100% and Thanksgiving???!!!

[menat]

I am taking the 100% raw challenge and I forgot that Thanksgiving is coming up. Oh, man. I am not sure I can cope. I love Thanksgiving foods.

So what are guys fixing for Thanksgiving?!

[pete]

I am taking the 100% raw challenge and I forgot that Thanksgiving is coming up. Oh, man. I am not sure I can cope. I love Thanksgiving foods.

So what are guys fixing for Thanksgiving?!

i feel your pain, especially because i have to prepare thanksgiving dinner this year.

my fiance and i will be bringing plenty of hearty raw foods, but i'm still worried i won't be able to resist the temptation.

[lore-ah]

My sister knows how I eat and I already told her I'd be bringing a lot of things. She really couldn't care less which is good. My dad and step-mom are totally old school and probably would be offended if they were having Thanksgiving so I lucked out.

[DavidZaneMason]

I'm bringing fresh fruit platters to the dinners I am going to. Guraunteed good eats! I don't usually get turned down! Ha! ha!

-Have a joyous and sharing Thanksgiving.....and put some real THANKS and APPRECIATION oomf into it! LOL.

-David Z. Mason

[menat]

My grandmother says that I am fat and I need to lose weight, but she isn't pro-raw because she thinks that eating raw wouldn't serve a purpose if I can't control what I eat period (raw or cooked). She thinks raw is just another fad diet. I mean, she is all for eating salads, fresh fruits but she thinks raw is going overboard. She doesn't mean any harms. At the same time she supports anything that will make me lose weight in a healthy manner.

To make sure I lose weight, I asked my cousin if I can track my weight loss with him and he was glad that I asked him to be my support system. I will only lose weight if I stick true to being raw.

For Thanksgiving, my grandmother is ordering the food (she said that she is too tired to cook big meals anymore). I am not sure if she would feel offended if I don't eat her food or not. She is always checking to make sure people are not eating too much. So maybe me eating raw won't bother her, if she knows I am eating healthy.


However!...

What is a raw Thanksgiving meal? Has anyone created a raw holiday foods entrees? Any ideas on what I could fix?

[Im2Fruity]

It's my first raw Thanksgiving too, and I've given it some thought...I'm going to try to create a Thanksgiving-looking raw meal..
I've always been a vegetarian, so my family is used to me eating just a plate-o'veggies and some pumpkin pie....so i was thinking, what's the big deal if I just eat a plate'o raw veggies and raw pumpkin pie???

I'm going to attempt some raw "mashed potatoes" with cauliflower,
maybe mash some squash or carrots, have some kind of green bean casserole-looking thing....maybe some kind of Nut-loaf in the shape of a turkey leg or something...a side salad...

And I'm going to try to to make a raw pumpkin pie too for my family..My mom is actually excited for that..

I just hope no one gives me a hard time.
Good luck!!!

[Shell]

Hey menat! I can't help you with what to prepare as far as a raw holiday meal, but I've already had my Thanksgiving (Canadian), so I have a few tips that I know would've helped me! (I didn't do so well....:rolleyes: ). If I were to do it over (actually, Christmas isn't that far off, come to think of it), I would eat some raw fruit or a small salad before leaving the house. I find that when I'm not starving, it makes passing on other foods that much easier. I was considering bringing either a salad with avo or nuts to give it substance, or maybe some eggless egg salad with vegs to dip with. I know that's not really "holiday" food, but I'm going to be limited as to what I can pre-make, as my parent's house is ill equipped for a rawbie!
I'm sorry that your grandmother is saying those things to you.....IMO that's counterproductive....she should be supporting you in whatever you do, and particularly in raw.....I mean, you can't get any healthier that this! So I say, as hard as it is, try to ignore those types of negative forces....I know, it's your grandmother, you love her and you say she supports healthy choices, but still, I think that you have to do what you feel is right for you, and if that means skipping the turkey dinner, than so be it! Even though I got sucked into Thanksgiving dinner, it was by my own folly.....my family, while curious, was willing to support my salad! It's tough going, but like I said, if you're prepared, and you eat beforehand, that will at least make it that much harder to deviate. Oh, and here..I found this thread....read Rawkinloc's post.....
Holiday Recipes (http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=24728&highlight=holiday+recipes)

[Lady Green Jeans]

My first raw Thanksgiving was awsome. I made Alissa's stuffing, made the cranberry salad, mashed potatos and mushroom gravy, did a small bowl of cinnamon applesauce, took marinated portos with pesto stuffing (was going to an Italian household for the holiday celbration). Well, everything was well received--actually was pretty surprised that everyone tried at least a little bit of each dish I brought. That was really nice and really appreciated as I often struggle with staying raw on my journey.

I have signed up for the Nov. challenge and really am stoked to do this Thanksgiving. It is partly the food, but really it is the thankfullness for the abundance and blessings maybe and definately the togetherness and sharing. Hope that makes sense. There should be lots and lots of help and great recipes as we get closer to the celebration date. I'm so there!

[sherahtaylor]

This will be my second raw Thanksgiving, and last year I just brought stuff to make a green smoothie in my MIL's Vitamix. They all knew I was on raw and have been watching closely, so that helped *alot* to keep me on the straight & narrow. I didn't really crave stuff although it smelled good - I found that if I kept my tummy nice & full of green drink w/lots of greens, then there wasn't that major urge to have a little of this or that.

I also have alot of little ones so Thanksgiving really isn't that great a time for me as far as food goes anyway. I'm always running around trying to keep her from spilling her drink, make sure he eats some decent food before digging into the dessert, getting all their plates put together. It's a full time job just doing that and I actually LOVED not having to worry about sitting down to eat myself.

This year my baby is due a week after Thanksgiving, and that is going to be motivation enough for me to stay raw....I am SO curious to see what a raw birth & postpartum healing is like. I've taken a pledge with a friend - we're both going to be raw for the next 60 days minimum, through November AND December. It feels good to know that while most people are saying "to heck with it, we'll start dieting on January 1st" I'll be miles ahead already.

It just has to be about the friends & family, not the food....although a little something to look forward to like a delicious raw food item would be really nice too!!

[Lindazkewl]

She is always checking to make sure people are not eating too much.

Those new age grannies hehehe how cute. Back in the day they tried to get us to eat all day on Thanksgiving! :D

[Nini]

Don't laugh...I will fix yummy lasagna so I have something scrumptious. It saves me from temptation, so I plan on making it again this year. Whatever works, huh?
;)

Herbed Pecan Stuffing
by Karen Parker

• 1 cup almonds, soaked 12 hours
• 1 cup walnuts, soaked 2 hours
• 2 cups pecans, soaked 1 hour
• ½ cup raisins, rehydrated in water
• ½ cup cranberries, unsweetened
• ½ cup parsnips, finely chopped
• 1½ cups sweet apples, diced
• 1½ cups celery, diced
• ½ cup olive oil
• ¼ cup fresh sage, minced
• 2 tablespoons fresh, young rosemary, minced
• 4 tablespoons fresh thyme, minced
• 4 tablespoons fresh marjoram, minced
• 2 tablespoons Celtic sea salt

Combine pecans, almonds and walnuts in food processor. Pulse nuts until they are slightly grounded (you don't want to emulsify them). Add raisins and pulse for 20 seconds. Transfer mixture to large mixing bowl.

Stir in all remaining ingredients. Place stuffing onto dehydrator trays and dehydrate at 90°F for 12 hours or until dry. Serve stuffing warm from dehydrator with gravy. Stuffing mixture can also be made in advance. It stores for up to 3 days in the refrigerator prior to dehydration, and up to two weeks after dehydration.. In blender, combine miso, water, herbs, oil, salt, white pepper and leeks until very creamy. It should taste too salty. Pour miso mixture into mesh bag, catching all liquid that comes out (liquid will be used in Holiday Gravy recipe opposite). Continue to squeeze liquid out of bag until no more will come out.

Holiday Cranberry Salad

2 cups fresh Cranberries (ground with an S blade in a food processor)

1 organic Orange (wash well - then finely grate skin and chop flesh very fine)

2 ripe Pears (peeled and chopped fine)
1 sweet Apple (peeled and chopped fine)
½ cup Walnuts or Pecans (chopped into small pieces)
4 Celery ribs (chopped fine)
½ cup organic Raisins
½ teaspoon ground Cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground Ginger
¼ teaspoon ground Allspice
½ cup raw, unfiltered Honey

Grind berries, grate orange skin, chop fruit, mince nuts, and chop celery. Place all ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Cover and place in the refrigerator until ready to serve.