The One Month RAW Challenge

[alicein1land]

Saw my Dr today and she was shocked (pleasantly) that I had lost so much weight and that my BP had dropped! Unfortunately, although not unexpected, my lab work (drawn the day before I started the MC), was rather crappy. My cholesterol, LDL, Triglycerides, and blood sugar were all bad! I will be having more lab work done in 3 months, so hopefully they will be improved! :)

[alicein1land]

Day 2 of the raw challenge and I am doing very well. My BP is still low and I have not taken any meds today either. I have also lost another 1b. for a total of 21 lbs! :D
So far today I have had:
--1 juiced red grapefruit w/ a tsp of olive oil
--1 small banana sliced w/ 1/2 cup blueberries and some chopped celery
--3 yellow figs
--1 serving of Chard w/ raisins & pine nuts

Haven't had dinner yet and will be going to a party later this evening! :)

[mtmouse]

Good going, Ann! Doesn't it feel great?

[alicein1land]

Thanks, Kathy! Yes, it does feel great, and I feel fabulous! I couldn't have imagined that I could feel so good, so positive, and have so much energy by cleansing for 10 days and then living on fruits and vegetables! Wow! :D

And I couldn't have imagined eating CHARD and enjoying it! I had never bought chard before (or any other greens other than spinach and lettuce); I didn't know what to do w/ it! And now I have not only chard, but KALE in my fridge! LOL :D :D

[mtmouse]

Cornbleet has a delicious Mediterranean kale salad in her book. Chard can always be substituted. Basically, if you marinate raw chard or kale in a dressing with vinegar for half an hour or more, it will lose its bitterness and taste great. Be gorgeous, too!

And both kale and chard are also great in GREEN SMOOTHIES!

Ani Phyo uses it in a number of salads: a slaw with red cabbage (that sounds yummy!) with oil-vinegar-thyme dressing; "confetti salad" with red leaf lettuce and red cabbage, walnuts, and cherries with orange-cucumber dressing; basically chard and red cabbage again, with dill, rosemary, and cilantro, with a creamy curry dressing; and "evergreen salad", with kale, mustard greens, spinach, and arugula, with sunflower-thyme dressing.

So just be creative and go for it!

[alicein1land]

Kathy, Cornbleet's Mediterranean kale salad is why I bought the kale! :D The recipe sounded so good. And you are right, I was thinking that I could use chard in place of the kale, if I wanted to. :) After all, both greens have big green leaves, right?? LOL :D

I noticed that both Cornbleet and Victoria Boutenko (I am reading her 12 Steps to Raw) use kale and chard in their smoothies. I haven't made any smoothies yet; I don't have a Vita-Mixer but do have a fairly powerful blender. I'm afraid of trying to drink a "green" drink and having chunks of kale/chard left in it! :D

[alicein1land]

Day 4
I am on Day 4 of the Raw Challenge and have hit the wall! :eek: I started feeling lousy yesterday afternoon with a lot of gas and bloating and went to bed feeling completely nauseous. :( Woke up w/ diarrhea, bloating and gas, and the fun has continued so far today. Managed to eat a banana for breakfast and nothing else except water; just finished a small cucumber Greek salad from Whole Foods. Having more gas! :( I don't really feel like eating anything at this point due to the gastric distress! Ugh! :eek:

[babsgoesraw]

Day 4
I am on Day 4 of the Raw Challenge and have hit the wall! :eek: I started feeling lousy yesterday afternoon with a lot of gas and bloating and went to bed feeling completely nauseous. :( Woke up w/ diarrhea, bloating and gas, and the fun has continued so far today. Managed to eat a banana for breakfast and nothing else except water; just finished a small cucumber Greek salad from Whole Foods. Having more gas! :( I don't really feel like eating anything at this point due to the gastric distress! Ugh! :eek:
Hi Ann~~
I'm sorry to hear about your tummy. I've also had some gas, but not much. It sort of makes sense that our system is in a little state of shock. I'd really be bummed though if I were nauseous. I'd sometimes rather have a tooth drilled or some awful thing.
I made a raw soup (I'd share it here but I'm not that thrilled with it) that sounded soooo delicious and it was actually fun to make but I have had a hard time eating it. Either I'm not used to eating "soup" COLD or room temp OR it's just too different than what I'm used to. I realized that if I slowed down and concentrated on every ingredient and texture (eating it consciously) that it became more enjoyable. I paid too much for all those organic veggies to dump it! Heaven's no, right?! Well, I hope you're not discouraged from finding what it is you'll need to stay away from for now. Your body is telling you something. Like you, I've lost some more weight after the MC (11 total- I'm 5'5 and WAS 150) It was sooo nice to see the 130's even if it was at the top of all the possibilities! Hang in there girly.

[babsgoesraw]

:p Can anyone give me the basics on eating nuts & seeds. Obviously the nuts need to be raw and not roasted. But is there organic vs. non-organic? Do they have to soak like a lot of the recipes recommend? And the difference between soaking and "sprouting". I'm getting the idea that the soaking is for recipes where you're making "butter" or a sauce. Sprouting them, I'm not sure why. I understand that they're even better for you, sprouted. Do they taste better? But is there a super easy way to do this? And.... can I, if I wanna, eat them plain? without getting gas? Am I the only one that has experienced gas with eating nuts?
Thanks a ton for any input, I appreciate it~
Babs:D

[Nance]

Hey, just another note to say I am still around, happily munching nuts tonight, as my co-op order came in one week late . . . but now it is here, so I can pick up with some FINE recipes!

[Res]

Hi Babs,

Check out the "Soaking nuts (http://therawfoodsite.com/forum/showthread.php?t=105&page=3&highlight=soaking+nuts)" thread for tips and examples on what to do with the nuts and seeds. Good luck on getting away with "no gas". :o ;)

Nance: Glad to see you're still around. :)

Love,
~Res

[babsgoesraw]

Thanks, I'll look that up now.
Hugs OO

[babsgoesraw]

Kathy-
When you're feeling up to it, you've gotta try the green smoothy in the morning. OMG- all I've got is a blender (not even THAT powerful) and I experimented with what I had and I loved it! The juice of one organic orange, a org banana, about a little less than a cup of spring water and a couple hands full of an organic spring mix salad (organic of course) and watched it turn into.....:eek: ...my breakfast. As I'm telling you this, I remember now that I was going to ask someone about the idea that we "SHOULDN'T" be mixing fruit with vegetables for reasons of digestion. This is very contradictory to a lot of the raw recipes that I'm seeing in here. ANY COMMENTS ON DAT ONE?...ANYONE?:confused:
Anyway, my system is still liking the smoothy....no complaints so far.
I'm another pound DOWN:D that's a total of 12. I never thought I'd see that at age 45. All I heard when I'd complain that I couldn't lose weight (easily, like I use to) was "welllll, you are 45 years old ya know." As if I'd forgotten or something .... LOL:p
Okay well- I'm curious to hear how your tummy is...write soon <3
Babs

[alicein1land]

Babs: Still have an unsettled stomach but the nausea is gone! I fell off the wagon last night and had a plate of pasta w/ spicy marinara sauce! :eek: It tasted soooo good! :D I have climbed back on the raw wagon today, but am severely limiting my intake of nuts. I think that they don't agree w/ me so much. We'll see what happens today!

Also, about the nuts and seeds - I noticed in my books that they are used in different ways. Sometimes they are used as is (dry), sometimes soaked, and other times sprouted. I guess it depends on what you are doing w/ them. :)

Hope everything is well w/ you. And yeah you can eat them raw. :)

[alicein1land]

Babs, thanks for your green smoothie recipe. I think I will try it! And I'm glad you said that you made it in a regular mixer because that is what I have, and I've been afraid that I would get something undrinkable if I threw everything in it! :D

[babsgoesraw]

Hi Babs,

Check out the "Soaking nuts (http://therawfoodsite.com/forum/showthread.php?t=105&page=3&highlight=soaking+nuts)" thread for tips and examples on what to do with the nuts and seeds. Good luck on getting away with "no gas". :o ;)

Nance: Glad to see you're still around. :)

Love,
~Res
Res.....You say you're glad to see that I'm still around.....I'm not as a-round as I use to be. 12 pounds lighter and a million times happier. Giggle.

[charlottebird]

Hi Babs and Ann!

I've only been eating an average of 50% raw this weekend. Unfortunately, my focus was not there.

The good news is I have been having green smoothies every morning, lots of fresh fruit and veggies nuts and seeds. My downfall was desserts and cooked egg whites. :(

I will get my focus back and am really looking forward to my next cleanse in September.

More later. :)

[Res]

Oh My Gosh I have a new respect for Green Smoothies, HOWEVER DON'T TELL KATHY (mtmouse) :p :p

These smoothies can save your life. Buy organic greens though and organic fruits too. Force yourself. After you spend a million dollars on one bag of groceries you'll get used to it. ;) Okay, I'm kidding about the $1,000,000. although it feels like it.

More later, have to go and watch "The Take Home Chef". ;)

Love,
~Res

[alicein1land]

Hi charlottebird:
Don't feel bad about not sticking! I have had problems this week as well. Did fine during the day but then dinner time rolled around! Pasta w/ spicy marinara sauce, more pasta (ravioli) w/ marinara & Parmesan, then some roasted chicken and some risotto w/ cream/cheese/asparagus! Oy!! Feel crappy today -puffy, BP is up, and stomach is upset! :eek: Plus sinuses are heavily draining! :eek: Guess that told me! So today I am back on w/ a smoothy for breakfast and another one planned for lunch, and a salad for dinner. :)

It's definitely hard to go raw AND STAY RAW! :P

[TeePee]

Hi all!!


I'm back! Got back last week but had house guest from the time I returned till yesterday!! Still working on selling two houses and buying a new one.

I HAVE TO CONFESS, I had cooked food while in Turks and Caicos. I did have plenty of fruit and veggies too though. Lots of grapefruit, pineapple, mango, melon, and kiwi. Had guac several days, but I'm sure it was prepared ahead. Had greens, tomatoes (not jersey!!), cukes, mostly. A lot of the salads were of course with mayo, or seafood, or potato, mac--didn't touch any of that. But what I did have was a decent amount of grilled fish. Mahi-mahi, grouper, catfish, salmon, and I think that's it. No shell fish. The grouper was fabulous. I also have to confess to some pasta and bread and mashed potatoes, grilled veggies.

BUT I HAD SOME PROBLEMS!! Suprisingly, not digestive. Although every meal I ate had a least 50% raw. I had a terrible rash, which the nurse on site said was from the sunscreen. I don't know though. I really think it was the fish. It started on my chest, then the insides of arms and legs. I think it was a form of hives. I took some benadryl. Then about half way through the week and STILL I have been experiencing vertigo. Went to doc yesterday. He said it is probably the change in my diet. I have been sluggish and tired and sad. I know that is from the junk. I have been getting back to raw 100% and am ready to go make my GREEN SMOOTHIE!! But, I gotta tell all of you, it really makes a difference in the way you feel!

More later, have to feed child too!!!

I missed everyone, and BTW TURKS AND CAICOS IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ISLAND!!!

[Res]

Hi Teepee: Welcome back! :D Glad you had a great time and I'm sorry about the rash..sounds like a food allergy.

For the Vertigo: grate some fresh ginger and pour boiling water over it and let it steep. Sweeten it with Stevia, Maple or Raw Agave nectar and sip. You'll be amazed at what Ginger can do for dizziness, sea-sickness, vertigo and morning sickness. Plus it does a bunch of other stuff take a peek Health Benefits of Ginger. (http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=72#healthbenefits)

Okay now, has anyone read Kevin Trudeau's book about weight loss? I just finished it and would love to discuss this with any of you. I'll take this up in the after the cleanse thread.

We're glad you're back Teepee and ready to hear some more of your wisdom! ;)

Love,
~Res

[Ginger]

Hi TeePee - welcome home. T&C truly is bee-yoo-tee-full. I thought you'd love it there. Sorry to hear you haven't been feeling well though.

I've been eating too much cooked food. I leave the 18th for Curacao. The place I'm staying doesn't have much raw food on their menu. When I get home I'm going to cleanse again. I'm thinking 40 days. I'm taking 12 steps to raw with me to read and "digest" LOL

[alicein1land]

Ginger: You can only do the best you can while you are on vacation and that has to be good enough. I am reading "12 Steps to Raw" as well, although I am not on vacation! Not sure that would be my book of choice on vacation, but then again, why not?? ;p

[TeePee]

Thanks Res and Ginger!!

It is good to be back, even though that island was the most beautiful I've seen!!! And there was PLENTY of raw fruits and veggies, just plenty of other tempting treats too!!

I am getting back on track. The bumps and rash seem to have gone away, for the most part. Gotta love that coconut oil for the skin!!! It's all I use now, so maybe the sunscreen did play a part. Spoke to a friend the other day and she seems to think it was the fish with all the mercury. Since I ate it for lunch and dinner several days in a row!!! I guess my body has really changed and only "wants" raw vegan food in it!!

The vertigo has gotten a bit better. The spells last only for a bit and are not as frequent. I did begin the antibiodic, against my "raw thinking", but doc tested me for urinary tract infection. He said it was the slightest trace of infection as well as to treat anything in my ears. So maybe the infections are clearing.

I made Cohen's enchiladas. Yummy as usual. I really need to sprout some rye to make her bagels that I love!!

Time to get busy!!

[ninab64]

well, the vacation in London was awesome, we had wonderful weather, and the most tempting food. since i hadn't intended to eat a raw diet, prior to cleansing, and this is most likely a once-in-a-lifetime treat, i went ahead and ate the things that appealed to me. we did tons of walking; even so, i weighed 8lbs heavier when i got back -- figured most of it was sitting in my gut (ugh). and we just now got back from a weekend trip to Detriot to visit friends, and that blew the diet plan as well. seems like when i'm home, it's no big deal to stick to what i should eat, but when i am away, i get sucked in to the old way of eating.

oh, well. this is a learning experience. also, figuring out what my body wants and needs takes time, i haven't figured out what the answer is yet. i am feeling like i need to do another cleanse again, but i'm not sure when the right time will be, what with how i am feeling physically, and my schedule.

definitely getting back to raw and vegs. i read most of my raw food (cook)books on the drive this weekend, and it's very inspiring :)

hope to catch up with you all again!

[Res]

Welcome back nina - you were on my dream vacation. :) It's UK or bust!

I'm going to be cleansing soon too but not sure when. I pulled out Burroughs book and I'm going to read it cover to cover.

I hope everyone is doing well. It's 82 degrees here and humid. My house attracts the heat and holds on to it so I'm wilting a bit. BUT, there's a nice bunch of cut up watermelon calling to me so I must obey. ;)

Love to all,
~Res

[Res]

Today I made Matt's Ketchup. It's really good although I had to adjust the ingredients a bit.

How's everyone doing today? :) It's quiet around here.

Love,
~Res

[TeePee]

Wow!! It is quiet around here!

Just ordered the *NEW* "cheese" crackers from Oneluckyduck. Let you all know how they are!!

I had some bread over at my mom's this evening. I feel like poop.

While there, I taught my dad why he "doesn't digest watermelon". Mom was eating it alone for dinner (good girl!!) and he said he doesn't digest it, so I asked didn't he always have it as a dessert of sorts? Yes, of course. Well, that is why daddy!! I told him he has to eat it first and wait, or else alone. He is going to "do a study" on that!!

Great, as I ate pickles and bread. BAD RAW GIRL!! Besides that, I had my green smoothie this am and a lovely tomato for lunch. Some raw flax crackers with some cashew cheese.

rambling......

hope everyone is doing well.

[charlottebird]

Hi Everyone!

I've been slipping up pretty horribly lately. :( Although I've been eating lots of fruits and vegetables, I am lacking protein and had been supplementing with eggs and fish. Plus, I am eating far too many nuts and need to focus more on others sources of low fat raw protein.

I realize until I get this sorted out with whole raw foods, hemp protein powder and the hemp meal replacement (by Vega) is the way to go.

Also, I have moved up my start date for my next cleanse and it will start this Monday, August 20th. That gives me more than 10 days to cleanse and then some transition days before school starts. I am going to use my cleanse days sprouting and preparing things for the freezer so I have some healthy options waiting for me when I am ready for food again.

This time on my cleanse I will be strict about exercising (which I didn't do much of last time). It will help me retain some muscle if I weight train on the cleanse.

Looking forward to having some control again!!

have a great weekend!

[alicein1land]

Hi charlottebird: Don't beat yourself up about not staying 100% raw. I'm learning that it is very difficult to go completely raw after being on the SAD diet for as long as I have been. I've tried the Vega shakes but I prefer the hemp shakes by Nutiva. I have a green smoothie for breakfast, usually a hemp shake for lunch w/ fruit, a Larabar for a mid-afternoon snack (love the gingersnap one), and a lot of veggies, sometimes chicken, occas a little cheese for dinner, w/ fruit (cherries, dates) for dessert.

While my food choices aren't always perfect, they are a lot better than they were pre-MC. For the most part, I am over bread, although I had a little earlier this week (bleagh!). Definitely over fast food and have been fine without coffee, most dairy, and sugar.

What I find I still crave are protein sources, which I have supplemented w/ free range chicken, a really fresh tuna fillet (seared and left almost raw), a little soy cheese, a little fresh grated Parmesan (yeah, I've had pasta a couple of times) and fresh mozzarella in a Caprese salad! I figure the world won't come to an end if I have some fresh mozzarella w/ heirloom tomatoes and basil, drizzled w/ olive oil and balsamic vinegar! :D

[Sim]

Hi Kids~
Remember me? The errant Sim, the wanderer, the busy daughter (dad had another biopsy recently...all is okay for the moment), the crazed mom, the raw food proponent who won't preach but who never shies away from explaining to everyone who'll listen, the author, the hiker, the "I've got to go back to work on Monday" teacher in a new district...the list goes on.

Oh, it's so good to be reading what you've all been doing. I won't bore you with details but since my trip, my summer has been not-so-good and it takes great energy to be on top of the game. But...I've remained raw throughout because it just feels better. I once tried to eat a bit of grilled chicken and couldn't. I've had some trouble digesting certain things like collards and some nuts and sprouted chickpeas...I eat constantly, I've not gained any weight since my May cleanse. My family worries about me and I point out how much I eat and that I'm never sick while they all struggle with allergies, indigestion, the runs, and sinus problems. They point to my bones. I laugh, although it's none too attractive. Still, I have tons and tons of energy and I feel like a kid. Protein is my biggest challenge and I'm almost to the point where I might cook some beans and lentils to throw on my salads. Almost. We'll see. I'll stop here and let you digest the fact that I've returned, loving you all, having missed you all and having felt bereft without you all. I'm okay, though...just needed to take care of everyone else for awhile. I'm back. Please tell me hi 'cause I'm feeling sheepish for disappearing for awhile. Much, much love.

[mtmouse]

Hi Sim!

Delighted to see you back! Is your book finished?

[TeePee]

HI SIM!!!!

[Sim]

Good Morning my Honeys~
Soooo good to be back! I was excited about waking up and writing to you. I read through all your posts since I've been gone and omigod, how I have missed you all with your enthusiasm, support and most of all, pure love.

Nance~as you noticed, everyone was sending you the strongest of hugs and I'm adding mine. So, so difficult to be inside out and upside down and still manage to go on with one's life, seemingly productive and *happy*. And to be worrying about nutrition at the same time? You have taken the added step of weaning off meds and physiologically, that alone would be a daunting challenge...yet you're doing it, you're doing it all, and still talking to us here, still sharing, and so rightly, so intelligently, so lovingly asking for support and warmth. And we're giving it because we do love you. I'm proud of you and I feel blessed that you've thought highly enough of all of us here to share your thoughts, concern, and pains with us. Thank you, Nance. Yes, so many of us know how it goes; many take meds for various and sundry issues, many have emotional or physical or psychological traumas that are ongoing and need our attention. And our hearts stretch to our friends who experience the same. We don't need any details: it's enough to know that one of us is having a difficult time and needs our arms for hugs and shoulders to lean on. Mine are all yours.

Kath~ UGH! Crowns! Poor baby! At least it's semi-fixed, until it breaks again. Must be the crappy dental care we had as kids. I had a mouthful of silver until one by one my teeth started breaking (because the dentist I had when I was a kid drilled the heck out of every tooth that had a cavity and now, at my advanced age, there's not enough enamel to keep them together) and now I have five, count 'em, five crowns. The upside: less silver when I laugh. The downside: no more $ in the bank. Aw heck, who needs money anyway? If we did, we wouldn't have all the fine kitchen equipment and uncook books that we now enjoy ;)

Ani Phyo: yep, I bought that one too and although literally it is hard to read (the print and the background on the page were poor choices for visual feasibility...obvious, she didn't think "old" ladies would be going raw! Silly Ani Phyo!!), the recipes ARE A JOY! All her soups are excellent and the general info she gives is pretty smart, too. She's a bit preachy, but I didn't get the book for her philosophy to begin with. Not that it's bad, it's just that I wanted those recipes and they don't disappoint.

So the skinny on my continuing 100% raw life: I started in January after that first 40 day cleanse. It's now mid-August (I'm pushing it here, refusing to say "end of August" because I have to go back to work on Monday, to a new teaching job,new district, new curriculum which I have to create, and I'm in total denial that it's all happening) and I have been, sincerely, 100% raw. Just because. Just because I'm excessive, as many of us here are, my lovelies. We do have so much in common and I don't think it's a coincidence at all. We're here for a reason: we care about everything, truly, deeply, spiritually...and we care about others. And we're searching for "a better way" and know that somehow, the way we eat affects the way we feel and think and love and live. And raw has piqued our curiosity because it's so different, so the antithesis to our previous lives that we want to try it because what we were doing in our previous lives wasn't working all that well. Is this resonating with anyone other than me? Please say yes so I don't think I'm a freak :D Anyway, just so you'll all know, EVERYONE in my life thinks I'm an unsoaked nut. I'm way too thin, even I can see that. But I eat and I eat well. My second 41 day cleanse turned out to be excessive, even for me; I will not be doing another extended cleanse because I now weigh between 96 and 102 pounds on any given day. I started last December at 141. I look different, for sure...but I feel different, for sure. And I'm lovin' it. It's not the small sizes or the cooler, less matronly clothes that get me because at 51½ years old, I'm not wearing many hotsy-totsy things...it's physically the way I feel! I have more energy now than any of my 20-something four kids or any of my peers. I haven't had a cold or a sinus problem or even a headache since January. I have, however, had some stomach upsets when I eat too many nuts or kale/collards/chard to satisfy my family's need to see me eat quantities of food. I am fighting to refrain from doing that...from now on, I eat only to please me. I am not starving myself; quite the opposite, I'm feeding myself healthily and quite intelligently.

All that being said, I'm worried about one aspect: protein. I don't get enough protein. Any suggestions? I'm fighting with myself about eating cooked beans and lentils (sprouted lentils and sprouted chickpeas do not sit well; I cannot digest them).The naturopath I went to said that's the way to go: cooked legumes will give me protein. But I'm so committed to raw, it seems a giant step for me. As you know, I'm one of those excessive people, all or nothing. Not that that's a particularly good, smart, or correct way to be; no one has to be all raw to be healthier. In fact, there's evidence that some things, like broccoli, are more vitamin-packed when they're lightly steamed. But I'm the extremist and my challenge has been to be as raw as life allows (okay, there were those excellent 4 or 5 french fries--"chips"--that I had in Ireland...and one Car Bomb, too! See? I'm not a total geek;) ) So what say, my very smart friends? Give me some protein ideas, please.

Green Smoothies: yesterday I had lacinato kale, banana blueberries, ¼ cup almonds, 2 dates, and ½ cup water. Fabulous. Every morning, it's a green smoothie or just one kind of fruit. Feels great until 11:30 am...then I wait out the half hour or so, anticipating lunch. Then I graze from around noon until 4. Then dinner around 7. But here's the interesting thing that's happening: although I read my cookbooks religiously, no, I'm not kidding, I've lost the desire to actually make too many things and I'm keeping my foods very simple. I guess two things have caused this: I got tired of spending too much money on ingredients and the quantities, no matter how I cut down, are too large. And the time element: it's just easier to throw together a delicious salad with everything in the house than it is to plan ahead for soaking, sprouting, and dehydrating. When I really feel like something, like pizza or a bread or crackers, I plan on it. Otherwise, I've been eating lots of fresh fruits and veggies, lot of nori rolls or lettuce wraps, and quick ice creams for dessert. Or one of my all time faves: a cut-up banana with a smear of almond butter and a raisin or two on top. What a sweet and easy, although seemingly unexciting dessert! This coming from the original buttercream cake girl. (And not satisfied until the whole cake was consumed!). Yes, life is very different for me now. And I'm much happier and much healthier. Much thinner too, but I'm saying that with a proviso: be careful what you wish for. I'm serious: bones are not all that attractive. I always wanted to see what I'd look like in thin mode. Now I know. The other day, an acquaintance of mine called me "waif-like, a wraith"...I marveled at that; never in my life would that description have applied to me. Even that day, I doubted it's veracity; then I came home and took a cold hard look in the mirror. It was fairly accurate. Hey, it may be okay for Kate Moss (or not. It's certainly not okay on any anorexic superstars) but it's not good for those of us who have more mundane lives. Will I gain weight? Probably, at some point as the weather gets cooler and dehydrated food seems more homey and desirable. But I won't as a result of eating to please others. I've found that only makes me ill. So my point: I never "finished" my 30 day challenge; this new "diet" has metamorphosed into a customary way of living. I no longer find it difficult--at all--to have dinner in a lovely restaurant where my companions are having gourmet cooked food and I order a beautiful salad, no bread. And I explain carefully to the servers what I want: "Please, may I have any combination of raw vegetables that your chef has in the kitchen, served over a bed of greens? And olive oil on the side? Thank you so very much." I have had the chefs themselves come to the table to check that the server got that correctly! And I explain...if I'm in an Italian restaurant, there's always broccoli rabe, tomatoes, olives, onions, zucchini, eggplant, basil, fennel. I just have to explain no cheese, no croutons. And actually, ANY restaurant will be happy to rise to the challenge of making a salad that looks beautiful enough for them to charge at least ten bucks :D The hardest part was getting over the "oooh, I'm not having fettucine alfredo anymore! no shrimp scampi pizza! no pan-seared blackened tuna!" etc. But after awhile, that went away too because on balance, feeling fabulous physically beat out the immediate gratification of gourmet cooked foods. I can't believe this is me talking, the original foodie. But believe me, ladies, it's true. I won't say "never" but I don't think i'm going back to cooked food.

I have now imposed enough on your time! I'll stop here and return later. Soooooooooo good to be back! Love you all and I mean that with my whole heart.

[mtmouse]

Kath~ UGH! Crowns! Poor baby! At least it's semi-fixed, until it breaks again. Must be the crappy dental care we had as kids. I had a mouthful of silver until one by one my teeth started breaking (because the dentist I had when I was a kid drilled the heck out of every tooth that had a cavity and now, at my advanced age, there's not enough enamel to keep them together) and now I have five, count 'em, five crowns. The upside: less silver when I laugh. The downside: no more $ in the bank. Aw heck, who needs money anyway? If we did, we wouldn't have all the fine kitchen equipment and uncook books that we now enjoy ;)

I wish! Nope, it's the crappy stuff they make now! I got my last filling at age 12 and had "no trouble" with them for over 40 years. But a while ago (1997) I had them all removed (because of mercury in the amalgam) and replaced with porcelain. Two of them got crowns at that time, because I guess like you there wasn't much tooth left. The metal crown part (supposedly not toxic) is still fine, but the cosmetic porcelain overlayer is what cracked. They were all excited that it had lasted 10 years. Me, not so much so! :) At this point it seems to have stabilized. And I'm being careful with the chocolate nibs!

Anyway, Simmy me girl, glad to have you back. Sorry to hear you are STILL having to tell yourself and us that you won't eat to make others more comfortable. :p I'm not sure I buy that part about not enough protein (although I guess if kale and nuts are a problem, it could be). Have you asked the question on Cohen's site? Lots of discussions over there, and maybe someone would know something about that issue. Maybe you could even ask Alissa herself, because she's adamant in her book that a raw foodie can get enough protein.

Have fun on the new job! :D

[Sim]

Maybe you could even ask Alissa herself, because she's adamant in her book that a raw foodie can get enough protein.
Have fun on the new job! :D

Oooh, Kath, you have comparatively new crowns that went south? Oh no! Let's see how long my five last because they're all only two years old. The dentist...it's like going to the gynocologist...you just can't see under your own hood so you have to go along with what they say, to a point. Of course, that's a more correct comment in regard to the dentist than to the gyno. Well, let me revise that: I listen to them all, then do as I believe anyway. What a contrary girl I am! :D

Thanks for the Alissa suggestion, Kath...I might just do that because I think I've lost some muscle even though I'm lifting weights.
And you sure have a warped sense of how to have fun!!!
Yeah, yeah, it can be fun...but not compared to the life of a writer!
Oh well, a paycheck is necessary sometimes. Fun will be the first order of business!

[Res]

Hi Sim, nice to see you. :)

Do you do raw dairy? Raw milk or yogurt/cheese would provide protein. That's my 2 cents. I have another suggestion but it may gross out you and everyone else. :o

Love,
~Res

[TeePee]

Ha Ha Ha!!!

Res, I'm Cracking Up Over Here!!! Good Idea!!!

[alicein1land]

Sim: Sashimi from a quality sushi restaurant! Yellowtail, bluefin, etc. Delicious! You might need to bring your own organic tamari. ;)

[Sim]

You are all soooooo funny.
No Res, I don't do raw dairy, except for the nut cheeses...Hmmmm, should I make you gross everyone out? I dare you!! :D

And alice, thanks but no fish either. What's a girl to do?

[mtmouse]

You're going to have to make her gross me out! Am I the only one that's missing this joke? :confused: :eek:

[milo]

Hi Sim,

Fantastic to have you back :) :) :) As far as protein I have read tons of books written by the natural hygiene guru's - Norman Walker, Herbert Sheldon, Arnold Ehret ( I love this guy, no nonsense at all, almost brutal about the way humans gorge themselves), Paul Bragg, Stanley Bass, etc.Anyway bottom line, have you ever heard of someone with a protein defiency, probably not. Society jumps on the band wagon about not getting enough protein if you don't eat meat etc, but in all honesty, the protein from meat is unuseable by the human body. From the guru's above, if you are eating your leafy greens there is enough protein in them for your body. I am not a doctor, just read alot, but if your body feels good I really wouldn't worry about it. Maybe there is a test out there for protein that would put your mind at ease. Anyway just my 2 cents.
Again, welcome back,
Milo

[Nance]

Thank you one and all for your supportiveness . . . while the focus successfully remains on Raw food on this site, there is a grace to love one another right where we are at, and that is an oasis!:)

I was able to borrow a car this week and get out for fresh food. That salad I mentioned a while ago still is a favorite:

Spiraled Carrots and Beets
Leaf Spinach,
Sunflower Seeds
Spirulina Dressing
Nutritional Yeast

I have a friend visiting and we added tomatoes, mushrooms, a lot of mung and salad combo sprouts, and soaked walnuts to this mix. She whipped up a vegennaise/dill dressing. Live enzymes leaping out of the bowl!!

While out, I got (drum roll, please) lemons and limes. Ordered more maple syrup, and in end Aug/beginning of Sept will do a 'short' MC - 10 - 15 days.

I got a good look at how my eating choice degraded as that work project I tackled in late July tackled me. Because of the MC, I was able to discern between cravings and true hunger, and I sense now that discernment has blurred. Even though I have been eating mostly good stuff, the action of eating compulsively eroded the hard learned lessons from the long MC. I am aware, and now I have the power because of that to not mindlessly toss raw nuts and dates into my mouth. It was, too, in the first weeks after the MC I was eating very well at home. It was the social situations I went into where food was involved that I did not stand and make good choices. Now I know better, firmer planning is in order.

One housemate is leaving for China (next week:( ) and she have left me her Excalibur 9 tray dehydrator :D . That takes my raw food journey to a whole new level. 8)

Onward, through the fog!

[Nance]

Hi Sim,

. . .As far as protein I have read tons of books written by the natural hygiene guru's - Norman Walker, Herbert Sheldon, Arnold Ehret ( I love this guy, no nonsense at all, almost brutal about the way humans gorge themselves), Paul Bragg, Stanley Bass, etc. . . .
Milo

Oh, yeah! I managed a healthfood store in the 80's, and I remember Alnold Ehret: he is INTENSE! That guys is death on mucus!

[ninab64]

HI SIM!

sounds like what you want is to be able to put some weight back on, and you are afraid you are losing muscle. i was also going to suggest sashimi fish, because i like that very much myself, but sounds like that's not something you want to eat. a few days before i left for london, i had dinner with a friend, and we each had a raw salmon and salad appetizer, and a bottle of wine. boy, that was soooo good. the first animal protein i'd had in weeks, and it felt really right to eat, and strangely satisfying, considering the small portion, but we ate slowly and talked alot.

i told the server that i wanted no dairy, and the chef made 2 alterations to the dish, one of which was the best lemon vinaigrette i've ever had. i think he must have used Meyer lemons, the taste was amazing

i've purchased and used several times an Excalibur dehydrator and a Green Star juicer, and enjoy them both. made the dragon chips, and felt rather foolish, as i know this better: i used my food processor to break down the red pepper, thinking i should perhaps have used my Vita Mix, and didn't realize that the liquid would start seeping out of the center hole of the processor bowl -- what a mess! at least i caught it in time! i think that recipe needs a little flavor tweaking for my taste, but for the first time making the recipe, they are completely edible.

i ordered a benriner/spiralizer on ebay, and can't wait to use it. it's supposed to come on Tuesday!

it's nice to have this board a little busier once again
:)

[TeePee]

Hi girls,

Getting back to my 100% raw STILL after my vacation in Turks and Caicos. Since returning I have managed to do mostly, gosh, I don't know if I can put a percentage on it.....75-95% raw each day. Until yesterday. I just told myself,okay vacation is over and got back into my routine. And it feels soooo much better.

Nina, ten minutes ago I just did exactly the same thing with my processor!!! I am making flax crackers that say to put 2 cups of flax into the food processor and cover with water for an hour to overnight.....I put the flax in and MORE THAN COVERED them with water. Walked away, did some things and came back to kitchen wondering why the heck my counter was overflowing with water. Then I was like, OHMYGOSH, my processor is cracked somewhere!! It took me a few minutes to realize I had been way past the "liquid limit" line!!! Anyway, they are from The Raw Food Gourmet (Chavez) and I made them last week. They use the 2 cups soaked flax, 1-2 cups leftover pulp from almond milk and I think it is 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast, 1 and 1/2 tsp sea salt. Blend, spread, dehydrate.

These are pretty good and have been keeping me raw spread with guac, garlic cashew cheese and a new one today, red pepper and garlic cashew cheese. YUM. Also good for almond butter because they are plain.

I also have been relying on the freezer fudge brownies, of which my skeptic non-raw, non-veggie friends ate a whole tray of on my last visit!!!

I also this week made Alissa Cohen's banana-papaya pudding!! YUMMY!!

Last two days, I have made a nice dressing. It does have balsamic (organic) in it though, which we all know is not raw, but it is trace amount. Olive oil, balsamic, apple cider vinegar, garlic, rosemary and touch of agave. Blended super quick in magic bullet. It is heavenly!

So, bottom line after all this long post (sorry!) is I am feeling back in the swing of things and having fun again with my raw!!

Quick question? Sprouting rye for bagels and this time they smell a little "strong". Does this happen? I wonder if I should toss them and start over?

[ninab64]

TeePee--
:P sometimes we just don't think things through! i'll have to try those crackers, they sound really good. i should be able to soak the seeds in the morning, and then make the cracker batter when i get home from work, that should be enough time i would think. i have a large, large container of nutritional yeast from years ago, i hope it keeps so i can use it for these recipes. Has anyone read The Uncheese Cookbook? i bought a couple books along that theme, back when i was eating a vegan diet, i need to look through them again and see how they might be converted to a raw diet. as i recall, many of the recipes used cashews and nutritional yeast.

as far as how much of the diet ends up being raw, i think if we have a smidgen of something (like basalmic vinegar) to help make a recipe taste that much better, then why not? after all, there are some ingredients which i have read conflicting information on, as to their rawness, such as agave syrup and nutritional yeast, for two. so, we do what we can, and what we can live with. it's not like i'm suggesting we eat one meal cooked, and the rest raw (though there's nothing wrong with that, if that's what you want), but adding a touch of something that was possibly heated above 105°, or what ever the magic number is, will not ruin a day of otherwise raw eating.

[TeePee]

Just finished a superb dinner.

I used the red pepper cheese in nori rolls. It was a sort of adaptation of one of Juliano's (RAW) meals. Nori, carrot, red pepper/cashew cheese, marinated portabella, cukes. Marinated the shrooms in nama shoyu, olive oil, touch of agave (love that sweeeeet....plus it cuts the saltiness..) and some grated ginger.... WOWSER!!!

BF even loved it!!!

hate to discard all that mairnade.....CAn I keep it for something else? and how long?

[mtmouse]

Wow, TeePee,

That sounded yummy indeed!

When I'm drying stuff, I often use marinade more than once. For eating fresh, I don't know. Creeps me out a bit, but that could be irrational. I wouldn't keep it longer than a few days to a week, I think.

[mtmouse]

Thought I'd share my saga with almond milk, because I've finally found my favorite!

First I did Cohen's method and used a nut milk bag and strained it. I wasted so much almond pulp (didn't have TeePee's recipe then!) that I couldn't stand it.

Then I simply used the same recipe, first in my blender and then in my Vitamix when I got that, and it was pretty good. But DH complained that it was too thick for him.

Then I finally was able to look through Ani Phyo's book, and her recipe for Vanilla Mylk is absolutely the best!

5 cups water
1/2 cup almonds
1/2 cup pitted dates
1 vanilla bean
Pinch sea salt

Blend all together until smooth.

This doesn't use nearly as many almonds, doesn't need straining, is thin enough to substitute for milk even just for drinking straight or on cereal but works great as a base for smoothies too, and tastes absolutely divine! This is now a staple in my fridge.

Note: if you don't have a Vitamix, then you will need to scrape the vanilla bean seeds out of the husk and use those alone. Or, of course, vanilla extract would work. Ani suggests using a non-alcohol type if you do.

http://www.freesmileys.org/emo/eatdrink026.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org)

[Res]

WHAT? No Alcohol? Outrageous! :p

[mtmouse]

I'm sure she didn't mean no WINE! It's just that nasty alcohol in extracts that worries her.

Feel free to put raw wine in your vanilla mylk any time you want, dearie!

[Res]

Ho boy....:o I was going off of what *you* quoted. ;) Ani suggests using a non-alcohol type if you do. Hence the comedic, "What? No Alcohol?" :p haha Pththththt

[alicein1land]

mtmouse: How long does the Vanilla Mylk last in the fridge? Thanks!

[mtmouse]

Ann,

Ani says it will last four days in the fridge. We go through ours in about that amount of time, so I can't say otherwise. :)

[mtmouse]

Ho boy....:o I was going off of what *you* quoted. ;) Hence the comedic, "What? No Alcohol?" :p haha Pththththt

I stand by my reply. :D

[alicein1land]

Thanks, mtmouse! I'll try that recipe! :)

[Res]

Nah, not interested in raw wine mixed with milk. Blech, that sounds like a concoction you would make and call it a white smoothie! :p ;)

[mtmouse]

I know, dear! I was being facetious, of course! :rolleyes:

But we won't hold it against you, LOL. I still didn't get your reference to grossing people out, so we're in this miscommunication thing together! :D

[Kram]

I think this thread has been abandoned, but thought I'd throw this out there in case anyone is looking. I'm finishing my second cleanse, and I did start eating more raw food after my first. One of the challenges I had was trying to get enough calcium. Some of the smoothies I drank had a ton, but not all. And the almond milk didn't seem to have enough. So I went back to cow's milk on my raw cereal. Have no problem giving that up, but it's the biggest source of calcium in my day. Thoughts?

[Res]

Abandoned? Nevah!! ;) Just resting... :)

Now, we don't all agree on this but this is what I think. I believe RAW organic milk can be included in your diet without issue. You can actually find it at Whole Foods and some other health food markets. SO - I say go for it. ;)

Love,
~Res

[charlottebird]

Hi Everyone!!!!:D

It's been a awhile since I posted but I caught up on all the posts since I last was here.

Hey Sim: Thank you for posting your progress and your feelings about where you are, how your life has changed, and what you believe. I appreciate your candor. It helps me understand why raw has so many benefits and what my life would be like as a raw foodie. I like what you said about not eating to please others. I struggle with that a lot. I have given my family a chance to understand what I am doing and they don't want to understand it as it is far removed form how they live. I think they feel like I am judging their lifestyle but I am not. I tell them that eating this way makes my body feel better and that I am sensitive to certain foods now but I'm not sure that is enough for them. Sometimes I find it better to not say too much. My friends are more supportive, though, which helps.

I am cleansing now (yeah!) and preparing some dehydrated foods to freeze/store for after the cleanse.

My journey is moving forward and everyday I am more and more discovering who I am.

Thanks RAW ONES for your unconditional care, support and motivation.:)

[Sim]

I think this thread has been abandoned, but thought I'd throw this out there in case anyone is looking. I'm finishing my second cleanse, and I did start eating more raw food after my first. One of the challenges I had was trying to get enough calcium. Some of the smoothies I drank had a ton, but not all. And the almond milk didn't seem to have enough. So I went back to cow's milk on my raw cereal. Have no problem giving that up, but it's the biggest source of calcium in my day. Thoughts?

Ooooh, no, Kram, this thread will never be abandoned! Sometimes we all joke and vent, blow off steam, and support each other to the ends of the earth, even about topics that have nothing to do with raw, but that's because there's love in the room, inspired by our quests for a better way to nourish ourselves. And that nourishment sometimes means jokes.

But about calcium: the best sources of calcium on raw are dark, leafy greens like kale, collards, spinach, chard. Being a "woman of a certain age," I've been very worried about not getting enough calcium and asked my doctors (conventional and naturopath, both) to check my levels and see if I needed any supplementation. They each came back and said my calcium was off-the-charts amazing for a (peri?)menopausal woman. No problem. So almost every day, in the morning, I make myself a green smoothie: a handful of one of the greens, some fruit, some water, maybe. Sometimes I add almond milk, a date or two, a frozen banana...sometimes I don't have almond milk, so I throw in ¼ cup of almonds with 1 cup of water. It's so easy and gives the calcium and other nutrients we need so easily. Forget cow's milk for calcium, if that's the only reason you're drinking it. Not necessary at all. Now, if you like it, who am I to tell you not to drink it? :D

[Sim]

Hi Everyone~
Charlotte, Nina, everyone,
Okay, so I've moved into a new phase, although maybe it's not new, just part of the progression. I went out to dinner the last two nights in a row (the oddest thing...I never go out because there's no time, no $ since I've spent it all on my kitchen equipment :D and not too many people who live around here who like to go out...where are you all when I need you? :rolleyes: ). Anyway, Friday night was an outing at a NYC Texas barbecue restaurant, where the meat is ordered by the pound for dinner. It would have been hog heaven to me last December. We went to hear some friends of mine who were playing blues music with their band. So I sat with people I hadn't seen for 35 years (yes, high school people!) and of course, no one recognized me. What did I eat? Avocados, tomatoes, and jalapeños. It was delightful...I didn't even flinch at the BBQ, one of my favorite kinds of food previously. I guess the comments about how I look combined with the fresh creaminess of my avo combined with a couple of leering looks from the men at the bar made my raw diet seem miraculous. Last night, we went to a fancy Italian restaurant where the chef is quite accomplished. The dishes that came out were magnificent twists on old standard. But the salad I ordered had them all beat! I described what I wanted and the creation that was put before me was magnificent, extravirgin olive oil on the side, thank you very much. I asked the waitress to tell the chef it was fabulous and she said he found the challenge to create "a raw vegan salad that was dinner-worthy in this establishment" a delight. Life is good, my friends. I contrasted my dinner, how it looked and tasted, with the reflux agony that red sauce (and BBQ) has always caused me. I guess in a way, this is aversion therapy BUT the truth is, TA DA, I'm loving my raw, even when there are no dehydrated foods around me, no nut patés, nothing extremely interesting other than good fresh veggies. C'mon...travel with me!

Good thing I wasn't this weight when I was younger and single...I'd never have been able to handle the appreciative glances with any grace. Now I just wink and say, "Thank you, Handsome" as I walk away with a smile. Oooh, I'm bad, aren't I? :D

[Res]

Sim: LOL! Sounds like you're doing great! :D I wish you could've taken a picture of your salad! I'm really excited for you about your "New You". :) I hope you're taking a break from buying kitchen equipment and maybe picking out some nice new things to wear. ;) I'll bet you feel FABULOUS!

Love,
~Res

[charlottebird]

Sim:Thanks again for keeping us up to date on your RAW lifestyle. I really get inspired listening to how confident you are about your choices and how miraculous your change has been!

You are one of my gurus here on the boards and how could I not accept a challenge to be RAW for life after reading about your rewarding experiences?!

Oh, it's great to see you enjoying the admirations. As Andy Rooney says in his tribute to Women Over 40, "Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over 40 is far sexier than her younger counterpart. ":D

[TeePee]

Sim,

Once again, you inspire us all!!! I'm sure everyone else in the restaurants were feeling a bit sluggish after eating, while you were full of zest!!!

A new Shop Rite just opened in town. There, I found young Thai coconuts there and almost started jumping up and down!!! I had previously had to drive 45 minutes to Whole Foods for them. They were very expensive- $4.99, but they were promptly turned into Sarma's chocolate pudding!!

An update on my "raw story", my bit of straying on vacation put 10 lbs on, which I still haven't gotten rid of yet. I think once I start teaching again next week, into my routine, I will have better luck of it.

Hope everyone is well!!! Hugs!!!

[ninab64]

ok, i have to ask this and hopefully i'll feel silly when you answer:

how do you open a young coconut?

i did my best, last week, with one. carefully cut the white husk off, and then came the hard shell. hammer to it was useless and dangerous, so i looked in my toolbox and found a nail set, and punched 2 holes so i could pour out the water, and then punched holes all around the top, kinda like taking the top off of a pumpkin. a crack or 3 of the hammer did the trick, but it didn't seem like the most graceful or efficient way of opening the darn thing.

any tips?

[Res]

LOL, yeah well I experienced the same thing: :) Check this out;

Opening a young coconut (http://www.rawguru.com/html/openyoungcoconut.html)

Love,
~Res

[Ginger]

Hi lovely ladies!!

I'm back from Curacao, fat, but happy. Preparing to go for a 40 day cleanse within the next week or so. I had alot of fun with old friends and made some new ones. When I get my pics posted, I'll post a link!

I'm lazy when it comes to cracking a young coconut. I use a meat cleaver and just hack the top till I get a small opening, pour off the water, then continue hacking the top off. It only takes a few minutes. WOW! :eek: I only pay a dollar per coconut. I guess living in a large metropolitan area with a large immigrant population has it's advantages.

[charlottebird]

Res: Thanks for posting that link for opening young coconuts! It was very helpful! Kind of like carving a pumpkin.

Now, my next mission it to [I]find[I] young coconuts where I live. I may have to trek to Toronto but that'll be a fun excursion, too.

Ginger: Welcome back!!!!

[Res]

Ginger: Welcome Back! :D Did you say "fat and happy"? lol We'll take you no matter what you look like. :)

Love,
~Res

[cynflet]

I am excited about the Raw Food One Month Challenge. The timing should be perfect because I just started my second MC. The last time I did it I lasted 5 days. I am determined this time to make it at least 10 days. Does anyone use Hoodithin (liquid) to help squash the hunger?

[Sim]

Hi ladies!
You are all just the best! You make me feel like I'm something special which, truth be told, just isn't the case. BUT in the sense that each and every one of us has something unique to offer, I give you my love and my thanks for all the good feelings you throw my way.

I just started school, Tee Pee. Wow. I liked being home a lot better :D

Ginger, you lucky Curacao traveler: I can't wait to see your pix!

Res, you bet I've been shopping! The only thing is that I thought it would be more fun...I can't find much in size 0 (and I'm not saying that to be funny or flip; it's just plain weird) that isn't for 16-year-olds or that isn't "designer" and costs a fortune. But I persevere and I have to tell you, it's nice.

Charlotte, I'm no guru! But if I inspire you to eat healthier for a longer period of time, then I'm so pleased! Seriously, my change is delicious (every pun intended) with only one drawback: everyone, and I mean everyone, who knows me and knew me before last December is concerned about me. I am tired of hearing that "maybe I'm doing myself some harm," "Do you need to see a professional about your eating disorder?" And it's all centered around the weight loss, which makes me think: I'm eating healthily, adding more raw protein (I've now incorporated sprouted lentils and chickpeas because I'm not convinced--thank you Kathy--that I need to eat cooked beans and legumes) and having more avo, oils, and seeds for fat and cholesterol and I feel great. So...how much of all that other nonsense do our bodies need? And perhaps our bodies can do very well when very lean, if that's where our bodies settle. A friend said she was worried about what would happen to me if I get sick, since I have "no stores of energy" to combat germs and illness. I told her I'm not worried about getting sick, since my body is busy being healthy. Okay, okay...anyone can catch a bacteria and get sick, even a raw foodie. But why assume that just because I'm thin and raw that my body will have more trouble recovering than the average SAD person? I mean, I would think the opposite, that I'd have an easier time. Well, kids...I'll find out, since I'm teaching in a pre-K through 8 school this year...plenty of germs to go around! :D In any case, and this is interesting, I had the start of a UTI and shuddered to think about taking antibiotics. I waited a bit before calling the doctor. Good thing. Two days later it was gone. I just upped my consumption of a few things and the symptoms subsided. Coincidence? Maybe. Or maybe not. Wink wink.

I'm going to take pix of all my restaurant salads from now on (camera phone, why not?) and post them. Should be interesting to see how they vary.

Must go do some teacher-y things but so happy to be chatting with you all. You're all sunshine and light and I am so honored to have you as friends.
Be well, eat smart, doesn't have to be all raw, just healthy. But all raw is good too ;) Much, much love.

[mtmouse]

I am excited about the Raw Food One Month Challenge. The timing should be perfect because I just started my second MC. The last time I did it I lasted 5 days. I am determined this time to make it at least 10 days. Does anyone use Hoodithin (liquid) to help squash the hunger?

Not a good idea to add anything to the cleanse, so we wouldn't recommend that. See the General Help for Newbies thread for an article on why not.

[cd2318]

Hi lovely ladies!!

I guess living in a large metropolitan area with a large immigrant population has it's advantages.


Ginger, where are you shopping at??? I'm in Burke, VA - about 1/2 hour out of the city.

And, forgive me I'm still a newbie, where do we find the recipe for chocolate pudding using coconuts? Sounds wonderful!!!! But everything does to me - finsihing up Day 3 and feeling great! Just got in a 30 minute workout on the rebounder.

[Ginger]

cd2318 - I shop at the local Shoppers Food Warehouse. Here's the locator link:

http://www.shoppersfood.com/locations.aspx

I shop at the Glenmont MD store, which is in a predominantly Hispanic area. Great fresh produce!! I know the store manager and have told hi how much I enjoy wandering the aisles, LOL.

Yes Res, I've gained the weight back that I lost. I let my relationship break up get to me. But I'm feeling MUCH better now, totally over the sadness. Curacao really helped. One of our new young divers described me as "a self sufficient, independent woman who doesn't need to be part of the crowd". It made me feel fabulous. Then, when I got home, I found a card from my daughter in the mail. She told me that I was her role model for a strong independent woman. How cool is that? 8) 8) Now I'm getting back to eating right. It feels so much better. And I never really got the sweet tooth back. For me, that's major progress.

My tomato plants are producing some beautiful tomatoes. My favorite fruit. i want to start a cleanse, but I don't want those beautiful tomatoes to go to waste!!! What's a girl to do?

One bummer. I have what a doctor told me was a cyst on my nose. I've had it for years. That doctor said removing would be a waste...that it would grow right back. It has started braking open and bleeding. I had my doc look at it today. He immediately biopsied it, and believes that it's basal cell carcinoma. I should know within 5 days.

[milo]

Hi Sim,
I know how stressful it is when everyone is on you about being too thin, but only you know your body and if you are happy and healthy then I say you are at the perfect weight. Peter says in his book "people lose down to their optimum weight (which is thin)". I think society has got too complacent and are not willing to give up all the junk they eat and rely on pills for every ache they get in their bodies and are ok with that. When someone like you comes along who is the picture of health, they get uncomfortable and start giving advice on what you need to do instead of looking at themselves to see how they can improve themselves. I would put bets on you, that you are 100% healthier and if you do get sick it would be very mild and temporary than the average person who eats the SAD. In the last few years I have come to believe that it is more important what you do not put into your body as oppose to what you put in. If you are putting fresh fruits and veggies in, you are taking care of your body and it will thrive, if you are putting in Big Macs, I feel you are better off eating nothing. Just keep listening to your body and I believe you will continue to be happy and healthy every day.
Milo

[psstt]

I have been enjoying reading all your posts and am so excited to start my raw diet when I finish my first cleasne. thank you all for being here and for the inspiration you are providing. Have a beautiful day :p Mindy

[Sim]

Hi Sim,
I Just keep listening to your body and I believe you will continue to be happy and healthy every day.
Milo

Thanks, Milo...you are wise, wise, wise and I'm going to listen to my body--and to you--because I'm feeling greart

Oh Ginger! First of all, how fabulous to be told by your daughter that that you are her role model! "Strong, independent woman" is what we should all be striving to become and now you've heard it twice in a couple of weeks from unrelated-to-each-other people. That means the energy that's surrounding you is real and intense and powerful. Beautiful, just beautiful. Sorry about the break-up, but it sounds like you're recovering well. Good girl More sorry about the cyst; we're all keeping our fingers crossed for good news for you and if you hear not-the-best news, we're also here to love you to pieces. Let's wait and see.

What's a girl to do? Eat the tomatoes, then go on the cleanse, of course! Because in a few months when those mealy pink tomatoes are the only ones available, you'll be kicking yourself for letting luscious summer-garden tomatoes go to waste. :)

Last night I made Ani's polenta with mushroom ragout....it was outstanding!!! When I get home from work, I'll post the recipe. Absolutely amazing. I also made a lentil, tomato, onion, and parsley salad with tahini dressing that was, as my students would say, "da bomb". Another recipe on the way.

Have a great day, kids. Love to all.

[ninab64]

Now, my next mission it to [I]find[I] young coconuts where I live. I may have to trek to Toronto but that'll be a fun excursion, too.

charlotte: since you're in the Toronto area, did you know that there will be a raw foods demonstration there in a week or 2, i think? four different locations, two of them at Whole Foods. i have all the information at home though. can't remember who's demonstrating, if it's Cornbleet? anyway, if you're interested, i'll post the information later on

[Res]

I think society has got too complacent... I'll say! The norm now is overweight and unhealthy and people DO have a problem with a slim healthy person now. That's crazy!



My son is cleansing for the first time. :) I usually watch "Supersize Me" when I start a cleanse. I've Netflixed it and it should be here soon - he's never seen it and he's a Taco Bell fan. He will probably never eat at McDonalds after seeing it. :D

You guys are amazing :) and although I'm cleansing and shouldn't be here, Sim's promise of recipes actually gives me something else to look forward to and plan for when I'm off the cleanse. :) I can justifiably (sp?) be excited about food when it's the "good kind". lol ;)

You Ladies always inspire me. http://www.websmileys.com/sm/love/1273.gif

Love,
~Res

[charlottebird]

Ginger: Positive, healthy vibes sent to you from Canada!! You'll be a.o.k.:)

Sim: Like Milo said, you are most definitely healthier than your counterparts. Mile makes a good point. People get uncomfortable when faced with non-conformity. Seeing your amazing changes living on raw food probably makes them silently question what they would choose to ignore: their own SAD lifestyle.

Keep at it! I am right behind you.:)

Nina: Oh yea, I do know about the Toronto Vegetarian Food Fair coming up Sept. 9, 10 & 11. I am one lucky girl!:D The will be a lot of raw food demos there, too, and YES Cornbleet will be there!

Here's the link:

http://veg.ca/content/view/52/83/

As for young coconuts, Whole Foods in Canada has them so I can pick a few up in Toronto.

Be well, RAWsome ones!!:)

[luckykitti]

So at this point I'm wondering where you all find and learn your wonderful nutritional knowledge??? I'd like to take some of the things I learn through you all but I want to know why and what I'm doing!! LOL. and I don't know where to start.

:) thanks!

[Res]

luckykitti: Aside from some of these Ladies being geniuses ;) and sharing their knowledge with us, we dig in and search and research for ourselves.

There's also the really fun Trial & Error in the kitchen (which never seems to happen to mtmouse :p). :) It's a LOT of fun here. :D

Love,
~Res

[TeePee]

Goodmorning girls!!

Someone asked for the chocolate pudding recipe with coconuts:

From Raw Food Real World

2 cups coconut meat
3/4 cup coconut water (more if needed to thin)
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup agave nectar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 tbl vanilla extract
1/4 tsp sea salt

In Vita-Mix or high speed blender, puree all the ingredients until completely smooth, stopping to scrape the sides as necessary. Chill for a firmer pudding. YUMMY!!!!:D

[Res]

You're killing me... ;)

[Res]

This is outrageous:

Almond Growers Seek Delay of Pasteurization Rule:

In January, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that virtually all almonds would have to be pasteurized as of September 1. This new rule was a result of Salmonella outbreaks in 2001 and 2004 that were traced back to raw almonds.

The California Almond Board is now requesting the USDA delay the implementation until March 1, 2008 in order to ensure there’s enough pasteurization capacity available to comply, without disrupting the flow of nuts to the market.
The USDA has stated it will consider the request and publish their decision in the Federal Register by September 1.

[Res]

http://articles.mercola.com/themes/blogs/MercolaArticle/mercolaimages/drComment_header.jpg

This San Francisco Gate article states that “pasteurization” is a process where “the shelled and hulled nuts are laid out on a conveyor belt that passes through a moist burst of steam to heat the kernel surface to about 200 degrees, killing any pathogens present.”

As gentle and safe as this may sound, pasteurizing almonds means they are no longer natural or raw.

Anytime you heat a food much above 105 degrees you start destroying the value of the food. The higher the temperature the more damage that is done.

The requirement to pasteurize ALL almonds means that it may be next to impossible to find an almond in the United States that's still in the state nature intended, and no one knows how this process will impact the nutritional value or other properties of the nuts.

This is not rocket science folks. Nearly everyone readily accepts that when you cook vegetables to death they do not provide the same nutritional value as when they are eaten raw. Similarly, I have documented the enormous problems with pasteurized milk. It would seem rational to conclude that one would see similar reduction in the nutritional value of the almonds once they are pasteurized. Fortunately hundreds of thousands of Americans are finally appreciating this truth and making a major shift to raw milk. (http://www.mercola.com/2004/apr/24/raw_milk.htm)

Meanwhile, in a letter received on April 30, 2007 from Mr. Richard Waycot, the president and CEO of the Almond Board of California (ABC) himself as a response to an article I had posted on my site, I was told that the ABC will not use any heating or radiation to “pasteurize” their almonds. Instead, he explained, they will use propylene oxide in their almond “pasteurization” process. In the FDA’s “Guide to Inspections (http://www.fda.gov/ora/inspect_ref/igs/foodsp.html#SECTION%204:) of Manufacturers of Miscellaneous Food Products,” this process is referred to as “terminal gas sterilization.”

Also, in April 2007, the FDA proposed relaxing the labeling requirements, and allowing companies to use the more palatable term "pasteurized", to describe irradiated foods (http://v.mercola.com/blogs/public_blog/Do-You-Know-What-Pasteurization-and-Irradiation-Really-Mean--9733.aspx) ,if the radiation kills germs as well as the pasteurization process does. In essence, this means that almonds may not only be pasteurized, but irradiated. Apparently the term “pasteurized” is an OK substitute for “terminal gas sterilization” as well.If the FDA gets its way, as long as the food looks and smells normal, chances are better than good you won't ever know whether that specific food has been "nuked,” or “terminally gassed,” or not.

In his letter, Mr. Waycott also stated, "Pasteurized raw almonds do not differ in any significant way, taste, quality, or nutritional value from untreated almonds. Pasteurization simply reduces the presence of harmful bacteria on those almonds to safe levels while maintaining taste, quality, and nutritional value."

I don’t think so.


Even a simple search for proplyene oxide in Wikipedia provides the following information:"Propylene oxide is a highly toxic flammable chemical compound. It was once used as a racing fuel, but that usage is now prohibited under the US National Hot Rod rules for safety reasons. It is also used in thermobaric weapons. It is an epoxide (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epoxide)."
The bottom line is that if any process kills bacteria, it has the potential to cause problems in humans, OR significantly change the quality of the food. The flimsy reassurances that “pasteurized” almonds -- after being treated with prohibited racing fuel -- would be the same as raw almonds are simply false.


As an aside, although many turn to nuts as a health food, I consistently find that overweight patients who find it difficult to lose weight are eating a lot of almonds or other nuts. It is one of the most common reasons why people cannot lose weight, or lose weight slowly, while following a low- or no-grain diet (http://www.mercola.com/nutritionplan/index.htm).


Like most whole foods, nuts can have important health benefits, just use them sparingly if you are overweight, and be sure to choose nuts that are ideal for your nutritional type (http://www.mercola.com/2003/feb/26/metabolic_typing.htm).


To sign a petition: Online Petition (http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/mandatory-almond-pasteurization-is-wrong.html)

[milo]

Hi Res,

Thanks for posting that.

Milo

[luckykitti]

wow interesting video I just watched from that post res! :)

so Dr. Oz who was on oprah, seems to be on the same raw wavelength...?,,.this recipe seems to be mostly raw? Its a purple smoothy hehe

I'm still learning but oh it's a blast! I figure I'll be able to do a percentage of being raw after my next MC :) I'm just planning out what I have to kick out of my cupboards by then and start introducing new things!! what a great thing!


The Quick Magical Breakfast Blaster
2 servings, 136 calories per serving

1 scoop (1/3 cup) Soy protein (like Nature's Plus Spiru-Tein)
1/2 tablespoon flaxseed oil
1/4 cup frozen blueberries
1/2 large ripe banana (or other fruits of your choice)
1/2 tablespoon apple juice concentrate or honey
1 teaspoon Psyillium seed husks

that looks pretty raw to me but minus the apple juice (in which case you use...well..is there a raw honey?)

[mtmouse]

There is indeed raw honey (and certainly raw agave would work very well too). However, I don't think there's raw protein powder. And most of the raw gurus would say (I think) that you don't need protein powder anyway.

But it sounds tasty and is no doubt a lot healthier than an egg mcmuffin!

[Res]

I can't wait to get back here - I'm already in the planning stages. I love you guys!! http://www.freesmileys.org/emo/love005.gif

Love,
~Res

[alicein1land]

Had to catch up with you RAWsome folk, even though I am back cleansing! Should have done it right the first time! :rolleyes:

Sim: I agree with everyone else, in that if you look and feel healthy at your current weight, and your lab values are coming back better than normal, then you are doing excellently well! I think part of the reaction of other folk is jealousy! You know the saying "You can't be too rich or too thin!" Ha! Well, people look at you, see how fabulous you look and feel, and how much you enjoy eating your raw foods, and they get this twinge of green (non-organic and definitely not RAW green!). THEY want to be as thin and be hunting for size 0 clothes (OK, maybe not the guys), and so they project their secret desire onto you and make you out to be the bad guy! :eek:

I'm glad you have come to the conclusion that you are OK as you are. Our society is obsessed with size and weight - people are too fat or too thin. If you are overweight, you are a pig, and if you are thin, then you must be anorexic! :rolleyes:

All I can say is this - I started my 1st cleanse in July morbidly overweight and in seriously bad health (hypertension, borderline diabetic). I did not go on the cleanse to lose weight, but to try and gain control of my life. It certainly helped; I did lose 21 lbs, and I now exercise regularly, eat mostly vegetarian/vegan, raw a lot of the time, and feel so much better than I did. Once I get the raw thing figured out for myself, I will be as raw as I can. I don't know how much that will be, but I DO KNOW that I feel so much better and energetic w/ the diet/lifestyle changes I have made so far.

Guess I'm just trying to say "Keep on keepin' on!" You are definitely an inspiration to me! :D

[Sim]

Ack! Alice, I just wrote you a long response, thanking you for your confidence and letting you know that I'm so thrilled that you're taking control of your own health. There was much more to it but I don't know where it went! At any rate, keep it up, girl...kick the diabetes and hypertension....I did, you will too. Wearing a smaller size is great but being in the best of health is the real perk.

And to everyone: I promised a couple of recipes. They are absolutely fabulous. Thanks to Ani Phyo and Alissa Cohen:

Ani: Black Pepper Cheeze
2 cups cashews (she doesn't say to soak, but I did; made the creamiest cheeze!)
4 tblsp. lemon juice
3 cloves of garlic
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
1 tsp. sea salt
up to 1/4 cup water (I used 2 tblesp.)
Put everything except the water in the food processor and process until it's creamy. Add one tblsp water at a time until cheeze is smooth and creamy.
Makes one pint. Will keep for up to 4 days in the fridge.

Thai Spring Rolls with Dipping Sauce
(I didn't have all these ingredients so I improvised. Excellent anyway)

Thai Dipping Sauce
1/2 olive oil
4 kaffir lime leaves (yeah, right...who has those on hand?)
1 tbls. Nama Shoyu
2 Thai red chilies (I used chili powder instead)
1/2 cup raw almond butter
2 tblsp. lemon juice
1 cup of filtered water.

Fillings:
1 zucchini julienned
1 cup bean sprouts (mung or other)
1/2 bunch basil
1/2 bunch cilantro
1/4 bunch mint
1-2 chilies, finely chopped

Lay a collard leaf flat, light green side up. Cut away the tough center stem and cut the leave in half. Then start your roll by placing the filling ingredients across the bottom edge of each leaf. As you roll, the natural edge of the leaf will be on either your right or left and the cut edge will be opposite.
Then combine the dipping sauce ingredients in a blender. Dip the rolls into the sauce and enjoy Ani's genius!

And this recipe was the ABSOLUTE BEST!
Polenta with Mushroom Ragout

Polenta
1½ tsp. sea salt
1 clove garlic
1/8 tsp ground black pepper.
1½ cups cashews, dry
2 cups corn kernels, fresh or frozen
1 tblsp. lemon juice
1½ tbls yellow onion, chopped

Mushroom Gravy
1/3 cup olive oil.
3/4 cup mushrooms, any kind
1/3 cup water
1½ tsps. apple cider vinegar
1 clove garlic
1/2 tsp. sea salt

Ragout
2 cups mushrooms, any kind, chopped
1/2 stalk celery, chopped
2 tsp fresh thyme or 1 tsp. dried.

To make polenta, first process the salt, garlic, and black pepper.Then add cashews and process. Place in a bowl. Next, pulse open kernels with lemon juice, Place into bowl with cashews and onion. Mix well. Set aside.

To make gravy: Blend all gravy ingredients together.

To make ragout: stir ragout ingredients into gravy.

To serve: use an ice cream scoop and scoop some polenta onto plate. Drizzle with ragout and serve with a sprig of fresh rosemary as garnish.

Hope you like these as much as my family did!

[alicein1land]

Hi Sim: My BP is lower than it was pre-MC, and I am sure my blood glucose is in a healthy range, given what I have been eating (and not eating) the past several months. I do go back to the Dr. in October and will have more labwork done so I will be able to see the changes. :D

The recipes look yummy! Can't do anything about them now but once I'm back eating...mmmm! The polenta sounds fabulous! I love mushrooms! :D Kaffir lime leaves are probably available in any Asian market. If you have an Asian market nearby, you could check there. ;)

[Sim]

If you have an Asian market nearby, you could check there. ;)
Thanks, Ann...I will!

Yes! BP and glucose going back to normal...good girl...keep it up and enjoy the healthy eating along the way...and remember to eat only what you enjoy. That's the key. Have a great Sunday!

[Res]

Morning Ladies, :)

Does anyone have or know where I can purchase an "outdoor screen" for sun drying tomatoes? Are you wondering why I don't just use my dehydrator? Well, it's hot hot hot here and I'd like to save on electricity. And, I think it would be fun to try it the old fashioned way. :)

I hope you're all having a great day!

Love,
~Res

[mtmouse]

I don't have the Excalibur, so of course I don't know what I'm talking about here, but can't you use those screens?

My own homemade fiberglass screens will work fine outside. And because of their design (the edges are about a half-inch high), I could probably even stack them on top of each other to keep bugs off the food.

But if you could somehow put your tray on, say, a table with a couple of books at the edges so there was air circulation under them, and cover the food with cheesecloth, couldn't you make it work?

[Res]

Kathy,

Yes! I didn't think of that! I want something to keep the bugs off so I suppose with a little cheesecloth and your idea I COULD make it work! :D

High Fives Kathy ;)

[Res]

Sim:

Those recipes sound amazing. Can't wait. :)

Love,
~Res

[Res]

I just scanned this entire thread for recipes - I told myself NOT to read, just scan. I didn't listen...:o

It was a sweet walk down memory lane. :) Can't wait to get back here and play. :)

Does anyone know where I can buy fresh/frozen cranberries online? PLEASE. They're no where to be found here and I need them. I've checked online and so far NADA.

Kathy: How's the raw life?

Love,
~Res

[TeePee]

Hi girls.

Sim, your recipes sound amazing!! How are you finding time with being back to school??? Tomorrow is my first day back, with meetings, workshops, blah, blah, blah for two days. Students coming on Thursday! I am already planning out my "packing" and "preparing" routine...


Res, how did the cheesecloth come out?

MY MOM, 67, IS ON HER DAY 5 OF HER FIRST MASTER CLEANSE!!! My sister and brother in-law think I've brainwashed her!!!:eek: She is doing great except for the SWF. She is alternating every other day with the SWF or tea. I guess that is a better alternative than the tea every day and no SWF. I'm sooo proud of her!!:D

I actually got my 7 year old daughter to take the teeniest, tiniest taste of my green smoothie this morning!! She said---"there's spinach in there!!!" which of course she had to know. I really think she liked it, but there is no way she was admitting it!! Slowly.....

Thinking of trying out my new sushi rolling mat tonight with marinated portabellas, cukes, carrots, a cream cheese very similar to Sim's but with red peppers instead of pepper, and going to try Sarma's jicima trick for the rice! So excited!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday weekend.:p Sorry, Res, the weather here is phenomenal for the last several days....

[Res]

She said---"there's spinach in there!!!" which of course she had to know. LOL! ;)

re: cheesecloth. I think it would work great, however I haven't done it yet. I do have a few lovely zucchini that should be ready to pick in about a week. I may dehydrate and then process them to a powder to use in soups. I'd rather be eating them. ;)

And re: your weather - http://www.freesmileys.org/emo/taunt012.gif

Love,
~Res

[Res]

I just ordered Ani's cookbook and checked out a few pages online. I'm really excited because she appears to use more veggies in her dishes than nuts. :)

[charlottebird]

Hi Everyone!!! I'm back!!

I broke my cleanse after 14 days but I was ready. Mostly, I didn't want to miss out on your local produce in Canada. Peaches from Niagara region, melons and blueberries, figs - all local. Tomatoes ... shall I go on? Let's just say that me and fruit are in love!!

I wasn't 100 % on the weekend. I was at my parent's home and had cooked food (fish) but no other meat. Now that I am back home it's vegan and as much raw as possible. I will start the sprouting process tonight with my chick peas and mung beans and see how that goes.

Did some dehydrating (low temp, long time) with kiwis, strawberries and tomatoes. Yumm!

Looking forward to the Toronto Vegetarian Festival this weekend. YIPPEE!!

Be well and Lively.:D

[Res]

...and if my blather about Kevin Trudeau and his claims that the Government is working together with others to make us fat, sick and unhealthy - we now have Mercola stating he's been saying this for years! AND now Peter Jennings is saying it!! Take a Look (http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2007/08/22/how-the-food-industry-is-deceiving-you.aspx)! :eek:

[Res]

Oh my, look at this recipe of Ani's ; Mylk and SmartMonkey bar cereal (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VW-hxdN3Hi8). :eek:

[alicein1land]

Res: Thanks so much for the link! :) I watched the videos w/ Peter Jennings! Quite frightening, but it definitely validates the choices I have been making to eat locally, eat organic, and avoid processed/junk foods. During my first MC, I cleaned out my fridge and pantry and got rid of all processed food. It left my fridge and pantry quite bare. When I finished my MC, I bought some dried fruit, nuts and seeds, Larabars and not much else. My pantry is pretty empty now! :D

Reading through the comments following the videos, someone mentioned the problem w/ arsenic in chicken and a link http://www.iatp.org/iatp/search.cfm. (search on "roxarsone" and the article is the 3rd one listed)
Apparently arsenic in the form of roxarsone is added to chicken feed in this country and it ends up in the chicken. No surprise that most of the organic chicken was lower in arsenic than others, with the exception of Trader Joes. Trader Joes chicken was relatively high in arsenic, despite it being labeled as "freerange" organic etc. In fact, it had more arsenic than Tyson chicken! :eek: Also, KFC scored the lowest in arsenic of any of the fast food chicken, while Church's and Popeye's scored the highest! :eek:

[psstt]

Thank you all for continuing to educate us.. while I know a lot of this information it is still difficult for me to break my bad habits and seeing this information again and reading your discusions helps me keep it in the front of my mind and is helping me make better choices..

Keep up the great work and thank you ;)

[alicein1land]

Oh, delish! I want to eat now!!! I just spent 45 min watching a bunch of Ani's YouTube videos, and I want to EAT!!! :D
Thanks, Res!!! :rolleyes:

[Res]

OH MY! Trader Joes? Crap! I trusted them! :(

[Res]

LOL Sorry Ann! Misery Loves Company! :p I watched all of her videos as well and really sabotaged myself.

I need a lemonade and quick! :o

[mandib]

Hey all!

I have been staying raw since I came off of a 21 day cleanse for the first time. I am really loving the way I feel and would love to share any of my insight with anyone thinking about going raw/semi-raw. I do have a question though for those that have done this/are doing this, ESPECIALLY FOR THE LADIES.

I have not gotten my period yet and it has been a few weeks past when I was to get it. I did get it 9 days early while on the MC, but nothing as of yet. I do have issues with this as it it is; endometriosis and PCOS, but just wanted to see if anyone has any insight or similar experiences.

Please let me know and thanks!:rolleyes:

[cd2318]

I just scanned this entire thread for recipes - I told myself NOT to read, just scan.

Res, is there a way to isolate the recipes from the rest of the entries? :confused:

[cd2318]

Well, now that I've finished my first Master Cleanse (applause, applause!)
I'm crossing over to this forum to see what I need to learn to eat a more raw diet and try some new recipes. :p

The OJ is tasting good! Day 1 post-cleanse

[Res]

cd2318: Unfortunately, no. That's why I'm printing everything and saving it to a binder.

Oh that's right! Congratulations! :D Welcome to "the other side..." ;)

[alicein1land]

OH MY! Trader Joes? Crap! I trusted them! :(

Yeah, I felt the same way when I read that because I tend to buy my chicken from them! :eek: I think Trader Joes has gotten too big and so they are buying their products from wherever they can get it the cheapest. And I don't think that they are doing the research to see if the organic products (dairy, produce, meat) are truly organic.

When I moved to NorCal 11 years ago, I found that I no longer liked the taste of TJ milk and dairy, as it didn't taste fresh. I started buying my milk from local dairies (Berkeley Farms, Clover Stornetta) and the difference is taste was huge!

[cd2318]

: Unfortunately, no. That's why I'm printing everything and saving it to a binder.

Res, since you've done all this work, by any chance did you write down what pages the recipes are on? :confused:

[alicein1land]

cd2318: A lot of the recipes on this thread are also in the recipe box. The latest ones posted by Sim and Res might not be, but they posted them within the last week so should be easy to find.

[Res]

Res, since you've done all this work, by any chance did you write down what pages the recipes are on? :confused: What? And do something intelligent? ;) Actually no because, depending on how your preferences are set up and what system you're browsing from the pages would be different.

I snuck here on my corporate workstation and everything was askew. :)

[cd2318]

What? And do something intelligent?

Well, actually that would be YOU being intelligent and ME being lazy....:o

[Res]

lol, actually it's a great idea. I wish we had a way of doing that. So far I haven't seen a Bulletin Board with the capability - of course it might but the Admins may not want to bother with the setup - I dunno. :)

[cd2318]

cd2318: A lot of the recipes on this thread are also in the recipe box. The latest ones posted by Sim and Res might not be, but they posted them within the last week so should be easy to find.

Thanks Alice! I will try to find the recipe box. If the recipe box forum doesn't pop up right off when I hit "New Posts" I won't know where to look, but I'm sure someone will point me in the right direction. :rolleyes:

[Res]

Lemonhead Recipe Box (http://therawfoodsite.com/forum/showthread.php?t=101&page=58);)

[cd2318]

Lemonhead Recipe Box (http://therawfoodsite.com/forum/showthread.php?t=101&page=58);)

WOW, Res, you are ON YOUR GAME today! But, I think you must always be! :D

[Res]

I'm hungry! :p

[alicein1land]

I'm hungry! :p

Oh yeah, Res! Me too! Need more lemonade NOW! :D

[alicein1land]

For people concerned about the lack of raw almonds (potentially if that legislation isn't changed), I found a web site that you can buy raw almonds from. They have said that if the proposed legislation isn't revoked, they will buy their raw almonds from other countries, where raw almonds are available. They are based in Berkeley and make a lot of raw nut butters. Pretty much everything available on their site is raw. :)

http://www.livingtreecommunity.com/store2/default.asp

[ninab64]

hello ladies :D

on the topic of almonds, i got this link from another bulletin board that i've visited
http://www.almonds-from-california.com/ppcart/
they had a discussion about the pasteurization issue, and this place above will sell directly to you, so they are not required to treat the almonds. the way i understand it, any way

see ya!

[Res]

Nice you two! ;)


Thank you!
~Res

[Lin]

mtmouse, I finally found your vanilla almond mylk recipe that you suggested over on the other thread, on page 80 here!!

I have a question. If I were to use vanilla extract (non-alcoholic) instead of a vanilla bean, how much would you recommend? My DS loves vanilla almond milk and this recipe sounds really good. I showed it to him and he's very interested in me making him some. We don't use dairy products at all in our home. Both DS and I are allergic, plus I don't eat any animal products at all. It was nice to find a recipe that doesn't use oil too, because I don't do free oils either, for health reasons (McDougall Program).

[mtmouse]

Lin,

I think with the 5-cup recipe, I'd start with 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract and see how it tasted, then up it. My guess is that you might end up using 1 tsp, depending on how vanilla-y you like it. However, I think it's best to start small, because you can always add more but you can't take it out! :D

[Lin]

Thanks, mtmouse.
My DS loves the vanilla flavor in the almond milk and I was thinking that 1 tsp. might be about right, but didn't know.
I do have a Vita-Mix and I wasn't sure how much it would take for 5 cups of water! I was actually concerned that 1 tsp. might not be enough!!!:D

I've only had the Vita-Mix for a few months, so I'm new to using it. It's really nice though. I got it at Costco when they were doing a demo.

I'll take your advice and start out little and then add more if it needs it.

[alicein1land]

Ahhh, the VitaMix! I have a blender, but found that it doesn't do veggies well for smoothies, so I am considering getting one for my post-cleanse.

[mtmouse]

I certainly stalled a long time before I got mine, but I've never regretted it for a moment.

You can get reconditioned ones on the VM website for $369. They have the same 7-year warranty as new. I also got the dry blade so I could grind grain for DH's bread. That made it $425, I think. Make sure you tell them that your friends got it with free shipping, and they'll give it to you. (Not sure if they'll do that for the $369 unit alone--but I asked first about the $425 package, then told them I wanted the free shipping. I figured if they wouldn't give it to me, I'd simply forget the dry blade. But they did give it, so I went with it.)

I've used it every single day since it arrived, and sometimes up to 5 times a day!

[alicein1land]

Thanks, mtmouse! I'll look into that option! :D

[TeePee]

Goodmorning Girls!!!

Going apple picking today for Goddaughter's 3 year old birthday party!

:D Hope they are organic!!!

Have a great Saturday Rawsome Ones!!

[Res]

Good Morning Teepee! :D

Have fun!

Love,
~Res

[TeePee]

Hi, Res!!

Now I say "Goodnight"!!!

but, WHERE IS EVERYONE???


Back to school (teaching) and boy oh boy am I busy!! Have no time to prepare anything for lunch, so I have been throwing an avocado, tomato and some flax crackers in a bag and cutting it up at work!!!

How is everyone? I am just soooo overwhelmed!!! Finally getting to sit down. Working late, late, every single day....Sorry just venting here!!:mad:

Miss you girlie girls!!!

[aikenjoi]

Hello, I was just wondering what you all thought about the blendtec blender. I would like to go on a raw food diet after the cleanse and want to save up for a blender. Is the Vitamix better? From the demos on their sites that I've watched the blendtec seems a little better, but then again most people have a vitamix, so I was wondering if there's a big difference.

[mtmouse]

Does anyone know anything about rose hips? I am surrounded by wild roses, and they're getting full of hips this time of year. DH says we need to wait until after a frost to harvest them. I'm thinking I would rinse and dry them, maybe dehydrate them a little, and then throw a bunch into my morning smoothies for vitamin C and other goodies.

Anybody have any ideas on how best to go about that?

:)

[Lin]

I've never tried to harvest rose hips. There are a few websites that offer suggestions. Here's one:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/355077/rose_hips_the_vitamin_c_powerhouse.html

I hope you figure out how harvest them well. The smoothie sounds good!!! :)

[Res]

Teepee:

Yes, it's quiet in here - for now. :)

Hang in there until you get back into your routine. It sounds like you don't have a moment to think! :) It will get better.

I just got Ani Phyo's recipe book today and I can already tell it's a keeper and at the top of my list! It's easy and I LOVE that! I can't wait to compare hers and Matt's taco meat. ;)

Been really detox sick today so I'm just popping in for a visit. I really miss the activity in this thread and will probably just come here and talk to myself when I start eating again. :D

Kathy: Let us know what you find on rosehips. I should probably do the same. I keep forgetting it's food! :)


aikenjoi: I've never heard of the blender you referred to. Try googling "reviews" for the blender to see how it holds up. :)

Love,
~Res

[mtmouse]

Thanks for that, Lin!

Sounds just like what I was thinking. I do think I can leave the seeds in, since I intend to put them in my Vitamix smoothies. I might also try pulverizing them in the VM (maybe with the dry blade? anyone?) and then using that powder to make tea--which would mostly be for DH, especially in my more all-raw moments. But he does drink our smoothie every morning.

And, of course, I'll dry them in the dehydrator instead of on a board.

But they sure sound worth harvesting!

[Sim]

Hi Everyone~
My oh my have you all been busy little cleansers and raw eaters! So good to see!
I've been upside down and inside out, started a teaching job and, for the first time in my life, quit the job! Guess what I found out? My passion for raw and learning the ins and outs so that I can share it with others have exceeded my desire to put my all into teaching. I might be attending culinary school sooner than I thought, in California or in Maine with Alissa...we'll see. At any rate I'm currently unemployed...good thing I bought all my kitchen equipment last year when I still had money! :D

Ani's book is phenom...he stuff is packed with taste. Her soups are excellent,excellent. I'm old so the print it hard for me read. Other than that, I highly recommend it.

My best accomplishment in the last two weeks: I had, literally, 40 pounds of tomatoes and didn't know what to do with them after I made several quarts of soup and sauce....so I dried them in the dehydrator and they became the absolute most delicious sun-dried tomatoes ever! They're all gone....my family decided they were a tasty snack. I've now got 50 more pounds, so I'm firing up the Big E for more sun-dried pleasure. Well, not sun-dried, dehydrated-dried. Let's not quibble over semantics ;)

Does anyone need the services of a former Spanish teacher and present raw food enthusiast? Be well, my lovelies!

[alicein1land]

aikenjoi: Look up on amazon! http://www.amazon.com/Blendtec-TTBB-23259-Professionals-500-Watt-Blender/dp/B000GIGZXM/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-2042086-7283658?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1189783648&sr=8-1

Sim: Wow! Guess that's what the clarity of thinking brought about by the MC and subsequent raw diet can do for you! :D Best of luck in whatever you choose to do! :D

[ninab64]

wow, Sim. big changes, but i bet you'll love every minute of it, and i can say "i knew her when..."

Vita Mix: i've had mine for over four years, and love it. i used it a lot at first, and slowly slowed the use until it sat neglected, while i had my typical diet, but now i use it every morning, and more if i'm making more than smoothies. I also have the dry blade container, and the small size container as well.

if you are going to aim to eat better, this is a great addition to your kitchen, if you can afford it

[Kram]

Sim - I'm a novice with my dehydrator. Did you just slice the tomatos and put them on the regular trays (or the ones to make the fruit roll-up type things?). And ~ how long did it take?

I love my VitaMix. When I started on the green smoothie kick in March, I never thought it would last. Except that I love them, which is funny since everyone I know can't believe that I (with my former - and unfortunately sometimes current - SAD diet) will make these everyday.

Am back online after 3 weeks hiatus for moving (argh). Just finished the MC right before the move. And the disruption of moving has not been that friendly on my efforts to eat more raw food.

However, I have an appt with my hypnotist today that I'm very excited about. She's great because it takes away some of the natural impulses to eat "bad" stuff, on top of the fact that I always feel like she's taken the weight of the world off my shoulders. Anyone else ever seen a hypnotist?

Res: how did you MC go?

ker

[aikenjoi]

Thank you Res and Alicein1land!

I think out of the vita mix and the blendtec I like the blendtec better, but either way, I don't have enough money to buy the blender. The blendtec is 1500 watts and is about $400, although I could probably get it cheaper from somewhere besides theirs site. But my dad said that he saw a blender with 1500 watts at Sam's for $70 and for the price difference I would think that this blender must fall short of something, but he doesn't remember the brand although he says that he recognized it. Hopefully I'll be able to take a look at it some time this week. A really nice blender would help so much with green smoothies and a lot of raw recipes. I think eating raw food just how it is would be boring after a while and having a high powered blender and a dehydrator would help a lot. But my mom is just going to get a less expensive dehydrator at Wal-mart because buying all this stuff would be getting pretty expensive. I probably won't use it too much anyways--except when I would really like the dried fruits and I'm missing the taste of crackers. I've heard of some good raw bread recipes, so hopefully a cheap dehydrator will do the job as well.

[mtmouse]

A cheap dehydrator will do just fine! At least, as long as it can dry at low enough temperatures. The only problem with cheap is that it may not last as long, but hopefully by the time it dies you'll know whether or not an investment in an expensive one will be worth it to you.

However, the blender deal is very different, I think. I'm not sure it's the wattage that makes the difference, but rather the rpm's and possibly the design.

I made perfectly fine green smoothies in my $35 Hamilton beach blender for months. So you simply don't have to do any different.

But what you get from the Vitamix (and presumably the other, too) is texture. Smooth, velvety, creamy stuff, without little identifiable bits and pieces. It's absolutely not essential, but for the long haul, for me it's indispensable. I completely agree with you that just munching on carrots and apples and celery sticks could get boring in the long run (though ask Sim: she's now swung back to that end of the spectrum, I think!).

So things that give you a variety in texture, like the spiralizer (probably the very best value for $25 you'll ever find) and the Vitamix and a dehydrator, and even a food processor, make a huge difference in feeling satisfied without our old comfort foods.

So if you're wavering, absolutely start small and inexpensive and see how it goes. Then when you want to get a more expensive version of whatever it is, your motivation will be very high and you'll find the money much more easily!

:)

[Sim]

Hi everyone!
Mtmouse is so right on in her assessment of blenders; I had a cheapie Hamilton Beach which was fine BUT approximately six months after moving into raw, I bought my Vitamix and it's the best investment ever! Who would have thought a blender could make such a difference. Again, my old HB was perfectly okay but the Vitamix brings the taste and texture of everything to a new level. But please only do what you can afford. In my case, I had to make a choice between a new dishwasher and the Vitamix...the blender won out and boy, am I pleased with my choice. Same goes for the dehydrator...I've never had a cheapie but I'd heard they were uneven. I got the Big E and I've not ever been disappointed. Of course, I have no more money, but I'm eating well :)

If I had to say what my kitchen essentials are I'd say: the Vitamix with variable speed, Cuisinart food processor (11 cup or larger), Excalibur 9 tray with timer, spiral cutter, and my Omega juicer 8500, more or less in that order. Of course, the most important tools of all: good, sharp knives. Add a veggie peeler or two (I highly recommend the addition of the new specialized "soft fruit and vegetable" peelers....the BEST for mangoes, eggplants, etc.) and a bamboo cutting board (large) and you're in business forever. Or until the warranties run out :D

Kram: I experimented too...somewhere I read to slice the tomatoes 1/4 inch thick. I did and dried them right on the plastic trays, not on the teflex. So here's what I'm doing right now (they're in the dehydrator as we speak): I sliced them 1/2 in. thick because I thought they dried to way too thin a slice to use in recipes. BUT they were the greatest snack ever! Now I want more to use in my recipes, so I'm making them thicker. Also: don't slice them crosswise, like when you want to put a slice on a sandwich. Slice them vertically; less lacy when they dry. It's all a big adventure anyway. If something doesn't work the first time, tweak it for the next. I have never had anything come out inedible. My worst disaster was a loaf I made from Boutenko...not her fault; I used soaked flax instead of dry. So what? I took the goop, spread it on a teflex sheet, and dehydrated the mess into the most delicious crackers!

Made some healthy truffle cookies the other day, when I didn't have all the ingredients I needed but my sweet tooth was acting up. What to do? I took one apple, a mixture of walnuts and pecans (that was all I had in the house!), some dried coconut, handful of raisins AND SOME RAW CACAO, just a little for texture not taste. Cuisinarted them, made little balls, rolled them in more coconut. Hit the sweet tooth dead on and unfortunately, my family loved them so I had only a couple. So gratifying. Normally, I would have used dates instead of raisins and no cacao but cinnamon. I had very little in the way of nuts, too. But see? It all works out....

Hi Nina! Ooh, I don't think fame is in the cards for me...I'll take solvency, though :D But if I ever do have an ongoing business, like my dream of a raw food restaurant/education center, everyone here just needs to come in and tell me who you are and you're my most welcome guests, everything on the house!Wow. Even as I typed that, I got such a thrill. Nothing in this world would please me more.

Yes, it's true: I have moved back into salads and simpler whole foods that have less shoyu, less tamari, less processing (as it were)...I'm finding that dehydrated foods mimic cooked foods so much for me that they pose a problem with digestion and the quantity I start to crave. Raw has water that hydrates my body and soul, dehydrated sometimes feels dead to me so I use those things sparingly when I start to crave something "cooked". It's all a learning process for me, my buddies, as it is for you. No one fact or opinion or bit of info is right for all of us. We have to seek out what satisfies each of us the most. I know raw people who just can't stomach green smoothies and I know others who eat dehydrated foods all the time with no adverse physical or psychological effects. Still others insist that pates and soups are unappealing and then others who swear that those things are their lifeblood. Find your formula, change it up every now and then. Above all, have fun and enjoy. I've said this before: if it doesn't thrill you, don't eat it because it will turn you off raw and onto SAD. Our memories of our most "fun" SAD foods are so ingrained that it's easy to go backward if you're not finding delicious raw foods that satisfy in the same way.

Okey doke...off to find some wage-earning work...part of me enjoys the unemployment, part of me is panicked. Oooh, it's such an adventure....I think I'll leave the panic home today :D

[aikenjoi]

Thanks for the advice mtmouse and Sim!

I'll be going to look at the less expensive blender tomorrow, but I really do have my mind set on getting the blendtec or maybe the vitamix (I'm now still deciding because from the reviews there are pros and cons to both of them).
My family and friends say that I'm probably the only 16 year old saving for a blender. I think I'll look for a job in October because I don't know how else I'll get the money for the appliances and even buying organic raw foods can get kind of pricey and I'm not sure my parents will be wanting to buy certain ingredients besides the regular commercial fruits and veggies. But until I get a job I'll make it work. Just last Wednesday my youth group learned that I had been vegetarian for 2 months and that's so weird for them. I guess a lot of Oklahomans are raised on meat (I was). I'm sure there are plenty vegetarians here, but just none that I know.

The enthusiasm for raw foods here is a real encouragement and has helped me the last couple months, before I started the cleanse, to incorporate more raw foods into my diet and I didn't know until last week, but just doing that I lost 10 pounds before the MC.

Thanks for the recommendations Sim. Once I have money I'll start saving for those, but I'll have to decide later if I want the omega juicer since I have a champion one already that my mom has had for years. But maybe once I get into wheat grass and those things I'll get one, but I'll probably need to keep it simple at first if I want to last on raw foods.
And I'll have to buy sharp knives too. The knives in this house are pretty crappy. A 16 year old saving for knives....that sounds rather dangerous, don't you think? :D

[TeePee]

Hi girls!

Sorry I haven't even read the posts to catch up!! I have been soooo busy starting the school year back up. Too many nights at school until 8 pm will do me in....I am glad to see everyone still going strong, even though I'm pooped. I'm off to bed to rest up for another long day.

Have some raw fun!
:D

[Ginger]

Hi ladies

Had alot going on since I got back from Curacao. I've had a cyst on my nose for awhile. It kept breaking open in Curacao. When I got back they biopsied it. The biopsy came back positive for basal cell carcinoma. Today they cut a huge (dime sized) chunk from my nose and did a skin graft. I'm pretty freaked about the idea of being disfigured. But, this too shall pass.

Last week they removed a lyphoma from my right arm, I have a 2 inch incision from that. Seems like I'm being cut to pieces. LOL.

Needless to say, I've held off on starting a fast.

Did anyone see Oprah today? They had Dr Oz on and showed some studies they've done. One on a detox (not the master cleanse). They had two groups, one who ate a "normal" diet for 10 days. The other did a detox diet with vegetables. Testing the bloodwork etc on the two groups and showed no difference.

They also had twins who ate the same foods, but one drank lots of water, the other drank none. No difference in their skin after a week!!

they exposed a woman to ultaviolet rays to give her a sunburn. Then had her eat about 4 tablespoons of tomato paste a day for about 4 weeks, then exposed her again. The difference in the sunburn was significantly lower. Amazing what lycopene does.

There were alot of other experiments they showed. It was really cool. One involved Omego 3 (flax seeds). Very good for you.

[Pooper]

Hi everyone!

I'm looking for some general eating help. I have a huge problem with self-control and eating when I am not hungry. I've found out through the MC that I am good at all or nothing diets, but I need a really good reason to stick to it.

I've done a few MC's, and my last was 20 days long. I have been vegan for three months now and have only given in to dairy temptations a few times. Since reading a Victoria Boutenko book and other raw info, I have been about 50% raw for a few weeks now.

My problem is when I get home at the end of the day. I just find myself binging on soy ice cream, cookies, and potato chips, and then feeling really guilty afterwards. And its not just eating some snacks, but a half a giant bag of chips followed by a pint of the soy ice cream. A switch just turns off in my head and I feel like I'm literally not in control of my own hands and mouth.

This probably sounds really weird but I am wondering if anyone else has these kinds of self control problems. Does anyone feel like they have been in this position that could offer some words of advice? I'd really appreciate anything you all have to say.

[Kram]

Sim - Thanks for the tip. I am a spaz when it comes to cooking and have a knack for really making a mess. That's why I ask for directions. I couldn't imagine just throwing things in the Cuisinart (whose blade I dropped on my foot the FIRST time I used it - thankfully no stitches necessary, but I'll have the scar forever to remember that blade-handling is important). I can't wait to try the tomatos.

Aikenjoi: I love it - the 16 yr old saving for a blender. I would have been that kid at your age (except the concept of being vegetarian was pretty foreign to me at that pt).

Pooper: I can't really offer you any help on this front except to say that you're not alone. I would really like to lose some weight, and even converting part of my diet to raw isn't helping. It's all about portion control and exercise, unfortunately. And yes, I had 1 1/2 Klondike bars after dinner tonight. Am trying to figure out what my approach is going to be here. Was talking to a trusted friend (and basically life coach) and she was essentially smacking me in the head and saying you have to count calories and stick to it. Am thinking of trying Weight Watchers (which I've done successfully before) and trying to adapt it with good raw food. After following her advice and counting calories on some of my raw stuff I saw the problem - I was having a green smoothie when I got up in the morning (250-300 calories) and then at 10am or so when I'd burned that off, I had some raw muesli cereal (which has a shocking 400+ calories). Had no idea until I really looked, but hadn't been thinking that this should have been more than half of my calories for the day.

The other way I look at it is that to focus on releasing the extra weight that I have. It makes my life harder and I don't need it for anything. It does not end up providing me the comfort that I think it might. I'm really trying to focus my brain on only the positive since I think the brain is such a powerful tool. And when I start to have thoughts like "i'm fat" etc, I block those out, tell myself that I love myself and that it was ok that I had eaten that stuff, and get back onto the path that it's time to release it so I feel better. Clearly this is a longer term course of action. But it seems like a positive one to me.

Clearly I don't know about your specific situation, so I apoligize for my rambling. I've been having an in-depth internal conversation about this over the last few days. Good luck.

[Sim]

aikenjoy~ YOU ROCK! If I had your purposefulness when I was 16, I wouldn't have wasted a minute of my life wondering about how to eat! Keep saving those pennies, girl...and buy what you want and what you need and don't worry about the others. You'll lead by example and they will marvel at what you accomplish. And we're all here for you for support, admiring you all the way.:D

Ginger~I'm sending you GIGANTIC hugs...I have a feeling that no matter what little bits of you have to be excised, you are not disfigured...you're too beautiful to worry about that. Every time something physical changes about us, we stress over how we look. Turn it around and just think: "I have an interesting new feature that I'm not loving but it's somehow going to add character. Character is good." And move past. Most important: we want to know that you're okay. Basal cell is not a happy thing. And did you mean a lymphoma or a lymph node? These are serious and scary...and you certainly can be freaked out about a health issue...but about how you look? No, girl. You'll look just fine and beautiful...just be on top of the health issues, okay? I imagine a cleanse would definitely be out of the question for the moment, so just eat healthily, in whatever way that seems to you. I'm sure there'll be some raw in there and that's good enough if all raw isn't attractive to you at the present. Just be well, Ginger, and know that I and everyone else here are on tenterhooks about your health. We do love you, ya know?

As far as Dr. Oz is concerned, any "study" done based on 10 days or one week has the earmark of failure before it begins. A lifelong smoker who stops for one week will not show significant improvement in lung health but if he/she stops for several months to a year, the improvement will be obvious. There is no quick trip to good health. It takes a good, long while. I don't know the details about the lycopene and tomato paste, but you said that study was done on a woman after 4 weeks and showed improvement. I'm betting that if they had marked her results after only one week, there would have been no significant changes to record. Time, ladies, time. It all takes time.
That's my two cents. :) Boy, I'm on a (dehydrated) roll today.

Kram and Pooper~ Ooooh, I could go on and on about the journey to weight loss, diets, calories, Weight Watchers (I was a WW Leader for 5 years, am a lifetime member since WW was only 7 years old and I was 14), self-control, all or nothing diets, exercise, portion control, negative self-talk, positive self-talk, internal conversations...I'm not a registered life coach but I'd be happy to talk to each/both of you about it. And about what we're doing here on the MC site and about raw. And about how I think I've finally found the magic that has eluded me my whole life. I never look at calories any more....best part, I don't stress over food anymore. It's absolutely amazing and I'd be happy to share with you if you'd like. I just don't want to bore everyone here! Please PM me! Of course that goes for everyone. Feeling comfortable here is but one step away from real, true new friendships. I'm open to them, to anyone who feels the same. Love you all.

[Res]

I can't wait to be back over here... ;)

[aikenjoi]

Kram: I wanted to be a vegetarian a while back because I love animals, but I just didn't have the self control since meat was really one of my favorite things....that and cheese. My twin sister wants to become a vegetarian too, but honestly, she just doesn't have the self-control that I have. But she said that she's going to start being a vegetarian tomorrow and that she wants me to help her plan what to eat, so I'll see how that goes.


Sim: Thank you! Everyone here rocks too!
I'm applying for a job tomorrow and if I get it then within a month I'll have those things so I'm really excited. I'm plan on whipping my family back into shape. Maybe once they find that raw foods can actually taste good they'll stpo buying chips and ice cream.
Having the support on these forums is amazing so thanks so much! I really admire you all even more because you have committed to going raw and it's really an inspiration.

[milo]

Hi Sim,

I love reading your posts on your journey with the MC and going raw. I don't think you bore anyone with your details, it ALWAYS inspires me 1000% reading them and I'm sure it does to others. So post away, I love to hear from you. You are truly an inspiration.

Milo

[Pooper]

Kram and Sim: Thank you both for your input! I really appreciate it. I've done Weight Watchers before, too, and have been thinking of going back to it. I'm going to look into that today. I didn't think I've been stressed out because of my hectic schedule and starting a new job, but I must have transferred that stress to food and eating. Ooo that's scary--I've always known in the past that I was stress-eating!

I would love to never have to think about my calorie intake again!

[Sim]

Milo~
Soooooooo good to see you here again! Thank you for the encouragement...but really, I can be so longwinded! It's just that I'm so passionate about this...about raw and what it's done for me and what other things haven't done for me. If I can help even one other person feel the way I feel, it's all worth it.

Announcement: Yesterday, I paid my money...I will be a student at the Living Light Culinary Institute in California for their Associate Chef/Instructor Certification courses, hoping for an internship to follow. I will be attending in April for six weeks and I'm convinced that this is the right thing for me, a former teacher of Spanish who lost that magic and didn't know why...Raw and this BB and all of you have helped me find my focus and understand that clarity comes from within and not without. My plan is to become a raw food chef and return here to CT to open my own café and teach the merits of raw to anyone who just wants a bit more healthful eating in their lives. I don't believe in hitting people over the head with this, but really...everyone once in awhile needs a good salad that contains more than iceberg lettuce and a few shredded carrots. I've had many people tell me that I'm thinking pie-in-the-sky; that CT is not California and that people here won't take to it. Okay, we'll see. At my advanced age, I'm embarking on a career change and although it's scary, it's something I've come to believe in so strongly that I live, eat, sleep, and breathe it. And if I try and lose my shirt, well...nothing ventured, nothing gained. I have no money now, I'll have no money in that case either...but at least I'll have had the experience of going with a dream and sinking my raw vegan teeth into it! You will all come with me on my journey....I'm taking you all because you're no different than I am...it's just that we all have different obligations. I seem to be at a crossroads and my only real obstacle is money...but I've found out that teaching doesn't hold the magic for me anymore and raw food and raw prep and raw benefits are always on my mind. The path seems clear to me...I'm starting my hike and I've got all my supplies in my backpack! So, money? What the heck...beg and borrow, not steal...I'll be 100 years old and will still be worrying about how much debt I'm in. And all the while, I'll have had a great life anyway. Time to stop worrying about money.

Pooper! Are you kidding? A hectic schedule AND a new job? And you wonder why you're stress eating???? It would be nice to say that you have work on alleviating stress in a non-food way...but for many of us, that's just not a reality because old, ingrained habits are very, very hard to break. For myself, I've found that when the munchies due to stress, anxiety, time of month, any cause really, hit me, I have to have my arsenal of raw foods that I love at the ready. Find the right combination of raw foods that help you alleviate your food needs when you're stressed. It would be great to say, "No! Don't do that! Go get a manicure instead!" but that's just not always practical. Sometimes it's the need for a cookie (or a box of cookies :D ) that will calm us. The trick is to find the right raw substitutes AND IT CAN BE DONE without weight gain, I swear! I'm a living testament to this.
I have been very stressed these past couple of months after my wonderful trip to Ireland. I came home and the roof of my life fell in. But dehydrated tomatoes to chew on, sushi rolls with avo and nut paté and veggies to satisfy hunger, the best smoothies, green and otherwise, in the world for vitamins and minerals, tons of other snacks that I've found in my new raw books and yes, even our dear MC lemonade WITHOUT being on an official cleanse, all lend me clarity without weight gain. And peace of mind, which is everything. I will never go back to any of the other weight-management plans I've followed and even worked for. I will not ever have the need again. I'm Raw. And I love it because it's loving me to optimal health. The difference for me was that I started the MC with no thought of weight loss in mind...it was all for health. And the weight came off quickly and has stayed off, no matter how much avo I eat, olive oil I use on my salads, dates I consume, nuts I soak and use....my body has found balance. Just yesterday, my own mom said, "Are you still on that cockamamie diet?" Of course, I said, "No. I'm not on a diet at all." A complete truth. I am NOT on a diet. And that has made all the difference. This is just now the way I live and eat and sleep and breathe. Diets are something you follow, Raw is something you are. I like being, not following.

Okay, enough pontificating for one day. How can you all stand me?
Love you all. PM me if you still love me, okay? :D

[Res]

Of course we still love you Silly Raw Woman! :D

I'm so exited for you!!! So what about the money, etc! "What if?" What if it all works out and CT loves raw food, and people come from miles around and say, "We're so glad you're here. There are no raw food restaurants around and we've been wanting someone to open one". What if the newspapers pick up on it and curious people invade your restaurant? What if you're the one who changes the health of thousands of people? What if you succeed and get a spot in a Foodie magazine? What if you rub shoulders with famous Chefs and they incorporate some of your recipes?

What if you meet Curtis Stone, the Take Home Chef! :eek: ;)

I'm really proud of you and the very fact that you quit your Teaching job and have a passion for being a Raw Food Chef says it all! You'll do it! You'll make it AND you'll succeed! I just know it. :D

Love,
~Res

[mtmouse]

I couldn't have said it better. And I didn't, LOL! I didn't even see that last tiny line of your note, Sim!

Anyway, Res said it all, perfectly. Go for it!

[aikenjoi]

Sim, never think that you bore any of us. When ever I read your post I feel like your passion ignites mine. It can be hard here since the people around me don't even think about there health and then grab some fried chicken. I want to show them that raw foods can be amazing and will offer a life time of health and energy. Every time I come to this thread I get more encouragement and it reaffirms to me that raw is the way to go. God revealed this to me and I'm so grateful. And I've made it to 8 days on the MC so I'll surely be able to eat 100% raw for a month if not always.

It's awesome that you're going to be a raw chef--You're going to do great!

And if you opened your restaurant in Oklahoma, I'd eat there everyday!

[milo]

Sim,

I am so happy for you, few people find their right calling in life because they are too scared to step outside the box, but you have guts and passion and love and you will succeed. I can't wait to hear all about it as your journey continues....

Milo

[Sim]

Okay, so how could I ever express how much you all mean to me? Since Day 1, there has been nothing but love and support, acceptance, happy curiosity, steadfast determination, and a desire to inform and help each other with things that may or may not have to do with being raw.

This is simply the best place to be at various times of the day, whether you have something so huge that it begs to be cut up into pieces for everyone to delight in OR whether you just need some momentary--or ongoing--support.

You are all beautiful.

I will try very hard not to disappoint any of you. Just remember: I am, after all, a crazy middle-aged perimenopausal woman :D

And by the way, last fall, I was definitely in that mode, with three skipped periods and all kinds of hot flashes and emotional weirdness...I do believe going raw has reversed time for me...After January, it all disappeared and now I feel like I should still buy stock in Tampax as opposed to last Fall, when I thought I was headed for Depends. Must be all that good live food I ingest that's making me younger. Whaddaya think? ;)

[Res]

Ya know -- if I could run around this forum as fast as I can and then plop down on a sofa here with a grin on my face I would! But since I can't I'll let you know I'm grinning.

http://www.freesmileys.org/emo/happy014.gif

I'm SO HAPPY to be here! It's NEW CHAPTER time! :D


I love you all I love you all!

~Res

[kiropa]

hi sim,

i live in NJ (northern) and would absolutely come to CT to experience your raw cuisine.

raw works in NYC -- dh and i ate at pure food and wine. it was beyond enjoyable (for both my non-raw, carnivorous, husband and me) and it was PACKED!!!!!

follow your dream, the money will come. a mantra a truly believe in. you are wholly inspiring!

[Sim]

...raw works in NYC -- dh and i ate at pure food and wine. it was beyond enjoyable (for both my non-raw, carnivorous, husband and me) and it was PACKED!!!!!...follow your dream...

Thanks, Kiropa...that's exactly what I'm doing...dreams are inspired by actions, thoughts, and the people who surround us, who give us love and insight. That's who you all are for me. And I'm taking you all with me into my venture and I'm working on that mantra, K. Thank you, thank you for all the encouragement. Sure, it'll be awhile before I open my place and it won't be like Pure Food and Wine (man, they have some extensive professional background those two...); besides, their prices are obscene...I wouldn't have the heart ;) But they do delicious and absolutely gorgeous plates like no other restaurant I've ever seen. I've got a high mark to aim at. No problem. :rolleyes:

Res, I can absolutely picture you with a grin on your face, plopped down on the sofa. Nice visual. :D

How's everyone doing today? Nice Fall-looking day here in CT; a little on the warmish side, not quite apple-pie weather, but getting there. I'm cleansing for ten days, started today, tea last night...but this is my "home" so I'll see you all right here. Have an excellent day, kids. Much love.

[Res]

Sim: Yikes! A cleanse?

Today is fabulous here in San Diego. A little cool and lovely gray clouds. I hope it stays this way because I'm so ready for the fall. :)

I picked up the cutest little pie pumpkin at the store this morning and spent some time in the yard digging, weeding, pruning and moving dirt around in a wheelbarrow. Now I'm taking a break from cleaning the garage and doing laundry. It's been a productive morning.

There are SO MANY amazing recipes in Cohen's/Cornbleets/Amsdens & Ani's books! I can't wait to try the chili recipes. They look amazing. :)

Last night I dehyrated a batch of pizzas and even made "sausage" for the first time. I didn't taste last night, but took a grain sized piece earlier and oddly enough it tastes like sausage! :eek: It looks like cute little pieces of sausage on the pizzas. This is such a fun path to be on. :)

All the best to you on your cleanse. We're here for you ya know. ;)

Happy Sunday. :)

Love,
~Res

"Hows everybody else doing?" :)

[TeePee]

Sim,

Sooo happy to hear your news of enrollment!! I know it is right for you. I only wish I could join you!! You will be a smashing success, everyone here knows it! GO FOR IT!!

As for me, I have had soo little time for any fun raw food prep. I am wearing myself down with teaching. HMMMM, maybe I SHOULD go with Sim!!! I have to admit to having some breakdowns into a cooked food bit here and there. And I have to tell you all, I can't stand it. Sim is right when she says you know longer have to think about what you eat when you are raw. It is "theee best" path to be on. Since even having a bit of cooked food (5-10%) it consumes my every thought. I have a hard time admitting it to myself and especially here, because I feel like such a failure not being 100% raw for a while now. Not because it is "bad" or anything like that, but because I am having this internal battle over getting back my focus and I think I am setting myself up for failure many days, and I don't really know why. I still do not animal product of any kind. It has been the carbs. Bread, pita, cracker. Maybe not having the dehydrated version available is to blame.

I think it began on my vacation to Turks and Caicos, with all-inclusive meals and fabulous restaruants. It just seemed to continue on. Maybe it is the stress of starting back up at school, STILL trying to sell two houses and move. Bills, lack of sleep,, etc. But then I tell myself, those are all excuses and there is no reason to allow those things to interupt my path. I dunno. What I do know is this: what a huge difference in the way I physically, emotionally and mentally feel. Even though my weight has only fluctutated by about 10 pounds, I feel heavy, lethargic and don't sleep as well.

Sorry to vent. I guess this is a confession of sorts. But more than that a testimony to how staying 100% raw is truly the best way if you want to do it. That little bit of something here, something there leaves that window WIDE open.

So now onto my plan for getting myself back to where I was for so long and truly want to be!! I think first of all, I have to arm myself with a supply of flax crackers and onion bread!!! That means taking the time to prepare. I think even if I spend a couple hours on Sat morning, I should be okay for the week.

I am great all day, it's that after school time period, where I feel like the kids have literally sucked the life out of me and I want to feed something back in!!! I have squeezed GF juice every morning, then a green smoothie on the way in to work. Lunch is usually a tomato, avocado, maybe cucumber sliced with olive oil. Totally satisfied. Actually, I could probably not eat again the rest of the day, as far as hunger goes. So there you have it, I am feeding that emotional tiredness after school.

I guess I should try to leave before 7 pm also so I'm not exhausted!!

Sorry for the rambling. I will get back!!! It just feels to good not to!!!:D

[Res]

Teepee: *hug* You do the best you can and sometimes that means not being all raw. You'll get no negative word here! I think the GF and smoothies is fantastic! Even doing that is better than grabbing a Breakfast Jack on the way to work - know what I mean? ;)

We're all still in a process of learning and balancing and I seriously don't know anyone who has it all down-pat.

I think you're doing fabulous. I believe you'll find your groove naturally. Don't beat yourself up.

Chop up a bunch of kale and garlic. Marinate in olive oil and lemon. When you're ready to eat it, sprinkle sea salt, pepper and chopped walnuts on the top. Easy. :)

Love you,
~Res

[Sim]

Awww, TeePee....
DO NOT BE UPSET WITH YOURSELF!
You are a raw girl, taking a hiatus because that's what your mind is doing right now. So what? It may be just what you need so that on the loooooong path of life, you can be raw and be happy. Alissa Cohen was raw, off and on, for years until she just didn't need cooked food anymore. It's a process, girl, not a race! With all the work and exhaustion in your life right now, food should not be an additional source of stress for you. You know, we turn to comfort foods when life gets the better of us. And being so new to raw, we haven't yet had the time to develop raw comfort foods, not really. So it's only natural that cooked carbs would be your safe haven for the moment. It'll pass when your life gets a little less hectic and you feel less imposed upon by the outside world. And even though my little diatribe goes contrary to what the raw foodies will tell us, we in the real world know that being 100% raw is dependent on far more than willpower and desire...you must have feasibility, too. Movie stars who buy Matt's box or who have personal chefs can afford that feasibility. The gurus who make their livings doing this have facility and a vested interest beyond good health (money!). But we teachers, secretaries, students, day laborers, supermarket checkout people, carpenters, businesspeople, stockbrokers...we do raw because we're convinced it's healthier. Well, that alone is sometimes just not enough. Look: we know that if we drink enough alcohol, we'll get really drunk and maybe really sick. Most of the time, a straight-thinking adult who isn't an alcoholic won't go that route on a regular basis. But every once in awhile, even though we know it's not good for us, even though we'll be sick, we'll indulge, go too far. And even though the reason we go there might be for something happy, like a celebration of some event or something awful like a tragedy, we'll go there, knowing we won't feel well for a day or two afterward. Well, why should food be any different? We have it so ingrained in our memories, so linked with emotional milestones, it's no wonder food is often our target. Please TeePee, don't beat yourself up over something that will pass. You'll finish with the stress, the raw life will come back at you full force, and you'll be strengthened by your new resolve. I'm so proud of you for wondering about it all instead of just accepting the slide. And it's not even a slide! It's life...you're accepting life and questioning. And that's all we're meant to do on this earth...keep questioning, keep improving. We don't have to arrive at perfection because we know it doesn't exist. We just have to resolve to keep improving.

So Res, I loved your kale and garlic marinated salad idea. So simple, so satisfying. You're the best! And yes, a short 10 day cleanse for the New Year, Yom Kippur being my impetus. Seemed appropriate and just at the right time...next cleanse not until January. No, I don't think I'll be doing a 40 day cleanse any time soon, not even in January...I don't want to disappear! ;)

Your kale salad reminded me of the following, from Karen Knowler:

Winter Greens and Avocado Salad
Ingredients
(Serves one large portion)

* 4-6 large handfuls of kale sliced very thinly
* 1 handful of each of the following: rocket (arugula), watercress and spinach. (If you don't have all three greens just add in three handfuls of whatever you do have).
* 1 avocado
* 3 Tablespoons olive oil
* 1 teaspoon Himalayan Crystal Salt OR Celtic Sea Salt
* 6 baby tomatoes
* 10 sun-dried tomatoes
* Juice of half a juicy lemon or one not-so-juicy lemon
* OPTIONAL: Olives

Directions

1) Chop kale into small pieces (this makes the fibrous cells break down and therefore more palatable, so the smaller you chop you better the taste). A good size to aim for is roughly 1-2 cm squares.

2) Add oil and salt and massage into the kale until kale becomes wilted, soft and glistening.
3) Roughly chop the other greens (rocket, watercress, spinach) and add into the bowl. Mix well by hand.
4) Add avocado and massage again so each leaf is coated.
5) Chop tomatoes into quarters, add to greens.
6) Chop sun-dried tomatoes in small pieces and add to greens.
7) Squeeze lemon over entire dish
8) Add any other ingredients you fancy, depending on how hungry you are.
9) Serve and enjoy!

RAW COACH'S TOP TIPS:

* Lemon can make or break this recipe (not enough leaves the meal slightly too bitter for some people's tastes), so definitely taste-test on this one.

* Grated raw veggies, fresh herbs, finely chopped nuts, a sprinkling of seeds - all of these can transform this recipe, making for unlimited delicious variations.

And here's one last funny thing: doing a 10 day cleanse seems so natural and--dare I say it--comfortable...and being here, looking at recipes, listening to food talk and all, doesn't even sting a bit. It's just not about the food, but about how we feel. I know Kale and Garlic Salad, pizzas, pecan carrot burgers, enchiladas and onion bread all await me when I'm done. I'm not missing anything just because I'm experiencing something else for the moment. It's all good. Love you, kids.

[mtmouse]

Sim, you're the best! (Well, we're all the best, but you know what I mean!)

But now I have a question that's been building for some time. Have you ever tried these recipes that call for sun-dried tomatoes without any kind of soaking? I've seen various recipes from various raw chefs that call for them, but it boggles my mind.

I can imagine using the ones from a jar, in oil, but I doubt those are raw. The ones I get from my health food store are like rocks. I can hardly cut them, much less chew them. Even my Vita-Mix has a hard time with them in some liquid!

So what do you do?

[Res]

My mouth is burning and my hands are on fire. Regarding my mouth, all I did was lick my finger - WRONG! What possessed me to think that Anaheim chili's were mild? :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: WRONG! So I'll post this and then go soak my hands in baking soda.

These are currently in the dehydrator - I'm not eating them tonight. The bowl next to the chili's is "Mole" also in her recipe book. Stuffed inside the chilies is her "Pepper cheese" and honestly, I could've just sat there eating the cheese with a spoon. It's delicious!! I used minimal water to get the thick cheesy affect and it worked. Gosh my hands are on fire!!

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w166/resonnant/AnaheimChili.jpg


http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w166/resonnant/Anaheimchili2.jpg

[milo]

Wow Res,

Those look fantastic, let us know how they taste. I want to come to your house for dinner.

Milo

[Res]

Milo: I'm hoping they're worth the pain. The way the house smells right now (yummy mexican food) I'll bet they are! There's nothing like the smell of roasting peppers and that's what the dehydrator smells like! :)

Love,
~Res

[kiropa]

can you post the mole recipe? i adore good mole. i wouldn't need a dehydrator, would i?

how would you recommend eating the mole?

in X days when i am done cleanse/psot-cleanse of cousre!

kim
end of day 11
MC #5, i think

[Res]

Hi Kiropa: Not sure if this is "good mole" or not. I've never had it and this one is RAW. I did taste it though and thought it was interesting. What really piqued my interest in Mole was the movie, "Chocolat" with Johnny Depp. Don't do what I did and watch it while cleansing. I wanted to end up like the man in the window display. ;)

From Ani Phyo's book:

Mole Sauce

1/4 tsp dried chipotle
1 tablespoon pitted dates (I didn't have dates and used the same amount of raisins)
1 1/2 tablespoons carob (I don't like carob any more so I used ground raw cacao beans)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 stalks celery, chopped
1/2 tomato, chopped
1 tsp sea salt
2 tablespoons water as needed (I didn't use any water)

Blend chipotle, dates, carob, cinnamon, olive oil, celery, tomato, salt and water until smooth.

Fini!

[TeePee]

Sim and Res,

THANK YOU for your kind words. You are a never ending source of encouragement and inspiration. I never would have come this far without all of you. I am doing what I can and yes, I'm trying not to beat myself up, but easier said than done.

Only stayed at school til a quarter past 6 today!! Yay!

SO, I have started on my plan. I am getting back to journaling my raw food journey. I had lost sight of that over summer off. I looked back over my months of raw journal and my love for raw and the way I felt. Knowing that I wrote those words myself, to myself, for myself, sort of grounds me. SO, that is part one. Part two is to check in here more. Even if only for 5 minutes a day! You are all to good to miss!! And thirdly, have my carb cravings satisfied by being sure to have a batch of flax crackers on hand! I also know I need to carve out some time for myself as well. For fun!

I am so thankful for all of you. You are such a support, way more than just food!! Love ya's!:o

[Res]

Teepee:

I printed a post that you made a while back. It's when you discovered Boutenko's "Cranberry scones". Your post is printed with the recipe with your name in Cranberry. lol

Those scones are one of my favorites and a batch is in the fridge now (minus the cranberries because I used them all). :)

Love you!
~Res

[Res]

I checked the peppers and they are no where near ready, but this is exactly what I'm going to do next time. I'm going to open and clean the peppers and then dehydrate them prior to stuffing them with the Black pepper cheeze. That way, I'll get the creamy cheese and softer pepper without having to wait. ;)

[nancycola]

Hey Res,
I wanted to respond to your sweet post about my early abort of the MC. Thanks for that. I know that more fasts will be in my future and hopefully you'll be here to help me through like you did this time.

I have been very good with the greens intake today and have not felt ill at all. Today I was running around so much with all this new energy, I felt fantastic. It's so great to find your own inner energy and not have to rely on caffeine or sugar for it.

I'll now be hooked on this raw foods thread and am glad to know you're a regular here.

Thanks again,
nc

[mtmouse]

My mouth is burning and my hands are on fire. Regarding my mouth, all I did was lick my finger - WRONG! What possessed me to think that Anaheim chili's were mild? :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: WRONG! So I'll post this and then go soak my hands in baking soda.

At least you didn't rub your eye! :D :D :D :D

Those look terrific! But who needs pepper cheese with peppers like that, huh?

[Res]

Nancy: Welcome aboard! Raw foods are decadent, delicious, easy to make and your body loves you for it! :)

Kathy: The cheese (I swear) is just like thick mashed potatoes! The "Pepper" is black pepper. I have to find out what else she uses it on because it will remain a staple in my fridge. I LOVE Ani's recipes! At this point she's my favorite.

The Smartmonkey bars FINALLY shipped (after 2 weeks) from Amazon. They were backordered (which I think is good) and so was the agave nectar. I'm pretty darned excited about it all. :D

Love,
~Res

p.s. No, I didn't rub my eye but I must have had my hands on my face because - yup - my face burned last night. Live and learn...

[Sim]

Okay, Res...those peppers look terrific and even more so because Ani's pepper cheese was so delicious when I made it a couple of weeks ago that I couldn't stop eating it. I stuffed it into heirloom tomatoes, ate it on slices of any and every veggie, make small patties from it and then dipped the patties in red pepper flakes....awesome! I haven't tried dehydrating Anaheims, but one of my favorite flavors is a stuffed red bell pepper dehydrated....the dehydrated cheeze stuffing mixed with the slightly less crunchy and much sweeter (because it's dehydrated) red pepper is heavenly. And yes, as Kathy said, thank goodness you didn't rub your eye! OUCH. Been there, done that. But then, I also have uneven thumbs...I wonder if Living Light will cure me of my clumsiness!

TeePee~ You have been a source of inspiration for all of us for a long time. Don't despair. You're still a source of inspiration, even moreso now because you're sharing your angst with us. Oh, it's so good to know that we're all real people here, not fanatics or cultists. I'm saying it straight out: WE LOVE YOU, TEEPEE and there's not another person here who would deny that! :)

[Sim]

Sim, you're the best! (Well, we're all the best, but you know what I mean!)

WHAT? You mean you didn't mean me, personally? ;)

Sun-dried tomatoes...well, I never use them packed in oil, only dried dried. But within that category, there are hard-dried and soft-dried. I try to only use the softer version, which are very sweet and totally pliable and don't need any soaking as far as I'm concerned. I've also used my own dehydrated tomatoes, no soaking necessary. But last winter I was desperate and bought a package from Wild Oats and they were as hard as rocks! I did soak them before using for about 15 minutes. But if the recipe you're using calls for sun-dried and it has liquid in it, don't worry about chopping them, they'll rehydrate from the liquid in the recipe itself. Also, if they're that hard, forget even the Vitamix...use a hammer. I'm not kidding. It works. ;)

[Res]

Also, if they're that hard, forget even the Vitamix...use a hammer. I'm not kidding. It works. ;) HAHAHAHA! :D

[Res]

So I bought the Spirulizer - and read the reviews *after* I placed my order. It was split down the middle with some hating it and some liking it. If I had read the reviews prior to placing my order I wouldn't have ordered it and Boy would I have been wrong! ;)

Last night I ran a beet through it and it produced the most beautiful beet threads I've ever seen! I can't wait to make spaghetti out of zucchini cause I have a killer Raw Marinara sauce! This is so much fun!!! :D My guess is the people who hated it aren't real kitchen savvy and that's OK.

My salad is gorgeous. :)

How's everyone doing today? :) AND, I see you cleansers lurking in here :p

Love,
~Res

[ninab64]

hello ladies,

well, i feel the need to report that perhaps an all raw diet isn't for me, at least at this time. i haven't felt energetic, or full of vitality, and at times i feel a little light headed. the green smoothies seem to not work well with my system, either, and today i did an all-fruit smoothie; fruits might be my problem, at least in the vitamix. when i eat a fruit out of hand, it seems to be a bit better, but i am feeling the need to add things like oats and grains back in to my diet.

i still have a nice salad most every day, and on occasion eat protein, but when i have that i try to eat the protein by itself.

having said all that, i don't know if there is something else physically going on with me; i have been to my doctor, and even to another internist for a second opinion, to see if there is a reason for the sypmtoms i'm having, but i get a clean bill of health :confused:

sooooooo, i am at the point where i don't know what to do. if any of you have suggestions, i would love to hear them. you can post here, or PM me.

thanks :)

[Sim]

sooooooo, i am at the point where i don't know what to do. if any of you have suggestions, i would love to hear them.

Hi Nina~
Hmm...there could be any one of a number of things going on with you but I wanted to address your green smoothie/fruit issue for a minute. Green smoothies may not the best first raw thing to have in the mornings when we're fairly new to raw. Even in a Vitamix, it's hard to digest all that great cellulose and the taste is rather strong, no matter how many mangoes one adds :D I'd suggest a mono-breakfast for a week and see if it helps, something like just melon or just oranges or just berries. No greens for breakfast. Then I'd go with a mono-salad for lunch and/or dinner: only kale, only rabe, only bok choy...in any quantity you need. But don't combine it with anything. Then for your third meal, if you're tired of salad, use just one veggie in a creative way: cauliflower cous cous (Matt Amsden's is awesome and you don't even need all the ingredients or need to have much in quantity...a little olive oil is fine and if you don't have all the parsley and cilantro and mint, that's okay, too. I've made it with just the cauliflower, a couple of chopped olives and a little sea salt..that's it...and it's delicious), marinated bok choy, tomato soup, (technically fruit but, oh well...), avocados with salt or a little Bragg's, ....one of those things, not all at one time! If you try mono meals for a week, you might feel better. I don't know, I'm only guessing. As for the protein, I hope you do realize that you don't need to eat protein to get what you need; our bodies need amino acids, which result from eating protein. Thing is, it takes a long time for our bodies to break down protein into amino acids (like 96 hours) to make them usable. And there are other waste by-products that have to be eliminated when we eat those proteins. If you eat dark, leafy greens, they are immediately digested and the amino acids are present and usable by our bodies immediately. Dark, leafy greens are the way to go...but wait a week. Don't do them until you try some mono meals first, okay? Process of elimination. I don't know if you remember or if you were here on this thread at the time, but several months ago, I actually couldn't digest collard greens and chard and they exited me the same way I ingested them within an hour! I couldn't understand why I could digest them...well, my body was just getting used to them, that's all. It's all good now. Give yourself time but don't give up on raw. One more thing: are you eating enough? Feeling lightheaded is usually a sign that you're having too little or too much sugar (fruit?), too little to eat, and not enough of other foods to balance. Don't be afraid to eat to your heart's (or tummy's) content. You're body will tell when enough is enough. I hope something here helps, Nina. Please feel better...sometimes, Raw or SAD, we just don't feel so hotsy-totsy and it might have nothing to do with our diets. Be well...giving you a big hug!

[ninab64]

Sim:

thank you for your suggestions. i don't know what to expect, but when i've had salads of mixed greens and what not, i don't have the bloating and discomfort, and because i made a green "soup" one morning, without fruit at all, and was fine all day, and then today made a fruit only smoothie, and had the issues, it's leading me to believe that fruits are my culprits for now. this morning it consisted of 2 small juicing oranges, peeled; a slab of mango which i've had around and needed to use, one and a half frozen bananas, and some frozen mixed berries with a spash of water to make it flow.

juiced vegs don't give me trouble.

as far as eating proteins, i realize that. but there are times when i feel the need, and will eat it then. i have been 100% raw most every day, but these physical symptoms of digestion and the nerve issues in my arms and legs are making me question if this is what i need right now.

i know i will always incorporate raw into my life, but not sure i'm ready for it 100% yet

:)

[caramello]

Hi everyone!

I just finished my cleanse and now I am attempting to do the RAW challenge, i was a major meat eater pre-cleanse....my mom ordered a product called Hemp Hearts which is supposed to be really good for you....you can just sprinkle them on anything, and you get energy for the whole day. But I was wondering if I could eat them now, Im three days post-cleanse, and does it count as a raw food even if I toast them to put on fruit or in cereal?? Thanks! -caramello

[TeePee]

Sim, THANK YOU!!

So I went for hair color and it was an hour that was just for me!! What a nice feeling.

So I came home, ate a tomato, and put potato chips in the dehydrator and made a dill cashew creme cheese, all with Cohen playing in the background for inspiration.

And....I FEEL BETTER!!!:D

[mtmouse]

Hi everyone!

I just finished my cleanse and now I am attempting to do the RAW challenge, i was a major meat eater pre-cleanse....my mom ordered a product called Hemp Hearts which is supposed to be really good for you....you can just sprinkle them on anything, and you get energy for the whole day. But I was wondering if I could eat them now, Im three days post-cleanse, and does it count as a raw food even if I toast them to put on fruit or in cereal?? Thanks! -caramello

Hi there,

No, if you toast them they won't be raw. However, they may not be raw now! :) If they come in a jar or bottle, or if the label doesn't say raw, then they aren't.

However, that doesn't mean you couldn't eat them anyway, of course! If they were the only non-raw thing you ate, that wouldn't be so bad. And you may want to ease into raw more slowly anyway.

But if you want to be 100% raw all the time, then prepackaged or toasted won't cut it. :)

[Sim]

i know i will always incorporate raw into my life, but not sure i'm ready for it 100% yet)
Oh Niina!
You don't have to be 100% raw right now--or ever. You just have to do what's good for you. And what's so wonderful about you is that you're really focusing on what's going on in your body, examining how you feel after a smoothie, how you feel after whole fruit, etc. That's great! If only each of us would really get in touch with how different foods make us feel, we'd be better able to heal ourselves of so many ailments! Please keep examining the issues as they arise and revise what you eat accordingly..and if that means you're not 100% raw, or even anywhere near it, well, so? You're thinking about it and still doing good things for your body and that's all that's important. Gotta keep you healthy! ;)

TeePee! YAY! See? Good for you! And the color helps too...peace and quiet for an hour just for you! (You deserve more, honeybunch :D ) Do what you can and enjoy the ride, girl!!

Caramello, Mtmouse is right-on...canned, jarred things are often processed, cooked, or pasteurized and therefore aren't raw. And nope, can't toast them either. But how cool that your mom ordered them for you to help you be healthier!! That's A+ support!

So Res, how were the dehydrated Anaheims? I need to live vicariously for now, you know?:D

[mtmouse]

A funny thing happened this weekend. I was leading a workshop, and everyone was seated in a circle. I took my seat and put my water bottle with lemonade in it on the floor next to me. And immediately one of the participants piped up with "That looks like the Master Cleanse"!

I've had people ask what I was drinking, but I've never had anyone even know what I was talking about, much less spot it by sight!

But then she said "are you doing it the full way, with high colonics and all?" :eek:

[Res]

High colonics? The right way? LOL! ;)


Sim: The Anaheim chilie's were "interesting". I can't imagine eating them without dehydrating them first. At first I thought they were too hot. There was definitely a burn, but it subsided quickly. The "cheeze" is amazing and I could just eat it all with a spoon. I didn't have anything to compare the "Mole" to (never had mole). I liked it though and it complimented the hot in the pepper. The mole was a slightly sweet/cinnamon/chocolate flavor. I would probably make it all again - minus cleaning the peppers with bare hands. :rolleyes: I think I might prefer a milder chile and probably use Poblano's next time.

The Smartmonkey bars are on the way. I have buckwheat groats (Krispies) already dehydrated and waiting and I've yet to make Ani's almond/vanilla mylk. She has a Smartmonkey cereal that's been haunting me so, I "have to" eat it. ;)

All in all things are going well. I really want to branch out and try new things. I'm currently all raw and really enjoying it this time around (did last time too for the most part) probably because I'm familiar with it and know what to expect.

I still have to be "careful" about my eating whether raw or not. I have a "switch" inside that compels me to use food for a variety of issues that have nothing to do with being hungry. "A Work in Progress". :)

I hope you're all having a great day. :)

Love,
~Res

[mtmouse]

I just harvested my wild rose hips. I waited a bit too long, unfortunately, as we've actually had a couple of frosts already and some of them were getting a bit shriveled. Also, many of the bushes farther out in the field, where the animals and birds get to them better, had already been "harvested". LOL. But next year I'm sure I'll do better!

I rinsed them and dried them on a towel, then pinched off the bloom stem. Things I read say to remove the seeds before using in a recipe, but since I plan to put them in smoothies in the Vitamix, I'm not worried about seeds. :) I left them in.

Now I have them in the dehydrator. I'll dry them a bit, then freeze them flat so I can take a few at a time for our smoothies.

That was fun! :)

[Res]

It will be interesting to hear how the rosehips taste. I get pretty productive too when I'm cleansing. You freeze everything so that when you're off the cleanse you have "fast food". ;)

So the SmartMonkey bars came today. :D Yum! They're worth it. I made Ani's SmartMonkey bar cereal. The Vanilla mylk wasn't cold enough and I didn't have any dates so I used agave nectar. I think I would prefer it with the dates. I ate every bite and enjoyed it immensely. So that was dinner. :)

I ordered and received the Nama Shoyu because none of my health food stores carry it. It's rather expensive but I wanted to try it. If it's not much different from Bragg's or soy sauce, I'll just use those. Braggs isn't raw either but I don't really care much. You just do what you can.

RAW FOOD ROCKS! ;)

Love,
~Res

[Sim]

Hi kids...I need some support. And this is going to sound horrifyingly familiar to some of you...
My hair.
Yes, it's fallen and falling...it's so thin and pathetic.
I went to have it cut today, thinking that if I cut it short, there would be less stress on it. The hairdresser took one look and told me it looks like hair that's growing back from chemo! He asked about stress and diet and weight loss. Bingo. First time I can say it's not stress. He begged me to eat more protein and as you all know, that's my biggest worry, which is why I do research on it. I'm actually considering adding those cooked legumes, something I considered awhile back and didn't do. So here's another wonderment, tell me what you think: could it be the MC that's caused this, not Raw? Yes, I lost a lot of weight (30 pounds) and then another 15 with the second cleanse. Is it possible that those two 40 days cleanses shocked my body so much and now that I'm on a raw diet my hair is growing back? It doesn't feel like it's growing back...I still see hanks of it in the shower. Sorry to be so graphic. This is scary stuff. The hairdresser was very, very nice but I'm panicked.
Then I'll think of all the raw people, Sarma from Pure Food and Wine, Matt's girlfriend Janabai, Carol Alt....and I think, well, their hair looks healthy and happy. Please all, tell me what you think. :-(

[Res]

Sim,

Although I was going through that and freaked out about it, and Peter even posted something about hair loss in a newsletter I'm no longer convinced it's the cleanse.

My Boss was sure of it and she would worry each time I cleansed. I think it's something else. I'm going to PM you.

[TeePee]

Res,

you are right "raw food rocks"!!!! And I'm happy to report......I am "feeling it" again full strong. BUT, I do know that switch you are talking about, I have the same exact one. Go figure!!!

Sim,

You are and always will be beautiful. Let us know what you come up with. OH, by the way, are you still cleansing???

Love you girls to pieces!!!!:o

[Sim]

HI TeePee~
Yes, I am still cleansing but I'm very freaked out now that I've been to the hairdressers and I'm almost afraid to keep on this short cleanse. Maybe I should just not cleanse until January and double my dark, leafy green consumption for the next few months?

And GOOD FOR YOU that you're finding your way back to raw. You'll be fine. It's just the work of the new school year that's got you down.

Res~ Thank you...We'll talk on the PM...this hair thing is so weird....but then again, so'm I :D I'm going to look up Peter's advice in the newsletter...thanks, Res, for always being so loving. :)

And what do rosehips taste like anyway?
Is it obvious from the name? Do they taste like roses and how do you use them, besides rosehip tea?

Ohhh, you're all soooooooooo interesting. What a group!

[mtmouse]

Hi Sim,

Don't know what to tell you about the hair, but do EFT for the attendant emotions!

I don't know what rose hips taste like. Probably kind of like the tea. I don't have enough to do much with, so I'll probably just throw 4 or 5 into a smoothie for whatever benefit they give, so I doubt they'll add much flavor.

[Res]

Sim: I'm not much of an advocate for stopping a cleanse mid-stream, but in this case I'd say I really "felt it" when you talked about stopping the cleanse and upping the leafy greens. I really resonanted with it (no pun intended). ;) I would even say gorge on the various leafy greens for a while. "Nutrition" seems to be the name of the game now and the leafy greens (as you know) are building blocks.

I still don't think the problem is the cleanse, I think it's perhaps your body is depleted and just really needs the greens. If you like coconuts, pick up a bunch of Young Thai coconuts and drink the water. It's full of electrolytes and delicious! :)



Teepee: I'm so glad to hear you're feeling better. :D

Love,
~Res

[mtmouse]

Sim,

Have you gone to any other raw food sites? There must be a bunch more forums out there, that would give you access to lots more experience and knowledge. Alissa Cohen's site comes to mind first, but also the Raw is Beautiful site, the rawdetox site, and maybe Boutenko has a site? Maybe you could even manage to reach some of these gurus personally to ask about the hair loss. If other non-cleansers have also experienced it, then you'd know it wasn't the cleanse itself.

Also, why do you think you need to cook your legumes? You can sprout garbanzos and lentils at least, so why not start there? The protein content would remain the same. I know there are beans you should not sprout (kidney, for one), but there may be others that you can.

Also, hair loss can be a hormonal thing (which may or may not be linked to simple nutrition like protein or minerals or greens, etc., or even a cleanse). My sister, for instance, lost almost all her hair when she was pregnant. Not that that's your issue, LOL. But maybe those menopausal shifts are having unusual effects.

Just some thoughts!

[ninab64]

Sim,

Silica is an important mineral for hair and nails, perhaps you can find foods that are high in that to help you through this time, or even consider taking a supplement if it will help in the short term. horsetail is an herb that i've seen in supplements for hair as well

just a thought

i've been losing more hair than normal over the past 2 years, but it's also longer, and it seems that the hair that is coming in after it is gray.... it's an evil plot :P

[TeePee]

Hi girls,

Well after a long day, daughter's dance class, and one tired mommy, I had not much to eat in the raw realm. Really need to shop!! So I made a new creation. Actually just a twist. Dinner was a whole cucumber sliced with 1/2 onion sliced. Mixed up in a bowl with a thinner version of my dill-cashew creme cheese. Sorta like that cucumber salad in greek restaurants with the sauce made of yougurt, I believe. It was very yummy and totally filled me up!! Cashews are my new favorite as of the last couple months. The thicker dill cheese made a great after school dip for my dehydrated potato chips!

I am so happy to be back!!:D :D :D :D

[Sim]

Okay, you are all on my list of top people in the world who deserve the best of everything! Thank you so much for all the love, support, suggestions, concern...I knew that if I asked, you'd help...and you did.
Nina, silica? Interesting. I'll look into it.
Kath: I do sprout lentils and garbanzos but they don't digest well. I always feel sick after I eat them. Hormonal thing? Yeah, maybe...over the years there have been many ups and downs with my hair, particularly those ten years I was either pregnant or nursing a baby...and then the stressful years of raising the munchkins and then the stressful failed marriage years. Stress, diet, hormones, thyroid...those are the culprits always named. And no one ever really pinpoints anything. Sure is scary. I loved your idea of perhaps contacting one of the gurus personally to ask the question. I'll let you know what I find out. And yes! EFT will help with the emotions! Of course! THANK YOU.

Res: now this is spooky: I stopped my cleanse TODAY, having already lost 5 pounds in three days and worrying about my hair and rapid weight loss. AND I WAS CRAVING GREENS! I have eaten a huge salad of kale, arugula, basil and then another salad of chard, bok choy, and parsley. A little lemon juice, some sea salt and a splash of olive oil. I was absolutely craving the greens AND I DID HAVE THREE COCONUTS IN MY FRIDGE AND WANTED THE WATER! So, so strange to receive your message tonight at midnight when I had eaten and drunk those very things a few hours earlier. You're amazing. Thanks!

TeePee: See? You're fine...your dinner sounds delish! We're all so glad you're back to being happier...hmmm Raw food = happier. Sounds and looks like a good slogan for a t-shirt. :D

[milo]

Hi Sim,

At the risk of sounding too bold, I want to put my 2 cents in about EFT. I have been working with Mtmouse on some major issues in my life and I am 4 for 4 on success. Mtmouse is absolutely AMAZING and BRILLIANT and my husband and I love her so much for what she has done. I have my life back after I don't know how many years, and Mtmouse and EFT have got me there in 4 short hours. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose. It is sort of like the cleanse, until you have experienced it, it is unimaginable the amazing outcome. Hang in there, we all love and support you.

Milo

[mtmouse]

Aw, Milo,

What can I say? Thank you for those kind words. I feel so honored!

:)

[Res]

Check this out:

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/41ZZ1DA1V1L._AA280_.jpg

World Cuisine 200105 Plastic Spiral Vegetable Slicer (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/customer-reviews/B000FCSR62/ref=cm_cr_dp_all_helpful/105-7354400-7679647?ie=UTF8&n=284507#customerReviews)

It got really good reviews.

[aikenjoi]

That slicer looks nice....it's on my long list of things to buy. ;)

I just order an Excalibur dehydrator! I counted the money I had saved and I had $190 so I asked my mom and she paid the difference from $209....and I have to do a bunch of chores too.... I am broke now, but at least I'll be making some more recipes pretty soon.:D
I was going to save for the blendtec total blender, but I figured that the blender I already have will work fine until I have the money and I might as well buy what I can now with what I have.
I'll probably save up for uncook books and the slicer for now. What I mean by "save up" is act like the perfect daughter and give bribes to my parents to get them for me.8)

So, I wanted to share the exciting news!:p
I can't wait 'til it gets here and I can make some yummy foods from tyhe recipes box!

[Res]

aikenjoi: That's great that you're getting a Dehydrator! :D Your mom will get a bunch of use out of it and once she sees this she may be quick to get you the other kitchen things you want! lol ;)

Let us know when you get it and if you'd like, we'll tell you what we think is easy to make and yummy! :)

Love,
~Res

[mtmouse]

I'd like to know more about that slicer. It looks good, and sounds like it does several things, but I couldn't find any details of what kinds of blades, etc.

Also, just from a common-sense point of view, it seems to me that spiralizing your veggie or fruit horizontally is working against gravity.

So my first thought is that the regular spiralizer does the same thing, cheaper and possibly more easily.

If someone gets one, though, I'd like to hear how it compares!

[aikenjoi]

I'd really appreciate all the recipes I could get! Thanks!
I should get the dehydrator some time next week. :)

[Sim]

At the risk of sounding too bold, I want to put my 2 cents in about EFT.... Mtmouse is absolutely AMAZING and BRILLIANT....It is sort of like the cleanse, until you have experienced it, it is unimaginable the amazing outcome.

Hi Milo~ I'm right there with you!!!Mtmouse IS AMAZING and BRILLIANT and I have experienced it and I love it!
Kath, this is an unsolicited advertisement for the RMEARKABLE work that you you! Milo and I will both attest to it (and I'm sure others, too!) :)

Thanks, Milo. If I hadn't already known about Mtmouse and EFT and the benefits to be derived, I'd have given you a big hug for alerting me. As it is, I'm giving you a big hug anyway! :D

Aikenjoi~!!!!Oooh, do we have things to tell you about how to use that Excalibur! Good for you girl!!! You're truly inspiring to anyone who puts up roadblocks as to why they can't get proactive in their desire to cozy up to raw "if only"...with you, there are no "if-onlies". How remarkable you are!!!:D

[aikenjoi]

Aww, thanks Sim!

I'm so excited to dehydrate something. I've been craving Mexican, Asian, and Italian food so much!
This recipe for taquitos looks delicious! Here's the recipe: http://www.goneraw.com/recipes/1414-Spicy-Spinach-and-Pepper-Taquito

There are always things that could stop me from eating raw foods, like how the food court in the mall smelt soo good, but I wouldn't want to confess that I slipped. My family would most definitely be happy if I ate cooked food, but I wouldn't want to disappoint you all or myself.

Oh, btw, I had my first green smoothie this morning and it was pretty good. (bananas, strawberries, orange, raspberries, and collard greens)

[mtmouse]

There you go, Res!

That delicious-looking taquito recipe definitely gives you your burrito wrap AND the nacho cheese!

All you need to come up with is the refried bean substitute and you're good to go!

Thanks, aikenjoi!

And good for you on the green smoothie! Carrots do really well in there, too. And some of us (started by HealthyBiz) even put in some beet, which makes it a gorgeous rose color, much prettier than the typical muddy green or brown.

:)

I can tell; now I'm not just talking about food; I'm actually thinking about food! Oops!

[aikenjoi]

I saw a raw refried bean recipe on there too. If anyone of you try them, tell me how they taste.
http://www.goneraw.com/recipes/822-Refried-Love

I don't have any beets right now, but I can add a carrot tomorrow. ;)

[milo]

Hi Sim,

You ROCK...

Milo

[aikenjoi]

My mom just helped me make some raw lasagna and it smells like garlic....yum...
I'm going to let the the sauce marinate the zucchini over night and have it tomorrow. I've actually never had zucchini before so I tried a little of the extra zucchini and it was good. I just imagine some foods to taste different. I guess while eating raw foods I'm going to have to open myself up to some vegetables I never would have tried otherwise. I also tried some avocado which I never tried before today.
I've felt really good today because I haven't had any nuts. This whole week I've overeaten nuts and it made me feel so full and just not as good as I know I should feel. So, I'm making sure I won't be eating any today to give my body a break. Just fruits and veggies today. But this next week I'm going to make it a goal to stop eating nuts when I'm not hungry.

[jmommy]

Okay so I am doing the challenge. So far so good. I bought a dehydrator and a food processor. They are really a lot of fun. Today I have stuffed mushrooms and onions with wheat germ/flax ("onion rings") in my dehydrator. I can't wait to try them tomorrow. Since I broke my fast not too long ago, I am just eating veggies and fruit here and there with some orange juice. I still really don't have much of an appetite. I eat my three meals plus snacks but they are very small. I have to say that I absolutely love almond butter and cashews. This is such a surprise to me because I was eating the SAD diet. Lots of meat and not enough veggies. I never thought that I would actually crave fresh veggies. I do have a question thoug. Is beer or wine okay?

[mtmouse]

Welcome, jmommy!

You're in for a wonderful month! I also found, from this challenge, that raw foods are far more satisfying than my old way of eating. And there are so many delicious things to try! :)

As far as wine goes, Alissa Cohen says that there are some wines that qualify as raw, and they would say so. But most do not. I've never heard anything one way or the other about beer, but my guess would be that it isn't.

You may find that you don't miss them when eating raw, though!

[Res]

Yum! Those taquitos DO look great!

I'm in a bit of a pickle. I came to work without enough food. I had a dental ordeal yesterday and had to leave work really early for an unplanned dentist visit. I'll just say that I was in a lot of pain and extra pain was involved. Instead of taking codeine, I took an excedrin migrain when I got home. I rested but an hour later I was famished - a really weird unnatural hunger. (The dentist *didn't use any anesthesia on me but did a few things cold turkey. No fun, no fun.)

I ate raw all night and had to stop myself before bed. I couldn't get full. Today I thought I wouldn't be very hungry because of my mouth hurting so I didn't bring enough food and honestly I could eat a whale! I'm tempted to buy something from the carusel of death (pretzels made with white flour blech). Seriously I'm so hungry! What's up with that? :confused:

[Res]

Those links are amazing! That site is amazing. I'm hungry! ;)

[mtmouse]

Those links are amazing! That site is amazing. I'm hungry! ;)

Me too! :D

[aikenjoi]

I really like that site too. I'll get my dehydrator on Friday and I want to try everything!

[Sim]

I ate raw all night and had to stop myself before bed. I couldn't get full.... Seriously I'm so hungry! What's up with that? :confused:

Hi Res~
Isn't stress an amazing thing? Or the desire for comfort? Of course, it could be a purely physical response, with your body needing some nutrient that will help lessen the pain your cruel dentist inflicted on you. I have no idea what that nutrient, mineral, vitamin, substance might be, but it's possible. For my two cents, I'd bet it's your emotional tapes kicking in, saying, "Res, eat something, eat everything, to take this mouth pain away. If you satisfy the taste buds (which are never satisfied before the tummy gets ill!), you'll feel better." Look at it this way: how in the world, with mouth pain, could your physical body really want you to eat??? That's what makes me think it's not physical hunger, not really. And pretzels??? Something hard and crunchy after coming from the dentist? You poor girl...please know it's gonna pass, it's gonna pass.

So I've just eaten a whole container of my own sun-(dehydrator) dried tomatoes for breakfast. It's what I wanted. :o I've made a great discovery! In my supermarket, probably in most supermarkets, at the back of the store there are carts that hold "old" produce. Now, they're not really old, but the tomatoes have a few bruises (sometimes a little worse, sometimes hardly at all) and the bananas are overripe. Yes! I can buy those bananas for 15 cents per pound and they're perfect for the freezer!!! And the tomatoes...even organic tomatoes!!! How's 49 cents per pound! At that rate, I can have dehydrated tomatoes all the time without breaking the bank. I also got mangos and anaheim chilies....guess what I'll be making soon, Res? :)
Feel better, Res. And Aikenjoi...you go girl! Love the recipes!!!

[Res]

Sim: I won't disclose last nights food fest - but I believe it's possible to even overdo raw. :rolleyes: I agree about the comfort/food aspect. I think it was subconscious. It's such an odd symbiotic relationship.

Your sun dried tomatoes sound lovely. :) I wonder if my local market has the same deal with the veggies that are a bit bruised? I think I'll ask. I'd love to sun dry roma tomatoes. :)

Back to work for me. I hope you're doing well today. :)

Love,
~Res

[Res]

Well I have a "new love" and I don't know how I lived this long without my Spirulizer! ;) I can't show you a picture because I'm at work without a camera and I just ate it all. lol It's Zucchini Spaghetti! :D


So I spirulized organic ;) zucchini. It makes THE BEST angel hair pasta. I wouldn't of believed it (and didnt! :)) if I hadn't had it myself - but it makes soft "noodles". Then I made Cohen's Marinara sauce (I used medjool dates and I think 3 was a little too sweet for me. I'd like it more tomato-y) - but it was still good. I warmed up the sauce and noodles on my server at work and just gobbled it all down. It's FANTASTIC and looks amazing too. I'd like to experiment will all the different marinara's and see which one I like best. So with the spaghetti I'm having Cohen's pizza. :) For dessert I'm going to have an avocado with a huge squeeze of lemon and sea salt.

Now it's back to work. Love to all! :)

~Res

[ninab64]

not sure if it's in your recipe, but i saw mention of letting the "noodles" sit out on paper toweling for a half hour or so, to dry out a bit, making them more noodle-like in texture

[mtmouse]

Res,

You should try Cornbleet's marinara sauce. I think I like it the best, but I also always add a date because it isn't quite sweet enough for me.

And I'm not surprised that you love your spiralizer! I had no idea you didn't have one yet. It works great with beets, too--and if you switch from the angel hair setting to the wafer setting, you can make Cornbleet's Shaved Beet Salad, which is divine!

I'm back in the world of eating! Well, almost. :D I decided to end MC5 last night after 14 days. This was by far my easiest cleanse, and I truly ended it on a high note and felt I could continue forever. So far it's been an easy transition, too. I just feel nice and centered. I didn't drop anywhere near the pounds I'd hoped to, but I feel good in my body.

And I leave town in a week, so I'm not going to get too carried away with making stuff between now and then; I think I'll just stick to raw and fairly plain.

[Res]

Kathy: Congrats on finishing your cleanse! :D Fourteen days is great :) and it sounds like it was exactly long enough. I love the "centered" comment because after achieving that the rest is icing on the cake. :)

The first time I used the Spirulizer I angel haired a beet. I couldn't believe how beautiful it was and promptly ate it before adding it to my salad. :) It even tasted better that way. lol

I'll try Cornbleets Marinara - that one was next on the list. :) Cohen's marinara reminds me of the flavor of spaghetti-O's. It's too sweet but it could have been due to the GIANT size of the dates too.

[Res]

nina: That's probably a good idea with the zucchini because it was a little watery. :)



Kathy: How's the foodie side of things today? ;)

[TeePee]

HI Girls!

Nice to see so much happening here! Again, I'm busy with school and didn't read over all the latest posts, but I will!

Back feeling great on raw!!!

Check back in later. Living on Sim's freezer fudge.

Oh, NEW FAVORITE GREEN SMOOTHIE!!!:D :D :D :D TASTES LIKE PINA COLADA!!


chunks pineapple
tbls coconut butter
handfuls spinach
water
ice

BLEND!!

[Sim]

Mmmm....haven't you all been busy! So I got busy too. You all made me hungry so I made:
Ani's polenta, which is awesome, truly awesome.
And I made Nomi Shannon's Sunny Paté, which never comes out the same way twice, even though I always use the same recipe. And you know the recipe is good because Alissa has it in her book, it's in the Complete book of Raw, it's in Nomi's own book of course, and I've seen it quoted in couple of other places online, too.
I made Ani's Asian scramble. Too good for words, really. She is one terrific chef.
I made my own apple/flax/raisin/maple cookies.
I made banana leather so that I could assemble my crepes (well, Alissa's crepes)
I made spicy crackers from Raw Food Real World. I'll tell you, that book should have been called, Raw Food, La La Land. Who could afford all those expensive ingredients on a regular basis? Or even semi-regular? They use TONS of coconut, macadamias, vanilla bean, coconut butter...you name it, every crazy-expensive ingredient is in their book.
And I made a curry soup from a recipe online.
Everything was excellent, no slip-ups. But what did I enjoy the best? I took some Asian scramble, put it in a cabbage leaf with sprouts and radishes and rolled it up. Hit the spot. Now I have all this food and um, well...who's gonna eat all of this???? I better open that restaurant soon!

Raw Food Real World got me to thinking...we must make a raw diet accessible to everyone. With books like that out there, how can Raw compete with the dollar menu at McDonald's? Thank goodness there's a Jenny Cornbleet to counter the effects. Don't get me wrong; I'm not knocking the delicious recipes...it's just that so many of them have an astronomical cost attached. And Sarma just "assumes" that the reader will have no trouble doing this. If we're going to reach "America", then we have to make the cost of a raw diet accessible and we have to make the recipes doable. I'd love to see the Aikenjois of the world multiply exponentially. Even though she's a young woman with determination, sh'es living at home, and would not be able to afford to do the recipes in Raw Food, Real World. How can we make this easier for kids, for people on fixed or low income, for older people? ooh, my head hurts from thinkin' so much!!!

[Res]

Sim:

You hit on a really good point that has been a huge source of frustration for me as well. It makes no sense that "Organic" food is so expensive (and I've heard all the "logic" on that one).

I talked to a guy at work this week who has a family of 4 and he said their food bill went up 50% by trying to go all Organic. SO, let the Organic producers make it easier to move to Organic! duh...

Ooh, I almost went off on Government cheese etc. I know they are supposedly trying to "feed poor people" but really the junk they provide only causes health issues. How does that help anyone? :confused: :confused: "My stomach is full, but I'm also full of disease. Thank you?" :confused:

Geez, I'm really cranky this morning and holding back believe it or not. :rolleyes: I'm going to go spread sunshine elsewhere. ;)

Regardless of my rotten mood, I love you all dearly. :)

~Res

[caramello]

hello everyone,

wow this is my first post, but I've been following the boards since my 1st cleanse began two weeks ago. Now that I'm done I feel wonderful and I was so excited to "go raw." My first raw meal was raw tacos...and I got so terribly sick off of them that I am now afraid to do this.:confused: I dont remember where I got the recipe from but I used something called walnut meal, instead of raw walnuts to make the meat and used beet leaves as the wrap. Then spent two hours heaving (sorry too graphic) where did I go wrong?? I really want to stick to this, any advice??:(

[kiropa]

sim, i agree with you.

but, for our children and "america" there certainly are steps we can take to improve.

i've started making my kids cauliflower rice, green smoothies, raw fudge. raw banana ice cream. honestly, all things considered, penny for penny it's not different than the $4 i pay per box of sugary breakfast cereal and a vast improvement in health.

so, in a glass is half full vein -- i agree that we can't make it fully accessible and affordable (a la Mc-yuck), but we can take steps to imporve upon the way people eat/are fed.

we had an interesting conversation at my daugher's Daisy's meeting yesterday. our schools passed a rule whereby we cannot send any packaged foods for birthdays/class where any of the first five ingredients are sugar (and anything masked as sugar). some parents are actually rebelling thinking this is silly and that that's not the 'real world'. interesting... they also say that if you ban it, the kids will seek it out and overindulge. also interesting.

one other productive point did come up though, we are forgetting to teach our kids that it's okay to eat 1 cupcake or a 1/2 a cupcake as treat (not 5 cupcakes in a sitting) as long as they are also eating fruits, vegetables and the like. portion control is missing.

i just found the whole thing very thought provoking and your post is a similar thought process.

[Res]

caramello: Sounds like too much too soon. I'm going to "assume" you broke the cleanse properly. ;) You'll want to stick to fruits and salads, juices and simple smoothies at first. If you'd like you can elaborate on the direction you took when coming off the cleanse and we'll redirect you. ;)

Love,
~Res

[mtmouse]

Sim,

Maybe what's needed here is a book giving ideas for cheaper substitutions for expensive products.

Because I also follow the blood type diet and have for over 10 years, I'm very used to simply changing out ingredients in a recipe if there's something I'm choosing not to eat. So for me it's second nature. If I thought something was too expensive, I'd put in something else that was less so.

And I also agree with Kiropa. Often what seems expensive isn't, when you actually look at what regular "food" costs.

[mtmouse]

Oh! And on this same thought, I did finally make Sim's yummy chocolate sauce, but this time with the raw carob. (I wrote earlier on the After the Cleanse thread about my carob epiphany, LOL.)

It was delicious! So now I have loss cost and less fat! :)

[aikenjoi]

Sim and Res, I completely agree with you.
I hate how processed food is made so readily available and is usually cheaper than organic food. And if the government wants the country to be healthier than high fructose corn syrup shouldn't be put in almost everything. It doesn't make sense that it cost less to have a bunch of junk added to food. And it's pretty sad when there's a bigger section of chips than there is of vegetables.
I know that a lot of it is just choices; Cut down on things you don't need and concentrate on health, but tell that to my family. My mom would probably be fine with helping me get the healthy ingredients I would want, but my dad is another story. I love him and he eats healthier than he did when I was little, but he finds it ridiculous that I would want to buy agave and cacao when I could just get regular chocolate and sweetener. I don't get it...they tell me not to have a poverty spirit, but then they don't encourage me to get things that I would like. My dad would spend that much bringing home cheezits and tortilla chips in a month, so I don't see what the big deal is.
And when I asked him if I could order the cacao and agave he said he would have an answer in 72 hours. So, I wanted 72 hours and he just told me what he thought in the first place. He made me wait just to say no.
I really want him to be healthier because I want him to be happy and healthy for along time to come. But I can't force him to do anything....
Well, my dehydrator should be here any time now. The ups guy is just taking his time. :D
The first thing I'm going to make are corn chips (http://www.goneraw.com/recipes/1397-Corn-chips) because I really want something savory and something that I hopefully can't mess up. It seems pretty simple. I might add some other spices too. I want to bring it with me tomorrow since I'm going out of state to visit my grandpa. I might make some kind of salsa with mango in it too. I haven't had mango in a long time. Never mind---it just got here! But I can't make anything yet. I have to go to the store to get some corn, onion, and mango first.

And mtmouse, a substitution book is an awesome idea!

[Res]

aikenjoi: It always seems like the UPS guy is lagging when you want your stuff! lol ;)

Unfortunately the government isn't going to make "healthy" foods cheaper for any of us. That's not the plan. It would be nice but it won't happen.

There are a few things like a food co-op of sorts for people who don't make much money. They try to throw in locally grown vegetables, but then in addition to that there's "chicken burgers" that are formed and chalked full of bad stuff you've never seen before and bad stuff that you recognize in the ingredients list. Also I've seen really ugly pork somethings.

It's really difficult to tell the people that can't afford it that in order to eat healthy they have to pay more for less. No one on a fixed budget will go for that no matter how unhealthy it is to bake with white sugar, flour etc. Those ingredients are cheap and make a lot of food. :(

There has to be another way.

[aikenjoi]

Res: Yeah, it seemed like the UPS guy took forever. Because the dehydrator got in Tulsa at 5 am this morning and it didn't get to my door until almost 2pm. And I really wanted some chips! That's been a major craving of mine. Nuts are good, but I miss my crackers and chips....although I haven't had chips for a while, but I always ate crackers when I was "hungry" before.

I know...it's just complicated. But everyone has to make the choice to go the extra mile. If they need to they could get seeds at a cheaper price and then sprout and do salads and fruit, but not so much of the dishes that they're used to. It's really about what's important to them. If they have cable they could chose to cut that off and concentrate on their health. I'm pretty surprised about how many people have cable when they have plenty of bills already. Like my parent's renters. :rolleyes:
But if people have a huge family to provide for, it's already hard enough to make ends meet just with processed food. But I do think that the basic greens, nuts and seeds, and fruit aren't more expensive than chips and cookies. A bunch of fancy ingredients are not crucial.
Like I just made a very simple corn chip....with just corn, onion, and flax meal. And that's not expensive at all. And then I can put some salt and other seasonings on if I want. So, that's not much more than a regular bag of tortilla chips and this is going to be doing something good for my body.

[Sim]

All of you wonderful, concerned, pro-active friends of mine have been discussing something that is near and dear to my heart and like you, Res, riles me to no end until I go off on a rant about it, making everyone around me wonder what set me off! :D
I know why organic fruits and veggies are more expensive...we all do, we've read about their extra costs and we know that some organic growers don't even seek an organic label because it would cost them more money to prove compliance and they don't want to pass that cost on to the consumer. So they just have customers who know they're organic and they're satisfied with that. Good. What about everyone else? Here in the Northeast, it's harder to get organic produce that hasn't been shipped three thousand miles. And there's also the argument that buying local non-organic produce might even be better than shipped organic produce. I don't buy into that theory, personally, but I do see the point. It's all about economics. Let's switch gears: indigent people will flock to McD's. It's a fact that the Dollar Menu at whatever fast food place is closest will attract kids and the poor. Only some of that purchase desire is motivated by hunger. A lot of it is motivated by ignorance. I didn't say stupidity, I said ignorance. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO EAT. Just like we didn't know what to eat when we undertook the "One Month Raw Challenge." And here we still are, way beyond that challenge, still talking, still sharing, and still marveling over what we can create and enjoy. I've never been a proselytizer...but I will be at some point because every time I see an obese teen walking into a McD's or a BK or wherever, I wonder if they're purposely negating the health problems they're courting or if they care but don't feel they have an alternative. I know from years and years of dieting that feeling of "I shouldn't eat this but I want it..." the "it" sometimes being a whole cheesecake, a whole pizza, a whole half-gallon of ice cream, a two pound steak...Still, if someone had sat me down and really talked to me about what all that meant to my body, my longevity, my self-esteem, my reasons for eating as if the world were ending tomorrow, I might have listened. As it is, I found the MC in a New York Times article on a day when I was feeling ill FROM EATING. I knew it and the article pointed me in a direction...and here I be, almost a year later, a changed person physically and mentally. I was lucky; I read the newspaper. I'd like to be a little fountain of luck for people who don't read the paper. I'd like to take raw to those who would never in a million years consider it...and let them find out for themselves what life can be like. Diabetes is an epidemic because of the processed foods being consumed in the world today. In India, it is now a badge of affluence to have "a little sugar in the blood." There are "sugar hospitals" now in India, whole facilities dedicated to treating only diabetes! All of this could be toned down but money is the name of the game...how do companies make the most money with the greatest markup? By using the cheapest ingredients and then diluting or adulterating any ingredient that might be a bit nutritious to stretch its presence in the product. We are in big trouble and it grieves me that this might constitute a "survival of the fittest" situation in the years to come. And who would that be? The most affluent, who also have the most time to take care of themselves. Who orders "The Box" from Matt? Well, some of us might because we're into raw and are curious and can justify that expense once in awhile. I don't think any of us on this site orders The Box on a basis as regular as Carol Alt or Woody Harrelson. And would a poor family ever order such a thing? Nope. They also won't be at the gym on a treadmill at ten in the morning in a cute little outfit or shopping at Wild Oats or Whole Foods.
Oops. Sorry. I'm ranting. Res, you have waaaaay more self-control than I do.
I have plans for my café and free nights of raw food prep/theory/instruction for those who are least likely to ever hear about raw. And I know just how to find them and reach them. And I can't wait. :)

Aikenjoi...make sure you make corn chips for your dad! If he likes them well enough, he might see his way clear to letting you order other things you need. And...if you continue to be very focused on your raw, he'll notice. Sometimes we parents think that our kids are going through "a phase" and are reluctant to shell out money for something that will just collect dust. Show him you mean it and that you're passionate about it and I bet he'll come around. Keep going girl! We're all proud of you. ;)

Kath, love, love, love the book idea. I'd do it, but only after I finish the one I'm working on!

Kiropa~You are awesome, feeding your kids a little differently but also recognizing that portion control is so important! I'll tell you the truth: if I had young children, I would not be expecting them to be all raw; frankly, I'm glad I had 50 years of eating everything under the sun so that I could experience what sugar, fat, and salt have to offer. Some of it was delicious, some not. But I'm glad I don't have to say, "Gee, I've never tasted a cupcake." Let children have some of that along with fruits and veggies. Eventually, their palates will know what to do. The whole point, for all of us, is not to be 100% raw but to be 100% healthier...and I believe that all raw is not for everyone, but better health is.

Caramello~I think Res was right! I had an experience similar to yours after I cleansed for the first time and had collard greens. They came back out faster than I ate them! Your tummy needs time to be able to digest something as heavy as beet greens and walnuts. (Don't know what walnut meal actually is, but stick with raw organic walnuts if you can.) Make sure you give yourself enough time after breaking the cleanse before you try to eat anything that takes real digestive energy. Good luck! Stick with us ....we love it that you're here!