Just wondering if I am the only one here with a 'non-raw family'?

[Sunny van Vlijmen]

For quite some time, I've been scouring the internet, hoping to find tips and advice from people who may have overcome the kind of difficulties I am facing in regard to the raw food diet. My main challenge is that my husband and teenage kids reject the raw food diet (and even high raw diet) which means I have to carry a double load.

Having that said, I do want to add that I believe everybody should decide for themselves and have always felt that it was better to be an example for the positive aspects of my choices, thus non-verbally inviting others to follow my example rather than trying to push my choices on others. My family, however, decided against jumping on the raw band wagon and, unfortunately, I am the one stuck with the job to plan, shop for and prepare both raw and cooked meals.

I don't even have enough space in the fridge for both diets, and my husband and I can literally get into an argument over the several cans of beer he finds necessary to store in the fridge when at the same time I don't find enough space to put all of my produce- which is perishable and needs to be cooled. I wonder why there have to be about 10 cans of beer in the fridge when he is the only one drinking beer in this household, and the maximum number of beer he normally drinks on a day is maybe 3? Just wondering....

I am also running a time consuming business, driving my son to college and picking him up again, on top of all the other everyday nitty-gritty that needs to be taken care of.

In the beginning of this year, I went 100% raw for 3 months. Even though I had somewhat more energy, I thought I wouldn't be able to keep up with that lifestyle. I literally couldn't find the time to prepare enough raw foods for me. So I simply didn't eat. I made sure to have my green smoothie and a salad with some crackers, but that was basically it.

Since I am always running around and also working out on a regular basis, I simply didn't consume enough calories. Sometimes, after going to bed, my stomach would start growling, but I was honestly too tired to get up and eat a piece of fruit, because I would have had to go through the ordeal of flossing and brushing my teeth again.

I found out later that I severely 'under-ate' and thus, unfortunately, damaged my metabolism. How did I find out? I gained a lot of weight (I've never been so heavy in my entire life!), I was so exhausted that exercise wouldn't energize me anymore but totally deplete me, and I was cold all the time (which reminded me of the times when my hypothyroidism was still undetected and thus untreated).

 I was told by my doctor that it takes, on average, 12 - 15 months of re-feeding (never going hungry...) for the metabolism to return to normal! As a German naturopath with years of medical training and experience, and on top of that having taught countless "body intelligence" - weight loss classes, I couldn't believe that I was so out of tune with myself to neither remember that fact nor realize what I was doing. However, I have decided that I shall be an exception from that rule... ;-)  Fortunately, I have enough tools in my toolbox to help myself and my body get back on track way more quickly :-).  If I am not mistaken, I may have already started to lose weight, again (yeah!).

Oops, I just realized how late it already is... I will continue my rumination whenever I find time, again!

 

 

 

[Jane Watson]

Hang in there Sunny, and as you can see you are not alone.   I have four children(2 who have moved onto their own houses and 2 still at home) who although used to my healthy outlook on food and diet.....are very much entrenched in the fast food, 2 minute noodles type of eating.....I strive to keep a sense of humour about it all, and family is very very important to me....I do my best to expose and teach them as much as I can and I certainly encourage them cooking their own food wherever I can.  I did notice with a smirk, that when I got my spiraliser and was making my salad for my lunch at work, that my daughters were very intrigued by it all and kept digging into the vegies as I spiralised them....go figure??!! lol   Hang in there, and dont give up and remember you are not alone xxx

[Jean]

I am the rawbie in a house of male non raws. BUT they all ask for a glass of my smoothie to go WITH their breakfasts. They eat veggies/salads or raw toppings on sandwiches. They like raw desserts. Tonight I had spiralized zucchini and they had ias a side to their SAD dinner. They had guacomole and hummus on theirs.

I have been known to make a raw meal and add meat to it for them or maybe roast veggies for them (vegan still a better choice)

I will NOT do soy so that is not an option for anyone.

[Sunny van Vlijmen]

Your comments are truly helpful!

I have a frantic schedule every day, at least 6 days a week. Sunday is normally a day we spend with the family and I am trying to do as little as possible. However, that would be the only day I could use to prepare foods in advance. I know that if I would just take the time to sit down and plan meals ahead of time, it would be easier. I've always been a really good cook in regard to how the food tastes, but not very good in regard to organization (when to prepare what so it would be ready on time, etc.). My entire family will be gone for 2 days and I finally managed to take half a day off. I'm going to dedicate part of my time to coming up with a plan (and the rest I'll spend meditating, tapping, and reading a good book that is NOT educational ;-) ). Thanks again for all you wonderful people who have shared with me what works for them!

[mary]

I have been on this raw path for about 5 years now and have a non raw husband and 2 nonraw teenaged children.  In the beginning I tried to just make raw food but my family rejected it.  Then I tried to make seperate food what they wanted and what I wanted but it was too crazy and the temptation was too much for me.  So I quit.  We had a family meeting and it was decided that everyone would be in charge of their own food.  Every night I prepare something that I want to eat and if anyone else wants some they are welcome to it but if they want something else they make it themselves.  This has worked out great for us.  We have a list on the fridge and if they want me to buy them food it has to be on the list so that I dont have to try to figure out what they want. 

[Trudy]

Hi Sunny, I can certainly sympathise.  I have 3 different diets in my family - carnivores, a diabetic and myself.  I try to have maximum raw but I fall of the wagon often, and alot of it is the time, effort & duplication of requirements - but I keep coming back to it.  I haven't read everyone else's feedback so I may be duplicating what has been said but hope this helps.

What I've found is the need to do things in advance.  The basic fallbacks I have are energy balls (cereals, nuts, dried fruits, coconut etc),  raw granola and raw biscuits that I can do in big batches and either keep in the fridge or freezer.  That way you can 'graze' throughout the day without spending alot of time getting something ready specifically for you.  Also preparing some vegetables and salad components into pieces that can be taken out of the fridge and snacked on all the time.  

It's a bit like when you get in an airplane - if you don't put your mask on first (ie look after your health) you can't look after any one elses.

Also, where is the help from others in preparing their food?  Needing duplication is one thing - but having everyone else sit on their hands while you prepare food you won't eat just leads to resentment and unhealthy feelings.  I hope they are supporting you as well as you supporting them.

The other thing you could do is prepare all of their food - do big batches of whatever they're ok with that is freezable then whip out a frozen whatever and reheat to give you time to do your own food.

Don't lose heart - there are many of us in the same siutation, but failing your own health because of other peoples demands is outright suicide.   I'm not perfect by any means and struggle every day to give myself time to eat well & exercise without reaching for the junk which undoes me, but I hope my words contribute an element of light in your challenge.   regards Trudy

[Aran M Cockburn]

I am the only raw one here.. My husband is non raw, not even vegan, my father in law isn't here at the moment but for winter he is home for 7 months... and he is a BIG meat eater...

 

And  I am the cook......

 

I actually find it fun trying to work out ways to get veggies into my husband, he is a very picky eater, he can eat peas, carrots and corn fine, but when it comes to things like cauliflower and broccoli, no way, yet I got him eat my raw savoury cauliflower rice dish.. he enjoyed it, I tried it with broccoli last time but that failed, the broccoli has a bitter flavour to it...

Father in law loves salads and veggies but MUST have his meat... I told him if he wants it buy it, I'll cook it but won't pay for it..

 

[nathalie carles]

In my house also I am the only raw one and it is not easy at all. You are not the only one!!! I also cook in a guest house so I am surrounded by cooked food. At home I always make a big salad at every meal dinner and I usually end up eating it myself.

For the conservatives people..... Salads are part of any meals raw or cooked ones so just make a big salad with a lot of stuff, your kids will end up eating some anyway because it is really delicious (you can also put hard boiled eggs for them to make more appealing).

I just wanted to tell you that you are not alone !!!!! and yes it is complicated and challenging to be exposed to other kind of lifestyle, very very very hard. Especially if the "other" lifestyle " cooked food is delicious too (I am french and a really good cook) because we call it here Standard American Diet because we are in North America but the French food is a good one I tell you!!! It is hard.... I have never been to a fast food restaurant in my whole life!!!! My mother and myself (or even my sisters) we have nevr bought a prepared meal, always did ourselves !!!! You just have to stick to it and do your best and there are days that are too hard for you try to fall for soemthing not too hard for you,  like cooked veggies....steamed veggies...rice or have you trid for your kids quinoa??????????

Good luck!!!!

[momdebbie]

It gets crazy sometimes.  Got all sorts of diets happening here, Gluten, Casein, Soy, Yeast Free. At least we are all vegetarian.

[Deborah Grissam]

absolutely not- I am totally surrounded by  non raw family- it is fun to give them green smoothies - one at a time! One of my sons has tried them so far and my daughter

[Dee tebbutt]

Hi, I'm new to raw but really fired up and no you r not alone, my family don't want to join me and my friends think I'm mad( well they might have thought it before but now they know) , we have an old fridge outside and that is helping. I think it's fantastic that there is so much support and so many ideas out there, take care I hope it all goes well, Dee