Hello

[sovchr]

Hi there,

My name is Chris. I'm a nurse / physical therapy student from southwest Michigan. I've slowly been transforming towards a raw diet over the past 1.5 years. It started with green smoothies, some supplements, and I have been reading / watching a lot of stuff by David Wolfe the last several months and eating some superfoods now, too. I've tried a variety of foods to sustain myself with ... I eat a lot of hempseed and hemp protein to supplement my diet, but I always end up going off the raw due to various obstacles, and it is a vicious cycle... I feel ill, like a lot of people say, when they go off of it. I feel like the raw diet is optimal for my health, but it seems very difficult to sustain ...(I end up feeling very "spacey" and ungrounded after a while) the more I learn about our culture, with such a heavy reliance on corn, the contamination of everything ....even out to water, the more anxious I become. I'm really struggling making a solid transformation.

I get a lot of disapproving comments from people around me ... and I feel like I don't have a very good support system for this particular aspect of my life, since everyone is not for it at all ... It is becoming increasingly difficult to relate to my girlfriend since we used to cook together as a bonding activity and she doesn't care much for raw foods, plus she is a very picky eater ... (she grew up on macaroni and cheese and chicken strips, and her taste buds haven't changed much.) I don't really like to eat out anywhere since there are no places I really can eat around here ... so that really screws up dinner dates for us.

I guess what I am saying is, I need a little support with this... and I don't know if I should give up the raw food pursuit (as it may destroy my relationship with my girlfriend, etc.) or what... however ... it just seems like a calling to me.

[sport]

Hi Chris
We will help you in any way that we can.
First let me assure you that this diet does work in that you can get to feel very satisfied and feel full and happy on it but it takes time to adjust. I live mostly on fruit and greens and a small amount of seeds (and I do not add those every day) but it has taken me a number of years to get to this stage.
In the beginning I felt the need for food that more resembled what I was familiar with and used nuts and avocado and crackers to mimic those. As time goes on (if you stay raw) your needs will change.
I also share your feelings on the fact that you miss sharing those things with your girlfriend but you will find other things to share. I missed certain things with my husband but we have learned to adjust. I still go out to dinner with him and friends but take my food with me.

[JCB44]

Hi Chris welcome to the site. I am Chris as well, there is lots of help here. I too have some of the same situations as you. I haven't read much of David Wolfe, but have Alissa's book and have read it a few times, (some times when I am struggling, it helps me to read it again) She has some really good recipies that are VERY TASTY and for the most part not to hard to make. I have made some recipies and given them to non raw foodists and they loved them. Maybe you could find something that your gf likes and help convince her to experiment more with rawfood. Good luck and keep at it

[spicyfull]

I wish you everything you need to Stay RAW.............Welcome to MY World.

[AllergyGirl]

My sweetie is still eating a SAD diet, but we still "cook" and eat together sometimes. For example, I might make a double batch of Alissa's marinara sauce and eat mine over zucchini and beets made into angel hair noodles with a spiral slicer, and he eats his over traditional pasta. When we have done that, he usually ends up eating off of my plate and saying that mine's better, and that all happened spontaneously without me trying to force my food onto him.

Another thing we've done is made tacos. Mine were raw, with the nut based taco "meat" rolled into lettuce leaves with guacamole, etc. Again, he liked mine way better, and by the end was just eating mine.

There are ways to cook and eat together, it just takes some patience with each other and some understanding of each others' diets and preferences.

I wish you all the best - good luck. :)

[Shels]

Hi!

Normally, I would say put your relationship before everything, but on the other hand this is also your health. I'm sorry that you don't have much support, when I first switched over I got a lot of weird reactions - including my fiance repeatedly telling me I wasn't getting enough nutrients, and acting like it was some phase I'd get over. Now he's accepted it (I think), sometimes asks questions about raw, and is trying to eat healthier himself. :D There is always hope, especially when people witness how much of a difference it makes in you.

As far as eating out goes, every place has salads, even if they're mediocre salads, and you can bring your own toppings (nuts, chopped veggies) and just slip 'em on top. :) Personally, I don't like eating out any more, because I'd much rather have my own delicious creations, and pick from my variety at home (Although some chefs will surprise you and load it up with raw veggies). However, eating a boring meal is a small price to pay to keep your relationship healthy. There are accommodations on both ends. AllergyGirl's idea sounds good as well.

And about feeling grounded, there are plenty of threads about that on the forum if you use the banana search - things like nuts, avocados, mushrooms, and (for me) heavier veggies like broccoli can be very grounding (as well as raw desserts).
Good luck!