**Each Wednesday we will be answering questions from our readers. If you have a question for *Raw Mom* send it to Ask *Raw Mom*
Q: Dear *Raw Mom*
My name is Roy, I’m not a Raw Mom, I’m an aspiring Raw Dad to be. I’m the leader in my family when comes to health. I was introduced to raw food just last year from my friend, Linda, who is a full-time raw for years.
I was totally blown away by this new way of eating and I see the endless bounds of energy, vatality, and of course the fact she looks 10 years younger now.
I was a full-time vegan for 2 years around 7 years back. Because of peer pressure from family and friends, I switch back to the normal food and diets. I am very conscious of eating more vegetables and fruits since then, and less meat. However, in the place where I live in, Singapore, it’s a food haven.
I was introduced to your website by my friend Linda too. I am spending a lot of hours browsing around your products, articles, videos and all your writing on your website. I am seriously wanting to get some of your products, and also ask you some questions too… I’m recently trying out a 3 day full raw detox diet. For 3 full days, I would do coffee enema, drink green smoothies, eat raw nuts, and essential oil (UDO Oil) I love it, and it gives me a lot of energy, I can work whole day… BUT…
I feel very hungry throughout the day.
At first, I only had green smoothies, and I gave up easily. On top of that, I eat salad with fruits too, and I feel hungry, and I tried nuts, like almond, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and UDO Oil. I managed to do it for 3 days 2 weeks ago. Just recently, for the last try, I felt very hungry again.I knew something was very wrong, and I decided to stop and email you to ask you what went wrong?
I know that a raw food should be and must be good feeling, and filling to my hunger, and not make me feel hungry. I am aware that it’s my emotion at play to crave for food like rice, noodles and comfort food that I had since young. So, any advice or what book to get would be great…
I’m really striving to be the next raw testimonials to myself, my family, (wife and 1 year old son), and of course to you too.Thank you,
Roy
A: Hi Roy!
My husband had the same challenge as you, and actually so do a lot of people. Feeling hungry is very common whenever someone changes their diet. The body doesn’t like fast changes…it takes time to adjust and prefers a gentle pace.
I have coached people and found a trick that worked which is to get the raw food in first, but allow yourself to eat what you are used to as well. This way you aren’t depriving yourself of what you are used to so you aren’t psychologically stressing yourself out. This in itself cuts down on wild cravings and emotional eating. Secondly, once you get the raw food and juices into your body, you become more hydrated and mineralized and the nutrition starts to balance your moods and blood sugar so you feel calm and satisfied.
You will think at first that you will just be eating everything in sight i.e. raw food and cooked, but over a period of a couple weeks, you will balance it out and rely more on the raw food and less of what you are used to. You will slowly but surely become truly satiated as you become well-nourished physically and emotionally.
Do not deny yourself. Nourish yourself. Use nutritionally dense foods like smoothies and juices, nut mylks and pates/burgers etc and superfoods like Spirulina/bee pollen/ hemp seeds/ coconut butter and eat enough food to satisfy you. Then if you are still ‘feeling hungry’ which is probably more emotional than physiological at that point, some of your filling food for comfort- just try to go with whole grain rice and make choices that are better as you progress.
Congratulations on being a leader in your family and for your committment to a healthy and happy life!
Blissings,
Shannon
