How To Fatten Dishes?

[Innerpatterns22]

I've posted a few different topics on here and I really appreciate all the help I've gotten from everyone. I'm newer to Raw foods and I haven't gone completely raw yet but I'm trying to incorporate more into my diet.

I'm 23 and I have issues gaining weight. I'm around 120 lbs. I know people will say I'm lucky and all that but it's a struggle that I have to face. My fears of going mostly raw stem from me being able to lose weight easily.

I know things like oils, coconuts, nuts and seeds are for weight gain but I have a few questions about a few specific dishes.

I'm a picky eater and I have a hard time eating raw salad's but I'm going to try a spring mix(which I've never had) with tomatoes,cucumber and lemon juice. How could I fatten up a salad like that? It seems super easy to eat low fat on a raw diet but it seems much harder to eat with substantial and healthy fats that help to maintain or gain weight. I preferably would like to at least maintain my weight.

Also I was thinking of making a zucchini pasta with marinara sauce. I have a recipe for it but it's very low fat. Is there anything I could add to a dish like this to fatten it up too?

I really appreciate all the help and the handful of people I've talked to on this forum have been really nice. Thanks!

[MysticTree]

you could add avocado/s to the salad and serve with a homemade dressing with raw oil, lemon juice or cider vinegar, honey or dates and seasonings. etc

have you checked out raw on $10 a day? There is a marinara on there that has a goodly amount of fat. If in doubt, you can just add a tablespoon of coldpressed olive oil to most recipes without too much of a disaster.

this http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?66072-Raw-Carrot-Cake-with-Coconut-Cashew-Creme

is a full bodied recipe. Very filling and plenty of calories per serving.

Nut milks and avocados as ingredients in smoothies are good boosters. Maybe you think you might not like some of these ideas but try them first as raw recipes are very often deceptive when you try to imagine the flavours and textures before you actually eat them.

[Innerpatterns22]

you could add avocado/s to the salad and serve with a homemade dressing with raw oil, lemon juice or cider vinegar, honey or dates and seasonings. etc

have you checked out raw on $10 a day? There is a marinara on there that has a goodly amount of fat. If in doubt, you can just add a tablespoon of coldpressed olive oil to most recipes without too much of a disaster.

this http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?66072-Raw-Carrot-Cake-with-Coconut-Cashew-Creme

is a full bodied recipe. Very filling and plenty of calories per serving.

Nut milks and avocados as ingredients in smoothies are good boosters. Maybe you think you might not like some of these ideas but try them first as raw recipes are very often deceptive when you try to imagine the flavours and textures before you actually eat them.

Hopefully I'm not coming off as a nuisance with all my questions so I appreciate your help! Unfortunately I'm not a fan of avocados. I was thinking instead maybe adding nuts(probably walnuts) to the salad. Would that be an adequate fat?

I haven't heard of raw on $10 a day. I'll check it out thanks!

[MysticTree]

the thing with nuts is that they are not easy or cheap to come by raw. I would suggest trying avos as part of a dressing or in a smoothie before you dismiss them totally. If you don't go a bundle on them in their own right then don't force them down as part of a salad but see if you can add them to things where they are a bit disguised.

[sport]

I chop mangoes in to my salads and that adds a lot to the calorie value without adding a lot to the fat count.
Calories are what you need to maintain weight.

[MysticTree]

Calories are what you need to maintain weight.

and fats are the highest source of calories!

[sport]

and fats are the highest source of calories!
I am aware of this but was only pointing out that they are not the only source. The discussion above would lead one to believe that they were.

[Raw Angel Mom]

How tall are you?

You need to focus on your health and threw away this scale.

If you cannot gain weight, you most likely have absorption problem. If you do a high diet on fruit, it will help your body to cleanse and resolve this problem and to have balance.

I wouldn't engorge on fat just yet especially from nuts but focus on detox, once done, you can go with a maintenance program afterward. If you digest nuts well then great but don't go over board with them. I have done this mistake and it leaded me to other health problem. You need to resolve your malabsorption problem first. Exercise will help enormously.

To make the avocado taste better, try to make a dressing with them with orange juice, if you like heat add a hot pepper, a few cherry tomato and fresh herbs.

Hemp seeds has the essential fatty acid, you can add them in your smoothie.

p.s I am not a doctor but i have passion about help and research. I recommend that you do the same.

[Dent de Lion]

I think loading up on fat might not work well. I was really skinny when I started eating raw, so I ate a lot of fat too so I wouldn't loose weight. I felt better than on cooked but still not great. Then I tried upping my overall calorie intake, but decreasing fat. (Lots of bananas and dates, etc.) It worked really well for me, I feel much better in many ways and feel great about my weight.

[Raw Angel Mom]

Here is a great youtube for you, you may resonate with this information. This is about a woman wondering how to maintain her weight.

Enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/user/liferegenerator#p/a/u/1/NXTUmIOibMA

[MysticTree]

I am aware of this but was only pointing out that they are not the only source. The discussion above would lead one to believe that they were.

I suppose it is hard for me to suggest that people "just eat more" as this seems so glaringly obvious and think they would have already tried this.

I am eating a couple of mangoes a day at the moment. They are delicious but I would love to know what they taste like straight off the tree.

[Innerpatterns22]

Thanks for all the feedback. Since I have more than a few response I'll put the name of the user and respond that way instead of bombard everyone with a ton of quotes. I also forgot to mention something. I moved about 2 years ago to a different state(Louisiana to Florida). In the process of moving I developed IBS and I got down to nearly 98 lbs. In the past 8 months or so I've been able to reach 120 lbs BUT it was by doing a diet with a good amount of fish,shrimp and vegetables. I was also eating a lot of chips and other similar junk foods. Over the past 3-4 months I've been incorporating more fruits and vegetables into my diet and I've added chia seeds to every smoothie I've done. I've gotten to a point where my IBS isn't an issue anymore with the extra fiber. I'd honestly be content with staying around 120-130 lbs the rest of my life.

Sport-Thanks for the mango and calories tip! I'll try that.

Raw Teen Mom-I'm about 5 ft. 7in. I can gain weight but I gained all that weight because of what I mentioned in the first paragraph of this post. My body loves to lose weight. I just don't want to be in a situation again where I'm 98 lbs.
Thanks for the video. I've been watching Dan's video's for a few months now but haven't seen that video yet. I understand what's he's saying but if I lost a drastic amount of weight like Lou, I think it would be very dangerous for me...health wise. It's seems like it would be a different ball game if I were around 160 lbs.

Dent de leon-Thanks for the help!

MysticTree-Your support/help means a lot, thanks!

Thanks again everyone for the help. It's definitely giving me more hope about raw foods in general

[Raw Angel Mom]

Raw Teen Mom-I'm about 5 ft. 7in. I can gain weight but I gained all that weight because of what I mentioned in the first paragraph of this post. My body loves to lose weight. I just don't want to be in a situation again where I'm 98 lbs.
Thanks for the video. I've been watching Dan's video's for a few months now but haven't seen that video yet. I understand what's he's saying but if I lost a drastic amount of weight like Lou, I think it would be very dangerous for me...health wise. It's seems like it would be a different ball game if I were around 160 lbs.

I was watching dr. Morse (morsend from the youtube), and it seems that you are most likely to have a problem of absorption. He helps people to reverse conditions with a diet on fruits (it flush your lymph and heal your body). You could ask him the same question. I would continue to do the fruits and especially in the morning up to lunch. You can consider to take fresh herbs or herbs that he makes. It is crucial that you focus the most to heal your body first once and for all then the weight will come.

This woman was underweight and she gained weight with the raw diet (mainly fruits).
http://www.youtube.com/user/liferegenerator#p/u/17/pgwDrRHEjpQ

She has also a youtube channel

[zinny]

You might also try increasing carbs, ie sweet fruits and starchy vegetables.

[Innerpatterns22]

Thanks for the video RawAngelMom

Zinny-Thanks I'll try that!

As I mentioned above I have a hard time eating lettuce of any kind. I know I can incorporate them in smoothies etc. I tried it with mint once and it made my smoothie taste terrible. The thing is I don't want to get my greens just from drinking them. I like to eat too. The only problem is this...I don't like the taste of lettuce in general-Boston,Romaine,Iceberg etc. I've even finely chopped them to small pieces and I still couldn't do it...even with lemon juice and olive oil on it. I feel pretty aggravated about this. I have a genuine want to eat more greens. It feels like my mind is saying that I should eat more greens but my mouth is saying NO. It frustrates me to no end that I can't enjoy a good salad like a normal person. I kind of hate my taste buds right now.

[Raw Angel Mom]

I kind of had the same problem with lettuce. It gave me nausea to eat salad, i now enjoy it. Maybe try to top it with different grated vegetables and herbs. Green smoothies are very delicious, this is the way i would get my greens. If you want to chew, try this a piece of celery top with a banana. I had that the other day as a snack and it was so good.

Hope you feel well soon!

[Innerpatterns22]

I kind of had the same problem with lettuce. It gave me nausea to eat salad, i now enjoy it. Maybe try to top it with different grated vegetables and herbs. Green smoothies are very delicious, this is the way i would get my greens. If you want to chew, try this a piece of celery top with a banana. I had that the other day as a snack and it was so good.

Hope you feel well soon!

I was starting to think I was the only one! I tried a salad today with cucumbers,tomatoes,lemon juice and olive oil and unfortunately I still couldn't do it. My issue is the taste and texture of it. The salad I made today hide the majority of the lettuce's flavor but the texture was very much intact.
I do like celery but I don't love it...at least not yet. I saw that in a liferegenerator video...sounds interesting!
I'm actually feeling not bad it's just I'm kind of aggravated with my taste buds, absurd as that may sound.
Thanks!

[therawmichelle]

Hey there!

Actually, fattening dishes is not really that hard, once you know what foods to include. Basically, most seeds and nuts contain good amounts of fats. You can add sunflower seeds, and/or pumpkin seeds to your salads. I often throw in sunflower seeds with my salads. Chopping up half an avocado and adding it to the salad instead of oil would also be a great idea, but if you don't like it, you can stick to nuts and seeds. Avocado, at least to me, isn't that flavorful on its own, but it can blend it with any salad and add a bit of texture to it. It usually takes the flavor of the veggies around it, so if your salad is tasty, the avocado shouldn't really be that bothering.
You can also try consuming some raw tahini and hummus, i love them!

[Raw Angel Mom]

Follow your body, it doesn't want salad then don't eat it for now.

You could add chia seed or hemp seeds (contain essential amino acid) in your smoothie (fruit smoothie). Very good

[Dent de Lion]

Thanks for the video RawAngelMom

Zinny-Thanks I'll try that!

As I mentioned above I have a hard time eating lettuce of any kind. I know I can incorporate them in smoothies etc. I tried it with mint once and it made my smoothie taste terrible. The thing is I don't want to get my greens just from drinking them. I like to eat too. The only problem is this...I don't like the taste of lettuce in general-Boston,Romaine,Iceberg etc. I've even finely chopped them to small pieces and I still couldn't do it...even with lemon juice and olive oil on it. I feel pretty aggravated about this. I have a genuine want to eat more greens. It feels like my mind is saying that I should eat more greens but my mouth is saying NO. It frustrates me to no end that I can't enjoy a good salad like a normal person. I kind of hate my taste buds right now.

Try recipes like spinach sip, creamed spinach, spinach quiches, etc. Also try other greens you may have not tried before raw, like kale and bok choy. Massaged kale salad is wonderful, and you can dip bok choy in pates and dressings. Try seaweeds, blended salads, green juices, etc. Keep in mind that you can massage other greens like you can do with kale. Sometimes I make massaged romaine salads with creamy dressings.

[Innerpatterns22]

Therawmichelle- I haven't tried raw tahini or hummus but I'l try it out. Also thanks for the tips. I've been eating a lot of chia seeds. I put them in every smoothie I make.

Raw Angel Mom-I just feel like I should eat more greens but my taste buds won't cooperate with me. I'm going to try to add greens to a smoothie but I just don't want to drink greens the rest of my life. I like the option of chewing and eating too...it's just I can't tolerate the taste and texture of lettuce.
I've started incorporating Chia Seeds in my smoothie's and there great!

Dent de Lion-I've had a mixed greens salad before with spinach and unfortunately I can't handle spinach all that much either. I've had raw kale and didn't like it but I do like Raw Kale Chips. I massaged the mixed green salad I prepared but I couldn't get through it :( The reason I'm aggravated is that I have no problem eating fruit...in fact I love eating fruit. I also love vegetables when there lightly steamed like brocoli,carrots etc but I have problems eating them raw, especially lettuce.

Thanks again for the help everyone! I'm sure I can be a nuisance sometimes.

[Dent de Lion]

Therawmichelle- I haven't tried raw tahini or hummus but I'l try it out. Also thanks for the tips. I've been eating a lot of chia seeds. I put them in every smoothie I make.

Raw Angel Mom-I just feel like I should eat more greens but my taste buds won't cooperate with me. I'm going to try to add greens to a smoothie but I just don't want to drink greens the rest of my life. I like the option of chewing and eating too...it's just I can't tolerate the taste and texture of lettuce.
I've started incorporating Chia Seeds in my smoothie's and there great!

Dent de Lion-I've had a mixed greens salad before with spinach and unfortunately I can't handle spinach all that much either. I've had raw kale and didn't like it but I do like Raw Kale Chips. I massaged the mixed green salad I prepared but I couldn't get through it :( The reason I'm aggravated is that I have no problem eating fruit...in fact I love eating fruit. I also love vegetables when there lightly steamed like brocoli,carrots etc but I have problems eating them raw, especially lettuce.

Thanks again for the help everyone! I'm sure I can be a nuisance sometimes.

I thought maybe you could like spinach if it was processed, so the texture would be different. Do you like cooked spinach?

[Innerpatterns22]

I thought maybe you could like spinach if it was processed, so the texture would be different. Do you like cooked spinach?

The only time I've liked spinach is in spinach and artichoke dip so I can do that but it kind of defeats the purpose of having it doesn't it? I'm not sure how much the nutrients it kills off. I'm guessing the majority if not all? I'm pretty ignorant in that area.

[Dent de Lion]

The only time I've liked spinach is in spinach and artichoke dip so I can do that but it kind of defeats the purpose of having it doesn't it? I'm not sure how much the nutrients it kills off. I'm guessing the majority if not all? I'm pretty ignorant in that area.

Try making a raw version! There are lots of recipes out there for raw spinach dip. Do you like avocados? Try blending a little spinach with an avocado, and add whatever seasonings you like. Start with just a little spinach in the dip, and the next time you make it, add a little more. Also you could try making one of the raw vegan cheese sauce recipes on this site, and blend spinach in with that.

Do you like seaweed? What varieties have you tried?

Have you tried green smoothies? Try making some of the green smoothie recipes, buy only add 1/4-1/2 the greens called for (you can add more if you like it with less greens at first.)

If you find greens unappealing no matter what, just focus on eating the raw vegan foods you do enjoy. Your tastes may change.

[Innerpatterns22]

Try making a raw version! There are lots of recipes out there for raw spinach dip. Do you like avocados? Try blending a little spinach with an avocado, and add whatever seasonings you like. Start with just a little spinach in the dip, and the next time you make it, add a little more. Also you could try making one of the raw vegan cheese sauce recipes on this site, and blend spinach in with that.

Do you like seaweed? What varieties have you tried?

Have you tried green smoothies? Try making some of the green smoothie recipes, buy only add 1/4-1/2 the greens called for (you can add more if you like it with less greens at first.)

If you find greens unappealing no matter what, just focus on eating the raw vegan foods you do enjoy. Your tastes may change.

Hmm I didn't think of that. Just curious about the nut cheese...what type of cheese does it emulate the most? I really don't like certain kinds of real cheese like Cream cheese,cottage cheese and goat cheese. Unfortunately I don't like Avocados. I know I'm difficult to work with...I wish my taste buds would change.

I've only tried Nori. That's actually the only kind of seaweed I've been able to find. I thought it was just ok but that's because it was with other stuff i.e. rice and some veggies. I tried to make spring rolls but I couldn't properly make the roll stay in place so it ended up being more of a seaweed burrito.

I haven't yet tried a green smoothie. I have tried this though...I made a fruit smoothie with about 2 small leaves of mint and it ruined the smoothie for me unfortunately. So I guess what's ideal is a leafy green that's mild in taste and can be easily covered up with fruit so you can't taste it.

This is just a random side note but tomorrow I'm going to the store to get some things and I'm going to make a mostly raw veggie sandwich. Mostly raw because I'm pretty sure the bread I'll be using isn't...it's sprouted bread from the company Ezekiel 4:9. I'm going to use tomatoes,cucumber,red bell pepper,onions,lemon juice and possibly cilantro(all organic of course). I know it's not ideal but I don't have a dehydrator yet.

[michigan roman]

when i went raw lost more weight then wanted and tried many adds but walnuts were best , first winter i went on alot of walnuts for like 3 months i put on too much weight and it went to gut

also can add sesame seeds to salads

and pumkin seeds high in protein and some make mylk from them

[Dent de Lion]

The sprouted bread you mentioned isn't raw, but if it works for you then go for it.

As for the flavor of the nut or seeds cheese, it really depends on the recipe you follow. Most of them most closely resemble mild cheddar or jack cheese in flavor, but the texture is more like a dip than anything else (unless you dehydrate them.) This video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hahFOFWtwkk)contains a recipe for nut cheese and some examples for how you can use it. There are also some great recipes on this site.

The seaweed that I really like is wakame. It's the type usually used in miso soup at Japanese restaurants, if you've ever had that. It comes dried, and I soak and rinse it and add it to whatever I feel like-- usually into a soup or on top of my salad. If there is an Asian market near you, you can buy a small package for a dollar or two, to try and see if you like it. I buy mine in bulk online now. The texture of wakame is halfway between an egg noodle and a cooked leaf, if you can picture that, and the taste is very mild (somewhat like cooked spinach.) Note that it's really salty if you don't rinse it.

I really dislike mint in smoothies so that would have ruined it for me too. The only green I actually like in green smoothies is baby spinach because it's so mild, and blends so smoothly. Do you have a good blender? If not, you might want to skip the green smoothies.

That's too bad that you don't like avocados, they do make a really yummy spinach dip. Maybe try some soaked almonds and seasonings instead to make a simple spinach dip? I really think the raw vegan cheese dip is the way to go though.

[Innerpatterns22]

The sprouted bread you mentioned isn't raw, but if it works for you then go for it.

As for the flavor of the nut or seeds cheese, it really depends on the recipe you follow. Most of them most closely resemble mild cheddar or jack cheese in flavor, but the texture is more like a dip than anything else (unless you dehydrate them.) This video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hahFOFWtwkk)contains a recipe for nut cheese and some examples for how you can use it. There are also some great recipes on this site.

The seaweed that I really like is wakame. It's the type usually used in miso soup at Japanese restaurants, if you've ever had that. It comes dried, and I soak and rinse it and add it to whatever I feel like-- usually into a soup or on top of my salad. If there is an Asian market near you, you can buy a small package for a dollar or two, to try and see if you like it. I buy mine in bulk online now. The texture of wakame is halfway between an egg noodle and a cooked leaf, if you can picture that, and the taste is very mild (somewhat like cooked spinach.) Note that it's really salty if you don't rinse it.

I really dislike mint in smoothies so that would have ruined it for me too. The only green I actually like in green smoothies is baby spinach because it's so mild, and blends so smoothly. Do you have a good blender? If not, you might want to skip the green smoothies.

That's too bad that you don't like avocados, they do make a really yummy spinach dip. Maybe try some soaked almonds and seasonings instead to make a simple spinach dip? I really think the raw vegan cheese dip is the way to go though.

Yeah I know it isn't raw but I don't have a dehydrator yet. I was thinking of making that cheese with zucchini noodles but I have a question(of course if ypu've made the noodles before). I made noodles with a vegetable peeler because I don't have the spiralizer yet. I let them sit in sea salt for a while and even sqeezed out excess water 3-4 times but when I ate it, it still was to watery. Any tips on how to make the texture like a noodle?

My blender is cheap and only decent. I can't get something like a Vitamix anytime soon. The thing is the only option for me to get my greens is from smoothie's. I like Brocoli,Carrots and Cauliflower steamed but can't really eat them raw. The main obstacle is lettuce of any kind.

Thanks for the tips! I'll try that.

[Dent de Lion]

Zucchini noodles, in my experience, are always like that. I don't like them myself. You could try kelp noodles.

[Innerpatterns22]

Zucchini noodles, in my experience, are always like that. I don't like them myself. You could try kelp noodles.

I've heard about kelp noodles. Do you know if they sell that at Whole Foods by chance?

[Dent de Lion]

Yes, Whole Foods sells them. If your particular Whole Foods doesn't stock them, you could probably get them to order some for you. You can also order them online.

[MysticTree]

kelp noodles aren't really raw - at least, they are highly processed - but a lot of raw foodists do eat them.

Try sea spaghetti if you can find it, I think it's nicer and it isn't processed.