Starting out

[Guest guest]

Today is my first official day on the program. I loved the breakfast

from the Day 1 and don't have ingredients for lunch so am winging it.

I just loaded up the rotisserie basket with zucchini, yellow squash,

green beans and bok choi and will eat it with brown rice.

 

I don't think the meal plans given are required. I think the important

thing is to follow the basic guidelines. The meals and recipes are to

remind us that we are not destined to just eat a salad and brown rice

and be forever satisfied with that - although sometimes that is easy

and just the right thing.

 

I am going to try to make the spread with navy beans. I cook 2 pounds

of beans in my crockpot and then measure 1 cup portions into baggies

to freeze. I don't have garbonzo's cooked, so will go with what I have

on hand. I am in a financial crisis so I can't just run to the store

for an ingredient or two. But I hope that dropping meat and dairy will

make a lot of more room in my budget for good food as well as making a

difference in my life. I'm 336 pounds and a CNA at a nursing home on

night shift with 4 kids and a husband who travels 5 or 6 days a week

every week. I need to lose weight quickly as I am in chronic pain from

being on my feet 5 8 hour shifts a week with all the lifting of

residents that goes with the job.

 

any ideas for making this doable would be very welcome.

[Guest guest]

Three blind mice seek helpin in changing their lives.

 

One - A. once upon a time vegan,

One - B. never done that and how do I start,

One - C. I love you and your cooking, and I will eat whatever you prepare as

soon as I have finished all the meat in the freezer.

 

A. How do I do this being a brittle diabetic and I don't like cold food like

salads, and we never had veggies growing up.

 

B. No money (literally) will be helping to prepare A.'s food and she feeds me,

and I have to have protein. How much protein does a person need a day?

 

C. Where you lead I will follow, at least while I am home...

 

Laura, Beth and Cecily

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Laura, Beth, and Cecily,

 

Taking classes and reading books is a great way to start. Learn what

you can from existing information. One theory of diabetes is that it

is because of the fats consumed, not the sugars. The body functions

more efficiently on a low-fat diet and has a challenge processing

sugars with a high-fat diet.

 

Look for local meet-ups and potlucks and join your local raw

community. If you are here in Washington, visit .org and

look at the events section.

 

Regarding cold foods, if you have a dehydrator (the Excalibur is

preferred among raw foodists) foods can be warmed slightly/briefly

with little to no damage to the foods. Investing in a dehydrator may

be of interest if the food's temperature is a big issue.

 

Re: protein... Every whole plant-based food contains protein! There

seems to be a mindset that protein only comes from meats and, perhaps

beans or peanut butter in the right combination. While those foods may

contain protein, so too do any other plant food. The basic theory is

that you consume enough calories and eat a varied plant-based diet,

you should be consuming enough protein. Plant foods are loaded with

amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein. The human body

developed for tens of millions of years (or more?) on raw (at least

predominantly) plant-based foods, so there should be no worry of

getting enough protein from a raw plant-based diet.

 

Jeff