Practically Raw Woman

Found three of these in our frozen garden and brought them inside for a little warmth. Volunteer tomato plants blooming in the middle of winter.

Life will find a way.

Since the holidays I've become seriously disillussioned. Food shopping for 'the masses' really got me down. 😑

Let's face it: for the most part, the grocery store is a minefield when it comes to your health.

Add the holiday crowds and your mental health can suffer too.😱

You can probably count two or three aisles in there that contain anything you could really consider 'healthy' on their shelves. There's the produce section. The bulk food section. And we could throw some spices in there, too.

The rest? There's stuff in those stores that should have WARNING labels on it, masquerading as health food.☠️

I always thought this whole Raw Till 4 thing was great because it's not extreme. And I'll admit that in winter I really do look forward to eating something with a little steam coming off of it in the evening.

Raw Till 4 's been looked at as eating Raw for the early part of the day and then having a vegan dinner. BUT vegan isn't necessarily the best option anymore either. Sure, it's gotten easier. Unfortunately thats the problem. Most of it's as processed as all the other stuff out there!

We really have to look beyond plant based. Plant based alone doesn't keep the chemicals off our plates.

What we need is real food. Not to mention, if you rely on processed foods, not only will you be missing out on all those essential vitamins and minerals found in fresh produce but you'll also likely experience mood swings due to lack of fiber! Fiber helps regulate blood sugar levels by slowing down how quickly carbs are digested - meaning no crazy fluctuations that have you acting all Jekyll and Hyde and scaring all the neighbors... never mind having to deal with your own sweet self! Trust me: I've had the experience. A few faltering steps over the holiday season and I truly see the light.

So I'm making it a point this year to keep myself sane. Don't veer too far from those three aisles. Don't assume because it's vegan it's okay. Maybe get myself a greenhouse... finally.

And, if we really want to insure the integrity of our food, we're going to have to spend a lot more time in our kitchen... Or just take up residence at the fruit bowl!💚