Cold weather and raw food

It’s cold outside! Well, maybe not today, but the weather is definitely getting colder. And this is my first winter on raw food journey. I feel already now that it’s going to be a struggle, as I’m not lover of cold food when I’m freezing – my winter favourites are hot soups and spicy casseroles. So I'm going to still have them, but the soups and casseroles will be vegan and vegetarian this winter.

We’ve had to make some adjustments with our food shopping as very high part of our income will be going to childcare in a month time. I’ve been keeping track of our food bill for few months now and it’s high. Being on organic high raw food diet is not cheap, that’s for sure. So I’m now doing weekly menus, shopping lists and I’m also hoping to do most of the shopping online to avoid the impulse shopping I’m prone to when in supermarket (and I sooo hate supermarket shopping, too many people). I’m trying to make simple, quick meals during the week, and then have something nice at weekends. Breakfast is still a green smoothie, then some snacks at work and for lunch salad or vegetarian meal. My goal is to get the food bill down at least 30%, if not more. 

When I have time (which is not very often) I try to read other raw food blogs and information about raw food on the net. It's amazing how much different views there are about raw food, which is very confusing. One says that fruit is best and should be a major part of raw food diet. Other says that fruit is not good, it feeds candida and all sorts. One says supplements and superfoods are the key for successful raw food diet, other says that no supplements should be consumed as it puts stress on liver. One says that good quality mineral salt is ok to consume (not table salt), other says that all salt is dangerous. One promotes green juices, other green smoothies. Some say that only 100% raw food intake is the only way to be true raw foodist, others say that steamed or roasted root vegetables and whole grains are the key for successful high raw food diet. So what should one do? 

After some googling and referrals from other raw food blogs, I got myself e-book by Frederic Patenaude: Raw Secrets . I haven't read it yet, but he claims to be able to bring some light on all this confusion and also help to overcome fall-backs. He even has a chapter about how to to stay raw in cold climates. Will be interesting, will let you know what I thought once I've read it. 

Our little green warrior still managed to get some nursery bugs despite my superfood feeds and has been having snotty nose and been a bit off food. She's been eating lots of green stuff though - raw spinach and salads, vegetables and bean sprouts and seaweed and fruits. It is such a good feeling when ones children are happily eating lots of healthy food, so I hope this phase lasts for a long time, if I'm lucky, forever!