my meal plan..

[oliola91]

Hello,
I'm new to the raw food lifestyle but do believe it is best for optimal health. I have already been a vegetarian for a year and a half..
I live at university though where there are parties all the time, and dinners with my friends...
Also, I would like to lose a bit of weight so have come up with a plan! Please let me know if you think it is alright: Fruit and salads most days, and a regular vegetarian meal twice a week, raw dessert twice a week and once a week I can go out drinking. Not sure if i will lack in calories or take in too many, if this will help me lose or gain weight... Basically I want to be healthy but also balanced because I do like going out occasionally and drinking, but students at my uni go out way too often i feel. What do you guys think? Thanks!

[Queen Bean]

I think you have to weigh up whether the pleasure of socialising is worth more than the 'pain' of deviating from raw.

I'm forty years old. Guess how long I've been trying to be raw for? Since I was seventeen. That's when there was no internet and only a couple of books that even touched on raw that I knew about. I've been high raw for most of that time, but I've never been able to go 100% due to the social factor. I don't eat cooked food every day, and when I do, I often feel like I have a hangover the next day. I've still reaped benefits from raw, and I'm sure I look younger than if I ate SAD. I'm also pretty sure I'd look younger still if I was 100% raw. Some people go 100% raw over night. In some ways, I wish I was like that.

Why not use the plan you described as a base, and if over time, you want to removed the cooked elements, then do so, as long as you don't eat more cooked than the plan. And of course, don't binge drink. You may find over time you will have more fun not drinking or staying raw when you're out. I can feel fresh and sparkly because I've been raw, and then eat a cooked meal with someone and feel like I've aged about ten years in the process. (I'm not sure if it's true, but my face definitely changes if I eat cooked.) (One thing I've never deviated from is not eating meat, chicken or fish since I was 16.)

[Traceyraw]

Stock up on fresh fruit and have veggies cut up. When they go out and have wings ask for lots of extra celery. Its sound like a good plan. Im not sure your budget but there are raw cookies, crackers and bars available at most health food stores. Listen to your body. The cleaner it is from raw foods the less your going to want to but alcohol and other toxins in it. I enjoy organic sulfite free red wine. It sounds like your on the right track. I think it will help you study also. Your head should be clearer and able to focus better.

[Raw Angel Mom]

If you are truly seeking for health ditch the alcohol. Perhaps transition with an organic wine but i would seriously drop it period. You can still go out. I used to go out and i never drink. People might question at first but they will get use to it.

The beauty about raw food you don't need to plan only when you want to do certain recipes that require planing. Eat as much fresh fruits, vegetables and leafy greens as you can first and you will be balance. Try to eat food that grow in your area and prioritize berries.

All is well