Yesterday marked a significant milestone on my living foods journey, when my 84 years old Grandmother ate a Raw Vegan Longan Cream Dessert that I made specially for her.
Not only did she eat it, she finished everything to the last drop.
Vegan Longan Cream
Now mind you, my Grandmother is a typical “Abalone, Bird Nest & Ginseng” Asian woman. She believes that too much meat is no good, but you got to have codfish, scallops & sea cucumbers for “protein”.
Busting the protein myth is what I consider elementary level in healthful conscious eating. So while I put my rolling of eyes aside, I also realized that she is nonetheless my Grandmother, I have only one Grandmother & there must be a reason for one of her 10 Grandchildren (that is me) to be a Raw Food Chef & Teacher.
They say that the fastest way to a man’s heart is through the stomach; I would say the fastest way to my Grandmother’s heart is through her mouth. Everything has to taste good to begin with.
There are some easy steps that we can follow to introduce healthier options to the elders in our family. No matter how tough, how picky they are, how stubborn their beliefs, all can be worked out!
Step 1:
What do they like? My Grandmother has some favorite foods – Longans one of them. She loves the smell, flavor & texture of dried Longans. The easiest way to begin is to make something out of their favorite foods. This way, half the battle is won because the dish is something familiar & we won’t have to explain too much.
Compared to making a Calzone or Dehydrated Pizza/Garden Burgers (and spend the whole night explaining what it is all about, plus they may not even nibble at the end!), prepare something that your elders like, that taste familiar.
Step 2:
The first time you make raw foods for them, make it at home, and then bring down. Don’t make it in front of them. This is an occasion where you prepare something out of love for them, they do not need nor are they burning to hear a lecture about sprouting, keeping enzymes intact! Unless of course you know they are already interested, then invite them for a raw food class.
Once they tasted it, and they like it, they may start asking. This is the right time to slowly explain to them, tactfully, that the dish is prepared intelligently & creatively to preserve maximum nutrient density. Then perhaps on the next visit, you can show them a little more.
The key is to go slow.
Step 3:
It is impossible to make a raw dish taste exactly like a cooked dish – because cooked foods taste identical while every raw food in their natural forms vary slightly in texture & flavor.
The idea is to mimic a dish that they love; like my Ah Ma (affectionate name for Grandmother) loves Longan Almond Tofu. So I begin to create something with the taste of Longans, Almonds flavor & something soft & creamy. While going along these lines, I also bear in mind how the end dish must look – something that she must want to eat at first glance.
Step 4:
When we showcase the dish, do NOT say it is RAW. Banish the word “Raw” once and forever more!!
The moment we say the word, the walls go up, alarms start to ring, and fire engines ready to shoot water.
It is really much harmonious to say, “Prepared intelligently to preserve vitamins & minerals. Good for washing the bad fats from fried stuff, bowel movement & digestion; plus delicious too. Oh yes, did I mention that they fight wrinkles because of the Vitamin E? Ah Ma you are going to love this!”
Last night, when Ah Ma first open it and stir with her antique porcelain spoon, she said “Wow, Ho Liao!” –which means “Good Stuff” in our Hokkien dialect.
And so, last night, we had dinner – just Ah Ma and me. I brought my own Cucumber Olive Oil salad, and Ah Ma brought a huge tray of Apples & Oranges from the fridge.
While I was peeling an Orange, I caught a moment of fulfillment – knowing that my Grandmother’s dinner is at least 50% nutrient dense Raw Vegan because of the dessert & I was there to peel Oranges for her. I caused it to happen; and that is how powerful I can be.
If you are reading this, it probably means you are a health nut, if not at least half a health nut, like me. It is one thing to be a health nut alone; it is another if you inspire your family & loved to be health nuts together. You have the power to influence your family, your community to either be eating more consciously, or just letting circumstances decide for them.
By default you are causing something to happen. Even if you sit there and do nothing while they eat Fish & Chips, that will be causing them to continue to eat Fish & Chips.
We are not saying to declare war or discriminate them for that, but there is always something you can do at that moment. Cut an Apple & share, give half the salad on your plate away, never mind if they say no, just try again later.
At the end of the night, I gave Ah Ma a leg rub. The second lesson I got that night was that the most precious thing in family gatherings is not food; but rather love & connection. Our parents & Grandparents yearn for our attention; food is simply one channel that they communicate their love. We can create more channels that are not food-related. When we establish a strong bond, we can re-work on their unsupportive diet beliefs much better.
Before leaving, I told Ah Ma “I love you Ah Ma, I love to see you smile because you have so many golden front teeth. You are very important to me, because if you have not given birth to my father, there would be no me in the first place.” As I exited the front door, out of the corner of my eyes I caught a glimpse of a bottle of roasted Cashews on the coffee table.
Next visit, Dehydrated Sprouted Crunchy Teriyaki Cashews ☺
© Copyright Linda Loo, Light Love Laughter