Staying Raw in Winter

[ellenalesa]

Good morning everyone, it's me again with more questions. Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself here, but I am wondering how everyone stays raw in the winter time when it gets very cold. I'm trying to plan ahead because I am just beginning to eat raw and I feel great!

Do you lose your cravings for heartier foods in the winter, once you get off the SAD diet?

Thanks for your help, everyone here has been very gracious and patient. It's nice that there is an attitude of tolerance for those of us who have not yet made the complete transition, I appreciate that!

EllenAlesa

[exurb]

ellen do you live in a cold winter area? I currently live in Canada, and I enjoyed raw very much this past winter. One thing we did, and we absolutely loved it, was to freeze and dehydrate and "put up" much local fresh produce in the peak of summer and harvest season, then there was some great stuff for us in the winter when what's usually available at the stores is less nice. It was like getting a little bit of summer to go to the freezer and get out a pack of strawberries, raspberries, peaches, etc., or flavor packed sundried tomatoes, all at the peak of ripeness instead of over-travelled, underripened produce in the stores. We also sprout a lot in winter. If you're worried about wanting hot meals, you can have warm raw food like soups, spicy curries, etc... or eat stuff like burgers warm from the dehydrator. There's no reason you have to lose those cravings for heartier foods, you can eat raw heartier foods.

[Dawn39]

I wish you the best w/ your journey.May I suggest the banana Search Tab above. You'll find alott of great info in the archives.

Here is another thread
http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15802&highlight=winter

Dawn

[dreamrawalwz]

I have this question too. Last winter I wasn't raw b/c (an excuse coming!) I have SAD (seasonal affective disorder) and get severely depressed and all the hormonal changes afftects my cravings and I crave carbs/cooked foods. Hoepfully since I've started raw again earlier than last summer I'll be able to stay raw and avoid the cravings...

[rawpriestess]

there are lots of ways to eat raw in winter.


first, realize that we SHOULD eat what grows naturally in our climate, and during the winter, is when we can get squashes and turnips, pumpkin, grapes, apples, etc, the more dense foods, (plus grapes) and that is how our body is supposed to eat.

however, since we live in a controlled environment, (unless you are like me, and don't heat your house) then you are living in a tropical, or sub tropical, enduced environment, so eating anything would be okay.

However, these are some "tricks" or ways to make food seem warmer or hot when it is not cooked.

place your food in the dehydrator to warm
eat warm soups
drink warm beverages
add cayenne pepper to your food, (just a dash, awakens the tastebuds, and makes the food taste more hot)
make heavier foods, like nut pate's and nut milks shakes, instead off smoothies, or fresh whole fruits.
eat more pies and cakes and gourmet foods.

this works for me, as in the summer, I usually just grab a bunch of fruits and that's it, I do have one meal usually that is prepared, but the rest, breakfast, lunch and several snacks are usually (during the summer) just a piece of fruit or two.

this might help, also join a raw group or go to raw pot lucks in your area, and see what others are making.

[exurb]

great post as always RP


squashes and turnips, pumpkin, grapes, apples, etc, the more dense foods, (plus grapes)

We also like to store this stuff from local sources (including what we grow). We can keep some types of apples pretty much until the spring, we still have one last winter squash that we stored too, gonna eat that this week.

RP reminded me that "winter veggies" are awesome, beets, carrots, celery root, parsnips, kale, jerusalem artichokes, red cabbage, the list goes on and on.

You can also warm your soups (or curries or dips or spreads) in a blender or vitamix or cuisinart by blending for the right amount of time.

[dreamrawalwz]

About warming the soups, that works well, but myabe it's just me that it doesn't lol...I warmed it to 105 degrees and the flavor completely went away! I had to let it cool down to room temp until flavor returned.