Settling on "high raw", and so relieved about it!

My latest sin - steamed Brussels sprouts!

So, it figures that days after I wrote my last post, about how I had finally transitioned to an all-raw, low-fat lifestyle, I fell off the wagon and started eating cooked foods again!  Only difference is, this time I'm happy to be off the wagon, and don't feel like a failure.  No regrets whatsoever.  I am actually feeling great about it, like I broke through to the next phase in my journey rather than fell back into old habits.

What has happened is this:  for two years now I've been focused on attaining this ideal, on seeing myself as this 100% raw vegan trailblazer with uncompromising views about what constitutes a healthy diet, even if it meant preparing three (and sometimes four) different menus at every meal to accomodate my family members, even if it meant coming across as a condescending know-it-all to all those not on this path, even if it meant spending 400.00+ euros a month in bananas alone, and even if it meant ultimately feeling trapped in a restrictive prison I myself had created.

The raw dishes that had kept me pretty satisfied for a couple of years, like zucchini spaghetti with raw marinara sauce, had slowly begun to lose their appeal, until they became downright depressing.  I wasn't even looking forward to my 64oz banana smoothies, once one of the staples of my raw food diet.

So last week, after being unhappy for a while, I came clean and said enough.  I had to find another way, because continuing on the 80/10/10 path just wasn't going to happen.  That evening, I coincidentally (or not so coincidentally) got an email from Frederic Patenaude, a raw-food guru from whom I'd ordered an ebook about dental health a few days earlier.I checked out his blog posts about his reasons for switching from a 100% raw lifestyle to a diet where he allows himself certain cooked foods.  I so related to him!  Everything I read in that post really resonated with me - I was having the same exact experience.
One of the most interesting aspects, and perhaps the most telling, of my re-transitioning to eating some cooked foods is that I haven't craved any "comfort" cooked foods at all - things I used to love, like pasta, risotto, bread, mashed potatoes, etc... what I was craving lately were steamed vegetables, those that I'd previously cut out because they're pretty much inedible raw: Brussels sprouts, leeks, green beans, and snow peas.  This tells me that my "relapse" isn't psychological.  I am so content eating a huge plate of steamed broccoli, and feel so satisfied afterwards.  Surely binging on broccoli can't be considered "emotional eating?  I've done plenty of binging back in my day, and this doesn't resemble it. 

Time will tell, but five days into allowing some cooked foods back in my diet (chickpeas, sweet potatoes, and beans), I feel great!  Not so stuffed and bloated as when I made myself consume huge amounts of fruit to feel satiated (even when the last thing I wanted to eat was fruit).  So far, I find that I feel the best when I start my meals with some fruit or freshly squeezed fruit juice, followed by some steamed vegetables/roots and a salad.  If I get hungry between meals, then it's fruit.  As a note, I should point out that I'm still keeping my fat intake to a minimum ... seasoning-wise, I've been favoring a tiny bit of olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and a bit of dijon mustard.  I know, olive oil isn't a "whole food" and vinegar isn't good for your either, but I figure in small quantities I can deal with it, if they make everything else possible long term. 

Mommy, is that raw? Our family's journey to live food.

As my two-year anniversary of discovering raw food approaches, I thought I'd write about how this decision unfolded, the repercussions on our family's eating habits, and where we are now. 

It all started a couple of winters ago when, inspite of being long-time vegan with overall healthy eating habits, I found myself feeling a bit run down and unable to get motivated about life in general, and exercising in particular.

My house in January

I had the idea of trying raw food - not sure why the inspiration struck, but it did - so as with everything else I do, I went cold turkey.  None of that transition to high-raw, raw till dinner, stuff for me.  I've always believed that to change one's habits, it's best to go all the way, right away.  After all, do you know anyone who quit smoking (or drinking) - gradually?  A person doesn't wake up and say " I think I'll only have 11 beers instead of 12 today".

So back to going raw.  I was a bit panicked at first.  Mealtime would come and was having a hard time training my brain to head for the vegetable drawer in the fridge to make a salad, and not the bread box to make a sandwitch.  In the back of my mind, I had this feeling that this was just not sustainable long term.  No way I would eat enough calories, no way I could just "do" vegetables and fruit forever.

A few days into it, Sarah, a vegan friend who was staying with us lent me a raw food recipe book (Ani's Raw Food Essentials by Ani Phyo).  I read it from front to back and learned a lot about various uncooking techniques, from dehydrating to fermenting, to using root vegetables, legumes, and nuts as stand-ins for staples like rice and pasta. So far so good.  I started making some of the recipes, and tried to convince myself that a) - they tasted good, and b) - I was feeling good about what I ate.  Long story short, three months into my foray into raw foods, I felt tired, bloated, and had gained about eight pounds.  All that as the rest of my family happily went about their business of eating their cooked vegan meals (prepared by yours truly, thank you!).

Bottom line, I went to raw foods to shed the winter blues (and a few pounds), and accomplished the opposite.  Damn!

So in May, while surfing the internet, I stumbled upon a website called 30BananasADay. It was a game changer for me. Not only Freelee oozed enthusiasm, she looked phenomenal and had a palpable aura of confidence and poise about her.  I followed her advice and bought Dr. Douglas Graham's book, The 80/10/10 diet.  It blew me away.  More importantly, Dr. Graham's explanation of following a species-specific lifestyle resonated with me on a very deep level, putting into words things about nutrition that I felt I'd always intuitively known. 

There's no going back after reading this book

For the first time, it dawned on me one didn't have to eat substantial, filling foods like cereal, tofu, or beans to feel sustain health and have energy.

It had never occurred to me that fruit and vegetables could be enough.  That's just not something you find in any textbook about nutrition or food pyramid, including the vegan-friendly ones I'd used for years to educate myself.

So it's been almost two years, give or take, that I've seriously leaned toward a 100% raw diet.  I say "leaned" because I've made exceptions along the way, especially at the beginning.  I would stick to low-fat raw vegan for a few days, then something would snap and I'd reach for a cookie, or a piece of cake, or both.  This reaching for unhealthy food forced me to acknowledge that I can be an emotional eater, and that stress and aggravation with life, kids, money, etc... are powerful triggers.  They had always been, but were easy to ignore on a traditional cooked vegan diet.  Since making the switch to raw, I could no longer sweep those patterns of behavior under the rug. So I started reading self-help books about compulsive eating, bingeing, and low self-esteem and have learned a lot about myself.

For a while now, I've been 100% low-fat raw vegan, and have followed Dr. Graham's 80/10/10 fully.  With one exception:  I use sundried tomatoes that I buy at the weekly market - they're sold in bulk so I can't be sure, but I suspect they sprinkle salt on them as they dry so they're strictly not 811, since salt isn't allowed.

I've used nutridiary.com to monitor my calorie intake, as well as the percentage of fat in my diet.  For about a month or so, I opted to avoid all overt fats (nuts, avocadoes, coconut, etc..), averaging 3-4% fat as a percentage of total calorie intake.  Now I've re-introduced small amounts avocado and nuts.

The results of all this?  I've lost 9 pounds, which feels great.  I was never too overweight - about 130lbs in college, 120lbs as a vegan (before as well as after having two children), and now I hover around 110lbs. 

Unlike previous stints with weight-loss and calorie restricting, I've made exercising a priority, working out 4-5 times a week, and mountain-biking with the kids twice a week.  My muscle tone is better than ever (and I'm pushing 40 - he! he!), so my self-esteem is back.  I also discovered BodyRock (recently renamed The DailyHiit), a fantastic exercise blog that anyone can follow at home, with no or little equipment. I highly recommend it for busy people who don't have access to a gym and hours to devote to working out each day.

Me - still a work in progress, but heading in the right direction!

Other benefits from the 80/10/10 diet that cannot go unmentioned:

- painless menstural periods!  It's unbelievable really, and most people (and doctors) are skeptical, but I can vouch that my periods have been absolutely cramp-free since starting on a low-fat raw diet.  No ovulation pains either.  Even if nothing else good had happened, this would be reason enough to stay raw!

- I now breathe through my nose!  I'd been told by my dentist that I have very large sinuses, and that mucus would just gather in those cavities and not be evacuated, causing me to have to breathe through my mouth, night and day.  Since going 811, no more mucus, my passages are clear, and I can finally smell the roses. Literally!

- Clear skin!  My first few months as a gourmet, high-fat, raw foodie had wreaked havoc on my complexion.  I had more pimples than ever, and fat was just oozing out of my pores. Blech!  Now, no pimples whatsoever.  Hoping old blemishes will also disappear in time.

- Fewer mood-swings!  I've felt more patient with the kids, more relaxed and grounded than ever before.  I used to have negative feelings about life in general, and myself in particular, but now I notice my perspective has changed.  I'm more hopeful, enthusiastic and laid-back. 

My husband is mostly raw.  He follows 80/10/10 more loosely than I do, but stays raw most days.  His health and appearance have changed. His mucus is gone too, and so is his beer belly!  He's always been skinny, but could never shed the pouch no matter how many situps he did.  After two months of a diet consisting mostly of fruit and vegetables (okay, he eats popcorn a couple of times a week, and soup occasionally!), he's very trim around the waist, and has seen improvement on a host of other minor age-related conditions. 

I was very surprised by my children's reaction.  As soon as I changed my diet, Nina, who was six at the time, said that she too wanted to be raw.  Unlike us adults, who've been conditioned into certain eating habits from years of brain washing by our parents and society, Nina just latched on to raw foods as the natural way to eat.  I intentionally didn't set out to convert her.  I actually wasn't so sure about this diet myself in the beginning, and didn't feel comfortable dragging either of my kids into thi experiment, but she was constantly asking to eat out of my plate, pushing aside her own food. 

So now, a couple of years later, she's pretty much high raw at meal time.  She drinks smoothies, eats lots of fruits and veggies, and has the occasional bite of cooked vegan food when it appeals to her.  She is growing very fast and has lots of energy.  She is the tallest in her class, inspite of being the youngest, and is the only girl (and the yongest) in her mountain bike club group, regularly participating in very challenging bike rides in the nearby hills. 

Noah, who is now almost ten, hasn't changed his diet much.  He's eaten a fairly healthy vegan diet since birth, and has had days where he wanted to try to "be raw", but so far he's shown a preference for cooked food.  He's not a big vegetable lover in general, which causes some tension at the dinner table.  He'll eat veggies when we insist, which is always, but tries to avoid them given the opportunity.  While Nina is lean and trim, he tends to be rounder around the waist.  Luckily, he's an avid mountain biker, so he burns lots of calories doing that.  Having been plagued by a difficult relationship to food most of my life, I decided not to impose a raw diet on him, fearing that banning certain foods would only make him crave it more and hoping that his body will eventually send him a stronger signal. 

September, and life is good!

I love September in Provence!  Our fruit trees are heavy with apples, pears, plums and figs, our vineyard showcases an array of various table grapes, and the veggie garden supplies us with tomatoes, zucchini, salads, carrots, chard, blackberries, and raspberries.

Most of the year I go to the kitchen to look for a snack, but these days all I have to do is walk out the door!  Little compares to the feeling I get from eating fruit right off the trees - trees that I lovingly nurture, prune, feed, and water all year.  Harvest time offers a treasured insight into how simple life really is if I just slow down enough to notice. 

Summer was busy this year.  We met some wonderful vegan people from all over the world, as far as California, Vancouver, and Australia, and as close as England, who came to discover Provence and enjoy a bit of gourmet vegan cuisine in our little corner of paradise.

The kids went back to school today, meaning that our days are about to become more structured again.  Finished the lazy mornings, three o'clock lunches, and late night swims in the pool - until next year, that is! 

Flying children!



Noah and Peter ~ no parachute needed!

 Year after year, the pool remains a huge draw for grown-ups and children alike.  Whether it's to cool off after a day spend exploring the nearby villages and lavender fields, or whether you fancy spending an entire day resting in one of our lounge-chairs, the pool is where everything happens at La Petite Gardette in the summer. 

The pool deck offers plenty of space for everyone to enjoy some privacy, and the surrounding trees and awning provide are a shady alternative for those needing a break from the sun (temps got to 39 celsius just yesterday!).

Max, Nina and Clara - big splash coming up!

The deep-end of the pool is surrounded by massive rocks and a wall on both sides.  The water there is over 6ft deep, making it the perfect spot to practice your diving (or cannon-ball!) skills.  The rocks are a good way up, but the wall is the perfect hight for our younger guests.

It's fun to watch as games get invented and played out.  Last year one game had kids jumping off while acting out Harry Potter characters that the grown-ups had to guess.  This year, as Harry delves deeper and deeper into the dark side of adolescence (when Harry takes off his shirt and is, well, hairy, I say it's time to move on!) I'm lobbying for a shift to the Kung Fu Panda II cast:)

Love is in the air...

One day this week I woke up feeling particularly peaceful and connected.  Those who've stayed with us before know that summer is a particularly busy time of year around here, and that the notion of "peace" and "connection" tends to fall through the cracks as we bustle around welcoming guests and delivering on our promise of delicious vegan eats...

This one morning though, I didn't feel the usual urge to rush through my to-do list. Instead, I took the time to notice the first rays of sun coming through the open window, the song of the dozens of birds who live in the cypress trees right outside my bedroom, and the restful silence of a household still asleep.  In short, the day felt special. Full of possibilities. 

One of my early morning habits is to go check on the vegetable garden, not to work necessarily (although I do plenty of that this time of year), but just to take in the slow but steady growth of our various plants and flowers.  It's reassuring and grounding to watch nature do its thing.  And when you think about it, it's all effortless.  Salad either grows, or it doesn't.  Tomatoes either ripen, or they don't.  Nature doesn't have goals, nor does it set expectations.  It simply is what it is, in a permanent state of surrender.  On that particular day, it even showed its playful side.  This is what came out of the ground when I was pulling carrots for dinner.  How cool is that?

And later that day, these two snails were snuggling by the water hose, much too busy to notice me!

They took notice of Noah however, when he picked them up for a closer look.  Luckily he didn't ask too many questions about what the snails were actually doing, dismayed and bewildered (for the nth time) by the fact that most people in France see a snail and call it dinner.  Noah really can't get over it that even some of his classmates eat snails (and froglegs) regularly.

A fun-filled weekend on the shore of Lake Serre-Ponçon.



Noah and Gaia, enjoying the (mostly) downhill ride!



Recently, we spent the night at the foot of the Alps, on the shore of Lake Serre-Ponçon.  The outing was sponsored by the Pierrevert mountain bike club (Natur' Bike), so most of the  weekend get-together revolved around biking.  This included an exhilarating bike ride which took Noah and me from the montain top resort all the way down to one of the lakefront beaches, with breathtaking views and a wonderful breeze all along the way.

Later in the day, we continued our adventure by crossing the lake and driving to La Sauze du Lac, a charming village with, you guessed it, panoramic lake views! Just past the village we stopped at La Montagne aux Marmottes, an unconventional animal park where the animals have lots of room to roam in the natural habitat.  They had groundhogs, goats, birds of prey and a really cool fossil and mineral museum overlooking the lake. 

A hawk flies over the lake

I never get used to living so close to such a diverse array of natural landscapes.  The mountains are just an hour away, but so is the sea with its quaint villages and sandy beaches.  I've never been to California or Hawaii, but I keep hearing that Provence compares very well in terms of diversity.

Let there be spring! (originally posted in March...)

Pear blossom ... won't be long now!

 Well, Nature in our part of Provence is discreetly showing the first signs of spring.  Temperatures haven’t dropped below freezing at night for the past couple of weeks, our wood stove only gets lit briefly in the evenings, and the occasional door left by one of the kids no longer garners the “close the door, you’re letting all the warm air out” comment from Damon or me!

This is what it looks like outside at the moment...



Daisies everywhere

Cherry blossom

The mad dash begins to get the garden ready for planting!

 Every year, a sure sign of the seasons changing for me are the wild salads that grow all over the fields around our house.  Nothing says spring more than walking around with a paring knife and a colander gathering lunch.  This year I’m really into juicing, and since green leafy vegetables are so expensive to buy at my local organic shop, I decided I would juice dandelions instead.  I’ve found that although dandelions are the black sheep in any self-respecting lawn, they have amazing powers.  They are a great diuretic, purify the blood, and are packed with minerals.  Since I have an endless (and free) supply of them for a few weeks out of the year, I figured I should get my fill.

Here's what you find this time of year in Provence:

Chives

Spider salad (the latin name is Scorzoneralaciniata L.)

Dandelion, the queen of all wild salads (Taraxacum gr. officinale, in latin) 

Nina finds the best dandelions. She loves them mixed with other salad greens and "crunchies" (Jerusalem artichokes she digs up in the garden).



One of the perks about warmer weather is that we get to eat outside.  We have a huge round stone table complete with Lazy Susan for large gatherings (it comfortably seats fourteen people!), but when it’s just us, we like to sit at the smaller table that’s just off our kitchen.  It’s sheltered from the wind, and the views of our front field are really nice.  No neighbors as far as the eye can see, and only Nature’s sounds surrounding us.  If only the kids had anything close to good table manners, I could almost enjoy it!