How long does a raw meal, or smoothie/juice last?

[Jihyun]

There was something that kind of worried me and was curious.


I sometimes have to make sack lunch or dinner.
Now if I made a raw food...and packed in like say a plastic container, how long will it last before all the enzymes and nutrients die?

How long will it last during room temperature?
I am thinking about when I go to school, some times I stay there the whole day. I could probably pack it with those pre freezed icy packs...


Will it last at least 3 hours?

Sometimes we have chaotic work times, so if i made a juice or smoothie for work, how long will those last until the nutrients die?

I am very determined not to eat after 6:00PM.

I prefer to eat my dinner at 5:30, if it gets to chaotic, I could drink those green smoothies that fills you up...but if the enzymes die by that time, just what are you drinking than? Would it be worth it to drink?

Before my Lemon cleanse, I have been eating between 11 PM and 1 AM, because I always come home late, and I was too lazy to make my own food....and because of this pattern, my sleeping time was usually 3-4 AM, and waking time 11 AM - 12 PM. I did not gain weight, but I had digestive problems and a heart burn type of feeling whenever I ate, so I don't want to go back down that path again...><

Thanks for your help!
(I know lemon enzymes last only for 10 minutes.......)

[parsnip]

Well, according to Victoria Boutenko, green smoothies last up to three days if they're kept cold, so I'd think an ice pack would do fine for a day so long as it's not in a really hot place. I take a lot of food for lunch/snacks during my work day and I keep it in my car in a cheap styrofoam cooler with an ice pack. It doesn't stay as cold as it would in a fridge but I think it's fine for a day (and if I added more ice packs, it'd stay colder). I don't know exactly what effect that has on the enzymes and nutrients, but I figure so long as it's in a sealed container any loss will be minimal. If you're really concerned about it, you could try to stick to things that you can take whole and that don't need to be kept cool or be chopped up-- whole fruits, nuts, seeds -- but that seems overly cautious to me.

[Jihyun]

Hi Parsnip!
Yeah that is too overly cautious and too much to think about. Makes things a bit complicated. Oh well, even if the enzymes do die...at least I am eating better than fried food or teriyaki. lol

Thank you! :)

[lytlsprout]

the enzymes in juice start to go right away. you should drink that as soon as possible, but smoothies or anything else i think would be fine for the day especially if you use a cold pack.

[Veganforlife]

Pack it in glass instead of plastic! And yep, smoothies UP to 3 days, but the faster you drink 'em, the better your body will be.
Other foods? Not long. They are fresh. You'll know. They will start to smell and mold quick...

[raw_danceruk]

I make orange juice in the morning for work, mason jar or flask..off I go for the day

Before I also packed a Bento box or tiffin with lots of different little dishes..keep them cool.. easy peasy lunch! :o

[sonyan]

Hi Parsnip!
Yeah that is too overly cautious and too much to think about. Makes things a bit complicated. Oh well, even if the enzymes do die...at least I am eating better than fried food or teriyaki. lol

Thank you! :)

Actually, I have had the same question myself. My son is on enzymes with every meal, and I have been hoping I could quit those when we went all raw.

Parsnip.... I know that the enzyme supplement that my son takes in the powder form (from Houston Neutraceuticals) is only good for up to 4 hours after being introduced into liquid. Not sure how that correlates for enzymes still in plant form though...

[raven]

We can only do our best in the circumstances. Juice can last for a few hours or up to 3 days, depending on what type of juicer it was made with. Adding lemon juice or some powdered camu camu will retard oxidation.

I don't know that we can say with certainty how long packed food will retain optimal nourishment. Most foods we buy are already degrading because they're shipped after we're picked and ideally we would be eating fresh-picked food. I pack my food in containers and take it to work and I'm comfortable with keeping it at room temperature for a few hours. I refrigerate things like nut milks, which spoil easily.

Enzymes don't actually die; they become denatured.

Suzy

[Jihyun]

I make orange juice in the morning for work, mason jar or flask..off I go for the day

Before I also packed a Bento box or tiffin with lots of different little dishes..keep them cool.. easy peasy lunch! :o

Hello!

Where did you buy your glass jugs and bento box?