Husband interested in raw, how do I guide him?

[LiveLife]

Hi everyone! I am have looked through old discussions and didn't find anything that directly related to my questions so if there is one I apologize.

I have been high raw for a while now and lately have been doing mostly (pretty much 100%) raw. My husband is interested in the health benefits he knows raw can give him but is intimidated in starting a new way of eating. He doesn't really prepare food for himself now so learning to prepare raw dishes won't seem totally foreign to him but he needs the motivation to do it.

When I first started raw the first couple recipes I made turned out so aweful! I trudged on but my husband was, sadly, put off by them to future dishes I made (although the ones I make now taste so totally YUMMY!). He hovers when I make raw dishes but is not always interested in trying them. He agrees that pictures of many raw food dishes look very good but is not interested in the "effort" of making them.

Whenever we ate together somewhere in the past he was always a sucker for the less healthy options (ex He would order pizza when we were out with friends while I would be more happy with a salad or wrap). He grew up in a family that eats TOTALLY SAD but he sees all of their health problems and would like to experience something better. He talks to his friends about my lifestyle and support me 100%.

So, my questions for you, my Rawsome fellow RFT'ers, are:
1. What are some recipes that I can make to start him on raw dishes or that he would be interested in making himself?
2. How can I go about guiding him in his diet change without making him feel like I am pressuring him?

Any and all comments and advice are welcome! Thank you for your time and support! :)

[Dimond]

Quick response for now.

Meal ideas:
Wraps-lettuce or nori, even better with a pre-made pate
Zucchini Pasta

Love Force has flat breads that work great for pizza. The Focaccia one is perfect. I'll add tomato sauce, salsa & chopped spinach and it's completely amazing.

[Springtime]

if he's mostly into the health benefits i'd suggest introducing him to the green smootji or green juice. they're the two things i know that seem to give people the fastest "results", which i think is important for someone who's reluctant to the whole rawfood prep thing.

if you have a blender he can make a smoothie in a matter of seconds, and have for breakfast or lunch or whatever he likes. Squish as much greens as possible in there and he'll feel fab in no time, and will start craving more raw foods in general.

If he's into juices, just make the smoothie and strain it unless you have a real juicer machine.

And, why not give him a small sample of every meal you have? like a small side-order plate of raw food along with whatever cooked thing he's having. That'll help him discover the yumminess of raw.

Also i'd try to stay clear of "the lecture", you know ;) Just guide him into the eating, and he can do all the research when he feels ready. unless ofcourse he's asking for it! But don't stuff him with nutritional info, i've seen it really put people off 'cos it makes it all seem so boring/scary/complicated.

Best of luck!

[juliebove]

Three things I made that everyone in my family liked were:

Nacho nut cheese, as is and served as a dip with raw veggies, or partially dehyrdated and stuffed into baby vegetables or chunks of vegetables.

And onion bread made into finger sandwich sized pieces and made into sandwiches with Swiss nut cheese, tomato and lettuce.

RP's brownies went over well too.

I have made the Tootsie Rawls from this site. Very good, but I'm not a big candy eater.

I have also made the lemon chews and a lime variation. Again, very good but I don't eat many cookies.

For the most part, the recipes don't appeal to me.

I have made a raw corn salad, but then wished I had just the corn by itself! And that is often how I eat. Just little dabs or mounds of various foods on a plate.

If nothing else, he should start incorporating more raw fruits and vegetables into his diet.

[Colorawdo girl]

Green smoothies set the wheels in motion for change, all by themselves. A green smoothie a day(one blender full per person a day) will rawk his world. It will stop cravings in their tracks and he will be drawn o raw and living foods.

To me, and my expereicne has shown, green smoothies are the beginning, the middle and then end. For raw awesome results!!!!! and an amazing life!

[T-Bird]

LOL!

I've heard that one before!

That's a big plate of fries! How big is your middle?

[LiveLife]

Thank you for all of your suggestions! Definitely worth looking into. Today he mentioned something that really surprised me, he said that he just finished the peanut butter and bread today while I was at work and don't plan on buying anymore, WOOHOO! I would have never imagined to hear him say that since these were his favorite foods for years! So maybe I should start by making something that could replace those things so he doesn't feel deprived of them? Like a nut butter and some sort of cracker or bread like you have all mentioned. Green drinks are a super idea bc I know how quickly I felt the change! Recipe ideas are all appreciated, thank you for your help :)

By the way, juliebove, how do you make nacho nut cheese?