Is your family all raw??

[Frog]

I would find it really interesting and helpful to find out a bit about others and their families.

Are you the lone raw in your family?
Do you still buy canned, cooked ready meals for yours?
Do you prepare/eat meals separately at meal times?
Does your family tolerate or support you?
How do you get over the temptation of cooked stuffs around?
Do you feel isolated?

This would help me get my own situation into some sort of perspective.

I am not complete raw yet but and increasing and trying to apply myself.
My family eat veggie at home but are not raw, nor want to be.
Lots of temptations, smells, sights around the place.

*sigh*

[alex]

Unfortunately my family is as SAD as they come. Meat, sugar, bad fats, veggies cooked until they are soft (mush)!

I buy all my own stuff and endure constant shaking of the head from them, negative comments etc.

Fortunately it is like water off a ducks back!! I am the one in good health.

But I do wonder what it must be like in a family that is in tune in this way.


alex

[Graciebeliever]

Hey :)

I'm 100% Raw and have been for 78 GLORIOUS Days !

I have 2 teenage boys 14 and 17

I told them ahead of time that they would have a certain space in the fridge that was their place to keep the food that they choose to eat. They simply give me a list on the fridge of what they need and when I shop, I buy it. I have feed them healthy from day one so they are not fond of a lot of junk food but they still eat Lean turkey, mayo, bread, Bagels, Creamcheese etc...

I buy almond and soy milk for my older son but my younger won't drink it. He drinks almost a gallon of water a day. If I buy milk (AND I LOATHE TO BUY IT! IT IS SOOOOO YUCKY) I get the organic, no hormone, etc...

They also know that they are totally free to eat My stuff as well and BOY DO THEY! Yikes I can hardly keep my stuff in the house :)

Don't harp on them, live by example and that is very powerful.

My older son, who is on the Varsity Football team, has come to me and told me that when we are both home, to just make more of what I'm having and that he feels SO much better. We have come up with a pregame smoothie tradition and he has more energy after the game and he is totally convinced it is the fresh stuff that gives him his endurance :)

I have raised my children to be able to prepare meals on their own (I home schooled them till High School and gave them cooking classes and cleaning and sewing) and they have been wonderful about not requiring me to make large SAD meals. I got rid of my microwave, I have my stove covered with a big piece of counter top where I keep my juicers, blender, etc...

When they need comfort food, they eat pizza and that makes em as happy as they can be.

I am not trying to convert them because it took me 45 years to find RAW and I am DEEPLY committed to doing it and I cannot expect them to share the same feelings. They know how bad SAD is for you.. They are teenagers, Can I say more? hehe

Hope that helped :)

[AICgem]

I'm the only one raw in my family(hubby and 12 yr old son)
They try some of the stuff I make (I usually get the kid across the street to try my stuff too!) Of course they eat the fruits and some veggies.
Last night I made garlic bread for my son...smelled soooo good and tempting!!! So I made zuccini pasta and marinara sauce real quick! Got my garlic fix with that.
Hubby thought it tasted ok, but he hates cold things( he likes the raw chili too, slightly heated though).
I'm making cookies today...maybe they'll like those....

[Raw Jewelrylady]

My Husband eats all my Raw stuff & actually really enjoys everything.

We work long hours & since I work opposite him-he adds some things like baked potatoes, oatmeal w/ rice milk-etc. I have gotten him off dairy-which is great-but he still orders *to go* meat dishes occasionally.

He supports me completely ! :)

I have my parents doing green smoothies & I have been teaching them some other Raw food recipes. They live in another state-but when we get together I have been introducing them to my Raw creations. My Mom loves everything & my Dad is pretty OK as well. I am thrilled that they are open minded to Raw. :)

My best advise is to convert family by making tasty dishes & sharing without preaching or lecturing. Once they taste & feel better-they will partake more in the Raw foods. :)

Lana

[dread head vegan]

my family is suportive. my mom and dad are suportive.. my husband is too. i told my brother but he is always joked around with my eating habits. i buy my husband and my food, but he has to cook it :D

[Ireland]

Alas, sad though it is, I am the one and only in my family.

So far. :)

[fiddler]

Are you the lone raw in your family? Yes. Married no kids.
Do you still buy canned, cooked ready meals for yours? Yes for my lovely wife. I even cook for her sometimes.
Do you prepare/eat meals separately at meal times? Most times we're separate because we both eat when we're hungry.
Does your family tolerate or support you? Absolutely
How do you get over the temptation of cooked stuffs around? Don't even get tempted anymore unless I'm REALLY REALLY hungry and there's no fruit around.
Do you feel isolated? Used to feel isolated at first but this feeling goes away the longer you commit to your goal.

I think it is important to write down your health goals on paper. List why you're doing this. List the obstacles you need to overcome. List the benefits of your actions. List the people you need to work with. Develop a plan of attack(Recipes, Preparation, Tips, etc). Yadda Yadda Yadda. Review your goal sheet(s) every day. Read books. Listen to tapes. Absorb the inspiration and love from others who've already succeeded. Use those folks as role models. Think and believe and you will achieve.

Wow, please excuse the brain dump above :) You can do it!

I also want to just add this:
If you think eating low-fat simple raw vegan is EASY, and you continually commit to thinking eating this way is EASY; then you'll find that eating this way is indeed EASY. On the other hand, if you continually allow thoughts to linger in your head that this way of eating is difficult; then, you're going to have more challenges. SO, start believing how easy RAW is and you'll find just how simple this lifestyle is to live.

Cheers,
Fiddler

[DavidZaneMason]

-Its a spectrum. Yes, I am the only person 'all raw' that I know in my circle - but others DO eat very healthy (like my mom).

-I'll buy them anything vegan that they want!

-Do I prepare separate meals? For them? Yes (when it comes up). I don't exactly call eating a bunch of figs preparing a meal for me....ha! ha!....but I see what you mean.

-Does my family support me? Entirely - because they see I am so happy.

-Temptation? Try eating nothing but pizza for one week straight....examine how you truly feel at the end of the week.....and see how tempted you are for the rest of your life! ha! ha! If you truly felt poor foods were unhealthy in you 'gut'.....LOL....you would no more tempted than you would to do great drugs....that make you feel great....but reduce the quality of your life.

-Do I feel isolated? Look around! There are millions of people doing the right thing every day! Paying attention to THEIR path! :) We have THAT in common!

-It's all about what YOU really want. Do you think you set a good example by going ahead and eating whatever (you think) crap that they are eating? Ha! ha! Do what you think is right and in everyone's best interest.

-Support to you.

-David Mason

[dreamrawalwz]

Are you the lone raw in your family? Yup, just me
Do you still buy canned, cooked ready meals for yours? No. Every weekend my dad and I go to the store. I stop by the organic produce and he goes to the meat section and organic aisles. My parents cook.
Do you prepare/eat meals separately at meal times? I never ate meals with my parents nor could I ever eat the same thing as them for various reasons
Does your family tolerate or support you? Yes they do
How do you get over the temptation of cooked stuffs around? After you detox and just the fact that you don't eat cooked anymore, the temptations WILL dissappear. now just looking at any cooked food grosses me out. It look so...dead! There is NO color to it compared to raw so it doesn't look appetizing.
Do you feel isolated? Nope. My friends think I'm: weird, obsessed, that this is part of an eating disorder,and a health freak. Oh well. I know how I feel and how this works for me. I just wish others can find this and not say how "wrong" it is :)

[Sharon in Colorado]

Are you the lone raw in your family?

Yes

Do you still buy canned, cooked ready meals for yours?

Yes, I try to get as much healthy and organic versions of what they like and also try to do vegetarian meals most of the time.

Do you prepare/eat meals separately at meal times?

Yes. Mostly breakfast (smoothies for everyone; hubby makes carrot-apple juice for everyone) and dinner.

Breakfast - Fresh carrot/apple juice, green smoothies, hot cereal or more fruit if they're still hungry.

Lunch - most of the time is on their own, which is either an animal sandwich, PB & J or quesadillas, or a "natural" type of mac & cheese, or leftovers. (we home school and DH works at home)

Dinner varies, we do a lot of bean burritos, I cook a lot of rice in the rice cooker with veggies on the side, a veggie curry or lentils, often I cut up a ton of fruit for dinner, or I'll make some kind of poultry or fish on occassion, which is a challenge for me because of handling the raw flesh. Usually once a week they do a take and bake or frozen pizza and/or a frozen meat lasagne I try to make a giant salad, but have gotten out of the habit. My dh misses those, so I need to pick that up again.

As for eating, it depends on if I make mine in time, if I make my dinners before theirs, it is easier for me to sit down with them. It used to really bother me to eat with them, but it doesn't anymore, now it is more of a matter of synchronization.

Does your family tolerate or support you?

Absolutely

How do you get over the temptation of cooked stuffs around?

The longer I'm on it, the more I get used to it. Meat doesn't effect me at all. Pizza and cheese type of dishes are no longer a temptation as of a couple of weeks ago when I gave up eating raw cheese. Bread usually does not affect me. I still deal with vegan type cravings like beans and rice, and veggie dishes.

Do you feel isolated?

No, because I realize that my choices are what make me feel how I do. Plus I've always been one to not go with the general flow.

[Nini]

Are you the lone raw in your family? yep!
Do you still buy canned, cooked ready meals for yours? Yes, I did for a while, although, my daughter has taken over for me now.
Do you prepare/eat meals separately at meal times? Yes, I try to eat only when I am hungry.
Does your family tolerate or support you? Absolutely.
How do you get over the temptation of cooked stuffs around? Amazingly, I've never been so tempted that I've slipped. Being 100% raw is easier that 90%, etc.
Do you feel isolated? Only when I go out to eat with friends, but it is getting easier. And I don't go out very often.

[rawfigure]

My dh is not RAW but not a traditional SAD either. He does not care what I eat as long as he has some food in the fridge. He eats my Raw food and then eats his meats with it. And condiments. So at least he is 1/2 raw and does not know it :p

[codajess]

This is all assuming I stick with raw and don't mess up anymore.

Nobody else in my family is vegetarian, much less raw. My entire household is, though. That's me and 3 cats. :D

Do you still buy canned, cooked ready meals for yours? Don't need to.

Do you prepare/eat meals separately at meal times? I feed the cats 1-2 times a day. :D I eat when I want to.

Does your family tolerate or support you? My mom & stepdad are the only ones that know, and they support me. I'm sure they think it's just a phase or a diet, though. I doubt they put that much thought into what I eat or don't eat.

How do you get over the temptation of cooked stuffs around? At home, I don't have to, unless I bought it. At work, I don't really mind. Sometimes stuff smells good, but it's usually something I wouldn't eat anyway, like chicken parmesan.

Do you feel isolated? I think I'm responsible for me. It'd be nice to have someone else in the same boat, but I think really, they're my choices and I should be enough of a support group if I wanted it badly enough.

[Rawkinlocs]

Are you the lone raw in your family? Yes. They used to all be all raw, but after moving from Detroit to WA, things changed.

Do you still buy canned, cooked ready meals for yours? Not so much canned, but I do buy cooked items for them.

Do you prepare/eat meals separately at meal times? Most times unless the temptation overwhelms me and I end up eating WITH them (like beans and rice for example...that's always been one of my favorites)

Does your family tolerate or support you? Yes, they do. My kids even try and stop me from eating anything cooked.

How do you get over the temptation of cooked stuffs around? Most times by making sure I'm prepared with raw things I LOVE. But sometimes I'm not prepared and...well, you know the rest.

Do you feel isolated? Nah...not at all. My family eats a lot of raw although not all raw.

[Goldenrod]

I'm the only one raw. Were all vegan and I have two boys who have always been vegan. At this point, they are not interested in eating 100% raw at all, so I continue to cook for them. So far, it hasn't been a problem for me. I'm just over 12 weeks raw. DH isn't supportive or unsupportive. I have one IRL friend who is very supportive though not raw herself. Fortunately, I tend to have a lot of determination. Well I call it determination, DH calls it stubborn. ;)

[luckitri]

lone raw in house? yup

buy SAD items? ahuh

prepare and eat separately? yes - this has evolved due to my work schedule as well as eating preferences....for years I have been expected to cook a separate meal for each member of family for each meal that I am home....I don't do this much.

tolerate or support? well they have seen improvement in me - I picked up my son the other day so he commented that I am getting stronger with raw - it is true - alot of it has to do with raw relieving pain so I can use my strength.

temptation? oh yeah!

isolated? well I was that already as in my house french fries has been the only vegetable they will consider for many years and at work - well sometimes I do get jealous that they don't get sick from SAD and I want some of their food so I just have to get over that.

[jenna rose]

Are you the lone raw in your family? Yes.

Do you still buy canned, cooked ready meals for yours? No.

Do you prepare/eat meals separately at meal times? Yes. I've been doing that since I stopped eating meat and then gradually went vegan to now raw vegan.

Does your family tolerate or support you? They do but I feel they could be more supportive. They bring in foods that they know I have trouble with and I have slipped a few times from these foods that they said they would no longer bring into the house.

How do you get over the temptation of cooked stuffs around? Meals with meat used to smell good to me, now they make me ill. I'm only hoping the other things will lose their appealing smells. I really believe it's a mental thing when it comes to stuff like this.

Do you feel isolated? Sometimes, yes.

[greeninloanageles1]

I am the only 100 percent raw in the family, but my 3 year old son eats half and half between my husban and my food.
My husband eats SAD, but with every day salad, which I make him. I don't buy him ready food - he shops for it himself - he has a car and I don't. I do shop in farmers market with sit-and- stand stroller, which I bought for that purpose, so my son can sit and I have bunch of space in the back for food. I do cook sometimes for my husband, but not every day.
Do we eat together? Sometimes, but usually not, because he likes to eat in front of the TV, which I do not for the most part(unless there is something specific I want to see).
Is my husband supportive? Most of the time, but once in a while he gets unhappy, that I am raw.
Yes, sometimes I am tempted, usually when I am emotionally drained or tired.
Sometimes I feel lonely, but I am used to that - I do other things differently too - like still breastfeed my 3 year old son, we coosleep with him, don't vaccine or circumsize, don't buy batteries operated toys, plan to homeschool, and list goes on and on....Sometimes you have to face unpleasant social situations in order to be true to yourself. It is easier if you look for people with similar values.

[misslinda]

I would find it really interesting and helpful to find out a bit about others and their families.

Are you the lone raw in your family?
Do you still buy canned, cooked ready meals for yours?
Do you prepare/eat meals separately at meal times?
Does your family tolerate or support you?
How do you get over the temptation of cooked stuffs around?
Do you feel isolated?

This would help me get my own situation into some sort of perspective.

I am not complete raw yet but and increasing and trying to apply myself.
My family eat veggie at home but are not raw, nor want to be.
Lots of temptations, smells, sights around the place.

*sigh*

I live with my sis who is not raw.

NEVER buy canned stopped years and years ago

My family believes that I have unresloved ED issues and termed it differently.
When I was 100% raw for 6 months, I literally was not tempted. I had forgotten cooked even existed. It wasn't until I started to deal with some deep deep emotional ties to unresolved issues,that the cravings started caving in.

I don't feel isloated with raw. but then again, my life period is somewhat isolated so in a sense, no different :rolleyes:

:)

[madmel]

Are you the lone raw in your family? yes

Do you still buy canned, cooked ready meals for yours? I have some canned staples like tomatoes and beans but no cooked ready meals.

Do you prepare/eat meals separately at meal times? I prepare the meals separately, but try to eat dinner with my dh when our schedules permit.
Does your family tolerate or support you? Yes.

How do you get over the temptation of cooked stuffs around? It's tough, but well there is no easy way when you are the only raw person in the house...

Do you feel isolated? No, I don't feel isolated - at least not b/c of my food choice.

[Conscious Midwife]

My family is high raw. I do no meat prep at all :)

I've ocassionally baked when trying to use up misc. items like not so raw nuts, wheat flour and carrot shreds.

Toddlers just started preschool and I'm very anxious about the menu. We can substitute the meat items with veggie burgers, but the supposed state regulations require X amount of "nutrient" deficient intake daily. I'm still researching this and hope that I can get to a place were what I pack in a little BENTO box will be sufficient and just let the preschool supplement my stuff with there raw fruits. My toddlers have been vegetarian and high raw their entire life. I had to provide a list of absolute No's to the school: milk beef pork etc... It's been stressful already, so we look forward to changing their school next year to a small independent program that requires you bring your own lunch, because they don't have a cafeteria.

EVERYONE CONSUME SMOOTHIES in our household and now I have a wheat grass plant that I snip off of daily. When making smoothies I add a little grass then pour their servings, then I add more grass to the remaining for my serving.

I also keep premixed nut and raising snacks in ziplocs and recently made soem dessert items; date pecan rolls and turtles (coconut, cocoa, honey, pecan meal and walnuts). YUMMY


I still buy the big kids tortilla chips, pasta, soy milk and cereal etc...
But more of the snack stuff will chage to raw just as soon as I get a dehydrator.

RAW stuff is about 75% of my grocery bill now!!!

[Gelis]

I would find it really interesting and helpful to find out a bit about others and their families.

Are you the lone raw in your family?My hubby and I are both raw

Do you still buy canned, cooked ready meals for yours?We bring nothing into our house that is not raw. We do go out every once in a while and hubby gets meat. However, we are taking the September challenge and going out has stopped all together.

Do you prepare/eat meals separately at meal times?We eat breakfast and lunch seperately. Hubby fixes smoothie and leaves in fridge for me. At night I fix lunches for both of us.

Does your family tolerate or support you? Our family thinks we are crazy but, support us

How do you get over the temptation of cooked stuffs around?I certainly hope so

Do you feel isolated?Not really my friends will go out of the way to include us. We do a lot more entertaining at our house. It's just easier