Fear

[vae393]

Hello, ever since I was about 14 years old, I wanted an alternative to the 'heavy' foods that I eat. Unfortunately, 13 years later, I am still eating the same stuff.

However, last spring I heard about raw-food diet. I have read about what people say happens to them when the only eat raw-food. And I have tried a few things myself, and I admit, you feel 1000 times better. But all I had where raw nuts, vegies, and fruits.

I bought two raw-food receipe books and alot of the stuff looks like it would be good, none of it 'sounds' like it would be good. But, one day I tried one of the receipes, a portabela mushroom receipe. I didn't quite make it right, but it was still okay. But nothing great. I ended up throwing most of it away the next day.

I guess the problem boils down to fear. I'm afraid that the stuff is going to taste like crap. So I don't bother trying to make anything.

Many of you might think this is rediculous, but you have to understand my situation. I am broke, so any food I buy, I must eat, so I buy stuff I know I will eat. Soon I will be in a position where this won't matter any more, but for now, I'm limited on resources.

What should I do? What should I make or try? I want to switch over, I'm just apprehesive of the tastes, not to mention everyone I know thinks I'm retarded because of my interest in raw food.

Jay

[Revvell]

What's wrong with eating what you can afford and like to eat? Seems simple enough and good enough to me.

Revvell

[vae393]

because it doesn't make you feel very good. I 'want' to eat raw foods. That's why I am here trying to find out what I should go with first that others say tastes good.

I eat pizza every day. No joke. I don't want to, but it is cheap and it is good. Although you don't feel so good after eating it.

Jay

[rawnpawgirl]

When one's responses are blunt and "to the point" it may be regarded as a bit rude and lacking in empathy and compassion. These types of responses can also be regarded as condesceding by some, especially if there is a pattern of posting this way to others. Please don't take it personally.

That said, my answer to your question is that you will just have to experiment, at least for a little while, until you can find a few "tried and true" recipes you genuinely enjoy and stick with them.

[Rawzula]

vae393,

I am in the same situation as you are.

I have very little money. Every cent counts. Like yourself, I will soon be in a position where I can buy raw foods...without having worry about if I'll be able to afford it.

I keep it simple. Attached to my post is a picture of what I bought today. It's not much, but it's a start:D.

I did a banana search and found some old threads that may help you:

http://rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11878&highlight=budget

http://rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6872&highlight=budget

http://rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5130&highlight=budget

http://rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5130&highlight=budget

[Revvell]

O.k., I was confused. I thought when you said "And I have tried a few things myself, and I admit, you feel 1000 times better. But all I had where raw nuts, vegies, and fruits" that's what you were talking about. Why go with all the recipes that are more expensive and time-consuming? You felt "1000 times better". Do what works. Don't complicate a good thing.

Revvell

[juliebove]

So for now, don't do the recipes. Buy raw foods you like and eat those. Surely there must be some plain things you like, like apples, carrots, cashews? Even if the only change you make is to add a few raw foods to the diet you're already eating, that's a positive change.

There was a time in my life when I was very broke. My roommate had failed to pay her share of the rent and utilities too many times in a row and I was forced to kick her out. The rent I was paying was almost what I made in a month. And I had a car that broke down every few weeks and needed repairs.

So what did I eat? I was vegetarian then but not on a raw diet. Still, I managed to eat some raw foods. I made a big put of spaghetti and portioned it out for the freezer to make it stretch for as many meals as possible. I took these to work for lunch. For breakfast I had granola bars that I bought on sale. Dinner was often a peanut butter sandwich and maybe canned peas. I had popcorn for snacks. I rounded this out with apples, carrots and some other fresh vegetables that I grew in my own garden. I had an apartment with a very small yard. I grew lettuce, tomatoes, onions and perhaps a few other things. I just remember those three things were the most prolific. Once a week I went to Sizzler and had the "All You Can Eat" salad bar and I really took advantage of it. And my parents usually invited me for dinner once a week or so.

What I did at that time was to sit down and try to come up with a diet that was optimal in nutrition, yet affordable. Look around in your area to see which things are the cheapest. I live in WA so apples are abundant here. I can also usually get a big bag of big carrots for a cheap price.

Currently my financial situation is not so dire, but I still don't have a lot of excess money so I do what I can to save when I can. I get a box of organic produce each week. Some people think I am nuts to do this because although I can make a few changes as to what I get in the box, every few weeks I get a thing or two or three that I either don't like so well or am unfamiliar with. Because I don't want to throw away whatever it is, it forces me to try something new. I don't necessarily use recipes. I often just eat salads or cut of vegetables.

I too have tried recipes that I didn't like at all. It's discouraging when that happens, not only for the amount of money spent, but the time wasted.

[Revvell]

When one's responses are blunt and "to the point" it may be regarded as a bit rude and lacking in empathy and compassion.

When one's question isn't clear it's hard to give a clear response.

[vae393]

Sorry if it was unclear..last spring i bought a bunch of raw seeds and nuts, ate some of them, but one you just eat a few handfuls of nuts it gets old. I assumed (perhaps wrongly?) that a receipe would contribute variablity in order that it would be more intersting to eat the raw foods. Fruit isn't a problem to eat, I love fruit, but I have to admit that i've not eaten much vegetables in my life with the exception of corn.

Thanks everyone for the advice!

Jay

[ndpoohgirl]

Thank you, I don't feel like I'm doing it "wrong" now if I'm not making all the recipes. :p I like salads & "plain" veggies so that & smoothies are mainly what I've been eating since Saturday the 30th (my 1st day) I have made "brownies" and those have been great! I'm a little nervous about the whole sprouting venture myself. :confused:

[vae393]

i see everybody talking about smoothies, can some one explain these to me? I've never made one and I don't know even where to begin..

Jay

[trinity082482]

I had fear too. My biggest fear and challenge is the green smoothie.
It has:

Pineapple
Kiwi
Coconut milk
Banana's
Ice
Spinach
Flax seeds.


I was skeptical... but it was very yummy!

trying new things that turned out to taste good was a big motivational push. I figured ya know, some times you going to make things you don't like and things that rock! Just like cooked food.
I guess you dont know unless you give it a try. Its worth it if it means it could be something you can make easily and often (if you like it)
Try small, make small batches, that way if you dont like it, its not a huge waste of time and money. :p

[Revvell]

Gotcha. O.k., there are lots of things one can make which are simple and tasty. Since you're short on money I'd do a search here for simple recipes and also there are threads from others in your situation. You might wish to search for those as well and the reponses you receive here.

Another thing is search online and the library for recipes so you'll have some more choices. What equipment do you have? Blender? food processor, etc?

Recipes can and do contribute to variations. You can start with taking what you do like and maybe mixing them together. Say, variations in fruit salads, then add a homemade dressing.

The difficulty with asking others what to start with is that you may not like what they like. For instance, some here LOVE stuffed mushrooms. I'm not a fungus eater so... that's a total turn-off to me.

Another thing ~ if/when you can afford Storm and Jinjee's ebooks... they only use a blender and food processor ~ no dehydrating. Even on many of the dehydrated things I've found I don't even have to dehydrate them to enjoy them. Burgers for instance. Just wrap them in a collard leaf with other veggies and you're good0-to-go!

Revvell


Sorry if it was unclear..last spring i bought a bunch of raw seeds and nuts, ate some of them, but one you just eat a few handfuls of nuts it gets old. I assumed (perhaps wrongly?) that a receipe would contribute variablity in order that it would be more intersting to eat the raw foods. Fruit isn't a problem to eat, I love fruit, but I have to admit that i've not eaten much vegetables in my life with the exception of corn.

Thanks everyone for the advice!

Jay

[Rawzula]

20 pages (500 threads) about smoothies:

http://rawfoodtalk.com/forum/search.php?searchid=736886

[Revvell]

.... LOADS of recipes and thread on here for that. Basically add to a blender: a fluid base ~ nut milk, fruit juice of some kind and/or water; fruit, then add some greens. If you're not a real green lover, start of slowly... a leaf or two of say, kale.

Revvell

[salsababy]

I struggle with some of the same fears- especially right now.

One thing that worked for me is that I sometimes get prepared raw food. That way I can "test" a recipe that someone else cooked right. If I like it, then I decide to look up a similar recipe and make it. Sometimes it is cheaper to get a prepared raw dish because they get some ingredients cheaper in bulk, but sometimes it isn't.

[luckitri]

I am blessed to have a juicer as well as a blender. If finances are tight you might be able to get one on Freecycle just for asking or a local on-line yard sale. I go to the cheapo store and get my greens. . . . not insisting on organic just now . . . . I like the green juices with some water added or I juice a lemon in them. The greatest thing about the green juices for me is that alot of us where I work have a problem of falling asleep at work - which can get us terminated - the green juices keep me awake! Today I did spinach juice with lemon and water mixed in. The spinach was 79 cents and I still have some left. Way cheaper than Starbucks!

I have only done one recipe since July. Oh make that 3. I tried RowanC's Portuguese kale (just cut up real fine with lemon, olive oil and pinon nuts) and magenta salad (on the recipe board) for Christmas potluck at work. That was all ingredients that I had. . . .apples, a beet, walnuts, lemon, raisins, cinnamon . . .really just a salad . . . . but it was goooood!

My one recipe was the raw chili which is great but my family did not help me eat it as I had hoped. I ate it for a couple of days but I learned my lesson. I only like raw food when it is really fresh so I have to cut the recipes down to 1 meal for me unless I am sure my family will help eat. The longtimers - many have stated that they don't do much recipes - just mono-eating - don't worry about nutrients - your body is a magnificent machine and it worries about them for you.

[Rawkinlocs]

I didn't read all of the posts in this thread so forgive me if I'm repeating something...but one thing I always suggest is to not make a full recipe when trying something new the first time. Make half or even a quarter of it so if you don't end up liking it, there won't be as much waste.

It's really kinda hard to go on others' tastebuds regarding what is good and what isn't. My favorite saying in that respect is that what's one person's "yuck" is another person's "yum" and vice-versa. So, while you may get a whole 3-page thread about how yummy a certain recipe is...someone is gonna come along and say, "Hmmm, everyone is raving about this recipe so it MUST be good", try it and absolutely hate it! I've seen it happen time and time again on this very forum.

I'd also check in your area for raw potlucks and that way, you can try different recipes (usually free of charge) and if you try something you like, request the recipe from the person who brought it. For starters, try www.rawfood.meetup.com and see if there are any in Grand Rapids or somewhere close by you. If someone is having a raw demo class, see about possibly attending those too to be able to sample various recipes without having to front the cost of making them and they end up bombing on ya.

Also realize that your tastes will change...what you may not like NOW, as your body gets cleaner from eating more raw and less cooked, you may find later on that you like or even love!

So for now, stick with the foods you like/love and can afford and in the meantime, try some of the suggestions I and others gave regarding recipes, don't forget to make less than the full recipe and as you go along and find things you like, you are adding more variety to your repertoire so you won't get bored. Overtime, you will probably find that you'll end up eating more simply but for now, do what needs be.

[vae393]

What I am gathering from various posts around the forum is that people are drinking smoothies for meals? Kinda like slim fast? lol Is this really what people are doing? Can I just drink smoothes all day and be good? Sorry if I sound a little naive!

Jay

[luckitri]

Also wanted to tell you that you have found the right place. I looked up raw recipes before I found this site. OMG! They were talking about exotic ingredients I have never heard of as well as kitchen equipment I also have never heard of.

[MaryWalker]

Hi! It sounds like you really want to give it a good try! I don't know what is in your kitchen cupboards at home, but, vegetables and fruits aren't that expensive compared to other "junk" food you may be spending your money on. Also, when you consume raw and living foods, you are getting more nutrition from them, so you tend to fill up faster and don't require as much volume of food to fill you up! That is a really cool thing if you think about it!

You don't have to drink smoothees all day, unless you want to! They are very filling and full of vitimins to keep you going all day. There are other very simple raw meals you can make.

Please buy Alissa's book. I have recently completed Alissa's 5-day course and I am a certified teacher. My site is www.rawteacher.com/marywalker and you can go through me to buy your book! I would be happy to assist you through e-mail if you have specific questions about receipes or general Living on Live Food questions. OR, Raw Food Talk is a wonder way to get opinions of many different people who are also into a raw lifestyle!

[luckitri]

When I am home for the weekend I may just do juices (not smoothies) all weekend. At work or anywhere else I seem to think I need food. Your question made me realize this distinction. I get frantic for solid food and I don't know that I really need it. . . I just think I need it. Personally I think chewing our food is healthier than all these smoothies and juices but right now I am enjoying them. I do get ravenously hungry however and its gotta be food.

[Revvell]

What I am gathering from various posts around the forum is that people are drinking smoothies for meals? Kinda like slim fast? lol Is this really what people are doing? Can I just drink smoothes all day and be good? Sorry if I sound a little naive!

Jay


It is possible to do this depending on your outcome but no, not at all like SlimFast... the difference being, the smoothies are vital and alive whereas SlimFast is dead.

Here's the thing with smoothies. Nutritionally you'll be fine especially if you change up a lot and use a variety of fruits and veggies. The problem will be your gums and teeth. One NEEDS to chew and put pressure on them. If you don't, you'll eventually lose them as the body sees no need for them. So, I'd suggest doing a combination of a variety of smoothies (maybe something different every day) and then some hard, chewy stuff ~ nuts, seeds, harder fruits like apples, etc.

btw ~ You CAN make up a gallon of smoothie in the a.m. and drink it throughout the day. I separate mine into smaller quantities so I don't keep opening the same container whenever I want some, getting air into it and losing nutrients.

Revvell

[Pansy]

Hi Vae393 and a big WELCOME to ya! :)

Here is a review on Revvell's wonderful smoothie book and it is in ebook form, very informative with alot of easy recipes to follow. Great price and Great Value!

Revvell's: Smoothies and Smoozies Book

Hey Everyone!

Wow! This is a great book. The recipes are so easy and I love the bright colors. It just calls out to you to make smoothies. It's not just for smoothies, she has nut milks, puddings, etc.!

Anyone looking for alot of recipes for green smoothies this is the book for you and christmas is coming....would make a great gift of health!

I have the ebook. Here's the web: www.revvellations.com

Hope this helps and good luck,

Pansy ;)

[girlsmiley]

What I am gathering from various posts around the forum is that people are drinking smoothies for meals? Kinda like slim fast? lol Is this really what people are doing? Can I just drink smoothes all day and be good? Sorry if I sound a little naive!

Jay
Howdy Neighbor! :D

I usually do smoothies for breakfast ... and after reading Green For Life I've been making them GREEN smoothies :D And, for me, that is the easiest/fastest thing for me to do in the a.m. (I used to skip breakfast.) I put a banana, 2 oranges (peeled), some type of berry (when I have them) and some greens ... they could be the field greens, baby romaine, regular romaine, I had some kale last week that I used, I am using spinach right now ... etc. I, too, juice on the weekend just because there is more to cleaning up the juicer than there is to clean the blender and I have more time :)

You can check out the 30-Day Challenge thread to see what people post for their daily intake ... it's not all smoothies :D

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24573

[mershwista]

I don't see how pizza is cheap, but that's just me. Meanwhile, at places like Aldi, I can buy 3 lbs of apples for $1. If you like fruit, eat a lot of that. And slowly eliminate the junk bit by bit. That is the best way if you are daunted by making a huge dietary change.

[mad4mangos]

I want to switch over, I'm just apprehesive of the tastes, not to mention everyone I know thinks I'm retarded because of my interest in raw food.

Jay

I understand, but at the same time that statement is sooo frustrating to me! Why should it be weird that we only eat raw, good-for-us food???? How is it any more strange than taking a bunch of cut up potatoes, emercing them in boiling oil and frying them to oblivion? Or taking fish, smothering them in batter and baking them? How is that more normal than eating a fresh bunch of grapes??? It confuses the crap out of me. Or better yet, how is it any more strange than taking a living, breathing cow, slaughtering it, grinding up the body and calling it dinner??????? I could just scream. But I guess I can't say anything about it. This is only my second day being raw. We can't change the world until we change ourselves. So until I have conquered my cooked food demons, I really can't say anything. And to those friends that condemn you????? Stay raw, let them see the amazing benefits and that will be in your face enough!

As for what to eat? My favorite thing to make is the onion bread from the recipe section on this site. Also, the cashew hummus is to die for!!!!! Make an onion bread/hummus sandwich. You will be sooo happy. Also, the brownies from rp are really yummy. Just try them. Try recipes. If you hate it, get rid of it. It's that easy. You will find things you love. You will find things you hate. Just try them.

[michigan roman]

for me the key to changing to raw food was quitting salt . you hear so much about its bad affects it got me thinking that its a very unnatural habit and thats why the bad , we surely didnt evolve as a species sprinkling salt on everything . we ate like chimps with our hands and no salt . so thats how i started eating , mono foods , besides salads and trail mix .
then if you agree with the anti salt outlook and start tasting cooked food without salt youll realize were all addicted to salt and without it the cooked food would mostly taste like mush and no where near as good as raw chimp food .

and if you gotta eat some cooked what i did was make it simple plant matter , no human concoctions like pizza etc . cheap and easy is brown rice with steamed or broiled vegi .

then i see your in grand rapids so i know theres a meijer store where at you can get alot of good buys on fruit such as oranges and pineapple , and greens like romaine endive spinach .

then ide make a salad dressing with alot of garlic in it to replace the salt taste .

then another cheap food can be sprouts , im liking sun flower seeds sprouted and i buy them raw + hull less in bulk at my farmers market for less than a doller per pound . all the different sprout types can be added to salad to really bulk it up or like the grain sprouts used in things like granola . just start reading the recipe area and youll find things thatll taste great .

[StudentforLife]

Raw food can be confusing to a person just starting out because it's easy. That may sound like a contradiction, but it's true.

In our society we are used to eating complex processed things that really aren't food because that's what we are raised on and that is what are lifestyles are based around. In a way you have to re-teach yourself about what is food and what isn't. In the mainstream, fruits, veggies, nuts and seeds aren't considered meal items. Maybe they're considered a small snack at the most.

Once a person starts to eat a raw food diet they eat a lot of raw food because they are so used to eating heavy cooked fat-laden foods. But after a couple of weeks you don't need as much and your taste buds awaken. Fruits and veggies start to taste amazing and your energy will soar.

There is no wrong way to make a smoothie. One of my favorite, easiest and cheapest things to make is a banana shake. Just put frozen banana pieces in a blender with water and ta-da! It's sweet and creamy and thick. Just make sure that the bananas are ripe,(lots of brown spots).

Avocados are also great if you are craving fatty foods. I chop up an avocado with red bell pepper and add lemon juice and spices. The flavor is amazing and the avocado makes it a hearty meal.

Keep posting on this board. You'll find answers.

[vae393]

btw ~ You CAN make up a gallon of smoothie in the a.m. and drink it throughout the day. I separate mine into smaller quantities so I don't keep opening the same container whenever I want some, getting air into it and losing nutrients.

Revvell

I've read that if you don't drink it within 10 minutes or so, that it will start to turn brown from the oxidation. If you split it into smaller containers, should you freeze those?

Say I make a bunch the night before because I absolutely HATE cleaning, do I just freeze them and take them out in the morning and use throughout the day?

Jay

[luckitri]

Ahhhh . . . poor guy . . . nothing is easy.

I like mine really fresh so it is a problem. The spinach lemon juice that I drank yesterday - yes it was not as good as fresh made - but being cold right now it didn't turn so much that I could not drink it . . . it was still fresh enough that I considered it nutritious instead of dangerous.

There are many old threads about this.

I recycle other people's "Gatoraid" bottles and sometimes I freeze.

Now there is so much controversy about plastics and if you use the same bottle over and over you WILL notice it deteriorating.

Some old threads about this give addresses where you can buy special products made of special plastic or stainless steel. Since your stated budget is about the same as mine right now don't be disheartened . . . just know what you are going to do when you can.

Meanwhile if you fill the bottle up all the way to the top so no air gets in there it will stay pretty fresh.

[Revvell]

I've read that if you don't drink it within 10 minutes or so, that it will start to turn brown from the oxidation. If you split it into smaller containers, should you freeze those?

I've never had a smoothie turn brown and even if it does, sometimes it's better than the junk we'll eat instead. And I NEVER freeze my smoothies. Drink it during the day.




Say I make a bunch the night before because I absolutely HATE cleaning, do I just freeze them and take them out in the morning and use throughout the day?

Jay

No freezing necessary. Just shake and drink. Please pick up a copy of Green for Life. That will explain it for you. In the experiment, they made up I think it was a gallon at a time and, I think they kept them in the gallon jugs. I don't do that. Just pour them in their individual containers, all the way to the top. Then drink as/when desired.

Revvell

[KindnessToAllCreatures]

A raw lifestyle can be as simple or as complicated as you choose to make it. (As is everything else in life, I suppose! :) )
I think you'll find that, if you plow forward in your raw endeavors, your feelings of fear will dissipate.

You may be interested in the following link:http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24735 (if you haven't already read it); a thread started by a man who's maintained a raw lifestyle for one year. I don't believe he makes a lot of raw recipes.

Regarding green smoothies, they are a regular component to some people's lifestyles. However, you can also live without them. There are no "Rules of Raw" telling you what to eat or when. Follow your own path. Try to make sure you always have sufficient fresh produce on hand that you can easily grab on the go when you're hungry. Having heavier foods on hand such as raw nuts and avacados can also be helpful. You may want to experiment with recipes as you go along, or you may not. Do what make sense for you .

I wish you all the best!

With Love.

[Revvell]

nothing is easy.


Very false statement. Eating raw is as easy as it gets. As humans we complicate things and make them difficult. There are learning curves for most everything and the simpler things are the more we want to complicate them as most of us don't feel "easy" is easy. If it's not difficult, if it's not painful then there's no transformation. The opposite is true. The easier we make our lives the happier we can be.

I was at Staples the other day. There's a round red thingy there that one can purchase. When it's pushed it says: "That was easy". Anytime I "IMAGINE" something is going to be difficult, I push that. Then, after I'm done, I push it again... "That was easy". :D

Revvell

[juliebove]

What I am gathering from various posts around the forum is that people are drinking smoothies for meals? Kinda like slim fast? lol Is this really what people are doing? Can I just drink smoothes all day and be good? Sorry if I sound a little naive!

Jay

Not me. I don't like smoothies. But plenty of other people like them and use them for meals.

[Petals]

Green smoothies and raw chocolate really helped me the first month.

[vae393]

Do you mix the raw chocolate with anything? I have something in a bag here from last summer, I think it is chocolate pieces?

Making smoothies, I guess you can't really go wrong unless you go crazy. I just mixed up a pear with strawberries a banana, a handful of green beans and some hemp seeds, it's great!

Jay