Things are getting better and better. Except, I think I am going to go broke if I keep going to Native Sun, the health food store, twice a week. I need to go to the flea market on the weekends (even if it’s not organic, at least it is semi-local) then supplement that produce with Native Sun stuff. But as far as my cravings, much better. I don’t get as hungry at night and if I do, I can usually eat a small piece of raw fruit pie and then go to bed. I figured out why I have been tired during this time for two reasons: 1) it was the week before my period, so of course I was going to be tired and 2) I read the section of 12 Steps to Raw Foods about detox and have many of the symptoms Victoria Boutenko describes (mouth sores, fever, weakness). I am now glad that I experienced these symptoms because she writes that if one does not, then it means their body is too weak to try to heal itself and get all of the toxins out. So, although I was feeling bad I am glad I stayed on raw foods because now I know it was just part of detox.
I am glad I read the part about living harmoniously with cooked food eaters. Thanksgiving is coming up and I am apprehensive not about being tempted to eat cooked food, but about talking about eating raw foods to my family or explaining about it. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to go about explaining raw foods in a simple, quick no-argument way? I don’t want to ruin Thanksgiving. Victoria’s suggestion is to say, “I am glad you are concerned about me, but I feel fine and you can eat what’s on your plate and I’ll have mine.” I think that is good. She also says not to pressure anyone in your family to go raw. Actually, she says to just put that out there up front. When you tell them you’re raw go ahead and say that you don’t expect anything but support from them and that they can continue to enjoy their turkey and stuffing. I need to do some patching. I told my dad I thought he might like to read Green for Life. I don’t want him to take my suggestion as pressure for him to go raw though. I guess I’ll bring it and let him look at it, but if he doesn’t seem interested, I’ll just let it go. I need to remember not to even ask them to try my food. But let them ask to try my food if they wish to.
So here’s what it looks like is on the menu for my Thanksgiving: I think it’s going to be carrot pecan sunburger with candied yams and some kind of fruit pate. And of course salad, veggies, etc. I am just going to try to keep the peace with my family if they give me a hard time for eating raw foods.
I spoke to my grandmother tonight, whom I love dearly. She was probably my biggest role model growing up, besides my parents.My grandmother always mentions that what I am doing is not healthy, mainly because she heard on the TV about some guy’s 21st cousin who fed his baby lettuce and the baby died because of it. And these are weekly phone calls I give to my grandmother.This evening was much different. I suppose because I live so far away, she’s probably just happy to see me this Thanksgiving. What I said to her was “Mema (I call my grandmother “Mema”) … what I need when I go up there is support, mainly because these are my decisions” … and she became very receptive to this. She stated that she always supports me, and always will, even if she doesn’t agree with it.I also believe the picture of me at age 26 will be further proof that I am heading in the correct direction. The only thing I do different at 30 than what I did at age 26 is the decision to eat only raw foods now.Hang tough, Malory. People like the feeling of being able to assist others; it’s almost like we are programmed for it. If you reach out to your family in the manner that you would like their support, they may be receptive. It is key, though, as Victoria mentioned, not to denigrate their food choices, regardless of how ethically/spiritually/healthily you feel about it. Peaceful co-existence is a nice way to approach such a topic.Good luck! Jenn and I will be thinking of your dilemma on that very night as well 🙂
This is great advice. I'm learning that all the time!