Vegetarian going raw in next year

[jamey]

Hi there, I'm new to these forums so I thought I'd post my story here. I've been an ovo-lacto vegetarian all my life (thanks to my dad) but over the past year or so I have become more interested in switching to a vegan diet; dairy products make my mouth taste disgusting after eating and they also make me feel sick! Not to mention eggs, they feel so rubbery to me now.

I am waiting until June in the coming year, I will receive my exam results and decide which university I want to go to (free at last!). Then I have decided to change my eating habits without having to worry/explain to my family - my dad does all the cooking and by everyone else's terms, he is excellent. But it is almost exclusively cooked and frequently dependent on dairy products. He understands how I feel so quite often he does, for example, omit cheese from something he gives to me. Nevertheless, I have found that I don't actually enjoy eating cooked foods much.

For example, I went to a Pizza Hut just yesterday with my girlfriend's family. I didn't want to be awkward or 'different', I suppose, so I just said 'yes, yes, yes'. This results in whatever vegetarian option there is being given to me, which is fine. But, of course, I don't really like cheese - and these pizzas are especially laden with it. When I go to university, I will have quite a few months (and enough money) to buy fresh (organic) fruit, vegetables, greens, nuts and so on. I feel like the raw food diet is what I want to do - whenever I eat fruit or make a salad exclusively from greens and vegetables, it feels good and I feel more energized. As soon as I've had a cooked meal, I feel lethargic, sleepy and wanting to bring it back up. I'm not actually sure if it's partly psychological due to reading a lot about this sort of thing recently but I don't try to put prejudice on my thoughts ;)

Can anyone offer any advice on my journey or tips for the future?

Thanks :)

[Nenyath]

Just one, go for it! Welcome on the forum! Look around, there is an amazing amount of information on this forum, both about raw and other exciting things! One more advice though, have fun with it!

Fly forever free..

[timoteo]

Welcome!
The fact that you have a spark of interest is *great*. It is completely natural for you to crave raw foods and feel good after you eat them! We are biologically designed to eat raw, we thrive under raw conditions.
Some advice I will give you:

1. Try eating as much raw as you can now! Don't wait. You don't have to go 100% yet, but the more raw you eat now the better you will feel and the easier it will make your transition when you do go 100%.
(Try eating just fruit for breakfast..quick and easy way to incorp. raw!)

2. Read as much as you can about raw foods. There are many strategies to begin a raw diet. Find out what is best for YOU.

[Conscious Midwife]

I ditto timeto

Start by making your own raw nut milks and nut cheeses. Since your family understands your adverion to milk the may not mind this.

You can also start getting busy with raw desserts, under the guise of treating your family to something cool and wonderful.

Get alissa's book and arm your self with some quick recipies for the journey away from home

Campus food selection are usually quite varied and accomodating but there is always a sacrifice.

For example my daughters school boast having like one of the top ten facilities for food,, but one day the soy milk dispenser broke down and it took more than a week for replacement. They didn't have a single serve carton option available and she was like :eek: . She had to trek over to whole foods and put a huge didn't in her budget just for soy milk. Imagine if she was trying to be raw vegan!

But it's all possible with planning and determination you'll do great.

and as Revell says "have fu and play with your food!!!"

[rawpriestess]

welcome to the board

[spicyfull]

READ all you can about RAW..A Simple diet can be an easier way to go, like eating Fruit and Salads, Nuts and Seeds.

Use the SEARCH if you want to try recipes or search for old Threads. Don't forget Alissa's Book, Living on Live Food.........

I wish you everything you need to Stay RAW.......Welcome to MY World.....