Taking the pluge!! (Long-ish)

[Collinsky]

My husband and I have been talking this past week and for some reason he is totally on board with going raw -- he's never thought it was a good idea before but now he's up for "an experiment" :-) -- and we are planning on plunging headlong into it on the first of the month (Friday).

We have a 2 year old and a 7 month old (so far) and I am a little curious/concerned about how this might affect them. I am okay with my husband an myself going through the cleansing process that is inevitable with such a radical change (currently SAD eaters!) but dont' want to impose that on my kiddos. My 2 yo is still breastfeeding, so that may help ease the transition, and she LOVES fruits and berries of al kinds, and likes nut butters. Is it alright if initially she doesnt' eat veggies much? And is it okay to just suddenly stop giving her breads and milk? Should we keep some in the house for her? I'm afraid having bread around will be the end of my willpower when the going gets rough.

Also -- I really dont' want to spill a bunch of toxins into my breastmilk, since it is my 7 mo's only source of nutrition... I heard that avacados, oils, and nuts can slow down a detox so I will be eating those. Is there anything to watch for in her to see if she is being adversely affected by the sudden change? I know this type of lifestyle is ultimately for their good -- but of course want it to be as smooth a transition as possible for them.

Also I just an email from a trusted friend talking about some children being adversely affected by the mothers' vegan diets during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and since obviously there is a wrong way and a right way to do something I want to make sure that I dont' unknowingly deprive myself and kiddos of needed nutrients.

I am looking forward to living a raw lifestyle and my future raw pregnancies... so excited but also a bit trepidated and overwhelmed! So any advice, hints, tips... GREATLY appreciated!

[rawpriestess]

hi,

you will be doing the very best thing in the world for your children.

you can go to www.thegardendiet.com and ask Jinjee herself she has raised 4 children on raw and living foods.

Go to www.rawfamily.com and you can read about a family if 4 and how they went raw 11 years ago and cured many uncureable diseases they had.

The best way to do it is all at once, cold turkey as it were,
get rid of everything in your home that isn't raw, so you will have no temptation, I am assuming you have read about some detox symptoms and how you may have headaches or feel musled aches for a few days.

Trust me this will pass, and you will have an enlightened sense of well being, and joy that you will bless the day you decided to go raw.

I have 5 granddaughters all in various stages of raw, ages 5 to 15 and each one of them feels so much better when they come to visit me because there is NO cooked food of any kind to eat, so they must eat all the wonderful fruits and veggies we grow here.

They always leave, thinner, healthier and happier then when they came, no adolescent moping around, no whining, no arguing, nothing but happiness and joy.

They especially love growing their own food and picking it, and then just eating it, and also they love to eat things like weeds and leaves, right of the tree, bushes or ground, they think this is cool.

YOU ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING WITH YOUR FAMILY. I only wish my mom would have done this for me.

Blessings,
Christine

[Allison]

You might want to invest in a dehydrator and make raw, sprouted breads and crackers. They are great for adding a little variety in the diet and might help when you or a child feel like you need a piece of bread.

You also might want to try your 2 yr. old on nut milk...lots of calories and filling. Take one quart of water, put in blender with 1/2 - 3/4 c. almonds, and 3 T. honey. Blend, then strain.

We have seven children, ages 2 - 16, and they are all doing well on raw. You can check out my journal to see what my four year old eats every day.

[Ariella]

We are (my son and myself - I am currently also 25 weeks pregnant) high raw. We have been for 1 1/2 years and I was 2 years prior to that but there was a 1 year lapse in between these times. My son has been vegan and high raw his entire life. He is very healthy and neither of us has gotten sick this winter even though all of those around us are getting massive flus and colds! Anyway, so I wouldn't let being a vegan scare you! I have been vegan for 8 years?? I think or maybe longer.

If you want to read my journal you http://www.ecocentric.ethicalcentral.com/
you can see what I eat and my son eats each day. I journal for both of us.

I agree with Allison about giving your 2 yo nutmilks! My kiddo drinks a lot of that just about every day. Although my recipe varies a little bit from hers. I also give him veggie juices and green smoothies. He loves the veggie juices - he thinks that they are yummy :) He also eats fruits but not very many veggies at this point.

I made all of my own food for him when I started him out eating - mostly fruits.

That is VERY exciting that you have hubbys support! That is something I wish I had. I think if we would go all raw with me than I could be all raw easiy but that is my goal by the end of this year to get me and my son all raw. I bet with that you will go into this lifestyle pretty easily :)

Good luck! Let us know how it goes for you!

Ariella

JUICE PLUS+ www.juiceplus.com/+dj73561
MELALEUCA
http://www.themomteam.com/cgi-bin/mom.cgi?id=ar444907&action=show

[Collinsky]

Thanks for the replies! I suspect I might be overthinking this, so your encouragements are great to hear. I will check out the links. I have seen Jinjee's site, and honestly it was the one thing that made me think going raw was something I really needed to do. My husband is on board for an experiment with raw foods -- at first he said he'd go raw for a week with me, then 2 weeks, and now we're both committing to a month of all raw. It will make it a LOT easier. I dont' have enough willpower to withstand cravings if I'm eating dinner with someone eating pasta with cheese...

[Rawkinlocs]

I am (mostly) raw and I nurse. No problems. My children are also raw and so is my husband. I agree with RawPriestess' and the others' posts! You and your children will do fine. If you don't have a dehydrator, get one (Walmart has a great one that many of us have) and you can do "steamed" veggies and "stir fry", make cookies, crackers, breads. You can do oatmeal that is VERY yummy...my little ones and my biggest one (husband) love it and it's made with raw oat groats, sweetner of your choice (honey, dates, raisins, agave) and we chop up apples and use cinnamon and a little sea salt and sometimes a TBS or less of ground flax seed. It's the best!

But this is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your family!

Best to you! :)

Ariella, I'm gonna visit your site SOON!