Will I miss hot meals?

[RebeccaB]

I am Rebecca in London, hello.

I became vegan just over a year ago and am now seriously considering making a change to consuming predominantly [and perhaps eventually solely] raw foods, and am excited at the prospect; but having been brought up eating hot meals and sometimes [especially in winter and cold weather] craving something specifically heated to 'warm me up' ~ which it often does and I know I am used to finding this comforting, I really wonder if I will miss never having a bowl of warming soup or baked potato, etc.

Once I have more experience I am sure I will find an answer for myself, but would be most interested to know others' experiences and advice at this stage please.....

Being in England where it's often cold and grey, the prospect of living on raw vegetables, etc. is both inspiring and daunting at present.....

.....and, being English, please don't tell me I can't have a cup of tea? ! [without milk, of course] are heated drinks allowed?

Thank You very much in advance for any advice or information,

Best wishes,

Rebecca

[Eva]

Hey Rebecca... you can still have some warm meals if you get a dehydrator, just not hot. And I got used to it -- but only time will tell what happens for you. I think you're in for some surprises.

Otherwise, some people still have hot herbal tea. Heck, I've heard of people still drinking coffee. Neither are technically raw. But there are no raw food police. :)

[rawstrength]

I personally feel that organic herbal tea (with almond milk and agave/honey) is fine on a raw food diet. Others disagree.
I can tell you that in my experience, living in cold, gray Massachusetts, I have never missed a hot meal. After a few months on raw food, hot food seems gross and unnatural! You'd be surprised at how your tastes change. You can still have food that is warmed gently on a stove or in a dehydrator, as long as the temperature of the food is kept below 118*F . Basically, if you can comfortably put your pinky finger in the food, then it is still raw. If it feels like it might burn your finger, the your food is not raw!

[lytlsprout]

it's easiest to start raw in the summer with nature's bounty available. But I live in Minnesota, much colder and greyer than London for sure. I didn't miss hot food. But you can make things warm with the dehydrator or a lot of blending in a food processor or vitamix. I drink hot tea in the winter sometimes. Yes it's technically not raw but I didn't notice any negative effects from it. and in the summer you can make sun tea.

[RebeccaB]

Thank you all for your helpful and friendly replies.....I feel confident I will adapt in time. Like anything, it's just a matterof what you're used to.
There was even a time in the past when I never thought I could be vegetarian, let alone vegan! ~ and now the idea of meat and dairy products seem exceptionally unappetising [disgusting even].....

It is great to find such an infomative and friendly group here.

R X