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Friends, Thanksgiving is just 2 weeks away and Christmas is only a short 6 weeks away and I don't know about you, but this is the always the busiest time of year for me! When I first started eating raw foods nearly 10 years ago, I panicked at the thought of how I would make it through all the holiday food affairs.  Parties, snacking, nibbling, cooking, entertaining, food gifts, weight gain worries and my carnivorous family and friends' appetites sent me into panic mode!

But, thankfully, over the years I have learned not to worry so much about staying raw and true to myself during the holiday season. Here are my tips to help you get through this time of year and still maintain balance and harmony while enjoying all the festivities.

Whether you're new to raw foods or a seasoned expert, this is not the time of year to be fretting about that  nibble of stuffing or the sweet potatoes you just ate.  If it makes you feel good, do it. This is no time to worry or criticize yourself; this is the time to begin celebration and giving thanks, for blessings received and given, to absolutely embrace Aunt Susie's mashed potatoes, to stay true to your compassionate self and your loved ones. As the New Year approaches you have plenty of opportunity to grow stronger in your convictions about your loving path toward optimal health, by way of a raw vegan lifestyle, all year long.

Here are a few tips to help you enjoy the holidays:

Stop the bad self-talk. Now is not the time to lecture yourself over any past wrong turns, diet slip-ups, or mistakes made this year. Love yourself completely and abundantly. Enjoy food offerings in whatever form they take. You need not indulge, but temptations will be everywhere; so moderation is the key. Your cooked food cravings aren't going away unless you've been totally raw for many, many years. Staying consistently raw is not easy during the season, especially if you've just begun a raw diet, so think about it as making individual healthy decisions one situation at a time.  Don't sweat it, tomorrow is another day. 

Meditate. Do this while standing in front of a table full of cooked food. Take a long deep breath. Walk away. Stay calm, while remembering why you went raw in the first place. Reconnect with those reasons while you walk away. Concentrate then on focusing your full attention on talking to someone that is far away from the food. Educate yourself during the holidays with all the raw food literature you can find, so you can intelligently inform your friends and family of all the reasons you are committed to staying raw.

Start new raw traditions. Take your beautifully wrapped dehydrated breads (or any converted traditional holiday dish) to your relative's house, serve up that decadent sweet raw chocolate mousse at your party, pass it around and let everyone savor its goodness. Make it a point to share your raw food delicacies with your family and friends now and everywhere you go during the holidays and forever!  Don't be shy, or embarrassed, don't be afraid to let it all hang out, you care deeply about your health and your future, so let everyone know it.  Maybe your healthy passions will catch on. 

Eat beforehand.  Before attending any party, fill up your belly with as much of your own raw splendiliciousness as you possibly can. If it's a work party, bring your own food there, then take a break and eat first, or load up that morning before leaving. Indulge in your all-time favorite, refreshing green smoothie right before you go. Have plenty of fresh cold water on hand at ALL times. Never be without it. Buy yourself the prettiest portable water bottle possible, which helps you savor your water all the more. Wear that bottle like a diamond ring. 

Try attending only Raw Potluck Holiday Parties.  I know this is not always practical, but here you will find fellowship with like-minded individuals who fully support and understand your lifestyle and there are no food temptations. You'll meet new friends who will help you stay on track throughout the rest of your raw food journey.  You'll also learn new recipes and that is always fun no matter how long you've been raw!

Have you considered hiring a private raw food chef?  This way you can fully enjoy and get ready for your own celebration without the worry of what to make or what to serve, stress-free and guilt-free.  I'm available for catered events, retreats and private lessons! 

GROWING YOUR OWN SPROUTS

By growing your own sprouts you will save yourself a ton of money. It is a lot cheaper to buy the sprout seeds, grow and harvest the sprouts rather than buying them from your local grocery store. Growing your own sprouts will also allow you to enjoy them when they are at their absolute freshest and tastiest. Imagine the simple pleasure of grabbing a handful of these beauties from their growing container, rinsing them and then gobbling them up! It's fantastic! Because home grown spouts are fresher, they contain higher levels of nutrients. By growing your own sprouts you choose which varieties of sprouts you add to your diet. You're not limited to what's just available at your local market. I heard someone say once that sprouts are the fast food of gardening and that's true and that funny fact stuck with me.


FOOD POISONING AND SPROUTS

There have been many news stories regarding salmonella and or e-coli contamination in sprouts. These have been combined with warnings from the FDA that sprouts could be contaminated with food poisoning bacteria and advising the very old, the very young, and those with compromised immune systems to avoid raw sprouts. So it's no wonder folks are afraid to try sprouts let alone understand all the amazing health benefits they hold. Who knows for sure why or how those sprouts became contaminated. I just say all the more reason to sprout your own! You know exactly where the seeds came from what's going into them and how they are being handled.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO BE EXTRA SAFE?

Use certified organic seeds. Organic certification assures that seeds have been grown and handled in a manner that helps minimize possible sources of contamination. Manure used on organic fields, for example, must be composted for a long period. Composting has been shown to reduce or eliminate pathogens in manure. Organic farmers are also required to use rodent- and bird-proof storage for seeds to be used for human consumption. Make sure that any seeds you buy have been handled as a food crop and not a farm planting seed crop. Find this information out before you buy.

Seeds that have been in contact with animals or animal waste could be contaminated with salmonella or e-coli, leading to food poisoning. Reputable sprouting seed suppliers test all lots of seeds for contamination.

Treat sprouts and foods containing sprouts as you would any nutritious food - refrigerate them until used.

Be sure to check Splendor In The Raw's NEWS tab next Thursday, when I'll present Part 3 of our Fall Sprouting Series.