April 2009 Raw Challenge Archives

[Rawkinlocs]

Well, actually it's probably not so much a reminder (as I don't think it's really been addressed before) but rather a note/notice...

Please do not create threads in this Monthly Challenge area. This is strictly for us (moderators) to start up the 30-day challenge threads only.

Thanks everyone!

[Rawkinlocs]

bumping up

[Rawkinlocs]

bumping up!

[bowie]

Welcome to the April Raw Challenge!

[xinmywayx]

I'm on board for this one!

[GoingRawinPA]

I have been suffering with Rheumatoid Arthritis for the past year. I am tired of always being in pain. I can commit to 30 days and then go from there.

[RawVeggie]

hi there, i will continue from the march challenge :D
good luck to all of us!! :)

[sweetlime]

I am READY!

[SweetTangerine]

I'm in for another month.

[contessa20]

Let's get this party started!

[RawkinOnSunshine]

I'm in for sure!

[didi_dancer]

Yummy I am sooo ready for April!

[deberaw]

Ohhhhh I so appreciate the comments from yesterday - make sense - I'm in again:D

[mattshor]

Good morning!
Today I have a staff meeting over lunch. My Boss offered to prepare plenty of raw food for me, I am psyched.

Breakfast was a flax pancake with Raspberry Syrup. The raspberries were still frozen, so they came out more like a thin sorbet--yum!

[lrpurro]

Hi Everyone!
Looking forward to seeing you all during the next 30 days :)

Spent yesterday doing some serious time in the kitchen prepping!
I made:

Jalapeno Burgers
Black Sesame Sunflower Seed Bread
Ranch Dressing
Rich Cheddar Cheese Sauce
Eggless Salad
fruit and veggie cleaning and prep

For later in the week, I have planned:

Alissa's Broccoli Soup
Not Fried Veggies with Pineapple Teriyaki Sauce
Ritz Crackers
and possibly, Crab Cakes

Green Smoothie and BIG leafy salad each day are already in my routine...

I started a "yoga bootcamp" to recharge my practice on Monday also! It will last two weeks so hopefully, my recent bad habits will be transformed during this time :)

Best wishes to everyone for getting what they wish for out of this time.

Lisa

[lrpurro]

Would any folks here like to plan a "meet-up" for either Grezzo or Organic Cafe or even better, maybe a pot luck?

Lisa

[modernbelle]

I actually started yesterday. We're leaving on Saturday for a week-long trip to Curacao so it might not be the best time to start but I'm hopeful they will have lots of fruits and veggies there. It is an island after all! Definitely still trying to figure this all out. I bought a juicer yesterday and lots of supplies, so I'm ready!

Made my first green smoothie this morning but I think it would be better for me (the way I did it) for later in the day. Too green for morning. Tomorrow I'll stick my fruits. :)

[tvillemom]

Good morning all! I'm in again! I'm on DAY 42...the longest I've been raw in about 2 years!! I've struggled so much with all of it, and NOW I feel like I'm really getting to where I want to be!!

Peace to all.

I'm going to start my day with a Green juice....kale/apple/spinach...

Don't know what else, I still have some kim chi left so I might have that!

[Stacy]

I've been struggling with autoimmune hypothyroid issues for a few years, and really want to clean up my diet to overcome this. I'm looking forward to feeling better after these 30 days, then continuing the forward momentum.

Congratulations to everyone else in the challenge! We can do this!

[dawLs]

me me me...
though it is actually day three for me:)
i am currently munching on some banana and raw carob powder... mmmm delish!
-dawLs x0x0x

[xinmywayx]

Today is techincally day 3 for me also=) But that's ok, I could use the support for day 3 and beyond. Yesterday my mom said to me "Are you eating solid food??" just because I happened to have *gasp* 2 smoothies in one day. I told her "Yeah, mom, I am. Besides the blender is just doing the work my teeth and stomach would do anyways. Further more, you need to drink some of this smoothie." And she did.

[SekhemNefer]

I am in on this one. My plan is to drink Green Smoothies for breakfast and dinner but make sushi.

I am going to buy sushi ingredients today. Also, I am looking for a decorative Bento (Japanese lunch box) so I can my raw foods with me when I am away from home. I could use Tupperware, but that doesn't make my food seem special.

And I am trying to be 100% raw too.

[llucky20]

I am up for the challenge.

[mattshor]

Would any folks here like to plan a "meet-up" for either Grezzo or Organic Cafe or even better, maybe a pot luck?

Lisa

YES!! That would be amazing. Depending on when we do it I may be able to host as well.

[mattshor]

I am in on this one. My plan is to drink Green Smoothies for breakfast and dinner but make sushi.

I am going to buy sushi ingredients today. Also, I am looking for a decorative Bento (Japanese lunch box) so I can my raw foods with me when I am away from home. I could use Tupperware, but that doesn't make my food seem special.

And I am trying to be 100% raw too.

What a wonderful idea! I'm going to look around for a special lunch box as well.

[EatRaw]

I'm gonna give it a go! I may not be able to check in everyday though.

[mstrish]

I am on day 9 and am committed to the April challenge. I have had 3 banana's with raw creamed honey on top and a couple of my raw nola.
Lunch: green drink and maybe salad
Dinner: left over lasagne that I made from a recipe from here.
I have lost 9 lbs so far and my goal is 135-140.
My Best,
Trish

[GoingRawinPA]

Good morning all!
Today is day 1 for me.
Breakfast: Green Smoothie ( filtered water, collard greens, spinach, barleans flax oil, frozen mixed berries, mango, goji berry powder and agave.

Lunch: 2 sushi rolls
Apple crisp (wow, who knew it could be this good?)


Planning for dinner: Lasagna and a big salad
and of course more of that apple crisp!

off to ride my bike for 30 minutes.

Have a great day all!

[Yeshia]

Hello:)

I have been awayfor almost 1 year struggling with many issues lol.

I have dusted off my dehydrater Vitamix etc and am off xoxoxoooxox

This is day 5 for me , and i am so happy to join this challange. I am starting to feel really good, I had forgotton how good raw made me feel:D

Good luck and grats to us all xoxoxoxoox

[Veggiefamily]

I'm in!! I actully started yesterday but is excited to be part of a group doing this together. I was diagnosed with hypothyroid in January AND kidney problems. I hope this will be the journey to better health. Here's to better health!!!!

[RAWmen-Noodles]

I am in too! I have already started my breads and cookies because those are my weaknesses. I am not trying to lose weight and it might be a challenge to keep it on. I was raw about a year ago but it was hard without support. Here is what I have had today.
Breakfast smoothie (kale, coconut water, banana, parsley)
Snack (kale chips)
Lunch (Broccoli salad)
Snack (12 marinated stuffed mushrooms)
Lots of water inbetween
Dinner Plans (zoodles with spaghetti sauce and garlic bread)

[mattshor]

zoodles! love it!

[2inlovewithraw]

i would love to join this challenge if i can. i first heard about raw 2 years ago and have struggled ever since. i am really addicted to sad food. i usually can only do 1 or 2 days until i have a full out binge. i am getting to the point in my life where i am sick and tired of being sick all the time, not feeling comfortable in my clothes and skin. i have to do this. i have a real problem getting all my fats and proteins in so i am trying to make sure of adding some each day. today for breakfest i had a green smoothie with hemp oil, 1/4 tsp spirulina (trying to work my way up on the taste) spinach, peach and banana. i bought a ton of food yesterday and i plan on making several things today like hotdogs, fruit leathers, ranch dressing, burrito taco meat. anyways thankyou for letting me join.
oh and also my husband and i share the 2inlovewithraw and if i am writing i sign with mrs and he signs with mr.

have a great day 1!!!!

[tammay]

Great to see so many people - I could sure use the motivation!

I'm in for April and so excited about it! I want to make it work this time.

Menu for today:
Melon (haven't had fresh melon in a long long time, but delicious!)
half a large pear and kiwi and celery salad
green smoothie with cherries, strawberries, stevia, and a handful of spinach (still working up to adding more greens in smoothies but this one is delicious!)
Salad with greens, red pepper, cilantro and red onion and ACV/Lemon juice dressing with avocado (trying to avoid added oils and stick with whole fats)
Orange (maybe)
Large red apple and celery with dash of lemon and honey
fresh mango (maybe)
raw fudge made from carob, honey, and ground raw almonds (maybe)

As you can see, I'm trying to play it by ear and have whatever will work for me without trying to follow a prescribed eating plan.

Tam

[amanda]

Day 3 for me. I started to feel dizzy and like i was going to throw up a few minutes ago.. I then ate a banana and some cashews (unsoaked/unsprouted). All I had eaten today so far was
smoothie with frozen: mango, pineapple, passionfruit pulp (frozen from a bag the passionfruit) and gojis.. with water. wonder if the goji berries could be bad? bulk in big bag.. gah i don't know. maybe detox?

now I am trying toi find my juliano book for the garlic dressing but I can't find it :( Ok found it online the Kreamy Garlic Ginger one. It's good. I made it in the vitamix *hopes it wont smell like garlic** :D

Maybe I need to just be juicing for awhile.

[Rastadawta]

Greetings.
I am now week two into rawness but mostly 90%. Today is my new approach to being 100% raw for a month. Thanks for having me aboard.
No breakfast today since i was rushing but did eat some apple-ginger cookies I made. Came home for lunch, my dh is very supportive of raw and ate a salad of mixed greens, tomatoes, avocado and nutburger. dressing was mac oil and ume plum vingar with seasoning. Dinner is black sesame bread with nutburger, nutcheese, ketchup..raw of course and my cookies for snack. Peace

[lrpurro]

So glad that I spent the time prepping yesterday!
Today's intake :)

Lemon water

Breakfast:
smoothie of kale, banana, orange, blueberries and tangerine

Snack:
handful of sunflower seeds and raisins

Lunch:
1/2 slice black sesame sunflower seed bread
1 jalapeno burger croquette
little guacamole
4 oil cured olives
handful of cauliflower

Dinner:
BIG baby romaine salad with mung and adzuki bean sprouts
grape tomatoes and guacamole for dressing

Planning on same smoothie tomorrow morning and a banana avocado strawberry pudding for mid-morning snack!

Hope everyone had a fabulous day!

Lisa

[shakti17]

ok, i am in too! i intend to stay raw for 2 weeks, then see how it goes when i travel to the wedding, but no point in waiting until AFTER the wedding to begin! especially because this will help increase my gorgeousness for the wedding!

[lrpurro]

YES!! That would be amazing. Depending on when we do it I may be able to host as well.

Mattshor,

How should we go about planning this?

Are you and your partner interested in a pot-luck or dining out?

What fun! :D

Lisa

[lorenworsley]

Seeing as I'm just coming off of my first consecutive week totally raw I'd say I'm definetely up for another four!

[alicia87]

I have never been on raw diet, i dont even eat veggies but i wanna loss weight NOW... I have not left my house in 1 year and 7 month:-( i have gaint alot of weight after a rape, but i want my life back, and i really need ur help i dont know any thing about living on raw food....so i dont know where 2 start! my goal is 2 loss as much as i can before july 22 so i can go 2 the Michael Jackson concert, i know the only way i will go is 2 loss weight. so if u guys have any good eating plan, please let me know cuz i have tried 2 loss weight SO many times

love alicia

[Tango6]

Count me in. I've been waiting a whole week for this. :)

[mattshor]

Lisa,
check your visitor messages

[RawkinOnSunshine]

So many people =D

I'm jealous of some of your menus. I miss my veggie burgers but can't find a dehydrator ANYWHERE, and shipping costs tend to be brutal with heavier things. I've been to/called close to 10 different stores and most of them don't even know what it is! In time I guess.

My menu:
Breakfast - green smoothie, also I admit I had some coffee with almond milk (I'm weaning off of it, I was a terrible caffeine junkie. Like, a pot or two of strong coffee per day). Then munched on two apples.

Lunch - endive bruschetta. I've been having this every other day, so yum

Dinner - a BIG mixed veggie salad with avocado. Had a small piece of raw chocolate for dessert.

I'm not sure I'm eating enough but I seem to fill up incredibly easily with this way of eating. Makes sense, but does anyone else have trouble packing enough food into the day?

Good luck tomorrow everyone!

[xinmywayx]

This is day 3 for me but day 1 of the April challenge.

Bfast-Fruit salad w. papaya ( i hate papaya but I eat it anyways), avocado, strawberries, agave necter, cinnamon and I think that's it. Can't remember.
Snack/Lunch-HUGE blunder at lunch today because the salad I ordered got messed up and I was too chicken to return it. BUT I ate some lettuce....a tangelo, herbal lemon tea, water, macadamia nuts and dates.
Early Dinner/Late lunch-Salad w. green leaf lettuce, watercress, sun-dried olives, pine nuts, sprouts, red pepper, tomato, radishes and a store bought raw dressing (Agave and Mustard)
Dessert-A large strawberry and banana smoothie=)

I didn't have a green smoothie today and I need one. I will most likely make one in a bit because I seriously need the greens. I will use less fruit though...I've been eating a ton of fruit it seems like.

SO there! So far, so good!

[xinmywayx]

does anyone else have trouble packing enough food into the day?

I feel your pain. I always go "oh this is totally enough" and then I eat it all so fast and end up STARVED. I need to overpack I think.

[xinmywayx]

oh wait, i misunderstood you. haha. but yeah sometimes i think im eating enough and look back and go "wow that wasnt a lot" but generally i eat enough...i hate feeling hungry,

[RawkinOnSunshine]

oh wait, i misunderstood you. haha. but yeah sometimes i think im eating enough and look back and go "wow that wasnt a lot" but generally i eat enough...i hate feeling hungry,

Ahaha it's okay, I was rather confused until I read this post. That was my issue today though. I added it up, roughly, and I believe it was at most about 1000 calories...I'm quite active so I know I need way more. Mmm. More bananas maybe.

[sweetlime]

I was raw for about 5 months, then winter came and I was anywhere from 25-75% raw.

Now I am back---ready to be raw 100% again!

Today actually marks week 1 for me.

**************************
B: Sprouted buckwheat grawnola with apple
S: cocao/maca banana shake, grapes
L: spinach/collard greens salad with dehydrated burger bits, red pepper, and tomato, topped with raw apple cider vinegar
S: celery and home-made walnut butter
D: banana/flaxseed pancake and strawberries, dehydrated flax seed crackers with tomato

[bowie]

Welcome to Day Two!

[mattshor]

brekkie - flax pancake
lunch - gonna make up some guacamole to take to work

[EatRaw]

1 liter Lemon water
GS banana mango romain

Lunch gonna be fruit

Evening: BIG salad, fruit, and a few nuts

[tvillemom]

I'm going to the grocery store today. Looking to buy some organic salad fixings! I also want more juicing veggies (like apples, carrots, kale, CUCUMBERS, celery!!)

Anyway,
Not really hungry today....started off with a headache. I thing it's because it's been soooo rainy here the last week or so!

I've had green juice so far....now I'm off to the grocery store.

Peace to all.

I've gotta get to the HFS to get some nutritional yeast for cheese sauce....and I think I'm going to order some green powder from Alissa's site.

Check ya later.

[llucky20]

Got up early this morning to prepare a nice lunch and a veggie-fruit juice. Packing food is important as I learned the hard way yesterday..when my train was delayed going home. I was so hungry that everything I made tasted good:)

[Stacy]

Got through day one, although not without some pain. Had to go to a 5-year-old's birthday last night, so you can imagine all the SAD stuff at an event like that. I got through it. Luckily they had a plate of veggies, although nothing was too satisfying. I did drink a smoothie before I got there which helped, and I brought an apple.

Did half a Bikram yoga class last night, but was too tired to finish.

I'm doing low fat simple raw, high fruit, lots of greens. I'm going to try to avoid nuts and fatty stuff completely for a few days to see if I get a candida die-off, although I'm not convinced I have it that bad. I suffer big time with "food" cravings, so I'm going to eat simply for a few days here and see if it helps.

My skin looks better already, after only one day! But I have a headache from caffeine detox. C'est la vie!

Here are my stats from yesterday, taken from my scales:
weight: 124.8
body fat percentage: 26.1
hydration level: 51.1

Goals: Biggest goal is to increase my energy level and improve my quality of life so that I can do the things I want to do that remain undone. To get to that increased energy level, I assume losing 20 pounds in the process would help, but my body will just go where it wants to, and I'm not worrying about that.

[RAWmen-Noodles]

I woke up feeling great and energetic this morning. Yesterday I went the whole day totally raw. So far so good. I have not had alot yet this morning but I just put the baby down for her morning nap so that I can prepare my lunch.
Woke up-big glass of lemon water
Breakfast smoothie (beet, banana, parsely, carrot, coconut water)
Snack-Kale chips
Lunch-marinated stuffed mushrooms and a salad
Snack-mangos
Dinner-pizza, salad, lemon cookies
lots of water inbetween

I am going through lipbalm withdrawals!

[lorenworsley]

Day 8 of my 100 day raw food challenge, and day 2 of my participation in this month's raw challenge. Doing well coming off my first full week raw; my skin is clear and I find myself unusually upbeat and happy!

April 1st: I wasn't particularly hungry for lunch having scarfed down an enormous green smoothie, so I just skated through the afternoon to dinner time. For dessert I had one of my favorite raw chocolate-y concoctions.
Breakfast - Green smoothie with bananas, blueberries, blackberries and lettuce
Lunch/dinner - Big plate of live pasta with cashew cheeze
Dessert - Chocolate of the Gods mousse with raspberries and cacao nibs

April 2nd: My school schedule allows for a very short day today. I plan on going home after 1:00, skipping lunch and having a rather early dinner.
Breakfast - Green smoothie with bananas, mango, kale and lemon juice

[sweetlime]

Just ate a slice of mana bread and 1/2 a cantelope.

I know mana bread isn't technically raw, but I am in transition, so I am trying not to be too hard on myself.

I think i'll make a GS for lunch, and I have dates, a banana, and a raw cocao/buckwheat bar to snack on later.

Yum!

[mattshor]

I, um, forgot my lunch today. Gonna have to wait until about 4:30 to eat. :(

[amanda]

Brendan Brazier's Vega..
WAY too sweet for me i think it's the stevia I really don't care for stevia. I had half of a half of a scoop the rest dumped out accident the cats like it? :D

I also have slight cramping this morning :-/

[NeGaGal]

I'd like to join the April challenge. Is it only open to 100% raw folks? I'm probably 80 to 90 percent raw at this point, but don't own a dehydrator, a vitamix, anything like that. I am having Ezekiel bread on some days.

[modernbelle]

I'm surprised at how easy this has been. I guess I didn't really eat that bad beforehand. I'm on day 3. Unfortunately I haven't lost any weight but I feel pretty good. Noticed that a lot of stuff tastes salty today. I made a beet/pear/apple salad for dinner and it's in the fridge hopefully getting yummy. We have a Thai au pair living with us and she made thai food for the kids last night. It looked great but I resisted! :)

[mstrish]

Okay, so it's day 10 and my emotions were running wild today. Had a meeting and they ordered pizza and it stunk. I brought my food and enjoyed it. I feel angry and hurt today and just want to cry....detox?! I have taken a bath to help sooth my feelings but still feel pretty bad. Dinner tonght I will have a big green salad with everything veggie on it. I feel some weakness on my committment to staying raw but have passed up on all temptations. I am proud of my resolve and tomorrow will hopefully be better for me.
Thanks for listening,
Trish

[AmeMahoney]

I've been very Un-Raw yesterday and today, so I guess I'll start tomorrow. Or now - but I don't plan on eating anything else today. :)

[dawLs]

i was suuuuper hungry today- weird
i can't even remember what i ate! oh well, it was all raw- mainly vegetables and fruit with some sunflower seeds.
i had lots of energy tho! and what sucks is that i have a ton of schoolwork to do- exam and subtitling assignment tommorrow, translation due tommorrow, scaletta, relazione and esquema all due at some point this weekend, and then two essays, a long translation and another exam next week. oh yeah, plus my job.
all i wanted to do was run around but i was chained to my laptop. i did work out for an hour and a half tho! i wanted to keep going but the schoolwork was calling my name! booo
at least tommorrow is my last day of classes :)

i'm munching on some pineapple and gunna go study some more. at least its an oral exam!

best wishes!
-hoLs x0x0x
currently day 4 for me :)

[bowie]

Welcome to Day Three!!

[tvillemom]

Good morning all!! I am having problems with my back. Around my hip area. I've strained something....I am so sore.:( I've slept on the couch 2 nights, away from DH...:( This makes me sooooo sad. I think I'm going to do some stretches this morning, take a warm shower....
I'm really hoping Dh will stop at one of HFS's in Greensboro (since he works there) and get a few veggies for me!! I feel so whiney because I'm tired of my back hurting....I'll get over it.
I am going to have some juice: kale, apple, carrot, spinach, alittle broccoli.
Lunch will probably be a GS with spinach, kale, tomatoes, flax seeds and sesame seeds.
Dinner: salad w/ carrots, baby herb blend, olives??? maybe olives...one of Alissa's dressings, or Rawvolution (depending on what I have available.)

Hope everyone has a FANTASTIC, RAW DAY!!!

[mattshor]

I'm doing a smoothie feast for the next couple of days. It just feels right.
Today I started off with a vanilla, cantaloupe and mint smoothie (leftover from dessert last night) truly delicious. I think if I make another one I will throw in an orange as well.

Have a giant spinach, strawberry, mango and orange smoothie to work on during the day today. I'll make something equally yummy to for dinner. Maybe something savory. Though, I have to be honest, I've yet to find a savory raw soup that I'm really crazy about.

[SekhemNefer]

Yesterday, I made maki sushi, miso soup and salads.

Today, I will just drink my pitcher of green smoothie and have a salad, I guess.

[RawkinOnSunshine]

Gooooood morning...sort of. So tired, I just barely rolled out of bed and have to head to work. Either I'm sick or I'm more affected by nuts than I thought.

Anyway, I didn't post yesterday so basically I had fruit, a couple of raw food bars, chocolate banana smoothie, salad, and too many nuts. Oh well, the sick will pass soon...I hope :(

I just finished a small GS for breakfast. Not sure if I will have much else today.

[Rastadawta]

Hi yall.
I had a great morning yesterday. Had some fruits for breakfast and went home and had some lunch, Mcburger (raw). I went to a local asian grocery store and got pineapple and coconuts for cheap, even though it was not organic, still healthier.
My day got worse around 2pm and had to take off from work. Doing inspections and having detox does not mix..so when I wnet home, didn;t eat any dinner but had sad crackers and popcorn. Tried to make chocolate mousse which came out horrible, so had to add a banana and ice and still too runny. I felt so guilty abut not being 100 percent but that is way of mother nature keeping me in line.

[RAWmen-Noodles]

Well, today is day 3 for me. So far so good. I have only had a big glass of lemon water right now but I think I will eat a big salad for breakfast. Here are my plans for the day!
woke up-big glass of lemon water
breakfast salad-(spinich, kale, green onion, cucumber, sunflower seeds with an asian dressing)
snack-kale chips and smoothie (mango, banana, coconut water)
lunch-creamy carrot soup with left over garlic bread
snack-smoothie
dinner-cheesy broccoli casserole and some chocolate no bake cookies YUMM!
lots of water in between

[Veggiefamily]

I feel great this morning. For breakfast I had a green smoothie: Almond milk, beet greens, maca/hemp protein powder, strawberries and bee pollen. Lunch will be a sprouted quinoa salad and dinner sprouted falafels' and seaweed salad. I think I will treat myself to some raw chocolate, mmmmm. Hoping to go to a yoga class today.

[mstrish]

I feel better today....not crazey with my emotions. So far this is what I will have today:
B- 2 bananas w/ raw creamed honey
S- raw nola
L- Green drink consisting of kale, spinach, cucumber, and apple
D- Big green salad w/ tomatos, cucumbers, red onion, olives and homemade dressing.
Cheers
Trish

[morgan12422]

Barely made it out of bed today. Day 3. Feeling nauseated and have a scratchy throat. I have had a banana thus far and am looking seriously at another one... I plan on eating an avocado, tomato and seeds with a salad for lunch. Dinner, well, I might not be awake for dinner.

I know that things are starting to change inside and I can feel it. I can also feel the crazy headache that I have too. :)

During this challenge I am going to lose at least 12lbs and be a glowing, shining example of health!

Just like you guys!

CW: 155
Challenge GW:143
GW: 130

[tammay]

Well, yesterday did not go well :(. I woke up with a migraine and basically spent all day trying to fight it off with pills and sleep (the headache wasn't because of detox, by the way - I've been fighting migraines all week even before I began the challenge). The thought of raw fruits and veggies and nuts made me sick to my stomach so I went for non-raw stuff instead.

But today I'm feeling a lot better and started out the day with some melon, although I'm still feeling queazy (no headache, though!) I'm determined not to throw in the towel this time as I have in the past. I think one mistake I'm making is to try and concetrate too hard on the "rules" - food combining, keeping the fat content low, etc. I'm treating this like a "diet" with restrictions and forgetting that raw is about abundance, not restrictions. So I'm going to try and let my appetite dictate today what I eat and even if that means more fats or dried fruit than I'm used to, that's ok!

Hope everyone is having a good day.

Tam

[Stacy]

Day two down without a hitch, although I can't say I'm enjoying this process yet. My food cravings are so strong. Plus, getting off coffee ain't a hayride either, although I'm now over the worst of it.

No exercise yesterday due to caffeine withdrawal.

I'm not one to want to plan what I eat in advance, as that never seems to work for me. So yesterday I had a green smoothie with bananas, mango, collard. Then more bananas, then juice of 4 large juicing grapefruits, then more bananas. Probably had about 8 bananas total. I think I didn't quite eat enough, but had a crazy busy day, so it was hard to fit in.

I've got about 30 bananas in my kitchen, so I'll probably eat more of those today. Already had grapefruit juice for breakfast. It's funny -- I always hated grapefruit, but recently discovered that I like the juice. Other things I have on hand that I'll probably dig into today:

Green grapes
Canteloupe
Apples
Mango
Strawberries

Would like to shift more towards local stuff in season here over time to reduce my dietary carbon footprint, but for now the bananas, etc. are the godsend that will help me transition.

I will be harvesting from my garden today also, as I have some collard out there, maybe some other greens too. Definitely plan to get a bunch of greens in too, either in the form of juice or a smoothie.

I've been on low fat simple raw for two days now. I always carry my pecans with me in my bag in case of dire emergency, but I'm trying to stay off them still for a few days. Not always easy, but I think my body is happier for it.

Tammay, I hope you get to feeling better soon!

[modernbelle]

This is day 4 for me. Finally lost two pounds! It's actually been pretty easy for me which is a bit of a surprise actually. I guess I don't really pay that much attention to food normally. My husband has been travelling all week so it's been easy for dinner. My kids will eat anything. Might be a bit tougher tonight since I actually will need to make something for everyone for dinner. Went to the grocery store today and immediately was hit with the smell of fried chicken. Boy, did that smell good! But I didn't really have any desire to go buy it.

So far today I've had a smoothie with bananas, pear, strawberries. And a big salad for lunch. I need to find a good salad dressing recipe that I like though. I used some tahini mixed with a few things but I didn't really care for the taste. I kind of feel like a mad scientist when I'm tossing stuff in the blender. My 4-yr old daughter gets very excited! She seems to like it all!

We're going to Curacao for a week tomorrow morning so I won't be able to post. I'm going to try my best to eat raw but I'm resigned to the fact that I can't control everything coming from the restaurants. I'll just do what I can and get back to it when I return. It probably wasn't the best week for me to start but I just got the urge and went with it.

Good luck everyone!!!

[EatRaw]

Today:
1 liter lemon water
GS- banana cherries and romain....actually was kind chocolate looking :D hehe

Lunch:
4 oranges

Don't know about this evening yet...I have Alissa's book and DVD coming today any minute now...so I'm sure my mouth is going to watering soon :D

Have a D and blendtec blender that should be here next Tues. so maybe I'll get a bit more creative then.

[llucky20]

Good afternoon! Alright day three...so for breakfast...chopped walnuts and bananna

Lunch..taco salad..with fresh corn... carrots... and cucumbers

Dinner pasta..I made some walnut carrot meatballs last night they taste great...I am gonna make some fresh pasta sauce and veggie noddles.....

[tammay]

Glad everyone is posting their menus - it really helps.

Today I seem to feel like more savory than sweet, so although I've had a lot of fruit up until now (a lot for me...), I'm heading more towards adding more greens and veggies and doing a savory salad with a little avocado for the evening instead of the fruit salad I've been doing thus far.

I've noticed something very weird that happens every time I try to go raw and I haven't been able to put my finger on it until now - my interest in food has dropped! I'm enjoying what I'm having, but I notice that I don't get the same antisipation and pleasure eating my raw food than I do eating vegan cooked food. This is a huge shift for me, since food has been a huge preoccupation for me for so long - thinking about how I'll prepare it, what I'll put in it, worrying about whether I have too much of this or not enough of that. It's scary to think that now that I don't have the same preoccupation, my mind is left wandering. Maybe that's part of what got me off track yesterday.

So now I have to concentrate on putting my energies elsewhere, hopefully into areas that are much more productive, like reading good books, writing in my journal and in my novel, maybe even dusting off some of my old cross-stitching projects and getting back into them. I feel like there's a big empty space, partly because I've been super busy trying to build my career for the past year and because I'm going on vacation in May, my work load has tapered off. So I'm left with more time to think about other things but I think I feel a little lost as to what to think about!

Anybody else feeling this way or felt this way when they first went raw?

Tam

[Stacy]

Yep, Tam, I experience it every time. In fact, Karen Knowler talks about it in the last issue of Get Fresh magazine. For me it can be quite unsettling, but I'm just trying to ignore it for now. I think it's because I have that empty space kind of feeling, but I'm still craving cooked food like a mad fiend, so I just have to get on with it. Be grateful if it's not bothering you at all! I took myself outside to pull weeds, which was a useful thing to fill the gap. My trick is just to keep busy.

By the way, I'm assuming we're allowed to respond to each other's posts, although I'm not quite sure of the structure of this forum, never having used it 'til now...

[shakti17]

congrats all on day three!

i am still into cooked addiction, although i have been making a few raw recipes - pates and chopped salads in the food processor are my usual, and nut mylk/smoothies.

my question is - and i would have started a thread on this, but i don't know how to start threads! do you have any "exceptions"?

ie -- maple syrup in some recipes, nutritional yeast, certain condiments, nut butter that is "raw" but maybe not truly raw, VERY lightly steam or blanch broccoli or greens? tea? box almond or hemp mylk? :confused:etc.

i have been on and off raw for many years, but that is a subject that i have always wavered on.....where to draw the line.

i know alissa promotes 100% raw no exceptions.

i'd appreciate anyone's thoughts on this subject.

Thanks!

shakti

[sweetlime]

today:


buckwheat grawnola with sliced apple
some kombucha
1 banana
3 coconut dates
coconut raw bar
slice of mana bread
1/2 of a GS
1/2 of a baby watermelon


random day of lots of little snacks. feel good though. :)

[sweetlime]

congrats all on day three!

i am still into cooked addiction, although i have been making a few raw recipes - pates and chopped salads in the food processor are my usual, and nut mylk/smoothies.

my question is - and i would have started a thread on this, but i don't know how to start threads! do you have any "exceptions"?

ie -- maple syrup in some recipes, nutritional yeast, certain condiments, nut butter that is "raw" but maybe not truly raw, VERY lightly steam or blanch broccoli or greens? tea? box almond or hemp mylk? :confused:etc.

i have been on and off raw for many years, but that is a subject that i have always wavered on.....where to draw the line.

i know alissa promotes 100% raw no exceptions.

i'd appreciate anyone's thoughts on this subject.

Thanks!

shakti


any amount of raw is beneficial.
if it becomes too stressful, and you worry too much about what you "should have" and what you "can't have," then that totally defeats the purpose of it all.

listen to your body.
you know yourself better than anyone else.

i use boxed almond milk. i know that isn't technically raw, but having to make my own almond milk would be too costly in both time and money. so i make an exception for that.

do what you need to do. honor yourself. and you'll be just fine. :)

[bowie]

Welcome to Day Four! Hope everyone is doing great and staying raw!

[RawVeggie]

hi all,
forgot to post yesterday :-( actually this is the third day of my second month eating raw vegan food :D
today i had my first "green" smoothie ... even though it was more purple than green ... i really made it without hesitating, so yes, i'm kind of proud of myself (for those of you who don't know what happened: i have had a slight problem getting green smoothies ready to drink and then actually drink them - for some reason the green color always drew me away from them). i also had a bit of a pomelo in the morning.
as for the afternoon i have been steadily eating salads ... this time with baby spinach, sugar peas, tomato, bell pepper, avocado and mixed sprouts.

[lrpurro]

Still here! But posting Day 3 on Day 4! Life suddenly got really hectic and we've had varying degrees of household not feeling well...makes staying on track challenging!

Day 3

Breakfast:
green smoothie of kale, blueberries, banana, orange, TBS of coconut butter and flax oil [this is my fall-back standard smoothie but when I started drinking it it tasted AWFUL!!! I started troubleshooting and realized that the new organic flax oil that I bought had ROSEMARY in it--which would probably be fine in a savory dish,but def. not in that particular smoothie]

Lunch:
giant baby romaine salad with adzuki and mung sprouts, cauliflower, guacamole for dressing

Snack:
shared a green apple and a ruby orange with kidlet

Dinner:
more orange and apple, some green peas, pea pods dipped into rich cheddar cheese sauce [didn't feel that great and not that hungry]
then fell off the wagon a little bit and ate a few bites of the cooked dinner...

Hope everyone had a wonderful day!
:)
Lisa

[mattshor]

Morning folks.
Started off the day with a giant smoothie of cantaloupe and strawberry. I'm buzzing with energy right now which is great because I have today to pack up the entire "apt" (currently living in my parents' basement) so that we can move tomorrow. Making good progress, quadrant 1 is complete.

Going to try to stick to smoothies for the next couple of days as I said yesterday. I did well yesterday until I got home and was working on ChaCha. Well, just gotta pick up and keep going. Back on track today!

[mstrish]

Hello Everyone,
Today I will have:
B- Fudge balls
S- Banana w/ raw creamed honey
L- Green Drink w/ kale, cucumber, spinach, apple
D- Thinking of making lemon pie

Best,
Trish

Day 12

SW 179
CW 172
GW 130

[llucky20]

Good afternoon! Today so far has been good. I made a drink of carrots..apples..orange..and beet for breakfast

Lunch Taco salad

Snack trail mix of nuts and fruit..
Dinner still working on that

[RAWmen-Noodles]

After last night, I did not hink I was going to make it. I feel so clouded and heavy but yet healthy and happy. I am happy that my body is no longer wanting he big recipes and going a little more simple. Here is my plan for the day.
lemonwater
breakfast-lots of water (not too hungry)
snack-chocolate no bake cookies
lunch-big salad and smoothie
snack-half a melon
dinner-more pizza
snack-smoothie
lots of water all day

[Rastadawta]

6ood day yesterday. no slip ups and ate very mild. lots of fruits and smoothies. today my co-workers are coming. so i am making vegan meals and raw foods for self. just had some carrot juice.. yum. dinner I may have a smoothie. Went shopping and brought lots of cheap veggies and fruits. very mellow day.

[Stacy]

My caffeine withdrawal is finally nearing the end, although I was still a bit groggy this morning. That could just be plain old detox too. Yesterday I ended up having some pecans and then had a salad with a hemp dressing for dinner, in a collard wrap from my garden.

Today I've had grapefruit juice and 1.5 mangoes so far. My weight is down. I realized I posted my starting weight wrong on Tuesday, so here are my stats so far:

Starting Weight: 126.4
Current Weight: 123.0 (-3.4)
Starting Body Fat Percentage: 26.6%
Current: 26.1% (-.5%)

Not bad for only day 4. Still no walk in the park, but I'm grateful I've made it this far.

[morgan12422]

Still no alcohol or cigarettes! Feeling better and better every day! Acne is RAPIDLY leaving behind some great looking skin. Been at the gym everyday! Nose is still running and I think over the next few days I'll really start to release some serious stuff. Just not on Monday (please). Despite a sore and scratchy throat, I honestly do feel better! Today is as follows:

Banana

Avacodo tomato olives

Salad beans veggies (broccoli, pea pods, carrots)

Maybe spiral up some carrots and cucumbers and pretend it's spaghetti!

SW: 155
CW: 153
GW: 135

[shakti17]

thanks for the great advice sweetlime!

it does seem like an individual choice. whatever we need to do to feel peaceful and stay healthy.

i am going to reflect on that!

thanks!

[EatRaw]

GS..banana, cherries and romaine

Big salad w/ romaine, baby spinich, carrot, onion, celery..and 3 olives. Can you tell I have alot of romaine....hehe :D

Grapefruit

[floating]

Hi, excited to join the group this month! I have been raw in the past and look forward to the new experience!
Be well

[bowie]

Welcome to Day Five!

[floating]

Hi, it has been over a year since I have used my dehydrator. Shall I soak my flax seeds first and make them whole for crackers or grind them into powder?

Love them with nut butter(:

[mstrish]

Good Morning Everyone,
Today I will have:
B- Lemon pie
S- Green drink w/ kale, cuc, spinach, apple
L- Green drink and flax crackers w/ sliced tomato
D- Big green salad

Today is day 13 for me. DH and I went to a mexican resturant yesterday and they were very receptive to my needs and made me a special salad and had 2sides of their guacamole....wonderfully delicious....I want their recipe.

Have a great day,
Trish

[RAWmen-Noodles]

It is Sunday and day 5 of our challange. I feel like I need to drink tons of water and green smoothies today so that is what I will do. I am not really hungry feeling today but I feel like I need to flush my system. So today I do not have a set menu! Keep it up everyone. I know it is getting hard to some of us! Take 1 hour at a time.

[Stacy]

Hi, it has been over a year since I have used my dehydrator. Shall I soak my flax seeds first and make them whole for crackers or grind them into powder?

Love them with nut butter(:

You can do it either way. Of course soaking them deactivates the enzyme inhibitors, so that's, technically speaking, the best (although not the easiest) way. I usually just make a flax meal and keep it in the fridge. Much easier.

[Stacy]

Yesterday afternoon was tough. All I wanted to do was go out to a restaurant and get something fatty/cheesy. My cravings were so bad I had tears just behind my eyes. It's always when I get to this point that I just cave in, but I know exactly where that leads (backwards), so I stuck it out. I talked w/DH about what I was feeling: Frustration with:
--Feeling bad because I'm sick and heavy/gaining weight from eating crap.
--Feeling bad because I've got these intense cravings that I've never been able to get through.

Either way I feel bad & tortured, and I'm sick of feeling this way. Thinking rationally, I'm looking at it as these two dark tunnels, and I can take my pick. One leads, definitely, to a life of overweight and illness (my "thyroid" disease, which is actually an immune system problem, not a thyroid problem at all); the other way, the raw food way, leads somewhere that I don't know, somewhere that may be better. So I have to take that direction, because at this point it's the only way that has a chance of breaking this cycle; therein lies some potential satisfaction and joy.

As for food yesterday I had a few servings of grapefruit juice, 3 bananas, a large salad with hemp dressing, pumpkin seeds, gogi berries, red pepper, cucumber, some pecans. I think I had something else, but I can't remember.

Today so far I've had juice of 3 grapefruits. Going to have something else right now, but not sure what...

On to day 5, resigned to get through it. Looking forward to a better day today.

[morgan12422]

Day 5. Bye bye feeling great. Feeling as though God doesn't love me enough to let me throw up. LOL Welcome to detox I suppose. Headache. Nausea. I'd like to go to the potty. Still working out everyday. One of my good friends works there and now I'm looking into more and more raw supplements.

I vow by the end of this, I will look like a COMPLETELY different person and BE a completely different person. Just day 5 is proving to be a smidge rough.

It could also have something to do with no caffeine, cigarettes or alcohol.

Great.

Gosh, my head is foggy and slightly spin-ny. Getting through the next two weeks are going to be a breeze! I just KNOW IT! My body is releasing all the crud it's built up for so long and it's just going to regenerate itself to perfection!

Yahoo! Detox!:D

[llucky20]

Good afternoon! Today I ate at my first raw food restaurant...it was different...a lot of different spices I wasn't used to...the food was good and they served a lot..so much so I couldn't eat it all. Which is a good thing.. I cannot remember the last time I was totally full after eating out. I even had dessert..now that was awesome...So far I am really proud of myself for being 100% raw for these last couple of days..its been hard...but I feel this is the eating path I was meant to be on..

[tammay]

Hi, all! Well, I didn't do well yesterday evening but today I have a new approach. Someone posted on these boards a link to a talk with Paul Nison on the web and I sat watching that yesterday and it inspired me to focus on greens and a little more fat and less fruit. So I pulled out my "Raw Food Made Easy For 1 or 2 People" book by Jennifer Cornbleet and marked some recipes that would work for me.

Today's menu:
Morning: Melon; a little later kale, radish, and red onion salad with soaked walnuts and EVOO/ACV dressing
Mid-Morning: Green smoothie
Afternoon: Cornbleet's Garden Vegetable Soup (this is the first time I've tried to make a raw soup with avocado in it - delicious!) and Cucumber with Mint (also wonderful)
Mid-Afternoon: Green smoothie
Evening: Cornbleet's Grapefruit and Avocado salad (but I might use the rest of the soaked walnuts instead of avocado)
Night: one small date and a little raisins

Feeling very good with the greens :D.

Tam

[EatRaw]

1 liter lemon water
4 oranges

A huge salad w/ romaine, baby spinich, carrot, onion, tomato, cucumber and a couple olives....with Alissa's creamy avcoado dressing....man was that dressing yummy! So splurged a bit with the dressing :D I had been using her easy dressing vinager based.

Grapefruit

A few nuts.

That salad was great!!

[bowie]

Welcome to Day Six! Keep up the raw!!

[floating]

I woke up at 1am thinking it was morning time.....my energy level is high, look forward to keeping it UP!

Today I will eat
lemon water
apple, banana, pear
grawnola
HUGE salad- ginger garlic, nama, evoo, lemon juice dressing!
dinner- TBD (waiting for my crackers and avocados to be ripe.


No cigs, no caffeine no alcohol! When I see this it shocks me but it is truthful and painful (practicing non attachment)!

[morgan12422]

Day 6, YOU'RE MINE! Haven't lost any weight yet, but I'm adding flax seeds today and that should give me the boost I need.

Day 5 of no cigarettes, caffeine or alcohol! I can't believe I've made it that long already! Just the rest of my life to go! :)

Going to the gym everyday and sleeping like a rock! (until about 4 a.m. or so when I get night sweats)

Today:
Soy milk, chia seeds, flax seeds.
Banana, cantalope
avocado, tomato, salad
Bell Pepper

After the gym:
Soy milk, chia seeds


I'm SO PROUD of EVERYONE this month!!! I read your posts DAILY!

I'm really impressed about people being so accepting and not judging anyone else! It's a great world where we don't feel pity for anyone, but rather joy for their accomplishments! THAT is the true meaning of love.

Make it a great one!

[sweetlime]

chomping on a raw banana pancake with strawberries.


who knows what other delicious food will come my way today!

[llucky20]

Good afternoon everybody...I can not believe it...I made it through another day. Last night I let a cup of walnuts soak overnight..never did that before...even through the book said to...anyway what a huge difference....I was able to make more of my taco recipe and I ate a whole lot less of the nuts..because it made so much more...

Tonight for dinner...pasta..need I say more but yummy!

Keep trying everybody... I am really enjoying the different ideas and suggestions in the various postings

[Stacy]

I'm still going. Yesterday actually wasn't so bad, so I definitely went over a little hurdle there a couple days ago. I'm noticing I'm having very strange spiraly kind of dreams, where one things strangely weaves into another. Probably a detox effect.

Ate a ton yesterday which probably helped. Two BIG salads (like the 45-minute-to-eat kind), two banana/hemp smoothies (yum -- very simple, you should try). Had an apple after a workout at the gym. A tad sore today, but good kind of sore. What else? Grapefruit juice -- a new favorite for me.

Went to the store today to stock up. Just made a huge juice of apple, asian pear, kale, cucumber, zucchini, celery -- what I had in the fridge that needed eating basically (besides the kale, which I just bought). Need to drink that.

Although simple raw is my ultimate goal, I'm not going to crazy on trying to be "perfect" because that just leads me straight into the crap again. I read some of this book that was laying around at my yoga studio called something like "The power of 5%" about how small changes can add up to a huge difference over time. And I've already made more than a small change, so I shouldn't beat myself up if I have some nuts or a recipe sometimes.

Morgan, CONGRATS on your not smoking, etc. I used to smoke many years ago and eventually gave it up cold turkey. I don't miss it at all now. You should check out the book "The Easy Way to Stop Smoking" by Allen Carr. It's a fantastic primer on quitting that substance. I don't think I knew about the book when I quit, but I basically followed the same method. I'm reading that book now in regards to quitting cooked foods, because, although a different substance, I still feel like it's an addictive substance. It will become less and less of an issue for you the longer you stick it out. It's just the nicotine leaving, so don't stress about it -- say bye bye :-)

Off to the sunshine...:)

[morgan12422]

THANK YOU SO MUCH STACY!!! It's actually really hard and really easy at the same time! I literally just said 'I don't need this.' one day last week and I haven't gone back.

Coming from a former smoker, I know you really appreciate how hard this can be and all the support is so wonderful!

I know this is going to be one of the most productive months for all of us!:D

[tammay]

Had an extremely rough day! Had my first intense cravings since starting this challenge. The morning and afternoon began well, but towards the afternoon I started to really crave cooked food - not junk food, really, but cooked grains and veggies. Then I had an insane time making my afternoon and evening meals (I make them in one shot so that the flavors can sit until evening). It was literally going back and forth - making a raw cucumber soup, then putting some pearl barley on the stove - throwing out the pearl barley, making the raw pesto for my salad dressing tonight - putting some frozen green beans to steam - throwing out the green beans and continuing to make my salad for tonight and my Morrocan Carrots side dish for lunch - it was insane!

But I'm really proud of myself for sticking with it and of course the soup and side dish were excellent (thank goodness for Jennifer Cornbleet's book!) I'm much calmer now and plan on doing some yoga a bit later.

Today's Menu:
Morning: Bok choy, red pepper, and honey-mustard dressing (from Cornbleet's book)
Mid-Morning: Green smoothie
Afternoon: Cucumber soup and Morrocan Carrots side dish (Cornbleet)
Evening: Romaine and tomatoes with pesto dressing (Cornbleet)
Night: fresh pineapple; date and organic raisins

Tam

[EatRaw]

Still hanging in there....I think by being mostly raw the last 3 weeks of March has made this easier for me. The headache's and hunger pangs were awful then.

1 liter lemon water
4 oranges

Huge salad spinach, tomato, celery, carrot, cucumber and a couple olives...topped with a bit of Alissa'a creamy avocodo dressing...yum!

3 kiwi's

[RAWmen-Noodles]

I hate to say it but I think I went temporarily insane! Maybe it was the detox that was making me crazy but I had a burrito and I was made that I wanted and mad that I ate so now I am back at day 1. I am so disappointed with myself. Pity party over.

Anyway, I feel alot better now that I feel like I do nto need the big meals like pizza and pasta. My body feels like it wants more simple meals like a melon or a bunch of banana's.

I will soak some oat groats for some oatmeal for breakfast tomorrow morning. I am working on a crisp toffee recipe. I will let you know how it goes!

[morgan12422]

LOL don't beat yourself up for a 'slip-up'. Think of it this way, what was the ratio of raw to cooked before?

This is no relapse, this is realizing that you are human and that burritos are something your body likes, well right now anyway. That's awesome!

Let me explain:
Take a look at a typical guy and his car. I bet you that he knows FAR more about a piece of metal he's had for only a few months than he does about his own body. A body he's had for all his existence. If there's something wrong with his car, he knows it right away and gives his vehicle the best fluids and parts to make it the best it can be.

You now know another VALUABLE piece of information to your own manual!

This is just a 'tranmission flush'.

This is in no way sending you back to square one. You're doing great!

WAY TO GO DAY 6!!!

Keep it up!

[mstrish]

Day 14 and feeling pretty good. Still a little stuffy but it's getting better.
I ate:
B-Banana w/ raw creamed honey
S-Flax cackers w/ tomato and pesto
L-Raw nola
D-Lemon pie
S-Green drink w/ kale, spinach, cucs, apple, celery

Have a great day,
Trish

[lrpurro]

I've managed to keep a HIGH raw ratio [about 75%] but have not kept 100% every day...

We've had several challenges at our house: me sick, sick toddler, etc. But I have managed a huge green smoothie and really BIG raw veggie and leafy green salad every day!

I've also made it to yoga almost every day and am so glad to be back in a routine with it :)

Hope everyone is doing great and enjoying the process!

Lisa

[RAWmen-Noodles]

Thanks! I needed that. I feeling alot better!

[bowie]

Welcome (a bit late - sorry - computer problems!) to Day Seven!

[morgan12422]

Day 7! Sweet!

Man, today is named national Morgan has a great headache day!

Yahoo! Just means all previous toxins are 'moving on out...'

Today:

Tomatoes, Avocados, Sunflower seeds, soy milk, flax seeds, bananas, lettuce, peanuts, tahini, and whatever else I can find that is raw!

Hey bonus! I've lost over 2% of my body weight!

Looks like hitting the gym is paying off!:)

Oh and this is officially day 6 of no cigarettes, alcohol or caffeine!

My cells are thanking me! (or hating me, whichever LOL!!!)

[Stacy]

I had a big banana hemp gogi berry smoothie (which my 5 year old LOVED too) for breakfast and I actually am not really hungry at all right now, so maybe my crazy appetite is calming down. Glad I'm not freaking out like I was a couple days ago. Not that it will never happen again, but it's nice to know that it's not a continuous thing. I think if I wasn't on this challenge I definitely would have caved a couple days ago.

Morgan, you're doing awesome! All that bad stuff will pass. Those caffeine headaches have taken me a long time sometimes. You're right that the cigarettes are "hard" to kick. You know what I used? I had this image of Mr. Spock from Star Trek in my head all the time -- I know, this sounds crazy -- who helped me analyze my thoughts whenever I wanted a cigarette. He was always saying (as he always was in the show) "It's not logical, captain!" Like when you want a cigarette to make that feeling go away, well, having a cigarette NEVER makes it go away. All it does is ensure that you have to live through it again and again and again ad infinitum. Don't listen to it... it's a big lie. Life is definitely much easier on the other side of that addiction.

I try to keep the same attitude toward the food addiction, which I think is a real thing. However, I've never had any significant period in my life that I wasn't craving food like mad on and off, so it's really hard to know if there's a light at the end of the tunnel. Still, I have to have some hope that there might be, plus, I'm just plain curious about what would happen if I was raw long term. I've never made it past 60 days, but it's usually closer to 5, 9, 10, maybe a few times 21 days. Not generally much more than that, although I've been eating raw on and off since 2000.

Stats for week:
122.4 pounds (-4.0 pounds)
26.2% body fat (-.4%)
hydration level 50.9% (+.1) - I'm not sure how accurate this number is, but it's the trend that I'm focusing on.

So 4 pounds down, I guess I can live with that. I'm really into that show Biggest Loser, although I hate the product placement, and I'm definitely not into their dietary regime. I love how it's people doing something really hard that they've never done before, totally changing their life, and succeeding at it. I think I like it so much because I can relate so much to it. Anyway, 4 pounds is like a Biggest Loser weight loss for the week, so that's cool.

Going to the gym today at some point. Suffering from a lot of overuse stuff, probably from my thyroid issues, but want to keep active where I'm able.

[mstrish]

Day 15 for me and I feel great. I have eaten so far:
B- 2 flax crackers w/ tomato slices and pesto
S- Raw nola
L- Big salad
For later I plan on having:
D-Big salad
S-Lemon pie....yummy
Have a rawsome day,
Trish

[floating]

for those of you obsessed with food, emotional eaters, past "disorders" are you still thinking about food ALL the time? I have had this fear of getting hungry and stocked my purse, car and kitchen with options. I really am not that hungry.

lemon water
rawmlette (raw foods restaurant)- cocnut and banana shell, masademia cheese, cilantro, carrot avocado
sweet smoothie
WHOLE carrots, onion and tomato
dinner- HUGE salad, 1/2 banana

[EatRaw]

Ahhh...Day 7
Had my normal 1 liter lemon water upon rising.
2 grapefruits.

Huge salad of baby spinich, onion, carrot, celery, cucumber, tomato and a couple olives topped with Alissa's creamy avocado dressing.

A few nuts.

[morgan12422]

Hey Stacy! Thanks for the support!

I've found keeping myself too busy to think about smoking is really working well.

I can't imagine what it's like living with a food addiction, that must be really rough.

Being in the medical field myself, I can understand how chemical levels in the brain can make such a disorder seem rough at times.

Just remember one thing though, this is YOUR brain and this is YOUR body. No body else's. LOL

You're doing FANTASTIC and I can't wait to see how you flourish!

[RAWmen-Noodles]

I have a ton of carrots and did not have anything to do with them. My jaws are too bad to eat them raw and my spice cupboard needs some help. I decided to make a carrot soup. It was horrible. I blended some carrots as smooth as I could get them with my tacky little blender. Then I added some tahini, parsley, garlic, onion and mixed it again. I decided that I wanted some texture to it and chopped up a tomato, green pepper and added some sunflower seeds. It was bad. I think I might blend it all up and add some grain and make a veggie bread or something with it. It sends shivers down my spin thinking about it!

[morgan12422]

Oh Rawmen! You poor thing! That's terrible!

Man, I can totally relate too. I found out two avocados too late that Carob powder and I are not bff's.

I couldn't get the smell out of my nose!

Thank you for warning us about the evil carrot soup variation though!

Maybe there's just an ingredient that will fix it all the way!

This is the place to find it, that's for sure!

Regardless, tomorrow is going to be great for you! I just know it!

[michigan roman]

hi folks :)

i looked in this thread and saw some new to raw and talk about food combinations / recipes so thought ide drop of this link to an awesome blog with tons o recipes . at blog notice down a ways on right side it says ' this blogs recipe index ' , well theres a bunch o recipe there . link =

http://thesunnyrawkitchen.blogspot.com/ ..

ps - soy milk isnt raw and ide suggest making your own almond milk in a blender as replacement . just powder almonds in blender first using several quick pulse bursts , then add water and really blend it up then strain thru a fine metal kitchen strainer . and if you want can add bananas / carob powder / dry dates to this mix and make an awesome milk shake . you prob all already know that but just in case

[Veggiefamily]

My toddler was home sick today so it was a little bit more challenging to "cook" raw but I did it.
BF: Smoothie made with almond milk,hemp seeds, strawberries and swiss chard.
L: Beet soup with crackers and tree nut cheese
D: corn and sprouted lentils patties with guacemole and yellow peppers
I got a hemp sprouting bag and can't wait to start using it. So far have been using a spout jar.

[bowie]

Welcome to Day Eight!

[ReneeH]

Looking forward to a RAW day! Planning Green Smoothie, Salad, RAW Lasagne! :)

[llucky20]

Good morning! Last night I prep all of my lunch fix-ins before I went to bed. Today I have a pate on a sunflower seed bread....and pasta...and of course fresh juice. So far I feel great..no real detox symptoms yet.

[morgan12422]

Dear everybody,

Have a great day!

Love,

Morgan

LOL I feel like I eat the same things everyday! Love it!

Lettuce, tomatoes, salad, avocados, carrots, snow peas, flax, Green Peppers....

I think I'm getting a cold. My nose is nuffy, have a headache, and sore throat. Feel like I have a slight fever too with an icky mouth.

Sigh. If I'm sickies, I'll be a little upset I think.

[rawbabymama]

If it is ok, I will join the challenge. I have been 100% raw since March 27, except for April 2nd, so hopefully that is cool w/the rules. Any extra incentive is really helpful at this point.

Best Wishes!!!

Michele

[floating]

rawbabymama, you totally shall join in! are you a mama? I have a two year old.

today i am feeling the headache linger. woke up SO happy, did yoga and keep being inspired by the beauty around me!

this lifestyle totally resonates with my being, a lot of strenghth is involved and will power!

lemon water
grawnola
guacamole
ants on a log

be well

[rawbabymama]

Yup, I'm a mama to a 7 year old boy...:)

This community is really helping me stick to my guns! Very excited to add the challenge to the incentive.

Best Wishes!

[floating]

Morgan12422, these words have staying with me the last few days from your previous post!
"I'm really impressed about people being so accepting and not judging anyone else! It's a great world where we don't feel pity for anyone, but rather joy for their accomplishments! THAT is the true meaning of love."

hope you feel better later in the day.......embrace, it is not forever sickies!

[morgan12422]

Thanks! I will!

Have a gerat one!

[tvillemom]

Hey all! I've really missed posting. I've hurt my back and was on muscle relaxers and anti-inflammatory for the last few days!!:mad: (laying flat on my back!!)

I've been moving around some today though...getting in some extra juiice and tonight I will have a veggie GS (probably spinach, carrots, celery, some spices (like cumin and maybe tumeric {I think I heard this was anti-inflammary??}) Anyway...seems like everyone is doing great! If anybody has any tips, I would love to hear them!!

I'm actually looking forward to A Great RAW Easter!! :D

[mstrish]

Its day 16 for me and I'vve lost 8 lbs so far. What I will eat today is:
B- Lemon pie
L- Big salad
S- 3 raw bars
D- Big salad
S- Lemon pie

No green dringk today but will juice tonight so I can have it inthe AM.

Have a rawsome day,
Trish

[Stacy]

Went to the movies with my 5-yr-old and didn't eat the popcorn he was eating. Came within a smidgen though!

Nobody seems to post anything but their food here, for the most part. I'm a little perplexed, and feel like I shouldn't post as much as I do, but for me it's not about what I'm eating, it's about what I'm NOT eating and, therefore, the emotional battle around that. I would actually love to hear what people are going through, if anyone wants to share. Not a dig at those who only want to post their food -- fine too -- but I'm just trying to figure out the culture of this board I guess.

Been really tired the last couple days. Not sure if it's detox or just my normal illness.

On that note, still all raw and signing off until tomorrow.

[RAWmen-Noodles]

Hey Stacy. I know what you mean about the posting. I have been putting my issues in the blog area! I give a brief description of what is going on but I go more into detail in the blog. I do not want to offend anyone or drag out my post in this area. It is great though to read what everyone is eating. It gives me great idea!

[RAWmen-Noodles]

Today was not too bad. I had alot of water, a whole cantelope and some almond butter on flas bread. I am trying to listen to my body more as to what it wants to eat. It wants some Papa Johns pizza with garlic butter but it is so not worth it. I have been craving cantelope and celery so I will have that until my body tells me it wants something else.

Keep up the good work everyone!

[EatRaw]

Hey Everybody!

I was hungry all day today! I don't know what the deal was :confused: usually a few nuts or even a liter of water with kill the hunger...NOT today for some reason :( I hung in there...just ate more...but I'm hungry right now...prob have a few more nuts before bed.

1 liter lemon water upon rising
GS- banana, mango, spinch and romaine.

2 grapefruits.

A few nuts.
Another liter of water.

Huge salad w/ carrot, celery,onion, bell pepper, spinach and romaine and a couple olives...topped with creamy avo dressing.

Another liter of water.

Now to go get some more nuts :D

Cya tomorrow

[bowie]

Welcome to Day Nine! I hope you are all feeling fantastic!

[rawbabymama]

Yes!

I encountered extreme stress yesterday, and the only thing which kept me from caving (several times) was this community - I wish I would have had something like this years ago! Thanks to all!

Best Wishes,

Michele

[mstrish]

Day 17. Here is what I plan on eating today:
B- 2 bananas w/ raw creamed honey
S- Green drink
L- Lemon pie
D- Salad
S- Green drink

Have a great day,
Trish

[morgan12422]

Good morning everyone!

So I've lost 5.2 lbs! Yahoo! Day 9! It's not just the weight though, I've lost ridiculous inches too!

Can't figure out why everything smells so funny though. I swear yesterday I felt and tasted as though I smoked an ENTIRE pack of cigarettes. yuck!

Yes, it is day 8 of no cigarettes, alcohol or caffeine! I'm so darn proud of myself! I don't care how sad it might seem to some!

Those 3 things are the most abused substances in the world and they form this little tripod of doom (it's so hard to have one without the others) and kicked their little stimulating tushes!

It was an emotionally rough day yesterday, but I just know today will be better! That was yesterday, today is the start of something new!

The thing that is most fun to me is, pretending like I'm talking to myself from future me. LOL like, 'Morgan I don't know why you're so upset, if you had any idea what happens today, you wouldn't be so sad.'

LOL it helps :)

Today is banana day!
Green peppers, broccoli, carrots and snow peas!

Have a rawsome day!

[rawbabymama]

Congratulations Morgan!

That was all the cigarette gunk working it's way out. It takes a while, but one day you won't be able to believe you ever smoked! I quit in 98' & it is so foreign to me now.

The talking to yourself from the future thing is great! I am going to try that...it is very positive. :-)

[morgan12422]

Thanks Rawbabymama!

It's so fun! In the future we can be anything!

Like, 'Morgan, did you know that we're millionaires in the future?' or 'You're gong to graduate P.A. school with honors! Isn't that exciting?!?! Let's hit the books!', 'Hurry up and get to work/school, you can't wait to drive the car you'll have! It's AMAZING!'

You can literally be ANYTHING in the future.

Whatever you want!

I remind myself that today's actions form my future as I (currently) am the result of my past actions. So by talking to myself from the future, I form my destiny by what I really want to do. That way, in the future, I'll be the residual of today!

(ps it totally works!)

[Veggiefamily]

I notice I sleep better these days which gives me more energy during the day. I'm proud of my self because I've been execising every day. Yesterday I ended up having sugar cravings, don't know why but I hope today will be better.
Here is my menu for today:
BF: Rawnola, almond milk and kiwi
Lunch: Carrot & sunflower seed burger, celeric & jicama slaw
Snack: kombucha (I'm addicted to this stuff) and fruit
Dinner:Large salad with grapes & Dr. Cow's tree nut cheese

If you have not tried tree nut cheese you have to, look for it at veganessentials.com

[morgan12422]

Veggiefamily thank you! I want to try cheese so much!

You're the best!

[rawbabymama]

Thanks Rawbabymama!

It's so fun! In the future we can be anything!

You can literally be ANYTHING in the future.

Whatever you want!

I remind myself that today's actions form my future as I (currently) am the result of my past actions. So by talking to myself from the future, I form my destiny by what I really want to do. That way, in the future, I'll be the residual of today!

(ps it totally works!)

I am really into the concept of manifesting my reality, but I have never tried this particular idea before...I think it will really help me to envision a positive future as real, especially for certain situations which have me very worried lately.

Thank you!

Michele

[morgan12422]

Hey Michele!

You'll have to tell me how it works for you!

[llucky20]

Good morning everyone...so day nine...WOW...I made it. BUT not without some stress. Yesterday was HARD. As I was going home I was tempted to eat out. Yet I held on and got on the bus without buying any food. I was miserable and had a headache by the way. Guess I am going through detox. Anyway...as I am sitting on the bus...a women pulls out a huge sandwich and starts to eat it...in front of me...At first I was like ohhh...a sandwich.....then I started to get a wiff..(hope thats spelt right) and it stank..really bad. I was really happy about this...so I went home and ate my own food..

Last night I made the taco shells.. I am having them for lunch..they tasted really good.

Keep up the good work everyone..I look forward to reading the various post..during the day...gives me encouragement

[Stacy]

It's so nice to read everyone's posts. Not that I want anyone to be suffering or anything -- far from it -- but it's nice to read your posts of perseverance when the hard times hit. I'm really realizing that those really intense moments (like avoiding the popcorn right next to me at the movies yesterday) are quite short-lived in the scheme of things. The intensity does not last. In fact, I have that left-over popcorn in my house and it's not a problem (although it doesn't smell quite as much now either, of course!).

I too love that concept of looking at the present from the perspective of the future self. I'm going to try this one on.

Today I just had 2 bananas, raspberries, blueberries. Later I'll have grapefruit, more bananas, salad, might crack the recipe book to see what else, so I don't get too bored. Also had a couple chocolate macaroons (raw). I try to go easy on that kind of thing though.

Keep on everyone! You're all rock stars to me!

[floating]

I hung up gratitudes all over my house to help me on my path. (even in the fridge). all your words are inspiring, we explore the world through our senses so by seeing, feeling, touching, smelling tasting, did I miss one?!

hard times have hit and community buiding, raw foods brings light and clarity!

thank you all!

[EatRaw]

Had to be on the road today but before I left I had:

1 liter lemon water upon rising
GS- mango,banana,romaine and spinich.

Took a liter of water with me and a banana.

I wasn't hungry at all today....yesterday I was hungry most of the day...just couldn't eat enough :D I did eat my banana and drink the water..LOL but just wasn't hungry today.

So today was a light day for me.

[RAWmen-Noodles]

Today was not too bad. I still have a massive headache but the foggy, sluggish feeling is going away. So far so good! This is what I had for today:

Tons of lemon water
Tons of apples and almond butter

That was what I was craving so that is what I ate!

[bowie]

Welcome to Day Ten!

[floating]

for thoses of you with addictions, what do you do besides eat with cravings April challenge team? can we get a discussion?

as i mentioned, i hung gratitudes
walk
knit

share where your energy is going when STRESSED, CRAVE, HEADACHE. This is a challenge for me in the PM hours.

thanks

lemon water.....
maybe:
raw pizza
salad
smoothie

[morgan12422]

Yeah day 10.

Still no cigarettes, alcohol or caffeine. I even went out with my friends last night and found it suprisingly easy to only have have water.

I haven't been feeling really good for the last few days. I recently had a bad break up with someone I was with for a very long time and it's really painful.

I still smell cigarettes in my nose all the time, but at least the headaches are starting to go.

Today will be a salad, sunflower seed, sprouts and banana day.

I've lost 5 lbs so far. yeah.

[mstrish]

I have a little HA today, so will be going easy onmyself. I will eat today:
B- Almond joy bar
S- Green drink w/ lemon, kale, celery, spinach, apple
L- Lemon pie....need to finish this today
D- Green salad

Will walk today and maybe get a nap in.
Cheers,
Trish

SW 179
CW 171
GW 135

[RAWmen-Noodles]

I have no idea what I am going to eat today. Maybe apples and cucumbers and water. I really need to go back to the market but the 80 mile round trip drive sucks.

I will graze all day long!

(DH made brownies last night and they are sitting on the stove. They smell so good!)

[morgan12422]

What's an AH?

[rawbabymama]

Today was the first day in a long while I woke up without feeling dizzy & disoriented. I didn't feel wonderful, but I felt better. I only just now feel like I might have a mild migraine attack, whereas the past few weeks this was an all day, every day feeling.

My cravings are basically in response to stress/anxiety and/or the "clean plate" mentality (in this case meaning I want to clean my son's plates, so as not to waste food). Let's see...I am trying to amuse myself (like dressing in drag as Captain Jack Sparrow) because I find that if I laugh and am entertained, I lose the desire to hurt myself with food. This is how I look at it - cooked foods make me very ill, so it is definitely a self-medicating/self-destructive knee-jerk thing, having absolutely nothing to do with food; it's not like I want raw food when I am anxious or depressed or stressed out(the exception being raw foods which mimic cooked foods, ie, crackers), nope, I want something which will help me disconnect. If I am really hungry when I get the cravings, I will eat something raw and yummy and watch something hilarious online. I have been getting on these forums alot and responding to anything which I have information on, writing blogs, etc.

I am also using the "talking to myself from the future method" - thanks Morgan!

This makes day 15(minus 4/2) of being 100% raw! Woohoo!



http://www.geocities.com/rawbabymama/Oh12.JPG

Best Wishes!

Michele

[morgan12422]

Rawbabymama! You HAVE to make that your new avatar! OMG

Thank you so much! That totally made my day!

LOL Seriously, thank you for putting a huge smile on my face!

[Stacy]

Floating, I know exactly what you mean about the afternoon cravings, although it's getting less and less for me the last few days. I still have a mild sense of annoyance most of the time, but it's not a big deal. I think the reason for this is that a few weeks ago I ate all raw for 10 days, and I did it for 10 days a month before that, so I think I'm gradually getting cleaner, even though it hasn't been continuous.

My strategy in the past with this has just been to keep things on hand. Make a GIANT smoothie or something and get all that down. Stay pretty full. That kind of thing. I don't think there's anything that makes the feeling necessarily go away (like, you may feel full and maybe you don't want to eat anymore, but still feel dissatisfied), but I think just keeping nutritious stuff down your neck will help, and it will pass. It can be maddening though.

Today I had banana hemp smoothie. Later I'll have a mango, a couple bananas, some grapefruit juice, maybe a salad.

Having some knee pain, so working around that. Actually pain all over. Probably my thyroid. I'm just ignoring it and taking it easy.

[rawbabymama]

Rawbabymama! You HAVE to make that your new avatar! OMG

Thank you so much! That totally made my day!

LOL Seriously, thank you for putting a huge smile on my face!

Yay! I'm glad I made you smile :D.

I was really upset the other night, so I started messing around with black eye shadow...my best friend & I went to see the POTC in the theaters (complete with agave & fresh mint mojitos) like ten times the two summers I was away from my son(I had to send him to grandma's so I could work overtime)...we love good ole' Jack Sparrow, so I did my first ever drag photos and sent them to my friend, who is getting over a broken heart, to make her smile. My son saw these pictures and exclaimed, "Wait, he was here?! In our house?!" LOL!

One good smile deserves another!

Best Wishes!

[EatRaw]

Glad everyone is still hangin in there :)

Today:
1 liter lemon water
GS- banana, mango, romaine and spinach

2 grapefruits

Enchilada from Alissa's book

It has to be hard Morgan to give up cigs, alc, and caffeine all at the same time...I done them one at a time :D hang in there...I'm sure it will make ya feel bad for a few days.

[morgan12422]

Thanks! I'm trying. I'm not sure if finding out my boyfriend, of a year, has been seeing other women behind my back helps at all, but I'm trying to use it as fuel. ;)

[bowie]

Welcome to Day Eleven!

[EatRaw]

I'm trying to use it as fuel. ;)
You go girl! High Octane! :D hehe

I'm sure it don't help any...but...your in control of you! Don't let anyone push your button, don't give them the satifaction...your in control! :D

What a twerp! :D Best you found out now!

Hang in there...

C everyone on day 11!!

Happy eating!!

dave

[llucky20]

Good evening! Today was a good day.. I went to another raw resturant..and I had an awesome walnut..almond pate..over a huge fresh salad...it was excellent..For the first time in a long time..I worked away from a resturant..full and happy without any guilt..I also tried young coconut water...I am not to fond of it..its an acquired taste...

All in all I feel awesome...energized and happy..because I know that I am making major improvement in my life. I also feel like this eating style change is going be a permanent one for me. I like the variety...the various recipes..and the ease of making them...good luck to everyone in the challenge..and I would suggest trying a raw resturant...it helps you get ideas of what to make..and how certain things should taste..look..and even feel

[morgan12422]

Yahoo! Let's go 11! *clap* *clap* Yahoo! Let's go 11! *clap* *clap*

Going strong! I'm down 3.0% bodyfat! Yowza!

Heading to the gym!

Day 10 of no cigarettes, alcohol or caffeine!

[rawbabymama]

Yahoo! Let's go 11! *clap* *clap* Yahoo! Let's go 11! *clap* *clap*

Going strong! I'm down 3.0% bodyfat! Yowza!

Heading to the gym!

Day 10 of no cigarettes, alcohol or caffeine!

Wow, 3% body fat from 11 days raw?? Amazing!!!

I am very impressed! I am off to the gym in about an hour too.

I love being raw!!!

:D

[mstrish]

My HA is gone and I feel better. Today I will eat:
B- 3 Bananas w/ pistachios and chocolate sauce
L- Guac
S- Finish my green drink
D- Big salad
S- almond joy bar

Have a great day,
Trish

[llucky20]

Hello everybody...Day 11 we are all almost half way there...Last night I made the carrot pecan burgers...however since I do not like mushrooms...I substituted with zuchini...they came out great...but...they are taking forever to dehyrate....tonight I will make the curry sauce and have a nice salad with it..

By the way...I put my clean and dry salad mix into the green bags...my mom gave me a couple and they really work..my salad stays crisp and fresh for a long time...

I also made almond milk...but I didn't have a strainer...really need one of those..the milk otherwise is very grainy...taste good but grainy...so I bottled it..and will strain it tonight.. I am truly surprise how good these recipes are tasting..and how full I am getting.. I am still struggling to redirect my mind towards not wanting any cooked foods...I am about five blocks away from a huge fast food resturant..which I pass every day on my way to work..It has not been easy..but after yesterday at the raw resturant..eating..I couldn't care less about fast foods that are cooked...because I can either make or buy prepared foods that smell and taste great...

[morgan12422]

Hello everybody...Day 11 we are all almost half way there...Last night I made the carrot pecan burgers...however since I do not like mushrooms...I substituted with zuchini...they came out great...but...they are taking forever to dehyrate....tonight I will make the curry sauce and have a nice salad with it..


I must learn more about these burgers you type of!

[EatRaw]

Oh yea day 11!!

Today will be
1 liter lemon water
GS banana, cherries and romaine

4 oranges

leftover enchilada

Tomorrow will be different, going to have to be around a cooked dead pig :D (ham) LOL Oh well thats part of it going to have to be around these things, I can deal with it. Going to weigh monday.

[RAWmen-Noodles]

Things are going good here. We went to the store last night and I was able to stock up on my goodies. I forgot one key ingrediant for my spaghetti sauce....TOMATOS. Oh well, I have to have them organic and they did nto have any there. It would be so cool to have a tomato vine right outside. Then I could go pluck one and eat it right then and there like I use to do when I was a kid in TN.

B-Really thirsty so water
S-kiwi
L-cucumbers soaked in vinegar and pepper
S-cantelope
D-Who knows!

[Stacy]

Everyone's doing great. I'm really over the (first, anyway) hump of this, and am feeling more stable now. Would be great if my skin would clear up one of these days, but my thyroid's still off. It's going to take a good few months, I reckon, to get on top of it all.

Rawbabymama, the Jack Sparrow avatar cracks me up because it looks exactly like my good friend Bill when he dresses up crazy for Halloween or whatever. He's a nut.

I'll have to find me an avatar somewhere.

Out in the garden today -- the best place.

[rawbabymama]

Rawbabymama, the Jack Sparrow avatar cracks me up because it looks exactly like my good friend Bill when he dresses up crazy for Halloween or whatever. He's a nut.

I'll have to find me an avatar somewhere.

Out in the garden today -- the best place.

Woohoo, I look like Bill! Drag king experiment a success! :p

Now I just have to stay raw so I can win at Halloween this year!

Avatars for everyone!:D

[bowie]

Welcome to Day Twelve!

[RAWmen-Noodles]

I have no idea what I am going to eat today but if I tyoe it here then maybe that is what I will eat.

a shot of rejuvalac
B-green smoothie
S-kiwi
L-mango
S-coconut
D-green smoothie and melon

[rawbabymama]

Hi everyone! Happy Holidays!

I'm dealing with a holiday-craving for boiled eggs by eating avocados...it is doing the trick! Otherwise, everything is going beautifully today.

I wish everyone a wonderful raw day!

[morgan12422]

The veggie tray at my friend's house is MINE!

Sigh, sorry guys, it's been a really rough few days.

The second I sew up my heart long enough for the blood to stop gushing I'll be back to fun.

I promise to make some crazy avatars or pictures of fruit.

OMG Wait! I have those! I'll post them later! LOL

[EatRaw]

Happy Easter everyone!

Today:
1 liter lemon water
Strawberries and Pineapple

Broccoli soup (alissa's)

Not sure on the evening meal yet :D

Take care...its a beautiful day here!

[mstrish]

I had wine last night and I'm so hungover. I will not be drinking anymore wine. It's day 20 for me. I will eat today-
B- 2 bananas and some raw pistachios
L- Tomato, olives, red leaf lettus, cucumbers
D- Bigger version of lunch

Might make gauc.

Happy Holiday,
Trish

SW 179
CW 166
GW 135

[rawbabymama]

The veggie tray at my friend's house is MINE!
LOL

Tear it up, I always do! My people usually prepare a big veggie tray just for me; I bring dip. :D

I'm sorry things have been rough for you...you're in good company!

I hope your holiday was wonderful!

[Stacy]

Day 12 down. I've got a hankering for something heavy, savory, but oh well for now.

Had bananas and hemp seeds most of the day, just because I had a bunch on hand and I was too lazy to do anything else. Also had some grapefruit juice. Made a green smoothie with banana, hemp, avo, but got it way too bitter as I used this crazy plant from my garden with bitter leaves. Ate enough to not be hungry and the rest was worm food.

I can't believe we're almost half way there!

[bowie]

Welcome to Day Thirteen!

[morgan12422]

WE'RE ALMOST THERE! YAHOO!

I just don't want it to end! My acne is clearing up something AMAZING!

LOVE IT!

[mstrish]

Today I will eat:
B- 2 bananas
L- Guac w/ crackers made from green drink pulp
S- Green drink
D- Large salad

I can't believe how easy this time has been for me....I've only had a few rough days and little cravings. I think because I am eating less bad combined transition foods then last year when I tried 100% raw diet.

Cheers,
Trish

[rawbabymama]

WE'RE ALMOST THERE! YAHOO!

I just don't want it to end! My acne is clearing up something AMAZING!

LOVE IT!

It doesn't have to end! I am 100% raw forever! I finally know I can stick to this permanently; I have braved every situation which has set me back in the past. I just had to learn to be all raw when my life was not ideal, which is a completely different process than going raw back when I was 20, life was wonderful (except for my poor health, which raw food allowed me to heal) and I had no significant stress. :p

:D

[EatRaw]

Well folks.....WE are gonna do this! :D

Today:
1 liter lemon water.
GS- w/banana,papya, spinach and romaine.

4 oranges...I may juice them :cool:

Huge salad carrot, onion, red bell pepper, asparagus (sp?), cucumber, spinach, romaine and a few olives.

A few nuts or seeds.

I did weigh today...I have lost a whopping 10lbs:eek: since 4-1. I know alot must be water....but I drink at least 3 liter's of water a day, min. Anyway I feel GREAT!

dave

[llucky20]

Made the prefect crackers... they took 30 hours to dry...but they help with the crunchy goodness I have been missing.. I have been making more hearty recipes to stay full..I find that helps me stay 100 percent raw

[RAWmen-Noodles]

I cannot seem to get enough water in my system. Is it me or did we seem to lose some people from our first day?

Good job everyone! We are doing good!

woke-up and had a shot of rejuvelac
big glass of lemon water
B-2 bananas and some Jupiter Bread
S-3 dates stuffed with almond butter
L-big spinich salad with croutons, cucumbers, sunflower seeds, green peppers
S-3 dates stuffed with tahini and honey and half a cantelope
D-green drink and something else

[modernbelle]

Hi, everyone! So glad to see how you all are doing. Curacao had VERY little choices and finding fresh fruit/veggies was impossible so needless to say, I'm fallen off the wagon.

The good news is that I couldn't wait to get home to start again which I did today. I think it's a good sign! I'll be keeping up with everyone and starting Day 1 again today.

I also have decided I REALLY need a good blender and I guess a dehydrator too so I can make some new things.

Congrats so far to everyone!!

[Stacy]

Today was annoying as I forgot to bring bananas to a meeting I was going to (bananas was the plan), so I was famished and had to go to Whole Foods after and just buy some dehydrated crackers and avo. I feel like I ate way too much fatty stuff, but hey, I got through the day. I'm not anti fat, but I feel like fat was most of my calories for the day which doesn't feel so good. Tomorrow I'll be more in control of my schedule though, so I'll just call it "life" today (as in "that's life!") and move on.

Glad to still be here though.

Haven't exercised in a week. Trying to get a physical therapy appt for some injuries I have.

[bowie]

Welcome to Day Fourteen!

[RAWmen-Noodles]

upon waking-shot of rejuvelac (too scared to have a whole glass)
B-green smoothie
S-tahini and honey stuffed dates
L-???
S-icecream
D-?????

[mstrish]

Feeling good. Today I will eat:
B- Fudge
S- Green drink
L- Salad
D- Fruit
S- Rawnola

Cheers,
Trish

[rawbabymama]

Feeling sleepy! I didn't have any greens yesterday...I kept meaning to, but the kitchen was a mess and I couldn't deal. I hate when this happens! Now I feel very fatigued. I am going to make a salad in a couple minutes and hit the gym.

Best Wishes to everyone! Two weeks, woohoo!

[morgan12422]

I have the biggest salad today.

Seriously. I need to send pictures. It's a HUGE bowl of dehydrated apples, walnuts, spring greens and other things.

It's from a restraunt, so no joke, it's meant to feed like 8 people. Or just 1 Morgan!

Somehow, I've gained back the 4lbs. I had lost.

I think it's time to 'up' my game.

[rawbabymama]

I have the biggest salad today.

Seriously. I need to send pictures. It's a HUGE bowl of dehydrated apples, walnuts, spring greens and other things.

It's from a restraunt, so no joke, it's meant to feed like 8 people. Or just 1 Morgan!

Somehow, I've gained back the 4lbs. I had lost.

I think it's time to 'up' my game.

Personal question - is your elimination matching your input? That can account for 4lb if you eat a lot of salad, like I do, and it seems you might. I have also noticed if I need to go, the body fat percentage on the scale will be skewed (salad in the lower half of my body waiting to come out seems to = body fat to the scale:confused:).

Are you drinking enough water? Getting enough sleep? Eating late at night?

And - jealous! I want a huge bowl of salad from a restaurant!

[Stacy]

Not sure why, but I'm feeling sluggish. Really hard to tell if it's detox or low thyroid or low adrenals. My blood test I had recently should tell me about the second two of those, and I'll find out next week. Went to Bikram yoga today but felt like a big blob my energy was so low, like all I could do was flop around. First class in 9 days. Very frustrated with my state of health right now, but, hey, that's why I'm doing this challenge!

Breakfast -- 2 bananas.
Lunch -- flax crackers & guac, raw ginger snap crackers.
Snack -- will probably have bananas/hemp smoothie, maybe some dates.
Dinner -- gotta have a salad. Was going to make the enchilada recipe from Alissa's book (yum!) but don't have time to do the dehydrating. Maybe tomorrow, although I'm going out to Cafe Gratitude, a raw restaurant, with a friend for lunch, so might not want a heavy dinner too.

[EatRaw]

Tomorrow is half way thru the month! I believe I can adapt to this...its been fairly easy for me so far...I never was a big meat eater...I did eat my share of pizza's though (vege)...LOL :D and prob half of someone else's share :p

Today:
1 liter lemon water
Smoothie w/banana and papya

marinated asparagus and tomatoes

brocoli soup

thia cocunut water

a few nuts

a tiny bowl of banana, cacao, date ice cream

dave

[bowie]

Welcome to Day Fifteen - halfway there!!

[rawbabymama]

Good morning! Yay, Day 15!

[llucky20]

Good morning! And its a good morning...we are almost there...its been hard..but I am making it.. I tried making a couple of the more complicated recipes in Alissa's book... and I am learning that this really is a trial and error process.. As a result..until I get some more hands on training..I will try one recipe a week..till I get the hang of things. Plus I have been spending good money..trying different things..that weren't so tasty..when I made them. For the rest of the week I have some mock salmon pate...with salad or in a wrap..and some mock blue cheese dressing... And I have the walnut torte with a huge glass of almond milk for dinner..Breakfast..will be some juice...I found I need a more steady menu for the work week...as before with the SAD diet...I usually ate the same things..over and over...it gave me comfort...so I am finding out that I need that now with this eating plan...till I get used to it...Just makes me feel more comfortable..


By the way...I did read "The Raw Family"...it is a good book that I would suggest...anyone to read ...it shows how one family devloped a raw food lifestyle. It is inspiring..and its a good book to show others..that doubt children can be raw foodists....


Good luck everyone...and keep posting..its helps when others are going through what I am going through.

[mstrish]

I feel great. Have more energy and my new doctor made a comment that this is the eating plan he was going to recommend me do to heal my body....This is the first doctor that didn't scorn the raw food plan :).
I will eat today:
B- Green drink
S- Fudge
L- Big salad
D- Big salad
S- Some trail mix

Cheers,
Trish

[Veggiefamily]

I decided to do a cleans today since I'm going back home to my family soon and I don't know how the Raw will work there. Anyway here is what's on the menu today. First I had a huge glass of lemon water when I woke up.
BF Green smoothie with almond milk, swiss chard, acai, banana, Raw Power protein powder and spirulina.
S fruit and nuts
L Huge salad
d Another green smoothie

[tvillemom]

Hi all! I've been really lax in posting but I wanted to check in! Day 55 for me!!

Yesterday's food:
juice
apple
salad w/ sunflower seeds, avo, lemon juice and spices
lots of water

This morning I've had:
tea
apple/raisin/pecan mix

Lunch will probably be a large salad, eaten later so I might only have a snack or more juice for dinner.

My salad will have: greens, spinach, avo/lemon juice/spices (I use this for the "dressing") more sunflower seeds for crunch.

I will either have juice or a GS for dinner!

Hope everyone has a very blessed day!!

[rawchic]

jumping into the challenge half way through because I've been out of town. now that I'm back, I'm excited to start posting again!

Today breakfast is a green smoothie - spinach, banana & orange
lunch is salad - kale, mushroom, red pepper, tomato, goji berries and raisins - dressing is sesame oil, braggs, fresh squeezed lemon & sesame seeds
afternoon snack - apple
dinner is seaweed salad with same dressing as lunch.

[Stacy]

Yikes, 15 days. That's an accomplishment for sure, especially as cheese, cheese, and more cheese is still beckoning from the ether. Going out for gourmet raw for lunch today, so that should temporarily alleviate the problem. I guess I'll be getting the nut cheese platter :-).

I broke the 120 lb. mark today (119.8), so that's 7 pounds down I think.

tvillemom, is it getting easier for you? Smooth sailing yet?

[EatRaw]

Hi Gang! Day 15...yay....Happy Tax day...I paid mine last night! :D Now that made me feel good!! hehe

Today
1 liter lemon water @ rising
GS banana cherries and spinach

4 oranges...may juice them

Huge Salad with onion, carrot, bell pepper, asparagus, celery,cucumber, spinach and romaine with a few olives, topped with Alissa's creamy avo dressing.

dave

[RAWmen-Noodles]

I am glad to know that my taste is changing from the more complex meals (pizza, spaghetti) to more simple things like salads or a piece of fruit.

Here is my day!
shot of rejuvelac and some lemon water
B-Mulberries (yum yummo yum) and banana strawberry coconut water smoothie)
S-Mulberries and candies walnuts
L-big spinich salad
S-apple carrot salad with candied walnuts
D-??????

[Sico2]

Hello, for the first time to all.

I began my raw diet few (actually 3) days ago. My brother has been on such one since late 2007 or so, and only now I got convinced to follow his advice.
I've quit on all processed products such as milk, bread, butter cheese and meat.
Now it's only veggies, fruits and nuts diet. I usually get fruit salad for breakfast (with some raisins), some nuts for lunch and mix of veggies sprinkled over with oats for diner.
I have to say, this is a struggle. I feel way better in my bowels and can sleep a bit calmer but still I am constantly hungry.
Please tell me if this will disappear with time, as I can't cope with the constant feeling. It's a torture for me.
Should I eat more of the veggies&fruits, or is just the cooked-food-addiction kicking in right now?
I also try to stay in shape and do jogging, weight lifting, bicycle etc. and am bit afraid my diet isn't sufficient enough. Maybe that's why I constantly think about cooked meals.
Did anyone had similar symptoms?

[Imani]

i have been doing great, not late just sparking in after i mailed in taxes.

[Stacy]

Hi Sico2:

Yes, I'm very familiar with the feeling. It subsides a lot after the first week, but I have heard it can take up to a few months to go away, but it also depends on what you're eating, so I hear.

You can jump in on the current day's thread, as that's where we post for each day (so day 16, tomorrow).

[bowie]

Sorry this is posted late today! Things are busy here at AlissaCohen.com!

Happy raw day!

[llucky20]

Good morning everyone out there! Things are going good...but are still hard. Last night I made a huge bowl of corn chowder for lunch...and yes I tasted it before I brought it to work...I learned my lesson yesterday..the hard way. I used fresh corn...almond milk..olive oil..salt ...pepper..garlic and onion powder... and some shredded carrots..to bulken it up.. I needed a hearty filling soup...and the almond milk makes it so creamy...I am really looking foward to lunch today... I also brought a whole brunch of fruits and pecans to work...I am feeling very hungry these days..

Its been hard...these past couple of days...now....all I seem to smell is fast food goodies..that I will not eat...I do have to make a few more recipes so I can have some more hearty meals during the day. But as with all good things in life..it takes time.

I am proud of myself...I now have four people in my family going raw...They tasted some of my raw take out food...ate most of it..and were sure they could do this.. In the past I used to eat a lot of soy...which no one could stand...but after seeing the ease of preparing the food..watching alissa's dvd..and reading her book...they are now on board...I am really happy about this..because all of us have health issues..that are diet related...that I am sure after a year of raw...will be cured..

So I can say...you can change the minds of people..by example..and with the food..

[EatRaw]

Thats good to hear llucky20!

Going to be a busy day for me today, but this is what I've got planned

1 liter lemon water @ rising
GS Banana, Papaya and spinach

2 grapefruits...unless I get time to make some nori rolls

Huge salad w/ tomato, celery, romaine, spinach, carrot, bell pepper, onion topped with creamy avo dressing.

I haven't been getting all that hungry since after about day 5, if I do and it hasn't been 3-4 hrs. since I last ate...I drink a liter of water, that usually takes care of it.

Hope everyone has a great day!
dave

[rawbabymama]

Hey ya'll...day 16, easy-peazy, as my son would say...

Feeling really bloated...I am thinking of grabbing up an herbal diuretic - or just yanking some dandelions out of the ground.

Take care everyone!

[mstrish]

I am almost at the 1 month mark:). I am going out for lunch and dinner today cause friends are in from VA Beach. Today I will eat:
B- Green Drink
S- Nuts
L- Guac on top of greens and tomatos
S- Fudge
D- Salad
S- Mint cream desert

Cheers,
Trish

[rawchic]

starting 21 days of no nuts or dried fruit
I'm going to eat just twice a day - not sure how it's going to work...initially I'm going to try eating at noon & 5 p.m.
first up is a green smoothie: spinach, banana & orange
second is a salad: spinach, tomato, mushroom, red pepper & jicama

[morgan12422]

Alright, I'm back and ready for action. Man, I am so tired.

Here is what I do all day with my fruit....
5020

5021

5022

5023

5024

[morgan12422]

5025

5026

5027

[Stacy]

Tee hee, love the fruit, Morgan.

My thyroid is shot, which is absolutely ridiculous -- no other word for it -- since I'm 16 days into this (and feeling ever worse). Not that I blame the diet, and, hay, I still have a small sliver of hope that it's detox, but man I feel crappy.

Had to work till midnight last night doing some name badges for an event, and wanted to go to sleep at 8:00, so this morning I ended up having a cup of coffee just to function. Made me all mucousy and I'm not sure it "helped" anyway. Whatever, I'm not going to get all hung up about trying to get through the day under stupid circumstances.

On the platter for breakfast is 5 bananas with hemp seeds. That's my fave lately.
Lunch - salad.
Maybe I'll make the enchiladas finally for dindin.

[Sico2]

Hi all,
I am on a 4th day today, but still will post some thoughts already here.

For breakfast I had a cup of chamomile tea,
For brunch a bowl of fruit salad (apple,melon,papaya,pineapple,raisins,kiwi)
For lunch a mix of nuts (mainly brazil, hazel, almonds,walnut)
For diner a bowl of veggie salad (sweet heart cabbage, cherry tomatoes, red onion, 2 sort of lettuce, spinach leaves) and all sprinkled with oat flakes+wheat germs. I couldn't resist and had afterwards a nice little baas fish fillet baked in oven with few raw tomatoes.

Man, do I feel sh|t since yesterday..Craving is killing me. I so would like to bite on a pizza or nice mayo sandwich with ham!
I hope you all feel as bad as I do and can help me survive these days. I get headache, joints and muscle cramps and awful, irritated mood.:mad:

[RAWmen-Noodles]

I took the baby out for a walk today since it was so nice. I should exercise but I am trying to maintain the weight that I am. So I will just walk with the baby once or twice a day.

B-shot of rejuvelac
S-Mulberries and water
L-big salad
S-ants on a log and an orange
D-spaghetti squash with sauce
S-chocolate pudding

[bowie]

Welcome to Day Seventeen!

[Sico2]

Due to time difference, I'll start the post with my observations already after lunch time.

I feel way better than yesterday. Very nice mood, had a wonderful brunch that contained hazel and coconut, papaya, apple, orange and banana.
As usuall they'll be a nice nut-only lunhch and then a veggie salad as usual.
Weekend is coming and they promised us wonderful weather over here, so am looking forward to get my belly stick out to the sun and had a nice tan!

[llucky20]

Good morning everyone! As I am writing I am munching on a pear...quite good..and not too soft. Yesterday...someone mentioned...they were feeling bad while going through the detox part of it all. That made me sit and think for 17 days I haven't eaten any rice....I grew up on rice and beans..and not a week went by where that wasn't a part of my meals. That's something to think about....I felt proud of myself..because...ask me a year or two ago..to give that up...I would have thought the person was losing their mind. The weird part about it all..is that I don't miss it..at all...

Change is possible...and this eating plan...seems to be the way I was always meant to eat...just feels right..So I am battling my cravings..taking one day at a time..and trying not to worry too much about it.. I do have my slip ups..but changing years of bad eating habbits...is a hard thing to do in a few days...but its possible..

[floating]

I have been 2/3 raw the past few days and decided it was not the best for me at this time. My energy level took a dive. My mind is resisting this change. My body knows what is best, the two shall stop fighting. Maybe I can find a creative way deep within to cope like babaymama and her dress up or morgan and her food shows. My inconsistancy with food is like my relationships and teaching, eeks! It is hard to get to know yourself. Thanks for your words everyone(:

lemon water
apple and pear
lots of whole veggies- tomamto, avocado, onion
nuts
dinner- TBD

[rawbabymama]

Hey ya'll! This is a breeze...wish I could say the same about the rest of my life...

[Sico2]

No 2/3rds, no half half, no 20-80%. Keep it 100% pure folks! :D
(it helps me keeping it on 100% too...)

[morgan12422]

Good morning everyone! It is a glorious day to love and appreciate ourselves and this world!

As a gift to myself and Mother Earth, I am taking all the paper that would normally be thrown out in my office to the recycling center. (I do it anyway to tell the truth) But TODAY, I'm going to be really aggressive with collecting all the recyleable materials! See how much I can load up in my little Cavalier and save some trees!

Dear Raw Food,

My name is Morgan and I love you! Detox is a bear, but I'm sticking with you and listening more and more to my beautiful body that is perfect in design. I'm eating the things that are good for me and am getting rewarded with beautiful skin, happy moods and gigglely times. I no longer have night sweats and am sleeping through the night. My once cystic acne riddled skin is now smooth and glowy. And who can really complain about the weight loss? LOL LOVE IT! I will continue to play with my food and make it a point to appreciate myself more and more. To know me is to love me and no one else can do that but yours truly! Raw Food, you at your glorious 100%, is so amazing. H2O with lemons, avocados, nuts, berries, seeds, agave, carrots, apples, melons, lettuce, and everything else I eat today will all be in celebration of this amazing lifestyle and people who love it!

Take care Raw Food, I'm sure I'll see you everyday for the rest of my life!

Love,

Princess Morgana, Queen of Awesome Town (A.K.A. Morgan Cool-Cat Campbell)

*as a side note, I actually make my best friends children refer to me by the full title as noted above. I did it because I was getting tired of hearing my name over and over and over. I thought they'd just tire themselves out and not recite the whole thing over and over again.

I was wrong.

[mstrish]

I went to dinner last night w/ DH and a friend that is visiting from VA Beach....my old stomping grounds and his cousin. Well, his cousin gave me a beautiful compliment....he said you have the most beautiful skin and no dark circles under your eyes:D like all the rest of us and I was thinking to myself RAW FOOD!!! Had a great time and the waitor was so pleasent to make my salad just the way I wanted.....he got a very big tip for this. Today I will eat:
B- Green drink
S- Fudge
L- Salad
S- Guac w/ flax crackers
D- Asparagus and a small salad

Cheers,
Trish

[morgan12422]

B- Green drink
S- Fudge
L- Salad
S- Guac w/ flax crackers
D- Asparagus and a small salad

Cheers,
Trish

Fudge? How in blazes do you do that? I must know!

[EatRaw]

I'd like to know mstrish's recipe for fudge also...for a RARE treat :D
But...check these out Morgan :D

http://www.welikeitraw.com/rawfood/2008/02/better-than-sex.html

http://www.rawfreedomcommunity.info/forum/showthread.php?t=5031

http://www.rawfreedomcommunity.info/forum/showthread.php?t=3885

http://thesunnyrawkitchen.blogspot.com/2007/04/all-things-chocolate-or-celebrating.html

http://thesunnyrawkitchen.blogspot.com/2008/05/for-love-of-chocolate.html

As for me, I'm outside all day today...its a beautiful day and I'm trimming, raking, weedeating, mowing. Had a GS this morning and headed out. Just now came into to have a pineapple...we'll see how long that last me...the GS held me till 2:00.

For dinner..Nori rolls.

Headed back outside.

dave

[Stacy]

My plague on my face has finally started clearing and I keep touching my face because my skin feels so amazingly hydrated. Yay!

In terms of this 100% or not question brought up above, I know for me there have been times when I threw myself totally off the wagon all because I had a little nama shoyu (which is alive, but NOT raw, because it's a byproduct of the miso-making process -- my neighbor used to make miso) for example. So I think if being a stickler is going to cause someone to give up entirely, sometimes it ain't the best idea, but I think it's down to the individual.

Fundamentally, I think this whole thing is a process of learning to listen to ourselves with honesty, and that's why I'm finding it to be a beautiful process too. I'm not lying -- cheese still sounds good in theory, but I KNOW within myself that the ultimate effect of eating that will put me in a worse-off place, so I'm not doing it for this moment. And that's all it's about is THIS moment. I used to get all freaked out also about not EVER being able to have something EVER AGAIN, but it's not about ever again; it's about now, this momentito.

Had gourmet raw for lunch, yum. Simple food tonight for dinner. Two meals should be enough, what with my big brunch (which digests so amazingly fast!).

[rawchic]

yesterday I stuck mostly to my food plan, but I got a little hungry in the afternoon so I had an apple & orange for a snack. Then later I was hungry again so I had some snap peas and a sunchoke.

So much for trying to eat just twice yesterday, but oh well. I stopped eating by 6:15, so just barely past my ideal 6 p.m. cutoff.

Today I had raw kambucha and then a salad with spinach, grapefruit & jicama. that was really good.

Right now I'm eating a salad w/ baby bok choy, asparagus and sunchokes sprinkled w/ kelp & dulse flakes. It's also really good!

I'm trying to keep my meals really simple - ideally 3-5 ingredients. I'm not ready to try mono meals yet, but I figure this is a step in that direction.

[lrpurro]

I'm still straggling along here on Day 17 at about 2/3's as mentioned in another post.
Have prepared some really yummy stuff this week though!

Made the taco meat and sour cream everyone has been raving about--
it was delish! The taco meat is very good as is or dehydrated to give a "meaty" texture. Ate that in a few different variations with various salsas and guac etc.

Today I made a cauliflower Asian Fried Rice [inspired by a Bridgette Mars recipe] and a Teriyaki Veggie & Pineapple Skewers from Raw Revolution by Cherie Soria. They both turned out great! I also, on a whim, added some nama shoyu to the leftover sour cream recipe [which had thickened considerably] and then shaped it into little tofu cube like thingies [it was a great "re-purposing" of it!] to add to the fried rice.

Been eating cucumber disks with avocado and oil cured kalamata olive appetizers alot also :)

If anyone here was ever a fan of a Chinese dish called "Ants on a Leaf"--
I am going to work on a raw version of that on Sunday and will post the outcome :)

Still eating a huge green salad every day and lots of fruit and veggies.

Sometimes I feel a little I don't know, "weird," to continue posting in the Challenge if I'm not doing 100% every day...anyone else feel that way?

peace & blessings,
Lisa

[RAWmen-Noodles]

I really like the rejuvelac and kombucha. I can tell a difference in how my digfestions feels after drinking these for the past week. They are not the most pleasant tasking but you don't have to like it all the time. JUST EAT IT!

two shots of rejuvelac
B-cantelope, 4 ants on a log, green smoothie
S-mulberries and a green smoothie
L-zoodles with sauce and RAWRITOS (Yesssss)
S-Green smoothie and a tomato cup
D-fruit smoothie, mulberries, coconut bread w/ almond butter
S-2 apples and 2 oranges