WHAT IS THE RAW FOOD DIET & WHY EAT RAW?  

The Raw Food Diet is a lifestyle of incorporating more raw fruits & vegetables you’re your diet.  “Raw” does mean food in its natural raw state.  Food that is not cooked, processed, refined or heated.   The three main raw food groups are fresh fruits, vegetables & natural fats.   Cooking destroys much of the nutrition in our foods.  There are many nutritional benefits associated with eating more raw foods including vitamins, minerals & phytonutrients, enzymes, water content, fats, proteins, weight maintenance, digestion, assimilation of nutrients and ease of elimination. 

Phytonutrients play an important role in preventing degenerative diseases and are only found in plant based foods.  Vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients & enzymes are easily destroyed or damaged by heat.  

Enzymes are present in plant based foods & aid in breaking down our food and help complete the digestion process. 

Fruits & vegetables are high in water content and help us to stay well hydrated.  Staying well hydrated helps us to feel energized.  Many people on the SAD diet may find they are frequently tired and may not realize they may be dehydrated.

Heated proteins cause the amino acid chains to congeal which leads to inflammation and other problems.   Heated fats have lost their antioxidant qualities and also lead to blockages in the arteries & digestive track.

Raw Foods are easier to digest and you are able to absorb more of the nutrients from foods that are in their raw state.  Raw fruits & vegetables are very alkalizing which helps you to function at your best.  Processed food, meat, dairy, sugar, pollution & stress are very acid forming.

Your body has the ability to heal, excel and achieve a better level of health, you simply need to give it the opportunity to do so.

1.  How much raw food should I eat?

You can experienced improved health & vitality by eating at least 50% - 75% raw foods.  Very few people eat 100% raw.  Breakfast & lunch are the most often times the easiest ways to achieve this.

2..  What about fats?

Healthy fats like avocados, nuts, seeds or coconut are healthy.  If you eat plenty of fresh fruits & green leafy vegetables you do not have to worry about incorporating a moderate amount of  healthy fats in your diet

3.  What about protein & calcium?

Protein & calcium are found in all natural foods.  Green leafy vegetables are particularly high in protein.

4.  How do I get started with equipment & ingredients?  What do I buy?

The basic equipment needed is a blender, food processor, chef’s knife & a cutting board.  Stocking your refrigerator or freezer with some basic staples like almonds, green leafy vegetables, cucumbers, lemons, tomatoes & fresh fruit is a great base to get you started.

5.  What do I eat & how do I start?

Start with a large glass of water in the morning and follow that with a fruit & green smoothie, (orange, strawberry, banana, spinach), or green juice (celery, kale, cucumber, apple, lemon juice).  Lunch can include either a green leafy salad with 2-3 toppings of vegetables & a pate’ made from almonds or sunflower seeds.  Dinner can be a soup with a raw dessert or seasonal fruit for dessert.  You can always switch up the soup or salad.  Dinner could also include some lightly steamed

6.  What if I do not like vegetables and I do not digest them well?

Start off blending green leafy vegetables into a smoothie.  Blended foods are easier to digest and are delicious & nutritious.    You can also start with greens that are easier to digest like romaine lettuce, celery, cucumbers.  Dark greens & cruciferous vegetables like collards, kale & cabbage may be a little more difficult to digest.  Work you way up to those.

7.  I do not like eating cold food all the time.  What can I do?

Let things comes to room temperature or warm them in a dehydrator.  Alternatively, warm things on the stove top, stirring constantly and check the temperature with your finger so it does not get too hot.  Drink hot tea.

8.  I travel a lot for work, what can I do?

Fresh fruit is easily portable and does not require preparation.  Many hotels offer a continental breakfast, you can easily make a fruit smoothie using a small portable blender like Magic Bullet or Tribest mini blender.  For a nutritional boost take along a dehydrated green powder.  There are also a number of raw organic bars on the market for snacks or lunch.  Take along some flaxseed crackers, almond butter or veggie sticks.

9.   How can I make it easy?

Do some advance preparation.  Salad dressings, almond milk, pate’s & desserts will typically last five days in the refrigerator.  Pre-cut some veggies or fruit.

10.  How do I get my kids to eat more fruits & vegetables?

Kids love the taste of Green Smoothies, Almond Milk, Veggie Sticks with Ranch Dressing, Zucchini Noodles with Marinara Sauce, Raw Cookies & Fruit desserts like Sorbet’s & Crisps

11.  What is the importance of organics?

Organic raw foods are becoming more commonly known to be safer and more nutritious than conventional products.  Organic foods are more apt to nourish our bodies and are a better choice than conventionally grown produce.  Have you ever visited the soil of a conventionally maintained field and then the soil of an organicly maintained field?  Wow, what a difference!  Organic soil is clearly a better soil in which to grow our produce with it being moist and crumbly whereas the conventional soil can be very dry, hard to break up and an appears to be nearly depleted of any rich minerals.   If this is what conventional farmed soil is like what do you think those foods represent? 

Although organic foods may cost more than conventional ones, typically they are not any more expensive than meat, dairy or processed packaged foods.  When organic produce is more expensive think of it as an investment in your health.  It will save you money in the long run.

12. Can I purchase raw foods somewhere locally?