How to resist eating cooked food?

[raweater]

This seems to only happen to me in the winter (I'm in Quebec, Canada so most of our winters are below the freezing point), but I get this urge to eat cooked foods like potatoes, pasta, and I try to limit myself to that, they are about the only 2 cooked things I eat.

In summer I can easily stay 100% raw and never, ever have an urge for cooked food in summer as far as I can remember (this is my 2nd raw winter and I just had my 2nd raw summer). But once the cold comes I start wanting cooked things.

Here are some of the reasons I think I eat cooked food:
1. It's pre made, I can just go buy a box, press a few buttons on the digital stove and come back a few minutes later when all it's vitamins have been destroyed, trans fats and carcinogens formed, and toxic damaged protein, this makes it much simpler and faster to eat (poison myself), I'm 99% sure that if pre made raw meals were available in grocery stores or restaurants, I'd be 100% raw
2. To warm me when it's cold, cold food isn't too tempting when I'm already cold
3. The addictive properties of grains, about the only cooked thing I eat are grains and potatoes (which have the same properties and problems as grains), grains are 80% sugar which is more addictive than cocaine, I'm wondering if it's the drug effect of grains pulling me back for more, but this doesn't explain why I only crave grains in the winter.

Here are potential solutions to the 3 points I made above:
1. If I could find recipes that are dehydrated, taste awesome and keep for months, I could keep some of that pre made all the time for when I want an instant meal, I normally make every meal I eat fresh right before eating it, so when I want something fast I normally go with cooked food, if I had something raw that needs no preparation and keeps for months, this would be a great solution to this issue
2. Adding spices definately can make a cold raw meal very warming
3. If I really am suffering from grain addiction, then I'd simply have to force myself off them, and solution 1 & 2 could help.

So now the question is what raw dehydrated recipes keep forever (or at least a month) that can easily make 700-800 calorie meals? I think that would be the ultimate solution.

I do keep jars of nuts in my room, but eating 700 calories of nuts isn't too healthy or varied in nutrition.

Thanks

[shashibala]

The basic strategy at first was to fill myself up on raw foods before I got a chance to crave anything else! Do you like avocados? I relied on an avocado each afternoon or evening at first. I found it so filling and satisfying that I then had the patience to fix something else if I needed it. I also cut carrot and celery sticks in quantity to have right away with my avocado if I made it into a dip. I also had a cup of warm miso soup sometimes. I know that it is a soy product and not really raw, but at times I really needed something warm. I live in NY state and it is cold and snowy.
I also would have dates with almonds stuffed inside. Sweet and rich, but easy.
I personally can't eat any grains or starches without igniting old cravings and wanting too much. You might find that if you can get through a couple weeks of
all raw/no grains and breads you might lose your desire for them. I find that now I am much more relaxed about eating. I don't feel like I have to have something right now and fast, like I used to when I ate grains.
Best of Luck to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)

[KatK]

I like to eat sprouted wheat when I'm craving grains - sprouted just a couple of days before the little spouts start turning green.

[justinesmith]

I like to eat sprouted wheat when I'm craving grains - sprouted just a couple of days before the little spouts start turning green.

Oh those are sooooo gooooood.......http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj45/justinesmith_2007/Ilovewheatgrass.jpg

[NoGMO!]

I sprout lentils when I want something a bit hearty without comsuming nuts. They are very easy to sprout and only take a day or two.

Add them to salad or make mock chicken w/ them, etc...

[Morn]

I know what you mean. I ate a couple french fries today off of my daughter's plate today.:mad:

How about making some raw grawnola. I make mine with soaked oat groats (1 cup) and with 1/2 cup each (chopped up) of raw almond slices, peacans & walnuts. 1/2 cup of raw almond butter, 1/2 cup of agave and 3 apples chopped up in food processor - oh and some cinnamon! It is the bomb and it will stay for at least a few weeks (however I think as good as it is, it will be gone before then)! Dehydrate it for about a day (flipping it over as needed).

I have mine dehydrating right now and I can't wait to have it tomorrow!:) It is so wonderful fresh out the dehydrator. Once you get it out add raisens or other dried fruit to it! You can also have it with some nut milk as a cereal or eat it dry as a snack! Very filling and satisfying!

[mykidzrkute]

OOOO Morn thanks for the recipe! I think thats the first thing i'll make in my dehydrator!!!

[Carlsbad]

One great "pre made" raw thing is the onion bread. It is really hearty (and sooooo delicious!) and it keeps for a while if you dehydrate it to more of a cracker consistency. Actually, I made a huge batch and thought I had finished it all, only to find a couple of weeks later that half the batch was sitting finished in my dehydrator still! Bonus for me! I eat it topped with either the eggless egg salad (if you want something fairly heavy) or topped with just avocado and tomato or bell pepper. My favorite is to spread Alissa's marinara sauce on the onion bread and then top with avocado slices and a bit of salt. Fast, delicious, and very filling. The marinara sauce is quick to make, and I would bet you could freeze it (the recipe makes a lot--I've been eating it daily for the last two weeks).

I know some people in colder climates put their food in the dehydrator for a bit before eating it in order to just warm it slightly. Don't know if that would help.

[rawkchicster]

Rawvolutions Raw Falafels (by Matt Amsden) are AMAZING, and I make a batch and freeze for a month or so, and fill collards with them, crumble them for on salad, and serve them with raw veggies and dips... They only take 15 min or so to warm in the dehydrator too. Also, they are pretty calorie dense (not all from nuts, but some... they also have garbanzos, olive oil, and sunflower seeds).

Yummers... They are me and dh's current obsession, and our non-raw friends all scarf them up and ask for more.

[rawkchicster]

oh also, buckwheaties (dehydrated buckwheat crisps) are pretty calorie dense, and not from fat. They also store really well.

[DavidZaneMason]

The above suggestions are great! Switch out what YOU think are your poor cooked foods - for what YOU have determined to be healthier alternatives....and accept responsibility for that. 'Resisting' cooked foods or poor lifestyles is like resisting drugs....they HAVE to be contrary to your passionate goals....or you will have no real motivational internal resistance when they come up. You know?
Just my opinions.

-David Z. Mason

[raweater]

Rawvolutions Raw Falafels (by Matt Amsden) are AMAZING, and I make a batch and freeze for a month or so, and fill collards with them, crumble them for on salad, and serve them with raw veggies and dips... They only take 15 min or so to warm in the dehydrator too. Also, they are pretty calorie dense (not all from nuts, but some... they also have garbanzos, olive oil, and sunflower seeds).

Yummers... They are me and dh's current obsession, and our non-raw friends all scarf them up and ask for more.

I know! I have that book and that must be one of or my favorite recipe from it! Do you have it with the mango chutney? It's to die for!

I never tried freezing these though, do they get that freezer taste? Do they thaw well without getting soggy? In any case I have a vacuum sealer and they last at least 2-4 weeks under vacuum in the fridge, I can finish them before I run out, but freezing may be useful for other recipes but as I said I never tried freezing a raw recipe.

[banana shake]

Make the raw chili recipe on this forum (I'll paste in my simplified version), & freeze in baggies that have been portioned out. Then, in the morning, just as if you were using a slow cooker, pop a baggie in the dehydrator & it'll be nice & warm when you get home from work. I think the freeze-in-baggies-and-dehydrate-to-warm system would work for lots of things- soups, marinara, etc. Good luck- I'm cold in northern Illinois right now too! Here's the chili recipe:

Best Raw Chili from Alissa’s Forum


Mix together in a large bowl:
• one to three cups frozen corn
• ¼ cup olive oil
• Celtic salt to taste

Chop each type of veggie individually in the food processor until finely chopped, but not pureed. Add to above.
• 2 carrots
• 2 celery
• 1 red bell pepper
• ½ medium onion

Process to sauce consistency in food processor & add to above. Stir to combine. Heat to finger-warm in a saucepan, or place in a baggie & dehydrate until warmed through.
• ½ to ¾ cup sun dried tomatoes, soaked & drained
• 4 tomatoes
• 2 avocados
• 1 Tablespoon freshly grated ginger
• 2 Tablespoons chili powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• about ¼ generous teaspoon cayenne

Looks like lots of ingredients, but it goes together very quickly, especially after you've made it once or twice.

[boxerfamily]

Thanks Bananashake! Chili is just what I need right now. I am not the best at some of the raw food recipes and this one sounds easy enough for me for dinner today. I already made a yummy cabbage/nut/seed salad for lunch.

[tanishamarshall]

I know what you mean. I ate a couple french fries today off of my daughter's plate today.:mad:

How about making some raw grawnola. I make mine with soaked oat groats (1 cup) and with 1/2 cup each (chopped up) of raw almond slices, peacans & walnuts. 1/2 cup of raw almond butter, 1/2 cup of agave and 3 apples chopped up in food processor - oh and some cinnamon! It is the bomb and it will stay for at least a few weeks (however I think as good as it is, it will be gone before then)! Dehydrate it for about a day (flipping it over as needed).

I have mine dehydrating right now and I can't wait to have it tomorrow!:) It is so wonderful fresh out the dehydrator. Once you get it out add raisens or other dried fruit to it! You can also have it with some nut milk as a cereal or eat it dry as a snack! Very filling and satisfying!

This sounds so good. Morn where do you buy your Oat Groats?

[lily]

What are the raw felafels made from? Is it nuts, or sprouted chick peas? and is the mango chutney spicy? I like the sound of these things and am wondering whether it's worth getting the book or not.

lily

[Holli]

Rawvolutions Raw Falafels (by Matt Amsden) are AMAZING...

Is this recipe much different from the beanless falafel recipe in Alissa's book? I LOVE falafels and have been wanting to try a good recipe!

[rawfigure]

Believe it or not...I have CONVINCED MYSELF that I do not like cooked foods ! I have a knack for "self talk" and my brain seems to listen to the talk. I have since a child been able to do this. I first did it with hotdogs at a young age, told myself they were gross (though at that time I thought they tasted pretty good at a picnic..) and stopped eating them and then it progresses to meat, eggs and dairy (i.e. being a Vegetarian) and now cooked foods. So do try some NeuroLingistic Programming ! Works for me ! :p