Anyone crave warmth in their food as the weather gets colder?

[Faithfullyfit]

I need help addressing the cravings for Fat and Heat....(?) as the weather gets colder I have started craving my old SAD diet...... I tried having green tea (HOT) with some raw honey but I have found it a struggle to focus on my RAW diet (That makes me feel so GREAT!) Does anyone else experience this...I realize that I am in Texas and by most standards it is not that cold to others- high in the 40's today....haha! But with my Texas thin blood it is brrr......chilly!Any help or adivice would be appreciated. Take Care :)

[Fruitarianone]

Hi there, I'm in Dallas, I've found that the over time the cleaner internaly I get the less the cold bothers me, now I crave avocados and bananas in winter with the odd orange here and there. hope that help.

[Faithfullyfit]

Yes, I have been trying to eat my weight in Avocados...maybe my body will adjust soon. Maybe I can experiment with some new spices. So, you are in Dallas....how's the weather? looks like you guy's have turned the highways into skating rinks-haha! I am in Houston- actually north of there in the Woodlands! Thanks for the advice- I really appreciate it!

[sport]

This is my first winter in the raw and I have felt the cold more than other winters but I have put that down to having lost whatever insulating fat that I had. I do not feel the need for hot food but I have never given up hot herb teas so maybe that is helping.

[exurb]

My electric bill goes up because I start having all these hot baths, like more than once a day. I thought today I should check the temperature of the bathwater to make sure I'm not cooking MY enzymes!

I just crave MORE FOOD in general at the beginning of winter. I like spicy warmed soups if I want something warm. I also drink warm water with lemon.

[Fruitarianone]

Yeah, No problem FF, up in Dallas we had some ice but nothing major :D

[Boysenberry]

Hey Y'all, I'm from Georgetown. It was 8 degrees, and the kids had no school because of all the ice. I made alissa's corn chowder (nut milk, avacado, corn) and then let it run for a couple of minutes in the vita mix. It warmed it up just enough for me to say aaahhhh.

[rawpriestess]

YEP, I do three things to help

1. I warm all my food in the dehydrator or on the stove to finger warm, and eat alot of soups.mmmmmmmmm

2. I add cayenne pepper to many thing to bring in the warmth (even sweets that taste great, like pies and cakes) mmmmmmmm

3. I eat more nuts and add olive oil to my soups and recipes like nut pates, cakes etc.

[Secret Heart]

I also warm my things in the dehydrator...lately I've been popping almost everything in there! My weight dropped when i went raw and thus I'm even more prone to chills and stuff and thus need that heavier/warm food. I'd
try the dehydrator if you have one.

Best

Heather

[mbf]

I'm in NY and we are getting a little snow today, 4 inches so far. It's been pretty cold, 13 degrees last nite with wind chill making it much colder. I was really struggling the first few cold days but I have just adjusted somehow !?!
I do love soup but am afraid of recipe failure so have not attempted any raw soup recipes yet ! but have not been craving it so i'll just wait until I "need " it. I do eat my caramel coconut cookies right out ot the dehydrator !

About getting avacados in... I don't like avacados unles they are very mixe in or seasoned as in guacamole but I tried a chocolate mousse recipe from this site made with avacado and YUM ! I ate 2 avacados in one day ! Whats even better is my 8 yr old son who refuses to eat anything green also ate a bowl full, it was that good ! I'll find it and post it if needed.

MBF

[Live Free]

I am also a very cold person, I thought I would be more adjusted to the cold after nearly a year of being raw, but I havent seen much of a change.

I think sometimes I feel cold when I really am not. I like to have my skin at a very high temperature.

However, I have been eating more warm foods as the days get colder. I make hot water to drink at night sometimes. Nothing in it.

I also put my salad and oranges in the dehydrator for about an hour to take the chill off. It was great.

I heard that if you eat pumpkin and ginger throughout the winter, you should be warmer than adding hot peppers to dishes. I think the hot peppers make you feel warm for a short while, but the effect is usually people in topical climates have spicier foods because the hot peppers make your body sweat, in turn cooling your body temperature down.

Correct me if I am wrong.

Teresa and Mae
Live Free

[Faithfullyfit]

Thanks so much for all the replies. I have made some great soups...in the past. My favorite is a blender full of Really Ripe Tomato, Cold Pressed-Grape Seed Oil, Fresh Basil and tons of fresh crushed garlic- and a little ground black pepper....Quite a kick to it- but really would prefer it warm- I am afraid to use the MW at all- cant control the temp and don't have a thermometer to check the temp on the stove top! Maybe try warm to the touch and keep sticking my finger in haha!

It stayed in today and set the heat up pretty high....but the dry heat makes me miserable....never thought I would wish for that Deep South Humidity to return.....but, this was all so much easier in the summer and fall!

That Chocolate mousse recipe sounds yummy- I will give it a try:) I wonder if my picky 5 and 8 year old will try it too? :)

Have a GREAT day everyone-

Take Care,
Faithfully FIT

[Faithfullyfit]

Boysenberry,

That chowder does sound heavenly....Is it in her book? If so, I will make it this weekend.

RP,
Yes I think you are right about indulging in soups- this may be psychological too.... I am programmed from many years of eating casseroles, stews and mushy overcooked soups in my SAD day's- even as a child- my mother would drag out the slow cooker this time of year! I have a borrowed dehydrator that does not have temp control or guauge of any kind- so I have been somewhat leary of using it too much.

Also, does anyone have a great recipe for a Raw birthday cake...I saw one on rawbakery.com- It looks fabulous....but is $65-70 plus shipping- yikes!
My birthday is in January...it is my big 40 and I would like to have one at my dinner party that my family is throwing for me- and well....It does not seem right to make your own birthday cake- haha:)

Anyway, I have stuff to get done before dinner time- Everyone, THANKS!

Take Care,
Faithfully FIT

[Boysenberry]

Yes it is in her book. We have used 1 cup of cashews in the place of an avacado as well.

My sister is making alissa's raw pecan pie for my birthday cake. Sad eaters also like it.

[RawYogini]

MBF,
Yes , please post your choco mousse recipe if you can! thanks.

[Faithfullyfit]

Hey Y'all, I'm from Georgetown. It was 8 degrees, and the kids had no school because of all the ice. I made alissa's corn chowder (nut milk, avacado, corn) and then let it run for a couple of minutes in the vita mix. It warmed it up just enough for me to say aaahhhh.

Boysenberry,

Tonight....I tried the corn chowder-it was yummy except a little too bland for my taste- so I added fresh crushed garlic-and warmed it slightly on the stove :) My husband really enjoyed it as well. Thanks for bringing that up. Although I do think my stomach does not handle the corn so well (?) I had a few dates and pecans since dinner and feel really bloated....? But it was quite delicous.

You all have a great night!

Take Care,
Faithfully FIT

[Boysenberry]

Was it better with the garlic in it? I thought about adding a little cayenne or cilantro, but got to chicken to try it.

Alissa also has a pea soup that we like too. Pretty much make it the same way. We want to try her carrot soup next.

[twinee1]

I have always been a cold person, before going raw. So it is nothing new ! Wear more clothes and I developed a coat and Boot fetish... I have a nice variety !

I drink my water and green drinks, all food as a matter of fact at room temp this time of year...nothing cold for me..ice in a drink...brrrrrr

[Boysenberry]

I just heard from another friend who makes the corn chowder with coconut, onion, garlic, and cayenne pepper. It sounds good to me. I think I'll try it.

[Smoothie]

Yes it is in her book. We have used 1 cup of cashews in the place of an avacado as well.

My sister is making alissa's raw pecan pie for my birthday cake. Sad eaters also like it.

I agree.....the pecan pie is fabulous..........all my SAD friends and family love it. Some add whipped cream but they think it's better than the standard one. I make it all the time. I take it to scrapbooking on Tuesday night and the glas just keep saying......."this is raw". Tonight my SAD husband asked for the apple pie. He's making progress.
You can;t go wrong with this or teh date nut torte!

[mellyc37]

If I am at work, I use a coffee cup warmer to warm my soup. I usually put it in an hour or two before lunch so that it will be warm for lunch.

I also drink warm "lemonade", lemon and a little maple syrup if I am really cold.

and finally, i use flax seed warmer bags. These are super easy to make. I use muslin and make a small bag to fill with the flax seed, then I make a flannel pillowcase. I warm them in the microwave.

I use these at work to warm my feet ( put on floor and then put my feet on it, I almost always wear slip on type shoes.). Or put them in the small of my back. My kids love them to warm their feet when they get in bed. I have also been know to put them on my back in the car.

Its a mental thing with me.. :) If I can get my feet or hands warm then I do not feel the need to find comfort foods to indulge in.

[godsqd]

We use "warmer bags" here too! I fill mine with rice and some lavender.My kids won't go to bed without theirs.I make them a new one every year for Christmas because their old ones are used out! I think I will be making me and dh some this year too!

[mbf]

This chocolate mousse is soo wonderful, I found it in the archives originally posted by veggiegirl. Serve in parfait or wine glasses or eat right out of the bowl.

1/2 Cup pitted soft dates
3-4 T maple syrup (this is not raw I used raw honey)
1 T cold-pressed coconut butter
1 1/2 T non-alcohol vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups mashed avocado (about 3 med. avocados)
3/4 C raw carob powder
4-6 T cocoa powder (this isn't raw either - I just used more carob powder)

Soak the dates in 1/2 cup fresh water for 5-10 mins to softer. Drain and set aside. In a food processor, blend dates,honey, coconut butter and vanilla until smooth. Spoon in avocado and blend until smooth. Add a few tablespoons of water if necessary to aid in blending. Spoon in carob and cocoa powder and blend until smooth. Keeps fresh for several days.

Variation: try freezing for ice cream. IT'S SO YUMMY!