Raw foods and Emotions querry?

[Dimples]

Hi all,

I am new to posting but not to the board. Have been lurking behind the scenes for months learning aplenty.

I have not committed to 100% raw before and I decided to do this month's challenge. So far so good physically but while I am not even having any cravings for cooked food, I am emotionally devastated about not eating cooked foods now. Has anyone ever felt this way and how do you/did you deal with it. I do not feel bound to eating raw foods and it is a choice I am making and can eat cooked foods if I want, but I choose not to. I guess I just never realized just how much my emotions were tied to my eating.

[Dimples]

I just saw another thread on raw foods and emotions as I was scrolling down the threads, I am gonna look at that now and see what everyone is saying.

[Eva]

Dimples-- It seems different needs are being addressed in the other thread.

As for not eating cooked food and that specific aspect, I find that focusing on what I CAN eat to be helpful. It's a dead-end road to even allow thoughts about cooked food, if you can avoid it.

Soon enough (quicker than you would expect, but it varies), you will have raw comfort foods.

I find there is SOMEthing to replace cooked foods.
-Oily/fried stuff? I have an avocado with nutritional yeast (living food but not raw) in the dehydrator or mushrooms with pesto in the dehydrator
-Crackers? I make flax crackers
-Milk? Almond milk
-Cookies? Good recipes for those too
-Hot drinks? A cup of hot tea only heated to about 170. Not technically raw, but it's on the borderline and is okay for a transition.
-Lattes/chai- Rooibos chai (no caffeine, herbal) with almond milk in the blender to make the foamy part.

If your journey is anything like mine and (some but not all) others: Soon enough, you will have new comfort foods. And soon after that, you will not turn to food for comfort.

[chilove]

Hello there,

A grieving period is common for people who give up their old favorite comfort foods. It's not easy to make a major lifestyle change in general, and changing our diets substantially can be very emotionally difficult for many of us. I know that I was a wreck for awhile! It is really quite normal. You are NOT going crazy! :-)

Rather than feel incredibly deprived all the time, really try to focus on a few raw recipes that you really like and enjoy and on all the raw foods you REALLY can enjoy. Make a list of all the raw things, both recipes and individual foods that you have EVER eaten and liked and refer to that when you are feeling especially down about not having anything "yummy" to eat.

Remind yourself that the "pleasure" we get from eating is really quite fleeting, seriously. How long does it take to eat a meal? Half an hour? An hour if you really stretch it? Try to remember that half an hour or an hour's sensory "pleasure" is not worth your health and happiness!

Work on developing healthier alternatives to eating away distressing emotions such as exercise, calling a friend or partner, talking to a counselor or raw coach, journaling, taking a bath, playing with your kids or pets, doing some breathing or stretching...etc....

See the post I recently posted about avoiding cooked food cravings and cooked food slip ups and implement all of the tips. They really do help.

Keep in mind that you could also be suffering from a very real physical withdrawal syndrome that is wreaking havoc with your emotions, especially if you've given up grains, grains are EXTREMELY addicting. They have opoid like substances in them and the withdrawal for people who are sensitive to them can be brutal. All processed food of ANY kind contains many addictive substances including MSG, high fructose corn syrup, processed salt and sugar and other hidden agents that food manufacturers purposely put in fast food and processed food to keep people addicted.

IT WILL GET BETTER!!! I PROMISE!!! I was the most junk food addictive, compulsive overeater on the planet, I swear! And now I am completely satisfied on a very simple raw diet of pure fruits and veggies. It took time (4 plus years) and A LOT of emotional work and motivation to get here, but it is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO worth it. I promise. The raw life is incredibly beautiful and vibrant!!!

Many Blessings and Good Thoughts!

Audrey
www.rawhealing.com

[Dimples]

thanks so much Chilove and Eva for getting back to me. I have to run now but will come back later and respond.

[Theogirl]

Dimples, I know what you mean about feeling emotional about cooked food. I didn't expect it but a few days in, I felt really, really sad about it. SAD food was such a big part of my growing up, and family traditions. My late grandmother had taught me to be a fabulous baker and I grieved that I wouldn't be teaching my own daughter to make fluffy homemade bread, pies, cinnamon buns, with rich cream poured over, etc. That was how my grandma nurtured us and fed her farm-family, and I almost felt disloyal somehow about not passing it on.
I let myself feel it and within a week, that feeling had passed. Now I feel excited about my kids learning to make fruity smoothies and big yummy salads. Their childhood memories can be about a plate of juicy watermelon, sweet bananas, handfuls of cashews.
My chiropractor told me yesterday that the best thing I can do for my children's health is to take care of myself. They will learn by example more than by my words. So even though my DH is not raw or veg. and insists that the kids not be, I can give them the healthiest choices available for the times that I am in charge of feeding them. And what a heritage to pass on!

[Carlsbad]

I definitely agree with Audrey. There is a grieving period. Plus, for me, I got all caught up in the sadness of thinking I would NEVER get to eat x again. To get through that, I told myself that I could have it in ______ # of days or weeks or months (whatever worked!). Sometimes I would cave and eat whatever it was, and it wouldn't taste very good and it would make me sick. As time has gone on, the emotional ties to cooked food have unravelled as my body starts to realize how those "comfort" foods actually make me sick, and how raw food makes me feel amazing. It's a process (for some of us, a long one!), but it does get better. Just keep in mind that those foods are an addiction, and you need to treat them that way in order to break free. Since I know that I habitually turn to cheese when I'm upset, for example, I can recognize those thoughts of cheese as a sign of distress. That helps me address the actual issue instead of burying my face in nachos. And ultimately, that works a lot better!! It takes time, but your body will start to understand this new lifestyle and one day you'll wake up craving orange juice instead of hash browns. ;)

[Vivafree2]

Yes - i experienced it myself one day - i was in coffe shop with others - eady to give in for the sad treat and orange juice was all i wanted and brownies, croissants and coffe was something alien and undesirable!!!!!

[northernstars]

I find eating raw presents no problem or feeling of deprivation! Even though I was just beginning to try eating raw at the time of my stroke, after I was out of the hospital I found NO deire to eat meat or dairy foods cooked or otherwise. Once in a while I do eat some healthy, non-processed and minimally cooked foods, but most everything I eat is raw and delicious! I think it depends a lot on where you are coming from as to how you feel about foods. Coming from a near death experience from that stroke, I am finding no meat, dairy or fancy cooked foods to be an easy choice!

[carolg]

Interesting thread.

In our local raw community one raw person, actually a raw certified chef who is among several in our group, keeps writing me behind the scenes very nasty notes. I moderate the group. It was one too many today with lots of anger/hostility I asked her if that is what raw food does for or to her? She wants to promote her classes and never show up at rawlucks we have, but uses list for way to tell people about her super pricey classes (which is her choice). With serveral other chefs on the group, I felt and to keep others from complaining to me behind the scenes about those not showing up but wanting the group as platform to promote themselves, it was decided bring your fliers, your mouth, others promote you "only" at rawlucks andnot the group.

I replied in a kind note, but letting her know these type of notes are not welcome either but welcome to continue coming to rawlucks to promote and enjoy herself. It may be a reason to just not open her mail any longer as I have seen the pattern of each being full of hatred.

My gosh, so maybe raw and emotions have a connection for some who can't get over their "stuff" for a long time taking its course. I judge not anyone here, but surely don't choose to her "punching bag" whicdh I told her.

I just had to share here, even though may be a little off track, as to say. If this raw chef has stored up all this emotional stuff, I wonder what it's doing to the great teaching intentions and foods she continues to create? She is a great chef too but super angry stored emotions people would never see on the surface at our raw gatherings. She is kind enough to write behind scenes. We aim to keep the list very civil.

Venting and no reply necessary.

carolg