On the raw diet, you aim to eat at least 75 percent of your foods either uncooked or cooked at temperatures less than 116 degrees F. The majority of foods you eat--fruits, vegetables and bean sprouts--are nutrient dense, so this type of diet can be extremely healthy. Once you get into an eating routine with the raw food diet, you'll find that it's less time-consuming for you to eat raw foods than to prepare cooked meals.
Step 1
Start your day with a green smoothie. You shouldn't drink coffee if you're following a raw diet, but you can get a similar energy boost by drinking a green smoothie. Start with a light base in your blender, such as apple juice or water. Add a few fruits such as strawberries or mangoes, then fill the blender with leafy greens such as spinach or romaine lettuce. Blend together and enjoy.
Step 2
Create your meals with fresh fruits and vegetables. Salads make for nutritious meals, but they'll get boring if you eat the same combination all the time. Change things. If you're planning a traditional tossed salad for dinner, enjoy a spinach and apple salad for lunch.
Step 3
Dry fruits and vegetables with a food dehydrator for easy snacking. Follow the manufacturer's instructions but keep the heat setting below 116 degrees F.
Step 4
Mimic some of your favorite cooked meals with additional tools. You can create "spaghetti" out of zucchini by using a spiral slicer. Top that with fresh tomatoes and basil. Make "banana pancakes" by pureeing bananas and drying them in a food dehydrator as you would fruit leather.
Step 5
Keep snacks with you at all times. If you're hungry when you're out, you might be more likely to make a bad food choice. Apples, oranges, bananas and raw nuts are portable.
Step 6
Enjoy cooked foods from time to time. You can eat 25 percent of your meals cooked and still follow a raw diet. Make smart choices for your cooked foods, such as cooked whole grains or steamed vegetables rather than processed foods.
Tips and Warnings
- If you're transitioning to the diet, do so by adding raw foods to your diet rather than taking cooked foods away. You will have less room in your stomach for cooked foods.
- Foods that are room temperature or cold in the store aren't necessarily raw. For example, companies typically blanch vegetables before freezing them.
Things You'll Need
- Blender
- Cutting board
- Spiral slicer
- Food dehydrator
Member Comments