New from IA - Raw Food Chat

harleyjo · 03-18-2008

I am trying to eat healthier and am trying to go more RAW and maybe someday all RAW. Right now I am having trouble with cravings.

I am almost 50, perimenopause and wanting to lose some weight. I am hoping this healthier life style will help. I have been juicing for about 2 weeks. Doing some smoothies. Eating more salads, mostly romaine lettuce.

Just trying to learn about this and get past these food cravings. It didn't help that right about the time I started this, cookies I had ordered awhile back arrived.....

So I am looking for knowledge and support to help me on this journey.

healthyme · 03-20-2008

I think your body is telling you to give it more good stuff. Cravings can be a signal that you are hungry or thirsty. I fought this off successfully by increasing the amount of smoothie in the morning, I am not hungry until lunch and sometimes not even then. Afternoons are harder for me but I stick to eating raw fruits all morning and then switching to all veggies, nuts, etc in the afternoon. I love a crunch so these help with that. Also I let a piece or two of raw chocolate melt in my mouth (not chewed) and that really takes care of a sweet craving. Just listen to your body and follow its signals. This will take a little while to really know what it's asking for but soon it will be easier, take your time and don't get upset over small mistakes. Have a Happy Day!!!

krae · 03-21-2008

I'm perimenopausal too, had surgery as part of that in the fall, which is why I'm trying to eat better and live a healthier lifestyle. It's amazing how it all fits together. I find that eliminating wheat and sugar completely has helped my cravings go down to almost nothing. I also eat a lot of salads and juice and drinking water when I think I'm hungry helps a lot. I think it just takes time for my body to get the message that I'm taking better care of it.

RawFoodGrl · 03-21-2008

What are your cravings? We might be able to help you find raw food solutions.

For instance, I had a problem with craving beef. I could do all kinds of vegetarian or vegan foods for years, but still always needed some beef some time. Eventually I learned that if I eat spinach every single day then I don't ever crave beef. I've since been finding other foods that help with that, such as almonds and dandelion.

When I crave cheese, I often find that eating raw macadamia nuts helps.

I also wonder if you're getting a complete balance of vitamins, minerals and nutrients. Romaine lettuce is great, but there are some things like collards, chard, kale, spinach, and dandelion to name just a few leafy greens, that have a lot of things romaine does not. And vice versa. That's why it's good to eat a mix of things, a wide variety.

It helps also to get a wide variety of vegetables and fruits too, not just eat the same things over and over.

kymberly · 03-21-2008

You could add leafy greens like kale, arugala, and chard in your diet, also sea veggies like dulse, are exellent sources of calcium, and iron. cravings are normal when you let go of a habit. If you are craving cookies perhaps you could enjoy a date or mango instead, or some raw honey. The cravings will go away after a while, on this new diet you'll feel amazing.

harleyjo · 03-22-2008

Just seeing if I can reply now. I tried 3 times yesterday and my posts wouldn't post.

harleyjo · 03-22-2008

I don't know why it wouldn't post before. I have a limited selection of foods that I can eat to due a bladder condtion called Interstitial Cystits.

I have been craving sweets. I like Nutella and hope to find a good alternative to that.

RawFoodGrl · 03-22-2008

For sweets, fruit of course is very good.

But there are a tremendous lot of recipes for raw desserts and also a lot of great products out there.

My long time favorites have been Raw Revolution Raw Food bars (they're food bars, but full of chocolatey goodness! www.rawindulgence.com), and Chocolate Goji Treats (www.superfoodsnacks.com).

I've tried a lot of great stuff out there, I don't have websites or names for them all, but last night we got some Mac-Goji Brittle (www.transitionnutrition.com) which was SO amazingly scrumptious!

They're all made with raw cacao, most have some kind of other superfoods in them, and any sweetner is raw organic good stuff.

I'm sugar sensitive and eat only things that are diabetic safe - all of these products are.

Mattye Lee · 03-26-2008

Welcome!! I wish you the best of rawesome health

Green smoothies help with cravings, as I have also found out, so does unrefined, virgin coconut oil!

harleyjo · 03-27-2008

Thanks everyone.... I am doing good. Not 100% but at least 75% Raw. I have lost 4 pounds so far. I am slowly easing into this since I have so many diet limitations due to this bladder illness I have. I can eat very few fruits so that is very limiting.

The other limiting factor is where I live. I have one local grocery store. If I could only eat the citrus and tomatoe and high acid foods, I would be in heaven. I don't mind this at all.