Tips for a Raw Food Diet

The raw food movement has been a trending topic over the past few years. More and more people are choosing to become raw foodists/raw vegetarians/raw vegans due to its many health benefits. Raw foodists believe the way to preserve life is to feed the body "living" foods. The raw food diet consists of adhering to specific food choices which (a) contain no animal product, and (b) are in natural state, uncooked (heated at less than 40 Celsius/104 Fahrenheit, but no more than 46 Celsius/115 Fahrenheit), and unprocessed. Some raw foodists will indulge in sushi/sashimi (raw saltwater fish), and/or "dairy" products such as cheese, eggs, or mayonnaise if it is made for vegan consumption.

The most common raw food products are fresh and dried vegetables, fresh and dried fruits, sprouted seeds, whole grains, nuts, and legumes. Raw "superfoods" are those that contain an exceptionally high amount of nutrients. Spirulina, wheatgrass, hemp, and cacao seem to be the most popular.

A common method in raw foodism in juicing. Raw foodists tend to juice fruits and vegetables, along with their superfoods, grains, seeds and/or nuts, because it ensures a larger amount of fruit and vegetables per serving.

Since ready-made raw foods are not as plentiful as conventional foods, becoming/being a raw foodist, or simply incorporating raw foods into your current diet, can prove to be somewhat difficult. Some great (and delectable) brands of raw foods are:

Two Moms in the Raw - Raw sea crackers (try the Pesto!) and granola.
Go Raw - Raw cookies, chips, chocolate, granola, bars (try the Banana Bread!), and sprouts, such as sunflower, pumpkin, and flax seeds.
GT's Synergy and Organic Raw Kombucha - Living culture elixirs containing active enzymes, probiotics, amino acids, antioxidants and polyphenols. Guava Goddess is my personal favorite.
Living Nutz - A wide variety of flavored nuts such as Far East Curry Almonds, and Banana Bread Walnuts.
Artisana Nut Butters - Raw nut butters, including Almond, Cashew, Coconut and more.
EatRaw - Goji Berries, Agave Nectar, Cacao Nibs, Maca Root, just to name a few.

Raw food products such as those listed above are generally not available in most grocery stores, but major retailers such as Whole Foods carry a variety of these foodstuffs. Also, many neighborhood health food stores and co-ops also carry raw food goods.

For more information, including recipes, raw food restaurants/cafes, and research on raw foods, visit Raw Food Life or We Like it Raw.