Do you think you could be raw...

[Sooboopa]

...without a dehydrator?

[JGex]

In a word,

Yes.

:D

I haven't run the dehydrator for over 3 weeks. smoothies and fresh fruit have been most of what I eat.

[rawbeliever]

I did for months before I even knew a dehydrator could be involved. And even now, though I do dehydrate every once in a while, I mostly prefer the non-dehydrated stuff. I just use the dehydrator for "treats." :)

[Sooboopa]

JGex... What about at the start of your journey? Was it a necessary part in the process of getting used to a raw diet?

[fruitcake]

absolutly!

I rarely use mine. dehydrated food makes me really thirsty.

[Sooboopa]

rawbeliever, did you go raw straight away? or did you transition?

[puffysmom]

I think at first u read all the good recipes and decide u need to dehydrate. Once u try a few u find out which ones u like and then u dont use it as often. I would never get rid of mine cause every once in a while i have to try something new. I think if u can be satisfied with salads, fruit, nuts and veggies u dont need it to start out. I love some of the Raw dips and lots of times just sit down and eat a handful of carrots and celery and the dip. No dehydrater. I plan on making some special thing tomorrow but not sure what yet. I will need the dehydrater. I want something special for Easter but u can make fudge and a lot of other things without dehydrating. Even the cookies can be eaten Raw. Some things I like better raw than dried but come summer when my garden is producing i plan on dehydrating a lot of fresh goodies so definetly will get a lot of use.

Maybe instead of getting a dehydrater u could order some crackers and such from a web site to see if u like them and if u do and want to make them than u can get the dehydrater.

[Rawkinlocs]

Sooboopa, my first several months of raw were without a dehydrator. The first thing I got was a food processor (already had a blender) and I mainly did smoothies, ate fruit and salads, nut/seed/raisin trail mixes and a few recipes that were not dehydrated.

It wasn't until a little while later that I got one and even then, much of the stuff I made at first I didn't like (although many of those same things I like NOW) but I mainly did like dried banana chips, strawberries and apples and fruit leather.

You can definitely be raw without one...it's just for extra options. They're nice to have just for those times when you DO want something different, IMHO, but not necessary.

[rawbeliever]

Sooboopa, I did transition; for the first month or so I still ate a piece of rye bread with my dinner salad. I think dehydrating is great for helping with the transition, and it really helps me to stay raw, although I wouldn't use it for every meal. Or even every other meal. I don't feel as good with dehydrated foods as I do with fresh ones.

[Dj 247]

Sooboopa, I do not own a dehydrator and I eat mostly raw. I still drink coffee now and then more now than then. :( I also eat organic natural peanutbutter because I refuse to pay 12 to 14 dollars for a 8oz jar of raw almond butter. But I eat fruit, salads, smoothies, nuts, and raw dips with veggies. I would like to get a dehydrator so I can make some crackers, breads, and raw granola. It will be a while before I can afford one.

[JGex]

JGex... What about at the start of your journey? Was it a necessary part in the process of getting used to a raw diet?

Nope. I broke it out, made a few things and decided I'd rather just have yummy smoothies or fresh nori rolls or a salad. I'm aways busy with other stuff, so turning things and making time to make sure I can dehydrate for 16 hours to eat something just doesn't fit my lifestyle. Maybe I'll change my mind down the road, but right now, I'm not using it very much.

The most I've used it for is to dry nut pulp from making mylk so I can make cinnamon rolls!

:D

[Sooboopa]

Rawkinlocs, do you think you could have gone raw without a food processor? Did that make a big difference?

[Stina]

Having a dehydrator pushed me over the edge from two/thirds Raw to all Raw. Flax crackers are a staple in my diet with the carrot pulp incorporated left over from juicing. I particularly like to soak my nuts and then dehydrate them to get them crispy; fantastic texture. Right now I'm making calzones. I know me; for now I need to feel like I've had a meal of substance to be Raw and the Excalibur is giving me that niche.

[nzgirl]

I've been going without one for over a month now and I would have no problem continuing, but I did just order one so I can try out more things. There are enough recipes out there that I can make without dehydrating. And lots of times even if a recipe says dehydrate you can eat it just as it is.

[Rawkinlocs]

Rawkinlocs, do you think you could have gone raw without a food processor? Did that make a big difference?

Well, I think anyone *can* go raw without one...I'm sure I could have and would have as I didn't use the food processor (and still don't) on a daily basis. To go raw, a person really doesn't NEED anything in the way of appliances - however, the appliances just make some things more convenient (chopping by hand is done by using a processor) but we live in a modernized world and so we tend to sometimes rely on modern inventions. But I think that ME, personally...I would have gotten a bit bored with eating only fruit and veggies and nuts/seeds all the time though many do just that and that IS the most natural way to eat.

But in MY personal transition to raw, I felt I needed a bit more variety and transitional-type foods to satiate me. So, the short answer to your question - "maybe" - I would have just done what I could with my blender (please don't ask if I could have gone raw without a blender! ;) :p - I'm just kidding, if you really wanna know you can ask...but I think the answer lies somewhere in this post) by eating all the fruits I love, making salads and making my own dressing, eating nuts, doing nut milks and banana shakes - yeah, I could have done it without one...I just would have probably felt like I was "missing out" on something when seeing all the different recipes that call for one (though I'm sure I would have found a way to do some of them WITH a blender).

It probably would have been even MORE of a challenge to stay raw, though because when you eat THAT purely - little-to-no recipes at ALL, your body REALLY gets to detoxing and having cooked food withdrawals much faster with all the little "discomforts" ("hunger" pangs, light-headedness, food cravings, emotional surfacing and cleansing) that come along with it.

[Pierre]

I don't have one. I've thought of getting one so that I could buy lots of capsicums, slice them, dehydrate them, and use them as a condiment.

[So Delightedly Raw]

I agree with Rawkinlocs. You can be raw with and without any appliance.

It depends on what you want to eat and how much variety you'll want.

For the last 4 weeks I've lived with only a blender. Green smoothies are fast; easy; invigorating; different every time I make them; and leave me with no cravings!:D (Right now I'm too busy to put any more time in food prep. :o )

What do you want to eat?

[konmai]

I don't even have one! :D Although once Alissa has hers out, I might get one just to make some rawsome dishes for the family!

[Conscious Midwife]

Spent the past year reading, researching and playing with the raw idea. Finally ordered a dehydrator so that i can enjoy greater texture variety.

definately looking forward to dehydrated flax crackers, breads and cookies:p

[Ariannah]

...without a dehydrator?

I don't mind the occasional dehydrated thing, but I've not used my dehydrator in months.

To me, raw is, "as nature presents it". You don't need a dehydrator to keep raw food raw :D

Grab your favorite fruits, make a delicious salad or pate, and enjoy!

[Morningstar]

YES.............

I think you could survive & THRIVE with just a knife IMHO

The Flip side to this reality is that grew up on farms where you buy bulk, eat some now & save for hard times.

With the cost of gas being ^ again & the cost of organic produce it makes sense as well to preserve & pinch where I can.

I always sprout extra seeds ( I then dry what I will not use)

I buy on sale ( dry what I want to save)

I have been finicky, so if I have left overs I'll dry them

I dry herbs

I do the same w/ frozen items

[tinystrawberry]

i don't have a dehydrator, and the only reason i'd ever get one is because i love to cook and make complicated recipes. I don't think you need one. I love having a blender though.

[Eva]

I don't have a dehydrator, but I have been thinking about getting one just for the special occasions like pizza night!

I can't say I'm feeling deprived in the meantime without one, though! I LOVE me my fruits and veggies.

The food processor has been like my little angel, though, too! I love making the nacho cheese and really creamy guac. AND I just found out I can make ice cream in it. I'm still a little blown away about that!

[domestic goddess]

I went crazy and made tons of dehydrated foods in the first 2 or 3 weeks of my change over to raw. Now? Don't even want to look at it. I thought I needed to make all those recipes to eat raw, but you don't. For me simple is better. Couldn't live without my blender and food processor though! ;)