18 and under

[rawstrength]

Hey everyone! Is anyone out there 18 years old or under? I'm 17. This thread is for aspiring raw foodists aged 18 and under to discuss issues such as living with non-raw parents, what friends think, getting enough to eat, school etc.
So, introduce yourself and let the discussion begin! :rolleyes:

[tinystrawberry]

hey,im 17 and mostly raw.
uh, raw isn't such an issue with school or parents for me. i'm homeschooled and most of my friends know how i eat. my mom tries to eat as much raw as possible and my boyfriend is very interested in raw too :)
i lovvvvvvve smoothies, they're my favorite food. i also really like the onion bread and other 'crackers' i've tried.

[kaleidoscopeeyes]

I'm 15 and 100% raw :)

[rawstrength]

It's nice to know that I'm not the only one out there. I've been 100% raw for the past two months, with only a few slip-ups. I guess you could say I'm 100% raw 95% of the time. I've been vegan since I was fifteen, and my family has eventually come to accept it. I haven't told them that I'm raw yet. I do all of my own food shopping and cooking (or uncooking) and we never eat sit down meals as a family, so they haven't really noticed. However, they have noticed that my hair and skin look nicer, and they always eat all of my fruit! Why is it that they never ate much fruit, avos and veggies before, but now that I buy them they eat all of my food? Well, at least I am making them more raw in my own subtle way. My fifteen-year-old sister declared that my LARA bars were the grossest food ever, and then ate all of them for breakfast over the next week. :confused:


hey,im 17 and mostly raw.
uh, raw isn't such an issue with school or parents for me. i'm homeschooled and most of my friends know how i eat. my mom tries to eat as much raw as possible and my boyfriend is very interested in raw too :)
i lovvvvvvve smoothies, they're my favorite food. i also really like the onion bread and other 'crackers' i've tried.
It's nice that your family is so supportive, and that you even have a dehydrator! My friends think it's a little weird that I eat so much salad and fruit, but then they go on to say that I will probably live much longer than them. Sad, but true!
My boyfriend was brought up as a lacto-vegetarian and was homeschooled, like you. I am always jealous that he gets to come home to a fridge that is not filled with meat, and that now that he is not homeschooled anymore, he is two grades ahead for his age. Lucky him!

I'm 15 and 100% raw :)

Hey kaleidoscopeeyes (I love your name). How long have you been raw for? What is your family like?

[Livin'onLife]

Hi there!
I am 15, and have been 100% raw since May '07. I have been homeschooled all of my school age years. I graduate this year, three months after my sixteenth birthday.:D I am the second of ten kids (so far). My family and friends are all very supportive. My three year old sister is sooo cute, she always helps me make my morning green smoothie, and then will walk around with her 'smood' and flax cracker. My grandma is also a raw foodist, which is great fun! Unfortunately, she lives in a different state, so I don't get to see her that often.:(
I am glad that there are other teens out there, and I'm not the only one!
Livin'onLife

[rawstrength]

Hi there!
I am 15, and have been 100% raw since May '07. I have been homeschooled all of my school age years. I graduate this year, three months after my sixteenth birthday.:D I am the second of ten kids (so far). My family and friends are all very supportive. My three year old sister is sooo cute, she always helps me make my morning green smoothie, and then will walk around with her 'smood' and flax cracker. My grandma is also a raw foodist, which is great fun! Unfortunately, she lives in a different state, so I don't get to see her that often.:(
I am glad that there are other teens out there, and I'm not the only one!
Livin'onLife

That's so cool! I graduate this year too. I also am glad that there are other teens.
Just think, we have our whole lives to be raw and enjoy amazing health!

[subbacultcha]

Hi! I'm 16. I live with 4 meat eaters (including my dog) and my vegan hamster near London. I'm not 100% raw and I don't try to be really. Being raw isn't a conscious effort because I LOVE it! When I'm eating what I choose I will eat 100% raw, give or take a few condiments like vanilla extract, non-cold pressed oils etc. because of costs. I try to be flexible with my eating habits though, if I go out with my boyfriend or family and there is nothing raw I will eat a cooked vegan meal without a fuss, as long as its not junk.

My parents leave me to mind my own business when it comes to food! I have my own little section of the kitchen with my dehydrator, Vita-mix and sprouter. My mum does a weekly fruit and veg shop but I have to pay for anything other than the basics, I normally spend around £25 a month on raw bits and bobs.

My boyfriend is a meat eater but eats vegetarian around me. He's on the verge of going vegetarian though, and he thinks eating raw is a good idea, shows an interest and stuff. We're going to Vita Organic on Friday :)

My friends think I'm completely weird :rolleyes: but I don't care. Two of my best friends think its really interesting though but say they'd never have the willpower themselves! I don't need willpower, raw is great :) I'm making them a raw feast sometime.

God, this is turning into a bit of an essay, I must look really self-obsessed...I just want everyone to introduce themselves properly!

[fuggles]

I'm 15 and 100% raw :)


Im 18 and started alternative eating when I found newstarget at 15 years old, and from there Ive always been interested in alternative nutrition and expanded my knowledge from there.

[Zen4Life]

Hey! I'm 14 here and have began research into the raw food lifestyle. I face major roadblocks though, mainly through school lunches and the hassle of my parents having to buy me specific food. I am extremely interested in beginning a raw food life, but before I dive head first into it, I need to do a lot of research to know what I'm facing. Any tips would be amazing. :)

[subbacultcha]

Hey! I'm 14 here and have began research into the raw food lifestyle. I face major roadblocks though, mainly through school lunches and the hassle of my parents having to buy me specific food. I am extremely interested in beginning a raw food life, but before I dive head first into it, I need to do a lot of research to know what I'm facing. Any tips would be amazing. :)

There are a lot of posts here and there about what people bring to school or work. You can type school/work into the search function and see what comes up. I usually just bring fruit these days but if I'm more organised I'll bring a salad, smoothie or shake. Larabars are also good if you're after something more substantial!

[Pipen17]

Awww! I'm so happy you guys have been carrying this whole teen thing on! I was really involved in this web site for a while but then school work got the best of me. Sad, i know. I'm 17 now and live in Virginia. Let me be the first to tell you it's REALLY hard to find other raw foodists here in Virginia. I really enjoy it and will be on the diet for a year in April. AHHH! It's all so very exciting! It's nice to meet all of you... if you want to read more on my intro and experiences thus far you can check out my blog. I hope you all have glorious days!:)

[rawstrength]

Awww! I'm so happy you guys have been carrying this whole teen thing on! I was really involved in this web site for a while but then school work got the best of me. Sad, i know. I'm 17 now and live in Virginia. Let me be the first to tell you it's REALLY hard to find other raw foodists here in Virginia. I really enjoy it and will be on the diet for a year in April. AHHH! It's all so very exciting! It's nice to meet all of you... if you want to read more on my intro and experiences thus far you can check out my blog. I hope you all have glorious days!:)

Welcome Pipen! Congratulations on almost being one year raw. Isn't raw such a wonderful way to eat, live and be? This site can take up a lot of time if you let it, but it is always nice knowing the support is here when you need it.

[Elouet]

Hey ladies and gents,
my name's Alyeska, I'll be 18 in a couple weeks and I'm an on-and-off raw foodist (I was 90% two summers ago, and since then it's been a fight to get back on the bandwagon) and a full-time vegan. Nice to see some friendly faces my age.
Those of you youngins who are 100% raw, you amaze me!

[Blazin'Jane]

Well, I am sooooo not under 18, but am Livin'onLife's RAW grandma. I just wanted to say how neat it is that you ladies have found each other, and I hope you keep your conversation going! It's great to have the company this way, isn't it! Enjoy!:)

[Zaphirah]

my 10 yo boy is a vegetarian-with a wicked talent for creating raw treats. He goes by the screen name Skatergus.

[Easyword]

I just started eating raw like two days ago. It's really cool, b/c I feel better already.:D My family isn't super supportive, but my aunt lives 15 minutes away and she really is. I hope I can keep this up.

[Livin'onLife]

Welcome, easyword!
Nice to meet you! I am glad to hear that you are feeling better already. That's great!

[Dayzee__x]

Hello everyone. I just recently joined!

I'm 17 soon to be 18 and I've been a raw foodist for about a year now. Though I've had my up and down moments where I'd fall of the train and end up on the SAD lifestyle. Recently though about a week ago I've realized the huge impact the SAD lifestyle has really had on me so I figure what do you I possibly have to lose continuing to eat raw food? I really don't have anything to lose. So I'm going to keep up with it. I'm completely 100% raw now. It's hard though sometimes I get those extreme cravings for pastas,breads,and so on after a long bike ride or a tough walk. I'm staying strong though by constantly providing myself with little snacks and easy to prepare meals.

My family is all for the raw food lifestyle. My mother was actually the one who introduced us to it. So she provides us with information about it and exciting new recipes to try. Though she asks us to do the same as to the reason why I've joined this place. I want to learn more and get fresh new ideas about what I can do to keep going with this whole thing and well to get support from people my own age. ^^

Nice to meet you all!:D

**Side note** I'm homeschooled and I travel from state to state every 4 or 5 months because of my fathers job. So we have a lack of times on our hands and a lot of stressful moments as well. The raw food lifestyle is perfect for my family considering how quickly we need to get things done. Though the lack of fridge space in our motorhome and the lack of storage drives us crazy. We do manage :]

[Livin'onLife]

Welcome Dayzee_x! It's always nice to meet more home-schoolers! Good for you and your family for making healthy choices despite limited space!

[Jazmyn]

Hi,

I'm a 15 year old home-schooled girl, and have just started being 100% raw again. My whole family is vegetarian, and my parents are on/off raw. I'm really excited about being raw again. I've gone raw a few times in the past 4 years, but haven't lasted any longer then 7 months. My parents are really supportive of me going raw, my mom is going raw with me! Anyways, I hope it works.:)

[rawstrength]

Hi,

I'm a 15 year old home-schooled girl, and have just started being 100% raw again. My whole family is vegetarian, and my parents are on/off raw. I'm really excited about being raw again. I've gone raw a few times in the past 4 years, but have lasted longer then 7 months. My parents are really supportive of me going raw, my mom is going raw with me! Anyways, I hope it works.:)

Hi Jazmyn! It's wonderful that you have the support of your family. Keep on rawkin' :D .

[Livin'onLife]

Welcome Jazmyn! Glad to meet ya.;)

[peace_istheword]

I'm not raw, but I would LOVE to be. My parents say it's too much of a hassle, mostly because they just like to spend all of their money on cooked/mostly fried foods, so money for raw fruits and veggies isn't available. My doctor is raw, and says it's totally fine if I want to go raw, but my parents still don't approve. I'm working on it, though. I think I'll take my mom to the doctor with me and we'll have a little talk about nutrition and things. So if I go raw I can make sure I'm getting the proper nutrients and everything. But, hey, I greatly admire all of you and your strength! Keep going raw!

[rawstrength]

I'm not raw, but I would LOVE to be. My parents say it's too much of a hassle, mostly because they just like to spend all of their money on cooked/mostly fried foods, so money for raw fruits and veggies isn't available. My doctor is raw, and says it's totally fine if I want to go raw, but my parents still don't approve. I'm working on it, though. I think I'll take my mom to the doctor with me and we'll have a little talk about nutrition and things. So if I go raw I can make sure I'm getting the proper nutrients and everything. But, hey, I greatly admire all of you and your strength! Keep going raw!


It's amazing that you have a raw doctor. Many doctors are very closed minded about alternative diets/lifestyles. Do you have a way of making your own money to spend on food? It's worth if for the way raw makes you feel! And hey, you can even share some of your yummy raw creations with your family and try to get them on board.
BTW, if your family is paying for your food anyway, why not just let it be raw food? Ask them to buy a little less of cooked food and then use the money to buy you raw food.

[peace_istheword]

You're right. I guess they would be fine with buying it since they already buy my stuff already. They're still not believers in the health benefits, though. My mom is also thinking about changing my doctor so we can go to a clinic closer to our house. Nooo! I'll start my transition to raw tomorrow. Slowly, I'll cut out cooked foods from my diet. What are some good ways to get your veggies though, as they aren't so appealing in taste to me? I heard hiding them in smoothies is pretty good.

[rawstrength]

You're right. I guess they would be fine with buying it since they already buy my stuff already. They're still not believers in the health benefits, though. My mom is also thinking about changing my doctor so we can go to a clinic closer to our house. Nooo! I'll start my transition to raw tomorrow. Slowly, I'll cut out cooked foods from my diet. What are some good ways to get your veggies though, as they aren't so appealing in taste to me? I heard hiding them in smoothies is pretty good.

Yes, hide them in smoothies and juice those veggies (if you have a juicer). As you go raw, you may find that your tastes change. You'll probably start to like more veggies than you do now. But don't force yourself to eat anything you don't like, because then raw will be too unpleasant for you to want to continue.
Also, you can use veggies as substitutes for cooked foods. GlimR just posted an inspiring and fun poem about using shredded cauliflower as a substitute for rice under the "Raw Food Preparation" section of this forum. Also, Lucy (aka VeganForLife) added a list of 70 green smoothie recipes to try. Check it out! Veggies can be pretty yummy and interesting (not to mention nutritious, of course :) )

[peace_istheword]

Thanks! Also, how do I get past the "complex carbs" issue? Whenever I try to go raw, my father always says humans need complex carbs for energy, and that we can't just survive on simplex carbs. How do I explain this to him? Thanks again for all of your wonderful help!

[rawstrength]

Thanks! Also, how do I get past the "complex carbs" issue? Whenever I try to go raw, my father always says humans need complex carbs for energy, and that we can't just survive on simplex carbs. How do I explain this to him? Thanks again for all of your wonderful help!

Many raw foods have complex carbs, such as carrots, sprouted wheat, sprouted buckwheat and sweet potatoes. Yes, you can eat sweet potatoes raw, and they taste good that way, too. Also, what many people think of as "complex carbs" are in fact no better than sugar. White flour, for example, has the same glycemic index as a date (the most sugary of all fruit). Bananas effect the blood sugar levels more slowly than bread.

[peace_istheword]

What do you all do when you have to go to someone else's house for dinner?

[bbcc33]

Hi I'm 17 and am trying to go raw. My mom barely wanted to help me with going vegan so i think this is going to be a real challenge mainly just trying to live with my family and eat healthy. I've heard a lot about the energy and clarity you get when you go raw and i really want to gain that.

[peace_istheword]

Hi I'm 17 and am trying to go raw. My mom barely wanted to help me with going vegan so i think this is going to be a real challenge mainly just trying to live with my family and eat healthy. I've heard a lot about the energy and clarity you get when you go raw and i really want to gain that.

Maybe if you read up on it and get some information, you can inform them on the health benefits. It might work...my parents don't believe any of it, though. So, maybe not. Good luck, though!

[Martin]

I'm 16 and have been raw on/off for the past 6 months.

I really can't wait to be 100% full time.

[fuggles]

Ive seen youtube videos of david wolfe where he says it not all or nothing, and its an interesting watch, and I agree with him.

It would be okay to have a superfood smoothie in the morning and then have a pizza at night if you find it difficult, because in the long run, that one raw smoothie that you had every day will all add up until the day when you become a compelte raw foodist.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=fqdWTsdId1g

look at 0.50

its not all or nothing

see what you think of the video, maybe its not 100 per cent, but its an interesting watch

[StampThineImage]

Hi, I am a 14 year old homeschooler and I am using my mom's username just for this month, since she joined the 30 day challenge. I started Raw four days ago, and so far I have
liked it alot. I have lost 4 pounds (in the first two days- havent weighed since).
Its funny that we found this thread because I was just asking my mom if there are any teenagers doing Raw like me. Its good to know that there are other teens out there too.
Here is something I learned from my mom, that might help other beginners like me, when you come across something that is not Raw and you want to eat it, tell yourself you can have it in an hour and then when that hour comes, you probably won't want it anymore.
I enjoy eating Raw, though t can be tough when my family eats cooked around me.
The biggest problem that I have is all the smells. But I learned it usually smells better than it actually tastes.
I will check in with you all soon.

[bbcc33]

Well no one's stopping me although they don't quite agree with it all themselves. I saw that video talking about how it's not about all or nothing, that made me feel a bit better and i also like the idea of telling yourself you can eat something non raw an hour later, i'll have to try that. I guess i'll have to try all raw for 2 weeks cause after that i'm going away for a week and there's no way i can stay raw there.

[greenliving]

hey im new to this posting thing but i wanted to find out and received this website .. i have been transitionin to raw food diet for about a month and a half and been completely raw like 98 % i guess idk how to calculate it hehe but yeah.. i live with my mom and sister and now my aunt and little cousin its been actually kinda dificil for me bc i have to buy my own food @ 17 and they dont believe anything i say about raw food .. but i still do it anyways .. this is really cool to share ideas with. :D

[greenliving]

do it for a week it will make you change ur mind and do it for good

[RubyLeo]

Hey everyone! Is anyone out there 18 years old or under? I'm 17. This thread is for aspiring raw foodists aged 18 and under to discuss issues such as living with non-raw parents, what friends think, getting enough to eat, school etc.
So, introduce yourself and let the discussion begin! :rolleyes:

Hi there,
I'm 16 and have been vegan for just over a year and thinking about being raw-vegan for a few months and today decided to start! :D
My mum and stepdad are both omnivores and non-raw, but they accept the fact that i'm vegan and tomorrow i'm going to tell them that i'm going to be raw-vegan. In all honesty, I think they're going to laugh and tell me i'm mad, but i don't care. :p
I don't go to school anymore so food at school is no longer an issue. As far as what my friends think - well, if I had friends I would comment on that statement. :p

[Livin'onLife]

Wow! I can tell I've been busy and haven't had a chance to catch up for a while! LOL.
Welcome, Peace_istheword, Martin, StampThineImage, bbcc33, Greenliving, and RubyLeo. So glad to meet all of you! I love to hear from other teens who are raw!:)

[Sam Spaiser]

Hey! I'm 14 here and have began research into the raw food lifestyle. I face major roadblocks though, mainly through school lunches and the hassle of my parents having to buy me specific food. I am extremely interested in beginning a raw food life, but before I dive head first into it, I need to do a lot of research to know what I'm facing. Any tips would be amazing. :)

I would recommend bringing some fruit for lunch. It's really easy to pack, no prep, and it tastes great!

[Sam Spaiser]

Maybe if you read up on it and get some information, you can inform them on the health benefits. It might work...my parents don't believe any of it, though. So, maybe not. Good luck, though!

I would recommend not minding your parents and let them do their own thing while you do yours. As long as you take care of yourself, do your own shopping, and prepare your own meals, I don't think it should be a problem. That's what I did in high school. I learned that if my parents were interested in raw, they would come to me. However, that wasn't the case, but we get along much better now that I don't talk to them about it all the time. We've come to accept and love each other for who we are.

[MMATT]

Hey Guys,

17 and herm...gunna get more and more raw as the new year progesses lol. I have to have some meat and cooked eggs tomorrow. But I did the warrior diet over the summer as much as I hate the term diet. It was a lifestyle of intermittent fasting and I learned how to eat healthily and how much I loved fruits and broccoli and nuts. Didnt keep it up once school started --I go to a boarding school so I didn't continue it. I started eating lousily and plateued as far as body comp goes.

But I want to start it up to help with my body composition --want to get shredded and get the energy and radiance I had over the summer from eating raw foods. I was like 40 60.

I love chicken, eggs, and steak though, but I can live without or sparingly. I'll finally have to chug my eggs rocky style. :P

[rawstrength]

Hi Mat,
Welcome to the board! I'm sure in time you will come to be able to live without the animal muscle/products. Physically, spiritually, environmentally, and in every other way, vegan is best. But go at your own pace, and constantly challenge yourself to do better.

[MMATT]

Thanks! Yeah, it's something about the raw lifestyle that resonates with me. I feel as if I could go 100% raw right now and not look back. However, I aint got enough ingredients yet so over the next week or so I'm going to shift gradually and tom morn before the gym I'm gunna down some raw eggs. Yum!

I dreamt about raw foods last night lol and downing a bowl of raw eggs w some spices. I didnt really savor the taste and its quite a fascinating texture --consitancy of snot. I'd crack some raw eggs in my protein shake over the summer, parents yelled at me tho, they don't understand.



I like meat though, that's the only thing, but the more and more I think about it the less and less it appeals to me. I didn't kill the animal, and if I couldnt actually kill an animal it's hypocritical to eat meat. There's something lost with current slaughtering methods, it's not like hunting in the wild, the respect and sanctity for the animal is lost its just another number now, material objects --no love in there.

[rawstrength]

"no love in there." - Matt
I completely agree. If you check out some websites and videos about modern meat production, such as www.meat.org , you will realize that meat is really cruel and unsustainable, meaning that we can't keep on living like this without consequences. Learning about factory farming started me on the vegan path about 4 years ago, and that's how I learned about raw. I've been really healthy and happy on a raw food vegan diet for a year now.

[Coolexplosion]

Well, to keep a very long story incredibly short, three years ago I was basically told by my doctor that I didn't have too long to live and there was nothing I or anyone else could do to help me. This was the second doctor that gave me such uplifting and enthusiastic news. Well, shortly after I came into knowledge about health, real knowledge, not that manufactured stuff that isn't true at all. At that point, I switched to an all-organic diet and obviously I sit here before you typing this.

That next year I went back to that same doctor who basically had told me to go start planning my funeral and he declared me in a state of perfect health! When I told him what I'd done, he pretty much told me I was a liar and what I was doing couldn't have possibly helped me. Ahh, that poor soul.

Moving on:

I am currently 18 and still on that all-organic regimen and have never deviated, regular food just doesn't look the same when one finds out all of the hidden agendas it has. Now I am attempting to become more raw. Currently I am, admittedly, 0-1% raw. Disgraceful I know. I am trying to increase that and become even healthier. I have purchased a juicer, a food processor, I have a blender, and I will be the proud owner of a dehydrator soon, all from my own money.

My problems are my dislike for any vegetables besides corn and green beans and the fact that it seems like I need meat at every meal even though I want to evict it from my diet. I will finally attempt to become more raw and I'm really excited to find a seemingly active discussion board containing people my age.

As per my girlfriend: She is fully supportive of whatever I do. Honestly, if your girlfriend/boyfriend doesn't support you and it begins to become a barrier that hurts the relationship, understand you deserve better. Any significant other should support his/her partner in something they believe in. And yes, I'm going to step off my soapbox right about...now.

Friends: The key is to not bring it up and not focus on it. Don't get braggy or make it the subject of every conversation ever. If it comes up, cool, if not, awesome.

Parents: Aren't totally supportive but, I work around it with creative methods.

To anyone who is a raw-organican, I have loads of respect for you.

My questions are:

* Are any of you guys organic as well as raw?
* Percent raw?
* Why did you become raw?
* On any supplements/etc.?
* Any "raw" applicances?

Grazie.

[wannaberawgirl]

haha,

so i really want to be like super healthy, and i saw a diet fads special on like vh1 or something, and one of the diets was raw food so i started doing some research(oh like four months ago?) and found out how freakin popular it is. There are raw food restaurants, is that not the coolest thing ever or what...anyway, i got busy after that. School was starting...the dreaded second year of high school, and when it did suddenly i had four hours of homework and absolutely no free time. So the whole going raw idea was pushed aside. Then i had to do this project for school where i had to convince people to pass some new law, and the law i came up with was something about the cruelty at slaughterhouses and how that had to stop. Well, i had to do research for that and overnight(literally) i went from being addicted to chicken fingers to gagging at the thought of eating any meat. I mean, i used to loveeee the smell of bacon cooking, it would wake me up in the morning(drool and all, haha) and i woke up to it about a month ago and had to leave the house, it was soooo gross.
So i've been vegetarian for about four to five months(thought i do eat fish occasionaly) and i've been doing TONS of research about eating raw and looking at recipes and stuff and i am totally excited. Next semester i start homeschooling so i plan to start then. I've got a great recipe book and my mom and I are planning on trying some recipes once a week until i transition. I'm soooooo ready.

Okay so enough about me, i'd like to know if anyone had a really hard time giving a certain food up, and how long it took to not want that food anymore. I'm a huge starbucks fan so i'm a tab bit nervous about my will power. I'm always at barnes and nobles and they have a starbucks in the middle of the store!! ahhh.

also..i swear i'm almost done talking hehe,
does anyone have any tips on getting started and preparation.
i have all the equipment(except the dehydrator but we are getting one)


much love,
Conner ;)

[rawstrength]

Hi Conner! That's so cool about the vegetarianism and homeschooling. For foods that are hard to give up, I would try making raw versions of them and keeping the raw versions always around the house in case of cravings. I've always been a huge fan of sweets, particularly chocolate, so raw cacao desserts have saved me on many occasions. I'm really excited for you :) .
For starters, stock your pantry with plenty of cold pressed oils, sun-dried tomatoes, dates, nuts, seeds, raw honey, raw agave and other shelf-stable staples. Then just buy whatever fruits and veggies appeal to you each week. You can make raw complex with lots of recipes, or simple by eating lots of fruits, salads and smoothies.

[wannaberawgirl]

Thank you! :)
yeah my mom and I are going to Whole Foods this week so i'll be sure to add those to my list!

How long have you been raw?

[rawstrength]

I've been raw for a year. I've been a vegan for going on four years this March.

[Coolexplosion]

Thank you! :)
yeah my mom and I are going to Whole Foods this week so i'll be sure to add those to my list!

How long have you been raw?

Good luck at Whole Foods, they're my store of choice as well since they have the most organic products in general. Just watch out for a lot of their prices, they tend to be expensive more often than not.

[wannaberawgirl]

Good luck at Whole Foods, they're my store of choice as well since they have the most organic products in general. Just watch out for a lot of their prices, they tend to be expensive more often than not.

yeah, i've shopped there since i was little for the things i can't find at walmart. but veggies and fruits i usually get from Walmart. but i really like finding unusual fruits to try there.

how long have you been raw?


rawstrength: wow, that's awesome. i wish i had been introduced to it at a younger age.

[Coolexplosion]

yeah, i've shopped there since i was little for the things i can't find at walmart. but veggies and fruits i usually get from Walmart. but i really like finding unusual fruits to try there.

how long have you been raw?


rawstrength: wow, that's awesome. i wish i had been introduced to it at a younger age.

I'm just wary of Walmart in general and downright refuse to shop there. And no, that wasn't an insult even though it looks very suspicious.

I secretly am not raw. I'm all-organic though, which isn't raw but, I like it.

Define "unusual" fruits please. I'm imagining an apple with feet or a pear that growls.

[wannaberawgirl]

I'm just wary of Walmart in general and downright refuse to shop there. And no, that wasn't an insult even though it looks very suspicious.

I secretly am not raw. I'm all-organic though, which isn't raw but, I like it.

Define "unusual" fruits please. I'm imagining an apple with feet or a pear that growls.

heheh Walmart is def. shady, i can't deny that. when no one is suspecting them i swear they'll take over the world. hahah

all-organic is still really good.

apple with feet or a pear that growls...hehehe that's too funny. yeah i don't eat pears that won't growl. hahah no like star fruit.

[Coolexplosion]

heheh Walmart is def. shady, i can't deny that. when no one is suspecting them i swear they'll take over the world. hahah

all-organic is still really good.

apple with feet or a pear that growls...hehehe that's too funny. yeah i don't eat pears that won't growl. hahah no like star fruit.

I'm not sure how Walmart taking over the world is that hilarious...*is scared*

Thank you, I like me too.

Star...apples...oranges...cucumbers?

[wannaberawgirl]

I'm not sure how Walmart taking over the world is that hilarious...*is scared*

Thank you, I like me too.

Star...apples...oranges...cucumbers?


haha its pretty hilarious but you should be scared :p

just star fruit. if you cut slices of it they are shaped like stars. taste kind of like apple but has a different texture and such.

[Coolexplosion]

haha its pretty hilarious but you should be scared :p

just star fruit. if you cut slices of it they are shaped like stars. taste kind of like apple but has a different texture and such.

At this point, if I could move Illinois farther away from North Carolina, I would.

[wannaberawgirl]

At this point, if I could move Illinois farther away from North Carolina, I would.

hahaa. At this point, if i could move out of North Carolina i would.

[graham]

wow this is cool. i have never known any raw people my age (i am 16 male). i have been 80-90% raw for a week. the weird thing is that most raw foodists are female (not that it matters), but it seems active males in sports and stuff would do themselves good to turn raw. most guys that i know in sports have diets consisting of mostly meat, dairy, and whey protein shakes or muscle milk or whatever they are told will build muscle. i have been eating mostly organic for the past year, but decided to turn mostly raw/ organic. i am eating some cooked garbanzo hummus on vegetables and the other cooked foods i eat are roasted peanut butter and minestrone soup. i also had five pieces of whole wheat bread since i started. i rarely eat non organic raw food, as my local grocery only has all organic produce, but their packaged stuff isn't as reliable. if i get a job here soon, i'll be able to save up for a champion juicer or dehydrator or something.. and be able to buy more mangoes avos and papayas (the expensive stuff).

one thing i was wondering.. are GMO raw foods are better than organic cooked foods, in terms of nutrient digestion/absorption?

answers to coolexplosion's questions

* Are any of you guys organic as well as raw? if its raw, its always organic, unless my dad buys some produce from walmart or other stores. if its cooked, 10-20% of the time, it might not be
* Percent raw? 80-90% raw (its only the first week though but i dont think i want to go back)
* Why did you become raw? i want more energy, healthier skin and hair, i have the skin condition keratosis pilaris on parts of my skin, clear mind
* On any supplements/etc.? i just ordered some hydrolyzed collagen from thedoctorwithin.com extensive articles about nutrition, besides that no supplements
* Any "raw" applicances? just a juicer blender and food processor

why did you all become raw?

[Coolexplosion]

wow this is cool. i have never known any raw people my age (i am 16 male). i have been 80-90% raw for a week. the weird thing is that most raw foodists are female (not that it matters), but it seems active males in sports and stuff would do themselves good to turn raw. most guys that i know in sports have diets consisting of mostly meat, dairy, and whey protein shakes or muscle milk or whatever they are told will build muscle. i have been eating mostly organic for the past year, but decided to turn mostly raw/ organic. i am eating some cooked garbanzo hummus on vegetables and the other cooked foods i eat are roasted peanut butter and minestrone soup. i also had five pieces of whole wheat bread since i started. i rarely eat non organic raw food, as my local grocery only has all organic produce, but their packaged stuff isn't as reliable. if i get a job here soon, i'll be able to save up for a champion juicer or dehydrator or something.. and be able to buy more mangoes avos and papayas (the expensive stuff).

one thing i was wondering.. are GMO raw foods are better than organic cooked foods, in terms of nutrient digestion/absorption?

answers to coolexplosion's questions

* Are any of you guys organic as well as raw? if its raw, its always organic, unless my dad buys some produce from walmart or other stores. if its cooked, 10-20% of the time, it might not be
* Percent raw? 80-90% raw (its only the first week though but i dont think i want to go back)
* Why did you become raw? i want more energy, healthier skin and hair, i have the skin condition keratosis pilaris on parts of my skin, clear mind
* On any supplements/etc.? i just ordered some hydrolyzed collagen from thedoctorwithin.com extensive articles about nutrition, besides that no supplements
* Any "raw" applicances? just a juicer blender and food processor

why did you all become raw?

Agreed. Even in the health field it is definitely more male dominant than females. People don't have to go far to figure out why women live longer than men. I completely agree on your sports comment. I forget where I read that most Olympic runners are vegetarians because they don't run as well on meat.

Have you tried raw hummus? I believe it's somewhat easy to make. Just needs a food processor for appliances too. Good for you in the organic sector.

GMO foods have not been tested for long term effects, neither has irradiation (a lot of non-organic produce has been irradiated). More and more health advocates are suggesting that Morgellons can be attributed to GMO foods. I wouldn't take the chance on GMOs of any kind just to be safe. At least you know that organic stuff has to meet some standards and is pretty close to pesticide-free.

What do you have for a juicer or blender? I am slightly afraid to use my blender because it's older than I am and I'm looking for cheap ones that can get the job done.

[graham]

Agreed. Even in the health field it is definitely more male dominant than females. People don't have to go far to figure out why women live longer than men. I completely agree on your sports comment. I forget where I read that most Olympic runners are vegetarians because they don't run as well on meat.

Have you tried raw hummus? I believe it's somewhat easy to make. Just needs a food processor for appliances too. Good for you in the organic sector.

GMO foods have not been tested for long term effects, neither has irradiation (a lot of non-organic produce has been irradiated). More and more health advocates are suggesting that Morgellons can be attributed to GMO foods. I wouldn't take the chance on GMOs of any kind just to be safe. At least you know that organic stuff has to meet some standards and is pretty close to pesticide-free.

What do you have for a juicer or blender? I am slightly afraid to use my blender because it's older than I am and I'm looking for cheap ones that can get the job done.

thanks for the gmo info! i forgot that the conventional produce industry is pretty much a lawless land. i would never seek out that stuff, but it just seems like the unadulterated nutrients in raw gmo foods would be better, long term, than a diet of organic cooked food. i guess we'll never know until someone actually studies the effects.

unfortunately, i just got done last week cooking a pound of dried garbanzo beans, so i have about 5 portions left of cooked hummus to make. i did find a sprouted hummus recipe on allrecipes.com, but after sprouting the beans, they are soaked in really hot water for a minute. are there any really really raw hummus recipes? it says that without that step, the hummus will turn out awful tasting.

my juicer is a breville, cant remember the model or anything, but my brother got it from dillard's lol! my blender is a shitty cuisinart that my dad got for his smoothies that he makes in the morning. i actually made avo chocolate pudding in the blender, and towards the end i thought it was dying, but good pudding it was.

i just got a cuisinart processor from my grandparents that they werent using, and its probably older than me too. but cuisinart makes awesome processors.

there have got to be some good blenders for you on craigslist. the problem is getting a hold of the sellers. some people on craigslist are pretty shady.

[Coolexplosion]

thanks for the gmo info! i forgot that the conventional produce industry is pretty much a lawless land. i would never seek out that stuff, but it just seems like the unadulterated nutrients in raw gmo foods would be better, long term, than a diet of organic cooked food. i guess we'll never know until someone actually studies the effects.

unfortunately, i just got done last week cooking a pound of dried garbanzo beans, so i have about 5 portions left of cooked hummus to make. i did find a sprouted hummus recipe on allrecipes.com, but after sprouting the beans, they are soaked in really hot water for a minute. are there any really really raw hummus recipes? it says that without that step, the hummus will turn out awful tasting.

my juicer is a breville, cant remember the model or anything, but my brother got it from dillard's lol! my blender is a shitty cuisinart that my dad got for his smoothies that he makes in the morning. i actually made avo chocolate pudding in the blender, and towards the end i thought it was dying, but good pudding it was.

i just got a cuisinart processor from my grandparents that they werent using, and its probably older than me too. but cuisinart makes awesome processors.

there have got to be some good blenders for you on craigslist. the problem is getting a hold of the sellers. some people on craigslist are pretty shady.

No problem. Just anything these days that isn't organic just doesn't sit right with me on a few levels. There should be a lot of studies done that aren't. I can't believe that the long term effects of irradiation and pesticides aren't studies but the best way to increase eyelash thickness is. What a world...

Oh, I don't blame you. I am the cheapest person ever so, using up all of your food makes perfect sense to me. I have never actually tried raw hummus but, I figured you might have. I'll list a recipe or two at the bottom of this. And, I don't sprout/don't know how so, none of my recipes ever involve sprouting. There are several bean-less hummus recipes out there as well and those are the ones I have and will use in the very near future. I'm a huge fan of cooked hummus so, I hope to find solstice in raw hummus as well.

You lucked out then. Breville's are on a major popularity upswing. I was actually gonna get one but...:(. That and, a lack of good juicing recipes. Feel free to supply ones you like :). Was that the recipe from this site? I was thinking about making that but wanted to see if it was actually good.

Agreed, I too have a Cuisinart. I haven't actually used it yet but, everyone everywhere pretty much agrees that Cuisinart owns at food processors.

Seeming you have dealt with Craig's List before?

EDIT: And I almost cheated you on the hummus (I will put forth three as a gesture of peace):

From Everyday Raw ~ Matthew Kenney:

Macadamia Hummus:

3 cups macadamia nuts, soaked 1-2 hours
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup tahini
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 1/4 cup water
1 small garlic clove

Blend all ingredients in a blender and add more water if a looser consistency is needed.


From the same book:

Roasted Pepper Hummus con Lime

2 cups seeded and chopped red bell peppers
2 cups cashews, soaked 1-2 hours
1 cup macadamia nuts, soaked 1-2 hours
1/2 cup lime juice
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup tahini
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 1/4 cup water

Dehydrate peppers for 24 hours at 118*F then blend everything in a blender until smooth.

From Raw Food Real World:

4 cups cashews, soaked for at least 2 hours
1/2 cup lemon juice
2 small cloves garlic
1/4 cup sesame tahini
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 cup water.

[graham]

No problem. Just anything these days that isn't organic just doesn't sit right with me on a few levels. There should be a lot of studies done that aren't. I can't believe that the long term effects of irradiation and pesticides aren't studies but the best way to increase eyelash thickness is. What a world...

Oh, I don't blame you. I am the cheapest person ever so, using up all of your food makes perfect sense to me. I have never actually tried raw hummus but, I figured you might have. I'll list a recipe or two at the bottom of this. And, I don't sprout/don't know how so, none of my recipes ever involve sprouting. There are several bean-less hummus recipes out there as well and those are the ones I have and will use in the very near future. I'm a huge fan of cooked hummus so, I hope to find solstice in raw hummus as well.

You lucked out then. Breville's are on a major popularity upswing. I was actually gonna get one but...:(. That and, a lack of good juicing recipes. Feel free to supply ones you like :). Was that the recipe from this site? I was thinking about making that but wanted to see if it was actually good.

Agreed, I too have a Cuisinart. I haven't actually used it yet but, everyone everywhere pretty much agrees that Cuisinart owns at food processors.

Seeming you have dealt with Craig's List before?

EDIT: And I almost cheated you on the hummus (I will put forth three as a gesture of peace):

From Everyday Raw ~ Matthew Kenney:

Macadamia Hummus:

3 cups macadamia nuts, soaked 1-2 hours
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup tahini
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 1/4 cup water
1 small garlic clove

Blend all ingredients in a blender and add more water if a looser consistency is needed.


From the same book:

Roasted Pepper Hummus con Lime

2 cups seeded and chopped red bell peppers
2 cups cashews, soaked 1-2 hours
1 cup macadamia nuts, soaked 1-2 hours
1/2 cup lime juice
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup tahini
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 1/4 cup water

Dehydrate peppers for 24 hours at 118*F then blend everything in a blender until smooth.

From Raw Food Real World:

4 cups cashews, soaked for at least 2 hours
1/2 cup lemon juice
2 small cloves garlic
1/4 cup sesame tahini
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 cup water.

lol about the eyelash studies.

for juicing, i dont have any good recipes, and i dont juice every day. a staple of mine though is just apple, carrot and orange juice mixed. when i do use it, i just throw in a bunch of random fruits and vegetables. i would give you some juicing recipes, but only if i had tried them. i saw a lot on http://www.sunfood.net/recipes.html

i like sunfood.net because the recipes are very simple. my raw food model is also very simple. smoothie in the morning, salad for lunch, vegetables for snacks, and maybe a "gourmet" recipe or salad for dinner. most of the recipes on sunfood only require a processor or blender.

this is where i got my raw food menu plan:
http://www.welikeitraw.com/rawfood/2006/08/sample_raw_food.html

when i saw that i actually wasnt set on going raw, but when i actually had the plan in front of me, i wrote up a grocery list and bought everything i needed for a basic week's worth of food. that's what i recommend to any aspiring raw people: buy absolutely everything you need at the start of the week, plan ahead, and never run out of your favorite raw foods.

thanks for the recipes. i didnt even think of no garbanzo hummus, but i have tried spinach/ artichoke hummus which was awesome and also black bean hummus that i got from the store. that roasted pepper hummus sounds great, if only i could get a dehydrator. there are suprisingly many champion juicers for under $200 on craigslist. there was also an excalibur dehydrator for 100 (in my area). and yes, i have experience as a craigslist merchant and buyer. people can be quite shady.

[Coolexplosion]

lol about the eyelash studies.

for juicing, i dont have any good recipes, and i dont juice every day. a staple of mine though is just apple, carrot and orange juice mixed. when i do use it, i just throw in a bunch of random fruits and vegetables. i would give you some juicing recipes, but only if i had tried them. i saw a lot on http://www.sunfood.net/recipes.html

i like sunfood.net because the recipes are very simple. my raw food model is also very simple. smoothie in the morning, salad for lunch, vegetables for snacks, and maybe a "gourmet" recipe or salad for dinner. most of the recipes on sunfood only require a processor or blender.

this is where i got my raw food menu plan:
http://www.welikeitraw.com/rawfood/2006/08/sample_raw_food.html

when i saw that i actually wasnt set on going raw, but when i actually had the plan in front of me, i wrote up a grocery list and bought everything i needed for a basic week's worth of food. that's what i recommend to any aspiring raw people: buy absolutely everything you need at the start of the week, plan ahead, and never run out of your favorite raw foods.

thanks for the recipes. i didnt even think of no garbanzo hummus, but i have tried spinach/ artichoke hummus which was awesome and also black bean hummus that i got from the store. that roasted pepper hummus sounds great, if only i could get a dehydrator. there are suprisingly many champion juicers for under $200 on craigslist. there was also an excalibur dehydrator for 100 (in my area). and yes, i have experience as a craigslist merchant and buyer. people can be quite shady.

I'll be sure to check the site out. The one good recipe I did concoct that was simple was one I found on this board: 2 carrots, 2 apples, 1/2 Lemon. Everything had a peel/skin. It was surprisingly good. Yeah, I don't juice everyday either, it's more of a specialty type deal.

Sounds like an excellent idea. I will have to mimic that in the near future. I'm guessing they were all cooked hummus then? I got my dehydrator for cheap but, if you're looking for an Excalibur than I can't help you. If you're looking for a cheap one, I'm gonna start using mine within a week so, I can report on it. Good to know, thanks for the information. I stick with Ebay and Amazon so, Craigslist is new and unknown as far as I'm concerned.

Re: welikeitraw.com I heart Sarma so...I've heard of it once or twice :).

[graham]

I'll be sure to check the site out. The one good recipe I did concoct that was simple was one I found on this board: 2 carrots, 2 apples, 1/2 Lemon. Everything had a peel/skin. It was surprisingly good. Yeah, I don't juice everyday either, it's more of a specialty type deal.

Sounds like an excellent idea. I will have to mimic that in the near future. I'm guessing they were all cooked hummus then? I got my dehydrator for cheap but, if you're looking for an Excalibur than I can't help you. If you're looking for a cheap one, I'm gonna start using mine within a week so, I can report on it. Good to know, thanks for the information. I stick with Ebay and Amazon so, Craigslist is new and unknown as far as I'm concerned.

Re: welikeitraw.com I heart Sarma so...I've heard of it once or twice :).

carrot and apple juice is so good but ive never added lemon. you juiced the lemon with the peel? my brother did an orange with the peel on accident and it was really pungent. i dont juice that often because the parts take a while to clean and i would rather be eating the whole food rather than the juice. i wasnt looking for an excalibur in particular, it was just what i typed in on craigslist. what kind of dehydrator do you have? im not looking into getting one too much since i am getting by with what i have now. but id like to hear about yours when you try it.

and yeah all the hummus from the store is most likely cooked :/ and expensive! when i realized they were $5 for 8 oz i started making my own.. i just got done making some. its awesome.

[bbcc33]

whenever i make carrot juice it doesn't it take. One time i made it just straight and then i made it with red/yellow apples and both times it tasted salty. i remember tasting carrot juice back when i was just vegan so i highly doubt it was raw but it was very sweet and i'm trying to find that same taste. What do you put in the carrot juice to make it taste good?

[Coolexplosion]

carrot and apple juice is so good but ive never added lemon. you juiced the lemon with the peel? my brother did an orange with the peel on accident and it was really pungent. i dont juice that often because the parts take a while to clean and i would rather be eating the whole food rather than the juice. i wasnt looking for an excalibur in particular, it was just what i typed in on craigslist. what kind of dehydrator do you have? im not looking into getting one too much since i am getting by with what i have now. but id like to hear about yours when you try it.

and yeah all the hummus from the store is most likely cooked :/ and expensive! when i realized they were $5 for 8 oz i started making my own.. i just got done making some. its awesome.

I felt like the lemon really added something. Yep, I always use the peels and skins on everything just 'cause I know that's the part with the most nutrients. Even though I won't gain any fiber off of it, I'm sure a bit of juice is extracted from the pulp, as the story with your brother shows.

Agreed. Mine takes forever to clean too. I have a Nesco and it's working great so far. I believe it was less than $50.00 so, that was cool.

I'm a fan of the red pepper one that the store has. Got any recipes for one (even if it's cooked)?


whenever i make carrot juice it doesn't it take. One time i made it just straight and then i made it with red/yellow apples and both times it tasted salty. i remember tasting carrot juice back when i was just vegan so i highly doubt it was raw but it was very sweet and i'm trying to find that same taste. What do you put in the carrot juice to make it taste good?

Have you tried the recipe I used? The 2 carrots, 2 apples (I used red delicious), and 1/2 a lemon? Worked really well for me. I even threw in some spinach just because I felt like it.

[ajchanter]

YAY!!
I'm not the only one!!! :D
I'm 15 and 100% raw!

Anyone else out there!! :D
AJ

http://chooserawnotwar.blogspot.com/

[bbcc33]

just wanted to say that carrot juice tastes much better for me at least when i peeled the carrots. I like eating carrots without peeling it but in a juice form i guess it tastes better without the skin. So it's just straight carrot juice that i like. So yeah, and also i can't afford a lot of organic things right now so that might be another thing.

And I've been raw for almost a month now i'm trying the whole 30 days thing right now todays day 28 so yeah i think i can do this and theres a great deal for a 9 tray excalibur in my area for about 100 bucks on craigs list right now so i hope i can get that and maybe that'll help with my enormous cravings. I'm just afraid i'm gonna get this big ole dehydrator and they won't let me bring it with me to college this year.

[rawstrength]

just wanted to say that carrot juice tastes much better for me at least when i peeled the carrots. I like eating carrots without peeling it but in a juice form i guess it tastes better without the skin. So it's just straight carrot juice that i like. So yeah, and also i can't afford a lot of organic things right now so that might be another thing.

And I've been raw for almost a month now i'm trying the whole 30 days thing right now todays day 28 so yeah i think i can do this and theres a great deal for a 9 tray excalibur in my area for about 100 bucks on craigs list right now so i hope i can get that and maybe that'll help with my enormous cravings. I'm just afraid i'm gonna get this big ole dehydrator and they won't let me bring it with me to college this year.

:) Hey there!
I am allowed to have a dehydrator and a vitamix at my college. I just have a vitamix though. I don't really "do" dehydrated stuff because it is too dehydrating for me . . . this is coming from someone who has to drink 70 oz + of water on a water-rich raw food diet. My body likes things juicy.
Raw in college is really a 'cinch, though. Raw foods are so simple and easy to make, smoothies, fruits and salads are mainly what I eat. You can make raw foods in your dorm room without a real kitchen! I rinse my blender and dishes in the bathroom sink, raw rinses off much better than cooked on stuff.

[tkxii]

Well, to keep a very long story incredibly short, three years ago I was basically told by my doctor that I didn't have too long to live and there was nothing I or anyone else could do to help me. This was the second doctor that gave me such uplifting and enthusiastic news. Well, shortly after I came into knowledge about health, real knowledge, not that manufactured stuff that isn't true at all. At that point, I switched to an all-organic diet and obviously I sit here before you typing this.

That next year I went back to that same doctor who basically had told me to go start planning my funeral and he declared me in a state of perfect health! When I told him what I'd done, he pretty much told me I was a liar and what I was doing couldn't have possibly helped me. Ahh, that poor soul.

Moving on:

I am currently 18 and still on that all-organic regimen and have never deviated, regular food just doesn't look the same when one finds out all of the hidden agendas it has. Now I am attempting to become more raw. Currently I am, admittedly, 0-1% raw. Disgraceful I know. I am trying to increase that and become even healthier. I have purchased a juicer, a food processor, I have a blender, and I will be the proud owner of a dehydrator soon, all from my own money.

My problems are my dislike for any vegetables besides corn and green beans and the fact that it seems like I need meat at every meal even though I want to evict it from my diet. I will finally attempt to become more raw and I'm really excited to find a seemingly active discussion board containing people my age.

As per my girlfriend: She is fully supportive of whatever I do. Honestly, if your girlfriend/boyfriend doesn't support you and it begins to become a barrier that hurts the relationship, understand you deserve better. Any significant other should support his/her partner in something they believe in. And yes, I'm going to step off my soapbox right about...now.

Friends: The key is to not bring it up and not focus on it. Don't get braggy or make it the subject of every conversation ever. If it comes up, cool, if not, awesome.

Parents: Aren't totally supportive but, I work around it with creative methods.

To anyone who is a raw-organican, I have loads of respect for you.

My questions are:

* Are any of you guys organic as well as raw?
* Percent raw?
* Why did you become raw?
* On any supplements/etc.?
* Any "raw" applicances?

Grazie.

i'm happy for you. as for me, i started a raw food, or raw-er food diet this week, after being inspired by tim vanorden on runningraw.com. He runs long distance, and is more muscular and lean than his competitors at the age of 40, and says that his enzyme rich raw foods he eats are the 'workers' that build the muscle, while proteins from like meat would be the tools. In a standard american diet, we have those tools, but no workers, So i've tried to get the best of both worlds, i eat tons of kale, parsley, spinach, greens, peppers, grapefruit, berries, u name it, but i'm not vegan, i eat meat, but in much smaller portions than before, actually, today, i barely ate much food, and i just feel so satisfied from eating so many vegetables. i think they provided me with enough calories, but i think i'm still in a calorie deficit, but in a nutrient surplus, for the most part. and unlike you, i do tell my friends about raw and organic foods, actually, diet/nutrition is one of the only things i like to talk about forever with friends, even if they don't listen. And i do eat organic, or am trying to, because it's pesticide free.

My question to other under 18 ppl out there, i'm 17 btw, is what are your plans with life/college? I'm going to study nutrition science somewhere, i'm waiting for my colelge dicisions to come back. But i love eating raw foods been on it for like 2-3 days, id say 65% raw. Since i'm a jumper/sprinter, i'm afraid of losing muscle, so i eat small bits of meat with every meal

[bbcc33]

hi rawstrength Yah, I think being raw when i'm off on my own will be so much easier. I actually didn't get the dehydrator cause knowing me i'd probably only use it the first few months anyway and that would just be a waste of money and i've been surviving thus far without one. the only dehydrated thing i've had were raw flax seed crackers from whole foods and i really just wanted to make those so i now just have a bag full of flax seeds that i try and munch on every now and then.

to tkxii: Since going raw i've really been interested in health/nutrition too but i don't know if i would agree with the way schools taught about it plus i'm not too great in science or math either. Hopefully i'll become a journalist thats my intended major when i start college and i'll be able to spread the news about healthy living that way. The college i'm hoping to attend could be a real good fit for me too cause they seem to have a good emphasis on the environment and health. I've heard if you eat raw the right way you shouldn't be afraid of losing muscle but that you should get healthy natural muscle. I'm sure more research should confirm that. There's this great interview from we like it raw that i listened to about this guy called nature love who is a body builder or something like that and i think he's vegan raw it was a long time ago so i can't remember but its on itunes for free so i suggest you listen to that. I think that interview should answer some questions. Thats all

[channyl]

Hey, I'm 15 still in the process of transitioning into a 100% raw vegan. My parents are steak & mashed potatoes people, so my family is prety harsh about the whole idea.

I wanna go into medicine in college, but I plan on going ahead and becoming a certified personal trainer and nutritionist when I graduate high school because the hours are flexible for a college schedule, plus, working in a fast food joint would kind of be ironic.

[channyl]

I'm a tennis player & I think its so much easier when you get closer 75%-80% raw. Since you're worried about protein & muscle loss you should try adding some whey protein powder (or something to the equvilent) to your diet.

[berryfairy]

I'm 18 and 80% raw .. I would like to be 100%
but I think I will have to wait until I move out for that
I already cause so much unintentional stress on my family
They get annoyed by the fact that I don't eat the same thing as them for dinner :(
it kind of makes sense, for a family to all eat one meal together
instead I make my own salad or raw pudding.. and my own separate set of dishes..hehe *I wash them though!*

So I eat raw all day up until dinner time
and then I eat regular dinner with my family
but if it isn't vegan I try to get out of eating it.. if I can,
it doesn't always work! my mom just goes.. people are starving in other countries just eat your food!
:( it's true, being so picky can be bothersome..
also, if I go to someone's birthday party or am a guest at someone's house I try to eat everything they offer me, but if they offer me meat! :o I just said no thank you...
so yea, am i complicated? it's just simpler this way, eat raw as much as i can to be healthy but try not to make other people feel bad.. as if what they are eating is unhealthy or something {even though I think it is! :s}
is anyone else like this?

[czpinky]

I'm 18 and 80% raw .. I would like to be 100%
but I think I will have to wait until I move out for that
I already cause so much unintentional stress on my family
They get annoyed by the fact that I don't eat the same thing as them for dinner :(
it kind of makes sense, for a family to all eat one meal together
instead I make my own salad or raw pudding.. and my own separate set of dishes..hehe *I wash them though!*

So I eat raw all day up until dinner time
and then I eat regular dinner with my family
but if it isn't vegan I try to get out of eating it.. if I can,
it doesn't always work! my mom just goes.. people are starving in other countries just eat your food!
:( it's true, being so picky can be bothersome..
also, if I go to someone's birthday party or am a guest at someone's house I try to eat everything they offer me, but if they offer me meat! :o I just said no thank you...
so yea, am i complicated? it's just simpler this way, eat raw as much as i can to be healthy but try not to make other people feel bad.. as if what they are eating is unhealthy or something {even though I think it is! :s}
is anyone else like this?


about the "people are starving in other countries" bit, if you don't eat the dinner that your mom has made b/c it's nonvegan, will those people stop starving? i think not. i would much rather know that i can save lives by not eating animal products than just eat and eat and eat animal products b/c other people are without them. my advice is to do some research on the true facts about veganism, and maybe you'll find some new motivation. when i first started going raw, i had already been 100% vegan for a few months...that made the detox much less than it would have been from SAD or even vegetarian. also, i started out with just breakfast and lunch as raw meals, and ate a healthy, vegan dinner. this helped alot too. talk to your family about how you feel w/out becoming too defensive or critical of their diets either. explain to them what you believe and they should be accepting of you. if not, than make your own food and eat by yourself if you have to (i've made all of my own food since i was about your age). good luck!:D

[Irish_Vegan_Girl]

I'm 18, I live with my parents and brother. None of them are raw or vegan. They are pretty supportive when I try raw. I am currently cooked vegan but going raw again soon.

-<33-

[Lunar*Fey]

BerryFairy, I am currently in a pretty similar situation although I stick to all vegan. I am eating with my family because my mom will KILL me if I don't...and I eat cooked vegan at friends houses because i simply appreciate that their family would be so kind as to put their love and kindness into their food.
I am turning 18 in one month (agh! scary) and I was all raw except for suppliments. I have been really thin all my life, but really healthy-its a genetic thing. Then when I was 14 my mom remarried and I became depressed and lost a lot of weight (which was really bad since I was already quite thin) so I was accused of having an eating disorder and have been in and out of treatment since because it is so hard for my body to maintain the middle-end weights the ED places want me to be. It was been really hard because I try SO hard and I could so easily be all raw and I feel much healthier when I am (as long as I get enough food with a good amount of fats and some protein). But, alas, I cannot until I move out unless I want to be sent away to an ED place again. So I am in a tough situation and was looking for some help.
My mom has forced me to go to this anorexia study (even tohugh I really really do not have an eating disorder...I like eating lol and I want my body to be strong and healthy) where they have the parents force the kids to eat foods and the kids aren't alllowed to make or serve their own food, etc. That is sooo aggravating and I don't know what to do. The woman just keeps telling me that I have anorexia over and over and it is so condescending, demeaning, humilating, frustrating. And she says I have to gain 20 pounds even though, according to a healthy BMI for my height and age, I am only about 3 pounds underweight. So I would not mind gaining like 5 pounds but I could never gain 20. Anyway, They wont listen to a word I say. So today I agreed that if I am allowed to help cook my meals and stuff I will share dinner with the family. I always ate dinner with my family, but had my own food. For some reason this makes my mom SOOO mad. So I have agreed that if I can pick recipes and help cook I will bend to this silliness. I only have four weeks until I am18 and then I can end my services in the program as it is voluntary (omg I hope I can end it! I must be able to at 18, no? all my blood work, EKGs, and vital signs are totally healthy)

So here is my question, does anyone have any good, SIMPLE, fortifying recipes? Raw or just super healthy vegan that will seem good and sustaining to my family? And that will have variety? Can anyone help with a sample menu because I am just at a loss of late. I want to eat all raw except at dinner I can't always eat raw recipes because my mom will be SO ANGRY.
I want to be super healthy, I want to do what is best for my body, and I am also on a fairly tight budget (aren't we all). PLEASE HELP! Oh, btw, I also have some difficulty with digesting so please nothing too too complicated.
Thank you so much

I have to gain a pound a week (until I quit in April) btw.

[Fuujin]

Hi, I'm almost 18 and I'm raw for three months with occasional binging, like one bing in 2 weeks.
My mom was all crazy when I started, like "You will be anorectic" "You need cooked food" and so on.. And LOL, even "You need to eat bakery !"
When i asked "What's so important in bread ?" She didn't now, something she said. She was just scared. But now, after few months it's almost ok, i don't have to eat cooked food with her on the weekends, I prepare salad for myself and we eat together what we want. She gives me money to buy my food ! Which is great, I dont have part time job yet.

And yeah, I saw meat.org.. I said to myself "Ok, No meat anymore.. This is too much. Only some dairy if REALLY needed." And yeah, when I see meat packed in plastic boxes, I think "What have this chicken gone through ?"

[JenLin]

Hello everyone!
I am new here, nice to meet you! So i am 15 years old and im planning to go raw as soon as possible! I have a bunch of question though.. hopefully you can get me some answers =) here we go:
*Are you allowed to eat quinoa?
*I don't have the possibility to eat ecology is that still good to buy fruits and such from the grocery store?
*What does Sprouting the vegetables means? Do you have to do it everyday?
*I know i need a juicer or something like that... what would you recommend that i could use everyday to make green drinks?
*What should i do in school? I can't just skip lunch or bring my own food, everybody will wonder and it will be a big fuss...
I am thinking of eating tiny portion of school lunch and as much salad and stuff as possible, then i eat raw for the rest of the day when i am home and such!

I know that was a lot of question... :p Sorry but i'm kinda new to this!
I admire you all raw teens, you inspired me because first i thought that maybe im the only young person doing this and maybe i shouldn't do it.. so when i found this forum i was really happy :D

See ya all! :D

[Irish_Vegan_Girl]

Hi, JenLin, Welcome to the forum!



*Are you allowed to eat quinoa?

"allowed" being the key word here: You can eat cooked quinoa if you want to, although it is not by any means raw, it depends on how raw you want to be. 50% - 100% or anything below and in between.
However, you can sprout quinoa to be raw, which some rawists do. I will explain that further down in the post.


*I don't have the possibility to eat ecology is that still good to buy fruits and such from the grocery store?

Do you mean *ecologically*? As in, growing your own food? - I buy all my fruit and vegetables in the grocery store and markets, like many other's do. If you are talking about organic, it can be more expensive, but I am sure you can find some organic produce in the grocery store also.


*What does Sprouting the vegetables means? Do you have to do it everyday?

I don't believe that you can sprout vegetables, I think what you are referring to is sprouting grains/nuts? Rawists sprout grains like quinoa(really a seed...) and rice etc., by steeping them in cold water over night or longer, they believe that this increases the grains value and it also makes the grain edible instead of cooking to do so. I don't know a lot about sprouting grains but you can probably find some more info on the forum.


*I know i need a juicer or something like that... what would you recommend that i could use everyday to make green drinks?

What do you have already? When I started I had a mini-food processor and of course, knives, a regular blender(crappy one..).

Juicer's can be very expensive, I would advise you to buy a blender for the mean time which you can make smoothies in.



*What should i do in school? I can't just skip lunch or bring my own food, everybody will wonder and it will be a big fuss...
I am thinking of eating tiny portion of school lunch and as much salad and stuff as possible, then i eat raw for the rest of the day when i am home and such!


I understand what you say about school - you don't want to be the topic of discussion every lunch hour.
You could bring some fruit anyway, like bananas and apples etc., that aren't messy and are "pre-packed" in there own skin. If you are eating cooked in your diet too you could have the cooked at lunch. Research more in the forum.

Good luck I hope I have helped a bit, I am 18 but not in school anymore so it's a bit easier:)

You can also buy raw bars like larabars made out of nuts and dates, and other things in the health food store. If you live in the US, it's likely you can get it in the regular food store.

Alva

[JenLin]

Hey Alva!
Thank you for all the answers :D
Yeah sorry it was late when i wrote it, i see you still understood me hehe.
Well i have an old blender, it doesn't work good though. So i think i'm going to buy a new one as soon as possible. Oh and about those "Lara bars". I live in Sweden and they don't sell that here..unfortunately!

I am right in my first day of 7-days-detox, its a Spring Cleanse. And i will only eat greens,vegetables and raw this week. I think its a good start for the raw diet, because after this i am gonna try to stay eat raw all the time, at least 70-80 % to start with. =)


I have a problem though.. I am only on my first day and have already big cravings for candy,bread,cookies and such BAD things :S I hope it will go away.... :(

[LilacLavender]

Flax crackers are the only thing stopping me from eating loaves and loaves of bread...lol

[Jodika]

Hey, your homeschooled,lol. So am I at 16!! lol
When did you start.
I too am raw, 100% as of last year November.
I got to ask though, how did you find a boyfriend who is liking raw.
See I only want a guy if he's into raw and organic, but I can't seem to find one. And it's getting stupid to be so alone. Where do you live? Some big city where there is a Huge selection LOl..

[Jodika]

That's totally selfish of your family. Why should they make you succumb to their "old" sick ways. Hey I'm 16 and pulled my whole family through raw. Although it's just me my mom and little sister. But I keep them 100% raw and I never feel as if I should eat like others when around them, because I don't want to put my amazing body through that stuff again. I'm too informed to do otherwise lol. I say strive to be 100% raw and be who you want to be!! :) Good Luck

[Jodika]

Hey :)

So I am 100% raw and love it! BUt..... I am all alone -except for my family- mom, and little sister who are 100% raw with me- but I need friends that are raw, and I can't find ANYONE my age.. So does anyone live in Medicine Hat and is a Raw Foodist?!? Lol

[scandie]

BerryFairy, I am currently in a pretty similar situation although I stick to all vegan. I am eating with my family because my mom will KILL me if I don't...and I eat cooked vegan at friends houses because i simply appreciate that their family would be so kind as to put their love and kindness into their food.
I am turning 18 in one month (agh! scary) and I was all raw except for suppliments. I have been really thin all my life, but really healthy-its a genetic thing. Then when I was 14 my mom remarried and I became depressed and lost a lot of weight (which was really bad since I was already quite thin) so I was accused of having an eating disorder and have been in and out of treatment since because it is so hard for my body to maintain the middle-end weights the ED places want me to be. It was been really hard because I try SO hard and I could so easily be all raw and I feel much healthier when I am (as long as I get enough food with a good amount of fats and some protein). But, alas, I cannot until I move out unless I want to be sent away to an ED place again. So I am in a tough situation and was looking for some help.
My mom has forced me to go to this anorexia study (even tohugh I really really do not have an eating disorder...I like eating lol and I want my body to be strong and healthy) where they have the parents force the kids to eat foods and the kids aren't alllowed to make or serve their own food, etc. That is sooo aggravating and I don't know what to do. The woman just keeps telling me that I have anorexia over and over and it is so condescending, demeaning, humilating, frustrating. And she says I have to gain 20 pounds even though, according to a healthy BMI for my height and age, I am only about 3 pounds underweight. So I would not mind gaining like 5 pounds but I could never gain 20. Anyway, They wont listen to a word I say. So today I agreed that if I am allowed to help cook my meals and stuff I will share dinner with the family. I always ate dinner with my family, but had my own food. For some reason this makes my mom SOOO mad. So I have agreed that if I can pick recipes and help cook I will bend to this silliness. I only have four weeks until I am18 and then I can end my services in the program as it is voluntary (omg I hope I can end it! I must be able to at 18, no? all my blood work, EKGs, and vital signs are totally healthy)

So here is my question, does anyone have any good, SIMPLE, fortifying recipes? Raw or just super healthy vegan that will seem good and sustaining to my family? And that will have variety? Can anyone help with a sample menu because I am just at a loss of late. I want to eat all raw except at dinner I can't always eat raw recipes because my mom will be SO ANGRY.
I want to be super healthy, I want to do what is best for my body, and I am also on a fairly tight budget (aren't we all). PLEASE HELP! Oh, btw, I also have some difficulty with digesting so please nothing too too complicated.
Thank you so much

I have to gain a pound a week (until I quit in April) btw.

I grew up with a mom who lost insane amounts of weight after her divorce (too much, at one point), and a best friend (now ex :/) who was a chronic anorexic/bulemic. So I know unhealthy weight loss when I see it (or hear it).

But what you are going through is obviously not that. You are so brave and strong for sticking to your guns even though your mom obviously has some kind of violent trigger to you eating healthily, which sucks. Try eating lots of avocado (noone can say youre starving yourself when youre eating beautiful healthy-fatty lovely scrumptious avocado) and if you have to eat meat for your mother or this stupid program, try eating salmon. My family is Swedish so we eat smoked salmon (I dont anymore, but if I'm longing for a flesh meal (right...), this is what I'll grab). The way I've experienced eating smoked salmon is that it won't clog up your system too much, and is a really good source of protein if you need to gain some weight without sacrificing your health! Smoked salmon has the appearance of being raw, but is safer to eat because it's been smoked.

Good luck, and PM me or post if you need any support! Remember- ultimately, none of this drama is personal. It is simply a fear inside your mother that is being triggered by what you are doing. She loves you, even though she can't show it healthily right now. Bless you!

Oh, and turning 18 is great, dont even worry about it. I lovelovelove being 18. Its like being a teenager with benefits!

[scandie]

Hey Alva!
Thank you for all the answers :D
Yeah sorry it was late when i wrote it, i see you still understood me hehe.
Well i have an old blender, it doesn't work good though. So i think i'm going to buy a new one as soon as possible. Oh and about those "Lara bars". I live in Sweden and they don't sell that here..unfortunately!

I am right in my first day of 7-days-detox, its a Spring Cleanse. And i will only eat greens,vegetables and raw this week. I think its a good start for the raw diet, because after this i am gonna try to stay eat raw all the time, at least 70-80 % to start with. =)


I have a problem though.. I am only on my first day and have already big cravings for candy,bread,cookies and such BAD things :S I hope it will go away.... :(

I have a tip for you.... INDULGE! Don't sit on your hands and think about NOT eating something. As soon as you feel the urge, get up, go and get one. Sit down by your self and smell and really experience fully what you are desiring. If you still want it after being present with it, eat one and totally make eating that one cracker the most orgasmic experience ever! But the trick is, after honestly sitting there and experiencing it, you wont actually want to eat it. Whenever I'm desiring something and I ignore it, I find myself 30 mins later stuffing my face with blind panic! DONT DO THAT. What I am doing is A.Immediately being honest with myself and what my body is REALLY SAYING, even if that means actually eating something like that just once, and B. NOT putting guilt trips on myself! NEVER APOLOGIZE.

mm. anyway, good luck. tell us how it's going!

Oh PS- I'm Swedish too! Hee! I live in the states currently but I'm going to go back for university. Do you live near stockholm?

[margoss]

Hey....I'm not under 19 but I do have a 7yo veggie daughter who I'm trying to get off of 'fun food' that family has endulged her in when I'm not around. I didn't mind her having a little something once a week so she wouldn't think she needed it daily. Now, she wants it all the time. She use to ask for fruit or cukes but now it's do we have chips, this or that. I say "no, but we have..what ever." I get the eye roll & she says she's not hungry. I've stopped keeping most of it in the house but I can see the withdrawals in her..it's not fun:eek:.
We homeschool too!!!! So, what she eats isn't an issue except at co op when most of the kids have so much junk, it's no wonder they can't focus, sit or concentrate for a 40 minute class. They scream the entire time...who can be the loudest. I don't let mine behave that way but it's hard for when everyone else is eating junk & doing those obnoxious things that look like fun bc they're laughing. OK...any suggestions to wean her to more raw? I don't want to force it on her bc when she's not with me, she might binge & then will not feel well.
So great all of you are doing this at your age..your setting your life for some great things. We will never be like anyone else. Like I tell my DD when she says she's feels different from everyone else...."you're not different from them, they are different from you. Let them learn from you & like you for who instead of you changing yourself to make them think you fit in. If you have to change good things so others will like you, they are not good for you."
Keep up ya'll...you're setting a great example for our future!!
One more thing...I remember a guy in school who was a veggie, never wore animal, was very big into fund raising & charities, was always a little different from the 'normal crowd'. I connected with him but he was 'weird'. Now, I'm one of the weird people like he was & love it. Wish I'd made better friends with him & knew where he was now.

[kdobell]

Hello! I'm just starting off on the raw food adventure. I'm 17 and I live in a family of carnivores, so this should be an interesting adventure. Not quite sure how to begin, but it is awesome to know that there are other people my age doing the same thing. I have been a really healthy eater for a while, but I have never gone completely vegetarian. I'm worried about dealing with the stress of senior year in high school and starting a raw food diet at the same time. Any advice or tips on quick recipes would be great!

[rawfarmgirl]

Hi I'm 16 and have been 100% raw since febuary '09. This site is amazing, I just found it and am really excited to meet other raw teens. My family thinks I'm a little weird but is very supportive since they've realized I am seriously sticking to raw foods. As for friends and school, I've realized being different is a great way to meet new people who are curious as to why/how I just ate 9 bananas. ha ha. However as much as I inspire/intrigue people around me, I am really looking forward to meeting other raw teens. What sports or instruments does anyone play?

[drolemil]

I am 14. At the beginning of 2009 I became vegetarian, then in late May I became vegan, and finally now I am transitioning into raw. It sounds fast, but so far it has been pretty easy for me. My family allows me to get whatever I want food-wise (though I still try not to spend too much, especially with the economy) and we don't eat together so it doesn't matter much. They're all omnis though, thriving mostly on meat. The exception is my mother, who is vegetarian but practically lives off of dairy. :( They don't understand that food impacts the health of the body, not just the weight. I'm not homeschooled like most people here, so I also have to deal with the whole packing a lunch issue. I'm pretty proud of myself, so I don't feel embarrassed eating a salad at school. The one thing I really want this Christmas is a vitamix. ;) My family doesn't like waste, so I'll be fully raw once all of my cooked/processed foods in the house are gone. As I gradually eat these foods I will only buy raw foods until only the raw is left. :)

There is a pricey raw cafe not too far from my home, so I get in contact with other raws there, though most of them are nowhere near my age. xD At school it frustrates me to see people shoving fraken-food down their throats and not caring what goes into their body. Same with my family. Hopefully I'll get used to it, though it's kind of sad thinking that it is something even needed to get used to.

[SushiSurfer]

You seem to know alot about the raw diet, could you tell me, does it ever get boring eating the same fruits and raw veggies all the time? It sounds like a great lifstyle, i'm just afraid that i wouldn't be able to handle the same food over and over again.

[SushiSurfer]

Hi i'm 17 and came across this diet on "The Secret Lives of Women Show" and i decided i would try it. I'm currently vegan and i have a hard time getting the nutirents i need, so i'm a little worried about this diet. Also, I'm a picky eater and i'm worried about eating the same kid of food every day. So i guess i'm looking for a little encouragment. It's really nice that they have this website! Thanx.

[RawFoodieCutie]

Heyy I'm fourteen and I'm in ohio:) Vegetarian since sixth grade, went vegan in august. When I was going vegan I learned a little about raw but was a little cautious. I'm still in the process of converting to raw myself, and would love to get to know people around my own age with similar beliefs (i only know one vegetarian lol) if anyone needs support or anything, i'll do my best to be there:)

[stayveg]

Hey guys! I'm 15 and my name is Julia. I really want to start going raw, and I sorta don't know how to start... since you guys are my are and have similar parental problems and such, how did you start? I mean what did you eat and stuff like basics. I'm not completely clueless because I am already vegan, but I'd love some pointers!
Hope to hear from you all!
Thanks :D

[drolemil]

Ok... so I've been raw for one month now (I thought it would be neat to make the complete transition for the new year). For those who are asking for advice on what to exactly eat this is what I find typically easiest/quickest yet still nutritious to eat in a day: a quick green smoothie for breakfast, whole fruits/vegs for lunch, and whatever I have time for at dinner. My lunch usually consists of apples and bananas, then I add on whatever else I have, such as an avocado, tomatoes, bell peppers, and whatever else I think is delicious to eat unprepared (avos do tend to get a little messy, though) If you have a hard time varying the fruits and veggies available to you, try adding herbs and spices and see what happens. I discovered ginger+mango=love. ;) Cinnamon is also fun to play around with...

I haven't had any major changes, but my face seems to be more lively. There is less dark under my eyes and my cheeks seem to be more "bright", though I may just be imagining it. :rolleyes: My hair for sure has gotten fluffier and softer and my face is less greasy. I haven't kept track of my weight before or after I started entirely raw, but I think it's roughly about the same (I'm only a little bit above what my weight should be, yet the lightest I've been).

Remember: living people eat living foods and dead people eat dead foods! :eek: That motivates me, anyways... :o

[strawberrysunshine]

I'm 15 and 100% raw except for my occasional cave-ins. Last summer I was playing sports, 100% raw, and felt GREAT! I fell of track for a little while once school started though... It was hard for me to be so dedicated with all of the food preparation that's needed. Thankfully my mom is into it and we do it together now :) So for me, family support isn't a problem. For me it's my peers - when people see my eating nuts, salads, fruit, etc., and pass up on the junk food they say that I'm skinny and don't need to worry about diet. I try to tell them that it's not so much of a "diet" than just a choice to eat healthy! It's kind of frustrating! I don't want people to assume that I have an eating disorder because I always turn down their offers of chips and soda. I'm at the point now though that I don't really care what they say or think; I know what I'm eating is AWESOME no matter what they say. :p
Does anyone else get this reaction??

[Healthcore]

Hey strawberrysunshine,

I have had the same reactions over the years, people just don't seem to understand that being skinny is perfectly healthy on the raw food diet. Im 19 and also 100% raw and have been for the past 3 and half years. In high school, I'd usually bring a few veggies, fruit, and nuts for lunch at school and I'd also get the "come on, just have a few cookies/chips/other random junks foods, your too skinny" and Id be like, "I like my food just like you like yours". My friends have gotten used to it, but that they make remarks like, "well get you to eat a steak one of these days", I'd like to seem 'em try :P Props to you for having the rockin' attitude, cuz your right, raw food really is awesome! :D how long have you been into the raw food diet?

[xrosesaregreenx]

some of my friends make fun of me in a loving way, like my best friend, says that i'll disappear if I get skinnier (which is not true, i'm overweight for my height). I've been vegan for a month, and just started the raw diet today!

I've been homeschooled for a few months now, so that makes it easier. But I'm also taking a raw foods class! So I learn new recipes every week. My only problem is I want to go into culinary school, and I'm working at a chocolate shop :eek: sooo that'll be interesting. But so far, so good. I made a tomato soup with a juicer for lunch :) and I feel so much more energize (i've been leaning towards raw foods while being vegan for the past month) Due to wanting to go into culinary I may be 95% raw, only not while tasting to make sure the food is good.

I'm so excited to start though!

[madeleinegreen]

hi :)
i'm 16 and an aspiring model looking to maintain my weight in a healthy and satisfying way which is why raw intrigues me so much. i'm usually raw til dinner, working on becoming mostly raw with exceptions for things like vanilla extract. i've been vegetarian since age 3 and vegan since june, but i've started to drift far away from soy products. i love love love salad and fruits and the more raw i eat the more i crave it and love it and the more active i feel.

[peach blossom]

I'm 18, and slowly easing myself into raw. i'm eating one cooked meal a day, and the rest is raw. i don't know how long i'll do that for but i'm hoping to be 100% raw in the future.

[Zurgan]

I'm 16 (17 in September) and I'm 80% raw.

Hopefully I'll be going 100% raw over the summer.

[nickr133]

I'm 15, I weighed 175 in summer 2009 and tried hard all summer to lose it with no avail, my goal was 155 and I thought it was impossible. Around October I found out raw foods and started on a completely raw food diet. It has been amazing and I now weigh only 130 pounds.

[drolemil]

Ok, 5-months-in update time! (My b-day is in a few days, I'm turning 15!)

Raw has been really fun! There is a great meetup group in my area, and they don't mind me showing up at their potlucks at all. They actually like the fact "young people" are interested. I even brought one of my open-minded friends with me to a potluck, and she loved the food, too. ;)

My overall health has definitely improved since I began at the new year. I have lost weight, which of course made me happy. My once-greasy hair is now luxurious and fluffy, too, even though I switched FROM the "salon approved" brands to the cheaper ($5 for 32 oz), vegan Whole Foods brand shampoo and conditioner. My acne is less frequent (though that's probably from the less greasy hair), also. My teeth stay whiter. I also feel GREAT about everything. I was beginning to become really anxiety-ridden at the beginning of the school year, and then I became raw and my depressed thoughts disappeared. I always have a spring in my step now. :D

I'm really happy about my hair, though. My friends love to pet it. Ever since I was little I had greasy, stringy, dead hair that became messy just a few minutes after brushing... I ended up cutting it supershort over a year ago in frustration. Now I can't wait to try out long hair again. :)

An example of what I currently usually eat in a day:
Breakfast: Green smoothie
Lunch: Fruit, and maybe some veggies (nothing cooler than shucking corn and eating it raw in a lunch room full of surprised teenagers)
Dinner: Salad or w/e else I am in the mood for (raw, or course). I've been addicted to kale lately. Kale makes everything better. I could eat it all day long~

I never really feel "not full". It's more like I eat too much (which I do a lot) when I should have stopped... :o The food tastes too good!

[ChangingChild]

Hey guys! Wow. Just wow. I had no idea there were so many other teens doing this! Amazing! Feel free to email me and we can discuss awesome rawness and invent recipes and all that jazz. I've been raw for 24 hours now. Haha, yes, I know, not that impressive. But I'm really excited and committed to this. Oyes, I'm 17. I was homeschooled for a long time...I notice many of you are or were too. Hmm. Interesting. Anyway, I graduated early...as I see lots of you have too...and I'm wondering how raw diet will translate into dorm life. Hmmm. We shall see. Any tips?

My Mom was really into raw a while ago, so luckily I have a dehydrator and vita-mix all ready to go. Made some awesome macadamia-mint-cacao milk earlier with it. So excited to experiment! Hugs to all of you!

[SushiSurfer]

I'me 17 and decided to go on the raw diet with my friend who has been vegatarian for three years. I have been vegan twice for about six months but always went back to, i suppose the SAD diet because I was lacking in nutrients. I bet I'me still lacking in nutrients, oh well. So far I haven't had one day completely raw. School is the worst for me because of the temptations. I am not very good at avoiding my appetite. But I am glad I found this website, it's nice for all of you to share, hopefully I can be as healthy as all you someday.