what's your job? easy or hard to be raw?

[mangomama]

I thought this might be interesting! There is no need to be specific, just a label will do....
I am blessed to be a keeper at home to my dh of almost 8 years. We homeschool our 4 littles...6yo ds, 4yo ds, 2yo dd, & 11mo. ds. My days are full to over-flowing. We are almost 100%. Our transition has been gradual until about 3 months ago then we went almost full.
I think it is pretty easy for us to be raw since we are able to be home mostly. My challenge is sometimes to find the time to prepare meals and then to clean up. We are moving closer to simpler meals, but I love to experiment!
It is more difficult for my dh to eat well, especially when he is travelling, he's a pilot. I usually pack whatever he can take and then he trys to find raw restaurants or good salad places.
I'm looking forward to your responses and thanks for all the help. I love to visit this board.

[karenisraw]

mangomamma,

Hi. I work at caribou coffee shop at the cash register or on the coffee bar. It is kind of hard to be 100% raw there because I don't drink coffee. I sometimes have an iced soy chai, but I am trying to not eat soy. Sometimes I will have a smoothie but they have cane sugar in it so, I probably should not eat those either. We get a free drink each shift and it is hard to say no to it. I suppose the iced chai (organic) is the best option.

k
;)

[Miranda]

i'm a nanny for 3 kids...i find it very difficult to stay 100% while i'm there. The pantry is full of SAD food and it's very tempting sometimes, especially when the kids are eating it. I try very hard to get the kids to eat more fruits/veggies/healthy food, but the mother is a stay at home mom and when i tell the kids NO, they go running to her for the YES. very frustrating. I try to bring a lot of food with me every day so i don't give in...some days are harder than others...

[mangomama]

Karen-that would be sooo hard for me, lattes are my SAD of choice! But oh, how they reek havoc on my belly!

Miranda- I'm not sure who has it more difficult? I have removed almost all the SAD from our home b/c I know I would eat it. What does the mom do? Does she have a business? I'm sorry that she contradicts you like that. Yikes. Good idea to bring lots of yummy raw. Alissa's fudge balls are my staple.

Who else is out there?

[JMD]

I am a school teacher and find it easy during the day because school lunches are GROSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS !! lol However what i find hard is the rigid schedule i have and time to eat being pretty short and that frustrates me. Also teachers tend to bring in junk food and eat it ALL day...leave it in the teachers rm. and the smells do spread.

JMD

[vegggeeemom]

I am a stay at home Mom of 3 children ages 11, 3, and 17 months. I homeschool my 11 year old will be homeschooling my 4 year old in the Fall. I've been a stay at home Mom for close to 11 years.

Oops misread the post. LOL Is it easy or hard to be raw? Sometimes it's hard to be raw, but I don't always prepare in advance, so I'm setting myself up.

I love being able to be a stay at home wife and Mom and realize I'm one of the lucky few.

Good thread.

Pam

[JinxieKat]

I'm a bank manager, it's pretty easy to stay raw. We've got a fridge in the back and I can keep snacks at my desk for when they are needed. The hard time is when clients bring in goodies.. we have alot of clients that will do that. OoOOo that is hard! Homemade chocolate chip cookies the other day, they smelt soo good!

Jinx

[chiefchewy]

I supervise the aquatics department at a very large retirement community and i basically am on my own all day running here and there... I am out side all day and often in the heat (so cal). I cart a huge cooler to work everyday with all raw goodies... Everyone thinks i eat a ton of food because everytime anyone sees me i am eating or have food in my hand!
the hardest thing is trying to get everything together to take... some nights i just don't feel like doing it after dinner and then in the am i already get up at 5 to be to work for 6:30... so some days when i am lazy i just throw as much fruit and vege's and nuts i have laying around in to the cooler... plus i carry 2- 32 oz bottles of water or sun yerba matte tea...
My biggest concern is running out of food because i pass about 10 fast food places on my rounds every day and if i am hungry... i get tempted... so far i have not given in for 4 months...

[Light of an Angel]

I am fortunate because I live 2 minutes from my work so I get to go home for lunch. I overlook/manage Optometric Office and bring fruit/veggie to snack on throughout the day.

[Raw_Medic]

I work as a Firefighter...I find it to difficult sometimes to be raw. It can be hard when we're busy to stop and make a salad or smoothie, and then there's always junk food around...however, when I have time I am able to use my blender and make great salads and stuff....

[weirdestpersonalive]

Well, I work at The Childrens Place at the mall. I also babysit. I also do some work (running errands and such) on the side but that's free labor. It's easy to be raw at The Childrens Place since I don't work much and days are short. However it's a lot more difficult when I'm babysitting. TONS of SAD foods... very tempting! So I know how you feel Miranda!
Luv this thread Mangomama!

Laura

[sweepea32]

I am an RN at a very stressful place in the hospital. It is difficult for me-because I am an emotional eater and there is something emotional always going on. :)


Mary

[PRIL]

I used to be a stylist, but I am and accountant now for 1 1/2 years. It's hard for me to get used to eating this way but its happening.

[spockafina]

I'm a full-time college student, but I work part-time at a supermarket bakery - VERY hard to stay raw at work with all the goodies around... but I always bring lots and lots of fruit to keep in the cooler. I have some good days and some bad days

I also always have fruits in my backpack so I don't get too hungry between classes and such, so during the schoolday I'm fine.

[Amberly]

I'm a full time student and work at a party store. That doesn't make it particularly difficult, except for on Valentine's Day we were selling fabulous looking chocolate covered strawberries and the owner put one in my face and said "try it" and I did, then I had a chocolate mint. So that was hard.

But I am applying to law school (thanks to raw food, I'll explain someday) and I am hoping to be at the point by then where I am not eating much and have optimal energy. Hoorah, raw food.

[GodsTemple]

I would think it would be hard to be a 100% all raw. For a few reasons: these are the challenges I face. I give him raw fruits, for breakfast & I used to have raw breakfast shakes in the mornings.

I make my husband his breakfast & Lunch, for he is gone during that part of the day. We've always eaten cooked foods, but we are gradually leaning more towards raw.

2 out of 3 meals are cooked: Lunch & dinner. Besides I skip breakfast, which isn't good.

I believe that I need to change my ways, & in order to do that: I must find ways of making my raw food diet more tasty, for it is to easy to go to the store & buy stuff that isn't on my diet. When I have plenty of raw foods @ home. Just a matter of finding some tasty foods & thus descide to avoid the old habits.

GodsTemple

[Nini]

I am a teacher. Not a problem staying raw at all.

[shakti17]

I am a paralegal - corporate environment. sometimes it is hard - actually i think hard or easy does not depend on where i am physically - but where my mind/emotions are! if i am having a bad day, it is hard.

there are goodies around my office, but i resist them by buying myself raw treats (ie - if i don't eat the chocolate that is ALWAYS EVERYWHERE here, then i go to the health market for a piece of raw pie or whatever)

I LOVe my job, and am so grateful for it, because i use the income for raw organic foods! :p


i forgot to mention - we have a kitchen in the office with a fridge, and i have my own cubicle/raw food kitchen garden! :D

[Inspired Chick]

Hi! I'm a Manager of Administrative Services for a pharmaceutical ad agency. It's a very hectic, chaotic job, but I spend quite a bit of time at my desk. I find the hardest part is the 3pm slump...There's ALWAYS food here (leftovers from meetings and/or birthday celebrations), so I try my best to stay away from the kitchen!

I'm one of those people who chronically get up late (I just keep hitting that snooze button), so I never have the chance to pack my lunch. There's a great salad bar very close to where I work, so I usually go there. I'm very active and go to the gym 4-5 times a week -- just constantly running around.

So, in answer to your question -- yes, I find it hard to be raw at work... :p

[RawMagnolia]

I work in an office (accounting dept.) so it's super easy for me to be raw... if I was up for it. I get my RAW foods ready each morning, and try to stick to them throughout the day. Fruits during the morning, a salad for lunch, and veggies for the afternoon.

It when I'm home that the food deamons get to me. My hubby is more o'kay with my rawishness this time around, but last year he wanted me to eat supper with him (SAD supper). It bothered him soo much that I was trying so hard. So this time around, I am trying to get him used to the idea of a couple of "salad" only nights for us. And then on the other nights I try to eat steamed broccoli or whatever, with potatoe & a salad. He is comfortable so far with my choice to not eat animal products.

I find tho that as soon as I get home all I want to eat are those SAD foods. It's emotional for me. I don't like disappointing anyone, or causing problems. And I just tend to do the wrong thing (eat SAD foods) even if he's up for RAW foods. I sabotage myself that way.

One night a week he goes to visit a relative, so that's the day that I can be 100% RAW... and do I do it. NO! I'm sabotaging myself. So I am working on trying not to have this negative behaviour... and just trying to do the better thing for my body.

Sandra

P.S. I find that on my days off I'm more likely to eat SAD foods. I find if my day is scheduled (like work) then it's much more easy for me to stay RAW... but when I have a day off... and I'm sitting around wondering what to do with myself... all those bad eating habbits crop up and stare me in the face. I spent/spend a lot of time eating b/c I'm bored, or emotional. It's a crutch I'd love to lose.

[shakti17]

wannaberaw,

i just realized that your name is "wannaberaw", which implies you are not raw - hmmmm...
also, i find, and i have heard others share too, that it is easier to be 100% raw than 99% raw. perhaps the steamed broccoli and potatoes keeps your cravings going - i know that is how it works with me.

[RawMagnolia]

Shitaki17...

it's my husband who keeps me from being 100% RAW at this point... o'kay well that, and my own darn cravings lol!!

I do wanna be RAW... but it takes time, and learning, and self acceptance. But I'm working on it.

I wish I could just go 100% starting tomorrow, without anyone's problems, baggage, judement, etc. Just to see if I could persevere thru the detox and tough times.

Here's a green smoothie "cheer" for hope

Sandra

[rawfigure]

I am a Financial Services Rep (i.e Stock Broker) so it is pretty easy to stay Raw. I am on the road alot, going to see clients in their homes and places of business. When in the office there is no temptation from Food, it is a Male Dominated Office and they go out to all meals, rarely anything tempting in the lunch room, if you can call it that ..a microwave on the file cabinet in the file room..classy huh ?! I rarely have time to cook as I work long hours. I rarely eat out except date night with my husband so Raw is Perfect for me...the uncook cook. Stop and buy fruit veggies, wash and GO !

[LeanAndHungry]

I

P.S. I find that on my days off I'm more likely to eat SAD foods. I find if my day is scheduled (like work) then it's much more easy for me to stay RAW... but when I have a day off... and I'm sitting around wondering what to do with myself... all those bad eating habbits crop up and stare me in the face. I spent/spend a lot of time eating b/c I'm bored, or emotional. It's a crutch I'd love to lose.

I have found the same thing to be true. It's so hard to eat raw on weekends. I find myself binging on ice cream and chocolate. It's much easier, though still hard during the week. I actually eat very little until evening on days I work. Today I did not eat a thing until around 5pm, waking up at 6:30. I get pretty hungry, but that helps me get things done at work. It kind of makes you frantic to be hungry all day. I think that it is just important to stay very busy, whether with work/chores, or something very enjoyable. I think it's the "blah" activities that give the opportunity to splurge.

[Rastadawta]

Good evening.
I am a Health Inspector..I check mobile units, such as pushcarts---hot dogs, soup, etc. It is very difficult for me since I am a field worker and I have to go to local stores, like McDonalds, BK, Taco Bell, etc where I can do my reports..At first I did well the first two days, was 100% but I had a donut and another one until where I am eating fries,(small of course) a salad and a veggie Burger...This weekend I plan on making so much "uncooked" food to last me for the week...This board makes me feel like I can take this one day at a time...
Peace

[juliebove]

I'm a writer and stay at home mom. I also work at the school for one hour a week doing a special reading program. One problem I have is that my daughter takes 4 dance classes a week, two of them right after school. So I have to plan for dinner prior to those classes because she is starving and wants to eat right after. I have to either have something ready or take her out to eat. And given all of her food allergies, we are limited as to where we can eat when we dine out. My parents also prefer to dine out. I do sometimes fix meals at thier house, but I really think they prefer not to have to deal with dishes and such.

Some years ago when I was really sick, I could do very little in the kitchen because I was so weak, I couldn't stand up for very long. So I got myself a bar stool. I'd then spend about two hours a week sitting on that and prepping fruit and veggies (mostly veggies) for the week. I'd wash, chop, dice and slice whatever I thought I'd need for the week. Of course some things don't keep for very long once they are cut up and really by the end of the week, I wouldn't have much left. I also realize that this isn't the best thing to do since I think it is better to wash and cut them up just prior to eating them. But for me, at that point in time it was vital because I simply didn't have the strength to do it any other way.

Now, my health is a lot better and most of the time I can cut up the food as needed. But I will still prep food this way on occasion when I know I am going to be busy the next day. It really helps to be able to just mix something up quickly without having to do all that prep work. And some things I use a lot of (like onions) are always kept prepped and ready to go in the fridge.

[DevotedWife]

I'm in the military and find it extremely hard to try to eat 100% raw. I ordered Alissa's book & dvd and registered here back in Aug. I was preparing to come to S. Korea at that time and I'm starting to think I won't be able to do it until I return to the US this Aug. I have to go out for field training exercises for a week or two (or three) every other month or so and have to eat whatever is provided. I have the dvd here and my husband mailed my book this past weekend. I had planned to transition again by eliminating dairy products starting 1 Mar. I've been a lacto-ovo vegetarian for 5 1/2-6 yrs. I found out a few hours ago that I'm going out for another FTX in the not so distant future, but I'm going to try to stick to my plan. Even when I deploy from the US I hope it'll be easier b/c I'll already be comfortable with eating raw and plus I'll go for whatever my time is and return home instead of this back and forth. I really can't afford to go through a hard detox, so I'm planning to transition based on Storm's Garden Diet and pray for the best.


My sexy husband, my 4 1/2 yr old Vita-Mix, and 1 1/2 yr old American Harvest dehydrator are all back in the US waiting for me. I'm looking forward to going home and being more adventurous. :)

[divaitalia]

I guess I have it good and I have it bad because my job is CATERING at a symphony hall!!!!! There is always food around as you know and it is never good for someone that is a raw food wannabe and trying so hard to be.

I am always taking my case full of fruits and veggies and hummus and snacks and hoping that the bread won't get the best of me. Sometimes if I am really hungry I just eat some tomatoes and some lettuce and sometimes there is fruit. Granted, non of this is organic but you can't have everything all of the time and when you are HUNGRY!!!! :o

Since I do have a schedule that is not a 9-5 days only it is a lot easier for me to do the raw food lifestyle. It is so very hard though to be around all that food because we are so used to just picking at everything and eating whatever we want. Hopefully I will overcome all the emotional eating in time.

Hope this helps to anyone in the food buz,
Divaitalia

[theresaann]

I am also a very lucky stay at home mom with two kids, 12 and 9. I also work out of my home, also lucky, seeing clients doing holistic healing work (spiritual channeling, medical intuitive readings, massage and craniosacral therapy-and now LIVING FOODS CLASSES-HA!)

It's easy for me to be raw, very easy, when I am home alone (ie-no family). It's easy when they are around for ME to be raw, but they won't. Staying raw is the easy part, cooking them food is the hard part. Not cause I want to eat it, but because I just DON'T want to do it!!!

My kids will have smoothies, even green ones. My dh will eat whatever I make, but always wants something cooked too, and he will not, to save his life, learn how to prepare food-his own or someone elses. It's frustrating, but I am NOT wavering from 100%. I think that as they all see me losing weight, feeling great and looking better, they will be inspired to try more raw-at least I HOPE so!!!

[dread_head]

it's easy for me. i am 90% raw. i work for manpower right now doing all different kind of jobs.... some one asked me yeatersay if i eat nothing but salads :p lunch is usally a big salad.. i thought it was kinda funny