Help! How do I survive cooking for family?

[charika]

I'm just curious if there are any moms or anyone that has a family they have to cook for? I feel like I'm not strong enough yet to resist the temptation to eat the foods I'm cooking- especially if it looks and smells yummy or If it's something that I liked a lot before going raw. This is my first week raw and I don't want to deprive or neglect my husband or kids. They are not raw yet.
Any suggestions or just others who are there? It's nice to know when you're at least not alone....
Thanks.
Charika:)

[barose]

I had that problem before my SO when raw with me. He was already a long-time vegan so it wasnt like I had to cook meat for him. He was open to me making him a lot of raw dishes. The more prepared raw meals (not just salad) I made, the more he got into it. Now we're both on the same page.

Not sure what to tell you for children though. :) Growing up, we ate what our parents made, no exceptions; and yes, I did go to bed hungry many nights rather than eat boiled peas and and stew.

[vanbev]

I am cooking for my family right now. During the day, my kids usually eat what I eat or I make them a quick sandwich....

For dinner...it's tough. I found that if I start making mine first and munch on something.....I'm not totally drooling over their dinner. While we're eating at the table, they have all their cooked stuff on the "other side" of the table so I can't grab it without thinking....... lol

[Nurse in the Raw]

Do you have teenagers or small children? This makes a difference.

[shine72]

Before my kids went raw too, I appointed the oldest one as taste tester, so I would know the food still tasted alright for them and dh. I also made sure I ate before them (whether I was hungry or not at the beginning) before starting to prepare their food. HTH!:D

[feistyfairie]

I agree with vanbev.

Having something out to nibble on while cooking the family's dinner really helps. Grapes, baby carrots, nuts. Anything to keep your mouth busy long enough so that you're not tempted.

It gets easier. Trust me. I've only been RAW for a little over a month. Soon you'll have no desire for cooked.

[GlimR]

Make a list of foods your children and husband like that you are not so crazy for...don't make things that you absolutely can't resist....old favs, etc..
Sometimes I eat my dinner at 4 now and just snack while DH has his cooked food in the evening.
Wishing you the best..you have to figure out what works for YOU~

[Lindazkewl]

I'm just curious if there are any moms or anyone that has a family they have to cook for? I feel like I'm not strong enough yet to resist the temptation to eat the foods I'm cooking- especially if it looks and smells yummy or If it's something that I liked a lot before going raw. This is my first week raw and I don't want to deprive or neglect my husband or kids. They are not raw yet.
Any suggestions or just others who are there? It's nice to know when you're at least not alone....
Thanks.
Charika:)

Charika, I'm with you on this one! I have two teenaged girls and I am just about to start raw vegan eating. Thanks for asking this question - I'll be looking for the responses along with you! :confused:

[Dr. White]

I cook for my husband and son.

Today, I grilled chicken, steamed broccoli and made jasmine rice for lunch after church.

If I am full it does not bother me. I try to eat while I am cooking for them so I am not starving. Also, grilling helps me to keep the smell out of the house so I am not as tempted. I also cook with the lids on so I don't smell it as much.

Because both my husband and son only eat to survive and are not big lovers of gourmet foods, I keep their meals simple. If I had to cook gourmet foods with lots of prep, I may have a harder time.

[RAWk Angel]

I have 3 children and a S/O that I cook for everyday. The 4 yr old is easy, she wants to eat what I am eating. I cook what the other ones want but I can see my oldest daughter leaning more towards the raw daily. My children are vegetarians and my S/O eats very little meat and is working to towards getting rid of all animal products from his diet. It is his choice and I have to support him in his efforts just as he supports me in my raw lifestyle.

I snack a lot while I make dinner and that seems to stop any urges I have and I have also notice that cooked foods just don't smell that good to me anymore:D

[VeroP]

We are a household of 6. My teenage daughter and I went raw together in April for obesity issues. The thin vegan males of my family do not have that as an issue and were not interested in going raw.

We now share cooking responsibilities since 5 of us are 16 or older. We each take a day of the week for cooking - so that helps. The days that I don't have cooked responsibilities in the kitchen I concentrate on raw foods more. (This solution would be very family dependent - thankfully my husband supports the idea that I do not have to be the only cook in the household.)

It has also helped to go to my daughter and tell her that I have been tempted by something in the kitchen - she immediately goes and makes me a delicious smoothie. So I would agree - having your meal ready or already eaten when you start cooking is helpful. Also having someone to support you (even if it is not another raw person - just a support person) - is helpful.

My 3 year-old eats a mixture of everyone's foods - I hope to move him to more of a raw diet as he grows.

[charika]

Thanks everyone for the great tips and suggestions. I especially like the idea to have raw snacks out and eating while I'm cooking for the family. I will also eat before I start cooking so that there is no chance of being hungry- even the slightest bit. I also like the suggestion of making the list of foods I'm not particually crazy about and can't resist. Oh, my kids are young (5 and 2 1/2). But I will try your suggestions. I do expect that once I've been raw for a little while my desire for cooked food will go away and it will get easier. At least I hope it will.
Thanks again :)

[Rawmommie]

I homeschool all 3 of my kids, so they are home and eating all day. They are not raw, and still eat chicken occasionally. I guess it's just something you get used to. I usually eat before cooking, that way I'm not tempted. Then while they are eating, I have some water or a snack if I'm still hungry and just enjoy my time with them. :)

[OneBite@aTime]

Hello,
I'm new to Raw as well, this is my 2nd month, my first month 100%. I was 85-90% last month. I cook for my family of 4 and when I'm in the kitching cooking I've learned to always have a smoothie or fresh bowl of fruits/veggies to nibble on....and it's made a huge difference!

[kristi7mark]

Here is a link to a thread that I started very similar to this one:

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=29256

Thought the ideas there might be helpful, too!

I always serve a great big salad or a raw dish with dinner that is for me. I make enough to share and make something that complements the family meal. I find this very helpful. Also my family loves all of the raw desserts so I make dessert for them a lot more than I used to and they enjoy that.

[Eveleaf]

Acknowledging that it is hard is a good first step. When you know ahead of time you are facing a challenge, you will be more prepared to tackle the difficulty. At least for me, when I'm not *expecting* a challenge, now, that's the problem. :D

A few things have helped me. I drink freshly squeezed orange juice and a shot of E3Live while I'm making dinner for the family. This is an "upper" that picks up my mood and sometimes, that alone is enough.

Other times, that cooked food looks way too appealing and my old dinner salad boring and plain. That's when I whip out my "cook" books and pick a recipe to play with. It can be anything = a nut based pate, a new dressing, a desert, whatever. But that little piece of novelty in MY diet holds my interest and keeps me from feeling like the only deprived member of the family! :)

Best of luck!
~Eve

[Thick]

Before my kids went raw too, I appointed the oldest one as taste tester, so I would know the food still tasted alright for them and dh.

Thank you so much for this excellent advice=)!!

The cooking I do for my family and eating out with them is by far the hardest part of staying raw. I so envy those of you who have all raw families...until then I'll keep giving the mixed messages (to me too) of serving them one thing and eating my healthy thing over here.

[Thick]

One thing that helps me has been to make a minimal amount of food for them. If there is just enough for them with no leftovers it is easier for me. Or I will put away all the leftovers before I serve them and consider it work I dont have to do tomorrow or the next day.

[gritsnla]

Yes, making just enough to get them fed is key. Sometime DH has asked if there was any more...nope. Besides, he had enough.