This post is participating in Fight Back Fridays at Food Renegade!
After nearly three weeks of trying to eat more raw foods, I am happy to report that the experiment has affected me in many positive ways. In the beginning, it was quite a challenge – I had this notion that I had to make everything using special recipes (I came to love Ani Phyo’s raw cookbook), and it seemed I was blending, processing, and dehydrating all day long. I also had a lot of trouble controlling costs.
Not a "pure raw" salad - I usually add a bit of egg rather than beans these days.
After getting a little frustrated, I decided to go back to basics. I mostly stick to morning smoothies with whatever I have on hand, and for lunch, I have the simplest raw meal possible: salad. I just throw stuff into a bowl, and toss it with a little homemade vinaigrette. Nothing could be simpler or more delicious! For dinner, I just try to use as many raw ingredients as possible.
I LOVE to cook complicated raw meals, but I didn’t have time to do it every day. That has now become a special treat that I work in every few days. (I want to make Phyo’s faux tuna wraps this weekend, and can’t wait!)
As for food – I’m still learning where and when to buy food supplies. Sometimes, you end up spending a lot more than you wanted, but it is for supplies that will last for a while (nori sheets, buckwheat groats, etc.). As for veggies, I’m simply trying to shop around (my farmers’ market investigation).
I had initial withdrawal pains from cutting back on the carbs (the natural side effect of trying to eat more raw foods). I didn’t realize that I eat bread/pasta, etc. a LOT! But I found myself craving them less and less as time went on, and now I only eat a couple servings per day (as opposed to 7 or more, that I used to eat).
Desserts were an issue, too. I have a wicked sweet tooth, and kept grabbing cookies right and left! However, the more raw foods I ate, the worse I felt when I ate cookies. I started refining some vegan cookie recipes to incorporate healthier ingredients (eliminating sugar and using brown rice syrup, instead, for instance), and even then, I don’t usually have a desire to eat more than one a day (usually). I’m looking into raw desserts more and more.
But on to the nitty-gritty: How do I FEEL? I feel amazing. I never realized how few raw foods I was incorporating into my diet – and believe me, I ate pretty healthily before I started this experiment! I have fewer stomachaches, I never feel hungry, I feel energetic and strong… And…I haven’t checked, but I’m pretty sure I’ve lost 6 or 7 pounds, too.
Thanks to all of you who have given me suggestions throughout this process. This is definitely a lifestyle change I will keep up. (Keep in mind, I still have “naughty foods” here and there, but I don’t worry about it because 95% of my food intake it so healthy.) Now go have a salad! 
I can believe that you would feel so much better, and the weight loss that comes with it is just icing on the cake. I keep telling myself to follow the same path, but aside from eating lots of fruit, the rest is a little harder to change. Perhaps I should make little changes first and then the rest will come. I do make a raw banana lemon pie with an almond and raisin crust that I love and have made several times.
Yeah, little changes add up, that’s for sure. I tried to jump in, but I’ve learned smaller staps are easier, cheaper, and more conducive to long-term change.
You’ll have to share your lemon pie recipe! Yum!
I am definitely wanting to try a raw diet again. I did it for about three weeks last summer and really felt frustrated with it. I was feeding two kids, one with an oral-motor dysfunction who couldn’t chew tough veggies very well, and all I wanted to eat was smoothies and salad, but that wasn’t sufficient for baby/toddler nutrition. Now that it’s summer all I want is smoothies and salads again! So I’m thinking of picking it up again, especially because my kids love those dishes now and would be happy to eat them non-stop.
I just discovered your blog and it’s awesome! I’ve put you in my reader and I’ll be following you closely.
Chandelle, that would be tough! Wow! I’ve stopped trying to eat all raw, as it is hard! I plan to do a raw cleanse in a few weeks, but mostly, I eat lots of raw, and some non-raw foods.
Thanks – I checked out your blog and I love it, too!
Sounds great, (scrumptious pic), and it’s fab that you’re feeling so good. That speaks volumes for raw eating doesn’t it?
I love raw food – and am moving more and more towards eating that way. Thing is, it’s the deep, dark depths of winter in these parts, and eating raw is a little more challenging when you’re craving hot soups and stews, and warm foods in general. So I’m trying to balance it out a bit, and will return to lots more raw food as the weather warms up.
I have the feeling I will be craving hot foods, too, this winter. I NEVER drink smoothies in the winter – too cold! and I love my soup on cold winter nights.
Great post!