July 2012 30 day raw challenge

[Aleesha Sattva]

Welcome welcome welcome!!! :excited:

Welcome to the 30 day challenge and welcome to our new monthly format.

This is our monthly challenge thread. We are choosing to do one (or perhaps split into two) continual threads so we can create a community of support within this challenge. You can join this thread at any time during the month. Don't be shy... we love new posters!!! So if you want to join us... please do!

I welcome people who are already 100% raw to join in the conversation - supporting our challengers in their quest! :cheer:

This thread is specifically for those of you who are eager to commit to 30 consecutive days of eating 100% raw foods and seeing miraculous results!

I will start a new challenge thread on the first of every month. If I forget... send me a quick email and remind me... I'll get the challenge thread online for you quickly.

The focus of the monthly challenge is on staying raw and accountability. Therefore, if you have eaten all raw and then slip up and have something cooked, don't beat yourself up over it or dwell on it - but this is not space to discuss it. You are more than welcome to document it in your journal/blog or ask for help in the discussion area, but it is not necessary (and not allowed) to discuss your slip-up here in the challenge threads, just get right back on track and keep going! This thread is about celebrating what you are eating that IS raw!

I welcome you all to share pics of your dishes, ask questions, share what you are consuming (as long as it's raw). We are here to listen to your emotional and physical challenges. So share share share!!! :hug

OH and the best part of this (not only the support but...) you can subscribe to this thread and get notified every time someone posts to it. This way you will be connected!

So let's get this party started!!!:throwhearts:

[Aleesha Sattva]

Please do not post in this thread until July 2012.

[donnyandcathy]

It's after midnight here in Georgia, so I thought I would post and let you know that I'm in for July.
About to head to bed and prepare my body for some raw cleansing this month.
Hope I have a lot of people joining me <3
Night,
Cathy

[MysticTree]

I'm mostly eating water melon today. Bought a huge one yesterday for £2.99 from a little semi-ethnic shop. It's delish. The rain is beating down again but it is supposed to brighten up later. Should be gardening but instead I'm tucked up in bed in the caravan surfing on my mobile.

[HesterCat]

It's July 1st!

Although I've been eating high raw for a while, very excited about the month ahead! Haven't embarked upon such a venture since taking the 30 day vegan challenge.

They say it takes 21 days to install a new habit - 30 days should be life changing then!

Happy salad eating : )

P.S If anyone fancies a recipe for RAW JAM http://www.glamour.com/health-fitness/blogs/vitamin-g/2010/04/afternoon-snack-oddly-deliciou.html - Tomorrow morning, I'm blending up some strawberries for my fruit salad.

Hester x

[ReneeH]

Hey, Hey, Hey!!!!! It's Renee!!!! I want to lend my support to those seeking RAWness and beyond!!! So glad to be here!!!! :dance:

Hester, have you tried Alissa's Rasberry Jam in RFFE? Oh my GOODNESS!!!!! It's beyond fabulous!!!! It's the topping on her Angel Food Cake:

http://i517.photobucket.com/albums/u336/Pioneerspiritnee/Raw%20Food%20for%20Everyone%20PHOTOS/1000000532.jpg

By putting it in the dehydrator it REALLY does "jam up", or thicken like traditional jelly!!!! And, it'll keep longer than the one in the link in your post. If course, it doesn't last long in my house!!!!! LOL!!!

Also, instead of putting the Jam on traditional SAD breads (like the one in the photo in your link), why not try making bread yourself!!! There are great ones in LOLF, or you could use Manna Bread (from Whole Foods)? You'll probably like it even better!!! :)

[PansyLo]

^ That sounds good! We have an abundance of raspberries about to ripen in the garden right now, there's literally hundreds of them.
I was thinking of looking up raw jam recipes because I love jam. I don't have RFFE though.

I also don't have a dehydrator.

[GoodCat]

All raw...yes!

Today so far its been a salad, 2 oranges, a raw burger, and some tomatoes w/ mushrooms, olive oil and sea salt. Yummy...

Probably another salad and some raw tomato soup for dinner...

Cathy

[Crystal2870]

Day Five

Hi everyone ! Its day five here for me , I feel so much better today than yesterday ! Had a lovely day , took family to Goodwood Festival of Speed, wasnt sure how it was going to go as we was going to be out all day and I took a big picnic for everyone, running low on food so didnt really know what to pack for myself!

Breakfast was peppermint tea, then a big smoothie again, fresh bananas, frozen bananas, acai powder, maca powder, baobob powder, dates, frozen berries and chia seeds, was lush, again my little 2 year old couldnt get enough of it , along with my partner and other son !

Took an advocado, some soaked almonds, marinated nuts, banana and raw bar with fruit and nuts. It was a challenge on the picnic with all the scrummy cooked food and the smells from all the stalls.. then my partner buying some snacks !! , but I was very proud of myself just stuck to what I had , when we went to get a coffee, I just had a sparkling mineral water. The suprising thing was that I felt very satisfied all day and had lots of energy , walked for miles ! Was just feeling a bit hungry about 5 ish... had a few nuts left which I ate..

Got home quite late after 8 and whizzed up some sun dried toms, fresh toms, basil, garlic, olive oil salt and pepper , ate with some crudites. The twins loved those and said they would like some in thier lunchbox for school ! luckily I've made plenty so they can have some tomorrow !

Lovely to see some others joining me on the 30 day challenge, my friend who gave me Alissa's book has recommend I try the stuffed mushrooms and the kale salad, so I need to get some more ingrediants tomorrow, they didnt have any organic kale when I went.. Kale just doesnt appeal to me, I've had the kale chips before and thought they tasted like cardboard ! so will be interested to see what the salad is like...

Oh yes forgot to say my sweet potatoe chips I made ended up in the bin dehydrated for days and still chewy and tasted yuk, the marinated onions didnt taste much better either..

X Carol

[hippie]

I'm in!!!! Praying this thread keeps me on task for the entire month (yayayay!) Here are pics of my lunch (smoothie) and my dinner (eggless salad on a salad w/ capers)91369135

[PansyLo]

I've definitely been upping my vegan raw meals. :)

Been having a lot more smoothies and simple raw foods for meals.

Does anyone have any tips on making raw garlic more palatable? I LOVE garlic and would eat raw garlic out of a tube or jar from the super market with no problems but fresh raw garlic, even in small amounts in larger meals has this nippy spicy taste that puts me off. For some reason out of the tube it has a sweeter more like cooked garlicy taste.
Would it help to leave it soaked in some kind of oil or something?
Would blending garlic with oil (maybe a touch of honey?) and leaving it in the fridge for a few days help? Then just use when needed.

[lynch]

I'm in too! We will pray for this thread.

[SunshineMN]

I'm in for this one. Maybe it will help keep me on track better than in the past!

Started out with a big salad of romaine, green leaf, iceberg lettuces, napa cabbage, cauliflower, celery, and alfalfa, fenugreek, and broccoli sprouts. Oh yeah, I ate the last banana we had about 2 hours before the salad.

Later I plan on having some bing cherries, strawberries and maybe an orange or two. We have around 30 lbs of the biggest valencia oranges right now that are awesome! I'm also sipping on pineapple orange juice diluted with lots of water.

We need to start sprouts again. I'm thinking about trying mung beans for the first time!

[MysticTree]

What are Bing berries? They sound interesting. I got a gardening magazine today with a free blueberry plant and an inexpensive fig tree on offer in it. I think I might get one of each.

[snowshoe]

Went to an enormous farm potluck today. Grill city. So proud of myself for not slipping. My zucchini pasta dish was popular and consumed in it's entirety. I was not even tempted by all the grilling, and all the fresh salads and mountains of freshly picked strawberries really hit the spot.

[donnyandcathy]

YAY!! So glad that we have a good group for July to encourage one another.

I only did water and herbal teas today. I like to do this on my first day when I do the challenges. It makes me feel like I'm cleansing and can start the
next day eating 100% raw.

Tomorrow, I will start with green juice and then have fruit the rest of the day. I may have a salad for supper, just depends on how I'm feeling. I really
need to do a lot of fruit to help cleanse this colon of mine.
Having Gastroparesis and Colonic Inertia, fruit is really the best food for me to eat. It is easier to digest, and is cleansing. I bought plenty of fruit, so
hopefully it will last a few days, unless my kids eat it all. ;)

I also started my Yoga back tonight. I am just doing some moves at home. I would love to take a class somewhere, but that's not possible right now. I
just hope I'm doing the moves correctly.
Exercise and Yoga are part of my July challenge as well. I will be posting what I've done along with my food journal to keep me accountable.

Night!!

[SunshineMN]

What are Bing berries? They sound interesting. I got a gardening magazine today with a free blueberry plant and an inexpensive fig tree on offer in it. I think I might get one of each.

Bing cherries are dark red cherries and are the most produced cherry in the US. They are quite sweet and yummy. It's the only kind of cherries I've ever had besides the maraschino cherries that come in a jar covered in sugar water... yuck! They help with arthritis and gout so they help my achy hips and knees.

Some day I want to have a few blueberry plants (my favorite berry!) and a fig tree would be awesome!

I started our sprouts. Trying mung and radish for the first time. Also started broccoli, 2 jars of alfalfa, and fenugreek. Snagged a few deglet noor dates from the fridge while I was out there and ate those as a snack. These dates are so much better than the boxed ones that sat on the shelves in the grocery store for ages that my mom used to buy when I was young. I still need to try medjool dates but the deglet noor are plenty sweet as it is.

[robh]

Crystal2870, the day you were grouchy and felt miserable and negaive was most certainly detox. If you haven't already, you will be feeling better than every very soon. Hang in there!

donnyandcathy, welcome back. Good luck.

MysticTree, water melon is awesome. We just had some last night. Getting the family to eat delicious fruit is never hard. :) Also, I think it was "Bing Cherries" not berries (unless there is something out there called bing berries). Bing Cherries are in season and in the super markets here in US (yum). We have some at the house now.

HesterCat, congrats on being high raw and welcome to the challenge.

So many new names in this thread this month! I hope you all will forgive me for skipping a few! Welcome everyone and good luck.


To be honestly, lately, I have found some cooked food that don't cause me to detox. Also we went out on Friday night to a place that had meat in EVERYTHING. I forgot last night was July 1st and I had a little non-raw stuff. BUT, there are 31 days in July so my 30 days of 100% starts now!

I have been in this thread since March. I think I went 20 days at 100% raw back in May. Living with a house full of cooked foodies does not help someone that's trying to be raw. That, however, is a convenient excuse. I am the one in control of what I eat, after all. July is the month complete this challenge!

Today, I plan to stay full and satisfied with a porridge made out of soaked chia seeds and raw Tahini, soaked raw almonds and agave. After that, I am having some fuirt (pears, bananas, plums and an orange). For dinner, think I'm going to do sliced tomatoes and cucumbers with olive oil and fresh basil and a dash of sea salt and pepper. In addition to that, I'll have a nice big salad with raw dressing.

Good luck everyone!

[MysticTree]

Robh, I guess I misread the post then and since I am mostly on my mobile these days it's not difficult to misread. It's not that my eyesight is especially bad but that the type is so darned small.

I hope you get a good run at raw this month - did you try the soaked wild rice yet?

[GoodCat]

I had a wonderful salad last night. It was just cucumber, tomato, carrot, and red onion w/ a little olive oit, apple cider vinegar, and sea salt. It really hit the spot.. I so love raw foods. I feel so alive when that is all I eat!

Everyone is doing so well.. Keep it up :)

Cathy

[robh]

MysticTree, I forgot to mention. I had some soaked wild rice over the weekend. I like it! It is nutty, a little crunchy with a mellow flavor. It kept me full and gave me a nice steady flow of energy. It found it is also high in zinc! I am really glad you suggested it. I would probably be eating some today, but I went through that little box (super small box) over the weekend. I need to google for someplace to buy it in bulk. It’s going to be a staple for me. A raw, zero fat food that keeps me full; it’s great. I am also sprouting some legumes. If I have similar success with that, I will have a little variety. Also, I want to try raw corn too.

GoodCat, that sounds like a very nice, simple salad. Raw onion doesn't sit well with me, but I have been known to substitute onion power. Thanks for the salad idea.

[hippie]

Brunch anyone????

Spicy Tortilla soup! 9137

[GoodCat]

Ooooooo... Spicy Tortilla soup sounds wonderful.... Recipe by chance??? :)

[MysticTree]

Robh, glad you liked the wild rice. You are right though, it's a bit pricey. We use it sparingly and would like a cheaper source than our local health food shop. Sproutpeople sell it I think and it might be worth checking out azure.

[PansyLo]

Lots of new faces!!! :woohoo: Sounds like this is going to be a good month!

I really want to be in 100% again this month but for some reason I'm really intimidated by starting again!

Think I might just need to jump in and try it. So, rather tentatively, I'm in!

[hippie]

Ooooooo... Spicy Tortilla soup sounds wonderful.... Recipe by chance??? :)

2 roma tomatoes
1/4 red bell pepper
1 medium zucchini
1 stalk celery
1 organic vegan "not chicken bullion" cube
1 tsp trader joe's taco season
1/2 cup water

blend blend blennnnnnnnnnnnnnnd

pour into bowl, then cut corn off one cob, and add to soup

fill stomach!

[MysticTree]

Bf isn't a member here but he is joining me for the 2nd 30 day challenge. He is really concerned that he is loosing too much weight. He is 6ft and currently weighs 146lbs which is down 7 lbs on his start weight. I have pointed out that we ate quite lightly on Sunday and that he has been having smaller portions recently so I have suggested he up the number of meals he has to 4 daily or to increase his snacks of nuts and bananas. I have also mentioned the idea that he will lose what he loses and then his body will adjust his weight to where it needs to be. All the same he has asked me to canvass my raw friends here on rft.

[GoodCat]

hippie... thank you so much. I'm making that tonight for dinner!

Mystic... I came up with the same ideas as you. Eat more frequently and more high calorie foods like avocao, nuts, etc. And I do know of a couple of men who lost alot of weight at first and then they gained some back and stayed there. So I agree with you on all the above :)

[robh]

PansyLo, good luck!

MysticTree, I found wild rice at nuts.com. It's about the same price as chia seeds per pound (still pretty spendy). That is, however, magnitudes cheaper than what I paid for wild rice in the grocery store. It also helps that I use nuts.com for my raw nuts, raw seeds and nutritional yeast.

Also, MysticTree, your BF has another 10 lbs to go before he is considered underweight. He has lost 7 lbs in a month, but, as we all know, weight loss tapers off. Maybe his body just wants to be in the upper 130's. I wouldn't sweat it.

hippie, that soup looks good. I may have to give that a try.

[MysticTree]

I have passed on your messages and he is reassured. He feels great on raw and wants to continue. Someone at his group session commented that he had lost weight and it threw him a bit.

[PansyLo]

Mystic: When changing your diet and healing your body dramatically your weight can often tip one way and fluctuate before settling where it should. It's just processing change.

It's shopping time for me. I'm going to have a good read through my recipe books and find some really yummy sounding simple meals. I think I'm going to stick to a lot of greens and salad because I at least know they're not going to go wrong! Lots of fresh fruit and stuff for smoothies too. I'm going try some new things to sprout from the dry foods section.

I don't now why I'm so unsure about this. I wish I was a bit more excited. I need to do it though as I'm just so fed up of having no motivation, getting bad dull skin and gaining weight. I look and feel a mess.

[MysticTree]

he says thank you all for your comments.

[Crystal2870]

Day Six

Another day completed !

Breakfast was green smoothie, it looked yuk, bananas, water, two big handfuls of spinich, hemp protein powder, an apple, I nearly gagged thinking I would hate it but it was really nice ! .. never had the hemp protein powder before wasnt sure what to expect, but it was very pleasant ! .. again my little boy had a glass and asked for some more.

Had couple of handful of walnuts though out the day, lunch was leftover pesto and crudites again, two fresh apricots, a banana.

this evening had big salad, but didnt really enjoy it, strange some days you can have something and lvoe it and other days not ! Wanted something sweet so had a raw bar.

felt annoyed again this morning, this evening the only way i can describe it is like I've got a hangover, sort of pressure in my head not a headache as such, hard to describe, Robh yes, Im guessing more detox...!!!

Mystic Tree ...my dad went raw overnight a few years ago after readign one of my more radical books ! ...he is a big carnivore has his meat and veg every night without fail !...he did it for a month and lost quite alot of weight to the point where my mum was worried and so he went back to eating the same diet which is shame ! x ...Im not sure its going to have that effect on me, Im eating loads lol !..

PansyLO - Hurrah you've taken the plunge !

One thign I have noticed since doing this diet , I am not getting wind (sorry I have tried to be ladylike while approaching this subject lol - ahem I mean us ladies never do love puffs anyway...)...

Still having battles in my head a bit, part of me thinks its all alof of effort and in a way is likw a "diet" where you are restricting certain foods, and I think ah yes but you could get run over by a number ten bus tomorrow and then you'd think why bother depriving yourself, I guess thats my mentality at the moment , I dont feel hungry at all, but I also dont want to tell myself you are NEVER going to eat this or that again ! ....perhaps at some point I wont actually want to ??? I've been cooking for the rest of my family tonight and It really didnt bother me at all..

Went shopping today spent a fortune ! need to make sure I have plenty of fruit ect in dont want to allow myself to hungry to give in to temptation !

I got some ingrediants to try the stuffed mushroom things, bf said he will have whatever Im having for tea , he had some green smoothie, came down from his shower and proclaimed " what the heck is that ! snot ?" I convinced him to try it and he said it was nice !

Oh I forgot me and the little ones eat a whole honeydew melon today too ! Surely I am eating too much??, mind you my little girl has been breastfeeding loads, I wonder If I need to drink more, thats why I have that stuffy head feeling ...

x

[MysticTree]

That's a pity about your Dad. People find this way of eating quite challenging don't they. My father was heavily into health fads (without really being healthy) so I don't really see it as extreme!

[Bananna]

Hey Everyone!
I am very motivated right now...thanks to an insult. Full report over in the blog section...lol. I will do my best to recommit to raw beginning tomorrow! :) I think this thread will be a good little spot to hang out!

I hope you are all enjoying the summer bounty! (if you're in the northern hemisphere ofcourse)

[CyndiM]

Hello all, I'm in for July.

I finished a 2-week water fast last Thursday and been having juices, smoothies and some raw dishes since.

Near the end of my fast, I made some raw buckwheat bread from therawchef.com's recipe, some cheezy kale chips and a batch of chocolate chip cookies.

Today, I OD'ed on the kale chips and drank lots of water, then made a sandwich with the new bread. It was good, but too heavy for me. I now feel i need to stay away from too much dehydrated stuff for a while still.

I did release 22 lbs on the water fast! (Starting at 165lb) I know some of that will come back, yet staying raw should help me stabilize and start to lose more. I'm 5' 4" and desire to be around 125-130lbs. (That sounds heavy to me, as I used to be a bicycle racer before having kids and was around 117lbs with little body fat!)

I love green smoothies and will make that my mainstay.

Oh, did you notice the free webinar with ReneeH? It is actually on July 5th now. (1pm PDT) It is for making raw food with/for kids.
http://www.learnitlive.com/class/2305/Raw-Food-Summer-Snacks-for-KIDS

Enjoy!

[donnyandcathy]

Well, I woke up today wanting to continue the water, herbal tea fast, so I did till late this afternoon.
I was at Whole Foods and bought some Kombucha with Chia Seeds in it. I LOVED IT!!! I didn't think I would like Kombucha, but I did!!
Now I just need to know how to make it myself since it is so expensive!!

I came home and made some green juice. I juiced..... Kale, Red Swiss Chard, Celery, Parsley, Carrots, Apples, Orange, Lime, Cucumber, and a big chunk
of Ginger. It was VERY yummy and refreshing. I drank it as I took the kids on a walk. One of our neighbors, who is about 7 years old wouldn't stand near
me because she was scared of my "Green" drink and she said she could smell it, and it STUNK!! HA!! My kids kept trying to tell her how yummy it was. In
fact my 9 year old kept asking for a sip, but I was being selfish ;)

I drank some more Kombucha tonight, but no solid foods today like I planned. I guess I will see what tomorrow holds, but I sure do have a lot of fruit that
needs eating since it is ripening so fast.

I bought some organic red grapefruit at WF today. Do y'all like to juice it or eat it? I've never been a grapefruit eater, and in fact it's probably been
30 years since I've tried one. They looked so pretty and smelled so good that I had to buy a few ;)

Night!!

[christmaskid]

Didn't get here yesterday to sign in for the 30 day challenge. I'm starting out with raw juice fasting and will see when the body wants to have something solid. Started yesterday. I've done Master cleanse before but this seems gentler on the body. And I know I'm getting more nutrients. Went to the local Sprouts yesterday and loaded up. My refrigerator looks like a garden.

I'm hoping this thread will help to provide motivation and support as I work to heal and center myself.

[effortlessvegan]

I've been high raw for over a year but with not much structure. I've done the challenge before and love the stories and camaraderie. It's great to share ideas and concerns. We are all here to support each other. Good luck everyone.:heart

[PansyLo]

Yesterday I juice fasted... also known as I was too lazy to go do the shopping but had lots of fruit needing used up.

I feel like I could live off freshly juiced oranges blended with frozen cherries or strawberries. Tastes so refreshing and sherbety.

Drank lots of herbal tea too.

There doesn't seem to be much happening with Raw meetups in Scotland. :( There's one girl not much older than me who says she's game for a raw smoothy out in Edinburgh one day. But there doesn't seem to be anything happening with events even though they used to be monthly. :(
www.rawfoodscotland.com is becoming one of my favourite sites now. It's got some great advice and all written in good humour. It would suggest that there's more of a movement in Scotland but just nothing seems to be happening over the last few months!!
The latest post had me laughing to whole time: http://www.rawfoodscotland.com/2012/06/28/10-bullshit-raw-food-commandments-money/
It's very Scottish, which is probably why I like it as most sites are quite mooshy where as I find this very down to earth.

[MysticTree]

Strawberries for breakfast.
300g toms for morning snaking and watermelon for lunch.

Not feeling very hungry today. I do wonder if the Chlorella is suppressing my appetite. Ate a large salad for supper last night but couldn't finish it all. Unlike me lol

[robh]

Crystal2870, I used to do banana and spinach smoothies and never had a problem with taste (maybe add another banana or maybe that powder is the problem). It also sounds like you detox is lasting a while. That can be very frustrating and it may make you question your new diet. If you can make it to the other side, however, you will feel so great that you will never go back to cooked food. Also, try not to cheat while going through detox, it will only prolong it. Also, keep your water intake high (2-3 liters a day).

Bananna, That is good that you are motivated. Sorry to hear Why you are motivated, though.

CyndiM, congrats on your fast and your weightloss. Being 100% raw certainly helps the scale drop for me. I am sure you'll see similar results.

donnyandcathy, I am hooked on chia seeds. I have them everyday. Kombucha, however, I have never tried. With grapefruit, I typically cut it in half and eat the little sections with a spoon. Others may juice it - to each his own. :)

christmaskid, you have come to the right place for support and motivation (it keeps me going).

effortlessvegan, high raw for a year; that's great. Welcome!


I managed to stay 100% raw yesterday. The SAD-cooked fooders in my house had a broiled vegitable stuffed with meat and topped with more animal products. It looked really good and I was asked to try it (they even made some without animal protien for me). I told them I was going 100% raw for 30 days (not 97.8% raw) and that I wouldn't be having any, but thanks anyway. I even made up the raw ranch for on my salad. I was proud of myself.

Yeserday, in the morning, I had the chia seed, sesame seed and agave porridge (those good fats help keep me full). After lunch, I munched on fruit almonds until dinner time (I had a few bananas, a couple of oranges, a couple of peaches, some plumbs). For dinner, I had my salad, tomatoes and cucumbers with fresh basil and sprouted lentils with more fresh basil. After dinner, I still wasn't full so I snacked on nuts.

Many times in the evenings lately, I will find that I am not full so I will eat tortilla chips and salsa (not raw on both accounts). The problem is that I find these cooked foods that don't cause me to detox. Then, I sneak those foods in (especially if I am feeling unsatified and hungry). I used to have rice and oatmeal too. Last night, however, I stuck to my guns (thanks to the challenge).

It was probably all water weight, but I found it interesting that I went to bed at 261 and woke up at 257. I am not sure why, but eating 100% raw always points the scale the right direction.

Anyway, I am super motivated to make it 30 days this time! Good luck everyone!

[MysticTree]

Robh, well done getting through that minefield. I always find that temptation on the first day of anything is way harder than temptation later on. It's so easy to cave and move the start date!

[Living Food]

I do wonder if the Chlorella is suppressing my appetite.

It does help balance blood sugar, so maybe your appetite was due to blood sugar being unstable? Many people seem to have that problem.

[SunshineMN]

Yesterday we finished off the rest of the bing cherries and I had a pound of strawberries that needed to be eaten. Later I had a couple bananas and a large salad.

Started off this morning with a couple more bananas then went shopping. Bought more cherries, strawberries, bananas, pineapple, spinach, lettuces, and radishes. They aren't keeping up with the produce section at the store we shop at which is quite disappointing. Our mung beans are sprouting nicely! Can't wait for them to get done. Everything else is being slow to sprout but we still have some alfalfa and broccoli sprouts left that will go in our salad later today. I plan on having a couple oranges here shortly. Also sipping on pineapple orange water right now. I'll probably mix in a couple tbsp of chia seeds in a bit for some omega-3's. And I may make the eggless egg salad to throw on our salad later as well.

[ReneeH]

Cathy, I looooove Kumbucha too!!!! Sooooo gooooood!!!!

Hi all!!!! Such a fine support this month on the challenge thread! You're all doing FABULOUS!!!

I munched on one of my raw pancakes this morning on the way home from my professional kitchen. Someone placed a HUGE order of one of my a-la-carte items and so I was busy in-cooking at 4:00am!!! Now, I'm ready to hit the gym after I have my green smoothie.

I actually have a question about that....is it better to have it now or after workout? If I should have it after, what should I eat before working out? I just joined the gym (again!!!!), so I'm excited!

[robh]

MysticTree, we must have posted at the same time. That sure sounds like very little food. I would be famished.

SunshineMN, I just googled raw eggless egg salad. Looks interesting.

ReneeH, your food always looks so good. I wish I had the time to make that stuff. I am not sure on your gym question.

[MysticTree]

Well, some raw goodies arrived just after lunch. So I ate some raw choc and a little raw honey. Going to try the chocolate covered mulberries and gojis. I also got the covered raisins too but we have already had those before so we know they are good. I still like the raisins better than the mulberries but the mulberry texture is interesting. Will try the gojis when the mulberries are finished. Probably at the weekend.

[SunshineMN]

Hey robh, there's a recipe right here on RFT for it. http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?54460-Raw-Deviled-Eggless-quot-egg-quot-Salad

I'm going to use sunflower seeds instead of cashews though and I'm going to use just a pinch of sea salt. Since we stopped consuming table salt everything tastes way too salty so we don't add much. Also we bought a black sea salt from Amazon that has some sulfur in it that will make it taste more like eggs. It's really good!

[Crystal2870]

Day Seven

I cant beleive I have done seven days completly raw, no cheating ! - Most unlike me, normally I have zilch willpower ! Its gone really quickly ..

Today I had a pint and half of green smoothie for breakfast, fresh banana, frozen banana, two big handfuls of spinich, hemp protein powder , maca , soaked chia seeds, few dates, lucuma powder. Once again my little boy wanted a cup , requested second helpings and left him unsupervised, not a good idea, threw the cup over my once... cream carpet lol..looks like Grotbags has exploded in my living room !!! (also took msm capsules and omega 3 supplement which I have been doing daily since day one!) .. Im not sure if Its a good idea giving all these superfoods to my child hes turned into damion and wont have a sleep all day nor go to sleep now far to much energy !

Had some Watermelon after reading about Mystic Tree eating them but mine wasnt that nice it didnt seem ripe inside, boo.! was tempted to take it back to Tesco's and complain but after my bf took some organic brocolli back which was covered in bugs, I fear my card may be marked as mental compuslive raw food complainer ! .. the lady looked at him as if he was bonkers, she said well it is organic (the stuff was crawling with bugs lol after being washed three times!), thought it was hilarious that they sent a letter saying they apologise for the distress it caused with a £5 voucher ha ha..

Went to a local organic biodynamic farm got some more salad, some more himalayn crystal salt (my son has tipped out three lots now so annoying and expensive too !!) and brought some raw handmade chocolates, these was lovely, orange flavour and made in shape of a heart, polished them off today, also brought some concious bar chocolates, I reallylike the orange flavoured one reminds me of terrys chocolate orange from my chocolate eating vegetarian days ! ...

Lunch was crudites and leftover sauce, really enjoy that !

Later, made the stuffed button mushrooms with simple salad, was nice would probably make them again, left others in the dehyrator see what they are like tomorrow..

Pansylo - that site is very funny ! Was laughing at her pic thinking I would have to take out a bank loan to buy all the spinich leaves to put in the bath to cover my lard arse ! heh heh

[Crystal2870]

MysticTree - those choc mulberries are really odd arent they ! ..dont you think they taste almost rum flavoured?, I wasnt sure if I liked them at first taste but I really enjoyed them, the texture is strange though, I must get some of the raisen ones and goji to try.

Oo the egg recipe looks interesting ! must give that a try.

[ReneeH]

Way to GO Crystal!!!!! I always KNEW you could do it!!! :)

I'm not too hungry today...but, I've had: Watermelon, snacked on Soaked Almonds, and water. I wanted to make my Green Juice, but got lazy! I'm warming my Raw Sesame Chicken in my Dehydrator for dinner tonight:

[http://i517.photobucket.com/albums/u336/Pioneerspiritnee/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_4333.jpg

The Squash melody is marinated with the sauce! Yummmmmmm!!!!!

[SunshineMN]

Renee your dinner looks wonderful! I really need to get a dehydrator. Hopefully later this month!

Crystal, congrats on the full week!!

[ReneeH]

Oh it was...!!!! (BURP!!!!! Oops! Excuse me!!!! :dance:)

The marinated veggies taste almost cooked!!! Amazing!!!

[PansyLo]

^ Your dinner does look amazing! How did you make the veg? What's the marinade?

[ReneeH]

It's my spin on Snowdrop's recipe here:

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?34260-sesame-quot-chicken-quot&highlight=Sesame+chicken

I changed it a bit (I don't use Nuts and made mine less sweet) to suit my tastes, but hers is FABULOUS!!!!

[robh]

That looks good RenneH.

Today, in the morning, I had soaked chia seeds with agave, raisins and craisins. I snacked on almonds. Then, at lunch time, I made a sweet dip out of ground sesame seeds and raw honey. I dipped pear slices in it. I snacked on more almonds and eventually had an orange. I cut up two red peppers and dipped them in raw ranch. Dinner was a salad and a bowl of sliced tomatoes and fresh basil. After dinner, I had some pecans and eventually a banana and bing cherry smoothie. I think I ended up with even more nuts after that.

It's been another 100% raw day for me. :)

Sadly, tomorrow is a big holiday, here in the US. We are hosting a huge get together with loads of cooked food around. I will be strong and stay raw, but it is going to require a lot of discipline.

[ReneeH]

Hungry... Ate an orange & snacking on a carrot. CRUNCH!!!

[donnyandcathy]

YAY day 3, and feeling great!!
The only problem is I'm having a little too much energy, even though that's not really a problem ;)
I've done my Yoga and other exercises every day, but they seem to be giving me energy, and I'm doing them at night because I don't have a lot of
time during the day. That's why I'm posting at almost 1 am HA!!

Robh, you are so good at responding to everyone!! A lot better than I am. I will try to do better <3

MysticTree I just bought some dried mulberries at WF the other day!! Maybe I can make my own version of the chocolate covered mulberries!! I will let
you know what I find out.

Renee your veggies look so yummy!! We have squash and zucchini coming out our ears from our garden, so maybe I can try these. How did you get them to get soft? I can't use too much oil, I don't digest it.

Today I had....

Green Juice made with.. Kale, Red Chard, Celery, Cucumber, Parsley, Carrots, Apple, Orange, Lime, and Ginger YUMMY!!!

Organic Peaches, and a pound of Cherries

Banana
Green Juice (same as the first one)

Green Juice (same as the first one)

My tummy is rumbling like a drain with drain-o!! So bloated too, but I'm thinking it's just trying to cleanse.

Another symptom I get that shows that I'm detoxing is I smell "Chlorine" in my nose and taste it in my mouth. It's the strangest thing.
It feels like I went swimming and inhaled a bunch of pool water!! I get this every time I either juice fast, or go 100% raw.
I'm guessing this is a good thing?? Another thing I smell is something like "old cigarette smoke" so strange :/

Night, and Happy 4th to all of us in the USA!!

[effortlessvegan]

I forgot how much I love this thread and all the wonderful ideas. Sometimes you can get in a rut and can eat the same things which of course sets you up to revert to old habits.

ReneeH - I am inspired by your creativity. I would love to know how you marinate your veggies. They look sooooo good.

RobH - We travel quite a bit and just came back from an anniversary cruise in Europe and it can be a challenge to eat raw on the road. It makes me feel ALIVE and full of energy and I try to make do with what is available. It also helps to take items that pack lightly that you are not able to get anywhere. I always bring chia seeds, braggs, nuts, stevia and my Tribest personal blender when traveling. I think being prepared is instrumental in continuing to eat raw.

Yesterday I had a green smoothie for breakfast with spinach, banana, pineapple, apple, wheatgrass, Amazing Grass Powder, Rejuvelac, one whole tangerine with peel.

Lunch: Thinly sliced cucumbers and large cubed red peppers and celery. I have raw salsa that I scoop onto the veggies and eat like chips and salsa.

Dinner: A big salad with mixed greens, tomatoes, red grapes, tangerine and an
Asian Salad Dressing: 1 lemon juiced, agave nectar, miso, braggs, ginger, sesame oil --- Soooooooooo good!

During the day I drink a mixed green tea/cha de bugre (http://www.rain-tree.com/cha-de-bugre-powder.htm) blended drink that keeps my appetite suppressed so I don't overeat or have cravings.
In a mug I start with 1/2 tsp matcha green tea powder, 1/2 tsp Cha de bugre, 1 tsp raw vanilla powder, stevia to taste, 1 tsp Ceylon cinnamon, 1/4 tsp nutmeg. Fill mug 3/4 full with hot water and then fill the other 1/4 remaining with raw almond milk.

(Cha de Bugre - Benefits: Cha de bugre is a Brazilian slimming herb for losing weight while boosting mental and physical energy. Cha de bugre gives you a feeling of being full after eating a few bites of food. This promotes eating small meals frequently - ideal to boost metabolism, stay nourished, avoid energy crashes, and to promote sustained weight-loss. Cha de bugre also shrinks cellulite and reduces fatty deposits. As well as helping to lose weight, cha de bugre will give you a boost in energy and mental alertness.)

I am wondering what everyone's go to food is when they get that sweet tooth....

Thanks for all your ideas.

[ReneeH]

How COOL!!!! I get to be at the top of the page again!!!! :dance:ing to Cowboy Troy's "i Play Chicken with the Train!!!!" http://wxerfm.com/blogs/post/jfrieders/2012/may/22/video-watch-donald-drivers-country-western-cowboy-/


.Renee your veggies look so yummy!! We have squash and zucchini coming out our ears from our garden, so maybe I can try these. How did you get them to get soft? I can't use too much oil, I don't digest it.


I forgot how much I love this thread and all the wonderful ideas.

ReneeH - I am inspired by your creativity. I would love to know how you marinate your veggies. They look sooooo good.

Thanks you guys! Effortless, I love this thread too!!! Cathy, definitely try this and take some photos!!!!

I actually use very little marinade because Zucchini is full of water...actually, it's 95% water! Usually I use a Broccoli Melody, but I like the Squash even more! The best way to marinate veggies is to not cut the veggies too thin. Toss them in the marinade and let them sit in the frig overnight. The next day, I warm them in the dehydrator at 115 degrees for 10-15 minutes. They come out just perfect that way! :)

[ReneeH]

My Darling Hubby joined me in my morning Smoothie!!!! Yippeeeee!!!!!

http://i517.photobucket.com/albums/u336/Pioneerspiritnee/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_4215.jpg

I just gave it to him and said drink this! I didn't ask him if he wanted it! LOL!!!!

I'm craving Alissa's Calzone!!!! I'm gonna try to get him to eat it today for dinner!!! So, my Buckwheat is Sprouting (for 2nd day) and my Flax Seeds are soaking!!! I just need to run to the store for a couple if items. Anyone wanna join me?

[MysticTree]

Sweet tooth go to foods: dates, raw choc, nectarines, apricots, lemon and carrot juice. Not all at once of course!

[Crystal2870]

Day eight

Hurrah another day !

Breakfast was green smoothie, soaked chia seeds, frozen banana, fresh banana, spinich, mango, hemp protein powder, maca, lucuma...yummy !, little man slurped his up too !

Mid morning I had a green juice, watercress, two apples, celery, spinich. yum

Lunch was kale salad, (hmmm i wasnt overly keen on that one but ate it anyway!) plus the remaining stuffed pesto mushrooms from last night, I'd left them overnight til lunchtime in the dehydrator, omg even MORE yummy today, really tasted "cooked", went all juicy, highly recommended !!!

Had handful of walnuts and a raw fruit and nut bar - I must stop buying these Im sure I can easily make them in the vitamix ! ... I plan to make some little energy balls for the kids so if anyone can recommend any receipes I'd be grateful ! .. Im thinking dates, coconut ect...talking of coconut wish we could get those young green coconuts in the uk...boo...

Havent had any tea yet not really hungry, may have a cocoa and banana shake/smoothie in a bit xx

I had my monthly visitor today (the curse ! LOL or should I more positivily say my moon time !), probably explains why I was feeling like I wanted to hit my partner over the head with a frying pan the last few days ! , however usually Im exhausted the few days before, last night at 11pm I was tidying up the house (practically unheard of I can tell you lol).. I have been feeling a bit tired this afternoon though for some reason ...

My mindset seems to have shifted a bit, Im feeling like I want to keep going and could actually do this long term, the things I thought would bother me ie cooking for my family really hasnt been an issue, I just make sure Im always full up, I can honestly say I feel really satisfied, sometimes even after having a huge meal I'd be hungry half an hour later on the cooked food !.... I've had a few sweet cravings (which I dont normally have ..) but finding a few squares of raw choc sorts that out !

Reneeh your food looks fab !!!... My friend has tried the turnip stuffed pasta and said its amazing so thats on my list to try !! and apparantly the strawberry crepes are really lush too, !!... Im the same with my partner I keep shoving a smoothie in his hand and say drink this sometimes he eyes it up suspiciously but has liked all of them so far !!! ....

Has anyone tried making marinated nuts, really good ! great snack, just soak your nuts (lol makes me chuckle every time!!) then mix in braggs, bit onion powder, cayenne powder, garlic powder, cumin to taste stir in nuts (really nice in walnuts as it goes in the nooks and crannies!) then dehydrate til crispy, I ve just run out need to make some more ! my little boy loves the pumpkin seeds x

Effortless vegan - I am quite into the raw cocoa powder seems to be hitting the spot or raw choc..I m going to make some soon I will have to work out how to post pics x

[effortlessvegan]

ReneeH- Thanks for the how to for the marinated veggies. What do you use as a marinade?

Crystal2870- I like using raw choc as well. I try to keep raw brownies in the fridge when I get a sugar craving.

Yesterday I drank my usual green tea mix thru the day.

Breakfast: Green smoothie- bananas, apple, whole tangerine, pineapple, coconut oil, wheatgrass, kale, spinach, chia seeds

Lunch: cherries, cashews

Dinner: Large salad- mixed greens, cucumbers, tomatoes, red grapes, kalamata olives and an Asian Dressing

[SunshineMN]

Started out with 2 huge oranges and a banana today. Sipping on my pineapple orange water. Not looking forward to going out in the kitchen and making salad. It's hot hot hot here and we only have air conditioning in the bedroom, where we spend most of our time. Our mung bean sprouts are looking great, although a bit thin compared to store bought sprouts. Right now just growing them in a glass jar but eventually will switch to something else that I can put weight on them and make them fatter.

Will have a big salad later with some fresh spinach, probably without sprouts because they aren't quite ready yet. Need to start sprouts again as soon as we empty the jars so we have a continual supply I guess. Probably have some cashews and dates. Dates are my go to when I want something sweet. We usually sprinkle a little raw cacao powder on them as well, and just a spritz of sea salt on the cashews. Maybe some cherries and strawberries as well. I love cherry season!

[robh]

SunshineMN, I use a glass jar for sprouting (don't even use a lid) - works fine.

Crystal2870, great idea on the nuts. How are the detox symptoms? feeling better?

ReneeH, Congrats getting your spouse to try some raw food. I always count that as a small victory.

effortlessvegan, I think she said she marinates the veggies in the sauce from the sesame "chicken" recipe that she posted.


Yesterday, being the 4th of July was harder than most days. We hosted a traditional, american cookout with family and friend (all subscribers of the Standard American Diet). All my favorite foods were present: cooked starches covered with animal fat, grilled animal proteins atop nutrient-free wheat products and all manor of junk that even most SAD foodist would consider unhealthy. The only raw item was a fruit salad that my mother-in-law brought because she knows I'm raw (very considerate of her). I added a second raw item - a salad that only I ate.

To be honest, the cookout was not easy, but it was not hard. I think being 100% raw for a few days beforehand, combined with my determination to complete this challenge really helped to take the edge off the temptation. I managed to stay 100% raw. Though, I think, the sights and smells caused me to eat more, in general. The scale, for example, didn't move despite being 100% raw and drinking tons of water.

Yesterday, I had chia seed pudding (which, I found, the baby likes), an orange, zuchinni slices dipped in a honey-mustard-tahini sauce, a salad with raw ranch, fruit salad, a smoothie (banana + fruit salad leftovers), half an avocado and various nuts (almonds mostly).

Today, I am back at work and, therefore, back under some portion control (I can't eat more than I bring). I think the scale may do something tomorrow because I can't graze all day.

Anyway, it's day 4, for me, and I know I am going to complete this challenge this month!

[MysticTree]

My raw olives and raw hazelnuts (in the shell) arrived just now. Luckily it's my lunch break so I am noshing away at some of the olives and after borrowing some pliers from one of the guys I tasted the nuts. Sooooo good :)

[MysticTree]

Robh,

Sometimes the the difference between staying on track and not staying on track is like the gap between two atoms. I found lately that if I start thinking about cooked foods in a sabotage-like way then I just try to imagine myself across the other side of the room or field or supermarket looking back at myself thinking about the cooked food! Just getting that distance is enormously helpful.

[robh]

Thanks for the support MysticTree. I like to think if I lived in a raw food environment that I would not be tempted at all. For me, cooked food reaching my senses is the ringing of Pavlov's bell. Hearing the bell sparks dormant desires. If I can just stop the bell from ringing, I would be alright (or I like to think so). That being said, at home, I can see crap sitting in my kitchen and in my pantry all day long and not even think twice about eating it. Therefore, I am doing good with temptation - on the whole.

Anyway let's change the subject! How is everyone getting their minerals? Fruits and veggies are great for vitamins. For minerals, however, I find that I need to eat raw, fatty foods like chia seeds and sesame seeds to get minerals like zinc and calcium. This results in 40 plus percent of my calories coming from fat. There is nothing wrong with that, but my skin feels a little greasy. Any tips that can help me knock that down to like 30% from fat?

[ReneeH]

Robh, I think you had the right mindset! Being raw beforehand surely helped you to be strong around temptation! I'm proud of you, you did GREAT!!!!

Oh, I'm having Chia Pudding this morning too! My 10 ye old daughter LOVES it!!!

My Calzones weren't ready yesterday, so I just had a Salad for dinner. The Calzone bread is still in the Dehydrator cuz I had to go to work last night, so, I'll probably have Calzone Sandwiches later today.

Note to self: don't start making Calzones on my work night!!!! Just doesn't work!!! LOL!!!!!

[SunshineMN]

Way to go robh! That's awesome. I'm not sure I would have been able to resist grilled stuff, it was always my favorite. I slept most of yesterday since I had been up 31 hours. LOL

I ate another banana after making salad. Gosh it gets hot in the kitchen (we live in a mobile home with no trees around for shade). And I munched on spinach leaves while I was making the salad. Thank goodness for plastic lettuce knives! It made the job much quicker. In a little bit I'm going to have chia seeds with some of my pineapple orange water. I'm not sure I like the pudding, but I really like the chia seeds in juice water. Makes me full too. :)

Mystic, I'm jealous of your raw black olives! I can't find any around here at all. Guess I will have to find a good place online that hopefully isn't too expensive. I'm allergic to hazel nuts though... thankfully it's the only nut I can't eat. I love raw brazil nuts, walnuts and cashews too!

[MysticTree]

Check out therawgreek.co.uk
Not sure if they can ship foods to the US but worth asking. These are thorouba thasso olives. They ripen them fully on the tree before picking - unlike most olives.

[robh]

I feel flipping good today. I guess I forgot how good 100% feels!

[ReneeH]

I'm with you, RobH!!! I feel fantastic today!!! Had bananas this morning and my Chia Pudding with Strawberries. Just finished eating a HUGE piece of Watermelon donated from my lovely Mum! Looking forward to my Calzone Sandwich when I get hungry! The bread turned out FABULOUS!!!! I made it thin, and in pieces so I can have it like a sandwich. I'll post a photo later.

I have a Learn It Live Class today at 3pm CST, if you can join me!!! It's FREE!!! Here's the link:

http://www.learnitlive.com/class/2305/Raw-Food-Summer-Snacks-for-KIDS

[donnyandcathy]

I didn't have time to post my day yesterday, but I stayed 100% raw even through the festivities, fireworks, picnics, etc..
I wasn't even tempted, or felt "left out" I felt great and went to bed with a happy tummy ;)

Yesterday I had....
2 Navel Oranges and 2 Clementines

BIG Green Smoothie with Kale, Cilantro, fresh Ginger, 2 Limes, 1 Orange, Mango, Cherries, and Maca Powder

Honey Dew, Cantaloupe

Beautiful, Yummy chopped salad with 1 Avocado, Cucumber, and a HUGE Heirloom Purple Tomato YUMMY!!! I added some Dulse Flakes, and some pink
Himalayan Salt. It was sooooo good!! My daughter grows the veggies, and her Heirloom tomatoes are out of this world.

I rode my bike yesterday 31.17 miles and got a good cardio workout in. I didn't get my Yoga in tonight since we were out late, but the bike ride was
nice.

Tonight my daughter and I will be going to see "Green Smoothie Girl" Robyn Openshaw. She has never traveled to Georgia before to give one of her talks,
but she will be in Atl. tonight and we are so excited to go and see her. I'll take notes and share with y'all if I learn anything new.
I know that she is having a Naturopath come as well and share some things too.
We won't be home till really late, so I will post my foods for today either late tonight or in the morning.

So glad that everyone is doing so well!!

Cathy

[Crystal2870]

Day Nine !! whoo hoo:woot:

Hi everyone, Wow we are all doing so great !!!!

Robh - well done for resisting the temptation, must have been very challenging !! x well I thought I had finished with the detox symptoms but today had the mother of all headaches this afternoon, I dont know why? I am not sure if Its because last night I had a bath in pink himalayn crystal rocks, apparantly its the equivilant of a three day detox .... Im finding with the smells I let myself enjoy smelling the food , I've been so strict I havent even tasted any of the food I've been cooking..Im ok so long as I dont let myself go hungry I did get a bit hungry this afternoon then I was tempted but didnt give in.. x

Donnyandcathy - Wow the talk sounds great ! ... enjoy it..x

SunshineMN- Too hot, lol you need to come to the UK all its done is rain, rain, rain, rain and yet more torrrentual rain due !, I had a sad note in my organic box this week from the farm saying they are £150k down as its ruined some crops ect ! I've actually had my winter coat on a few times lol, my little girl has lots of pretty dresses to wear for summer and hasnt managed to wear any yet !!!

MysticTree - I was going to check out if the raw greek ship to the uk, are the olives good??? im not fond of the black ones, only on pizza lol, but love green ones.. x

ReneeH - cant wait to see your pics of the calzone, I meant to try some of the carrot & pecan burgers but wasnt organised enough to get them in the dehydrator for tea, hmmm going to have to do more of food plan I think xx

Well, today I had a big smoothie, frozen bananas, frozen strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, coconut oil, acai powder, maca, lucuma, was lovely ! forgot the chia doh (shared with kids)

Banana for lunch wasnt really hungry...

half a advocado, then made some guacomole, with crudites.

Raw bar and handful of walnuts.

Sorted out my "raw" cupboard, decanted all my nuts into tupperware and brought a cheapish label printer from ebay, labelled all my stuff and stacked it neatly in the cupboard, much easier than a load of bags of nuts ect spilling out ! x Felt quite good , saw that tip on internet ! ...glad I did it.

Forgot to say that I weighed myself yesterday (yes I know I probably shouldnt ! but you know how it is), I'd only lost two pounds..was a bit disappointed if Im honest ! ...thought it would be dropping off, but that saying I havent been hungry nor denying myself ....xx

[MysticTree]

Donnyandcathy, nothing to do with raw but every time I see you post it makes me smile because your ID reminds me of my two imaginary friends I had as a child. They were called Dondin and Cafflin. I keep thinking what if you'd decided to use the ID Cathyanddonny. Just wouldn't make me smile as fondly!

[donnyandcathy]

MysticTree, that is so funny!! I'm glad I can help bring back good memories ;)

The Green Smoothie class was really good. There were over 300 people registered!!!

Today I had...

About 6 Organic Peaches
2 White Apricots

Green Smoothie with 2 Limes, 1 Orange, Mango, Cilantro, Spinach, Fresh Ginger, Maca Powder.
I was going to put fresh pineapple in it, but ended up eating it instead of putting it in the blender ;)

It's almost 1 am so I better get to bed. We didn't get home till a little after midnight.

See you all tomorrow!!

P.S. Renee, I have some marinated squash in my dehydrator :) I made sure I cut the slices thick. Hopefully it will be good and ready for tomorrow.

[MysticTree]

Corn on the cob for breakfast.
Today is the first time in ages that I didn't fancy tomatoes. So my lunchbox at work includes peaches, bananas and lychees. I also have salad and avocados and more corn. My desk looks like a market stall most days!

[robh]

ReneH, I missed your class (I was driving home from work). :(

donnyandcathy, congats on staying raw through the holiday. Also, wow, that is a long bike ride.

Crystal2870, hang in there. I have heard of people detoxing for weeks. I, fortunately, did not have that experience. If you are interested in speeding the process up, consider that the body heals faster when it is not busy digesting food. You shouldn't starve yourself, but if you can prolong eating in the mornings, the process will accelerate. Another idea is to remove the fiber from the food. The fiber takes energy to break down. By juicing the vegitables (there are lots of juice recipes around), you end up with a fiber-free meal that is digested in about 15 minutes, after which time your body can go back to healing. Detox isn't any fun, but the process is worth it! Also, loosing a couple of pounds is great - don't be discouraged.

MysticTree, thanks for the corn on the cob reminder! I need to get some. Also, I had to google "lychees"; they look VERY interesting! Looking at the image results, I may have had them in the US. I have heard them called "eyeball fruit". It is a gross name, but once they are pealed you can "see" why. (Get it? "see why" har har har... ok, bad joke)


Day 4 was another 100% raw day for me.

Around lunch time, I had 3 bananas, an orange and a couple of nectarens. I then waited 30-40 minutes and had my chia seed pudding (soaked chia seeds, agave and rasins).

A few hours later, I remembered that I brought ground sesame seeds (raw tahini for calcium). I mixed that with some agave (yes, I have agave in my desk drawer, at work, lol). It was good.


Around 7pm, I had a smoothie with 3 bananas and a load of cherries. Then, I waited 30 minutes (because I find that salad + fruit = farts). After waiting, I had my salad with raw ranch, topped with a whole avocado.

My wife (bless her heart) picked up 9 avocados in the store the other day (currently 3 for $1.75). She knows I eat them a lot. Acutally, I only eat half the avocados we buy. I share the rest. Anyway, the problem, however, is that all 9 where green for 3 days and, yesterday, all 9 were ripe! After eating my salad, I was thinking about these avocados that will surely go bad. Therefore, I ended up having another avocado as guacamole with celery sticks.

After eating two avocados, I was full. I was not even thinking about food (raw or otherwise). I remembered, a couple hours later, however, that I had not gotten any vitamin E! So, I had a huge handful of almonds ontop of all that.

I went to bed incredible full. I shouldn't have had the second avocado!


When I woke up this morning and got on the scale, however, all that did not seem to matter. I am down to 255lbs again (dropped 2lbs). I saw 255 three weeks back while I was sick. This is my record lowest weight in 15 years. 100% raw is really doing the trick for me right now.


The best part about yesterday is finally feeling full on raw food. I felt full twice yesterday. I think it's the fats after a meal. After lunch, I had chia seeds and sesame seeds a little while later. Then, after dinner, I had the avocado.

Normally, when I eat fruit I get in a hungry cycle. I eat fruit. I am hungry. I eat more fruit. I am hungry. I eat more fruit. etc etc Having the fat after the fruit seems to stop the cycle. Also, I think waiting the 30 minutes I think helps get those carbs into my blood stream to take the edge off the hunger.

I am going to try to repeat the results today.

Good luck everyone!

[ReneeH]

Hey yau'll!!!

Rob, you can watch the video recording of the class here:

http://www.learnitlive.com/class/2305/Raw-Food-Summer-Snacks-for-KIDS

I'll upload photos of the Calzone Sandwich a little later...I had to work at my kitchen at 2:00am and I'm still not quite awake yet.... ZZZZZZZZ.....

[robh]

ReneeH,

Thanks renee. I will check it out when I get home. (everything is blocked here at work)

You have a raw restaurants in TX, right? I really wish we had something like that around here. Going out is always a disaster for me. I always end up with a salad topped with one animal or another. I just pass the meat off to my wife, but the lack of variety is depressing. I frequently have to bring my own dressing. Paying $12 for what amounts to a bowl of lettuce is just annoying. The only raw restaurant in my area is two hours away and it's a vegetarian sandwich shop that has raw wraps on the menu. (let's drive two hours for a sandwich shop - woohoo) ...

[SunshineMN]

We had a big salad last night without sprouts, but we threw in some sunflower seeds instead. It was quite yummy. Ate a couple more bananas and some cherries and strawberries throughout the evening.

Started the day off with more bananas and I have several more to eat today. The whole bunch ripened at once and my SO doesn't like them once they get all spotty. LOL Going to peel a couple oranges now. Our sprouts are finished so will be having a big salad with sprouts in a bit. The mung beans went nuts and they are getting little shoots off the roots and starting to get their initial leaves already. They tasted great but aren't nice and long and fat like the ones you'd get at the store. I'm thinking it's a little too warm here right now to grow them very long. Woohoo for more alfalfa! I just can't seem to get enough alfalfa sprouts. I absolutely love them on salads. Probably have more bananas, cherries and strawberries later on too.

Everyone sounds like they are doing well. Way to go!

[MysticTree]

Raining so much we are holed up in the little caravan. When I say little, I mean little. Just room for a double mattress and two small chests of drawers. I feel tired and achy today. Will have an early night after marinated mushrooms,ago and lettuce. Only eaten fruit so far today but feel a little off my food.

[Crystal2870]

Day Ten :excited:

Hiya Everyone

Today I had big smoothie, well I did so much it blew out the top of the vitamix and all over the place lol...frozen bananas, spinich, apple, coconut oil, chia , maca, lucuma, slightly less of the hemp protein powder. Was delicious, Luca (my two and half year old) had a glass ful and then said more green smoovie please mum, Tallulah (one year old) had plenty of mine of a spoon, and one of the twins drank his glass and also asked for more !

Lunch was a big advocado, red onion, cucumber, lettuce, peppers with balsamic vinegar & olive oil dressing.

Snacks - handful of walnuts, few squares of raw chocolate flavoured with maca, vanilla and wild green algae (v yum)!

Tea was crudites with the tomatoe pesto sauce.

Also had some melon and an apricot.

Robh- Thanks for that I will go and slit my wrists now , detoxing for weeks lol !!...your post did make me chuckle to myself, I had picture of you at work, with your pack of seasame seeds (little blighters end up everywhere!) and some sticky agave nectar (do you have all spoons and dishes in your drawer too?!).. I bet the cleaner curses you at the end of the day hoovering up all them seeds round your desk !
I am concious of not detoxing too much and eating enough as Im still breastfeeding my daughter, she still feeds quite a bit especially during the night...
I hope you wasnt parping off at work !!

I think there are some fantastic ideas for a raw halloween party theme here, we already have "frogspawn"-chia ! , now "eyeballs" - lychees, Green juice "witches blood "!, "mice brains" - walnuts "guacomole" frog accident ,"Grannys toenails" - dates (Well thats what my kids call them !) heh heh I amuse myself here ! .. anyway fab news about the weight loss Robh, keep it up fantastic, good to know you eat plenty AND loose weight !! I think i mentioned before I could have a massive cooked meal and then 30 mins later be hungry again (greedy mare I am !)
Those Advocados are tricky little blighters arent they , you really want one and they are rock solid next thing you have loads too squidgy and open them and they've gone bad lol..
I've discovered a raw restaurant called Aloka, in Brighton here in the UK (am I aloud to put that here?) anyway I googled the menu, omg, the food looks amazing and they do gently cooked too so If my oh wants some he could have cooked, only bad thing is its open 6-9pm, no good as baby bed time and no baby sitter boooo hooo. They have a cafe in the daytime so may go there to take a few bits home, Im pretty sure one of the health food stores does raw cheesecake and raw hummous ect so I may check it out this weekend ... wishign there was some raw food chef training courses here in uk !.. must do further research.

Renneh - I will check out that link it a moment ! x

sunshinemn - I must get sprouting too, cheap n cheerful, still need to get my wheatgrass going, that may be this weekend project ! x

Donnyandcathy- how did you squash turn out was it nice and squidgy (I love roasted vegg)! x that was some bike ride you must be super fit !!

MysticTree - you poor thing in a caravan in this weather !! I hope you feel better soon x

*** We are doing fab well done everyone !!! :throwhearts:

[robh]

Sorry to hear about your poor weather MysticTree. The situation sounds pretty boring. I bet the plants are enjoying it, though. I can only assume you have a garden.

My appetite is really diminished today. I am following the same eating pattern as yesterday. Yet, I feel like I am over eating. If appetite control is a benefit of raw food, this is the first time I have experienced it. (I am not complaining, though).

MysticTree, what is a caravan? Is it a large vehicle that you drive that is also a home (motorhome / RV)? Or is it a home that you can pull behind another vehicle (trailer / camping trailer)? Up until now, every time I have said “caravan”, I thought you were talking about a car - very American of me, I am sure.

EDIT:

Crystal2870, we posted at the same time, apparently. Yeah, I have a bowl and spoon at work that I wash. I grind the sesame seeds up in my food processor - helps them from getting on the floor ;) Also, I think grinding them allows me to get more calcium. And, sadly, the wife tends to get the "parping" (new word for me) in the evening . Before I understood food combining rules, she hated me.

[MysticTree]

A caravan is generally something you tow. Ours is about 6 feet wide by about 16 feet long. It is very old but thankfully it is watertight.

[robh]

Ahh, all your comments make more sense now. :) Hopefully tomorrow will bring you better weather.

[donnyandcathy]

Good day today, but really bloated :(

Green Smoothie with 2 Limes, 1 Orange, Mango, Spinach, Ginger, Peach, Maca, Sprouted Ground Flax Seed (this could be what made me bloated since
it was the first day I've done the flax)??

Squash (dehydrated and marinated) and BOY WAS IT MARINATED!! In fact I couldn't eat it because I had marinated it way too long and in way too
much aminos!! :(
It did come out very soft and I loved the texture, but now I know just to use a little bit of aminos.

1 Lb of Cherries

BIG salad with Romaine and Mixed Greens, 1 Avocado, Pineapple, Cashews, Dulse, and some herbs and spices.

Got my Yoga in tonight, even though it was late.
I went and got my clip in shoes for my bike, but I'm a little nervous about cycling with them. I've been told by many that I will love them, and that
it will increase my time and speed. The other day I did 52 miles in regular pedals and shoes, so we shall see ;)

Everyone is doing AWESOME!!!
Have a great weekend!!!
Cathy

[MysticTree]

felt really dreadful yesterday until I fell off the wagon a little. I think need to drop the chlorella tabs for a time as taking them is making me feel really nauseated by the evening.

[ReneeH]

Hope you feel etter Mystic!!! Forgive yourself and keep going! :hug

I Ate an ENTIRE Cantelope!!! Yep, all by my lonesome!!!!! Uh-ha! Didn't shar at all!!!! :dance: All MINE!!!!

[MysticTree]

I have totally forgiven myself. I forgave myself before I actually ate the food so I was able to enjoy it without guilt and I've been right back on raw today. Come back when you've eaten a whole large water melon to yourself - cantaloupe, pah ;) !

[SunshineMN]

I had a huge salad last night. Mixed greens, alfalfa sprouts, mung bean sprouts, and I think clover sprouts. I threw in some raw walnuts and boy were they yummy. First time I've had raw walnuts in my salad. I used to eat walnuts a lot when I was a kid. My mom always kept a tin can full of them in the cupboard for baking.

No bananas today. I had 6 yesterday though. Think I'll start with a couple oranges to get things going.

Hope you feel better today MT. I had a bad reaction to chlorella also and decided to wait until I'm more detoxified to use them.

[MysticTree]

Thank SunshineMN, I do feel much better today. I felt nothing different the first week or so taking the chlorella but the last week or thereabouts I felt firstly that I didn't really want to eat anything and then really quite sick by late afternoon/evening. I figured it was the chlorella mostly because it's something very new in my diet but also because, although, I sort of craved it, I also started gagging when taking it.

[robh]

MysticTree, we have all been there. :) Hope you feel better.

Yesterday was a another good day. I didn't eat as much as I normally do for some reason.

I had a few bananas, an orange, then, later I had the chia seed pudding. In the evening, I started with a banana cherry smoothie and then later a large salad and after that celery and guacamole. I almost forgot my almonds so I quick grabbed a handful before bed.

I was full most of the day yesterday again. It is nice to be full.

I forgot to have ground sesame seeds yesterday (decreased appetite and all). I am going to try to get those in today. Also in stead of chia seed pudding after my fruit today, I'm going to do an avocado. I need to eat those before they go bad. :(

Keep up the great work everyone!

[MysticTree]

We have mushrooms marinating - obscene amounts of garlic in that. Saw a nice looking recipe in a mainstream mag for avo and grapefruit with chilli so we should eat well tonight. Lovely salad for lunch and some heavenly fresh apricots and cherries for snacking on. It continues to rain and the paper says it will carry on til September. By then of course we cam expect rain normally so I think 2012 is just a washout. What else can you expect with the Queen's jubilee then Wimbledon then the Olympics all in the space of a few months!

[ReneeH]

I have totally forgiven myself. I forgave myself before I actually ate the food so I was able to enjoy it without guilt and I've been right back on raw today. Come back when you've eaten a whole large water melon to yourself - cantaloupe, pah ;) !

Hahahahaha!!!! Ummm...yep, been there, done that!!!! LOL!

Been munching on Carob Almonds....totally making a pig outta myself! I can eat dehydrated nuts all day long!!! I need to get control over that, I really do! I just LOVE nuts! I think it's probably time to take another break from them.

Oh, here's a photo of my Calzone and a Cucumber Salad:
http://i517.photobucket.com/albums/u336/Pioneerspiritnee/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_4776.jpg

Oh, Cathy....I didn't know you were Marinating in Aminos!!! When I do my Raw Fajitas in Nama Shoyu, I make sure that I drain the liquid off before storing in the frig. I'm very conservative with the Marinade I use...especially if it's gonna sit till the next day. Remember, Zucchini is mostly water, so it's gonna come out in the Marinade.

[MysticTree]

They look very good. I've never even had the regular version let alone the raw version.

[Crystal2870]

:dance:Day Eleven

Hi again !

Breakfast was smoothie, frozen berries, banana, maca , acai powder, lucuma, few dates, coconut oil, chia forgot to soak them again doh, but put them in anyway. Me, Luca and Tallulah polished that off !

Shared a honeydew melon with Luca , only three quarters though Im a woos ! Ive left a token "slice " ha ha for other half to eat !!

Lunch was the pesto dip, I love that with some mangetout, baby sweetcorn, carrots, cucumber sticks and celery.

Wanted something really tasty for tea and substantial, didnt make anything in dehyrator in time hence advocado salad, felt a bit short changed with that although it was nice and I wasnt hungry it just didnt hit the spot !.

Few chunks of raw chocolate, handful of almonds and walnuts..not soaked though, need to make another batch of marinated nuts so good ! but my braggs has gone awol in the kitchen??!!! That braggs is potent stuff, when I made Alissa's marinated onions, they came out so strong I had to chuck them !

Plan to go to Brighton tomorrow go the health food shop get some carob powder so I can make Renee's raw snickers and ice pops for the kids (yeah kids right ha ha ha). Great video link Renee !!! ..... I have some buckwheaties in the cupboard and have seen a nice receipe to make some little bars like raisen rice crispie bars in white choc...for the kids of course lol ..

Renee oh that calzone looks amazing thats what I wanted tonight, can I come over for dinner lol.??

Today i felt different when I woke up, I felt alot less bloated (I swear I looked like I was about to pop out another set of twins!) my stomach has gone right down so felt pleased with that !.

Well you guys have certainly put me off chlorella !, ..I seem to remember years ago I took that on a detox and then got pregnant with the twins lol... ha ha one to avoid I think !... Talking of feeling sick, kale ...I have a bag in the fridge, didnt really like th kale salad I made and I know before Its made me feel sick if I juice it, Im not sure if i've putting too much in, plus Alissa's book said to eat the kale salad straight away but I found it a bit chewy still, wonder if it might be better left overnight? or perhaps try the marinated kale instead...another question is spinich, I've read its high in oxalates and you shouldnt eat too much of it, does anyone know is that just for cooked spinich or raw too? I wondering what other greens I could juice or put in smoothies, I've done lettuce but dont like that its quite bitter..maybe the kale would be nicer in a green smoothie than juice....

Well done everyone for another day completed ! :excited:
x

[ReneeH]

Hey Crystal2870!!! Try the Onions again with Nama Shoyu and you'll LOVE 'em!!!! I can't wait to see how you like the kids... (clears throat.....) snacks!!!! LOL!!!

I don't eat my Kale right away...I let it marinate a while & get soft... Yummy that way!

You're welcome over ANYTIME!!!!! :hug

[donnyandcathy]

Yep, now I know what to do next time, Renee ;)
I left them soaking covered in the aminos over night. Yep, just a "little" too strong ;)

Today was a REALLY tough day mentally. The thing that is very hard for me about staying 100% raw is that it is so hard to digest raw veggies, salads,
nuts (even soaked), and other foods except fruits, or green juice. So, when my mind and body get tired of the sweetness of fruit, I start craving
veggies, or something salty or higher in fat like the nuts/seeds. If I eat too many fruits then it backfires and causes some really bad fruit bloat, and my
stomach and mind feels like it's been sugar overloaded.
When I'm not 100% raw then I can steam my veggies, and eat a lightly cooked plant based diet. It does make it a little easier. BUT, I did manage to
stay 100% today, even though it was very hard and I was getting a little discouraged.

BIG bowl of fresh organic Strawberries, Organic Peaches, 2 Bananas

"Cheezy" Kale Chips (Boy, did these hit the spot)

Organic Grapes, 3 Oranges, Raisins

Walnuts
Some VERY yummy raw date/almond balls that my sweet daughter brought me home from the Farmer's Market. She was so sweet to let me eat them ;)


No bike ride today :( Me and my hubby were supposed to go out on a date tonight, but we ended up not going. I was kind of relieved since I really
don't want to eat out at a restaurant during this time. It just makes it harder to order off a menu, even though I could have had a salad.
We may try again on Wed. and hopefully I will be in a better mood.

Night <3

[SunshineMN]

Crystal, way to go! Btw, I love your kids' names. :) I wouldn't avoid chlorella if I were you. I plan on trying again when it won't cause such horrible detox for me. There are too many benefits to not try it again.

Cathy, have you tried eating raw fermented veggies to help with digestion? It might help some. Also on the aminos, you could mix some water in to dilute it a bit

Renee, that really looks yummy. You really make me want to get a dehydrator with all the wonderful pics you post!

Had another large salad tonight with sprouts and sunflower seeds. Planning on eating more cherries and strawberries tonight as well. Didn't eat much else today as I'm rather tired.

[effortlessvegan]

Sorry haven't posted in a couple of days but I am in the midst of training a new puppy (his name is Elmo) and forgot how much time is involved. He is constantly under foot and wants to eat everything he finds as he's grazing the floor. He is also on a raw food diet, but the canine version with raw meat and semi cooked veggies for the moment. I am introducing bananas, apple, carrots etc. I will no longer feed my dogs kibble (dry food). Our dog Utah recently died of cancer at a young 7 years of age. I wish I had known what I do now about diet etc for dogs then. My heart still aches when I think of him. I was the one in control of his food choices and thought I was doing the right thing. How wrong I was.

Anyway. Yesterday I made Alissa's Oatmeal cookies with oatmeal, pecans, agave, banana and left out the raisins and topped them with a whole pecan. They are so incredible! Soft and chewy and available if I get a sweet tooth. I'll post pics later and not sure if I can post the recipe for those interested. Maybe someone can let me know. for breakfast I made a chia cereal with almond milk, chia seeds, wheatgrass powder (just a teaspoon to get some greens), strawberries, pineapple, bananas and stevia for sweetness.

Lunch: homemade salsa with cucumber slices and cubed red peppers to fill.

Dinner: I made an incredible cole slaw with shredded carrots, shredded jicama, corn, cubed apples and celery in a raw mayonnaise with agave and apple cider vinegar. Amazing! For dessert oatmeal cookie and chocolate banana ice cream.

DonnyandCathy: I had bloating for a long period of time and I think it's because you are not digesting properly, at least that was my case. I always make Rejuvelac, which is the left over water from fermented wheatberries. I put it in smoothies or just drink it straight. It has a sweet gassy taste. Anything fermented helps.

Renee: Your calzone looks soooo good!

Mystic: I hope you feel better.

Till tomorrow

[Lucy76]

Hello people!!
I'm in too for the challenge!! I've been on a raw diet for about 10 months or so. Taking llittle breaks here and there. I want to stop taking those breaks, so here I am.:woot:

Here's what I had to eat today:
Breakfast: grapefruit juce, cucumber orange and beet juice, and watermelon juice.

Lunch 1.5 littres of smoothie, made of grapefruit juice, bananas, raspberries, chia seeds, and pea protein.

Dinner, smoothie made of pineapple and banana, and a green salada with cashew cheese.
I may have some bananas later too.

That's all! I'm so happy to be here!:throwhearts:

[robh]

It sounds like everyone is doing great.

Yesterday was another 100% raw day for me. We went swimming. As a result, I was pretty hungry in the evening. Also, everything tasted better (maybe because I was so hungry).

I dropped another pound this morning. Woohoo. :) I am not sure what's brought on the rapid weight loss (I am not complaining though). I am sure it won't last. Right now I'm dropping a pound every 2 days. It'd be great it this continues, but we all know how that tapers off.

For the past few days, I have been trying to resist the urge to eat in the morning until I think I am truly hungry. As a result, my first meal has typically been around noon. Today, however, I felt pretty hungry around 9am. I suspect I will probably end up eating more today, in general.

I just had a slice of water melon, 2 bananas an orange and an apple. I am now waiting 30 minute for the fruit to clear out of my stomach. After that, I'm gonna have some raw fat of some sort to keep me full until my next meal.

Good luck everyone.

[ReneeH]

Thanks you guys!!! I had Strawberries this AM and went to lunch at Panera Bread. I ordered the Greek Salad with an Apple on the side instead of the Bread and FORGOT to tell them to leave off the Feta Cheese!!!!!! I pushed most of it to the side. My friend ordered a Sandwich and the thickest Onion Soup I've ever seen!!! Man, I got bloated just looking at that!!!! Yuk!!!!!

Funny thing is, I got so full off my Salad and she got full too, but afterwards she said she needed a nap and I feel fantastic!!! Of course, since it's about to pour down raining I might snooze because of that, though...

[Crystal2870]

Day Twelve:throwhearts:

Breakfast, berry smoothie, bananas, acai, berries, maca, baboab powder, lucuma, chia seeds, lucuma. Very nice.

Went to Brighton, the smoothie kept me going for ages, went to the health store, typical the day I go and they are out of stock of a load of raw things !..did manage to get some raw hummous though..They had lots of crackers and onion bread, granola ect but so expensive £4.00 a packet, Its made me realise I need to get experimental in the kitchen and make my own !

Lunch found the vegan/raw restaurant, the cafe was open and the staff was very friendly, all the buffet was labeled as raw ect , I got a lovely beetroot and apple salad, a mixed salad with olives ^& lots of things in it and nice dressing, two lovely raw falafal, presented on a cucumber slice with a little blob of cream on top (they were really good, light ..yummy!).. THEN for pudding I had a delicious raw slice of mango cheesecake...boy that was YUMMY ! , a bit pricey though at £4.00 a slice !..

A green juice, rocket, celery, apple and cucumber.

Later I had the raw hummous, with cucumber sticks (before I've had it and it wasnt too nice) that was really good, really smooth I looked on the ingrediants had a bit of tumeric in it (was a nice yellow colour) as I shall try and recreate it, it was as nice as "normal" hummous..

Robh- wow I wish my weight was dropping off so well ! I just seem to be staying the same, weird..

Reneeh - Thanks for those tips, I tried to get some Nama Shoyu today but they only had shoyu I wasnt sure if its the same so I didnt buy it... I will try marinated the kale overnight see if I prefer it that way I think I will ! x

Donnyandcathy - Hope you are feeling better today, sorry you missed your hot date, thats no good ! x

Effortlessvegan - Wow a new puppy how lovely, great you are bringing him up raw, It makes sense to feed a carnivore raw meat, I think its easier from a pup though, my friend tried it with her dogs after them having convential dog food they wouldnt eat the raw, but its got to be better for them..

sunshineMN - Thanks for the compliments! , I've no plans to commence the chlorella anytime too soon, lol, maybe when I stop breastfeeding.. x

Lucy76-Wellcome & good luck ! XX

[MysticTree]

planted out 9 young courgette plants today. Lifted some new potatoes - they were planted before I went raw again. Since they were the first real crop from our new life here I had a small portion. They were good but not so good that I'll bother again. So a mostly raw today. Highlight was the cherries and the wheatgrass.

[ReneeH]

Hey Mystic....have you tried to mske Raw Potato Chips? I love 'em!!!!! :-D

Oh, Raw Pizza for Dinner for me:

http://i517.photobucket.com/albums/u336/Pioneerspiritnee/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_1081.jpg

[ReneeH]

Oh my GOODNESS!!!!!!! You GUYS!!!!!! O.k....I make Crepes for my Raw Business in Week 1 (this week), but the Banana Leather wasn't ready in time, so I decided to take an Apple, hollow it out, and stuff it with the Crepe filling!!!!!! WHOA MAMA!!!!!!! I like it even better!!!!! :dance:!!!!!! It's a GREAT snack while I wait for my Pizza to warm in the dehydrator!!!!

http://i517.photobucket.com/albums/u336/Pioneerspiritnee/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_5286-1.jpg

The Sauce poured on top is just Blueberries blended in Vitamix!!!!! Sooooo incredibly GOOOOOOD!!! You guys HAVE to try this one!!!!!! :D

[xoxoadore]

hey every one (: I'm Gabriela and I'm currently a summer student in NYC and I've been ALMOST 100% raw for this whole month (had two non raw lunches in these past 8 days :/) but I'm here to get some support and give some support! I've been to Pure Food and Wine two times and it's heavenly!! Anyways, I'll try to check back in tomorrow

[donnyandcathy]

Renee that looks AWESOME!!! Please have one for me ;)

Thanks for all the tips on fermented foods. I really need to look into them and make sure I get some in everyday. When I was at the Green Smoothie
Class this week, I got to talk to Robyn face to face and told her about my gut issues. She said the same thing, to eat more fermented foods. Now I
just have to learn to like them :/
I had some Kombucha, but I've heard that it has to much sugar and it did make me real bloated and more gassy. I guess I need to pick things that
doesn't have the added sugar. I really wished I liked sauerkraut, but I really don't like it. I will look to see what our health food store carries.
I do like "Bubbies" Pickles, and I know they don't have any extra ingredients.

Today was only water/herbal tea. It was not supposed to turn out that way, but it did. I went on my bike ride this morning, then came home jumped in
the shower. My oldest daughter has a flower/vegetable business and she had a couple over to talk about buying flowers for their daughter's wedding. I
knew these people very well so we spent a long time chatting and catching up. After they left I had to rush and get ready for church (we meet in the
afternoon). Once we got home from church it was after 7 and I'm really trying not to eat after 7 to see if that will help with digestion.
Yes, I could have grabbed some fruit or something quick on the way to church, but I was really planning on juicing today and thought we would be home
in time to juice, but we didn't. That's ok though, because it just gave my system a rest, and can only help in healing my digestion. I am VERY hungry
though, so I will look forward to fresh juice in the morning ;)

For exercise today I got in my 14 mile bike ride this morning. I would have gone a lot farther, but I just got my clip in shoes, and I have to get used to
un-clipping and stopping. I did pretty good for my first time.

So excited to see the new faces and so proud of everyone!!!

Night <3

[MysticTree]

No I haven't tried raw potato chips. There isn't enough sun here to sun-dry stuff and we have no electricity. It's not something feel I can ask my friends who do have power to do for me; especially with the cost of power these days.

[CyndiM]

Hi everyone! I am way overdue for a post. I did attend Renee's class and really appreciated her tips and confidence! My 14 yo watched about half of it.

Been mostly raw except for a few sprouted corn Ezikiel tortillas. I really like eating things with tortillas, so I got the ingredients to make some tomorrow with corn and zuccinni and bell pepppers. I just got a bunch of raw food recipe books and not even sure who's book that's in!

I just got the chance to read a lot of Alissa's latest book, Raw Food for Everyone and I am really impressed! The recipes are simple and there are so many techniques she shares. I haven't received her first book yet. I recall reading that she wanted this book to 'have it all' and I really appreciated her description of all the ingredients and fruits and vegetables, with tips for most of them. Most books lists like that are rather 'ho hum', but her info is actually useful!

I made myself and hubby a sorta mexi pizza on Russell Jame's buckwheat bread recipe, with avocado, topped with a fresh salsa that included mango, some sprouts and lettuce and a dab of raw sour cream a friend made for me (I think with almonds).

We started the day with some raw buckwheat cereal that our local co-op carries, with added ground flax and coconut oil and fresh fruit. Then we worked for 4 hours in the sun at our daughter's waldorf school. We brought smoothies of watermelon, pacari cocoa powder and swiss chard.

I just really 'get' raw this time around! I have done it on and off since 2009 and dabbled from 1990 (with Ann Wigmore era books). But for some reason, this time, it has really sunk in, not sure why! lol

Matt Monarch has a really cool video of his experience of Detoxing and colon hydrotherapy. It is a bit intense (or rather he is, LOL), but his sharing of his experience and realizations about some aspects of how raw food is detoxing is rather enlightening! To see that, search youtube for 'detox into the spiritual'.

I am getting back to Alissa's book now and see what I can make tomorrow! Best to all.

[robh]

Crystal2870, weight loss plataea are annoying. Stick to it, you'll see a change eventually. I am so jealous of your raw restaurant! It sounds yummy.

ReneeH, the apple with crepe looks great.


I ate a lot yesterday. The cooked food in the house looked a little more tempting than normal too. I just could not get satisfied. The thought kept creeping into my head if I just had a little, then I'd be full. If it weren't for this challenge, I probably would have had some cooked rice just feel full. I managed to stay 100% raw, though.

The scale went up a pound this morning. I do not really care when it goes up. I only take note when it goes down. I can drink a glass of water and gain a pound. I think it may go back down again tomorrow because I cannot graze today, being at work.

I placed an order for some more raw food stuffs. I got more chia seeds, more raw cashews (for raw ranch dressing), wild rice, turkish figs, acai blueberry cereal, cacao goji squares and I got a sample of spirulina. I am excited about the raw cereal. I'll have to make some raw almond milk!

Anyway, good luck everyone!

[kc1949]

I am so fortunate to have a wonderful daughter who has been wanting me to do this challenge and on June 30 we started. She has been preparing a lot of our foods and doing it with me which is more helpful than I even imagined.

I am doing great. Feeling wonderful, but sometimes finding that I feel very hungry. We spoke about this and she helped me understand why I shouldn't worry about protein, but I wasn't convinced. I came to this site and the explanations I read here have given me the confidence not to have the hard-boiled egg I almost grabbed this morning on my way out the door.

I love reading the posts because it gives me a lot of ideas about how people eat raw. I have been worried about what I will do on my own. I can't have my own personal chef forever, because my daughter has a life!

Anyway, it's day 10 for me (extra day because we started end of June) and I am losing weight and blood sugars consistently below 100 (I am Type II diabetic).

I am glad to find another support system here on this site. Sorry for such a long post. I will try to keep it short next time.

I'll do a profile, too when I get a chance.

Karen

[MysticTree]

I am so fortunate to have a wonderful daughter who has been wanting me to do this challenge and on June 30 we started. She has been preparing a lot of our foods and doing it with me which is more helpful than I even imagined.

I am doing great. Feeling wonderful, but sometimes finding that I feel very hungry. We spoke about this and she helped me understand why I shouldn't worry about protein, but I wasn't convinced. I came to this site and the explanations I read here have given me the confidence not to have the hard-boiled egg I almost grabbed this morning on my way out the door.

I love reading the posts because it gives me a lot of ideas about how people eat raw. I have been worried about what I will do on my own. I can't have my own personal chef forever, because my daughter has a life!

Anyway, it's day 10 for me (extra day because we started end of June) and I am losing weight and blood sugars consistently below 100 (I am Type II diabetic).

I am glad to find another support system here on this site. Sorry for such a long post. I will try to keep it short next time.

I'll do a profile, too when I get a chance.

Karen

I know someone who is no longer diabetic so it is possible to get off insulin :)

[ReneeH]

Welcome Lucy76!!! Hi Effortless Vegan and Elmo!!!!!! I love that name!!!! Hi Cathy!!!! Hi KC1949, Mystic, Rob, Cindy... :hug

What's up everyone!!!! In starting my day with Chia Pudding and I had a few sips of Kumbucha!

http://i517.photobucket.com/albums/u336/Pioneerspiritnee/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_6066.jpg

Have a RAWsome day everyone!!!

[robh]

kc1949, welcome. I too have issues with feeling full. The hard boiled egg you mentioned would keep me full. It is not the the protein, however, that would keep me full, but the fat in the yolk. I would not eat an egg (even raw), however, because of the cholesterol, the type of fat in the yolk and the ill effects animal proteins have on the digestion process. Try substituting an avocado for the egg. It will keep you just as full. Avocado are a bit expensive. There are MANY raw fats out there. Flax seeds are very inexpensive and make great dehydrated crackers. Sunflower seeds are also inexpensive. I personally am a little weird. I eat ground up sesame seeds and chia seeds (yes, chia pet hair). I also do avocados, but we get them cheap around here. Good luck staying full and welcome! Also, long posts are great (and therapeutic).

EDIT:

ReneeH, what do you put in your chia seed pudding? one of the nut milks?

[MysticTree]

spent some of the afternoon trying to convince myself to get something from the mainstream sweetie box. The feeling of desperate need has passed but I am looking froward to a big salad when i get home with avos and hemp and some soaked almonds!

[OCGirl]

Thus far today:
several ounces of maple-syrup sweetened limeade with cayenne pepper (does wonders for impending migraines)
5 dates
a few cashews
lunch was a salad made from: 1/4 zucchini, 1/4 onion, 1/2 avo, 1 whole tomato, smothered in vinegar. Really hit the spot!
Have been craving Alissa's raw pizza, but getting ready to go on a trip so it doesn't make sense to start one now. Have everything lined up to make it when I get home, though!

[MysticTree]

Got home. Had a lovely salad and now having a raw chocolate coated goji berry treat. :)

[Lucy76]

Hello people!

MMMM I want chocolate coated goji berries too!:drool:

Today I had cucumber, pineapple and amaranth greens juice for breakfast, a pineapple raspberry, banana smoothie and a green salad for lunch

And almost half a kilo of medjool dates for dinner lol! That's all I could get my hands on here at work. Now I'm craving something salty though. Maybe I'll have some cucumber noodles when I get home.:cheer:

[MysticTree]

Hello Lucy, I also get some fab Greek olives. Since you are in Greece you may know them too - organic Throuba Thasso. Do you eat these?

[robh]

MysticTree, is a "sweetie box" something you put money in and it dispenses junk food (sweets)? Whatever it is, it sounds like you did a good job resisting the urge to get something out of it.

[MysticTree]

Yes that's the general idea this one has hideous cakes in too. They have use by dates you wouldn't believe. I dread to think what goes into them.

[Crystal2870]

Day Thirteen - Unlucky for some but not for me lol !:encore:

Woke up feeling like I wasnt hungry so didnt eat anything until late morning when I had a banana.

Lunch was crudites, apple , peppers, cucumber, carrott and raw hummous and leftover tomatoe pesto..

Didnt really fancy anything else but made a big salad with walnuts...and olive oil and lemon dressing..

Another banana and a vanofee choc bar (dont know where this chocolate things come from hardly ever eat chocolate before!) really enjoyed that though it reminded me of a caramac bar from vegetarian days !

Reneeh - Yes do tell what you have put in that chia it looks very nice ! oh boy I need to try that crepe filling in the apple ! looks fab as does all your food xx

CyndiM- Alissa's new book is next on my wish list ! x

Donnyandcathy - You reminded me about the saucraut, I love it had some on my salad today, have you tried rejulavac (sorry if my spellings rubbish!) its really easy to make with wheatgrass and sort of tastes like lemonade (gone wrong !)..its nice with a slice /squeeze of lemon it it..

Robh - Im trying to only weigh once a week now,I will keep going , this MUST work !!! (weigh day tomorrow )Ohh your cereal sounds great, I really fancy some of that, will have to check out some receipes, I saw some granola in the store but its just so pricey, Im sure I could make some ! ..Im glad you have stuck to the raw, well done !.. wont have to send the raw police round lol ! ..

wellcome to the new posters !
x

[ReneeH]

Hey Rob! I use unstrained Almond Milk in my Chia Pudding. I sweeten with Agave (sometimes Dates), and add Cinnamon. I also usually top it with fresh fruit like Strawberries or Blueberries (after the Photo).

[robh]

MysticTree, Americans call them vending machines. I used to resist them by making sure that I did not have any bills or coins on me when I went to work. lol

Renee, I will have to try it with almond milk. I don't know if you are strict vegan, but raw honey is good in chia seed pudding too. Raw honey is soooo thick. I have to use a little warm water to get it off my spoon when I use it and it takes time to mix in. It's is very sweet and very flavorful. I am lucky they sell raw honey at our high-end grocery store (Wegmans).

Crystal2870, I would gladly share my cereal if I could! :) It is going to be here tomorrow. The place I order from is not very far away. I normally get it the next day but I ordered on the weekend.

Lucy76, that's a lot of dates! Here in the US they are do darn expensive. :( Otherwise, I'd eat them like crazy.


When I was making dinner tonight, it started to look really good and yummy so I made it all fancy and took a picture:

9161

* sliced tomatoes with salt, pepper olive oil and fresh basil.
* sliced yellow squash and guacamole
* salad with romaine, spinach, carrots, cherry tomatoes, more fresh basil and the yummy drippings from the tomatoes and basil
* raw corn on the cob

It was all yummy and very filling!

I am doing really good today! It's another day of feeling full and satisfied. I wish I knew what triggers that.

MysticTree, raw corn is awesome!! You gave me the idea some months back when I was asking about raw tortilla chips and slaking lime. Thanks. It turns out to be a delicious idea.

[SunshineMN]

Both our cats love to chew on the cobs after we're done eating the sweet corn. I love raw sweet corn better than I like it cooked! We're planning on getting some later this week.

Had a cereal bowl full of strawberries for breakfast. Been sipping on pineapple lemon water this afternoon. I ignored my tummy rumbling this afternoon and I'm back to not being hungry again. Big salad for supper coming up... probably with sprouts and sunflower seeds. Maybe an orange later. Feeling pretty blah today all the way around... weird funk I guess.

[bonnie88]

Quick question as I'm fairly new to the raw-world terminology: What do you mean by fasting? Is this just the preiod of time you have not had any cooked food?

[Lyesieboom930]

Day 1 of my 31 day challenge , been feeling like, well a lilttle chicken like I don't know if I can do it. I need so major support. going to enjoy my "spanish rice" inspired cauliflower dish ... well just a little bit its late... Happy day one to me.

[donnyandcathy]

Crystal that would be awesome if you could share with me on how to make the rejulavac!! I guess I could GOOGLE it, but if you don't mind sharing what has
worked for you, that would be great!!

Today I made a BIG green juice with Red Chard, Kale, Lime, Orange, Apple, Parsley, Celery, Cucumber, and a big knob of Ginger YUMMY!!

The only other thing I ate today was some cantaloupe and quite a bit of watermelon.

I have homemade kale chips that just finished up in the dehydrator and I'm really looking forward to eating them tomorrow :)
I made a "Cheezy" sauce so they will be Cheezy Kale Chips, my favorite!!!

Night night <3

[snowshoe]

Wow - I might have to let my cats try this! I have been eating many ears of corn lately - hard to imagine slobbering them with butter and salt and pepper. So amazing raw. If I can get my cats in on the act, that would be great!



Both our cats love to chew on the cobs after we're done eating the sweet corn. I love raw sweet corn better than I like it cooked! We're planning on getting some later this week.

[MysticTree]

MysticTree, Americans call them vending machines. I used to resist them by making sure that I did not have any bills or coins on me when I went to work. lol



We have vending machines too. This box though is just a small cardboard box that you take a bag of sweets or a piece of cake from and you put a £1 in the honesty box. Very low-tech.

I brought raw chocolate coated raisins today in a pre-emptive strike on bad, unhealthy food!

I'm glad you like the raw corn. I had some the other day and wondered why I don't have it more often. We don't get great corn ripening weather but I am going to grow some for juicing. Delmar gave me the idea and I just need to remember to get a bag of popping corn to give it a go!

[homehome]

You might be a lot more than welcome to report this within your journal/blog or perhaps people for assistance within the talk region, but it's not needed (and never granted) go over the slip-up within the task strings, simply just obtain back to normal whilst keeping heading! This particular twine is approximately remembering what you're really ingesting that IS natural!

[MysticTree]

pot, kettle,black

[Lucy76]

Hello Lucy, I also get some fab Greek olives. Since you are in Greece you may know them too - organic Throuba Thasso. Do you eat these?
Oh yeah! I totally love them! One good thing about Greece is, it's so easy to find good quality raw olives! I buy lots at the fruit market, and make pastes for pizza and crackers:drool: I'm dying for some raw pizza, but I have no seeds, or buckwheat, or anything to make the dough with. Oh well I'll have to be patient.

[MysticTree]

Oh yeah! I totally love them! One good thing about Greece is, it's so easy to find good quality raw olives! I buy lots at the fruit market, and make pastes for pizza and crackers:drool: I'm dying for some raw pizza, but I have no seeds, or buckwheat, or anything to make the dough with. Oh well I'll have to be patient.

Glad to find someone else who knows these olives. They are the best I ever tasted; we get some shockingly bad olives in the UK most of the time.

[robh]

bonnie88, fasting is normally when you don't eat food and only drink water. In raw-food talk, fasting is probably refering to either a juice fast or a water fast.

Lyesieboom930, welcome. What's in your "spanish rice" inspired cauliflower dish? Sounds good. I have some cauliflower.

SunshineMN, many years ago, we had a cat that loved corn cobs - not sure why.

MysticTree, How do you juice popping corn? The kernels are so hard.

Crystal, I hope the weigh-in today goes well.

Lucy76, I wish I had access to raw olives like you do. yum


This about day 9-10 for most of us. That is roughly one third of the way. Woohoo! Everyone is doing great. We can do it!

[MysticTree]

MysticTree, How do you juice popping corn? The kernels are so hard.



First you soak it, then you plant it and then you harvest the young plants and juice, juice, juice! I've not tried it yet but I'm quite excited by the idea. Except Delmar manages to clog his juicer with it. I hope mine will be easier to clean :)

Robh, I don't know if www.therawgreek.co.uk ships to the US but you can get olives from them just like I mentioned. If not I am sure we can organise a food parcel somehow :)

[MysticTree]

heavens above! I forgot the popping corn! I should have made a list. It's been a good day. Everything going in and coming out a dream! Body is working quite well it seems. I was getting lots of nose bleeds before but my good pressure is down and my nose is bleeding much less and when it does it stops quite quickly. Before I could get 3 or 4 a day and a bad one might bleed for over an hour.

[SunshineMN]

MT, I checked out that website but it's a bit pricey, especially if they do ship to the US. I've found a few places online in the US that has them.

Azure Standard (http://www.azurestandard.com/shop/product/10842/) has some, a bit more expensive than I'd like though. I may get some from them anyhow since shipping wouldn't be that bad and we already buy stuff from them monthly.

Sunfood (http://www.sunfood.com/food/olives/plain.html) has some, a tad pricey.

Raw Guru (http://www.rawguru.com/store/raw-food-diet/organic-raw-olives/) has 3 different kinds and decent pricing packed with spring water and sea salt.

Chaffin Family Orchards (http://www.chaffinfamilyorchards.com/store/blackolives.php) sells truly raw olives in 20 lb. boxes that you can cure however you want. They of course have the best price, but they need to be cured.

GoSuperLife (http://www.gosuperlife.com/product_info.php?products_id=134) has sundried black olives with no salt or oil for a decent price. They also have organic sprouting seeds for okay prices.

I'm really tempted to buy the 20 lbs from the orchard this fall and cure them myself. I'll have to look up how to cure them and see how difficult it is though.

On the subject of cats and corn... I have had 6 cats in my life (one lived for 21 years, my parents got him for me when I was 7 and he lived several years after I left home). Every single one of them went nuts when there was sweet corn on the cob in our house. 3 of them used to try to steal the unshucked cobs. One use to pull them out of the fridge if we opened the door. One of them would try to steal it from you while you were eating it. Every one of them would lick and chew on the cobs for quite a while after you put it down for them. Maybe I just had a string of unusual cats. We have 2 currently, one goes nuts for raw greens, the other one could care less, but loves his corns. Our new kitten always begs for raw spinach and lettuce while we are making salad and the other day she was bold enough to try to steal some salad right from my bowl as I was eating! Nutty little lovable furballs.

Everyone is doing so wonderful. Keep it up!

[MysticTree]

the thing about these particular olives is that they are tree ripened not picked unripe like most olives. The unripeness of most olives is why they need so much curing. See if you can find tree ripened ones.

[Crystal2870]

Day Fourteen:woohoo:

Breakfast was smoothie, frozen bananas, blackberries, raspberries, maca, lucuma, baobob, chia seeds, once again my little ones couldnt get enough of it !

Lunch was guacomole and crudites..very nice.

Two handful of almonds..

Big advocado salad with olives, and nice mustard olive oil dressing.. Really wanted something tasty but just didnt have time to make anything !, takes some organising !, tomorrow It is my intention to get myself into gear and put something into the dehydrator, got cravings for pizza (raw will do !)...just need to get all the ingrediants together for that receipe. Couldnt stop thinking about cooked food today .

You have all made me want corn on the cob now !....

MysticTree - I think I will get some of those olives to try ! ..the people who had that site and who have written a book was at a raw festival a few years ago in Brighton, they did a raw greek platter it was really really nice !

Robh - I was delighted to have lost another two pounds so very pleased that it is coming off.

Cathyanddonny - Rejuvelac instructions! It takes approx five days.

Day 1..Wash the wheatgrain, one cupful or couple of handfuls, place in a glass jar (not plastic as the grains ferment it reacts to the plastic), with twice the volume of good quality water. Soak for 24 hours.

Day 2..After 12 to 15 hrs of soaking, drain and leave to sprout for 48 hrs, leave them undisturbed and not rinsed can leave on the counter but not in full sunlight. In the summer they may be ready in 24 hrs.

Day 3/4..After 24 to 48 hrs of sprouting, add twice the volume of spring water to the jar. Soak for a further 24 hrs.

Day 5..Your first batch is ready to be poured off into a jug and used. Add more water in the jar to replace.

Day 6..the second batch can be poured off. Add more water..

Day 7.. the third batch is ready.

If you prefer stronger tasting Rejuvelac it can be aloud to go on for another day or so.. Otherwise discard the wheat grain
It can be stored in the fridge but best used each day and drink at room temperature.

To keep a continous supply, every three days start a new batch in a jar alongside the maturing ones.

If it smells musty discard it , check the grains were thoroughly washed and were sprouted for long enough.. watch careful for signs of fizziness, this shoudl not be drunk.

Good luck !... its a strange taste but not unpleasant ! xx and it sounds like a lot of work but when I used to make it , it was quite easy and apparantly very good for you !.

PS ...Forgot to mention last few posts, I keep getting headaches every afternoon, I never get headaches and am rarely ill, Im guessing more detox, trying to drink plenty of water and been having lots of peppermint teas..

[MysticTree]

Email me your address and I'll send you a few to see if you like them.

[Crystal2870]

MysticTree, its very kind of you to offer sharing your olives but you wont have any left for you !! xx

[MysticTree]

I will. I bought two packs and each pack is quite big and there is still lots of the first pack left :)

[ReneeH]

I would TOTALLY accept some of those olives!!!! You guys are making my mouth water!!!!!

Pretty simple day for me! Just fruit and Kumbucha mostly....which is why I didn't feel very hungry today. I still had to have my fix of nuts, though (raw Donut holes) and more Chia Pudding! Just can't stay away from it!!!!! I really wanna do a fruit fast for a week and take a break from nuts, but they just be CALLIN' me man!!!!!! Gotta pray in that one!!!!! LOL!!!!!

[donnyandcathy]

Crystal, THANK YOU SO MUCH for taking the time to type that out for me!! I will print it out and see if I can make a go of it.

Today I had....

Green Juice with... Lime, Orange, Apple, Celery, Parsley, Cucumber, Ginger, Kale, Red Chard

3 TRAYS OF CHEEZY KALE CHIPS!!! Yes, I ate every bit of those things!! It was two BIG heads of kale. I knew I shouldn't eat it all at one time
because it always makes my thyroid get mad (and it did). BUT... I couldn't stop at one (or twenty)!! They tasted sooo good, and it really hit the
spot for something salty/fatty. They weren't bad for me of course, but boy was that a lot of Kale Chips HA!! For the Cheezy sauce I used...
1/2 cup soaked cashews, 2 red bell peppers, nutritional yeast, lime juice, pink sea salt, and a little bit of Liquid Smoke. SO YUMMY!!!

Cantaloupe, Watermelon

A chopped salad with 1 Avocado, 1 Heirloom Purple Tomato, Cucumber, Celery, Dulse, and some sea salt.
Cucumbers dipped in salsa that I mixed some ground sprouted flax seeds into to make it thicker and to get some flax in today. Very tasty.

My tummy is SOOOO bloated and gassy :( I'm sure all those kale chips threw it for a loop. But, they sure did taste good ;)

MysticTree, I'm happy to hear that your nosebleeds have slowed down.

Crystal, I hope your headaches get better very soon!!

Good job everyone!!

Nighty Night <3

[MysticTree]

Olives are in the post :)

melon with raspberries this morning.

[PansyLo]

I've been quite busy so haven't been checking in much... have been mostly raw though. Almost 100% which is much higher than before.
I'm really tired and feeling pretty crappy. I'm taking that as a good sign that I'm detoxing though. I've been doing lots of reading and trying to practice meditating so it's an okay time to feel like crap!
Got a young coconut! Have googled videos on the best way to open it and that's my lesson for the day. I was going to use it in something but I really fancy just eating it as is for breakfast. There might be some left over to use in a recipe. :)

[MysticTree]

I've been quite busy so haven't been checking in much... have been mostly raw though. Almost 100% which is much higher than before.
I'm really tired and feeling pretty crappy. I'm taking that as a good sign that I'm detoxing though. I've been doing lots of reading and trying to practice meditating so it's an okay time to feel like crap!
Got a young coconut! Have googled videos on the best way to open it and that's my lesson for the day. I was going to use it in something but I really fancy just eating it as is for breakfast. There might be some left over to use in a recipe. :)

Video it and post here lol

Where did you get it? I want some but everywhere I asked so far just seem nonplussed.

[robh]

Crystal2870, congrats on the weight loss. Mine has stopped for the last few days. No big deal. Sorry to hear that you're still detoxing. That's rough.

ReneeH, I agree on the nuts. Raw donut holes sound good. I may have to look that one up.

Pansy, congrats on eating more raw. Is a young coconut just smaller than a normal one?

MysticTree, that nose bleed thing sounds like a serious condition! It sounds like eating raw is taking care of it, though. That is great news.



I had another good, 100% raw day yesterday. My shipment came. I am glad because I was out of raw ranch. I needed those raw cashews. :) I was almost out of chia seeds. I was thinking I should cut back on them. I am going through chia seeds at a rate of $10 a week - lol. I also tried some of that cereal with almond milk. It is really good. I will have to eat it sparinly as a treat. It is expensive. I also got reaquanted with dried figs. I forgot how good they are. I like them better than dates.

Last night, I adapted an eggplant receipe. I have the eggplant marinating in a tomato sauce. I am hoping the acid in the tomato will soften the eggplant and give it the texture that cooking gives it. We shall see. I will post the details in the receipe forum if it comes out good.

Have a good day, everyone!

[MysticTree]

MysticTree, that nose bleed thing sounds like a serious condition! It sounds like eating raw is taking care of it, though. That is great news.



Last night, I adapted an eggplant receipe. I have the eggplant marinating in a tomato sauce. I am hoping the acid in the tomato will soften the eggplant and give it the texture that cooking gives it. We shall see. I will post the details in the receipe forum if it comes out good.

Have a good day, everyone!

Well it sort of is and sort of isn't a serious thing. Too much cocaine thinned the blood vessel and the high blood pressure (I think) used to cause it to bleed - that and the scab cracking. Raw has brought my blood pressure down and is healing the thinned vessel. Enough of the gory detail!

Let me know how you get on with the Aubergine. If that doesn't work you could try oil and lemon juice with lots of herbs and maybe some raw sun dried tomatoes and raw olives.

[Lucy76]

Hi everyone!

My son won't let me type, so I'll just write quickly what i ate today.
Wednesday is the day I go to the fruit market, so it's the best day of the week!:woot:
For breakfast I had a huuuuge smoothie with orange juice, grapefruit juice and sea buckthorn.
For lunch a whole watermelon
a bar with cashews dates and coconut for a snack
And for dinner, a tomato cucumber onion salad and a smoothie with bananas and apricots.

I didn't really eat a lot today. It's extremely hot here, and I don't really feel hungry. Well I could probably eat another watermelon,lol, but I'm trying to leave some for the kids hahahah!

That's it for now (my son is on my lap nursing and kicking my hands off the keyboard, so it took me a while to type this message :p)

[MysticTree]

I made this soup for supper. I hope you can see it ok. If not I'll have to post tomorrow when I've a chance to connect from a computer rather than my flaky phone. Sorry for the lack of pretty table cloth buy o was keen to eat but had renee's admonishions ringing on my ears!

http://tinyurl.com/d82c56j

[ReneeH]

AAaHHH!!!! I couldn't get in 2 C it!!!!! :-(

Just Cherries & Plums this AM. Off to make some Raw Suchi!!!! :-)

[MysticTree]

I'll see if I can fix it. Does this work? http://tinyurl.com/d82c56j
goodness I find mobile surfing tedious sometimes.

[Crystal2870]

Day Fifteen

Today was green smoothie, mango, bananas, pineapple, rocket, coconut oil, maca, dates .. I think I put too much rocket it , it was very strong tasting, I drank it and the little ones did too, but It wasnt the best tasting one !

Lunch a banana, half an apple, some strawberries..

This evening made courgette pasta and tomatoe sauce, with salad ...was ok, left the courgettes for a couple of hours before I added the sauce to see if texture was different but it just tasted before, I think I put too much garlic in my sauce , it was way to garlicy !

I had made some bean less falafal from Alissas receipe book and the carrot pecan burgers but they wernt ready, the falafal was very sloppy lol, it went in like blobby mess.. The burgers were stone cold and I didnt fancy eating them but I tasted one (after it had been in the dehydrator for 6 hrs !...it was still cold !), but the taste was fantastic, decided to leave them in overnight see what they are like either later today or tomorrow.. i really fancied the eggplant parmasan but realised I cant do that in the type of dehydrator I have, I need the excalibur one to fit in a dish in there.. Im not a big fan of aubergine but it looks nice.. Im a bit disappointed with the raw receipes so far, maybe Its because Im expecting them to taste just like cooked but they dont !!!, or Im wondering if it takes a while for your taste buds to adjust to the raw, or maybe if you just havent had anything cooked for a while It would taste good !!!... BUT tomorrow Im making a raw strawberry cheesecake, surely thats going to be good !!! x

Still got this headache, driving me mad ! .. wouldnt say Im feeling great or have a raw buzz at all. Gosh I must be seriously toxic I thought my previous vegan diet was quite good !...although I did drink tea before, which I am not now.., I dont think lack of sleep helps either, I feel I am sleeping more heavily than before to the point I can hardly open my eyes in the morning but its constantly disturbed by Tallulah waking up to feed and hogging the bed like a little starfish While we are cramped up at the edge of the bed !... this morning I felt quite emotional and tearful and overwhelmed by everything, and a bit similar this evening...

Donnyandcathy - let me know how you get on with it ! I think I'll do some myself !...Whoa that is a serious amount of kale chips, I just cant get to grips with Kale, I brought some ready made kale chips , I thought they was yuk ! lol ..

Lucy76 - It must be easier to eat lots of raw with plenty of local fruit and veg and the heat, go on rub it in !! guess what Its raining here, AGAIN !!

MysticTree - Thank you so much for sending the olives, I will let you know when they arrive, its very kind of you !...Are you striving to be self sufficient where you are? do you have alot of land, sounds great...but Im sure not so much when the weather is like this...was thinking today would save a fortune to grow your own produce. What soup was it you made?..I havent made any soup yet, not sure I'd like it cold !! but have seen a few receipes I'd like to try..x

Pansy - Nice to see you back ! was wondering how you was getting on, well done for sticking to it, I feel like crap too if its any help ! ...Where oh where did you get your young coconut from ??!! I havent seen them anywhere,Im dying to try one, all I've ever seen is the old brown hairy ones like you get on the coconut shy !.. I brought some raw coconut milk in a carton from one of the raw sites but at nearly £3 a carton eeekkk..

Renee- Raw donut holes, lol made me laugh , is that a yummy cooked sugared ring one , and the raw bit is the hole !!!?

Robh - So the cereal was good?!!!, I really fancy some now, and some figs, I havent had figs for ages ..

Well done to everyone, we are doing so well, Im so glad Im keeping this journal and have your support, and knowing we are all going through similar struggles !, its helping me stick to it ! x

[MysticTree]

I guess my Links have been total failures lol. The soup was a mushroom miso soup with watercress and soaked wild rice. It was very good though I say so myself. And totally cold at that. I shared it on Facebook too but only friends are able to view. Very happy to add you as a friend on fb if you have an account. I hope you like the olives. They should arrive tomorrow. I know what you mean about raw recipes sometimes. I think it's almost always unhelpful when people say the dishes taste just like the real thing. They almost never do. Have you tried kale chips in your dehydrator yet? I have tried the cheesy (nutritional yeast) with purple corn ones from inspiral. Too expensive to buy regularly but easy to make if you have a dehydrator.

[Lucy76]

Crystal it's true. In this weather, I don't miss cooked food at all. I could eat watermelon ALL day!!

I have to agree about the raw recipes. They don't taste the same at all. But there are some really great ones. The key is to not try to replace things, but to enjoy them for what they are.
For instance, I love love love raw pizza. It really doesn't taste like real pizza (although it smells very similar) but I don't mind, 'cause it's so awesome.
Same with flax crackers, kale chips, etc. Yummy yummy. Ok I gotta stop talking about these things, because I still don't have any nuts and seeds at home to make any of this stuff hahaha!

Well goodnight everyone! Keep rawkin'!

[MysticTree]

Wide awake. Not very hungry but kinda wishing I had a banana to help send me off to sleep. Bf snoring gently isn't helping.

[robh]

MysticTree, Best of luck getting off to sleep soon. I am surprised your BF is still snoring. My snoring stopped when I went raw. Anyway, I had to google Aubergine to find out that it is eggplant. I am supposed to eat it tonight, but I can feel that my body is flushing toxins out and healing. When I eat, that stops. I kind of feel like fasting the rest of the night. If I eat it, I will let you know. My Turkish friend makes an awesome eggplant dish (cooked of course). If made it a few weeks ago before the challenge. I allowed myself to have some. It was really awesome with fresh basil I am growing. I got him to help me put the raw version together (he has no receipe). My fingers are crossed. I will let you all know how it turns out. I may eat it tonight. I am undescided.

Crystal2870, I find I have to cut back on the garlic in most raw receipes. Does your headache go away if you eat? The detox symptoms I experience go away after I eat. I do not get headaches, though. Also, the cereal is really good. I am resisting the urge to gobble down the entire the little 8 oz bag in one sitting. It was like $9! The figs are great though. Can you get get dried figs in your area? They are awesome.

Lucy76, I am coming around to raw receipes. I have not had flax crackers in a long time, for example. I kind of miss them. In general raw receipes are a different experience that I am still trying to acclimate to.


Today is going good for me. I find it odd that I am experiencing some light detox symptoms after being 100% raw for 10 days. I read that over time, your body diggs deeper to heal and rid itself of toxins. It is not too bad, but I feel like I should let my body do it's work and refrain from eating. I am curious how long that's going to last. I LOVE EATING FOOD!

[MysticTree]

Mostly he doesn't snore. He's been less raw the last day. He ate a cake at work today.

[MysticTree]

sweetcorn this morning - 2 cobs.
Strawberries and cherries lined up and some bananas for lunch if I need some stodge. I also have more corn.
I remembered to buy popping corn at last - Hurrah! I'll get that soaking tonight and sow at the weekend.

Here is the soup picture from last night, just click to enlarge

9166

[robh]

Last night, after the cooked food came out, the smells made me hungry. I probably should have fasted, but I am weak. I had the eggplant dish, corn on the cob and a side salad. I should have had some avocado, because I had the munchies later on. I ended up eating a few figs, almonds, pecans, a couple goji treat squares and sunflower seeds.

Eggplant (aubergine) works nicely as a raw food. I pealed it and sliced and soaked it with an acidic food (tomatoes) overnight. The texture and taste was very similar to cooked eggplant. The dish I made was good, but nothing stellar. The taste was basically the same as sliced tomatoes with fresh basil. The eggplant was just kinda there for the ride.

Have a rawsome day everyone.

[MysticTree]

I think aubergine is one of those foods that acts well as a flavour sponge.

Munching on cherries, bananas and strawberries for lunch. avos, lettuce sprouted lentils etc for after work meal.

[Lucy76]

sweetcorn this morning - 2 cobs.
Strawberries and cherries lined up and some bananas for lunch if I need some stodge. I also have more corn.
I remembered to buy popping corn at last - Hurrah! I'll get that soaking tonight and sow at the weekend.


Raw pop corn?? How do you do that?

I'm going to have corn on the cob for dinner tonight :throwhearts:

For breakfast I had watermelon rind juice. My kids ate all the watermelon. By the way are they nutritious at all? They do taste good.

For lunch I had en ex large smoothie made of apricots, orange juice and banana. Later on I had some grapefruit juice and some cantaloup too.

I'm also dehydrating onion crisps right now. But i guess I'll be enjoying those tomorrow:eat

[Lucy76]

By the way, the soup looks really yummy MysticTree!

[MysticTree]

Raw pop corn?? How do you do that?

I'm going to have corn on the cob for dinner tonight :throwhearts:

For breakfast I had watermelon rind juice. My kids ate all the watermelon. By the way are they nutritious at all? They do taste good.

For lunch I had en ex large smoothie made of apricots, orange juice and banana. Later on I had some grapefruit juice and some cantaloup too.

I'm also dehydrating onion crisps right now. But i guess I'll be enjoying those tomorrow:eat

the popcorn is for growing then juicing the young plants.

[MysticTree]

By the way, the soup looks really yummy MysticTree!

It was. By far The nicest raw soup I have made so far :)

[ReneeH]

Morning all!!! Chia Pudding with Dates for me this morning! I bought a Jicama for making my Suchi Rice, but it was bad when I cut it and I have been too busy to go by the store and get another one.

It's been such a drab rainy week and no end is in sight! It's days like this that all i wanna do is lay in bed all day and relax!!!! So thrilled that my frig is stocked with delicious raw fruits and goodies already prepared for the day! Planning to have just a simple Salad or Green Juice for lunch, snacking on fruit, and Zucchini w/Marinara for dinner. My Sauce is already made, so all I have to do is mix it with my noodles! I also have some Vanilla Macaroons for dessert....yummmm!!!!

[MysticTree]

Home now and bf is assembling supper. Lettuce, watercress, avo, mushroom and whatever he can find! I await!

[LexieW]

Phew, I'm back ya'll! And I'm proud to report, I remained raw during the yearly sojourn to my parents' house for Independence Day. Should have seen tthe looks on everyone's face when i pulled out my salad and fruit at the BBQ!

[MysticTree]

Well done Lexie. What do people do with regards Christmas works party? Our place normally go out for a meal and the menu is fixed beforehand. Not a salad in sight an usually only a passing nod to just vegetarianism. Raw vegans not catered for. My choice seems to be compromising or starving or not going! Daft to be thinking about Christmas already.

[robh]

LexieW, welcome back. I feared that we lost you! Congrats on being raw. I had a similar Independence Day experience. Was this your first raw 4th of July? It was for me. It was very difficult to look at all that familiar food and then not have any.

MysticTree, do you recall what you put in your soup? I have wild rice. I can get mushrooms and watercress too, I think. It looked like there was some sort of broth? Surely, there must be some salt?

Even just a vegetarian nod in a US restaurant is odd and atypical. Everything in the US comes with meat. Women trying to lose weight in this country, however, have put salads on every menu in every restaurant. The salads all come with meat, though. I order the salad and ask for no meat, no cheese and no dressing. Then, when they aren't looking I sneak my raw ranch out of my wife's bag and use that. (Restaurants here are get weird when people bringing their own stuff.)

[Crystal2870]

:cheer:Day sixteen

Hi Everyone,

Wasnt hungry when I woke up (Im finding my appetite is decreasing!) so late morning I had a banana and then an apple.

Lunch was advocado salad with yesterdays Carrot & Pecan Burgers, which I left in the dehydrator overnight, they was really good, i'd recommend that receipe, they had gone dark just like a convential burger but the inside was moist and sort of mild curry, really delicious.. My falafals were horrible and went in the bin ! Expensive mistake! I think its true what you all say, its never going to be just like the convential foods, its best to treat is as a food in its own right ! ...

The highlight of the day was dinner, which was strawberry cheesecake which was an ani phyo receipe (am I aloud to put that here?!), wow it was really lush, all the family enjoyed that, basicly dates and almond crust, then cashews, lemon juice, lemon rind, coconut oil, water, vanilla and it had lecithin in it, a new ingrediant for me, googled it, seems to help the liver process or break down fat and good for the brain apparantly !, makes products very creamy..it certainly had the texture of regular cheesecake (ok its been years since I had regular cheesecake but from what I recall !) it was topped with a strawberry sauce. I had two slices so didnt want anything else !
Felt good to eat something naughty and knowing its kind of good for you !...

Lucy76 - I believe Watermelon's are actually a Vegetable and not a fruit (correct me if Im wrong here guys!)..so its a good thing to eat ! i Love Watermelon but sometimes they are a bit hit and miss here, I dont like it when they are dry inside, and the last one I got wasnt ripe mostly white inside not good ! x

Robh - was you a meat and dairy eater before you started on the raw? it must be extra hard to do raw straight from that I take my hat off to people who do that, I was vegetarian since 15 yrs, then vegan 12 yrs ago so I suppose its a little easier.. I can imagine in the US its difficult, my sister lives in the bahamas and everything is supersized compared to the UK.. The headaches been better today, Im wondering if its the msm I've been taking accelerating the detox, I've been trying to drink plenty of water , it doesnt help if i eat... I wanted to take the msm though as my nails and hair are rubbish after I had my daughter a year ago, my hair was really falling out, I know its hormonal and it will settle down but thought the msm would give it a boost.

Mystic - No post today, Royal Mail are getting worse ! x ooh gawd christmas parties, when I was working it was always a nightmare I'd always eat beforehand because you can guarantee that they will bodge it up, actually when I went to brighton I was suprised as there wasnt that much choice for raw..plenty of vegan choices, when you go out you dont want to pay loads of money for a rubbish salad that you probably could have at home anyway lol !

If anyone else on here is on facebook feel free to send me a email and add me ! be great to see a few faces ! xx #

PS whats Jicama???

Feel very tired today so its an early night for me !

[MysticTree]

RobH, Lordy yes there's salt! I use a basic lemon, olive oil and honey dressing to marinate 4 huge portabella mushrooms. Add obscene quantities of garlic (or to taste), one sliced onion and some fine chopped celery to the mushrooms which I cut quite thickly. These Marinate for about 1-2 days. Drain and reserve "broth" . Most of the mushrooms can be used in salads but save a few for the soup. Wild rice needs to soak for 2-3 days too. To make the broth complete add the mushroom juices to a mixture of 2 rounded tsp of unpast. Miso and scant Half pint water. Taste and adjust if too salty by adding more water. Finely slice some spring onions, celery, garden radishes, bulb fennel. Roughly chop handful of watercress. Heap a selection of the veggies, rice and watercress in a bowl and carefully pour the broth in. Sprinkle with finely chopped ginger. the soup itself retains a little of the olive oil from the dressing but most of it is absorbed by the mushrooms. If you want to add a whole grain mustard to the dressing you can but bear in mind it's not raw. I also like to add some chopped herbs in the dressing and I also add a couple of lemon slices to the mushrooms while they marinate. Sorry for lack of paragraphs but posting from mobile phone which doesn't allow me to make paragraphs for some reason.

[MysticTree]

As you say, the post gets worse and worse. The olives went first class too.

[ReneeH]

Here's my Raw Suchi!!!!

Raw Nori
"Rice": *Jicama
Cucumber
Avocado
Carrot
Lettuce
Marinated Shiitake *Mushrooms
Pickled Ginger

http://i517.photobucket.com/albums/u336/Pioneerspiritnee/Mobile%20Uploads/90E08EA9-FD8C-43A2-BE4B-E6C92F450B26.jpg

Here's it all rolled up!!! *Yummm!!!

http://i517.photobucket.com/albums/u336/Pioneerspiritnee/Mobile%20Uploads/6DD79169-B267-46CD-BAF2-09AD8B729665.jpg

[MysticTree]

Looks good Renee. I do like sushi :) and they always look stunning.

[ReneeH]

Thx MysticTree!!!!



PS whats Jicama???

Hey Crystal2870!!! Here's a photo of Jicama:

http://i517.photobucket.com/albums/u336/Pioneerspiritnee/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_0198.jpg

[donnyandcathy]

Hi gals/guys
I wanted to let you know I will not be posting my meals for the rest of the month.
My husband and I talked last night, and I need to make a few changes for me to be able to digest some of the veggies/foods, and address some of the
stomach issues that are really flaring up right now.
I plan on staying very high vegan raw, but it just may not be able to be 100% right now.

I will keep cheering all of you on!!!

<3
Cathy

[ReneeH]

((((((hugs for you cathy)))))))

[PansyLo]

That sushi looks amazing! I want to try it. Will have to think of something else for the rice though as you can't get jicama here. :(

To those who were asking my coconut isn't a young coconut after all (after some googling). It's some extra special coconut according to the label, I thought it was a young one but it's not green. Oh well. I'm not entirely sure what's special about it haha. I'm sure it'll still be good.

I'm gonna make this smoothy: http://www.rawfoodrecipes.com/recipes/coconutblueberry-ambrosia-smoothie.html

I was going to make it today but I've totally lost my appetite. I went downstairs kinda hungry, had one cherry tomato from the fridge and now I'm full. Not sure what that's about. I've just started new medication, my psychiatrist said it was weight neutral but wikipedia says it can cause weight loss.
My new GP says if I lose any weight she wont let me stay on the contraception I'm on, I think she thinks I have an eating disorder, which I don't, I haven't had one in years and I don't even want to lose weight. I'm WELL into the healthy zone bmi wise and as I don't do much exercise I have very little muscle weight, it's fat which weighs less. I'm naturally really petite and my natural weight is actually about a stone lighter than I am right now, my old doctor agreed with that.
I'm just concerned that between my new meds and raw food that me and my doctor are going to have a fall out. I don't know how I can keep this weight on when I gained it artificially and through SAD food and my body sits comfortably at a lower weight naturally.

[bonnie88]

PANSYLO,
I just read recently in Ani Phyo's book that she recommends de-veining the garlic (Taking that small green innard part out)....this will take some of the bite away as well as your breath will smell better! =]




Does anyone have any tips on making raw garlic more palatable? I LOVE garlic and would eat raw garlic out of a tube or jar from the super market with no problems but fresh raw garlic, even in small amounts in larger meals has this nippy spicy taste that puts me off. For some reason out of the tube it has a sweeter more like cooked garlicy taste.
Would it help to leave it soaked in some kind of oil or something?
Would blending garlic with oil (maybe a touch of honey?) and leaving it in the fridge for a few days help? Then just use when needed.

[ReneeH]

That sushi looks amazing! I want to try it. Will have to think of something else for the rice though as you can't get jicama here.

Try Cauliflower!!! It's fantastic also!!!

[Living Food]

Why not just sprout rice?

[MysticTree]

Why not just sprout rice?

Sprouted rice doesn't have the right texture - imo.

Anyway, here's my grazing material to take me through til my evening meal.

9167

[Lucy76]

the popcorn is for growing then juicing the young plants.

Aw, and I thought I would get to eat pop corn lol!

I had a yummy juice for breakfast today! Apricots and oranges. I got a whole bag of organic apricots at the fruit market (around 7 kilos) for only 2 euros!
I also juiced the watrmelon rinds from my kids watermelon, and some carrots. Overall I've had over 2L of juices, for very little money:throwhearts:

For lunch i'm thinking green salada and maybe some corn... we'll see.

BTW, those onion crisps that I made yesterday were awesome!! But I ate too many, and I woke up at night with my tongue feeling like a shoe sole:LOL:
My kids are fighting... gotta go! Talk to you all later!:heart

[robh]

Crystal, yeah, before raw, I ate the standard american diet of "meat, wheat and yet more meat". I went raw by accident while trying a juiced vegitables diet. Once I felt the effects of being raw, I was hooked. Giving up meat was worth it. To be honest, I haven't a clue what msm is. Is it something like pre-natal vitamins? My wife said her nails and hair grew like crazy while taking them durring pregancy. I am glad to hear that your headaches are getting better. Did you used to drink a lot of tea prior to going raw? jicama is a mexican root thing. It's sweet. the flesh looks like a potato.

MysticTree, thank you the soup info. I am going to save that one and try to round up the stuff I am missing. It sounds great! That picture is from your desk at work, right? Mine looks similar. The other day one of my co-workers was being funny and asked if I was a gorilla in a man-costume.

ReneeH, that looks awesome. I have jicama at home. I am not sure where I might get raw nori. Maybe I'll wait until after the challenge and use the nori that I can get in the store. what do you marinate the shiitake mushrooms in?

donnyandcathy, I am sorry to hear that. Best of luck with your digestion issues.


Nothing new to report for me. The scale hasn't budged in a while. I think I jinxed it the other day when I said I was dropping a pound every couple of days. heh

I have been putting fruit in my chia seed pudding in the mornings. It tastes good and the energy from the fruit is released slower because it moves slower through my body (covered in sticky chia). The downside is that it must be moving too slow and is fermenting and giving me "wind" in the evenings. I notice Renee put dates in her chia seed pudding. That's probably a better idea because I'll get the same slow release of energy but without the fermentation issue. I also have dried figs. That would probably do the same.

Also, I am waking up tired in the mornings and the dreaming has stopped again (did not have dreams before being raw). To me, this indicates I am not getting enough sleep. We started eating later at night (7pm instead of 5pm). I think it's possible that eating later is causing digestion to cut into my sleeping time. Obviously I am sleeping, but I think the digestion needs to be complete before my body can start doing the tasks it does at night that make me feel rested. I am going to try to eat dinner at 5pm again and see if I sleep better. If that's not it, then maybe my body is in some healing cycle. I have been feeling some light detox symptoms. It's possible I just need more sleep during this period of healing. I'll try eating ealier and see what that does.

Anyway, sorry for the rambling thoughts.

Have a good day everyone!

Edit:

I uploaded my profile pic. It's a couple years old and I am not smiling in it, but it's better than nothing. :)

[ReneeH]

ReneeH, that looks awesome. I have jicama at home. I am not sure where I might get raw nori. Maybe I'll wait until after the challenge and use the nori that I can get in the store. what do you marinate the shiitake in?

Thx Rob!!! It's Marinated in Nama Shoyu and water. BTW, nice to "see" you!!!!! :-D

I think I'm totally addicted to Chia Pudding!!!!! I like Strawberries in mine too! So good!!!! Enjoying a bowl right now!!!! :-)

[ReneeH]

Argh!!!! I'm SO tired of this RAIN!!!!!

"Rain, please GO AWAY!!!! You've been here all week and overstayed your welcome!!! Yes, I know I wanted you for my lawn, but this is just TOO MUCH!!!! Go!!! Go away and come back another day!!!!"

...then maybe I can get out of this bed!!!!! ZZZZZZZZZ. (back to sleep....)

[MysticTree]

We have been promised a dry day on Sunday. I'm not sure when the previous dry day was.

[robh]

Thx Rob!!! It's Marinated in Nama Shoyu and water.

Nice and easy. I have braggs liquid aminos. I have this hunch that they are very similar.

I am sure we are next for the rain.

[Crystal2870]

:excited:Day Seventeen

Smoothie for breakfast, bananas, blackberries, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, acai powder, lucuma, baobob, dates, coconut oil, chia.. Getting a morning ritual sharing with the little ones ! They come running when they hear the vitamix going , Luca always wants a second glassful and Tallulah stands there like a little baby bird demanding more from a spoon, trouble is they get it everywhere !

Lunch was a slice of cheesecake, followed by a big advocado salad later, I struggled to eat that (lol I shoudl eat my Greens first before pud !)..

Didnt fancy anything else this evening but just had banana and more cheescake and handul of almonds. Really fancied something tasty and crunchy, and crisp like..i need to get some more marianted nuts going, run out of nuts now. May try the potatoe crisps too, my sweet potatoe ones where a flop though !...

MysticTree- Thank you so much the olives arrived today, wow they are really tasty, I wasnt sure if they would be a bit bitter but certainly not, very mellow, and juicy, wish they didnt have the pips in though so I could just wolf them down hee hee ! Ithink they would be great in a tapenade.. xx That wil be next to order I think ! .. Was wondering what your work collegues think of your raw diet , are they critical or curious?..it was quite interesting just being vegan where I worked ! , my boss said once oh i didnt know you was vegan, I have never met a vegan before ! (as If I was from planet zogg !) , another collegue said you dont look like a vegan !....I used to tease them and say that my shoes was made from baked potatoe skins, baked really hard and sewed together !! LOL

Robh - Wow well done for going raw from sad ! , nice to see your picture up its good to put a face to a name, I will have to find one ! I've got one when I'd just had Tallulah but i think I'll save that til a before and after pic lol ! ...msm is sulfer, it helps make the cells more permeable, give you more energy, help you detox, good for inflamation and joints, hair and nails.

ReneeH - Those sushi rolls look amazing !, trouble is I just hate nori or any other seaweed , it tastes fishy to me !

Cathy - Ahhh we will miss you xxx, but you have to do what you feel is best for you, high raw is still fantastic xx :heart

Pansy - You teased us with that coconut and now shattered our hopes ! Could you see another doctor?..

Feeling really shattered today again, still no abundant energy for me, three loads of ironing to do and no motitvation ! ...

Ah glad its not just the UK with the rain then !, its been literally non stop here, never known the weather to be THIS bad !, poor mystic you will get washed away soon, still your veggies hopefully will like it? was thinking you will save a fortune when they get going ! ( I think they can lift the hosepipe ban now dont you lol ?!)

[MysticTree]

Glad you like the olives. They are easy to take the stone out. I haven't tried making anything with them. I just eat them! At work people are mildly bemused but do see the way I eat as healthy even if it is a bit extreme. At least that is what comes across when they talk to me. What they say behind my back I have no idea!

[robh]

The topic of my new eating came up when they asked why I wasn't eating the free bagels (this was months ago). After I explained, it was like I had just spoken a different language (what do they speak on Planet Zogg?). No one understood. No one comprehended.

[ReneeH]

I think whatever my daughter's been sick with she has lovingly shared with me!!!! I haven't eaten anything all day except the Chia Pudding, but I've been fighting her to get potty time!!!!! She's had it for 2-3 days. I just can't eat anything! The rain finally stopped for the moment, but it'll be back. I'm going back to bed! :-(

[MysticTree]

I hope you feel better soon renee.Rob, you know it takes time to learn a new language. Most people understand if you talk about wheat intolerances though which could help explain the bagel thing and most of us have a bad reaction to gluten even just a low level bad reaction.

[robh]

ReneeH, My kids "share" stuff with me too. The nice part about being raw is that I get over sickness quickly now. I hope you feel better soon.

MysticTree, Yeah, I will probably opt for an easy answer the next time someone asks.

Crystal2870, that is so cool that your babies are eating some raw food. I would like nothing more than to instill raw eating habits in my kids. Sadly, it's just a pipe dream when only one half of the parenting team feels that way.


Eating at 5pm last night really helped my sleeping. I set an alarm so I could get some work done before everyone work up. I woke up, feeling so well rested that I thought I slept through the alarm. In truth it was 3AM and my alarm is set for 4:10 (the time I get up for work during the weekdays). So eating two hours early allowed me to feel more rested on less sleep. It might have been a coincidence. I'll keep it up and see what happens.

The lack of weight loss is bugging me. It seems like going 100% caused me to lose some weight quickly but only for a while. For now, I think I am just going to let it go. I'll get on the scale every week or so just to make sure I am not going up.

Things I am eating are: figs, dates, nuts, some fruit, ground sesame seed and raw honey, chia seed pudding and then vegetables in the evenings: salad, guacamole, zucchini, squash. I typically snack on more figs and nuts after dinner.

Last night, when I snacked I wasn't really hungry. I think I did it out of habit or boredom. I was full after dinner. I need to stop doing that.

We are almost half way through the month. :)

[ReneeH]

ReneeH, My kids "share" stuff with me too. The nice part about being raw is that I get over sickness quickly now. I hope you feel better soon.

The lack of weight loss is bugging me. It seems like going 100% caused me to lose some weight quickly but only for a while. For now, I think I am just going to let it go. I'll get on the scale every week or so just to make sure I am not going up.


Thanks Mystic & Rob!!! Yea, I'm feeling SO much better today!!! I really needed rest I think cuz I slept yesterday straight away!!!!

I had the same thing happen with me and weight loss! I lost almost 25 pounds, then stopped...but, I stopped weighing too. I actually don't wanna be super thin, so I'm happy with where I am and all my curvy-ness. :-) I come from some "hefty-Mamas" in my family, so I don't expect I'll ever be a size 2 ever again. I would like to go down to a 10, but right now I'm about a 14. I used to be a 18-20!!!! (closer to the 20....). I have started exercising though, which may trigger something and I may tone up a bit which would be nice! I know that I am healthier than I've ever been in my life. Anyway, I don't know if that helped you at all. Just try to get moving and see if that starts the loss again. :)

Just fruit for me. Salad for lunch.

[MysticTree]

It's been an odd day for me. I've not really felt hungry and we've been quite busy. Went to the healthfood shop, Harvest, and bought various goodies including things for sprouting, kale chips, raw crackers, raw hemp, raw choc, some amazing miso which has no soy in and tastes incredible - I think we got other things but I forget. I know my bag was heavy on the way back. Stopped at market as we neared the car. Saw some lovely mushrooms which I had to get. They were called Paris Browns but I think this is the same as Crimini which I hear people on RFT mentioning. The stall owner was passionate about mushrooms. It was all he sold. When I bought them he asked if I had ever tried them raw. I said that I followed a raw diet so I wasn't planning to cook them. This took the wind out of his sails completely. I think he was hoping to trot out his sales patter convincing me to at least try them. He seemed disappointed. Mushrooms are marinating now.

[Crystal2870]

Day Eighteen Wow going so quickly !!

Wasnt hungry when waking just had herbal tea, then later a banana and apple..

Got raving munchies later, all my pesky advocado's where hard except one, which I had in a salad, really fancied guacomole though..

Later this evening made a cashew nut , water, and cocoa powder, dates smoothie, which I hardly got any as everyone wanted some !..

Run out of nuts now so need to go and restock..I've heard my local Julian Graves is closing so Im wondering if they will be selling off some stuff cheap, they do raw cashews there which were on offer (well says they are raw!), Im not buying organic nuts at the moment as my food bill is getting astonomical !

Robh - Sorry you asked about my tea consumption !, I probably used to drink two mugs first thing and then maybe another two or three mugs throughout the day..to be honest Im not really missing it that much. I've found some really nice herbal tea called teapigs, it tastes really good..
Yes its great that my kids are embracing more raw ! , I know how it can be though with un co operative people, Im seperated from the twins dad, they stay with him every other weekend luckily he is fairly good, but his parents are "ooh kids need meat ", "cows really moo if they dont get milked!" ect.. and always trying to feed them fish ect..I also have a step daughter who is nine who stays with us , her mother has been a complete nightmare, even feeding her vegetarian, and telling us to stop feeding her that **** !...funny how she gulped down the cashew "milkshake !"..
With regards to the weight loss I can understand it must be so frustrating !, I think I need to excersie more too, I've been reading about the benefits of rebounding (on a mini trampoline) apparantly it gets the lymph system going and doesnt jar the joints , so I'm looking to get one at the moment (pennies permitting!).

ReneeH - You make me laugh !.. hefty mamas !, Well I think I look better a bit more curvy than I did when I was a size 12 and very skinny I was too much like a bean pole, Im 5ft 8..I certainly dont want to loose any of my top half lol !...my weight seems to sit all round my middle, I would like to loose another stone I think but I certainly dont want to look emicated ! (not that there is any chance of that I fear lol, like my grub way too much!)...I was 12 stone 7, lost some with weight watchers, put some back on (as you do) so started raw at 12 stone 4 and half, I reckon Im just under 12 now but just weighing once a week. Its certainly not dropping off ..

Mystictree - Those mushrooms sound good, seems like you have some great places nearby for shopping raw..

I was feeling a bit weak this afternoon, my partner and kids brought some food which smelt so good I was so tempted !!.. I got out some books and read them to inspire me did the trick !..need to sort out some seeds to sprout and the wheatgrass.. Im wondering weather to try and make my own sauwecraut, has anyone tried to make thier own here? I love it (and funnily enough my kids do too well the older ones!)...

x

[bellabelle007]

I'm new here and this is my day 5 so I'm in as well. I can see a difference in my body already!!! :)

[MysticTree]

I've had an exhausting day! We went to a dog show because my mother was visiting and she wanted to take her dog. We took our two and came home with a 1st, a 2nd and 2 third places. We took plenty of raw food to ward off the burger van with but it was very hot and we ate hardly anything. Just got back and had a light salad; you know sometimes you just go beyond wanting food anymore, that's how I feel this evening. I shall top up on water before bed but I doubt I shall want more to eat.

[Crystal2870]

Day Nineteen

Wasnt hungry again , ran out of bananas anyway so couldnt have a smoothie ! , later after shopping had banana and apple

Lunch was guacomole and crudites, carrots, cucumber, red pepper.

This evening had another banana, then made Alissa's carrot and raisen/sunflower seed salad , well a small bowl, that was very nice, i think the kids would like that. Remined me I used to make the kids, hummous, raisen and grated carrot in pitta bread, so was thinking to try and make some kind of wrap raw that would maybe work.

Put some carrot and pecan burgers in the dehyrator , love them and trying the marinated portobella mushrooms, well I only had two big mushrooms left so they will be going in later, also put some courgette slices in the dehydrator, I cut them by hand so not sure what they will come out like, might try and have a go at some soups tomorrow... Im getting a bit bored of salad so need to get a bit more creative I think !

Wow Mystic well done our your doggy wins ! x

Bellabelle007 - wellcome and great stuff day five already ! xx

I measured myself today, lost FOUR inches of my beer belly and one inch of my hips, none of my bust !..WOW was impressed with taht, and that dratted headache seems to have gone at last !

Still feel very tired though..my little girl has had constipation for days, really straining, Im wondering if its to do with some part of my diet change (or unless shes teething) very odd as she eats lots of fresh fruit big bowl of blueberries, grapes ect everyday, I wouldnt have thought its the smoothies? .. Im pretty sure chia is good for that?... I tried some freshly squeezed orange juice today, maybe tomorrow I will try fresh grape or apple, I think a lady on here said apple is very good ?

Im off now to get a slice of watermelon ! hope its a good one ! x

PS anyone here tried Durian ? curious about it !

[MysticTree]

What a lovely lot of food prep you've got going on. Fresh apple juice is good for getting things moving again. But it can be fairly terrific so keep littlun near to bathroom after drinking it.

[ReneeH]

Still under weather... Taking myself & daughter to Dr. in the AM....

[MysticTree]

I hope you both feel better really soon.

[robh]

ReneeH, thanks for the kind words about the weight loss. You have done a great job. You look great. :) Hope you feel better.

MysticTree, I am jealous of your health food store where you can buy raw food. My health food store seems vegan at best. Then again, if I could buy raw crackers, I would be in trouble! Congrats at the dog show.

Crystal2870, I was curious abaut the tea because I have heard stopping tea or coffee can bring on headaces. While I can't force my kids to eat raw food, at least I can be a good example so maybe when they get older and start thinking about their health, they may remember what crazy dad said about raw food. I also feel your pain with regaurd to temptation. As I type this, my house is full of the smell of fried potatos (the french kind). The smells are the hardest to endure. That's awesome that you are losing inches. I was just noting that on Friday. My 38" inch jeans were feeling kind of lose. I still have sometime, but I do not own any size 36 jeans.



This morning, I made watermelon soup adding chia seeds to blended water melon. It was really good. I also had persimmons for the first time ever. They are great!

This evening, I played tenis. I have amaizing energy! We played for two hours. I felt I could have played for many many more hours. I was sweating a bit, but I wasn't even breathing heavy. On top of that, we were playing in 90 degree, humid weather. I don't know where all the engery came from. When we stopped, I felt what I think was adrenaline. It felt great and it was fun. I am going to try to play most nights (we'll see if that happens).

Anyway, good job everyone. Have a good evening.

[ReneeH]

I decided not to go to the Dr... Instead I had a shot of Wheatgrass and ran 3 miles!!!! :-D

[Living Food]

I decided not to go to the Dr... Instead I had a shot of Wheatgrass and ran 3 miles!!!! :-D

Lol, that's the way to do it!

I drink 2 cups of grass juice a day and have never been sick since I started. I don't even really get tired anymore (after exercising strenuously I might be tired for 5 minutes).

[ReneeH]

16 oz Carrot Juice from Jamba Juice :-)

[MysticTree]

I'm on a high raw day. Not perfection but still better than the majority of regular people out there!

[RedCedar]

I read it's never too late to join the challenge, so here it goes. I really like fresh starts, so it's irking me to join late.

Been doing the raw thing off and on since 2004. Usually high-raw vs full throttle-raw. But, I had my baby this past winter and promised myself I'd regain my health and fitness in order to combat postpartum blues. So full throttle-raw it is.

Nice to meet you all.

I have no reason to post this dancing banana, but I'm going to anyway. :banana

[robh]

I drink 2 cups of grass juice a day and have never been sick since I started.

I popped 16 fl oz of wheatgrass juice into cronometer. Good Lord! That's like 10 times the daily minimum vitamin C and 200% of your zinc. I bet your immune system can stop a bullet. Does your skin glow green in the dark?


ReneeH, that's cool that you avoided the doctor. How are you feeling now?


MysticTree, do not sell yourself short. That is a THOUSAND times better than most!



I have no reason to post this dancing banana, but I'm going to anyway. :banana

Hilarious! You will fit in well here. Welcome to the challenge!

[ReneeH]

Hey Rob...

Argh! I attempted to eat an Apple Pecan Salad... Got 1/2 of it down...back to bathroom!!!! The juice was great, though. So, I think it's time for a juice fast!!! Nothing else is agreeing with me...

[MysticTree]

Total chaos this evening involving a squirrel, the two dogs and the river. Bf was flinging off his clothes about to jump in. The dogs got out ok thank goodness because bf tells me he's not a good swimmer! So we've agreed a plan if the dogs ever need rescuing! Heavens it was all rather frantic. Food was veggie but not raw this evening. Tomorrow will be back on track.

[Crystal2870]

Day Twenty - already !:woohoo:

Woke up not feeling hungry again, strange eh!.... was dashing about so didnt really have time, when I got home at lunchtime had a banana ..

Made smoothie with berries, coconut oil, bananas, acai, lucuma , soaked chia ...
Then had one of the marinated portobella mushrooms, really nice but very strong I must go a bit easier with that braggs !, they did tasted "cooked" ! ,

Half to three quarters of a honeydew melon (im building up to the whole one lol!)...

This evening made simple salad, with 6 of the carrot and pecan burger/patties. V nice..

Im sprouting some chickpeas for raw hummous and maybe something else..

Mystic tree - ah its this weather, Im not sure I could do this 100% in the winter, all I wanted today was something hot and comforting, I've actually put my heating on twice a day its so cold and wet ! ..my food from the dehyrator is barely warm , im not sure if its set too low the dial isnt great... your river experience sounds comical but Im sure it wasnt at the time !!

Robh - you are not aloud to say its 90 degrees where you are ok ...lol banned ! ....wow your jeans are hanging off a bit thats great, mine are feeling alot looser too ! Ive just realised no headache for TWO days hurrah at last !... Persimmons, lol here I think they call them "sharon fruit" how common !... lol

Renee - poor you, its not fun being ill when you have a family to look after x Wheatgrass is fab, I really must get some compost and get mine growing, I couldnt take it neat but I used to enjoy it with apple and celery first thing !

Redcedar - wellcome and good luck, we like dancing bananas !! talking of which , I brought two huge bunches I keep meaning to let them go very ripe so I can make the crepes in Alissa's book, (my friend said they are really yummy!) but keep eating them ! lol... I had my baby last may its taken a while to get my butt into gear to getting healthy X

Renee, regarding prev conversation re braggs and nama shoyu - I cant find any nama shoyu in uk? ..I've seem tamari and Shoyu but not nama shoyu..? Mystictree do you know?...I've googled it but cant find any raw so am assuming plain shoyu is ok?

PS I confess that I had two crisps from my sons packet today and one slurp of soup !...slap me with a wet lettuce and beat me with a celery stick !.... still bearing in mind 'i was the crisp monster and could easily eat a giant packet of kettle chips to myself thats not bad going !...

xx

[RedCedar]

Random kinda' stressful day here. Managed to eat: several handfuls of raw cashews, husband's leftover salad, a few sips of blueberry smoothie. Hopefully will have something a bit more thought out for dinner.

And, I need a shower. :yes:

[robh]

RedCedar, I hope tomorrow is better for you.

ReneeH, I read someplace if your body is rejecting food, then it wants to heal a fast is probably a good idea. I hope you feel better soon. :(

MysticTree, wow that sounds exciting and a bit crazy. I had a dog that loved squirls. She loved them a bit too much. She wasn't vegitarian; put it that way.

Crystal, last night (after the 90-degree day), we were chased on the tennis courts by a thunderstorm. It rained like cats and dogs and then today it's hot again! No one in the Us knows what a Persimmons is. If I call then sharon fruit, that might take off. :) That is awesome that your headaches are gone. It sounds like your detox is done. It must have been tea withdrawl? Do you notice any differences being raw? Two crisps and a slurp of soup?! noooooooooooo!!!! anyone see that celery stick laying around? :)


I just got done playing tennis again. I must be a bit dehydrated as I have a bit of a headache. I jumped on the scale afterward and I was 253! woohoo! it was all water, but I'll take it! Considering that I was 257 when I woke up, that's a lot of sweat! We played another 2 hours. Today, I could feel my muscles are soar. If I didn't hurt, I think I could have played longer. It's a lot of fun.


Today, I had a couple of bananas, a grapefruit, two tangerines, an apple, an orange and chia seed puddings. When I came home, I slammed down a watermelon-banana smoothie before hitting the tennis court. When I got back, I had more water melon. I'm not feeling real hungry. If I want something later, I'll have some ground sesame seeds.

Good night everyone.

[Living Food]

I popped 16 fl oz of wheatgrass juice into cronometer. Good Lord! That's like 10 times the daily minimum vitamin C and 200% of your zinc. I bet your immune system can stop a bullet

Wheatgrass is amazing stuff; every time I down a glass I feel like running a marathon. Not only do I never get sick but I hardly need any sleep at all these days. I exercise every day, hike 20+ miles a day, and never get tired. I wish I had learned about all this years ago.

^ That's not all due to wheatgrass, of course, the overall diet has a major impact too, but wheatgrass is one of the best foods, most perfect there is.


Does your skin glow green in the dark?

LOL. Not yet...

[MysticTree]

Things are a bit more peaceful this morning and the dogs are all white and pretty again. I bet they don't have B12 deficiencies what with all the mud they cleaned off their fur last night. The squirrel is no more but at least it will not raid the bird table anymore. But ssshhhh, don't tell Revvell.

Back to raw today. Staring the day with a punnet of cherries and some tomatoes. I also have apples, strawberries and some various lettuces and salads.

Picked up eight small little gem lettuce hearts for 16 pence at tesco this morning!

[robh]

MysticTree, welcome back. :) I think your dogs have started the next game sensation, "squirrel hunt." I am not sure how much a pence is, but I assume it's less than a euro so that sounds like a great deal.


Wheatgrass is amazing stuff; every time I down a glass I feel like running a marathon. Not only do I never get sick but I hardly need any sleep at all these days. I exercise every day, hike 20+ miles a day, and never get tired. I wish I had learned about all this years ago.

I feel the same way about raw foodism, in general. I suspect more than half the population would consider me young. Therefore, I am fortunate to have learned of all this when I did. That being said, I spent 34 years in a depressed, irritated, mental fog. I can only imagine that an upbeat, focused version of me would have made better choices. For me, I think the real lesson here is that I need to educate my children so that they at least know the benefits of this lifestyle (even if they do not choose this path).

Anyway, I have been thinking about Wheatgrass a lot. I only wish giving it a try did not require so much preparation (I need a juicer, for starters). I will get to that point eventually, I am sure. Thanks for sharing. :)

[MysticTree]

MysticTree, welcome back. :) I think your dogs have started the next game sensation, "squirrel hunt." I am not sure how much a pence is, but I assume it's less than a euro so that sounds like a great deal.



Not sure it's a good topic for a vegan forum though ... the squirrel hunt I mean.
16 pennies is worth about 25 cents at today's exchange rate! Bargain :)

Try a manual wheatgrass juicer. I think they are more than enough for juicing for your own needs and if others in the family want some they can turn the handle too! The electric ones are so expensive. Check out The Healthy Juicer - manual version.

[MysticTree]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Newsflash !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have located a shop in Bristol that sell Young Coconuts - finally; I've only been trying to find them for over two years :o)

[Living Food]

Try a manual wheatgrass juicer.

Second that. You can get a good one for just $50 (as compared to hundreds).


But ssshhhh, don't tell Revvell.

lol. Why not...she'll have less competition now :)

[MysticTree]

Second that. You can get a good one for just $50 (as compared to hundreds).



lol. Why not...she'll have less competition now :)

The "ssshhh don't tell Revell" refers to the Squirrel hunt thing. She loves Squirrels.

[Living Food]

I know, but she is a squirrel (look at her avatar)...less squirrels = more food to go around.

[MysticTree]

I know, but she is a squirrel (look at her avatar)...less squirrels = more food to go around.
She's happy to share I think :)

[MysticTree]

we went to the Asian store and bought 4 young coconuts. I can imagine they could be fresher obviously but they tasted amazing. Love the water. Less keen on the flesh. I would like it in a smoothie but it's a bit slimy for me as is. Bf loves them too and the dogs are mad for them. The cat reserves judgement but I think she's not fussed.

[robh]

I don't know what I did wrong with my chia seed pudding today. It smells weird (fishy smelling?). I put the rest of my almond milk in it (1/4 cup) and then added a little water. It sat for 6 hours. It smelled a little funky, but I added agave anyway. It was not eatable. I did almost the same thing yesterday. I used a 1/2 cup of almond milk, agave and craisins. It was awesome! I do not understand what happened today. I don't think all the chia seeds were exposed to water this time, could that be it?

I swear that I am eating less for some reason. I can't finish my fruit today. I had a couple of bananas, a few lychees and two persimmons.

Also, before I had the fruit, I urinated what felt like a river. It was very very yellow and had an odor (like I am not drinking enough). Prior to that, I had consumed a whole liter of water (2+ liters yesterday). I am curious if it doesn't have something to do with the physical activity. I put 2 hours of tennis in cronometer. It claims that I burned 1800 calories yesterday (more than I consumed). That strikes me as a dubious figure. The guy I play tennis with can't do it today which kinda has me bummed out. Maybe it's for the best, though - give my body a day off.

Yesterday, for my fats, I had chia seed pudding and my ground sesame seeds. I had other stuff too, but If I had consumed an avocado, 50% of my calories would have come from fat! That's waaaaay too high for me. Yesterday, I passed on the avocado. Hence, today, I really really want an avocado!

I think I am going to make guacamole and put dollops onto tomato slices (one of my tomato plants has a ripe tomato). Then, I need to get my vitamin K and vitamin A in (I didn't have any yesterday). I'll a romaine (K) and spinach (K) salad with plenty of carrots (A) and some cucumber just because. For a dressing, I more forgo the raw ranch and opt for some of the fresh basil I have growing. I'll toss the salad in a mixture of olive oil, salt, pepper, green onions and raw garlic. Then, I'll shred the fresh basil on top of that. I find the basil loses it's smell if you cover it in oil. Basil for me is not a taste, but a smell.

My mouth is watering thinking about it. Kind of weird to be druling over avocados and a salad!

[Crystal2870]

Day Twenty one

Not hungry again this am !...had berry smoothie later, was a really good batch tastes different every day !, Luca had two big glasses, and Tallulah couldnt get enough of it either..

Later just had fruit, two punnets of cherries and an apple thought the day..

This evening I had guacomole with crudites.

Put a batch of marinated nuts on house stinks of curry now, maybe too much cumin powder on them !

MysticTree - Wow young coconuts ! hurrah you've found some, I was looking online and found somewhere that does a case of them, but not sure weather to get some as they may go off quickly, no idea how long they last do you?...Im sure would be fab in desserts or smoothies..~Did you manage to open in without severring any fingers !! hee hee..I managed to stab myself with a knife getting the stone out of an advocado a while back, saw the chef's on tv doing it lol, but they are slimy little b*ggers lol, knife slipped and impaled myself !! ha ha. Great bargains for the little gems ! ...I've been buying some reduced items, I got blackberries and raspberries today for £1, usually £2.99 each!, I've put them in the freezer for smoothies, everything helps it gets very expensive these days just generally shopping..although to be honest Im sure Im eating alot less than I was when eating cooked, Im suprised at how full and satisfied I do get..

Robh - When I grew wheatgrass before, I didnt have a fancy juicer just a manual one which clamped onto the side of the work surface, it was pretty cheap from what I remember maybe £20? and worked fine..the trays are standard ones you get from the garden centres and the seeds pretty cheap too, very easy to grow..even for me who kills most house plants lol, dead cheap way of getting fab nutrients, I dont think I will worry so much about eating so many greens when I am doing wheatgrass as its so nutrient rich and really does get you going for the day.. I feel better than cooked diet, alot less bloated but not majorly different, i guess its still early days though, Im sleeping alot deeper, had to keep hitching up my jeans today though, lol I better get some new ones soon, fear I may do a moonie down the high street !

[MysticTree]

Maybe your almond milk went off Rob?

[robh]

MysticTree, yeah that could be it. I probably should have smelled it before pouring it in.

Crystal2870, I am seriously thinking about giving the wheatgrass a go. Thanks for sharing your raw experience. Overtime, you'll notice a host of improvements. Also, congrats on your clothes being lose. The moonie comment got me laughing. :)

[ReneeH]

Hey yau'll! Yea, I think your Almond Milk went bad too, Rob. It happens from time to time. I don't let mine sit out to thicken...I put it in the frig. That helps. Make sure you used already soaked Almonds (which I'm sure you do already...).

Congrats Mystic in the Coconuts!!!!!

I'm still doing juice. I did have some Kumbucha, though! Love it! Fabulous BM!!! Stuff came out that my Great Great Grandma ate!!!! LOL!!!!

[LexieW]

Hey all,

I've been crazy busy with work, and it's kept me from checking in. Great to see so much activity in the thread! I've been enjoying all the fresh fruit available right now - lots of melon, berries, peaches and nectarines. MMMM.

The heat also makes me feel like eating less, so I've gotta be careful to get enough calories in every day.

Everyone new to raw, hang in there and great work so far! I'll try to be around more to participate with everyone again.

[MysticTree]

I don't think I'll get them from this place again but there is a UK supplier that will deliver 12 for £29.99. Carol told me about them.

[ReneeH]

Ok!!!! I am SOOOOOO ready for food today!!!! Though I have thoroughly enjoyed my juice the past couple of days. I will still have some juice today, but I'm craving Portobellas, so will try that today.

I'm at the gym aiming to break my 3 mile mark!!!!! Hopefully I can do it!!

:cheer:

[ReneeH]

OMGGGGGG!!!!!!! You GUYS!!!!! I DID IT!!!!! I DID IT!!!!!

3.2 miles!!!!!!!

I'm ON my way!!!!! I'm SO over being sick!!! I'm not claiming that today!!!! I'm feeling SUPER GREAT today!!!! Now, I'm ready for some SERIOUS RAW FOOD!!!!

:cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer:

[MysticTree]

OMGGGGGG!!!!!!! You GUYS!!!!! I DID IT!!!!! I DID IT!!!!!

3.2 miles!!!!!!!

I'm ON my way!!!!! I'm SO over being sick!!! I'm not claiming that today!!!! I'm feeling SUPER GREAT today!!!! Now, I'm ready for some SERIOUS RAW FOOD!!!!

:cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer:

AWESOME

[ReneeH]

Thank you!!!!!! :)

Yummmm! Green juice: Romaine head, Celery head, 1/2 Lemon, inch Ginger, 2 Pink Lady Apples!!! I'm full!!!! :-D

[Crystal2870]

Day Twenty two !

A pretty weird day today for me !, again not hungry..nor thirsty either.

Had apple and a banana, handful of nuts

Then this evening, the smallest advocado, had a huge stone in it not much flesh maybe two small spoonfuls, made a bit of guacomole, a carrott and bit of cucumber to dip..

Had my twin boys junior school leaving service at church, felt very emotional all day.

Renee glad you are feeling better, well done for the 3.2 miles ! superwoman !!!

Well done everyone, xx

[SunshineMN]

Glad you are finally feeling better Renee!

I fell off the wagon hard. I had a huge fight with my sister... was rather nasty. My dad died in June and left a mess of bills, a mobile home the bank wants to take away (one that I was supposed to be able to move in to), and a car attached to the home loan (that I could really use since I haven't had a car the last 3 years). We're not seeing eye to eye on a lot and it really blew up. *sigh*

I've had a mostly raw day today. Had 3 bananas for breakfast. Ate a huge mixed greens salad with cauliflower a couple hours ago. Also had a handful of crackers that weren't raw that were left over from the falling off the wagon. Should be back to 100% tomorrow though. Dealing with a headache today from eating bad food... rather sucks but it's serving as a reminder.

Happy to see everyone else is doing so well.

[MysticTree]

Family fights are horrid aren't they Sunshine. Sorry you have that going on in your life.

I'm finding things quite tricky at the moment. All raw yesterday but feeling wobbly already today. Cherries and strawberries for breakfast and there are some toms but if I can get through on "high raw" today I shall be quite pleased.

[SunshineMN]

They really are MT. Doesn't help she's a bit greedy, self-centered, controlling and likes to play mind games (manipulative). I think she forgets just how well I know her. Ah well, who needs family anyhow.

Eating more of my comfort food. Bananas! Glad my SO bought me a huge bunch of them this time. Think if we have a little extra money soonish I need to head to the farmer's market and get some vine ripe tomatoes and some sweet corn. I'm really looking forward to decent tasting tomatoes with some basil and a pinch of sea salt. And raw corn on the cob is at the top of my list of yummy foods too. I also started another batch of sprouts. The last ones sorta went bad when we stopped eating raw last weekend.

[MysticTree]

I only buy vine ripened toms. We were hoping for a lovely lot of home grown ones but it's been so wet and the plants all have blight :(