Hello, I am grateful to Sheryl for gently coaxing me to this forum.
I first read raw energy when I was 17 and got a reputation for walking around school with a carrot sticking out of my shirt pocket!

Now some many years later - I am returning to raw foods - and this time it's serious!
My girlfriend and I decided to go raw after being veg/vegan for years - I went into a book store to get a recipe book and the only one they had was the Rainbow Tree of Life - which I got and we were both amazed it used a lot of the products that were our favourites - young coconuts etc.  Have been raw for a month or so - but on phase 1 of Rainbow for four days! I can't believe how I am detoxing - I thought I was pretty much detoxed already!

Have had a headache the whole time - limbs ache - low energy. So far I'm loving it! To top it off - if I eat a meal heavy with nut pate or raw spinach - I often feel nauseus!

No idea how long this phase will go on for.... am pretty committed to being on this Phase for at least a month. I know that before this week - people were commenting on how good I was looking - as I was to my girlfriend. The theory behind raw really resonates with me - now to see how I go in practice!

Anyway, I never imagined a whole community of people into raw food in Australia! I don't feel so isolated or kooky - well, not isolated anyway.

Looking forward to boundless energy and radiant health!
At least, after a couple of weeks of experimenting I finally got my buckwheat to sprout! The joy of small successes!

Hi Jlk welcome, I am glad that you joined us.

Remember that 'raw' is a journey, so  relax and enjoy every step you take.


Joss

Wow - I must admint to hesitating when first joining in on the forum - I have always had some suspicion about such things for no good reason.

I want to say it does touch me and make me feel part of something bigger to read others experiences - and even more so to have people comment on my own.

Thanks so much for making me welcome!

I am figuring on staying on Phase 1 for one month - I know it suggested for three but it's my birthday next month and I have my eye on that recipe of Sheryl's I saw for a carmel pie cake or somesuch! Also the choc macaroons! Mmmmm. So, even after nearly a week without any sugars whatsoever - a first for this body, I am still truly under the spell of the sweet stuff!

I am feeling better today - part of me thinks maybe I should stick with phase 1 until the detox symptoms have abated. Even if that is longer than a month. I have made some great meals and every one is an adventure - something new and I know that there is ample opportunity for variety - the ginger of life, or so they say.

I take my hats off, if I was wearing any, to everyone that is eating raw - because it's not easy to go against mainstream society and from what I can see, the reasons for doing so are of the highest order! So, consider my hats off.

Thanks again for making me welcome.

what the **** is going on-LOL JLK> glad you're doing ***** awesomely,no seriously though,raw rox!!

LOL!

We had a report of a dirty word, and got a little carried away with adding 'bad' words to the list. I've fixed it up though now. I do wonder what words Janita just used though!! *GRIN*

Glad it made you all laugh!

Cheers,
Sheryl

Thought I should write another post to let those people still interested...
now well into week to of phase one - heck - nearly into week three the way I am looking at it! No more headaches, am feeling pretty good - everyday I wake up and my body has changed! I've been carrying a bit of a spare tire since I was a kid and now it is more like a bicycle tire! Feel more in touch with my emotions - don't know if this is raw or due to other stuff I am doing. Today I got breakfast and lunch just right! Macadamia/coconut porridge with nut milk and for lunch what I'm calling eggplant parcels - but others have called rawvioli!

Here's what I did - thinly, with a swedish cheese slicer actually, cut an eggplant which I soaked overnight in salt water.
I then made a filling -
soaked almonds
pine nuts
garlic
sea salt
cayenne
lemon
olive oil
bit of water until a loose paste.

I laid out all of the eggplant and filled with the fresh mixture and some leftover pesto I had made the night before - which was pretty good let me tell you.

Then folded over the eggplant - shoved them in the dh for a couple of hours at 140 and hey presto!
I was meant to make a tomato sauce to have with them but I tried one to see if they were done and that was the end of it! I sat down and ate the lot! They were great! Maybe if I can slice the eggplant more thinly it would be like rawvioli but as they were they were like little eggplant cannappes or whatever they are called - or eggplant mini crepes!  Really great! My breakfast had a dash of mescapote meal or whatever it is called and it made all the difference - that and the fresh vanilla bean!

Not feeling as restricted by my menu choices but am going to Perth in a week or so for some work and am a bit worried about not having my DH - or FP! Gasp! How will I survive?
Stay tuned....

JLK.

What does your perfect dessert look like now? Share and I'm happy to help experiment! *grin*

I'm wishing for some raw cashews so I could make Chocolate Carmel Divine... they are just about the be harvested... so soon!

Cheers,
Sheryl