New and ready to learn...

[seekingbalance]

Hi! My name is Jess and I am a 27 year old mom to two little boys (4 and 9mo) and a wife to an awsome hubby. I would love to go all raw but not sure if it is something I can attain just yet. I am trying to figure out where to start. Balancing the grocery budget and time in the kitchen with my other responsibilites is something I struggle with already. I am an all or nothing type personality (and a total perfectionist) though so heres to giving it a shot.

[k8sl8]

The way I started was to just begin every day with a glass of filtered water with fresh squeezed lemon; then when I got hungry (sometimes an hour - and sometimes several hours later) I had a green smoothie. My fav. is banana, pineapple and either spinach or kale. Start with more fruit and less greens til you find a balance you like. I also like adding berries, but the greens are not "pretty" when added to a red mix. If it's just you and the kids at lunch - have another smoothie while you feed them, if you're hungry. Bananas are great snacks when you start out cause they are satisfying and filling. Buy as much fruit as you can and just grab that instead of some other snack. Raw almonds and other raw nuts also make good snacks.

Don't beat yourself if you eat other stuff, just add the healthy stuff and the rest will follow. It's not really as expensive as it might sound. You won't be buying soda, snacks, ice cream, expensive meats, etc. You may be pleasantly surprised, especially starting this way, without a bunch of nuts and specialty items for "recipes" and such.

Then you can start adding salads to your other meals and slowly transition you and your family (IF they want to go along for the ride). My 3 and 6 yr. old grandsons like some of my stuff and I share when they want.

You don't have to do anything fancy, especially to start with. Good luck. If you don't have any raw books, an internet search will find you most anything you want to know.

[blizzardfrisbee]

k8sl8-- Enjoyed reading your post-- I'm just 3 months today raw. I like to read what others are doing. I'm starting to get into a routine with eating--it is simple and really not as expensive as people think. I started with the gourmet type recipes -and now have added green smoothies(hmmmm the banana, pineapple and spinach/kale sounds great) and I'm eating more simple. Sometimes I throw in a gourmet type thing when I get in the mood for something. But it is true--you can keep it simple and be totally satisfied.

[DawnD]

Hi Jess. Welcome to RFT. So happy that you found the raw lifestyle. You got some good advice! Just build your routine over time and make it fun. Starting out was very stressful for me as I was trying to please hubby. I wanted him to embrace this lifestyle along with me. But all the stress and effort was well worth it. I wish you the best.

[ReneeH]

Hi Jess! You are going to LOVE the Raw lifestyle!!! Be sure to make your kids some Shrek Green Smoothies!!!! :D The more I fixed them for my kids, the more they started loving RAW!!! Just take it one day/one meal at a time. Make the BEST choices for your body when you eat AT THAT MOMENT... Pretty soon you'll be saying, "I've been RAW for a whole year!!! ....and LOVIN' IT!!!!!!!!!!!" :)


Starting out was very stressful for me as I was trying to please hubby. I wanted him to embrace this lifestyle along with me. But all the stress and effort was well worth it. I wish you the best.

Boy, I can SURE relate to that Dawn!!! I almost gave up several times when they didn't stay Raw... But, I kept chuggin' along and eat what's best for "ME" and hope that they jump on again...AND THEY DID!!!! Sometimes we have to give our family time to adjust without forcing them. I want my kids to grow up loving Raw and stick to it later, not being forced and grow up hating it because then they won't be healthy. You have to show them how much you LOVE eating this way...how delicious the food is! That's why I love Alissa's Level 1 Class!!! It's ALL ABOUT THE FOOD.... Let your kids help you in the kitchen! They will be tasting along with you and loving the food along the way!!! :D

[JCB44]

Welcome to the site.

[spicyfull]

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