Advice? Examples?

[amandaf.]

Hi, my name is Amanda and I am new to this whole RAW thing. I tried it out for a few days but it is so hard when I cook big meals for my husband. Plus, I am not even sure if I really know what is and is not allowed, such as, are frozen veggies ok? is non organic produce ok? canned fruit? Anyone have any advice for beginners? What is a typical day of eating for some of you?
Sorry so many questions, but I am seeking all of the info I can get so I can do it right this time. I want to uncover the real me, and stop hiding underneath all of this fat.

[joy]

Hi Amanda--blessings to you as you begin the raw foods lifestyle.

To answer some of your questions:
Frozen veggies (provided they're raw) so suffer some nutrient loss, but are considered raw.
Organic, in season produce is best, but non-organic is fine; just wash it well.
Most canned, bottled, or jarred foods have been subjected to heating processes and are therefore not considered raw.

Something that helped me before my husband went raw were great salads. I would make them incredibly flavorful, with a tasty raw dressing. Then, if my man wanted something more substantial, I'd toss grilled chicken/fish/steak atop his (you can let him handle this if you have an aversion to it), and serve it with bread. This way, you can still share a meal together that isn't dramatically different.

Here are a few that I've done:
Italian: romaine, field greens, fresh torn basil, marinated red peppers, marinated mushrooms, olives, tomatoes, and marinated red onion
Mexican: mixed lettuces, cilantro, white or green onion, fresh (raw) corn, avocado, tomatoes, and pine nuts

For marinades, use some raw apple cider vinegar, a few cloves of garlic, sea salt and fresh pepper, and extra-virgin olive oil; it's a good idea to keep marinated veggies on hand, and the leftover marinade can be used as salad dressing.

For breakfast or light meals, make smoothies of fresh or frozen bananas, strawberries, pineapple, grapes...whatever you have on hand. Even SAD eaters enjoy these.

Of course, don't limit yourself to salads and smoothies if you're new to this...indulge in fab pates, desserts, exotic fruits, all of it! The journals are very helpful for discovering what an "average" (as there's no such thing!) raw-foodist eats on a daily basis.

[misslinda]

I am not even sure if I really know what is and is not allowed, such as, are frozen veggies ok? is non organic produce ok? canned fruit? Anyone have any advice for beginners? What is a typical day of eating for some of you?
Sorry so many questions, but I am seeking all of the info I can get so I can do it right this time. I want to uncover the real me, and stop hiding underneath all of this fat.
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Hey welcome Amanda!

The idea is to become RAW----dehydating is fine.
NO animal products,cooked or processed foods.

Grant it some people don't go RAW all the way for whatever their reasons and start cutting out what they can avoid.

If you can afford the cost of organic, that would be ideal to avoid ingesting chemicals that have proven to be in non organic fruits and veggies. Teh rawfood lifestyle is helping you to help your body maxamize its ability to cleanse and become purer--so your body will ahve to rid the toxins from the non organic---b/c of cost factor, there are many of us who do eat non organic. At least better than cooked non organic.


Frozen veggies are fine BUT alot of them are cooked so you may have to "investigate" whether they are cooked or not---usaully they are.

Canned fruits adn veggies typicaly have added preservative and sugars or salts--I suppose as it's not cooked or added preservative and sugars, that would entirely up to you.

My Typical Intake
_______________


Morning- Fuji apple/Dandelion/cucumber juice 12-16 oz

water

Mid morning- 1/2 cantaloupe diced

water

Afternoon- Chopped zuchinni, tomatoes,parsley with spike & cayenne

water

Mid afternoon- 2 dates, banana with cinnamon

water

Evening- Oranges, kiwi or a salad

water or tea



***I would suggest not comparing your food choice with anyone else--listen to what you feel your body needs and wants. As you grow into raw and cleanse, your food choices will change again! I use to eat so many almond adn raisins and now my body doesn't crave. It' sall a personal growing process and you have lots of people here who will support you*** :)

[sara]

Amanda,
First of all congrats!!! I just started myself about 2 weeks ago. My advice to you is too stay plugged into this site, I have learned sooooo much from just reading everyone's posts. And they are great at helping us "young ones" along. Also...get Alissa's book. I just received it the other day and haven't been able to put it down. I finally felt understood.
Good luck-you CAN do it!
Sara

[growinhealth]

Amanda welcome! This is a great place to be, as I am not well completely raw started today though, one minor slip up but i am planning on making this a way of life once my life isn't so tumultous as it is right now...what I recommend is bananas lots of them frozen for smoothies and raw honey and dates! I have a severe sweet tooth and nothing beats a date in ones dire need of something indulgent! Good luck I am so excited for ya!

[growinhealth]

***I would suggest not comparing your food choice with anyone else--listen to what you feel your body needs and wants. As you grow into raw and cleanse, your food choices will change again! I use to eat so many almond adn raisins and now my body doesn't crave. It' sall a personal growing process and you have lots of people here who will support you*** :)[/QUOTE]
Misslinda, you rock you are so full of encouragement and ideas! Thanks for sharing the part about being an individual and eating what you need to get you through the first adjustments to being raw! YOu rock woman! :D

[Pink_Girl]

Well I will address the husband issue it was and is still the hardest thing for me. He eats 3 large meals a day. I have to cook them all. We are talking large….. meat, potatoes, salad, homemade bread, veggis and a desert. (Did I mention all from scratch). Well by the time I was done cooking his food I was starving and just shoveled it down. Failing every day. Then I got smart. I am now trying to cook meals that can be frozen. Then I do four meals at once. Freeze three. My meat then is always done. I have 3 meals in the deep freezer and all I have to do is make a potato, veggi, and a salad. I even solved the potato issue for I found that potatoes just don’t freeze well so I made porgies. It took 4 hours one afternoon but I will have porgies for a while. As for the salad I make it before he gets home and while everything is finishing cooking the kids and I eat . When my husband gets home I am already full I feed him and then clean up while he is eating. I told him no more desert so that is one less thing I have to make. This is working best for me. Especially eating before he eats or else I will cheat!!!

Hope this helps
Pink_girl

[tracyinfo]

Pinkgirl, You really cook 3 meals a day for your husband? Wow! I don't cook anything for my husband. He prepares all his meals, all by himself. We have three kids, and I prepare their dinner, but since I choose what goes on their plate, between 75 - 100% of the food is raw.

With my kids, I started off with just the green salad as raw. Then, one of the side dishes in addition to the green salad was raw. About twice a week now, they eat a 100% raw dinner.

This is just a thought/idea that you can incorporate into any meals you have to prepare for someone else.

Blessings.

[misslinda]

***I would suggest not comparing your food choice with anyone else--listen to what you feel your body needs and wants. As you grow into raw and cleanse, your food choices will change again! I use to eat so many almond adn raisins and now my body doesn't crave. It' sall a personal growing process and you have lots of people here who will support you*** :)

Misslinda, you rock you are so full of encouragement and ideas! Thanks for sharing the part about being an individual and eating what you need to get you through the first adjustments to being raw! YOu rock woman! :D[/QUOTE]

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Growinhealth !!!!! You mean "You RAW-k?" :p Do you like ;) :) my typos too?


Funny, I think most of us would agree that bananas are great when starting out raw. Why is that?

[amandaf.]

thank you guys for all of the advice, I think I am ready to take this seriously now. I can't wait til I start to feel healthier! I am so excited! Yippeeeeee!
Ok, I am going to go make my list of what I need from the store. Talk to you guys later. :D