Raw Food Journal

Trying to eat as much raw food as possible while transitioning. The goal is to avoid cooked foods and dairy, and to get acquainted with eating raw dishes, fruits, and vegetables when I am hungry instead. I am starting this journal to keep track and keep me motivated. Also placing emphasis on at least 1 green smoothie/day. Victoria Boutenko says a quart a day is good to help the transition period, but that is so much for me, I get full!

Monday, June 9, 2008

Had to go to the store to get greens, and woke up very late in the day (recovering from Ft. Pierce). I was starving, and wanted El Indio SO BAD! (the mexican restaurant across the street, makes the best chicken tacos and veggie/tempeh quesedillas…). I stayed strong though, and kept driving past it to go home and eat a smoothie. It took me so long to make it though (my kitchen was a mess and I needed to do dishes first). I ended up snacking on leftover nut-cheese with organic carrots, dehydrated mango (I sincerely hope it has no added sugar) and some flax-cracker with pesto.

Once I finally made the smoothie however, it was WONDERFUL! One of my more decadent concoctions by far. I had one huge vanilla bean, about 3 frozen bananas, a few tbsp maca powder, 2+ tbsp ground flaxseed, 1 tbsp each of coconut oil and ACV, ~ 2 tbsp raw cacao, a few drops of Fair Trade Vanilla Extract, and most importantly: almost an entire bunch of organic spinach. Made 3/4 a quart and I drank half of it…. so tasty, reminiscent of a chocolate milkshake but even better because it was not so sugary-sweet… a different kind of sweet. Anyways, now for bed time (as I try to get back on a normal sleeping schedule).

June 10, 2008

Woke up at a decent-er hour (11:30). I always start my mornings with a probiotic, followed shortly thereafter by 1 oz each of noni, goji, mangosteen, and acai juices with 1 tsp EpiCore yeast. I also try and take four MSM capsules throughout the day.

After the morning regimen, I drank the rest of the delectable smoothie… (*drooling in remembrance of the smoothie*). Then some more carrots and flax crackers dipped in pesto and nut-cheese.

Had some slightly cooked (tsk tsk) edamame whilst watching a movie (I haven’t come up with a raw, salty, popcorn replacement yet…)

Went shopping again and got some more greens and fruit. They had some already-cut portions or orange organic watermelon!!! It was UH-mazing . I also bought my first coconut to try out. I opted for the small brown one instead of the young ones that were still in their green shells (next time I am going to get the young ones though). After finally getting into it with an oyster shucker and a hammer, I drained the milk and would take sips whilst munching on the flesh… all I can say is: WOW! I was definitely buzzing off the combination of the milk and the flesh. Then an hour or so after I ate the watermelon… it was another rush! I have acquired 2 food buzzes today They are definitely motivation for keeping with the raw

I had an insane sweet tooth craving for chocolate, so whipped up some raw stuff using a recipe in Shazzie’s book “Naked Chocolate.” For half of it though I experimented by rolling them in cayenne pepper… mmmm… Great Idea! However once I took a small taste I had a crazy craving for milk (they are so dark-rich-chocolatey) so I whipped up some cashew milk and waited for it to cool before I continued eating. I am a dairy freak, and while tasty, the cashew milk is not the same at all, but I am going to give it a few weeks. I am sure my taste buds will change
For several years of my life growing up I would eat an entire bag of popcorn/day.  Thinking of not eating popcorn made me break in.  I made some: air popped with 1 tbsp of coconut oil, curry powder, cayenne pepper, and sea salt.  It was good!  Then I went out and smoked cigarettes until 4am.

Wednesday, June 11

Woke up ~1 pm.  Usual morning routine.  Prepared a new batch of nut cheese.  Ate carrot and nutcheese for breakfast and 1/2 a cantaloupe.  Then off to the farmer’s market where I went a little crazy.  Spent ~$60, but $30 was on 12 pints of blueberries (to freeze for my smoothies).  Got my own organic orange watermelon, some carrots w/tops for smoothies.  Kale for “disappearing kale”.  Blackberries, and organic cherry tomatoes… and some of my most favorite goat cheese!!  I cannot help it!  I then went and bought a young coconut and cantaloupe at the store.

Upon getting back to the house I have not been able to stop drinking the cashew milk.  Once it is chilled (and I added a few tsp of vanilla), it is AMAZING!  Which also meant I had to eat some chocolates with it… Then after reading on a raw food chat-site how many people are not 100% raw I made myself some packaged (but organic!) mac & cheese.  At first I put some of my own shredded cheddar, a bit of real butter, and some of the cashew milk and it was GREAT! but in order not to waste the “cheese” packet I  added that too and it no longer tasted as good at all (silly, silly mistake).  About 20 minutes later I almost instantly passed out hardcore for an hour or so.  Unusual for me, I don’t usually nap.  I woke up ~9:30 and ate half the goat cheese with stale, organic, wheat pita bread.  Then finished up my cashew milk with another piece of chocolate (it is RIDICULOUSLY GOOD!).

I understand this is all a process, and I am learning how to incorporate the raw food into my diet and how to “cook” with it (lol, I mean prepare it).  So I am not going to be hard on myself, but when I get back from visiting my parents I am going to try and be more strict about it.  They say to try it for 1 month and it becomes easier.  I will have to atleast give it two weeks, and try to focus on exercise and research simultaneously to see how I feel (sans partying!)  Maybe I will be a ‘new me’ for my 25th birthday in July!