written by Jean Sumner |  

Previously we discussed the benefits of eating raw food. Today we will go into more detail on what exactly is a raw food diet.

What can I eat?

Unprocessed, preferably organic, whole foods such as:

• Fresh fruits and vegetables
• Nuts
• Seeds
• Beans
• Grains
• Legumes
• Dried fruit
• Seaweed
• Unprocessed organic or natural foods
• Freshly juiced fruit and vegetables
• Purified water
• Young coconut milk

At least 75% of food consumed should not be heated over 116 degrees F.

2. How is food prepared?

Specific techniques make foods more digestible and add variety to the diet, including:

• Sprouting seeds, grains, and beans
• Juicing fruit and vegetables
• Soaking nuts and dried fruit
• Blending
• Dehydrating food

3. What appliances do I need?

• A dehydrator, a piece of equipment that blows air through food at a temperature of less than 116 degrees F.
• A good-quality juice extractor for juicing fruit and vegetables
• A blender, food processor, or chopper to save time
• Large glass containers to soak and sprout seeds, grains, and beans
• Mason jars for storing sprouts and other food

4. Example of a day eating RAW

• Fresh vegetable juice and hemp seed hearts before exercise
• Green smoothie for breakfast
• Mixed organic raw nuts for snack
• Salad for lunch
• Veggies with sprouted hummus for snack
• Taco salad and chocolate pudding for dinner

How is it best to get started?

Slowly, at first I thought I would have to eat salads for the rest of my life!

1. Become a vegetarian
2. Buy a juicer and start having two glasses perday
3. Google Easy Raw Food Recipes
4. Figure out how to use you food processor! (make coleslaw)
5. Buy a sprouter and start spouting seeds
6. Learn about soaking seeds and nuts and WHY

I am still taking baby steps and changing each week, I just started trying to grow wheatgrass and so far I am not having a lot of success. This can all be overwhelming because you are changing everything you know about what is for breakfast, lunch and dinner. But it is simple if you take one step at a time.

Simple steps:

1. Add more fruits and vegetables to your diet.
2. Eat salads made with different vegetables
3. Buy vegetables you haven’t tried before
4. Eat a salad before each meal
5. Try one new recipe per week
6. Gradually purchase the different ingredients for eating raw
7. Snack on fresh or dried fruits, raw vegetables, rat nuts and seeds.
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