If you can get your hands on some or all of the tools listed here, I think they will make the difference between getting by and thriving on this diet. I have spent a lot of extra time in the kitchen trying to make it without some of these things, or I have just had to avoid certain recipes all together. I would much rather be able to have the resources to do everything and anything that I want.
That being said - you don't need them; they just make things easier. You don't need anything fancy to throw together a salad, or prepare a big bowl of fruit. Personally I've found that I've outgrown my hillbilly appliances these last almost-8 weeks, and it's time to upgrade a few things. But I'm kind of glad I've gone about things THIS way instead of making a major investment right up front.
It's kind of like a gym membership - it's better to get one after you've outgrown your living room and gotten tired of running around the block, instead of signing a year contract thinking THAT is what's going to motivate you. Outgrow what you have - and then reward yourself with the extra resources. You'll be much less likely to take them for granted, and much more likely to use them.
Vitamix - or other high-powered blender
Okay, it's time for this girl to break down and sell a kidney or something so I can afford to get a Vitamix. That's a really high-powered blender that will make my life so much easier. The other day, I spent almost two hours making a "quick" pumpkin pie recipe that should have taken about 30 minutes tops. Even after all that, the pie still wasn't creamy enough and I hated the texture, which wasn't helped by the fact that I didn't peel the pumpkin first (I didn't know I was supposed to; I guess the person writing the recipe didn't consider that there are Gwens out there that need even the baby steps spelled out).
In addition, my almond yogurt is just crap because I can't puree the mixture fine enough with my blender.
Spiralizer
I also must have a spiralizer. I'd already been thinking about it, but the deal was sealed earlier this week when I went to a raw restaurant and tried the zucchini noodles with cashew Alfredo. It was a party in my mouth! The cafe was selling the spiralizer for $50, but that's too expensive; I'm ordering mine here for about $35. Also, you can see a video recipe using one on my last blog post.
Mandolin
This is something that will cut your foods almost paper thin. I haven't felt at a total loss without one, but I've passed up a lot of good looking recipes since I don't have one. I recently saw a ravioli recipe that calls for thinly sliced jicama, so I'm considering this much more seriously now. The alternative is to cut your vegetables by hand, but I just can't seem to get my ingredients thin enough.
Big Butcher Knife
I'd also like to get a big butcher knife, like this one. This would help when opening up the young coconuts. I'm getting pretty good at opening them without this tool, but it's cost me my Miracle Blade knife that I've had for years, so now I'm in the market for a new knife anyway. I'm currently using a sharp knife to cut away the husk on the top, and then smacking the dome around the edges with the back of a hammer. It's very effective, but probably not as sanitary as using something that has been through the dishwasher. You can see a video on how to easily open a coconut here.
Dehydrator
I use this almost daily. There are a wide range of models out there, and a wide range of prices. I bought mine off of craigslist for about $15 and it was like new. Used dehydrators are like used bread machines - they're as good as new because the person that bought them had a world of good intentions, but never figured out how to use them. Lucky me!
I've used this a lot, and I plan on using it more as I branch out and try new things. I had some raw nachos at a raw restaurant earlier this week, so now I'm itching to try some chips. I've made burgers, sun dried tomatoes, and kale chips very regularly. I'll be trying some raisins tomorrow since I have two bags of black grapes that aren't good for anything else.
Food Processor
This is invaluable - especially if you're not ready to invest in a Vitamix. Sadly, I just have this sorry little contraption called an Ultimate Chopper. Don't get me wrong - I love it; but it's so SMALL. It fits about two cups of content, which is NOT enough when you're trying to make raw food dishes. You should have seen me making my pie this week. I knew that I wouldn't be able to get everything pureed using the blender, so I chopped everything before throwing it into the blender. But since my UC is so tiny, it took several chopping cycles. Load, chop, dump; load, chop, dump - it drove me nuts!
I'm going to invest in a much bigger chopper very soon.
Juicer
I have a juicer, but it's in storage at my sister's house in Oklahoma, so I haven't been doing any juicing yet. I feel like this is a must, though, because I've been struggling getting as wide of a variety of foods and nutrients that I want. Almost, all the raw food gurus I've subscribed to really make a big deal out of juicing. The other day, I was literally craving a beet, so I just pureed it in my blender, then strained it through a nut bag. This worked well enough, but it was messy and required several more steps than if I'd just had my juicer handy.
This will also be a great way for me to get in some of the fruits and vegetables I don't actually want to eat. I can just juice them and blend the flavors with other things that I enjoy.
Need vs. Want
All that being said, I would encourage you NOT to put off taking the plunge until you have these tools. If you see these tools as a barrier to entry, then you'll be much more likely not to do it at all - or the opposite will happen. You will go out and spend $500 on all these fancy contraptions with the best of intentions, and then donate them to Goodwill a year later because you found a million other reasons not to get started.
Hmmm - on second thought, you go right on ahead and make the investment. I'll be gleaning your goodies soon ;)
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