Raw food newb- staple meals, satisfying hunger and energy needs for a fast paced work environment

[Alyssa Danielle]

Hello beautiful ones,

I'm Alyssa! This is my first time in the blog section here, some really great stuff :) I wanted to seek advice on how to really jump into eating higher amounts of raw in order to fulfill my hunger and energy needs while working at Starbucks (fast paced, pretty stressful and limited breaks to eat) any tips guys? In time, very soon, my career will transition to a line of work that suits my needs and passion but in the mean time I've found it challenging to eat raw because of work. I don't want to give myself excuses because I know it's possible but I feel with your alls help, it can be done! Thank you for your input guys :D

-Light

[Alyssa Danielle]

Thanks Kate! :)

[Kate Frances]

Hi Alyssa!

I'm still sitting on the fence about caffeine!  All I know is that I can't get going first thing without a shot of the stuff! I went caffeine free for about a year - it was ok - but I so enjoyed having it again!

Good luck with your exploration of the world of raw food (not easy when you work for Starbucks!). I totally agree about the contradicting advice out there - it's a nutritional minefield. Like you, I follow what my heart and intuition say is the right thing to do. As Maya Fiennes says in her yoga video (in a delightful accent) 'Have fun weez it!'

[Alyssa Danielle]

Hey Kate, I've actually looked into that as well recently. I would eat soy pretty often and now every now and then I find trace amounts of soy in the things I eat but I totally agree about it! My skin was at its peak a few months ago with a lot of cystic acne and after eliminating soy it has improved SO much! What do you think about caffeine though? I've heard a lot of conflicting information about how its good for you with the antioxidant properties, and also not so good because its dehydrating and throws off hormonal levels. It seems like a lot of research I do is contradictory in the natural health world, I take information into account, but go with what my heart says.  

[Kate Frances]

Just out of curiosity, Alyssa, when you went vegan last year did you eat soy? My skin went mental when I first tried eating vegan and included various soy products. I 'googled' reactions to soy and it turns out that one of them can be cystic acne. Cleared up as soon as I came off the stuff though!

[Aubrey]

Check out choosingraw.com to for great to go recipes she's a student and fulltime blogger!

[Maureen Griffin]

That's raw food freedom! Any which way !!

(but loose? -did you see the movie? -think it had a cute gorilla in it !)

[Alyssa Danielle]

That's awesome Deborah! I can picture the Guatemalan purse lol. I would really like to start making some yummy dressings, it really makes the meal, any ones you'd recommend? 

[Deborah Grissam]

 I have never been good about taking lunch to work until the last few months.

 I just do a huge green smoothie at home for breakfast

... then make a big big salad  and a bottle of dressing ( sometimes a piece of fruit for dessert) and a huge water 

....and put it in my huge guatemalan hippie purse-
......Then pop it into the fridge when i get to work.

 I am working on getting a cute thermal lunch box and be able to just keep it in there all morning. 

[Alyssa Danielle]

Good deal, I'll get on that. I make green smoothies in the morning and usually take a salad and some fruit to work. Although, I'm aiming to have less fruit to help clear up my acne issue. When I went vegetarian in august of last year, and then vegan a week later, my body went through a healing crisis and it all escaped through my skin. I just purchased an enema bag though, I'm going to try the coffee method. Anyone have any experience in that? Cheers :)

[Maureen Griffin]

Hi Alyssa -welcome and yep to all that's been said here. If you have a decent blender at home and a fridge at work a great smoothie can work well, maybe banana, fresh date, a little coconut oil and water...zillions of recipes here at RFR and you can blow everyone out of the water by adding green (not too much at first) eg some spinach. Green smoothies keep you going and still have your fruit too if you're hungry.

My daughter takes them to work and her co workers call it - slime or pondscum etc. Get ready for that. Just laugh it off and offer them a taste -end of discussion. Cheers