Raw Dish!

On Friday, April 25:

Breakfast- 4 very large Navel oranges

Lunch- smoothie: 1 large pineapple, 1 large bunch dandelion greens, 1 1/2 cups cold water, blended

Dinner- Planning to have: 2 avocados diced, 10 medjool dates chopped, 1 large Navel orange chopped, 1/4 cup shredded coconut, all mixed together

The pineapple/dandelion green smoothie is a great sweet/bitter combo.  The minerals that are in the greens taste bitter but they really heighten the sweetness in the fruit.

I'm writing my dinner plans before I eat because I'm working on Law & Order tonight.  My report time is 6:00 PM, right at my dinner time, so I am preparing my meal and taking it with me to eat once I get to the set.  The avocados and dates are very hearty and filling so I'm counting  that filling up on this will pre-empt and cravings I might have for the food that is always around the set.  I'm sticking with my 3 meals a day plan so this will be it!

On Thursday, April 24, 2008:

Breakfast- 6 medium Navel oranges

Lunch- 2 Hass avocados diced and mixed with 9 chopped Medjool dates and 1/4 cup shredded coconut

Dinner- 2 large grapefruit

I had an appointment right in the middle of my usual dinner hour, 5:30-6:30 PM, and by the time it was over I was feeling very hungry.  It wasn't real hunger so much as it was just a craving to eat.  The craving wasn't for raw food either and the debate in my head started about what to eat -vegetable fried rice, pasta, soup, etc.  It was beginning to get late and I knew that I didn't want to go to bed stuffed with cooked food and not sleep well and wake up feeling off kilter tomorrow. Also, I'd eaten all raw today and why not just stay raw?  But I wanted comfort food!!!! 

I decided that I could buy some oranges at the Amish Market and eat a few.  I knew I'd sleep well if I did that.  But I don't want oranges,  I want cooked food!  Some part of me felt like a temperamental child who didn't want to eat what his parents were giving him for dinner.  Somehow, I walked myself to the Amish Market and bought some oranges and grapefruit.  I decided to eat grapefruit because, first, I like it, and second, I thought it might be better to eat in the evening close to bedtime because it has less sugar.

Now that I've eaten the grapefruit I am totally satisfied and have no desire to eat anything else, definitely not cooked food.  I didn't get my leafy greens today, maybe tomorrow.  Today it was enough to just stay raw.

on Tuesday, April 22, 2008:

Breakfast- 1 large pineapple

Lunch- smoothie: 1 large bunch dandelion greens, 3 bananas, 1 lb strawberries, blended with 2 cups water

Dinner- 5 bananas sliced and mixed/sprinkled with 1/4 cup shredded coconut, 1 tbs cacao powder, 1/4 cup raw tahini

...early afternoon:

I've been making raw vegan chocolate(cacao) cream pies that my neighborhood health food store, Nice-n-Natural, is selling.  The pie has a walnut/coconut/date crust and tastes delicious.  I don't eat cacao very often because it is stimulating and gets me too rev'd up, similar to caffeine, but it's great for an occasional treat.  Many people say that cacao doesn't rev them up; I'm not one of those people.  I can also make it with carob, but the cacao is more popular.  In case you're in the neighborhood and want to try the pie, Nice-n-Natural is located on Ninth Avenue between 46th and 47th streets.

...this evening:

Late in the afternoon I started having a mental debate in my mind regarding what to eat for dinner.  I'd had a very full day with lots of different things going on, with the possibility of work related changes, and lots of feelings connected to it all.  Food that seemed appealing was comfort food -nachos, pasta, cheese quesadillas, etc. I resisted the urge to go directly to a restaurant and I came home to change clothes and relax for a moment.  I drank a large glass of water.  Sometimes cravings are a symptom of dehydration.  I really didn't "want" bananas, but after relaxing, breathing, and sitting still I decided to eat them with all the fixings I've mentioned.  I feel glad that I was able to navigate through the feelings and make the dinner choice that I made. 

Monday, April 21, 2008:

Breakfast- fresh fruit left over from last night's Seder: 3 tangerines, strawberries, figs, grapes

Lunch- 10 Honey tangerines

Dinner- Smoothie: 6 large leaves chard, 3 bananas, 1/2 pint strawberries blended with 2 cups water; from Westerly Natural Market, 1 slice Miss Lillian's Raw Brownie Pie

On Tuesday, April 15, 2008:

Breakfast- 9 Honey tangerines

Lunch- a smoothie: 1 large pineapple, 1 head Romaine lettuce, blended with 2 cups water

Dinner- 1 avocado, 4 large navel oranges

On my way home this afternoon, the debate about what to eat for dinner started in my head.  I've felt increasing light and open as the day progressed.  I recognized the terrific raw food lightness and I didn't want to interrupt it but also my stomach felt empty, I felt vulnerable and I wanted something heavy to eat-maybe raw milk cheese, some cooked diner food, etc....  I feel really glad that I ate what I ate for dinner.  I ate early and I'm planning to sleep really well.