Georgina's Raw Journey

Yes it was these realizations that caused me to give up on raw after almost 3 months of being 'all raw'....because I realized that probably all the nuts I'd eaten the whole time were not Really raw in that they wouldn't sprout...so what is the difference if I eat an equal number of calories cooked.
So I dropped the raw ball....which is sad in a way because now I am a full 50 pounds heavier and look like crap...and eat like crap, lol.
Now, I am still trying to figure out some plan that I can live with...like eating fruit or salad has become this big deal in my head because I associate it with raw veganism and I just can't seem to keep it simple in my head any longer...I see All foods in terms of raw or not raw and now half the time my hubby eats more raw than I do because he's just simply 'eating a peach'. :/ ...sorry, that turned into a vent a bit...woopsies!

funny cos I find raw or not raw labels very helpful. I have this list - not an actually list you understand, a metaphorical one - and I eat from the raw list. It's simple.

Where I think some people fall down is that they say well such and such is not actually raw but it's better than eating a burger so they allow it on their "raw" list. Soon the list is brimming with "allowable" non-raw stuff and the whole thing goes down-side-up.

Have a rational chat with yourself. Raw veganism is not such a bad thing you know and fruit and veg is just fruit and veg.

Yeah, I agree that the whole raw industry is super frustrating. You can never trust labels, and I think even the best intentioned raw person ends up eating some non-raw things. I was always astounded to find out that things I thought were raw ended up not being raw at all.. even though half the time, the packaging labels it as being raw. There are just no standards!

no, like with nuts, raw means not roasted but they've still been blanched. And then the sunflower seeds I was getting, some would sprout, others wouldn't. To me, the fact that nuts generally won't sprout at all, tells me something about how alive it is.
And don't even get me started on irradiated foods.
But I am my own worst enemy with it too because if I didn't care in the first place, I would still be 'all raw', which is a much better place than I am now. But then again, my original point in giving it up was that some cooked food also wouldn't matter when you associate it with all nuts, etc....so I am developing a different approach that incorporates some cooked food on the weekends (whereas I would've been gourmet/high nut on the weekends). ...now to only implement what I develop, lol.

I am into my 3d try to be 'all raw" starting this month. When I eat raw i mean I eat raw. That is fruit, veggies, olive oil, nuts from vitacost website that is claimed raw, but very little of it. I am super confused about "preparing raw dishes" and that is why I still have not tried and raw cocoa, not sure what to do with cashews, so I don't buy them, etc. It does turn out 100% raw diet and a pound a week goes easily. BUT! To stay raw I need at least something prepared in a dish, something that isn't just a fruit, and most things I tried besides usual green greek style salad doesn't turn out hearty or even good. I am totally frustrated not being able to find the raw dishes "delicious" as it is described usually. Zuccini pasta was blah, stuffed mushrooms were tasteless...Please help. I need like a few "no fail garanteed to be delicious" recipes to stay raw. Another problem is how many ingredients you need and how long it takes to prepare things to take along if it is not a green salad. It seems like a rocket sience. Am I the only one frustrated by food quality and taste? I can stay raw meaning raw, but overcoming cravings is hard if you don't know how to enjoy raw...

try this blog MaryPoppins

http://rawon10.blogspot.com/

the mushroom marinara on there is fabulous!

Part of the problem is that for years people have referred to "the raw ingredients" for making a cake or whatever recipe they are talking about and that has come to be the standard definition. Raw as a measure of uncookedness has simply not been needed.

I read all labels and it is pretty clear what has and hasn't been cooked. If it doesn't say raw in the ingredient list then I don't buy it - regardless of what the BIG writing on the front of the pack says.

I want to grow those pumpkins that have the ready-to eat-seeds inside. I've forgotten their name but John Kohler grows them so I can look them up. I love his growingyourgreens youtube videos.

You know Georgina, I feel like you do in respect that some people feel that "going raw" means dieting to lose weight. When I share my raw eating habits with co-workers they assume I'm trying to lose weight. True, I need to eliminate some extra blubber, but I am in to a raw diet more for the fact that there is no processed foods. Therefore I can heal faster from my ailments. Simple is better for me. I will never probably sprout things or make onion bread or pate. Just me.
Thanks for blogging!!

Oh, yeah, btw.... you ARE "honest to goodness raw" from just what I've read about you and your honest opinions on this web site. Thanks for sharing all you know with us.

I am a die-hard skinflint when it comes to dehydrators but the breads are very tempting! I think I may have to get an Excalibur just to try some of the bread recipes. Strangely, I had an Excalibur when I wasn't raw. Hardly ever used it and sold it on. Pity!

this is a simple subject --but has ended up as a sore subject for me personally.
When i was 100% raw - i was judged HEAVILY by those around me if I ever ate anything that might be 'questionable' as to it's 'raw-ness'.
I do agree that many people think if you are going on a raw food Lifestyle - then it's about weight loss. And (unfortunately) many of us do need to shed a few unnecessary poundage. But I love what Bonzer said - it's about NON PROCESSED FOODS... AND it's also about healing and our health over all ... not just about shedding weight.
so - with that said - I too am walking this LIFEstyle because I want to be healthy overall, (the key word being OVERALL).

What works for me -- I had to approach this with the attitude of eating as healthy as I possibly could - but I also promised my self that I would not 'sweat the small stuff'. This LIFEstyle has to be DO-able for me - so if that means I use agave or honey - there you go -- it's better than an artificial sweetner filled with chemicals and poisons! Arguing about the percent raw that I am or am not is tiresome. I guess I'm just not a 'pure-est'. I just want to be healthy. If that means a store lies to me and says these nuts are raw when they aren't ... I'm not going to sweat it - because bottom line - I know it's STILL healthier than if I sat down to a meal of fatty fleshy meat and what ever else unhealthy people eat!

We all have to find our balance and what works for us. What makes this LIFEstyle Do-able, easy and enjoyable! I so appreciate this post and this forum. It's great to be able to read your thoughts and exchange ideas with all of you....
Y'all TOTALLY RAWk!

I totally agree that it has to be do-able.

The thing that gets me I think is that people say 95% when what they would be better off saying - because it would be more honest - is "I am mostly raw most of the time.

I can get raw almonds, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds but other nuts knock me off my ideal of 100%. That is annoying but I am happy not to sweat it too much if what I want calls for cashews for example.

Honey I am happy with - as is Alissa. Agave I don't do cos it's so highly processed and not raw. If I can't get honey I use raw dates.

As you say. It must be doable I just think honesty is the best way to get the most out of it for yourself.