HUGE Initial success with RAW! Now some questions

[jacksmomma27]

Hi Everyone!!


I have tried eating 'raw' countless times (you don't have to sell me on the benefits to the planet or of course your body!) However, I alwaysn get pulled back to SAD because as a mother to a toddler and full-time university student, I get overwhelmed....Until now. I realized gourmet raw just isn't for me. I don't like the strong flavours of the seasonings I use or the fussiness of preparing the meals....I prefer fresh veg, salads and smoothies (nuts are hard for me to digest but I LOVE raw almonds) so I am going to stick to it this way!! In two days of raw (SAD before) I have lost 6 pounds! Granted its water weight and not really my reasons behind converting to this WOE, I have a substantial amount of weight to lose.


If some seasoned RAW foodies could answer my questions below I would be so appreciative!

1) Is organic almond milk sold in the tetra packs RAW?

2) Do alot of raw foodists still drink coffee? (I am terrified to give it up and I drink 3-4 cups a day lol... I have tried so many times, and when I gave it up cold turkey during my pregnancy I had the WORST withdrawal symptoms, granted I am sure after the initial symptoms I will feel much better)

3) I know nuts have to be RAW, but what about dried fruit? Can I just assume all dried fruits are RAW?

Right now I don't feel tempter to eat SAD food, because fresh fruit and veg is becoming satisfying even in this short period of time. I can't thank everyone enough for all of their encouragement and commitment they have to this WOE. It really motivateds newbies like myself, I HATE reading posts where people discuss their slip-ups from raw or try to justify small amounts of cooked food. I believe its just all or nothing. That being said, small amounts of condiments (nutritional yeast, balsamic vinergar) or coffee and tea I believe to not be in the same vain as say, having a salad with cooked rice or oatmeal for lunch... I am not justifying drinking coffee, I just wondered how many other RAW foodists do...and would you even consider somebody that drinks coffee raw?



Thanks again everyone!!!

[fastfreedom]

welcome, and congrats on your foray into eating very healthy. You are gonna feel amazing.:excited: <---like that. LOL

I don't know if that almond milk is raw. Likely not though, cus it spoils after a little while.

Coffee......I don't drink it.....have in the past....years ago.....but never to the point to where I had withdrawls if I didn't drink it. Never been too much a fan of it. IMO, if you wean yourself off it your detox from it won't be such a sudden rush all at once. Maybe start to incorporate green juice in place of some of the coffee. Green juice will give you a boost. ;-)

I wouldn't just assume because fruit is dried that it is raw. Sometimes they use higher temps than what is considered the norm for dehydrating something and keeping the enzymes intact. Sometimes sugars are also added. You could always give the company a call and ask em what temps they use to dehydrate the fruit.

[Frugal Raw]

The best way to ensure that you have raw almond milk, is to make it yourself, which is actually very easy! What appliances do you have? Do you have a blender? If it is not a hard core machine like a vitamix, you can still make your own almond milk - soak the almonds to soften them a bit before blending :) I like 1 c. almonds to 4 c. clean water, and sometimes I add a little raw honey to it. If you want to avoid the grittiness, you can pour it through folded cheesecloth to remove the pulp. Don't throw away the pulp - you can use it elsewhere in recipes!

Coffee - now there's something I wrestle with often. It has its good values and its bad. It's one of those on the fence issues. I don't have it everyday. You asked if you would be regarded as raw whether you drink it or not - my question for you is how raw do you want to be? I believe that I read once that 75% raw or more is considered raw - but why worry about the label? - there's too much life to be living to worry about labels! You are new at this and have admitted to having challenges - for now focus on incorporating as much raw foods into your lifestyle as you can and work up:) No one should fault you for being new:) We have all had our challenges, I can assure you!

Dried fruit - go easy on it no matter what - it's concentrated sugar, and frankly can cause bloating due to the lack of water. Drink lots of water when consuming dried foods. The most reliable way to know it's raw is again, making it yourself (and avoid anything with sulfer dioxyde in it!). I own the Excaliber dehydrator and I LOVE it! Get yourself a dehydrator that allows you to set and control the temperature - always keep it below 108 degrees to keep from killing off the enzymes. That said, alot of folks prefer to just keep it juicy!

Best of luck to you!!

[Living Food]

I know nuts have to be RAW, but what about dried fruit? Can I just assume all dried fruits are RAW?

A lot of dried fruit actually isn't raw; It's probably better to assume it isn't unless given reason to think that it is. It's also nowhere near as good for you as the real thing.


Do alot of raw foodists still drink coffee? (I am terrified to give it up and I drink 3-4 cups a day lol... I have tried so many times, and when I gave it up cold turkey during my pregnancy I had the WORST withdrawal symptoms, granted I am sure after the initial symptoms I will feel much better)

I don't...no idea how many do. It would be much better for you if you gave it up (wean yourself off slowly if necessary). If you have nasty withdrawal symptoms when trying to give it up, that's a pretty good indication that it's something you really shouldn't be having.

As for the almond milk, I have no idea...I prefer to eat fresh foods that I grow myself rather then buy processed foods in packages.