Will preparing meals always be this complicated?

[abeautifulworld]

So, I'm gearing up to go raw, 100%, starting next Monday. I have crackers in the dehydrator, am experimenting with recipes, and just got Living on Live Food.

BUT...(it's inevitable, isn't it?!)

How on earth do you prepare meals that resemble cooked without constantly obsessing over food? Say I want to make enchilladas, for example. I have to start prepping for the meal a day in advance. And then I have to be there three hours in to put the filling into the enchillada shells. It just seems so complicated. And what about meals that have different parts: mashed potatoes and gravy with nut loaf for example? That's one meal. But to me, it seems like it would take SO much time to prepare it! Do you do this with all meals? Or do you eat more simply most of the time, and then prepare a few "cooked" meals every now and then? *starting to freak out about going raw*

Don't get me wrong, I really DO want to go raw. I just don't want to spend 100% of my time obsessing over meals and what to make and keeping myself organized in the kitchen!

[freshlight]

I love it simple all the time. You don't "have to" do anything at all,- make it fun and enjoy.

[abeautifulworld]

I know I don't "have" to do anything. I guess I'm just afraid that if I don't have quick access to substitute foods that I know I'm going to crave, that I'll give in to cooked food cravings!

[snoops]

I found the exact same problem and it has in fact made me turn away from all raw. i want/need a SAD substitute to start at least and the subs are not very good AND they take a lot of pre-planning and work. AND they seem to taste good the first time and then...meh not so much!!

Not giving up on it but you are right it is a problem. Maybe one day I'll be OK with an apple and a salad and a handful of nuts for a meal...

[cbritton]

It does take awhile to prepare some of the more complex recipes in that book and you really do have to plan ahead. However, there are plenty of wonderful recipes that can be made in just a few minutes, and it's always good to have a few of those in mind for those "need to eat right now" times.
What is extremely helpful for me with cravings is having plenty of things on hand. I'm a salty treat freak, so I have to make sure I have plenty of kale chips, crackers, and spiced nuts on hand for cravings. It makes it much easier to continue to eat raw and not be tempted to go back to SAD.
It does take a bit to get used to, but I promise the reward is sooo worth it. And once you get used to making some of these recipes, you'll see that it really doesn't take much active time at all!
Good luck and we're always here for support!

[EZ rider]

There's lots of different ways to do raw ranging from preparing complicated gourmet meals to just peeling a banana and eating it as is. Good luck.

[Dimond]

I never wasted time on that because I never liked cooking so I definitely didn't want to do that with raw. I don't even own a dehydrator. I've always kept it to very simple meals-even the gourmet ones. Then I supplemented with pre-made food/snacks I bought elsewhere. Eventually my diet has become progressively simple to where I rarely even eat anything complex. For those that don't love food prep, the key to sticking with raw is to keep it as simple as possible.

[T-Bird]

It does take awhile to prepare some of the more complex recipes in that book and you really do have to plan ahead. However, there are plenty of wonderful recipes that can be made in just a few minutes, and it's always good to have a few of those in mind for those "need to eat right now" times.

even a salad takes more than just a few minutes!!!

opening a can of something - yes.

Fresh food - no.

[snoops]

Kale chips, rawrittos, love 'em. If theres nothing else around. But my family eats crackers and bread and so its always around and I like crackers better than rawrittos, I like chips better than kale chips. I feel like I could do this if I lived on my own. Cause I just wouldn't buy it but...

Thank goodness for green smoothies and juicing. I am at least getting lots of good nutrients along with the bad:o

I hope the new year will give me strength to be better than I have been.

[beckx]

i definitely understand, but it also doesn't have to take a long time to make meals. some of my favorite simple satisfying meals:
- nori or cabbage leaves filled with guacamole and veggies (make the guac ahead [5 min] and it takes <1 minute to make)
- apple or carrots and almond butter (<1 minute)
- tabouli: parsley, tomatoes, cucumbers and hemp seeds with lemon/agave dressing (5-10 minutes max)
- smoothies (3-5 minutes)
- zucchini pasta (made with mandoline) with pesto or red sauce and sundried tomatoes (make the sauce ahead of time [10 minutes] and it takes 5-10 minutes to do the pasta or probably less with a spiralizer thing)

you can even have a food prep day where you take an afternoon to make things like raw bread, sandwich fillings/pates you like, etc. and then just make a quick raw sandwich when you need something quick and substantial during the week.

hope that helps a little.

[T-Bird]

hey beckx,

I'm really into time management issues, so I am constantly monitoring nd adjusting time estimates of activities by actually measuring time spent.

I wonder if you would time some of the activities listed and see how accurate you estimates are, as I could never complete any of those task in the time listed. My estimates would be about triple or more....

[beckx]

hey beckx,

I'm really into time management issues, so I am constantly monitoring nd adjusting time estimates of activities by actually measuring time spent.

I wonder if you would time some of the activities listed and see how accurate you estimates are, as I could never complete any of those task in the time listed. My estimates would be about triple or more....

can't time them right now as i'm fasting. even if it takes you three times as long to do them none of those things should take more than 20 minutes. as you prepare things more often you will see that eventually you can do them in hardly any time at all. can i ask what about the things i suggested seems time consuming?

[T-Bird]

(make the guac ahead [5 min] and it takes

Is this just one avocado's worth?

My estimate for 2 avo would be:


Take out cutting board, knife, fork, bowl, lime squeezer, bowl 1 minute
Get all ingredients out onto the counter 1-2 minute
Slice open, seed, scoop, mash up avocados - 3 minutes
grind salt and pepper into the avos .5 minutes
wash a tomato, slice and chop about 1/2 of it - 1 minute
slice a lime, juice - 1 minute
slice a small wedge of onion .5 minutes
wash cilantro, finely chop a good 1-2 handfuls 1.5 minutes
squash a garlic clove, finely chop about 1/2 of it 1 minute
combine ingredients, sample, adjust seasonings 1.5 minutes
put away unused ingredients 1.5 minutes
wash up cutting board, knife, lime squeezer 1.5 minutes

so this is over 15 minutes.....

- smoothies (3-5 minutes)

Get out cutting board, knife, vitamix container - .5 minute
Wash greens 2 minutes - but I know I spend a little more than that as I am on the lookout for hidden critters....
peel oranges, skin pineapple, or wash apples, pears, slice and decore..etc. slice/parition into chunks 3 minutes
Get out 6 ice cubes .5 minutes
place fruit, ice, greens into vitamix, and mix it all up 1 minute
get otu baggie of frozen banana and add about 2 banana's worth and work that in 1 minute
put away ice, banana, pour smoothie into a container 1 minute
wash vitamix 1 minute

about 9 minutes....

I make big smoothies, and it usually takes me about 15-20 minutes washing up the greens and trimming a whole pineapple of deseeding and peeling 3 oranges, etc.

also not including the time it took to peel the bananas, slice and put into the freezer....

[cara4art]

If one is always trying to replicate the cooked-food meal pattern, then yes, it DOES take up time, especially when learning a whole new way of preparing food. Once one gets the gist and gets organized, it will go faster because you know what you're doing.
However, along the way, and also dependent on one's own preferences, a paradigm shift occurs as to what a meal consists of. As one gets simpler, a bowl with a cut-up banana, another fruit, and some nuts is divine! The point of some more complicated recipes is for transition so one will feel satisfied, or for supplementing a simpler diet, IMO. Alissa goes into this in her book - in the beginning she has people making a LOT of food.
For myself, I keep the larger part of my diet fairly simple, with a day once a week or so doing some dehydrator crackers or something(helps with satisfaction with salads and spreads), a spread to plop on something, and some frozen treats. This way, one has some stuff ahead for one isn't into a whole big deal. I have my greens pre-washed and handy so they're ready to go, and I can just grab some of those crackers or a spread, etc. Another thing to consider is how one's kitchen is organized as well. Even though I live in an apartment with a typical kitchen(not known for spaciousness on counters - LOL!)I have my food processor, Blend-tec, and dehydrator always out, and a decent cutting board and utensils handy. It makes a big difference, and some days I can get a lot done in just a half hour.

[T-Bird]

Just for fun, timed myself on 2 smoothies today:


#1) 14 minutes
3 tangerines peeled and seeded
prewashed beet greens
ice
frozen bananas

#2) 9 minutes
3 pears - pealed and pared
prewashed parsley
ice

Greens were already washed and dried - di d not count cleaning out the VM as I didn't do it right away...

[contessa20]

For me, I spent a lot of time in the kitchen for the first few months getting acquainted with the recipes and how each food worked in certain circumstances. Eventually though, I moved into a much simpler pattern of just eating plain fruit, veggies, salads, dips etc. Occasionally I still make the more complicated dishes but it's only when I choose to now. I don't feel like I NEED them anymore. In fact, more often than not if I eat a big, heavy raw meal I feel pretty cruddy afterward.

[SevenKindsOfCookie]

If you've ever tried baking a traditional pizza and a raw pizza, you'll know that the raw pizza is a bit easier and less of a mess. The only downside is that you need to start preparing a long time before you want to eat it.

And I think that's the case with most raw dishes actually. The amount of active prep time that goes into it is usually way less.
Some things like crusts can easily be frozen for later use. It can save a lot of time.

Since I have to cook for my girlfriend as well, I need to keep my dishes very simple. I usually spend 5-20 minutes making my own food.
But every now and then I make some of the more complicated ones as a treat.

[christinajade]

I have to say that I battled the same problem when I first started getting into raw. It caused me to fall off and start eating mostly cooked foods. After battling the back and forth thing for a while, I kept experimenting with raw foods, just not going crazy. I have to say that after all this time, I actually prefer the more simpler foods. If you are comparing making a salad to microwave meals, totally different story and unfortunately, you will spend more time than that. Unless, of course, you eat an apple or something so simple. I now, always have some sort of raw chips, crackers, something sweet, raw wraps, dips, etc., on hand. Not all at once but if I have one or a couple of these things always on hand it is easier. You can make in bulk and this way you have access to easy snacks! I think in time you will find yourself more attracted to simple stuff. It seems like the longer you are on the raw food quest, the more you crave and appreciate the "simple little things." ;)

[T-Bird]

It seems like the longer you are on the raw food quest, the more you crave and appreciate the "simple little things."

But is a taste thing or a fatigue thing, lol!

[RawKnitster]

Three meals a day that look like cooked would be time-consuming. And I love to spend time in the kitchen. To save time have fruit, fruit salad, juice, or fruit smoothie for breakfast, a green smoothie for lunch, and a salad or recipe for dinner.

When you are preparing meals in the dehydrator, make extra for the next day (or two), or put the leftovers in the freezer. Some raw meals will freeze very well. Even though it does kill a few enzymes which defeats the purpose, it is nice to have that enchilada or chili in the freezer ready to go. Make a big batch of crackers or breads to have on hand. Crackers and onion bread will continue dehydrating in the fridge and keep for weeks.

It gets easier. There is a learning curve. I used to obsess and measure everything in a recipe. I still do, but I also throw recipes together based on what ingredients I have handy.

[anniez]

What works for me is something I have learned from this board - a lot of things can be frozen. For example, I always have Alissa's Marinara in the freezer. I make it in huge batches and freeze it smaller amounts. I freeze breads and crusts, too.

I eat fruit for breakfast, a green smoothie for lunch, and then prepare a recipe or two. I always try, if it's an appropriate recipe, to have some for the next day, too.

Annie

[T-Bird]

Three meals a day that look like cooked would be time-consuming.

Tonights dinner was cole slaw and a pear/parsley smoothie.....

Even that I considered to be kind of time consuming......I did do some extra cabbage and put that up with salt for some sauer kraut, just a pint or two, nothing big, one small head cabbage in all....

Now a vitamix and the FP to clean....

Maybe I should treat myself to a larger FP:confused:

[Gab]

Hi to everyone....

To me taking ten or fifteen minutes of time to prepare something raw is nothing compared to the health benefits it provides as well as how just plain wonderful you feel.

I hated cooking and I certainly don't ENJOY raw prep but it's something I'm prepared to do for my overall well being.

I think some of the comments on how long things take are a bit out of whack. Let's keep this in perspective. :rolleyes:

'Nuff said. I hope I'm not coming across as rude, because that's certainly not how this post is meant.

Love yourself... do for yourself. ;) ;)

[T-Bird]

I think some of the comments on how long things take are a bit out of whack. Let's keep this in perspective.

'Nuff said. I hope I'm not coming across as rude, because that's certainly not how this post is meant.

Love yourself... do for yourself.

Well as a single mom with a demanding job - I often am last on the list of "doing for", so time considerations are a key to keeping my life on track...

And that's what the thread was about....

[DebB]

I watched Philip McCluskey's YouTube video (http://www.lovingraw.com/blog)yesterday and see that he's got a newly out recipe book, "Raw Food Fast Food". He said that you don't need any special equipment and the recipes are 10 minutes or less. *Ü*

[SevenKindsOfCookie]

I watched Philip McCluskey's YouTube video (http://www.lovingraw.com/blog)yesterday and see that he's got a newly out recipe book, "Raw Food Fast Food". He said that you don't need any special equipment and the recipes are 10 minutes or less. *Ü*

Let's hope that it's a lot better than that awful Brian Au book and video. Avoid that one at all costs!

[OnMyJourney]

I watched Philip McCluskey's YouTube video (http://www.lovingraw.com/blog)yesterday and see that he's got a newly out recipe book, "Raw Food Fast Food". He said that you don't need any special equipment and the recipes are 10 minutes or less. *Ü*


Yes, I saw that as well and thought of this thread...but wasn't sure if it was ok to post about it here so I kept quiet. :o I do plan to buy it and after reading your thread about getting books spiral bound I now don't have to wait for his printed copy to be released in order to have it in book format! I'm excited about it and hope that it is really helpful as I don't have a dehydrator yet.

[RawKnitster]

I consider the time (and money) an investment in my health. Can't put a price tag on that. I think it is wonderful that we all value our health enough to do whatever it takes to be raw. :)

[abeautifulworld]

Thanks, everyone. I was thinking in terms of dehydrator recipes, I guess, since those are the ones that tend to most resemble cooked food. I agree that with time, I'll want to eat more simply, but in the beginning, it is helpful to have meals that resemble cooked favorites, just to help the transition!