How To Not Get Bored?

[Firicia]

Hello everyone.

Well I have a question, which I hope isn't silly to ask.

So far I've tried about 15 raw recipies, and sadly have not liked any of them. Out of my books I have pretty much run out of the recipies I thought looked good to my individual tastes. I had no idea I could be so picky, especially after hearing how much everyone loved Alissa's recipies. But here I am, in this odd situation of not liking any raw recipies so far, and at the point of not knowing any more recipies with foods that I'd like in them. I want to start raw soon, but I am worried that since I don't like any recipies I will want SAD if I see someone eating something that I want but don't have a raw recipy for that I enjoy.

So I am wondering if anyone was in my situation? Should I just try to suck it up for a month, and then maybe my tastes will have changed? I feel like eating SAD has ruined my tastes for raw foods (I mean reading the recipies I think they sound wonderful, but it's like right now my body doesnt like sweets without butter and sugar etc... not the mention other meals). Also a lot of the smells of the meals makes me feel like I'm going to get sick. The only treat like things I seem to enjoy right now is pies with fresh fruit and an almond/agave crust. This will sounds funny but I feel so disspointed in myself for not liking these foods, it's especially hard with my bf bugging me about how much it cost me to get the book and how I'm not liking anything. So ya, after a month if I can make it through on salads and fruits and some nuts, do you think I'll start growing a taste for things? I feel so silly, and this is not meant to say Alissa's recipies aren't great, it's just that MY taste-buds feel messed up.

Thanks for reading :) And I hope this isn't silly. Also any suggestions on how to keep things interesting with eating mostly fruits and veggies alone would be appreciated. Also how could I make my nut snacks tastier since I'll probibly just be eating them alone and not in any dishes until find some I enjoy. Maybe I can spice them somehow? I want to keep on trying new things. Thank you so much for your help and support!

[Petals]

I think SAD can mess up ones taste buds. it did mine as well at first. What kind of sad dishes do you enjoy? Thee is nothng wrong, I think, with beginning with raw pies. At least they are raw. Way better than sugar laden processed flour junk. This forum has lots of good recipe ideas and lots of good photos of dishes you might like to try from her book.

good luck :~)

[Rawkinlocs]

Yes, your tastebuds may change with time. I remember when I first went raw and tried a lot of recipes and didn't like them much either. Now, some of those very same recipes I didn't like then, I enjoy now!

Also, sometimes it just takes not being afraid to tweak things to your liking - if something is too sweet or not sweet enough, if it's too garlicky, etc. This comes with time too.

I don't eat a LOT of recipes, but I do have my staples. But when I first went raw, almond butter was my best friend - I ate it with bananas and/or apples and maybe some raisins on top. I also ate it spread on (unsavory) flax crackers sometimes with honey or agave to sweeten it and banana slices.

As for nuts, you can soak them and then drain and season them with spices such as onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne, sea salt, etc. and if you have a dehydrator, dehydrate them for a spicy, crunchy snack.

I also ate a lot of my own trail mix with various nuts, seeds, raisins, etc.

I just kept in mind that when I ate SAD, we had a few different meals that we ate over and over...same with raw - I found my favorites and just made them often.

Just try the really simple things such as the mock salmon on lettuce leaves or with crackers and again, don't be afraid to spruce up the pate to your liking with a dash or two of black pepper, a squeeze of lemon juice, maybe some dulse or kelp, etc.

[RowanC]

Which recipes have you tried? I'm just curious.

Are you generally a finicky eater when it comes to SAD foods?

[Firicia]

Hmm, I can't remember all the names but I'll try list some... Salmon pate, turtles chocolates, crepes (I think my fruit leather went bad, but also the filling didn't taste good to me), different salad dressing (may as well just have it without, not that big of a deal I guess) I've tried desserts like cinnamin girls, chocolate coconut balls, cookies, brownies, coconut chocolate mint brownies, chocolate mouse, chocolate pudding etc... (was trying to find a way to curb my sweet tooth, but I like fruit smoothies best). The next things I'll try will be simple things like chips and some pesto etc if I can ever find the ingredients and something to cut the potatoes with.

So thats all I can remember, I know it was more but I'm lacking the names right now.

I didn't think of myself as picky with SAD, but maybe I am. I mean I don't like raw tomoatoes or avacados, so I would stay away from those. But I think with SAD I found some dishes that I liked and stayed with them (I guess my comfort zone), and the dishes I most liked were treats like cakes and ice cream etc... so maybe I was picky if I prefered to eat sweets for most of my daily meals. I never thought of that. Even when I was trying to eat "healthy" on SAD if I didn't have at least one of my daily meals as a big treat of chocolate or something I felt totally deprived and would binge on more treats.

I think I just need to suck it up and try to be raw for 30 days and see how I feel and how I taste things after that. I should know after 30 days if this is for me or not. I was just hoping to go into eating raw with a bunch of wonderful recipies that I thought tasted great, it's why I've been putting off my 30 day commitment. I want to feel prepaired, but it's not happening and every day now I'm noticing how the foods I am eating make me feel so sick, so I'm just wanting to get on with it and start eating raw anyways, and just hope I have the willpower and proper mindset to say no to bad foods. Thanks for all your support everyone :)

[Nimmanu]

I think I've found about 50 variations of smoothies that I really like.

Then I've gone back to eating about 8 bananas and 4 smoothies (all the same "recipe") every single day.

It's just the way I am. And I was the same on SAD. For example, this week I might have eaten all chicken, every day, with broccoli. Then the next week, it might be asparagas with say, turkey. Or maybe 2 weeks. Okay, sometimes I'd go a month eating the exact same thing every day.

It's kind of strange, I don't know why I'm like that. But I've managed not to get at all bored, LOL. I just tend to eat the same things over and over again, it's how I am. Sounds like you might be the same.

Give it a go. Eat smoothies and fruits and have some nuts or veggies here and there. Hey, if you get bored, you can do like I did, and find 50 variations of smoothies. :D :D

[Ariannah]

When I was first raw, and before I discovered recipes, I had a hard time getting bored simply because for the first time in my life, I could explore foods I never knew existed before. (prior to that I was on a diet that didn't allow fruit - so that probably helped - the new meaning of "forbidden fruit syndrome" haha)

I took the same amount of money I used to spend on say, coffee and a croissant, and instead go buy a new kind of fruit, like a cherimoya, and my taste buds had a party.

I used to think "I don't like pears". Because seriously, the only type I had ever been exposed to were the over hyped bartlett pears. They reminded me of icky canned fruit salad.

It was only the past 2 years I've discovered D'anjou, Yali, Bosc, and many other varieties of pears, and for the first time in my life, I discovered I am crazy about pears.

Explore what is out there.

[Nimmanu]

When I was first raw, and before I discovered recipes, I had a hard time getting bored simply because for the first time in my life, I could explore foods I never knew existed before. (prior to that I was on a diet that didn't allow fruit - so that probably helped - the new meaning of "forbidden fruit syndrome" haha)

I took the same amount of money I used to spend on say, coffee and a croissant, and instead go buy a new kind of fruit, like a cherimoya, and my taste buds had a party.

I used to think "I don't like pears". Because seriously, the only type I had ever been exposed to were the over hyped bartlett pears. They reminded me of icky canned fruit salad.

It was only the past 2 years I've discovered D'anjou, Yali, Bosc, and many other varieties of pears, and for the first time in my life, I discovered I am crazy about pears.

Explore what is out there.
Really excellent point.

I probably shouldn't advocate this, because I'm sure they're probably not organic, but... I have been wanting to try the, what 20?, different apple varieties my store has.

Just to see which ones I like, LOL.

[theresaann]

you just have to clean out your body and your tastes will change. One fast way to do that is juice fast for a week or two-I promise, you will LOVE the food after that ;)

[Ariannah]

The goal would be better expressed as "How to get excited!" rather than how NOT to get BORED....

What you focus on... that's the direction you'll go :)

[jaurequi]

I agree with Petals.
But, what is your intention going raw? Is it purely to lose weight? If it is, then I'd say, yes, just stick it out. Then it's like any other "diet." You will lose, but, if you go back to your old ways, you will -- like every other diet -- gain the weight back.

If your intention is a way of life change, then you should prepare your mind for it. Make the decision, once and for all, with all the ups and downs you may face, make the committment for your self, for the rest of your life.
In your mind you must believe you are eating to live, not living to eat. At this point, eat for health and begin to think of food as nourishment. Choose whatever foods taste best right now, whether it's simple or repetitive.

For you, it sounds like it may take time for the tastes to come, but they will. For now focus on making the necessary changes, get strong, keep going.

Best,