by Joe Rich, Huckleberry Farms Greenlane
Let me start by admitting that I do not eat only raw food. The truth is I am just not that disciplined. But I know of, and admire, true raw foodists who include up to 100% raw food in their diet. These folk are so dedicated because they know the greater the percentage of raw food in the diet, the greater the health benefits may be.
In a nutshell, the theory of the raw food movement is that if we increase our intake of raw and unprocessed foods, then we will naturally have increased health by avoiding acidic toxins created during the cooking process, and our appetites will naturally drop because what we do eat will be more nutritionally-dense. This ultimately means our bodies will revert to a naturally thinner and healthier state because we are not filling up on high-calorie, low-nutrient foods.
So while I am not a raw food purist, I do like a lot of the raw food philosophy. And over the last couple of years I have found several ways to increase the amount of raw food in my diet without feeling like I am missing out on anything:
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I enjoy a homemade fruit smoothie every day. I always start with a banana or half an avocado and add two cups of iced water, then get creative. Maybe a handful of almonds, cacao nibs and a couple of dates; or a pear, fresh grated ginger and honey.
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Diced or grated raw vegetables have started to find their way into my sandwiches and cold noodle salads. Eating raw vegetables by themselves is really not my thing so I like to jazz them up with some of my favourite things like cold soba noodles and a zesty coriander pesto.
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Having a stash of raw snacks to munch on means I am less likely to reach for a muffin or slice between meals. I always have fresh fruit and nuts in my bag to graze on.
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Lastly, I am always learning and trying to discover new raw food benefits and preparation techniques. I recently learned that chlorophyll, found in every leafy green, is incredibly alkalising and helps to detoxify the body, so now I often blend a couple of kale leaves into my fruit smoothie.
Eating only green salads and raw almonds definitely gets boring after a while. Eating raw food can stay interesting by seeking out new recipes, new ingredients and new food preparation techniques.
