An easy sub for sugar is agave – just use 2/3 the amount of agave as you would have used sugar, and use a little less of some other liquid than the recipe calls for if you’re converting a recipe to raw. Agave doesn’t have a strong flavor like maple syrup or honey, and it dissolves very easily, even in cold water – it’s easy to make lemonade with fresh lemon juice, agave & water. I once saw a salad made on TV that sounded really good, so I converted it to raw by leaving out the carmelized almonds & subbing agave for sugar in the dressing.

butter – sub coconut oil + sea salt

fresh garlic + sea salt is a good base for replacing lots of strong store-bought flavors.

To round out the flavors in a sweet raw dish, try adding a pinch of salt and/or a squeeze of lemon.

Brazil nuts add a buttery flavor & texture to things like raw pie crusts.

Raw cashews + water blend up creamy in the blender & can replace the creaminess of dairy in shakes, sauces, etc.

I am absolutely new to raw. My Chinese/MD dr suggested I look into it although, I am type O blood type, so the question of enough protein may be an issue. I have to say, I am extremely excited about trying some or all of these suggestions. I am hoping it will help with mood issues and energy levels. This thread and site is full of information. Raw was never an option in the past because I assumed it would be too time consuming. I will look forward to the journey. Any words of wisdom are greatly appreciated!

Hello All,

Still doing my research, start date 1/5/09. Any advice.... already an organic vegetarian looking to take that next step. I need to do this the easiest way with my busy life, so that will be the hardest part. I know what to expect on the detox, I've done the MC a few times. Tried raw last year wasnt ready, i am ready now!

:)

I am new to going raw, can anyone tell symptoms of detoxing ? how would I know ?

Sonia~

Welcome. To get started, check out post #9 on page 1 of this thread. There are a few links that might be useful to you.

To your wellness...

Hey everyone,
I became raw 3 weeks ago (cold turkey) and have found it very easy! I'm getting my degree in Holistic Nutrition from Clayton College of Natural Health and that has provided me the info and inspiration. I look forward to hearing what you all have to share. At the end of week 2 I had some detox I think, but now I am SOOOO satisfied with the meals and not hungry at all. I eat lots of fruits and that helps with water intake!
Sheree

Hi everybody!
Is there anything that should not be eaten raw (meaning toxic)? And is there any way to eat potatoes without a dehydrator?

Try an Advanced Search of the Forums for "raw" and "toxic" putting each term in a different search box. You should get about 9 pages of titles. Several months ago there were a number of discussions on this topic. If you're new to using the Advanced Search features on GoneRaw, click here and check reply #3.

I am new to raw and thrilled to find this topic!

I am having a difficult time getting enough protein, so to those of you who have been doing this for a while, what is your favourite way to get your protein in?

Hey guys. I am new to this site, and new to raw. Just trying to get some tips and suggestions for eating raw.

Hi sungem827, welcome along and good luck on your raw journey.
I am not an expert or anything and not 100% but my advice would be to take things slowly to start with and keep an open mind.
Green smoothies are a great place to start and indulge in loads of fresh fruit for snacks.
Find some good staples that you really enjoy and keep a batch in the fridge for if you suddenly feel hungry. There are some amazing recipes on this site and it's worth checking out those ones with great feedback.
I love making up pates and dips which keep for a week or so and then I can have them on crackers, in salads or in nori wraps. Don't be too discouraged if some of the things you make don't taste as amazing as you'd hoped. I had quite a few flops along the way but have also discovered some really tasty dishes which have become firm favorites.
You can keep things simple by just eating whole fresh fruit/veggies or if you fancy trying some gourmet dishes, that's great fun too. Give yourself time to try different things and see what works best for you.
Hope this helps!

I am currently heading into day 3 of the Master Cleanse, and I can't wait to see how long I can go. I am doing this to come out on the other end a more healthy person and to help change my thinking when it comes to food. When my cleanse is over I am going to switch to a RAW diet. I had recently been a omnivore, but was a veggie in the past and I loved it. I want to make this into a whole lifestyle change to feel 100% better about myself. I am sick of feeling blah, depressed, and bloated. So good-bye dead processed foods and hello new life! If anyone has any tips or encouragement for eventually easing from the MC to a raw diet please drop me a line.. ;)
Thank you,
Julie

Nonchalant -- There is a specific way to ease back into eating after the MC. If you haven't already done so, you might want to get a copy of Stanley Burrough's (I think that's his name) little paperback book. I found it at the health food store. I don't remember exactly what the recommendation is and have loaned my book out, but it's definitely worth the reading IMHO . . . not a fancy book, but it has the MC basics.

thank you. I do have those instructions, I was just kinda wondering if people had tips from their own experiences. I am on 8pm on my 3rd day and I feel great, no hunger pains, and two easy BMs.. ;) I know to to go with fruit juice like orange juice to start my ease off, eventually.. let's see how far I can go!

Hi
I've been using a vitalizer plus for almost 4 years now to oxygenate and fortify my water. If you want great water then I highly recommend it.

I've been researching Raw Vegan Food ebooks for beginners and have been writhing some reviews. You can check them out here: http://www.mindbodyspirithealth.info/raw_vegan_food.html

Cindy Groves

Hi, so im new to this and i have a few questions.
I first wanted to become raw because i want to become healthier also i read that becoming raw will change your eye color back to the color you were born with. I was born with amazing grey eyes and now they are a dark brown.

Has any one had any success with their eyes changing colors?
Also is peanut butter a raw food?

I do not have a dehydrator (yet). Is it possible to dehydrate in a regular oven?

Yeah, apparently you can get the same effect putting your oven on it's lowest setting and leaving the door open.
I haven't tried it myself tho so can't say anymore really.

A friend suggested that going to raw foods for thirty days will help me to detox and lose weight. This is the first day. I'm having a difficult time finding recipes that don't contain my allergens. They are: banana, avocado, apple, carrot, all melons, Brazil nuts, chestnuts, rye, celery, peas, cinnamon (that one about killed me!) as well as shrimp and tuna. Is there a way to sort the recipes here so that I am not looking through all of these disallowed items?

I am an experienced sprouter, with lentil sprouts in the fridge right now.

Any suggestions on what to sub for the banana in smoothies and the avocado in other things?

Thank you so much for any suggestions that you might have!

Hello, new to raw foods:) I was wondering what would you pack in a raw foods survival or hurricane kit?

Hello guys

I decided to become a vegetarian and I found a very good e-book. It contains the critical steps,you must know how to become a vegetarian, also the life-changing reasons, a vegetarian food pyramid, the 10 most common misconceptions about vegetarianism, what leading medical authorities say on the health benefits of being vegetarian, tried and true plans for becoming vegetarian, traps for the beginner vegetarian, the difference between a vegetarian, a vegan, a pescatarian and an ovo-lacto vegetarian, where to get all the protein you need and how much we actually need, recipes for vegetarian barbecue food, how to cook with “fake“ meat so you can eat your favourite “meat” dishes such as lasagne, shepherd’s pie and sausages, vital information for pregnant or lactating mothers wanting to become vegetarian and a lot more. Feel free to send me a PM or contact me by email: bumika82@gmail.com if you are interested, I do not want to use any link here, because this is a community forum. I personally bought and use this book and I am proud to recommend for everyone.

Hello again

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Best regards

Sorry, I posted the previous one twice by mistake, but I could not know how to remove it.

I've been raw for two and a half months now.I have TONS of extra energy,sleep so much better,amazing difference in my skin and hair.However my digestion is super sensitive and have gotten really bad upset stomach aches,bloating,etc from eating sprouted grains over these months.I've decided to incorporate cooked grains,such as quinoa and millet,back into my diet.All nutrients that you get from quinoa are increased and released via cooking.I was also concerned with my protein intake and calcium,so I use ORAC Paradise Protein and Greens or VEGA protein powder every day.I'm not sure if I'll sprout edamame ( I can get it fresh where I live) or just use soy protein powder,which I have.My main concern is that osteoporosis runs in my family and I don't want to run into that later in life.As much as I love the raw lifestyle and how I feel,I need to be balanced and some things in the raw diet are simply too much for my body,such as chia seeds (I have low blood pressure,so it's super dangerous for me to consume them),cacao (way too addictive) and raw grains.