Retired & Budgeting

[shakemeupjudy]

Hi!
I discovered the 'Raw Foods' lifestyle only this week after looking for some way to eat and not gain and gain. (234 lbs) I am off to buy the book today.

I am 59 and after 50 the weight just sticks..many here over 50 can identify, I'm sure.

But after taking an early retirement and being on a limited budget, I know I won't be able to purchase machines, raw menu foods as well as food for others too.

Does anyone have any tips on eating/living Raw on a limited budget

shakemeupjudy in cambridge MA

[Raw Yogini]

There is a woman on this forum, Frugal Raw that has a website. Best of luck!

[shakemeupjudy]

Thanks Raw Yogini...I did download her publication after she sent me a welcome post.

Nice to get your reply post! Thank you. Looking Forward to getting started.

[cara4art]

"I am 59 and after 50 the weight just sticks..many here over 50 can identify, I'm sure."

Lots of menopausal and post-menopausal women have released weight on raw when absolutely nothing else worked, and kept it off, too! Exercise is important too.
But on a budget, yes, Frugal Raw here has good info oh her website as someone else mentioned. Do you have a blender? There's alot you can do with that for simple dips, spreads, salad dressings and smoothies. A couple of Mason jars with sprouting lids will serve you well for sprouting grains, certain seeds, and legumes. You don't have to have the most exotic nuts for recipes, or the more expensive stuff like raw cacao either(unless for a very special treat). It's the fresh stuff that is the most important in the diet anyway. Spinach and parsley are usually available and reasonable year round(fab for green smoothies!), cabbages(for fine shredding and marinating)are usually pretty cheap too. Depending on your locale, looking to seasonal produce, sales, manager's specials at stores all make a lot of sense for those of us on a budget. I know I am! I'm fortunate to live in SF where there are lots of dirt-cheap ethnic produce stands, as well as a great inner city farmers' market, and a great well-established worker-owned coop that is the best ever for bulk goods. Sprouting stuff like buckwheat, quinoa, lentils, mung beans, and azuki beans makes sense too on a budget to cut the cost of some protein and lower the fat content of the diet too, so you don't get too much nut fat. Nuts are fab though, in reasonable amounts. If you just have some raw sunflower seeds, unhulled sesame seeds for starters with your nuts, there are a lot of great things you can do with these.
Do you have any other kitchen equipment like a food processor? If so, that opens up lots of cool stuff.
Hope this helps!

[shakemeupjudy]

That's great to hear re: metabolism after 50 and Raw.!
I have a blender and food processor so I am not too bad off.
My book should arrive tomorrow.
I also have Frugal's download which I am going to save for my second read and reference for shopping and preparing on a budget.
I'd love to go to Grezzo, but when I see 'reservation' around here I think gormet---Mucho dinero! Maybe on a special meet-up or something I will splurge.

[Revvell]

You getting mail on memorial day? :D



My book should arrive tomorrow.

[RawLibrarian]

Judy,

There are lots of people who eat raw on little money. Expensive kitchen equipment, 'superfoods' and supplements are not necessary. A blender is helpful--a high speed blender is ideal, but if you are using it for smoothies and purees, you will do just fine with a Black and Decker or other lower-end blender. A food processor is also helpful, but again, not an absolute necessity. I already had a food processor that I bought back in 1995 and it still works great. A dehydrator is not necessary unless you want to make things like breads, pizza crusts, "cheese", etc. I don't have a dehydrator and I get along fine.

I buy organic whenever possible, but that can be extremely expensive. Just yesterday, a bunch of organic lacinato kale was $4.99 at my local health food store! It had gone up by a dollar since the previous week--I think this is due in part to the high cost of gas which means that it costs a whole lot to ship the produce. Here is a list that tells which produce has the highest levels of pesticide residue:

http://www.eartheasy.com/eat_pesticides_produce.htm

You could try buying only those items organically, and just buy the rest conventionally ... or if what you can afford is conventionally grown, then go for it. It has to be better for you than processed food!

If you have the space, growing some of your own food is the best way to save money and ensure quality. Buying from farmer's markets can be a bargain, as are CSA's.

Best of luck. I hope you will enjoy eating raw foods and also enjoy the health benefits.

[shakemeupjudy]

Librarian and Revvell:
Earlier this week I splurged and went to a Whole oods Market around here and just walking into the place was a treat!
Such a difference in the appearance alone of the produce from the supermarkets I usually shop at.
I won't even mention the taste comparison!

Thanks for that list on pesticides.

I am rather disappointed though that I don't have my book today..forgot there was no mail delivery.
Oh well, patience..I'll just have to wait til tomorrow. Meanwhile I will continue to read and catch up here. I feel like I am getting a late 2nd chance to live.

[cara4art]

Look around the "over 50" section here - there are LOTS of people OLDER who made the switch and are glad they did, for so many reasons! It's a huge way of side-stepping all the cultural and to a good extent the medical propaganda that tends to scare the living daylights out of the over-50 crowd. Many older raw people in general have had long-standing conditions either cleared up, or at the very least, definitely improved by being in a raw food lifestyle. I'm 60(will be 61 next month)and plan to keep going with this on my own journey.