time for a New Year's RAWsolution thread!

[calynde]

Anyone else here have the intention of adding more raw and living foods into their diet this year? Raw 'til noon, raw 'til dinner, 100%...whatever you're aiming for...

WELCOME!!!!!



Time to get inspired!

[lotusblossom9]

Hi calynde!
I am doing a 30 day raw juice feast starting Jan. 1. I have fasted before, but never for this long...so I'm nervous and excited.

[number572]

Hi, Joining this group! I'd like to get back to around 85+% for 2010.

Happiest New Year to you all

(lotus, good luck with the fast. its a great feeling when its finished but it is challenging. my most challenging days are end of day 1 thru day 4 or so... i do a 5-7 day cleanse 1 or 2X/yr. if you can hang in there it is totally worth it ime!! - oh, i just reread that you have fasted just not for 30 days before. Holy geez, 30 days... thats going to be an experience. will you brief us on how its going?? gives me inspiration to research & join you in january. hhmmmm...)

[Ianthe]

I've thought about it.. I think I will try for 50/50, at least for 30 days.

[Tangled Hill]

Hi all! I've just started eating raw. This is day three for me, though it feels strange to count days. It doesn't really seem like a diet - like I'm depriving myself, and I have to keep track of how long I've been doing it to prove my willpower.

My mother bought me a Vita-Mix for Christmas! I was so surprised, I almost cried! I had no idea! I have no raw food books, so I've been haunting the various forums and searching up recipe sites. My plan is two large green smoothies a day (one in the morning and one in the evening) and non-smoothies for lunch and snacks (hubby and I made the greatest mushroom-cashew-walnut pate yesterday).

Hubby is diabetic with high blood pressure and high cholesterol. I am fairly healthy, except for my MS (in remission, for the most part). I've been vegan for a few years, and he's been *mostly* vegan (there are days - or weeks! - when he's vegetarian or even omni) for as long. I have to admit, though, I was never a big veggie and fruit eater; it was mostly beans, rice, hummus, breads, etc. Oh, and potatoes. I love potatoes. So, this really is a big change for me, even though I've been vegan for a while.

The little one is mostly vegan, as well, and he's really taken to the green smoothies. I'm certain he won't eat much more than 25% raw, but, being a veggie hater, this is extremely impressive for him.

I don't plan on being 100%. My guess is that I'll settle around 90%, or so. Of course, the way I've been feeling these past few days, I might end up nearer to 100% than I'm anticipating. I've had more energy and have been happier than I've felt in a long time - maybe years!

Anyway, I hope this thread takes off in a BIG way. I'd love to have a place to come for support and ideas. Good health to all!

[calynde]

Originally Posted by lotusblossom9

Hi calynde!
I am doing a 30 day raw juice feast starting Jan. 1. I have fasted before, but never for this long...so I'm nervous and excited.

Hi! We were in the same due date club, non? They're already getting so big! Crazy.

Hi everyone!

I'm so inspired! I'm not sure my raw percentage goals are fully defined yet. Right now it's sort of "raw 'til dinner", but also no gluten, dairy etc...so lots of big changes. I was raw 'til dinner for years and felt great...never quite got the hang of fully raw, after trying a few times. My toddler basically only wants to eat raw fruits and veg...not exclusively, but man, is he drawn to the raw.

Also, I got a dehydrator for Christmas. I never believed I needed one as I'm rather drawn to the juicy stuff, but now doing gluten free with the whole family, I think it will be nice to have it for crackers, cookies etc. I've got some flax crackers in there now!

Happy New Year!!!

[calynde]

Originally Posted by LizzyQ

I've thought about it.. I think I will try for 50/50, at least for 30 days.

Fantastic! I recommend starting with breakfast. I could never go back to cooked breakfasts after my green smoothie revelation. haha

Originally Posted by Tangled Hill

Anyway, I hope this thread takes off in a BIG way. I'd love to have a place to come for support and ideas. Good health to all!

Yes, let's make it happen!

[indianagrl]

I'm in !! This past October DH and I went 75% raw, but were derailed by the Holidays. I was recently diagnosed with PCOS and from what I have been researching it looks like a raw food diet is the way to go for me. Good luck everyone and I look forward to swapping stories and recipes with you all

[mommystinch]

My goal is to be 100% raw once I get my Vita Mix next week It was a wonderful gift from my mom as well! I've been nearly there, except for my cashew butter. But, I'll start making it in the Vita Mix and be golden.

My bigger goal is to make my diet less dependent on nuts. Boy, I love my nuts. I eat way more than I probably should be. But, I am also very small, so I figure the fat is good for me.

[calynde]

Originally Posted by indianagrl

I'm in !! This past October DH and I went 75% raw, but were derailed by the Holidays. I was recently diagnosed with PCOS and from what I have been researching it looks like a raw food diet is the way to go for me. Good luck everyone and I look forward to swapping stories and recipes with you all

Welcome!

Originally Posted by mommystinch

My goal is to be 100% raw once I get my Vita Mix next week It was a wonderful gift from my mom as well! I've been nearly there, except for my cashew butter. But, I'll start making it in the Vita Mix and be golden.

My bigger goal is to make my diet less dependent on nuts. Boy, I love my nuts. I eat way more than I probably should be. But, I am also very small, so I figure the fat is good for me.

I would LOVE a vita mix but only one company imports them where I live and they cost...get ready for this...over a thousand bucks! So, my kitchen aid will just have to do.

[maplesugar]

Great thread!

I have been 50-75 percent raw since mid september. It has been just wonderful and I have lost about 20 pounds as an added bonus. I usually have a raw breakfast and lunch, then a cooked vegan dinner, with salad. Some days more or less, depending.
I'll probably continue this way till summer when I can garden. Then I'll be as raw as I can be. Coffee has been my hangup.

Did anyone catch the raw mom's summit with the raw divas? I learned so much just listening to the interviews, especially with regards to getting kids to eat living foods. I can't wait to grow a bunc of greens this summer.

[lotusblossom9]

Originally Posted by calynde

Hi! We were in the same due date club, non? They're already getting so big! Crazy.

Also, I got a dehydrator for Christmas.

Hi Calynde~
Yes, we were in the same due date club! We've been TTC for #2 since he was born. I'm hoping this juice fast will help me detox and get pregnant!

[Tangled Hill]

Heading out to the grocery for a few provisions.

Hubby decided that once a week or so, he'd have what he called a "treat day." He chose yesterday, since he was hanging out with friends last night. Hamburgers and junk food. I was pretty sure I knew what would happen, and it did. He's felt awful all day - lots of tummy trouble. Poor guy.

His feet haven't been hurting him, though (he has diabetic neuropathy, causing him terrible phantom pains in his feet), and this is enough to steer him toward raw foods, rather than away from them. So, he's given up on the idea of "treat day" and is happy to stick with green smoothies, nut pates, raw soups, fresh fruits, salads....

Can't wait to get back from the store and try out a few new recipes!

[kavitha]

i just completed Day 1! I am doing raw for 30 days, except for one almond butter and jam sandwich a day, lol.......i started off today with lots of fruits, nuts, and 2 big salads (nursing a 7 month old baby and 3.5 year old)......have frozen bananas in the freezer for a green smoothie tomorrow......i am definitely excited to feel great and to lose some extra weight i have been carrying around

[indianagrl]

Just checked out David Wolfe's "The Sunfood Diet Success System" and it is pretty good. I don't agree with all of what he say's, but the information on food is great. Does anyone here use Superfoods? I'm interested in adding some of those to our diet. And I don't think it is any accident that this is the first time I have ovulated since the summer!! Duh...you are what you eat

[calebsmommy25]

I'm introducing more raw foods into my life starting tomorrow. I have done some raw food this past summer, but it is still relatively new to me (and my family). I am open to some good recipes, ideas or any suggestions suitable for a beginner.

[calynde]

Hi everyone!

So we're kicking it up a notch tomorrow...green smoothies for breakfast, flax crackers, veg sticks and guacamole for lunch and a cooked brown rice dish with raw slaw for dinner tomorrow! Probably a fresh juice as well...maybe apple with lemon.

Our goal is still raw til dinner, and then gluten-free cooked with half raw. It's winter after all.

I plan to start some falafel in the dehydrator tomorrow as well...or maybe cookies.

[yemango]

i just completed a year of 70-100% raw! two times during the year i ate processed starches other than whole cooked quinoa/rice. the first time, i got very ill with a long-lasting cold, and the second time i had IBS symptoms (never had it before). ANYWAY! its been a journey and balancing.

i couldnt figure out why i had acne and then a little eczema around my eye for the first time on such a clean diet. then i picked up "Detox for Women" by Natalia rose and realized there is a yeast issue with lots of women. her book is based on a raw diet but includes raw dairy and cooked fish, as well as steamed veggies.

its been HARD trying to not have any fruit or natural sweeteners, or grains...also no nuts on her plan b/c they dont digest quickly. but her plan includes raw goat dairy, so now i feel like ive gone in the other direction again. i do love, however, that she offers sweet potatoes/squash over any grain as a filling carb if you arent 100% raw yet.

anyway, i'm still BFing a 3 yr old, and i cant figure out the low-sugar raw thing. im all over the place with it. i simply cant live on avocadoes alone. and i still love cukes/red peppers/zucchini but they are all shipped from mexico.

any advice? i am thinking i may just modify the plan and start eating only seeds again. perhaps chia especially. love it. also i looove coconut water. i could live on it. and almond mylk. hmm.

p.s. i have "Rainbow Green Live Food Cuisine" on its way to me now.

[yemango]

p.s. Anyone looking into joining the Global Juice Feast in March?

http://www.globaljuicefeast.com/


It usually begins the first weekend in march every year, which this year happens to be exactly on my son's 3rd birthday. I have a goal to do this, and to wean him right before it...but we shall see! my sister is due at the same time and my parents will be in town for a month. seems like a lot of extra to deal with...or maybe not?

[NC EcoMaMa]

I posted in another thread about not consuming some things raw. If you decide to go completely raw, for you health you should not consumer anything with oxalic acid on a daily basis.

Here is the quote from one of the posts I made before.

Foods that have oxalic acid need some cooking to help break them down a bit so you can absorb their nutrition and break down the oxalic acid, otherwise you are getting little or nothing from them and they block your body from absorbing iron and calcium, two things veggies have to really make sure to keep maintained.

Other foods are just enhanced by cooking in general (tomatoes are an example) and some foods are toxic / poisonous if not cooked. (Kidney Beans and others)

Things like spinach collards, kale, swiss chard if you are eating them, should be eaten cooked and are very good for iron when they are.

A bit of raw spinach isn't a bad thing, I just wouldn't do it daily or in small amounts daily. Too much consumption of foods containing oxalic acid can cause Kidney Stones and Gallbladder Stones as well cause you to become anemic and speed up osteoporosis and other bone degenerative diseases, not to mention too much can cause poisoning. No Rhubarb raw ever.

You can do a search for which foods are better for you cooked than not. I have been using www.nutritiondata.com along with my nutrition program to keep track of what areas I am deficient in while I eat daily and whether or not raw is a better choice for that particular food. I also search the chemical properties of each food to make sure that I am not consuming something that could hurt my family or me.

Alfalfa sprouts that are popular should be a treat, although now I can't have them at all. They can lead to auto immune disease. (SLE)

I used to have a big list, but fried my machine a couple of months ago and lost it. Slowly working on rebuilding it. It is pretty easy to find what foods ot be careful with by doing a search online. So much easier now than having to drive 15 miles to the library when I had my first two.

Peace & Blessings,

Jo