Berries and a Blog
July 28, 2008 at 6:30 am 8 comments
When I first went raw back in January, I was gravitating towards a low fat raw vegan diet…sometimes referred to as the 80/10/10 Diet, or 811 for short (this term comes from Dr. Doug Graham’s book). I finally got around to reading the book (a great read…tons of info on raw diet in general), and have been inspired to go that route again. It’s basically a fruit-based diet with lots and lots of greens…and a few nuts, seeds, and fats.
For the last week or so, I’ve been back on a lower fat raw diet and I can tell a huge difference in how I feel. I have more energy, I wake up much more rested, and my cravings for cooked foods, sweets, and fatty raw foods are noticeably less. Basically, I try to consume only ONE or maybe 2 of the following:
- 1/2 – 1 T olive oil or hempseed oil for my salad
- 1/4 – 1/2 avocado
- Small handful of nuts
- 1/8 cup of hemp seeds
The “official” 811 way of doing things calls for NO salad dressings with oils…but I just can’t do that right now. A mixture of tomatoes and pineapple poured over lettuce makes me one unhappy girl 🙂 I love just a little oil on my salad! I do try to use as LITTLE as possible, however.
I have also been trying to eat my heaviest meal of the day at lunch instead of supper…so that my body has time to digest and process the foods/fats while I am active and not while I am sleeping. If your body is constantly trying to digest the heavy foods that you eat at night (especially after 7:00pm)…it is unable to do the more important work of HEALING and refreshing your body. Supper lately has been a light meal, such as a mono-meal of watermelon or bananas…sometimes a very light salad or smoothie.
If you are currently eating a high fat raw diet, I would encourage you to cut out some of that fat and focus on eating more fruits and greens for your calories. You should also pay attention to the amount of dried fruit and dehydrated ‘gourmet’ raw food you are eating. Cut most of it out and add back only fresh, juicy fruits. You’ll find that your cravings will dramatically decrease and your energy level will go up!
Eating a lower fat raw diet is my IDEAL…I can’t say that I follow it 100% of the time, but I am learning my body and how it reacts to different foods and I love that. I still “splurge” on my favorite things…like spring rolls with almond butter sauce (yummy!)…but for the most part, I am much lower fat than I was before.
To end, I wanted to highlight one of my very favorite raw bloggers…Sarah at Going Bananas. I can’t even tell you how much I ADORE this blog. She’s a great writer, she’s knowledgeable and funny 🙂 , and she blogs A LOT! And the bonus is that she eats a low fat raw diet…but of course anyone can benefit from reading her blog. I know you’ll love it too!
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Happy Foody 
1.
Andrew | July 28, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Hey. I just wanted to say nice blog, and that I’m on 80/10/10 as well. It’s really changed my life. I’m actually training for a right now. I’ve also got a website where I talk about my diet <a href=”www.raw-food-health.net” title=”here”
2.
Tree | July 28, 2008 at 3:59 pm
I am always so thrilled when your blog posts appear in my RSS feed. You are just so positive and inspiring. Thanks for sharing.
🙂
3.
Hannah | July 28, 2008 at 9:39 pm
The problem is that so many of those fruits and veggies are not local for us northerners, and so it’s not environmentally responsible for us to buy them when they’re trucked or flown 1000’s of miles. Local first, organic if possible, and never from other countries is my motto.
4.
Sarah @ Going Bananas Blog | July 29, 2008 at 3:46 am
Wow, I’m really honored to be mentioned here. Thank you so very much! It means a lot to me.
BTW, guess what I had tonight? Tomato and pineapple. HAHA! Not blended and poured over a salad though. I actually diced them and had them over spiralized cucumber noodles. It takes awhile to eat lighter on the fats, and I really do think that gets easier over time. I think you’re doing great and doing just what your body told you to do in the amounts that you can handle! Woo hoo! Keep in touch and let me know how it goes.
5.
livelightly | July 29, 2008 at 4:29 am
Sarah…that is so funny about the pineapple and tomato! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Hannah…thanks for sharing. I don’t share that same conviction about buying locally vs. eating raw…but I respect your opinion. 🙂
6.
Sarah @ livingfruity.blogspot.com | July 29, 2008 at 12:02 pm
I also prefer to eat low-fat raw. I’ve found that I just feel better and have lots more energy when I cut back on overt fats. I love fruit. I try to eat as much local as I can (I even garden) but I will eat food that’s been shipped in (i.e. bananas, mangoes, pineapple, etc).
Congrats on finding a way of eating that works well with you and your body. As the other Sarah said, it will get easier to cut out the oils. I never thought that I would like a salad without something fatty on it, but now I love them ‘naked’.
Have a great day!!!
7.
Laurel Sauls | July 29, 2008 at 12:17 pm
I am also trying to eat my big meal at lunch and am seeing a big difference. I have enjoyed the Going Bananas blog in the past, but hadn’t kept up with it, so thanks for the link! I tend to have the same mindset as Hannah about eating local…that is an important aspect of food to me. But, I can appreciate all different viewpoints! Which is one reason I love to read your blogs…I love to hear your thoughts and ideas and to be challenged in mine. I can’t wait to see you again! 🙂
8.
Caroline Plasket | August 1, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Sarah,
enjoy your blog tremendously!
Very inspiring.
As a fellow nursing (very) new to being raw mom, I am curious how the lower fat content effects your baby girl – though she prob isn’t nursing too much anymore?
My baby boy (soon to be one) seems to go on pooping strikes if I am not getting enough fat.
Thanks for sharing your wonderful blog!
Caroline in KY