Raw foods stereotype

[michelle1013]

I am so new at raw foods, before this, we were gluten free, casein free, yeast free, etc (due to my son's allergies). People looked at me funny, like I was into some strange and out of this world "thing". When someone offers us something, I grab the package and read the label. Here is my question, why when there is a food issue or something, do people think you (not you, but me) are odd? I even had someone joke and ask me if I am doing witchcraft now. Why is taking care of yourself through food, something like you have crossed a line of some sort? I am a Christian and I am going raw. How come eating right is looked down upon and stereotyped? So confused. I use my food processor every day, my blender daily, I make everythign from scratch, and NOW, I use my dehydrator twice a week. That seems to shock people!

[speltrong]

You know, none of our friends are raw. Before we were raw, we were vegetarian, then vegan, then sugar free vegan, then gluten free vegan, and now raw. I guess most of our friends have accepted that we're just strange eaters. When we meet new people, we just make light of it and say that we always go on odd food tangents, and this is just the latest thing. The key is to make it out like you're the weird one and not make anyone else feel bad for eating the way they do. If you do that, then people suddenly smile and nod and sometimes even ask good questions about being raw. When we go to potlucks at friends homes, we bring one raw dish and one dish that we won't eat with meat or cheese in it, just to make them feel more comfortable... and they have started making at least one or two dishes that are raw just for us. I really believe the key is to not make people feel bad about their own eating habits. :-)

[speltrong]

Whenever you talk about how you're eating well, the person you are talking to (if they don't feel they are also eating well) is bound to feel as though you are judging them about what they eat. If your goal is to not alienate them, then making it out like you're the weirdo is a good way to not cause a bad reaction. And the interesting thing is that they rarely end up thinking you're the weirdo. I have some hardcore carnivore friends who are totally cool with my husband and I being raw, and because of that, they now eat a lot more raw food themselves. So I guess it depends what your endgame is. If you want them to be totally at ease around you, then it might be in your best interest to indicate to them that this is just something you're doing for yourself, but you know it may not be for everyone. If you don't give a crap how they think about you, then by all means, feel free to preach to them about how eating raw is the one true way to eat. ;-) I used to be all judgy and preachy, but I find that for me, this way is a much more peaceful way to live. And over the long haul, it's actually been much more effective at getting people to eat more healthy food!

[speltrong]

Interesting, between my two posts was a post somewhat disagreeing with what I said, but it looks like it has been removed. Not sure why, but that's why I put a second post trying to explain more what I meant. :-)

[EscapeArtist]

I think that they just don't understand. And so they don't understand where the drive or energy/passion for it is coming from. They assume it's something outside of you because they don't recognize it. At the same time they fear it because it seems real.
Oh my, I also originally went gluten/casein/yeast/corn/egg/nightshade free, I have discovered I have a reaction to all of these things. My sisters think that I have an eating disorder! They think that I'm seriously messed up, way more messed up than they are. When I tell people about it, they sometimes look at me the same way my sisters do, their eyes glaze over and they look like they don't know how to react but they are ready to disassociate with what i'm saying and assume that I am completely out of my mind.

I try not to tell people that I'm trying to go raw now, because they just bury their opinion of me and these lifestyle choices further into these thoughts. If I am eating in front of somebody, like co workers, and they point out that they only see me eat fruit and vegetable I tell them I'm on a cleanse for health reasons. For some reason, cleansing is a more acceptable term because I guess people don't see it as a permanent lifestyle improvement ;)

[MysticTree]

For some reason, cleansing is a more acceptable term because I guess people don't see it as a permanent lifestyle improvement ;)

It may be that but don't forget that celebrities do cleanses so it's like "oh yeah, that's what Beyonce did" and so they feel comfortable!

[MysticTree]

You know, none of our friends are raw. Before we were raw, we were vegetarian, then vegan, then sugar free vegan, then gluten free vegan, and now raw. I guess most of our friends have accepted that we're just strange eaters. When we meet new people, we just make light of it and say that we always go on odd food tangents, and this is just the latest thing. The key is to make it out like you're the weird one and not make anyone else feel bad for eating the way they do. If you do that, then people suddenly smile and nod and sometimes even ask good questions about being raw. When we go to potlucks at friends homes, we bring one raw dish and one dish that we won't eat with meat or cheese in it, just to make them feel more comfortable... and they have started making at least one or two dishes that are raw just for us. I really believe the key is to not make people feel bad about their own eating habits. :-)

I absolutely love that you and your friends are so friendly. Afterall that's what being friends is about. I find it hard to fathom being friends with people who mock the way I eat.

I'm lucky in that pretty much everyone I have contact with at the present time has no problem with what I eat. They have all sorts of problems and my mother misunderstands the whole thing - she thinks I am dieting so she's very happy; she has hang ups over being overweight herself even though she's not overweight. My bf is happy because I am happy and he recognises the healthy nature of what I am eating and joins me on occasion even though he continues with his own way of eating too.

I don't have a big circle of friends and we don't eat out or have each other over for food very often so Raw is almost never an issue.

[MysticTree]

Whenever you talk about how you're eating well, the person you are talking to (if they don't feel they are also eating well) is bound to feel as though you are judging them about what they eat. If your goal is to not alienate them, then making it out like you're the weirdo is a good way to not cause a bad reaction. And the interesting thing is that they rarely end up thinking you're the weirdo. I have some hardcore carnivore friends who are totally cool with my husband and I being raw, and because of that, they now eat a lot more raw food themselves. So I guess it depends what your endgame is. If you want them to be totally at ease around you, then it might be in your best interest to indicate to them that this is just something you're doing for yourself, but you know it may not be for everyone. If you don't give a crap how they think about you, then by all means, feel free to preach to them about how eating raw is the one true way to eat. ;-) I used to be all judgy and preachy, but I find that for me, this way is a much more peaceful way to live. And over the long haul, it's actually been much more effective at getting people to eat more healthy food!

I missed what was said in the interim ... the closest I get to trying to convert people is to suggest:- "Try it for 30 days. What have you got to lose?". No-one has ever tried it but I have lent my office manager my copy of Alissa's book in case she thinks trying it would ease some of her health problems.

[Sweat.Equity]

Its amazing how your decision as affected those around you. (I am still trying to figure out how witchcraft was derived from a dehydrator and a vita-mix). I think it is amazing that underneath it all, food is perhaps one of the most simple ways that we participate in our groups and affirm our membership within the group. I agree with spelt. Bringing dishes that friends eat as well as dishes that are raw is a great way to keep those ties.without alienating anyone. I recall meeting a woman who had lost 85 pounds running. Since we had just met, she had no idea that I too, had lost 60 pounds doing just the same activity. She prattled on and on about the evils of fat and all of the risks for women in my demographic for heart attack and stroke. I felt so frustrated listening to her preach about things I knew! Similarly, when I discuss raw food I try not to be so preachy. Spelt's suggestion about placing greater emphasis on your choice to take better care of yourself rather than recounting evils of a S.A.D. will be easier for others to handle.
S.E.

[MysticTree]

(I am still trying to figure out how witchcraft was derived from a dehydrator and a vita-mix).

I think that is quite simple ... look how people through the ages have used the term witch to reinforce their negative view of those who are different from them.

I get a lot of witch comment because I have spinning wheels that I spin yarn with ... go figure!

[The Sproutarian (Mr Raw)]

l had an old bloke (in his 80's) drop by to my house the other day and he was absolutely shocked by what he saw. He saw weeds, grass and sprouts growing everywhere. He was completely shocked when l told him that it is my everyday dinner. He couldn't understand why l wouldn't eat meat or cook my dinner. As usual l hammed it up and made a great joke out of it, l am still laughing about the shock he got (kept on shaking his head completely confused). l love seeing people's reactions, especially with the grasses and grain sprouts.

l don't care what anyone thinks. The more shocked and confused they are, the more l laugh about it. l can't wait until my nieces see my set-up, l am going to have a great joke with them.

My uncle checked out my set-up yesterday arvo. He is into healthy food and running. He agreed to drink some of my grass juice and weeds when he next visits.

[November Blue]

I've had a lot of people look at me sideways when I tell them I'm eating raw/living foods. For the most part, my friends & family have been somewhat supportive - not interested in joining me, but supportive. :) When I went to dinner Friday night with a friend, she felt obligated to order a salad, since I did. I told her to order whatever she wanted (I knew she wanted the Shepherd's Pie) but she said she didn't want me to judge what she was eating - which I would never in a million years do. I told her I absolutely would not judge her but since I know she wants to eat better and lose weight, I'd be happy to share any information or resources that I have. She ended up ordering a Caesar salad with grilled salmon.

I've received some strange looks and even a few snide remarks from people I know...and others who I don't know. I think a lot of people are self-conscious about what they eat, their weight, their overall health but since they don't know what to do about it, or don't have the internal willpower to follow through (or don't THINK they have it), it's easier for them to act like WE'RE the strange ones.

Keep your head up and don't let anyone's silly comments get to you. YOU know that what you're doing is right and that you're not strange because of it. It's hard for me to imagine anyone drawing a parallel between eating healthy and Witchcraft unless they know a Witch who is into eating raw foods, which is entirely possible. Several of the Witches that I know are Vegans and tend to eat a lot of raw food.

[Nad]

There are some great responses on here. I myself find it very hard to explain being raw, the only person in my life who knows is my Mom and even that's been somewhat of a struggle. She didn't understand it at all at first, and chalked it down to obsessive eating habits, she thought I was on some sort of a restrictive diet because I'd lost a lot of weight recently (not on raw, surprisingly enough). But as I took the time to explain it to her she came around, and decided to join me for the most part because she's also looking to improve her health which I think is great. She's been pretty supportive ever since, bar the occasional passive agressive comment, so I'm glad.
In general I think the best way to go about it is not to label yourself, sure you may know that you're raw/vegan whatever, but labels make it easy for you to alienate yourself from others.When people make comments I just say I'm trying to eat healthy and that usually shuts them up, or prompts some jokes about rabbit food etc. which I can easily laugh off. How you manage your health and diet is a very personal thing to me, I see no reason why anyone has the authority to judge and belittle you for it. And if they do, as others have said they're clearly insecure about their own health/diet/well being. It's frustrating to think that eating healthy or raw is considered "weird" when it's actually so natural in comparison with what the vast majority of people eat (SAD). I came across the below quote from here (http://www.all4naturalhealth.com/raw-food-lifestyle.html) when I first started researching raw foods - if only everyone knew :rolleyes:



Taking a look at the wild, one thing is quite obvious – we human beings are the only animals which actually cook our food. All other animals consume their food – whether plants or other organisms – in its natural and so-called ‘raw’ form.

What is interesting here is that, animals in the wild which undertake a largely natural and raw food lifestyle generally do not get serious degenerative conditions like cancer and kidney disease.

On the other hand, humans eat cooked food and suffer from widespread chronic diseases, almost of epidemic proportions.

Further, animals which humans look after – domesticated pets as well as animals which live in zoos, which also eat the processed and cooked foods that humans eat, do get cancer and other degenerative diseases.

These are clues we could use, aren’t they?

[The Sproutarian (Mr Raw)]

At the same time we shouldn't be timid about our raw food habit. People are curious about it so we should take the opportunity to plant seeds inside people's head. Mention hot button words like: fat folk, stress, cancer, heart disease and diabetes, and tell them how people in modern society are getting all these problems more than ever because of the lifestyle of bad foods and stress. Tell them how a good vegan diet can keep stress to well managed levels and keep the weight off, and tell them how raw diet can help with heart disease, and tell them how even diabetics have been helped with a raw food diet. Don't preach, just tell them passionately about how good the diet is because of these things, and tell them "if it helps with all these things, of course i'm going to eat raw, besides...i've eaten cooked food for ** years, it's about time l had a change".

l tell these folks about why it is so good and how everyone is getting crook, are tired and stressed and how raw food helps overcome all these things. l now get plenty of people coming to me for help. When one bloke heard l was a raw vegan he shook his head and disapproved, but know he wants me to help him get on the raw food also.

We are in a great position to educate and we should be doing it. Take the ole bull by the horns and ride that sucker to glory.



I've received some strange looks and even a few snide remarks from people I know....

When l initially went 100% raw l had a bunch of people in my band proudly and happily tell me that l was crazy for going vegan because they had never seen anyone who was a healthy vegan. They said that all vegans looked sick and grey in colour and that l would end up the same way. l even had a close friend tell me not to do it because you need special diet knowledge (assuming l was a diet dummy). l tried to explain l knew what l was doing, but he didn't believe a word l said. To most people l didn't say too much, l only said that most vegans don't do well on the diet, but some do, and if l fail l will modify my diet. Well....6 months later after a break l came back to visit the band and not one person said a thing, they were completely embarrassed and avoided any talk of being a sick vegan. The biggest most negative mouths avoided me, but l couldn't resist and l said out loud, "so do you reckon l am grey yet"? They could not say a thing and knew l was doing something pretty amazing. All their so called expert theories were smashed and a bunch of egotystical people were embarrassed and made to eat their own words. They could not believe it when they saw me. A bunch of people could see the big difference and listened to everything l had to say and took me completely seriously after that. People kept on looking at me all night and l was the loudest most positive person in the room by far using many huge hand and arm guestures that would make David Wolfe look boring. When l get talking about diet l get like Wolfey in enthusiasm, sometimes even more enthusiastic....completely full on excitement....full use of body language and motion and many tones of voice.

[CathyA.]

Okay...this is my favorite question/statement. "So......(looking confused) you eat raw meat." People don't want to be threatend by a healthy lifestyle. Smoker's don't want to hear about how you don't smoke anymore. Drinker's don't want to hear about how long you have been sober. SAD eater's don't want to hear about how you are living a healthy lifestyle. It is just too scary for them. Heck, my mother doesn't even get it. Although I had many issues with inflamation, migraine, addiction, lethargy, ect. until I went raw/vegan. The other day she brought over a loaf of bread that she had made. I though "Oh how nice. She made my hubby bread." No--it was for me to try. It's one of her new recipies. Well I can't eat wheat even if I wasn't raw. (gluten issues) She knows that wheat=pain for me. But still gets mad when I say that I can't eat it. So anyway....this is just something you have to try to ignore. Don't let it keep you off your path. There is nothing "weird" about eating real, unadulterated food. Keep that in your heart!!:throwhearts:

[speltrong]

That's actually a good point Cathy makes about people trying to get you to eat the type of food they make. I chalk it up to insecurity on their part and try to approach it with kindness (not always easy, but it works best in the long run). Sometimes I will say things like "Ohhhh, that looks amazing.. I really wish I could try it, but you know, I have these weird eating habits.". Or, "wow, I really miss eating bread and I can tell by how it looks that it must taste amazing, but my body just can't handle gluten anymore... you're so lucky you can!". You know, just something to indicate that you don't look down on them for eating that kind of stuff. I really think all those naughty behaviors from others stem from their own insecurities, and I am the type of person who likes to not have conflict in my life. So I find that if I just give them a little validation that what they are doing is okay by me, they're much more receptive to being respectful of how I choose to live. I also think it helps to give vegans/raw foodists as a whole a better name and reputation. I groan whenever I hear about extreme activists doing things that perpetuate the stereotype.

[cbowden]

There are some great responses here. Some I need to take to really own.....I am one of those people who find it hard not to talk about SAD and its effects on our bodies. Having never been a tactful person from here on out I will just walk my walk and when ASKED for advice will offer it....

I do have to vent here though. I work for a catering company and this weekend worked a luncheon for the local Juvenile Diabetes foundation. Parents and 75 kids. Kids all with diabetes. On the menu? HOT DOGS!!!!! With a variety of chips!!!! In addition, there were maybe four 6 foot tables loaded down with cases of soft drinks, two coolers and the fridge. Some offbeat brands. One of them had 50 grams of sugar!!!! In one can! And, there was ice cream for desert. Breakfast had been catered by Chick-Filet! I was absolutely gob-smacked! That's when I realized how 'weird' I was compared to most...

It was very sad. Made me grateful for the knowledge I have and frustrated that most everyone else doesn't have a clue.....

[Kindred]

Soda at a diabetes luncheon haha. Poor kids.

[MysticTree]

and sometimes we just perceive negative judgement where there is none.

I blogged (http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/entry.php?19126-1-melon-2-slices) the other day about a work colleague who made sniffy remarks about the fact that I was eating half a large melon for breakfast.

This morning, as I ate half a large melon for breakfast, he came scurrying in with two boxes. He'd been clearing out his Aunt's house for her and there was an unused storage container, in its box, for storing cut half melons in! He said he had to bring it in for me if I wanted it. the other box was a steamer which I won't use but my bf will so yay for bosses who notice what their staff are eating even if they make the odd comment, it doesn't mean that they actually think any less of you :)

[November Blue]

so yay for bosses who notice what their staff are eating even if they make the odd comment, it doesn't mean that they actually think any less of you :)

I think that's very true. I doubt that many people who say things actually mean anything bad by it. I*have* had people say "so you eat raw meat?" Um, no. My well-meaning neighbor called me over a few days ago to give me some farm fresh eggs. Thanks! :p I especially love it when people say "GOSH! What about your husband?" What about him? So I'm supposed to be fat and sick because my husband likes meat & cooked food? FWIW, I still cook for him about 3 times per week - I think that's a good compromise. He's not complaining.

[CathyA.]

I cook for my hubby too. He used to be full SAD carnivore type. He had been almost 100% vegitarian for the past 6 months. :woot: He doesn't jusdge me on my food and I don't on his. I think he is kind of proud of me that I am so committed. He tells people about it all the time. I too can relate to the validation statements. I smelled the heck out of that bread. Oh...that does smell deliciouse. Bla bla bla. Doesn't cost me a thing or hurt me to do it. My inlaws are really good about it too on holiday's. As long as I tell them how much everything looks so nice, and ask how they made it, and boy does that smell good, they are happy to let me be. Just takes some practice navigating some of the negative feedback.

[climbing]

Everyone around me basically thinks I'm the coolest ever for my raw culinary creations. But that's probably because I've spent years cultivating a group of friends and family who are into that sort of thing or at the very least, highly respectful of it. I don't hang out with SAD eaters really... people who don't take care of their bodies aren't very aligned to be compatible with someone like me. It's the same as how I don't hang around anyone who drinks alcohol... it's just not an energy I want around me.

I went from SAd to SAD vegetarian, to whole food, to gluten free, to gluten/dairy/soy/corn free, to that +ALL grain free, then to high raw, then to high raw vegetarian/mostly vegan.... over maybe four years or so... it wasn't that I told people to get out of my life or anything like that, I just found that as I've gone on this journey a lot of my older friendships faded away and new friendships formed as I aligned with new people in different groups with better energy... and a lot of those people happen to be into healthy eating. I don't know a lot of other people who eat mostly raw in real life, but they all understand why a person would. :)

[Dent de Lion]

I think it's so unfortunate that raw eaters are burdened with lessening the discomfort of SAD eaters-- while SAD eaters so often think it's fine to make us uncomfortable.

[speltrong]

Dent, I don't think of it as being burdened. After all, we are the ones who are not eating mainstream, so it makes sense that the majority of people would find how we eat a little strange. I think it's best to take their feelings of uncertainty and gently turn that into curiosity. I think when you're in their face about saying what you do is right, it just turns people off and gives them a bad impression of the lifestyle. Hence the stereotype.

[Dimond]

I make it seem like raw is the most fun thing to me, so people never mind it and are more curious than anything. Usually if I do give advice, I'll mention eliminating something like dairy, gluten or processed sugar. It's something people will more likely do and find less threatening than if I said they must give up meat. The most fun is when people are shocked by my shopping cart full of bananas and ask what I'm doing with them all & I'll say "eating them". This usually leads to a discussion of smoothies, among other things. Almost everyone likes the idea of adding smoothies into their diet. Even if I weren't raw, there are other things people would find unusual such as not drinking alcohol, smoking pot, using natural personal care products, etc. As long as you seem confident and happy in any lifestyle choices, people will usually not have an issue with it.

[Lady Green Jeans]

Wow, thank you for this great thread. I just hung up the phone with my older sister--the conversation was so disenhearteing. Her feedback was negative/uninformed and really saddened me. She does not at all understand the health I am trying to continue to regain--only feels I am being compulsive. Anyway needed to read all of your great responses and fortify my belief that is to my very core--I am on the right path and REALLY want the rest of my life to be as healthy and vibrant as I can be.