Instinctive Raw Eating

[EZ rider]

I rarely plan ahead anymore except when I am away from home for any length of time. I get up and eat whatever feels right to me for breakfast if I feel hungry otherwise I wait for a slight hunger signal. Then I forget about food and involve myself with the activities of the day until I get a hunger signal and then I just eat whatever I feel like eating instinctively. Of course my standard rules apply "eat anything in any amount as long as its raw". I eat instinctively using my body's hunger signals all day and night. Does anyone else eat like this ? Do you think it would be better to eat by the clock ? or eat when your not hungry (preventive eating) ? or stick to an eating plan about what your going to eat for each meal ? How do you eat ?

[Lilly the Naiad]

I'm not at the point where I feel satisfied with just a bunch of vegetables or fruit, I like gourmet and these generally take planning, especially if I need to soak something. I'd say that I have to plan ahead and have my meals, about 2 or 3 a day, eat till I'm full. I might snack on some fruit or something in between if I feel like it. I totally don't believe in eating when you're not hungry, but if I'm going out and don't feel hungry yet I usually bring something with me.

As far as knowing what to eat, I listen to my cravings. I crave alot of fat and protein most of the time, so I fill up on greens and things with nuts.

[DavidZaneMason]

I think if YOUR goal is to eat raw & instinctual....and you are DOING it every day....I'd say you are living the dream! You've got MY support!

-David Z. Mason

[trinity082482]

I sometimes eat by the clock other days I skip breakfast and have lunch around 3 and dinner at 7 and then I am done eating by 11 lol

[beppa66]

I'd say one day I eat what sounds good.
But when you are the primary un-cook it doesn't work as easily because you have others to consider. I tend to make more "meals" and gourmet items when my dh is around since he likes a more substantial meal.
But I'd be ok on most days nibbling.

[diali36]

I think you are perfect in what you are doing for you. The best way to eat is to listen to what your body is telling you, when it is telling you. I hope to get to where you are. Wonderful. I'm so happy for you.

[Shell]

I do exactly what you're doing, EZ.....I think everyone does what works for them, and I've only recently gotten to the point where I can go from "growl to growl". I used to eat by the clock.....11 o'clock - time for lunch! 2 o'clock -time for a snack! etc. But ever since I started listening to my body, I find I eat a lot less, and am just as satisfied with my energy levels, overall feeling, etc. I used to eat preventatively as well....I thought "I better eat now, even though I'm not hungry, so I won't get hungry later"......HUH??!! Where is the rationale in that? I'm just glad I found raw, because my issues with food have greatly lessened, and I'm hoping that as I go forward, they will disappear completely.

[monkapotapus]

I think I'm doing the instinctive eating thing too......as long as I don't have any flax crackers on hand - then I think I eat them "just because".

It's weird, because the last week and a half I've been craving a lot of fruit - I bought 6 cored pineapples in this time! :eek: (I did share 2 of them....lol) :rolleyes:

I've only been 100% raw for 29 days now, but I can truely see my eating patterns change - the first week or so - I ate a ton of nuts & salads - not too much fruit - right now I want a ton of fruit - not too many nuts & average on the salads.

I try to listen to my hunger signals too (something I've never done in the past) - and I kind of graze through out the day - a little of this, a little of that - I usually only really eat 1 "meal" a day and that's usually a salad at supper time when I'm with my dbf - or if I'm not hungry - I just don't eat.....

I think if we just start to "listen" our body will make it clear what we're needing & when - I think thats super cool! :cool:

[rawsurfer]

ive been eating growl to growl, but i would say more intellectually/ instinctively than just instinctively. like a sprout, spinach, celery, fruit smoothie is not something i necessarily crave (i would rather just eat fruit, chocolate fudge, or some gourmet treat), but it is what makes me feel the best. and when i crave 5 avocados, i dont eat them because i know ffor myself that it is emotional related. obviously i dont need fat if i have enough to cover my 6 pack made with only healthy fats lol (accumulated after i got back from my feral mexico trip where i ate nothing but guacamole and fruit.

[DianaH]

I totally eat when hungry only. I've found food tastes MUCH better that way, when you're really hungry for it. As far as what I eat, I'm pretty limited because I commute an hour and a half to work each way, so I keep several things on hand at work, some flax snax, fruit, and usually bring a green juice and/or green smoothie, and then an entree to eat for lunch if I feel like it. So I do have some options, but I don't get to pick what to eat based on what I feel like eating, unless I happen to feel like eating something I have on hand. How's that for confusing?

[Tinacampy]

I like to eat on a sort of schedule - I'm still pretty new and have not succeeded in 100% raw for more than 11 days - but for me, I find that if I let myself get famished, I make worse choices than I do if I keep my hunger at a moderate level.

I eat breakfast pretty much first thing in the AM, then a meal every 3 hours or so... For me a meal doesn't necessarily mean something big - sometimes it's just an apple or a handful of nuts.

Sounds to me like you're doing exactly what your body needs.

[mrpickles]

I just bring an assortment of fruit/veggies nuts with me to work... eat them totally randomly if I feel like I am hungry... otherwise I don't worry about eating at all... some days less, some days more... never binge though. Just don't have any desire to anymore.

[cinnamon panda]

i read that 'growl to growl' thing in another post and boy did my brain click.

i am growling:) when i wake up so i make a huge blender of green smoothie and take my time drinking it since i work from home, that usually lasts me a couple hours or 3...that's the only meal i make sure to eat by the clock or else i will be messed up all day.

then i just listen to my body or my energy level. if i feel like 2 coconuts and GS all day then i do that, or a huge bowl of raw veggies...it seems to be working. i don't plan meals, i just eat what i have in the house or swing by the market to get some more staples or to try something new. with no dehydrator and the nut thing not working it's all about the whole foods at this point for me.

*but generally i am hungry every 2-3 hours so i seem to graze all day on little handfuls of grape tomatos, or a nectarine or pear here or there.

[cinnamon panda]

ive been eating growl to growl, but i would say more intellectually/ instinctively than just instinctively. like a sprout, spinach, celery, fruit smoothie is not something i necessarily crave (i would rather just eat fruit, chocolate fudge, or some gourmet treat), but it is what makes me feel the best. and when i crave 5 avocados, i dont eat them because i know ffor myself that it is emotional related. obviously i dont need fat if i have enough to cover my 6 pack made with only healthy fats lol (accumulated after i got back from my feral mexico trip where i ate nothing but guacamole and fruit.

love this...great common sense. i will keep this in mind!

[Lizabethian]

It depends. DH comes home for lunch. I have a 2.5 year old. If it were just me I would just go by my signals all day. As it is we (DD and I) go by her's. lol We graze all day. We do have a lunch time and a dinner time though but only because DH plans certain things around this. He knows lunch is at 12 so he doesn't plan any business calls or anything from 12-1. Same with dinner. Meals for both of us were very family oriented growing up. It was a big sit down and eat thing. He comes from a family of 12 (counting himself) and I come from a family of 9 (counting myself) so it was a big to do. We liked that so we try and get that feeling now so meal times help.

Do we stick to it? Not often. lol

[mrpickles]

yeh it is really great just not having meals, just randomly eating... I don't miss the prep time at all. so much simpler.