Tips For Raw Food Beginners

The raw food movement is growing! Chances are you've heard someone talking about a raw diet or eating raw. There are obvious health benefits to eating a raw diet, so many people have at least tried it out for a week or two. If you're new to raw food, here are some tips to help you stay on track and enjoy the ride.

Pick Up A Recipe Book

I know it's really easy to find recipes of all sorts online, and raw recipes are no different. When I first tried raw food, I tried making a bunch of disgusting recipes I found on the internet. It didn't make me love raw food, I'll tell you that! With a recipe book, you are more likely to find a collection of tasty recipes, and you can sit down and browse through them if you don't know what to search for. Raw recipe books often have additional information sections where you can learn about the lifestyle or the benefits of the food ingredients. The more you know about how great it is, the more likely you will be to stick to the program. When you check the book store, make sure you are buying a simple recipe book. There are gourmet raw books that I don't recommend for a beginner. Just like gourmet cooking, gourmet raw recipes can be complicated and use unusual and hard to find ingredients. I like Ani Phyo for great beginner recipes.

Start Simple

Remember raw food doesn't have to be complicated, and it certainly doesn't have to take up a lot of your time. Eating an apple is a raw snack, so is a banana or any other fruit or vegetable for that matter. Eat fruits and vegetables as snacks between meals. It doesn't get much quicker than that. Don't get hung up trying to create mock meals that mimic the look or taste of cooked creations, you'll get burnt out with all the extra prep time.

Don't overdo the fats!

This is the number one mistake most raw foodists make. It's the main reason why people go to raw food and it doesn't work for them. They switch their diet, and all of a sudden are getting 50% or more of their calories from fat. Since fruits and vegetables are so low in calories, you have to eat a LOT of them to get enough calories for the day. This is why some people say they are always hungry on a raw diet; it's because you aren't eating enough! Other people make up for this by eating foods high in fat. Nuts, seeds, avocados, and oils are all high in fat. They are OK to eat on a raw diet, but should make up only a small portion of your meal. Vegan 'cheese' and most spreads are made with a base of nuts, so limit your intake. Fat should ideally be no more than 10% of your calorie intake. Even if you eat a large salad with only vegetables, if you add an avocado and 1/8 cup of oil based salad dressing, all of a sudden your salad has more fat than anything else! Be aware of your fat intake.

Baby Steps

When I first went raw, it was my first attempt at a cleanse. Let me tell you, my body cleansed! I had some major cleansing reactions and it wasn't a fun time for me. In retrospect, I know it was good for me overall, getting rid of all that toxic buildup, but I could have made it easier on myself by transitioning slowly.
Try replacing one meal a day with a raw meal. Breakfast is usually the easiest. No more milk and cereal or eggs and toast. Make yourself a whole foods, raw (vegan) smoothie every morning. It's a great way to give yourself a natural boost in the morning. You'll find smoothie recipes in your new recipe book, or check the web (smoothies are generally pretty foolproof and you're safe trying most concoctions). If you are using whole foods like fruits (and veggies!) in your smoothie, you'll feel full from the high fiber content. The natural sugars in the fruits will give you a quick energy boost instead of caffeine.
Once you have breakfast down, start transitioning your lunches. Salads are a great midday meal since they are not too heavy and you can pack them from home. Experiment with making your own dressings and you can have a different flavor every day. You won't get bored.
Dinner is usually the last meal to transition. Try to have a raw dinner once or twice a week, if you feel good then go ahead and try more often.

The more raw you eat, the better. Just don't make it harder on yourself than it has to be! Eating raw can be a fun way to get healthy or lose weight. There are endless recipes to try, and the more you do, the more you'll find that your favorite recipe just might be a raw creation.