Tips and Ideas for Staying Raw with SAD eaters in the house!

[ShelShel]

Someone posted that question to me on my blog (thesimpleamericankitchen) and I thought what a great post idea. I shared some of my thoughts on my blog...I will meantion one here...anybody else have ideas to encourage those who are raw with SAD eaters they have to cook and care for???

My first idea...eat something small like a banana to take the edge of your own hunger as you cook their dinner. Then whip up your own raw meal and everyone eats together. If I'm not starving...I have a lot more control over myself. If I'm really hungry...I'm a goner. LOL :D

What do you do to stay raw with your SAD family????

[boxerfamily]

Your idea is much more positive and I do have a snack before or while I am cooking for my family, but my other method is a bit extreme...

If I am cooking meat that smells especially good, I just think the whole time of how that meat made its way from the animal to the table, all the steps. That usually does it for me.

If I am cooking something else, I picture what that cooked food will be doing inside my body. I think of it as an invader that is attacking my body making my bloodsugar go up, stabbing my liver and kidneys. Cooked food= Enemy lol
I guess I am a little extreme. I won't even tell you about the weapons and armor (huge imagination):eek: :D :p

[cinnamongirl]

It is hard. My family of 7 eats mostly veg and alot vegan but they are not raw food vegans or even slightly interested in becoming. I make dinner and I don't cook meat. I also serve salad each night and just have a great salad myself or sometimes after I make dinner I go do something alone if I'm not hungry. That's much more of a treat in my house than dinner! But it's hard because I'm a great cook and I enjoy it and I also don't feel like I'm serving up bad for you food to my family or I wouldn't serve it at all. If they are having a completely vegan dinner (75%) of the time I'm tempted, if it has dairy in it I wouldn't want it anyways.

[Carlsbad]

I just want to say that I have tremendous respect and awe for all of you who are eating raw in cooked food households. I have a hard time just going to family meals at my parents' house; I would never be able to stick with raw if I had to keep cooked food in the house! I had my nieces at my house for just three days over the summer, and it was a disaster for me, foodwise (otherwise, it was a huge blast!).

So, a major kudos to you all!!

[Raspberry4]

My three 'boys' (2 boys + 1 dh) are steadfast meat eaters. It is very hard sometimes, and sometimes not at all. I will say that at least I can get them to try certain things (not hubby though) and especially the desserts - it is fun to 'sneak in' an avocado without them knowing it in the chocolate pudding dessert. Also, at least they love their salads (still working on the sad dressing issue).

I like the idea of nibbling on a piece of fruit above - while cooking. That is great advice.

[DavidZaneMason]

I agree with the great posts. I stay full myself.....and eat before I ever see them. Then I make another small meal of fresh fruit and eat that with them (or BRING fruit if I'm eating out). Then I just make them whatever THEY want and just enjoy their company while I'm munching on my stuff. I don't answer any questions, other than to say I'm on a 'special diet' of fresh fruit. I don't esplain further! ;)

-David Z. Mason

[eachpeachpearplum]

This is the main issue that derailed me my first two attemps at going raw. I now consider myself successfully raw and this is why.

Cooking dinner was super hard for me.

1. I now eat my dinner before I start cooking - I NEVER COOK FOR THEM IF I AM HUNGRY.

2. If it is something that would pose a temptation I have my husband take care of that item like carving a roast or dessert, what ever item is a trigger.

3. The BIGGEST problem solver for me was realising what foods were addictive for me. Cooked grains plain and simple; they release the monster! I now know if I pop a cooked carrot in my mouth I have not put myself on a distructive path. If I have a bite of pie, stuffing or a roll I am in need of The Betty Ford Clinic!:eek:

I have FINALLY reached that point where the physical cravings are gone and I thankfully now understand that the emotional craving are really tied to the addiction - whereas I just thought I was screwed up, ha ha ha and I can deal now that I understand - YIPPEE!

:o . . . .Sorry to go on; I was on a roll :p

Cheers,

EPPP

[Aleesha Sattva]

i'm blessed. my kids fend for themselves when daddy isn't around to cook for them LOL

i made some homemade soups in the last few weeks... but other than that... i pretty much make everything raw and if they choose to join me, they can. ;)

but i would definitely eat something before cooking for others

[daylene]

dh helps; he's so stoked that I'm losing weight and getting healthier that he agreed as long as I eat raw, he'll cook for himself. I don't even have to shop for him. It's the best he could do for me aside from going raw himself!

[sunnymomma]

Hi, so I took our label maker and put NOT RAW labels on the food cupboards with their stuff and moved all my raw nori/nuts/fruit etc to a different cupboard and labelled it "RAW FOOD HERE" then I put a label on the fridge saying "HUNGRY? EAT RAW!" This has been really effective and even my husband grabs an apple now instead of cheese when he goes in the fridge.
The other thing I do is give myself raw treats-like a young coconut when the family is getting pizza for example. And I have very spicy flaxseed crackers with guacamole to snack on when they have chips.
Just some ideas!
Cathy