Raw foods diet

[JB]

Anyone else eating a raw foods diet? Would you be interested in exchanging info and resources?

[Gina]

Raw foods isn't for me, but I'm interested in learning about it.

I saw on TV the other day that some people who eat a raw foods diet will eat raw meat. What are your thoughts on that? Is it a common thing, or are most raw foods dieters vegetarians?

[JB]

I think most raw foods people are vegetarian. Personally, I'm not big on eating raw meat. I just can't even comprehend it. Although, I do eat 'raw' salmon that has been cooked in lemon juice. Not technically raw since the lemon juice cooks it (a safe method for cooking salmon by the FDA standards), but not technically cooked since no heat is applied to it. I'm not vegan - I do drink raw milk and eat raw cheese (from the types of farms posted on the eatwild.com and realmilk.com websites).

When I say I eat a mostly raw foods diet, that means that once in a while (less than once a month), I'll eat something that's cooked. On occasion, I like to have cooked chicken (again from a free range, humane farm) and steamed veggies. It's always healthy and organic, but cooked. I do feel that cooked foods in moderation are okay - as long as the diet is 95% raw..

When it comes to holiday meals (Thanksgiving and Christmas), I'll at least taste a few of the items served. My mother is an exceptional cook, and she prides herself on it. She would be hurt if I rejected her food. So, I keep my portions extremely small (just a tablespoon of dressing, no more than 3oz of turkey, etc) and fill up on veggies (which may or may not be cooked).

It could be months in between cooked meals, so it really is a raw foods diet.

[Gina]

Thanks for the response. Do you mind if I ask why you will occasionally eat cooked food? I'm always curious about why people do things.

[grandma]

Yes, I would estimate that my diet is composed of 75% raw foods. I follow the diet program of Dr. Joel fuhrman. He feels that a vegetable and fruit based diet is the most healthy way to eat. He feels that it does not matter, and has not been proven, whether a vegan diet is more beneficial than having some animal products as condiments.

I will have 2 oz or either turkey, salmon or fat-free cheese with dinner. Dinner and lunch consist of entire bags of salads and beans with organic dressing.

drfuhrman.com

[JB]

admin said:

Thanks for the response. Do you mind if I ask why you will occasionally eat cooked food? I'm always curious about why people do things.

Sorry it took so long for me to reply...

I occasionally eat cooked food because.... Well, I like chicken, lol. It's kind of like when people are on diets and they say to allow yourself to have a treat once in a while to make the diet less tedious. Chicken (well, cooked food in general) is my treat. That's the closest comparison I have. Also, it helps me to tollerate the holiday meals a little better. When someone is used to eating only raw foods, it's harder for them to digest certain cooked foods. If I were to only eat cooked food on Thanksgiving, I'd probably get bad cramps after Thanksgiving dinner. So, that's another reason I eat the occasional cooked meal.

And, not all raw foodists eat a 100% raw diet. To technically have a raw foods diet, at least 75% of you diet needs to be raw.

Here's a site with more info if you're interested:

www.beyondveg.com/billings-t/selected-myths/selected-myths-1a.shtml

[JB]

grandma said:

Yes, I would estimate that my diet is composed of 75% raw foods. I follow the diet program of Dr. Joel fuhrman. He feels that a vegetable and fruit based diet is the most healthy way to eat. He feels that it does not matter, and has not been proven, whether a vegan diet is more beneficial than having some animal products as condiments.

I will have 2 oz or either turkey, salmon or fat-free cheese with dinner. Dinner and lunch consist of entire bags of salads and beans with organic dressing.

drfuhrman.com

I'm surprised I've never heard of that diet before. I might be interested in doing that. Once I've felt I'm at my goal health (with the help of what I'm doing now), I could gradually transition to that diet as sort of maintanance.

Would you say you're a 'raw foodist'? Not that it matters... just wondering.

[Gina]

JB, thanks again, and thanks for the link. It was an interesting read