Going grocery shopping

[guacamole]

What are some basic raw food essentials I should buy for making smoothies and meals (besides the obvious fruit and vegetables). Things like natural sweeteners, nuts, nut pastes, seeds, etc....

By the way - a friend of mine told me about Smuckers all natural peanut butter. Is this something that would work for a raw food diet - or would you need to buy something like this at a store like Whole Foods?

[juliebove]

Natural and raw are not the same thing. Peanut butter is not raw. Most nut butters are not raw. If it doesn't say it is raw, it isn't. I can't say what Whole Foods carries. I've never been in one. I've also never seen a raw nut butter in a store. I won't be much help with sweeteners either as I don't like sweet foods. I've used dates on occasion and a couple of times used agave. I just threw my bottle of agave out. It had been in the fridge, taking up space for two years. It was gathering dust.

[JennaHoneyBear]

just get what you like

when i go shopping, i buy 40 bananas, about ten bags of frozen fruit, some fresh strawberries, spinach...whatever vegetables I need for the next few days. I buy cashews to make dips...
then every now and then I stock up on agave for my sweetener, or dates.

I also stock up on sunflower seeds as they're SO cheap. I still have like 2 full bags in my freezer from spending a whole whopping $5 on a few bags a couple of months ago

[guacamole]

Thanks, juliebove. I saw quite a few natural nut butters in the store whose only ingredient was the nut of choice. However, the jars gave no information on how they were processed (e.g. cooked, roasted, soaked and strained, etc.)

[guacamole]

Jenna, thanks for the reply! I actually bought everything that you just recommended, minus the cashews. I did buy some raw almonds, walnuts, and pecans. I also bought raw sunflower seeds. I think I will have some now!

I also bought some raw flax seeds - although I am not sure what to do with them - put them in a green smoothie?

[JennaHoneyBear]

Jenna, thanks for the reply! I actually bought everything that you just recommended, minus the cashews. I did buy some raw almonds, walnuts, and pecans. I also bought raw sunflower seeds. I think I will have some now!

I also bought some raw flax seeds - although I am not sure what to do with them - put them in a green smoothie?

flax in smoothies is good, be sure to grind it first.
you can make crackers if you have a dehydrator :)

[Ms_Catherine]

Grab a bag of lentils for sprouting. They're very inexpensive and sprout easily. You can toss them on a salad or make a pate for a sandwich filling.

[Bagalamukhi]

not oat porridge

2 tbs of flaxseed soaks over night
Blended with two apples, a banana, and some cinnamon. Yummi.

[guacamole]

Thanks for the ideas! I have another question about pickled vegetables. Are pickles "raw?" Is there cooking involved in pickling? What about jarred or canned olives? Are these ok?

[CathyA.]

I've never seen any canned/jarred olives that were raw. But, that doesn't mean they aren't out there. I think Bubbles brand is a raw pickle, saurkraut brand. Not one hundred percent sure.

[sidrah]

Buy an extra fridge!!!

Kidding. I wish I had more fridge space, though. Yes on the frozen fruit. I also have been buying grapes and freezing them in baggies and take them in the AM in the car or at night while watching TV. Better at night than morning due to toothpaste taste making them kinda ick.

Raw Honey, maybe you'd like, if that hasn't been mentioned....I might have missed that response.

[guacamole]

Thanks for the suggestions. I like frozen grapes too. I bought some honey yesterday that had only honey as an ingredient. How do I know if it is "raw?" None of the honey jars said raw on the label, so I just chose one.

I also just bought this contraption online for making pickles and sauerkraut - I can't wait till it comes in the mail!

http://store.therawdiet.com/pisaandkimch.html

[shaycorl]

When i was in NY i used to get all the stuff from walmart as it was close to my home just in walking distances but other side that was really hard to find any grocery store with organic stuff. Now as i am in Toronto almost all the grocery stores like nor fills Walmart, Canadian super store has very wide range of organic stuff.

[sidrah]

The honey I have been buying is from the Farmers Market and the lady has a bee hive/farm/nest, whatever you call it on her property, so I know it is.

The label will say Raw Honey

[guacamole]

Thanks for the feedback. I haven't seen labels that say Raw Honey. I am out of luck on Farmer's Markets because the ones nearby are all on Saturday, when I can't go. Perhaps I will try Whole Foods or Trader Joes.