Cravings

I get the most cravings at night when I'm tired. It's definitely like an emotional craving rather than a tummy craving. It's thinking about a nice soft, warm rice dish or toast that gets me. I feel sad that I won't eat those foods again (at least in the near future). I just try to tell myself I'll be feeling much healthier soon from eating raw foods and pop a date in my mouth. (My current comfort food.) In my nutrition classes I've learned that one shouldn't use food as a reward or an emotional support. Yeah right, everyone does that. Even if it's something as innocent as a date. Maybe one shouldn't do that, but it's only natural I think.

I think I am going to a raw potluck tomorrow night. I am a little apprehensive because it looks like I am going alone and won't know anyone there. I will just have to put my best raw foot forward and hope that they like whatever dish I bring. I think I might try the coconut macaroons that I made for my raw potluck not too long ago. They were delicious. Wish me luck!

Veterans' Day

Oofh. Man, I was so good all day until my after-nap cravings just a minute ago. I’m writing just to remind myself never to do this again. Background info: I always get huge cravings for sweets and/or fats after I wake up from a nap. So I had the idea of eating a few dates to satisfy my sweet tooth. Innocent enough, right. I remembered Ian and Jenn’s pecan butter covered dates with a raspberry on top from the potluck. I thought I could substitute with some ingredients I have on hand: peanut butter (not raw, left over from before raw week) and coconut shreds. Should have known better than to trust myself opening the peanut butter jar during a craving. I ate right out of the jar. A lot. Now my stomach hurts. A lot. I can’t find the coconut shreds and I don’t even want to eat my peanut butter covered dates any more. Blah. Note to self: GIVE AWAY PEANUT BUTTER! IT IS DANGEROUS!

Other than that mishap, it was a good day. A relaxing Veterans-no school-no work day. I began the day with a spinach and banana green smoothie as I finished reading Green for Life by Victoria Boutenko. I loved green smoothies since the first time I had one. I think I first read about them on the internet. I’m going to make them more often now that I know how good they are for me. I always stuck to the old spinach and banana. It is so good though! I make everyone taste it. I got some good recipes from the book to try though. Hopefully they will measure up to spinach and banana. They had a section called “savory smoothies” which I am a bit leery of. They have things like avocado and tomatoes in them. Scary. Then I made enough raw hummus to last me all week. It was from Ian’s recipe in the V.E.G.A.N.S. cookbook. I hadn’t ever made hummus from zucchini before and I was pleasantly surprised. I dipped my veggies in it and had some cantaloupe with it for lunch. I think I am getting to the point where I don’t need a ton of food to last me throughout the day because I couldn’t even finish that small lunch. And, god those heavy spoonfuls of peanut butter really did me in. I think I’m going to go for a bike ride to try to lighten up my tummy. Bye!

Raw Winter?

Well, it has been a long time since I have written and likewise, a long time since I have tried to eat a lot of raw foods. Until last week. Daisy and I decided to do a raw week. It is going pretty well. I realized that cold turkey is the only way to go because before I would always just forget that I was supposed to be eating raw, and revert back to my regular diet. I am armed now with much more knowledge and support than I was over the summer. I know a lot more raw recipes too. So, I am telling myself that it's for a month, but trying to trick myself into just being a raw food eater. Maybe the time frame will help me to measure my progress. Makes sense to me. To my observations!

Avocados still make me gag. Day two or three I made guacamole and I was nauseated all day. But things are better now, except I think I have an ear infection. Is this part of the cleansing process? I haven't had an ear infection since I was like 4. I'm not sure that's what it is though.

I had a raw potluck last Friday night. It was such a success! Lots of good raw food and friends from all over the place. I got to talk to Ian and Jenn who are so knowledgeable about everything raw foods.

One would expect that trying to convert to raw foods over the holiday season would be difficult. I know it will be but I am sort of looking forward to being raw during this time to avoid eating all of that unhealthy holiday food. Besides, it's not like I can't have a taste of this and that. Another reason I am excited is because I will be around my family who I am always trying to get to be vegetarian. Maybe making them delicious raw dishes will help? I hope so. I think I could get my dad to read Green for Life or Raw Family (he read Raw Power, which I think probably isn't as interesting.) He has had a chronic throat irritation for the past about 5 or 6 years that the doctors keep calling reflux. But he doesn't have heartburn often at all. If raw food is really all it's cracked up to be, I'm sure it could heal him.

I went out to eat with the raw food gurus Saturday night. It was definitely some good encouragement. I learned that while Ezekiel bread is sprouted, it is not raw. I think I'll keep it around for a while anyways until I get good at preparing raw meals. I learned that I need to read Jerry Mander. I also realized something about raw eating from my body. I always thought that I didn't get full after eating a raw meal, or if I did it didn't last long. I read that because raw food is alive, it doesn't put you to sleep like cooked food. I think over the years I have learned to associate fullness with a sense of finality and drowsiness. When I think about how I feel after a raw meal, it's not that I still feel hungry but that I don't feel tired. Yeah, I'm full, but I'm ready to go!

i aint no goddamn son of a bitch

Today was good. I started off the day raw. I made a green smoothie with spinach, 1 banana, and some strawberries. I also finished off the last of the cran-grape juice and white grape juice of which there was only about a cup in all. It really sweetened up the smoothie. I put a fruit popcicle in a smoothie the other day because I was low on fruit; it was good. The other raw foods I had today were salad (Romaine lettuce and red onion with some nutritional yeast and wheat germ sprinkled on top, balsamic vinegar dressing), green grapes, and the veggies Chris brought me in a Subway sandwich. I also ate a veggie dog. And I spooned some peanut butter out of the jar, mmm. Overall, this was a good day for me. Bad side, Daisy my roommate gave me some clothes. They were well needed tanks for summer. In fall I'll get rid of some (exuses, excuses). Another good point of the day was that my friend, Jen, let me borrow THREE raw food books! I already started one called Rawsome! and it is so interesting. I think I still have a lot to learn. Also my 100% raw friend Ian told me that this summer there will be a few gatherings for raw food education/potlucks. I am so excited about these.

Note: I am going to start going to bed earlier and waking up earlier. I love the morning time. Fresh and succulent! Tonight I manage to get to bed by 11. This is a good start I think!