RAW vs SAD

[RawMagnolia]

Hello...

One other question for this newbie...

I have been slowly trying to eat more raw foods, and not go overboard like I did a year ago. Last year I tried to eat more raw but kinda jumped in with both feet, and it didn't last too long really... ended up going back to full SAD.

One of the biggest challenges I find with eating RAW is that it bothers me to not eat those "heavy" foods that I am used to. This time is no different. Perhaps it's a craving that I will eventually get past.

The other day I actually had an almost full RAW day (had a couple bites of cottage cheese and baked brown beans). It's supper time that I usually have the most trouble with... but that night I ate some carrots and celery... and that was it. And I made it to the morning.

Does anyone have any comments or thoughts about how to deal with the loss of that "full" feeling? Or dealing with compulsive cravings? You can go ahead and tell me that it's just a "one day at a time" thing... I'll listen to anything!

Thanks,
Sandra

[Rawkinlocs]

Did you ever buy Alissa's book? If not, you really need to get that and if possible, the DVD too! It contains highly motivational testimonials, loads of information, a "get started" eating plan, AND over 200 delicious recipes that range anywhere from enchiladas to pizza to crackers and breads to cakes, pies and cookies to Asian dishes to chili to...you get the picture!

But in the interim, start with our recipe section HERE as you will find many yummy things to eat that will satiate you. It's important that you make sure you eat enough to satisfy you. Overtime your body will adjust to the lighter feeling of eating raw foods and you will find it takes less food to make you full.

Drink a smoothie anytime of the day...those are usually filling esp. if you want to add like raw hemp powder or something like that to it.

When I first started out, bananas and almond butter was a main staple and RAW comfort food for me. You will find your favorites that you will eat again and again.

[sport]

Does anyone have any comments or thoughts about how to deal with the loss of that "full" feeling? Or dealing with compulsive cravings? You can go ahead and tell me that it's just a "one day at a time" thing... I'll listen to anything!

Thanks,
Sandra

Date Nut Tort.
I think that it gives you that full feeling and if you are totally raw you can eat as much of it as you like.

[Revvell]

It's supper time that I usually have the most trouble with... but that night I ate some carrots and celery... and that was it. And I made it to the morning.
Sandra

I can't imagine how. This food program is NOT about starving yourself ~ it's about living life to the fullest and enjoy your food to the max!

If you don't have any books, as recommended, purchase Alissa's book AND dvd's asap. In the meantime, there are wonderful recipes here and if you google "raw food recipes" you'll also come up w/ various sites w/ some GREAT recipes.

Not knowing what equipment you have I'll KIS it.

Take two days, two - four hours each. Make up some burgers, lasagne and cookies (if you have a dehydrator); burgers and "meat"loafs don't have to be dehydrated. Just wrap them up in some large green leafs and chow down. IF you don't have a dehydrator, then make fudge balls or something else just as rich and heavy that fills you up.

3-5 smoothies a day will not only keep you full yet well-nourished.

Most of all, have fun and play with your food.

Revvell

[RawMagnolia]

thank you all very much for your ideas.

I do not have a dehydrator. Do most of you find that it's the only way to stay on a RAW diet? I can't help but think that food is better "with" it's original water... rather than dehydrated.

I really wish that I liked smoothies. They pretty much make me queezy. Last year I did try several times to come up with a smoothie that I'd like. Perhaps it's time to try again.

I'm certainly not trying to starve myself. But I'm keeping it simple for now... eating the fruits and veggies that I'm comfortable with... and then I hope to expand my horizons... but not until I'm ready. Perhaps that seems backwards, but last year I just tried to "do it all" and I got very overwhelmed... and it seemed far too complicated. I don't want to overdo it this time around, but make a gradual transition, that I can be comfortable with.

I'll have to check out the recipe section!

Thanks again!!
Sandra

[kitchenfairy]

I just watched 1/2 of Alissa's dvd today and this advise really stuck out for
me. At the beginning do a lot of "cooking". Have heavier stuff planned and ready to prepare. When you first transition and you land at home with only an apple and celery sticks your probably gonna fall off the wagon. (and into a takeout pizza)
Today I watched her make zucchini pasta w/ tomato sauce and an alfredo of
summer squash with alfredo "cheese" out of blended macadamia,pinenuts, and garlic etc. Also (in two seconds and the other stuff took maybe 5 min)
she did a pudding of just banana and papaya in the blender. I can only imagine how good that must be.
Her point,I think, was to have it on hand. Spend time making new filling things. I don't have a dehydrator and certainly am craving crunch like crackers, snack bars. That is my next goal to get into dehydrating.

She said after a while you will slow down on heavier foods and maybe eat more simply like just oranges at dinner because of hot day or whatever.

I'm taking things two days at a time. I plan for the next two days. Dinner can be tomorrows lunch etc. I am already doing the mostly fruit the first part of the day. Salad ideas are my weakness. I buy and prep the food. I wasted too much food buying more than that in the past.
Goodluck!
Lisa in NH

[karenisraw]

I'v been raw for about 4 1/2 weeks. I only have a cheap blender and kitchen utensils like potato peeler, garlic press, etc.

I started raw eating HUGE salads and fruits as well as nut pates. Get your plant fats in. That may be a reason for not feeling satisfied. I personally would love a dehydrator for those cracker cravings. For now I do the best I can and run to the raw restraunt down the street and buy their flax crackers. If I did not have the crackers from there, then I would eat more nuts and nut pates.

So far, I have not had a problem feeling satisfied. If I do have that problem, usually an avocado does the trick. Or, eat aonother salad or make a yummy fruit or veggie chutney. What harm can it do you? :p :p :p :p :p :p :p

Hope that helps.

[choleblack]

I have the hardest time in the evenings to. I have started making this my dedicated big salad time. I use the time to chop my vegies carefully, make a "dressing" (even if all I'm doing is wisking flax oil & lemon juice) mix everything in a big mixing bowl. I have to have at least 3 vegies plus lettuce to make a satisfying salad. Plus it has to be big. a whole head of romain is my standard base. A whole avocado, a whole red pepper, you get the idea.

I also make at least 1, sometimes 2 big smoothies. I start with spinach and either a little juice or water. Then I add a frozen fruit and a fresh fruit, some coconut oil or ground flax seed. My standard smoothie is a pint. I find that I have to drink them through a straw though. It's just not the same without the straw. When ever I make a little to much I freeze the rest in my DD's popsical thing for a yummy treat later.

Chole

[Lady Green Jeans]

Awsome advice! I tend to go for filling foods when I'm missing or feeling a craviing for a SAD food. The feelings do pass and I find recipes in Alissa's book that are so filling like already posted that the raw diet is really do-able. Cravings come and go. I choose daily to find recipes that will fill my current dietary need.

It is amazing the variety available. Alissa's book is my favorite and I have found recipes that have satisfied nearly every craving--sweet, heavy, spicy, ethnic cuisine, etc. Being from the midwest, eastern area--'meat and potato country" I am so glad to have found the raw food lifestyle really can work for my life/lifestyle. A few things like mashed potatos I do miss but the great feeling of being raw so much surpasses this that I will not succumb to SAD any more. It is a daily choice and I do feel so much better--this is my wish for you, too. Happy raw journey.

[RawMagnolia]

Chloeblack...

I have also been eating BIG salads... usually for lunch time. I bring a "trough" as I call it :D of partly iceburg and partly romain salad, with chopped up veggies and tomatoe etc.. I'm still new at this, so I find the darker greens a bit bitter. I hope that I get used to them quickly tho.

Lady Green Jeans...

I also come from a history of "meat and potatoes". It was standard at every meal, with some token canned corn or something. We hardly ever had any fruit or veggies around. A bit but certainly not standard. So it's taken me a long while growing up to learn to appreciate these foods... and I have a long way to go I know!

P.S. Thanks for wishing me the best ;)

Sandra