Want to try 100% but get too bogged down with origins of food!

[BlessedMommy]

Hi all, I'm new to this forum. At one point, I tried being 100% raw, but gave up after a few days. The reason was that I hated obsessing and researching where all my food came from. What is 100% raw? Is it purely raw, meaning that you don't eat cashews unless they're cold processed, nutritional yeast, spices, commercially dried organic fruit, etc.? Or is it basically raw, meaning that you include items that are labelled raw and don't worry about their origins? (and obviously don't make the questionable items the largest portion of your diet)

I would love to be raw but I just don't like to expend the mental energy and time to do all that research on my food origins and avoid every last questionable thing. Can I still get the benefits from being raw, even if every last thing that I eat isn't "purely raw?"

What does Alissa endorse?

Thanks in advance for your encouragement and input.

[Carlsbad]

Wow, slow down chiquita! Get yourself a copy of Alissa's book; she'll explain it all. Plus, if you're worrying about it, just start with the things you know are raw (hint: the entire produce section at your grocery store!). If you're worried about whether various nuts are raw or not, then do the banana search on this forum for raw nuts. I think there was a thread where someone talked about a website (www.fromthefarm.com?) where you can order purely raw nuts. The main thing is to jump in eating more fresh raw fruits and veggies, and figure out the nitpicky things as you go along. Some people are more strict than others too, and there aren't any raw police that will knock down your door. :rolleyes: As for me, I eat the things I know are raw (fruits and veggies) and I ask questions on this forum about everything else. I buy "raw cashews" at my Whole Foods store, and there have been times when those have saved me from binging on french fries. Were they de-shelled through some sort of heat process? I don't know, but I do know they were much healthier for me than fries would have been.

This way of eating can seem overwhelming at first, but once you really get started and get into it, it's unbelievably easy. So do some research, stock up on produce, and jump in! And remember that this board is here whenever you need us! Good luck--you're going to love it!

[BlessedMommy]

I've been about 80% raw for 7+ months now. I do have Alissa's book. So her definition of raw isn't nitpicky? Because I think that she uses nutritional yeast, Nama Shoyu, and cashews.

I just thought that going all the way may help clear up some of my remaining problems, but it's difficult when I don't have a clear definition of what going all the way means! :)

Thanks for the encouragement.

[Rawkinlocs]

BlessedMommy, that is EXACTLY where I am with this. I do not and simply refuse to stress out and obsess over every little itty-bitty minute detail. What you have to do is do the best that YOU can. Eating raw is healthy for us, but stressing out and obsessing...that is what is unhealthy!

So, get what you can from reputable sources such as Alissa's online store, your local natural food stores/co-ops, etc. but if it becomes a thing of either try to seek out "truly" raw cashews, for example or go to the natural food store and get their 'raw', unroasted (but possibly heated out of the shell) cashews...do what you feel is best and what you feel most comfortable with and what you can afford! I have a family of 6 and we use cashews daily like some folks use dairy products. It's the base for so many things my family eats...nut milks, shakes, ice cream, cheeze sauce/dip, frosting on desserts, etc. and there is no way I would pass up getting the 'raw' cashews at say $5 a lb. to pay $16 or so for 1 lb...not for as much as WE use them and especially if they are not causing any ill-effects with us. We don't feel badly after eating them or anything so, we use them.

Alissa does have high standards for raw foods and it's reflected in the products she chooses to sell on her site however, I also know that she is not for people stressing over this either and has told people to do the best that they can and that yes, she does use some of the more "questionable" items (shoyu, nutritional yeast, miso - foods that may not be "raw" but are considered "living") in recipes. Those are the "pick and choose your battles" foods that you have to find out if they set well with YOU or not. No one can totally define this for you as I'm sure you've seen there are MANY different approaches to this whole raw thing. So, your own body is your best guide ever!

I know that we do have raw fooders here who eat very purely and that's great...but I feel you will still reap amazing benefits and overtime, if any of those "questionable" foods are truly not as optimal for you, your body will truly let you know and then you can either give them up or replace them with the more "pure" versions!

[Carlsbad]

Well, you got me curious! I looked around on the web, and David Wolfe sells organic, "truly raw" cashews on his website. So you could order your cashews from there if you want. As for the other stuff, I don't use nutritional yeast or Bragg's, but I do occasionally use Nama Shoyu. After 6 months of being fully raw, I can usually tell if I've eaten something cooked--I get a kind of hangover in the morning, and my mouth is all gummy on waking. Nama Shoyu doesn't give me either of those symptoms, and neither do the cashews I get at my Whole Foods, though I eat both pretty sparingly.

I would say try going 30 days at 100%, and just leave out the foods you aren't sure about, and see how you feel.

Now you've got me jonesin for some cashews! :p

[BlessedMommy]

Yes, I'm familiar with David Wolfe's cashews. We're on a tight budget though and my husband won't let me get them because he feels that that's too much to pay for cashews.

[sport]

Be as raw as you can be and do not worry about the rest.
As they say "reach for the moon and you will land on a star".
A star is fine for now.