raw/vegan diets and independence

[bluedragon]

I think being a raw foodist in today's society makes it hard to find what to eat when you are away from home and in the company of people who eat meat.
For example, what could you do if you were to go hiking for 10 days in the mountains What could you possibly carry, raw, in a backpack which can't exceed a certain weight for you to be able to carry it?
Or, what if you were to visit for example Africa, and be constantly on the move, where finding a blender to make green smoothies would be inconceivable, and vegetables and fruits scarce.Or if you would go visit the North Pole. Or Nepal?
The question i'm more interested in knowing the answer to is: what would happen to someone who has eaten only raw food for years if he ate meat? I've heard it is possible to become sick if you go back to cooked food, even the vegan one.
For me, it is very important to preserve independence - be able to go places, eat when I can, not get hungry fast, be able to sleep in any conditions, have more energy, anything that will enable me to be more effective and have more autonomy.
I am currently eating 100% vegan, but I am not opposed to eat meat if I am in someone else's house and there is nothing else to eat. I have found that eating meat from time to time doesn't cause any noticeable decrease in my energy unless I keep doing it for many days in a row. However, I don't know how it would be like if I were to completely avoid meat for an extended period of time.

[Dharma]

Originally Posted by bluedragon

For example, what could you do if you were to go hiking for 10 days in the mountains What could you possibly carry, raw, in a backpack which can't exceed a certain weight for you to be able to carry it?

You're going to need monster calories for as little weight as possible. Think complex and simple carbs and fats. The simple carbs will be for quick pick-me-ups and the complex carbs and fats are for your meals.

Yes, your choices will be limited as you go on longer and longer trips or get more remote from normal towns. But if you're thinking going raw... hmmmm

Grains are pretty light for the energy, nuts have protein and yummy fats. You could eat fresh vegis and fruit the first day out. Those are very heavy items for the energy they give you, best to eat them on day 1. Yeah, and now I'm going blank because every food item popping into my mind for backpacking is not raw or it's not vegan.

Originally Posted by bluedragon

The question i'm more interested in knowing the answer to is: what would happen to someone who has eaten only raw food for years if he ate meat? I've heard it is possible to become sick if you go back to cooked food, even the vegan one.

I have no experience with this. I only go raw for a month here and there and then switch back to my normal diet to keep my weight up. I've never had a problem switching back and forth, but as I said, I only do it for a temporary change.

I'd say if you're planning one of these trips you should eat a varied diet and keep yourself in shape. Don't throw yourself into meat-lovers pizza after 3 year of eating raw. Common sense would prevail on that one. Be gentle. The body can adjust to your diet.

Originally Posted by bluedragon

For me, it is very important to preserve independence - be able to go places, eat when I can, not get hungry fast, be able to sleep in any conditions, have more energy, anything that will enable me to be more effective and have more autonomy.

I hiked for 6 months in the mountains on the east coast. I ate some meat every day along with tons of processed food and had more energy than God. The body is amazing and will support you as best it can. Observe those cravings (be it food or rest) if you are doing intense physical exertion and are away from 'society' for a long time.

[Fullcrum]

Besides things like the north pole, you should learn about edible wild plants in the various areas you travel.

As for the north pole...well that's a good one. I'd eat what the traditional people of the areas ate: raw meat. Sounds like the most concentrated form of energy I could get.

Other things that come to mind are concentrated powders and nut butters, able to be mixed with water and heat to make a concentrated fatty drink that will never go bad. It could work.

[bluedragon]

Learn about the wild edible plants, and start picking them up along the way? THAT is a good one That would be a gain in personal effectiveness, allowing me to get more things done than the average person due to my raw diet
On a more serious note, I heard that if you go raw, you don't get hungy so easily, but gradually, because what makes us feel the desperate need to eat after only a few hours from the last meal are actually food cravings (for sugar, processed food, whatever) and not real hunger, since the body isn't lacking nutrients yet. Are some of you familiar with these claims?
Being able to go for a whole day without eating would be indeed a great asset I think... At least I get hungry all the time during the day, at colege, when I go skiing, during an important exam, which prevents me from concentrating, etc.

[Fullcrum]

Once a week, go out and collect a massive amount of wild greens, getting exercise outdoors along the while. Maybe collect with someone else, enjoy human connection. Wild greens have more nutrition than any organic farmed produce.

Then put these in the fridge and make 64-96 oz. of green smoothie everyday during the morning and sip it throughout the day when hungry. That will keep you fine and give you much nutrition.

Contrary to popular belief, hunting for wild edibles is well worth the effort and will improve your enjoyment and efficiency in life.

[danas]

This reminds a 8 years ago I was on the road in a country where all they there is meat and cheese (Mongolia- too cold winters for fruit & veg), in the big city you can find everything, but I went on the road, with 2 locals (and 2 friends who didnt mind what they ate), for 5 days sleeping in tents.
I wasnt raw vegan back then (like I am now), but it didnt seem hygenic or healthy to me to eat the meat. But I discoved that the land is full of pine nuts (seeds of pines). people pick them and they are sold everywhere on the side of roads.
the same with berries. so thats what I ate for 5 days pine nuts and berries. It was challenging but fun to find stuff I felt was "pure" enough for me.

Also I remember as a child at kindergarden, everyone got big sandwiches for lunch and I just got a bag of walnuts almonds and raisons every day (i dont know why maybe my mom was too busy). I loved it, and always remebered it as my favorite food.
what Im saying is that raw food can be found anywhere. Some of it is full of fat so you are never hungry.

[funchy]

My outlook is that there is always something else to eat. I don't even feel like I "have to" eat meat in a friend's home. If they're serving BBQ and forgot to make side dishes, then I'll just politely pass on the meat and eat after I leave.

I have also heard eating meat after going vegan can make a person ill as your body re-adjusts. I don't know if it's true or not. I don't think you need to spend a lot of time worrying about it. Unless you're being dropped in the middle of Alaska in winter, you should be able to find food where you go.

I don't know the answer to your backpacking questions since I've never gone on a multi-day hike. I don't see why you couldn't pack calorie-rich foods that don't spoil as easily, such as dried fruits and a variety of nuts. What kind of area do you plan to hike in? Are there any natural sources of food along the way?

[bluedragon]

Actually you are right, cause even some mountain guides here suggested that hikers should take with them a mix of raisins, nuts and cereals for energy.
However, when eating raw, even only 80% raw, I need quite a large quantity of food - fruits, huge salads, some avocado or sesame tahini, nuts... And I don't know if dried fruits and nuts would be enough for 10 days for me not to go hungry. Although maybe oat flakes could do the trick, as they are pretty rich in nutrients for their weight.

[Holistic Star]

dehydrated food would be an asset:


I went on a walking holiday earlier this year and although we had a base at a house I made loads of dehydrated food to take up the mountains with me before we went.

banana and kale green smoothie leather
salad leather (tomatoes, celery cucumber blended then dehydrated)
flax crackers
almond and lemon cookies.
etc

You can also buy green powders which you could take with you and mix into your drinking water.

Which reminds me, I filled my water bottle from a mountain stream and it was the most fantastic water I have ever drunk. Heavenly.

If you really wanted to you could take some seeds and have them sprout in your backpack for a couple of days as you carried them about and then eat them.

all really light to carry.