Posts Tagged ‘Lifestyle’

How to Live on Live Foods

August 3rd, 2010

When you tell people that you are eating an all raw food diet, one of the most common questions you will face is “how can you survive on that?” Of course, questions like this usually come from people who spend very little time considering what they are eating – people for whom a healthy choice for dinner is a whole wheat crust on their fully loaded pizza.

These sorts of people would consider a raw food diet to be the equivalent of food torture. They would think raw, and only be able to think of salads and “rabbit food”. And surely, no sane person would try to live on rabbit food, would they? Vegetables, these folks will scoff? Vegetables aren’t food – they are what food eats!

If you’re here trying to find a way to convince people like that about the benefits of a healthy, raw food existence, I have three words for you:

Save your breath.

Certainly, it is possible to not only survive, but thrive on a raw food diet; but winning over everyone you know with facts and real-world examples is impossible. Instead, concentrate on winning the important battles – like living the best life possible – part of which can be your pursuit of the best raw foods available.

Rather than focus on ingredients, however, let’s talk more in general about living on live foods. Because recipes and shopping lists are not something that can be printed out once and followed by everyone. Foods are available only in some places at some times; tastes are subjective and open to interpretation; and budget constraints can limit some people to different types of raw foods.

So, here are some tips for living well on a live food diet.

Shop often. Raw, living foods are at their best when they are as fresh as possible. Many families with busy lives will limit themselves to one massive shopping expedition per week, which can work when all you are buying is frozen lasagnas and breakfast cereal. The best produce is the stuff that doesn’t get sprayed to make it last longer, and it means in order to truly appreciate the best flavors, you will need to be in the market at least three times a week. But don’t despair - you won’t be there nearly as long as before.

Shop locally. You may love a certain fruit, but when it is trucked in from across the world, it is not nearly as fresh, and costs a lot more. Find some local favorites in your produce section, and you will be eating much fresher foods.

Keep your eyes (and mind) open. Inspiration for a new raw food dish can strike at any time. When you see something that looks good on television, ask yourself, how could I do that with raw foods? You’ll be surprised at what you can come up with, after a little bit of practice.

Find your favorite. While it is always good to try new things, there will be days when you crave the familiar. Don’t let that comfort food be something from a previous eating style. Find something raw that you absolutely love, and make sure you always have it on hand.

2 comments »

Posted in Food For Thought

Tags:

Beginner’s Guide to Going Raw

April 16th, 2010

The idea of “going raw” might sound odd to some, confusing to others, and downright terrifying to the rest. In the day and age in which we live, there are fewer and fewer options available that are truly raw. We survive and subsist on a diet that is made up of processed foods, whether it be fast foods, prepared meals or even home cooking. So the thought of giving all of that up, and going back in time to a more archaic and uncooked diet might sound less like an adventure or challenge, and more like foolishness and delusion.

But for those brave enough to take the raw plunge, it can still be a rather confusing and somewhat off-putting process. How does one transition to a raw diet? Do you simply dive in, head first, forsaking all cooked and processed foods? Can a person truly survive and thrive on a diet change so drastic and unusual?

If you are interesting making the switch to a raw food diet, or simply want to add more raw foods to your daily intake, there is no need to fear. There are some simple steps you can take to make your transition relatively smooth.

First, don’t think of this as a drastic change that needs to be undertaken overnight. If you are like most people, you have a very low percentage of your regular daily intake that is raw. For some, it is as low as a piece of lettuce or a tomato on their fast-food hamburger. If you are in that group, the thought of doing a 180 degree turn in your eating patterns can be unnerving at best, and debilitatingly impossible at worst. Instead, look at eating a raw food diet like you would any other lifestyle change. You don’t have to do it all at once. What you need to do is work at it, a little bit each day, and build up your body and prepare it for eating more raw foods.

In this way, it is a lot like weight lifting. If you are working out with heavy weights, you don’t simply walk in to the gym and try to bench press a few hundred pounds. Instead, you start off with a light weight that you can comfortably handle, and as you progress, adding more heft to your bar. The same principles apply to eating a raw diet. Instead of throwing yourself into it, try easing your way in. For starters, try replacing at least one meal a day with a raw food option.

This might take you several weeks to get used to, but it will give you a way to get your body used to an increase in raw foods, without shocking your system and making you crave the old, cooked foods from which you are now estranged. After the shock wears off, you will notice just how good you feel after your raw meal as compared to your regular cooked meals, and the transition will be easier to manage going forward.

No comments »

Posted in Raw Foods

Tags: