Raw Foodism and socialization

[SekhemNefer]

Since my father has moved in with me, he has been doing a decent amount of grocery shopping. I got him within a month of moving in to eat a salad once a day. He never tried Arugula before so now he is on a argula and spinach salad kick.

However, he doesn't want to be committed to raw because he thinks is about deprivation of foods you love. However he is supportive of me of going raw, which I told him that I would try to be 100% in order to lose my obese weight.

I know I have said over the months that I will be 100%, but I have not, because I fail to commit when people invite me to eat with them at restuarants, or home birthday and holiday celebrations. That is when I fall off the wagon.

I want to be 100% in June. A few days ago, a friend of mine is inviting me to his birthday party. In the past I would be non-raw in order to be a great guest. Now I want to have the guts to say that I would like to bring my own food to his party. I don't want to be pushy and ask him to provide me raw foods JUST FOR ME when he may have already a set menu of what he will be serving.

I am planning on announcing to all my friends and family on Facebook that I am going to be 100% Raw and if I am invited to a food functions I will be bringing my own food, unless they pick a restaurant or a home cook menu with raw options suitable for me.

I am terrified that this may make me a "party pooper". Or maybe this won't be that bad. I don't know, I just feel so weird bring food to places only for me to eat.


How have you dealt with this?

[klomasius]

I found it similar to going vegetarian, then going vegan.

The family reactions were pretty much the same, but by then they were used to my weirdness and bringing my own food along to gatherings. Eventually they even started making stuff for me! I still bring food along but there's also usually stuff made for me too.

The ways I got round it are by bringing my own (whatever you do, make MORE than you can eat as people will try it, or eat huge amounts of it if they like it!) and not focussing on the food part of the socialisation.

My personality is quite strong so I'm not just a raw fooder, I'm an easy going social person who does fine at food gatherings.

If I know that the gathering will be a particularly stressful one, I'll eat beforehand and take along some heavy stuff that SADers will like.

Starting off is the hardest bit I think, because people just expect you to be like you were before, i.e. 'easier' to cater for.

If you like you could say its a 'diet' or you are taking control of your eating to make yourself healthier. If this makes it easier at the start, then why not.

Set a goal in your head, then stick to it. What other people think about you and your choices is really their problem.

If I'd have listened to all the naysayers and doubters and dislikers in my life I'd still be overweight, not vegetarian and living miserably! You can't please everybody, so just try and please yourself when it comes to what you eat.

p.s. YOU CAN DO IT!!

[SekhemNefer]

Yeah, because here is the thing. I am involved in an outdoor sport where they drink beer. I won't bring the beer, because I know other people will. Last week I brought them some Dunkin Donuts, a dozen. Now I don't know what to bring them, because I doubt they will eat fruit along with beer!

Okay, we are boating. So they drink beer while boating. So I was like, do I continue to bring them donuts every week? Or something else? I don't know a healthy option since I eat fresh foods and don't shop at places like Whole Foods or Trader Joes in the snack section. And I fear if it is too healthy then they may not like it. And because we are boating, people need something they can eat with their bare hands very quickly while on the water. This not like a pic-nic, but like a boast of energy type of eating when burning lots of carbs and fat.

My family can tolerate me, because I have on & off raw foods for 3 years now. I don't socialize with old friends because they were toxic, so I don't have to worry about them. It is my new friends whom I am eating out with for the very first time, or have eaten out with them. So I don't know how any new people in my life will take me bringing my own food to their events.

I did post this to everyone on Facebook like 68 people on my friend's list.


Announcement: In June I am trying out a 30 Day Challenge of being a 100% Raw Foodist (eating fresh, organic and uncooked foods). I am like 70% Raw Foodist anyways so I would like to take it to the next level. So that means, if am invited to any parties, I will have to bring own raw food options with me to eat. Unless you can fix a bad ass salad, I can be happy with that. So don't be weirded out if I bring my own grub

I shall repost this every day from now until June 1st. So everyone can get a chance to read it on my news feed. Therefore, I will be posting this twice a day for 3 days straight.

[klomasius]

LOL, chill Sekhem! Don't stres out, it's all good! :)

I must admit I'd probably still bring some sad food to a gathering like that and just not eat it myself. Could you handle temptation at the moment? It might make you stress a little less if so.

Have you ever tried RPs brownies? I make these with chocolate frosting for the hardest social nuts to crack. They go down a treat and you can roll em up in balls and cover them in desiccated coconut for a nice hand held food. Just don't tell them it's raw!

You'll find the most comfortable way for you to do it.

p.s. rowing sounds like a cool thing to do! :D good upper body exercise too.

p.p.s. I too like bad assed salads.. ;)

[spicyfull]

Just remember, you are Starring in this Movie and its your life. You must only think of yourself. People will Always have something Negative to say and you will also have some Cheerleaders. So DO THIS FOR YOURSELF.

Making the announce is fine but I wouldn't tarry in lots of dialouge. Sometimes there comes a time when we must Blaze our own Trail. I wish you ALL My Best..............

[SekhemNefer]

LOL, chill Sekhem! Don't stres out, it's all good! :)

I must admit I'd probably still bring some sad food to a gathering like that and just not eat it myself. Could you handle temptation at the moment? It might make you stress a little less if so.

Have you ever tried RPs brownies? I make these with chocolate frosting for the hardest social nuts to crack. They go down a treat and you can roll em up in balls and cover them in desiccated coconut for a nice hand held food. Just don't tell them it's raw!

You'll find the most comfortable way for you to do it.

p.s. rowing sounds like a cool thing to do! :D good upper body exercise too.

p.p.s. I too like bad assed salads.. ;)


I can handle the temptation. When I bought the donuts, something I haven't done in a year, they didn't even taste good to me.

I would like to try a Raw dessert to bring, but I haven't tried making Raw Gourmet meals yet, but I plan too now since I will be bringing food everywhere now. And I need to use my food dehydrator which is not used at all.

And since I have a friend's birthday party to go to, I will find out what I can make to bring.

[snoops]

There is a recipe on here somewhere for raw donut holes. They are quite good.

[SekhemNefer]

There is a recipe on here somewhere for raw donut holes. They are quite good.

Awesome, I will look for it.

[Eva]

Don't be a party pooper!

Just bring your own food, with enough to share. Make sure it's not "weird" looking and extra yummy. ENJOY IT!

ENJOY the company of others, laugh if someone gives you a hard time.

It's all what you make of it.

I go to events that are not raw, restaurants that aren't raw, friends' houses that are not raw... and I never have a problem. I always have a little snack and salad dressing with me, as well as a sense of humor and fun.

No big deal.

:)

P.S. I just got back from New Hampshire and Boston, flew there. I brought salad and dressing and fruit both ways, stayed raw (and for cheap!!) in the airport. Again, no big deal. Just a little something different to get used to. You can do this! No sacrifice necessary. Just changes.

[Eva]

You know what? I just thought of something. I created several recipes for a dinner party that were a HUGE success. All fun party foods.

Eventually, I'll add pictures and more formatting and sell the recipes as an ebook most likely. But for now... if you're interested, they're actually easy recipes. Just send me an email, and I'll send it over to you. :)

[SekhemNefer]

Okay, it is good to know that I can still have fun at this and won't be a party pooper.

[ruffsongraw]

what *you* personally choose or do not choose to eat will not make you a party pooper. the party is the mood & atmosphere of the total gathering and not contingent on what each person chooses to eat. i agree, dont stress.

i made a SUPER fabulous fresh fruit salad a few wks ago. omg. it was to die for. it wasnt any diff than a fresh fruit salad a SAD person might make really.

as for the boating thing---if it were me i would bring a big quantity of super yummy fruit. what could be easier to eat? including slices of watermelon/pineapple--already sliced & de-seeded so it can be eaten easily. just simple organic & easy. great for hot weather too.

jen