Kitchen Time...

[ReneeH]

Hey everyone!

Sometimes it seems as if I'm in the kitchen nearly ALL DAY preparing/chopping/dehydrating!!! Those of you who make elaborate dishes, do you find that you're in the kitchen ALL DAY? It seems like if I'm not preparing I'm cleaning and before you know it, half of the day is gone! Am I doing something wrong... Maybe you all get your ingredients together the night before and fix the next day... HOW DO YOU DO IT???

I was looking at some of Camilla's threads... OMG!!!!!!!!! Your creations look absolutely WONDERFUL!, but it seems like a lot of work...do you eat "masterful creations" on a daily basis or is your daily diet more simplified?

I know this may sound wierd, but sometimes I just don't know WHAT to fix for myself! I want to eat a balanced RAW diet, but I feel like something is missing and I don't know what it is. I've been thinking of the SAD pyramid and, of course, that's not gonna work for me since I'm RAW... But, I'm a bit confused about what the RAW food pyramid is for a balanced diet. I know eventually listening to your body is the way to do it, but what if you're not getting enough of what your body needs... Since I don't take vitamins anymore, I want to make sure I'm getting what I need everyday.

Also, RAWKINLOCS, have you been getting my e-mails??????

Thanks!
RENEEH

[Beckla]

Hey there.

Just a couple of thoughts. First, I try to set aside a day a week to do food prep. I've found that by taking the cutting board and whatever I'm using out of the kitchen - say in front of the tv or out on the porch - that I can loose myself in the process and it passes more quickly (if that's the goal - sometimes I enjoy it all).

I've also learned that having some basic equipment on hand makes an incredible difference in re: to prep time. E.g.: I got a cheap chopper thing - one of those as seen on tv deals - and I can chop veggies using that instead of by hand much faster. I also love my little hand held citrus juicer - means that I don't get stuck picking lemon seeds out of the juice, which takes forever! That was 10 bucks at the supermarket.

Finally, I've learned that making a big old salad or tapenade stuffed mushrooms or some other basics and having them on hand for the week helps tremendously. I often just grab fresh fruit for the work day.

Keeping it simple is probably the underlying message. I've made elaborate meals, yeah, and they're great - but I can't do it all the time and with time the urge to do so has all but dissipated.

Good luck!

[Revvell]

There is no need to prepare elaborate meals. As mentioned here, in our radio shows (www.RawkinRadio.com) and in Alissa's book/dvd's (suggest you get them if you don't have them), it is suggested you take part of 2 days a week, say, Mon. and Thursday, to make up some recipes for the rest of the week.

This week I made two pates, two dressings, a couple of entrees and one dessert. On Wed. or Thursday, I'll do something similar. On hand I've got mixed salad greens. The only thing I have to make on a daily or every-other-day basis are smoothies.

After getting Alissa's book/dvd's, if you are still having problems, I'd suggest finding one of her level 1 teachers who teach simple recipes and techniques to get you going.

Revvell

[ReneeH]

Thanks! I do have Alissa's book, but I think I needed a reminder to go back to it and see how simple this diet is supposed to be. Sometimes in looking at this site and see what creations you all are putting together, it's a bit intimidating and I forget the simplicity of the diet. Thanks for the reminder!

[Lay-Lay]

I try to keep those "elaborate" dishes for special occasions, like if I'm having company or anniversary, whatever. On a daily basis I practice KISS -Keep it simple sweetie!

Breakfast- Smoothie

Lunch - fruit or salad

Dinner -Salad or smoothie

Keep a variety going so I don't get bored.

[Beckla]

Yep. Guacamole, hummus, salad, fruit - those are staples for me.

[GoingtoRAW]

ReneeH,

Luckily most days my tastes are very simple when eating raw and there is very little food prep required. I can pretty much keep my menus to fruits, veggies, salads, nuts, smoothies and fresh juices. Are you craving the elaborate meals most days? ;)

[SchoolOfRAWk]

On my food prep weekends, sure, I dehydrate stuff like crusts ahead of time, but even making tons of enchiladas, cheesecakes and more, I totally don't spend much time at all doing it. I put my mp3 player on when I do and just crank out some effort here, a little there, and have plenty of time for myself. I don't think raw is time-consuming, really, at all. I mean, I slice everything in my processor, it takes no time at all! :-)

[shooting star]

I'm quite new to raw and I found it a real faff at first as I thought I had to make a receipe for every meal!

Now I have Alissa's book and I have just done week 1 and finding it so much easier.

Yesterday I soaked mushrooms and onions for the collard roll insides and had half in leaves for my dinner.

Today for breakfast I had a green smoothie (this particular experiment wasn't too great but I drank it anyway). About 5 mins prep.

I packed up some lunch to take to work which was fruit, some salad greens and the left over mock salmon from earlier in the week. Again, about 5 minutes.

For dinner I had collard rolls as soon as I walked in the door. Followed by a slice of Date Nut Torte I made on Saturday. Hardly any prep again.

Tomorrow I will make the Pad Thai recipe - could have made it yesterday but I had so much food left over from the first part of the week that I decided to make it fresh when I needed it.

I really like the plans. Takes a lot of the thinking work out of it for me. Once I've got used to the recipes I will plan my weeks on the same principle of bulk preparing 2 or 3 dishes at time.