Transitioning to raw, but still cook for family!

[Rottie69]

HELP! I am at the computer right now, smelling all the smells im trying so hard to transition from:drool:! I am NOT hungry. I am feeling sooooo good:throwhearts:. Its only been 5 days, and this is my first real hard day. I had my meal, and then I had to prepare a meal for my family, they are not going raw with me. Is there anyone else dealing with this? Please tell me how you got past it. 5 days ago I was meat and potatoes,,,now im eating healthy fresh crunchy sweet produce nuts and beans. I really like it,,but this is difficult. Im trying to change 40 years of eating habits and STILL prepare meals for my family. My husband supports me in my eating choices and even shops with me and finds things im looking for but he is a very very picky eater and will not switch over, as well as my step daughter who is 17, no way for either of them. Thats OK, with me. I need to do this and I know why. BUT oh my, is it ever hard to smell things im used to. PLEASE tell me this goes away....what a struggle tonight has been.

[laura-jane]

You can do it!!! Stay strong, my friend!!!

Tell yourself that those smells are just the nutrients wofting out of the food, into the air.

Stay strong!!! You'll be soooo glad you did. :)

And yes...... it goes AWAY :) The first month is the hardest, I promise.

[Amarynth]

Hi :) I'm raw, but I also have to cook for my family. It was difficult at first, the shopping, cooking, etc...but it did get better. I like the way I feel now, so I simply chose not to sample what I'm cooking. I have official tasters now. :eat I also incorporate a lot of raw into our meals (salads and fruit salads, cut up veggies) just so it is available.

Of course I don't have to cook for them every night...I work evenings four days a week, but when I am home I do like to cook for them.

Good luck...and for some it gets easier.

[Aleesha Sattva]

Having a plan is also helpful. When it gets hard... go for a walk, take a bath, read a book, meditate...

I've found this to be very helpful when I fast and am preparing food for others.

[SemiAutocraticWeapon]

Oh, wow, I was actually sifting through the forums and debating posting. This is almost exactly my issue!

In the past month I have been able to get my boyfriend to at least to fresh smoothies for breakfast most days. Beyond that he is a total meat and potatoes type, and I love cooking. He actually is not that big of a fan of most veggies but loves fruit. I am trying to ease him into my transition more than myself. I have gone raw a couple times before and loved it. I find my trouble is always in food prep and eating with non raw folks. The temptation is awful! I am glad you posted this same issue, so now I don't feel like I am the only one.

As it stands now, I made him lasagna(my grandmother's recipe), but I juiced, and about to have a salad. The smells are killing me! I feel your pain, and I hope it gets easier for us both :)

[GlimR]

Rottie~
Welcome to the forum! I too cook for my family and for six little ones every day (day care). I've been trying to make this work for me for a long time now and what has finally made things easier is to cook something that, #1 I don't like much (not a favorite of mine) and #2...something that I can use for two or three meals. I might make a big meal twice a week and then use the leftovers to make other foods for them or easier foods that they like, that don't keep me in the kitchen long. And please make sure you do NOT let yourself get too hungry. Take care of yourself first whenever you can, even if it is eating something quick to get you through cooking without being tempted because you are starving. Have some things on hand that they can make for themselves when you just can't deal with it. They are grown folks, they should be able to do that here and there to support you. Just ask them what types of foods they might like and find easy to make on those occasions. Sometimes you might just have to go do something else while they eat and clean up their stuff....go for a walk, read, etc...

Wishing you the very best.

[sport]

Make sure that you are not hungry when you are cooking. You eat first and then take care of the family.

[RawSar]

I also cook for my boyfriend, just dinner, the rest of the day he eats what I eat.
What has worked for me is:
To make my dinner (usually quite a large meal for me) before his so I can munch on it while cooking his.
Thats the easy part
I make sure to only cook enough just for him, no left overs EVER
Its when his dinner is finished cooking and the smell fills the house...
I make sure to leave a window cracked open in the kitchen so the smell can leave the house, do this before you start cooking
I take the rest of my meal and go to another part of the house to finish eating while he eats his.
He puts his dishes in the sink full of water.
If I feel weak even after dinner, I will find something to keep me busy and away from the kitchen like the suggestions Aleesha gave.. Like a soak in the tub or a walk or I play with my pets, reorganize something or come here to the forum :)

[Rottie69]

Thank you all so much for the response. I am on day 7, its almost over,,,,lol, and my house smells like my DH's dinner. Afain,lol.I did just what some of you have said, I eat before I make his meal. It makes a huge difference. Take away the guilt feeling I get when im eating and I know hes waiting for supper. He said its fine with him and he doesnt mind waiting but the mother/wife in me cant help it. He is also a pretty good cook, for the basics and said he doesnt mind preparing some of it by himself. That was a big help. Im guessing that the first 30 days are the hardest? Maybe? Im on day 7 and had some cravings today that I hadnt had in about 3 days. They went away. But im really discovering that this isnt just a matter of switching over,,theres alot to it.


Any suggestions for the protein in my meals, lentils and garbanzo beans are not a hit with me at all. I am eating avocados, I had never had one before, but they go down ok when mixed with other things. This is a huge transition for me, and im still learning . I am eatign nuts and seeds, but are there some veges out there with protein in them?

HAPPY TO SAY,,,,IM down 6 pounds in 7 days! That was a total shock to me!:dance: I feel great too, what a difference.

Beck

[SemiAutocraticWeapon]

I too appreciate some of those tips; especially, the one about leaving windows cracked.

Spinach has more protein than most people realize from what I have researched. Also any thing in the nuts and beans family seems to have a couple grams in it...

[PaigeAdele]

I find it does get easier as time goes on. Today I cooked chicken and rice for my cat and dog, mac and cheese and grilled cheese sandwiches for my mom and sister without even considering eating it myself. Hang in there. It'll pass and if temptation should arise distraction is a good tool to use.

[Raw Angel Mom]

Yes it does go away, it actually will turn you off at some point.

You will develop endurance and skill to cope with people eating cook food around you.

Hang in there. Did you write down the reasons why you are doing raw food? If not, write them now and make sure to read it each day.

Imagine a beautify, young and good looking body in not time. So worth the effort.

You are worthy to be in power, to be healthy and free from all addiction due to this cook food.

All is well!

[levamssg]

I have the greatest respect for those of you that cook for others! and are raw yourselves! Awesome!

I've been raw for 6+ years, but don't have the cooking issue. There are only two adults in our house, and since my husband is totally capable of cooking -- he makes his own food, and I make mine. I have made it a bit harder for him in that I dismantled the stove and use it for counter and storage space ... but he didn't seem to mind. He has his beloved microwave and bbq -- and it all works out very well.

[Rottie69]

Hi everyone.

Thankyou all so much for the information. It does make a difference. Im on day 9, and the only problem ive had was a couple nights I had to work overtime and had to get into the snack box at work. I was good and only grabbed the package of peanuts. Other than that its been pretty good. energy is good, no ill effects, a few cravings here and there but nothing like I thoguht I was going to go through. I really thoguht I would go through a withdrawl of some sort in the transition.

Someon above asked if I wrote down my reasons for going raw. I didnt write them down, but my biggest reason is due to some allergies to god knows what in processed food. EVERYTHING processed makes me sneeze, my eyes run, and my head pound. And it doesnt go away in an hour or 2. It takes 2 to 3 days for the whole thing to be over. I would go through a box of kleenex and if the sneezing got too bad,,well, I had to stay near the bathroom. That is the biggest reason, and of course the need to lose weight too. So far I am 9 days headache and sneeze free. :throwhearts: