I need some encouragement.

[deb2005]

My husband agreed to go along with me on this for the 30-day challenge. That means he'll eat the things I fix but he eats what he wants at work. Fine with me. But I have wasted SO much food because we don't like many of the recipes. (Yes, I have Alissa's book.) I just made the lemon pudding and I know we won't be able to eat it! I'm afraid I'll lose his support after the 30 days (coming up soon) if I can't put an edible meal on the table. Our grocery bill is high enough, but it makes it worse when I have to dump expensive food.

We do enjoy most of the desserts we've tried (pumpkin pie, date nut torte, chocolate mousse), but otherwise don't seem to like many of the blended recipes ... except for the Angel Hair Pasta and Marinara Sauce. I made Raw Ravioli last night and was really disappointed. Oh, and he loves the crackers and Sunny Pate.

One evening we were both tired and not very hungry, so we stuffed some Medjool dates with Brazil nuts and had them with some apple slices. We only ate 3 dates each and 1/2 apple, but it was enough. I would love to have more ideas like that. We did like the Pear, Beet, and Jicama Salad, as well as the California Salad ... but we can't do that every night. My imagination isn't working very well on this.

I really can't afford to buy more recipe books right now. Please, can anyone help? We're not picky eaters, honest! I'm just having a hard time finding my way with this.

As far as how I'm feeling, I think I have more energy, but I'm using it all preparing food. I might have lost a few pounds and want to lose 10 more. My hair is shiny. So I think there are some positive things. I've had some dreadful detox days along the way.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions you have.

[Goddess_girl]

I dont like many recipies either; but dont let that stop you.
I enjoy the taste of one fruit at a time.
I dont think you need to make recipies to be a sucess;
But a tip would be make 1/3 or 1/2 recipies at a time. that way you wont waste as much food.

The only time I want my confort foods are around the holidays because I need that comfort since I am so far away from my family; and it is a way to "remember" my past. So I will make a few things in the winters.

There a TONS of recipies on the net; i dont think it is nessisary to buy books if you dont want. I have over a thousand recipies I have collected from this site and others on my pc. the trick is copy it as soon as you see it; because it will get lost among the posts.

[tvillemom]

HI DEB...first of all congratulations on almost staying 30 days, especially if you haven't really found alot of recipes you like. I'm not really big on "mixed", "processed" foods either. Concentrate on the tastes that you DO like. Alot of raw fooders seem to thrive on just eating whole foods (like the night you ate the dates and apples. I see nothing wrong with that. Also remember your tastes will change. If your DH liked that pate, change it up alittle by changing the nuts or some of the spices, or just decide to have that dish once a week or so. I'm sorry to say I don't yet have her book, but I would encourage you to try dishes that have individual foods that you like(for example, I would not try a pate made out of a certain nut that I KNOW I don't like!). I wish you the best of luck...
Wendi

[deb2005]

Thanks, Goddess_girl. I guess it's a bit of an adjustment when we're used to having a meal from all the food groups. I am a bit worried about Christmas. My husband wasn't too excited about our Thanksgiving meal. I'll keep my eye on more recipes from the net.

[deb2005]

Hi tvillemom,
I was starting to think I'm weird or something b/c I don't like many of the recipes that other people say are great. (We HATED the onion bread that we found somewhere.) I'm sitting here eating the dates and apples again and really enjoying them. I would just like to be more imaginative ... you know, fix up a plate of veggies or fruits and nuts that my husband would ask for again.

Thanks for your encouragement.

[Goddess_girl]

Thanks, Goddess_girl. I guess it's a bit of an adjustment when we're used to having a meal from all the food groups. I am a bit worried about Christmas. My husband wasn't too excited about our Thanksgiving meal. I'll keep my eye on more recipes from the net.

Do NOT worry about Christmass; take a look at some of RP's photos.
They are simple and WONDERFUL foods.
If you make it look wonderful on a plate it will be a REAL treat to eat!!!
You have some time to try some recipies if you like; just make smaller portions just incase you dont like.



http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8229&page=1&highlight=thanksgiving+photos

[deb2005]

Do NOT worry about Christmass; take a look at some of RP's photos.
They are simple and WONDERFUL foods.


Yes, I did see those photos and would love to try something like that! Thanks for reminding me. :)

[mellyc37]

I have been having the same problem. I am hoping to find a potluck to go to so I will be able to try a large variety of different foods.

I am going to start using less organic for my trials. If it tastes ok without organic it should taste better with it. My goal is to be 100% raw and 50% organic. As I learn to make more edible food I will try to increase to more organic foods.

Last night I made the pesto recipe. Dumped it. I was determined to make an edible meal so I started over, I started with spinach because I love spinach, then I added the pine nuts, it tasted ok but a little bland, so I added some dried tomatoes. Tasted a little better so I added a little tiny amount of parsley and garlic. Then I added some warm water to make it into a real “sauce”. My husband said we could have it again so that means it’s the first real success I have had with recipes. (He had his over soba noodles)

Tasting with each step made a big difference. Starting with foods I know I like such as spinach also helped. I have started just leaving out certain things I know I do not like such as curry and Braggs

[deb2005]

I am going to start using less organic for my trials. If it tastes ok without organic it should taste better with it.

Last night I made the pesto recipe. Dumped it. I was determined to make an edible meal so I started over, I started with spinach because I love spinach, then I added the pine nuts, it tasted ok but a little bland, so I added some dried tomatoes.
Thanks, mellyc37. That's a good idea to do less organic for trials. I could maybe try that, although I'm a bit afraid of getting too many pesticides in me since I'm already chemically sensitive.

Thanks for the heads-up on the pesto. We really liked the Marinara Sauce, but we used way less garlic and salt and added some extra tomatoes. Many of the recipes are heavier with the salt and garlic than we like.

We never had Braggs before I started raw and we're not really sure we like it. It's SO salty!

I have tried playing with some of the recipes. Some times it works, some times it doesn't. I think I need to do more simple meals.

[Rawkinlocs]

My husband agreed to go along with me on this for the 30-day challenge. That means he'll eat the things I fix but he eats what he wants at work. Fine with me. But I have wasted SO much food because we don't like many of the recipes. (Yes, I have Alissa's book.) I just made the lemon pudding and I know we won't be able to eat it! I'm afraid I'll lose his support after the 30 days (coming up soon) if I can't put an edible meal on the table. Our grocery bill is high enough, but it makes it worse when I have to dump expensive food.

We do enjoy most of the desserts we've tried (pumpkin pie, date nut torte, chocolate mousse), but otherwise don't seem to like many of the blended recipes ... except for the Angel Hair Pasta and Marinara Sauce. I made Raw Ravioli last night and was really disappointed. Oh, and he loves the crackers and Sunny Pate.

One evening we were both tired and not very hungry, so we stuffed some Medjool dates with Brazil nuts and had them with some apple slices. We only ate 3 dates each and 1/2 apple, but it was enough. I would love to have more ideas like that. We did like the Pear, Beet, and Jicama Salad, as well as the California Salad ... but we can't do that every night. My imagination isn't working very well on this.

I really can't afford to buy more recipe books right now. Please, can anyone help? We're not picky eaters, honest! I'm just having a hard time finding my way with this.

As far as how I'm feeling, I think I have more energy, but I'm using it all preparing food. I might have lost a few pounds and want to lose 10 more. My hair is shiny. So I think there are some positive things. I've had some dreadful detox days along the way.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions you have.


Deb,

So far you've named off 6 or 7 things that were a hit with you and your dh! Start from there and that, IMO, is enough especially when you add your favorite fruits, veggies, salads, etc. Try NOT making a lot of blended meals unless you really, REALLY want/need something like that. A blended or dehydrated dish is not needed at every sitting or even every day!

When you were eating cooked food, how many different dishes did you prepare in one week's time or even one month? For us (and every family is different) we had main staples and main staple meals that we seemed to eat all the time on a rotation basis. Seems to be that way in my mom's house too. I call her on the phone and she's always saying, "I'm trying to figure out what to cook...I'm tired of the same thing all the time."

So, IF it was like that in your house when you were eating strictly cooked foods, then why make things more complex while you're raw? Do the same thing...find your favorite raw, fresh foods and your favorite raw prepared meals and eat them as often as you need to on a rotation basis and when you start getting super tired of them or bored, experiment with something else but ALWAYS remember to try and quarter or halve the recipe until you find out if you like it or not and that way it's not as much of a waste of food and ingredients.

As time goes on, some things are going to happen and change if you and dh stick to it and allow the changes to occur:

1. You're going to get cleaner and cleaner and your tastebuds WILL change and some things you hate now, you'll find you LOVE later and vice-versa!

2. You're going to get cleaner and cleaner and discover that you don't want or need as much prepared foods and you will find yourself eating more simpler and actually enjoying it and the meals and things will be for the times you want them but you won't feel they're a mainstay in your diet

3. Your own creative juices will get flowing and you will figure out how to either make a recipe you don't care for into something you love simply by adding a little of this and taking out a little of that; or you will begin making your own creations!

So, hang in there...even Alissa says in her book to find a few items that you like or love and make them often, keep them on hand. Try to also not look at raw desserts as raw desserts...they can actually be a meal if you want them to! Don't forget about smoothies either...great any time of day!

It sounds like it's more a mindset than anything because we all go into raw thinking in terms of a ridgid breakfast, lunch and dinner and dinner had BETTER be a full-course meal! But you'll learn that with raw, it's not that way...a plate of fruit or a plate of veggies IS dinner for many of us and not simply an appetizer or sidedish as we were accustomed to thinking of it during our cooked and/or SAD eating days!

You'll do fine...just try to ease out of the cooked food mindset and watch the freedom of eating raw unfold before your very eyes! :D

[deb2005]

Deb,

So far you've named off 6 or 7 things that were a hit with you and your dh! Start from there and that, IMO, is enough especially when you add your favorite fruits, veggies, salads, etc. Try NOT making a lot of blended meals unless you really, REALLY want/need something like that. A blended or dehydrated dish is not needed at every sitting or even every day!

When you were eating cooked food, how many different dishes did you prepare in one week's time or even one month? For us (and every family is different) we had main staples and main staple meals that we seemed to eat all the time on a rotation basis. Seems to be that way in my mom's house too. I call her on the phone and she's always saying, "I'm trying to figure out what to cook...I'm tired of the same thing all the time."

Thank you, Rawkinlocs. I was hoping you'd weigh in on this. You are right -- we used to eat the same things all the time! I think I'm fretting b/c my husband still wants his cooked things and I'm trying so hard to make raw exciting for him. I could be happy munching on whatever I pull out of the refrigerator. I'm naturally a snacker and he's not -- that makes it a little tough.

I'm loving the fact that I can have dessert now. I actually had a piece of pie for lunch yesterday. I've been rotating grapefruit and smoothies for breakfast and I'm perfectly happy with that. We share a coconut on the weekends -- he likes that, but still cooks oatmeal, which is OK with me. I was hoping he'd fall in love with the Granola, but that didn't happen. I'm going to make a California Salad for supper at least once every week for a while. Add Nori Rolls, Lettuce Wraps, and Angel Hair Pasta w/ Marinara Sauce, and we already have 4 days covered. That'll work. :) (Why didn't I think of that?)

Thanks for the encouragement. It's great to be able to come here and talk about it.

[mellyc37]

You mentioned that your husband likes oatmeal... My kids really like oatmeal. So I soaked the granola in almond milk and let it get soggy then I warmed it a little.

I just told them it was a new oatmeal... they ate it and enjoyed it!

[Tee42]

I'm new to this but the best advice I've gotten was to keep it simple. Do you like salads? Fruit? I'm really busy (shouldn't actually be posting right now :o )
and I love the liberation of having 3 or 4 bananas for breakfast. (I workout in the morning before I eat and they help keep my blood sugar even and refill my glycogen tank.) Later in the morning if I'm hungry I'll have a few apples or oranges and maybe some grapes.)

My lunch is usually a grand salad with a bunch of different colorful veggies and sprouted almonds or avocado.

Dinner is simple too. Maybe another salad and a raw dessert or side dish. I just tried spiralized yellow squash with a simple olive oil garlic pesto sauce yesterday and it was sooooo good that it almost hurt to eat it and very simple to make. :D

When I try a new recipe I will often try to half it to keep down costs but I eat it even if I don't particularly care for it because I figure that my tastes do need to change. You know, It's an acquired taste. Changing the texture of veggies really changes the entire taste too so if you don't like something one way try slicing or dicing it another the next time you give it a go.

I know that the veterans will have a ton of great info as this site is amazing in the depth of info available. I just thought you might like to hear from someone who is new to this, very busy and still making this thing work.

Lannette

[Mechele]

Deb, I know what you're going thru! My husband and 2 year old are not raw, and I'm not getting as much encouragement as I want from my dh (although he is trying)! If you figure out what meals work best please let me know! I will not start my 30 day challenge until Jan 1, but I am essentially 100% raw the past month, and 95% the month before.

My husband has liked several of the salads I've made, cole slaw, and Alissa's fetucine alfredo. He also likes the hummus, guacamole and flax crackers (that I order online). I am getting a dehydrator for Christmas so I hope to be able to make more things then. He has not liked any of the blended soups I've made, and thinks green drinks are gross.

Mechele

[twinee1]

I rarely make a recipe and have been raw (almost all) for 3 months and 100% for last week. I keep it very simple lots of chopped veggies and salads. I find if I add Olives to my salad and add some raw bread to the meal I am fulfilled at meal end. Juilienne veggies and wrap in savory cabbage leaves is simple too. Did in a dressing you like. If you eat carrots or a green drink 30 min before a meal you will find you are more satisfied too.

[deb2005]

I keep it very simple lots of chopped veggies and salads. I find if I add Olives to my salad and add some raw bread to the meal I am fulfilled at meal end.
twinee1, where do you buy raw olives? What do they look like? I made onion bread and ended up throwing it out -- it tasted like dried onion soup that people used to make dip out of. My crakers have turned out good, but I'm having no luck with bread. I'd love to try olives!

[deb2005]

If you figure out what meals work best please let me know!

Mechele, you will love the dehydrator! I make mostly crackers and fruit leather. I haven't had much luck with cookies or breads yet.

We like the Pear, Beet, and Jicama salad a LOT ... but Jicama is a little hard to get. I made the Wheat Berry salad yesterday, but my cucumber was bad so I put Romaine in it instead and it was wonderful. We don't like any of the soups so far. I haven't tried the watermelon soup, though, and it looks good. The Sweet Apple Nori rolls are very yummy!

[Mechele]

Thanks for the suggestions, I will try a couple of those!