As the January Reboot begins I thought now would be a good time to share this question that one of our December Rebooters posted at the beginning of his 30-Day Raw Food Transformation. It's a question that's valid for anyone considering a transition to a Raw Food lifestyle, whether you're doing it as part of the Reboot or on your own. Check out my response to get an idea of how to plan for the first week (or any week) of eating Raw.
Q: What are the tricks of maintaining this way of eating? I would like to plan out the week to come so I'm not eating just salads and smoothies. Thanks!
A: You've already hit on the key to a successful Reboot: it's all about planning! Do some web searches or get your hands on some Raw "cook" books and find some recipes you'll be comfortable preparing. Shop for all of the ingredients ahead of time. Double the recipes so you can have leftovers for lunch or have them for dinner a second night. Make sure you have some versatile ingredients on hand like tomatoes, avocados, bell peppers and zucchini. Make sure your nuts/seeds are soaked and set out to dry for the week.
Here's a recipe I'm planning to try this week: http://www.rawglow.com/recipe10.htm. It looks really easy. I'll probably use cashews instead of macadamia nuts because they're cheaper and easier to find Raw locally. Look for some simple "soup" recipes you can quickly prepare in the blender to take for lunch or have as an easy dinner. This is one I've been meaning to try: http://drpatelsdiet.com/2011/03/27/red-pepper-and-kale-soup-raw-vegan-gluten-free/. I'll add a recipe for nut meat to our Reboot Facebook Group this evening. It's pretty simple and you can have it in a lettuce wrap or use it to fill a bell pepper.
Browse http://rawon10.blogspot.com/, http://www.goneraw.com/, http://www.rawfoodrecipes.com/and look around Google for other Raw recipe sites. I keep a bookmark folder and add recipes whenever I see one that I want to try. I hadn't seen this recipe before, http://www.rawfoodrecipes.com/recipes/raw-veggie-fajitas.html, but it looks really straightforward and delicious. I'd probably skip the sour cream and cheddar sauce parts just to simplify. I'd maybe chop up a cup of tomatoes, 1/4 cup cilantro, 1/2 tsp garlic, 1/2 tsp jalapeno and add 1/4 tsp salt to make a simple salsa to go on top. Use it to fill a leaf of romaine and you've got a nice wrap.
Make a green smoothie or two and pack plenty of fresh fruits, veggies and nuts to take with you to work for snacks.
Salads don't have to be boring. Dressings are easy to make and with the abundance of Raw ingredients available, the sky's the limit. Add some sprouts and nuts to give it some texture and vary the fresh greens you use. Try using thicker elements for your dressings for a richer, heartier taste. Ta-Raw has several different hummus demonstrations on her website (Ta-Raw.com). Try it over greens for something different. Last night I made a mock egg salad and served it over spinach and arugula. It was so thick it wasn't like eating a salad at all. (I'll post that in our Facebook Group tonight too.)
Preparation is definitely the key to success with a Raw Food lifestyle. Other than stopping by Revive for meals, we don't have the option of winging it. The first week or so may be a little rough and may take some extra time, but you'll get it figured out.
Note: The Rebooter who asked the question followed this advice to the "T." He met his goals and ended up being one of our Reboot "Rockstars." He was a regular at our weekly Raw Food Workshops, prepared beautiful meals at home, and shared pictures, recipes and information along the way. We're proud to hear that he plans to continue consuming Raw Foods as a regular part of his post-Reboot diet.
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