Hi! New Raw Foodist-to-Be!

[TriciaR]

Hi everyone!

I'm so excited to have found Alissa and this group! I'm turning 50 next month, a fitness enthusiast and have been following a clean eating lifestyle for 3 years now. I tend to not eat much meat - a little chicken and mostly fish, but fish is so poisoned now, it's hard not to be afraid of what I'm getting! I do incorporate several vegetarian-style meals into my week, but have been leaning towards converting to raw for several weeks.

After much research and hunting for good websites and information on going raw, I was about to give up and just use whatever books looked decent to get started! Then I found Alissa's site! Thank goodness! I'm not very organized and get very frustrated when I can't figure things out and I know I can find a lot of resources and help here!

I started reading The China Study and other books on nutrition and it's just shocking why all this information isn't being passed on to doctors and nutritionists and more people aren't going vegan!

Anyway, here I am! My biggest problem is that I work full time and don't have a lot of free time to spend dehydrating and prepping meals.

I'll be reading a lot here and hope you all can help guide me on my journey from clean eating to raw!

Tricia

[sport]

Welcome. You do not need to spend time preparing if you do not want to. Raw can be as fast as peeling a banana.

[TriciaR]

Thanks Mary!

I'm in the right place! Trying to get my feet under me on this journey. It's going to be a tough road since I'm doing this alone. My husband wont' go with it 100% and will only eat food that "tastes like real food." lol

Looking forward to spending time here and learning a LOT!

Tricia

[bonzer]

Yes, welcome to RFT. I am 50, love fitness (I'm a gym rat), I read the China Study and Alissa's book and many others. I also like things simple. We have a lot in common. I also work alot of hours in a casino. I don't dehydrate (or own one yet).

I do simple salads with just romaine lettuce, spinach, cukes, tomatoes, sunflower seeds and some raw dressing (recipes in the food forum) or olive oil and apple cider vinegar. I make green smoothies, fruit smoothies and juices (also in the recipes/diet or food forums). Then I eat fresh fruit anytime I want. Bananas are everywhere in every store just about. Blueberries, strawberries, peaches, nectarines, plums, grapes (all organic). Then there's oranges, pineapples, apples, etc. Very simple and delicious.

Take time to check out the recipes in the back of all raw-food books also. Great stuff in there!!

Peace, Bonnie

[TriciaR]

Hi Bonnie!

I hate the gym! lol I do love working out at home though! I've got lunch down with salads - want to try wraps next with collard, lettuce leaves, etc. for variety. My snacks have almost always been raw. Breakfast - there's a toughie! I'm still scrambling my egg whites right now. I'll have to look for some raw breakfast ideas. Looks like most people juice or do smoothies, but I don't have a good enough blender yet nor a juicer.

Dinner will be my slower transition as I have to also feed my husband and if it doesn't equate to a meal, he's not satisfied.

We'll have to trade workout ideas sometime! I plan to be lifting weights still when I'm well into my 80s!

Tricia

[Waldo]

I was going to make an introduction as my first post but couldn't help but reply to this! I am just a month into my raw food journey and just wanted to comment on your food prep and dehydrator comment. We don't have a dehydrator yet and just have a lower-grade blender and food processor and we are doing just fine without the higher priced items at the moment.

I certainly can see the possibilities when using them, but I think perhaps it's a blessing in disguise not having them because we are more focused on the simplicity and wholeness of fresh raw produce instead of creating a lot of gourmet looking meals. My wife and I have always ADORED going to nice restaurants all over the country so we definitely are interested in eventually being able to create those types of dishes though! One appliance I did spring for was a spiralizer gadget which can make noodles from lots of veggies like zucchini($30-40). Or I've even used a veggie peeler to make pad-thai noodles and it was just great. So as someone also just getting going in live food living I just wanted to encourage you and let you know that it may even give you a stronger foundation in this life. I feel that it has for us :)

Waldo

[devil's angel]

breakfast ideas


at least four of ur favorite fruits chopped into little squares , maple syrup (agave or honey) allspice , and some raw nuts of ur choice !! this makes a delious healthy breakfast and the nuts keep u full longer . add an avocado for creaminess and it will be a heavenly party in ur mouth !!! i promise u will love this recipe .

[qwerty988]

Welcome Tricia! I'm your age and new to all this as well, and definitely keeping it simple. I don't have a dehydrator either and have a really junky old blender that still makes AWESOME green smoothies!! Give yours a shot, you might be surprised.



One appliance I did spring for was a spiralizer gadget which can make noodles from lots of veggies like zucchini($30-40).


This was the only special appliance I got too and it is SOOOOOO worth it!! I use mine all the time, you can throw together a zucchini noodle dish in minutes flat -- plus I like having zucchinni noodles in miso soup too, YUM! Someone here recommended the one they sell at the QVC site -- it's only $26 including shipping and it's AMAZING, the exact same model selling for much more elsewhere.

Best wishes on your journey! :throwhearts:

@ devil's angel: Thanks for the recipe, looks great -- I'm going to try it too!