New and need help on a few things?

[racingdiva999]

Hi! I am new and will be starting the Raw Diet in a few days. I got a dehydrator, juicer, food processor, and I have a blender..So, I am very serious about this. My husband is going to do it with me as well.

I got 2 great cookbooks. I just had a question on ingredients...I am so overwhelmed and I want to do my food shopping and start dehydrating and preparing, but I really am lost.

1- What staples are good to always have in the house?
2- Only fresh spices or can I use the jarred spices? (seasonings)
3- I see in a recipe that they are asking me to use nutritional yeast and almond flour? Is taht allowed?

4- As for the seeds and nuts. I see in the recipe book they are asking me to soak them for a certain amount of hours. Do I just soak in water?

5- Combinations of food? I know melon is to be left alone...but say I have a smoothie, can I have melon w/it? Or just melon as a snack? I am reading a really good book on it as well so I do have resources, just confusing to me.

6- Finally, if I am not sprouting, what is the substitute? Do I have to sprout and grow my own herbs?

Any other information or tips on how to start this would be great. I really appreciate it. We are looking forward to this way of life so much. I can't wait to start....

Thank you!

[Veganforlife]

Answers:

1- What staples are good to always have in the house? Anything fresh, fruits, veggies, nuts, sprouts, seeds.
2- Only fresh spices or can I use the jarred spices? (seasonings) I use the jarred ones. But I make sure they are organic. Others will argue about this. I pick and choose my battles.
3- I see in a recipe that they are asking me to use nutritional yeast and almond flour? Is taht allowed? Again. It's up to you. Almond flour I make from making almond mylk and I dehydrate the pulp and grind into flour. Yes. I do use nutritional yeast.

4- As for the seeds and nuts. I see in the recipe book they are asking me to soak them for a certain amount of hours. Do I just soak in water? Yes. Alissa's book has a soaking chart. Do you have that? So worth getting.

5- Combinations of food? I know melon is to be left alone...but say I have a smoothie, can I have melon w/it? Or just melon as a snack? I am reading a really good book on it as well so I do have resources, just confusing to me. see what works with your body.

6- Finally, if I am not sprouting, what is the substitute? Do I have to sprout and grow my own herbs? You don't HAVE to do anything. A substitute for sprouts? Well, buy already sprouted, or just use slivers of lettuce maybe?

Any other information or tips on how to start this would be great. I really appreciate it. We are looking forward to this way of life so much. I can't wait to start....

Get Alissa's book. Well, well worth it!

[JCB44]

Hi! I am new and will be starting the Raw Diet in a few days. I got a dehydrator, juicer, food processor, and I have a blender..So, I am very serious about this. My husband is going to do it with me as well.

I got 2 great cookbooks. I just had a question on ingredients...I am so overwhelmed and I want to do my food shopping and start dehydrating and preparing, but I really am lost.

1- What staples are good to always have in the house?
2- Only fresh spices or can I use the jarred spices? (seasonings)
3- I see in a recipe that they are asking me to use nutritional yeast and almond flour? Is taht allowed?

4- As for the seeds and nuts. I see in the recipe book they are asking me to soak them for a certain amount of hours. Do I just soak in water?

5- Combinations of food? I know melon is to be left alone...but say I have a smoothie, can I have melon w/it? Or just melon as a snack? I am reading a really good book on it as well so I do have resources, just confusing to me.

6- Finally, if I am not sprouting, what is the substitute? Do I have to sprout and grow my own herbs?

Any other information or tips on how to start this would be great. I really appreciate it. We are looking forward to this way of life so much. I can't wait to start....

Thank you!

Welcome the site.
1- I try to keep fruit in the house great to grab when I want to have something. Also dates work for me for some thing sweet.
2- I use the jarred spices
3 I have not used these
4- Just soak in water and rinse as directed.
5 - listen to your body, it will let you know if combinations don't agree with it I find combinations don't really bother me, but I do eat melons alone.
6- Not sure of question but fresh herbs taste better to me but I don't think it is a necessity.

[contessa20]

Welcome RacingDiva!

1- What staples are good to always have in the house? Fresh fruits and veggies. I always, always have bell peppers, spinach, onions, bananas, apples, avocados, tomatoes, celery, cucumbers and tomatoes. If I have nothing else in the house but those I will live. It's nice to have at least a couple of types of versatile nuts and seeds on hand too like walnuts, almonds, cashews, sunflower seeds and flax seeds.

2- Only fresh spices or can I use the jarred spices? (seasonings) I personally use both. It's all about what you're comfortable with.

3- I see in a recipe that they are asking me to use nutritional yeast and almond flour? Is taht allowed? Almond flour is just finely ground raw almonds so, yes. Nutritional yeast is a whole other ballgame. Some people use it in small amounts while others won't touch it with a ten-foot pole. Again, it's whatever you're comfortable with. For some people it causes headaches though so listen to your own body.

4- As for the seeds and nuts. I see in the recipe book they are asking me to soak them for a certain amount of hours. Do I just soak in water? Yes, soak them for the recommended amount of time, then dump the water and rinse a few times a day until they sprout.

5- Combinations of food? I know melon is to be left alone...but say I have a smoothie, can I have melon w/it? Or just melon as a snack? I am reading a really good book on it as well so I do have resources, just confusing to me. I don't ever mix melon with anything else in a smoothie except other types of melon or cucumber. Sometimes I do make melon soup and add whole frozen blueberries but there are only a few and they're not blended.

6- Finally, if I am not sprouting, what is the substitute? Do I have to sprout and grow my own herbs? You don't have to. You could simply buy them at the market.

Any other information or tips on how to start this would be great. I really appreciate it. We are looking forward to this way of life so much. I can't wait to start....

Thank you!

Get Alissa's book AND DVD. The DVD, I found to be immeasurably inspirational. Spend LOTS of time here reading posts, posting and getting to know the other members. It will help you feel connected. Good luck on the start of your new journey!!!!!

[Colorawdo girl]

1- What staples are good to always have in the house? ]I have the things I like.Staples are always lots of greens and fruit and cacao.Coconut and agave or honey,garlic,ginger.
2- Only fresh spices or can I use the jarred spices? (seasonings)I use jarred and fresh.Organic
3- I see in a recipe that they are asking me to use nutritional yeast and almond flour? Is taht allowed?[B]I use nutr yeast and grind my flour from almond mylk pulp after dehydrated as was mentioned.

4- As for the seeds and nuts. I see in the recipe book they are asking me to soak them for a certain amount of hours. Do I just soak in water? I soak them overnight then either dry them in dehy or air dry or use wet in recipe.

5- Combinations of food? I know melon is to be left alone...but say I have a smoothie, can I have melon w/it? Or just melon as a snack? I am reading a really good book on it as well so I do have resources, just confusing to me.melons,whatever you want,up to you

6- Finally, if I am not sprouting, what is the substitute? Do I have to sprout and grow my own herbs? I sprout,Sprouts are the most alive greens to have.I also buy them at times.Herbs I buy in winter.

[racingdiva999]

wow thank you so much for all of your responses....I really appreciate it...

Is sprouting hard? Are there good resources online? Do I need a lot of space?

Thank you all so much...I feel so much better getting those answered....

[nellie]

I've been sprouting off and on for a year and its very easy. You also need very little space. I'd recommend looking at Sprout People www.sproutpeople.com.