maybe it's backlash from being at my junkfood freak friend's house for a few weeks, but just being a vegetarian isn't enough. i'm going to try my hardest to eat only completely natural food from now on. so, i'm planning on eating lots of vegetables and peanut butter and almond butter and things like that. i'm making this thread as a way to commit myself to this change, but also, i want to know; what should i get if i want to keep this going? anyone who eats all-natural food, what do you put on your shopping list? and how has a natural diet made you feel? is it hard to find enough to eat, or time to prepare it? thanks <3
I love your post. I've been trying to go all veg for years. (the veggies I eat ere organic though) I still do eggs and yogurt (organic also), but try alternatives whenever I can. The best way change is to find a local co-op, or grow your own. The advantage with the co-op is that you have a support network also. It was hard for me to get away from the quick processed foods, having other people to advise and encourage made it so much easier. prismatism, I used to weigh 310lbs. I got into natural foods initially because of health reasons, but now it's because people like you inspire me to.. because it's "the right thing" to do. A natural store bought food I really like.... Bragg's liquid aminos. When you eat natural, you just feel better. When I eat home-maid asian style foods, my body just tingles. (in a good way) OH!...Organic celery is an absolute must. Celery soaks up chemicals like a sponge. Best Wishes, w_o
I was raised on a natural foods diet (Feingold... yeah, I'm an 80's kid) and did a lot of "experimenting" with not-so-natural foods when I finally left the house. I'd never tried Cheetos or M&M's or all sorts of junk that most kids eat on a normal basis, and I wanted to try it all. It really messed up my system, and the more I tried the more I realized that none of it tasted nearly as good as a dish of fresh raw fruit. So after about 3 years of dietary rebellion, I returned... with just a few alterations. Eating all natural foods means extra time in the kitchen. There are a few ways around that... like Amy's Organic frozen dinners (absolutely awesome for days when you are short on time) but they cost sooo much that it's just not worth it very often. To begin with, things like pasta or rice that you can add hundreds of combinations to will probably be your best friends. Find recipes that sound good, and commit to trying one new recipe each week... or at least every other week. Save the good recipes, and count the not-so-good ones as learning experiences. One food I live on is smoothies. During the warmer months, there's just nothing like a yummy smoothie to start your day. Don't worry about recipes, just pull out the blender & start dumping in your favorite fruits. If your dairy-free, use soymilk &/or sorbet, soy "ice cream" a banana or soft tofu to thicken it up. My absolute favorites are chocolate-banana, and strawberry orange. Another food that I always have on hand is raw potatoes. Bake 'em, mash 'em, boil 'em, roast 'em, grill 'em... potatoes are just plain awesome. And they go with everything! If you get absolutely desperate some night, try quartering a medium sized potato & dropping it into a cup of water. Add either 1/2 cup each of leek & mushroom or tomato & cilantro and whip it through the blender. You've got a "cream" soup that's all natural, and soooo good! I found this recipe online last winter, and it is sooo good on nights when I've got no time to cook & am short on leftovers. Even the kids like this! Good luck love, mom
Not to get off topic... The inversion fog was around so much last winter, my wife and I were so depressed..until...smoothies. We would add stuff like lecithin granules, Barley Green, Taurine etc...thank you..we survived. Everybody needs to know about the wonder of good smoothies. For vitamins...Vitacost is the way to go. They sell good quality..cheap. Becci (my wifey) takes Free and Easy Wanderer occasionally (I think you know why) Vitacost has the same formula,only a bottle is like $10.00 instead of $25 everywhere else. [this endorsement is sadly an unpaid one] homeschoolmama has it right about the extra cooking time. It does take more time, but it's like..you know.."that thing people do", spending some extra time is definitely worth it. Have Fun!
thank you! homeschoolmama, it sounds like you felt how i felt at my friends house. they constantly have a big of chips on the counter, they drink at least one soda a day, they make cupcakes all the time, and go out to eat deep-fried food. when everyone else in the family caught a sickness that was going around (sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, all of it), all i had were stomach and head aches. i'm looking forward to coming up with new foods i like. luckily i LOVE vegetables. and i already take vitamins. thanks for all the advice .
Sounds like you're doing great then.. And yeah eating better definitely makes you healthier and able to be resistent to sickness and stuff. After learning about what they put on crops that aren't organic, I don't want to eat non-organic stuff. Of course thats expensive. Just do your thing, and know that its good for you and I think you'll do fine.
