@Mel2 congratulations on your progressive journey toward the vegan lifestyle. I so get what you mean about dairy and cheese... I was lactose intolerant so I had more incentive to stay away from dairy and it fueled my desire to learn how to make my own plant based foods... milks and cheese included... it is so easy once you get the timing down. Eating raw does require one to plan ahead for anything dehydrated or faux dairy and it is worth it. I loved to cook and bake and now I have a new way of uncooking and unbaking that meets my needs in a much healthier way. When I say 95% Raw Vegan it is just that and at times even higher.
The remaining 5% comes into play as a vegan but is cooked and has the occaisional "real food" as my friends call it. Every week I make a big pot of vegan soup or stew and break it down to freeze and eat when I seek the warmth of comfort food. Then there is the occaisional bit of real ice cream or a candy bar or pizza or fresh baked bread... basically the foods I love that don't like me but I just have to have them once in a while... I am only human and will not deny myself that pleasure or I can get grumpy. Truth is I want it less knowing it is ok. No red meat since 2006. But I'd be lying if I said I never had an egg or a serving of chicken or fish since then but you will not find those foods in my home. Except for 4 cans of tuna and salmon on the top shelf of my cupboard in case of an emergency.
I dehydrate many foods and make great flax crackers to dip in nut pulps. Chips, trail bars, cookies and deserts that are way yummy and no preservatives. Raw soups and lots of green drinks and smoothies... Learning to "un" cook has been a wonderful experience. and yes the better we eat the pounds do fall off. But if you over do it with raw or vegan the pounds will accumulate as well. Nutbutters are my downfall.
There are many books for vegans and raw foodest out there. Many are not sorted in a way that I find easy to follow. There are a couple good raw vegan video channels on my Roku Food Channel that are quite interesting. I learned how to make an unsloppy joe with mushrooms and it was soooo good. Once you get into it you will love creating your own recipies as there are no rules. I love to dehydrate foods and wish I had the energy to do more of it but my health holds me back. Bulk cooking and uncooking is a great way to free up time for other fun things in life. You can get in a rut eating salads and there is no reason with the variety of ways to prepare raw foods. I have found that I duplicate most meals and they taste better. Raw spahetti and sauce is excellent. All about thinking outside the box. Most important in uncooking is to be certain that you soak and rinse seeds and nuts. I use quinoa and
I wish you luck and hope that the list below is helpful:
Books:
1. RAWSOME by Brigitte Mars (my go to and the first book I bought, filled with why go vegan, lists of foods, nutritional benefits and excellent recipies)
2. Ani's Raw food kitchen ( good all around information and many good recipies)
3. The New Whole Foods Encycloopedia ( I was never able to eat fresh foods and when I found this is opened my eyes to a new world ... )
Kitchen Appliances:
1. Vita Mix
2. Good Food Processor (Kitchen Aide)
3. Dehydrator (Excalibur)
4. Ninja 3in1 that is now even better (for cooking hot foods)
I'm going to check out that blog you mentioned; thanks.
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