July 2011 - 30 day challenge - Join at ANYtime of the month!

[rawdanig]

I really want to cave in, I think I need to throw away all my old junk!

Congrats on going raw! We're excited to have you on board. My best advice to you about getting tempted to cave is to look up raw dessert recipes for ice cream and cakes they will help you feel "normal" and will definitely kick your sweet tooth in the butt. Also you should definitely throw out all your old food that isn't raw i did it and gave it all to co workers and family so it wasn't a big waster since someone is gonna use them. Or donate any canned things to a food bank you know so you feel as if your giving back :) good luck!! We are here to support you!

[sniperwolf89]

I'm so glad I've found a place that will support my attempts to be raw. I have had lupus for 9 years and kidney failure for about a year and a half, and I'm currently on a form of dialysis. I'm convinced I can recover, despite what most of my doctors say. July 3 might be a bad day to start the 30 day challenge, but 7 and 3 are my lucky numbers, and I'm really excited to try this once again and see and feel the results!

I look forward to meet anybody and everybody here!

[MysticTree]

Welcome, welcome :)

Raw will certainly help you feel healthier than ever before. Do you have Alissa's book? It's very helpful for a beginner. I got it when I started out and I keep coming back to it.

[apples0687]

Thanks everyone for your great words of advice and encouragement. So far I haven't failed :). How long have all of you been going raw? I bet you noticed a lot of health benefits.

[rawdanig]

Thanks everyone for your great words of advice and encouragement. So far I haven't failed :). How long have all of you been going raw? I bet you noticed a lot of health benefits.

I did a mostly raw transitioning week last week and noticed that even it that short amount of time my face looked different i couldn't put my finger on it but it looks like a have a glow or something maybe im just happier lol. i've lost another .5 in off my waist and i haven't been working out since last week was a recovery week so im excited to how how much more i'll lose when i get back into working out. Overall i seem to have more enery and just seem happier. I sleep like a baby and some days its very easy for me to get up and get moving! Can't wait to see what the next 27 days will bring!

[Nad]

Ugh! I hate ordering out now because i feel like such a pain lol. I tried ordering smoothies on my birthday and every place i was at said they didn't know if it had dairy since its just a mix...um what happened to fresh fruit smoothies in america! Luckily at my bday dinner i was able to get orange sorbet dairy free!
Are naked bars raw? I've had them before they're delicious but didn't know they were raw. Definitely will stock up for school if they are lol

That is annoying! But orange sorbet sounds de-lish
Oh and I just found out not all Nakd bars are 100% raw, if you look at their FAQ http://www.naturalbalancefoods.co.uk/faq.aspx they state they don't use raw cocoa or oats, which is fine because I don't eat the ones with oats in them. I'll just have to avoid the cocoa orange flavor!

Day 3 has been good:

B:Green smoothie - Kale, spinach, pineapple and frozen grapes + shelled hemp for an extra protein boost
Snack: Pecan pie nakd bar (I might be a tad obsessed here)
L:I made some flourless cake (almonds+dates) with whipped kashew kream both Ani Phyo's recipes, and then topped with bananas and shredded coconut - so deliciously indulgent I had a slice as my lunch
D: (so far) some watermelon. Not really hungry so might just have a green juice later - I bought a juicer today and need an excuse to experiment!

Again kind of feel like I've eaten a lot today, been doing my week's prep (making some spreads/cheezes etc.) and I always taste test (read:snack) as I go along. Think I just need to structure meal times better on weekends/find my rhythm.

[Nad]

Apples - I've only been transitioning/raw for just over a week now and I cannot tell you how amazing my skin is. I was vegan for a year prior but still had major skin issues, I used to go through concealer/foundation by the tub, now I just brush on some bronzer and I'm good to go!

[rawdanig]

Day 3-Today was pretty good. I woke up early for work and forgot that i didn't make anything to take to work so i just made a fruit banana mango smoothie with a few collard leafs(I need to buy some greens!) took an extra banana a grapefruit some nuts and hoped for the best lol. Luckily i work at edible arrangements and since it was so slow today i made myself a fruit salad with the leftover fruit(watermelon, cantaloupe,honeydew,strawberries,banana and grapes yum!).

Then went to dinner with a friend at Cosi and i had their signature salad with the low-fat raspberry vinaigrette dressing(no cheese or bread of course) it was yummy! i want to make this at home :) it had pears,dried cranberries(sadly they were probably sweetened) pistachios, grapes and yummy greens mix and more nuts and seeds that my friend shared with me and ate most of lol

Dessert wasn't raw but it's just one day and i'm swearing off sweets for the rest of the month not even raw sweets lol I can do it as i don't crave sweets too often

Tomorrow i plan to buy some greens and more fruits so i can start making more yummy salads like i had today lol and i'm going to attempt to make some kelp noodle pad thai!!! SOO EXCITED(my favorite cooked dish ever excited to try it raw lol)

[rawdanig]

That is annoying! But orange sorbet sounds de-lish
Oh and I just found out not all Nakd bars are 100% raw, if you look at their FAQ http://www.naturalbalancefoods.co.uk/faq.aspx they state they don't use raw cocoa or oats, which is fine because I don't eat the ones with oats in them. I'll just have to avoid the cocoa orange flavor!

Day 3 has been good:

B:Green smoothie - Kale, spinach, pineapple and frozen grapes + shelled hemp for an extra protein boost
Snack: Pecan pie nakd bar (I might be a tad obsessed here)
L:I made some flourless cake (almonds+dates) with whipped kashew kream both Ani Phyo's recipes, and then topped with bananas and shredded coconut - so deliciously indulgent I had a slice as my lunch
D: (so far) some watermelon. Not really hungry so might just have a green juice later - I bought a juicer today and need an excuse to experiment!

Again kind of feel like I've eaten a lot today, been doing my week's prep (making some spreads/cheezes etc.) and I always taste test (read:snack) as I go along. Think I just need to structure meal times better on weekends/find my rhythm.

Oh my! I'm sooo sorry we have "naked" bars here but they are completely different! lol But these look amazing! I'd be willing to order from them if they ship internationally. Or maybe a local co-op might have them!

SOOO jealous about the flourless cake! I've been wanting to make it too but i'm gonna wait til after my 30 days...but i'm sure it was divine!

What cheezes have you tried? I'm looking forward to make her pad thai recipe tomorrow along with the nori rolls
And no ma'am you haven't eaten a lot today! It seems like it when everything you're eating makes you happy lol

[greenrunner]

Good very good days with green smoothies, fresh habanero hummus, banana "ice cream", some various nuts & fruits, and salads.

Not looking to loose any weight and an athlete (long distance runner). I'm a vegetarian and looking to see how the raw challenge goes energy wise!


hummus:
1 habanero
1 can organic garbanzos
2 cloves garlic
sesame seeds (to taste)
drizzle of olive oil
1/2 lemon juiced
sprinkle in a little cumin

toss all ingredients into vitamix and blend until the preferred texture


Banana ice cream:
2 organic bananas (peeled, sliced, frozen)
1 tablespoon fresh ground peanut butter
pecans

Once completely frozen put all bananas in food processor, process until creamy.
add a the peanut butter, pulse to mix in, add pecans (I added 8 or so) and pulse.
eat.

[Nad]

Rawdanig - Definitely look into getting them, they're so good!
As for cheezes I've made the red pepper Kashew Kream (I know the recipe is meant to be a soup but I just used less water and found it made a delicious spread), and I made a "pinky sauce" using this recipe from a local blogger at home, also very tasty!
How did the pad thai and nori turn out? I LOVE regular pad thai so may be persuaded into raw-ifying it too :

Day 3 has been great:
B: Large green smoothie w/- pineapple and grapes like yesterday
Snack: Gala apple
L: 2 collard wraps with sliced carrots, cukes, red peppers, onions and sweet potato hummus (semi-raw)
Snack: Apple Pie Nakd bar
D: Green juice (celery, apple, parsley and cucumber), and curried pineapple with parsnip rice from Rawmazing this was seriously delicious and so easy to make! Highly recommended. + some frozen blueberries a little later.

[Nad]

Then went to dinner with a friend at Cosi and i had their signature salad with the low-fat raspberry vinaigrette dressing(no cheese or bread of course) it was yummy! i want to make this at home :) it had pears,dried cranberries(sadly they were probably sweetened) pistachios, grapes and yummy greens mix and more nuts and seeds that my friend shared with me and ate most of lol

That literally sounds amazing

[rawdanig]

That literally sounds amazing

Oh i already went to the store today and bought raspberries and organic spring mix greens i already have pistachios and i bought pears and apples and i have currants to replace the cranberries i'm excited to make this tomorrow!! Idk if you read seventeen magazine(i know i'm 20) they have some awesome salad ideas in their recent issue that i'm excited to try of course i have to raw modify them lol but it's worth it to add some variety to salads

[midesire]

Hi everyone,

I would be interested to participate in this challenge.

I have lots of recipes and have researched raw food sites.

I would appreciate some help with daily menus. What do you all eat in a day.

Thank you

[rawdanig]

How did the pad thai and nori turn out? I LOVE regular pad thai so may be persuaded into raw-ifying it too :

So the pad thai wasn't amazing im so sad. I did forget the jalapenos though and its missing a hint of sweetness and she used lemon juice instead of lime? so im gonna try adding some honey and jalapeno and see how it taste tomorrow. Kelp noodles are definitly worth trying as they really made me feel like i was eating real noodles