Raw food anybody?

[Radiance]

I am meal planning challenged, to say the least.

So I am considering going raw. What are the cons and pros?

I think
1) It must be fun
2) They claim is healthy
3) I don't have to go all the way, I can complement with roasted chicken and some fish here and there.
4) Lowered electricity bill by using less the range and oven and posibly need a smaller fridge

Cons
1) preparation is complicated ?
1) Maybe some of the food is more expensive?

Any experiences?

[ceejay74]

Yep! I've done raw foods several times, the longest was about 3 months (when I had cooked meals but ate raw for breakfast and lunch.

It's healthy; the main problem is feeling hungry because once your body gets used to raw food, it processes very well and quickly and doesn't linger in your gut like a big old carbfest does. It helps if you soak grains and nuts and sprout beans and eat those in addition to fruits and veggies.

I don't know that it would lower the amount of work you put into food prep...unless you are one of those who can just eat a whole plain apple, a whole plain cucumber, a whole plain bag of spinach, etc. Some raw foodies are fine with that, but I like it to feel more like a meal with a blend of ingredients, textures and flavors.

You can read about my most recent 14-day mostly-raw diet in my blog beginning July 7, 2008, if you want to get a feel for what there is to eat and how it makes me feel.

[Radiance]

Was it more expensive to eat that way? I mean, grocery bill?

[ceejay74]

It was about the same. Buying at farmer's markets and from bulk sections helped bring the cost down. In winter in Minnesota it would be expensive because all produce would be shipped in, but I did it in the summer.

I've heard that ethnic grocery stores sometimes have surprisingly cheap produce. I've never comparison-shopped, but it's worth trying.

[GREENBACK]

What exactly are we talking about here? I've never heard of a raw food diet. Are you talking about a vegetarian diet? I eat salad and occasionally sushi raw but that's about it. Oh, forgot, I sometimes eat sweet corn right off the stalk....very good.

[boosami]

What exactly are we talking about here? I've never heard of a raw food diet.

A raw food diet is where you do not cook the food you eat over a certain temperature. Basically, you eat only uncooked and unprocessed foods. In general, most animal products are not eaten (raw chicken anyone?). Many people think this is more healthy than a cooked food diet. However, I saw a news report recently that indicated it depends on the food. Some foods are better for you (more nutritional, safer, or easier to digest) after being cooked, and others are better raw. It just depends on the food itself.

In my opinion there isn't much difference between a raw food diet and an mostly-vegetarian-organic diet that allows cooking.

[GREENBACK]

A raw food diet is where you do not cook the food you eat over a certain temperature. Basically, you eat only uncooked and unprocessed foods. In general, most animal products are not eaten (raw chicken anyone?). Many people think this is more healthy than a cooked food diet. However, I saw a news report recently that indicated it depends on the food. Some foods are better for you (more nutritional, safer, or easier to digest) after being cooked, and others are better raw. It just depends on the food itself.

In my opinion there isn't much difference between a raw food diet and an mostly-vegetarian-organic diet that allows cooking.

Thanks. I had visions of a caveman eating a raw piece of meat...lol.

[Radiance]

Hello,

I think now that a proper combination is good, some raw, some cooked.
I like reading raw recipes because they have creative ways of eating stuff I can borrow from.
Same with vegetarian, I am not vegetarian, but hate steamed veggies, so vegetarian recipes give me yumi ways to eat my veggies.

I tried the local buying club for veggies but I think it is not cheaper than my local organic store. I can try the other one though, but not this month.

[mom-from-missouri]

We just do raw fruit and some veggies--once in awhile raw milk