Sample Meal Plans

[girlandcoconut]

Ok, so this is a big thing that would really help me and I'm thinking probably other newbies as well so I'm hoping that folks can post sample daily meal plans. I have lots of individual recipe ideas but I never know if what I'm eating over the course of a typical day is too much, too little, varied enough, etc. I'd definitely like to have some inspiration in this area ready to go for challenge time.

What's a typical raw day for you?

[Jenni]

Do you use the Nutiva Hemp Protein Powder? It's pretty good! I was just reading about hemp seed online and I can't get over how many nutrients are packed in that little tiny seed. (Your dog is adorable by the way! Hi Blanche!)

sarabethxvx said:

I usually start my day with my magic potion of life(aka 1 cup young coconut water to 3 cups filtered water), then I move on to a fruit and green smoothie with some hemp protein in it. Then usually a fruit snack, an apple or orange and grapefruit... Then a decent salad for lunch, and probably another snack before dinner. Another big salad (or bunch of veggies) for dinner usually with some kind of dehydrated filling type stuff thrown in like a pizza crust or some chips or flax crackers. If not the dehydrated things then I will usually go for a zucchini pasta or something similar as that can fill me up too. Oh and lately I have been throwing huge amounts of raw fruit "ice cream" in too... I love food...

[sarabethxvx]

Blanche says thanks and she would like to lick you... that's her thing. I use the living harvest brand. Hemp Seeds RULE!

Jenni said:

Do you use the Nutiva Hemp Protein Powder? It's pretty good! I was just reading about hemp seed online and I can't get over how many nutrients are packed in that little tiny seed. (Your dog is adorable by the way! Hi Blanche!)

sarabethxvx said:

I usually start my day with my magic potion of life(aka 1 cup young coconut water to 3 cups filtered water), then I move on to a fruit and green smoothie with some hemp protein in it. Then usually a fruit snack, an apple or orange and grapefruit... Then a decent salad for lunch, and probably another snack before dinner. Another big salad (or bunch of veggies) for dinner usually with some kind of dehydrated filling type stuff thrown in like a pizza crust or some chips or flax crackers. If not the dehydrated things then I will usually go for a zucchini pasta or something similar as that can fill me up too. Oh and lately I have been throwing huge amounts of raw fruit "ice cream" in too... I love food...

[Dreamy]

This is a great thread. I am not 100% raw and it is not my goal this time around. I just simply want to increase the percentage of raw food in my diet. However, a typical morning/lunch/afternoon looks like this:

I start my day with a glass of filtered water with a squeeze of lemon followed (say 15 min later) by freshly squeezed green juice consisting of any greens that I can get my hands on...usually I juice a combination of leafy greens (different types of asian greens, spinach, romain (also called cos) lettuce from the garden), green capsicum, cucumber, celery and a small apple (or half a big one). It is a great way to use up veggies that otherwise may go off...green beans, broccoli stems etc. You can juice anything. I have done this for months now and it has become a part of my routine (after some initial resistance:)

Later on I will have a bowl of homemade muesli (rolled oats (raw?), almonds, cashews, walnuts, macadamia, peanuts, hazelnuts, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, flax seeds (ground), pepitas (pumpkin seeds), currants, coconut, sometimes a sprinkle of lecithin granules) served with oatmilk and a handful of blueberries or other berries. I usually have this when I get to work.

Later in the day I will have a combination of fruits (that I have cut up the night before), and later again perhaps a couple of slices of nutritious homemade bread (not raw!) with avocado or different nut butters, radishes, sprouts, cucumber or any other fresh veggies. I tend to eat many small meals.

Snacks: fruits (grapes for sugar fix), carrots and celery sticks with 100% pure nut butters, rice/corn thins (not raw) with 100% pure peanut butter and sliced tomato, herbal teas (nettle, peppermint etc)

Special treat (coz sometimes you need it!): An awesome shop in my town sells the most delicious raw organic vegan chocolate bars (with agave syrup). If anyone is interested, they are handmade by a company called Loving Earth in Melbourne, Australia (not sure if they are available outside Oz).

I am still experimenting trying to listen to my body and find a combination that works for me.

My primary goal right now is to have a salad with as many different types of veggies as possible every night with my dinner (and perhaps the leftover for lunch the next day)...and I might eventually venture into the world of green smoothies...though I feel I have a lot of resistance in this area:)

[Cina]

Hey! I'm in Melbourne! Where be this Loving Earth shop you speak of? I must know!!!

Dreamy said:

This is a great thread. I am not 100% raw and it is not my goal this time around. I just simply want to increase the percentage of raw food in my diet. However, a typical morning/lunch/afternoon looks like this:

I start my day with a glass of filtered water with a squeeze of lemon followed (say 15 min later) by freshly squeezed green juice consisting of any greens that I can get my hands on...usually I juice a combination of leafy greens (different types of asian greens, spinach, romain (also called cos) lettuce from the garden), green capsicum, cucumber, celery and a small apple (or half a big one). It is a great way to use up veggies that otherwise may go off...green beans, broccoli stems etc. You can juice anything. I have done this for months now and it has become a part of my routine (after some initial resistance:)

Later on I will have a bowl of homemade muesli (rolled oats (raw?), almonds, cashews, walnuts, macadamia, peanuts, hazelnuts, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, flax seeds (ground), pepitas (pumpkin seeds), currants, coconut, sometimes a sprinkle of lecithin granules) served with oatmilk and a handful of blueberries or other berries. I usually have this when I get to work.

Later in the day I will have a combination of fruits (that I have cut up the night before), and later again perhaps a couple of slices of nutritious homemade bread (not raw!) with avocado or different nut butters, radishes, sprouts, cucumber or any other fresh veggies. I tend to eat many small meals.

Snacks: fruits (grapes for sugar fix), carrots and celery sticks with 100% pure nut butters, rice/corn thins (not raw) with 100% pure peanut butter and sliced tomato, herbal teas (nettle, peppermint etc)

Special treat (coz sometimes you need it!): An awesome shop in my town sells the most delicious raw organic vegan chocolate bars (with agave syrup). If anyone is interested, they are handmade by a company called Loving Earth in Melbourne, Australia (not sure if they are available outside Oz).

I am still experimenting trying to listen to my body and find a combination that works for me.

My primary goal right now is to have a salad with as many different types of veggies as possible every night with my dinner (and perhaps the leftover for lunch the next day)...and I might eventually venture into the world of green smoothies...though I feel I have a lot of resistance in this area:)

[Danielle]

What is raw pizza crust? How do you make it? Sounds yummy!
Christina said:

Hi Lolabloom! I am a busy student and always on the go, so I usually just grab some fruit (mostly apples mixed with cinnamon, banana's, or berries) for breakfast as I am running out the door. I just about always bring a large green smoothie for lunch or a salad if I had time the night before to make it. Then for dinner I usually want something heavier so more times than not I will make zucchini pasta with some sort of sauce or wilted kale salad with tomatoes and avocado.

About every 2 or 3 weeks I will set aside a day and make bread, crackers, and cereal so that I have something quick and crunchy to grab during the next few weeks. I ALWAYS keep raw pizza crust and Raw Food Real World Freezer Fudge on hand!

[Jill]

I always start off my morning with a big glass of water with lemon or lime.
About an hour later I have a green juice with kale, collards, celery, sprouts, zucchini, radish, etc.- basically whatever I have on hand. Make sure you always change it up so that you get all your amino acids.
At least 1/2 hour later I have a green smoothie. Again, I change it up, but it always contains spinach and cucumber. The smoothie I had this morning:
1/2 pear
1/2 nectarine
2 oz coconut water
2 tbsp. raw organic dehydrated coconut chips
2 tbsp. hemp seeds
1/4 avocado
large handful romaine
1/4 cucumber
1/4 yellow squash
2 large handfuls spinach
ice cubes
5 drops liquid stevia

Also, I've experimented and found a great way to make a green smoothie in a magic bullet. This is great for travel when I'm away from my Vitamix. Simply blend the spinach or other leafy greens with some water first until blended. Add some hemp seeds, blend and let stand for a couple of minutes. Then add the rest of your ingredients and blend well. It comes out creamy and smooth. A little extra work, but worth the extra effort!

Lunch is another green smoothie.
A couple of hours later another green juice.
Dinner is usually either a salad, a green soup, or some veggies wrapped in a collard or cabbage leaf.
A couple of hours later another green juice if I can fit it in before 8:30 or so.

I usually dehydrate some flax crackers about once a week and make some raw chocolate or fudge with gogi berries and use that to snack on in between meals or with my salad.

I agree that for most people it's better to keep it simple and experiment with a more complicated recipe only occasionally when you have time. It's generally more healthy to focus on fresh fruits, veggies, and sprouts with the occasional nut and seed than to make the heavy nut recipes a daily staple.
Experiment, see what works for you and most importantly- have fun and ENJOY!
RAW RULES!

[Dreamy]

Hello Jay:))

I think the company is called living earth and not loving earth (although on the chocolate bars it says the latter). This is the web adr:
http://livingearth.com.au/

They have a few interesting products that you can buy online. I have tried 3 out of 4 of their chocolate bars and so far the activated almond and purple corn dark chocolate is my favourite. Yum! You should be able to buy it at outlets around Melbourne...perhaps contact the company for info:)

Jay said:

Hey! I'm in Melbourne! Where be this Loving Earth shop you speak of? I must know!!!

[kidkaras]

i do a big green smoothie for breakfast after my workout..which consists of frozen banana spinach or kale or combo. frozen strawberries, blueberries, bee pollen 2 dates, flax, cinnamon,spirulina, coconut butter, hemp protein
lunch if im hungry is a green juice thoughout afternoon
dinner big salad with ezekial toast sometimes..

on weekends ill experiment with smoothies with the cacao powder and coconuts...fresh fruit..i like to try new things!

[Dreamy]

I just realised that this company has different websites. If you go here it will tell you which shops are stocking their goods:
http://www.raw-chocolate.net/wholesale&retail.php?shops=victoria

Dreamy said:

Hello Jay:))

I think the company is called living earth and not loving earth (although on the chocolate bars it says the latter). This is the web adr:
http://livingearth.com.au/

They have a few interesting products that you can buy online. I have tried 3 out of 4 of their chocolate bars and so far the activated almond and purple corn dark chocolate is my favourite. Yum! You should be able to buy it at outlets around Melbourne...perhaps contact the company for info:)

Jay said:

Hey! I'm in Melbourne! Where be this Loving Earth shop you speak of? I must know!!!

[Dreamy]

Just wanted to add that I have made my first green smoothie ever...inspired by Bunny Berry this morning. It is actually very yummy! I am totally delighted and will start experimenting with different combinations. This is how I made it:
filtered water
spinach
romain lettuce
cucumber
banana
frozen mango
dried coconut flakes

blend and voila!