Hi All.

I've been trying to eat mostly raw food- fruits and veggies, no meat, of course!

I find this diet particularly challenging because I'm not particularly fond of "salads."  Regardless, I've been experimenting, making my own salad dressings with very little oil- cold pressed olive and nut oils.

What I'm particularly interested in is whole grains.  I sprout my own wheat berries and quinoa, and make salads with them using raw veggies, or chunks of apples, dried fruit and the like.  I eat these salads with greens, etc.

But, I'm wondering if there are any other raw/living foodists out there.  What tricks do you have up your sleeves for preparing food while managing a busy schedule.

There are no fully vegetarian/vegan restaurants in my area, so there's certainly no raw food restaurant.  My only savior is the salad bar at my local Whole Foods.

Please let me know how you've managed sticking with this lifestyle.

I don't follow it myself, but I've read some really interesting posts here in the Vegetarian section. And, it's a fascinating way of living your life. I'll see if I can seek some out for you ~

Aha! Here's one: http://www.calorie-count.com/forums/post/8095 8.html

Thank you.  There are several very helpful links that spin off of there.

Not sure what area you're in in the world, but in a lot of states there are some great raw food restaurants. I'm in Chicago, and we have three...they are my saviors sometimes. Mostly because I can get 'treats' without having to make them myself.

It's so nice to be able to 'splurge' on some raw macaroni and cheese for example, or a reese's peanut butter/banana chocolate ice cream sunday with raw 'hot fudge'!!! That stuff is AMAZING and it's all raw, living food!

I love these restaurants so much, I'm apprenticing at one right now, learning how to make the stuff myself. I hope you're in an area where they have such a thing.

You can order staples online, too. I'd reccomend going to www.meetup.com and joinging a raw food meetup so you can go to potlucks with like minded people and learn new recipes and alla round have support. That really helps me, too. The raw community here is great. and who knows, if there's not a restaurant by you yet, maybe you can start one one day?