Newbie Question

[Mosaicsbymichelle]

Hi all,
I am new to Raw Food and have just started this week. I have a pretty good food processor and a cheapy blender. I am wondering if you could suggest just one of the following appliances, which would you purchase first and why.

Dehydrator
Juicer (type)
Vitamix blender

Thanks for your suggestions. I am a bit overwhelmed and can't afford to get all of these right now so I am hoping you can shine some light!

Michelle

[Lunar*Fey]

I would suggest a blender. Unless you already have a perfectly fine regular blender. But I suppose it depends on what you like. I eat mostly fruit, green smoothies, and smaller amount of fats simply because that is what my body seems to be asking for right now...in other words this is what I have been craving and such. But if you are into making lots of gourmet recipes that you need a dehydrator for than I would get the dehydrator first. I don't have a juicer...and although it is probably wonderful I would prefer smoothies to keep the fiber in.
good luck and welcome to raw!! :D

[Rawkinlocs]

Hi and welcome Michelle!

If looking into getting one of the three items you listed, I'd say it depends on HOW you want to do raw.

If you are interested in making lots of raw meals and snacks like crackers, etc. then I'd say go for the dehydrator because while it's definitely not necessary to have one, it comes in handy for this transitional time for a lot more creativity and versatility as far as making different types and textures of food to satiate you.

If you are not interested in all that and perhaps want to just do the more simple way without a lot of recipes, etc. then I'd maybe suggest the Vitamix because you can do a lot with it including juices (just put the fruit/veggies in there with just a little water unless the produce you use is really juicy and strain through a nutmilk or paint strainer bag and you have your juice!)

If you are big on juicing (I personally am not but prefer smoothies) then maybe a juicer.

But you can get by with a standard blender for now...I used mine for 2 years and just got a Vitamix this year. I love it and it does make a lot of things easier and smoother, but I did fine without it for 2 years! Also, you can get a dehydrator but don't necessarily have to get the Excalibur...the American Harvest Snackmaster (WITH temp. control) was my first dehydrator and worked fine for (again) almost 2 years until I was able to get an Excalibur. But you can get that from Walmart or www.walmart.com for under $50 and then get accessories for it from www.everythingkitchens.com or www.nesco.com such as more fruit roll trays (used as teflex), convert-a-trays (a deeper tray for taller items) and more regular trays if you need more than the 4 that comes with the dehydrator.

[sport]

Are you planning on going 100%. I do not think that I would have been able to give up bread if I did not have the crackers and I needed the dehydrator for that so as you have a blender I would say buy the dehydrator.

[ShelShel]

I have been high raw for months and 100% raw for 3 weeks...and I don't have any of those things. :o I don't have any gourmet raw treats...or crackers. They sound like heaven...but I just didn't have the stuff and I wanted to make sure that I would be able to stick with RAW before I invested in it. Now that I have been raw so long without...I just didn't ever feel like I needed them. Still don't. I like food just how it comes...in it's perfect little wrappers! :D

[Pailani]

If you are not interested in all that and perhaps want to just do the more simple way without a lot of recipes, etc. then I'd maybe suggest the Vitamix because you can do a lot with it including juices (just put the fruit/veggies in there with just a little water unless the produce you use is really juicy and strain through a nutmilk or paint strainer bag and you have your juice!)

This sounds like me - I had already given up bread because of a wheat intolerance so I didn't need to make crackers and other bread substitutes, and I didn't want to mess with dehydrated foods, since one of my major challenges is drinking enough. I just about live on smoothies, both fruit smoothies and green smoothies. I used my Krups blender for a year and a half and finally invested in a Vitamix this week because the Krups died. I still don't have a dehydrator. I have a juicer but I never use it, I prefer smoothies where I'm getting the whole food.

Like Rawkinlocs said, it depends on HOW you want to do raw. The problem is, it's hard to know how you'll evolve into it until you live with the diet for awhile. Maybe you should get a cheap dehydrator and use the equipment you have. Try smoothies, recipes from the food processer, and dehydrated foods. Then you can assess what you really need when you see what foods appeal to you the most.

[mnjgetz]

Hi,

I'm new to all this and have read quite a bit on raw. I have an almost 2 yr old and 4 1/2 year old and a hubby who doesn't know what to think of it all. Where do I start? I have a juicer and have juiced quite a bit. My blender is OK. The problem is I don't know about my little ones, 2 yr old won't eat veggies....only avacados, 4.5 will eat some. I dont know what hubby will think because he already lost quite a bit of weight when I tried some raw due to him being very sick. We spent lots of money on herbs to help heal him but he gave up after 8 mths of terrible coughs, shortness of breath and allergies. HELP I know this is right, how do you do it????

Missi

[Mosaicsbymichelle]

Thank you for all of your suggestions. I think I am going to look into a better blender. Mine leaves things too grainy. I may try a cheaper brand of dehydrator and see how that goes. Thank you!

[meinleben]

the vita-mix took me to a new level of raw....i love it.....

i personally see no need for a dehydrator.....that stuff just dries up my insides....i did not even use one in transition....

a good food processer is also good to have...