Raw in College?

[kaleidoscopeeyes]

Hello, all! I'm ecstatic to report that I will be attending college in Portland, Oregon, at my first-choice school this fall.

Now, interestingly enough, if I was going to school in a less vegan-conscious area, raw would be easier, because most of the vegan food offered would be salad, fruit, etc. But my school is famous for its vegan cookies, vegan pizza, etc. So, if anyone is currently raw in college or knows anything about following a raw diet while there, I'd like to know

1. Are you able to use a food processor/blender to prepare your own meals as a freshman living on campus?
2. Is resisting cooked food more/less difficult than it was while living at home? (It's not that hard for me right now.)
3. How did you find other rawbies?

If you have any input not addressed here, please share!

Thank you all, and HAPPY NEW YEAR :D

[jurence]

see-> rawstrength

[rawstrength]

Hi! I am a freshman and I am raw in college. The bad thing is that my school requires that I am on a full meal plan. The good thing is I have a great job, so I make lots of cash to buy my own raw food. My dining hall barely even supplies vegetarian food, let alone vegan, so resisting cooked food is not a problem, as any animal foods/products just really disgust me. I came to college with a vitamix, sprout growing supplies, and lots of tupperware. I sneak fruits and veggies from the cafeteria salad bar out in my tupperware. I am very sneaky ;) . Then I bring the fruits/veggies back to my room and make smoothies. It is perfectly OK with my college to keep a blender in my dorm room, but make sure that you check that it is not against any rules at your college.
Socially, it is a bit challenging finding friends because it seems like so many college social activities revolve around consuming cooked foods and/or drugs. My solution was to become part of as many clubs as possible. I play clarinet in the orchestra and in a chamber music group. I am part of the environmental club (met a lot of vegans and raw foodies there). My favorite club that I am part of is the organic gardening club. We have a huge garden on campus and we grow a ton of food. It is so much fun! Congrats on getting into your first choice! I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time in college, whether you are raw or not.

[Green_Woman]

I've been raw (wavering between high raw, 100% and less than 75% whenever I go on vacations, apparently) for nearly 10 months now...

And I've been in college the entire time.

I find that if you get a part-time job (or three, in my case!!!) you can afford to buy RAW foods despite the expenses of college. Right now, I'm struggling to build an income, budget AND stay raw - but I look at raw foods as a long-term investment in my health, wealth and happiness... because when I'm eating cooked, I'm perpetually sick, and I usually end up either losing my jobs or having to quit because of illness!!

But not anymore!! :D

I'm changing my family tree by being RAW in College!!! :D (And budgeting... ha!)

TIPS FOR RAW COLLEGE KIDS

* Find your local farmer's market or Swap Meet - here in Tucson we have both, and there's always CHEAP, ORGANIC produce on sale from local farmers!

* AVOID Wholefoods or Trader Joe's, because they are overprized compared to your local NON-CORPORATE Healthfood Store or markets!

* Eat a SIMPLER raw diet while you're in school... your body will run smoother, your mind will be clearer, and you'll be eating CHEAPER, as well! Plus, the simpler your food, the less time you spend preparing it! (When high raw, I subsist entirely on Green Smoothies, fresh Salads, and raw crackers/salsa - and I'm never healthier than I am during these simple-food spells!)

* Share your diet with your college friends with JOY - and if they ridicule you or tease you for drinking "that nasty green stuff" just smile and relax in the knowledge that you are giving your body the best it can have, and the future is YOURS... while many of your college classmates will likely end up obese or hospitalized for food-related diseases by the time they're 30. :) God, that's a horrible thought... and hopefully motivation to SHARE your stories instead of being embarrassed and clap-trap about it. :D

[Vaclare79]

I am in college as well and eating raw has cost me a lot of money but I look at it as an investment into my future as well as my health later since I'm 29 already.. Good luck with college! It'll be a lot of fun.

[Blazin'Jane]

I don't know if you know Portland, but I love to visit there any time I can. When you have some cash, treat yourself to a meal or 2 at the Blossoming Lotus. It's a little raw vegan restaurant tucked into a yoga place that I can't recall the name of, but the blossoming Lotus has a nice website, as I recall. Have a great college career. Which school are you going to. My uncle used to be head librarian at Lewis and Clark. :)

[kaleidoscopeeyes]

Jane, I'll be enrolling as a freshman at Reed College; it's in East Portland.

Thank you all for your wonderful advice.