Any stories of raw-conciliation?

[Guest guest]

Nick: I've been interested in eating a raw foods diet for several years. I

tried in 2005, but didn't have the gumption to stick with it. I live with

my husband and two teen-aged sons. At that time, they all thought I was

CRAZY to embark on such a strange diet. They continued to eat their cooked,

meat-filled meals, and I struggled to sit at the table with my salads and

fruit and dehydrated concoctions. I felt very deprived. I only lasted

about 3 mos, then went back to cooked foods, but the desire was still very

strong.

 

This summer I stumbled upon Victoria Boutenko's book, " 12 Steps to Raw

Foods. " I read it eagerly, and was particularly affected by the section

wherein she talks about such a diet being an individual choice and it's

important for us to make our own choices in life and not force those choices

upon those whom you love the most (our families). I'm paraphrasing here,

and perhaps that is not what she wrote at all, but it is the message I took

away from her book. At that point, I realized that I had the power to

change my own diet. I also had the power to be an example for the rest of

my family, but I could only be an example by being loving and not forceful.

So I asked my husband (who does most of the cooking anyway) to continue

cooking meals for himself and our sons, but that I would not be able to

participate in their evening meals. My husband was more than willing to do

that for me. As the summer progressed, some days I ate dinners with them,

and some days I didn't sit at the table, but took a walk instead.

 

After a couple of months I was able to go back to cooking for them, without

being tempted by the cooked foods. Now, I cook on Saturday mornings and I

cook as many dishes as possible so that they can eat leftovers all week.

This strategy works well, because the food is prepared and all they have to

do is heat it up. I make my husband's lunch for work. I've been adding

salads and fruit to the lunch. He is enjoying these fresh foods very much

and always comments about how good the salad was today or how yummy those

tangerines were. My oldest sons has started making smoothies (greens and

fruit) for breakfast, and he enjoys this very much. This same son has moved

off to college, but he called the other day and asked about my " diet. " I

said, " It's wonderful -- I feel great. " He then asked if he could eat like

that when he comes home this summer. I said, " I'd be thrilled to have

someone to enjoy fresh foods with this summer! " My Youngest son still

thinks this way of eating is " crazy, " but I'm at peace with my decision and

there is more harmony and acceptance in our home than there has been in a

long, long time. I think that springs from my own feelings of happiness!

 

I wish you the best on your journey, Nick.

 

Heidi

[Guest guest]

Hi Nick,

I don't have any marital tales to tell but I can relate one story that may be

helpful.

 

Many years ago when I started discovering that diet is the biggest contributor

to disease, I shared this information with my parents. My father rejected the

idea and was even hostile to me for suggesting it. His attitude made it

impossible for me to ever talk about health in his presence. When we talked, it

was about anything and everything except the thing I wanted to talk about most

-- how he was causing his own suffering (and he was suffering a lot). I guess I

just completely gave up on him, accepted him the way he was, and tried to focus

on the attributes that I liked.

 

Last year while I was visiting, my father casually asked me how I accounted for

the transformation that has taken place in my moods and outlook on life, saying

he had noted I don't seem to let things worry me anymore. I knew I wouldn't be

able to tell him the truth without sounding like a commercial for eating raw, so

I told him I didn't know, that it was probably just maturity. I see now that

asking that question was probably his way of opening the door, and I kicked

myself at first for not taking advantage. However, after seeing what happened

next I think perhaps he was impressed by the fact that I resisted the

opportunity to preach even when it was presented to me.

 

A few months ago his suffering intensified and I guess it finally dawned on him

that the medical approach had failed him. I still don't know the specifics of

how it came about, but he suddenly started following the advice I'd been giving

my less-resistant mom all these years about eating only fruit in the morning,

eating less meat, dairy and grains and paying more attention to combining

principles. He's feeling better and seems to want to assign credit to anything

except his dietary changes, which is frustrating. But the important thing is

that he will now be seeing the evidence for himself of the link between diet and

sickness, so he will no longer be able to deny it to himself, even if he's not

able to admit it to anyone else. Also, I learned how powerful it is, when

circumstances warrant, to just present an example and avoid preaching.

 

I do, however, still preach to those who are willing to listen.

Best wishes,

Nora