new here and needing help

[freenow98]

Hi everyone,My name is Sheila,I live in Pa.with my husband and my youngest daughter Megan(15).I am completely new to all of this and if anyone can guide me as to where to go for beginers into the raw diet.I am hoping to gather at least some food I can put together for at least a weeks worth so I will be able to have something different to make and to taste.My daughter and I have an illness called a chiari and I found out that I may be facing surgery(brain sugery)and I need to become as healthy as I can.Thank you for your help in advance,sheila Pa

[Rawkinlocs]

Hi and welcome to you!

I think that Alissa's book is a great start, especially since you mentioned being able to make food (and adjust to your tastes) and have a meal plan...her book has all that and THEN some!

Also, this site is a great place to start...you'll get support, answers to your questions and we have a KILLER recipe section with some of the yummiest raw goodies...some created by our own members here!

I truly hope that you are able to get the results you desire for you and your daughter healthwise! I'm so sorry to hear about what you both have and your potential brain surgery...that must be really scary!

[deedub]

And in fact in my opinion you have already started with your post asking for support and just your decision to eat and get healthy. Alissa's book and DVD are great, the DVD is fun and contagious. (sp) And while you are waiting for it to come eat anything you know to be raw. Fruit, Salad... whatever. Be creative and have fun. The recipe forum is a great place to get ideas. Learn as much as you can about "the raw food diet" and keep yourself emersed (sp) and connected. This forum is a great place to do just that.
I am joining with you in my thoughts and prays for your healing.
Much Love

[mindelicious]

What part of PA are you in? I am originally from Lancaster and I wish I was living there again. This is the perfect time around that area--so many farmer's markets even small ones right a long side the road which are open everyday.
I am pretty sure there is a raw presence in the allentown/wilksbarre area. Just google for raw potlucks for one.
Let me know where you are at and I will come up with a list of markets/potlucks/classes/people....

[freenow98]

Thank you Rawkinlocs,mindelicous and deedub for your warm welcome and advice,any help I can get will be greatly welcome here.I live in Ardsley Pa,or others know it as Glenside,it's about thirty minutes outside of Philly(northeast)We are about an hour and 1/2 from lancster(which I love that area too).We only travel there a few times a year but,I do love it there.I don't travel to much of anywhere that's futher then five miles from home on my own,do to my chiari(or I guess the problems it causes)if I'm the one driving that is.I was reading through some of the receipes and boy they sound yummy,I did notice some use a dehydrator or other special things to make the food.I have a dehy.but,it's just the simple round one and I was wondering if that would do.I have tried to use it a few times and nothing turned out when i use it.I have a regular blender,food processer,juicer.Do you think I can get by with what I have?We don't really have the option to buy to much extra at the moment due to our situation but,if there is something that is a must have to make most of my meals and it's not to over the top money wise,I will do my best to get it.My daughter is on the fence about always eating raw,mainly because she can't see herself eating just salad and fruit(plain)but,I know if I can prepare some tasty meals,at least I can help all of use it better.My husband for the most part will not eat totally raw but,I have hope he will want to change alot of his eating habits when he notices how much better it makes you feel.Thanks every,sheila Pa

[Helen Of Tennessee]

Hi Shelia,

The equipment you have now will probably be just fine. I have exactly what you have. With the round dehydrate we can't make nice big pizzas, but you can make individual size pizzas :D I know you also said anything you made in it didn't turn out. I will tell you I go to monthly raw food potlucks and have been doing so for almost 2 years. There hasn't been a raw dehydrated dish that I have liked yet. Just about everyone there raves about how great it is, but for me I have not liked it, hence my dehydrator sits in the pantry. I prefer fresh whole fruits and salads. I also love my smoothies. So maybe it's just that you won't like the dehydrated food, or maybe you just haven't hit on the right recipes yet. But many people on this board have the round dehydrators and use it on a regular basis and enjoy their dishes they make with it.

Here is a raw food support group near you:

http://rawfood.meetup.com/158/?gj=sj21

Get involved with them. Try their foods. I belong to the Nashville, TN meetup group and what we do is take a raw dish to the meeting and we stack our recipe next to our dish, then if someone likes what they are eating, they pick up the recipe for that dish. This is an easy way to taste many raw dishes and pick out ones you'll know you and your daughter will like.

[mindelicious]

http://www.glensidefarmersmarket.org/

http://www.pennypackfarm.org/joomla/index.php

Here are some buying clubs in your area:
http://farmtocity.org/MarketList.asp?view=club

If you would like to grow your own garden...this is a huge seed seller close to ya--if you have never had a garden before they have great people who can help...they deliver:
http://www.catalpatreeseeds.com/index.asp

Organic Produce to your door!!
Door to Door Delivery:
http://www.doortodoororganics.com/

Arnold's Way (see photo in 'Raw Food Lifestyle' below) - 319 West Main St. Store # 4 Rear, Lansdale (40 miles N. of Philadelphia), PA 19446. 215-361-0116. Retail store (and restaurant) carrying hundreds of products for a Live Food Lifestyle including: Books, Videos, Nuts, Seeds, & Fruits, Teas, Sweetners, Honey, Wheat Grass, Appliances, Premade & Ready-to-Eat Foods, Grocery Products, and Earth Shoes.
http://www.arnoldsway.com/

Probably to far but still good contact:
Philly Raw & Real - Ken Shapiro, 243 Nandina Terrace, 2nd floor, Philadelphia, PA 19116. 215-677-5817. Raw Food Support Group.

This may be to far but for a weekend activity:
Raw food classes at a great deal!!
http://www.kindcafe.com/infopages/classes.htm


Hope this helps!!!