Family not raw

[cinnamongirl]

I'm a mom with five children and I'm eating 80-100% raw. My kids are teenaged boys and my 5 month old daughter. I'm afraid that as I journey more into the raw food world because it just clicks with me I will want them to come and all but my daughter are not interested. They eat 100% organic,lots of fresh fruit and smoothies, but they also eat grains, fresh raw dairy, and 1-2 x weekly organic meat. As the cook in the house I can control somewhat the food they eat but we are talking teenaged boys and they eat ALOT!!! My husband will never be raw but wants me to help him get more fresh fruits and veggies in his diet, but he won't give up the dairy and meat and I wouldn't ask him too. How do others deal with this? Their diet is not SAD but definately not raw. I'm planning on raising my daughter on mostly raw vegan.

[Rawkinlocs]

Hi and welcome!

I have 4 children ranging from 4-15 years and they are not all raw either. You can only be an example and from the sound of it, they all have pretty healthy diets as it stands - lots of fresh fruit, smoothies. Perhaps just with you doing it and them seeing the benefits and the changes in YOU, will make them want to come on board a little bit more. I used to share info on the downfalls of eating certain foods and so they know, but still choose to eat what they eat. Like you, I DO control "some" things but some things I just allow (speaking of my children). My husband and children are all very supportive of ME and they will eat fruit, salads, drink smoothies, use nut milk that I make rather than dairy but they still eat some cooked foods and so I don't push them. But when teen daughter comes to me about the acne on her face or teen son tells me his joints are aching or husband comes to me about bloating - then I (gently) remind them of the possibilities of it happening due to "xyz" food(s).

So, just do it and don't itry and force it on them...but when you DO make things they may want to try it and may like it. One time I made nut milk and my son (little) wanted cereal (eats organic corn flakes or brown rice crispies) and my niece and nephew were over and their parents sent them with their own sugary cereal. Well, I gave them their cereal WITH nutmilk and they never even noticed the difference! ;) There are little ways you can sometimes sneakily switch things out and over to a raw version if that is something you'd ever want to do. Just throwing that possibility out there!

[Elizabeth]

I am so impressed by all of you that eat raw in the midst of cooked food eating families!!

Rawkinlocs..you are so right to handle it the way you do. It takes wisdom and grace to do that. :) I am sure you are a wonderful example, and when your children are older they will remember it all..and if they are ever faced with a health challenge, they will know there are other options..and will have seen the benefits in your life. So Beautiful to set that example for them....and for everyone else that "sees" you, either in "real" life or online....:o

[maraw]

I also have a large family (4 children, 3-7 years old) - non of which I would consider raw, but have a very similar diet to your family. My husband and I have made several decisions together about the family's diet, such as, I don't serve any red meat, chicken or pork any more. The only non-vegan foods they consume are salmon and some organic cheeses and yogurt. This seems to work well for us, but like you, I would very much enjoy my family eating more raw. My oldest is beginning (after 2 years) to develop a real interest in raw foods, but I have yet to find something she enjoys eating on a regular basis. She will try anything, but isn't really into eating much of it. She likes simple and I tend to move toward that for her. I suggest the same as rawliklocs, just be an example to your family and continue letting them try new things. I have also tried changing the textures of recipes with some success - for example, something that is suppose to be dehydrated, I might serve fresh, or something that should be served fresh, I might freeze it instead. That's one of the great things about raw food - it's very versitile.

Just keep heading in the right direction. If nothing else, you are serving as a great example and teaching your children about good nutrition. When they are older, they will have to make these decisions for themselves and you are giving them a GREAT foundation on which to build.

Best wishes,