My raw experience so far

[twinyoga]

Ok, I started eating more raw over a week ago. And I went completely 100% on Monday. And here I am, day 4, and still 100%. The funny thing is that I keep thinking, "oh, let's have some cooked oatmeal today or let's have some milk and cookies...". But, then I end up having a banana or raisins or veggies or nuts. It's true that if your house is filled with the right foods then it is not difficult or depriving to eat fully raw. Now I'm already planning my raw breakfast tomorrow.

I have some concerns:
1. I have 7 month old twins who can start eating what I make at home anytime now. But I do not want them eating raw. So, while I can give them a mushed banana or avocado, what will be the next step for them? I refuse to raise them raw. Right now they are on stage 2 organic baby food and formula (no lectures about not breastfeeding...I did for a while and it was not working with twins).

2. I don't want to have setbacks or "hangovers" if I stray and enjoy some steamed grains and veggies or even a sweet treat. For that reason alone, I am nervous about staying 100% raw. Also, Friday night's are Shabbat at my home and I always made a whole wheat raisin challah. I feel guilty for giving that tradition up because of being raw. Would it be a set back if I enjoy it once a week?

3. Why am I so nervous about being and staying raw?! I even had an anxiety attack over it last night and my husband had to give me a confidence boost.

Anyway, I just had to vent and share. Any comments are welcome.

Debbie

[Sweet lips]

Twinyoga,

Based on your previous post, you have a vegan lifestyle, so for your twins, organic oatmeal, brown rice cereal - I pulvarized the brown rice and then added fruit purees to it. If you choose to prepare food, I used to make fruit purees, vegetables and the like and freeze them in ice cubetrays for my son, and each cube was a tablespoon full. I found that Andrew loved carrots and squash because they are sweet naturally, and spinach - I posted a cream spinach recipe on the recipe page -yes, it is raw, however, you may wish to give it a try.

Quote [3. Why am I so nervous about being and staying raw?! I even had an anxiety attack over it last night and my husband had to give me a confidence boost.]

Is it because it is new and unknown? One thing I find that our bodies are truly amazing - subject to survive our abuses, our fears, our challenges and our celebrations. Going Raw, staying raw is a process, just as you were when your body was preparing for the gift of birth. Although it is a common occurence- birthing babies, for each of us, it is a different experince both physically and emotionally and yet, we make it through. Don't worry about if you consume some steamed veggies, grains or a sweet, think about the fact that you have the choice, enjoy the moment and live without regret. It is just a process. You already know how to eat, it is just different processing of the food.

I don't know if this is of any help to you, Be blessed in your comings and goings and Celebrate your life. excuse my spelling - I am a spell check person. ;)

[Rawkinlocs]

I just wanted to say congratulations on your (unattempted) raw journey thus far! You're at a place many struggle to be...to be raw without even THINKING about it.

I don't know what research you've done on raw eating in the past, but it seems that perhaps you're afraid because of things you may have read regarding it (negative things, that is) and this is why you are so apprehensive about ALLOWING yourself to remain at the place you are currently and why you refuse to raise your twins raw. It seems that it is for some reason difficult for you to accept that a raw diet is a viable way of eating for life or that a person (adult or child) can actually survive and thrive on a raw diet. It seems that perhaps you feel that there is something just not fully right about it, that there MUST be something wrong with it (especially if some were not successful and had problems with it).

I think that perhaps you're just used to the "old way" of thinking when it comes to nutrition and health...the way of thinking that we were mostly all brought up thinking as it was taught to us. But for some reason, I truly believe that you and your family (twins included) are gonna end up being raw even though YOU may not be able to see or fathom it yet. It's gonna come so effortlessly and you won't even realize it. Just watch and see! Your babies may be like my 2 year old where I try to feed him vegan cooked food and he rejects it...doesn't want to eat it; yet, when I am having my salad or my smoothie or my fruit, I can't keep him away from my plate! He's raw without me even trying to raise him that way...babies have a natural instinct to want what comes naturally and it is US, the parents who tend to force the other stuff on them. Just think about all the times parents MADE their children drink their milk or eat all the meat on their plate thinking we were doing good by them because of how we were raised and what we were taught.

But you're headed in a direction you hadn't intended on and you're gonna be just fine! I just have a hunch...a feeling about it... ;)

[rawjojo]

twinyoga,

I am just curious why you don't want to feed your babies raw? I don't have children so I have never looked into babies and food and stuff like that. I just wondered if there is a (health)reason not to give babies raw food or if it is just a personal preferance. I was under the impression that is was a great thing to do but like I said I don't really know that much about babies! Good luck with your path!
rawjojo

[Wrecked Spark]

I thought I would share this story with you as it's the first thing I thought of when I read your post. A couple of months ago I was in Wal-Mart (gasp! I know...!) and they not only sell Crispie Cream (sp?) donuts in the main aisle but there is also a McDonalds restaurant right inside the store. On our way to the checkout we passed the restuarant and I noticed that all of the customers were young ~ young couples, young mothers, young children. As we were passing one particular table I overheard the young mother say to her child, "hurry up and eat your french fries, they're good for you". I just about fainted. :eek:

The decisions that you are making are decisions that ultimately make you a better you. Your intuition will tell you what's right for your children and for your family but think of how wonderful it is to be making decisions about whether to go 100% raw or 80% (or whatever your goal is) rather than trying to debate whether to take the kids to Harvey's or Pizza Hut or whether you packed your meds or what prescription you need to fill... we have incredible choices in front of us. As Sweet Lips has suggested, this is a journey, a process... and Rawkinlocs offers incredible wisdom when she speaks about old ways of thinking. Often when we are growing, learning, expanding, evolving, becoming closer to our Higher Selves, we struggle, experience the pull of the old before the final "breakthough". I do not wish to diminish your anxiety about your decisions but rather to support you as you wouldn't be experiencing these "pulls to the old" if the journey wasn't worth taking.

:)

All the very best to you.

Cheers,
Wrecked Spark

[twinyoga]

Here's my issue with the babies (and even my husband). Both my husband and children require different nutrition than I do (everybody is different in their requirements). And I don't want to deprive my children of the fat, calories, mineral and vitamin requirements. I don't want to deprive my dh of his needs. I love my babies and husband with all my heart and never want to stear them in an unclear direction.

Actually, as I'm writing right now, I'm discovering that I really just need more education on and practice with making raw dishes, portions, and having a well rounded diet. I really think that's it. But, at this time, I want my family to incorporate raw into a healthy vegetarian diet. I, on the other hand, can practice 100% on myself.

[twinyoga]

I just have to add that I've already insisted to the grandparents that the children may not have any meat and they can not have any sugar at this time and until they get my ok.

They are listening to me (thank goodness!). And I do not want them ever, ever, ever in a fast food restaurant unless they are using the bathroom only! That's the only time I go to them! :)

Hmmmm. I suppose I could share a smoothie with my kids. That would be a fun start.

[rawjojo]

Great Comments to both of you. I enjoyed reading your posts. Also, how fun (and challenging) it must be for you to have twins. What a great experience.

[Wrecked Spark]

How fortunate you are that your parents listen to your wishes... I don't think other vegans or vegetarians or even raw-foodies could boast the same.

and wouldn't it just benefit everyone if fast-food joints didn't exist at all? :cool:

Best of all to you and your twins!

[rawmom]

Hello Twinyoga:

I can relate to what you are saying about feeding your children and husband vegetarian with raw at this time. That's the same thing I am doing while feeding myself raw. I figure once I get myself in a groove with this, then I can gradually bring them along with me!! That's my plan anyway! My husband has been very supportive of me and has enjoyed the transition that we have made. My children are also doing well.

Rawmom

[twinyoga]

It's nice to know someone else is handling raw and the transition like I am.

Thanks!

[Rawkinlocs]

It's nice to know someone else is handling raw and the transition like I am.

Thanks!

Twinyoga,

I don't think that it's that no one else was/is handling the raw transtion as you are, but the statement "I refuse to raise my kids raw" is what kinda threw some of us for a loop and caused us to ask, "Why?" You seemed so adament about it as though it's a sin or a bad thing to do...almost borderline making those who ARE raising raw children feel as though they're doing their children a disservice or something...I didn't take it that way (as my children aren't 100% raw) but someone who's children are (or close to it) sure could have taken it that way. But this is not an attack by any means...I just wanted you to know that many of us are doing what you're doing or have been where you are.

But you are the parent and you raise your children as you see fit. I, too, am transitioning my family. No one in my household is all raw except for me. So, no, neither you nor rawmom are the only ones transitioning yourselves and your families. Many of us still have people in our homes who eat SAD items...my post was mainly addressing your question of why do you feel so apprehensive about being all raw and I touched on that statement about children as a few others did as well.

But again, you're mom and you do what you feel is best!