All the food is just so...mushy

[veggievamp]

I just got Alissa's book so I haven't tried any of HER recipes but so far, except for the basic salad, everything is just so mushy. I feel like a patient in hospital I used to see on a low texture diet, everything she ate was mush. Even things with nuts or seeds, because they are pulvarized in processor, they just feel like grains of sand mixed with mush in my mouth.

I haven't bought a dehydrator yet, which I would hope would help with this texture problem, but wondering if it all will just be a soggy version of the dried cooked counterpart?

I SO want this raw thing to work for me, it is basically my last hope for physical, mental and emotional help, but I just don't know if I can survive on smoothies, that need no chewing and mushy raw stuff that almost needs no chewing. My highlight of day is a salad, which is not the most exciting way to live, food wise.

Never thought texture would be such an issue (or addiction??):confused:

[Rawkinlocs]

LMBO! I hear ya! A friend of mine said her husband calls a lot of what she makes "baby food"!

What all have you made so far that had the mushies? I have sorta the same issue depending on what it is soooo...I started making things to MY liking. For example, when I make the Mock Salmon Pate' (from Alissa's book), I don't process it until it's all mushy and well-blended...I like mine to have a little chunkiness to it. I don't make it TOO chunky, but enough to where it's not total mush. To that, you could also (after removing the pate to a bowl) dice some onions or whatever you like (bell peppers maybe) and then stir that into the pate'.

You can make things as smooth or as chunky/textured as you like, even if the recipe says, "blend until smooth"...unless you want it really smooth, then you can stop blending when it's YOUR desired consistency. So again I ask, what all dishes have you made that had the mushy texture? If you tell us, we can perhaps give you some tips on how to make it more palatable for you. Also, what appliance are you using? But yeah, the dehydrator also helps in this area by drying the food and changing the texture so a nut pate' could become more like a "burger" of some sort.

[SmilingRawDancer]

You can dehydrate things! I make crunchy collards and lentil-based patties/burgers....texture can be exciting on raw! Like rawkinlocs said, process stuff less, add less water/liquids...I like texture too. I eat my smoothies with a spoon, or I make a smoothie, then chop an apple into a bowl and pour the smoothie over it and eat it like cereal.

[Doe]

Hi,

The guacamole stuffed portabellas are real good. She does blend the guac smooth. What I do is mash the avo. Put this in the portabella. Chop the tomato, and add chopped cilantro and minced sweet onion. Put this on top of the avo and add a splash of nama shoyu. It is the right texture that pleases me.

You can probably take many of her recipes and chop/mince rather than blend. If you need suggestions be sure to ask. It gets our minds working too.

Do it your way! :)
teri

[SmilingRawDancer]

Yeah, if you don't like lots of extra liquids...don't try the zucchini pasta, or else pat the zucchini dry after spiralizing with a paper towel.......I had a major water over-load when I made that! :eek:

[veggievamp]

I just have food processor - cuisinart and basic blender which nearly blew up making smoothie with frozen banana that got stuck!

So what have I made? smoothies of course, which I like better using a straw I realized after watching a kid on tv drinking one like that. The texture is more like just a drink then mushy fruit and grainy green powders. I have made what is called energy bars. Tried putting in freezer and still didn't get solid even tho instructions said they would. Done puddings, dressings (they are ok) dips, taste ok, but again more mush. Ordered spiralizer for zuch pasta now told that may be mush too :rolleyes: Just eating alot more fruit and salads.

I also must have bought WAY too much stuff since my fridge is full of rotting produce. Had to put fruit in there since got hundreds of fruit flies which still won't go away even tho fruit is in fridge.

Also have hairy nuts and seeds, again soaked too much and now gone bad even tho put in fridge, way too hot here to let anything live out on counter. I guess this is all part of the process from eating processed food?:D
I realized I am not into all the prep stuff, so many years eating ready made put in microwave from freezer or fridge or just boil pasta, etc etc. Would help if I had a nice kitchen!! Mine is SO small, which is why I think I have to go with smaller dehydrator, as well as not sure how much will use it.

Perhaps I may just end up doing some raw and some cooked. I had hoped that the raw food only would give me more energy to do the prep for food but I guess I need to be on it longer then a week ;)

[greenfeline]

I sometimes get sick of raw soups and puddings, too, until I starting putting chopped toppings! I learned this from Ani Phyo I think. Sure the soup or pudding is pureed, perhaps chunky, then you put extra chopped veggies, fruit, nuts, sprouts, whatever, on top for some different texture.

[Rubyred]

A dehydrator is pretty essential if you way to stay raw. Or at the very least it gives you a lot more food options. I always make crackers and breads with my dehydrator and always have some on hand. Those are pretty crunchy, and they will stay in the refrigerator for a week.

Also, if you buy too much fruit and it starts to get too ripe you can slice it up and stick it in the freezer for smoothies later. Frozen fruit works pretty well in smoothies. Its hard to figure out how much fruit and veggies you'll need at first, and I've had to throw out food too - I hate that! There is a learning curve to eating raw.....

I make a lot of things and stick a lot of it in the freezer because I know I won't be able to eat it all before it spoils. Those little plastic containers are great for that.

[veggievamp]

Thanks for ideas, I really appreciate all help as I have NO ONE in real life to talk to about this!

The freezing of fruit was a real OH YA moment! When I think of money spent on frozen fruit and that I could buy on sale, even ones in reduced rack area where once got a pound of ginger for a buck, and just freeze that! I have a huge freezer was wondering what was gonna do with it. l I just have to get my ass in gear before things go to rotten and actually DO IT! Never got into habit of making "normal" meal prep being on my own for most of my life and I am 43 so never had to think about meals for husbands and kids. I eat whenever and usually in front of tv.

Have been comparing prices for kitchen devices so hope to come to decision soon and get this show on the road for good this time. I keep sliding back into cook and processed food cause I am just not prepared. Reading Alissa's book is helping alot tho, was up for hours with it last nite!

[JEN]

Try some recipes that are less mushy like corn salad, toubouli, cabbage salads or slaws, broccli salad, lettuce or collard wraps filled with lightly marinated veggies and sprouts, cereal made from chopped almonds, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, raisins in almond milk. The possibilities are endless. I do have a dehydrator that I use mostly for drying nuts and seeds, fruits, and making cookies. Good Luck!!