Raw food diets include meat products by default, unless they are combined with vegetarianism, which prohibits the consumption of meat and fish, or veganism, which prohibits the consumption of all animal products. For many people, the reason for becoming a raw vegetarian or a raw vegan is not that this is more healthy than adding raw lean meats and raw fatty fish to the diet but rather that eating animals or animal products is seen as unethical.

Raw diets prohibit cooking food. About 115 degree Fahrenheit is the maximum temperature that you can expose foods to, because enzymes and essential nutrients start to break down at higher temperatures. Raw dieters prepare foods in other ways besides warming them. Salting and pickling are acceptable raw food preparation methods. You can also use a blender to make delicious appetizers and side dishes, such as hummus, salsa and cold vegetable soups. Equipped with a dehydrator that blow-dries the food, your can make dried meat, raw crackers, cookies and bread substitutes.

Eating raw meat and fish may initially seem unusual. However, many people regularly consume them. The fish component of sushi is raw, and carpaccio, a common appetizer at restaurants with a fusion cuisine, is raw meat pressed flat and spiced. Other ways to prepare raw meat and fish without cooking include salting, low-temperature smoking and marinating. Graved lachs is a common dish in Scandinavian countries. It is rather simple to make. Cut a boneless salmon fillet into two thin pieces, add 8 tsp. of salt and sprinkle with allspice. Place a large quantity of dill between the two pieces. Then put the two pieces together, wrap them in plastic wrap and add weight on top. Marinate it for 48 hours in the refrigerator. Empty any liquid and re-wrap half-way through. Rinse and cut off salty edges before eating it.

There are some precautions to take when dealing with raw meat. Raw meat can contain parasites, such as pin worms. Pin worms can live in the intestines and rectum of humans and can give rise to an itchy rectal area, especially at night when the female worms crawl out to lay eggs. Pin worms, however, are relatively harmless, and should you contract them, two treatments of a de-wormer from your local pharmacy can kill them completely. Raw meat and poultry may also contain bacteria, such as E. coli and salmonella, which can result in food poisoning. Food poisoning may require immediate medical attention. To minimize the risk of food poisoning, only purchase high quality, fresh meat.

When eating a raw diet, not all of your protein needs to come from meat or other animal products. Legumes, such as black beans and chick peas, are good sources of protein. You cannot eat legumes raw. They are indigestible and may contain compounds that inhibit enzymes. Preparing legumes neutralizes these compounds and make the legumes more easily digestible. Sprouting is one way to prepare legumes on a raw diet. To sprout legumes, put them in a ventilated jar for one to five days. Keep them moist but not soaking wet throughout the process. Rinse the sprouting legumes frequently to prevent them from growing mold. Once sprouted, blend or combine them with minced vegetable, herbs and spices for delicious side dishes, dips or spreads.