Day Eight - Dealing with Setbacks

  As I've mentioned from the start, you must be willing to deal with setbacks.  It is not about being a raw food purist or even developing a hatred for any one specific food.  It is just a matter of doing the right thing most of the time.  As simple as it sounds, it can be very difficult to learn what the right thing really is as mis-information is a plague on our consumerist society.  Discerning what information is correct and what is a marketing message meant to promote a specific product can result in much frustration.  It is for this reason that the 'Grocery List' is most important.

   These are the foods to focus your meals and snacks around (in order of quality and healthfulness):

1. Raw fruits and vegetables (preferably organic) such as apples, grapes, melons, bananas, avocados, romaine lettuce, cucumbers, carrots, kale, tomatoes, etc; raw honey, stevia (a natural sweetener)

2. Lightly-steamed, low-starch vegetables (all vegetables other than white potatoes, acorn and butternut squash, and pumpkin); pure maple syrup, agave nectar

    *note that corn and legumes are starches, not vegetables.

3.  Organic raw nuts and seeds (almond, pine nuts, walnuts, macadamia nuts, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, etc.)

4.  Raw stone-pressed or cold-pressed plant oils (especially olive oil, though hemp seed and flax seed oils are also acceptable)

5.  Cooked starch vegetables (sweet potatoes, butternut and acorn squash, pumpkin, etc.)

6.  Raw unpasteurized dairy products (particularly from goats and sheep).  

     * note, dairy products from goats and sheep are less likely to contain pathogens requiring pasteurization or boiling.

7.  Whole grains (brown rice, millet, whole wheat, buckwheat, etc.)

8.  Pasteurized dairy and animal flesh (preferably limited to organic fish and minimal organic meat and poultry products)

  My last day has been hectic but I have been able to get plenty of sleep and eat a good proportion of my foods as vegetables.  I will admit I could be doing better.  I have not had any of the 'healing crisis' because I have held onto some foods that I will give up after the coming holiday weekend.  For now, I'm doing my best at eliminating fast food and most processed foods and feel better.

  I will continue this blog on Tuesday May 27th on return from the holiday.

  Until then,

  Namaste,  Michael