Heavy Restaurant Eater Needs Help!

[AZALEA1000]

Hi!

I'm new here and would really like to try this raw food living. The problem I see is I go out to eat at least once a day and I almost can't stand salads. I love fruits and veggies but I hardly ever see raw food on menus except for the traditional salad. Has anyone been through this delimma and can offer some suggestions? I would be SOOO grateful!

Thank you,

Jen

[Sharon in Colorado]

May I ask why you go out to eat everyday? Is it something you could avoid?

[berrymarymac]

I had a problem like this, when I go to a restaurant I scan their menu to see what is on it first. Then I ask if they can make me a salad with ALL raw (or uncooked) veggies. If they have a fruit salad or something, go for it! But I usually get like balsamic vinegar w/ my salad, which is not raw.

[AZALEA1000]

I eat out everyday because my family is not raw and won't ever be -unfortunately for them..., plus we have limited time to get dinner prepared. I've thought of different ways to be able to stay home and eat, but it would involve me having to cook them a dinner on top of preparing myself some food. Has anyone tried bringing some food from home to the restaurants to supplement a potentially sparse raw food menu? Do restaurants get upset if you bring maybe a raw carrot burger to eat with the veggies you order? I absolutely love everything about living raw that I have read about and I think I am mostly just searching for "permission" from society to go forth. I suppose I will be met with some opposition, maybe even a lot, but I am VERY happy to have found this site so that I can get support and share my hopes and ideas.

[Graciebeliever]

I eat out everyday because my family is not raw and won't ever be -unfortunately for them..., plus we have limited time to get dinner prepared. I've thought of different ways to be able to stay home and eat, but it would involve me having to cook them a dinner on top of preparing myself some food. Has anyone tried bringing some food from home to the restaurants to supplement a potentially sparse raw food menu? Do restaurants get upset if you bring maybe a raw carrot burger to eat with the veggies you order? I absolutely love everything about living raw that I have read about and I think I am mostly just searching for "permission" from society to go forth. I suppose I will be met with some opposition, maybe even a lot, but I am VERY happy to have found this site so that I can get support and share my hopes and ideas.

You are so kindly welcome here!!

Yes I am sure that lots of others have shared this problem as well. I just simply pack and take everything with me. I eat pretty simple so it's not too complex :)

Gather some ideas from others and hopefully you will come up with some Ideas. I never leave home without a smoothie in my thermos and a bag of nuts and fruit. That way I never need to resort to eating on the fly and eating wrong.

Yes the cards are stacked against us in this world of fast food and processed garbage but we can and will maintain our rawness :)

So glad you are here!

Do some banana searches (button up above) and find other info that might serve you well :)

Raw is AWESOME!

[Dimond]

You should be able to bring your own food to a restaurant. If anyone says something, just say you're on a restricted diet (which is true).

[stiletto]

I don't know. I always get a salad. Sometimes I can get some raw veggies and some guacamole but there's not much raw out there. I always feel better when I eat at home.
Any raw restaurants near you? go to www.rawfoodplanet.com and check out your area. Maybe there's something close by?

Good Luck
Stiletto

[Lay-Lay]

Scout out some eating places that have at least something that you like. If its only carrot sticks and celery, then make that work. Bring a raw dip and place an order of just them and enjoy them with your dip. Also don't go out on an empty stomach. Eat something before you start smelling all the cooked food. You will fair better.

[juliebove]

I eat out everyday because my family is not raw and won't ever be -unfortunately for them..., plus we have limited time to get dinner prepared. I've thought of different ways to be able to stay home and eat, but it would involve me having to cook them a dinner on top of preparing myself some food. Has anyone tried bringing some food from home to the restaurants to supplement a potentially sparse raw food menu? Do restaurants get upset if you bring maybe a raw carrot burger to eat with the veggies you order? I absolutely love everything about living raw that I have read about and I think I am mostly just searching for "permission" from society to go forth. I suppose I will be met with some opposition, maybe even a lot, but I am VERY happy to have found this site so that I can get support and share my hopes and ideas.

I don't know how it is in Omaha, but here in WA that's a health code violation. Some restaurants will let you do it on occasion, if you are a regular customer or are having a large party. But they usually insist on taking the food into the kitchen and serving it to you.

I can relate to the limited time thing. My daughter takes 4 dance classes a week, mostly around dinner time. So dining out is inevitable at some time or other. She has food allergies and that only complicates things for us. What we do is go to a few restaurants where they are aware of our food issues and they serve us a special meal. You might try this approach. Of course it's not likely that you'll get a carrot burger, but you could get something more substantial than just a green salad.

[JinxieKat]

My mom and I are going out to lunch today at Bahama Breeze. I just called the restraunt and spoke with a manager and explained that I have a restricted diet and asked them if they could make up a special salad for me. I looked at the menu first to see what they had that would work. It was no problem. I think that with you not liking salads that the challenge is going to be finding raw foods that you like, not getting the restraunt to work with you. I think that you'll find that after you've been doing this for a while that salads are pretty good!

(warning.. lots of SAD references following)

You may want to revisit cooking at home though, it is possible in the same time you take to get food. I'd like to suggest to you the time saving invention that I have been using and still do use for SAD food.. the crock pot. You can make a variaty of dishes in it and save time and even better lots of money by cooking at home. You'll also be in control of what you are serving your family and can make more healthful meals than a restraunt can. I'd also recomend peeking at the website www.savingdinner.com It was created for busy cooks who are taking care of a career, family, kids and their obligations, etc. The menu mailer service is great if you decide to do it, but just the hints and samples are a great way to get some time saving ideas started. I know that when I compared how much time I was spending in line, and ordering food, then bringing it home I didn't save much time if any over cooking myself. You can also cook on a day that is slower, for the whole week, then freeze it so all your family has to do is defrost and go. That would keep you out of the cooked food most days of the week. That's what I mainly do now. It helps me alot!

I hope that helps you some!

Jinx

[Sharon in Colorado]

ITA with Jinxie. I make use of the crock pot, rice cooker and I'm about to get a pressure cooker. Also a cook book called "Vegetarian Cooking Under Pressure". I just don't want to fuss over dinner and this makes things easier for feeding others.

Three times a week we get back from Taekwondo after 7 pm and they are hungry. A lot of the times I just cut up a bunch of fruits and veggies though. But once in a while I know they want something heavier, I start the rice cooker before we leave and put it on a timer to be ready at 7:10. I am getting the pressure cooker so I could just throw in whatever they want and it be ready in 10 minutes instead of an hour later.

Once in a while they will stop and get some junk on the way home, but it is just more economical and less of a hassle and I know everyone is eating healthier cooked foods if I get it done myself.

You really can do this. I think people tend to get over-reliant on convenience. However, it would essentially take the same amount of time to throw something together at home than it would to go to a restaraunt and wait around to be served. And you could keep the tip.

[katie01]

When I first started raw, I didn't like salads too. Thought they were only good summer food ... only IF I was thirsty. Boring food. :P

But, I started having them at lunch each day, little by little .. trying out different vegetables and now I find that I *WANT* to eat a salad at LEAST once a day. It's pretty awesome when you get to that point. Try out the salads for a week ... it's fast and easy, especially in restaurants.... they are pretty accomodating and you'll see how good they taste.

Also, if I see a traditional salad and want something more in it, I'll ask for extra ingredients (avocados, tomatoes, whatever). So far, all my requests have been graciously honored, so you will probably have the same kind of experience. Give it a try.

[Gelis]

Hi!

I'm new here and would really like to try this raw food living. The problem I see is I go out to eat at least once a day and I almost can't stand salads. I love fruits and veggies but I hardly ever see raw food on menus except for the traditional salad. Has anyone been through this delimma and can offer some suggestions? I would be SOOO grateful!

Thank you,

Jen

Jen, I too hate salads and go out to eat a lot for the social enviroment.

I did check around town to see what restraunts I could go to that had what I ate. Then I called and talke to each one that I liked that wasn't on that list to see if I could make my own and bring it or have them make something special.

The making something special has never worked for me. But, I have a list of 5 restraunts in the area that serve something I can eat or will let me bring in my own.

My favorite restraunt go about once a week will actually let me bring them a meal that I can eat and then will serve it to me on their plates so that I feel included in the experience.

I also almost always bring my own dessert for everyone type thing. I went to Albertsons and got some of there cake boxes and dessert containers. I put my dessert in them and bring them to share with everyone and the restraunt never questions it cause it is in an Albertsons cake box.

If I have to eat somewhere I do not have on my list I order a salad without the lettuce and always bring cherry tomatoes and avocado. I never really ask I just pull them out and add to whatever they bring.



Most of the time

[DavidZaneMason]

My experience:

-I've eaten in restaurants....weddings....luncheons.....all over. I've never had a problem bringing my own food. I ALWAYS eat before I go anyway....so I'm never hungry when I show up some place. If I am....no problem...I've always got a few apples in my pocket or in the car.

-I'll order a glass of water......and then not drink it. If anyone asks....I tell them I'm on a special diet of un-cut fruits and vegetables. People almost always very polite, supporive, and genuinely curious on a one-on-one basis.

-I don't answer to rude group or individuals.

-If pressed, I let people know that I'm there to be with THEM! It's true!

-A good deal of problems can be avoided with preparation and by not being defensive.

-Just my thoughts / opinions.

-David Mason

[sevenbravo]

I have recently spent a lot of time in the kitchens of many different types of restaurants. After seeing what I have seen, I will forever have NO PROBLEM not eating out! Especially when I can make something much tastier, healthier, and cheaper at home.

[mcasburn]

When I first started raw, I didn't like salads too. Thought they were only good summer food ... only IF I was thirsty. Boring food. :P

But, I started having them at lunch each day, little by little .. trying out different vegetables and now I find that I *WANT* to eat a salad at LEAST once a day. It's pretty awesome when you get to that point. Try out the salads for a week ... it's fast and easy, especially in restaurants.... they are pretty accomodating and you'll see how good they taste.

I have to second this... I felt that salads were not "heavy" enough to make me feel full. I also disliked most fruits. Those perspectives changed dramatically after about a week on raw.

Allow that how you feel now may not be how you feel in a very short time.
Give it a chance to work its magic.

[berrymarymac]

I went to Waffle House, which if you don't know what it is...let's just say my chest hurts when I see the menu!! Everything is cooked on a large grill with about 1/4 cup of butter with it! Well, my friends wanted to go and I ordered a small salad while everyone else ordered like breakfast (which is the main item on the menu!), grits, waffles, hashbrowns, etc etc. Well, the salad was bitter and nasty! Blargh, but I had brought some cinnamon apples my sister sent me from Tennessee and munched on those! I was with 5 friends and no one seemed to ask or bother me! So most considerate adults will maybe ask, but not press on with it. They will be supportive, etc. If they are not then they are immature.

[spicyfull]

You have been given lots of great advice. That is what you can find on this form. I am so happy you took a chance and stopped by.

I wish you everything you need to stay RAW.....Welcome to My World......

[AZALEA1000]

You are all so wonderful! THANK YOU! You have turned what seemed impossible into something doable (is that a word?). I appreciate every one of you's advise and will start using it immediately. :D