I'm back...time to try an easier way

[Raene]

So, yes, I gave up raw and have been back on a cooked vegan diet for about 2 months. After dealing with severe acne I'm willing to try again. But I'm not interested in all the fancy recipes. I want to do raw as simply as possible so that I don't get discouraged and worn out like last time. I went from being home 6 days a week to working 2 jobs and rarely seeing my house. Does anyone do it the easy way, and if so, tell me more. I'm not good at coming up with ideas for what to buy and or make in 10 mins or less (preferably without equipment just b/c I want to do it simply but yes, I do have blender, food processor, etc). I'm not addicted to the thought of cooked food, I'm just addicted to convenience. I don't buy packaged food, but making things from Alissa's book just takes so much more time than I have right now...even the easier recipes.
Also, if there's a good simple recipes website I'd definitely like to know.
Trying again...
Raene

[Oceana]

Well you don't NEED mechanical things; but sooner or later you will HAVE to buy something if you really want to succeed.

I ONLY have a 2 cup processor and it helps me greatly!
Otherwise I would have fallen off the wagon!

With raw i HAVE to feed my chocolate addiction!
With out the PROS. I couldn't do that!

I am not sure what types of sites you are looking for?
There really is no magic web page that will make it easier; you just need is to eat raw with a WIDE variety to your diet.

Our website as a VAST amount of recipies; I have collected them on my pc in word; i will share them with you if you e-mail me.

here are my favorite sites..

www.thegardendiet.com

If I were you I would purches jinjees e-journal!

www.shazzie.com

her journal is free.

hope this helps!

[exurb]

Raene, I don't know if this helps you but my survival strategy when things are busy professionally (besides just cheating and getting everything from a raw restaurant) is generally to do only a little uncooking for the whole week early on Saturday morning. I get up fairly early, and just crank out a few recipes one after the other, then that gives me some "staples" for the week.

I'll usually do a cracker recipe, a "cookie" or bar, and maybe a pizza crust or a burger/patty or something else, and store it. I often also make either some sort of pate/hummus or nut cheese, etc. Then I can eat simply, but have some handy stuff that is more filling, satisfying, etc. It actually goes fairly quickly when concentrated into one little session like that, I just rinse out the food processor between and start the next batch. Usually if I'm soaking some buckwheat or something, it can be in both the cookies and crackers. It is possible to do things simply and in busy times. I also love eating simply, but I find I also need to have a few staples around of more satisfying stuff to make it work. Not generally preparing stuff during the week and having some crackers and other stuff around really helps me.

[Boz]

raene,

Like you I spend rarely any time at home except some weekends. I usually leave the house at 7 am and dont come home until 7 pm so I dont have time, or rather I cant stay home and watch a dehydrator or be a slave to a food processer all day. My daily meal consumption is as follows:

b: 1-2 bananas and a smoothie of 1 banana, strawberries, spinach, celery, supergreens and sometimes hemp protein with water.

L: 4-5 bananas and possibly a smoothie

s: if hungry, I'll have an apple or orange

d: at home I'll have a papaya or a clamshell of strawberries

super simple and filling :)

hope that helps

[kiku]

Hi Raene. I can understand your dilemma. In my case, I have a serious chronic illness and am only infrequently well enough to prepare raw dishes (which is also why I rarely post on this board and can only do so on my rare "good" days, though I'm happy on these occasions to be able to share anything I can).

Because of my limitations of energy I can make only the simplest, quickest dishes. I have found that many more complex dishes can be simplified by simply using fewer ingredients without really sacrificing flavor.

For example, one of my staples is a super quick marinara sauce on zuccini pasta. There are many recipes for marinara which use alot of different ingredients which create a very rich and complex flavor, but I find that a simple version is, in my opinion, just as enjoyable. In my case, I just throw three whole tomatoes (don't even chop) in a blender, a clove of garlic, some salt and sweetener, and blend. Then I throw in some sundried tomatoes, blend till smooth and finally add some fresh or dried oregano. 6 ingredients, and takes just minutes. The zucchini "pasta" I make with a salad shooter, which just takes seconds.

Another good example is RPs brownies - 3 ingredients. Or a blended minted honeydew melon soup - honeydew melon and fresh mint, 2 ingredients. I make a chocolate icing that is just agave, dates and cocoa - 3 ingredients, and chocolate syrup with just agave and cocoa. For an orange citrus salad dressing I frequently use just fresh orange juice, no oil, etc.

So this would be my suggestion, to simply try to reduce recipes to the fewest number of ingredients possible - 2, 3, 4 or 5!

[codajess]

I'm trying to simplify, as well.

Although all I do now is make smoothies, eat fruit (usually pineapple and bananas) by themselves. My idea of gourmet is cutting up tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, and mixing apple cider vinegar, agave, sea salt, and dill weed in it.


Can't go wrong with cut up fruit and veggies!

[ktkat]

Hi Raene,

Congrats on coming back raw!! I'm in the same time conflict as you, and have tried to simplify also. So far I do my staples like exurb once a week while the laundry's washing, and I buy lots of fruits and pre-cut salad. I do have a juicer and juice the same day too. I have juice or fruit (like an apple) for breakfast during my commute. I pack my lunch, dinner, and snacks in a cooler bag. I usually make things depending on my taste. For astringent I do Alissa's salad dressing (5 min and I double the recipe), for sweet I add banana or something sweet with the dressing and salad (completely changes the taste). I buy sprouts and put them on top with nuts and bell peppers. When I feel like something heavier or carby I bring crackers or granola. I eat fruit and nuts as snacks. I will bring a fork, sharp knife, and spoon and napkins with me and an avocado, tomatoe, slice of onion, and salt and make guac on the go (5 min) . For asian I've been doing cucumber salad (10 min)and asian cabbage salad. Soups and smoothies are not extremely time intense too, but I opt for fruit or nuts usually. Marinated vegetables is fast and simple with lemon, oil, garlic and parsley. Italian is the marinara made ahead of time and then just peel the zuch when hungry while the marinara is warming to room temp. I also found www.rawlifeline.com website on the east coast who deliver raw food. I can't use them b/c I'm too far away to be economical, but it maybe an option for you.
Good Luck
kt

[Conscious Midwife]

This is the perfect time of year for simple

My breakfast daily is usually a smoothie and nuts on the side. Unless I'm blending cashew milk and then I just add to it.

When I eat plenty of fruit I find that I don't crave as many cooked starchy items.

I'veyet to purchase a dehydrator butit's coming soon!

Veggie salad lunches are big on my list I always have avacados and slivers of almonds. Keeps me full longer.

Then smoothies again at super time.


This works fairly well unless I get a big wif of pizza from somehere.

[madmel]

Hi ktkat,


For astringent I do Alissa's salad dressing (5 min and I double the recipe), for sweet I add banana or something sweet with the dressing and salad (completely changes the taste).

Which salad dressing by Alissa is that? Do you add banana to the dressing or to a salad? I am interested in trying but am a bit afraid of trying and not succeeding? Would banana go with all leafy greens?

Thanks,
mel