need support and advice

[Heather311]

I am new to the raw foods or should I say being completely raw, I would like to hear from someone on what or how to eat. I need a meal plan something to help get me going. Any support would be great!

[jltime]

I too am new to this lifestyle, and would appreciate any advise or tips from anyone.
Thank you!

[greenbunny]

Since you guys are new you won't mind me saying what I seem to say over and over again: When getting started take things slowly and let your body adjust to the changes. Make it fun, delicious and interesting. You don't need a meal plan. Take something that you eat regularly, even something that you are addicted to, and find a raw alternative. For instance, I used to be addicted to salt and fat so I got celtic, hand raked sea salt and very high quality raw oils and avocados. When I craved something fat and salty I would put the salt on the avocados and go to town. If you crave icecream, make banana icecream. If your thing is chocolate, make raw chocolate treats. If at breakfast you eat the junkiest food, change that meal first. Perhaps you can just add a salad to dinner and make the dinner bigger and bigger over time. Maybe you can have fresh squeezed oj in the morning instead of bottled. Maybe you can just add a fruit snack instead of something cooked in the middle of the day. Maybe you can make yourself some soaked and dehydrated trail mix to snack on. Change one thing at a time until it feels natural and a habit. Then go to the next.

If you increase your raw food slowly by replacing things you already eat with better versions the change will be seemless, become a new habit, and happen in a way that will be easily maintained and you probably won't have to go through any difficult detoxes and then will want to stay with it. It will not be astrange, dramatic departure, but just what you eat.

If you need help coming up with ideas, I would be more than willing to help. Best of Luck to both of you.

greenbunny

[RawGuru]

testing to see if the this works right.

[anisha]

Hey there I am also new. I feel like I too need a meal plan of some sort, but I think I will try out greenbunny's advice.
I have been looking up recipes on the internet and getting so overloaded with the foods I can make. I just try to keep it simple with salads and blended juices. We are all in this together! (=

[elizabethh]

hi there, and welcome,
please read the matt monarch interview on this website about starting raw, his suggestions are very helpful and practical.
putting in my own two cents, the very first thing i recommend is to immediately purchase the book "green for life" by victoria boutenko and start making amazing delicious life giving green smoothies. they will change your life!

[greenbunny]

Just for the record - some people don't do well mixing vegetables and fruit. I say this just in case you don't feel great from green smoothies and think something is wrong with you. There's nothing wrong with you if seperating fruits from vegetables works better for you. Sometimes you can mix things at first but then get more sensitive being all raw and not be able to handle it later. Experiment to see what makes you feel the best and then keep on experimenting as time goes on. Everybody's different and everybody changes. Wish it were more clear cut and someone could just say "if you eat exactly this every day you will feel absolutely fabulous all the time". That would be nice. But alas, that would be way to easy and boring so .... on my toes I stay. It amazes me sometimes how different my dietary needs have been year to year and season to season let alone decade to decade. But one thing has stayed the same for me - mixing fruits and veggies (except in some juices like carrot/apple) almost always slows my energy and many times causes abdominal discomfort or distention whether on live foods or not. So.... green smoothies are out for me..... at least for the present.

Greenbunny