Happy Friday, everyone! We want to cap off this week with a question: Do you keep a blog? We realize that many blogs include blogrolls, but this has been a sticky issue for us here at Pure Jeevan for a few reasons: First and foremost, we LOVE and appreciate each and every one of you so much, and wouldn’t want to accidentally exclude anyone!
Also, we visit/follow/read/scan SO many great raw food blogs (as well as many not specifically focused on raw), that the list would be impractically extensive and tough to keep current. In fact, there are so many quality raw food blogs out there that we specifically created a category on the All Raw Directory for raw foodie blogs. (To date, there are 250 raw blogs in there!)
Today, we came up with a fun/novel idea: We woud love for our beloved Pure Jeevan family (and, if you’re reading this, we consider you part of the family!) to tell us your blog addresses in the comments section of this post. Then, on the sidebar of our blog, we’re going to include the following graphic, which will always link back to this post:
So, drop us a comment, won’t you? Tell us a bit about your lovely blog, if you like. For example: When did you start blogging? What are the main topics covered by your blog? How often do you usually post? (And of course, don’t forget to include the URL!!)
As a policy, we normally edit links out of our comments (a necessity, unfortunately, as we’ve had some memorable experiences with spammers and so forth). But for this post, please link away! (And, while you’re at it, make sure to also pop over to the All Raw Directory’s blog section, as mentioned, and make sure you’re listed there, too!)
To help keep all of you inspired, we’ve asked some
remarkable individuals to share their raw food stories with you. Enjoy!
My Story of Conquering the Myths of My 50+ Body
I’ve been eating 100% live/raw food for a little over eight months now, and I believe it all started… well…. hmmmm… let’s see. Last summer I was determined to do something once and for all about the weight that I put on since I turned 50, six years ago (well, almost seven years now…). It seemed that no matter how much I exercised or how much I ate – or didn’t eat – nothing stopped the onslaught of impending bulk. Each year added a few more pounds until I hardly recognized myself!What happened? Who was I? Where did this strange body come from? I decided I needed to take this foreign body by the horns and wrangle it back into submission. Actually, I was gentler than that, but the determination was there.
I am a constant gardener in my kitchen. I am planting and harvesting green sprouts daily in my apartment, but that’s a story I can tell you about another time. I am also a constant gardener of my thoughts – persistently planting seeds of gratitude, love, appreciation, and acceptance. I think there’s more to being vibrant and healthy than just eating the proper foods. I also find that I need to clear the clutter of thoughts which aren’t true for me, and replace them – replant them - with thoughts that align myself with who I really am.
I have experienced that my body responds only to my thoughts. So, with some resolve I began to question my thoughts about popular beliefs that I was buying into like, “Women over 50 look matronly”, “Menopause causes every woman’s body to explode into uncontrollable pockets of flab and sag”, “Sex appeal and being over 50 is an oxymoron”, “No matter what you do after 50, a beautiful body is totally illusive”… and guess what? I found out that those beliefs are not true at all!
Eating live/raw food came to me as a result of my learning to constantly question any stressful thoughts that I was buying into. Eating food in its natural state just came to me naturally! Detoxing “whole-istically” is so valuable, because I’ve found that it’s not possible to clean up the body without paying attention to cleaning up thoughts and beliefs, also. In fact, I’ve discovered that when I cleanse stressful thoughts, the body follows – it sparkles easily and effortlessly.
I lost 45 pounds in three months. It just melted away, and has stayed away. I ate (and still do eat) tons of delicious raw foods, and if some judgments pop up like, “I shouldn’t eat after dark” or “I shouldn’t eat too many sweet fruits” or “If I eat ‘that’ I’ll blow everything”, I just question those opinions to see if they are really true for me, or if I might just be latching on to someone else’s beliefs no matter how “scientific” they appear to be!
As I become more aware of the power, beauty, and truth that’s within me, all the “shoulds and shouldn’ts” of the world, which always feel like prison sentences, become flagrant myths – not true for me at all. Discovering what is true for me reveals the most delicious freedom I’ve ever experienced. I also keep my attention on how beautiful l feel, rather than paying any heed to how I look in the moment, because when I feel the beauty from within it radiates outward.
I have found that starting a raw food diet by detoxing a bunch of stressful, untrue beliefs is the most effective way to go. Cleaning out all the old sludge in the body and the mind has ensured me success in staying raw/live and healthy. As I continue to question some of my stressful thoughts on the subject of “my over 50 body”, I can feel this spark of power hidden deep in the recesses of my being, trying to get my attention, only muted under layers of sludge that need dissolving.
Those layers are finally melting away, and that spark (the “sparkle puff” that we are!) is becoming stronger and brighter by the minute. I’ve promised to honor and listen to, and accept the truth of my being, and not allow any false thoughts or beliefs to bury that truth ever again. Finding my power and beauty once more feels magnificent! It’s magical, fun, pure freedom, dominion and joy! I now know that the power and beauty are there, and I have every intention of keeping this bounty upfront and center. Eating simple natural raw foods, and cleansing my thinking has become a way of life for me that I don’t ever want to give up. I feel and look better than I ever have. I love it!
You can find out more about Jacki-Ann by visiting the following links:
When we were heading out of town, I said that this trip might be a bit difficult on Jim because it’s his first time being exposed to our friend Mamta’s Indian food while he’s 100% raw. I created some rich, delicious dishes to keep him satisfied, so that the temptation wouldn’t overpower him. I expected no problems for myself, since I’ve been raw for more than three years and have been exposed to this temptation before without any problems.
Well, guess what? The cravings are here! You see, Mamta is THE BEST Indian food chef EVER. We’ve eaten literally thousands of Indian meals over the years, and even enjoyed it while touring India for nearly a month in the 1990s, but nothing has ever compared to Mamta’s skill at creating the most delicious food on the planet. As usual, she sent home lots of food when we left this weekend — this time all for KDcat, who is so very happy she’s not eating 100% raw foods. I don’t even know how many different dishes came home with us, but their aroma has been extremely tempting.
Being out with friends and having a great time, all while being surrounded by tempting foods isn’t such a difficult thing for me. I’m so into being with my friends that the food isn’t even a consideration for my time and thoughts. However, when I’m not with my friends and I’m at home with my daily schedule, the aroma of Indian food wafting through the house for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks is extremely tempting! After three years eating raw foods, I’m seriously craving some Indian foods!
Just today I stood looking down at the aloo paratha (a spicy potato-stuffed bread) and wondering if it tastes as good as I remember it tasting. I wondered how my body would feel if I ate some of it. Then I took a step back, horrified. Did I really just have those thoughts?! Why would I ever waste my time wondering such things when I know I don’t REALLY want to eat the food?
The way I dealt with cravings when I was first going raw would be to ask myself some questions. What is it about this food that I’m craving? Is it the texture or some particular taste (salt, sweet, spice, etc.)? Usually, I narrowed down what it was about the food that I was craving and I’d create something raw to meet those cravings. For instance, at times when I was craving pizza I found that what I was really wanting was something salty and oily. So, I would make a salad loaded up with lots of good oil and salt. It was very satisfying and the craving quickly faded.
So, there I was horrified earlier today and I remembered what I needed to do. I asked myself the question: What is it about this food that I’m craving? EVERYTHING is what came to me, first. I knew my emotions were overriding my ability to find an answer. I wanted the taste and smell of the COOKED spices, I wanted the oily, salty, warming sensations of the food. I wanted the LOVE that went into the food as it was being created by Mamta. I wanted what was familiar, what was comfortable, what made me feel good.
BINGO! There it was. I wanted what made me feel good. That’s what my emotions were telling me, anyway. But, guess what? I know that my emotions can’t think about what is best for me. My emotions, some of the time, are conditioned. That’s definitely the case when it comes to Indian food. Over the years I’ve learned to question my emotions, rather than just experiencing them or allowing them to dictate my actions. So, I questioned the statement: Indian food makes me food good. “Does it really?” I asked myself.
Here’s something big that I’ve learned: When it comes to food we need to realize that food has only one purpose: to provide nourishment. So, when we are looking at a food and saying it makes us feel good, we need to dig deeper and find out HOW it makes us feel better. If the answer is that it floods our bodies with nourishment and therefore provieds us with renewed energy, then it’s a good thing to eat that food. If the answer is anything different, however, it’s probably best to consider skipping that food. In most cases the “feel good” feelings that come from foods are really emotional, not physical.
Why would we settle for a food to meet our emotional needs? Foods don’t truly feed our emotions, right? They may pacify us for a little bit and numb our feelings long enough for us to stop experiencing something unpleasant that we don’t want to deal with at the moment. But, let’s not fool ourselves about foods feeding our emotions. They simply aren’t capable of doing such a thing.
But, what do we do when we’re experiencing cravings and they aren’t really physical cravings? Well, the first thing is to back away from the food and ask yourself some questions. Now that you know the craving isn’t physical, do you really want to consume that food? It’s a choice. You are either going to eat it, or you aren’t. You know the food isn’t nourishing your body. Do you still want to eat it, or do you want to take some time to dig a little deeper and find out in what way that food was going to make you feel good? If it makes you feel happy, why aren’t you happy? Are there changes you can make in your life to bring more happiness? If it makes you feel calm, why aren’t you calm? Are there changes you can make in your life to bring about a more calm atmosphere (inside and outside your body)? If it makes you feel love, why aren’t you feeling loved? Are there changes you can make in your life to bring about more love?
It’s not an easy process to go through. At times you may not be emotionally strong enough to answer the questions and you’ll make a decision to consume the food you’re craving. That’s okay. Just know that you made the conscious decision to eat the food and enjoy it. Don’t let guilt enter into your mind or body. You weren’t ready to answer some tough questions and that’s okay. In the future you’ll be ready to answer them because you want to be healthy on all levels.
So, today I was standing there, smelling that aloo paratha and not wanting to ask the questions because I might not like the answers. Sometimes it can be scary to dive deep into ourselves, to find out what we truly desire, to fully understand ourselves. In the end, however, going through those sometimes scary inquiries will help you change, grow, and ultimately blossom into the beautifully unique flower that is YOU.
I know I don’t really want that food, no matter how wonderful it smells. I want health above all else — total health of body, mind, spirit, and emotions. I’m going diving…how about you? I’m sure to uncover some treasures. If they’re something that I think might help you along your journey, I’ll be sure to share them with you.
In this video, Pure Jeevan heads to Washington, D.C., to visit some close friends. See what these raw foodists pack to eat for the weekend and hear proof that Wendi Dee is getting younger! A friend who has known Wendi for 20 years says she now looks as young as she did when they first met! *giggles* Raw foods are AMAZING at restoring youthfulness! Are you getting younger, too?!
You’ll see a picture of a raw apple pie that Wendi created (the recipe is included in our free raw food recipe ebook) and hear her friends rave about the raw cheesecake she prepared for them. It’s always nice to make some extra special raw treats for your friends, so they can see that you’re enjoying the food that’s helping you regain your health (and youth!).
What do you usually pack when you visit with others for a few days? This time we packed some prepared raw foods as well as simple fresh fruits and veggies. If you feel like you might be tempted to eat cooked foods (this was a very tempting trip for us because our friend Mamta is THE BEST Indian food chef in the world—no kidding!), prepare ahead of time before heading out the door. If you have some gourmet raw foods prepared, the temptation will be lessened. It’s pretty tough to be smelling the aroma of Indian foods, but in the end our health is worth so much more than the fleeting pleasure of smelling and tasting the best Indian food in the world. What could ever be more important than your health, right? With that kind of thinking you’ll always have your best interest at heart and you’ll be filled with the strength to lovingly decline the most tempting non-raw foods.
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Here's a picture of Wendi with her best friends. They've witnessed her growth and changes and have never wavered in their love and support for everything she has done.
Jim here… Here’s a compilation of vids from my little Flip camera, all taken over our weekend roadtrip to Washington, D.C. It’s not all strictly raw-food related, but does include some raw tips. First up, you’ll see our rawsomely packed food coolers. Between using ice and frozen fruits, everything kept cool just fine.
Early in the video, Wendi shares a handy tip for keeping your smoothies cool on the road. If you’re going to drink your smoothies right away, you might have little concern for keeping a drink cold. However, we had eaten breakfast already and knew we wouldn’t want to get into our smoothies for another hour or so after leaving. Frozen berries to the rescue! (Just make sure to hunt down a large glass bottle with an opening large enough to pour frozen berries into.)
Later in the vid is some footage from my trip to Senbeb Cafe, one of the puzzlingly few destinations for raw foods in Washington, D.C., where KDcat and I hung out with raw couples Blaqberry & Jer and Wysteria & Ryan. We had fun sampling the rich, gourmet raw foods (super-sweet kale salad, walnut-olive burgers w/ flax crackers, a funky/chunky tahini-based slaw-like concoction with soaked wild rice, and of course raw raspberry cheesecake).
(By the way, why is it that there are so few raw restaurants in D.C.? Surely a city of that size could sustain several more! Any D.C.-based raw entrepreneurs out there? I smell opportunity!)
It was a fun evening of hanging with friends, getting to know new raw friends, having the obligatory (but always fascinating) raw foodie conversation on colloidal gold and marine phytoplankton, and basically just hanging out for hours. I did briefly meet Senbeb’s manager, and wanted to do an interview with him for the blog. However, it was a particularly busy night in the community there and he seemed way too busy at the time. Another time, I’m sure! (Wendi actually interviewed him once, but the sound quality didn’t work out on that video.)
Also included is some bonus footage of a fascinating iPhone app called the Ocarina (really mind-blowing, magical stuff!) as well as some silly footage of Julia (aka The Jooge) making a new puppy friend (if by friend you mean a smaller dog that might be fun to attack).
As prepared as we were, I think we probably could have prepared even more for the return trip during which Wendi and I both became rather tired and even struggled a bit to wake up a few times. Wendi improvised a salad in the car at one point, which helped her. I was still feeling a little weighted down from having eaten so many rich dishes. But… we made it and, as with any trip or outing, if you arrive home exhausted and in a good mood, you got the job done right!
Jim here… It’s been nearly half a year since we posted a long meditation on living patiently, noting the unique, sometimes-at-odds dovetail that exists between (1) experiencing the zen of patience and (2) living the electrically charged life of raw foods. While we’re STILL living with the same patience we talked about, I have to admit there have been times when we’ve been in not-so pleasant touch with some real frustration about getting our home sold and finally moving on to all of the exciting stuff we have planned for us and for you.
Wendi and I are absolutely ecstatic about taking our raw foods message to the next level — and not just “next level” meaning more a few more blog posts and videos, but a true quantum leap in terms of our immersion into this world and commitment to advocating the lifestyle. It just gets a little tough, even when practicing patience, to be kind of stuck in the starting gate.
Two arguments / explanations come to mind about this predicament:
A common one would be this: Well, maybe you’re just not ready to embark upon this journey yet. You still have furniture to sell, an estate sale to hold, financial matters to attend to regarding the RV, administrative loose ends to tie up regarding leaving Pittsburgh once and for all, work to be done on your Raw Tour planning, etc. All of those are 100% true.
However, that’s not the hold up. Want to know why? … Parkinson’s Law.
There was once a prolific British author named Cyril Northcote Parkinson who famously observed that “Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” This became known as Parkinson’s Law. It’s a favorite concept of mine, one I personally believe in deeply and one I’ve seen play out in real life time and time again. I also frequently notice the related truth that the necessary work also usually contracts to fill a shorter available time for completion. Do you ever notice that? If you’re going to have a raw potluck, for example… If you have two hours to prepare, you get everything done in two hours. But if you only have one hour, you somehow get it all done in one.
I’m banking on that… I know we could be slowly selling off all of the furniture in the house, one piece at a time, in preparation for our big move. But, I guarantee you: If our home sells tomorrow and we’re forced to get out within 30 days … somehow, we’ll get it all done in those 30 days.
So, it’s just a matter of committing ourselves to conjuring a home buyer. I truly believe that’s the bottom line, and we’ve been focused on doing that rather intently lately. I’m sure our home is advertised on at least 50 web sites at the moment. So, it’ll happen! It’s our clear intention to sell our home, so we know it’ll happen.
Intention means a lot to us… A quick example: We were at the local co-op last night and saw some wonderfully healthy tomato and basil plants, each about two feet tall, for $1.50 each. It was hugely tempting to take 5 or 10 of each one home and start a small garden for the season. However, in the end, we felt that doing this (even if we might still be around for a harvest in a few months) was tantamount to investing energy into staying here in Pittsburgh. And, cheap tomatoes or not, abundant basil or not, that’s simply not our intention. And, anyway, by the time the tomatoes would be ready, so will everyone else’s locally, which means that’ll be the time when they’re the cheapest. (BTW, we have had some absolutely wonderful gardens over the past years here. Once we have land out West in the future, I’m sure we’ll be posting amazing things on that front!)
So, living patiently, passing opportunities for cheap tomatoes… In spite of these unusual modes of existence, we’ve actually managed to continue ”life as usual” as best we can. The recent Summertime Raw videos we posted are good examples of this. And we have some more coming up next week! This weekend, we’re taking a roadtrip to the Washington, D.C. area. It’ll be a good opportunity to share some additional tips and tricks about staying raw while on the road. And, since it’s summer, it should fit nicely into that series of videos.
So, have a nice weekend everyone! We look forward to sharing some “raw footage” next week!
Jim here… Anyone else like a good funky beat? Who’s familiar with Kool & the Gang’s 1973 classic, “Jungle Boogie”? Surely a lot of people know that awesome tune. If you do, recall some of the main lyrics: ”Get Down Get Down, Get Down Get Down!” That’s the tune I want you to keep in mind as you read this post. Hear the drums, the bassline, the electric guitar, the horn section, the voices, the phrasing, the overall dynamics of that distinctive groove. Consider how magically it all comes together.
So, Wendi called me this morning and said, “Why don’t you put a blog post up about your new challenge?”
“Sure,” I said, “but it’s not really about raw foods, you know?”
“But Pure Jeevan isn’t entirely about the food!” she reminded me. “it’s a holistic site!”
She’s right! Holism recognizes that the whole is much, much greater than the sum of its parts. In this view, our entire beings are like musical emsembles. Sometimes we’re orchestras, sometimes string quartets, sometimes we exude the energy of a 70s funk band. In this worldview, each aspect (mind, body, spirit, emotions) of our beings is not only a wonderful solo instrument in tune with itself, but also a contributor to a larger harmony. And so it makes sense from time to time, if you want the overall vibration that you can send out into the world to be pleasing and agreeable and dynamic, to spend some time tuning your various individual instruments in accordance with the essential, individual tonal vibration emanating from your core.
Now, it’s true; we do tend to focus quite a lot here on just the food (and we’re definitely fairly categorized as a “raw foods web site”), but only because we believe so strongly in the transformative power of raw foods to not only restore physical health and vitality, but to also lead one toward remarkable clarity on other levels — mental, emotional, and spiritual. So, yes, we do focus on the food a lot here — and food is definitely key in each of these areas! — yet it’s really not about the food. It’s more about identifying and basking in that individual tonal vibration I’d mentioned above. And when you find that vibration, you not only begin to shine individually, but you’ll recognize an even greater holism (namely, your harmony with everyone and everything else in the larger cosmic orchestra).
Fun stuff… BUT, you still have to “tune” the individual instruments (your body, your mind, your spirit, your emotions). One way to begin the tuning process is via raw foods. Clearly, we’re focused on that here. For many (like us) it isn’t/wasn’t even so much about “tuning” the instrument as it is/was about repairing the instrument! But, once it’s repaired, it needs to be in tune. On a physical level, that means exercise. (I realize, btw, that this isn’t a perfect metaphor largely because, as a runner, I know fully that exercise can be much more than a physical experience. But, anyway…)
If there’s one thing the universe keeps telling me, it’s to take action on my ideas. I’ve heard and read this so many times now, it’s amazing. I was always pretty good at doing this, too. But, after being raw for so long now, and after truly committing myself to a life outside of the corporate paradigm, I’ve finally understood the remarkably abundant nature of the world, glimpsed the absolute freedom available to those who really want it. As a result of this, I’ve taken the mantra of “take action” to heart like never before. It’s decisions, not just desires, that really drive the world on all levels. You can’t just want something (e.g. a nice physique), you have to decide that you’re going to go for it. (I was just reading that exact sentiment in Tony Robbin’s book, Awaken The Giant Within.) It does begin with wanting, but you also must decide.
So, anyway, I had this crazy notion about a week ago to start a “push-up video blog.” I thought, “Why not do 100 pushups every day (5 days/week), and do videos about it?” What a strange idea… I’m not sure where exactly it came from. But, I instantly liked it for many reasons. I thought that committing myself to doing a short “vlog” every day would provide me with all of the motivation I’d need to actually DO it, and to stick to it. So, right then I decided. Instead of thinking it all through, I simply recognized this as a positive thing, and took action. I immediately ordered a $50 Flip video camera from Amazon and told myself that the day it arrives is Day 1.
Day 1 was yesterday. I’m in a bit of physical pain from it, but fully intend to stick it out and have a good time with this. I hope others will be inspired to join in, or to join in with some other modification (e.g., making it situps or some other daily physical exercise goal). There’s nothing to sign up for or register for. It’s basically just a personal commitment. I did start a YouTube channel for the vids, as well as a quick and dirty blog site to house all of the videos. The blog (which is still somewhat under construction) appears at www.GetDownAndDoIt.com (which redirects to a free site where I have it housed). I hope it’ll both inspire others and also introduce some new people to the power raw foods (demonstrating that you can definitely be athletic and raw!).
So that’s today’s news: 100 push-ups/day, 5 days/week! That’s what I’m up to… (Wish me luck!)
Afterword: The Synchronicity Affirming This
Ever hear people telling stories about how synchronicities are the Universe’s way of nodding to us that we’re on the right path? Well here’s something pretty neat. I subscribe to a daily newsletter from TUT.com. Basically, it’s a free service that sends you a daily “message from the Universe.” They’re pretty neat (all very positive and empowering). Here’s the one that came to me Monday:
If you can understand, dear Jim, that the 3 greatest obstacles between you and the life of your wildest dreams are actually imaginary, a product of your mind alone, I do believe we’ll blow the wheels clear off this popsicle stand. “Push-Ups” for everyone,
The Universe
Now, I know that they meant “push-ups” as in the ice cream, but it’s still pretty cool, eh?
To continue with our Summertime Rawseries, we took a trip to Pittsburgh’s Frick Park to enjoy the beautiful day. Before leaving, we packed another meal to show you how easy it can be to eat a raw food diet while away from home. Frick Park was wildly popular among dogs; we saw canines of all shapes and sizes — all playful, yet calm in comparison to our lovely Julia, a rescued blue Doberman. Joogie enjoyed the outing very much because she was able to snack on cucumbers (a favorite treat), chase after a few joggers (we’re teaching her that this isn’t proper doggy behavior), knock the cooler out of Jim’s hands when we were leaving (which broke a few of our best glass dishes), and lick the faces of a few new furry friends. We’ve been to many parks, but we have a feeling this is now Julia’s favorite.
In yesterday’s blog and video post, we showed you how easy it is to simply grab fresh fruits and veggies and head out the door for an outing. In that show, no refrigeration or preparation was necessary. However, we also know that many of you are new to raw foods, and perhaps eating simple chopped produce isn’t so appealing for you compared to traditional foods you’d normally eat while in a park. So, today’s goal is to demonstrate how simple it can be, making it easy for you to stick to a raw food lifestyle and not feel tempted by the cooked foods that may be around while you’re out enjoying the summer with friends and family. So, today’s video is about stepping it up to the next level.
Before leaving the house, we created some quick sandwich spreads. We also packed some whole veggies to slice and use for our sandwiches. The total time we spent preparing the spreads and packing everything was about 20 minutes. Since we processed some of the food and brought along some perishables (e.g., lettuce), we needed to bring a cooler with us for this trip. In an extra bag we brought along a cutting board, chef knives, a vegetable peeler, some blankets/throws for the ground, a few fruits, and a bottle of water. We were out the door in about 20 minutes; not bad!
While at the park, we spent another 20 minutes or so slicing the vegetables, creating our individual sandwiches, and making some miniature sandwiches to offer to others in the park. We figured that it would be difficult to find anyone to take food from a stranger, but it was worth trying because we could plant the seeds about a raw food diet even if no one was interested in sampling what we created. You’ll have to watch the video to see if anyone took us up on our offer of sampling the mini-sandwiches!
KEY POINTS FROM THIS VIDEO:
In this video you see how simply preparing some spreads ahead of time, you can create delicious sandwiches using vegetables that you slice at the park.
If your cooler has a flat lid like ours, it can become a convenient table top for chopping and serving foods!
Wrap your chef knives in a few kitchen towels, so they don’t poke through a bag and possibly hurt someone (and the towels are convenient for helping to clean up).
Make your meal fun so you don’t feel like you are missing out on anything. We created cute little sandwiches that were visually appealing and fun to eat.
It’s convenient to have pre-packaged raw bread to save yourself time. Plus, they are delicious!
Note:
The Summertime Raw series will pick up again next week, after we’ve taken a trip to Washington, D.C., to visit some friends. What better way to show you how to pack for a raw outing than by going on a small trip and taking you along with us? We’re going to require some more complex dishes to keep us from being tempted by the most delicious cooked Indian food, however! Wendi will be okay, since she’s been raw longer. But, this could be a huge struggle for Jim! We’ll let you know how it goes…
Well, it’s officially summer here! This time of the year is extra special to us now that we’re healthier. Not only is there an abundance of fresh, local organics to eat, but the sun also shows itself to us a lot more (Pittsbugh is ranked as one of the places experiencing the least amount of sunshine per year). The sun actually used to make me feel physically ill (I wrote a bit about that in an earlier post), but ever since I’ve switched to a raw vegan diet I find myself drawn to the healing sunshine.
Before switching to a raw lifestyle, we used to go on a lot of outings (picnics) and we’d also go camping. I remember a friend voicing concern when my diet was beginning to change to raw foods. She felt I wouldn’t be able to go camping anymore and that things like picnics wouldn’t be fun for someone eating a raw food diet. She thought I’d need access to a refrigerator in order to keep all my raw foods fresh and a kitchen where I could prepare the delicious foods she had been seeing me eat.
Fast forward years later and we’re professionals at raw foods and going on outings with ease! We know many of you have concerns about being in a group setting where the focus is normally on the food consumed, especially at picnics, so we’ve put together a few videos to help share what we’ve learned. Outings for those living a raw food lifestyle can be as simple or complex as you desire. We’ll start you off with the easiest way to head out to a park for the day. In this video you’ll see how simple and easy it can be to eat a raw food diet and still enjoy yourself on an outing for the day. We focus on truly whole foods that have not gone through any processing at all. After the video, I’ll summarize some key points for you to remember.
EDIT: There are two sections of the video where the voice didn’t come through. We’re working on uploading another version of the video to see if it can be corrected. In the first quiet section, you hear a child crying and Jim explaining (with a bit too much glee in his voice) that the child was just bitten by a duck! I say it wasn’t funny, but he thought it was a bit humorous. In the second part, Jim is explaining that while everyone who’s been eating cooked foods is feeling tired and a bit lazy, as a raw foodist you’ll have abundant energy. He then takes Julia (our dog) on a run to see the BISON!
KEY POINTS FROM THIS VIDEO:
You don’t need refrigeration to enjoy a picnic on a raw food diet.
It can take as little as ten minutes to pack all that you’ll need for the day.
Be sure to pack extra because raw food is so vibrant your cooked friends will be asking you to share it.
You can pack a very large variety of fruits and veggies that require no refrigeration.
You’ll find that your need for water is decreased on a water-rich whole foods diet.
It’s best to bring much more food than you think you could eat because it’s much better to bring leftovers home than to be hungry and tempted by cooked foods while you are out.
Pack a variety of tastes and plan to include sweet as well as nonsweet foods.
While others may be feeling lethargic after eating heavy, cooked foods, you’ll find yourself with abundant energy!
Going on outings isn’t about the food; it’s about having FUN!
Jim here… As you’re probably aware, Sunday marks the summer solstice here in the northern hemisphere. While the Pure Jeevan family certainly includes many raw foodies living in the southern hemisphere (*nods to our friends in Oz and beyond currently heading into winter*), the majority of our readers will equate Sunday with the official kick-off of much longer, much hotter days. So, we’d like to provide some topical, tropical inspiration for you.
How do you feel about heat?Personally, I used to *hate* it. I thought I knew what real heat was, too, having grown up in St. Louis where the summers can be brutal. But, Wendi and I traveled to India once (so far!) and, wow, THAT was real heat. I clearly remember standing on an airport tarmac in a place called Trivandrum, just 8 degrees north of the equator, almost in shock over how hot it was there.
But guess what… I actually prefer heat now! Isn’t that strange? I have two reasons for this, both related to raw foods: (1) My body temperature is lower now than it was on cooked food. Raw cools you down a bit… It’s not just me; many raw foodies talk about this, and I’ve read at least 10 different, logical explanations for it. Also, (2) I’m thinner now, and not so uncomfortable in hot weather. This makes logical sense, too. If fat is insulating, then it only makes sense that heavier people might be uncomfortable in warmer climates. (Trust, me; I was well insulated!)
So, when it comes to heat, I now say: Bring it on! The hotter the better. This is just one small example of the liberating power of health. Next time I’m in Trivandrum, I’m going jogging!
Anyway, in order to provide you with summer raw food inspiration, we’ve got some really tough work planned over this weekend. Trust me, it’s going to be a particularly arduous weekend here at Pure Jeevan. We’re not going to enjoy this tough work one bit! Nope, not at all! All of the delicious salads we’ll be preparing, all of the cooling smoothies, all of the picnicing we’ll be doing — it’s all an enormous sacrifice in the name of bringing you high-quality raw foods bloggging! (*wink*)
So, do tune in next week, okay? It’ll be fun! Enjoy your weekend – and Happy Fathers Day to all of the dads out there!
-Jim
ps As we’re preparing to cover raw summertime outings, is there any topic you’d like us to cover? Or, do you have any specific questions about “summertime raw”? If so, let us know in the comments (or drop us an email) and we’ll try to address them next week!
Jim here… While browsing a thrift shop for a smaller belt yesterday, I was reminded to make a few quick points here at our blog about the raw food diet and weight loss.
Many people are initially drawn to raw foods for the weight loss aspect of this lifestyle. Where most other diets ultimately fail in this area, raw foods usually brings wild success. So, for anyone considering a raw foods diet specifically for the purpose of weight loss, here are a few quick tips centered around the theme of “letting go of your expectations.” You may be wondering, ”Why should I let go of my expectations for weight loss?” Well, here are two big reasons:
First, you need to realize that, if you’re significantly overweight (as Wendi and I both were), it’s possible — even likely — that your physical health may be compromised by other problems in addition to what you see in the mirror. Some of these things may already be apparent to you (for example, the high blood pressure I was once medicated for); others may linger yet undiagnosed. So, one big reason to let go of expectations relates to the common desire for immediate results.
Simply put, your body may well decide to attend to some other health issues first, before getting around to your weight issue. We’ve personally witnessed many people try raw foods, only to throw in the towel, discouraged, much too early.
Our bodies are so much smarter than we realize or could ever fathom, but many people forget this and quit raw after much too brief of a trial. So, again, takeaway point number one here is: Don’t give up. Stick with it for a much longer stretch! If you’re sick and overweight, there’s one certainty in play: raw cannot hurt you or make your condition worse. Raw food is the healthiest diet currently known; it can only help a body return to health! So, stick it out. You’ll be doing yourself no harm by doing so.
Second big point: Don’t continually zero in on your scale, or your belt, or any other thing you use to gauge your weight. It’s like waiting for the phone to ring — the more you focus on it, the longer it’ll seem to take. I rarely step on a scale. It’s only for a funny reason, though: Our scale is one of those new-fangled electronic varieties. It supposedly tells your weight, your percentage of body fat, and even your IQ. I think it even speaks, though I cannot for the life of me figure out how to work it (even as I’m proudly a techno-geek 99% of the time). (What ever happened to the good old days when you stepped on a scale and it simply indicated your weight?!)
Anyway, for this quirky reason, I rarely weigh myself. So, this suggestion is more of a bit of ”accidental wisdom” rather than some strategic concept. But it’s worked for me. By not constantly monitoring my weight, I think I’ve found a way to just let my body right-size itself, at its own natural pace. What I’ve noticed throughout this journey has been the pants becoming looser and the belt notches tightening. And even that isn’t something I’ve obsessed over. I basically just eat healthily and live with the confidence that, by doing so, my body is slowly returning to its own state of optimal health. Looser pants and finding myself in need of newer, smaller belts… These things are just periodic bonuses that reaffirm what I’ve learned to have absolute faith in — that it’s worth sticking with!
Finally: I just want to add that weight loss may be your primary motivation and inspiration – and that’s perfectly fine. But in time, I think you’ll start to see broader ideas about health and happiness forming at the event horizon of your very near future. And that’s when the real fun begins. So kick back and just trust me: Your body *will* rightsize. Of that I’m 100% sure (IF you give it enough time to do so). After that, strap in for the ride of your life.
Happy Friday, everyone! We want to cap off this week with a question: Do you keep a blog? We realize that many blogs include blogrolls, but this has been a sticky issue for us here at Pure Jeevan for a few reasons: First and foremost, we LOVE and appreciate each and every one of you so much, and wouldn’t want to accidentally exclude anyone! 
I’ve been eating 100% live/raw food for a little over eight months now, and I believe it all started… well…. hmmmm… let’s see. Last summer I was determined to do something once and for all about the weight that I put on since I turned 50, six years ago (well, almost seven years now…). 
I have experienced that my body responds only to my thoughts. So, with some resolve 
As I become more aware of the power, beauty, and truth that’s within me, all the “shoulds and shouldn’ts” of the world, which always feel like prison sentences, become flagrant myths – not true for me at all. 
Those layers are finally melting away, and that spark (the “sparkle puff” that we are!) is becoming stronger and brighter by the minute. I’ve promised to honor and listen to, and accept the truth of my being, and not allow any false thoughts or beliefs to bury that truth ever again. 
So, today I was standing there, smelling that aloo paratha and not wanting to ask the questions because I might not like the answers. 
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