What DO you need to eat the raw diet?

[RowanC]

Ok.. so since Tyra we seem to have a few new people with a lot of the same types of questions, so I wanted to start this thread which is the first thing I wanted to know when I went raw. Please feel free to add to my list.

If you are going to eat raw, you really do not NEED anything except raw fruits and vegetables. But with a small investment, you can make some wonderfully delicious meals that will satisfy even the most evil cravings for SAD food you might have, including FUDGE!

Here are the things I suggest you buy in this order:

1. A food processor. You don't need anything fancy. Just go to a second hand shop or yard sale if you don't have a lot of cash. But this is one of the tools you'll use most often so try to get a powerful one. You will need a regular old "S" blade. It will be very helpful to have a grating blade. But you also can just use a hand grater for most of the recipes.

2. A blender. My exerience is that the old blenders you find in second hand shops are BETTER than the new models! Try to get one with a glass container, but this isn't mandatory. For now, get what you can find and can afford.

NOTE: Try going to craigslist in your city and doing a search. You can often find these things REALLY cheap! You can also try posting on FREECYCLE if you're absolutely broke.

3. ALISSA's BOOK - Do not spend money on any other books until you get this one. It is the BIBLE of raw and has the best recipes. I have tried just about every other raw book out there and I always return to this one. I LOVE 8 out of 10 of Alissa's recipes where in the other books maybe I like 2 out of 10. BUY ALISSA's BOOK.

4. Alissa's DVD. If you can afford it.. get the DVD. It assures you how easy this all can be and gives you confidence. It helps to SEE someone making the recipes. It's awesome. Plus you can loan it to your friends! (Put your name on it!)

5. A hand grater

6. A SHARP heavy knife and a nice sharp paring knife

7. Storage containers for your food

8. Baskets or bowls to keep your fruit that doesn't need refrigeration out on the counter - it looks nice too :) Tomatoes, for instance, should never be refrigerated.

9. A nutbag is nice. There is a thread on here about how to find one really cheap. I think they've used a paint strainer for under $2

10. Glass containers are nice for your nuts and grains. I get mine at yard sales and Goodwill and have accumulated them over time.

11. Pretty bright plates and bowls to eat your creations out of.

12. A good cutting board. This should probably be higher on the list.

13. Location of the closest farmers' market or organic food source. Get online and READ. Educate yourself on organic foods vs. non-organic, what GMO means, etc. A good place to start is at www.organicconsumers.org

14. When you decide you're going to do this for real, you'll want to invest in a good dehydrator. Most of us suggest you buy the Excalibur 9 tray. In the meantime you can do fine without it. But with it you can make breads, cookies, crackers, pies, cakes, etc.

15. A Spiral slicer. These have different brand names, but basically what they do is make "noodles" out of crisp veggies. They're AWESOME.

That's all I can think of for now.

DO NOT PANIC. As I said at the beginning of the post. . . you can get by just eating as many RAW fruits and vegetables in their natural state... you can also make a lot of really nice dishes without anything except a knife, grater, and cutting board.

Best wishes for your new RAWSOME journey!
RowanC

[trinity082482]

Thanks Rowan, That is a great list!!

[RamaLove]

This is great and exactly what I was looking for.

Thanx!

[Veganforlife]

May I add some internal needs?

1. Willpower. The ability to let go of the way you USED to eat. The SAD diet. The diet that is robbing you of life, of living, of joy.

2. Determination. The want so bad willingness to go to a level of life you've never experienced before. The determination to treat your body as a temple. The determination to become one with yourself.

3. Acceptance. Realizing this is a change. Something us humans don't readily accept, BUT, once you have reached a place that you haven't experienced before, such as the energy level that you WILL experience, the wonderful sleep that you WILL experience, and the mental clarity that you WILL experience, you will be so very glad to have entered this journey and acceptance will become a natural.

4. Encouragement. The ability to encourage not only yourself, but others around you. To let your family, friends, and loved ones experience this wonderful, healing way of eating with you.

5. Knowledge. Knowledge in listening to others. The pioneer raw foodists. Learning from them. Reading, reading, reading, until you think you can't read anymore. Learning.

Once you take into consideration all these internal needs, you will be on a fantastic journey. A journey of health, and wealth. Wealth in that you will be rich in experiencing something most will not, or won't. Being healthy. Your body, mind, and soul will blend together in a lifeforce that you will wonder why you've never come to this place in your living before.

Alissa has truly been sent to all of us for a purpose. You are not on this message board just as a sheer accident. You DO realize that, don't you? There are no coincidences in life. We are all here together to learn, teach, admire, and encourage each other.

It is a very simple lesson to be learned. You just have to open your mind. The rest will fall in place.

[Raw Jewelrylady]

Alissa has truly been sent to all of us for a purpose. You are not on this message board just as a sheer accident. You DO realize that, don't you? There are no coincidences in life. We are all here together to learn, teach, admire, and encourage each other.

It is a very simple lesson to be learned. You just have to open your mind. The rest will fall in place.



Can I get a Big Standing Ovation for this thread & that statement. I cannot begin to clarify How grateful I am to Alissa, the Moderators & all my Friends at RFT. ;)

OK...I'm actually tearing up now-doesn't happen a lot..but ..YES.. we were all sent here for a purpose. The opportunity to learn about Raw is so great here. :)

Open your mind-have fun with Raw... Think the positive thoughts that need to be thought in order to achieve anything... :)

Be appreciative & grateful that you have the opportunity & knowledge about Raw.

I'll borrow a quote from a friend of mine..*I don't have to, I get to..* ;)

Have fun on this forum... :)

Lana

[fairygirl]

Wow, such an excellent thread. Thanks for starting it Rowan!
Id like to add something to the list:

a mandoline - its totally multipurpose and i love mine!

You can use if for thin strips with any fruit or veggie...perfect for those lasagna "noodles".
And it comes with an attchement to do the long thin spagetti strands, if you cant find a saladacco.

Veganforlife - love your list too! I totally agree with you!

And Lana - its awesome to see a pic of you. At first i thought "oh there's someone new" and realized it was you with a pic! :D gorgeous jewlery! Is that one of your originals?

[Raw Jewelrylady]

And Lana - its awesome to see a pic of you. At first i thought "oh there's someone new" and realized it was you with a pic! :D gorgeous jewlery! Is that one of your originals?

Yes- this was a GREAT idea to open a thread for the newcomers. :)

Fairygirl..Yes-tis me :D :) ...& the jewelry is a piece of amethyst that Denny wrapped in gold wire & I beaded. Thanks for the compliments.

Lana

[Noix_coco]

Thank you for this thread, perfect timing for me who just joined the forum a few days ago.
I never heard of a dehydrator before, wonder what it looks like, I will type it in google.
I am moving in NZ in 6 weeks and intend to start eating raw overthere with my family. I was a little bit afraid of being hungry and not knowing what to eat, especially in a new country, but I discovered recipes here, so that migh help.
Thanks!

[Bobbie]

I only "need" a cheap blender and food processor.

I love my nut milk maker, sprouting trays, vegetable peeler, lemon squeezer but they're not necessary.

[Veganforlife]

Thank you for this thread, perfect timing for me who just joined the forum a few days ago.
I never heard of a dehydrator before, wonder what it looks like, I will type it in google. Thanks!

Go to Alissa's store (upper left-hand corner). She sells them. ;)
Here's the link:

http://www.alissacohen.com/shop/home.php?cat=9

[Rawkinlocs]

bumping up for newbies...

[SIMPLYLOC]

Thank you for this thread!!!!!!!

I am new and very happy to be here.
I know i will need a dehydrator very soon...hubby LOVES it desserts.
I will definately place an order for Alissa's book.
Saladecco seems to be a good buy too, i made a pasta yesterday and used my veggie peeler, it was so good but i bet it would have been amazing with the saladecco.

Now, are you all crushing your nuts with the FP?
Yep, i think i need one of those...is a blender different from a FP?

I am awaiting my Soyquick to make my raw milk, can' t wait!!!

[Ama]

A blender is different from a food processor. I use my fp much more than my blender but use both EVERY day! The blender is great for soups, smoothies and sauces while the fp is great for chopping up nuts and making most of the thicker stuff (nut butters, burgers etc). It is also great when you don't want everything pulverized. The fp and chop veggies really fast for a salad or to add to your soup, just pulse it a few times and you're done.

[FinallyRaw]

The Saladacco is fantastic but not necessary. Before I got mine I used a veggie peeler and got the same effect. But if you find one and can afford it, I'd grab it.

My blender I use mostly for smoothies but I use my food processor more often for sauces, pulsing veggies and anything really. Last time I was on raw I had a smaller cheaper fp that I got from WalMart, it worked but wasn't as great for nuts and stuff. Well I just got a Cuisinart for the holidays and can't wait to use it now that I'm back on Raw!!!! I bet it whips up nuts in nothing flat for a nice smooth alfredo sauce. Ok, I'm drooling now........gotta stop at the store on my way home from work. hehehehehe

I also got a dehydrator from WalMart and it's much cheaper then the Excalibur and it worked fine for what I was using it for. Maybe once I start trying more new recipes I'll invest in the Excalibur some day. But for now my little round $40 cheapie works. hehehehehe

Great list and very accurate. I know when I first started I was clueless so the newbies will appreciate this.

[Frecs]

When I first started, I didn't do recipes...I ate salads, smoothies, and whole fruit. But, this January Momma wanted to try raw and she needs recipes to keep her from getting bored. That's when having some kitchen gadgets became more important.

I can not afford the Excalibur so I got a Harvester and it works fine. Sure, I can't do square bread or loafs or thick stuff and if I were to make a pizza it would have a hole in the middle but otherwise I'm doing just fine with my Harvester.

I have not yet forked out for a saladaccio though I really want one. I did buy a chopper like Alissa uses on her DVD -- don't use it much and I'm not sure it was worth the money. I absolutely LOVE my reamer!

Sprouting supplies: I have opted not to buy the fancy (read: expensive) sprouters. I use mason jars. I went to the craft section of Walmart and bought some plastic needlepoint canvas. Then, using a lid from a mason jar as a template, I cut out disks for my sprouting jars. I use the regular canning rings to hold the canvas to the jar. There you have an inexpensive sprouter! Oh, and you can also reuse glass jars from food items if the lid is sized to take canning jar lids.

Oh, and a good blender for making smoothies! Momma and I have burned out a few cheap blenders. Get the best you can afford. I just can't go the price of a Vitamix at this point.

[ItsSimplyAmazing]

Thanks for this thread, I started another thread earlier today asking what the must haves were for the long haul with this life style

With tax return hopefully getting deposited in a few days, Ill be able to set up and invest in myself for once ( always the last one to take care of - usually how it goes huh? Take care of babe, take care of hubby then if I have energy I take care of me ) WELL thats changing!! Taking care of me so I can take care of babe and hubby :)

Hubby of course is not on board with this lifestyle change and I do find it harder to stick to the program come dinner time when he is home -- so I really would love to figure out how to make some of my versions of the "sad" meals he wants

I keep going back and forth with how far I want to go now with this, but I know right now is the best time to get whatever I may need. So if I feel like I may need it in the future I feel like I need to get it now while I have the money. We arent getting a huge return back by anymeans, but we decided to "blow" it and each get things we've wanted or lusted after for awhile lol

I am torn between getting the Vitamix over what I just saw 2days ago - the Jack Lalanne HealthMaster theres such a big price difference $200! So in those regards Im leaning towards the HM

I dont have a FP, I can use the HM or VM to pulse foods, make nut butters, soups, 'icecreams' ect so am I right to think I really do not need a food processor?

I dont have a lot of cupboard space at all, so Im limited in where I can store things AND I barely have any counter. SO I dont want to get a lot of gadgets - hubby is already a lil mad I got rid of the cappiccino machine over the summer when imo it wasnt getting used , why have it?? he used it I think 3times that I seen in over 2years -- He told me to get rid of things LOL NOW I have to go buy a cheap one to replace it ( we got the other free from my mom but still, it wasnt getting used LOL ) ...

Im going to see how much a large cutting board to fit over the stove would be - yet that will get used everyday since hubby has no desire to convert this route and Id have to cook dinner for him. Im just tired of trying to cut up alot of stuff on a teeny 5x7 bamboo board lol love my bamboo board though!

I love the thought of doing the canning jar, maybe Ill see if I can manage that type of dealie before I go the rought of a somewhat spendy sprouter system ($25 is reasonable but $1 is better LOL)

I just got the pampered chef mandoline in a trade ( at a natural parenting board I visit - love trading I got that for sending her a few clothes that are now too big on me YAY love a good trade!! LOL ) I cant wait to put that to work for me

The first thing I am buying though when the money clears in the bank is Alissas book & dvd! I CAN NOT WAIT!!

[Morningstar]

[QUOTE=
I love the thought of doing the canning jar, maybe Ill see if I can manage that type of dealie before I go the rought of a somewhat spendy sprouter system ($25 is reasonable but $1 is better LOL) [/QUOTE]


Here is another idea from maraw's site
http://www.therawtable.com/sprouting.htm

[ItsSimplyAmazing]

OH I have a spare hardly used small plastic drainer!! wonderful! thank you!

I hope I can find the different things to sprout this weekend

I love dehydrated dates you can buy in the grocery store, but obviously they have a sugar coating on them ...

I can not find a whole/raw date anywhere... Im going like way outta my way Friday and hope that the store with the "fresh food" side is a natural food store LOL it looks like a grocery store but more upscale on the outside so heres to hoping Ill hit the jackpot and know where Ill be shopping weekly!!

Thank you for the tip, love the look of your site!!

I swear its sooo refreshing to view all these raw sites, the pictures of the food are beautiful and I cannot wait to mingle and play!!!