Trying to get back to raw, but...

[CosimaMoon]

...I just can't seem to do it. I was raw for maybe 6-8 months, but recently I've stopped and I can't do it again (yet). The reasons for this, I think, are that I'm broke, I've become very busy, and I'm so active now that the food just doesn't give me energy. Right now I work, I go to two different colleges, and I rock climb, trail run, and do yoga, so I need LOTS of energy. What can I do that is cheap, quick, healthy, and produces lots of energy? I'm vegetarian, so I do have raw cheese, which helps, but I don't know what else to eat. I'd like to eat lots of greens, but I'm not sure how to eat them besides in salads or raw pasta, which gets boring. I've tried tons of raw recipes, but they mostly consisted of fruit/nuts which I don't want to do much of anymore, and most were expensive/time-consuming.

I hope I don't sound like I'm just making excuses, I really miss being raw, I'm just not sure what to do now that my lifestyle has changed so much. I'm also out camping a lot so things that I could bring that wouldn't spoil would be nice to know about too.

Thank you sooooooooooo much!!

[January Noir]

WOW! :eek: Oh man! I just got exhausted reading about all the things you do! Do you ever rest?

I don't have any suggestions to offer but I'm sure some of the other experienced Raw Foodists will chime in.

[YouHadMeAtASL]

I have found that green smoothies give me lots of energy in the mornings. I drink HUGE green smoothies though because, like you, I am very active. I drink about 48oz in the morning usually something like

5-6 pieces of kale
handful of spinach
2 oranges
2 bananas
chunk of ginger
cayenne pepper
1 apple
1/2 lemon or lime
ice

This will give me enough energy to make it to lunch. I will also have one of these after I get back from the gym/running etc. They are a great way to get your greens in. I find them to be delicious also.

[Tenuviel]

I hear you on the greens :)... I go through phases for months at a time where I am so bored with salads and spiralized zucchini! right now I am blending my greens... i can get tons in that way, and it is portable to boot. ;)
Kale and collards are pretty cheap here, spinach a bit more pricey.. I don't bother to juice because I hate cleaning my juicer. Just blend with some water, or grapefruit!

[Dimond]

Soups, puddings, smoothies, 1000s of salads, wraps, pasta. There's tons of choices. I always stick with very simple recipes that use few ingredients. Celery is usually cheap and you can do a lot with it like make soup. Bananas are the best for smoothies. There's always ways to make it work. Nutrient dense liquids are probably your best bet since you need somewhat small quantities of food.

[CosimaMoon]

Ok, maybe I'll add greens to my smoothies--I tried it before, and it was so disgusting and fibrous that I never did it again. I do have a raw protein powder too. It's a good breakfast, I'm just not too big a fan of drinking my food all the time, but I could do that until I figure something out.

And lol at January Noir! I get bored when I rest, lol. I actually need a 2nd job too, I really get no money at the one I'm at right now.

Oh and my birthday is on the 13th, and all I'm asking for is Alissa's book and Ani Phyo's book, so hopefully those help. Idk if Alissa has quick meals but I heard Ani does.

Thanks for the suggestions, and keep them coming! Is there anything specific that you guys make (that's quick), besides smoothies?

Thanks again :)

[Dimond]

Try mild greens like spinach. The others take some getting use to or should be used in a savory smoothie/soup. With enough strong tasting fruit like bananas you can pretty much cover up the taste of any green. Puddings are quick, easy and delicious and can be made to satisfy you if you add avocado, hemp seeds or chia seeds. I love savory soups.

[January Noir]

I know that unless you have time to make gourmet raw meals, then eating raw just might have to be boring for you. If you have time to dehydrate some of your vegetables and add spicy or savory seasonings that may liven things up a bit for you.

I kind of like my quick and easy-just-grab-an-avocado-or-apple-and-go.
I like huge-add-everything-but-the-kitchen-sink salads sprinkled with hemp seeds and kalamata olives.

Unless you stop and take some time to prepare the myriad of interesting recipes that require all of your appliances (blender, processor, mandolin, spirooli, etc. it may just have to be boring. I dunno! ***shrug***

[Dimond]

January Noir, that's actually not correct. I've been raw for years and never have made complicated recipes. It's always been very simple meals and I've always had tons of variety. Anything gourmet was kept simple as well. A Vitamix is the only appliance I've had up until recently (besides a juicer on and off). There are tons of ways to make salads, wraps, soups, smoothies, puddings, pates', pasta, etc., without much work or ingredients, unless you choose to. If someone has Alissa's book, you can modify many recipes to suit your needs. Or any other recipes you find. For example, when recipes have a variety of spices, you usually can get away with 1 or 2 of them. Garlic is very powerful which allows you to stick with that as your 1 spice for almost anything. It's also inexpensive, even organic, and lasts for a long time. Plus don't forget the wide variety of fruit out there. If you can get to places, at least occasionally, that allow you to experiment and try new ones, you'll find extra enjoyment in raw.

[DawnD]

Green smoothies are a great way to get greens. You may need to strain if your blender doesnt chop the greens finely. I make a walnut pate-
1 cup soaked walnuts
1 tb lemon juice
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp braggs
1 small clove garlic
dash salt
1 tsp dried parsley
1 tb onion
Double this recipe and it will last several days in the fridge. Serve with a vege side dish and some flax crackers and it will be filling. I know that you said you didnt want to do much nut dishes but for one meal a day this could be a good source of calories. Its easy!
Another thing that I do is dice a variety of veges-peppers, cauliflower, cuke, tomato, carrot, etc. Have them ready in the fridge to toss with dressing for a side dish or to put on greens for an instant salad or use in a wrap.
Raw does take a little planning. And just a thought-our lives are so busy that we look for quick and simple ways to get by including the way we feed ourselves. Food is such an important part of our life because if you get it wrong you end up with disease etc. I think we should make preparing our food a priority and then build the rest of our life around that.

[January Noir]

January Noir, that's actually not correct. I've been raw for years and never have made complicated recipes. It's always been very simple meals and I've always had tons of variety. Anything gourmet was kept simple as well. A Vitamix is the only appliance I've had up until recently (besides a juicer on and off). There are tons of ways to make salads, wraps, soups, smoothies, puddings, pates', pasta, etc., without much work or ingredients, unless you choose to. If someone has Alissa's book, you can modify many recipes to suit your needs. Or any other recipes you find. For example, when recipes have a variety of spices, you usually can get away with 1 or 2 of them. Garlic is very powerful which allows you to stick with that as your 1 spice for almost anything. It's also inexpensive, even organic, and lasts for a long time. Plus don't forget the wide variety of fruit out there. If you can get to places, at least occasionally, that allow you to experiment and try new ones, you'll find extra enjoyment in raw.
Thanks for correcting me Dimond. I happened to stumble upon the thread with pics of food and it was amazing what was posted. To me, anything that takes more than 2 minutes to prepare is gourmet :)

[CosimaMoon]

Green smoothies are a great way to get greens. You may need to strain if your blender doesnt chop the greens finely. I make a walnut pate-
1 cup soaked walnuts
1 tb lemon juice
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp braggs
1 small clove garlic
dash salt
1 tsp dried parsley
1 tb onion
Double this recipe and it will last several days in the fridge. Serve with a vege side dish and some flax crackers and it will be filling. I know that you said you didnt want to do much nut dishes but for one meal a day this could be a good source of calories. Its easy!
Another thing that I do is dice a variety of veges-peppers, cauliflower, cuke, tomato, carrot, etc. Have them ready in the fridge to toss with dressing for a side dish or to put on greens for an instant salad or use in a wrap.
Raw does take a little planning. And just a thought-our lives are so busy that we look for quick and simple ways to get by including the way we feed ourselves. Food is such an important part of our life because if you get it wrong you end up with disease etc. I think we should make preparing our food a priority and then build the rest of our life around that.

Good response, thank you :)

[ShelShel]

I find, when I'm really busy and active I need things like raw pate. :rolleyes: Also things with coconut oil and avocado. Fats. ;) Good raw fats, but fats none-the-less. I need the weight of those foods to sustain a full feeling.

I too ate 100% for over a year and slipped away. I've started back to it, just to move away after a few weeks of trying for over two years now. I'm giving it another try starting tomorrow. I feel like this is my journey though. It's not a diet, it is my life. I will come back good and strong and it will stick when I really want to make me a priority. Until now, I haven't been able to do that. Like you, things got busy and money got tight. I slid slowly away. But it is coming back to me. A good thing is hard to let go of and I know that it is right for me....so coming back to it is always the goal. I will keep at it. Hope you do too!