Introductions
A place to say hello and tell your story of going raw.
Hello and Introduction
Submitted by dhallartist on May 3, 2010 - 8:14am
HI Everyone,
I am looking for support. About 2 1/2 years ago I went raw for 3 months. I felt better than I ever had, learned a lot of new techniques and then quit. I do not remember why, but I would guess that I got to the peak of transition and got tempted by my love of cooking. Yes, I took on creating many very cool dishes and sometime old habits die hard. It really doesn't matter now.
I am committing to 30 days raw starting today and I am looking forward to it. I intend to use this forum to give and receive support. I am an entertainer and do a lot of traveling. I do like a huge variety of textures and tastes and really want to keep alive my love preparing food. I love that people always love to come to my house to eat, or see what I have created. It may have been part of why I gave it up before. But I know this gives me life so I am choosing it now. I choose 30 days as a mark to shoot for but intention is a life shift to eating raw. So, I welcome any help, advice etc. I have a dehydrator, several great cook books, I grow an organic garden, got a Vita mix and am looking for a small food processor. I am so happy for this site. Onward and upward. Denise
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My recovery: high raw trial
Submitted by Disneylove on May 1, 2010 - 9:40pm
Hey everyone! My name's Lizbeth. Feel free to take whatever derivative nicknames you want from that ;)
My story is a long and complex one, so I'll keep the details under wraps. I'm a 17 year old girl from Australia in my last year of high school, and I've suffered from disordered eating for four years now. Last year, I was vegan - but I began my recovery journey in September and come December I had been advised to start re-introducing animal products into my diet so that I could start to see all food as "on-limits" and so that I could let go of having food rules for the sake of having food rules - if you know what I mean? So for this year, I've been eating dairy, eggs, honey, meat, basically everything. And it's not that I don't enjoy these foods, but it seems that they don't really enjoy me. Because of the abuse I've put my body through, I tend to get incredibly bloated with intense acid reflux after eating anything at all, but more so when I consume cooked meats, dairy, refined sugars and processed foods. I'm a food blogger and have been for a year now (though I changed blogs a few times so never got a substantial following) so I've been exposed to the raw lifestyle for some time. I've always been curious about it, frankly, and since I am trying harder than ever to let go of my dependency on processed "diet" foods and behaviours like counting calories as well as trying to reduce the horrid bloatmonster/reflux... I figured, now is as good a time as any to give a high-raw lifestyle a try.
I say "high" raw and "try" because I am still wary of putting rules in place just so they're there, or just to fit a particular label. Ideally I would like to eat only foods that I enjoy and make me feel good before, during, and after consumption. Basically, the next six days are about determining whether a high-raw diet fits my lifestyle and my body! I've always been an avid lover of raw fruit and veggies, dried fruit is one of my favourite treats, and nut butters pretty much make my life... so I feel like this could be a very good thing for me :)
So, this week I'll aim to be 80% raw at the lowest. However, if it doesn't work out for me as a sustainable diet, I'll lower the percentage to around 30%, or perhaps just do one or two "raw days" per week, or maybe one "raw week" per month.
This morning I did a BIG grocery shop. I bought tons of fresh fruit and veggies, including coconuts, and I also bought raw buckwheat groats, raw almonds and cashews, a pistachio Larabar, and snap-dried banana. I've started soaking 1 c. almonds to make some fresh almond milk, and I just finished making raw pepita & almond butter which I tried on a banana... yum! I can tell I'm going to like this a lot!
I'm excited to try a whole bunch of raw food recipes. I don't have a dehydrator but have heard a low oven works just as well - anyone with experiences in this matter?
I have a coffee
grinder, a food processor/blender, and a juicer. I've planned out a few meals for the next six days... mostly from choosingraw.com/recipes. I love Gena's blog! Does anyone have any basic, go-to or staple raw meals, snacks or recipes to recommend?
I'm really looking forward to exploring a high-raw diet and getting to know you all! However this trial works out, I plan to stick around!
xx
Lizbeth
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restricted diet w/lots of raw food
Submitted by virgindelightly on April 28, 2010 - 8:26pm
Hey so i just joined today because I have to start this diet where I eliminate the top 4 allergens (dairy, soy, corn, eggs) for 3 weeks.
I need to eat a lot of raw food every day but I'm
so picky and don't know what my options are! So I wanted to come here and see
what kinds of recipes and other people's ideas there are. One step at a time (:
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Hello All :)
Submitted by Babylon on April 22, 2010 - 1:40am
I just signed up so i could write in your interesting forum. I have been vegan for two years, veg for three and i have been exploring raw cooking/lifestyle for a few days now. I have just begun learning, but i am SO excited and feel great about it. There is just So so much to learn! I am actually supposed to be fast asleep right now but can't stop thinking of all i have got ahead of me.
I need some guidance! haha
any tips would be greatly appreciated
Pleased to meet you,
Babylon
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Living Raw in Costa Rica
Submitted by RawChefCostaRica on April 19, 2010 - 4:27pm
Hello!
I have been living in the South Pacific of Costa Rica for 5 years. I have been able to take raw foods to another level with fresh organic greens (including jungle greens) and incredible exotic fruits. Eric Rivkin, my mentor, a very famous raw foods chef also lives here in this part of Costa Rica, in between Dominical and San Isidro. I really love how raw foods make me feel so as my mantra is "the healing Journey" I have been preparing delicious healing raw foods for all the guests who arrive to my nature reserve and raw foods retreat.
I have built a raw foods retreat called Cascadas Farallas - Waterfall Villas that is only 5 minutes drive from the beach at Dominical, This property is in the Baru rainforest, and is very lush with its own private waterfalls right next to the
villas.
www.waterfallvillas.com
There are challenges here for raw foodists in Costa Rica, such as there is no agave in the entire country, Maple syrup costs the same as gold, and there are almost no places for raw foodies to eat except fruit stands and a few retreats. But that is exactly why I have started my retreat, so that more raw foodists can enjoy an incredible holiday, and do it raw with all that this abundant country has to offer in fresh veggies and fruits. I also have special detox programs and a Spa for those who are trying to move into a higher level of raw in their nutrition.
At the Waterfall Villas we do Kundalini Yoga and meditation on the top of the waterfalls everyday as giant blue butterflies fly around us and we enjoy the nature everywhere!
Love & light, RawChefCostaRica
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