Hope this doesn't sound too Racist!?!

[ltcartwright]

I just wanted to say that it's very encouraging to me to see women of color who are RAW. I live in the Bahamas, which is 90% black (that's the term we use, I apologize if it's offensive) they aren't much people that are vegetarians, vegans or even RAW foodist that live here. When I was vegetarian I joined a site that (to me) didn't seem to have any people of color (or at least they weren't posting as often as I was). But every discussion thread I've visited on RFT has a representation. It's very (very) encouraging to me, I feel really comfortable and accepted and not ashamed that I'm going to do this, long term.

Another obstacle is that we are a people that are 100% meat eaters (including fish) its rare to non-existent to find even a vegetarian among us. (People give you a lot of hassle and verbal abuse, including family and friends). It's extremely difficult here, so most to all of my meals were cooked at home, and I didn't really eat when out in public or visiting family or in-laws. Going RAW will not be a public thing for me. My goal for going raw is to lose weight, when my results come, I'll share only when I feel like a negative comment won't put me off course.

Again, if I offended anyone, I apologize in advance.

[Rawkinlocs]

LOL! You scared me for a minute there! I was like, "hope this comment isn't too racist?!" I was ready to pull out the boxing gloves! LOL! Just kidding!

No, but yeah, it is very refreshing to see people of color choosing to eat healthier and raw at that! I know for sure that in my own family it's all about the African-American Soul Food although I know my mom is "trying" to do a little better. But yeah, I have had a lot of people of color say they are surprised to see so many Black people who eat raw. But we still have a LOT of "work to do"!

[lioness]

Yeah I'm also a woman of color and I agree with both of you, but I was a very vocal when I switched to vegetarianism 4 years ago. My parents thought I was weird, but that was because I was going through a lot of changes at that time all at once. I mean I stopped eating meat, I cut off my perm and went natural and I started a different journey spiritually than going to church. So when I did that my parents were like "What!!!" But thanks the most high I had a pastor then that was actually supportive of me leaving the church and finding my own path. So I was encouraged too to find some people of color here because like you bot said, many people of color don't want to eat healthy, they like what they call soul food which is really death food and left over from slavery. But I can say that I have influenced, over the years my parents to at least start eating organic foods, and my mom said that she can taste the difference between organic and non-organic and prefers organic, so I'm working on my parents, at least I know that they listen to some of the stuff I say. They are only eating fish and chicken now, let's see if I can get them to go completely vegetarian at least. Keep your fingers crossed.

[Halo Aglow]

Totally understand where you are coming from! ;)

[Rawkinlocs]

Totally understand where you are coming from! ;)

Heeyyy girl! If you still have my number, please call me tomorrow! If not, email me and I'll give it to you. Good to see you again!

[ltcartwright]

Rawkinlocs! Whew! good thing I re-read this post to make sure it was safe!!
I'm really glad to read these posts, I'm beginning my RAW journey today! (Yay! for me!) So I'm going to stay glued to this forum for life! This will be my only source of encouragement and I want to make coming here a habit.

Keep it aLive, all!

Halo Aglow, I'm proud of your progress, you look amazing! You'll be one of my role models.:p

lioness, having the support (or at least the understanding) of your family is a terrific gift. It makes your life choices much easier to follow through. But my family has been afraid that I'll be "unhealthy" by the choices I make concerning food; and this makes them angry and hurt. I didn't understand it when I became a vegetarian in my teens, but now that I'm older, I see it for what it is. They still think of me as their "weird" daugther when it comes to food, but I know now that keeping them in the dark is the best way for all of us to be comfortable in each others presence. It's going to be rocky, since my parents are always trying to feed people, but I'll make it!

[Apasaraw]

I took a double take on the subject line too ready to dook it out. haha!
ltcartwright you are changing the world! Family can be rough when you want to change...but you're being healthy for yourself and your body and that is something to take pride in even quietly. Like a secret bliss inside.

I am mixed culturally (African/Asian Mom-Scottish Dad-Cuban Godparents) and I am always amazed at how diverse it is here at RFT!
Getting back to the land for our food is such a natural extension of pride in our heritage.

I have to say Daaang! Rawkin' you look glowful beautiful in your newest avatar. I have been doing double takes ever since it changed.

Halo your flicker pix are amazing. Beauteous!

[tanishamarshall]

I love the diversity as well.

[RawHeaven]

--------------------

[islesgirl]

So good to read your post ltcartwright. How do you manage to prepare your food if you live at home? Or are you on your own? I wish you great success in your efforts to lose weight and will be watching for your posts here. Raw food will give you strength in so many ways and I think it will give you courage too. Just a quick question. I should know the answer to this I suppose as many of my friends are black. Is one term more offensive than the other - which do black people prefer to be referred to? Black or people of colour? I remember just one person who came across as quite sensitive about this but for some reason we didn't discuss it and we should have and perhaps we will someday. Now, please forgive me if I have been offensive and chalk it up to my ignorance on this matter.
Sue xxoo

[RawSinger]

All right, I hope it's okay if a white gal chimes in here!! I'm happy to see people of all races, ages, and backgrounds on this site!! Everyone deserves superior health, don't they?

[Halo Aglow]

Heeyyy girl! If you still have my number, please call me tomorrow! If not, email me and I'll give it to you. Good to see you again!

Hey there pretty lady! Yep, I believe I do still have your number, if not I will email you for it! I'll call you later on tonight if not tomorrow. Missed you!



Halo Aglow, I'm proud of your progress, you look amazing! You'll be one of my role models.

:o Wow! Thanks so much! You've brought more joy to my day! :D

[RawHeaven]

All right, I hope it's okay if a white gal chimes in here!! I'm happy to see people of all races, ages, and backgrounds on this site!! Everyone deserves superior health, don't they?

Yes of course, everyone deserves superior health.

I'm probably overstepping my bounds and I don't wish to speak for someone else. But I don't think the OP was posting for feeling she doesn't deserve superior health. I can't really go into a lot of detail on here because it would take a book and I don't have the energy and it would definately get misconstrued. ha. I understand where you're coming from, but it's not why ltcartwright posted. :)

You rawk RawSinger.

[RawSinger]

No, I know it's not why she posted. It was meant to be sort of a rhetorical question. I'm sorry, I should not have used those words. I didn't mean it like that.

You rawk too!

[klomasius]

When I started out on the raw path I noticed many black people, especially women, who were raw. I've continued to wonder bout that too, and wonder is it something that's got cultural roots, or a historical background?

One of my friends (the only black person I know) has a cultural history of raw through her Hebrew religion. Does this have anything to do with it?

I guess I just don't come across too many black people on veggie forums, but on raw forums there are heaps. Which seems weird as many have come to raw through a veggie diet. So where was the original path that lead you guys to raw?

And I keep thinking how it's so good to have shining beacons of health in areas of the population that can often eat very unhealthy foods, and how it must be that much harder to push up against those cultural norms (though I'm originally from the country area of my country and it's no walk in the park, I've only just gotten my family to accept my veganism and it's been TEN YEARS!).

But I'm so glad it inspires you lcartwright, and I hope it inspires many other black women to see people like rawkinlocs and others living life to the fullest on raw.

And yeah.. coming from a country (Australia) that doesn't have a large population of black people, what is the preferred term? I don't want to use 'people of colour' as it brings up too many unpleasant connotations, but am not sure :o .

All the best lcartwright, I'm sure you'll have MUCH success!! :D

[spicyfull]

Sounds Racist to me......I think you just don't get out much. You just can't put one Race in a box just because they are Not RAW or Vegetarian in YOUR Community.

RAW is a Decision and People everywhere and of every color has made it at one time or another.

I know Afarican Americans that have been RAW for over 30 years.

[klomasius]

Sorry spicyfull, I honestly didn't mean to offend anyone. I just wondered where people's paths have lead them from.

It's different for everybody, and there are tendencies, I just wanted to know if there was a common thread to the convergence at any stage.

Of course there are people of all backgrounds going raw, and this is to be expected. It's a sensible, healthy lifestyle that appeals to people... regardless...

:o

[Rawkinlocs]

Klomasius,

I, personally, didn't find your comment racist at all. I mean, I am a Black woman and when I first went raw, I didn't see a lot of Black faces (and I personally do not have a "preferred term" - Black, woman of color, African-American) in the "raw community" although they may have been out there...just didn't see them much...at least not as much as I would have liked to. Especially when I'd go to some sites where they would list raw fooders or "leaders" in the raw community and I'd see like trickles of Black faces IF any at all! I think Rhio's site was the first that I had seen more than 3.

So, it was always a "refreshing shock" to me when I'd finally started coming across Black faces on various raw websites. And to this day, I still do not see as many as I'd like to. I know there is Storm, there is Aris, there is the Black Hebrew community, Lynda Carter, Lilian and Eddie Butler, Annette Larkins (she was probably one of the first I had seen on the web) and I'm sure others I'm forgetting. But when I was researching raw on the web, the number of "us" that I saw were very few and far in between by comparison.

Then there were people I had started to meet personally that were raw even if 50-70% and the rest vegan.

But raw is spreading more and more within the Black community and this I am very happy about.

As for paths...I know that quite a few Black people I've met who are either raw or vegan do so because they said it is our TRUE African heritage. Others, simply because they needed to make a change. So, I believe it varies depending on who you ask. Me personally, I started out vegetarian, then vegan (though I wasn't on any veg or vegan boards actively...mainly lurking and reading) and then raw from there.

I think for many of us, we just 'wake up'...we notice the pattern of disease that our moms and grandmas and great-grandmas have that allegedly "run in the family" and we make the correlation between the family member(s), the disease and the diet...how they are all similar...and we are ready to break that cycle. At least I know that was it for me and some others I've spoken with about it.

[Revvell]

As for paths...I know that quite a few Black people I've met who are either raw or vegan do so because they said it is our TRUE African heritage.

This is interesting because I'd not thought about it like that. Question though ~ isn't it EVERYone's true heritage? Didn't we all eat raw at one time? Isn't that how life started?

I hadn't really thought about color amongst raw people before until reading this thread. Guess I'm just used to seeing the rainbow around me.

I've got 3 black women signing up for my class in June. Never even thought that ~ hmmm, they're black. Just thought that they are overweight, unhealthy and looking to do something about it that works like everyone else.

In my area, we also have a large Armenian population. Now, raw doesn't seem to be something many of them are considering. Wondering if it's the lack of awareness or...?

O.k., just running some thoughts in my head.

All I know is, I love the diversity here, whether it's race, sex (so few men, aren't there?), time of being raw, how we got here, all of it.

Thank you for this thread and bringing more awareness to all of us. It's quite interesting to learn, know and consider.

Revvell

[klomasius]

Phew!

Thank you so much for your comments rawkinlocs, It's so hard sometimes to be genuinely curious and ask up front questions about topics that might be quite sensitive to some, for good reason. The very last thing that anybody who knows me would call me is racist, stubborn? yes. No filter between brain and mouth? most certainly. But not that.

And because I have a genuine affection for almost everybody, the last thing I'd want to do is upset someone in such a deep way. So I'd take pains on this particular issue to apologise and make amends if I had.

Thanks for the details of your experiences of where people have come to raw from, it's all very interesting to me. Half the evolution is through the journey, and the more we know the better.

I want more people everywhere to eat raw, especially those that traditionally tend to eat not so healthy. It's a form of empowerment, and any self empowerment is a good thing, for anyone.

Thanks again! :D

[Rawkinlocs]

LOL! Yeah Revvell you're right...in all actuality it is ALL of our heritages...mankind was to eat fruit, period, right from the beginning.

But you know what I meant woman! Some think/thought that ALL Africans are/were always hunting and eating animals. I can't really go into it.

[Revvell]

But you know what I meant woman! Some think/thought that ALL Africans are/were always hunting and eating animals. I can't really go into it.

Yeah well, some people think that about us'ns as well which is their excuse for continuing to eat meat not knowing that it was because we didn't know about farming/planting... waaaaaay back when and we all did what we could to survive and at that point, it was to kill.

It's amazing to me though, here/now (meaning here in the US since I can't speak for other countries) with the plethora of fresh, enlivening produce available we still feel we have to kill to eat.. and that's the majority of us. Guess we've been pretty heavily programmed, eh?

Continue on please. :)

[lavendarJ]

Great thread and great discussion. As a Black woman, (personally love the term Black for cutlural and historical reasons but won't have a cow with African American either) health is of the utmost importance. I always get excited to discover that there are other sistahs and doubly excited to find a brotha come through here every now and then:D

I know what your saying RAWKS about heritage, there are many Black folk who have researched various African cultures and discovered that many of us were vegetarians and that time, slavery and other elements shifted the standard diet of many groups of people. I do know many Black folk who first learned and experienced vegatarianism through religions or changing beliefs. Yet, culture and history are also related to why many of us eat so poorly.
My parents have roots in the deep south (Mississippi) and everything is fried, fried, fried. My dad constantly says "people ate like that forever and lived long lives". I keep working him and educating him about the damaging effects of the preservatives and other chemical contaminants in processed foods. I also come from a traditional penecostal christian family background. If I had a thousand dollars for every time I've heard "The bible teaches us to bless our food, pray over what you eat and you'll be alright"..yet I have to be the rebel and say, that God also doesn't want us to walk in ignorance and that once you come into knowledge about something then it's a whole different ball game. I believe in praying over everyting I eat- no doubt about that but I also believe in using the wisdom and knowledge that God instilled in us to recognize and understand that there are foods that are not beneficial to us, that may be contributing to health situations, etc. etc. and etc.

I really do believe in the power of our words and that feel charged to keep advocating for healthier eating and living within my community (and to everyone in general)..this is so important to me as Black people are disproportionately represented negatively in every major life area - health, socio-economic, legal system, education, etc., etc. Let me move on because I could go on and on.

Raw vegan living is so very simple. That's the blessing in it. That's what I try to explain to my peeps...I gotta get in the churches like you RAWKS... It's funny I tell ya..sometimes I catch my mom looking at me as if she's waiting for me to come out of "a phase":D ..sometimes I even think to myself did i futher alienate myself... I have always been different and proudly so, it's just not in me to be "average" and go with the flow, never has worked.. I mentioned the "alienation" because I'm like I've been single and celibate for over 13 years now and I can just read my mom's mind even though she doesn't say it out loud "will she ever get married, how does she expect to get married doing all that weird stuff":D But I honestly believe that everything happens for a reason and que' sera' sera' and all that jazz.....

[RawHeaven]

---------------------

[Apasaraw]

I have to share....I was at the health food store yesterday and ours is in a predominantly black neighbor hood...which I never thought about before. I never noticed all the African Americans who are vegetarian! It was so cute, these 2 Grandmas with their grandbabies talking about how much they loved the vegetarian sandwiches the shop has.....and then one lady enthusiastically said "I'll bet the vegetarian sandwiches sell like hotcakes!" I thought it was so cute...lovely ladies.

I was raised in the Bay Area to and then San Diego...very diverse and I too get flared up when racism comes to the fore. But I mean the obvious mean stuff. Not "oops that came out wrong" stuff. I think asking questions is wonderful!

How else will we understand one another better as heritages and cultures mix. I'm an archaeologist...we study only one race...human. In this school of study the differences are cultural not racial. Race isn't a term we use ever. There is a culture of baseball, smoking, stamp collectors and drummers...none of these cultures is race related. Tribes and villagers in any country are observed as a culture...race never. Maybe once our world gets even more diverse we will appreciate our shades...and still revel in all our cultural differences...traditions are important to keep our ancestors ways alive...while we look forward to the diverse future we create.

[oceanee]

Just jumping in here ~ on the opening of this thread speaking about healthy food in the Bahama's amongst the black Bahamians (there are white Bahamians as well).
I have spent a good deal of time on several of the islands and have dear Bahamian friends both male and female. The Bahamian culture is slowly getting healthier yet hard to see as it is at a snails pace .As with the US, the introduction of fast food, frozen food and junk food they have strayed from their diets of fish, fruit and vegetable. It has shown up in heart disease, obese young ones and so forth again ,just as it has here in the US with all races, cultures over the past several decades.But I guess that is obvious.
Through the past two decades I have seen Bahamians getting healthier but not the majority ( sound familiar). I found it interesting as I listened to some eat the healthy lifestyle of their elders ( often an all raw food lunch ) but get tempted to wonder towards the KFC ! Food is a big part of their culture and don't mess with it:) .
I just love the Bahamians but we have to wonder why they are buying USA crap poultry,pork,pesticide laden vegetables and fruit.The government has it set up so it costs more to buy local products than those shipped in to profit the US. Crazy.Unhealthy. Yet very hard to get the government to make wise decisions regarding the people . Did I stray, I didn't mean to.
I don't know if it matters what culture you are from when the new temptations sweep the land and the knowledge is not there for powerful food choices. Could be amongst the Latino population , Oriental and well, see what it has done to all the white folk?
Bottom line for me, non racist speaking is - it's all about education and history.
Oceanee

[tiggerbounce]

LOL! The title made me think..uh oh.....this is gonna be trouble. hee!

I am not black but this thought had never occurred to me until , I think it was docsharp, someone said they didn't just live SAD but BAD. The Black American Diet and then listed equally offensive greasy foods! lol!

I am of german(from Russia)/french descent....my foods are heavy and bland and very cream rich when SAD. SADder than SAD really. heh. I was a big time offender. :cool:

Sorry, OT.

I have not been on a lot of other raw sites, primarily this one and I had not noticed so much as you. But I do think it is an interesting observation though. Do you think there is a difference depending on where you live? For example, Louisiana is known for rich and fried and spicy foods whereas California has generally been considered the epicenter of health foods, etc. Maybe everyone of every color in a place whose culture is rich with the richer fried foods is the same. Where I live in MO the health nurse informed us that like 33% of the population is like obese or has diabetes or something like that.:eek: People really look at me funny at the checkout. lol

I like your post. Good one.

[oceanee]

How about modernization as a reason ~ Fits many cultures including big American culture.
Oceanee

[Apasaraw]

I have not been on a lot of other raw sites, primarily this one and I had not noticed so much as you. But I do think it is an interesting observation though. Do you think there is a difference depending on where you live? For example, Louisiana is known for rich and fried and spicy foods whereas California has generally been considered the epicenter of health foods, etc. Maybe everyone of every color in a place whose culture is rich with the richer fried foods is the same. Where I live in MO the health nurse informed us that like 33% of the population is like obese or has diabetes or something like that.:eek: People really look at me funny at the checkout. lol

I like your post. Good one.

Traditional recipes......French dessert? Tasty stuff!
If it weren't for nut creams I don't know what I do tigger!:)

I totally agree...location is key. Of course people eat the resources that are nearby. They have for eons. Makes total sense. There is a trend back to this too since the fuel prices have risen and we are aware of carbon footprinting. I guess they call it the "slow food movement" now...but it was only 50 years ago that most of our families ate this way. We'd only have treats like foods on a stick at season changes, harvest festivals and fairs....now we can have "festival foods" any day of the week.

As oceanee mentioned...modernization. Distibution from one location to another has been amazing these last few years...

[RawHeaven]

I have to share....I was at the health food store yesterday and ours is in a predominantly black neighbor hood...which I never thought about before. I never noticed all the African Americans who are vegetarian! It was so cute, these 2 Grandmas with their grandbabies talking about how much they loved the vegetarian sandwiches the shop has.....and then one lady enthusiastically said "I'll bet the vegetarian sandwiches sell like hotcakes!" I thought it was so cute...lovely ladies.

I was raised in the Bay Area to and then San Diego...very diverse and I too get flared up when racism comes to the fore. But I mean the obvious mean stuff. Not "oops that came out wrong" stuff. I think asking questions is wonderful!

How else will we understand one another better as heritages and cultures mix. I'm an archaeologist...we study only one race...human. In this school of study the differences are cultural not racial. Race isn't a term we use ever. There is a culture of baseball, smoking, stamp collectors and drummers...none of these cultures is race related. Tribes and villagers in any country are observed as a culture...race never. Maybe once our world gets even more diverse we will appreciate our shades...and still revel in all our cultural differences...traditions are important to keep our ancestors ways alive...while we look forward to the diverse future we create.


Hey there Asparaw, I think this is so cool you're an archeaologist. I minored in cultural anthropology and completely agree with you. I love the focus on evolution and culture vs everything else.

I might've been your neighbor at one point...lived in Vallejo for a minute there. :D

Have a great weekend.

Crystal

[RawHeaven]

I have to share....I was at the health food store yesterday and ours is in a predominantly black neighbor hood...which I never thought about before. I never noticed all the African Americans who are vegetarian! It was so cute, these 2 Grandmas with their grandbabies talking about how much they loved the vegetarian sandwiches the shop has.....and then one lady enthusiastically said "I'll bet the vegetarian sandwiches sell like hotcakes!" I thought it was so cute...lovely ladies.

I was raised in the Bay Area to and then San Diego...very diverse and I too get flared up when racism comes to the fore. But I mean the obvious mean stuff. Not "oops that came out wrong" stuff. I think asking questions is wonderful!

How else will we understand one another better as heritages and cultures mix. I'm an archaeologist...we study only one race...human. In this school of study the differences are cultural not racial. Race isn't a term we use ever. There is a culture of baseball, smoking, stamp collectors and drummers...none of these cultures is race related. Tribes and villagers in any country are observed as a culture...race never. Maybe once our world gets even more diverse we will appreciate our shades...and still revel in all our cultural differences...traditions are important to keep our ancestors ways alive...while we look forward to the diverse future we create.


Hey there Asparaw, I think this is so cool you're an archeaologist. I minored in cultural anthropology and completely agree with you. I love the focus on evolution and culture vs everything else.

I might've been your neighbor at one point...lived in ValleyJO for a minute there. But essentially grew up in SF. :D

Have a great weekend.

Crystal

[Apasaraw]

Hey there Asparaw, I think this is so cool you're an archeaologist. I minored in cultural anthropology and completely agree with you. I love the focus on evolution and culture vs everything else.

I might've been your neighbor at one point...lived in Vallejo for a minute there. :D

Have a great weekend.

Crystal

We must have been neighbors! We lived in Benecia (Dad was the historian at the capital building) and my brother was born in Vallejo! Cousins all over SF.

Cultural Anthro is so great isn't it? Makes you wanna say "daaaang people...we're all one...we have the same mother in Africa...look at your mitochondrial DNA...can't we all just get along?" :)

[RawHeaven]

We must have been neighbors! We lived in Benecia (Dad was the historian at the capital building) and my brother was born in Vallejo! Cousins all over SF.

Cultural Anthro is so great isn't it? Makes you wanna say "daaaang people...we're all one...we have the same mother in Africa...look at your mitochondrial DNA...can't we all just get along?" :)

Oh wow, you've got some roots in Vallejo. When I was teenager we used to call it "Valley JO". Wayyyyy out there in the Valley ya know. :cool:

Isn't that the truth about the DNA?...hehe...maybe in a 1000 years - we just might get it.

[RawPaw]

Wow, nice thread. I'm asian BTW. I don't think I've ever met a vegetarian asian, much less a raw vegan one.

I do know that more and more black women and men are turning to whole, vegan foods. I think it's a political stand as much as it is for health or anything else.

When you stop believing the political lies, you start to stop believing the nutritional lies as well. And people on the fringe of society tend to be more cynical of politics in general.

That's my two cents (worth less because of inflation).

[ltcartwright]

Hi everyone, sorry I'm responding so late. I'm into the 4th day 100% RAW and I got a bad cold (or the flu, I don't know which). This is the best I've been feeling for a while, but I'm really tired, weak and dizzy. I've been drinking lots of water and organic aj and nothing much since I've no appetite for anything.

I didn't realize how risque my topic was until I got postings to it! :o I'm Bahamian (say, "Baa-haym-yen"), and blacks are the majority of the population of the Bahamas (and yes, we say blacks, we have no problems with people calling us black. We really don't use the term African, not because we're ashamed but real Africans that live here are quick to point out that people of color sometimes abuse that right.) Our history books tell us that the Caribbean black race started from Africa with a mixture of various other races of people. So we're not so fixated on getting skin color politically correct. That however, doesn't mean that we don't have some "race" issues here. Race issues are underlying and extremely uncomfortable whenever it comes up, so all is still not well.


I'm very strong willed (so my mother and husband tells me!:p ) and have no problems standing up for what I believe is right for me. I don't have arguments or disagreements with anyone once I make an educated decision, and I won't allow anyone to make me feel inferior about a choice I make. That doesn't say that people don't offer their own opinions, whether asked or not. So for now, I'm doing this for my health.

My biggest problem will be with my husband and family's (my side and his) overall reaction to when I take my 18month old daughter over to raw (she's not a really good eater, drinks more than she eats but I'm slowly giving her fruits as snacks other than kiddie cookies, chips, and other toddler snacks). They will fight me by arguing with me, scaring me about making her ill by not "feeding her properly", giving her things to eat when I'm not around, etc. Since her birth, I haven't been giving her pork, beef, or much meat (she eats chicken nuggets and cooked chicken), but on several occasions my husband has fed her pork and beef when I wasn't around (he told me afterwards). Of course, it made me mad but he's insisting that I can't withhold the good things from her (needless to say, this starts another "discussion":p ) I won't care what they think about my decision for raw, but I WILL have a struggle with getting my baby to be. So I'm going to feed her fruits and nuts (which she likes) and pack her food when she visits the grand-parents with instructions to feed her what I pack. The drama will unfold first with my mom, then dad. My husband's folks will not argue, but they will sneak her food, the same as her daddy. It's my (our) child, but the child-rearing culture over here has an extremely strong influence from the grandparents; and without the support of my husband, my daughter's raw journey will only be 80% to 90% sustained. I prepare the meals in my household, so she'll be eating what I make for myself (at least when she does decide to eat, she'll eat what I'll be eating).

Well, I'm off to bed rest again. Sitting up so long is making me dizzy. I'll come back to read the posts (it was too much for me to read before posting this one.)

[Apasaraw]

aaaaaw..you have a baby girl....lovely!

You know...you can control what you give baby girl, but you can't control what grandparents do...and pretty soon baby girl will be a big girl and be able to choose herself. You are giving her good eating roots and opening her palate to raw foods. This is a great foundation for the choices she will make in the future.

Good luck with the family...we all got 'em! We're with you....

[Apasaraw]

Wow, nice thread. I'm asian BTW. I don't think I've ever met a vegetarian asian, much less a raw vegan one.

I do know that more and more black women and men are turning to whole, vegan foods. I think it's a political stand as much as it is for health or anything else.

When you stop believing the political lies, you start to stop believing the nutritional lies as well. And people on the fringe of society tend to be more cynical of politics in general.

That's my two cents (worth less because of inflation).

Go Asia! Not sure how old you are...but we used to be Oriental when
I was little...haha! My mother is from Thailand and has some "moors in the woodpile." Where are your ancestors from?

I know alot of Thais who are pescatarians.....vegetarian (no dairy, very rare egg) plus fish. Seems to be the natural way of eating in the culture. My mother preached raw fruits and veg...but that's a Thai thing. She never bought into the nutritional lies even after being in the states for years...thank goodness I listened to her...a little. ;) My Japanese Aunties and Uncle were also good influences. My Cuban Godparents on the other hand...go lard! haha.

[Apasaraw]

Valley JO! That cracks me up!

[RawPaw]

Go Asia! Not sure how old you are...but we used to be Oriental when
I was little...haha! My mother is from Thailand and has some "moors in the woodpile." Where are your ancestors from?

I know alot of Thais who are pescatarians.....vegetarian (no dairy, very rare egg) plus fish. Seems to be the natural way of eating in the culture. My mother preached raw fruits and veg...but that's a Thai thing. She never bought into the nutritional lies even after being in the states for years...thank goodness I listened to her...a little. ;) My Japanese Aunties and Uncle were also good influences. My Cuban Godparents on the other hand...go lard! haha.

Vietnamese. I'm addicted to fast/junk-food. Still am. It's all emotional. And I'm too skinny because of depression. It's a daily fight for me to delight in natural foods. Whenever I do eat right, I feel great, look better, and have a bit more optimism. But junk food aways whispers comforting nothings to me. :( I'm willing to fight, however.

I'm glad you were brought up better than me.

[klomasius]

Here in Australia we have MANY asians who are vegetarian. Many of the vegetarian restaurants in my city of Melbourne are of asian persuasion, mainly with a Buddhist or Taoist background. It's helped the veg movement here no end!

Unfortunately they don't have much in the way of salads of fresh foods. :(