HELP! Don't know what to eat :(

[Isadora]

So I'm just ending my two weeks into the Raw diet and I am loving the way I feel. My pants don't fit, my skin is glowing and I have LOADS of energy!

Only thing is.. I don't know what to eat. I was doing recipes from Alissas book, but after encountering recipe after recipe that I just hate, I've give up on that. Only one I think I've treid and liked was the Marinara sauce. I'm pretty much just sticking to Green Smoothies in the morning (LOVE THESE!!!) , fruit throughout the day (with some nuts occasionally) and salads for dinner. BUT IT'S GETTING BORING! I tried a Raw pizza my boyfriend made last night. It was on onion bread with nut cheese and veggies. I ended up just picking off the veggies and throwing them into a salad cause the bread/cheese was so gross. I want to enjoy what I'm eating again!

Can anyone suggest some entree type meals to make that aren't:

A) Overly expensive to make (finding buying all the nuts and whatnot to be rather costly).

B) Have onions in them (Ughhh I've tried and tried all my life and I just hate them).

C) Sweet and full of nuts

AND TASTE FABULOUS!

I understand that I could surf around the net and this board to find some, but everyone here is so nice and helpful that I thought I would just ask instead!

Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated. I plan on sticking with it even if I have to continue to keep it simple.. but I'm starting to feel disappointed :(

-Gabrielle

[bananafana]

I also have a problem finding entrees that I like, so I keep it simple. One of my faves when I want something more is veggies dipped in guacamole. I also take guacamole and spread it on romaine hearts, add veggies and sometimes taco meat made from walnuts and spices, roll it up and enjoy.

I also make raw desserts and have them as entrees. It sounds like maybe you don't want anything to sweet, but Alissa's book has awsome recipes (blueberry pie and blueberry cheesecake-yum!). therawtable.com also has great recipes.

Don't know if this helps but good luck to you! :)

[Adensspell]

Do you like mushrooms? I live currently in a college dorm where preparing breads and stuff is not easy. Fortunately, I love mushrooms and they are not overly expensive and they are filling and really just great. Marinate them in shoyu, olive oil, garlic, honey and apple cider vinegar! I usually serve it on a sandwhich (although that requires bread I guess) or with no bread as a sort-of steak entrée. It's great with mashed cauliflower and marinated peppers. Good luck to you!! Stay with it!!

[RawSinger]

Yeah, the guacamole wrapped in lettuce or cabbage leaves is a really good idea. You do get sick of your usual salad when you have them every day. When I make wraps, I find that green cabbage leaves work best. I don't always follow Alissa's recipe for the wraps. I just throw in some guacamole (because I like it), and whatever random veggies that I want. I drizzle some Nama Shoyu or Braggs on that and wrap it up. I know a simple salad can get boring so I make different kinds of salads with many different kinds of veggies and dressings. I don't know what recipes you've tried and liked or disliked, but I've tried many of Alissa's salads, like ones made with sea veggies, and I really like her Kale Salad. I haven't liked a lot of the entrees in her book either so I go to other sections and keep trying things until I find recipes I like. But I'm sure you know that there aren't really any rules for eating raw. I know it's nice to eat an actual meal at every meal but that's not necessary. I think there was one night when I ate young coconut milk and meat for dinner and then some frozen raspberries for dessert. I hope you find more recipes that you like and get into the groove of eating raw.

Good luck,

Francesca

[RawDrop]

What I would do is write down everything that you do like, and figure out how to make your own things from those. Do you have a dehydrator? Do some trial and error to see if you can figure out how to make things that you like.

I have found that I am really liking simple soups. Using some carrot pulp from juice and throwing in a few nuts, and maybe some avocado, maybe some parsnip and a some warm water and whizzing it all up in the blender. It is nice.

With a little trial and error you will find what you like, and also after a while, you will find that what tastes good to you will change because your taste buds will be waking up after a long time being dormant.

[ShelShel]

Ok, some of the raw treats I would recommend:
Raw Pancakes (flax, coconut oil, agave and fruit!)
Avocado/Spinach Dip with veggies or endive leaves make great chips!
(I really love this dip because it's creamy and crunchy at the same time...very easy to make and filling as all get out!)
Ani Phyo has a recipe for raw ketchup. I make the recipe just as she has it, then I thin in with room temp water and add a ton of fresh basil to it. This has a taste very, very similar to the Tomato/ Basil soup they serve at Pizza Hut. :p
Ani also has a sweet corn chowder. That's pretty filling.
Or how about some of Alissa's raw corn chips with a fresh salsa. (Just omit the onions and mix tomatoes, hot peppers and avocado)
Those are just a few ideas off the top of my head. Hope that helps inspire you to some of your own creations.
Keep up the good job! Raw Rawks!

[Rawsome Ginger]

ShelShel-
Can you give us instructions on raw pancakes and avo/spinch dip??
Thanks!!

[ShelShel]

I personally change Ani's recipe because hers makes an enormous batch.
pour about a cup of golden flax into a bowl. 1 TBSP coconut oil. Take a fork and squish the coconut oil into the flax. Almost like you would cut butter into flour. Next squeeze agave, maybe 2 TBSP. Very little water if you think it needs it. (I never add water, but her recipe has it.) Grab a bunch and make into a ball, flatten on a plate. Pick up some more and repeat. It usually makes 2 good size pancakes. Then I top it with blueberries or raspberries. Squeeze a little more agave if you want it sweeter or you want it to seem like syrup on top. ;)
The avo dip is actually Alissa's Spinach Dip! I throw one avocado in the food processor, fill the bowl with spinach and squeeze (I use) 1/2 a lime. It's the absolute best, best, best! I love it.
In a few days you can check my raw blog and I will add pics of both of these! Good luck. :D

[Isadora]

Thanks guys! You all rock :)

With all the recipes out there, it's really overwhelming. But this will help give me a great start! Now I just have wait for it to stop snowing so I can actually get to the store. Darn Canada :P

-Gabrielle

[theresaann]

I am like you-don't like the nut heavy/dried fruit heavy stuff.

I started making crackers like flat bread in dehydrator using soaked buckwheat with SOME flax and pumpkin or sunflower seeds. It's a lighter cracker than the flax seed ones. Then I'll put an avo or zucinni gauc, sprouts, etc on it and it's light and good!

[Rawsome Ginger]

ShelShel-
Sorry, but do you grind the flax or just whole?? Sounds yummy!!
I look forward to your blog!

[walnutty]

Isadora,

Are you a fan of sushi? I make a mean sushi roll, with either jicama rice or carrot rice. Then I stuff the rolls with my favorite veggies, usually avocado and cucumber. It is filling, delicious and very inexpensive to make! If you would like the recipes for the sushi "rice" contact me. All the best to you!

[ShelShel]

If you purchase your flax seeds whole, grind them before you eat them. If you buy them already ground you are ready to go! ;D