First steps

[sebert2]

Could people give examples of things you did to prepare for the raw diet? Things like clearing out other food, shopping, storage of foods, etc. I was just wondering, and I haven't seen anything posted about it. I am preparing for a change but not sure how to proceed.

How many went 100% right away? How many transitioned, and how? Do you shop for a week at a time or daily or other?

I read Alissa's book last year. I tried that and may use that again, but first I wanted to get some input.

Does anyone here have young children (7 & 9) on raw? If so, how is it going, and what do they like?

[levamssg]

Sebert2,
I did not transition, I went 100% within a day or two. I read articles on the internet, decided what I wanted to do, and just did it. In the first week, I realized I could not have temptation food around, so I cleaned out the cupboards of anything that I shouldn't be eating. I already had a good food processor, and a small juicer and lightweight blender to start with. (These have since been replaced with a Greenstar and Vitamix.) I ordered a dehydrator. I stocked the fridge with veges and fruits; went to Whole Foods (for the first time) and found my way around the store to the bulk section ... bought some basic nuts and seeds... and that was that.

Looking back, I realize how much I didn't know. lol. Not a clue about food combining, balancing what I ate, soaking nuts .. but it all worked out anyway. If something appealed to me, I ate it. If it didn't appeal to me, I didn't eat it. I didn't know any other raw food folks at the time, so I was pretty much on my own. Didn't find this Board until about a year later. You have a huge advantage in having all these resources to start with. Alissa's book gives you starter recipes and shopping lists. I don't have the DVD, but all reports indicate it is a wonderful inspiration and practical guide in how to prepare raw food.

I keep all my nuts/seeds in wide mouth quart mason jars in the pantry. I used to have large plastic containers, but they were too big, and I found I wasn't using up the stuff fast enough. I buy in smaller quantities now, and shop more often. In fact, I don't have any organized shopping days. I buy things as I need them.

I don't have any children living at home, but do have a non-raw husband. He has been very supportive. He cooks his own food, I create my own food. Works fine.

Basically, really think about it and decide what you can commit to. Then just do it. The hardest part is holding firm when other people question what you are doing, and put pressure on you to 'change just for this lunch out' for example, or try to make you feel guilty because your choice is an 'inconvenience' to them. Well, they'll get over it. And they get over it a lot quicker if you stick to your guns and put yourself and your choices first when it comes to what you eat.

Personally, I think going 100% right away is the easiest ... just "pull that bandaid off all at once and get it over with". But, again, you need to take the road that will work for you. The whole idea is to get there.

Congrats on your decision to get back to raw. Best of luck!

[Helen Of Tennessee]

Hi Sebert2,

I'm still transitioning with numerous 100% all raw days inbetween some high raw days.

I have family members that eat S.A.D. (although they are all slowly turning to all raw ) so there are tempting foods in my house still which doesn't help with trying to stay all 100%.

If you can go 100% - DO IT. If not, there is nothing wrong with transitioning, eventually you will be 100% RAW, it will just take a little long. Once high raw, you'll be able to go 100% easier.

I shop for fresh produce about every other day. I found when I stocked up, I ended up tossing a lot of food because what I want to eat one day isn't wanted the next day and the food would go bad. Organic foods don't last as long as conventional foods.

I eat fresh whole fruits and veggies (and smoothies). I have tried many prepared recipes and like some for the first few bites but then don't like it after that, so I don't have foods that I can "store". I do have some nuts and sees and currently they are in the baggies I get from the store and they are on the shelves in my pantry. If you have Alissa's DVD, you will see some wonderful glass stacking square jars. People have raved about these. You can store your nuts and seeds in them. I would think if you make some dehydrated treats, you could store those in there too. As for how to store your prepared meals you make, I'm not sure, hopefully someone else has some tips. I think they usually are kept in the frig, but I'm not sure how long you can keep it.

Enjoy your journey to raw eating. Experiment, try different ways of eating raw, keep reading and one day you'll have your own system in place that works for you.

[judytoronto]

I started out by eating 100% raw for breakfast, lunch and snacks, and then at dinner had some cooked food. Usually my dinner plate was about 30-40% cooked and the rest raw. I did this for about 3 weeks, and then started decreasing the amount of cooked food at dinner.

I am now 100% raw at least 5 days out of 7, with the other 1-2 days of the weeks about 90% raw. I've been eating this way for about a month now.

My next goal is to be 100% raw, 100% of the time.

For me, I've had to take baby steps, mostly because I have a lot of weight that I would like to release (over 100 lbs), and I was afraid of going straight to 100% raw and risk going through severe detox. As it is, I've had some detox happening, but nothing that has me overwhelmed.

I've also released 25 lbs in just over 2 months.

This is what has been working for me. I've also just started exercising regularly, for years my middle name was "couch potato", and I am finding a new energy that I haven't felt since I was slim and in my 20s.

As far as storing foods, shopping, etc., go to the raw food preparation on this site, or simply google and look at other raw sites to get ideas. The best thing is that you have Alissa's book. You'll find your way, listen to your body, go slow or go fast depending on how your body responds.

Judy :)

[rawpriestess]

I was vegetarian when I first heard about 100% raw eating, and I went cold turkey, not saying it is the ONLY way, but I do think it is the BEST way, but that is just for me.


I came home tossed out ALL my foods that was not raw, all condiments, spices, flour, sugar, coffee, tea etc. bought a dehydrator, spiral slicer, teflex sheets, cuisnart etc, and started.

The ONLY thing I waited for was my dehydrator to arrive, I wasn't sure I could do it without that, now I KNOW, you can do anything you truly wish to do, I just didn't know how.

Once, I got Alissa's book, it answered all of my questions, so although I've had some struggles with eating cooked foods, I always go back to raw, been raw now for 42 days, feel great, look great, the world is great. LOL