The Raw Food Difference
10 Easy Steps to Beauty, Energy, and a Smaller Butt!
By Candice L Davis
Copyright 2011 Candice L Davis
Bright Mansion Books
Smashwords Edition
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Disclaimer
The ideas and suggestions in this book are not intended as a substitute for medical advice. Please consult with your physician in all matters regarding your health. Neither the publisher nor the author is engaged in rendering professional advice or services to the reader. Neither the author nor the publisher shall be liable or responsible for any loss or damage allegedly arising from any information or suggestion in this book.
The author has made every effort to provide accurate contact information for the resources listed. Neither the author nor the publisher has any control over these resources, and neither assumes responsibility for third-party websites or their content.
When I first heard about raw foods as an eating style that would improve health, energy, and appearance, while helping folks shed the extra pounds most Americans are carrying around these days, I was a bit suspicious. After all, the whole raw food thing was associated with celebrities and airy-fairy hippie types who didn’t live a lifestyle anything like my own. I had work to do, and children to take care of, and bills to pay. I also had about sixty pounds to lose, so I decided to give raw foods a try. I’m glad I did.
Here are some of the benefits I’ve experienced:
Significant weight loss (around sixty pounds)
Decreased cravings
Clear skin
Reduced appearance of fine lines
Healthier hair and nails
Better sleep
Fewer mood swings
Increased energy
Eliminated digestive issues
Improved mental clarity
And more
And I’m not 100% raw/vegan. Sometimes I eat all raw for days or weeks at a time. Other times, I just make sure my meals are made up mostly of raw foods. Once in a while, I just eat what’s most available or what I’ve been served. I’m not in the habit of letting my food choices make ruin anyone’s dinner party.
I generally start the day with 32-ounces of green juice or a breakfast salad. The large portion of nutrient-rich greens sets the tone for the day and keeps cravings for bad foods at bay. (No, I don’t buy the Pollyanna attitude that there are no bad foods. All over the world, people eating standard Western diets are killing themselves with food products, so yeah, I’d say some so-called foods are bad.)
A quick internet search, and dozens of people pop up who’ve experienced results similar to mine. Documentaries have been made about conquering obesity and reversing diabetes with a raw food diet. Books and blogs are written about reducing the symptoms of chronic diseases with a diet based on raw vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds. I’m not a doctor or nutritionist, so I can’t judge these stories.
What I can tell you: up to 70% of a food’s nutrients are lost when we cook the food, and all the enzymes are destroyed. By eating a mostly raw/vegan diet, I’m getting more plant nutrients, and I’m enjoying the results. You can do the same.
Good question!
A raw food diet is a style of eating centered on raw vegetables, fruits, sprouts, nuts and seeds, and the limitless variety of dishes that can be created from these ingredients. It does NOT demand that you give up everything else and become a 100% raw foodist. Sorry, folks. That’s just not realistic for most of us. Trying to figure out if every little ingredient is really raw can cause unnecessary stress. However, it is realistic to have meals, days, and weeks of eating that are completely or nearly all raw, if that’s what you choose.
There’s a better than average chance you’re already on a part-time raw food diet. Ever grab an apple or banana on the way out the door? Ever have a salad for lunch or raw veggies with dip at a party? How about a nice slice of watermelon on a hot summer day? See. You’re already a raw foodie.
A raw food way of eating is an extension of those healthy choices we already enjoy. These simple choices are the beginnings of adding more raw foods to our meals, but we can also expand on them to make dishes as complex as any you’ll find in a gourmet restaurant.
Cakes, cookies, pasta dishes, salads with fresh dressings, breads, crackers, chips, chocolate treats, juices, smoothies, ice cream, cobblers, cheeses, and more—all these can be a part of a raw food diet.
Most raw food lovers don’t include animal products in their raw food menu, but I have to point out that some raw foodies include raw fish, carpaccio, or quickly seared meats in their diets. Others include raw goat cheeses. Even for those who choose to include animal products, the basis of the diet is raw plant foods. These provide levels of micronutrients that can’t be found in any animal-derived foods, and these are the nutrients that squash cravings, slow down the aging process, and protect us from chronic diseases.
Get the Best Price
I popped into the chain grocery store down the street to grab a few things for a salad. The prices for produce, especially anything organic, just about floored me. I rarely shop at conventional grocery stores, and that quick trip was a good reminder of the reason why. I don’t like wasting money.
A lot of people who try a raw food diet freak out when they realize how much it can cost. The truth is that depending on how you usually eat, it can be more expensive. But it doesn’t have to be. There are lots of alternatives for places to get cheaper produce.
I shop at a huge “farmer’s market,” which is really more of a grocery warehouse. Some of my friends purchase their fruits and vegetables at big warehouse stores, like Costco and Sam’s Club. Other people buy in bulk from websites that offer free delivery.
Some good resources for reasonably priced produce include:
Warehouse stores
Ethnic markets
Produce distributors
Local farms
Community Supported Agriculture (weekly food deliveries from local farms, by subscription)
Online stores (especially for nuts, seeds, dried fruit, oils, and packaged raw foods)
Farmer’s markets
Backyard or patio gardens
Kitchen sprouting
You may think there are no farms or farmer’s markets in your area, but you could be surprised. When I searched, I found three farmer’s markets within ten miles of my house, and several farms that offered CSA subscriptions. Check the resource section of this booklet for more information on finding these vendors in your area.
Shopping in season, or based on sale prices and clearance items rather than based on a fancy recipe you’ve found is also a great way to save. I learned that lesson the hard way. When I first decided to try raw foods, I invested in an extravagant raw recipe book and tried to make the most complicated recipe—meatloaf and mashed potatoes with gravy. (I’ve since found simpler versions.) My friend and I spent several hours in the kitchen, up to our elbows in ground nuts, and blended sauces. Somehow we ended up with about five times more meatloaf than the recipe was supposed to produce!
I wanted to make dishes that would be more like the cooked foods I’d always liked. I ended up spending lots of money and lots of time in the kitchen. It’s probably better to start more simply.
As you eliminate the processed foods, less nutritious options, and junk food from your grocery list, you’ll free up cash to spend on the good stuff. Don’t let budget constraints keep you from enjoying the best foods on earth. With a little effort, you can find the kind of deals that will keep your spending in check.
Some of the produce I commonly buy, depending on what’s in season:
Fruits
apples, bananas, oranges, grapefruit, pineapples, Young Thai coconuts, peaches, nectarines, plums, pluots, apricots, grapes, cantaloupes, honeydew melons, watermelons, avocados, figs, dates, mangoes, papayas, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, pears, kiwis, persimmons, lychee fruits (a rare treat!)
Vegetables/Savory Fruits (served fresh, or marinated and/or dehydrated, or juiced)
tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchinis, yellow squash, celery, eggplant, broccoli, asparagus, garlic, onions, red onions, shallots, ginger root, bell peppers, corn, jalapeño peppers, Thai chili peppers, beets, radishes, fennel, cabbage, red cabbage, cauliflower, kohlrabi, jicama, celery root
Greens (for salads, smoothies, and juices)
kale, spinach, romaine, baby romaine, arugula, mixed greens, iceberg, chard, collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, cilantro