Oh no! We're going to Taste of Chicago!

[Jodi]

We live about 2 hours from Chicago and have many friends who live there, including my husbands 6 year old God Daugther. For her birthday this year, her parents are taking her and both god-parents to the Taste. So, they'll be six of us and little Katie attending one of the biggest food frenzies there is. We're going on a Wednesday, so at least the crowds won't be too bad.

But....it's not on my list of favorite things to do even if I wasn't trying to follow a raw diet. Even as a person eating SAD, I never wanted to go to the Taste.

So...how do you handle a food festival? I have found a list of the food vendors that will be there and am going to search for a possible Raw Food restaurant that might be there. I'm sure there are some raw food restaurants in Chicago....I hope.

We're going on June 29......blah!


Jodi

[Revvell]

Personally, I don't go to places I don't wish to go ~ and a Taste thingy like that ~ waste of my $$$ and time.

IF you choose to go, see if Karyn's will be there.

Revvell

[Jodi]

Well, I found a vendor list of the booths who will be there. I cannot find one Raw food type restaurant anywhere. BUT...the local grocery store chain has a booth listed and this is what they will be offering:

BIng cherries, red or green seedless grapes and seedless watermelon.

So...there is at least one option for me!

I kind of don't have an option, Revell...it's a birthday celebration for my husbands god-daughter. He wants to go and feels obligated to go. I will definetly check out the place you mentioned. Is that a raw restaurant in Chicago?

Jodi

[Carlene]

Jodi, Why don't you just throw some bananas or other fruit in your backpack or purse, eat well before you go and not worry about the food, just enjoy the time with your friends. It's a food festival, not a vendor festival by the way, celebrate your own food instead of thiers.

[Rawkinlocs]

ITA with Carlene! If you can, pack a nice little nap sack of things YOU like/love to eat. You HAVE to be prepared as much as you can.

I went to my sister-in-law's house because my husband's brother and his wife were in town. She cooked a LOT of my old favorites. I knew it was gonna be tough on me. So, I made sure I ate before I got there AND I packed a lot of things I like: bliss balls, rawvioli in a container, a pear, banana and a nectarine, and my husband had some grapes. It was funny, after my brother-in-law stuffed himself eating the food, he was right in there with us popping grapes into his mouth!

But even if there will be fruit/veggie tables, take some other things that'll take the edge off - those caramel/coconut cookies, almond butter balls...something a little more substantial that'll keep you from feeling too deprived.

All in all, don't prepare to eat what's there, but if you DO, don't dwell on it, pick up and keep on going!

[VeganVixen]

you also might try making a either flax seed cracker or buckwheat pizza crust , and add your fav. pizza toppings - in order to stay away from the deep dish that will SURELY be there!

[Jodi]

Thanks for all the ideas. I think I'm going to prepack myself a bag with Larabars, flax crackers and nuts. Maybe a banana or two.

My one concern...my friends do not know of my diet change. I know they will wonder why I am not indulging in all the foods as they are. But, I'm also one of those people who is often dieting to lose weight, so maybe I'll give that as an excuse so I don't have to go into a long explanation.

Jodi

[yeahbethany]

Yes, bring LOTS of food! Food that you will enjoy!

I hope I never have to go to Taste of Chicago. That said, try and go in with the mindset that you are celebrating a birthday and spending time with friends. The whole point is NOT the food, after all. =)

It's hard to "come out" as a raw foodist to friends/family. You may want to do it ahead of time, though, so they don't bombard you with questions during the event. Nothing worse than feeling like a spectacle AND not eating what everyone else is having. Just remember, if the conversation gets uncomfortable, you have every right to change the subject.

Just my thoughts.... =)

[Jodi]

Hi Bethany! I think deep inside I'm fearful of what my friends reaction will be to raw foodism. Especially since parents of the little girl are big into entertaining with big lavish dinners. She is a gourmet cook by hobby. Get-togethers at her home are always centered around food.

Funny thing is, up until a year ago we lived on the south side of Chicago in the suburb of Lansing. We then moved to a small farmtown in Indiana. We lived in Lansing for 18 years and never once went to the Taste. Now that we've moved away, we're going. Go figure!

Jodi

[VeganVixen]

lol , its SO funny how something as small as food has to be "in the closet" so to speak , when will people learn to just say something nice or nothing ata all, and b.t.w. we rawvies ,vegs whatever need to be honest and just be ourselves to show that its NOTHING to be ashamed of ,so why hide? ya know - this applies to ALL areas of life as well!

[Revvell]

Well, soon will be YOUR chance to have a lavish dinner party with all raw! You know, you don't even have to tell folk the food is raw ~ until after they've eaten a beautiful 5 course meal with gourmet deserts!

My first dinner party was for 8 people. I made Alissa's lasagne, some side dish *shrugs*, a large green salad with her honey-mustard dressing, flax crackers with a garlic pate, desert and something to drink. (been awhile so don't quite remember ALL I served).

People were begging to take home the lasagne. IF you are looking for something luscious to eat, it's quite simple, made in a food processor. At first it looks complicated yet, it's not. I only dehydrated for 6 hours and it's incredible.

I'll be having a house-warming w/in a couple of months and inviting the Chamber of Commerce folk here and it's ALL gonna be raw! :)



\She is a gourmet cook by hobby. Get-togethers at her home are always centered around food.

Jodi

[rawpriestess]

Dear Jodi,

You don't owe anyone an explaination for your food choices.

simply eat what you want, (your own food or the raw food there) and when someone offers you something, just say, "Oh, no thank you." it's that simple.

If they ask questions, you do NOT need to reply to their question.

You can always say, "Why do you want to know?"
then when they say, something like, "I knew you'd love this. *&(*()) food", just say, "Oh."


Because you have turned the question onto them, and then you have ended the discussion.

After one or two times of this, they will stop asking.

You never need to J.E.D.

Justify
Explain
or Defend
ANYTHING you do, you are an adult.

All of these above are choices that you can make. to do or not to do.

Have fun with your friends, and your hubby and his God daughter, that's what it is all about.

The food is just a souvenier, that you WON'T be taking home in your stomache or colon, but others will, and maybe dealing with the effects for years, and years.

[Jodi]

Revvell, rawpriestess and veganvixen...thanks. I am someone who has always worried too much about what other people think. It's something I have always struggled with. I have decided I am going to take my own snacks...indulge in the fresh fruit at the one vendor I found....and ignore any comments they might make.

And Revvell...I just might take up your suggestion and cook a raw dinner for them. But, I better practice a couple of times prior! And please...met us know how your dinner for the Chamber goes!

Jodi

[Heather Lynn]

i live in the chicago suburbs and work in the city...... i hate the taste even as a sad food eater. it is just way too crowded, the food isn't all that, and when it is crowded people just are rude. if you do go request that you go for dinner at karyn's fresh corner on the north side (lincoln park area near north ave and halstead) this is an all raw cafe and the food is wonderfull. going to eat there would be cheaper than eating at the taste anyway...... food tix are so expensive now but you can always enjoy the music and other things going on. :D pack some goodies and then go to karyn's fresh corner.
www.karyns-raw.com check it out

[Sharon in Colorado]

ITA with RP. Everyone has a problem with some kind of food. People have different diets, allergies, etc. You are no different from anyone else. And you don't *have* to explain or defend anything. And if you really feel too uncomfortable being vague if you get riddled with questions, you can always say you aren't feeling very well.

I'll never forget the time that someone who knew I was raw asked if I'd like to go to the Texas Road House grill, a huge meat eaters place. I agreed because I didn't want to look picky, but annoyed all the less, as their little salads have cheese, croutons, etc. But the clincher was, her "telling" the server that I was a vegetarian (in her mind being 'helpful' although she was being a pain in the *** in my mind) and the server looking at me with sympathy. Nothing is more annoying than people nosing themeselves into my business like that, as if I couldn't handle myself. I told my friend "why don't you just put a sign on my back"...probably should have used another answer but I was really annoyed.

Anyway, try not to allow folks to get 'concerned' with comments and questions. And I like the idea about throwing back a question, and even apologizing to the person ie "I'm sorry, does this bother you?"... to those who don't seem genuinly curious but just want to mess with you!

[VeganVixen]

oh, gosh Ive been taken to the texas road house grill -and she KNEW I was veg. ,so I just pulled a meg ryan (when harry met sally ) :p

[Sharon in Colorado]

oh, gosh Ive been taken to the texas road house grill -and she KNEW I was veg. ,so I just pulled a meg ryan (when harry met sally ) :p

Are you talking about when Sally does something naughty in the restaurant?

[VeganVixen]

Are you talking about when Sally does something naughty in the restaurant?

LMASO !!!!!!! No silly , when she slowly picks at the menu and asks for eveything either off the salad or on the side! Although , I do want to try that other thing and scare the bejeezus out of my fellow diners :D , just got to do it during lunch when the kiddo's are in school ;)