lurking MOM

[Mom]

Good afternoon everyone;

My 15 year old daughter came home 3 nights ago and she informed me she was going to be “raw:.
I was not sure what she ment I first thought she was going to be eating raw fish and meat.
But after she explained it to me I felt a little better.
SO here I am looking at how you all live and get your nutrition.
My daughter has had abnormal periods and unusually long ones.
The doctor wants to put her on BC pills; I feel that is not dealing with the problem ; it is covering it until she decided to have children. I think the problem will come back once she were to stop them.
She does not take them anyways; she don’t want to put “junk” like that in her body.

Well I am just a MOM looking out for her daughter and trying to learn what “my daughter” is doing or trying.

It would be very helpful if anyone could share info I may need or help me in any way.


MOM

[dhammala]

Hi MOM!

Buy Alissa's book and videos! It is $50 that you won't regret spending! Packed with info and amazing recipes that even you will enjoy! Alissa talks about nutrition and all sorts of things in there.

Also, be sure to read the info section on this site:
http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=19

[Ariannah]

Hi Mom,

Welcome!

I too, am a mom, 38 years old. We have 4 children full-time plus my stepdaughter who lives with her mom.

One of the main worries we have is that our children will be getting enough nutrition. I think it's great your daughter wants to go raw, and I think it can be done really well if she gets plenty of variety in her diet. She can get fats and protein with nuts, avocadoes, seeds, and make sure she gets lots of fruits and greens! There are plenty of recipes on this website for free that you can try out, and if it turns out she's in it for the long haul, Alissa's book and DVD set is a great place to start for "RAW 101", if you will. It's very reassuring and chock full of information, and great recipes. (both the book and dvd).

Our children are easing more into it. I went into it myself gung-ho, and slowly have eased my children and wanted to make sure they liked a lot of "rib sticking" dishes. So we're still halfway there....

ps. regarding the periods. I have always had quite irregular periods even before having children, and after. Since being raw, (close to 4.5 months) they are more regular, and I have never been on any oral or injected form of birth control.

[sport]

It is good that you are so broadminded about your daughters wishes and you may end up owing her a lot if you can live to be healthy well in to your old age as a result of your daughter steering you in this direction.
Some here have been raw for a long time and some for a little time but we all share the conviction that this is the best possible thing we can do for our body even if we can not always live up to our own expectations.
Your daughter is going in the right direction. I do not know anyone my age (53) who is as healthy and trouble free as I am. This is not about food, it is about health and about living our life without getting sick or diseased. It is about feeling satisfied with your choices and glad every day that we made this one. I feel wonderfull and I want you and everyone else to feel as good as I do so welcome.

[prettyeyes38]

It's wonderful that you are so open to your daughter's choices!
Raw for me is quite simple: fruit smoothies for breakfast, fruits or veggies for snacks, salads for lunch and dinner.
A book that I love is "The Raw Detox Diet" by Natalia Rose.

Best to both you and your daughter!
Rachel

[Douglas]

Now that is so interesting that your daughter started this program. You will like that. People on this program are happy most of them time so you won't have any problems with her. Maybe you can Join in on the raw program and share it. It sure makes you feel good and you will get so healthy live to a ripe old age. Welcome to the group. We are glad you came here to find out more. Any questions just post what you would like to know and many will help. Enjoy Doug in Calif....... :) :D ;)

[squidly]

Congratulations Mum - for supporting your daughter, for wanting to learn abour her choices and for showing her love!!!! You are a wonderful mother for this.

As others have said searching this website will provide you with much valuable information and I too recommend Alissa's book.

I also recommend

http://www.rawreform.co.uk/ for some great information

http://fromsadtoraw.com/RawRecipes.htm for lots of raw recipes and the website is great for information

http://www.shazzie.com/raw/links/ for a list of web site links to many raw food websites.

and from all the raw daughters in the world - thank you for your support. Enjoy the journey.

[stephbkr]

on shazzie's website (www.shazzie.com) has a record of how shazzie's menstral cycle normalized by going raw! definately worth the read.

in general, both you and your daughter should just get your hands on as many books on the subject of raw as possible, www.rawfood.com has a great selection (NO 's' at the end of food, different website all together, you want the Nature's First Law website).

good luck! you are so great for being open and supportive to your daughter! there are so many ways to get the nutrients we think we get by eating cooked... happy reading.

my favorite authors: Alissa Cohen, Shazzie, Gabrielle Cousens, David Wolfe

[yeahbethany]

Hi Mom,

Are you and your daughter familiar with the Boutenko family? The entire family has eaten raw foods for about 12 years now. Their children are now in their late teens or early twenties.

Their website is www.rawfamily.com

They've written some recipe books and other books.

Also, www.thegardendiet.com features a raw family with four beautiful children! They also have some insight about raising a raw children.

As prettyeyes said, the Raw Food Detox Diet has a lot of ideas for transitioning to raw, and just to healthier eating in general, as well as incorporating healthier (raw and cooked) foods into a family's diet.

I was put on BC pills when I was a teen to treat abnormal periods. I wish I hadn't taken them. It's true: they mask the symptom, they don't correct the problem (if there is one). Now that I am off them, I only have heavy periods every four or five months. I still have PMS symptoms more frequently, which leads me to believe that I may ovulate, but I don't bleed as often. I feel a lot better without the BC pills, however. You may do well to do some research, as nobody can decide this but your daughter.

I hope all of this helps! Good luck to you and your daughter! =)

[Sharon in Colorado]

The absense of denatured, processed food will help your daughter's body to heal and go back to a normal, healthy condition. The condition we were *all* meant to have.

Our bodies get so overloaded trying to digest, assimilate and evacuate unnatural food that isn't eaten its natural state, it doesn't have much time to address diseases and disorders that develop. When the body is functioning optimally, it will heal itself.

Eating raw food is simply giving the body fuel and nutrition in the least stressful state. Since the body needs to work very little to digest whole, fresh, ripe raw foods, it has more time to heal problems within the body.

May I ask - what is your daughter's diet like presently? I heard Tonya Zovasta just came out with a book about going raw in 100 days. Some people are able to go straight from a cooked, meat and processed diet to a raw vegan one, while others need to transition over a few weeks to get their system acclimated to the change.

Alissa's book and video are excellent. You will enjoy watching the video together. There are also many wonderful books that might be available at your library. Fit For Life is a great book that got many folks started toward raw, it's been out for about 20 years. It is also nice to get to know some Natural Hygiene principles to learn about how food and the environment effects the body.

Who knows, you might want to jump in this with your daughter so you can support one another. You'll both have a blast doing all the recipes and seeing the changes that occur.

All the best to your daughter and you.

[RawFoodieMom]

I just want to say that you are an awesome Mom. :) Your response to your daughter's statement that she wants to go RAW is admirable. So many parents would have responded much different (mainly negatively), and a lot would probably freak out automatically thinking their child is going to do something unhealthy simply because it's not the "norm". It's great that you decided to do some of your own research before you make any decisions. Kudos to you!!! :) :)

Debra

[Raw Sweetie]

Your daughter is a blessed girl!! You are so supportive. I agree with what everyone is saying about getting your hands on as many books as you can, etc. Also, please don't allow anything to scare you about your daughter's ability to get all the nutirents she needs by living this lifestyle. I have been raw for 4 years and never been better!! I also had problems with heavy periods in the past; all the MD's I saw wanted to put me on BC's too--really for any little ailment I had, even headaches!! When I became RAW, my periods became less heavy with no more painful cramps, PMS, etc. It's been wonderful!!! My body loves being RAW and shows me that this is the best way to live!! This is a great place to learn.

[Sharon in Colorado]

Just wanted to add that usually my periods have some pretty bad PMS before hand. I usually get a horribly sharp headache, sudden feelings of urination and bloating. This time my period came unexpectedly, without any of the above symptoms appearing beforehand. The second day was like it usually is, on the heavy and crampy side, but it was a real improvement from the last periods I've had.

Hope that helps.

[RawTruth]

How wonderful that you are gathering information to support your daughter in her choices. This is a great place for that -- and everyone has made terrific suggestions.

I just want to clarify one teensy little thing (with --truly -- tons of respect for rawandnatural) that was written:


She can get fats and protein with nuts, avocadoes, seeds, and make sure she gets lots of fruits and greens!Her body will be able to make protein from eating fresh veggies, fruits, etc.; she will not need to specifically eat nuts and seeds to get protein. Therefore, it will be a very very easy way to eat -- you and she won't have to try to balance her diet; she can let her tastes be her guide. This may seem totally contrary to what we've been taught about "nutrition" -- because it is! But, the more you read and learn, the more you'll understand this aspect. Best of luck to you both. I hope that she (and you) carry through on this idea -- she can experience freedom from her menstrual problems and also begin to experience her young adulthood in complete and total natural health -- something which probably none of us did.

[Ariannah]

I do agree with RawTruth... I didn't mean to make it sound the way it sounded. The body needs the amino acids which are found in all foods. Most of the time when people ask me, personally, about the "common questions", telling them that I eat some nuts and avocadoes seems to reassure them that it's not just about celery and carrot sticks and I'm not going to wither away ;)

I personally believe, and know, that with a good variety of just eating raw food, the body gets all the nutrients it needs, but the "nuts and seeds" bit seems to reassure those who are just spring-loaded to try to "aha!" me that I am not getting enough of this or that nutrient ;)

[Live Free]

Way to go Mom. I know my mother told me that she wished she had all this information about raw foods when I was young. I wished she had too. It would have been an easier transition.

I love the way the raw foods make my body feel. My daughter who is 2 years old is also a raw foodist. I try to make as many of her meals raw as possible. She loves all the fruits and nut butters.

Your daughter is lucky to have a Mother who cares enough to help her daughter join an elite group of people who are all learning the best way to care for their bodies; by eating the foods God gave us to eat in the garden.

My God bless you in your search for health.

If you have any questions there are always people here willing to help you in your quest for information.

We have been raw for nearly a year. I will never go back. I have nearly forgotten how to eat the SAD way.

Teresa and Mae
Live Free

[eachpeachpearplum]

It's wonderful that you are so open to your daughter's choices!
Raw for me is quite simple: fruit smoothies for breakfast, fruits or veggies for snacks, salads for lunch and dinner.
A book that I love is "The Raw Detox Diet" by Natalia Rose.

Best to both you and your daughter!
Rachel

This was actually the first book I bought (then of course Alissa's!) and it is a REALLY good starting point. I am fairly new to this myself and I am coming from a huge love of beef and have never felt better being raw. I also am feeding my 15mo & 5 yr old Raw and they are thriving!

All the best!

[Rawmommie]

I think it's wonderful that you came here to learn more and support your daughter! :)

I was pu on BC when I was 13 to control my periods and it made me insane. I wouldn't suggest doing it. It only helped slightly with my problems, but created a whole new set of them. I tried to commit suicide numerous times and was an emotional basketcase from the time I started taking it until the time I quit. I believe it made more problems after I stopped also. The ONLY thing that has made my periods less painful, lighter, and regular is eating raw.

Good luck to you and your daughter!

[RawFoodieMom]

Hey Mom, are you still out there? We would love an update... :) How's it going?

Debra