toughing it out

[TP]

I just need to vent. It was helpful to read through the raw vs sad budget thread, but I am just in a rough transitional patch... Almost 3 weeks raw and have a very low amount of funds for food right now. I am 5'10" and was 215lb's SAD so that speaks for itself that I am used to eating a lot of calories. I am already down to 200lb's and hey, at least lowering my body mass is part of the solution! I am pretty low maintenance in general with food and my first two weeks back on raw were a breeze, just sticking to basic produce meals, but it must be detox that I am now craving more and heavier/concentrated food, and just more calories in general, but I just can't afford it. I know that's probably a good thing in the big picture, but I'd so love to go get some raw goodies right now, or go to a raw restaurant.. But I just have to tough it out. These cravings will pass... The way I am trying to look at it, is that if I were to resort to eating SAD, I'd be back on the path of suffering anyway, so it's not like going back to SAD just so I can gorge myself is the solution. Even if I have to fast meals so my family can eat and I can stay raw, I am going to do it.

I am also feeling frustrated because my wife is seeing me lose weight, and feeling better and it's motivating her, but we don't have the means right now for both of us to eat raw... Plus I think it's harder for her because our four kids are stubbornly SAD eaters and she makes all their food... I just have to keep fighting to stay positive and hope for more income and through perseverance being able to take steps in the right direction..

[Veganforlife]

If one can afford the SAD/CRAP foods, one CAN afford wholesome foods...
you CAN do this.

[TP]

Yes I can! Thanks

[T-Bird]

Keep on keeping on TP!

You are likely in a phase of some sort or another, so don't lose sight right now. When the going gets tough - I generally go to bed, because "tomorrow is another day" and I'd rather try to catch up on sleep than lose my focus, lol!

And the sleep helps too!

In terms of the family, here is my suggestions:

Lots of time, I require my kids to have a nice glass of water before a juice or other beverage.

A small serving of fruit to "earn" their tater chips or what not.

It helps when you say

"Yes, you can have whatever you want, just have a little something healthy first"

Always have a large tossed salad on the table with your sitdown meals. You can make it, and then your wife can partake of it also.


Maybe, start doing courses. You can disguise that your ultierior motive is to move to healthier things....by having either a soup or a salad before the main course. {{One thing I've done to make a healthier soup is to just make a regular cooked soup with a thin salted broth then add some carrot/celery/parsley/tomato juice to it. So partially raw.}}

Then just move to salads as the first course, or maybe you can find some raw soups everyone likes.


When I do this, my kids have just a small salad, then on to the main course. I just help myself to more salad, so it doesn't go to waste. We keep the dressings separate as they like bottled and have not yet acquired a taste for raw dressings. I'm happy with just some olive oil and a sprinkle of salt, so I'm not making dressings either, hopefully will get there though, to increase their raw.

Maybe eat some sweet corn for a fuller feel, if you can find a way to make the onion bread - that would help you out, but you need a dehydrator......

In terms of your wife, try to make sure you're making enough raw food for both of you. Then she can start to get more into her diet.

Every bit counts:)

[Dimond]

You can make denser liquid meals like soups or smoothies and add avocado or other fats to make it more filling. An inexpensive sunflower seed pate can be made and used in wraps or other meal.

Just some ideas. Keep at it! :)

[rawrawks]

You can do this. This is a feeling and it will pass. Its not worth it to go back to the path of suffering. Dont do it.

Do what you can...buy a buncha bananas and mono eat. Yes fast and see how great that will be for your body.

It will be ok...keep going and it will pass. We are with you.

[katchmoleen]

I suggest you go to my Big Family Small Income blog to learn other ways you can save money so you have more to spend on food. Can you drop your cable? Cell Phones? Find cheaper internet? Sell a car and buy one on cash so you have no payments? Buy things used? Sell stuff on ebay or Craig's list? We live radically cheaply and I know it is not for everyone, but it gets the job done. It is harder if you are already living cheaply. Yes, beans and rice and hamburger and frozen veggies ARE cheaper than raw. Homemade whole wheat bread and granola ARE cheaper than raw. This is a fact of life and all the positive thinking in the world will not change this. BUT we all make choices and maybe you can make the choice to live without some other things you used to think were essential for the sake of your and your family's health.

[coco]

I already like your blog, thanks for it.
I feel the same way, if you are already living on a tight budget it is hard to afford fresh produce, nuts, avos, etc, especially in the winter! In summer there is foraging that can be done, fresh that can be frozen or dehydrated (if you own that fancy expensive machine or know how to make a box fan dehydrator http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/dried-fruit-recipe/index.html) but winter is when it costs the most.

I don't think it's a terrible thing to have some cooked foods, I know this isn't the ideal but it is better than stressing out (worse for you than anything you eat!) and stressing out your family. I also think that a slow transition can be a great way to ease family into eating more raw, it can be so gradual as to be hardly noticable! Eating a high percentage of raw is still great for your health and eating any percentage of raw has benefits too.

I second the suggestion about sunflower seed pate, I use pumpkin seeds too which are very good for men. You can make this in many flavours, it's filling and versatile and best of all you can grow sunflowers in your yard and harvest the bounty to use for months.

[TP]

Thanks for all the good input and encouragement! Today is an easier day. I know if I can get through these financially lean times raw then I can make it through in the long term. In short term, I am feeling like I am going to have compromise a bit and eat more fat (nuts) to get more calories. Otherwise I am just feeling hungry all the time.. I think sunflower seeds will be my next experiment. I have always been more of a brazil nut and pumpkin seed (in my green smoothies) guy...

Thanks for your blog link and ideas Katchmo. We've been working on reducing expenses as much as we feel like we can ever since my wife's business died last year and we lost half of our income.. While I know we could sacrifice further, it's always a tradeoff and a battle with our addictions. I just have to have my premium bandwidth! :D

[T-Bird]

Yes, beans and rice and hamburger and frozen veggies ARE cheaper than raw. Homemade whole wheat bread and granola ARE cheaper than raw.

I'm taking this challenge on, baby!

I'm waiting for the delivery of my "Four Seasons Harvest" book and I'll be gardening all year round.

For the price of one package of organic baby arugula, I can buy seeds for a whole year's worth of salads!

I will still need to buy avocados, bananas, and nuts. But I am going to do fruit trees, berry bushes, grape vines......

I just need to develop my skills!

[T-Bird]

TP:

How about doing some container gardening for fresh greens and herbs? It's a start on cost reductions.