I'm a newbie full of questions.

[kurt28]

Hello. I'm 28 years old form Indiana. I'm trying to change to a living raw food diet. I have many questions and that's why I'm here.

I have been making what I guess they're calling "green smoothies". Starting out of course with more fruit than greens for taste. I have read a couple of books on food combining and how our bodies use different enzymes to break down different types of food. This makes me think perhaps some of these combinations that people are coming up with, might not be the best way to mix.

I know the importance of getting leafy greens in the diet, and so I want to figure out how to make some natural homemade salad dressing maybe out of fruits or vegetables or something. I want my salads to actually taste good so that I will want to eat them.

Then there is the subject of good fats (omegas). What are the options and amounts we should consume in a day. They say advocados are a good choice but they never tell you how much you need in a day. Or maybe I can eat a few nuts. What kind of nuts, and how many?

I am currently taking a multivitamin and mineral supplement, and extra vitamin D and B12 at my doctors recommendation. But, all these supplements aren't cheap when your buying quality vitamins. I want to get off all of the pills and just eat the right food to begin with. But what foods are those. What are good sources of vitamin D and B12? Please don't say fish.

These are just some of the many questions I have.

[spicyfull]

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

[maddiesdaddy]

I was born in Northern Indiana a gazillion years ago and left but still have a place for it in my heart. Welcome the RAW world. My quick advice to anybody starting out is simple...try stuff , observe your body and amend as required. I have read countless accounts of special mixtures, organic only, soaked ripe etc......Only you will find the right mix for you.
Congratulations on the smoothies! I'm a fan of banana, kale or spinach, orange and pineapple. Its filling, digests easy and gives me energy.
I also love to juice lemon, apple, ginger and some sort of green be it spinach, kale, broccoli stem or asparagus in season.
You are entering into a lifestyle (AKA long term sustainable decision) of good food choices so don't feel pressure to see immediate results, trust me, they will come.
I haven't perfected a "go to" homemade dressing yet, so I continue to play with vinegar, olive oil and chile spice, sun dried peppers, mustard seed, garlic,nuts etc,. If it is natural, RAW and sounds reasonable, I'll try it..... only once if it sucks.
I won't wade into your supplement question deeply only to say I would back off of them until you've overcome the detox systems your body experiences in the first 2 months of a very high RAW content. Once you are more aligned and balanced and flushed of the residuals of a SAD diet, then reevaluate your needs.
You have taken a big step in introducing yourself to the world. Congratulations! I wish you all the best and hope this Forum helps you as it has done for me.

Dave

[DawnD]

Hi Kurt, welcome. I know where you are in the world of "new to raw". I will tell you what I do just for example. Most mornings I have several servings of fruit til around 11am. Then 16oz of green smoothie. Then smoothie of almond milk, banana, hemp, spirulina, strawberries, blueberries, and greens. For snack I may have some fudge or a lara bar. Dinner is usually a nut based entree surrounded with salad and veges, or lasagne and salad, or guac and salsa (I split 1 1/2 avocados with my husband) Some mornings I start out with the almond milk smoothie, then green smoothie, nut based entree for lunch and so on. This is where I am now and I vary my diet from heavier to lighter as needed.

Hope this helps.

[sport]

Hi Kurt
I recommend that you download cronometer and put your foods into it for a few days. You will quickly learn what foods you need to get all of your vits and minerals.
http://cron-o-meter.en.softonic.com/

[RawHorizons]

HIya and Welcome!!

Maddiesdaddy couldn't of said it any better.. Dont stress on it do the best you can.Keep it simple and raw and you will be so happy,I cant say enough good things about the raw lifestyle,and raw food talk has a weatlh of info,just hit the search button and type in whatever you are looking for and if you cant find it someone will help.Great site with great people.Glad you found us :)

Depending on your dressing tastes here's a few to kick off your experimentations

Hemp Dressing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mitqweZzUHg

Creamy Cury Dressing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlNo2mKwank

sunflower ranch dressing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgtqyaHDlr8

Ginger Dressing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBHbw1EXWxQ

[nadien alexandra]

one of my all time favorite dressings goes something like:
mustard (i use stone ground mustard seed)
apple cider vinegar
lemon
sea salt
cayenne pepper
honey


another favorite:
lemon
sea salt
ginger
apple cider vinegar

i love lemon on greens. i'd say JUST lemon is my "go to"

[Renee T]

Hi, Dawn. I have only been raw for twelve days, but I just finished Alissa's book, and am perplexed about something. In her "High Energy Diet Nutrition Guide" the chart shows that spinach and bananas cannot go together. What!! That's what I've been having each morning. What do you usually have in the mornings, and what works best? Thanks for any suggestions. Renee T

[sport]

I understood that all greens will mix with anything else without a problem.

[kurt28]

Thank you all very much. Does anybody know how long those homemade salad dressing will last in the fridge?