Raw food eating

What does raw food eating really entail?  Is it just vegetables or can we eat other foods in a raw food diet?  Find out here.

What is a raw food diet?

Put simply, a diet considered raw food eating is a natural food – something that hasn’t been altered.  That means that you shouldn’t be eating foods that are pre-packaged.  For example, it’s not applesauce and it’s not apple slices from a fast food place in a kids’ meal.  The reason these aren’t raw foods is because the applesauce is transformed from it’s whole to something different AND adding other things, like sugars.  Apple slices, on the other hand, are only raw if you cut it yourself.  If you are buying a pre-sliced apple, most likely something was added to the apple to preserve it.

Raw foods list

To be sure, here is a list of foods that are considered raw:

• Fruits and vegetables – you know, those ones you’ve picked yourself – either from your garden or from the grocery store produce aisle.  This includes sprouts like broccoli, clover, and radish.

  

• Seeds, nuts, and grains – seeds like pumpkin seeds – nuts like almonds, walnuts, cashews – and grains like whole wheat, oats, buckwheat or quinoa.

  

• Fermented foods can also be considered raw – although these are slightly transformed.  However, we can consider them raw because of all the beneficial things in them that are so healthy.

  

  
  

• Fats – I’m talking the good fats like coconut oil, olives / olive oil, and flaxseed – even avocados.  I’m not talking the canola oils (which are NOT good for you).

  

Raw food eating is a healthy way to eat.  If you’re not used to eating a raw food diet, you may want to ease in.  Start by incorporating something from each category for about a week or two.  Then, gradually increase it.  You definitely want to stay away from the processed and prepackaged foods because those are loaded with preservatives and sodium.  One step at a time and you’ll be well on your way to eating raw foods regularly!

You might also consider spirulina because of all the health benefits!  And, bee pollen is great if you’re a woman over 40!

Other Photo credits:  nikolay donetsk, Kombucha brew,