Should I buy a dehydrator?

[smoothiegirl]

I'm wondering if I should buy a dehydrator. I'm soooooo hungry. I have days where I just can't get full. I drink b/fast smoothie, midmorning drink, lunch, afternoon, a meal and a late night snack. I'm still hungry. I don't eat salads because they only stay w/me for about an hour. I don't like lots of veggies so I juice them. I can't eat the avacados raw. I hide them in my smoothies. My doc told me not to buy one because the foods don't have any water in them.
What else am I going to eat? I have read that de-hydrated food is not good for the body because of the lack of water content. I don't plan on living off dehydrated foods, but a filler would be nice. My body likes the above schedule and something to chew is kind of nice every now and then. I just plan to make a few items to keep on hand when I can't get full. I like my smoothies and my juices and fruits.
This is serious! I get sooo hungry that it tempts me to eat cooked. I've lost alot of weight.:) I'm wondering if I'm eating enough. I get plenty of fats-hemp seeds, avacados-could be the body just adjusting. Help!

[brownies]

yes! I don't have one but am on the look out. With a dehydrator you can make breads, crackers & bars which will help keep you full. Also condensing fruits & vegis will mean you can get more in you with out feeling like you are eating every second of the day.

[RawSinger]

Yes!! It will definitely add variety to your diet!! Plus, since dehydrated foods have very little, if any water in them, they are denser with calories and will likely keep you full longer.

I do think that your hunger is just you adjusting to this way of eating. The food is not as heavy. Eventually, you will feel full and satisfied on less food.

[Raene]

I have one and never use it. Well, it sits on my countertop taking up space and I use it maybe 1 day a month, so not never, but rarely. I don't feel like it's worth it, but we're all different and eat differently. For me my expensive blender is more important...I use that 3-5 times per day. My food processor is also very busy. Dehydrator's the thing I use the least. But I don't miss breads crackers etc so...that's just me.

[Raw Yogini]

I only use my dehydrator a few weeks a year when my trees give their apples by the bucket loads, other than that, I never use it.

One thing that helps fill me up is a banana w/ cashew or almond butter and raisins. I put some of the butter on each bite and add the raisins on top. It is filling for me, maybe it will help you, too.

Good luck making the decision.

[juliebove]

I haven't used my dehydrator in a long time, but I should start using it again. Mainly I made onion bread (love that stuff) and nut cheese. Sometimes flavored nuts.

[Revvell]

Whether you "should" or not is strictly up to you. Here's a couple of suggestions:

If you've got an fp, make some "burgers" or "loaves" and wrap them in collard or other greens. What's great about raw is stuff can be eaten.. um, well RAW!!! The burgers and loaves don't NEED to be dehydrated. Add them to your salads.

Make up some nut pates; make pies with nut/date/fig crusts ~ so easy, only takes minutes and you have luscious raw food!

Make cookies and bars that you put in the fridge rather than the "d". There are all kinds of recipes here and on the 'net.

Now, if all this doesn't help you, get a "d" but get a GOOD one which would be Excalibur 9-tray. That way you can make onion bread, cookies, crackers, all at the same time!!!

Revvellicious

[smoothiegirl]

Thanks Ladies!

I didn't think about the foods that don't need to be dehydrated. Hmm! I'll give it a try. :eek: I borrowed Alissa's book and I gave it back yesterday. Oh well, I can find recipes here and on the net.

[lytlsprout]

If you want more variety you should buy one. And it's weird that your doctor would say you shouldn't eat dehydrated food because there's not water in it. i wouldn't say no, but less. and not any less than most cooked foods. like there's water in cereal or chips or breads.... so just drink some more water and you'll be fine. when i first went raw it was really helpful to make some things with more texture or that were more dense. it really helped me stay on.

[JEN]

It just depends on whether you want some breads, crackers, dried fruit, etc. I used mine a lot at first but not as much these days. I second the suggestion for nut and seed pates. I love making wraps with pates. Also, are you getting enough greens??? Im much less hungry if Im having green smoothies and lots of salads, but I can always tell when my body is needing nuts or avocados. I get extra hungry at those times and can tell I need a little more. I rarely want breads, but do crave the crunch of crackers at times. Best of luck!!!