Raw Food and Intention
It’s January 20th. How are you doing with your New Year’s intentions?
Was cleaning up your diet one of them? Eating healthier, eating smarter, eating cleaner, those are all goals many of us have here. As time passes, life gears up and sometimes, the best of intentions get lost in day to day survival. But we are not merely surviving in 2010, we are thriving!
Over the holidays, we can stray from our healthy eating habits. Parties, tempting food, holiday stress, they all contribute to the decline of our diet. Before we know it, unhealthy food has replaced too much of our healthy food.
As we work to get back to our healthy eating, there are things that we can do that will help us find and maintain our focus.
1. Make sure your refrigerator is cleaned out. My girls were home from the holidays and things appeared that I hadn’t seen since the last time they were home. The girls went back to Colorado, but the food didn’t go with them. I am not on autopilot when it comes to eating healthy. If unhealthy food is around, I am challenged. My first mission after they leave is to make sure the unhealthy stuff has vacated the premises.
2. Second, clean out your pantry. I give anything that I don’t want to the local food shelves. I eliminate all foods that don’t fit in with how I want to eat. If they don’t fit in with the environment I am creating, they are gone.
3. Set up your raw pantry. You can find information on how to do this here. If you have the ingredients that you need on hand, it is much easier to make the food you want.
4. Always have some raw staples on hand. I find that having crackers and flat breads around help me a ton. They are easy to snack on or turn into quick meals. I make sure that I start another batch before I run out.
These are some of the things that help me. What helps you?
Barbcam wrote on January 21, 2010
I have to agree that my biggest challenge in staying raw is being the chief cook in the household but the only one eating raw. My husband is supportive but still wants his cooked meals, and with two young children to feed also, it’s just tough. Breakfast and lunch are easy but dinner is my challenge, with working fulltime and then preparing two dinners. I’m trying to get in a mode where the meals are complimentary–like I’ll cook something for them, and whatever I make that is raw is a side dish for the family, but more like my main meal. I’m only 2 months into my raw diet, and am trying hard to stick with it. It takes such committment but I am determined to give it my best shot. FIrst two months have gone well.
Lareece wrote on January 21, 2010
Hi,
Thank you for sharing. I understand, I just cleaned out my kitchen. It is too tempting. I try to keep carrot tuna and raw collard greens for emergence. Very simple dishes to make.
Moving Forward…..
Polly wrote on January 21, 2010
I too live with other people who eat differently than me. 7 other people in fact. What helps me the most is the phrase “Of these you may eat freely.” If i run my choices through the filter of that phrase i reach for the right thing every time.
Christine wrote on January 21, 2010
I have found that having raw bread available during the week is so key to my success. My workday and commute are so long, it is much easier to put together a veggie sandwich than chop up everything for a salad. I have also eased up on myself with the being “perfect raw.” It’s winter…I want comfort food. I have given myself leeway to cook up some brocolli and jalapenos at night (weird, I know), drizzle with a little raw dressing and it is a nice side to my sandwich. Not raw, I know….but better than a plate of french fries which was my old SAD type of meal.
Nikki wrote on January 21, 2010
Yes, I agree with you about creating an environment with only the good stuff you want to eat. I keep my cupboards & fridge segregated because I live with someone who eats a lot of food that doesn’t fit into my plan. Then being prepared and always having raw crackers & breads & a sweet treat around usually do the trick. I’ve stuck to my intentions this year, so it’s working well!
Antony wrote on January 21, 2010
So far so good but I’ve got a residential weekend coming up which is likely to be low raw. I’m taking some digestive tablets with me and am planning to make the better than choices … and then I’m coming home to make lovely raw food to eat 🙂
Nora wrote on January 21, 2010
thanks, this is helpful! i think sometimes i feel like eating raw for raw foodists is a piece of cake, so it’s nice to know that it takes some effort, and that anyone can do it (or eat more raw)!
bitt wrote on January 20, 2010
i like to be prepared too. and get inspired with new recipe books, looking at blogs of raw foodies and stuff like that.
one of my intentions this year was to move more. i’m doing it!