, burittos, etc.

I make these all the time, and sometimes they are easy and quick, other times, they are very complicated

[dreamrawalwz]

When going out to eat I always order a house salad (lettuce, tomato, cucumber, onion, salad, shredded carrots usually). I ask for lemon slices on the side as "dressing". If it's a restraunt that serves steamed or cooked vegetables I ask if they start out raw and if I could get them that way, but if they're frozen first then I won't get them. Mexican/oriental places may be more difficult, but they may have guacamole, and you can ask them to make a salad of the lettuce and tomato...something to tide you over until you get home. Good luck!

[Sharon in Colorado]

I've ordered a salad with "everything on the side" before and it worked great. I got a nice salad and a big plate of little silver condiment cups filled with various things. I had my own personal salad bar!

I will do that from now on because it's easier on the waitstaff and me, and there are no surprises in my salad.

The other way I was saying "hold this and add that and put this on the side" and usually something came back to me wrong that took me the entire meal to work around (like finely shredded cheese entangled in everything)

Also if you scan the menu and see something like avocadoes or mushrooms or strawberries you can get a side of that to add to your salad as well.

[VeggieFriend]

Thanks guys on all your advice. It is much appreciated. It is just so nice that everyone here is so helpful. Rawpriestess I am huge fan of all types of mexican food, pizza, pretty much everything that you listed, o yea and Chocolate chip cookies. But of course I haven't had those things in a while. Also I love all fruits and making smoothies. I am trying to figure a good smoothie/ drink recipe with veggies like broccoli, spinach, avo, and other veggies. I like eggplant, squash, pumpkin, and sweet potatoes too but I have no idea the right way to eat them raw.

I got this book called Carol Alt's Eating in the Raw for Christmas but haven't really been able to get into it because I have been traveling for the past several months. This also made it VERY VERY difficult to eat raw because I was living with all these different families in Spain and it was extremely rare to be even vegetarian there. They do have lots of excellent fresh veggie/fruit markets, but many times I wonder who shops there because all the families I lived with cooked very unhealthy food. Strange meats, many fried things, and lots of seafood. This one woman gave me fish and I told her that I did not eat that and she thought I didn't it because it was white and she thought, that I thought it was covered in milk and that was why I would not eat it. I am not stupid. I know the difference between milk and fish. She was one of those who thought it was ok to eat chicken/fish and still be a veggie. I gain about 12 pounds from all the overly cooked veggies I was eating. I got constipated alot and sick twice and before I went I hadn't been sick with anything in over a year. I thought that Europe was suposed to be so much more healthy than America but I think the one reason they don't have health problems like Americans is because they have to walk everywhere all the time. The food is not healthy all of the time. But it probably depends on the people and family food lifestyle. My body is still trying to detox from all the toxic food I ate. Whatever it takes though I am willing to do it to feel my best and be my healthiest.

Also it bugs me when my friends and family know I am trying to be healthy but they still offer me meat or something else they know I don't eat and get sad when I turn it down. They know better and I don't know why they do it. They are like well it is ok to spurge sometimes. They do not understand eating meat or real ice-cream is not a spurge for me. I dont want to feel lousy after I eat. I suppose they just do not understand. Most people when I tell them I only eat fruits/veggies/nuts/legumes/seeds they think I am crazy. They are like how can you turn down a grilled burger or pizza. O well. Maybe one day they will try real food.

Ok, thank you everyone again. You all are all so wonderful. Oh and Ariella I am a Juice Plus+er too!

VF :p