Is Anyone Raw Without a Dehydrator?

[amarryth]

Hey.. the question is in the title, but I'm in a situation where a dehydrator isn't exactly doable.. I have a friend who I might be able to ask to make stuff with hers once in a while, but have any of you been able to start and stay raw without it?

[daisyduke]

I've been raw for almost a year without a dehydrator. Just eat simple foods, fruits, veggies, etc. Now I couldn't do raw without my blender...hopefully you have access to one of those! Good luck!

[NFrawRUNNER]

I do have a dehydrator but use it mostly for "treats" to have on special occasions such as today....For the most part I keep things simple and you can too. A dehydrator is NOT a must.....If you choose to, there are ways to dehydrate using your oven???? I think you keep it on the lowest temp. with the door slightly open......personally, I'd rather just eat an apple ;) !!!! I think if you ahd to pick one piece of equipment to have it would be a blender! The dehydrator can come later.....and watch your adds/e-bay.....like exercise equipment, many people buy such novelties and then NEVER use them....You may be able to find a good deal! Good luck!

[Gosia]

I started without one. It's totally do-able. Besides eating fruit, you can make a huge variety of salads, salad wraps, nori rolls, salsas.

Gosia

[tinystrawberry]

i don't have a dehydrater and i don't plan to get one. simple foods is where it's at. :cool:

[amarryth]

Thanks guys! It helps so much to know that there's many of you out there... I find that when I let myself get really hungry then I crave the cooked/SAD foods that I'm so used to... I guess the trick is to keep my stomach occupied.. I prefer simple stuff anyway, dehydrating seems like a huge pain. I'll let the raw restaurants do that for me :P

[Shona]

I am another one who doesn't have a dehydrator. I really like the ease of just eating fruits and vegetables as they are. Fancy for me is making a raw soup or dip. :)

[lissomllama]

yes. I have one but I only used it once and was unimpressed. I prefer to eat most or all of my food in it's natural normal state. Every once in a while I'll eat some dehydrated treats, but it is very very rare. If you like dehydrated stuff and it helps you stay raw then by all means, go for it. There is much merit to eating things in their most natural state though. It is a process and sometimes a long one but if you can't afford a dehydrator don't bother with it or stress over it.

[Pierre]

I have a blender, but no dehydrator. IIRR Dean (of the Plantluck) has one, and I might go to his place and make some matzos in the spring, but I get enough variety by sometimes putting Nama Shoyu, sometimes lemongrass, sometimes olives, sometimes oregano, etc.

[Nenyath]

I'm withour a dehydrator as well and has always been. I'd like to have one to make the pizza and stuff, but I'm fine on simple raw.. Enjoy the journey!

Fly forever free..

[Kassandra]

I don't have a dehydrator either - my finances won't stretch to one.

Kass.

[VeryBerry]

I have a dehydrator, but never use it. I tryed it a few times, I feel that it is too much trouble. Most of my favorite recipes are made in a blender. A Vitamix is a good investment, but you can easily do without one, if money is the issue.

Best of luck.

[luckitri]

I have a dehydrator and have never used it since going raw. (It has been in storage quite a few years.) I do wish to learn to make the flax crackers and onion breads here - especially for my family - but I just have not gotten there yet.

[mima4nyc]

Do not have it and do not intend to have it....do not need it. Making all the crackers and breads and pizza looks a lot like a regular food...I dont know...
You can do without it.

[amarryth]

Thanks everyone, I've managed to do half this week raw, so far the trick seems to be not letting myself get hungry enough to desperately crave something.. today i'm going to the whole life expo in toronto and seeing david wolfe speak! yay!! i can do this, i don't need fancy technology aside from my trusty blender :D

[yeahbethany]

I started raw with a dehydrator, and used it all the time when I first went raw.

Eventually, I found I never used it any more, so I got rid of mine. Now, my diet is incredibly simple, and I certainly don't miss my dehydrator.

[jaurequi]

I have had a dehydrator for years and years, way before consuming raw foods. I don't use it now, but it's good to have around. I use it occasionally, and it's a relief to have it there when I do need it. When I have an abundance of produce I can always dehydrate it for storage, especially since my freezer can only hold so much.

If I had a family to feed, I'd definitely want one; or if I was trying to convert certain people for whom fresh fruits and vegetables won't do (for now).

Best,

[carolg]

I do have dehydrator and went through phases of using it and not. Yesterday used for my "nut roast" but really could have gotten away without it.

I do make flax crackers in it for pizza or cookies occasionally. It's not a must as it was back when I started. Now I can live with or without it. Mine is Excalibur 9 tray. Probably have about 5 years. No problems at all with it. Bought the sheets where you can spread things on it, teflex sheets, so it doesn't seep through to the bottom making a mess. Oh, dehydrated tomatoes this year with.

Piere,
Matzo, sound good as I grew up having them.
Now I'm on a knish hunt if you can help, potatoe.

What about "cheese" blintzes?

Thought I would ask in case you are up for a challenge. Thanks for consideration. Free to start a new topic.

carolg

[swingbolder]

I have one, but hardly ever use it.

[robert9876]

Yes, I have been for awhile. No problem actually. I purchased a dehydrator at wallmart "american harvest" does an excellent job. Good thermostate and the price is super cheap. The only "problem" is that it is round and has a whole in the middle. Small price to pay. Later on I bought the Excelebur? Very good machine. A pile of money though and the front door vibrates and is noisy.

But I must say that I kind off go through faces. Sometimes I use it a lot and then for several months, I don't.

Sometimes I am in the chips and salsa and pizza etc etc and at othertimes not at all.

If money is a real issue, buy the wallmart machines, it is about 1/4 of the other's price.

Robert :) :)

[trinity082482]

*waves hand* Yup me. Its hard :rolleyes:

[Revvell]

I have one yet rarely use it. Storm and Jinjee are raising 4 (soon to be 5) children without using one.

Revvell

[Cinnamon]

I have one and go through phases of using it or not. I used it much more in the beginning of my raw journey and now don't use it often at all. I make a bunch of things at once (crackers, cookies, fruit leathers) and then it sits and waits until I get the next urge to uncook in it! I do like the more simple and quick foods I eat now, and enjoy them more than the dehydrated foods anyway.

[Ariannah]

I have a dehydrator but I've stopped using it. I plainly and simply don't like anything I've made with it. My mini $20 cuisinart (holds about 4 cups worth) with an S blade does all the processing I need for stuff like fudge balls or torte, and the rest I just like fresh stuff.

I'll also do smoothies when the mood strikes me in my el-cheapo blender.

However, for me the beauty of raw is the authenticity of it. I love being able to have my own 'ready to eat' food on hand, like apples, bananas, pineapples, red peppers. Stuff that requires no fuss. Just pick up and eat.

I reserve recipes in general for when I am craving something different, because a mixed recipe that is made with good raw food is, imo, way better than succumbing to something cooked.

Everybody's needs are different, and for me, KISS (Keep it simple, sweetheart) is my MO. I'm too lazy to do otherwise ;)

[lil fairy z girl]

i don't have one. i have managed fine since feb without one, but now its getting colder i have wanted one esp when i see the lovely pics in the photo thread.
you can make your own... i keep asking hubby to make me one. here is a link to one:
click here (http://www.k-clements.fsnet.co.uk/dehydrator.html)

best wishes
sal

[konmai]

no dehydrator here. I don't want to take the time to learn how to do it. Plus, I want to aim at mono eatting and don't think using a dehydrator would be good for me. :o