Its SOOOO hard to stay raw...

I hear this comment all the time.
I don't get it.

The raw diet, really, is an incredibly easy lifestyle. You are hungry, you walk into the kitchen and grab some fruit, a handful of nuts, maybe some veggies and dip or a smoothie and you're good to go. Wash, rinse, repeat. What is hard about this?

I have started frequenting some of the raw sites I used to hang out on and something that has not changed is the struggle people have with staying raw. I have a few theories...and that is my topic for my Monthly Musing on my website for February :) I will give you a sliver here though...

What you eat is a choice. You are CHOOSING to eat raw foods, cooked foods, meat, etc. If you want to eat raw, CHOOSE IT.

If you are choosing to eat other foods, think about why. Are you choosing cooked foods because you think its easier? Because you are 'craving' something not raw? Are you eating cooked foods for emotional reasons? I truly believe that the majority of people in this country, particularly those with weight issues are emotional eaters. Even some without weight issues.

If you are a raw foodie, what do you feel have been your biggest challenges in being raw? Or, anyone who is trying to follow a particular food lifestyle, what is the hardest part of your choice? I'd love to hear from you...

I am desperately searching for stainless steel section plates. Anybody know where i can get them? I hve googled it every way I can think of, and am not finding the ones I see on people's blogs and unfortunately everyone I ask doesn't get back to me! Help a gal out! :)

HOME! :)
FL was lovely, albeit cold. New England is my home, though, and I am happy to be back. This vacation was tough on the raw food front and I am happy to be back to my Vitamix, and fresh produce!!! It is hard to shop for 3 or 4 days worth of produce, and really get everything you want and need, I feel. I did ok, but really miss having green smoothies at my disposal. The races were GREAT, and I was able to chow on salads after, which had to be enough. The marathon offered bananas and Gu...which I took even though I don't love it. Gu is probably one of the least crappy running 'foods' out there, sigh...and I really didn't have much else and it was WAY too cold and crowded for my 'crew' to meet me on the course with *my* stuff. Hey, you do the best you can with what you have :) It all worked out ok. Had a delicious dinner after the marathon in Epcot, some cooked veggies and a big salad. Mmmmm :) I have to say, though there wasn't a HUGE selection of raw foods, there was certianly enough for one to get by. I really can't complain. Disney, you done good :)

I came home to empty cabinets and refridgerator, so I hit the grocery store yesterday. I SCORED!!! At our store, we have a less-than-desirable produce section. It is usually filled with ripe bananas, not pretty fruit, and veggies that are ??? I usually buy things there every week but THIS day I WON! The great thing about this section is that the fruit is actually ripe when you buy it, often times organic AND usually 50-75% LESS than the regular section. I got 5lbs of bananas, 5 or 6lbs of grapes, 1lb cherries, 8 zuichinis, 12 nectarines(they aren't even RIPE yet!) PLUS apples, pears, oranges, mangos, avocados, cukes, tomatoes, lettuce and carrots from the regular produce section. Opening my fridge makes me giddy and the HUGE bowl of ripening and ready fruit on my counter is bliss. Gallon jug of cherry-mango-spinach smoothie in the fridge as well. SuperYumFest. :)

This week I am off to have a few of my books printed, and will be taking a copy to the Spa and HFS to give to the owners. Hopefully I will be able to set up a series of classes at both places. I am also going to talk to the librarian here in town to see if I can use the community room for classes as well. I'd like to use the room for the C25K course...mostly because I am not sure if food prep in the library would fly...we'll see.

The kids are starting their more raw based diet this week...now that we have plenty of fruits and veggies. 2 out of 3 kiddos are mildly sick, which I am not surprised with the way they have been eating. Not awful, but certianly not as balanced as they are used to. The boys are glunky, snotty and tired so a few days of herbs, fruits and smoothies should get them back on track :) I am going to be trying some new recipes for them this week...which I will post here! I am gearing up to try Chia pudding...for some reason I have a fear of it, lol. I eat chia seeds ON things, but to actually make something OF them....hmmm...its the whole gelatinous *thing*. We'll see. I am sure if I make it chocolate my kids will eat it up! I'll be back with the verdict... ;)

Goofy Challenge- 1/2 marathon Sat. and full marathon Sun.

Even though I reeeeeeally wanted to bring my Vitamix with me to FL....I didn't. Course, I wish I did. I never realized just how much of my calorie intake and nutrition comes from green smoothies! Its been hard, to say the least. And, since I am down here doing races, I am really missing my smoothies. The cafeteria in our resort has a pretty decent salad, but it isn't enough calories by far. I have been trying to eat as much fruit (dried especially) as I can and keep up with my fluids but I can't WAIT for a green smoothie! It will be the FIRST thing I do when I get to my Grandmother's house ( she has a blender, as I bought her one, lol) Today was ok, as I only did a half marathon but tomorrow will be harder with a full marathon on the schedule. They do have bananas out on the course, so I hear, and I could bring one of my raw bars to eat on the course. I am so used to just drinking a qt. of GS for my 'recovery meal' and not giving things another thought. Oh, well. Its also hard because it is UNBELIEVABLY cold down here! If I was home, I have all the things I need for cold weather ( read: ginger, lol) But here, not so much. The kids have not seen a veggie since we arrived(unless you count french fries) though they have had fruit. They will probably be needing a good kiddie detox by the time we leave here, lol! Once we hit our next location and have access to a real grocery store we will be good to go as I can get good produce and real food. I hear it might get into the 60's by then....beach weather!!!

2 Posts Today!

http://bestofraw.net/

That is the link for The Best of Raw Awards. You can read all about them there. I am baffled, to say the least.

The raw food 'community' is a small one. There just aren't alot of raw foodists out there(yet) and by raw foodist, I mean someone who is at the very least 80% raw VEGAN, and living the lifestyle. (y'all know I don't *do* percentages, but for the sake of my arguement, I am breaking m own rule.)

The winners? Half of whom I have NEVER heard of. I did a TON of research over the past 5 years on raw food, healing with raw foods, and raw food athletes. Wanna know who won for the top raw food athlete? Woody Harrelson. Um....ok? I like WH. I like him alot. I love his messages about raw, and how he teaches his kids...but an athlete? Does he even exercise? (and I am not touching the wacky-tobacky deal with a 10ft. pole...) When I was researching raw and athletics I got Brendan Brazier, and IRONMAN champ. Tim VanOrden, who has RECORDS in stair-climbing and runs, snow-shoes, etc and WINS races. These guys were in the top 5, yes, but neither of them won.

Don't get me started on who they chose as teachers, chefs and 'sexiest' man and woman. Gabriel Cousens is AWESOME, but sexy? Uh...yeahno.

I guess I am disappointed in the whole thing. There are SO many poeple out there doing their raw thing, and the people who won...not a great representation of the raw community, in *my* opinion.

And, my girl Bif Naked was NOT one of the musicians nominated. Only fru-fru new agey musicians got picked ;) Not that I don't love me some fru-fru music, because I do. BUT Bif is a touring musician who is not only a raw vegan she also battled breast cancer (and is winning as we speak)

Seems as if it was more of a popularity contest than a true judgement of people's raw-ness and contribution to the raw community. Just sayin'....

Happy New Year!

I don't typically make resolutions, as it seems like failure waiting to happen, lol, but I will say I have *intentions* for the coming year. I would like to transition my family over to a more raw vegan diet. I know they will not be 100% raw OR vegan as they are big fans of dairy products and we have chickens for eggs but I feel like there are certianly changes I can make that will be better for them health-wise...

-Switch to raw goat milk products. There are a variety of sources 'round here that I can get raw goat milk from. With my son being on the spectrum AND testing as sensitive to dairy, this is one of the first things I will be doing. My kids like cheese, and I do limit it but....I have not eliminated it. They also like yogurt, which, no matter how raw they ever were, I did not eliminate as they all have digestive *issues*. I would love to make my own goat products, and possibly get a couple goats in the future.

-Incorporate a higher percentage of raw in family's diet. This will be easier as we approach Spring, but I plan on incorporating more sooner. We are leaving for FL for 10 days and using up what we have here, so my secret plan is to not replace alot of things when we come back :) The kids may resisit a little, particularly my oldest who eats a typical 'autism diet' (starch and cheese) WHile we are away, in a southern location, I plan to provide as much raw as I can to them :) It will be easier to get fruit there so we certianly will!

-Incorporate more fruit into MY diet. I have been eating fruit in my smoothies, but I don't often eat fruit just as-is. I have been having some issues with my diet, not feeling the best I feel I can and I feel like something is missing. My recent addition of superfoods has helped, but I also feel like I need more. Fruit is calling my name. Not only is it cleansing, but I am thinking I need the sugars for running/training. Seeds and nuts are not something I can consume often, and I also can't eat a ton of fats. I do like an avocado a day, and I might slip some coconut oil into my smoothie but beoynd that, fats are not something I indulge in. I am thinking I will feel an increase in my health upon adding more fruits.

I have noticed that many raw foodies have to switch up thier diets in order to continue to experience that fantastic health and energy they are used to. I believe you really need to tune into your body and recognize that, or you may interpret it for somethng else. There have also been many a raw foodie who has gone back to cooked, and even animal products because they felt raw was not working for them. That's fine, I am not here to judge and really, you need to do what you feel is best for you but....I can't help but wonder if they had just switched up their raw diet- added fats if they were low-fat, eliminated fats if eating them, added more fruit, superfoods, green smoothies...but it is such an individual thing. Even in my own family, I know there are different tastes and needs. My oldest needs fats and 'starchy' foods, while my younger 2 LOVE fruits. I can do that :) I will have them 'help' me, which encourages them to want to eat more raw. My oldest likes to 'cook' so I think he will help 'lead the way' for the other kiddos.

That's it for now...may be more to come!