New & looking for way to put raw into hectic schedules

[saladnut]

Hi, I live outside Dallas in a small town on a lake called Gun Barrel City. I'm 54, and I've spent most of my life fighting candida and allergies. I was vegan for 7 years, but the high carbohydrates I was eating were hurting me. I work for a large corporation, and the stress and work schedules are killing me, but I'm not yet in a position to be able to retire. I went to a raw food retreat this summer and felt absolutely awesome. Unfortunately, after returning back to my toxic worklife, I fell back into my bad food habits. The stress tends to cause me to grab bad snack foods on the run. I've bought a dehydrator. I already had a Vitamix. I have several good books with recipes. I am struggling to find (1) an easy way to integrate 100% raw into my life without having to spend a lot of time prepping food, and (2) find a way to ease into raw without feeling too deprived. I don't have a lot of food fixing time, and I'm an hour from an organic food store. I also travel for work occasionally. Lastly, (3) I probably need encouragement to stick to it. After a lifetime of depriving myself of many foods, I've lost my strong discipline. I search things on the Internet quite often and was encouraged by what I saw at this website. The 30-day challenge posts seemed to show folks eating things I could maybe integrate into my life, if I can adjust. Any pointers are greatly appreciated.

Saladnut

[aliciamatheson]

Hey Saladnut (love your name).

Here are a few things that have helped me alot:

1. I spend a few hours on Sunday doing lots of prep - washing vegetables and fruit, cutting up salad and other vegetables - with some good music it's very meditative and I always feel like I've accomplished the worst part of meal prep!

2. I prepare one sauce (e.g. marinara) one salad dressing (alissa's own) one pate (sunny pate) and one desert (date nut torte). these happen to be from alissa's and don't require lots of work.

3. i always have a stock of snacks in the car (you totally want to be stranded with me in my car during a blizzard - oh wait you're in Texas, never mind!) and in my office. Nothing fancy, just an extra bag of raw nuts and whatever dried fruit is around, plus a paperbag of apples and oranges because they keep and they smell nice!

Please join us on the 30 Day Challenge (i think you can jump in mid-month). It's a blast - I'd never done the challenge and the people on that thread are a riot.

And please check in on the RFT everyday - it always gives me a boost.

I'm curious - where was your raw food retreat?

Alicia

[saladnut]

Thanks for your ideas! The retreat was Body Mind Restoration Retreat outside Ithaca, NY.

[oceanee]

Hey Saladnut-

I ditto what Alicia wrote ! ( Hi Alicia! ).

I choose some recipes , keep a list and make a few ahead of time on Sundays like Alicia ( salad dressing, a dessert, some salads - maybe cabbage, beet/carrot , broccoli for example). I keep a list of my options for when I come home at night .

At my very busy business I keep plenty of water, apples, tangerines, etc. plus some nuts and dried fruit. If I make up a fruit salad I may pack up several small containers to take Monday morning as well. Do you have a fridge at work?

I was really stressed out, started the challenge twice before beginning again December 1st. It has stuck this time, I feel a sense of peace through the stress that is still there but I am letting it roll elsewhere. I am making extra efforts to listen to what is important - me...how I feel...what I need to fuel my body, etc. Lots of times I honestly need to drink more water, or read a book ( I am rereading Alicia right now).

There are moments I have to face a challenge and talk to the voices in my head and listen to my new raw voice. I feel great so why would I sabotage myself by eating cooked food again? Keep a list of why you want to be raw and pull it out when you need reinforcement.

Also, after you get to know more about uncooking it is so easy. Raw soup is awesome , raw stir fry, so many things that take only minutes and have such leeway with ingredients.

I am finding after the initial learning process it is easy and the more different recipes I learn for this initial stage the easier it will get. I hope some of this is helpful.

Oceanee

[Yana]

The suggestions given are all great, so all I have to add is that if you have room for another expenditure you may consider a raw food deliver service such as www.rawvolution.com, especially when traveling to have it delivered to your destination. I myself have not tried it but there are review on this site of people you have loved it.

I hope that helps and the best of luck!!

Yana

[StarFire]

Aloha and Welcome to RFT!!! Raw is great for hectic schedules - cuz you can always eat very simply when you need to! Plus... when you do have time, you can always make some things in the dehydrator... and it lasts for days. Or you can freeze it --- and take it out when you need it!!

Most recipes make soo much food... you will have it for several meals!

So glad that you have joined this forum... it is TRULY an amazing place for support -- RAWK ON!
blessings on your journey... and enjoy the ride!!

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

[spicyfull]

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

[Radiantly Raw]

Hi saladnut! Welcome to the group!!

You've gotten some awesome suggestions, really. I don't have anything to add to that, they covered it all. But wanted to say hi & encourage you! It can be done, really!!!:D

[saladnut]

Thanks to all for your welcome notes and your creative ideas. I absolutely love the ability to order and have raw food overnighted. That totally rawks! I could get addicted to that, as I really don't like to spend a lot of time in the kitchen and my horrible work schedule doesn't allow me to. While I still need to get the hang of fixing this type of fair, the 'fast food' option could really fill the gaps!!! Thanks again to all!!!

[klomasius]

What they all said.

Welcome to the board!

:)

[veggie luver]

Hey Saladnut!

I graduated from Malakoff!

You are a rare breed in Gun Barrel City!

[saladnut]

Wow, you have that right! Went to a cafe here and asked what vegetables they have. They pointed to a white board and said, "Yes, we have peaches and cottage cheese." Failed to think about how far it is to Whole Foods and malls when we moved here. I make runs to Dallas, but not often enough, and I dream of opening a shop with organic food. Unfortunately, I know that I'd be out of business in a week unless I sold chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and gravy. Sadly, the people here reflect the food that they eat. Sounds like you broke out of the mold, so congrats to you! :D

[discodancer]

These are all such great ideas; I love reading them! I checked out the raw food delivery site that someone mentioned. Expensive, but if you figure in all the food you would not have to buy and the time savings,etc, it might be doable. Is there anyone out there who has actually tried it?