Raw Is Not About Deprivation

People that aren’t raw believe they couldn’t stop eating SAD (Standard American Diet) foods because they think they’d be missing out. Yet it’s quite the opposite. Some of the foods I enjoy raw that are similar to SAD: lasagna, tacos, sushi, cheese, hummus, cereal, quiche, pasta, pizza, ice cream, fudge, truffles. Not only do I get to eat these foods and love them way more than when I was SAD, but every single bite is healthy. Besides all the “gourmet” foods, I enjoy simple foods more than ever like avocado, cherries, or corn straight off the cob. I also eat foods I never even liked before because they taste way better raw. And I’ve discovered new-to-me foods. Being raw is one gigantic adventure! Raw is not like all the diets out there where you are constantly deprived. It’s about a new lifestyle that becomes fun and a part of who you are. It’s about being as healthy as you can be mentally and physically. There’s a great saying in the raw world, “Nothing cooked tastes as good as raw feels”.

Motto: K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Silly!)

One theme that is consistent in my life and how I advise others, is to keep the raw diet very simple. Especially when you’re first becoming raw. Also, don’t impose all sorts of restrictions if you’re struggling to stay raw. Try to stick with “as long as it’s raw” and then later you can modify your diet if necessary. Use very simple recipes. Always have gourmet raw or snacks on hand for times you may need it. If you don’t like or have time to prepare much, either keep it extremely simple or buy pre-made food from various sources. Always bring food in coolers with you everywhere. Keep a raw bar/snack in your purse or pocket for emergencies.

For myself, I have never been interested in cooking or preparing meals. This meant that I needed to keep raw as simple as I could so I would stick to it. All meals I create use few ingredients and take 10 minutes maximum to prepare (usually 5 minutes). This works very well for me. Some day I may explore more elaborate meals. My diet mainly consists of smoothies, soups, and salads, with various other things I rotate such as wraps, marinated mushrooms, fruit puddings, etc. I try to keep things interesting as much as I can. I will purchase ready-made food from various sources as necessary. Though the longer I’m raw, the less I do this. Most important of all is to keep it fun. I have to say being raw is way more enjoyable because I know that every bite I eat is healthy. I even enjoy making food more.

Blending & Juicing

Blended vegetables & fruit is one of the best ways to absorb nutrients from food. Digestion is quick and easy on your body. It’s optimal if your diet is primarily more liquids than solids. This becomes easier to do the longer you eat raw food. Juicing gives your body a break and allows you to detox quicker. It’s ideal to do both juicing & blending. However, if you need to choose one, blending is the best in most cases. You can make smoothies, soups, puddings, sauces, marinades, dressings, etc. Focus should be more on a higher content of greens & vegetables than sweet fruit. If you eat a lot of fruit, try to include greens to balance the high sugar content. Many greens (such as spinach & baby greens) blend undetectable in liquid meals. The more bitter greens taste better in soups and salads once you learn to flavor them to your liking, if you don’t enjoy them alone. Helpful flavors/spices include: avocado, cilantro, parsley, garlic, kelp powder or granules, cayenne pepper, olive oil, sea salt.

Conscious Eating

Eat with awareness, solely focused on just your food and nothing else. No activities should distract you such as TV, talking, reading, etc. Even thinking. Make eating a meditative experience. Eat slowly and savor each bite, while chewing more thoroughly. This accomplishes many things. You will eat less because you’ll be in tune with your body and will stop eating when you start feeling full. In turn, you will lose or maintain the perfect weight, as well as save money because you’ll need less food. You will create a spiritual experience during meal times, which will carry over into other areas of your life. When you eat less, your body is working less to digest and will create more energy. This will also help you heal any health issues faster. You can begin your eating ritual with a simple affirmation/prayer expressing how grateful you are for the food. Example: I am grateful for this healthy, healing and delicious food that I have the privilege to eat. Start with one meal per day until most or all of your meals are eaten with awareness. If you practice Conscious Eating in conjunction with the raw food diet, you will create optimum health.