A failed attempt at giving the brother a Raw meal

[SmilingRawDancer]

Well, my brother has noticed that he has been getting sick alot, whereas me and my mom who both eat well rarely, if ever, get sick. (I'm raw, my mom isn't totally sold on the idea of 100% yet, but she still eats wayyy more raw foods than most people I know.)
He walked into the living room to me the other day, and said:
"Kyle, how can I improve my immune system, besides eating well or taking vitamins?"
Me: "Eating well or taking some vitamins."
"*laughter"*

Anyways, he's been asking me more questions lately, and realizing how right me and mom are, so I figured I'd try out a raw breakfast on him, as he is sick right now with a cold, and wants to get better.
I made him REALLY GOOD raw oatmeal, with some strawberries on top, and a glass of sweet blended oranges.
Both tasted fantastic, and I don't even make myself stuff that good on a daily basis.

He didn't like it. Either, really. It was pretty disheartening, but I refuse to give up. He ate the strawberries on top, took a sip of the orange blend, and a couple bites of the oats.
It makes me so sad to see people so steeped in ways of poor eating. If he had gotten anything from a fast-food joint, or a restaurant, he would have never complained (he never does.)
It's like people have a set idea in their minds of what things should taste like, so when they eat oats and it doesn't taste like "oatmeal", or orange juice that doesn't taste like "Orangejuice", no matter how good the foods are as is, they'll be rejected simply because it's not "the same".

I've never had that problem. I try things, and if it tastes good, I eat it. I don't EXPECT it to taste the same every single time there on out for eternity, simply because it's named the same thing.

Anyways. Just a rant :)
He drinks smoothies I make him, so at least I get SOME gluten-free nutrition in him :-D

[vwinters]

Hi Smilingkyle,
Loved the youtube, but now I think I need a Dramamine because my head is spinning. :) Feeding the brother lots of fruit smoothies is a great idea, and then down the road you can try slipping in some greens. Also, Lara Bars go over well with cooked food eaters.
VW

http://www.3fatchicks.net/img/bar097/penguin/lb/528.2/140/509.4/.png (http://www.3fatchicks.com/weight-tracker/)

[rawpriestess]

it can be tough to help people with SAD tastebuds, when we have RAW ones.

What I find that works for SAD eaters is to make them things that are not like what they THINK it is, don't make fresh orange juice, it has no flavor compared to their frozen, don't make them fresh blueberry muffins, it will taste heavy and bland to them

this is what I do, and it may work for you.

make them things that explode in their mouth.

like my exploding raspberry jam

1/2 cup fresh raspberries
1/2 cup dark raisins,

blend together in food processor (if you use a Vita Mix, it won't be good, the seeds in the raspberries, will feel like sand, ick)

then set in the fridge for at least an hour, spread this on his normal dry, white bread toaste, let it explode in his mouth, he'll love it,

make him an almond milkshake with a fresh banana and some fresh dates, and fresh real vanilla, it will burst with flavor in his mouth.

make him some pesto stuffed mushrooms,

some raw enchiladas, these are the type of things that will work with SAD eaters, just my experience, take what you will.

[SmilingRawDancer]

Those sound like fantastic ideas :)
I was thinking along the same lines....it's simply taste bud adaptation :-\
For the worse, in his case.

[SmilingRawDancer]

On the upside, I got to eat the oatmeal! It was great too, hahaah

[emily]

kyle,
i worked in a preschool last year, and we made the kids "Friendship salad" which is marshmallows, oranges, bananas and apples. There's one kid who mostly eats sugary cereal and chips at home, and I don't think he eats much, if any, fresh fruits and veg. He couldn't stand the apples and oranges - he looked in pain! I've never met a kid who didn't like apples. All he wanted was the marshmallows (i know, so sad), but he would eat the bananas, so we gave him a half a banana and he loved it - similar in sweetness and texture to the marshmallows. So I really think it is tastebud adaption, and you have to want to adapt. But I agree with other people, if he tastes raw things he really likes right away and make him feel good, then he will be motivated to adapt to other things.

Here's a smoothie/"milkshake" recipe you should try:

- 3 c. frozen banana
- 2 cups almond milk
- 1/4 c. agave nectar or honey
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 2 heaping T. cocoa powder
- pinch of sea salt

You can make it a cinnamon shake instead by only putting 3 T. agave/honey in and substituting 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon for the cocoa powder.

Hope it works!

[JGex]

Remember, too, that nothing really tastes great when you're sick. I know when I have the flu or a cold, food just doesn't taste right.

:)

[Morn]

Yeah I have the same problem with my SAD family. My husband doesn't even want to try any more of my recipes. I am bummed out cause now even if something is really good I have to almost bagger him to try it. But he does like fresh fruit smoothies and I do make fresh raw grawnola that he likes. I know how disheartening it is to work on making a meal and then have everyone turn their nose up to it.

I suggest you stick with familiar foods like fresh strawberries, grapes and cut up pineapple. You can't go wrong there!

[luckitri]

Yes I am thinking of how those glands in my neck twinge with pain if I eat high vitamin C foods when I am ill. And also of how if we have any appetite at all we want those comfort foods.

[michigan roman]

i dont have the book anymore so i cant quote it but in the norman walker book " vegetarian diet and salad " theres a short like 2 page chapter called ' how to know how to live and what to eat ' that made me a raw foodist forever . ide find this chapter and have brother read it .