Over a month ago, I stumbled upon a RAW blog, Raw on $10 a day. Her recipes and pictures fascinated me and I began reading all the raw blogs listed on her site. I spent hours, days, and weeks devouring all the great information and reasons for going raw. And there are so many amazing before and after stories of people reversing health problems and weight loss just from living a raw lifestyle. When I found this picture on Rawmazing’s blog, along with all her other fabulous recipes, I was hooked.
Rawmazing’s Basil Zucchini wrap with spinach cream dressing:
I decided to try going raw, figured all the fresh organic veggies, fruits, and nuts couldn’t hurt. Certainly saying goodbye to red meat, poultry that has been processed, preservatives, and all those other nasty additives that are put into our food would be a good thing for me. I’ve said goodbye to SAD (Standard American Diet) and have embraced RAW!
It isn’t an instant thing, going raw, but more a process. I still was cooking for son, now that he has left it’s a little easier. Husband agreed to go maybe 50 % raw, he still needs bread, cheese, cereals, shrimp, and occasional meats. Finally most of the SAD foods that were in freezer, refrigerator and pantry are gone. No way would I throw it all out. Now my pantry is stocked with organic young coconut water, organic cold pressed young coconut oil, wheat grass, nutrional yeast flakes, organic Himalayan Goji berries, Agave nectar, raw organic Maca, flax seeds and of course, lots of fruit and veggies. The first 2 weeks were very difficult giving up cheese and bread. A couple of times I just had to have a slice of Ezekiel bread with a veggie spread on it. I was still using some cheese on my salads, and using all the store bought salad dressings. I did not miss meat or chicken at all, even when I still had to prepare it for son and husband. I really had the afternoon headaches, which they say is part of the withdrawal/detox process of going raw.
So it’s been a month now and I am really enjoying this new lifestyle. I have spent a lot of time experimenting with new recipes. I did not want to get bored with just eating raw veggies and salads. That would surely set me on a path to failure. I already had the blender, a juicer, and the food processer, the three must haves. I bought a spiralizer to make zucchini spaghetti. Then the big splurge was the dehydrator. I bought the TSM 5 tray, pretty pricey but again, I knew I needed this to give me lots of crunchy options. I’ve had this for a week and having a ball experimenting with recipes.
Here’s a few of my dishes that I’ve made in the last few days.
Zucchini wrap (dehydrated) with spinach, tomatoes, carrots and Cilantro cream sauce. This sauce was made from soaked cashews, lemon, garlic, and Cilantro. OMG! this was so amazing and delicious. My wrap was thick unlike Rawmazing’s in the first picture above. I don’t have access to young coconuts, so I improvised. The wrap was chewy, moist, yet still held together perfectly. Before rolling:
All rolled up and sliced. Just looking at this picture makes me want one! This is so filling and satisfying, kept me going all day and didn’t need any dinner.
This a dehydrated walnut mushroom burger with red pepper, onions, flax seed. All fresh, all natural. Yesterday I made 15 of these babies, had 1 for dinner, the rest are in the freezer. The good thing about a larger dehydrator is you can make lots, then freeze. On top of the burger is a avocado cream wihch is not a cream at all but 1 avocado, fresh lemon, garlic , and coconut water, all blended to a lovely smooth sauce. This cream keeps for a couple days. I use it instead of mayo on sandwiches for my husband. He loves it. The salad is massaged kale with olive oil and lemon, tomatoes, and walnuts. Never had kale before, I love it. Even made kale chips in the dehydrator for a crunchy snack, they are great and no calories.
Zucchini fettuccini with tomatoes, kale, and marinated mushrooms
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Raw version of the famous broccoli salad that I’ve made for years. No bacon, no mayo, no sugar. Made a “cream sauce” with agave nectar, cashew paste, organic cider vinegar. Husband and son couldn't tell the difference
So this past month is just the very beginning of this raw journey. I must say that in one short month, I feel amazing. I have more energy, my skin looks and feels so different, softer and healthy. I’ve lost 7 lbs without even trying. And I always feel satisfied, tummy wise.
I think I’ve finally cleaned up Bailey hair enough that I can get out all my sewing again. Time to get back to all the unfinished projects.
