Staying raw during the holiday season can be difficult. We are surronded by many tempting foods, the smells of which send us into a nostalgic state of longing for cooked comfort foods. Even though we know we don't really want to eat those foods, and even though we know we will just be tired and sluggish afterward, the temptation still exists. On top of all that, we are surrounded by friends and family who "just don't understand why you don't eat like a normal person." While often loving people, family can be very unsupportive of your "abnormal" eating habbits. While they may mean well, only having your best interests in mind, spending time around family and friends who are not exactly open to the world of raw foods can be disheartening. The holidays are stressful enough without having to deal with being poked and prodded by family memebers. I have discovered, the hard way, that openly airing my differences in lifestyle and eating habbits is not always the best thing to do at a holiday get together. The holidays used to be very hard to survive - I spent most of my time explaining over and over again to each new person who walked through the door what "weird" diet thing I was doing that year. I have gotten a little wiser, and have figured out how to survive the holidays with my nerves and diet intact. Here are five easy steps to follow to stay raw this holiday season.
1. Bring a raw dish with you.
Don't expect the host or hostess to provide a separate meal to fit your specific dietary needs. He or she may not fully understand the terms vegetarian, vegan, or raw. Many times I went to parties under the assumption that there would be vegan food for me only to discover that all of the dishes contained chicken broth or beef bullion (while some cooks mean well, to them, no meat or dairy did not include broth).
If you bring a dish with you, you ensure that you will have plenty to eat and some to share if anyone is interested. Don't push your food on anyone unwilling to try it though. That brings me to my next point.
2. Do NOT push your beliefs about diet and lifestyle onto anyone else.
No matter how passionate you are about something, some people will always be resistant to things that they do not understand. This does not mean that they are bad people, they are just missing out. Not everyone will welcome your damnation of the meat and dairy industies, and I'm sure Mom or Grandma will not appreciate you talking bad about cooked food after she spent three days making a delicious and possibly very unhealthy meal for the entire family.
If someone happens to ask, and shows genuine interest, then by all means, explain away. It is probably best in this case if you stick to the health benefits of eating raw rather than sliming other ways of eating. People generally respond better to information about how your health has improved and your skin has cleared up than condemnations of their particular lifestyle. The more you push, the more others will resist.
If negative attention is not what you wish to attract from your family during the holidays, I suggest avoiding standing on your soap box. While we all want to share our amazing way of healthful eating with everyone we love, not everyone is open to or ready to receive that information.
3. Have your own raw holiday celebration.
Having a celebration at your house and inviting all of your vegetarian, vegan, and raw friends is a great way to enjoy raw versions of all of your favorite holiday dishes. A holiday themed raw potluck is sure to be a lot of fun, include many delicious dishes, and provide support during the time when you need it most - when the temptation to eat cooked holiday food is strong.
4. Keep snacks with you at all times.
Whether out shopping or at Grandma's, the smell of baking cookies and sugar cookie scented candles are enough to drive any sworn raw foodist mad. To fight off any temptation you might have, keep a variety of snacks with you at all times. I don't have a single raw friend who shows up at a party or social event empty handed. We get pretty used to not having the option of buying a biscotti at the coffee shop or munching on the finger food at a party. I always have a variety of fruit, nuts, and trail mix of some sort in my bag.
I suggest carrying a few different snacks. You never know what kind of craving will hit you. I like to have options too. I prefer to have something salty to snack on before the big dinner. It's also nice to have something sweet to munch on when everyone else at the holiday gathering is eating pie or cookies for dessert.
5. Don't give up if you fall off the wagon.
Eating raw should not cause so much stress in your life that you beat yourself up over a little slip up. The negative effects of guilt and shame felt as a result of eating some cooked food are just as bad, of not worse for you than the food itself. If you eat some cooked food, no big deal. Don't worry about it. Pop some digestive enzymes, drink some kombucha, and at least enjoy it. Don't let something little ruin your entire holiday celebration.
If you happen to not be able to stay raw during the holidays, just pick up where you left off at the start of the new year. New Years is a time of new beginings, and putting the past behind us.
Follow these simple steps this holiday season, and you are sure to survive the holidays, raw diet intact.
If you need some ideas for holiday-themed raw recipes, visit:
http://www.livingblissfoods.com
or email:
info@livingblissfoods.com
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