Transition to Raw Diet

Making the transition to raw diet plans can be confusing and difficult, since eating raw is a major lifestyle change for many. Approaching any significant dietary makeover can be a scary process, but there are ways to make the shift easier on you, both physically and mentally.

Fresh fruit is a great raw diet snack.

What is the Raw Diet?

A raw diet is an eating plan in which at least 75 percent of all food consumed is raw. Food has not been exposed to temperatures higher than 116 - 118 degrees Fahrenheit. Most raw foodists are also vegetarian or vegan.

Proponents of the raw food diet claim better overall health, more energy, better sleep patterns, and clearer thinking. On the other hand, critics judge the diet to be too restrictive, and feel that dieters could be lacking in certain essential nutrients, such as protein and iron.

Transition to Raw Diet Gradually

One of the best ways to transition to raw diet principles is to do so gradually. If you currently enjoy eating lots of cooked foods, a sudden switch to the raw food diet will be tricky. There are several steps you can take to begin incorporating the raw diet into your everyday life.

Get Informed

The best way to begin a raw diet is to arm yourself with as much information as possible. Find out what your body needs to stay healthy and active, followed by research into what raw foods will provide these vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. Some other things to read up on can include:

• Foods you can eat
• Raw food diet meal plans
• Recipes for raw food meals

Start Off Slowly

Rather than turning your eating habits around completely, start off by replacing single cooked meals with raw food choices. For example, decide that you will only eat raw snacks, or swap your regular lunches for salads with nuts and seeds sprinkled on top. If you normally have a small breakfast, try substituting a green smoothie for the usual cereal or toast.

Here are some other small changes you can make to your diet to include more raw choices:

• If you currently consume cooked meat, try swapping out a serving of meat per day in favor of legumes, nuts, and seeds.
• Replace most or all of the cooked veggies in your diet with the raw variety.
• For snacking, opt for fresh fruits and veggies.
• Try making your own juices with fruits and vegetables.
• Try new foods and new recipes to give yourself variety.

Find Support

When you make a big change to any facet of your daily life, you're bound to run into obstacles. From cravings for your favorite cooked foods to bewilderment over what exactly you can eat, it helps to have a place to turn with your questions, moments of panic, and other concerns.

Many communities have groups of like-minded raw foodists who are willing to share their experiences and expertise with those struggling to make the transition. Check with your local health food retailer, or search for a vegan or raw food nutritionist in your area to see if such a group exists locally.

If you find that local support isn't viable or available, there are plenty of raw food groups online that will welcome your questions and help you grow into your new raw diet. Here are some suggestions:

• Raw Food Talk
• Living and Raw Foods
• Raw BC – Based in British Columbia, Canada, this forum contains lots of local support, as well as forums for recipes and discussion for members worldwide.

You can also check out Google Groups and Yahoo Groups for e-mail based raw food diet discussions. Be forewarned, however, that these groups can generate a lot of chatter!

Completing the Transition

Once you get started, it will get easier to replace more of the cooked foods in your diet with raw or living foods. Gradually build on what you've learned until you're comfortable with your eating plan. Remember, your body and mind both need time to adjust to your new lifestyle.

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