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Raw food in the real world

I’m refusing to feed my Mama an all raw diet, much to her disappointment. She’s visiting from the UK and I’m scared stiff that she’lll hit detox and end up doing cold turkey time, shivering under the illusion that all will be well. In the planning stages of how to integrate Granny into our feeding time, I worried about our diet and how hard it would be on the girls to see potatoes and sushi and croissants at the table, but in reality there hasn’t been much of a problem.

I‘ve lovingly made raw jams in minutes for mamas morning croissant that knocks the socks off the girls porridge at breakfast, and a decadently rich raw curry was devoured by all last night, with rice on the side for mama. Gluten free buckwheat pasta dressed in sunshine sauce, olives and capers and pesto filled mushrooms with a sweet pepper relish with melted cheese on the side have made catering for all a culinary delight.

Everyone gets something they want, and all benefit from the healthy options. I always pop a green salad with a delicious dressing in a fancy bottle on the table and when guests are here we always get a pudding, the recipe finding a new home! When dining with meat eaters, I love to make a raw sauce, or dehydrated veggies in a Chinese dressing, coat steamed potatoes in a wild pesto and fill baked sweet potatoes with mouth watering nut mayonnaises. Eating out has given my mama more of a choice in her food world, and she’s delighted in local whitebait, eggs and seafood … keeping my conscience clean and kitchen simple.

Sharing meals that have been lovingly prepared by others, I call ahead and ask what I can bring that will compliment the table, ensuring that I can eat alongside friends and they can try something different with their meal.

Eating in the real world, outside of our family bubble doesn’t mean more work or social exclusion.  Far from it. People are usually intrigued and once they know that I’m are not forcing my lifestyle on them, sweet treats, ice creams, snacks and mains are usually hoovered up at alarming speeds!

My beloved was a meat and potato kinda guy once upon a time … now he’s high raw and loving the benefits. It’s been a bumpy ride, but a life changing journey worthy of the adventure. And now, instead of cooking a family meal and me sharing the salad, I feed all as one, and keep quiet about what’s lurking in the luscious pudding!

Mint Choc Chip Icecream (serves one)

2 bananas

1 tsp peppermint extract

1 tbsp cacao nibs or/ 4 squares raw chocolate grated

1/ Pop peeled, cut up bananas in the freezer for 24 hours (I keep a supply in there!)

2/Put frozen banana chunks into the food processor and whizz until smooth and creamy

3/ Add the extract and chocolate, spoon into bowls and hand around to smiley faces.

Sarah Lea

ps/ Shouting out loud to everyone on the homefront was my way to announce that I was gonna go raw but it’s not not necessarily the right way. I’ve been through so many different journeys with food and have generally taken this option, feeling that if everyone in my life knows  …  including the local grocer, then I‘ll stick to my new eating plan! However, unlike vegetarianism, gluten freeism and dairy freeism, most people look at you like you’re talking martian or the very least, you’ve gone
temporarily insane when you mention raw foods! It’s not that it’s that weird, but it was hard for my loved ones to get their heads around what this meant for them! We are survivalists and if you‘re chief feeder at your zoo, you may see some heads in the sand, as imaginations are tuned in to rabbit food, hungry tummys and sacred takeouts in front of the telly denied.

pps/ Put this into practise this month by joining up to Eat More Energy, starting 10 th November.

Tags: raw food