August 2012 30 Day Raw Challenge

[happylife]

I am having a really hard time today. I knew this would come one of these days. My depression and Bipolar is kicking in. darn, double darn!!!

[ReneeH]

Hey Happy Life... It's days like this when you need LOTS of raw and living food around you. Get something you LOVE to eat...maybe something sweet like your favorite fruit! Stay FAR away from SAD food, cuz it'll make you SADder!!! Do something nice just for you! When I have days like that, I get a massage, mani/pedi, listen to my favorite song...etc. don't worry....it'll pass.

[robh]

happylife, hang in there. Before going raw, I had a lot of anxiety and depression. After going raw, it did not go away overnight. It actually seemed to get a little worse during the detox period. Eventually, though, that all went away I felt better than ever before. Hang in there; do not let this discourage you. Raw food has resolved my issues. I am sure it can do the same for you. You look great, by the way. When you posted how young you were in the age thread, I was shocked. I hope that lifts your spirits a little. :)

I am sorry to hear about those having a less than good day (MysticTree and happylife). I will try to inject some positive vibes into the thread. I am doing well today. I had a raw-honey and sunbutter sandwich made from a very simple raw bread:

Mellow Raw Bread

4 medium zucchinis (or 2 large ones), peeled
1 large apple (or 2 small), cored
1 large carrot
1/2 cup of chia seeds soaked in 1 cup of water for 30 minutes
1/2 cup raw almonds soaked over night (optional)

Soak and stir the chia seeds occasionally while you put everything through the food processor. I had to do the zucchinis first, dump it in a large bowl, process the apple, the carrot and almonds and dump that in the bowl. Next, mix the soaked chia seeds into the bowl with the other stuff.

I make pancake-shaped pieces of "bread" that are about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch thick. I make them on parchment paper and dehydrate for 6 hours or until the top is dry enough that it doesn't fall apart. Then, I flip them over and remove the parchment paper and dehydrate for another 6-8 hours.

I like this "bread" because the flavor is mellow and it's not super rich or supper dense or "nutty" or "flaxy". You can skip the almonds and it's nut-free. I actually forgot the nuts yesterday and I think it's great!

The original recipe was posted by "Hippie" in the main forum and it included ground flax (yuk!) (no offense Hippie)

I need to make this bread more often. A simple thing like a "sandwich" sure is nice.

Anyway, hang in there everyone. This too shall pass. :)

[MysticTree]

Just had a mango but now I'm in bed listening to the radio and trying to feel sleepy. I think a manicure and pedicure would be a good idea Renee. Raw honey sounds good rob. Have you got access to re chocolate? I have one bar a week from the health food shop - you'll just never like candy again!

[robh]

Not sure what re chocolate is. Sounds good! I hope your tomorrow is better MT.


Last night, I took the raw cheesecake out of the freezer but it was like really thick, sticky pudding. I put it in the freezer. This morning, it was solid as a rock. I was a little bummed, but I tossed it in the fridge, hoping it would soften up. Tonight, I took it out and it was PERFECT! I let the cooked fooders try it. They all loved it. I think it's a little lemmony and the crust is a little off. It is really good and I will make it again, but I think I will try the crust someone posted here. The best part is my little $29 black and decker veggie wrecker (cheap blender) did just fine. I put the cashews in the food processor first to make it a powder and then added them slowly to the liquid ingredients that were already spinning in the blender. (fyi to anyone that tries it)

[cablegirl]

robh - thank you for the Mellow Raw Bread. I have been dehydrating everything and sight and it all taste yuk:/ I am going to give this one a try once I get some more almonds. I am also with you I use chia seeds in place of flax..

[happylife]

Thanks Rob and Renee; I did mess up a little but I'm back now. I have a whole kitchen full of my favorite fruits, made pumpkin pie (Raw) and also glazed cookies (raw). Went for a (5) mile walk, a 3 mile bike ride. I'm going through a life changing experience ( going to retire) my life has always been full of work since I was 12. Can't work because of many head injuries so I know that is why I am more down than usual.
When I needed support you both were there, you will never know what your kind words mean to me. Thank you so much.

[happylife]

Rob, I think one of the next things I make will be your cheesecake and my lemon bars. I will have to invite friends to help eat it all.

[MysticTree]

That should have read raw chocolate rob. Typing on this silly mobile phone with silly tiny keyboard buttons - that or my fingers are too big.

[LexieW]

Sorry to hear about some struggles - it's okay guys! This is a journey and even missteps are important ones :) Hang in there, begin again.

I tried to introduce my boyfriend (who is raw friendly and supportive, though will likely never go raw himself) to my local raw place. Big, big failure. He was starving and a little grumpy, and I don't know if it was just the entree he ordered (I hadn't had it before) but it was awful. He couldn't take more than two bites, and he hated my entree too. I felt so bad - poor thing was trying to make me happy by taking me to a place where I have more than 1 option, and he suffered.

Oh well. I did pretty well today, though I've noticed I'm hungrier than usual as of late. Have been needing many more snacks throughout the day, even though I doubled the size of my lunch salad!

I'm counting today at Day 1, because there were a few missteps over the weekend.

Looking forward to a good day 2!

[MysticTree]

watermelon, cherries and tomatoes so far. Feeling ok but nothing stellar. Took me ages to get to sleep last night I wasn't buzzy but maybe the pea shoot juice was a mistake at 5-6pm. It tasted really nice and it's easy to drink down and I did pick a nice lot to juice so we ended up with about 4floz each. Fenugreek or wheat grass juice tonight I think unless I decide it will be hard to sleep.

I have a later start tomorrow so I will try to start tomorrow with green juice. I will have time tomorrow, Thursday and Friday.

My mood has been low these past few days and that always makes it harder to resist rubbish food. It's like "what's the point?" but I don't really enjoy the cooked food so it doesn't make sense really.

[Willpower]

I am back...still 100% raw!!! Even with some hiccups in pocket change!!! I am so broke right now its not funny!!! Bills and NJ are killing my budget, and eating 100% raw has been really hard, it's crazy how I could live off of processed food for so much cheaper!!! Anyway, proud in a way, but embarrassed just the same, I did a little dumpster diving on Sunday and was able to salvage about 5 heads of broccoli, two bags of navel oranges and some ruby reds. I also got about a pound of mixed greens that I have to pick the bad pieces out, but good as new. I was able to get 2 pounds of mixed raw nuts from Trader Joes with my change jar, so I am good till payday!!!

No excuses, make it happen!!!!

[robh]

robh - thank you for the Mellow Raw Bread. I have been dehydrating everything and sight and it all taste yuk:/ I am going to give this one a try once I get some more almonds. I am also with you I use chia seeds in place of flax..

I made it without almonds (by accident). It came out fine. I have a old, junky dehydrator (the old circle kind without a thermostat). For that reason dehydrating times will be different, I am sure. FYI

happylife, you will need friends, the cheesecake receipe makes a lot. The strawberry topping was not very popular, fyi.

Willpower, your name really fits! Also, nothing wrong with finding treasure that someone else threw away. Good job finding a way to be raw. :)

LexieW, I hope you and your BF can find someplace to eat that you both have options.

MysticTree, ahh raw chocolate. I have only ever had carob power creations. I take it raw chocolates are pretty awesome?


I am weak lately, I had a little bit of bad food last night. I don't know what upsets me more: knowing that I did or forcing myself to admit it. I feel like a bad kid that does something just because he was told not to. Self control, obviously, isn't one of my strong suits.

Anyway, onward and upward.

Today, it's the normal fair.

I have 2 bananas and an orange waiting for me to get hungry (11:30am here). after that, I will have chia seeds (or not as I am tiring of chia seed pudding). I also brought my ground sesame seeds, raw honey and sunflower butter. I will mix all that up sometime this afternoon and dip apple slices in it. I may hit the healthy snack table in the lunchroom at work and see if they have any interesting fruit (they have kiwis sometimes, but it's rare that they are ripe).

After I get home, my fingers are crossed that one of my avocados is ripe enough to eat. I REALLY really want to put together a raw sandwich with lettuce, tomato, onion and guacamole. My mouth is watering thinking about it! I may toss some carrots on that sandwhich too for a little crunch. Along with the sandwhich, I think will I'll have a tomato salad with chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, olive oil, salt, pepper, green onions, parsley and fresh basil. I may toss some a few cashews in there and pretend it's cheese.

If I do not have a ripe avocado, I will just have to quietly weep to myself. After that, though, I'll probably have a huge salad with raw ranch (the old standby). After the salad, I won't be full so I will need something fatty to get me by. I'll probably end up with the raw cheesecake (very filling).

[ReneeH]

Hey yau'll! Well, my Kale Chips are 'da BOMB!!!! I purposely saved some to see how they keep and today they're STILL fantastic!!! I'm just LOVIN' the crunch in them!!!

Gotta get to the store...not sure what to eat today! I took off work last weekend for my spiritual convention, so I don't have any raw goodies from my raw biz... I do still have some candied nuts which I plan to sprinkle on my icecream later, and the chips. Not enough to get me through, so I'm off to shop! :-)

Ooooohhhhh!!!! Wait a millisecond!!! I'm making the Land and Sea today!!!!!!! My Grezzo cheese is ready!!!!! It takes so long to make the cheese, I almost forgot about it!!!!!! Yippppeeeeee!!!!!!!

[RedCedar]

Good morning all.

Willpower~yay dumpster diving!

Tummy a bit squishy the last couple of days. any advice on what to eat to un-squishify?

Not looking forward to another day of hot/cold housemate interaction. I'm a stay-at-home mom in a shared house with a stay-at-home college dude-who sometimes deigns to acknowledge me. Yay. So not happy with this situation, but proud at the health choices I've been able to make in the midst of it. Looking at an apartment tomorrow, wish us some luck please.