Working in a SAD world

[CathyA.]

Does anyone have conflicting feelings about being raw and their job?
I'm a restaurant manager who also bartends and serves. I don't nessesarily have anything against people eating dead food or drinking....but I do feel conflicted. I bring in my green smoothies and my "weird" food and my co-workers and some of my regular customers are curious. I give out information when I am asked, but I can't openly say what I think about eating dead animal flesh and overly processed food.

I'm not saying that I would give up my job. It is what I am good at, and I make a very nice living. Yet...my mind goes to this question quite often.

Just wondering if anyone else out there had similar thoughts.

[Aleesha Sattva]

all the time... but i tend to leave others to their own path and focus on my own :)

[Amii]

Yes, just last week I started waitressing in a restaurant in the city centre - it was my only job option (I hate waitressing..) - and all we serve is incredibly heavy cooked food. I sometimes feel guilty selling things like lasagne and pie to the obese people who come in there for their lunch, because I know what it's doing to them and they don't.

But then I just need to get on with it because you have to do these things to get by in the social scene!! :P Besides, if they wanted to change they'd have discovered raw foods by themselves, hopefully.

[ShelShel]

This is actually one of the reasons that I've had a hard time getting back to raw....my co-workers. :rolleyes: They are constantly bringing in and ordering in items to be shared by everyone. They sabotage the least little hope anyone has of eating well and when I tried to step outside of it, they all treated me as an outsider. So. I've applied for a different job inside the same company. :D I can't go without work either...and I love, love, love my job...so. The next best thing, an office by myself where there is less discussion of food all the time. (Two women there are currently pregnant and can think of nothing but burgers and ice cream. :p)

I started back to 100% raw today and decided that even if the new job doesn't happen, I'm simply going to be me and eat my lifestyle, not theirs.

But I hear ya...it's hard to be around all the time.

[CathyA.]

Shel--I hope you get the new position. If not--you've got the right attitude. You have to be you.:D I'm ripping this off from some one around here----Leave others to their otherness.

[kgarrett]

Shel - I totally understand what you are talking about. I have a social group and we always get together for food stuff. Fortunately, they are at the point that they are excited to try what I bring in and are supportive. They thought I was a little crazy at first but, didn't try to sabotage my efforts besides having lots of my yummy cooked favs around. I recommend that you just bring what you want to eat with you and try to not take the ribbing personally. Eventually it will stop. I am more disturbed that it seems you are ostracized from a group for being raw but, I have a feeling that will stop if you just feel comfortable with your decision, aren't judgmental about theirs, and feel comfortable being with them while the eat their cooked food.

[Riiiya]

at some point i also felt negative toward other people's food choices at work but it's such a self-destructive thing to do.. it might eventually drive you crazy.

from my personal experience, i would try not to think of their food as "dead" or anything negative at all. everyone's on their own path on their own pace. You'll be much happier and healthier if you don't judge and criticize foods that are not raw (even in your head).
You have your choices and you're open to share the info when someone's ready to listen- otherwise your diet is your own business! ;)

just my humble opinion :)

[CathyA.]

Good point Riiya. I hadn't thought of the term "dead food" as being judgemental....but it is. I'm going to work on that. Thanks for pointing that out.:D

I've had this verse going through my head lately, and I know that I don't have it exactly right, but, it goes something like this.

How can you see the speck in your freinds eye and not see the log in your own.

[Riiiya]

hehe that's a great saying, CathyA. I actually thought it exists only in Russian, but i guess you guys have the english version for it!!

[Evie]

Even in a non- restaurant job it is hard. My challenge comes to play in the classroom and cafeteria. The health and science curriculum mandates teachers teach about the "USDA Food Pyramid." Kids bring candy and junk food to share on birthdays. "All foods must be prepackaged." Therefore, parents find it easier to pick up junkfood. The cafe serves only junk food. The raw fruits and veggies they do serve are wilted and gross looking. Students are required to drink there milk. I have even heard other teacher telling kids to not worry about eating anything but their milk and meat. (Due to only 15 minute lunch.) Other teachers think I am strange to drink a smoothie or juice for lunch. I have had two tell me to make sure I add protein:rolleyes: powder to them. I brought my Champion to class and made Banana Ice cream. The kids and other teachers loved it.

[Maintime]

Remember, there is a fine line between advising if someone asks and being "preachy".

I find the best advertisement for this lifestyle is just living it. I constantly get compliments of "wow you've lost weight" and "my you look some much alive" and when they ask me how, I explain it to them. Usually the results speak for themselves. I have already had two converts. :)

If you get up on a soapbox and tell SAD eaters what they are doing to themselves, they just shut down.

Raw food for thought. :)

As for the workplace, it is really tough. Food is used in a lot of social situations and it's hard to say no a lot. My advice is to just keep handy a lot of tasty raw foods that you like. If the gals at work get a big pizza, have a couple bananas. You won't be so tempted.

[Shels]

I work in a coffee shop/cafe, and serve people decadent pastries and lamb dishes and coffee all day... I also bring my green smoothies to work. :D My coworkers all poke fun (in a friendly way), and think I'm a bit weird. But, I have introduced the idea of healthier food to them, and a few days ago someone actually tried my green smoothie and liked it.
If I weren't working this job, someone else would be. My absence will not stop the customers coming in and ordering what they want to eat. But my presence (and my smoothies) can make small ripples of awareness. :)

You make more of a difference than you think.

[CathyA.]

Yeah...weird. I get called that alot too. But not in a mean way. I make a smoothie that I call a green meanie alot at work. Spinach, banana, cinnamon and water. I always got the ewwww gross about it untill I finally convinced one of my co-workers to try it out. MMMMmmm thats good. Tastes just like banana. LOL. Huh..thats what I've said all along. Now every time I make one...there is a cup out there waiting for a share. Yeah!!!!

But yes, the preaching thing is no good. I just bring my "weird" food and if people want to try it...I share. I'd say that nine times out of ten, people like it. It is not my job to convert anyone nor is it anyone's job to convert me.

[dottywine]

Yes, just last week I started waitressing in a restaurant in the city centre - it was my only job option (I hate waitressing..) - and all we serve is incredibly heavy cooked food. I sometimes feel guilty selling things like lasagne and pie to the obese people who come in there for their lunch, because I know what it's doing to them and they don't.

But then I just need to get on with it because you have to do these things to get by in the social scene!! :P Besides, if they wanted to change they'd have discovered raw foods by themselves, hopefully.

BWAHAHA! I couldn't work there. I'd always crack up when I hand them their order. It gets me every single time. Just the other day, I saw a man so obese, he needed a walking cart to get around. I saw him open the door to his car, and the driver seat had an incredibly huge groove in it. In the cup older was a BIG GULP. He took a long sip before driving off. Ahhh, I was bawlin'!

But, no. Just because someone wants to change does NOT mean they will discover raw foods. My mom was looking for cures to cancer for my father and she NEVER discovered raw food lifestyle/dieting. She did find a lot of diet information that helped my dad (more vegetables, no grains, stuff like that). So yah... don't tell yourself a little lie like that. People are ignorant and they may continue to be ignorant, even if they are trying to not be! It sucks.

[Pop Tart]

I have a tough time too. I'm an Executive Chef....trained up the wazoo about cooking food and I have my own chocolate business!
I just discovered the raw way of eating and I've been experimenting for about 1 1/2 months now.
I'm not judgemental in any way because, hey, I was just like that not long ago, and I still love those foods! I'm trying really hard to deal with both ways of eating.
Either way, it gives me great joy to see someone enjoy food. Especially something I've made. And I need a job :D

[CathyA.]

I cook (with heat) all the time. My hubby is not with me on the raw eating. Sometimes I have guilt for making the SAD food. Like I am poisoning him. Don't get me wrong I am not talking about processed junk, but still. I just sneak a lot more raw in than there used to be. I make these huge salads for my hubby to start out with and most of the time he is pretty full before he gets to the "meal". he he. sneaky me. But you know...its not up to me to change him. And yes dang it....I will admit it, I do take pride in the fact that he loves my cooking and I do enjoy doing it for him. That being said....I would love to pull him over to the raw side of life.