RE: Transitioning to a raw food lifestyle [s]

[Guest guest]

Valerie writes:

 

I really liked the Excalibur, but I haven't used it for a while. It was

very good for me while I was exploring raw foods at the beginning, and going

through a transition period. While I agree with Elchanan's point of view,

there are some folks who find it's helpful to use these foods for a while.

_____

 

Thanks Valerie for pointing out the idea of transitioning. There are

different views on how one might transition to RF. Most -- virtually all --

RF teachers introduce people to all sorts of " transitional foods. " Almost

without exception, these are recipes that attempt to mimic cooked foods as

raw foods. So we have raw crackers, raw, burgers, raw cakes and cookies, and

so forth.

 

Unfortunately, also almost without exception, these " transitional foods " are

actually quite unhealthy, and a person who would try and live on them would

likely become quite dysfunctional. We thrive on water, oxygen, sugar, and

soluble fiber. Conversely, we sputter, gasp, and eventually malfunction on a

diet consisting of low water, low oxygen, high fat, high protein, insoluble

fiber. Almost all " transitional foods " fall into this latter category. In

fact, most RFs actually consume FAR more fat than any other segment of the

population other than those eating the Atkins or similar diets. Anyone

eating such a diet will eventually suffer from malnutrition, a deficiency of

virtually all water-borne nutrients. (Most nutrients are water-borne.)

 

I believe it is long past time for RF teachers to rewrite their curricula,

to begin teaching people how to live healthfully, not how to continue or

reconstruct the cooked food fiasco as raw fooders. In my experience, almost

100% of those who " try going raw " fail and try something else (at which they

will also fail, but that is not the point of this post.)

 

The only way for people to succeed in the long run is for them to begin

eating and living in increasing health. Speaking only for myself, I would

actually prefer to have someone adding in more and more healthy raw foods --

fruits and greens -- and continue eating some cooked food, than have that

same person exhaust him- or herself in pursuit of recipes that are unlivable

anyway. This fosters self-acceptance and self-love, for there is always a

sense of forward progress. And over time -- a short time for some, a longer

time for others -- the increasing focus on healthy foods simply, gently, and

easily replaces those unhealthy cooked foods. I believe this is " the way to

go. "

 

That's my opinion, nothing more!

 

Best to all,

Elchanan

 

 

 

 

--

---------------------[ Ciphire Signature ]----------------------

vlinfo signed email body (2111 characters)

on 30 March 2005 at 01:08:24 UTC

rawfood

-------------------------------

: Ciphire has secured this email against identity theft.

: Free download at www.ciphire.com. The garbled lines

: below are the sender's verifiable digital signature.

-------------------------------

00fAAAAAEAAAAI/ElCPwgAAFMCAAIAAgACACBZ36NZd8ice9rJ4ZlYrt6BrEjH8O

zzmKDQLsTNDUWDmAEAhgSkE5NuzzvORJkeFIi/NVXB9GCG1XVfaMj+yPGZ0X1Xc9

UjEnzM/Triaa+iBXUlRkBucOGzZl3ByQhYU/SP6g==

------------------[ End Ciphire Signed Message ]----------------

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

It was great to read this....you have put into words some thoughts and feelings

I have had for some time now. Great to have it articulated so clearly.

 

While I found the dehydrator useful during my own transitioning period, to be

honest, the more I think about it, nothing that I made to 'replace' some cooked

food favorites really did the trick. The best dehydrated foods were things that

had nothing to do with cooked food recipes.

 

re: Raw food teachers re-writing curriculum--a lot of folks have been doing this

for a while, making a living at sharing their raw food perspectives, and once

you have so much invested in your presentation, so to speak, it's hard to

maintain enough freedom to allow for change in that perspective. Some folks have

a lot to lose by changing what they promote, financially or otherwise. Many, I

am sure, remain convinced that the way they have followed for years remains the

most viable way.

 

There are a few folks out there who from the beginning make it clear that they

are still open to new information, new studies, etc., to continue to refine

their own ideas. They also can admit where they may have been wrong, where they

have changed, etc., without fear of losing respect in the raw food community at

large. I think in particular of Doug Graham, the Garden diet folks, Frederic

Patenaude. I'm sure there are others. At the same time, I am thankful for the

many whose materials I came across initially, and who planted the seeds of this

particular way of life. So while I have changed, I might not have even come

through the door without those early voices.

 

Peace, Valerie

 

" INFO @ Vibrant Life " <VLinfo wrote:

I believe it is long past time for RF teachers to rewrite their curricula,

to begin teaching people how to live healthfully, not how to continue or

reconstruct the cooked food fiasco as raw fooders. In my experience, almost

100% of those who " try going raw " fail and try something else (at which they

will also fail, but that is not the point of this post.)

 

The only way for people to succeed in the long run is for them to begin

eating and living in increasing health. Speaking only for myself, I would

actually prefer to have someone adding in more and more healthy raw foods --

fruits and greens -- and continue eating some cooked food, than have that

same person exhaust him- or herself in pursuit of recipes that are unlivable

anyway. This fosters self-acceptance and self-love, for there is always a

sense of forward progress. And over time -- a short time for some, a longer

time for others -- the increasing focus on healthy foods simply, gently, and

easily replaces those unhealthy cooked foods. I believe this is " the way to

go. "

 

That's my opinion, nothing more!

 

 

 

Make your home page

 

 

[Guest guest]

Valerie,

As so many times before, once again I find myself in great appreciation of

both what you share and how you express yourself. Thank you!

E

_____

Valerie writes:

 

It was great to read this....you have put into words some thoughts and

feelings I have had for some time now. Great to have it articulated so

clearly.

 

While I found the dehydrator useful during my own transitioning period, to

be honest, the more I think about it, nothing that I made to 'replace' some

cooked food favorites really did the trick. The best dehydrated foods were

things that had nothing to do with cooked food recipes.

_____

 

One of my favorites to share with new RFs is banana ice cream The recipe is

so simple:

1. Peel and freeze the bananas.

2. Cream the frozen bananas in a Champion, Green Power/Life, or food

processor.

3. Eat, eat!

 

Almost everyone at any age loves this easy, inexpensive treat made from a

single food. (Of course, you can add some frozen berries, nectarines,

peaches, etc. to make a more " exotic " flavor, but the principle is the

same.)

 

The emphasis on recipes makes RF seem labor intensive. But what I've found

is that I love the simplicity of eating primarily fruits and greens as whole

foods, or in simple smoothies or other simple recipes consisting of no more

than 2-4 foods. In this sense, raw foods are the simplest, healthiest fast

foods in the world!

_____

Valerie also writes:

re: Raw food teachers re-writing curriculum--a lot of folks have been doing

this for a while, making a living at sharing their raw food perspectives,

and once you have so much invested in your presentation, so to speak, it's

hard to maintain enough freedom to allow for change in that perspective.

Some folks have a lot to lose by changing what they promote, financially or

otherwise. Many, I am sure, remain convinced that the way they have followed

for years remains the most viable way.

 

There are a few folks out there who from the beginning make it clear that

they are still open to new information, new studies, etc., to continue to

refine their own ideas. They also can admit where they may have been wrong,

where they have changed, etc., without fear of losing respect in the raw

food community at large. I think in particular of Doug Graham, the Garden

diet folks, Frederic Patenaude. I'm sure there are others. At the same time,

I am thankful for the many whose materials I came across initially, and who

planted the seeds of this particular way of life. So while I have changed,

I might not have even come through the door without those early voices.

_____

I couldn't agree more. People who have published books and tapes, canonized

a curriculum, etc. are often quite attached to these things, for financial

reasons if nothing else.

 

I am so grateful for the philosophy, core principles, and information I've

been given. The emphasis on fundamental principles, simplicity, and harmony

with Nature, make it easy to welcome new content and methods all the time. I

have found a point of intersection between science and spirituality, so that

I have completely internalized that change is the only " certainty. " For me,

RF is merely a body of knowledge and experience, a set of tools and

mechanism, no different than law or mathematics or language. With this

integral approach, which comes very close to the real meaning of " holism, " I

find myself always grounded yet unattached to outcomes, always ready to move

in a new direction, alter an opinion, identify errors, omissions, and new

information and make changes rapidly and easily.

_____

 

 

--

---------------------[ Ciphire Signature ]----------------------

vlinfo signed email body (2924 characters)

on 30 March 2005 at 06:23:49 UTC

rawfood

-------------------------------

: Ciphire has secured this email against identity theft.

: Free download at www.ciphire.com. The garbled lines

: below are the sender's verifiable digital signature.

-------------------------------

00fAAAAAEAAAD1RUpCbAsAALoCAAIAAgACACBZ36NZd8ice9rJ4ZlYrt6BrEjH8O

zzmKDQLsTNDUWDmAEAhgSkE5NuzzvORJkeFIi/NVXB9GCG1XVfaMj+yPGZ0X1azM

yHUCfame5c0yGtPjvZ1VtSO6NI6lqMYO5elJyYmA==

------------------[ End Ciphire Signed Message ]----------------