Wow....alot Of Folks Here Struggling

[misslinda]

Hey, where's Monkeyboy when you need 'em? :rolleyes: SLACKER!


I've been coming across alot of people really really struggling here with RAW and going into the depths of emotional/mental struggle---ya know?

The new season is here and by golly, THANKSGIVING (gobble gobble) & Christmas/Holidays are right around the corner............meaning more tempting foods and/or memories of these foods.

Let's get a little crazy wild or have FUN with RAW!!!!! Alissa ALWAYS says, MAKE RAW FUN !:!:!:!::!:!:!::!::!:

How do you plan on making RAW fun or easier? How will you plan or get thru the holidays?



------------------------------------------------------

Myself, I am going to order raw treats online b/c I have never done so!

I have a banner in my room that I made last night that reads "RAW IN SESSION"

I keep Alissa's book in the front seat of my car so I am always reminded and can share with folks at that moment.

I have so many raw treats to make for Holiday gifts!

SHARE YOUR IDEAS THOUGHTS WITH THE RAW WORLD! ;)

[maraw]

Wow ML, what great ideas! I love the idea of keeping Alissa's book in the car. I need to do that too.

What special goodies are you making for the holidays? I am trying to put together a list too. I usually do hand-made soap, teas and sweets along with a small wooden gift of some kind. I'd love to do something a little different.

I know what you mean about the holidays. I've really been eating poorly lately. I eat well all day, and then evening comes and I usually cave. Not horrible stuff, but not raw either. For example, tonight I ate a whole bunch of garbanzo beans - plain, nothing on them but some dehydrated onion crumpled on top. It was like some kind of wild craving attack. If I had eaten just a couple of bites, fine. But I ate probably 1-2 Cups! I'm so stuffed now - with food and regret. But you didn't ask what we were doing to screw up the season, now did you?

OK, so tomorrow, and again I say, TOMORROW~ I will be raw, or else return to this board with a heavy head.

I will be visiting this thread often! Thanks for the posting.

[misslinda]

Wow ML, what great ideas! I love the idea of keeping Alissa's book in the car. I need to do that too.

What special goodies are you making for the holidays? I am trying to put together a list too. I usually do hand-made soap, teas and sweets along with a small wooden gift of some kind. I'd love to do something a little different.

I know what you mean about the holidays. I've really been eating poorly lately. I eat well all day, and then evening comes and I usually cave. Not horrible stuff, but not raw either. For example, tonight I ate a whole bunch of garbanzo beans - plain, nothing on them but some dehydrated onion crumpled on top. It was like some kind of wild craving attack. If I had eaten just a couple of bites, fine. But I ate probably 1-2 Cups! I'm so stuffed now - with food and regret. But you didn't ask what we were doing to screw up the season, now did you?



OK, so tomorrow, and again I say, TOMORROW~ I will be raw, or else return to this board with a heavy head.

I will be visiting this thread often! Thanks for the posting.

* WINK *

so you have a thing for garbanzo beans eh?? :p that's cute Maraw!!!

Yeah, I would love to make RAW Holidays a blast this year. Thinking about making some candy canes of some sort. THere is also a fabulous pumpkin pie from a year ago!

Maybe somekind of RAW Reindeer theme !

WHo knows, maybe I'll even put a sign in my car that reads: Raw-mobile :D Then how could I slip? ;)

[livingatthetop]

I am going to save 4 bucks a week out of my check every week to buy a whole bunch of stuff from pure food and wine and enjoy thanksgiving in full LAZY MODE .

I am going to invite a few raw food friends and rawk it out all rawfoodtalk members are invited potluck style

however for work i have many festive plans hehehe

Subject to change

[misslinda]

NOw you can get a VITA MIX TOO SHERNELL !!!!!!!!! BTW, do you use one at work! :p

ps Looking forward to your website.

[livingatthetop]

Yessssssssssss However I am Scared to use it. Maraw gave me some telecapathic vitamix courage so I will take the plunge Monday morning!
Its so much preasure because He has no kitchen so i pepare everything infront of him and customers behind the counter. So if something falls or if I make a slight mistake everyone sees it. And as you know fruits and vegesc always taste different so i constantly have to taste things the pressue is on. So far God has been good

Yes God made the universe open up a door!

[misslinda]

Yessssssssssss However I am Scared to use it. Maraw gave me some telecapathic vitamix courage so I will take the plunge Monday morning!



LOL, yur killin me (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

You'll have to post pics of you working--this is phenomenal a real blessing in time!

[spicyfull]

I'm all for easier. Never thought of RAW as fun, although I guess if you count discoveries, short cuts etc.

I love to watch the Food Channel and think how I can make that RAW. Today I saw steamed Green Beans, chopped Walnuts, mustard, I forgot what esle. I'll have to check the website. It's like a salad. So I figured I could soften the Green Beans with Vinegar and case closed.

I try to keep things simple and small amounts. I once made Juliano Meat Loaf and had to eat it all week, that was an experience.

CHRISTmas day I usually eat as much See's Candy as I want, BUT not this year. I think I will eat as much RAW Peanuts in the Shell as I want. Again I keep it simple and RAW................

[Pierre]

For Thanksgiving, how about making something with the Three Sisters, corn, beans, and squash?

[Ginger]

Wow misslinda you just totally shifted my energy with this post! It's not meant to be a struggle & somehow I lost touch with the fun of it all from going back & forth so many times recently. I was feeling a bit frustrated & defeated there for a bit. Especially after having to stop my fast at only 7 days! I did longer last time so that made me feel like I was going backwards. Thank you for posting & waking me the heck up! :D

[karenbeel]

Linda loved your post, yep even I have been struggling how crazy is that but at least we are all here for each other and who knew how many of us were out there dealing with the same issues but kept quiet. Also love the ideas of keeping Alissas book in the car ect.

I'm Llike you Anna I do great alllllll dayyyyy!!! and then at night I have my downfalls crazy.

It was funny because today I was just thinking about what raw foods & treats I was going to be making for this festive season, this yr Thanksgiving and Christmas are at my house but thank goodness it is just with a couple of our dear friends so no major food issues or temptations they are so good at understanding and trying my raw treats ect. I just love this season so i will be converting alot of SAD Recipes to raw me thinks :D .
Take Care
Blessings
Karen

[learningrawways]

What a great thread......yup, the pressure is on. Just yesterday my daughter was asking me about what I was making for thanksgiving. She wanted to make sure that I wouldn't make any raw weird things lol. (And I was thinking I would make the T meal for my family but make me some blueberry pie or try my hand at raw pumpkim pie and eat that.) So Miss Linda your post is just in time.

Alanna

[Conscious Midwife]

For Thanksgiving all I need is some sort of raw corn bread then I'm good to go.

[Cinnamon]

I'm sure in the group of those struggling right now. With the change of seasons and massive cooked food cravings coming from where?? Ha! I also do great on raw all day and then fall apart in the evenings. I'm working on getting back on track, maybe to look at it as practicing some new recipes with the holidays in mind that will help.

I've been searching this forum for dessert type recipes, cookies and candy, cakes and pies... so I'll have some new things to take for holiday meals. I also make fruit salads and green salads for our get togethers but would like to be a bit more creative. One year my Ma-in-law made the most adorable veggie platter. She formed all the veggies into the most cute little animal shapes! They were really beautiful and made such an impressive center piece.

I'll try and get some ideas online or maybe a book from the library and will add as much "fun" to my recipes this year as I can.

Good luck to everyone struggling right now, I am sure there with you and am working on getting back on track! I think I really need to attend a several week long raw retreat some place, now that would be a nice treat to myself and get me back on track!

[misslinda]

Hey thanks for sharing everyone !!!! Sometimes it feels [lonely] when we struggle--the temptation to feel ashamed and hide. I think most of us have been there. ;)

Love these thoughts and statements!!!! Got me thinking,chuckling and inspired :)


Again I keep it simple and RAW................


For Thanksgiving, how about making something with the Three Sisters, corn, beans, and squash?


It's not meant to be a struggle & somehow I lost touch with the fun of it all from going back & forth so many times recently.


but at least we are all here for each other and who knew how many of us were out there dealing with the same issues but kept quiet.


Just yesterday my daughter was asking me about what I was making for thanksgiving. She wanted to make sure that I wouldn't make any raw weird things lol. (And I was thinking I would make the T meal for my family but make me some blueberry pie or try my hand at raw pumpkim pie and eat that.)


For Thanks giving all I need is some sort of raw on bread then I'm good to go.


She formed all the veggies into the most cute little animal shapes! They were really beautiful and made such an impressive center piece.



Well I'm starting to notice all the holiday decor and displays coming out in the stores and I notice more and more people are on the roads......you can feel the "holiday" madness stirring up. IT'S EXCITING !!!!!!!

I would love to remake the "HICKORY FARM" GIFT PACKS.

small jar of raw honey dijon
small jar of raw barbecue sauce
raw sausage
raw crackers
raw cheese

[swingbolder]

Great thread, MissLinda.

I plan on basically blowing off my family this year, that's how I'm going to deal with the holidays. I am one of the ones who has been struggling bigtime and need to gather all my internal forces to get back into that glorious 100% groove.

I am usually the good little daughter who can always be counted on to arrange things, smooth over family squabbles, make sure everyone gets together etc, but this year I'm opting out. I am taking the break between school semesters to focus on me and just chill out, eat healthy raw food, exercise, sleep late. My son is going to spend the holidays with my ex, so I will have a lot of time for ME. If I had $$ I'd do a raw retreat or something but since I don't maybe I'll just have a fabulous Christmas alone with my husband and splurge on a wonderful raw feast.

My (extended) family is going to squawk that I'm being selfish, but I'ont care. My health is in a very delicate balance right now and I really don't have the stomach to watch them wolfing down turkey, ham, etc. day after day with me as usual having to fend for myself.

WELL! That was quite a rant. Thanks for letting me vent. ;)

[misslinda]

I plan on basically blowing off my family this year, that's how I'm going to deal with the holidays.

I am usually the good little daughter who can always be counted on to arrange things, smooth over family squabbles, make sure everyone gets together etc, but this year I'm opting out. . ;)


* chuckles *

I LOVE your style Swingbolder, sometimes we just have to make those decisions to take care of ourselves ;)

Your opening line just got me crackin up !!!! I was toying with a decision to [pleeeeeeeeease] a good friend and attend his dinner BUT I think I'll follow suite and blow 'em off :D I still have my sis and mum to spend the day with but we all know Linda is RAW and won't be eating cooked :rolleyes:

You made an interesting point about being the "good little daughter" that's speaks for itself. I'm glad you found authority to do what is right for you.

:)

[dreamrawalwz]

Eh, each year our holidays get less and less formal or anything special. My mom cries over it :( but that's just how it is. She'll use Thanksgiving an excuse to eat certain foods because that's the only "tradition" we have still. Of course I don't eat it. I may visit my 75% raw aunt in FL for Thanksgiving or do nothing, hmm. Christmast I may visit my sister. My nephew is so cute and cares so much about me. He's 8 and says "maybe you can take dates, raisins, pumpkin seeds, and cocount and combine them and then dehydrate it to make your own bars or something!" To my knowledge he didn't know about a dehydrater lol. He also comes up with things I can't have, but he tries and it's really sweet.

[misslinda]

My nephew is so cute and cares so much about me. He's 8 and says "maybe you can take dates, raisins, pumpkin seeds, and cocount and combine them and then dehydrate it to make your own bars or something!" To my knowledge he didn't know about a dehydrater lol. He also comes up with things I can't have, but he tries and it's really sweet.

That is really sweet Dream! Men,they're so persistent aren't they? :p

When I came home after walking, I noticed a bag by my door today. My mother had dropped off some macadamia nuts (YUCK) she bought from the asian market. I don't think she knew what she bought but it said "raw macadamia nuts" She hates it when I'm fasting but it really makes me appreciate small gestures too. I love all the festivity during the holidays !!!!!!!

[maraw]

I know what you mean. In my family, there are those that are raw tolerant, and those that just mock the whole idea - and then there the precious few that, although they may not choose to eat raw completely, embrace the idea with graciousness. It is the small gestures and the love that I value - not the food. But it goes both ways, you know?

So I think what I need to do is make certain I have raw meals prepared all the time, so I don't cave in when I'm feeling tempted. And make sure I have something in my bag when we are out and about. If I keep Alissa's book in my car, then I can look at the pictures and recipes and get inspired with what I might make when I get back home. That really was a great suggestion ML. Thanks!