What Can I Eat On the Raw Food Diet

If you've been considering switching from your current diet to raw food, you may be asking yourself what can I eat on the raw food diet? The raw food movement is all about eating foods that are as close to their natural state as possible.

A raw food diet is most commonly vegan, which means that no animal products are consumed. The raw food aspect goes even further to try and eliminate foods that have been cooked or processed. Some raw foodists, however, are not vegan and will eat raw meat and unprocessed dairy products.

Most people who follow a raw diet eat at least 75% of their food raw, which means that it can't have been exposed to heat higher than 116-118 degrees Fahrenheit. They believe that cooking any type of food destroys most of the nutritional benefits, makes food more difficult to digest, and can be the root cause of many diseases and physical ailments.

The raw food diet will seem less restrictive if you're already vegetarian or vegan. Many people struggle with food choices when they change their way of eating, so if you're thinking about going raw, you're likely asking yourself what can I eat on the raw food diet.

These foods, which are already part of the vegan diet, can be consumed on a raw food diet.

• Raw fresh fruits and vegetables
• Legumes and beans that have not been cooked or canned/processed
• Raw nuts and nut butters
• Seeds
• Dried fruit and vegetables
• Whole, unprocessed grains
• Whole grain rice
• Sprouts
• Seaweed
• Fresh fruit and vegetable juices
• Raw oils
• Fresh herbs and spices, including salt
• Fermented raw foods and sauces, such as soy
• Raw nut milk and young coconut milk

If you are a vegetarian and consume dairy products and eggs, your choices are a little bit more varied. These include all of the vegan foods, as well as:

• Raw milk
• Raw cheeses
• Raw yogurt
• Uncooked eggs
• Unprocessed honey

It may seem that eating raw would require very little advance preparation and few kitchen tools to accomplish the diet. Indeed, a raw food kitchen is more sparse than a traditional North American kitchen, but there are some appliances and techniques that come in handy for food prep and storage.

Besides the obvious chopping and preparation of raw fruits and vegetables, there are other methods of preparing raw foods. These include:

• Dehydrating fruits and vegetables
• Blending juices and raw sauces
• Soaking raw grains and legumes
• Sprouting grains, beans, and some seeds
• Gently heating raw soups or other traditionally warm foods with a warming plate

In order to make food preparation easier, here are some handy tools to have on hand in your kitchen.

• Blender
• Juicer or food processor with a juice attachment
• Food dehydrator that runs at 118 degrees Fahrenheit or less, or oven-based dehydrator trays that allow you to control the temperature while dehydrating
• Storage containers with tight-fitting lids for safe storage of unprocessed foods
• Glass jars or deep bowls for soaking and sprouting foods
• Warming plate, used to keep foods warm rather than for cooking (such as the warming disc on a coffee maker)

Proponents of a raw food diet swear by the health benefits, but if you're considering making the switch, make sure you do your homework first. There are certain nutrients that can be lacking in a raw food lifestyle, including zinc, iron, and calcium. Most supplements have been processed, so they are ruled out as well.

Before starting a raw food diet, consult with your doctor. Seeking out the advice of a nutritionist is also an excellent way to find guidance and ensure that you're eating the right foods to maintain optimum health.

Here are some great web resources to help in making the transition to a raw food lifestyle.

• Changing to a Raw Food Diet - Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo is a nutritionist and raw food advocate, and she gives some excellent advice in this interview.

• The Best of Raw Food – From recipes to advice on how to stock your kitchen, this site has lots of information and tips for the raw food diet.

• Living-Foods – A large list of raw food recipes to spice up your diet and give you more variety.

• How to Make Almond Milk
• Recipe for Vegetarian Kung Pao Chicken
• How to Make Seitan
• Is Soy Milk Good For You?

• Whey Protein Side Effects
• Disadvantages of Being a Vegetarian
• How to Cook Tofu
• Protein Deficiency Symptoms
• Tofu Marinade

• Starting a Raw Food Diet
• Transition to Raw Diet
• What Does the Raw Food Diet Consist Of
• Raw Food Diet Testimonials
• Raw Food Diet Meal Plans