From Liverpool Uk

[rhythmofthecosmos]

Hey,

As you can guess am new...

I have been really getting into meditation at the moment, its made me realise that my body is just full of unwantables... So am becoming a yoga junkie to help that.

I will hopfully start my RAW diet very soon, when I work out a menu and price it all up.

Is it expensive? I only have a limited budget a week as am saving for travelling..

Thanks guys I hope to build some relationships with u guys :)

P.L.U.R

[spicyfull]

I wish you everything you need to Stay RAW......Welcome to MY World.

[Raw Princess]

Welcome!! This is such a neat place to get inspired, motivated and informed. I hope you get a lot out of it. Is raw expensive? It depends ... it can be simple and much less than traditional standard food, but you can go really raw gourmet, too and spend a lot for special times. It really depends on you. Plus, since going raw, we don't have co-pays or Dr bills or prescriptions and we don't eat out nearly as much (food at home is much better =) ) So, in our family, our budget stayed the same, just shifted from one "category" to another. We do spend a lot on food, compared to my neighbors, but we don't spend as much as they do on medical or eating out. I think our quality of life is way, way better. We truly eat like kings and queens! Tonight, we had raw hummus, guac, celery, grape tomatoes, thumbprint cookies, etc for dinner -- a lot of it, till we were full. Yet, our neighbors had a yuck tv dinner and canned dead food. So, it just doesn't even compare. I feel great and they said they feel stuffed and yet still hungry.

[crystalmoon]

Hi Im in the Uk too, in Ashford kent.
Ive been eating a high raw diet for a few weeks & am going to join the November 30 day raw challenge on this site. Im hoping I can stay 100% raw throughout the challenge & then afterwards as well. Ideally I want to be 100% raw long term.
Ive been taking my time to read raw books/testimonials, get familiar with recipes I can use as staples to plan a weekly menu around that suits my budget.
There are a few threads about raw fooding on a budget that may help you. Im afraid im a computer moron so dont know how to give you a link,sorry.

[iamacranberry]

I'm in Manchester (but venture over to Liverpool for the occasional concert perhaps a few times a year).

Raw can be as cheap or as expensive as you make it. If I lived on the specialty raw items they sell in the vegetarian store a few blocks from where I live, I'd have no money. As it is, I'm a postgrad student in loads of loan debt, so I still don't have a whole lot of money no matter what. I take advantage of reduced prices on fruit and veg whenever I can and also buy from the little fruit market when they offer things I want at a price cheaper than the supermarket.

Be prepared to make food for yourself on a regular basis...it doesn't have to be fancy, but you'll find that everything has to be fresh to be worth eating. Salads are only good shortly after prepared, as are pates, etc. Fruit and a handful of raw nuts are nice when you haven't got time to prepare much.

Also, the average person does not realise just how much food is thrown away by shops on a regular basis. I'm part of Food Not Bombs, which basically goes and collects the food that would be thrown out and then serves it up to random people on the street as a political statement against our consumerist culture. I imagine the right shops would do that for anyone who asked, really.

But if you want to talk or share ideas or whatever, feel free to send me an email or whatever you like.

[ski bumette]

Hey,

As you can guess am new...

I have been really getting into meditation at the moment, its made me realise that my body is just full of unwantables... So am becoming a yoga junkie to help that.

I will hopfully start my RAW diet very soon, when I work out a menu and price it all up.

Is it expensive? I only have a limited budget a week as am saving for travelling..

Thanks guys I hope to build some relationships with u guys :)

P.L.U.R
Welcome to the raw world! 9 days raw for me. I'm lucky that since my dh doesn't have fancy taste I don't have to cook gourmet dishes for him so costs are kept down. He eats lots of the same vegies as I do just cooked instead. But any salads I make he eats so I'm making more of those. This keeps costs down. It does cost more for nuts but have just shifted portion of the meat money to that. We've never been ones to spend money on pop/chips/cookies etc. We made healthy choices even tho it was cooked. I figure that if money is getting low, I just have to chose the best quality of fruit/vegies I can with what I have. If I can't buy organic so be it. If I don't have money for nuts etc then I do without.......find recipes to use what I do have or can afford. Being raw gives you an unlimited choice.

[rhythmofthecosmos]

Hey guys, thanks for the reply.

I am defo going to go raw, prob will join you for the 30 day challenge, depending on when my student loan kicks in.

I will be creating myself a menu soon, I just hope it can stay under my £20 a week limit.

Am so excited :)

[raw_danceruk]

Welcome, great to see another UK RAWbie!!

I am a South London gal..though live in Norfolk most of the time thesedays.

Wish you all the luck

As for sticking to the budget it is possible, get searching the threads, under £20 easily, I just did £12 last week:cool:

[veganbear]

Hello from London...

I'm sure if you go to the market to get your fruit and veg then you should be able to keep the cost down.

We are always here to help you out.

Bear. x

[StarFire]

Aloha and welcome to RFT!! Sooo glad you have joined us!!

okay - you asked -- is it expensive??? ... hmmm.... well.... is regular food expensive?? It can be. Like if I were to eat lobster everynight -- with expensive wines etc.... it can get pricey... same with our lifestyle -- you can make some WONDERFUL -- DEEELICIOUS GOURMENT raw dishes... that can get a bit pricey.... but you don't have to eat that way all the time.

I'm on a very tight budget right now - and we stretch our $$... many ---AND I DO MEAN MANY... of the recipes in Alissa's book are very economic and fit very comforatably in my budget... like the marina, and the basil pesto - two of my favorites!! you'll find your groove - what works for you - what kinds of foods you're drawn towards....

once in a while I might splurge and make some thing fancy - but mostly I eat very simply - very economically and I'm still LOVING this food way better than a SAD meal!

glad to have you on board!! RAWK ON !!

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/welcome.gif

[Yeshia]

Welcome:)

You will find tons of info here and more importantly people who will willingly help and support you on your journey

Me included:D

Originally form England I now live in Montreall Canada

[rhythmofthecosmos]

aww your so lucky, am planning to move to Canada after uni :)

Thanks for the support guys :)

[Lukychrm42]

I'm in Manchester (but venture over to Liverpool for the occasional concert perhaps a few times a year).

Raw can be as cheap or as expensive as you make it. If I lived on the specialty raw items they sell in the vegetarian store a few blocks from where I live, I'd have no money. As it is, I'm a postgrad student in loads of loan debt, so I still don't have a whole lot of money no matter what. I take advantage of reduced prices on fruit and veg whenever I can and also buy from the little fruit market when they offer things I want at a price cheaper than the supermarket.

Be prepared to make food for yourself on a regular basis...it doesn't have to be fancy, but you'll find that everything has to be fresh to be worth eating. Salads are only good shortly after prepared, as are pates, etc. Fruit and a handful of raw nuts are nice when you haven't got time to prepare much.

Also, the average person does not realise just how much food is thrown away by shops on a regular basis. I'm part of Food Not Bombs, which basically goes and collects the food that would be thrown out and then serves it up to random people on the street as a political statement against our consumerist culture. I imagine the right shops would do that for anyone who asked, really.

But if you want to talk or share ideas or whatever, feel free to send me an email or whatever you like.


Are you on Oxford Street? I am! Hehe. I'm a newbie- is there anywhere to get anything raw that's decent- including good salads?
I'm at Manchester Uni, postgrad too. :cool:
Thanks!

[iamacranberry]

yes, I am...lol. And of course the vegetarian store to which I was referring was Eighth Day. The fruit market that sets up across the street from it generally has good prices, and when they need to clear things quickly, they'll sporadically reduce prices on items just like the grocery store does. Last week I was enjoying buying mangoes for 3/£1 :)

Anyways, as far as greens go, the cheapest ways to get them are from the grocery store when you know they'll be likely to be reduced and from buying and sprouting your own seeds. There are many varieties of sprouting seeds, and once you become experienced in making them grow, the resulting greens are even cheaper than what the shops would sell you. Of course you can't get mature leaf lettuce, kale, etc. this way, but sprouts can work nicely in salads.

Raw for me has become more and more about simplicity. The people at the fruit market probably know me by face if not by name at this point...lol. The best raw recipes take less than 5 minutes and use 5 ingredients or less.

As far as things that are pre-prepared go, you generally won't have much luck. I'd recommend investing in a very simplistic raw cookbook that doesn't require the use of a dehydrator. Find a bit of time to make meals for yourself a few times a week (and refrigerate the extras; make extras on purpose;) and you may even find it relaxing. I certainly do...otherwise I find it hard to justify taking time out of my day to do something other than work on my dissertation, practice my instrument, etc.

[rhythmofthecosmos]

Well, my wages will be finally sorted out. So I will be going RAW in one weeks time :)

Am very excited/nervous

I guess it will be an interesting test of my will power....

Gonna miss cheescakes !!!!

[iamacranberry]

There are some decent recipes for raw cheesecakes. The only problem is that broke students can't afford to make them often...lol

[rhythmofthecosmos]

really...

wow

I guess I could make one over christmas while my family look at me weird lol

[iamacranberry]

You may just have to get used to the weird looks...or, make them try it. Most people love raw desserts. I had a part in making the one below...it was quite fun.

[rhythmofthecosmos]

that looks better than the crap u buy in store :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

[rhythmofthecosmos]

wooo i finally got my student loan,

just ordered 2 raw cookbooks

am so excited :):D

[lily]

Welcome, rhythmofthecosmos, from Southampton in the UK.

lily x

[iamacranberry]

Which ones did you buy? I have seen a lot of raw cookbooks, but I've had trouble finding one that has recipes I can afford to make. And one that doesn't call for the use of a dehydrator.

It's easier for me to make loads of my favorite simple recipes, eat lots of fruit, and go about the whole thing fairly simply...saves me time, too!

[rhythmofthecosmos]

i got raw food made easy and the raw energy bible :)

[iamacranberry]

What do you think of those books?