Raw Food Movement

Wow. Where did this year go?? I'm amazed at how quickly the time has passed.

For your sake and mine, here is an update about what has been happening. I've done well avoiding dairy all year, although I went through a tiny spell of eating pears with cheese. But, I'm gladly over that phase. The pears have remained a part of my diet, but the cheese has gone. My weight has become more of an issue lately. Sure, I'm coming into a PMS phase, so I'm a bit worked up about it right now. But, I've been overeating. I take full responsibility for my bad choices. With my weight being an issue and the fact I got yet another nasty cold type thing, I have decided to try a healthy detox cleanse.

I have been interested in the raw food movement for awhile. It has never been something I've wanted to do, primarily because I have felt it is too time consuming. Also, looking at the food choices I felt very limited as to what I could eat, leaving me dreading the food boredom that I assumed would follow. I have never been a fan of avocados, so having said food pop up in many recipes was off-putting. But... According to everyone who has ever tried it, I make some of the best guacamole ever. Therefore, I should probably start eating avocados, even if I have to whip up a batch of guacamole each time.

After browsing recommendations on Amazon and checking out what my local bookstore offers, I snagged up a couple books on Raw Food Diet. Ani Phyo seems to make it fun and she offers many recipes that actually sound appetizing. I purchased her book "Ani's Raw Food Kitchen" as well as Penni Shelton's "Raw Food Cleanse" as it offers great advice and guidelines for four different cleanses.

As the majority of the food I consume right now is raw, uncooked, and seems to be from soil to mouth, I understand I will have an easier time transitioning than some. One of my favorite snacks is fresh cucumber with apple cider vinegar and olive oil. I am also a huge fan of apples with raw peanut butter - you know, the kind you grind yourself. Sliced pears with agave nectar is also something I'll reach for if I am craving something sweet. In fact, there have been days when all I have eaten is blackberries, oranges, pineapple, watermelon, and cucumber. Sure, I probably shouldn't eat like that every day, but I've noticed how amazing I feel when I have days like that.

So, over the course of the next few weeks, I will be experimenting, looking into home sprouting, and testing the raw food waters. I really hope this will help get my body back to a healthy state. I'm tired of being overweight and getting sick at least twice a year. I miss the days a few years ago when I was slender, toned, and vibrant. I crave being healthy... Thanksgiving and Christmas are going to be major challenges for me during this transition. But, I will find a way of creating dishes I can eat that go with the flow of the themes.

Good luck to me!!!