Alissa's DVD

[Pailani]

I had limited funds, so I could get either the book OR the DVD. I decided that I could probably find information on line to get me by for a few months, but what I really wanted was to be able to see if a raw foodist looked healthy, and hear someone explain how it all works, and watch some of the foods being prepared. So I got the DVD.

I watched the first part today, it was longer than I expected, it's a lot of information! Now that I've seen how easy it is to make some of the foods, I'm going to try them. I bought some tomatoes and zucchini and I'm going to try shredding the zucchini (with a hand grater; I don't have the saladicco spiral thingie yet) and making marinara sauce. It was great seeing Alissa in action, she really is the picture of health. I'm willing to eat this way if I can be that healthy and radiant!

[RawNaturale]

I'm trying to decide on a purchase as well. I'd like some simple recipes and how-to's. I have Gabriel Cousen's book, but some of them require a lot of advanced planning -- I'm still new to all this, too. How "simple" and easy to prepare are you finding the food on the dvd?

---Julie

[coffeesquirrel]

simple to me is washing an apple and chowing down lol. i have not yet bought into all the equipment. maybe in the future .. who knows. jen

[Pailani]

<<How "simple" and easy to prepare are you finding the food on the dvd?>>

Julie, the ones she demonstrates on the DVD are super easy, a lot of them are just a couple of things thrown into a blender or food processor and maybe a couple of spices or salt or something. Very easy. I posted a thread a few days ago about being terrified to delve into the recipe part of this whole raw food thing, because I don't even cook much as it is. But even I feel like I could the things she shows on the DVD. In fact, after watching it, I went to the store, bought some bananas, papayas, tomatos and zucchini and made a couple of the recipes she shows. Seeing her actually do it removes some of the fear factor.

I'm not sure if the DVD or the book is the thing to get, though. Maybe someone who has both can explain how they differ. I think the book has lots more recipes.

<<simple to me is washing an apple and chowing down lol. i have not yet bought into all the equipment. >>

Jen, I was thinking the same as you. But she explains on the DVD how there's a learning curve, and if you spend your first couple of weeks experimenting with the recipes when you're really excited about it, then, two months down the road when you suddenly have an urge for some cooked comfort food, you won't be at a loss and give up the diet, but you'll already have some options in your arsenal. You'll already be comfortable making a couple of things, and that can give you something to get through your cravings when they hit. It made a lot of sense to me. And she says that you can do a lot with a food processor and a blender. I still think I'd rather not get into dehydrating yet.

[RawNaturale]

That's the beauty of some of these recipes...run a zuke and an apple through the shredder, add some avocado, Bragg's and cumin or cayene and <poof!>, "Zucchini Surprise" --- so much more fun to the taste buds than separately. I'm addicted that mixture. I know myself...I will eventually get bored and want to go back to old ways. So I need some simple stuff I can easily and quickly prepare. I may go ahead and get the book...I'm a "book" person. :rolleyes:

[SamL]

I loved Alissa's DVD too, I watch it often. There are times where I feel inspired by watching how easy it can be, I go back to watch it often.

The book has a lot of infomation about raw, recipes etc...

[swingbolder]

I would really recommend both. I got mine last week and both have been indispensable. . . I've tried a new recipe every day (they are all delicious) and feel totally satisfied, not deprived or hungry at all. The DVD shows you the "how to" and the book has tons of recipes for applying the "how to."

Also, it's one thing to read about how to do these recipes, but it makes it so much easier to see it being done by a real person. The DVD demystifies things like sprouting and dehydration too.

[Pailani]

OK, I gave in and got the book now instead of waiting. Now I'm really excited for it to arrive in my mailbox!! :)

[Sharon in Colorado]

I think you made the right choice with the DVD. The book is great too, but for me the DVD really got me excited about going back to raw. It's almost like going to a lecture in your living room (or workout room, or whatever!)

[Punky]

I agree with the others; the book is a great resource for recipes
and information (It is one of the thickest raw food books I own!);
but the DVD is so awesome to actually see her making these dishes
and showing you the different equipment and how easy it can be.
I think it helps someone be less intimidated by the whole process.
So if I could only get one now, I would start with the DVD and get
some recipes online until you can get the book too. I'm glad I have both
though. I think her book is very beautiful and she has a gift
of making this lifestyle seem more approachable.
I do watch her DVD over and over again. I'm having a friend over
next week that wants to watch it; I'm trying to turn her onto raw.
She's very interested but intimidated by it all. I'm going to make
a raw lunch for her too; some of the recipes from the DVD.
HTH,
Punky

[coffeesquirrel]

i just go my book and dvd in the mail yesterday and i'm glad i got both... she really makes you realize that you too can do it.. it's so so easy and so inspirational. If i was'nt still on the mc i'd have made something right then. so much of it looked soo soo soo good

[Sharon in Colorado]

Coffeesquirrel when I'm on the last few days of a fast, I start making those 3-day recipes (you know the ones that require soaking, sprouting, fermenting, dehydrating etc.) so that they are all ready when I start eating again!

[catherinethegreat]

WOW these really help solidify everything in the book. It looks so much easier then when I just read the recipes. Honestly I have only useed the dehydrator twice becasue I felt it was too much - too hard - too much planning - but NOW that I watched the DVD I'm totally inspired to make the flax crackers with cinnimon and put almond butter, honey and bananas or raspberries on top!

My boyfriend would love that for breakfast too!

ANd the crepes with the strawberry suace on top. I'm totally inspired to make that too.

Now making the fruit leathers doesn't seem so work intensive.

I'm not sure why I thought it was in the first place.

But her DVD really has added a new dimansion to my raw food life. I don't feel like it's that out of reach to make the recipes.

YAY ALISSA! You've changed my life in so many ways.

ALSO - she mentions fibromialgia and my mom suffers from that and has been impressed with how different I look from the Raw diet - so Now when I'm done I'm going to let me mom watch this too. I bet she will add more raw to her diet too.

xoxoxoxo!

*c

[rawpriestess]

I bought Alissa's DVD and book together, and when they arrived, the first thing I did was pop in the DVD and watch it all the way through.

I was amazed at how fun and lively Alissa was, she is so personable, that I really felt like she was talking to me personally.

I kept answering her on the DVD, my hubby just laughed.

There were so many things that I already knew about raw foods, I wasn't sure there was alot I would learn, but I was so surprised at how much I learned.

Just her confidence in the way she puts everything together, made me feel more confident. She just took a little of this, and a little of that, and there you go, voila' fantastic gourmet meals. I'm sure she must have done this a hundred times, but it all looked so easy, that I knew I would one day be able to do it too.

How marvelous this DVD is.

And I can't tell you how much I love this book, it is my favorite raw food uncook book, and also my favorite raw food information book too.

I love the information she gives about her life, and about the other people, I really love that part. I read, and re-read all those people's stories.

I wanted to be one of those people, and now I am.

44 days raw so far.

I love her book and the DVD, and Alissa, I can't wait to meet her face to face, and I won't be able to go to the Boston Cruise, so I will have to wait until she is somewhere on the west coast.