Following our intuition

[Holli]

I love how all the raw food books I've read focus on following your bodies intuition and eating what you want, when you want, how much you want, etc. Great "diet", if you can call it that! I was just wondering how those of you who "uncook" for more than just yourself deal with this issue. For instance, I didn't feel like eating the other night, so I just made myself a smoothie, but I am responsible for feeding 4 other people...if I told my 3 year old that we were just having a smoothie for dinner, he would look at me in horror (the kid loves to eat!).

I also usually plan my menus in advance and try to shop once, maybe twice a week. I'm trying to figure out how to phrase my question...I want to follow my body's intuition, but I also want to teach my children to follow their body's intution. If I am planning the menus, what may work for me at one point, may not work for another member of my family. Up to this point, we've had a "clean you plate, or you don't get anything else to eat" rule. I'm re-thinking this altogether. I don't want my kids to eat what is on their plate if it isn't what their body needs/wants. But, how can you really determine this with kids...they may just not want to eat the salad in hopes of getting a second helping of watermelon!

Okay, here is my real question (I think!): how do those you who cook for others (children or otherwise), plan your meals to meet everyone needs and make it so you aren't at the market every other night??

[joyfulGIRL]

I cook for my hubby and uncook for myself, although we don't have kids, so I can only half-way relate to you.

When I do cook for him, I make a bunch of whatever it is, then that way he has leftovers for a day or two. That way there aren't as many trips to the store, and I only spend half the time cooking.

make fruits/veg, trail mix, grawnola, smoothies, etc. available to the kids freely (sounds like you already do...) and they might soon find themselves being satisfied with it.

I made a raw supper with my niece one night, she's 8. I let her get involved in the process and she loved it.

[Ginger]

I uncook for my household which consists of my mom & my almost 5 year old daughter. I know what they like and just keep stuff prepped or onhand so it's pretty quick to make stuff when they want it. We all eat what we want, when we want only I make it all :D

[KristensRaw]

Take a vote!

Get your family’s opinion and take requests for Raw recipes. Show your family different Raw recipes from books and the Internet, and let them take turns picking out which recipes you make for them to have at family meals. Or, ask your family for some of their favorite flavors and pick out something make based on that.

And, I like what was posted about having stuff on hand that you know they'll like (cooked) if you can't have all Raw meals with the family....YET :)

[3kidsmommy]

I have 3 kids and a hubby that I cook for. They are vegetarians but do lots of raw with me. For breakfast they all drink a smoothie with me. With that they will eat a bagel with cream cheese as well or toast. Lunch for me is always salad or just bunch of cut up veggies. The kids will eat salads only with a creamy dressing. They will eat cut up veggies, again with a creamy dressing. Through out the day there is always cut up fruit. Dinner, I do make a cooked vegetarian meal. I always eat my foods or drink my smoothie before or while I am cooking. This way I won't get tempted to eat their food!
Or I will make a big salad to go with their meal. I do lots of raw corn tortilla and make a quick raw wraps also. This way I eat my foods and they eat their food.

[juliebove]

That intuition thing wouldn't work for me at all in terms of food. It would tell me to eat the same thing over and over and over again. Bean burritos. And occasionally something else. Like salad. Also I have issues with medical problems to where I generally have no appetite at all. I have to eat or risk having low blood sugar. So I pretty much have to plan in advance and be on a schedule.

[Dj 247]

I have a trick that I use on my grandson. I give him a piece of fruit such as a banana or chopped apple or peach while I make my green smoothie. Then I pour him some green smoothie in a sippy cup (his banana is already gone). By the time I fix the breakfast his mother sent (instant sugary oatmeal) he usually is pretty full and ready to get down. Works like a charm every meal every time! I just love that kid and hate feeding him that over processed stuff. I think it would work for you also. Give your children the watermellon first, then the smoothie, and then if they are still hungry give them the bagel or toast. I bet they won't even finish it after watermellon and smoothie.