August 2012 30 Day Raw Challenge

[GoodCat]

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:

[happylife]

I was going to wait till the first of the month, but decided to join up now.

[ciks08]

I was also gonna wait till Aug. 1st.. Starting tomorrow now!

[happylife]

You may need to redirect me, if I am doing this wrong.

I started yesterday, the day was so busy and I knew I could post today.
Breakfast was (1) very large peach.
Lunch =1/2 very big,sweet, watermelon
Supper= veg salad w/ califlower,onions, tomatoes, corn and a oil/ vinegar dressing..(1) full tray of dehyderated bananas (can't get enough of them)
At work, they were eating things that I would have eaten before.I happen to be the oldest person working for the Org. and would like them to see
what Raw can do for health. Also I need to feel healthier.
I had to go in for a Heart Cath test about 3 months ago, the Dr. used the wrong closing. I couldn't walk more than 1/2 block before I was in so much pain, I just wanted to scream. The Dr's gave me every test they could ,nerve damage is what I was told. They said there wasn't anything they could do for me, it just needed time to heal. After (2) mo's, I was told to see a Vascular Specialist. Sure enough, it was a blocked artery in my leg. I was told I needed surgery right away. I am now healing just great. Can walk as far as 13 miles at a time.
I am working hard to get back my health as much as I can. Raw is one of the best ways I know.
Just wanted to share a little back ground, hope you don't mind.
Thanks for having me here. Come along for the ride, it is going to be a fun one.
Former "FlutterFly"

[cablegirl]

I am joining the challenge, so excited to see that there will be others for August!

[happylife]

Can hardly wait to get to know you and all the other :)

[happylife]

Day 2# Breakfast = 1/3 watermelon
Lunch = bananas = same veggie salad as yesterday
Supper = Same salad ( only have two more meals of it left) more bananas
Put in a nice walk today plus a short workout at the gym in the apt. building. Feeling great.
I want so much to eat all the recipes I use to, the only thing is that I want them all NOW lol.
I live by myself, well, not really, I have my cat (Paxil) and she doesn't help me eat up to much.
So that leaves me alone to eat each thing I make, no, I do not only make half a recipe, that way I have
a good excuse to eat big.

[MysticTree]

It's not August yet! The July 30 day challenge thread is current still.

[happylife]

OK, thanks ;) see you there.

[Jeff_from_mi]

In for the August thread. I need tasty recipes for juicing if anyone can point me a good direction, |I'm fairly new to this but my goal is to be completely free of any and all processed foods (very addicting by design) so thanks for doing this and I wish everyone the best!

[LexieW]

Woo! I'm ready :) I fell off the wagon (though managed to stay Vegan, at least) this month, so I'm recommitting. Looking forward to the group efforts!

[PinkieKitty]

Hello!
I am SO excited to be doing this, have been at around 50% raw for the past month or so (I went raw a few years ago but fell into comfort eating cooked foods after an emotionally traumatic time.) I am now ready to get my health and fitness back on track!!
Good luck everyone!!! :)

[happylife]

I was reading on a thread what is your juice today ( or something like that) any way their juices sounded sooo good. I'm sure you can find it here.

[cablegirl]

Hello! I know the 30 day August challenge doesn't start until tomorrow but I went ahead and started today:). The hardest part of today was the no coffee. I have drank coffee for years and love it, but realize that I need to kick the caffeine thing and now with the challenge is the best time to do it. Here is what I had for the day. Oh bonus news...my husband has agreed to do 2 of his meals raw for 2 weeks:)

Breakfast: Juice- carrots, lemons, ginger, broccoli, beet and apple
Lunch: 1/2 head of green cabbage, sesame oil, green onions, sprouted sunflower seeds
Dinner: Corn salad - corn from the cob, cucumbers, avocado, green & red pepper, tomatoes and vinegar and oil dressing
Snack: 1/2 watermelon

Anyone have any natural ways to get rid of caffeine withdrawal headaches?

[BeWell]

I'm up for the challenge. I've been trying on my own for some time. I'm sure the support will help!
Breakfast juice - beet, carrot, apple, spinach, orange, garlic and ginger...refreshing. ; )

[Willpower]

Count me in!!!

[happylife]

Hi Willpower. If your name suits you, it will be a charm to be in the challenge. Glad you are here.

[SunshineMN]

I'm committing to another 30 days since last month was a little less than successful. Hopefully this month I'll be able to start having grass juices and hopefully other green juices. I'm excited to see several new faces joining us this month!

[MysticTree]

Here we are for another 30 days. All the best everyone.

[robh]

cablegirl, I don't know of any way to ease caffeine headaches. Just hang in there, they will go away. Also, congrats on getting your husband to do some raw. Having someone to support you at home is huge.

happylife, I have seen you post several times in the past few pays. You are excited about this. That's great! You'll fit right in.

Welcome back MysticTree, SunshineMN, LexieW and the others that joined us last month. It's a new month and a fresh beginning. I don't know about you all, but my will kind of fell apart at the end of the month. I am ready to get back on the 100% raw wagon and see if I can make it longer than 17 days - heh.

Hello to those joining us this month: ciks08, cablegirl, happylife, Jeff_from_mi, PinkieKitty, BeWell, Willpower.


New folks, be sure to subscribe to the thread! click "Go Advanced" -> check the "subscribe to this thread" box -> select "daily, using email" Also, we can only support you if you tell us how you are doing. I cannot count the number of times someone has joined the thread just to never post again. Let us know that you are serious, keep posting!


I am in for August! I had a 100% raw day yesterday. Lately, I have been having "after shocks" from a cooked food binge that I went on during vacation last month. Having a 100% day yesterday has helped me to shake off those cravings.

Today's eating plan:

I only eat when I am hungry. That means I will have just water until around noon today. I may go longer. Yesterday, I started eating because it was noon and not because I was hungry. We shall see.

I will start my first meal with fruit: an orange and then a banana. Then I'll soak the 4 tablespoons of chia seeds in about a 1/2 cup of water. I will stir the chia seeds in the water frequently for a good 10 minutes. Then, I will slice up a banana and add it to the gooey mix. After that, I will work in a teaspoon or so of raw honey (very sticky stuff). Then, I will wait for my body to tell me that it wants more food (probably 20-30 minutes because fruit makes me hungry). The fat in the banana-honey-chia-seed pudding will keep me full for a while. (It also tastes good.)

A few hours later, when I am hungry again, I will mix 4 tablespoons of ground up sesame seeds with agave, raw honey and sunflower seed butter. I will then slice up an apple and enjoy the nice, yummy, fatty snack. This will keep my full until dinner.

For dinner, I always do greens and veggies first and then fat last. I typically make a romaine salad topped with baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices and I'll come up with a dressing (or I'll use the famous rawfoodtalk cashew ranch dressing). After I eat my salad, I make some dip with an avocado. Usually it's guacamole, but last night I made a nice spinach-avocado dip. I typically have sliced veggies or flax crackers with my avo-dip. After I make all this stuff, my salad has had enough time to move along and I feel hungry again. After I eat the fatty avocado dip, I am always very full and very satisfied. I try not eat before I go to bed but sometimes I will snack on soaked raw almonds or sunflower seeds.

Also, if I stop eating four hours before bed, I sleep better. I think the body cannot sleep well while it is digesting. I always wake up tired if I eat close to bed time.

Sorry for the long drawn out explanation, but I never knew "what to eat" when I started raw and when I joined these threads what other people were eating was very helpful. It took me a long time to learn that fats keep me full and that I have to eat them last. I hope this helps someone.

[MysticTree]

Hello Rob,

Welcome back to you too. I know that the feelings of wanting to eat off-plan will actually pass. I won't die if I don't eat that thing I crave right that minute. I find some of the phrases from AA quite helpful - in this instance the phrase "This too shall pass." is the one I think of when I get cooked food cravings.

I plan to take some pictures tonight if it's not too gloomy and will post tomorrow. I feel like sharing the exuberance of my pea-shoots and other sprouting friends.

Lots of fruit so far today and some kale chips (cheesy with purple corn) very good but they do break the bank to buy. I need to get something sorted so I can dehydrate some foods so I have sent off for a book on DIY 12 volt solar power. Where there's a will there's a way :o)

Me and the BF are in again for the month. I want to be 100%, he is happy with a less strict scenario but I have noticed that his bread slips are fewer and further between and we are both missing our green juices (production is not keeping up with demand!).

[ReneeH]

Hi!!!! I'm STILL here! Starting my day with Watermelon!!!

http://i517.photobucket.com/albums/u336/Pioneerspiritnee/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_8552.jpg

On day 2 of making my Rejuvelac for my Land & Sea for next week! I haven't had it since my Alissa Level 3 Class with her, so I'm excited to finally make it!!!

I got some curly Kale to make some Kale Chips!!!!!! I hate the store bought ones...YUK!!! But I like 'um when I make them myself! Gonna make some cheesy with Nut Yeast and some with just Sea Salt & EVOO. Hopefully I can stay out of the dehydrator!!!! :-)

Making Candied Pecans and Almonds too!!!

So glad to see so many here!!!! :-)

[ReneeH]

OOOHHH!!!! Mystic I just saw that you use Purple Corn!!! Here's the one I got from Mike Adams (Natural News editor) when I was his raw chef for the summer:

http://i517.photobucket.com/albums/u336/Pioneerspiritnee/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_8844.jpg

Is this what you use? What's your recipe for your Chips using it? Pls share!!!! :-D

[MysticTree]

OOOHHH!!!! Mystic I just saw that you use Purple Corn!!! Here's the one I got from Mike Adams (Natural News editor) when I was his raw chef for the summer:

http://i517.photobucket.com/albums/u336/Pioneerspiritnee/Mobile Uploads/IMG_8844.jpg

Is this what you use? What's your recipe for your Chips using it? Pls share!!!! :-D

I don't use it in recipes. It is in a raw product that I buy.

When I finally get some electricity sorted out I will see if there is enough to run a dehydrator (bf is looking at a making a solar powered one but we get very little sun). If a dehydrator becomes a possibility I will probably get whatever purple corn Kate Magic uses.

[ReneeH]

I see a recipe for Kale Chips on RFFE on page 374, but it uses Tahini Dressing and I don't care for Tahini. I may try that one and just omit the Dressing, cuz the rest sounds great! But I'd love to taste the one with the Purple Corn...

[happylife]

Cablegirl..What part of Wisc are you in.. I'm in Appleton..

[happylife]

This is my 5th day raw. I do not take credit for being 100% raw yet. I still do drink coffee, have cut it down to decaf and only have it once a day.
Breakfast was bananas
Lunch will be an extra large salad at Golden Corral with a long lost friend. Many raw choices to eat there. Instead of getting a full sized plate to pile about 4-5 different kinds of baked desserts on, I will get a soup cup and put melon in it.
Supper is going to be Mock Salmon Pate with corn chips..
I have had a lot of changes in the past month, eating right, new apt,new friends etc. I'm now on my way to retirement, that will be a completely different life. I have worked hard since I was 12 years old. I started in the bean, strawberry,and pickle fields,to a tree farm, waitress,business owner,and many other things to feed my family. Oh My, what shall I do lol.
Good luck everyone. I am in your corner, we can learn a lot from each other.

[MysticTree]

I see a recipe for Kale Chips on RFFE on page 374, but it uses Tahini Dressing and I don't care for Tahini. I may try that one and just omit the Dressing, cuz the rest sounds great! But I'd love to taste the one with the Purple Corn...

I don't know if it makes much difference to the taste but it sure looks pretty!

[harkly]

Joining the group!

1st day going a little rough, but I am sticking with it, just keeping thinking how much better off I will be.

Bk - was my bk juice - 2 oranges, 3 apple, 3 carrot & kale
LN - lettuce, green & red leaf & iceburg, spinach, broccoli slaw and some very fresh tomatoes topped with lime juice
DN - will be another salad & a banana, pear, spinach smoothie
Snacks will be - fresh green bell peppers, cauliflower, watermelon

[Divine Soul]

Wooo another 30 days! Made that cashew cream sauce thing this morning at 6am because I woke up randomly and it literally tastes like cheese good thing I didn't make a lout I hate cheese lol...maybe my family will eat it ^_^ it made me sick though, so I ate half a cantaloupe and made a yummy smoothie!

edit: I forgot, I got tendinitis or tendinitis not sure which- from running in my ankle :(. Guess can't do cardio now depending on which one it is it can last from couple of days to TEN WEEKS but I can do weights :D!

[robh]

I plan to take some pictures tonight if it's not too gloomy and will post tomorrow.

Yeah, I am curious to see your sprouts. I assume you grow them outdoors?

ReneeH, Let us know how your Kale Chips come out. I haven't made them yet. Everyone talks about them. I am pretty curious.

harkly, the food you have posted there would cause me to be extremely hungry all day. I hope this is not he case for you. good luck today.

happylife, good luck going to the buffet. that is a hard one.

[leafgrrl]

I started on Monday. I still have a headache from caffeine withdrawal and am exhausted but I'm excited to be back on the raw diet again. I've been vegan for about 10 years and have been raw off and on for a few years (mostly off). My goal is to stay 100% raw this time. :)

[Lucy76]

Hello people! Good luck with the 30 day challenge to everyone!

I'm in too!! :woot:

I had a sunflower seed milk smoothie for breakfast, with pea protein, bananas, chia seeds and vanilla. That's pretty much what I have everyday for breakfast these days, because I start work really early so I can't juice in the morning.

Bananas and apples for lunch, and a carrot juice too. I work at a health food store, and they have a juice bar, where i get half price:cheer: (it's still expensive though, and small portions, so I don't do it very often).

Dinner was juice juice and more juice. Apples, carrots, amaranth greens, pears, and oranges. And a handful of cashews.

A little while ago, I had another smoothie with sunmilk and frozen bananas, it was yummy! And now I'm off to bed, because I gotta wake up at 6 tomorrow (which reminds me... I don't have an alarm clock, because my cell phone that served as one, got stollen today... along with my purse. Bummer) Anyway, the sun will come up tommoroooooooow...

Goodnight everyone!

P.S I have pizza crust in the dehydrator right now YAY!! Tomorrow I'll be having pizza for dinner! :D

[PinkieKitty]

Hey everone!!

Today I had:

Breakfast - Just water
Snack - 2 small raw teddy shaped chocolates
Lunch - 2 nori rolls filled with a layer of almond butter, shredded carrot and shredded cucumber
Dinner - 2 pink lady apples
Snack - 1 medjool date!

[BeWell]

Rob,
I love your post...I am definitely going try some of your raw combos. Yesterday, I mainly ate blueberries all day! And I had a sliced cucumber with lemon and dressing in the evening. I am definitely looking forward to more raw creations from you all.
Thanks again!

[Divine Soul]

gosh I want kale chips now but I don't have a dehydrator, we made them in the oven when I wasn't raw and they tasted amazing our oven only goes down to 170 though... ;_;...can't buy dehydrator need to save money for car :{

right now drinking a frozen banana, frozen peach, frozen blueberries, two heaping spoon fulls of cacao splash of agave (not really liking the agave part) and water smoothie. I want kale chips....and flax crackers....waaa

[RedCedar]

Hello August-eers!

Wow, who needs a gym membership when you can lug around a huge baby? Lovely, sunny day here, getting some kinda, sorta fresh air with my kid. I'm amazed at my energy; still waking up twice a night to feed our guy, but once I started walking today there was no stopping--'til I knew he needed a break. I'm thinking the raw foods and associated weight loss has helped a lot with my mood and energy. Lost about 7 pounds last month!

Ok, today I have only had a chance to eat some chia pudding (with coconut water and cacao), and an overly priced banana/date/almond milk smoothie served by surly people (ever order food and feel like you've interrupted an argument between staff?).
If I had known I might be out so long, I would have packed something for myself.

Tonight will be a humongous salad, followed by frozen-banana & berry ice cream. If you have not made this, you must. just, do it.


:coolbanana

[effortlessvegan]

Well I am going to give this another try. I have been vegan most of my adult life (38 years) and high raw for a year. I really enjoy this forum but I have not been very good with posting on a daily basis. I'm hoping this month will be different. I use to post in the morning but I think if I post in the evening at the end of the day, I'll be more consistent. I'm looking forward to sharing with everyone. I have prepared some go to foods to help with cravings, such as raw brownies to curb the occasional sweet tooth that fruit doesn't seem to curb.
Today I had:
B: 2 tangerines, banana, chia porridge with coconut milk, cinnamon, blueberries and chia seeds
L: salsa with cucumbers and cubed red peppers, handful of almonds
D: large green salad with raw ranch dressing and sprinkling of nutritional yeast and ground black pepper.
Oh...and a couple of raw brownies during the day.
Good Luck everyone.

[LexieW]

Hey everybody!

Phew, I'm busy. Work work work! But it's good work and I love my job, so I can't really complain.

Today's meals:

Breakfast: full glass of raw, fresh orange juice with spirulina (and a little MSM), 2 kiwi fruits.
Snack: Apple
Lunch: Large salad of mixed greens, cabbage, tomato and alfalfa sprouts
Dinner: Sloppy Jose - I treated myself to this from my local raw restaurant. Too tired to remember or list all that was in it, but it was yummy and hit the spot!
Dessert: Strawberries!

There's a lot of life in this thread so far. I'm excited to interact with everyone. Hopefully I will be a little less busy soon and will be able to check in more often.

1 day down, yay!

[happylife]

I am going to do a 3 day juice fast. Just got a new juicer and want to give it a workout.
Everyone here is doing a really great job already.

Starting weight 122#
Would like to get down to at least 112#

[SunshineMN]

For breakfast I had a couple bananas and later in the morning I had some grapes. Didn't eat anything else until 8 hours later. Had a big mixed greens salad with various sprouts, cauliflower and some tomato. Been drinking water with lemon and pineapple juice in it all day. I'm really glad we gave up drinking pop a couple years ago. Might have a few dates and some brazil nuts and walnuts in a bit here for a snack.

Rob, I noticed that I sleep better too if I haven't had anything to eat for hours before going to bed. Glad you figured that out for yourself. :)

Nice to see so many getting off on the right foot this month. :)

[robh]

leafgrrl, welcome

Lucy76, welcome back. Sorry to hear about your things getting stolen. Also are you making alissa's pizza?

BeWell, glad my post was helpful.

RedCedar, Welcome back. I know what you are talking about. My "baby" is two now and he always wants his daddy to carry him - ugh! Also, my energy levels are much much higher on raw. Like you said, there is just no stopping. Love the dancing banana!

effortlessvegan, those raw brownies can really hit the spot. I need to make some. Also, welcome back.

LexieW, the raw sloppy joe sounds good!

happylife, I need a juicer. I bet apple juice would make awesome chia pudding. Juicers are so darned expensive, though. congrats on getting one

SunshineMN, I snacked last night after dinner and stayed up too late. I am tired this morning. :(


I stayed 100% raw yesterday. Though, the plan eat did not get executed flawlessly.

In the morning, I started to get hungry around 10am which is early for me. I also felt drained. Around noon, when I normally eat I was feeling tired, achy and like I had a cold coming on. These are the hallmark signs of detox for me (I had some bad food recently). Instead of putting food in my belly and stopping the detox process, I road it out for a couple of hours to help get over it. I finally ate around 2pm and I ate stuff in the wrong order. I actually didn't eat the chia seeds that I brought.

About 5:30 or so I made some raw popcorn and put it in the dehydrator. Then, I made my salad and the avocado-spinach dip. Also, I put a jalapeno pepper on my salad (a not smart choice, I realized later). For some reason, I just didn't like the avocado dip I made so I put half in the fridge.

Then, we went to play tennis and it started raining 5 minutes after we got there. It was a bummer and walking home in a down pour was not fun.

When I got home, I wanted to eat something. I ended up eating the raw popcorn (wasn't finished dehydrating). Then I had a bowl of raw cereal and raw almond milk. Then, I had walnuts and craisins. I just kept snacking until bed (which never works out well for me).

If I had played tennis, I wouldn't have been hungry and I wouldn't have snacked afterward. I don't know why by exercise shuts down my desire to eat. (go figure)

I also couldn't fall asleep. That friggen jalapeno pepper was hurting my stomach.

Even though I woke up tired, I know today is going to be better.

I think I am going to have a little fruit a half hour BEFORE my salad tonight. (I fart like a truck driver if I eat fruit after my salad.) Also, I'm going to skip the avocado. Assuming that I can play tennis tonight, I think a little more fruit, a little less fat and some exercise should help put the spring back in my step (and hopefully help me lose the few pounds I gained while being bad).

Not sure why I felt compelled to share all that this morning. lol

Have a good day everyone!

[MysticTree]

9182918391859186

Some not very brilliant pictures here.
1) Young courgette plants and the wild riverbank behind
2) Pea shoots growing outside in a veg bed
3) Some trays with various stuff in including wheat, peas, corn and fenugreek.
4) My indoor area where the next lot of seeds are soaking and where I keep my jar sprouting sprouts.

The fence that you can see at the back of the last picture is the boundary fence so we get people walking by chatting and cars passing rather close.

Lots of fruit and veg so far today. Cherries, tomatoes, bananas and some mango I plan to have later :o)

[MysticTree]

Sorted the picture anomaly. Please could admin remove this post now.
Thanks

[Willpower]

Good morning everyone...

I probably won't be the best at posting everyday, but I'll be in and out all month. Yesterday I had some quinoa so I guess I officially start today, although the 2 weeks prior I was 100% raw.

Started my day off today with two bananas and a couple of filberts.

hope everyone has a wonderful day!!!

Will

[Crystal2870]

Hi everyone !

Sorry I havent posted for a few days my computer went down, ! yesterday I was exhausted for some reason !

I've managed to almost stay raw but a few cooked items have sneaked in so I need to get back on track for august.

I've no idea waht day im on now i need to check back !

anyway yesterday I had a really hungry day, had half a melon, nectarine x2, some asian coleslaw, a salad, some dried figs, a punnet of tomatoes ! a big pint of vegetable juice with spinich, carrott, beetroot, apple, celery, parsley. (hate cleaning the juicer afterwards though lol).. I made some courgette pasta with a mariana type sauce but added fresh basil to it, It was ok ish in a raw kind of way ha ha, made cheesecake had two big slices of that with berry sauce, but I hadnt blended the base properly so it was crumbly and too chunky, made eggless salad, yuk , in the bin !

Day before I had a little cooked as I went out unprepared (big mistake) eat out and nothing to eat I hadnt had breakfast so was starving, anyway got home and made everyone a nice big salad, the asian slaw, and advocados, we all eat that and enjoyed it, it was good ahveing a meal the whole family enjoyed together !.

To the people asking about headaches from caffiene I had a major headache for about 10 days last month but it does go eventually !, I've been more or less sticking to the peppermint tea now .

Today I've had some fruit, two slices of raw cheesecake, still feel wiped out, I will make a nice big salad later, maybe have a juice in a mo maybe that will perk me up xx

Nice to see lots of new faces x

[harkly]

Hard day for me! So very hungry at least that is what it feels like. Could think of nothing but fried rice :( So I went out and bought me strawberries & green beans, I know weird combo but they always hit the spot for me

Can't really say what I have eaten so far today.

Let's see:
orange/apple/carrot/spirulina juice
pinapple/mango juice
watermelon
strawberries
greenbeans
tangerian/manderian (something like that)

Need to get in lots of greens tonight, so will probably make a green smoothy and then reward myself with lots of watermelon.

Just trying to get thru the day! Major headache, muscle aches and nausea. Keep telling myself I can have fried rice tomorrow, just like I kept telling myself I would start my diet tomorrow, LOL

[MysticTree]

If you are hungry then eat more but first try to see if a glass of water fills you up. Often we are not hungry. We are thirsty.

[ReneeH]

Started today with Pineapple and Chia Pudding...YUMMMM!! Lunch is Raw Spinach Pizza and Salad!

[harkly]

If you are hungry then eat more but first try to see if a glass of water fills you up. Often we are not hungry. We are thirsty.

I am definitly not hungry, at least not the stomach type. It's the rest of my body screaming for what it is not getting.

[happylife]

Isn't raw cheese cake just rockin Rawsome!! I am going to make raw lemon bars in a few day, love them.
Sounds like you are really doing the best you can. No one can knock that. You just go girl and by the end of the 30 days you will be hooked for life ;)

[happylife]

Have been juicing all day. Made enough for the whole day. Carrot, celery, apple,and cucumber. Wow, that was good
Right now I am drinking Yogi Egyptian Licorice tea.. This is so good, no sweetener needed. No coffee, think that I am over that now.
Love to read what everyone is eating and how you are feeling. Thanks for keepng the updates going.

[Willpower]

Good Morning everyone!!!

So yesterday I started the day off with two bananas and a hand full of filberts. For lunch I ate a tomato salad consisting of tomatoes, cucumbers, olive oil, apple cider vinegar and little bit of dill. For dinner I ate a mixed green salad, with avocado, cucumbers, tomatoes, with an avocado cucumber and tarragon dressing. I had some sauerkraut on the side.

For some exercise I rode mike bike about 10 miles or so.

I really cant believe the the transformation my life has been through these last few months. The weight just keeps dropping and my spirits keep lifting.

Since 1/1/12 - I stopped watching TV, I read two books on average each week, I exercise, I am fully engulfed in living a healthy life. I have opened a new realm of spirituality, concentrating completely on the now, manifesting positive thoughts, and following the path of the universe. I am down 77 pounds so far. Everyday gets brighter and brighter. So happy I became vegan and furthermore became raw. Its the only way to live!!!

[cablegirl]

Good Morning All,

I am remembering that today is a new day, full of endless possibilities! I am on day 5 of no caffeine still have the slight headaches but I know that eating raw is helping:)

Robh- thank you for the suggestion to subscribe to the thread, I am still trying to figure my way around the sight so this was very helpful!
happylife - I live in Cable, WI. I just moved here 3 months ago from Minneapolis so really missing my food co-ops. Do you have a co-op in Appleton?
ReneeH/Mystictree- what is purple corn, and how do you use it?
Mystictree- No electricity - are you guys living off the grid? There is a part of me that has always wanted to do that

Yesterday I got the wheat grass juicer we ordered arrived, and the wheat grass should be ready in the next day or two harvest.:)
Yesterday I woke up hungry for something sweet so I started the day out with making raw banana buckwheat cookies
brkfst - carrot, beet, celery, ginger, lemon juice - made some crackers out of pulp, hopefully they will taste ok
lunch- beet, kale, cucumber, avocado salad
dinner- kale, tomato salad with lime and honey dressing

Since I had the day off yesterday I also made some corn chips - hopefully they will taste good, most of the time my dehydrated stuff is just blah..

Happy thoughts to all today!

[robh]

Hard day for me! So very hungry at least that is what it feels like.

Try balancing all the fruits and veggies with raw fats. Fats make me full and they are good for us! After a meal of fruit or veggies, try eating nuts or seeds (raw if possible), avocados or soaked chia seeds. (Soaked and then ground flax seeds is another option, but yuck!) There are LOADS of minerals in nuts and seeds. The minerals are the things your body is looking for. A cup of rice has 30% of your manganese for the day. If you have two large hand fulls (50 grams) of sunflower seeds (raw as possible), you get about the same manganese, but you also get 100% of your vitamin e, 100% of your copper, loads of B vitamins AND on top of all that you get 82% of your omega6 fats for the days. Fats are the key to fullness on a raw diet. (Works for me, anyway)

Crystal2870, welcome.

MysticTree, congrats on all your plants. You have quite the system there. Mr. Raw has you beat, but he takes it to the extreme.

Willpower, how do you make the quinoa? Also, 77lbs! wow, that's awesome good job. Raw definately lifts my spirits. I am such a happier person on raw.

ReneeH, welcome to the August thread. :D

happylife, does Yogi Egyptian Licorice tea have "tea" in it? I would really like to find a replacement for coffee and tea. I miss it. :(

cablegirl, I am very curious about the wheat grass and the juicer. Let us know how you like it. Also, I would like to know how your corn chips come out. I miss those too.


Yesterday went very well for me. I stayed 100% raw. I played tennis for two hours. I am down to 248 which is the lowest weight that I can remember in my adult life.

Anyway, today is going to be another rawsome day. I eat about the same every day so what I posted before is what I will be eating today.

Everyone is doing great! Let's keep it going!

[Willpower]

Willpower, how do you make the quinoa? Also, 77lbs! wow, that's awesome good job. Raw definately lifts my spirits. I am such a happier person on raw.



Thanks robh, it has been an amazing ride!! I am not sprouting anything yet. So raw quinoa isnt an option, yet! Or is there? Can I just soak and eat quinoa? I am super simple raw as of today. My cooked quinoa salad was a treat before I go a full month raw.

[robh]

Oh I see now - sorry

[happylife]

The Egyptian Licorice tea is made from leaves from the licorice plant. The tea warms you up and really satisfies you. It is all natural. If you like balck licorice you'll love this tea.

[ReneeH]

I am attending a 3 day Christian Spiritual convention this weekend!!! We spend the whole day here for 3 days!!!! Very spiritually refreshing!!! Here's what I brought for lunch today:

http://i517.photobucket.com/albums/u336/Pioneerspiritnee/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_9580.jpg

[happylife]

We have about 5 health food stores in the area. Not sure if there is a Co-Op here.The regular stores have so much organic and healthy things, that is why I never have checked. Also I live close by a wonderful Farmer's Market that spreads for blocks. Did your chips turn out good?

[ReneeH]

Did your chips turn out good?

I've been so busy getting ready for today, I haven't had time to make them!!! Hopefully when today's session is over I can make them and bring them here tomorrow...

Not sure how much or even if I should add the Purple Corn that I have. I haven't even tasted it, so before I add it I will and see if it adds to the Kale or not.

[MysticTree]

We are mostly off grid. We do have a mains standpipe for water and I own a car rather than a horse and cart! I have a bicycle to but whilst I'd like to cycle to work of a morning it's a bit far.

[RedCedar]

Hello all,

MysticTree, thanks for the reminder about water.
Happylife~licorice tea is brilliant. I'll remember that next time I'm chilly.
and i can't remember who posted the ingredients of their salad recently, but yum! I LOVE when I finally get to that place where healthy foods are what I crave, and SAD foods don't even seem like food.

Right, so yesterday was running errands with little man via bus, so we got a bit of exercise. Smoothie for breaky, chia pudding snacks (thanks forever for this idea Robh), teas, mega-green smoothie for dinner. Especially happy with this as it could have easily been a piece of pizza as an emergency food.

Today so far, green smothie, tea.

:tea:

[robh]

The Egyptian Licorice tea is made from leaves from the licorice plant. The tea warms you up and really satisfies you. It is all natural. If you like balck licorice you'll love this tea.

I gotta find some. :D

Also, you all making the raw cheesecake, is this the recipe you use?

http://www.therawtarian.com/raw-cheesecake-recipe/

[BeWell]

Lots of watermelon and date balls (consisting of dates, tahini, sunflower seeds, dried apricots, and spices). I definitely am craving sweet today...thank goodness for dates. I'm reading a lot about chia pudding. I will have to try this sometime. : )

[happylife]

When I make it I will use a raw coconut crust
1 c. coconut flour
1/2 c. nutmilk
1/3 c.coconut oil
1/4 c.agave
1/2 teas vanilla
1/2 teas salt

nuts are to hard on my stomach and I like this recipe a lot better.

[Divine Soul]

Day 8 (friday): spent the morning puking my guts out and with the most excruciating gut pain after eating a frozen chocolate coconut nut ball I made and eating two peaches..think it was the coconut oil I used. Didn't eat much that day stayed raw.

Day 9 (Saturday,today): had a smoothie for breakfast tummy is still a bit unsettled.

[gritsnla]

Starting a little late - but I am here. Doing the Challenge to get myself back on track.

B- 1/2 cantelope
L- almonds and banana
S - Green Smoothie
D- a big salad

Plus gotta go shopping. Here's to a good month everyone!

[happylife]

Today has been juice and melon..I ran out of my bananas. Will have to get some more.
Tomorrow I have all intensions of making Pumpkin Pie. It has been so long since I have had any of it. That has always been a pie that I can truly pass off as cooked. It is funny when I use to take it to potlucks and someone would ask me why I made a cooked pie when I was raw.
My weight is not going down at all since after the first week, in fact it has gone up. That is due to my working out. I am losing a lot of inches though. I now fit into a size 2 jeans. It was a size 4 when I started on raw again. Feels good. I never did care how much I weigh as long as I am fit and less body fat.

[MysticTree]

Busy day. All raw unlike bf who had a very wicked breakfast. I started with pea shoot juice and it got me through til about 1pm which is amazing. Huge salad for lunch and some fruit for snacking. Also small piece raw chocolate. Lots of gardening today and really hoping weather is good tomorrow as we have another target for the weekend.

[RedCedar]

Chia pudding for breaky, and a small salad with spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, zucchini, and cashew/lemon/honey dressing.


Out of bananas--this is an emergency situation as it is butt-boilingly hot out there, and banana ice cream is what's for freakin' dinner, full stop. Now, just to actually go out in it to get some from the shop. Wah.

And congrats on the fat-loss Happylife!

[robh]

We went tubing today (floating down the river on inner tubes). The plan afterward was to feed the family at golden arches. I, obviously, wasn't having any of that so I packed a lunch of 2 bananas 2 oranges and the fatty sesame dip I make (posted it a while ago).

I put sun screen on but apparently not enough. I burned to a crisp. I took a nap afterward, but I still hurt (probably will for a few days).

I had a couple of ears of corn on the cob (raw) just now. I am not sure what else I am going to have. I am not in the mood for a salad.

I have been feeling those raw benefits kicking in again. There have been a couple of times where I am just grinning from ear to ear. Other times, I feel super relaxed and just stress free. I need to stay 100% raw. I feel great this way.

Good luck everyone.

[happylife]

Thanks RedCedar, sounds like you and I are both hooked on bananas. Hope your ice cream was all you wanted it to be.
Rob, take care of that sunburn.
MysticTree, I have never heard of pea shoot juice. Wish that I had a large salad. Have to wait for another week before I get my check before I can do shopping.
gritsnla, better late than never. Welcome. You are starting off well.
DivineSoul, Did you throw that coconut oil away? Sorry that you had such a bad reaction. Hope you feel better soon.
BeWell, I should make some balls like that. They sure sound good and it would be great to be able to just take a few to work.
Today I have a big bowl of califlower with a little vineager, macadamia not oil and just a tweek of sweetener. That along with my juice this morning and the melon made for a nice, raw day.

[Divine Soul]

Thanks RedCedar, sounds like you and I are both hooked on bananas. Hope your ice cream was all you wanted it to be.
Rob, take care of that sunburn.
MysticTree, I have never heard of pea shoot juice. Wish that I had a large salad. Have to wait for another week before I get my check before I can do shopping.
gritsnla, better late than never. Welcome. You are starting off well.
DivineSoul, Did you throw that coconut oil away? Sorry that you had such a bad reaction. Hope you feel better soon.
BeWell, I should make some balls like that. They sure sound good and it would be great to be able to just take a few to work.
Today I have a big bowl of califlower with a little vineager, macadamia not oil and just a tweek of sweetener. That along with my juice this morning and the melon made for a nice, raw day.

yes my dad chucked it after cleaning up my lovely puke...I'm sure it was just rancid after having it for a very long time :)...my neighbor brought over some vegan doughnuts they were not raw though (she knew I was vegan but I recently went raw)..so I resisted and my brother ate seven of them o_0

[happylife]

Yummy, yummy, I got hungry and decided to try Alissa's Chocolate Pudding recipe. OMG! I ate 1/2 of it and am keeping the other 1/2 for breakfast. She sure knows how to put together wonderful ingredients to make your tummy dance with happiness. If I get even 1/8 as good a chef as she is, I'll be the happiest person in the world.

[Lucy76]

Hi everyone!

I haven't had a lot of time to post, but I'm still here!:throwhearts:
For the past few days, I've had mostly watermelon and watermelon juice, sunflower seed milk with bananas vanila and pea protein, and carrot juice. I also made some really yummy raw pizza, that lasted for about three days:drool: but i wish i had more.

Today I started the day with watermelon and bananas.
For lunch I'm going to have a smoothie with raspberries orange juice, bananas, chia seeds, and pea protein.

For dinner cantaloupe and another fruit smoothie.

Robh tubing sounds awesome!!

Last night we went swimming and it was great. And it's nice to come out of the water and eat sweet delicious fruit after the salty water. :D

[ReneeH]

I haven't had time to post either!!! I'm still here, though! My Rejuvelac is just about ready!!!! Excited to taste Grezzo cheese again!!!

Last day of my convention is today!!! It's been a great 2 days!!! I took Kumbucha with me yesterday which gave me energy towards to end of the session. I even got a chance to talk about it with a few people. Just trying to stick to mostly fruit....keeping it simple! Same for today.

Still didn't make the Kale Chips yet!!! Possibly for Monday. Just too busy to give attention to it...as simple ad it is, I know!!!! On my to do list, though!!!! Taking my candied nuts with me today

Everyone's doing fantastic!!! :-)!

[MysticTree]

Very envious of the tubing . . . and swimming in Greece! We have torrential rain at the moment. I think my meagre tray of sunflower greens will be swamped. I need to rescue it and also see if the fenugreek is battered. I think the wheat grass will like it and the peas will cope fine too.Pea shoot and linseed juice for breakfast watermelon and nectarines for brunch. I still have some of my raw chocolate bar left from yesterday which I can almost hear calling me.

[Chuvani]

Okay I am a bit late but I will be joining the 30 day challenge. I have done raw foods in the past but I seem to get to a point right around 30 days that I get totally repulsed by the thought of eating another raw vegetable, has anyone else had this happen? How do you push through it?
Thanks in advance and good luck to all with their challenge I look forwarded to sharing menu ideas.

[robh]

MysticTree, you can't just hop in an inner tube and float down the river in England? Probably some law against it, heh.

Chuvani, I don't get tired of raw. I keep to a pretty predictable eatting pattern, but I try to keep some raw yummy stuff around if I get bored. For example, dried figs or dates or I buy these goji energy squares. Lately, I have been having the raw super cereal with coconut milk when I am hungry but bored with the raw foods that I eat on a daily basis. Hope this helps.

Today, I am feeling the itch to non-cook. I am going to make a raw bread recipe that someone posted in the main forum. I am also going to make the raw cheese cake from this page http://www.therawtarian.com/raw-cheesecake-recipe/ . I hope it doesn't suck. I would hate to throw away all those nuts. I will never know if I don't try I suppose.

We are also planning a trip to the arcade (video games for the big kids, ball pit for the little kids and so on). We will probably eat out again. (We are pretty active on the weekends.) I will just pack up a bag of some raw foods and maybe pack my raw dressing. Getting a salad out is pretty easy.

Have a good day everyone.

[MysticTree]

I don't think it's so much that there is a law against it though I suppose there may be. It's. Just so bloody cold here and not all the rivers are that clean

[gritsnla]

Yesterday was a good day and hoping for the same today. Sounds like everyone is starting out wonderfully.
B-watermelon
L- Green Smoothie - kombucha, bananas and spinach
S- cinnamon macaroons I made yesterday
D- sweet peppers with tahini sauce and walnuts
S- if needed an almond butter ball that I also made yesterday so I would be prepared for any munchies or boredom eating.

[RedCedar]

See how your BMI compares to the rest of the world's...if you dare: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-18770328


So far had my predictable menu of chia pudding and smoothie. Nice and full of icy slush to battle the heat. Um, and yea, there are bananas freezing for my dinner ice cream.

Tubing always sounded like fun, but I burn like a burny thing. Good on you though Robh.


:banana:banana:banana

[Divine Soul]

See how your BMI compares to the rest of the world's...if you dare: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-18770328


So far had my predictable menu of chia pudding and smoothie. Nice and full of icy slush to battle the heat. Um, and yea, there are bananas freezing for my dinner ice cream.

Tubing always sounded like fun, but I burn like a burny thing. Good on you though Robh.


:banana:banana:banana

Well apparently I'm most like someone from Chile :P I guess my weight is not bad compared to those in the US! But for the world not doing so great but we are here to fix that hopefully by mid winter :)

[happylife]

Now that was cool. I am below average everywhere..

[robh]

RedCedar, I am still feeling the burn!! I look like a lobster.. :(


You have a higher BMI than 99% of males aged 30-44 in the world

That's just flipping great...


If everyone in the world had the same BMI as you, it would add 131,512,084 tonnes to the total weight of the world's population

WTF! Who writes this crap and where do they live so I can go beat them up? grrr...


Anyway, I don't have a lot of time to post today work is intense. 100% raw has been going OK for me. I slipped a little last night, but I am going to keep on going.

I also will be eating my predictable diet today.

I have little time, but I really want to share this. My mom is trying to go raw. She is actually helping my brother as well. My mom has been trying for as long as I can remember to be healthy and lose weight. She's been very interested in my new diet and really wants to know what I am doing (what I am eating and so on). They have been eating smoothies and salads (with chicken, though). I shared stuff about nuts and seeds and that they need to be as close to 100% raw as they can.

I am really excited about someone else in my little world going raw. I really feel alone in this.

That's all the time I have. Good day everyone.

[gritsnla]

Good Monday Morning to everyone! 19 yr old son had about 1/2 cup of green smoothie yesterday... dad said "it's green" so that was a no. Then son had a couple of peices of fresh pineapple we had cut up. Told him I would be posting it somewhere!

Breakfasting on watermelon again - the other half
Lunch will be the other half of a cantelope
Green Smoothie
Unsure about Dinner - maybe another salad with peppers
and throw in a couple of macaroons and almond butter balls for snacking

Keep on trucking!

[Divine Soul]

I woke up this morning and had really bad stomach pain again, It went away after about 15 minutes, Didn't throw up this time but I took a midol pill. Gosh this is getting annoying, my dad was googleing the problem and he came up with eat some celery or greens? Maybe that is the problem I'm not eating enough green food. Anyone else might know what this is?

Other then that had a smoothie and some grapes for breakfast. I did end up using some vegan cashew butter not raw though :( probably won't happen again. Good luck everyone!

edit: maybe its melon belly...I'm not sure..

[ReneeH]

Hope you feel better, Devine Soul!!!

Hey yau'll!!! Ok, my Kale Chips are crisping in the Big "D"!!!!! I'm so excited!!! Yea, ok...I did nibble a bit!!! Ummmmm!!! Too good!!! I also finished my Rejuvelac AND made Grezzo Cheese, thank you very much!!!!! :dance:

All I've had to eat so far is Rejuvelac with Lemon (SOOO GOOD!!!) and Cherries. Not very hungry yet. My mind is focused on the Kale Chips!!! LOL!!! I also made more Candied Nuts from RFFE, Rawcona Almonds and Candied Pecans.

So my 12 year old nephew is visiting. He's been here all weekend. He got up this morning and watched me make the Grezzo Cheese. Actually, he's been waiting on the Rejuvelac to try it. He really liked it!!! I even showed him how to open a Thai Coconut and made him some REAL Vanilla Ice-cream in my Icecream maker using Cashews. He said, "Wow! Auntee, you're SO cool!!!"

:dance:

Isn't that just the sweetest thing!!!! If only I could bottle him up!!!!! I'm pretty set for the day now!!! :-D

[MysticTree]

Curated egg of a day. I won't dwell on the bad however - the good has been watermelon, cherries, tomatoes, 4oz pea shoot juice, large salad of mostly sprouted mung; radish; broccoli etc and an avocado.

[happylife]

I am having a really hard time today. I knew this would come one of these days. My depression and Bipolar is kicking in. darn, double darn!!!

[ReneeH]

Hey Happy Life... It's days like this when you need LOTS of raw and living food around you. Get something you LOVE to eat...maybe something sweet like your favorite fruit! Stay FAR away from SAD food, cuz it'll make you SADder!!! Do something nice just for you! When I have days like that, I get a massage, mani/pedi, listen to my favorite song...etc. don't worry....it'll pass.

:hug

[robh]

happylife, hang in there. Before going raw, I had a lot of anxiety and depression. After going raw, it did not go away overnight. It actually seemed to get a little worse during the detox period. Eventually, though, that all went away I felt better than ever before. Hang in there; do not let this discourage you. Raw food has resolved my issues. I am sure it can do the same for you. You look great, by the way. When you posted how young you were in the age thread, I was shocked. I hope that lifts your spirits a little. :)

I am sorry to hear about those having a less than good day (MysticTree and happylife). I will try to inject some positive vibes into the thread. I am doing well today. I had a raw-honey and sunbutter sandwich made from a very simple raw bread:

Mellow Raw Bread

4 medium zucchinis (or 2 large ones), peeled
1 large apple (or 2 small), cored
1 large carrot
1/2 cup of chia seeds soaked in 1 cup of water for 30 minutes
1/2 cup raw almonds soaked over night (optional)

Soak and stir the chia seeds occasionally while you put everything through the food processor. I had to do the zucchinis first, dump it in a large bowl, process the apple, the carrot and almonds and dump that in the bowl. Next, mix the soaked chia seeds into the bowl with the other stuff.

I make pancake-shaped pieces of "bread" that are about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch thick. I make them on parchment paper and dehydrate for 6 hours or until the top is dry enough that it doesn't fall apart. Then, I flip them over and remove the parchment paper and dehydrate for another 6-8 hours.

I like this "bread" because the flavor is mellow and it's not super rich or supper dense or "nutty" or "flaxy". You can skip the almonds and it's nut-free. I actually forgot the nuts yesterday and I think it's great!

The original recipe was posted by "Hippie" in the main forum and it included ground flax (yuk!) (no offense Hippie)

I need to make this bread more often. A simple thing like a "sandwich" sure is nice.

Anyway, hang in there everyone. This too shall pass. :)

[MysticTree]

Just had a mango but now I'm in bed listening to the radio and trying to feel sleepy. I think a manicure and pedicure would be a good idea Renee. Raw honey sounds good rob. Have you got access to re chocolate? I have one bar a week from the health food shop - you'll just never like candy again!

[robh]

Not sure what re chocolate is. Sounds good! I hope your tomorrow is better MT.


Last night, I took the raw cheesecake out of the freezer but it was like really thick, sticky pudding. I put it in the freezer. This morning, it was solid as a rock. I was a little bummed, but I tossed it in the fridge, hoping it would soften up. Tonight, I took it out and it was PERFECT! I let the cooked fooders try it. They all loved it. I think it's a little lemmony and the crust is a little off. It is really good and I will make it again, but I think I will try the crust someone posted here. The best part is my little $29 black and decker veggie wrecker (cheap blender) did just fine. I put the cashews in the food processor first to make it a powder and then added them slowly to the liquid ingredients that were already spinning in the blender. (fyi to anyone that tries it)

[cablegirl]

robh - thank you for the Mellow Raw Bread. I have been dehydrating everything and sight and it all taste yuk:/ I am going to give this one a try once I get some more almonds. I am also with you I use chia seeds in place of flax..

[happylife]

Thanks Rob and Renee; I did mess up a little but I'm back now. I have a whole kitchen full of my favorite fruits, made pumpkin pie (Raw) and also glazed cookies (raw). Went for a (5) mile walk, a 3 mile bike ride. I'm going through a life changing experience ( going to retire) my life has always been full of work since I was 12. Can't work because of many head injuries so I know that is why I am more down than usual.
When I needed support you both were there, you will never know what your kind words mean to me. Thank you so much.

[happylife]

Rob, I think one of the next things I make will be your cheesecake and my lemon bars. I will have to invite friends to help eat it all.

[MysticTree]

That should have read raw chocolate rob. Typing on this silly mobile phone with silly tiny keyboard buttons - that or my fingers are too big.

[LexieW]

Sorry to hear about some struggles - it's okay guys! This is a journey and even missteps are important ones :) Hang in there, begin again.

I tried to introduce my boyfriend (who is raw friendly and supportive, though will likely never go raw himself) to my local raw place. Big, big failure. He was starving and a little grumpy, and I don't know if it was just the entree he ordered (I hadn't had it before) but it was awful. He couldn't take more than two bites, and he hated my entree too. I felt so bad - poor thing was trying to make me happy by taking me to a place where I have more than 1 option, and he suffered.

Oh well. I did pretty well today, though I've noticed I'm hungrier than usual as of late. Have been needing many more snacks throughout the day, even though I doubled the size of my lunch salad!

I'm counting today at Day 1, because there were a few missteps over the weekend.

Looking forward to a good day 2!

[MysticTree]

watermelon, cherries and tomatoes so far. Feeling ok but nothing stellar. Took me ages to get to sleep last night I wasn't buzzy but maybe the pea shoot juice was a mistake at 5-6pm. It tasted really nice and it's easy to drink down and I did pick a nice lot to juice so we ended up with about 4floz each. Fenugreek or wheat grass juice tonight I think unless I decide it will be hard to sleep.

I have a later start tomorrow so I will try to start tomorrow with green juice. I will have time tomorrow, Thursday and Friday.

My mood has been low these past few days and that always makes it harder to resist rubbish food. It's like "what's the point?" but I don't really enjoy the cooked food so it doesn't make sense really.

[Willpower]

I am back...still 100% raw!!! Even with some hiccups in pocket change!!! I am so broke right now its not funny!!! Bills and NJ are killing my budget, and eating 100% raw has been really hard, it's crazy how I could live off of processed food for so much cheaper!!! Anyway, proud in a way, but embarrassed just the same, I did a little dumpster diving on Sunday and was able to salvage about 5 heads of broccoli, two bags of navel oranges and some ruby reds. I also got about a pound of mixed greens that I have to pick the bad pieces out, but good as new. I was able to get 2 pounds of mixed raw nuts from Trader Joes with my change jar, so I am good till payday!!!

No excuses, make it happen!!!!

[robh]

robh - thank you for the Mellow Raw Bread. I have been dehydrating everything and sight and it all taste yuk:/ I am going to give this one a try once I get some more almonds. I am also with you I use chia seeds in place of flax..

I made it without almonds (by accident). It came out fine. I have a old, junky dehydrator (the old circle kind without a thermostat). For that reason dehydrating times will be different, I am sure. FYI

happylife, you will need friends, the cheesecake receipe makes a lot. The strawberry topping was not very popular, fyi.

Willpower, your name really fits! Also, nothing wrong with finding treasure that someone else threw away. Good job finding a way to be raw. :)

LexieW, I hope you and your BF can find someplace to eat that you both have options.

MysticTree, ahh raw chocolate. I have only ever had carob power creations. I take it raw chocolates are pretty awesome?


I am weak lately, I had a little bit of bad food last night. I don't know what upsets me more: knowing that I did or forcing myself to admit it. I feel like a bad kid that does something just because he was told not to. Self control, obviously, isn't one of my strong suits.

Anyway, onward and upward.

Today, it's the normal fair.

I have 2 bananas and an orange waiting for me to get hungry (11:30am here). after that, I will have chia seeds (or not as I am tiring of chia seed pudding). I also brought my ground sesame seeds, raw honey and sunflower butter. I will mix all that up sometime this afternoon and dip apple slices in it. I may hit the healthy snack table in the lunchroom at work and see if they have any interesting fruit (they have kiwis sometimes, but it's rare that they are ripe).

After I get home, my fingers are crossed that one of my avocados is ripe enough to eat. I REALLY really want to put together a raw sandwich with lettuce, tomato, onion and guacamole. My mouth is watering thinking about it! I may toss some carrots on that sandwhich too for a little crunch. Along with the sandwhich, I think will I'll have a tomato salad with chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, olive oil, salt, pepper, green onions, parsley and fresh basil. I may toss some a few cashews in there and pretend it's cheese.

If I do not have a ripe avocado, I will just have to quietly weep to myself. After that, though, I'll probably have a huge salad with raw ranch (the old standby). After the salad, I won't be full so I will need something fatty to get me by. I'll probably end up with the raw cheesecake (very filling).

[ReneeH]

Hey yau'll! Well, my Kale Chips are 'da BOMB!!!! I purposely saved some to see how they keep and today they're STILL fantastic!!! I'm just LOVIN' the crunch in them!!!

Gotta get to the store...not sure what to eat today! I took off work last weekend for my spiritual convention, so I don't have any raw goodies from my raw biz... I do still have some candied nuts which I plan to sprinkle on my icecream later, and the chips. Not enough to get me through, so I'm off to shop! :-)

Ooooohhhhh!!!! Wait a millisecond!!! I'm making the Land and Sea today!!!!!!! My Grezzo cheese is ready!!!!! It takes so long to make the cheese, I almost forgot about it!!!!!! Yippppeeeeee!!!!!!! :dance:

[RedCedar]

Good morning all.

Willpower~yay dumpster diving!

Tummy a bit squishy the last couple of days. any advice on what to eat to un-squishify?

Not looking forward to another day of hot/cold housemate interaction. I'm a stay-at-home mom in a shared house with a stay-at-home college dude-who sometimes deigns to acknowledge me. Yay. So not happy with this situation, but proud at the health choices I've been able to make in the midst of it. Looking at an apartment tomorrow, wish us some luck please.

[robh]

RedCedar, sorry to hear about your housemate issues. That sounds challenging (especially with a little one). What do you mean by "squishy"?

[RedCedar]

Thanks for the sympathy Robh. Squishy as in, run to the bathroom every once in awhile. :/

[LexieW]

Robh- We don't eat out much, so it isn't usually an issue. He keeps plenty of greens and fresh fruit for me at his place, so that's no big deal.

It's just on the rare occasion that we go out, I usually can only have a garden salad at whatever restaurant we are in. Good grief, it's gotten so bad that you can't find a salad without cheese - wtf?

Willpower - good for you for doing what it takes! I'm too intimidated to try being 'Freegan' but if you can do it and David Wolfe did it, I should be able to, right? Did you go to a grocery store for your salvaged food?

Anyhoo, today is going well:

Breakfast - big glass of fresh OJ with spirulina (raw, of course)
Snack - white peach
Lunch - large salad
snack - another peach or some almonds (projected)
dinner - tomato and basil salad (projected)
dessert - strawberries (projected)!

[robh]

LexieW, when we go out, I always have to ask for the meat, the cheese and the dressing on the side. I do it on the side so I can give it to the cooked fooders I am with. It is very rare to find a veggie only salad. A greek salad is pretty close, but, again, dressing and cheese on the side please. Having a salad out EVERY TIME is boring. :(

RedCedar, it is normal for your body to do some weird stuff when you first go raw. It will pass.


9195

I had a ripe avocado. :woohoo:


I REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY love the bread. It really shines in a non-sweet sandwich. There is a mild sweetness (apple and carrot together I assume). The sweetness reminds me of cheap, white S.A.D. bread. The texture is not the same as bread. It has the texture of something, well, dehydrated like a thick, soft fruit rollup. The dried chia seeds crunch a little when you eat them, which I like. As you can see, it doesn't look like bread. It shrunk a bit in the dehydrator. For me, THIS IS AWESOME. I have tried many raw breads and hated them. I'm so happy right now - over a flipping sandwich!

If I am still hungry later, I'm gonna have a small piece of the cheesecake.

[Divine Soul]

day 12 raw wooooo

b- celery with cashew butter, 1/2 cantaloupe, peach
s-peach
L-1/2 cantaloupe,peach, almonds

gosh we went to an aerial park today and when I was on the zip line at the end I smashed my elbow into a piece of wood going like 20mph.. if it not better in 2 days going to hospital woo -_-....kinda hard typeing

gooooooood luck everyone

[happylife]

I'm here also. Had a staff meeting at work and announced that I will retire this coming Friday. Found out that I might have what is called "Post Concussion Syndrome'.
will be seeing a Nero Specialist as soon as I can get in.
I have been eating a LOT of fresh cherries. Yummy. Doing as good on the raw as I can for now. You haven't lost me yet lol.
Kutos to everyone here. I love reading the good things you have been eating.

[cablegirl]

Happy Raw Morning All! Still here and doing good, I am really craving some carbs, like chips or bread lately. I tried to make corn chips and they turned out gross so I feed them to the birds, same thing with my left over pulp crackers...to the birds. My kids are coming up this weekend and will bring me some almonds so I can't wait to try robh mellow raw bread!

Does anyone have a good site they order almonds, dates etc from? I live in a community of 800 people and the closest WH of Co-op is an hour away. Also looking for a good cereal recipe but trying to avoid a lot of nuts. Sprouting is going good, but need to figure out a schedule on when to start soaking to always have the finished product on hand.

happylife- Congrats on your retirement, now you will have time to focus on you and all the things you enjoy doing:dance: I am sorry to hear about the post concussion syndrome I will pray that find relief and get the help you need for this.

divine soul- hope all is better with your elbow today! and congrats on 12 days raw!!

Thank you everyone who posts, it is so encouraging to have this forum!

[Willpower]

LexieW I went to one of my local stores, but they locked the dumpster area, so I went to another close by and there was free pickings!!! If I have the cash I probably won't do it, but its always an option.

cablegirl I tried making corn chips also, based on the recipe and picture on Rawmazing Recipe (http://www.rawmazing.com/corn-chips-guacamole/), I dont know if I messed something up or what, but my chips were so gross and definitely did not look like the aforementioned picture!! I miss corn chips so much.

[gritsnla]

After you finish typing up your reply don't go up and press Reply to Thread - it's the wrong button! LOL! Just lost everything. And it's not my first rodeo posting here! Remember - Post reply!
Anyway, see if I can remember what was said. Read back through yesterday - sounds like a few ups & downs but also good things coming about through adversity. Sending good vibes to all!
Going to make Rob's Mellow bread tomorrow. Going to make celery & almond butter for lunch - Thanks Divine Soul. Hadn't even thought of that one. So...
Late breakfast 2 kiwi
Lunch - celery & almond butte
Snacking on my macaroons
Dinner - either jicama something-or-other or tomato & corn salad

Keep on Trucking!

[ReneeH]

Gritsnla, I've done that before!!! LOL!!!!

I just ate the most sweetest Cantelope EVER!!!! I'm so full now!!! Planning to have my Green Juice for lunch: Romaine, Celery, Lemon, Ginget, and Pink Lady Apples! Yummm!

Gotta go clean out my swimming pool and take a dip today!!!

Stay cool everyone!!!

[LexieW]

Morning, everybody.

My body is improving again - I love how reliable the raw food effect is. If it eat well, within hours I can feel less fat in my stomach area (I have a little pouch, probably about 2lbs of fat right below my belly button. That's always where I gain or lose first, so I guess it's my benchmark).

I was sad to discover that most of my apricots had molded :( Was able to salvage 2 of them. And, I ordered my first sprout seeds! After communicating with some sproutarian members here, I'm going to try to get more home-grown sprouts in me and see if that makes me feel super, they way they keep saying they do.

Stay strong everybody! Think about the amazing changes taking place in your body on the cellular level with every bit or sip of raw food. Think about how much more beautiful you are becoming with every minute as your body has the tools to make and remake the very best you possible.

:heart

[Divine Soul]

Day 13!

B- cacao nut butter fruit smoothie
S-peaches!idk how many
L- 1/2 cantaloupe 2 peaches, 2 carrots, raw pumpkin seeds and almonds :)

Everyone sounds like they are doing good!

We are ordering a dehydrator today a L'Equip, it has great reviews and a good price with temp control :)! Planning on going to NJ to visit relatives for 4ish days so hoping ill get the dehydrator before hand to bring with me.

Good luck everyone!

[ReneeH]

LEXIE: Thats SO true what you said about your body!!!! Definitely a benefit of raw foods!!! Sorry about your Apricots!!! I know how devastating that is to lose most of your delicious fruit! I just LOVE dehydrated Apricots!!!!

DEVINE SOUL: I have been enjoying my Cantelope too! Aren't they FANTASTIC this year!!! I hope that you LOVE your dehydrator as much as I do! I'm snacking on my recently made Kale Chips right now!!! Boy, I sure do miss my Jersey peeps (I lived there 5 years...). Wish I were going with you...

I have been eating light today. Not really hungry...the Cantelope has been incredibly satisfying! I've also been snacking on my Chips and my candied Nuts. Gonna have a simple Salad for dinner.

Keep it RAW yau'll!!!! :-)

[ReneeH]

I still haven't gotten around to making the Land and Sea!!! Argh!!!! Well, my Grezzo Cheese is in the frig... I just checked and it promises not to go anywhere, so I'll make it in the next few days for sure! LOL!!!

[robh]

Divine Soul hope your arm gets better soon.

cablegirl, I buy stuff from www.nuts.com. They are VERY raw friendly. I have mixed feelings on truly raw almonds. I get along fine with the pasteurized ones. If you're a purist, nuts.com special orders truly raw almonds from Spain.

gritsnla, how do you make your jicama? I bought some. I just didn't know what to make with it.

ReneeH, I hope you enjoy the pool.

LexieW, sprouting is cool. I have not tried what those guys suggest. I too am curious.


I have been 100% raw so far today.

I had fruit and then chia seed pudding for breakfast.

For lunch, made a "faux tuna" sandwich. I mixed my ground sesame seed stuff with, sunflower seeds, raw ranch, chopped green onions, parsley and some salt and pepper. That was my "tuna". To finish the sandwich, I used the rest of my raw bread (awww man) and slices of tomato and onion. A little after I had that, I had an avocado with salt.

Just now I had raw Acai Blueberry Cereal with coconut milk (I hooked on that stuff).

Dinner will probably be a salad.

My sunburn has healed enough that I can probably play tennis tonight. I really miss it. I have so much fun.

Later all

[happylife]

Thanks Cablegirl..I am going to have time now to make all the raw goodies I have wanted to make for the past month but haven't had time. Love how well some of the things freeze. Within a month from now my freezer will be full. Only two more days of work ( not that I am coounting haha). Hope that you having better luck with recipes. At least, the birds mush be very happy with you. We all or I should only speak for myself, I have had a few trys at some recipes too. I,m not sure the birds even were willing to eat my mistakes lol.

[robh]

Good morning everyone.

I actually had a 100% raw day yesterday. Woohoo for day 1! Now I just need to keep it going. I know once I get a few days into it, the cravings disappear. I know it will get easier after that.

happylife congrats on retirement.

[Divine Soul]

Day 14...someone ate half the cantaloupe

B- cacao nut butter fruit smoothie!

ReneehH: Iv'e been eating a whole cantaloupe every day they are the best and we can get them from an Amish farm stand about 10 minutes away :)! Also I'm hoping to make some kale chips right when I get my dehydrator too, so I can snack on them on the long drive to NJ :)! We got two day shipping it will be here Friday!

Robh: My arm is betterish but will take some days to fully heal :) Also try putting some aloe or aloe lotion on your sun burn!

Hope everyone is doing good today!

[ReneeH]

DEVINE SOUL: That is SO cool!!! I've always wondered if the food from the Amish tastes better or just as good as our Organic ones. I'm sure they don't use pesticides, right? Oh the Kale Chips are FABULOUS for the road!!! I ate the rest of mine on the drive from my raw kitchen early this morning. The more I eat 'um, the more I love 'um!!! Gonna make a new batch today...

ROB: Congrats on a 100% Raw Day!!!! You GO Boy!!! Just keep taking it one day/one meal at a time! Before you know it, you'll lose count!!!

I'm all set with meals for today! It's my day off, so I can FINALLY make Land and Sea!!!!!! I'm SO excited!!!

[gritsnla]

I guess it's Good Afternoon to all... been working this morning. A good day yesterday and starting good this morning.
Breakfast - mango and raisin macaroons that didn't stick together but still good
Lunch - Clery with Almond butter
Snack - Green Smoothie to take running around before a late job
Dinner - cabbage slaw or that jicama - waiting on my avocado to soften. Deja vu', right?

Rob - I do a jicama all chopped up wth orange slices and a mashed up avocado. pretty simple. Last time I didn't care for it with the orange so I just picked them outand ate it separately. Also Google avocado jicama dill salad - haven't made it but looks yummy!

Keep on trucking!

[RedCedar]

Tummy doing a bit better today finally. Haven't had breaky though-just not hungry enough yet.

Been stuck indoors the last couple days while my belly's been acting up, so hoping to go out and stretch my legs today.

projected meals: chia puddin', banana ice cream...or smoothie.

Anybody have a favorite raw food before-after website they visit for inspiration? Besides the one on this site?

Hope you're all having a good day, or evening, depending on where in the world you're at.

:heart:

[ReneeH]

Ok, I just lost everything I was posting...RATS!!!! *I hate that!!! *I'll try to remember what I wrote:*

Gritsnla: *your Macaroons sound...interesting... *I can picture that as a salad, but not sticking together as Macaroons. *Sounds like a yummy combination, though.

I've been up and down all day...literally! *I get up to eat, then go back to bed! *Thursdays are always hard for me cuz I work so late Wednesday nite! *Here's what I've been nibbling on:

Chia Seed Pudding:

http://i517.photobucket.com/albums/u336/Pioneerspiritnee/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3016.jpg

Green Smoothie: *Spinach, Banana, and Mango

http://i517.photobucket.com/albums/u336/Pioneerspiritnee/Mobile%20Uploads/22664BB3-7CC3-48AE-A090-7E2EC5D2DBA8.jpg

And Carob Pudding with Thai Coconut: *ok...I ate it too fast for a before photo!!! *LOL!!!!

http://i517.photobucket.com/albums/u336/Pioneerspiritnee/Mobile%20Uploads/9EE9C73C-4D33-471B-BC76-09DAC745CAAA.jpg

I don't like the one with Avocado...way too thick for me. *This one was silky smooth!!!*

That was earlier and I'm getting hungry now, so I'm gonna eat my Almost Salmon Pâté Salad that I brought from my raw biz this morning.

Sorry about all the ****, crazy phone!

Hope everyone kept it RAW today!!! :dance:

[ReneeH]

Almost Salmon Pâté Salad w/Flax Crackers:

http://i517.photobucket.com/albums/u336/Pioneerspiritnee/Mobile%20Uploads/F1BD8AD9-3AF3-4143-B2B6-B623B042302D.jpg

Candied Nuts in a Baggie: *

http://i517.photobucket.com/albums/u336/Pioneerspiritnee/Mobile%20Uploads/905D4343-7372-4CA1-8063-26006B6CD07A.jpg

[happylife]

Renee, is that finger marks that I see in the bottom of the pudding dish? LOL

[happylife]

Thanks Rob, I guess it is a short retirement. I have been asked if I could stay on until the first of the year. My hours will be less, I get to do only the projects that I find fun and interesting. I can say no to anything I don't want to do. Sounds like a very wonderful deal. If my health goes down more I can just stop. Nice E.D to give me that opportunity. I only hope that I can make it to the end of the year.
I have been messing up pretty bad with the raw for 5 days now. Tomorrow I am going to give it another try ( try and try again until I get where I want and need to be).
There are loads of fresh, good food to eat here and I know I can do a lot better. I have the WANT back in me, the fighter in me has been released again ;)

[robh]

Renee, the food looks awesome as always. :)

RedCedar, glad to hear that your tummy is doing better.

happylife, I am finding that staying raw really is a process. Try try again is what I'm doing too. Also, your work must really like you. I have the same "problem". :)


I made it another day at 100% raw! woohoo Yesterday was easier. This is day 2. :)


I am making more bread. I think I over dehydrated it last time. This time, I did 6 hours, flipped them and 6 more hours (like I originally intended). It's a little underdone now (wants to fall apart). So it's going some more. I need to find a balance.

Yesterday, I just kind of snacked all day. I think I started with fruit. I ate some nuts and some cheesecake. For dinner I had a nice big salad with romaine, tomatoes, onion, salt, pepper, raw ranch and avocado slices. After dinner I had more cheesecake.

I also made some tropical macaroons. I mixed shredded coconut with pinapple cut into small chunks. Then, I blended some bananas and mixed it all together to make a gooey batter. Then I scooped out cookies onto the dehydrator trays. That came out good.

Good luck everyone and have a RAWsome day! :dance:

[Stina]

Hi Raw Friends-

I was laughing to myself last night when I was going to bed......I totaled up the amount of bananas I'd had and came up with a total of 20!!! Yep, I'm pretty awesome! I felt amazing, my body was very nourished. It was just one of those days that I was super busy and didn't have time for meal prep. And, to be honest, I was broke too......but can't afford to not be Raw. It wasn't all that I ate, I also had nectaries and leafy greens. I'd call that an A+ Raw day. I just wanted to share this with struggling newcomers to demonstrate seriously how much you can eat on this diet! and be slender, energetic and healthy. Sometimes newcomers worry me cuz it seems like they're not eating enough.

Love you guys, have a beautiful Raw day ( and pack in those fruit calories! :) )

[MysticTree]

Well done rob. Not having such a great raw thing the last few days. Been on a three day first aid course. Which was unaccountably stressful especially today but I passed all my assessments so I can relax now.

[Divine Soul]

Day 15

B- double smoothie

Renee- Ya the Amish don't use chemicals in their farming their food tastes great but some items they have fruit delivered to them via produce truck, that being said that fruit tastes great too.

Waiting for dehydrator to come :D. Tomorrow when we get to NJ we are celebrating at a restaurant for a family members birthday, so I'm hoping I can make some dehydrated food by then that I can eat while there ^_^

[leafgrrl]

I'm finally posting. It's been a hard few months but anyway. I have been raw since the end of July. I
do add Vega One in my green smoothies and only a few of the ingredients are raw, so I guess I'm not
100%. I went to a local veg restaurant the other day and while I occasionally make exceptions to do that, I don't feel well afterward. I wasn't able to go running that night either. I started running again Sat. night and every night except that one (Tues?).
I don't like to eat many nuts or use many fats, so my focus is on fruits and veggies. :) I don't have
much to report today. I'm just finishing my smoothie: bananas, blueberries, spinach, Vega One and a
bit of water.

[Divine Soul]

Just put 5 trays of thin sliced potatoes in dehydrator put lemon juice on them, olive oil and some salt, others have garlic powder :) really hope they turn out good

[ReneeH]

Thanks for the compliments you guys!!!! :)

I started today with a Green Smoothie and Cantelope. Here's my lunch today:

Enchilada with Marinara Sauce...it was left over from my raw business:

http://i517.photobucket.com/albums/u336/Pioneerspiritnee/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3604.jpg

I'm TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY ADDICTED to KALE CHIPS!!!!! I have 3 MORE trays of them in my Big "D"!!! All different kinds. Tray 1 is Chrissy's Goddess Chips (search RFT for recipe...FANTASTIC!!! Tray 2 is marinated with just EVOO and Sea Salt, and Tray 3 has marinated EVOO, Lemon, Nama Shoyu, Garlic and Sea Salt. I already ate an ENTIRE TRAY of the Goddess Chips and it made me have a green BM!!!! LOL!!!!

http://i517.photobucket.com/albums/u336/Pioneerspiritnee/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3064.jpg

[laughalways]

Also Google avocado jicama dill salad - haven't made it but looks yummy!

Great recipe...thanks for sharing. I haven't been on that site lately.

[robh]

MysticTree, glad to hear you passed your assignments and can relax.


I have been trying to give my two year old raw food. He usually has a cup or two of milk. I switched him to coconut milk and he loves it. To combat the "cheese sticks" that he snacks on, I made some cashew cheese yesterday. He loves it. Today is Saturday so day care won't be feeding him cooked junk. I am going to feed him all raw food today.

Also, I found raw chips in my grocery store. That was pretty exciting.

Anyway, have a great day everyone.

[ReneeH]

Rob, that's REALLY great!!!! My kids LOVE these:

Alissa's Corn Chowder
All Smoothies
Chocolate Thai Coconut Pudding
Nori Rolls
Zucchini Pasts w/Marinara Sauce
Banana Crepes
Kale Chips
Raw Apple Sauce
Banana Flax Crackers
Macaroons
Almond Butter Balls
Banana Mango Ice-cream
Pancakes
Eggplant Bacon
Raw Donut Holes
Alissa's Carrot Cake
Raw Tacos & Nachos
Bananas w/Strawberry Sauce
Onion Bread
Marinated Mushrooms

...just to name a few! :-)

I feel like finally making the Land & Sea today! I have the Grezzo Cheese and all the Mushrooms needed to make it. I'm gonna have that for lunch and my other Enchilada for Dinner. Breakfast will be fruit and my delicious Chia Pudding.

Planning a nut-less Sunday! You guys KNOW how hard that is for me!!! But, I really do need at least 1 day nut free to give my system a break from them.

Eat whatever you want today, just keep it RAW yau'll!!!! :-)

[MysticTree]

Your left overs are a real boon Renee. Well done Rob. One of the things I loved as a child was going into the veg garden and grazing. I'm aiming to be fully raw again by Monday. I feel quite down. Everywhere is dusty and or damp. I miss certain aspects of living in a house. The road is noisy and I wish I didn't have to work Monday. Munching raw chocolate and alfalfa sprouts and soaking and sprouting and making more pea shoot beds ready.

[MysticTree]

Huge salad this evening. About 2pints of homegrown sprouted alfalfa, mung beans, lentils, lettuce, pea shoots, fenugreek. Only things not homegrown was avo (can't grow them here), cucumbers (will grow them next year in the polytunnel), a few small tomatoes (I have some growing but the weather has almost killed them). By volume at least 75 % homegrown :) I'm feeling a little less miserable this afternoon. I was almost suicidal this morning.

[ReneeH]

:) I'm feeling a little less miserable this afternoon. I was almost suicidal this morning.

If things get THAT bad and you need to talk, PLEASE....PLEASE CALL ME!!!!!!! Email me and I'll send you my phone number.....SERIOUSLY, OK!!!!!! :hug

[RedCedar]

mystictree :heart:
A friend in Bristol commented on the hot air balloons today. did you get to see them?

Well, tummy all better. Been eating chia puddin', giant salads with avocado, olives, sundried tomatoes (yum!), etc, smoothies, banana ice cream, snacks of sunflower seeds, and some non-raw, but overall been doing good. Gonna try a new raw recipe this week to add to my repertoire. I like simple, if you guys have any suggestions?

Husband is home today and we were going to look at apartments, but think we need to find more stable employment before we commit to a new lease somewhere. Meh. Will try and have more friends over in that case--will help me cope with the young lads that we share the house with.

Weight down to the 130's! Effin' RIGHTS! :banana

How's everybody doing? Rob, you playin' tennis today?

[MysticTree]

Thank you Renee. I am lucky to have lots of people here to talk to and all my animals rely on me too so they help buck me up ... but if I get stuck anytime I'll be in touch x

[MysticTree]

Redcedar, I keep trying to change my location display coz I moved to Bath so I didn't see them but when I did live in Bristol we were directly under the usual flight path so most years they swarmed past the house. The Red Arrows on the last day were always amazing but flew so close to the house that the windows and doors rattled.

[MysticTree]

95% raw today or thereabouts. Very little not raw anyhow. Been watching the bats this evening again. They eat lots of mozzies which like to raw feast on us so I love the bats. Someone broke into the property next door and has moved his caravan and his cat in so we have a neighbour. Seems strange. Hope he's going to be ok. He's not what you'd call streetwise; just another failed rental statistic in a financial climate that makes tough times tougher. Good news here though because I think I might go into the micro-green selling business!

[happylife]

Good luck to all that are on here. I am going to bow out for now..

[walnutty]

Tray 1 is Chrissy's Goddess Chips (search RFT for recipe...FANTASTIC!!!



Hi Renee!

I tried to do a search for Chrissy's Goddess Chips and the results brought up HUNDREDS, none of which were the recipe. Any chance you could post it?

Thanks!

[MysticTree]

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?25739-My-Awesome-Goddess-Chips!&p=256434#post256434

peaches so far today :o)

[ReneeH]

Yea, that's the one! :-). Thanks Georgina!!!!

Awaiting your return, Happylife!!!!! :hug

[MysticTree]

and tomatoes - red, yellow and orange ones; yum.

[Crystal2870]

Hiya everyone, sorry I havent posted for a while I had a friend to stay for a week and have gone off the rails ! BUT I did have a huge salad today I was craving salad, need to get my raw motivation and mojo back again ! xx have to say I m struggling big time at the moment x

[robh]

happylife, sorry to hear. I hope you come back soon.

ReneeH, wow, thanks for that list. Saturday didn't go like I planned with keeping the baby raw, but I am chipping away!

Redcedar, we played tennis Thursday, I think. It is an awesome work out (and fun). Good luck on the appartment hunting.

MysticTree, getting back on this thing is hard.


Has anyone noticed that we, as a group, seem to go through ups and downs? Remember the start of July? I remember a group of folks that was 100% raw for about three weeks.

Is it possble that we are inspired to be strong when we see others being strong? Is success contagious like yawning?

I don't know about you all, but that is inspiring! When I resist temptation, I am not just helping myself, but I am helping you guys too. To be honest, that makes me want to do better!

Who is with me?

[ReneeH]

Yea Rob...I agree! But, I also know that there are MANY, MANY lurkers who just peep at what we're doing and are raw without posting. I wish they would post though...I LOVE to see what others are eating too. It inspires me.

Just fruit this morning and a Salad for lunch. Making Land and Sea today...come what may!!!!! :)

[robh]

Where are my pom poms and my cheer leading outfit? :)

I am doing good today. I ate a couple of hours ago. I a couple of bananas, a couple of oranges, a honey and sunbutter sandwich and a coconut/banana/pineapple macaroon.

[ReneeH]

Rob, trust me....eat something else.......now. :)

[RedCedar]

Banana+blueberry+cinnamon ice cream for breaky. Yummmm.

Sat in my son's play area and shared it with him. Mental note; don't put a new shirt on before sharing blueberry anything with an infant.

As mentioned, got a few new shirts (new to me anyway) yesterday. I tried on pants, but no luck. Wah.

for robh:

:cheer::cheer:

[ReneeH]

Even though my kids are teens now, that's still great advise RedCedar!!!

Well, my attempt at Land and Sea wasn't pretty! :(. It all completely fell apart.... I'm gonna have to try that one again another day...I really wasn't happy with it. I remember it being SO good... Oh well...back to the boat sailing on Land towards the Sea...... :-). (which is HARD to do let me tell ya!!!!)

[Divine Soul]

Day i don't even know

Today my grandma took me and bro to health food store and to grocery store and got some things (TON of fruit) I accidentally bought non raw sunflower seed nut butter ..I thought the "new" said raw lol I'm not very observant :P I'm still gonna eat it though because I don't wanna drive back to health food store. Also got some chipolata raw cheesy kale chips.. they were sooooooo good!

Had tummy pains this morning again ...maybe because I need more greens or water still not sure.

All in all probably 90% raw today I ended up having a glass of almond milk ..don't think its that bad. Hard to stay raw when you are a teen and you don't have your own home ;)

Hope everyone is doing good! (gosh i need a kale chip recipe that isn't complicated)

[LexieW]

robh, that's very loving and good of you to be motivated and motivating for other people. I hadn't thought of it that way - most of the time, I just think "well, if THEY can go 3 days/weeks/years raw than why can't I?"

I've discovered that for me, it's all about finding a specific trigger to motivate myself. Going vegan was easier than going raw, but it can't be THAT much easier - Vegans have a hard time of it!

Anyhoo, I have good news! My sampler pack of sprout seeds arrived, and I decided to start with the alfalfa and other leafy sprouts first. Soaked them for 8 hours yesterday, then a rise before bed, another rinse this morning. When I got home from work it was time for another rinse, and WOW! they already have little white tails! So encouraging - can't wait to eat them!

Breakfast - 2 bananas
Snack - soaked almonds
lunch - large salad of cagg

[robh]

LexieW, sprouting is a lot of fun.

Renee, sorry to hear that you thing didn't work. I've no clue. What that even is. Still need to get that book.


I finished the evening strong. A 100% day for me in the books. I am out of raw cheesecake *gasp* I will just have to make more.

Good night all.

[robh]

Good morning all.

I already feel much better. The day after going raw my clothes fit better and my belly feels smaller. I suspect cooked food causes me to swell and hold water. I always drop a couple pounds (the pounds I quickly gained, mind you). That's probably the water getting flushed out.

I am looking forward to another raw day. I have bananas to eat, oranges, chia seeds to soak for pudding, one of last raw macaroon and the last piece of raw bread. I always bring raw agave and raw honey and sunbutter to work with me. Dinner will be a salad and I'll probably snack on nuts and the last of my dates after dinner.

I had some cravings last night, but I was able to avoid them. I stayed away from the dinner table when the cooked fooders were eating. After dinner, I really really wanted something bad, but I was strong. I grabbed half a water melon and ate it on the couch while we all watched TV. After, that I finished off the cheesecake, had some nuts and a couple of dates.


Avoiding dinner time with the cooked foodies really helped last night. I need to learn more tricks to avoid temptation.

I think I will remove myself from any situation where people are eating cooked food. They go out to eat. I stay home. They order delivery. I go for a walk. They eat dinner. I make myself busy.

edit: I placed an order for more raw cashews, sesame seeds and raw treats. I'm pretty excited for that.

[LexieW]

I had a good day yesterday, folks! So tempted in the afternoon/evening - I've had a few powerful emotional upset in the last few days, and that brought out the comfort food cravings. But I stayed strong and finished the day well.

This morning, I brought extra food to work, so there's no excuse. I have 3 ripe and juicy peaches, 3 bananas, some almonds, a huge dark leafy green salad with cucumber and red pepper, and dates for any sweet cravings.

Sprouting fun continues! I need to get some fine mesh this weekend from Home Depot - cheesecloth isn't cutting it. The alfalfa sprouts are doing well, and now I'm trying peas!

[MysticTree]

You'll love peas :) and I know what you mean about cheese cloth. I use nylon netting of the sort net skirts are made of.

[PansyLo]

So happy to finally have a water filter!! : ) Where I am in Scotland the water is soft fairly pure and "fine" to drink unfiltered but they add chlorine and floride to it. We've just got a new fridge that has an inbuilt water filter. It tastes sooo much better, before I could always taste the pollutants in it and barely drank it because of that. Now it tastes really pure.

Is that a reasonable filter to use then or is it better to get something fancy?

I don't have money to get anything fancy I'm just curious what other people use and how much the quality differs.

[MysticTree]

really? I didn't think fluoride was added anywhere in the UK. I know they add lots of stuff. Best water ever came straight off the mountain behind my house in Wales. Sooooo cool and sweet and clean.

[MysticTree]

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluoridation_by_country#section_3interesting info on here.

[robh]

Pansy, good luck with your filter inquery. Super pure water is one part of raw food I just have not embraced 100%. For me personally, the taste of the water is all that matters to me.


I had a good day yesterday, folks! So tempted in the afternoon/evening - I've had a few powerful emotional upset in the last few days, and that brought out the comfort food cravings. But I stayed strong and finished the day well.

Sorry to hear that you've been upset lately. Being able to resist temptation, however, is a truely amazing accomplishment. When my body tells me that it wants something, I have a hard time resisting the urge. You did great!

MysticTree, do you juice your sprouts like Mr. Raw or just your greens?


I ate all the food I brought to work. I've got another 30 minutes before I head home for the day.

Sounds like we're going to head out to the grocery store so I'm gonna grab a banana and an orange maybe. When we get back, I need to eat something green for vitamin K and I need to munch on some carrots for vitamin A. I probably need to eat some sunflower seeds and or some almonds for vitamin E, as well.

I think this evening will be really hard because I am running really low on raw fats. I have no sesame seeds. I have no avocados. I have no cheesecake. I'm gonna be starving after dinner. (Yes, all 255 lbs of me will be just withering away!) It may lead to temptation though. I think I may mix up something with sunflower seeds and sun butter. That'll get my vitamin E too.

I have raw goodies coming in the mail, but it won't be here until tomorrow. So long as I can get through tonight, should be good.

[MysticTree]

I juice micro greens but not sprouts. My juicer doesn't like juicing sprouts. I end up with froth and granular juice which takes too much straining if I try juicing them. So I just pile sprouts on my plate and eat them. I like them better that way.

[RedCedar]

Had a couple mugs of chia pudding with honey for breaky,
bunch of red grapes for a snack.
Soaking some sunflower seeds to make some kind of dip for later.

short walk to the park-sat in the shade with the little one.

Big salad in the near future.

:yes:

[PansyLo]

really? I didn't think fluoride was added anywhere in the UK. I know they add lots of stuff. Best water ever came straight off the mountain behind my house in Wales. Sooooo cool and sweet and clean.

I was told it did but with a bit of research only 10% of the UK have floride added to their water and I'm not in any of the area that do.
The best water I've had came from the natural well in my grandparents garden up north. It was filtered for dirt but nothing was added to it. Can't get much purer than spring water from your own garden.

I'm so pleased to have this filter. I'm drinking so much more water which is something I was desperately needing to do. I'm just drinking it constantly, I can't go into the kitchen without grabbing a glass.

[GreenT]

Hey everyone!! Decided to do a 30 day, a little late for this month's thread lol. Today is day 2. I haven't read this whole thread, so i have some catching up to d.o

Yesterdays menu included:

Watermelon
Craisins
Couple of bananas
"Butterscotch" smoothie
Parsnip Noodles with Cilantro Walnut Pesto

Today's menu included:

Banana
Kale salad (Olive oil, avo's, onion, tomato, chili pepper flakes, salt)
Chocolate pudding


Just made some coconut cookie dough balls and put them in the freezer to set. Can't wait to have a few of those, they are soooo darn good!! :throwhearts:

[robh]

MysticTree, I just can't get a taste for sprouts. That and they 'give me wind'.

RedCedar, I enjoy honey with chia seeds. For some reason agave gives chia seeds a sight fishy smell. I have been doing honey and banana slices lately. Part of me wants to buy a juicer just so I can make chia seed pudding with fresh apple juice. That sounds yummy.


Tonight went well. To fix my fat problem (lack there of), I mixed almond butter with agave, sunflower seeds and carob powder. It was very filling but I could have done without the carob pwder.

Another 100% raw day! Woohoo!

[MysticTree]

Rob:
hmmmm ... what sort are you trying? Lots of people make the mistake of going for what I call heavy sprouts. Lentils and chickpeas for example.

Radish, alfalfa, brocoli and fenugreek are much easier to like and sunflower greens and pea shoots are great in salads.

I like the sound of your fat-fix mixture! I will try that some time I think.

PansyLo:
The increase in water intake will really help fill you up and balance you. I'm glad the water tastes so much better :)

Today so far:
I have had lots of fruit so far. Turned down a very good looking cupcake with butter icing :D. feeling a lot less fragile today.

[Willpower]

Hello everyone,

I'm back. I have been doing fairly well with eating 100% raw up until last weekend. It was my birthday and everyone in the world wants to take me out. It's nice, and I am grateful, but I hate being rude and saying no to people, especially older relatives. I try to explain what I am doing, but some people just don't want to hear it. I am back on track though, today I am sucking down tons of lemon water and eating a ton of fruit. I have been craving fruit like crazy recently. Hope everyone is doing well. Take care and keep at it!!!

[ReneeH]

Welcome back Willpower!

I've been kinda feeling out of sorts lately. I don't have a Menstral flow anymore (sorry to the men here...), because I had the Thermachoice procedure back in April, but I still get the emotional roller coaster that comes with PMS. Nothing is satisfying me. I have a frig FULL of my food that I just don't want, even tried to make Alissa's Land and Sea from RFFE, complete disaster! I feel ticked off at nothing and everything!!!!

So, I'm gonna go get a pedi and try to chill out. I bought some beautiful Portobellas intending to marinate them, but just haven't done it. Tried to have a nutless Sunday again, but in the state I'm in, I'm libel to choke my Parakeet for singing if I don't have my Candied Nuts!!!!

Anyway...hope you guys don't mind if I'm in a funk today! :-(. It doesn't happen often, so please send lots of hugs and positive vibes for me, ok!!!!!

[PintSizeParmour]

Hello! I’m a newbie here!
If it’s okay, I know it’s late in the month, could I join this challenge?
I would really appreciate the support and meal ideas!

[MysticTree]

Of course you can join. Welcome and just pile on in and join the raw melee :)

[PintSizeParmour]

Fantastic! Thanks for the welcome!


On day three of a five day juice/raw cleanse. Feeling great. There are occasional hunger pangs, but drinking more juice, water or green tea takes them away immediately. I’ve experienced some detox side effects, nausea, headaches, stomach aches, general pains but they all pass pretty quickly.

Every morning I have been starting with my own variations of a ‘Mean Green’ juice, (cucumber, apple, grapefruit, lemon, kale, parsley).

I can’t shake my one coffee, one cigarette a day. I was drinking 3-5 cups of coffee a day, I’m down to 1 now. I’ll take it as progress. :) It’s just tough in the morning when the boyfriend has it brewing and makes the whole place smell of it.

So far today:
Mean Green Juice
Sauerkraut
Strawberries/Blueberries
Lotsa green tea and water

Feeling fab! Lighter, more positive, clearer. Amazing after only three days!

I’m going to try and stick to this lifestyle, vegan/raw, for 30 days. This weekend is going to be an off two days- birthday celebrations. I’ll be back at it on Monday!
I appreciate reading about all of your progress and meals you are making!!

[LexieW]

Well, I finished out yesterday great, but couldn't resist the temptation to have a little something cooked this morning. It's hard to resist when my office keeps catering several times a week, but I got back on track with lunch - salad of dark leafy greens, heirloom tomatoes, red bell pepper and cucumber. Have been snacking on dates today, as well.

In sprout news, my little babies are doing great! The alfalfa are moving right along, will be ready to eat soon. And the peas had little tails this morning :) I love the process and seeing them grow - it's really fun and easy! Anyone looking to get into it, the site I bought mine from is sproutpeople.org. They have a huge variety, all organic, with many sample packs. And they teach you how to do it (though the sprouting thread on this forum is a great resource, too).

I also ordered a bunch of new clothes - motivation to stay good and raw and make sure they fit well ;)

[LexieW]

Pansy, good luck with your filter inquery. Super pure water is one part of raw food I just have not embraced 100%. For me personally, the taste of the water is all that matters to me.



Sorry to hear that you've been upset lately. Being able to resist temptation, however, is a truely amazing accomplishment. When my body tells me that it wants something, I have a hard time resisting the urge. You did great!


Didn't see this earlier - thanks, robh :) I'm feeling better - there are some things I can't change, but I can change how I react to them. At least, that's what I keep telling myself :) I gave in to a little temptation today, but not much - will finish the day out better than I started.

[robh]

MysticTree, you got it - lentils and chickpeas. I will try the sprouts you suggested. I also saw your comment on being able to resist temptation easier. I noticed that too. Overtime, the longer I am 100% raw, the less I want that stuff. I actually started craving fruits and vegetables. I'm not sure why but my mouth waters when I think of onions or oranges (not at the same time, though - yuk). Is your boyfriend back on 100% raw or still high raw?

ReneeH, sorry to hear that you are out of sorts. I am sure that better days are right around the corner. I hope you feel better soon.

Willpower, I hear ya on the birthdays. We have a birthday in the family every month from May to October. I have been passing up a lot of birthday food and meals out. Glad to hear you are getting back into the swing of things.

PintSizeParmour, welcome to the thread.

LexieW, new clothes - that is awesome. Keep up the great work. Sounds like you are enjoying the sprouting experience. I ordered my sprouts from sproutpeople.org too. Great place. My only complaint is that they are on the other side of the country and shipping take forever - obviously, not their fault.



I have done really well again today. Another 100% raw day so far. I think this is my 3rd consecutive day.

I was feeling what I thought was hunger around 7:30am. It turns out I was only thirsty. I think my body has mixed those signals my entire life. I am still sorting it out.

I drank water until around noon when I grabbed a banana on the way out the door to have "lunch" with my wife. We were both working from home today. We hit our normal lunch spot. This is where I experienced the most temptation today. I really wanted a bite of what she was eating. She never finishes it all and I end up with at least a piece (even recently). They also give bread with everything there. I always get dirty looks when I say I don't want bread so today I took it. So throughout lunch, I had a piece of bread and my wife's cooked leftover staring me down. On top of that I got this Greek Salad (no meat, no cheese and a light vinaigrette dressing). I enjoyed it, but it just was not enough food. I half-jokingly said I'll bring my own avocado next time. All the onions got me super hungry and got my appetite in full swing. Then it was gone. I left hungry. It sucked. BUT... BUT... I may have left hungry, but I also left RAW! Go me. Anyway, I went home and made what I called Lunch 2, the sequel.

Sorry for the bit of rambling there. After lunch, I got hungry again and made some chia seed pudding and I snacked on some nuts.

Also, my shipment from nuts.com came in woohoo. now I need to make cheesecake. :D

Also, my mom is trying raw. She isn't stocked up like I am so I doubled my nuts.com order. I am going to put together a "welcome to raw" care package for her and share some of my recipes and such. It sounds like she's stuck in a rut with smoothies and salads. I figured some supplies would help her situation.

I donno what I'm doing for dinner. I need to grind up some sesame seeds now that I have more. Maybe I'll make something with that. I need my calcium, zinc and iron after all.

Take care all.

[LexieW]

I left hungry. It sucked. BUT... BUT... I may have left hungry, but I also left RAW! Go me.

YEAH! Way to go! That's always the toughest situation, and you did ! :cheer::excited:

This should be you, right now: :encore:

[PansyLo]

Robh: My boyfriend always give me a row for being like that in restaurants says as the paying customer their job is to please us (which is interesting as he's so shy he wont even place his own order). It's true though, you're the customer, you should be able to ask for what you want without their complaint or grumbling.

If you're not comfortable with just asking for what you want tell them you're gluten intolerant so can't eat bread. It's technically true, nobody should eat bread and it does do damage even if it is minor. Our bodies are intolerant to most SAD food.
People become oddly sympathetic when they think it's a medical problem.

If you're feeling really gutsy you could always tell them you're a raw vegan and ask for a more filling dish with any raw ingredients they have. They'll think you're weird but again if you explain that you're sticking to a diet people will be more supportive.

[RedCedar]

Hi to everyone, and welcome to the new folks here.

Chia pudding with shredded coconut and diced mango (man those are a pain to peel and cut),
Banana ice cream with raspberries and strawberries.

Anybody have any weight loss success lately? I could use the inspiration!

I too thought UK water was fluoride free. Hmm..will check out that site.

Reneeh, hope you're feeling better. I totally understand "the funk".

[PansyLo]

^ Really quite a lot of places are supplied with water with added fluoride. None of them appear to be in Scotland though contrary to what I've been told.

[robh]

Lexie, haha! Thanks though

Pansy, yeah I really should ask first for what I want. I have some social anxiety. I get flustered when I talk. I'm just not good at it. You are correct, though ; you won't get what you want until you ask for it. /

[GreenT]

Hello Hello!! Today was a bit rough, i have the worst sinus headache. I think it's from our weather changing so drastically these last few days. I was really busy at work today so didn't get to eat much. I had some watermelon, a banana a little bit of chia pudding and some cheese sauce as a dip with carrots for dinner when i got home (One of my favorites). The cheese sauce is also good in wraps with veggies.

The Best Nacho Cheese Sauce

1- Cup raw cashews
1/2- Lg Red bell pepper
1/4- Cup water
2- Tbs Lemon juice
2- Tbs Nutritional yeast
1- Tbs Tahini
1 1/2- tsp Sea salt
1- Clove garlic
2- tsp onion powder
(Blend all ingredients in a blender)
* I also add a little bit of cayenne pepper, i like it a little spicy

Renee, big hugs to you....hope you feel better soon!!

Rob, you are doing fantastic! Being in a restaurant with temptations like that are not easy whatsoever! When i was 100% raw for a while my mouth watered also to fruits and veggies, and i CRAVED them. I even got to a point where the smell of cooked food grossed me out REALLY bad, it would turn my stomach.

Have a great night everyone, im gonna lay down and relax i am whooped! Ohhhhh i forgot about my coconut cookie balls mmm... ok i'll eat a couple of those and then lay down haa haa!!

Coconut Cookie Dough Balls

2/3 - Cup pitted dates
1 1/2- TBS Coconut butter
-Tiny pinch of salt
-Shredded coconut
(Blend in all ingredients in a food processor, roll into balls, refrigerate and enjoy!)
* This makes a very small batch, i normally double or triple the recipe

:heart

[PansyLo]

Lexie, haha! Thanks though

Pansy, yeah I really should ask first for what I want. I have some social anxiety. I get flustered when I talk. I'm just not good at it. You are correct, though ; you won't get what you want until you ask for it. /

I understand completely, that's why I can't do it either! I'm working on it though. I'm dreadful at talking I get flustered and say things all jumbled up or my brain just freezes and no words come... which is probably why I'm so talkative on forums.
My boyfriend can hardly speak to strangers without mumbling or stuttering so he's no help. We're a right pair.

[MysticTree]

Rob:
We are both high raw at the moment.
We are both muttering about getting back to 100%
BF has really noticed that his skin (he has psoriasis) is much worse if he isn't 100% raw.

I need to change the structure of what I eat and when. Fruit isn't cutting it through the day anymore. I need to be bringing in a salad for lunch with avo like I used to last year. The fat should help with the hunger - even though it isn't real hunger. I also need to get a bottle or jug that I can keep in the fridge at work so I can have cold water all the time. If it isn't cold it doesn't fill me up!

There's lots of stress at the moment and that doesn't help at all with anything! I think you'll love alfalfa. It goes really well with avocado I think and you could make a really good sandwich with that bread you posted about with mashed or slice avo and lots of alfalfa in it. The radish seeds are quite mustardy so give a real zing to things.

[ReneeH]

Thanks Rob, RedCedar, and GreenT for your positive vibes! I've waken up to a wonderful morning and I feel much better!

I was tempted yesterday to go to a former favorite resteraunt in a way that I haven't been in a REALLY long time, but I'm happy to say that I didn't go!!!!! I just COULDN'T!

I knew that what I was feeling was temporary, so I did some deep breathing exercises and let the moment pass in quiet solitude. I warned my kids that Mommy was a CRAZY person today, so they left me alone in my craziness!

I did have one cooked chocolate brownie...oh well!!! But it wasn't NEARLY as good as my raw ones! NOT going there again! Maybe I just needed a quick reminder of how much BETTER raw snacks are!!!

Anyway, looking forward to working out later with my workout buddy! Gotta get back in the groove yau'll!!!!

No more gloom for me today! Sunshine all the way! :dance:

Oh, ROB....I'm SOOOO proud of you!!!! You GO Boy!!!! :cheer:

GreenT, I LOVE that Cheese Sauce! Try it on Alissa's Pizza Crust from RFFE...you'll FLIP!!! It's also good with Rawritos Chips!!!! Wish I had seen that Coconut Cookie Balls recipe yesterday!!!!!

[ReneeH]

I feel like trying this today! It's from Pink Bites:

Marinated Antipasto Mushrooms Recipe:

1 pound of brown or white mushrooms, or a mix of both
4 tablespoons of good extra virgin olive oil, or more if needed
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 cloves of garlic, minced*
1/4 cup of red onions or shallots, finely chopped
2 tablespoons of fresh oregano, finely chopped
2 tablespoons fresh thyme, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns

1/4 teaspoon coriander seeds (optional)

She cooks the mushrooms, but I'm just gonna put them in a baggie with the Marinade and warm it in the dehydrator!!! Can't wait for Lunch!!!!

[MysticTree]

Thanks Rob, RedCedar, and GreenT for your positive vibes! I've waken up to a wonderful morning and I feel much better!

I was tempted yesterday to go to a former favorite resteraunt in a way that I haven't been in a REALLY long time, but I'm happy to say that I didn't go!!!!! I just COULDN'T!

I knew that what I was feeling was temporary, so I did some deep breathing exercises and let the moment pass in quiet solitude. I warned my kids that Mommy was a CRAZY person today, so they left me alone in my craziness!

I did have one cooked chocolate brownie...oh well!!! But it wasn't NEARLY as good as my raw ones! NOT going there again! Maybe I just needed a quick reminder of how much BETTER raw snacks are!!!

Anyway, looking forward to working out later with my workout buddy! Gotta get back in the groove yau'll!!!!

No more gloom for me today! Sunshine all the way! :dance:

Oh, ROB....I'm SOOOO proud of you!!!! You GO Boy!!!! :cheer:

GreenT, I LOVE that Cheese Sauce! Try it on Alissa's Pizza Crust from RFFE...you'll FLIP!!! It's also good with Rawritos Chips!!!! Wish I had seen that Coconut Cookie Balls recipe yesterday!!!!!

That is just the craziest thing isn't it? The cooked is never as good as the raw or even if it is almost as good it doesn't fill the what-ever-it-is that you were trying to fill and often times even if you stick with raw it still doesn't fill that emotional gap and then we can blame the raw food even though we know in our heart of hearts that cooked food couldn't fill it either.

Does that make sense? Hope so!

[PintSizeParmour]

Hey ya’ll! Hope everyone is doing well!
I so appreciate this space. It makes me accountable for what I am putting in my body.

Yesterday I had a raw vegan taco salad with raw sour cream. So good!! Even my boyfriend, who thinks what I’m doing is crazy, really liked it! Can’t wait to have the left overs for lunch!

This morning I sucked down pasilym husk and benoite clay (not sure of the spelling and too lazy to google). I’m trying to force myself to enjoy it. Ugh, but it’s so not enjoyable.

I juiced carrot, apple, ginger, beet, lemon, celery juice. Gonna feast on that after this cup of green tea. I like to keep my juice in the freezer for a little bit before I drink them. Does this affect the benefits of the juice?

I’m going to have to try that cheese sauce! The sour cream I made from cashews was fantastic!!

Also, is there a way to get the same results of dehydrating without a dehydrator? My bank account is really hurting this month, too poor to afford one right now. My cat was sick, and too many weddings this summer.

Going to a concert after work and it’s going to be tough not to drink! I’m gonna stay strong though!

[LexieW]

That is just the craziest thing isn't it? The cooked is never as good as the raw or even if it is almost as good it doesn't fill the what-ever-it-is that you were trying to fill and often times even if you stick with raw it still doesn't fill that emotional gap and then we can blame the raw food even though we know in our heart of hearts that cooked food couldn't fill it either.

Does that make sense? Hope so!

That absolutely makes sense. It's the cycle I go through every time I cheat. And oooooh man, am I fighting cravings today, guys! But I'm winning. And I gave blood today too, which makes my brain think "it's okay, you can a little treat."

NO, bad habits. I will not. I will be strong and keep up my fantastic progress - my mind is sharper than it's been in recent memory, my body is tight and my eyes are bright. We're keeping this up.

[GreenT]

GreenT, I LOVE that Cheese Sauce! Try it on Alissa's Pizza Crust from RFFE...you'll FLIP!!! It's also good with Rawritos Chips!!!!

That sounds good, i will definitely have to try that!! Did you try the mushroom recipe? If so, how was it?

Today went pretty good. I had some watermelon for breakfast, a few bananas later in the day, some chia pudding and tried a new recipe for dinner....Cabbage cilantro apple salad, and had a couple of coconut balls.

Cooked food can never match up to how raw food makes you look and feel. When i fall off the wagon, i literally feel like i fell off of a wagon!!

I have some mung beans in the process of sprouting, can't wait for those! I'm also excited for this weekend, i want to make some new recipes and dehydrate a few snack foods :dance:

[PansyLo]

Oh man I want to come live with you guys and eat all your food! I wish I had a raw friend who knew what they were doing.

I'm still just getting back to vegan/GF myself after an enormous lapse in my diet. I'm trying to eat as much raw as I can but don't have any money and would feel selfish expecting my mum to pay for a raw diet. Once I have money I will buy anything that needs sourced from health stores or online and will have an easier time.

I keep switching between wanting to be hardcore raw and being really strict about it to totally giving it all up and eating rubbish to compromising by easing into it. I think it depends on my moods which are still totally erratic still until my meds kick in.

@MysticTree/LexieW: I know exactly what you mean! I stopped being 100% raw because I was interning and didn't want to seem awkward and rude to the girl I was working for. When I started eating cooked food at hers it tasted wrong and a little tasteless. Everything I ate at first seemed a bit gross and unsatisfying. I wish I'd never quite but I was way too anxious about the whole thing!

[robh]

GreenT, the other day I came into the room. I immediately asked if one of the kids was sick a threw up somewhere. I smelled what I thought was vomit (sorry for being gross). It turns out my wife heated a bowl of spaghetti and that's what I was smelling. Most of the time, cooked food tempts me but not that day! Also, thanks for the recipes. I made a cheese very similar to that one.

Pansy, social anxiety sucks. I notice being raw has improved it, but only slightly. My wife is very bold and becomes a general pain in the butt until she gets what she wants. We were are out, I won't let her talk to me because it makes me feel weak. (I am a man, what can I say.) So, I speak up and ask for what I want, but hate inconveniencing people. Sometimes, my wife knows what I want and, despite my efforts, gets it for me - makes me want to crawl under a rock. Anyway, best of luck with the issue. I'm still working on it too.

MysticTree, my brother has psoriasis. I'll have to mention that benefit to me. Alphalfa avocado sandwich - that sound great! I'm gonna try that. Also, good luck with restructuring what you eat and when. For me, getting full and staying satisfied is such an important part of staying raw.

RenneH, so glad that you are feeling better. Great job on avoiding your old favorite restaurant. Also, do both books have pizza crusts? I made the one in Living on Live Food. Is there another?

PintSize, I am interested in the raw taco salad. Do you have link or is it in a book? Also, I hope you enjoyed the concert.

LexieW, you rock - giving blood and staying strong. :)


It's been another 100% raw day for me. Not temptations today (which is nice). I had three nectarines, about a pound of cherries, a bunch of nuts, some dried figs and a couple of dates.

I have been feeling what I assume are detox symptoms for the past couple of days. (I don't think I have a cold, but it sure seems similar.) I played tennis tonight and the feelings got worse. I decided to skip dinner to let the detox do it's thing so it's done faster. I think all my little cheating bits here and there since mid-July have caught up to me. It's pretty bad right now. I'm very weak and feeling crappy all over. The whole thing makes me want to stay 100% raw and not look back so I don't have to do this again for the umpteenth time.

Stay strong everyone, we can do it!

[PansyLo]

MysticTree, my brother has psoriasis. I'll have to mention that benefit to me.


My boyfriend has scalp psoriasis. It drives him mental... sorta drives me mental too, I'm constantly brushing skin off him and me and pillows. Actually everything is medically wrong with my boyfriend... he's pretty much a walking malady.
Maybe one day if we date for a lot longer I'll talk him into trying a different diet.
...Who am I kidding? Nobody will put up with me for that long! :P

Glad that you're doing well robh, detox symptoms are lousy but at least you know that you're getting rid of all the bad!

I totally missed the comment with the suggestion of alfalfa and avocado! That sounds delicious! Alfalfa is definitely my favourite sprout.
Trying to think what to have it with since I don't have a dehydrator to make bread... I'm not high raw at the moment so maybe just some corn cakes or something.
If it's nice I'll source raw crackers when I do get back up to 100% raw.

I have a craving for something with "cheese" sauce!! What could I have... maybe tomorrows meal.
I've almost totally lost my appetite, it's probably this flu big I have. All I ate today was a salad. I've drank a lot of water but really not felt hungry and food hasn't seemed appealing.

[MysticTree]

I totally missed the comment with the suggestion of alfalfa and avocado! That sounds delicious! Alfalfa is definitely my favourite sprout.
Trying to think what to have it with since I don't have a dehydrator to make bread... I'm not high raw at the moment so maybe just some corn cakes or something.
If it's nice I'll source raw crackers when I do get back up to 100% raw.



romaine lettuce leaf wraps are good and you can use alfalfa in raw sushi (california roll type sushi)

[PansyLo]

^ I've been desperate to make raw sushi but for some reason the supermarket has stopped stocking nori. :(

I haven't seen it anywhere recently.

[MysticTree]

^ I've been desperate to make raw sushi but for some reason the supermarket has stopped stocking nori. :(

I haven't seen it anywhere recently.
Where's your nearest healthfood shop? You can get it online too but I only ever get it from shops so I don't know who stocks it online. Kate Magic might be worth a look ... I think she does mail order.

[PansyLo]

^ There's two in town but I've not spotted it in either.

I'll have a better look, sadly I have about 15p to my name right now! My mum is okay with things from the super market as long as I'm not getting expensive ingredients too often. But health food store is a luxury. I applied for a job doing PR work today, hope to hell I get it. I'll get my student fund in September so will be able to buy more unusual food.

[ReneeH]

Hey yau'll!!!!

ROB: yes, there are different recipes in both of Alissa's books. The one in RFFE is the best IMO!!!! They all are great, though! The one that uses Buckwheat is REALLY great too. I've made all of them. Definitely worth getting the book!!!

Breakfast today was Green Juice: Romaine, Celery, Apples, Gibger, and Lemon. I shared it with 2 friends today and they loved it!!! It's one of my favorite combinations now!

Here's Lunch:

http://i517.photobucket.com/albums/u336/Pioneerspiritnee/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_0331.jpg

Ok...I made the Marinade I posted on page 13 of this thread...it's good. Not as good as the one that uses Herbamare or the one that uses Ginger in LOLF, but descent. I did a raw version (obviously), so it might taste different cooked. I'd make it again...only if I had no Herbamare or Ginger. I did dehydrate the marinated Mushroom to soften it, but not for very long cuz Mama is hungry!!! So, I put 1/2 back in to see if I like it even better later.

I'm feeling back to myself today! Boy, it was a rough couple of days for me! Not with eating raw, just dealing with PMS.

[LexieW]

I think I'm detoxing today, too. Woke up very tired, and my throat is a little sore. Coping with lots of hot water, banana, dates, and other non-throat irritating foods. Just a few more hours and weekend, which will mean a lot of running around, but maybe a little rest, too.

Nevertheless, I wake up excited every day to see my body getting more taut - my belly fat shrinks a sizeable amount daily, and I'm noticing the cellulite on my thighs slowly going, too. YAY!

Lastly, you guys are all so inspiring. Not feeling alone in the process is really important.

Ooh, and sprouting continues to be a breeze! I'm eating my pea spouts for lunch today, and i have grains spouting at home, as well as some alfalfa and fenugreek. I'm officially addicted to the process.

[ReneeH]

Been SOOOOOOO thirsty today!!! Sucking down bottled H2O like its FREE!!!!! LOL!!!!!

Go LEXIE!!!! :dance:

[robh]

Pasy, thanks. Are you sure it's the flu? That's what it feels like I have, but I don't.

ReneeH, pizza is my kryptonite. I need raw pizza. I have been meaning to get RFFE, but maybe I will put a little more priority on it. Also, lunch is lookin' good!

LexieW, how do you like the pea sprouts? I hear they are tasty. Sorry to hear you too are not feeling well. On the bright side, like Pansy said, it means we are doing something right!


I am still feeling crappy today. I don't know what's up. Usually, it lasts for an afternoon and then I'm fine. Anyway, no need to dwell on it. I know I'll feel great soon.

Anyway, I am doing good again today. This is my day off from work. I actually had a previous employer call me up and ask me to come in and work a few hours (I am an independant contractor). Anyway, we went out for lunch, but I came prepared. I took the bag I packed right into the restaurant. I ordered a salad and then grabbed an avocado from my bag. No one care or noticed maybe - I was grateful. It worked out well. They all had their cooked crappy food. It didn't tempt me today.

So far today, I had like 5 banana, 2 oranges, several cherries, the salad for lunch with the avocado and then later when I got home, I was still hungry so I made guacamole and I dipped bell pepper slices and or veggies in it. I also had a bunch of pecans. To be honest, I'm still kind of hungry, I suppose it is dinner time.

Staying raw is getting easier every day.

Let's keep it going everyone. We are rockin'!

[ReneeH]

Go Rob!!! You're doing great...but I wonder if you're getting bored with what you're eating? I dunno... Sometimes, I tend to keep things simple (like today)... But honestly for the most part I need the gourmet to fill me up and make me feel satisfied. Is that how you feel? If so...RFFE is for YOU!!!

Eventually I'm gonna have another go at the Land and Sea (Alissa's version of surf -n- turf). At least I know now why it fell apart... Note to self: don't try new recipes while PMSing!!!!! :-D

Today went very well. Snacked on a lot of Candied Nuts, though! Not sure what to do about Dinner. I look in my very stocked frig and nothing is jumping out at me and screaming "EAT MEEEEE!!!!!!". Hubby is having god-AWEFUL SAD Pizza...YUK!!! Well, at least I don't have to cook for him!!! :-D.

Oh, BTW... The Marinade ain't working for me. I let the Mushrooms stay in the Dehydrator for a while and I'm not really "feelin'" it.

Need something simple, yet delicious for dinner! Leaning towards juicy. Come on guys!!!! Help me out!!!! I need an idea!!! What are you all having tonight????

[happylife]

Renne,
Yesterday I was with a few friends and they were talking about a dip that people are going wild about. It is 2 cups each, strawberries, blueberries and raspberries.(1) Granny Smith, (1) Gala and (1) Honey Crisp blend all until it is smooth..Use any raw cracker to dip in it. Just made up a batch, had to add some raw honey for my taste. I put it in four freezer containers and kept one out so I can eat it tomorrow.

[Divine Soul]

Was starving on the car ride from NJ back to NY, we ended up stopping at a Mexican restaurant and I ended up ordering two vegan burritos after words didn't make my tummy feel good, NOT EATING COOKED FOOD AGAIN!

So ya back home finally, need to get more fruit in the house but my mum said we need to cut back on fruit buying.. so a bit frustrated and annoyed coming home to that.

sounds like everyone is making yummy recipes, but I don't do recipes cuz i always mass them up ^_^

[PansyLo]

^ What sort of thing do you eat?

I find I always mess raw food up when I don't stick to recipes! Often when I do too... I'm such a rubbish raw cook which is probably why I have so much frustration with it as I'm actually a very good veg/vegan cook I had a relative who was a chef who gave me lots of tips. I'm so lost with raw, I don't enjoy preparing it like I did cooked food.

I've gone on as odd accidental water fast, I've been under the weather and have completely lost my appetite to the point where all I ate today was two spoonfuls of raw garlic with manuka honey. Perhaps my body just feels like that's what it needs.

In other news I've lost 10 pounds since I last weight myself (which was weeks ago). It's almost brought me back to my natural weight. I suspect I've lost most of it while being ill mind you.

[Divine Soul]

I just get mostly raw foods in bulk :) half a cantaloupe, sliced apples with lemon juice, fruit salad, pounds of blueberries, simple fruit smoothies etc..I always had raw cacao powder to my smoothie though ^_^!

forgot to mention had tummy pains AGAIN this morning, I got up and had three pieces of celery and some water and that seemed to make it better, guess I'm not eating enough greens!

[PansyLo]

^ I'm not much of a fruit girl. I like the idea of it and buy lots of fruit then don't eat it. I could, on the other hand, eat salad constantly.
I need to make fruit salad more often as I actually enjoy that quite a lot. I will eat a lot of fruit I wouldn't normally like much in a fruit salad.
I suppose I couldn't just sit and eat vegetables by themselves so maybe it's a similar thing!

[ReneeH]

HappyLife... Wow! That sounds REALLY, really sweet! Berries ans 3 different kinds of apples! Whoa Mama!!! My daughter would totally be in heaven!!!!

I ended up doing Suchi. I'm getting kinds bored with making it the same ole way. I'm not that crazy about Califlower, though. I do like Jicama. Just need different combos... I really like Alissa's Apple Nori Roll combo...

Welcome back home, DevineSoul!!!

[PansyLo]

I made myself a salad to try and replace electrolytes (hopefully what's causing my sore head).

It was so colourful that I took a picture but the picture doesn't do it justice as my webcam is not a very good camera.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c124/This_Beautiful_Let_Down/Photoon2012-08-18at0513.jpg?t=1345263962

I ate less than half of it before feeling overly full though. Shame, it's really delicious.

[ReneeH]

Oooooohhhhhh!!!!! Pansy!!!!!!!! That looks incredible!!!! Thx for sharing the Photo!!!!! Yummm!!!

[laughalways]

pizza is my kryptonite. I need raw pizza. I have been meaning to get RFFE, but maybe I will put a little more priority on it.

Check this video out for a raw pizza recipe:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoYlYVpqVCI&feature=g-user-u&noredirect=1

[ReneeH]

Top of the morning my Raw Family!!!!! :-)

Rise and shine everyone!!!!!! Time to stimulate our craniums, exercise our mouth muscles, and tickle our tongue with some delicious raw and living food!!!!! :dance:

I'm starting my day with my wonderful Green juice. Time to rotate those greens today, so Kale is on the menu! Joining my Queen Green will be Celery and Apples. I will be chewing my juice today and savoring the flavors as they combine deliciously in my mouth.... Ummmmm!!! I can almost taste them now!!!!!

....:RENEE RUNS TO JUICER:....

[GreenT]

GOOD MORNING!!! :throwhearts:




I find I always mess raw food up when I don't stick to recipes!

I am the same way!! I am always having to try new recipes, it keeps me excited and motivated. I get really bored if i keep things too simple for too long. I can only eat so many bananas and apples before im feeling deprived of an actual meal.

Renee, isn't that apple nori great! Super easy to make and tasty. I haven't had that in so long, i almost made it the other day.

I was so busy yesterday that i didn't have a chance to check in. I had a green smoothie in the morning that lasted me through the early part of the day (Banana, blueberries, dates, spinach and hemp seeds) I had the rest of my chia pudding, a banana later on and what i call "Guacamole Kale Salad" for dinner. Its one of my favorites! I massage some olive oil with salt into the torn up kale in a bowl, then i massage an avocado in to it, throw in some tomatoes, onion, garlic powder and some crushed red chili peppers. Mmmm mmmm so good!!

Not sure whats on the plate for today, don't yet know what im in the mood for. I'm sipping on some nice warm tea with honey right now. It got down pretty chilly over the night (In the 40's). I'm loving this cooler weather tho, the Fall season is my absolute favorite and i'm excited to see it come.

Pansy, that picture is making me drool! Looks so delicious!

Hmmm what to eat for today???????

Bye for now..........

[robh]

ReneeH, I don't have time for gourmet raw. I do like to play around on the weekend, though. I'm gonna pick up alissa's other book. I think it's important considering she pays for this site. I bought the other one Living on Live Food. The box had her name in the return address. That was pretty cool.


We are meeting my brother in-law's futer in-law's (does that make an sense?). Anyway, they are feeling us. I think you can see where this is going... I am packing my own food. I hope they won't be too upset by the fact that I don't want to eat their food. As much as it bothers me to offend other people, I have to be strong.

Anyway, this my 6th consequtive 100% raw day.

Take care follks

[ReneeH]

Hey Rob...gourmet doesn't have to take long! Really, marinating and dehydrating is the most time consuming. Oh, the Buckwheat Pizza crust is in LOLF. Sprouting the Buckwheat only takes a day...once you do that, it takes just minutes to prepare. The Flax crust is really great too, but once you try the one in RFFE with carrots, youll be hooked!!! Also, try the Eggplant Pizza in LOLF too! It's one of my favorites!!! You're doing SO great!!! Keep it up!!!! Stay focused!!! You CAN DO IT!!!!

Got fruit for lunch! :-)

RAWK steady yau'll!!!

[Lucy76]

Hello people! I'm crazy busy these days, and have no time to post, but I just wanted to let you know, I'm still here too, and still raw. It's just getting pretty tough these days, because we're really low on money. And I need lots of fruit in order to stay raw, which is expensive.

It's fig season right now, and they are sooooooo delicious, I could eat tons of them!
Glad to see everyone is sticking to the raw diet:throwhearts:

Btw, that salad looks awesome Pansy!! I made a really nice yesterday that I got addicted to already lol! I put in cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, soaked almonds, thinly sliced almonds, lots of avocado, grated garlic, grated ginger, salt, pepper, olive oil and tamari. It was spicy, but I loved it. I never really used to like ginger in my food, I don't know what's happening to me.

Today I had an almond mylk and banana smoothie, grapes and bananas for lunch, a green salad and another smoothie same as before, when I got home from work, and for dinner I had an orange juice, banana and strawberry smoothie, and figs. It was a really yummy day!!

I want to make some flax seed crackers too, hopefully I'll have some time to do that tomorrow so I can take them to work on monday.

I gotta go put my little ones to bed now. Bye everyone!:heart

[Divine Soul]

Oh my gosh i just tried our new yonana fruit ice cream maker with 3 bananas and boy wasssssssss it AMAZING had the same texture as soft serve. I'll put a link below if you guys are interested in buying one ;) Also went biking for 1-2hrs hills because I was bored ;)

http://www.yonanas.com/

[PansyLo]

Glad to say I finished the salad later and it was still yummy.

I have a new favourite, naked bars. They're nuts and dried fruit blended and cold pressed with no added sugar or syrups. They're gluten free and vegan.
I LOVE THEM.

[GreenT]

this my 6th consequtive 100% raw day.


Hey we are on the same day!! HIGH FIVE!!!!

Made a new recipe today for dinner, WOWZA!!! If you guys like bbq, then you will love this. It is amazingly delicious!! Smokey Sweet Barbecue Cauliflower Bites with a Sour Cream dipping sauce http://www.addictedtoveggies.com/2011/12/smokey-sweet-barbecue-cauliflower-bites.html I didn't have the coconut crystals so i used Organic Sucanant, (dehydrated cane juice) which is also a brown sugar that the recipe is using. I also did not have the oil that they used so i used olive oil instead.

I ended up having some watermelon for breakfast, that sure hit the spot and the rest of my cheese sauce as a dip with carrots for lunch. I love that stuff, i could lick the bowl lol.

Devine Soul, thanks for the video! I will definitely have to try that.

[PansyLo]

^ My god that looks incredible! Thanks for sharing I am going to be on that as soon as I have money!

Looking forward to getting a manual juicer, I think that's what I'm lacking to make efficiently healthy and tasty juices.

I'm going to juice disgusting tasting healthy things like sprouts that I can't stomach and wheatgrass and knock them back like shots.

[ReneeH]

GreenT!!!! That sounds A-MAZING!!!!!!!! Can wait to try it!!!!

For lunch I ended up going to Chilis. All I had was a house Salad minus the Croutons and Cheese. It was really good! If you're out and about, it's nice to have a place to go eat. Wish I had remembered to take a photo....next time!

Oh my gosh!!! You GUYS!!! I made the most AMAZING Pizza tonight:

http://i517.photobucket.com/albums/u336/Pioneerspiritnee/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_7562.jpg

This was the best one EVER!!! I used Alissa's Crust from RFFE but I left it in the Dehydrator 2 days and it got really firm. I absolutely will do my crust like that from now on!!! It's REALLY good nice and firm...

Anyway, I used a raw cheese bottom layer, Sauce is Sundried Tomatoes, Dates, and Onion blended to a paste, Red Bell Pepper, Tonatoes, red onions, Arugala, Black Olives, and topped with Macadamia Nut "Feta" Cheese.... Sooooooo yummy!!!! If you have RFFE, PLEASE make this!!!! I couldn't stop eating it!!!!

[PansyLo]

^ Ohhhh yum!!!

Glad to say that while I'm still only vegan and gluten free I'm eating mostly raw food. I've also got my appetite back.

So far today:

Breakfast: fruit salad and a naked raw bar (cashew cookie).
Snack: non raw 100% corn cakes with humous.
Lunch:
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c124/This_Beautiful_Let_Down/Photoon2012-08-19at06332-1-1.jpg

There's lightly cooked butternut squash in there but otherwise it's raw. And I know it's enormous I'm hungry hehe :dance:

Lots of energy today which is good because I'm off to the edinburgh festival and to a vintage fair with my boyfriend. Me and a friend have also just started a very ambitious magazine project, the first issue is to be released sometime in Autumn. I think one of the writers who's doing some work for us will be covering the fair today and getting street fashion photos.

Oh and I got new sprouts on the go! Linseed, azuki beans and alfalfa!

Got a real raw food buzz :woohoo:

[robh]

ReneeH, getting the components out, preparing them, processing them, blending them and finally (the woste part) cleaning everything up and putting everything away - THAT is the part that takes me so long. Dehrydration and sprouting are the easy parts! I also have very few hours on the weekdays between work, commute and sleep - hence, the weekends are when I get have fun uncooking. :)

GreenT, that's looks amaizing.


Meet the in-laws in-laws went well. They had salad and the hostest even kept two corn on the cob raw for me. When they had dessert, they also had watermelon. Fruit after salad is not wise and goes against the food combining rules, but I wasn't going to be rude and it was nice to have something to eat while they were having their superbad desserts. It went well, but it wasn't without temptation and social issues. All the guys were drinking beer. Hence, drinking water with the ladies didn't make me feel super manly. I also had to stare at chips and dip before dinner. The worst part was the fact that there was gucamole and I didn't have anything to dip in it. I stayed strong though.

Even more issues being raw today. There is a cheese a garlic festival in my area. My wife wants to go despite the that that it would be hell for me. (I have no support in real life.) My solution is to stay home while the rest of them go. I am pretty upset about it. I need to stay strong, though. On the bright side, I can get a lot of stuff done without the family here.

I haven't had anything yet today. Like most days, I'll have some fruit in the morning, followed by chia seed pudding. After that I'll have my ground sesame seed concoction. Dinner will be a salad. One of my avocados has a little give so I'll have that as well. Then when I get 'snacky', I'll have nuts and I'll have something out of the ordinary (dried figs, dates, raw cereal, etc)

Have a RAWsome day everyone!

[MysticTree]

very emotional day for me. Visited old haunts and my father's grave. Was holding it all together quite well really until a Lancaster Bomber flew over (there was a celebration of GI postings in Lacock). The first flight past raised Goosebumps all over me and the second flight past sent me into floods of dreadful tears. Hate crying in public and we rushed off! Raw has gone out the window although I did avoid the ice cream van. Raw supper planned but I feel very unsettled.

[ReneeH]

ROB: Honestly, it's REALLY NOT that difficult. If you choose recipes that have few ingredients to start with it's nit hard. I make many things up and freeze it. The Sesame Chicken and Pizza Crusts freeze very well. That way you can make up a big batch and have them ready when you want Pizza. Before you or you wife go shopping, look at the pizza ingredients and see what's missing and get it when you get everyone else's food. YOU'RE important too!!!! YOU need to eat too!!! Honestly, it's only because I eat this way that my family goes raw with me from time to time. If I ate simply all the time they would never join me. They wanna see good looking food--raw included. I think you'd be happier and stay raw longer if you made yourself some meals from Alissa's books. Don't let the process keep you from enjoying the BEST RAW FOOD EVERRRRR!!!!!!! :-). I really wish I could do a class with you so you'd see what I mean. The process doesn't have to be a lot.

MysticTree: :hug :hug :hug. My thoughts and prayers are with you!!! Don't be hard on yourself right now. You'll get back there! Be kind and loving to yourself right now.

I'm still in bed...but in dreaming of my other pizza in the frig, do I'm gonna have it for breakfast!!! I love that I can eat raw anytime!!! I would never be able to eat SAD pizza in the morning!!! :)

[MysticTree]

Thanks Renee. I'm not beating myself up. Funny (as in odd, not haha) that a WW2 bomber should have such an effect. On a positive note bf and I are looking at a large site caravan for the winter. Really we'd like a cob house but I don't think that can happen this year. We can get a secondhand site caravan for about £1200 delivered. Hope to look at some next weekend. Avo and sprout salad for later and some raw choc. for afters. So much spam on the forum at the moment; is everyone away on hols?

[Divine Soul]

made a smoothie for pre lunch with two semi frozen bananas, handful frozen cherries, 1/2 peach, 2 spoonfuls of cacao, spoon full of sunflower seed butter and water YUMMERS I have a hard time chewing it before i swallow it ;)

[ReneeH]

MT...oh good... Glad you're ok...

Today's Green Smoothie: Kale, Banana, Apple, and Lemon!!!

[robh]

MT, I hope you feel better soon.

RenneH, I will give it another shot.


Day 7 100% raw is in the books. I am feeling really good today. It is days like these that are my motivation to be raw. I know its different from person to person, but, for me, its a blissful state of serenity. I am hooked - for sure.

Anyway, I hope everyone has a good Monday. Tomorrow I think I'll resist the urge to kill time on the forums while at work. Instead, I think I'll post about this time.

Good night all.

[RedCedar]

Hello guys, checkin' in after a few days.

I had an issue with a gum infection--reoccurs every once in awhile between my two back teeth. Was able to kill it with some prescription strength mouth wash and myrrh tincture (boy does that taste...intense). I was drinking a lot of smoothies while that was goin' on.

I may have lost some weight due to this, but giving it a day or two to see if I put it back on by eating solid food again. If not, I'd be interested in doing a weekly two day smoothie feast to see if that's what my body needs to burn more fat.

:situp:

[Lucy76]

Hi everyone! No time to talk at all, I've just been reading. I wanted to give a huge hug to (((Mystic)))

Goodnight!

[robh]

RedCedar, Your gum infections. Are they what I would call a "canker sore"? "Canker sores, also called aphthous ulcers, are small, shallow lesions that develop on the soft tissues in your mouth or at the base of your gums." If this is your issue, do not be concerned. It is a common issue among people that are transitioning to raw. I too had them for a while. They go away eventually. They sure are painful though. :(

I just finished work. I'll be in car soon.

The diet went well this morning. I felt really really good today. I call it the raw high. It's like a euphoria that comes over me.

I sent my mom a "welcome to raw" care package over the weekend. I bought her raw cashews and agave, chia seeds, raw honey and I ground her some sesame seeds and a bunch of other stuff (25 pounds!). I also included my favorite recipes for stuff like raw ranch, raw cheesecake, raw bread and even the basics on chia seed pudding. She's been doing it a couple of weeks. It sound like she's detoxing a bit. She's also still eating a little cooked here and there but trying not to. I hope the raw care package is a enough get her through and really give her a taste of the raw life. I have my fingers crossed. It would be nice to have another raw foodie in my family (even if she doesn't live near me).

Take are folks

[LexieW]

Wow, nice looking photos of food! For everybody on several days straight of 100%, congrats! That's a huge, HUGE accomplishment and you should be very proud.

I fell off the 100% wagon on Friday night, and wasn't able to quite get back on for the duration of the weekend. But I made better choices in my mistakes, I guess? Back to 100% today, and for some reason I'm not very hungry.

[robh]

LexieW, I don't know if this will help you. After my last slip up, I starting thinking about why it happened and how I could deal with that situation next time. Identifying the issues and coming up with solutions has really helped to empower me lately. With a solution in mind, you can get right back on this thing and be stronger than ever!


Good morning folks!

I made my first ever batch of kale chips. I always thought they sounded... icky. I didn't really see the appeal. I actually purchased some kale chips in my grocery store (god, I love having that place). These kale chips were AWESOME. I plowed through the entire container in one sitting. I read the ingredients and said "I can do that!"

I made three kinds. One batch was a simple guacamole sauce (avocado, onion, tomato and salt) with a little olive oil to make it wetter. The second batch a vampire killer with cashew cheese a little water to thin it and a LOAD of garlic and of source salt and pepper. The third batch is HOT HOT HOT with cashew cheese mixed with the juice out of a jar of hot banana peppers, lots of cayenne and good bit red pepper flakes and, yes, salt and pepper.

I took them off the dehydrator this morning. WOW! They are not going to last long. The garlic and the HOT have a lot of flavor and personality. I really like the hot, but I can't eat many at once. I do enjoy the guacamole one too, but the flavors don't "POP" unless you grab a piece of dehydrated onion and tomato. I'll have to work on that one (still good, though).

Three paragraphs later, you can tell I'm pretty excited over silly kale chips. To think, I waited so long to try them!

Anyway, this is gonna be day 9 @ 100% raw for me. I feel great (said that many times lately). The past few days, I have been re-experiencing all the reasons I chose this lifestyle and reaffirming my motivation to stay 100% raw. I only wish everyone felt this same as I do on this diet. It's a RAWsome life.

Anyway, yesterday morning, I started with a lot of fruit. Maybe it's the time of year or maybe it's my taste-buds, but everything was bangin'! So sweet! So juicy! I had the typical orange and 2 bananas, but it was the peaches and the nectarines and the plums that were just off the chart in yumminess yesterday.

After all the fruit, when I was still hungry, I had my chia seed pudding with raw honey and banana slices. An hour or two after that, I was hungry again so I made my funky mixture of raw honey, ground sesame seeds, sunbutter and agave. I usually have it on apple slices but I just ate it straight up with a spoon yesterday. After that, I was full until after work.

I went to the grocery store for some odds and ends. It was all food for the cooked fooders except some ripe bananas on clearance. On the ride home, I got hungry so I snagged a couple of bananas out of the bag.

In the evening, I started with dinner: cut up romaine lettuce tossed it with an Asian Dressing (raw soy sauce, sesame seeds, garlic powder, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, salt and pepper). After dinner I nibbled at the raw kale (not so great) and the various sauces. After that, I had half an avocado with salt. After that, I had some pecans with a couple drops of olive oil mixed with raw popcorn seasoning (nutritional yeast, salt and pepper). Then, I was finally full.

That's one of the great things about this diet. You can eat as much as you want and not worry about gaining weight. It's awesome.

Alright everybody, I hope some of my enthusiasm has rubbed off on you. I know that I am going to have a RAWsome day. I hope you do too.

[ReneeH]

ROBBB!!!!!!! I'm SO thrilled for you!!!!! I KNEW you'd love Kale Chips!!!!!! Ok, you just HAVE to do this:

take one of your bananas, process it and dehydrate it making Banana Leather!!! (dont forget to pour it on a Teflex Sheet....) Let me know if you do!!!! I want you to see how easy making Alissa's Crepes are!!!!! Please, please process the banana when you can!!!!!

I'm SOOOOO excited for you!!!! AND...I'm gonna make your 1st suggestion for Kale Chips TODAY!!!!! Thank you!!!! :hug

Oh, a question....did you blend all the ingredients in a blender?

[Willpower]

Hello everyone,

Lately I have been eating lots of basics with little prep. Lots of fruit, mixed greens w/ olive oil & acv, and a handful of mixed nuts every once and awhile. I have been hitting up the whole foods cold bar for lunch sometimes which is definitely a treat. So other than my birthday weekend a couple days back I have been doing really well. Keep manifesting positive thoughts!!!

Will

[ReneeH]

Hi Will!!! Welcome!!!! So nice to see you here!!! Be sure to subscribe to the thread so you'll get updates whenever anyone posts...

[Lucy76]

Hello!

Robh that's how I think about slip ups too ;)

Today I had a sunseed mylk and banana smoothie, watermelon, super spicy flax seed crackers with a tomato and some black olives, and almost a kilo of figs so far. Later on I think I'll have another smoothie with bananas and strawberries.:woot:

It's so easy staying raw in the summer, with all the delicious fruit!!:drool:

[robh]

Oh, a question....did you blend all the ingredients in a blender?

I didn't. I just mashed it all up in a bowl.

I'll process a banana later tonight after I get home. My dehydrator doesn't have a thermostat and gets fairly hot. In that case, does 8 hours sound right?

Willpower, good job staying raw. I wish I had a WholeFoods that close. It's about a 1.5 hour drive for me.

Lucy76, you have access to so many figs in Greece. I'm so jealous. :)

[LexieW]

LexieW, I don't know if this will help you. After my last slip up, I starting thinking about why it happened and how I could deal with that situation next time. Identifying the issues and coming up with solutions has really helped to empower me lately. With a solution in mind, you can get right back on this thing and be stronger than ever!




Excellent point, Rob. Basically, my issue this weekend was fear - I found out, after getting to my bf's place on Friday night, that I was going to be out and about most of the weekend...in 100F degree heat. So while I had salads, fruit and sprouts, I was afraid that I didn't have enough to keep me energized. I cheated once on Saturday and once on Sunday, and in retrospect - didn't consume very much at all in those moments of cheating. A couple apples would have given me the same number of calories.

I think I need to invest in a cooler to take with me to his place, so I always have variety and options. There! Identified the issue, and came up with a solution :) Won't get to test it for a few weeks, as the bf has begun his autumn travel schedule, but I'll let you know how it goes in a few weeks!

[ReneeH]

Morning Raw Family!!!

Here's what I'm having today so far:

Cantaloupe:

http://i517.photobucket.com/albums/u336/Pioneerspiritnee/Mobile%20Uploads/FF4C608B-7C91-4458-A032-403BFE6B4769.jpg

Hey...ANYBODY EVER DEHYDRATE CANTALOUPE SEEDS??? *Seems like I heard about that somewhere....????

Raw Granola from RFFE:

http://i517.photobucket.com/albums/u336/Pioneerspiritnee/Mobile%20Uploads/AED4E570-488C-4901-837F-BF02C91419DB.jpg

Apple Cookie

http://i517.photobucket.com/albums/u336/Pioneerspiritnee/Mobile%20Uploads/00CA575D-8A1A-466C-8728-9FFB56A0F77E.jpg


I'm missing onion, so I will make Rob's Kale Chips once I get some from the store...

[ReneeH]

I didn't. I just mashed it all up in a bowl.

I'll process a banana later tonight after I get home. My dehydrator doesn't have a thermostat and gets fairly hot. In that case, does 8 hours sound right?

Good to know!!! 8 hours is ok...just put it on the lowest setting possible and on the bottom shelf. You'll absolutely LOVE this!!! :-)

[LexieW]

Rob's Asian dressing sounds divine, and I have those ingredients - project for tonight! Maybe to go with my mung bean sprouts?! :D