newbie needs help surviving at work

[lkcrook]

Hi,
I'm new to raw food, just recently found out about it a few months ago. My husband and I had been trying it for about a month, then totally fell off the wagon and started eating SAD again. I can really tell the difference eating SAD food--just feel blah.

Anyway, I'm an RN, work 12 hour shifts and am lucky to get a lunch break, much less any time to snack throughout the day. I've been eating fruit for breakfast, sometimes will have some raw nuts 30 min after the fruit. I eat around 5:30 or 6 am, but feel ravenous again by 10 or 11. By lunch I am craving cooked food, but usually will have a wonderful salad or lettuce wraps brought from home. By the time I get home at 8 or 8:30, I feel awful and stressed that I can't eat my favorite foods. I only work 3 shifts/week, but it's hard to get through my workdays. I know it shouldn't be stressful to eat this way, but that's how I feel. I'm not a big person, weigh about 115lbs ( I started losing weight unintentionally when we ate raw, went down to 111 from 120). I read Alissa's book, it doesn't seem like she eats that much throughout the day, but I don't know how to get to that point.

What do you all eat in a typical day, and how do you get through work? I've tried the recipes in Alissa's book, but there are only a handful I like. I loooove cheese, and the nut substitute does not work for me.

The transition is sooo hard!

Any advice would be great. Thanks!

[spicyfull]

I don't make a lot of recipes, about the only recipe I make on a regular basic is....Mushroom, Soy Sauce, Olive oil and Garlic.......I don't have time for the dehydrayter to dry.

I just keep it Simple..I drink Fruit and Green Smoothies. I eat Fruit and Salads. I don't eat as much Nuts as I used to. I am Happy to see warm weather because I can make Sorbet in the Food Proccesor.

I admire those who Love to make all the Lovely Food. Sometimes the Longer you are RAW the Simplier your Diet.

What you need is a Thermos and a Cooler, fill them up and you will NEVER be hungry again...EAT..... Don't let hunger attack you, that is why you want to eat everything, your resistance is down when you feel like that.

So Attack Hunger BEFORE it attacks you.....

[Veganforlife]

Oh I so agree. Fruits and Green Smoothies. They RAWK! A lot of food for little mess and they travel well. Or any of the dips (such as Alissa's onion or the egg-less) and veggies. You CAN do this!

[garden granny]

fruits and melons are great for work. Today I brought a half a cantelope cut up into big chunks and have been eating that all morning. I've got a big salad and some "onion bread" for lunch, an apple for a later snack, and of course a great big bottle of water that I drink all day at work. Watermelon is also great this time of year.

[tvillemom]

I don't work away from home, but sometimes I get so busy at home that I don't realize it's 2pm.(ate breakfast at 7am)..haven't had lunch, and now I'm craving cooked COMFORT foods, because I'm ravenous!! I just want to agree with the others...back a small cooler...and eat BEFORE you feel starved. If that means carrying a handful of granola in a baggie to munch on maybe in between patients?? A bite or two hear and there will keep you from feeling STARVED before meal time. Hope this helps. Also, make sure you are getting a fat of some kind on that salad. I like avocado, walnuts, sunflower seeds, almonds, something you like. Good luck. You can do this. Where there is a will, there is a way!
Another thought. Maybe the reason you crave your comfort foods when you get home is slightly because of the stress you feel throughout the day! You need to look for a way to pamper yourself, and let go of the stress you feel from your job, other than treating it with food. I'm speaking from experience. My hardest times staying raw are when I'm stressed and want to comfort myself. Think about it. Take care.

Wendi

[lkcrook]

Thanks for your suggestions. I have tried to bring some food into work, it just needs to be something I can eat on the go (I don't want to bring just nuts and raisins). We are not suppose to eat anywhere but in the break room, but that's too far to go sometimes. It gets really hectic at times, not even enough time to stop for 1 sec. I have brought smoothies, which seems to work ok, but not always satisfying enough in the afternoon/evening after a long day of running around like a crazy woman.

I know that I stress eat, actually tend to eat for any emotion--happy, sad, bored, etc. I just need to find some new comfort food. I think I'm also trying to stay away from fruit in the afternoon since I already had veggies and sometimes nuts by then. Do you feel this is real important in the beginning?

[Veganforlife]

I actually think you need to eat as your body demands it. If all you can grab are four bananas, then eat them. If a green smoothie isn't satisfying, then eat fruit with it. I wouldn't stress on how and what you are eating. That's not what eating raw is about. There's been mornings where all I've eaten has been bananas. Lately though (last few months) I do my green smoothies. And fruit.

[GHOST27M]

I am 260 pound FOOD LOVER! I am also a chef (sad diet) I keep them raw bars around me for emergencies I bought 12 of them and have eaten 3 in 3 weeks they work very well.

I purposely do not make fancy raw meals tooo much work. I made my self get used to simple 1 item or 2 item meals. 1 tomato and some almonds ect..
when you get used to that any snack is like a meal


forgive my spelling please!

[sweetpea76]

green smoothies for sure!!! i had such a hard time with eating raw food and feeling full/satisfied until i started drinking smoothies. i bring a full mason jar to work everyday and keep it in the refridge. it takes only a minute to drink and they really do the trick!

[JEN]

I have the same problem at work too so I have to eat something heavier so I dont binge out when my shift ends. I usually have something with avocados or nuts. Pates are great atop a salad and lettuce wraps with avo, mushroom, onion, pepper, sprouts and tomato. If Im still hungry when my shift ends I eat a date or two since they are filling.

[jeannieh99]

Thanks for your suggestions. I have tried to bring some food into work, it just needs to be something I can eat on the go (I don't want to bring just nuts and raisins). We are not suppose to eat anywhere but in the break room, but that's too far to go sometimes. It gets really hectic at times, not even enough time to stop for 1 sec.

Could you perhaps buy a magic bullet and keep it in the breakroom (put your name on it..lol) or one of those small single glass small blenders. Or get a gym bag to keep bring it with you everyday if you are not allowed to leave it or you can't trust it will be there the next day.:eek:
That way you could make something fruity or something savory. It only takes seconds to blend in those. I use my magic bullet every single morning or when I'm short of time. You can make any combo of drink you can imagine.That way you don't get bored. Just my suggestions.

[RawCarol]

If you cant get to where food is, then you need something to tide you over that you can carry, and comforting and filling...

what is it that you would eat on the go if you were allowed cooked food ?..
(now think of the raw equivalent)

However, although not light and great for pure raw foodist, I find that when transitioning I make dehydrated onion bread and/or raw fruesli bars ( I do a great date, apricot, oat one... sometimes raisins, and orange get put in,).

Then I just carry around in a bag in my pocket and nibble as I move around.

There are recipes for dehydrated 'cookies' that you could do as well.

These are all non-messy which you need when you are on the go....

[purelyorganicproducts]

I bring lots of fruit with me to work, as well as nuts and seeds. My ultimate lifesaver in a pinch is a Lara bar. They taste fabulous, are very filling, and can be eaten on the go.

Good luck!

[lkcrook]

I wish we could bring small appliances from home, but everything needs to be approved and have a reason for being there (my health/meals apparently aren't reason enough), plus I don't think I'd have time to actually do it there. I just need to bring them from home.
I have seen that some people eat Lara bars, but I haven't really tried to look up info about them. Are they raw, and do you find them at the health food store? The closest health food store to us is 30 min away, so I only get there a couple times a month. Luckily I can find organic in the grocery store.
I have made some raw cookies, which were great while they lasted, my husband even liked them. Unfortunately, he had one of his SAD eating friends try them, and he ate half of them. I just haven't taken the time to make more.