When people think of raw food they often associate it with extremists and it feels like an impossible thing to do. An image pops into the mind of someone draped with Tye Die, an incense stick in their left hand and a carrot in their right. The truth is, raw food does not have to be an all or nothing thing. If you can add one raw meal a day that's fine, this is the first step on the ladder. It does not matter how you start bringing more raw food into your body as long as you do it.
My friend Jennifer Thompson (http://www.healthybliss.com/) has been 95% raw for four years now and teaches raw food classes and coaching, she likes to keep it fun and light. I know other people who live it 100% religiously and never stray from raw for even a morsel and can be quite judgemental about the whole thing. So, as you can see there are lots of ways of bringing raw food into your life and it does not have to be a challenge.
What do I mean when I say 'raw'?
As the term suggests, raw food is simply not cooked. Someone who is a raw foodist will eat no cooked food and is sustained on raw fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, dried or dehydrated fruit and vegetables and certain spreads or powders derived from raw products, raw dairy and even raw meat. Although, many raw foodists are 'raw vegan' and restrict animal products from their diet.
Why is raw food important?
Raw food is the best way to get live, active enzymes into your body. When we start to cook food it loses some of its vital nutrients and in some cases degrades it greatly. Eating raw food is eating living food and to eat life brings vitality and healing to the body.
There are different schools of thought, as in much of nutrition, and some suggest certain foods respond well to cooking and it actually increases their positive properties. Others insist that eating cooked foods is bad for the body and cause it to literally fight the food like a foreign body. The way I see it, if you eat a balance of both ( I choose about 70% raw to 30% cooked) then you cannot lose. I suggest you give it a go and once you start feeling the wonderful benefits you can take it as far as you want. What is right for one person is not always right for another so listen to your body and if you go all the way...fantastic!
How do you start eating raw food? What are you supposed to eat?
Preparing raw food can be as simple or complicated as you want, people imagine it will be salads and fruit and you will be starving all the time. The truth is it can be exciting and full of flavour. Sometimes a few simple ingredients tossed in a salad and certain combinations of fruit and vegetables can create a literal taste sensation. Take a look online and you will find an abundance of raw food recipes, tips and guidance, it is a whole new world to discover.
Of course as with any specific diet, you need to make sure you are getting all the nutrients that you need. Some vitamins/minerals are harder to get when you are veggie or vegan. do the relevant research and supplement your diet where needed. You must make sure you get enough fat in the form of avocados, nuts, seeds and oils. Try to get a good balance and change that balance until you find one that suits your body.
Simple!
-Carrot sticks and guacamole.
-Cucumber dipped in tahini.
-Green leaf salad
-Handful of raw nuts and seeds
-Dried figs and apricots
-Green Smoothies
-Shredded Carrot Salad with walnuts
...or for the more adventurous!
-Raw Lasagna
-Raw Cheesecake
-Raw Pasta
-Raw Pizza
I should add that these variations on cooked food are very rarely satisfying if you compare them to the original cooked version, but they are fun and full of great flavours
So...
For more insight into going raw visit Jennifer Thompson at http://www.healthybliss.net/ or find her on youtube.com for some great ideas on raw recipes. Her energy and enthusiasm gets you really excited about it and she was my inspiration to get involved with raw food.
So, good luck getting started and let me know if you have any questions.
Remember to keep it fun and enjoy your new found energy.
Josie
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