So many different opinions, it is confusing!

[faith4u]

I have Allisa's book and DVD. I have been looking into buying some other books too. Yet, there seems to be so many ways to do raw.

I am looking at stuff from Dr. Graham and Frederic Patenaude for one. Now they are low fat predominantly sweet fruit eaters right?

Then there are Victoria and her family and Tanya Z. What kind of raw diet do they promote?

I am trying to find out what is best for me. I can't seem to tolerate the nuts for very long. I do okay with avocado though.

Thanks,
Tracy

[Rawkinlocs]

The best thing to do is to listen to your own body. There are many different approaches to raw and mainly, it is because someone is writing about their personal experiences with raw or based on where they are at the time they're writing the book. Victoria B. used to write about the raw diet based on how she and her family were doing it back then. Now, if you were to hear her speak, she no longer approaches nor teaches raw as she used to as she doesn't do a lot of the prepared raw meals and things as she once did. I don't know much about Tonya Z. but I know she has prepared recipes in her book.

Dr. Graham wasn't always as (what some consider to be) strict with his raw diet as he is now.

So, approach raw from where YOU are right now and as time goes on, you will adjust to what is right for you.

That is what I love about Alissa's book and approach because she reaches people...the mainstream, where they are and then she tells you that she used to eat all the prepared meals but now, no longer finds she needs all that. Her book has recipes that are high nuts, low nuts, no nuts, basic and simple to more involved. There's something for everyone where ever they are in their rawness

[Fruitarianone]

The biggest mistake people make is thinking that fruitarians only eat sweet fruits ;) and purposely eat little fat! in time you learn to listen to what your body needs if it's time to eat fats then you eat when hungry and stop when satisfied it's all about listening to your body! I find that my needs go in cycles depending on the season and weather. hope that helped. F1

[Raspberry4]

Faith- you are right. Each book has some similarities and big differences to them. Each person's approach is unique to themselves. Alissa's book is really one of the best I have read and own. I know it may be hard to believe it, but your body will tell you when you have eaten right for you (good energy feeling, no stomach upset, etc.) and when you have eaten something disagreeable (poor energy, stomach upset, etc.). I usually feel very heavy and blah after eating too many nuts, especially in their whole form. I can tolerate better when they are ground into a recipe, for example. Some days you will want lighter foods, sometimes heavier foods (oil, avocado, nuts). I find I do much better with soaked seeds (pates) than alot of nuts. Keep a steady diet of veges and fruits, add nuts and seeds as you feel comfortable. Then expand to other recipes (dehydrated) cookies, cakes, breads, etc. that you can make from sprouted grains. Good luck. :)

[misslinda]

I am trying to find out what is best for me. I can't seem to tolerate the nuts for very long. I do okay with avocado though.

Thanks,
Tracy

Great! you're doing exactly what we all are trying to achieve......listen to what is best for you and grow from that. The wealth of information from many raw resources gives us the tools to make decisions.



Tailored raw eating,
ml :)

[RawTruth]

I don't know much about Tonya Z. but I know she has prepared recipes in her book.

She advocates are very simple diet. She includes prepared recipes for the same reason Alissa does -- so that people coming over to "our" side from a cooked food diet will have somewhat familiar things to eat until they continue their transitioning to more and more simple and mono-eating. She personally eats very little after being completely raw for many years. (This is true for a number of other longtime raw vegans that I've personally met who have naturally moved away from prepared foods and, as their bodies got cleaner and cleaner, they needed less and less food. Fascinating!).

I always advocate starting with Alissa's method while, at the same time, educating yourself by reading other books, attending lectures, and getting to know local long-time raw fooders through potlucks or meet-ups -- relying more on those three than on information on the internet. That way, you'll be 100% raw by following Alissa's 4-week plan, you'll become expert at preparing foods, and you'll have a much greater chance at staying raw. Then, if you listen to your body and perservere through the cleansing and changing it will be doing, you will mostly likely find yourself naturally evolving in what you're eating and you will simplify and refine your diet the longer you're raw.

Just don't be confused by the differing opinions. One of the most important things that Victoria Boutenko has said is to follow no one raw "guru." Figure it out for yourself. This journey is different than the one proposed by all the diet "experts" - Atkins, Palm Beach, Pritikin, even McDougall. Just keep eating raw -- and keep educating yourself.

My last little bit of advice -- be careful not to get caught up in controversies/discussion with people who aren't really raw. I know I'm opening myself up to possible attack here (and I am absolutely sympathetic with and supportive of those struggling to become and/or return to being all raw), but the best people to advise you are those you have succeeded in being 100% raw.

[lily]

Thank you RawTruth and to everyone else who participated in this thread. I'm trying to come to terms with the same issues, so found the answers very helpful.

My main problem is that I want to get away from the nut-heavy, avocado-heavy dishes which I' ve been relying on since I started to go raw in November. I still want to eat a meal which seems good and substantial, but without all those nuts, seeds etc, just lots of veggies done in a way which is appealing and appetising.

lily

[rawfaith]

I agree with Rawkinlocks that everyone needs to find what works for them. Some people do well on just fruit, some on mostly veggies, some people can handle nuts and some can't, some people thrive on raw food recipes and some people need a more simple whole foods diet. Also you'll find you will change. Just because one way works for you now doesn't mean that it will work for you next year or even next week. I do think our intuition is the most reliable source for information on this question. Our beliefs also play a part in things. Chances are whatever you think is the healthiest way to eat is the healthiest way for you to eat right now. But also remember we humans can make mistakes. So perhaps you think you should be eating more greens but you don't seem to be getting around to doing so. Well maybe something in you knows that it isn't the right time for you to be doing more greens. So never get down on yourself.

I think that the spiritual quest, the journey of become healthy and balanced human beings, should be the main focus, and then the way you eat becomes a part of that journey. Its all entangled, very complex, very mysterious.

About the only thing all raw vegan teachers agree on is that cooking destroys nutrients. After that you are right there are probably a hundred different philosophies/variations, many of them contradictory.

The wonderful thing is that you can just experiment and choose one, see if you like it, if not try another, and after a few months to a year of any of these practices you'll start having better intuition about what foods your body does well with and what particular foods you are craving right now.