Going Raw

Going raw

Nope not being dirty I am referring to eating raw fresh foods. I have been finding that healthy foods are always at the back of my mind.  I recently started following on facebook a guy named "Dan the man, the life re-generator". Yes his name is funny but if you know anything about fresh food it's like a slap in the face. I will take you back a few generations. America as a culture has gone so far away from what eating should be and used to be.  Back when food wasn't so readily available people ate for nutrition, not for pleasure. (granted some ate whatever they could being so poor). The only time families ate a grand meal was when guests came over and it was an occasion not a daily event. Now every meal we eat for pleasure and our bodies are suffering for it.

I am constantly being reminded that we as a culture do not eat the proper foods I would say almost 90% of the time. I will say though I love that this generation is starting a movement, with gyms, low calorie snacks, and overall thinking about our appearance. However I still want to scream some days. Just because you eat at home.....doesn't mean you are eating healthy. Your body is dying to have those raw vegetables sitting in your refrigerator rotting. Please eat them, please.

 But hey I am not throwing stones here. Don't take me wrong I am a fairly good girl, I rarely EVER eat fast food nor do I ever drink soda. However that's still not eating healthy to me, that's just not being stupid. However there are plenty of days when I will grab that tostino's from the fridge and call it dinner. I usually feel my body screaming at me, "this is not what I asked for!". So this being said I have decided that twice a week Shawn and I will eat an entirely raw dinner on top of us already juicing raw fruits and vegetables once to twice a day.

What is raw? 

OK so I have had this question a few times. Raw is something that came from the ground that is fresh - non cooked. There are debates online that I have seen, some raw foodists will cook some of their foods to around 212 degrees. They claim most nutrients are not lost until the food is cook above 212 degrees. If I ever go full Raw Foodist I am sure I will follow this rule. Until then these two meals must be all fresh raw food.

First Meal

So for our first meal we are going to make raw food tacos. I will place "Dan the Man, the life regenerator's" video on how to make raw tacos on here so you can watch if you desire. I might even make my own video when we make the tacos. Yep it's all raw, using various nuts, spices, zucchini for the chips, and lettuce for the shell.  Call me crazy but it actually looks pretty tasty, or interesting anyways.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAaSPotlZB0&feature=youtu.be


Going Vegetarian 

On top of our 2 dinners a week rule, we are also cutting out all red meat. Sounds extreme but it's actually really easy to do here in Seattle. There is tons of fish readily available, ground chicken (seriously amazing in tacos), and ground turkey. Eventually I am hoping to move to only fish but I will take it one step at a time and see where it lands me!

Inspiration

Many will ridicule or ask "Why are you trying to eat so healthy? Do you think you're fat?".  NO, I definitely do not think I am fat or need to lose weight. Eating healthy is not all about weight loss, it's a lifestyle and it changes the way you feel all together. I want you to watch 3 minutes of the video I posted, or go on you tube and watch videos of people who juice fast. What do you see? Well I see radiant, happy people. Look at their skin and the way they hold their selves, they are better because of the extremely healthy lifestyles they hold. I find this lifestyle very challenging and therefore so tempting.

There are other reasons I have been inspired to slowly move into a healthier lifestyle one being my brother. Due to his new arrival among other reason he has gone back vegetarian. He was a vegetarian for 7 years then stopped for about a year. He spoke on his reasoning, "I simply felt better when I didn't eat meat". Seems like enough proof for me! I have always admired my brother and found his truths to well be my truths as well.

Lastly, I want to be an inspiration. I have a new niece among three other nieces and a nephew. I want them to be able to look to me for a way of life. I hope that they are happy and healthy individuals,but  the only way they will do that is with someone to show them how. Kids will not magically eat the right foods or behave the right way. I hope that in my life I can help guide them to happiness and fullness in other ways than a big mac.

I would love it if anyone would like to join me on my journey to eating raw food or juicing daily!! It always helps when you have support. Miss everyone like crazy :)