Hassles of going to visit family

[DotfromOz]

Quite a few people have mentioned how difficult it can be to stay raw when going to visit relatives. I'd guess it's particularly difficult when it's your own family, but that isn't a problem for me as my parents have been gone for some time now.

The problem will be a forthcoming visit to hubby's family, Jewish no less with the traditional focus on chowing down bigtime as in "What's a Jewish mother's three favorite sayings? Eat! Eat! EAT!" They ordinarily take us to restaurants hubby loved while growing up, particularly a terrific SAD-sandwich place whose only raw option would be a slice of onion on the sandwich. I don't think that they'd be thrilled by my requesting that we try one of NYC's raw restaurants; hubby definitely would not be.

Plus, we're hoping to get tickets for the Yankees-Red Sox game...and that could be total SAD catastrophe as much of a habit as chowing down on ballpark junk used to be for me, not to mention that ballparks typically inspect bags anymore and will confiscate any foodstuffs that people try to bring in. I'm sure there would be raw options available there if I look around. I'm just worried that I won't even want to bother looking, particularly with hubby suggesting I "Just try one little bite. ONE won't hurt you."

I'm not really asking for advice on ways to stay raw during the visit as much as wanting others to share similar concerns/experiences. Anyone?

[Autumn]

I am going to visit my family in 5 weeks and I have similar concerns. My mother's side is Italian, so I know allllllllll about the "eat, eat, eat!" I don't think they will mind me bringing along my own things, as they do try to be health conscious and are usually supportive with my attempts at losing weight. I have already jotted down a few ideas of food to take with me and alternatives once we are there.

However, next year the whole family is taking my parents to Disney World for a week. I imagine it will be much more difficult there.

[DotfromOz]

...be terribly difficult at Disney World, Autumn. We were just there last summer, and I didn't have that much of a problem getting fresh fruit and veggies many places even though I wasn't raw then. The 24-hour snack bar in the Contemporary Hotel where we stayed had some nice salad mixtures and several kinds of fresh fruit available all the time. And the California Grill atop the Contemporary had absolutely marvelous salads, and a chef who was most accommodating about doing something creative with a salad upon request.

When you're running around the various parks but for Epcot, you might have a bit more of a problem grabbing something quick, but so many people are hauling bags of snacks for their family that carrying your own foodstuffs would be no big deal. There were quite a few restaurants in Epcot that offered fresh options.

If you plan out a supply of raw specialty foods to take along, I doubt that it'll be that much of a problem except, of course, for resisting temptations.

Hope not, anyway! Good luck and have FUN!

[swingbolder]

I've just spent the last coupla weeks visiting my parents, which is meat-junk food central. I brought a whole bunch of food with me, but made the mistake of eating the same thing everyday, which became very boring after the fifth day or so and that's when I cheated with shrimp and rice, and then sushi (which made me really sick).

This second week I've done much better. I made myself home in their kitchen and prepared a variety of simple dishes, which my mom and son have been eating too. Also, I've been going to yoga class and taking long walks in the fresh, spring air and so far haven't had any more cravings for the bacon, bbq chicken etc. paraded in front of me all day. Last night I actually went out to a restaurant with some old friends and did okay with just a salad, which the chef made esp. for me and he made it so pretty with all these cute little julienned vegetables so I didn't feel deprived at all. Only one friend made fun of me, the others were very interested in the raw diet and all the benefits I've gotten from it. So basically, it's been a learning experience.

[swingbolder]

The other thing that's helped is that I brought a few raw books with me which I read at night before sleep, really helps with keeping the motivation up.

[tracyinfo]

At my mother's house, I told my mother I was trying to cut down on calories, and would only be eating fresh fruits and vegetables, possibly with a few nuts. She and the rest of my family accepted that! (Alot of us have been on and off diets for years.) I used her blender alot and made smoothies and soups. They did think the soups were a little strange, but, they didn't question me!

--Tracy

[monkeyboy]

Hi Everyone,

My family is pretty hip to the raw thing. My parents think it's weird, but they respect my new lifestyle. Whenever I visit I just slide by the local market and stock up. It's not that hard.

My parents and in-laws see the change in me for the better and give me plenty of space. I must say I'm pretty laid back about the whole thing.

I still sit and chat with the family at dinnertime and the wine really helps.
I bring the wine.

The other night my wife and I went to a dinner party. The host of the party pulled me aside and said he had plenty of raw stuff for me to eat. I told him not to worry. I did eat some grilled shrimp but loaded up on the great salad.
No one even noticed.

I can say this......the more people who find out about my raw eating the more people want to know more about the lifestyle.


Peace and GO RED SOX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!,

M.B.

[Autumn]

Dot,
Oh I'm so glad re: your Disney report. I feel a lot more confident now that I won't have a problem, or at least, that I can work around them! :) I'll just have to be bold and tell these people what I want. I think for a gagillion dollars a day they should be able to accomodate me. LOL! Thanks for sharing.

[Carolyn]

Hi Dot,

I've been staying at my parents home the past two weeks while my home is repaired. It's been a bit difficult for me to stay 100% raw. I was in the midst of the 30 day challenge when I moved into my folks home. Needless to say, I'm temporarily off the 30 day challenge now. I'm staying around 90% raw, at least ... having a lot of salads and smoothies. I've got all my raw books with me, also, and will try a couple of easy recipes while still there.

It's been difficult for me ... not because my parents don't accept the new way of eating, because they do. But there's not a lot of room in the kitchen for all the stuff I need, and my food, so it makes it more difficult. (And I hate feeling like I'm in the way, which doesn't help the situation.)

But once my home is done, I'll be back on 100%. I'm just trying to keep it around 90% for now.

[rawpriestess]

Ihave several clients who take me and my lover out to dinner about once a week, so I am constantly choosing what works while with other people, and out to restaurants.

The trick is to read the menu totally, and then to see what works, if they have a banana split, you can get a fresh banana, if they have a raspberry something, they probably have fresh raspberries, if they offer cantaloup or grapefruit for breakfast, then you can have that, almost all restaurants offere fresh lemon wedges, so you have a good salad dressing, and you can always take some with you.

So, far even McDonals has decent salads, I just take my own dressing, so getting good food can be pretty easy.

Dealing with people cooking food for you is the biggest challenge, as my step mom, in her dear sweetness bought me frozen veggie lasagna, and a dear friend of mine made me rice pilaf, both of these wonderful people really went that extra mile just for me, not knowing about my raw lifestyle.

So, now what I do, is I tell people that I am eating only raw and living foods,(I don't explain why) and if they would like to prepare food for me, I will gladly give them some recipes that are fun and easy to try, and that I don't expect them to make anything special for me.

I then make sure I have lots of fresh fruit and some of my own salad dressing and some nuts on hand. (If I am flying somewhere, I simply find a grocery store nearby and buy some-even if I am staying at a hotel)

So, far it has worked beautifully.

The person truly appreciates that I care enough about her/his food to explain why I won't be eating it, and to let them know that I don't expect them to fix anything, but to also give them some recipes in case they feel like trying something new.

[DotfromOz]

Great suggestions, RawP, although I don't think I'll hand any recipes to my MIL as she's a "creative" cook and sadly a most unfortunate one in that she has very little ability to sense what's going to taste good together and what won't.

I bet she'd go creative and serve me a spinach, pomegranate, asparagus, turnip, pineapple, broccoli and julienned white potato salad liberally sprinkled with grated horseradish...or something equally distressing.

She's a truly warm and lovely person; however, our mantra when we visit is "Oh, no! Don't go to all that trouble. Let's just go to some great NYC restaurant the likes of which we can't enjoy back home!" Fortunately for us, it usually works! ;)