I have GREAT news! No, I'm not pregnant again...

[maraw]

:D The day after Thanksgiving, my ever-so-wonderful husband decided to go raw! For those of you that know me, you will know how what an answer to prayer this is!

For the past three years, I have struggled with getting my dh to eat better. He is addicted to sugar and doesn't seem to have a "turn off" valve in his brain when it comes to food. He eats well at home (both cooked and raw), but when he is away at work he just ruins himself.

About two months ago, he had to have an emergency appendectomy. I think it must have scared him a bit - which, in the long run, is a good thing. We have four very young children and he is not exactly a Spring chicken anymore. He said to me last Friday that if he didn't start eating a whole, raw-food diet, he would be dead in two years. Well, boy did I ever get busy in the kitchen.

Mostly, when I just make foods for myself, I eat very simply - a lot of mono-meals. But he likes creativity, so I now I get to have FUN!

Now, some of you may be asking, why didn't I do this sooner - just force him to eat better? I've long since stopped forcing anyone to do what I do, or eat what I eat. I prefer to lead by example, encourage and educate. That principle is applied at home as well. Even though I publish a raw food magazine and my life is totally immersed in a raw-food lifestyle my family is still growing and learning, and making their own choices. I am now, after three years, proud to say, I have two children that have chosen a vegan lifestyle (no meat or leather products) - and they are only 6 and 7, and my husband has chosen raw! Does that just RAWK?!! Can I hear an AMEN~~?!

I know there are some of you out there with husbands, and wives, looking at your raw food like it was from another planet - and you struggle alone with making two different meals, three times a day - and I know you get tired of it, and feel like you can't do this forever. Well, let me just be a light of encouragement to you and say "It can be done!" Don't give up. Keep providing those delicious raw meals, and be consistent in your efforts. They WILL notice and change just might happen!

I'm so happy I could just cry. :D

Hugs,
Anna

[Eva]

AMEN!!!:D :D :D

[Mialsse]

That's wonderful!!! Good for him!!!

[shine72]

Oh Anna!:D

Girl, you KNOW I am SO happy and stoked for you!:D That is just amazingly perfect! Good for you, and GREAT for him!:D

[Bananna]

Lol....hey that's my punchline too....and hey, that's my name too. I am So glad my tubes are tied, even though babies are the best....six is enough.
Congrats on the dh change, it will be Miraculous if I ever accomplished that!
Anna

[beppa66]

That is such great news! Simply awesome!!! ( :

[Veganforlife]

Anna - that just RAWKS!
Cool beans!!!
As far as sugar addiction - two words:

GREEN SMOOTHIES!!!

[maraw]

Lol....hey that's my punchline too....and hey, that's my name too. I am So glad my tubes are tied, even though babies are the best....six is enough.
Congrats on the dh change, it will be Miraculous if I ever accomplished that!
Anna

Us too - we had some complications with number four and decided we would do well to stop there. Even still, every time I say to someone "I have great news..." they automatically think we're pregnant again! :) I was pregnant for five years it seems, so I understand the auto-assumption.

This is a miracle, truly, if you only knew him. And let me tell you, if HE can change, anyone can.

[maraw]

Anna - that just RAWKS!
Cool beans!!!
As far as sugar addiction - two words:

GREEN SMOOTHIES!!!

He loves them, too! And Matt's onion bread - I add some zucchini and ground sesame seeds to it - cut back on the Bragg's - then fill with tomato and avo. He told me the other day that ANY meat-eating man would like that sandwich. He said it had a hearty taste to it. I also give him Gopal's pumpkin/agave bars to take to work, in place of candy. They are really sweet and he likes that. I think it replaces the sugar cravings a bit.

See, I knew you guys would understand, and get excited with me! :D

beppa66, thanks. AWESOME is the word for it, definitely.

[RawHeaven]

You get an Amen! That is truly wonderful. Wow, I pray for the day when my boyfriend will say those words...not the ones you think, that would be great too, haaa. But "will you support me with my raw food journey?" would be even better!

Your happiness is contagious...thanks for sharing! :D

[justinesmith]

I definatly understand your excitment! AMEN SISTER!! :D

[rawkchicster]

Yay!!! Great for you and him! It's crazy, isn't it? The less we preach, the more open others are... truly a practice in leading by example. Amen!!!!

[IamLoved]

Oh Anna,

I am so happy for you, I feel like crying myself. I do wonder if my hubby will ever eat better. He is so picky, it is vary hard to make food for him. My children will eat about everything but he, well, he is a whole other story. And while he is very supportive of me doing this I don't kow if he will ever join me. He's just so stinkin picky. Did I mention yet that he is picky?

Anna, on a side note I have loved everything of yours that I have tried. You ought to publish a recipe book. You made my Thanksgiving truly tasty and wonderful. I made your corn nut stuffing and pumpkin pie and both were fabulous. Thanks so much for all your hard work and for sharing your amazing recipes wih us.

I am very, very happy for you and you husband.

[faith4u]

Anna,

I am so happy for you! Those of us that are raising mixed families know only too well what you have been going through.

You will have to keep us all posted on his progress.

Congratulations again!!

[tiggerbounce]

AMEN!
And wow! I was like....just thinking of you last night when I was in the shower! (no, not THAT way....!:eek: :cool: Just thinking "I have not seen maraw around for a bit.....or a lot of the veterans for that matter. Bummer. Wonder what she is up to these days?"

Went to your site, too. Keep telling myself....I am going to try those lemon chewies! :D

HELLO!!!!

[maraw]

AMEN!
And wow! I was like....just thinking of you last night when I was in the shower! (no, not THAT way....!:eek: :cool: Just thinking "I have not seen maraw around for a bit.....or a lot of the veterans for that matter. Bummer. Wonder what she is up to these days?"

Went to your site, too. Keep telling myself....I am going to try those lemon chewies!

HELLO!!!!

Glad to know you are uh, er, thinking of me, tiggerbounce...:o Just kidding...

I really do miss spending more time here. I miss ALL you guys SO much. I just don't have the screen time I used to. I'm looking into getting some help, so maybe soon you'll be seeing more of me again. I miss all the reading about everyone's experiments and triumphs and challenges. Makes me feel at home. Still, when I have big news, I know just where to go. :)

faith4u: Will do!

IamLoved: I'll bet you're posting something similar soon enough. Just keep on with what you are doing. I'm sure they will see and understand soon enough. And thank you for the very generous compliment. I am honored that you would include some of my recipes in your holiday feast. I love dabbling in the kitchen and it brings me so much joy to see others enjoying the fruits of my labor (so to speak).

[tvillemom]

Anna, that is SOOO GREAT!

I absolutely LOVED your pumpkin pie....my middle son helped DEVOUR it! He thought it was real pumpkin (I made it with butternut squash!)

I made 2 pies, and the 2nd one is going to a Christmas dinner this weekend.....I froze it, so I hope I remember to thaw it before it's too late.

Wendi

[lodestar]

amazing news! i hope to join you someday with the same report...in the meantime we'll just keep on keepin' on.

[shooting star]

Yeah - congratulations, I'm really pleased for you :)

[berrynice]

Maraw,

What are Gobal pumpkin/bars? Are they something I can make or do I need to buy them? I know I am addicted to sugar and that is probably my biggest struggle to staying 100% raw. Alissa's raw chocolates realllly help!

[maraw]

Maraw,

What are Gobal pumpkin/bars? Are they something I can make or do I need to buy them? I know I am addicted to sugar and that is probably my biggest struggle to staying 100% raw. Alissa's raw chocolates realllly help!

GoPal's is a premade organic raw bar. The ingredients are simply pumpkin seeds, figs and agave nectar. I've made them before, but organic figs are sometimes difficult for me to find affordably and these are SO cheap when you buy them by the case wholesale. He just loves them - they are super sweet and I think that's why.

If you google "gopals raw bars" you will find dozens of places carrying them.

[berrynice]

Thanks Maraw. Found Gopals and saved to favorites.

[Dylan]

Oh that is SO wonderful! And I absolutely LOVE your philosophy of letting everyone make their own choices, especially difficult when they are people close to you.

[klomasius]

A really inspiring post!

And I really love the fact that you encouraged rather than tried to force, shows so much wisdom. When it comes to people's health and wellbeing, only they can make such lifechanging choices eh?

Well done, I've NO doubt your wondeful recipes and colourful spreads would have been a real influence!

There's hope yet!

[Blazin'Jane]

That is just such wonderful news! It gives me and probably many others hope! Rawk on!

[Lady Green Jeans]

Anna,

Way to go. Totally awsome he came aboard on his own accord and a gift to himself of health. Of course you set his a really great example to follow, too.

Big AMEN.

[EZ rider]

Thats great. He'll love raw - just for the health of it.

[Raspberry4]

Thank you for posting this. It is such great news! I am one of those that you mentioned who cook 3 different meals everyday (1 SAD, 1 gluten free, 1 raw). How easy things would be if everyone just ate raw.

AND, thank you for posting that you do not force your family into your choices - I am so tired of reading posts regarding "if they do not eat what I eat then they don't eat" . I too, like you, am trying to encourage and lead by example and am hopeful that the path will come naturally for them. I will say that everyone has been eating more fruit and veges voluntarily (no fights) since I have made this committment and that is so very cool to me.
For me, if I am forced into anything, I will rebel just because. But given the opportunity and on my own timeframe I am more likely to succeed. Not trying to upet anyone - just saying that in my opinion, getting someone to do something because they want to and are not forced to may result in an easier committment.

Enough about that.........this is simply wonderful news for you! You will have so much fun creating and trying out new raw recipes too! Just the time alone you will save in the kitchen is great! Congrats...

[Raspberry4]

PS:


A M E N !!!

[Gittel]

Anna, I'm so very happy for you! I wish your husband much success on his journey to better health on raw food. You have provided a wonderful example for him. I'm sorry that he (and you and the children) had to endure such a shocking episode to reach this point. May it all be for the good.

Gittel

[maraw]

Thank you for posting this. It is such great news! I am one of those that you mentioned who cook 3 different meals everyday (1 SAD, 1 gluten free, 1 raw). How easy things would be if everyone just ate raw.

AND, thank you for posting that you do not force your family into your choices - I am so tired of reading posts regarding "if they do not eat what I eat then they don't eat" . I too, like you, am trying to encourage and lead by example and am hopeful that the path will come naturally for them. I will say that everyone has been eating more fruit and veges voluntarily (no fights) since I have made this committment and that is so very cool to me.
For me, if I am forced into anything, I will rebel just because. But given the opportunity and on my own timeframe I am more likely to succeed. Not trying to upet anyone - just saying that in my opinion, getting someone to do something because they want to and are not forced to may result in an easier committment.

Enough about that.........this is simply wonderful news for you! You will have so much fun creating and trying out new raw recipes too! Just the time alone you will save in the kitchen is great! Congrats...

We are a GF/CF house as well. And although my kids eat very well, they, for the most part, do not prefer raw meals. They love raw in a mono-style (nut butters with apples, fresh fruit, kale chips, etc), I just can't seem to get them to eat enough of it all. And I have two little ones that are very thin and I need to be careful with their diets. I know others that have had great success with the all or nothing approach and I envy them. I just think there are many ways of teaching and sharing ideas on health. Like you, it is more important to me that they learn these lessons and make their own choices for life. But I have several good friends that do very well with the more direct approach. My dad once said that's why there is chocolate and vanilla - to each his own... :) So long as we all arrive in the end, it's good.

[shine72]

We are a GF/CF house as well. And although my kids eat very well, they, for the most part, do not prefer raw meals. They love raw in a mono-style (nut butters with apples, fresh fruit, kale chips, etc), I just can't seem to get them to eat enough of it all. And I have two little ones that are very thin and I need to be careful with their diets. I know others that have had great success with the all or nothing approach and I envy them. I just think there are many ways of teaching and sharing ideas on health. Like you, it is more important to me that they learn these lessons and make their own choices for life. But I have several good friends that do very well with the more direct approach. My dad once said that's why there is chocolate and vanilla - to each his own... :) So long as we all arrive in the end, it's good.

Well said Anna!:D

[maraw]

Well said Anna!:D

It is you, my friend, whom I envy. You've done so well with your kids. Now that my dh is on board, I really believe it's only a matter of time before the children follow. There is interest, and I'll settle for that for now.

[shine72]

It is you, my friend, whom I envy. You've done so well with your kids. Now that my dh is on board, I really believe it's only a matter of time before the children follow. There is interest, and I'll settle for that for now.


:o :o :o Gosh, I don't know what to say!:o

[Raspberry4]

Maraw - we have many similarities in our households with the children. You know what I like the best that happens though is when my children say "that looks good" about what I am eating and then I can offer them a bite and they ask for more. Or, when I 'create' a special raw dessert - I feel good about giving them avocados in a dessert (that they would never eat as is). I do not have to feel like I am poisoning them with a SAD dessert because everything in the raw treats is raw, organic, and untreated (and gluten and casein free)! My children, like yours, also prefer the nut butters with apples, etc. and not a whole raw meal. But I look at it this way - a little bit of raw is better than none and every little bit counts in my estimation. We are making progress, right? And that is wonderful! Have a good night :)

[rainbowgirl]

A lot of families like ours.....

We are gf/cf too here, have been for over 6 years now.

Dh and the kids are cooked with a high amount raw. DH would like to be raw but he travels and works a high amount of hours and eats out for work. This doesn't help him, but he does feel best on lots of salads, and fruits/nuts/dates with an occasional herbal tea.

My kids LOVE salad now, and everyone goes nuts on the raw desserts. They also LOVE the raw pasta. Everyone gathers around my raw dish, lol, when I eat.

One thing they don't like......SPROUTS (well the 2 year old loves them, but if I really want the whole plate and am hungry, I sprinkle sprouts on top lol).

I think the kids are onto it, cause they'll interrupt me in food prep and ask me to put half of whatever i'm making in another plate BEFORE adding sprouts.........even though I haven't gotten sprouts out yet, lol. Oh and sometimes they are just not into RAW mushrooms. Me, I love them, what a treat.

I think if I could wangle a food dehydrator out of dh's visit to the states......maybe there would be lots more raw going on in the kidland.

RaWnbowgirl

[Migrou]

Wow!!! Good for him, for you and for the whole family!! Teaching by example is always the way to go!! You have done a great job and are such an inspiration!!!

[maraw]

Well, with dinner this evening he'll be through week one. He's had a pretty good week all in all, eating and seeming to enjoy everything I gave him. With the exception of two work lunches, he ate very well. I'm really proud of his commitment. I know this isn't easy when you are surrounded by SAD food throughout the day.

I have lots of fun foods planned for this weekend. In fact, I'd better get busy.

Thanks again everyone for the encouragement!

[raeannasun]

Hi Anna! I'm so glad to hear the news! Can you give us an update? I'm shooting towards 100% again! Nick said he is going to be 100% during Lent! That should be fun!
I'm searching through the archives right now to find your beautiful pictures for some inspiration in food for this week! :)
Hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year!

[maraw]

It's so great to hear from you! How in the world have you been? How's your sweet mom? Please give her a hug from me when you see her next.

Charlie is doing great. He's really giving it a lot of focus. I'm so proud. For him, it's not so much about being 100%, just being more aware - which is huge. When he does eat food that isn't good for him, he knows it right away and let's me know that he wants his raw food in force for the next few days. The key has been to keep things available at all times, so he's not tempted to stray. If I do that, he stays on tract.

Been really busy with things going on around the magazine and calendar, so don't have a lot of time on the board, like I used to - missing it horribly though.

Please send me an email and tell how you are doing.

Anna