So I was raw over the summer and then I stopped because I went to college in another country and it was hard. However about two months ago I decided to dive back in and I am not planning on looking back. Depsite this, I have a lot of concerns. You see, I used to be a gourmet cook and have worked in restaurants since I was 13. Giving up a huge part of my life and talent was really hard at first. I am now used to it and liking where I am. That being said, I use a lot of things like nama shoyu, garlic, onions, carrots and nuts that seem to show up on these so-called
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Thank you all! I feel much better. Like you said flybaby and waterbaby, it is about listening to my OWN body. And Izhpt, congratulations on getting to a point where you are totally confortable, I really like and respect your views.
Thanks again to everyone! Pianissima, that is really well written and helps A LOT! Thanks!
I didn’t think it soudned mean, I thought it was frank and righteous! I like it jenergy!
Adensspell, for me, someone who has been passtionate about (veggie/vegan/healthy) cooking for my whole life too, i found it er…interesting coming across all these ideas. i love to read as many opinions and experiences as possible, and experience them for myself, but i am proud to say i just follow what rings true for meee :)
but the reason i wanted to reply is because i found raw food “cuisine” the most inspiring and magical discovery and it is what motivated me so much to enjoy this lifestyle…i like to really treat and look after myself as health and happiness are very important things and the feeling you have when youve created an absolutely scrumptious beautiful colourful supernutritious dish that you want to share with the world is just amazing! so i think whatever it takes to feel like that – go for it! nama shoya or not! hehe
saying that i dont eat complicated dehydrated things every day (i er dont have a one) but in the beginning espeically i was making recipes every day and learning about tastes and techniques, it was amazingly fun.
i am in quite an interesting situation, in july i moved from a not even a veggie restaurant sort of town to the raw capital of the uk (am making raw chocolate ;) ) and i have shiney people around me following all sorts of different things…they are pretty much balanced and healing in all other ways and often follow a holistic lifestyle, so whilst food is an amazing thing and an important focus, it is not LIFE ITSELF hehe and there are so many other things to do..and yes, some of them eat lots of nuts. haha. i am so lucky though, to be surroudned by such vibrant happy folks. so what im saying is, although simplicity is good (and ive found it more appealing naturally as time goes on but my passions for creating food mean that i will probably never end up 100% momo mealer heh) the important thing is, follow your path (repeating here) and do what feeeels right! i like to take food combining into mind but rarely go crazy,.anyway i find things naturally work out – i wouldnt particularly want sweet potatoes with strawberries.
saying that, i am a bit obsessed with reading and making new things and learning as much as possible to spread the word with! yeah! keep it up and show those people how good it can be!
PS i saw a raw lifestyle coach eat watermelon after chocolate cake shock horror!!!
much love X
Thanks again to everyone!Crystalbat, that is really well put and makes a lot of sense (I too wouldn’t want sweet potatoes and strawberries, or chocolate cake and watermelon, I like just watermelon sometimes for a good dessert!) Stylistchick, I like that you said too, it is nice to know there are others out there like me! I actually do grow most of my own herbs, I had quite a collection, but we moved so now I will be starting over this summer. When I don’t have the herbs, I buy usually dry bulk that I know come from reputable sources. Anyway, thanks to you all for your responses.
like zoe, i also look forward to more creative recipes ;)
and like pianissima, i also love all posts by zoe :D (and chris) and i do completely agree with your 100% philosophy and how easy it makes life. (and your recipes are amazing, as you know ! have only made one, the curry one…but they exactly the sort of thing i like and feels good on all levels. think we have connected a few times through a raw company i used to work for in brighton hehe)
i have so many constantly avolving opinions on this though.. i just went to a dear friends who prepared a lovely raw spread, it was made with such love and was mostly simple ingredients, it was all delicious but we ate the dessert with a special extra – a brand of ice cream available here called booja booja, it is vegan and “raw” (agave and cashews..debatable!) very indulgent and delicious but after my recent wonderful 9 day juce feast (one of the best things ever…for anyone…anything.= JUICE!) and no cashew ways and all the other food, this made me feel very very full and ever so slightly queasy. not in a bad way. but like the feeling i might have after a cooked restaurant meal many moons back.
fresh, light ingredients just feel the best in the body..
in terms of things such as name shoya/tamari, it does not have a big place in my life at all (but did have a little one in early rawdom for me) but i believe the most important thing for me and the easiest thing for many people to grasp, at least at first, is to eat as healthy as possible and include as many fresh things as they can…condiments and such, can be healthier choices in perspective and compared to so many other diets..
i might be saying this though, since i managed to “go raw” very easily and all the time i had pretty much no cooked food cravings..even if i did have miso/whatever occasionally i agree that for most people going 100% is the best way to stop cravings or slipping though. i just dislike the mental restrictions people can put on this whole way of life, and beating themselves up about it..so i try to embrace an open ness to all of it and keep it cooool..
food made with love is the best of all, huh!
Wow thanks again to you all, Zoe and crystalbat, this is interesting. That being said, I don’t want you to feel that I am knocking you for your habits (just as I don’t want to feel like I am being knocked for my own) but not consuming the so-called questionable raw foods does NOT interest me. I have really zero desire to give them up because I like the way they feel. Zoe, your recipes look great and I definetly am interested in making quite a few of them, but at the same time…there are a lot of other recipes that use the so-called dead ingredients and I enjoy them just as much. I am appreciative of your views and I respect them, but at this time (and probably never) I don’t wish to change mine.