Cold weather advice

[twinyoga]

Ok, here in Cleveland the weather is getting colder, the leaves are falling and the days are shorter. I have been 99% raw since July and do not see any reason why I would change this. BUT, with the change in weather I'm finding myself craving more starches and heavier foods. Watermelon just won't cut it!

I've added a nice repetoire of soups and I love apples (sometimes 3 or 4 for breakfast) and I've been adding ginger into everything. But I'm also heading to baked sweet potatoes, brown rice, and sprouted bread more than usual (which I don't mind now and then but not on a regular basis).

Here's what I'm getting to...I'd love to share some ideas that people use for enjoying raw in the colder weather and the shorter days. I'm sure there are some great ideas that I haven't thought of yet. And maybe a little support can help others (along with myself).

Thanks!

[Rawkinlocs]

This is where I'll probably get more into making more raw prepared meals. Girlfriend!! I had the calzone from Alissa's book and it was just awesome. That alone would be a great raw, comfort food straight out of the dehydrator...Mmmm! The enchilada's too!

Yes, if/when I begin to crave heavier, more dense foods, that is when I will turn to the more "involved" meals if need be. In a sense, that is what they're there for...when we want/need something heavier and more hearty.

Spicing up things with cayenne and/or other peppers and as you already are doing, ginger will also help.

Make pate's and slightly warm in the dehydrator and fill green leafies with them or portabellas or red peppers or tomatoes with them for something heartier.

Make creamy soups and season as much as you need to in order to make it delicious for you and have plenty of flax crackers on hand to have WITH the soup.

When you do want and eat fruit, let it sit out at room temp or run under hot/warm water so it's not ice cold out of the fridge when you eat it.

Make raw nog recipes or juice some apples, add spice to it and slightly warm to finger touch warmth for cider.

There's a sweet potato souffle recipe in the recipe section, try that instead of baked sweet potato (if you want)...for rice, I discovered after soaking some whole oat groats (not the steel cut ones) that the texture was a lot like rice and I plan to do some "rice-type" dishes with those!

Sprouted bread, Alissa's rye bagel recipe is good and I found it to be very good with some almond butter spread on it!

These are just some things off the top of my head. Hope it helps!

[Live Free]

I have also been eating a lot of apples lately. I am also worried about the winter months. Because last year I was frozen to death. More than usual. I just started my raw journey in December of last year.

I made a sweet potato pate the other day and it was yummy. I just ground up the sweet potato and added some sweetner and some cinnamon.

I also ate lots of wasabi last year during the winter, but I understand that spicy/hot spices have a cooling affect on the body, that is why people in hot climates often have foods that are spicy. However, ginger should be an ingredient that will keep the body warmer. I will have to experiment with this spice this winter. If I am warmer then I know it works.

I also believe that turmeric maybe in the category of keeping the body warm, but dont quote me on that. If you know the answer I would appreciate it.

Thank you
Teresa and Mae
Live Free

[rawpriestess]

If you look at what is growing naturally in your area, you will see what is best for you to eat, based upon the temperature and all.

Although we do live in houses with un-natural temp controls, I still think it best to eat what grows in season in your area.

So, when it gets cooler, and I'm walking in our gardens, I eat lots of nuts, squash, tomatoes, sage, rosemary, apples, pears, grapes, almonds, etc. If I see it growing, I eat it.

In the really cold winter months, I eat almost all dehydrated foods, just like I would if I lived here a few centuries ago.

I especially make nut pates', nut milks with tons of spices mmmmmm apples dehydrated, and in pies (raw of course) raisins, and spiced grape juice, my very favorite.

heavy thick tomatoe sauces over squash noodles, and lots of finger warm soups, especially with tons of warmed veggies (fresh from the dehydrator) and onion bread, let's not forget that delicious treat.

So, I just warm things up in the dehydrator, and drink and eat lots more nut type things, and heavy tomatoe-y things too.

Works so far.

Think warmed spiced apple cider, with warm from the dehydrator nama shoyu honey nuts. mmmmmmmmmmmm

[twinyoga]

Great ideas. I think it's time to buy the dehydrator!

I love seasoned nuts.
And I am trying to focus on what the farmers in this area are growing (squashes, apples, etc.).

Keep sharing. I'll let you know what I come up with too! Meanwhile, I'm sipping on my ginger tea.

[rawpriestess]

Twinyoga, sorry, didn't know you didn't have a dehydrator,

That's okay, you can still do this.

okay, so no soaking walnuts or pecans, but you can still place them in a baggy, and toss in a touch of olive oil and some salt or seasoning and you can eat them that way.

You can also add a touch of honey or agave' and add some salt, they are delicious.

also, you can finger warm soups, make the zucchini noodles with spaghetti sauce, the rawviolies, etc, you can't warm them in the dehydrator, but if you leave them on the counter, to get room temp, or you can place them in front of a heater, they will warm up.

I used to put a table in front of my wood stove to warm up food, but you gotta' watch it, so it doesnt' get too hot.

also, you can still make nut milks, warmed apple ciders, spiced juices, etc.

I make lots of warmed soups in the colder months, and I love pate's I use them on everything, although I don't eat as much greens, I usually put the pate's on squash chips just cut fesh, or sometimes I scoop out a zucchini, and glob on the pate, or pesto and just eat like like a carrot, those are good too.

so, although I'm not eating as much citrus fruits, I am eating tons of apples, and nuts and squash and some blackberries as they are still out there on the stalks still growing, but almost gone.

maybe some of those will help you out.