The One Month RAW Challenge

[Bogi]

I'm having my first salad at this moment...Heavenly! :)

[mtmouse]

Sounds great!

I moved on to watermelon and banana this afternoon too. So far so good. :D

[TeePee]

Oh you girls!! I'm so jealous! Of all my cleanses - about 7-10 maybe..I have never gone longer than 17 days. I would love to do these long cleanses like you. I think once I'm done teaching in June, I'll start one up and see how long I can do!!


Sounds like you guys are doing great!!!! Dad in hospital and I have fallen into some "comfort foods" unfortunately. I am trying to get back into my mind set of "feeding my body" not "feeding my emotions".

I have been reading about Justin's 100 day juice fast on WE LIKE IT RAW. His story is amazing!!

[Bogi]

Kathy, I had water melon, too after gym. I also ate a very few almonds and goji berries (really tasty together). My stomach absolutely fine., it seems 2.5 days was enough to break my fast. I will keep it light over the weekend, but I'm planning to prepare some crackers and "amazing almonds" for next week. Happy to eat again!

Rain how is it going to you?

TeePee, I met a raw food enthusiast last month who was doing a 104 day altered MC with lemonade/coconut water during the day and raw veggie soup at tyhe evening. He was on day 94 when I met him, was holding a 2 hour lecture and radiated so much energy it was truly amazing! If I wouldn't like to eat so much I tried it, too! :)

[Meedis]

I just ate my first homemade soup since breaking the cleanse Wednesday. It's an hour later and I'm feeling pretty good. I'm about to take a probiotic in another hour or so. I have a road trip tomorrow morning to look forward to...:rolleyes: I'll have to do my best not to eat too crazy while away.

When I get back in town, I think I'll definitely make another Raw Apple Pie. Granny Smith apples are definitely the best brand to make it with. Yum...can't wait for next week.

[mtmouse]

Bogi,

Well, it seems I may be on your schedule, too!

I stuck to my juice this morning. Early in the afternoon I had another "fury" episode. Or at least, I got very irritated for really very little reason. After that I ate regular watermelon (which I'd been putting in my juice unfiltered anyway, so it didn't seem it was any different from eating it) and some sliced bananas. It all seemed to sit just fine.

Then later this afternoon I decided to put in a batch of my red dragon crackers. Oh man, that smelled so wonderful I felt like eating the batter right then and there! I think that did tip me over, because then I had some carrots with a teeny bit of my macadamia nut cheese (which was divine). And then a few cashews! :eek:

At that point I pulled myself back and will stick to fruit for the rest of the evening. I'm not having any stomach issues and I feel fine, but I do think I should slow down here.

[rain]

I've had a busy past few days, buying food (not that I'm complaining...it's been fun! :) ). Both days, it took way longer that I'd anticipated and I've come home in the evenings with my pack stuffed with food (better it than me! :D ) and plastic bags of food hanging from the handlebars of my bicycle. It takes longer when I have to get around by bus and bicycle and have certain stores I like to go to for certain things and my kitchen was low on supplies.

Oh Kathy, I'm so glad you were able to pull yourself back after those few nibbles of carrots and nuts! I remember reading a post in the past written by someone who ate a bunch of cashews within the first few days following their long cleanse and was in agony from the distended belly and lump of nuts just sitting there. It made quite an impression on me. I bought a small bag of cashews today that I "hide" from myself (now if I could only forget where they are till I use them in a recipe. LOL!).

I don't think I could handle living with the smell of my favourite crackers dehydrating when it's too soon for me to be able to sample them. And then having an emotional storm at the same time? :eek: Oh, boy!! Can you put them (partially dehydrated) back in the fridge for a few days?

I've been doing really well, Bogi! :D Other than eating a few tiny samples of some raw flax crackers at a store today and tasting a few tiny pieces of Matt's onion crackers this evening (yummy, but i was fine with not having more), I'm still eating only whole fruits: oranges, bananas, pineapple, watermelon, and a delicious (!!!) cantaloupe I found today that I now want to get more of (I only bought a small one because usually, when I buy cantaloupes, they have little taste). But I don't want to take the time to go alllll the way back to that store untill near the end of next week. Until a few hours ago, I'd eaten only 4 large oranges so far today, and I didn't feel hungry. Then I got home and made myself a fruit salad with 4-5 pieces of fruit (orange, banana, pineapple, and cantaloupe). That was so yummy and I wanted more, so I had another one with 4 more pieces of fruit (plus several glasses of water to make up for not drinking much earlier), Then I felt satiated. It's been interesting to discover how satiating fruit can be. I've had a fear of eating as much fruit as I'm eating right now (about 12-15 pieces per day) because i feel terrible when I eat sugar. But I don't feel like that at all! So much for some more of the myths I've been fed about food. It felt like i came off the cleanse beyond the point of needing more sustenance than I was getting, and fruit has been giving me that. I have more energy and the hunger and cravings I'd been experiencing on the last days of my cleanse are gone (and, when I am hungry, eating fruit satisfies me). This is so different from the intense hunger I experienced when I came off my 10-day cleanses. Kathy, I was thinking about what you said yesterday that's similar to this, and that doing a long cleanse (with the sense of calm and peace that can come) has had that unique benefit. But other people lose control over their eating when they come off a long cleanse...

I'm making a cooked soup tomorrow because I miss hot soup (especially coming off the cleanse, when I'm still cold) and I was drinking MS everyday anyway, which isn't raw. I'm going to cook it as little as possible and this is the only time I'll make it. But it will be a large enough batch that I'll be eating it for a few days. yum! :p

TeePee, I'm sorry to hear about your Dad and your temporary setback with food. You'll come around again, because you know how good raw feels. And I hope you get that good long cleanse this summer!

Bogi, thanks for finding that Just like Ritz Crackers recipe. I'm going to paste it into the Lemonhead Recipe Box, in case the link changes in the future. I said before that it turns out crumbly, but they weren't so crumbly that they fell apart too easily. It made them tender, kind of like shortbread. Maybe it's the oil in the walnuts that makes them like that. I found the Everyone's Favourite Crackers recipe have a similar texture, and I like that they also have almonds and sunflower seeds in them (easier to find raw and more nutritious, I think, plus less expensive).

Oh great, I just found the One Lucky Duck cracker recipe you posted a few weeks ago. Yum, a sweet cocoa or carob cracker. Gotta try that. (I hope it'll work with honey and stevia instead of agave.) Thanks! :)

[mtmouse]

Hi rain,

Sounds like you're doing great! I hardly slept at all last night, with the smell of my drying crackers permeating the house, but feel fine now. (It's probably too late to put them away, but I do consider it a mistake I don't intend to make again.) I woke up with a little abdominal distress, but that soon passed with a very large elimination, so I am much more comfortable now. (That was my second elimination--I actually started back "regular" yesterday, which surprised me.)

The surprising thing last night was a strong aversion to either fruit juice OR water. Not sure exactly what that's about. I still have a bunch of oranges and grapefruits, and the easiest way to eat them would be as juice. This morning I'm going to take yesterday's juice and make a green smoothie, and I might do that with the rest, too. I'll eat the oranges fresh, but these were organic grapefruits, and they are sour! :p

I like the idea of a fruit salad too. Yesterday I only combined two things at once, but I'd like a little more variety.

But I've been lusting now for three days over a bagel-lox-cream cheese sandwich! Every time I get the idea, I ask myself questions. Do I want the bagel toasted or soft? Do I want as much cream cheese as they'd serve me in the store? How much lox would I put on it? And every time I realize the sandwich would not taste the way I'm imagining it--whatever I'm imagining those foods to be, they aren't. It's odd.

And yeah, I don't think the lessons from the MC can be codified. We each come to it at different times from different places. So we can't count on getting to a "calm" place, but just have to do what we do and take what we get, each time. I'm still really happy with my results from this one.

[Bogi]

Ladies, I have an annoucement to make. While I'm typng this messages I'm sitting in my SIZE 4 SKINNY JEANS!!!!! SHOOBY-DOOBY DOOOOO!!!!!:D:D:D
(I don't know how I did that, I haven't lost, not gained (!!! :) ) any weight since finishing the MC, but it seems working out pays off! So I don't even worry about the little bulging thingy arond my waist, it will come off,too pretty soon!

Rain, I haven't posted one lucky duck recipes yet, I only have their macaroon recipes. I need to find the recipes of their cheese and rosemary crackers, those are really good! I also want to come up with a plain, crumbly, salty cracker what I can use to season with caraway seeds and nutritional yeast. I want to create some europen style salty tea cookies. I miss those!

I'm going to to do my first serious grocery shopping and fill up my fridge with goodies. Later, ladies!

[mtmouse]

Congratulations, Bogi! That's wonderful!

I've just finished putting a batch of Just like Ritz Crackers in the dehydrator. They sure do taste good! I used brown flax because that's what I had (and I never pay more for looks just for myself, LOL). But I can tell already they're going to be good.

I'm pretty impressed with hemp seeds, too. I'd never even heard of them until I bought Raw Food Real World, and as I said above I just found them at my health food store. I've only just tasted them, of course, but they have a wonderful flavor.

I just noticed, Raw Food Real World's Walnut-Hemp Cracker recipe is the exact same one as our Ritz one! They say they are rich in vitamin E and in omega-3 fatty acids.

[rain]

I've been lusting now for three days over a bagel-lox-cream cheese sandwich! Every time I get the idea, I ask myself questions. Do I want the bagel toasted or soft? Do I want as much cream cheese as they'd serve me in the store? How much lox would I put on it? And every time I realize the sandwich would not taste the way I'm imagining it--whatever I'm imagining those foods to be, they aren't. It's odd.

Made me laugh, Kathy! Maybe because I've done exactly the same thing. A few weeks ago, as I inhaled the smell of those savory crepes, I was looking at the menu and deciding which one I'd get IF I was getting one. (And great to see now that eating them would be disappointing...I'm not at that place with those crepes, maybe partly because I've never had one.) I can lust after anything bready. I guess that's why I've been planning on making several different kinds of raw crackers soon...looks like we all are! :p

I'm glad to hear today is going better!

I was reading on that juice feasting site that grapefruit juice with garlic is surprisingly good. It sounds like a good beginning for a green smoothie.

Hemp seeds are supposed to also have quite a bit of protein, I think. They're supposed to be really good for ya. I was eating the hulled ones from my local health food stores in the past, but now I have some unhulled ones that I'm not sure what to do with. I read that the husks can stick in the teeth. I think I'll try sprouting them.


Bogi,

Yippee for your size 4 jeans! Congratulations!

I just looked again at that recipe you posted that I thought was a cracker recipe. It's an ice cream recipe! :o I was so tired last night that I sometimes couldn't keep my eyes open . Last night, I just noticed the words "One Lucky Duck" in your description preceding the recipe, and briefly glanced at the ingredient list. (I thought they'd be awfully sweet crackers, lol.)

Those cheese and rosemary crackers sound yummy, indeed! The Just Like Ritz crackers are a good plain, crumbly cracker that you could add any spices/flavour to (and so are the Everyone's Favourite Crackers, although I'm going to make both at the same time so i can compare).

Time to go do some errands. Ani Phyo's book is waiting for me at the library. And Raw Food Real World is on its way there. And I have just a few more food items to buy. I hope i get home in time to make that soup (it's been on the menu for the past 2 days, but no time!).

[mtmouse]

Well, it may not have been wise (time will tell), but it was sure delicious!

I went all-veggie tonight in a big way and made Sarma's sushi substitutes. I'll tell you know, as "sushi rice", her jicama recipe is the best I've had since I went raw. And it has only 1/2 Tbsp of pine nuts per roll, which is so much lighter than other nori roll recipes. (Plus, this time around I didn't use any avocado--just carrots, mushrooms, green onion, red pepper, and spinach.)

I put on some of my pickled ginger paste, and that worked very well (I'd use even more next time).

And this is just what I wanted after all that fruit. I sure hope it settles as well as it tastes! :D

[Bogi]

My fridge is packed, my wallet is flat.
Made some zucchini pasta with Alissa's marinara sauce, It turned out great, I put a lit la extra garlic in it plus some fresh oregano! I had a bowl of the pasta, then a lil' later an apple and I think I'm set for the day. (For breakfast I had banana)
Ani Phyo's sunflower-black sesame bread is in the dehydrator right now. It takes only 5 hours to be ready, that's great. It seems like a nice plain bread which will be great for sandwiches. I only did rawrevolution's onion bread so far, which has a very strong taste. Ani's bread will be a nice change after that.
I'm also soaking the walnut for the Ritz cracker. I couldn't find hemp seed, I will subsitute with sesame seeds I think, and I'll try to put some caraway seedson the top of it.

Kathy, I've been craving cream cheese seems so mentioned that you're making some. How do you make yours? I should do some, too would be nice on the bread for sandwhich!

Rain,you have great discipline to eat only fruits. I'll be back in normal eating by tomorrow. I just try to eat smaller portions from now on. (That will be the hard part)

[mtmouse]

Bogi,

Ain't that the way! This thread has bankrupted more than one of us, LOL.

My macadamia nut cheese is very simple.

First, put the nuts in a blender (VM if you have one, for smoothest texture) and just cover with water. Blend until as smooth as it'll get. You can add more water, but try not to make it soup. Rather, a soupy paste.

Dump that into a nut milk bag and place in a strainer in a bowl (or over a plate, to catch the whey--but I prefer a bowl). Put a plate and a weight on top and set aside in a warm place (~75 or so) for overnight. Drain the liquid as it builds up (usually only in the first hour or two).

Taste the result from time to time. If you want it more tangy, leave it longer--even two or three days.

After you've got the cheese, you can always then take some or all and flavor it. Like with sun-dried tomato pieces, or herbs, or garlic/onion, whatever! But I usually eat mine plain on a spicy cracker like my red dragon ones.

[Bogi]

That's sounds yummie, Kathy, I have to buy a nut milk bag finally. The only place I know for sure they sell it is not in my way at all, maybe I make the trip tomorrow. I keep postponing it, but now it's time.
Ritz crackers are in the dehydrator. I ran out of tan sesame seeds, I had to use black ones, so my crackers looks funny with the black dots, but I'm going to put caraway seeds on the top anyway once I flip the batter. I tasted it and it's really delish!
I didn't really understand the recipe where it said: put between 2 trays lined with teflex. Did it mean to press the batter down with an other tray? I just simply spread it on 1 tray nice evenly and that's it. It didn't seem too thick so I doubted, that I should had use 2 trays.
Can't wait to try them!

[mtmouse]

Bogi,

You could press that cheese through cheesecloth, too, if you have that. That's what it's for, of course! :D But the nut bags are quite handy. I suggest getting a nylon one, not a cotton one.

I didn't even notice that statement in the recipe. I just spread my batter out as usual. You really can't go wrong with this stuff. If you spread it too thick, it'll just take longer to dry or be more pliable. You might decide you'd rather have it look better. But it'll taste great no matter what! And that's all that matters, unless you're Sim and going to open a restaurant! :D

Enjoy!

[merrill3960]

I did the cleanse (didnt make it all the way) in November 2007. Grilled chesee was my down fall...my 7 year old daughter was very supportive, yet made one too many grilled cheese sanswiches that week ;)

I feel like now is a good time to start the cleanse and really be commited....However, I dont want to start if I am not ready and set myself up for failure. So.....without reading through everything, does anyone have advice about starting with a sucessful mind frame etc? Thanks
-Susanna

[Bogi]

I did the cleanse (didnt make it all the way) in November 2007. Grilled chesee was my down fall...my 7 year old daughter was very supportive, yet made one too many grilled cheese sanswiches that week ;)

I feel like now is a good time to start the cleanse and really be commited....However, I dont want to start if I am not ready and set myself up for failure. So.....without reading through everything, does anyone have advice about starting with a sucessful mind frame etc? Thanks
-Susanna

Susanna,

It's hard to give advice about how to prepare for the cleanse. This is something what you have to do on your own. It's only 10 days, reallly not a big deal, just make a decision! It's all about it. One desicion and then go for it.

Also you might find more inspiration in the "What day are you on and how are you doing" thread.

Good luck!

[TeePee]

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY GIRLS!!!

[Bogi]

[QUOTE=rain;56339]


Bogi,



I just looked again at that recipe you posted that I thought was a cracker recipe. It's an ice cream recipe! :o I was so tired last night that I sometimes couldn't keep my eyes open . Last night, I just noticed the words "One Lucky Duck" in your description preceding the recipe, and briefly glanced at the ingredient list. (I thought they'd be awfully sweet crackers, lol.)

QUOTE]

Oh, you were talking about the ice cream recipe, Rain! Somehow Ithought you mentioned some crackers. I did post an ice cream recipe which probably the same as the one on One Lucky Duck (and those are good!) Sarma's new cook book is coming out any time now, and the ice cream recipe will be in it! I just hoping for the cheese and rosemary crackers!

[Bogi]

Kathy, Rain, how are you guys holding your weight? I've succesfully gained 8 lbs. since I eat again (3 days). And I only eat 100% raw, and work out a lot.
Good bye skinny jeans! Life isn't fair... :(

[Nance]

Oh, I love hearing the transition Bogi and mtmouse are making! Keeps me thinking 'fresh'! I have been thinking of another MC in July, which is a very hot month here, and it will have been 3 months hence my last one. I rejoice with you guys at the weight loss, oh it feels so good to wear clothes that really fit. Way to go guys!!

I am dealing with changes due to what seems like menopause ( I am 52), and have questions. Is there another thread on this BB that is most appropriate for me to ask such anatomical musings as related to raw food lifestyle? I'd rather stick to Dragon Crackers and Spirulizers here;)

I just watched the beautiful blue-eyed young woman and her 92 Day Juice Feast testimonal. Wow, her spirit is shining! She sure wasn't gungho about those prunes. :) I can understand why in her eyes.

My laptop was down for a while, it is great to be back! What a warm and encouraing team here!
n.

[TeePee]

Hi Girls!

Been busy. Tried to make a cream sauce last night that didn't come out too good. Maybe too much lemon. I kept adding stuff, including water, so now I'm trying to dehydrate it to make it into sheets of cheese....we'll see. I'm taking SIMS previous advice instead of throwing it out!!

[Nance]

Dehydrators are amazing machines. I am longing to make another big batch of pizza crackers (Cohen pizza wrap bread recipe). Our co-op shipment comes in next week and will get some more almonds, flax seeds, etc.

I have yet to do a batch of sushi. Any suggestions, adventurous alterations to recipes?

I had some maple syrup the other day, after a long while not. Yum! I am warming up to a cleanse in late June or July.

Love to all, keep on keepin on!
n.

[Sim]

Hi Everyone!
Oh yes, I've been checking in and not having time to write BUT I'm loving your conversations!
Bogi, never mind the 8 pounds..you're amazing and those 8 pounds that came back were supposed to come back. Yeah, not fair but that's just the way our bodies work. TeePee, Kath, Rain, Nance...oh my! How happy I am to see you all here :D

Cashew cheese or any cheese: know what you need to add to make that cheese nutritionally sound? The contents of ONE PROBIOTIC CAPSULE. It speeds up the fermentation process AND makes that cheese packed with more good things than just nut (fat) calories. Thought I'd mention it...

Okay my girls...what am I gonna do with all the information and recipes and knowledge that I've acquired over the last five weeks (one more to go) ?? I need to share it with you all..give me your best solution :D

Dehydrator ideas: tuiles (cookies) to use as decorations, lasagna crackers made from leftover lasagna that you mush to a half inch thick on a dehydrator sheet, tortilla wraps, coconut wrappers, seasoned cashews or other nuts, kale chips (of course!), mushrooms marinated in tamari, any veggies that you have too much of, thinly sliced. Then you take those veggies, separately, and grind them to a powder, putting it in glass jars to use as plate garnishes or seasoning or in a smoothie or sprinkled on a salad. The list is endless. See? What am I gonna do with all this information????
Love to all you fabulous girls~
Sim

[rain]

Hey there, Sim! It's so great to hear from you! I love your list of ideas, the flexibility of using up whatever's left over. (I'm still at the trying-out-new-recipes stage, and my freezer is the depository to file failures for later re-consideration.) I think you're gonna have to teach us a whole course on raw food preparation. Would I ever love that! :D

These past few weeks have been a little crazy for me. There's nothing like fasting for 35 days to bring out a little temporary insanity around food. :rolleyes:

Bogi, I didn't mean to ignore your last post. It felt too hard to post, so I just lurked. And it often looks like I'm lurking here all the time because my name shows up on the list of "currently active users" for hours, because I often have tabs open to recipes and leave my computer on for several hours at a time without looking at it (I leave it on in case I want to read something...not a good habit!). I haven't had access to a scale to weigh myself for the past 2 weeks, but I feel like I've gained several pounds. As Sim has said, I've given up on trying to have an argument with my body about that. My body always wins those arguments! :) I still look skinny (or at least a normal weight), and that's good enough for me. And, now that I have some weight I could lose without looking like I'm starving myself, I won't be afraid to do another long cleanse (which I'm warming up to maybe doing later this fall).

I didn't eat anything more than just fruit until the evening of my 6th post-cleanse day because I kept getting home from food-shopping trips too late to make soup (or anything else). And then I never made the soup, because I couldn't be bothered. And then there were days that passed when I just planned what I was going to make without actually making it. It seemed overwhelming and, when i finally wrote down everything I wanted to make (because i couldn't keep it all straight in my head), I realized it was at least about 20 different things, lol. So I've been slowly making my way through that list. Preparing raw food is still relatively unfamiliar to me... I've decided that, before starting my next cleanse, I'm going to make sure I have some things already made up in the freezer.

The most amazing thing I've made so far is that fermented cream cheese (thank you, Kathy, for giving me the inspiration to try that!). Sim, I did add some probiotic powder to it (I got the idea from a recipe online), and it made it taste just like real cream cheese! But I used too much (10 capsules to 1 cup of cashews). Next time, I'll do as you suggest and just use one. I also read somewhere that a good way to tell if your nuts are truly raw is to make a fermented cheese with them. If they're raw, they'll ferment. If they're not raw, they'll go bad.

I have a copy of Raw Food, Real World from the library (as well as Ani Phyo's book), and it has me spinning with all the things I want to make (crepes!...and the samosas with mango chutney that Teepee said were so good!). What a beautiful, amazing uncookbook! I've been having fun trying out cracker recipes (I love them just with slices of really good tomatoes on top). Nance, I think I'll have to add pizza crackers to my list, if i can find Cohen's recipe online (don't have her book).

[Nance]

Rain:

Pizza Bread Recipe Thanks to Alissa Cohen!
2 cups ground flax
1 cup soaked almonds, ground fine
2 cups carrot pulp (from whole carrot in food processor) I spirulized carrots and minced the strands instead.
1 cup diced red pepper
1/2 Tb minced garlic
1/4 cup parsley
1/2 cup cilantro
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp oregano
2 tsp Italian seasoning
1 Tb fresh onion
1 tsp lemon juice
1/2 cup water
1 cup sundried tomatoes, measure before soaking

1. Combine ground flax, almonds, and ccarrots in a large bowl
2. In Food Processor (FP) blend until smooth the sundried tomatoes, garlic, parsley, cilantro and salt. Add this to the first mixture.
3. Add remaining ingredients, mix together. In FP, blend until smooth (do it in batches).
4. Spread on Teflex sheets on dehydrator trays. (Alissa recommends 1/4 - 1/2 inch thick for pizza wrap bread.)
5. Dehydrate @ 19 hours. (I spread them very thin and so about 24 hours for crackers.)

[Nance]

Sim,

I am thinking about how to magnify your generosity in the corporate effort in the group! Can we delegate a sort of bucket brigade process and come up with a final prodeuct that would benefit the enitre site?

Is there a feature on this new Bulletin Board we have not utilized yet that would make this process more corporately hands on?

n.

[rain]

Oh Nance, thank you so much for posting that pizza bread recipe! I searched but couldn't find it anywhere, so now I'm happy. :) I haven't made crackers yet with carrot pulp, so that's going to be interesting. I'm loving the surprises of this new way of preparing food. And it's great to have a bread/cracker that's less than 50% nuts.

* scurries off to make pizza bread (and corn chips and red dragon crackers and pickled ginger and...:D) *

[TeePee]

Dehydrators are amazing machines. I am longing to make another big batch of pizza crackers (Cohen pizza wrap bread recipe). Our co-op shipment comes in next week and will get some more almonds, flax seeds, etc.

I have yet to do a batch of sushi. Any suggestions, adventurous alterations to recipes?

I had some maple syrup the other day, after a long while not. Yum! I am warming up to a cleanse in late June or July.

Love to all, keep on keepin on!
n.

Nance,

My favorite, and pretty much only, sushi I make regularly is very simple. I used finely julienned cucumbers, sliced avocado and red pepper cashew cheese, stuffed in nori and sliced. If I don't have fresh ginger, I add some ground ginger to the nama shoyu. (red pepper cheese is just the basic cashew, water, lemon juice, garlic, salt and fresh red peppers blended.....also good when you make it a little thinner and DH into sheets) My friend at work gave me some beautiful chopsticks for a gift and it makes eating the sushi so much tastier!!!!

Sometimes I add spinach leaves or julienned carrot to the sushi also.

[TeePee]

SIM!!!!! you are absolutely amazing!!!!

For all of the Sim Fans here, I can tell you first hand that she is the best source of information and inspiration I have had through my whole raw journey!!! I think she posted that her and I (and her sweet husband) met up in the fall to share a raw organic lunch, and she is wonderful, beautiful and amazing!!

Sim, we can't wait to hear all about your new knowledge!! Maybe you can give us a "tip of the day" :D Or maybe you should open your own training school!!!! Love to you!!! T

[TeePee]

ABOUT DEHYDRATORS.....Does anyone, or does anyone know, is it safe to put the teflex and/or mesh sheets in the dishwasher.:confused::confused::confused: Washing those things is my biggest raw chore peeve!!!:mad:

[Sim]

Sim,

I am thinking about how to magnify your generosity in the corporate effort in the group! Can we delegate a sort of bucket brigade process and come up with a final prodeuct that would benefit the enitre site?

Is there a feature on this new Bulletin Board we have not utilized yet that would make this process more corporately hands on?

n.

HI Nance and everyone~
I love this idea! How can we do this? Whatever I've learned (and oh my, I can't believe how much that is!) is for all of you girls...I'm far from being an expert, but when I think of the "mistakes" I've made over the past year and a half in raw food prep and eating habits, I'm amazed that I was able to get to this point! In the past five weeks, I've eaten less nuts and nut=based dishes than ever...and the food that my classmates and I have created has been over-the-top gourmet. This past week in the Spa/Fusion Cuisine class, the challenge was to create two new recipes per day (a soup, salad, starter or main dish) using only the ingredients they told us we could use---a limited list. The iist varied very slightly each day but what was significant about it was that in Spa cuisine, very little nut or nut product and very little oil can be used. The limit was the equivalent of two tablespoons of whole or fractiionated fat, whole meaning fat from a whole fat food like a nut or coconut and fractionated meaning an oil. Now think of this: 16 people coming up with 32 recipes per day, using a very limited list of ingredients and there were 32 different recipes for 4 days in a row. Spectacular, delicious and lighter than light. My own personal triumph was a coconut almond fruit parfait with a coconut/almond/pineapple crumble...that used less than one tablespoon of almonds and one tablespoon of young coconut per serving. No other fat but a luscious dessert. Of all my other happy creations, I really enjoyed something I called "Lettuce Wrap Ourselves in Joy"...what can I say? I'm such a nerd and couldn't resist the pun. But it was a gorgeous green lettuce wrap with Thai flavors and the filling was of spinach, shiitake mushrooms, snap beans, green peas, red bell peppers, miso, tamari, lemograss, ginger, and finely diced hot pepper. No genius, just pretty and tasty. And i'm finding out that most of what raw food chef "cookbooks" offer isn't genius either...you all do exactly what these chefs do..you play in your kitchens and you create. The difference is that they have everything at their fingertips and we don't. Keep creating and sharing, girls. Maybe we can put out our own collective cookbook, "I've Mastercleansed...Now What Do I Eat?: Raw Lifestyle Recipes for Smart People" or some such title. Let's think about it.:)

Most notable moment of the week: I had my first durian and I have to tell you all that there is no sexier, more sensuous, or more sweet, creamy, luscious substance on the face of this planet! Of course, that's in my own humble opinion. Some people can't even bear the smell of durian, so maybe I'm a freak:D Whatever, all I can say is that I will do whatever I can to find durian at home or away, even if I have to order it directly from Thailand! In San Francisco, they're $9 apiece. Sold. I'll take 500.

That's it for now, ladies. I'm sending you all my love and gratitude for being here and sharing, always sharing and for continuing to make this thread a place where we know we can find friends-of-the-heart.

[TeePee]

Went to NYC yesterday. Ate at Pure Juice and Take Away and later at PUre Food and Wine. sooooo worth the 2 hour drive!

[Sim]

Went to NYC yesterday. Ate at Pure Juice and Take Away and later at PUre Food and Wine. sooooo worth the 2 hour drive!

Tee Pee....that means you are ONE LUCKY DUCK!:D

[SuhasRao]

This is a concept I borrowed from the shareware industry, where you can download a trial version of a piece of software and try it out risk-free for 30 days before you’re required to buy the full version. It’s also a great way to develop new habits, and best of all, it’s brain-dead simple.

Let’s say you want to start a new habit like an exercise program or quit a bad habit like sucking on cancer sticks. We all know that getting started and sticking with the new habit for a few weeks is the hard part. Once you’ve overcome inertia, it’s much easier to keep going.

SuhasRao

Looking to perform an intervention on a loved one who is abusing drugs or alcohol? This site can definitely help.
www.druginterventions.net

[SuhasRao]

This is a concept I borrowed from the shareware industry, where you can download a trial version of a piece of software and try it out risk-free for 30 days before you’re required to buy the full version. It’s also a great way to develop new habits, and best of all, it’s brain-dead simple.

Let’s say you want to start a new habit like an exercise program or quit a bad habit like sucking on cancer sticks. We all know that getting started and sticking with the new habit for a few weeks is the hard part. Once you’ve overcome inertia, it’s much easier to keep going.


SuhasRao

Looking to perform an intervention on a loved one who is abusing drugs or alcohol? This site can definitely help.

www.druginterventions.net

[TeePee]

Yes!!! SIM, it was a 'LUCKY DUCK DAY"!!!8)

[Sim]

ABOUT DEHYDRATORS.....Does anyone, or does anyone know, is it safe to put the teflex and/or mesh sheets in the dishwasher.:confused::confused::confused: Washing those things is my biggest raw chore peeve!!!:mad:

Okay, TeePee... i am thoroughly :o and that means embarrassed...all my new California Goddess friends would tell me to just say "thank you" for all your love and all your confidence, so l will BUT I have to say that I am no expert...but I will learn because I LOVE THIS RAW LIFE. I'm finding that the trick is to read and read and read and listen to everything...and then we can make up our own minds about how to live raw, according to what our bodies tell us feels right. If 80-10-10 is good for someone, then do it. If the Hippocrates way is better for someone, then he/she should do it, but not disparage anyone who lives raw differently than the way he/she does It's that simple. Yet if I hear another person ask, "What percentage raw are you?" I might scream:rolleyes: And yes, listen to all the leading lights in the raw food world...and then make up your own minds as to what their opinions really mean and whether they're credible. Just because they're out there and are very big doesn't mean they're correct or even sincere about what they're saying. We have to educate ourselves and make up our own minds.

But thanks, TeePee. You are the living end!

Anyway, Miss TeePee, had quite the adventure this week, rubbing elbows with and having seaweed salad in common with Woody Harrelson and Owen Wilson at Pure Food and Wine this weekend. What TeePee didn't tell you about when we met this past year was what i said when I saw her...I think it was something like, "'Oh, holy @#$%, you are gorgeous!" She is, both inside and out.

Okay, mutual admiraiton society meeting is over. Teflex and mesh sheets can be washed in the dishwasher but they wear out very quickly that way. I say string a clothesline with clothespins, rinse the things and hang 'em up. Summer's coming, TP...they'll dry quickly!

Love to everyone...and please remember that TeePee wrote nice things about me in her post while she was still under the influence of a Harrelson/Wilson high! :)

[SierraM]

Hi Everyone!
I recently made a committment to get myself back together and it started with a move to California! I am new in the Pasadena area, also new to the Master Cleanse. Today is my second day of 15 that I am committed to. In preparing to come off the cleanse I would like to try the 30 day raw food diet. My diet has been lacto vegitarian for the past 15 years but I have to say that although I did cut out all meat and fish I was still living primarily on frozen and fast foods. :( I am a type 0 blood and wonder if anyone would have ideas or suggested reading on how the raw food diet would effect the "0" blood type. Thanks and Great Health to ALL!!!

[SierraM]

A resource that gets bypassed quite easily is the LemonHead Recipe box (and the *After the cleanse thread has a lot of recipes). There are a LOT of no brainer recipes posted there. Really all you need is a blender and food processor. The other gadgets are just "convenient" but shouldn't deter you from taking the 30 day challenge.

Tonight I had stir fried (in olive oil) swiss chard with tahini, soy sauce and raw cashews. It was delicious but I was trying to figure out how to eat it raw. There will be challenges and it will be different (cooked food is such a comfort) but it will be another ~WILD RIDE~ that I wouldn't miss for any reason. ;)

I figure if anyone can drink lemonade for 10 days without cheating we can certainly eat raw food for 30 days and live to tell about it! :p

Some of us are starting in a week or so. Jump on board when you can. It's an ADVENTURE! :D

Love,
~Res

8)Thanks for this message Res - I only have juicer and a blender and was really starting to get worried. Your message was quite awhile ago and I hope the challenge went well. I am planning to start the challenge after the cleanse. What would you suggest are the 5 grocery items I should always have available to make the simplist meals. Thanks. -Sierra

[TeePee]

Ahhh, Sim, such a doll!! And yes, I did see some "superstars" in NYC this weekend!! Kinda coo!

And I agree wholeheartedly about taking what we can about raw- from every source we can get our hands on and blending it with what we believe, what works for each of us individually and going from there!! Actually I believe this about just about any "art" or "craft". Just because one "expert" says so, doesn't mean it "is so". ( I see this quite a bit in teaching, too. Some guru says one way is "best practice" then a new guru comes along and it all changes!!!)


We are all on this train together, but we may not end up at the same destination, or even on the same path. I hope we all keep soaking up all that there is to learn and share it, along with our experiences together.

[milo]

Hello Everyone,
Mtmouse's Red Dragon Crackers are out of this world. And the only reason I know that is that she hand delivered me a batch yesterday and I can't get over how phenomenal they are. I have been reading about all these delicious recipes that need a dehydrator and since I don't own one I haven't been able to try them. But they are AWESOME. And so is Mtmouse. She is more amazing in person than you could imagine and I am one lucky lady to have been fortunate enough to spend a wonderful, wonderful day with her.
Milo

[Sim]

Hello Everyone,
Mtmouse's Red Dragon Crackers are out of this world. And the only reason I know that is that she hand delivered me a batch yesterday and I can't get over how phenomenal they are. I have been reading about all these delicious recipes that need a dehydrator and since I don't own one I haven't been able to try them. But they are AWESOME. And so is Mtmouse. She is more amazing in person than you could imagine and I am one lucky lady to have been fortunate enough to spend a wonderful, wonderful day with her.
Milo

I AM GREEN WITH ENVY!!!! Milo and Mtmouse together at one time?????? Waaaaaahhh!
:D What a wonderful event, ladies....good for you both!!!:D

[mtmouse]

Oh yes, you guys! Milo is the most wonderful, beautiful, sweet person you could ever hope to meet! And a terrific mother to boot, which always impresses me! :) Our day together simply couldn't have been better.

And now, the next place we all meet will be Sim's restaurant! Yum!

[milo]

I'll be there with bells on....

Milo

[TeePee]

Me Too, For Sure!!!

[rain]

And me too!!! What fun that would be to meet you guys and share a raw meal with you at Sim's restaurant! :)

Hey Sim, do you think you could send a limo (or a magic carpet, or even a flying broomstick) up here to Canada to pick me up and fly me down there? :D

[Nance]

Woo Hoo, I am so grateful for this BB. There is freedom and focus at the same time.
I have cycled out of my good habits developing, am down from 90+% raw down to 50% or a little less. :mad: So I begin here with a "true confession", and look at what I let kick me into old patterns, and begin again. This time I am getting right back up, and communicating with you quickly, instead of letting days turn into weeks turn in months . . . :o

Yes, hope we all meet someday . . . until then, I am still up for contributing to the complining and publiscation of Sim's 'raw revelations'. ;)

Nance

[Nance]

Yes, hope we all meet someday . . . until then, I am still up for contributing to the complining and publiscation of Sim's 'raw revelations'. ;)

Nance

Oh, and yes, if I contribute, I will use spell check :D

[TeePee]

Nance,


I know too well the falling back into bad habits. You are on the right track with getting right back up and brushing yourself off again!! I am still battling cravings (different all the time, but usually involves some sort of corn product, potato chip, or bread) but I am hanging tight. I keep thinking about summer and bathing suits!!

Hitting PUre Food and Wine two weekends in a row helps too!! UNBELIEVABLY GOOD!!!

So since I will be off for summer once school lets out (2 more weeks:mad:) I have some raw goals:

Perfect the raw potato chip, perfect the raw corn chip, get into sprouting and fermenting.

Keep on going!!

[AngelaRomany]

Hey there....

I am curious what the recipe is for "teepee's famous chocolate sauce"?

I've read about half the recipes in the lemonhead recipe box but didn't see that one yet (although I've compiled a word document 35 pages long of other recipes!!).

I'm on day 9 of a 30 day cleanse (my second) and I'm compiling recipes that I want to try when I get done cleansing....

Thanks!

[Nance]

OK, I am going over to the What Day Are You On thread. The maple syrup I ordered comes in today, so here we go!! I may come visit you guys sometimes . . . Woo hooo.

[Hayley71]

Hi all,

I've got some questions I hope you might be able to help me with. I completed a fourty day clense and am now on my 27th raw day. I love the food and am really enjoying the tastes and textures, not finding it at all difficult except that a week ago I came out in a rash all over my body. It's tiny red, incredably itchy blotches and they are driving me insane. My family and friends are sure that it's because I'm not eating properly but I am convinced that by going raw I am completetly doing the right thing. I am also suffering due to the fact that my body is producing a lot of mucus (sorry, I know that isn't very plesant) I wondered if anyone out there had heard of or experienced similar side effects?
My husband thinks I am overdosing on fruit and veg? Is that possible?

I want this to work for me and for my family, I want to be a positive role model for them but it's difficult when they see me suffering.

Can anyone give me any constructive suggestions as what the possible causes of this rash could be?

[TeePee]

Hayley,

I'm not an expert, but from some of the things I've read, I think the mucus is a discharge of toxins. Same may be true with the rash. Your skin is one of your largest organs, and through it you release toxins when you sweat. I would continue you on, and see if it passes. Try a natural remedy for the itching.

Good luck and hang in there if you can, you are probably just continuing to cleanse yourself! Can you see a holistic doctor in your area?

[Hayley71]

Thank-you TeePee,

I did think that my symptoms may be as a result of continued detox but then after a 40 day detox my family assured me that I must have got rid of everything. I don't know why I'm so willing to just take what they say as I've done far more research than them on the topic.

I'll stick with it. Not one to give up easily. I don't know about holistic healers but here in Korea the Oriental medicine is excellent so I might check that out.


Thanks for taking the time to reply,

Hayley x

[Nance]

Hi, I am back on the MC . . . Day 2. The Sirenian scream of food is still in my ears, but I expect it to subside soon. I will be back around in late July, but leave this artlce a freind just sent to me. You guys all rockbig time!:)
Nance
______________________________________________________________________________________

A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye... and YES, science now shows carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.
A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart has four chambers and is red. All of the research shows tomatoes are loaded with lycopine and are indeed pure heart and blood food.
Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.
A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds on the nut are just like the neo-cortex. We now know walnuts help develop more than three (3) dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.
Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.
Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and many more look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet, the body pulls it from the bones, thus making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.
Avocados, Eggplant and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats one avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight, and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? It takes exactly nine (9) months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).
Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the mobility of male sperm and increase the numbers of Sperm as well to overcome male sterility.
Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.
Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries
Oranges, Grapefruits, and other Citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.
Onions look like the body's cells. Today's research shows onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes. A working companion, Garlic, also helps eliminate waste materials and dangerous free radicals from the body.

[AngelaRomany]

Pretty please will someone give me the recipe for "teepee's famous chocolate sauce"???

I posted here a while ago and several replies, including one from teepee has been posted, but I've been ignored. I'm a female. I'm in my 30's. I can't live without chocolate. I would love the recipe and be very grateful.

Please let me know if you have this recipe so that I can have some on top of my banana "ice cream"...

Blessings!

[KathyKath]

I've started reading the 12 Steps to Raw Foods book and I am very excited to start my own raw foods lifestyle! While I am currently still on the cleanse (just finished day 4), I am hoping to come to this board for help, support, and information about raw foods!

Nance - That article was very interesting! Thanks :)

Hope cleansing is going well for all!

[mtmouse]

Pretty please will someone give me the recipe for "teepee's famous chocolate sauce"???

I posted here a while ago and several replies, including one from teepee has been posted, but I've been ignored. I'm a female. I'm in my 30's. I can't live without chocolate. I would love the recipe and be very grateful.

Please let me know if you have this recipe so that I can have some on top of my banana "ice cream"...

Blessings!

Okay, here ya go. (It's actually Sim's chocolate sauce, as it turns out!)

2 heaping Tbsps raw organic unsweetened cocoa powder or carob powder
1/4 cup flaxseed oil
3/4 cup purified water
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp maple extract (optional: use with dates only)
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp Celtic sea salt
1/2 cup or 1/4 pound pitted dates, packed (use fresh dates, such as Medjool, honey, or barhi) or 1/2 cup maple syrup

Put everything in a blender and whir away. This makes about 1-1/2 cups.

I just made this tonight! Now, I change a bunch: I double the recipe but don't double the water, because I want fudgy sauce, not syrupy sauce. I use less oil, and I always use half agave nectar and half dates. Also, since I have a Vita-Mix, I use half a vanilla bean instead of the vanilla extract.

But it's good no matter what you do with it. Enjoy!

[Garlic]

hello everyone,
I've been lurking on these boards and feel really inspired to go raw again.
I went 100% raw for three months solid a while back (late 2007/early 2008).
I really loved it but then just caved into the cooked food cravings.
I'm a strict vegan and have been for a long time, so I don't do any of that SAD crap food.
I also did a 10 day Master Cleanse a few months back and I really enjoyed that too.
I plan on doing a 28 day cleanse mid-August (my cousin and I are doing it together).
but for now, I would like to begin a 30 day raw challenge.
beginning tomorrow, July 14th.
I'm feeling ready and inspired.
my plan is to eat six small meals a day.
three of those daily meals will be one quart green smoothies.
I hope to find some raw food buddies to connect with on this board.
I read this thread from the very beginning and it seems like there was much more activity way back when than there is now.
I hope to make some connections for fellowship and accountability.
bye for now, LuLu

[TeePee]

Angela,


Mtmouse is right, that is actually Sim's chocolate sauce.

I have one I just started making, which has maple syryp, so not technically raw, but it is in the Raw food recipe books. It is actually from Sarma's book, and is supposed to be part of a chocolate ganache. But I am too lazy to make the crust, so I just make the chocolate filling part. When you first make it, it is more liquid, but when you put it in the fridge it hardens up and is like fudge. Softer, I use it on raw ice cream. Hardened, I put it on strawberries or eat it by the spoonful, when that chocolate urge strikes.

I half the recipe in the book because it is for a whole tart. Not that my daughter and BF wouldn't have it gone in a day anyway!! So this is what I use:

1 cup raw cacao powder
1 cup pure maple syrup
1/2 cup coconut butter/oil


Blend in blender and enjoy. HEAVENLY!!!:p


(sometimes I add a tiny dash vanilla extract and agave nectar if it doesnt' taste sweet enough)


Good luck!!!

[Bela]

I have just finished my first MC and while I am planning to do the 30 day challenge I am going to have to wait until I get back from a 3 week business trip since I really don't think the time to go 100% raw is while I travel. I have a raw food place next to where I will be staying though and the will make me 3 meals a day 5 days a week so that will help me stay mostly raw.

I am hoping that some of you have a recommendation on what book to get for someone who is somewhat new to raw foods. I want to have something to educate myself with while on the road so that when I come back I will be more prepared. I already have an excalibur dehydrator and omega juicer to help make so yummy foods but I want to know how to get started.
Any suggestions?

[nmadden]

Bela, I like Raw Food, Real World. It has some simple stuff and some gourmet stuff. Also, it's fun to experiment. I let it depend on how I feel, do I want savory or sweet? You can do that with salads, smoothies, etc. Appetizers are fun too.

And I'm not completely raw yet. I'm on my 5th cleanse right now, and I always get really inspired to go raw while on them, but I have yet to stay raw. I like dairy too much. My dairy is all raw though, we get our milk from small farmers, so I make my own raw cheese, butter, ice cream, buttermilk and kefir.

Good Luck.

[Bela]

Thanks, nmadden! I will check that book out. I also know that the chances of me staying 100% raw forever are very slim (I eat hardly any dairy but I still love sharp cheddar and hot soup:) I would love to do a 30 stretch and see how it feels in my body though and I plan to try 50-75% raw, working up to it.
And yum!!! Homemade ice cream and kefir, sounds awesome:)

[Nance]

Woo Hoo, I am on Day 33, cruising to 40. Well, mostly cruising. I could really relate to what mtmouse wrote a while back . . . about the cat food looking pretty good. :eek:

I started out at 191.5 and am now at 169.5

Last year about this time I was dreaming of having a garden and plenty of basil . . . well this year it is in with a row of basil flourishing. I share the garden with others, so it is less work. ;) There are bell peppers, jalepeno peppers. eggplants, heirloom tomatoes, green and yellow summer squash, cucmbers, parsley, and just started cilantro.

The pinenuts were under $10 a pound at our co-op last month, we ordered 27#! So all that spells, drum roll please, PESTO! :D OK, enough of this, I better go back to the What Day Are You On folks. I am talking myself into a rumbly tummy. :rolleyes:

Be blessed, be inspired! See you soon,
Nance

[Nance]

OK, the last times I was on an extended MC I was drooling over my raw food books, planning how to proceed into a healthier regime. I have a couple of cycles of MC / raw food / stress eating / back to MC behind me, and so this time I want to address the deeper issue of motivation, and stick with it for the long haul. Any suggestions?

I know as I project thought, entertain cravings in my mind, that the best thing I can do is find a raw alternative to the item I am craving, and learn how to fix that.

Carving out enough time to do more than grab a handful of dried fruit and nuts or have that same basic salad for the nth time is really good, not to get stuck in ruts with nuts. With a little planning in that department I can maximize food prep time.

Oh, guys, you should see! My eggplant bushes are having babies! Beautiful FRESH little eggplants! I have never done a real garden before, this is so fun! :D

I am contemplating switching into orange / grapefruit juice and finish out the 40 days with that . . . only 5 more. . . . I am under a huge deadline for a huge project that my sluggish mind must wrap around today. But THEN, now is the best time to confront what I do with stress. OK thanks for 'listening'.:o

Love to all,

[flyinglemon]

Hello! I'm on day 5 of the cleanse and feel wonderful! I hope to make it past 10 days to 18 or 20. After that I would like to start my 30 day Raw Food Challenge! As a flight attendant I am constantly traveling around the world. I have a good size cooler to bring with me but bringing a mixer is kind of hard. Has anyone used a magic bullet or the like when preparing these raw dishes? Does anyone have any ideas of things I can do to eat raw while traveling?? Thanks!

[Res]

Hi Everyone,

I miss you! Love, Love, Love to you all.

I'm hunting around for the darned pizza recipe which I thought was here - but can't find it. Means I have to type it!

Well, here's to all my buddies *MWAH*!

Love,
~Res

[ChubbyBunny]

Hi everyone! I was very interested in this 30 day RAW challenge. I'm actually doing my first MC, and am actually only on day 2. I just bought a vegetarian cookbook last night along with the RAWVOLUTION book that I had read about in another thread on this site. I was already anticipating on eating mostly raw for about a month afterwards, and trying to stay away from meats and fish, etc. I've been trying to come up with a plan that i'm tagging down in a journal so I can map out exactly how i'm going to approach everything, but I would love some advice!

:confused:- I know my parents have a food processor, blender and a dehydrator, but it isn't the nicer brands you guys (and the cookbooks) talk about. Is this going to suffice? Or is it not going to be the same results? I'm a student and really don't have the money to fork out and can already see my RAW shopping list as expensive already. I mean when it boils down to it, i'm eventually going to need this as it's going to be adapted into my lifestyle but.. if I can hold off for awhile- that'd be great!

So far what i'm doing with my journal is tagging the healthiest raw recipes which I only plan on eating after maybe two or three weeks after I've ended my cleanse. During that time frame that i've ended my cleanse I was going to start preparing all of the condiments, and work on dehydrating what I can so that by the time I AM ready to eat, I don't have to wait too long! I figured that if i'm going to eat a salad and what not alot, I should do the condiments during my first few days off the cleanse so I can have healthy dressing to eat with my salad and what not. Luckily I don't live alone so I can always test taste my food on family members. Does this sound like a good plan? I'm driving my fiance mad already with my obsessive talk about this MC and the after lifestyle. :p

[mtmouse]

:confused:- I know my parents have a food processor, blender and a dehydrator, but it isn't the nicer brands you guys (and the cookbooks) talk about. Is this going to suffice? Or is it not going to be the same results? I'm a student and really don't have the money to fork out and can already see my RAW shopping list as expensive already. I mean when it boils down to it, i'm eventually going to need this as it's going to be adapted into my lifestyle but.. if I can hold off for awhile- that'd be great!


Yep, those thing will all work great! You might not get the smoothest smoothie or the creamiest dressings or the finest almond milk, but the "regular" kitchen utensils will do a perfectly acceptable job from a nutrition perspective.

Go for it! :)

[ChubbyBunny]

Thanks Kathy! I went to the farmers market today to carouse the aisles for ideas on pricing and so I can get an idea of where i'm going to make the best of my time when I get off the MC. If I do end up finishing on day 10, it'll land on Sunday so I can hit the market and be just in time. :p

Now all I need to do is get through this MC! I am craving everything right now. 8)

[tawny]

:confused:

hi I am new to this board and have tried the mastercleanse once before but didn't get past day 4, hope to do it again in the future, but in the meantime quite fancy the one month raw challenge, when does it start - does everyone start together or do you do it when you want to? many thanks

[Res]

oh my gosh I can't WAIT to get back in here.... :o

[Res]

Another huge mistake for those still cleansing, DON'T go to Matthew Kenney's website and click on "WORKS". http://www.fanforum.com/images/smilies/thud.gif

[kaytracy]

Oooh, I want to participate...Do we have a date set?

[michealrover]

Raw and living foods are the best food for me because I know that every bite I take is life-sustaining!The other two factors are that you have to make it fun and healthy/balanced!

Row food lifestyle (http://www.bewellbuzz.com/)

[Tanyazl1]

Hello! Wow! I didn't know others were seeking to participate in a raw challenge. I just stumbled upon this thread. Today is my 14th day eating 100% RAW :D Gotta go :( but will return this weekend :D

[Bela]

I am on day 5 of my second MC and just wanted to put out my intention that I will be joining the 30 day raw challenge as soon as I am done. I have done several months of 80-100% raw before, but then the holidays came...then a 5 week work trip...pizza 3 times a week (damn those new yorkers and their fine tasting thin crusts!) so, needless to say, I am back and getting on track.
I'll see you all after my juice days are done!

[KityTatu]

I kind of want to do 30 days of RAW myself. I don't have a food processor or blender, though I suppose I can get one with no problem. I'm curious though, can one do mostly juices? Like blending up fruits and vegetables into smoothies or whatever? Would that have the same effect or is it better to eat everything as solids? I'm asking because I don't eat a lot of fruits or veggies now mainly because they hurt my teeth if they are cold. My teeth are oh-so-sensitive!! I figure if I can have them as a smoothie or a drink the majority of the time (2 or three times a day), I'd be able to handle it better since I can use a straw. Please let me know your thoughts on this. Thanks.

[Res]

Oh I do hope you get together and do the 30 day raw challenge. It's a fun experience. :)

You can do it however you'd like. All raw juices is fine. If you decide on something solid there are a lot of recipes or you could just eat raw fruit and then maybe cukes and raw soaked nuts etc. There's a huge raw world out there to experiment and play in. :)

[KityTatu]

Thanks Res! I think I may do that then. The more I can drink through a straw, the better. But, raw soaked nuts sound good too to snack on! I did see a lot of really great recipes, I may give some of those a try too. Thanks again! I'll let you know when the blender is in. ;)

[2blessed2Bstressed]

Is anybody going raw for the month of March? I'm on day 9 of the cleanse (hubby is doing it too) and we are planning to do the one month raw challenge. Would love to have someone on board with us!

[pinklemonade]

hi everyone.

quick question...

does anyone went to see any nutritionist or raw food coaching individuals??

i found that adopting raw is extremely hard and i am not successful about that.

i know i want to take a little baby step at a time, but still very challenging.

all the books, literature etc are good but at the same time they make me feel either there is only black or white....

anyway, i am trying....

:)

[Tanyazl1]

Hellllooooo :)

Hi RES, I hope all is well with you :D

I've missed my MC/Raw food community! I completed my 30 days raw challenge on 2/28. The last two days were the most difficult. Even though I slipped twice during that time, I'm happy that I kept the dishes vegan. I had my third vegan-cooked dish tonight..a small cup of steamed rice and steamed broccoli. I'm hesitant to return to a cooked diet. I kinda feel guilty, like I'm cheating. I attribute this to eating raw for a month. So I think I will eat vegan-cooked dishes only as a treat. Last year I'd said I was 80-85% raw; This year my goal is 99%.

I'm currently reading "The Live Food Factor" by Susan Schenck. My next goals are drinking plenty of water, walk a minimum of 30 minutes each day this month, and get a minimum of 7 hours sleep each night. Last, night I blew it...I only got 4 hours sleep :( As a result, I didn't walk today. In order to get my 7 hours tonight, I'd better go 8)

Good Night

[2blessed2Bstressed]

I'm having my first ever green smoothie! I concocted it up on my own, not a recipe I've seen, but maybe you've tried it..... beet greens, 1 mango, 5 strawberries, and a little water. It tastes good but looks like sewer :eek: Nevertheless, a good first experience I'd say! So far I'm really enjoying this, but it IS only the second day :p

[Nymue]

Hey 2blessed! We gotta bring this thread back to life! Seems like not many people are doing the raw challenge right now. While I'm not planning to do 100% raw for 30 days, just try and make a large percentage of my diet raw, I still like to see how everyone else is doing and what kinds of things they are eating in order to help myself stay motivated!

Congrats on your first green smoothie! I drank them daily a lot after my first cleanse, but have not made one for awhile now. I'm ready to get back on the green smoothie wagon. :D I even bought a quart sized plastic bottle to bring my "breakfast" to work in, so I am ready to start making them again tomorrow! I bought a couple bags of mixed frozen fruit (peaches, pineapple, grapes, melons, etc.), so I plan to throw a handful or two of those in with my greens (I currently have spinach and romaine) along with a banana and some water and see how it goes. Before I was making them with oj instead of water, to help hide the green taste, but I think I was getting too many calories and sugar from that.

I'm currently munching on same raw cashew and raisins. It is AMAZING how incredibly sweet these raisins taste now that my taste buds are so sensitive! I had the most delicious salad for dinner last night. Boston lettuce with some torn fresh basil, halved cherry tomatoes, and chunks of avocado, dressed with lemon juice, olive oil, sea salt and cracked pepper. YUM!!! It was so good that I think I'll have it again tonight.

I'm in the middle of Victoria Boutenko's book "12 Steps to Raw Food". It's a great read, and it is helping to keep me motivated to eat more raw. Since a lot of the raw food threads seem to be pretty slow right now, I started going back and reading the old posts. The "After the cleanse" thread is great! Very helpful and informative to read what everyone has gone through once they finish the MC. It's especially helpful in making me aware of the pitfalls that one can encounter! (Some of which I went through after my first MC.)

Green thoughts going out to everyone doing the raw thing! :D

[sfarfan]

Sorry I don't know how to post a new thread, but has anyone used this and how the Montel Williams Heath Master compares to the Vitamix. The VM is just out of my budget, but I am really sick of trying to overcompensate with my current blender. Thank you for relpying

[Bobolink]

What a great idea.I'm on day 8 of the cleanse and am a happy camper with the results.I plan on doing this a couple times each year.I just might try the month raw challenge.:) Bob

[marsh]

hey bob,

i'm on day 4 post cleanse and feel great. i am really trying to go mostly raw, and if you want to do the one month raw challenge, i'm game.

[happydonna]

I have recently bought a book regarding raw food (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raw_food). '12 Steps to Raw Foods: How to End Your Dependency on Cooked Food' by Victoria Boutenko. I consider this book as very interesting and due to this I want to start eating raw food for 30 days. I am not quite sure if I will make it till the end but I hope I will make it.

[marsh]

hi happydonna,

i'm new to the raw food path, too. would you like to have a buddy for the 30 day challenge?

marsh

[happydonna]

Hi Marsh,

I would love to have a buddy because I am of the opinion that it would make the whole challenge a lot easier. I think I would not finish the 30 day's when I am on my one's own. It is always very hard for me to diet because I am really sweet tooth.

[marsh]

hi happydonna-

don't worry about your sweet tooth. the raw diet is filled with sweet options. the other day i made the most delicious all raw chocolate coconut bars. omg. my whole family devoured them and they are used to eating regular desserts.

how are you doing so far?

[marsh]

looks like this thread isn't very active right now. if anyone out there is serious about doing a 30 day raw challenge, speak up! i'm still really motivated and will be checking in every day or so for a while. i'm about 2 weeks( =/-) post cleanse, and not only have i kept the 10 pounds i lost during the cleanse off, but i've lost 2 more pounds. i'm about 90% raw right now and feel great. i would love to do this with someone else..... :)

[Cookieman123]

I just finished my first MC--32 days. I've been on grapefruit juice and the probiotics today. Honestly I would have liked to go on the cleanse a little longer, but my body is in poor shape from my previous diet. I haven't made any commitments, but now I truly understand the damage I was causing myself, and I want to transition to a raw diet, for life. I know it's going to be an uphill battle (it sure has been so far) but at least I know I'm going in the right direction!

Thanks to Peter and this community for spreading the word on the master cleanse and raw foods, it's truly changed my life already and I feel will for years to come.

[Res]

2Blessed: "It tastes good but looks like sewer" HAHA mtmouse and I used to go round and round about green smoothies. It was hilarious. I called them Green Spackle. I used Kale - bad idea for me. Blech. They can be pretty tasty though (don't tell Kathy I said so). ;)

This is one of my favorite threads and I'm pretty sentimental about it. When we started the 30 day challenge we had absolutely NO idea but it gained momentum and turned into a 60 day all raw for me. We had a blast experimenting. You don't HAVE TO buy a lot of recipe books. You can find enough free recipes online by googling. So have fun! :)

[mtmouse]

Ha! Thought you could get away with it, did you? Now I have it in writing!

RES LIKES GREEN SMOOTHIES!!!

And don't let anyone tell you otherwise! :D :D :D :D

[sadsak39]

I met a wonderful Italian woman yesterday (moved from south of Naples about 10 years ago. She has the most AMAZING garden and greenhouse. Huge grape vines covering arbors. She also uses wild veggies, and pointed out some treasures on my property (including wild broccorabi !! :):):). She also gave me a fig tree, peach tree, more grape vines, and specialty lettuces and greens! I can hardly wait to finish and put these treasures to use!!!:D:):) (

[Oshinlvr7]

Hi Everyone!
I am new to the Raw food lifestyle... I just bought a lot(sunflower seeds, almonds, dates, pumpkin seeds ... Just wondering how to:
1) Store unsoaked nuts and seeds....
2) Store Soaked nuts and seeds....
3) Store soaked but dry nuts and seeds...

Can they all be stored in the freezer? like in a jar? i just want to make sure they don't go bad before i get to use them...

Thanks!

[mls]

Hi, I'm about to begin a raw juice fast/feast - if anyone is interested in joining, it would be nice to check in and have support. Thanks -

[Tanyazl1]

Kathy, thanks for sharing the news about Res. That's great! I Iove green smoothies, too! I don't like them too thick though.

Hi Res, haven't spoken to you in a while...nice to see you.

Oshinlvr7, We purchase small quantities of raw nuts and seeds to last the week and store them in the fridge, and store pinenuts in the freezer. We only soak them as needed for raw breads, crackers, pastries, and chips. Ani Phyo's living foods book recommends storing nuts/seeds in glass jars in the fridge or freeze. Since we go through them so quickly, we store them in the plastic bag they were purchased in.

Mls, count me in...I eat raw all week and frequent cooked vegan restaurants once or twice on the weekends.

Tanya

[mls]

Hi, and thanks for the support. I started on all raw juices, which I'm planning to keep up for about 40 days, as a cleanse. Then I'd like to transition to a predominantly raw and whole foods diet.
My first day I made a gain by kicking caffeine. I'd been having strong expresso every day. When I came off, I had a massive headache for awhile (which I slept off) and now I feel fine, flowing energy, peaceful. Best to everyone, mls

[nstachon]

hello,

I am just finishing up my first master cleanse. I have 4 more days to go to make it to 10 days. I am so excited to be moving towards a raw food diet. I would really like to do the 30 day challenge, but it doesn't look like anyone is doing it because no one has been on here for a couple months. If you are interested, please let me know.
Thanks,
Nikki

[mls]

Hello,

I'd love to check in with someone and give support for the 30 day challenge. Let me know! best, mls

[Sim]

Hi Mis,
It's been a long time since I posted here but I LOVE the fact that we have this Raw Challenge thread! I cleansed for the first time two and a half years ago, lost weight, felt great and because of his thread, went raw! I then went to a raw culinary school and received my chef certification. I LOVE RAW and having been a confirmed gourmet foodie, cooking everything under the sun, I can tell you that raw dishes are exponentially more beautiful, more tasty, and more satisfying, once you let go of your old notions about "comfort" foods. I'd be thrilled to provide some support for you on your challenge Right now, I am cleansing but that never stops me from exploring recipes and talking about and demonstrating raw techniques. When you go raw, a whole new world opens up to you! Let me know how you're getting on and please, don't hesitate to ask questions...it's where we all have been :-)

[mls]

Hi Mis,
It's been a long time since I posted here but I LOVE the fact that we have this Raw Challenge thread! I cleansed for the first time two and a half years ago, lost weight, felt great and because of his thread, went raw! I then went to a raw culinary school and received my chef certification. I LOVE RAW and having been a confirmed gourmet foodie, cooking everything under the sun, I can tell you that raw dishes are exponentially more beautiful, more tasty, and more satisfying, once you let go of your old notions about "comfort" foods. I'd be thrilled to provide some support for you on your challenge Right now, I am cleansing but that never stops me from exploring recipes and talking about and demonstrating raw techniques. When you go raw, a whole new world opens up to you! Let me know how you're getting on and please, don't hesitate to ask questions...it's where we all have been :-)

Hi, Thanks so much for this uplifting message. I haven't checked this board for awhile and now I'm doing the MC for ten days. I decided I needed to do it again - the master cleanse.
Here's my experience: For the past few months I've been doing all raw for a week or two and I feel great. But then I swing back, start eating, do that for a week or two, and then it's hard to go raw again. This pattern feels difficult. I don't seem to be moderate or gradual in this. So,if you get a chance, I'd like to hear more about your transition to raw. Did you go back and forth swinging at all or is that just me? I find when I eat cooked foods, main thing is that I get much more tired and sluggish than when I eat raw.Best, Mls

[glenfoxman]

I am joining in I have been off the board for awhile, 2 yrs. I have been slowly going from about 85 raw for a few years to a gradual slip back to healthy but cooked. I need support as I have no raw friends. I prefer to stay 100 but being realistic, about 85 raw at the least, longterm. This month I am going back to 100 raw.
_______________________________________
Website I designed for payday loans in ontario (http://www.paydaytown.com) company.

[Tanyazl1]

Hello Glenfoxman,

Good for you...raw is the best.

I'm eat about 85 percent raw, too. My husband about 95. We drink green smoothies daily. This month I decided to take a 32-40 oz Klean Kanteen filled with a smoothie to work for lunch instead of a salad. Most mornings, I have a papaya for breakfast with herbal tea. Midmorning, a 1/2 banana and a few mixed nuts, seeds, and raisins, then, an apple and a few more mixed nuts in the afternoon. I also try to drink at least 60 oz of water daily, too. At dinner we fluctuate between 100 percent raw or raw/and one cooked item. On the weekend we go out for one cooked meal. Next, I need to restart my exercise routine. Do you workout, too?

This weekend will be more cooked than raw meals since we will have guest from Toronto, Canada and Texas, both Canadians, as is my husband.

I wish you the best!

Ciao, Tanya

[Tanyazl1]

D. Diota,

Junk food in moderation will not reverse the progress you have made with raw food. Just beware that cooked food can be addictive.

Take each meal and each day at a time. I find it helpful to really consciously taste the food I am eating. I have had the desire to eat foods that I remember enjoying, only to find they do not taste the same. So when faced with this desire and the choice to eat it, I make a conscious effort to be in the present moment while eating. I have found that my memory and my new pallet are in conflict. So I scratch the food item off my list of wants. If the food choice is still enjoyable, I may have it occasionally as a special treat

Tanya

[wendy553]

I just made the coconut milk recipe stanley borroughs wrote in the master cleanse book... it is delicious by the way... i just made a smoothie and it was great... not too rich like smoothies with milk or yogurt... my question is how long will the extra coconut milk last before it goes bad... i have it in a plastic container in the fridge... i know it will prolly not last long... also i used some frozen grated coconut i got from the international market (it is unsweetened and the only ingredient was coconut)... is this ok? This is all very new to me and i definately need help on my new journey into being healthier.
thanks:D
love and light,
wendy

[Res]

I believe once opened the coconut milk will last for 3 days in the fridge.

I just made the coconut milk recipe stanley borroughs wrote in the master cleanse book... it is delicious by the way... i just made a smoothie and it was great... not too rich like smoothies with milk or yogurt... my question is how long will the extra coconut milk last before it goes bad... i have it in a plastic container in the fridge... i know it will prolly not last long... also i used some frozen grated coconut i got from the international market (it is unsweetened and the only ingredient was coconut)... is this ok? This is all very new to me and i definately need help on my new journey into being healthier.
thanks:D
love and light,
wendy

[ambersmith]

Hello All,

I am going on my 5th day of MC. When is this one month raw food challenge going to begin?

[wendy553]

great... thank you so much!!!

[Res]

Hi Amber, it begins whenever you are ready to try it. Currently no one is doing the raw challenge but most likely after the Annual Cleanse starting on January 1st, people will be active in here. So check back

Hello All,

I am going on my 5th day of MC. When is this one month raw food challenge going to begin?

[ambersmith]

I'm going to start the Raw Month Challenge on Friday. I had a very successful Master Cleanse!!!!

[Taut]

I would like to do as well, I will start Friday, 8 Jan 10!

[jstmee46]

Yeah I two started the raw food challenge... I as well did the master cleanse and was happy with it .. I am trying to be 100% raw (again) so I hope this challenge could get me there with all the in formation on raw food out there via the internet.. I am doing a lot of the blending and green smothies.. The last time I tryed to go 100% raw I was doing a lot of the raw food that took a lot of prep this time I am going to make it easy on my self simple is better for me... :D

[Tanyazl1]

Yeah I two started the raw food challenge... I as well did the master cleanse and was happy with it .. I am trying to be 100% raw (again) so I hope this challenge could get me there with all the in formation on raw food out there via the internet.. I am doing a lot of the blending and green smothies.. The last time I tryed to go 100% raw I was doing a lot of the raw food that took a lot of prep this time I am going to make it easy on my self simple is better for me... :D

Congratulations jstmee46!

If you haven't tried "Raw Food Made Easy for 1 or 2 People" by Jennifer Cornbleet, try it. It has lots of simple recipes that do not require a lot of prep :)

Tanya
MC 7L Day 7