What is "Raw" Food and Why Choose It?

Food is considered "raw" if it is not heated above 110° F.  There are some people who eat raw fish, meat (lightly seared), and raw dairy products.  However, most raw foodists are vegetarian or vegan, in that the raw food that they consume consists of nuts, seeds, some grains, fruits, vegetables, herbs, various other plant based products, and natural sweeteners. I fall into the latter category, but I am not a vegetarian or a vegan.  This is because I don't only eat raw foods, and the cooked food that I eat consists of some meat, fish, eggs, and (a small amount of) dairy.  I also believe it's best to eat foods such as most grains, all beans, potatoes and squash in their cooked forms.  When the tough cellular walls of plants are broken down, our bodies can then absorb the nutrients better.  This is also the case with lycopene in tomatoes, and beta carotene in carrots.  Still yet, some things are toxic raw, such as kidney beans or green potatoes.

Some raw foodists actually sprout beans and grains instead of cooking them, but let's be honest, most people don't have time for that (I certainly don't).  However, you can buy some things already sprouted, such as bread (cooked; Ezekiel bread for example), mung bean sprouts, alfalfa, and broccoli seeds.

So did you know that you can eat as low as 70% raw food and still consider yourself a raw foodist (that is, if you want to label yourself as such)?  Do you think of nuts, seeds, fruits, and veggies as boring, and limited?  Actually, you may be greatly surprised as to how versatile these can be, and how many creative and delicious dishes are possible using only them.

So why choose to eat foods in their raw form?  Two reasons: one is scientific, one is practical.  Scientifically, many raw foods lose some nutritional value when cooked, and their naturally occurring enzymes are killed.  We produce our own digestive enzymes as well, but the theory is that the more enzymes that we consume from foods, the more our digestion will be aided.  Hence, our bodies can spend less time digesting food, and nutrients are broken down and used more efficiently.  This in turn gives our bodies more energy and time for healing and cleansing.

The second (and perhaps more convincing) reason is seen in the practical application of eating this way.  Incorporating fresh, whole foods into our diets produces smooth glowing skin, whiter teeth, healthier gums, and slimmer waistlines.  There are a myriads of people who claim that eating raw has cured them from a wide variety of diseases and ailments, or at the very least has kept them at bay.  A few of these being type 2 diabetes, toxic metal or chemical poisoning, Crohn's disease, IBS, arthritis, migraines, and general aches and pains.  Many others simply enjoy feeling healthier and having more energy.  Also, eating whole, raw foods can lower bad cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure.

Even if you don't want to shoot for 70% raw, simply eating more fresh fruits and vegetables can make a world of difference to your body.  My goal of this blog is to make that challenge a little easier, both for myself and for others.  Eating raw and semi-raw food can be delicious!

Raw Zucchini Walnut Crackers

This is another amazing recipe from The Rawtarian.  She really is a genius!

So I'll be the first to admit that raw crackers in general aren't that great, but these crackers here are actually delicious!  I ended up using all the rest of my walnuts to make a big batch.  To make them truly raw you will need a dehydrator, but since most people don't have one of those I also made a batch in the oven as an alternative.  Here's the recipe:

Raw Zucchini Walnut Crackers

2 1/2 C cubed zucchini
2 1/2 C walnuts soaked for 2 hrs then rinsed
1/2 C ground flax seed
1/4 C hemp seeds
2 tsp salt

1.  Place walnuts in a food processor and process into small crumbles.  Add the zucchini and process until it's finely chopped.

2.  Transfer mixture to a bowl and add remaining ingredients.  Spread 1/4 inch thick on parchment paper lined mesh screens (for dehydrator) or baking sheet (for oven).

3.  Score them like above.  For the oven, I put them in at 350° for 20 min.  Then I broke them apart and flipped them over, and baked them for another 20 min until they were golden brown.  Baking them really brought out the nutty flavor, and they were good.  

These are the cooked ones

However, I think I prefer the taste of them raw.  The good thing about these crackers is that the dehydrator actually makes them crispy, unlike most raw crackers that always retain a chewy texture.  Dehydrate them at 105° for a few hours and then transfer them to the mesh screens.  In total, dehydrate them about 12-14 hours.   Magnifique!  

These are the raw ones

There is a bit of preparation involved with this because the walnuts need to be soaked and the flax ground.  It's better to buy whole flax seeds and grind them yourself in a coffee grinder because you get the most nutrients out of the oils that way.  The flax seeds are essential in this recipe because they hold the cracker together, and the hemp seeds are optional.  However, hemp seeds are my new obsession because they add such a nice flavor, so I recommend them!  Eat these crackers with your favorite toppings like hummus, tomato, or avocado!  Yum!

Raw Brownies

I got this recipe from The Rawtarian.

I managed to score some medjool dates for only $5/lb (!) so what better to make with dates than raw desserts?

Ingredients:

1/2 C cashews
1/2 C walnuts
(You can also use 1 C pecans instead, but they are more expensive so I didn't have any)
1 C dates (about 10 dates)
5 Tbsp raw cacao powder (or unsweetened cocoa powder)
4 Tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut
2 Tbsp raw honey (if all you have is normal honey then use that and be not ashamed ;))
1/4 tsp salt

1. Process nuts in a food processor until fine and crumbly.

2. Add dates and process until fine.  It can be hard to find good dates, but health food stores usually carry them.  If you find them whole take care to remove the pits first!

3. Add remaining ingredients and process until mixture begins to stick together. Press into a pan, and refrigerate for at least 30 min.

As with all raw desserts that use nuts, the calories and fat can add up fast.  The good thing is that it's healthy fat, however, if you are watching your calories you'll want to eat only a bit of this at a time. I divided this into 12 equal portions, which comes out to about 165 calories per brownie. These are deliciously rich and chocolaty, so a little goes a long way.  It's also much easier to feel satisfied with one portion of these brownies than it would be if you ate an entire chocolate bar.  Plus, no sugar rush!  I like to freeze my raw desserts so that I can have something ready and waiting for me when a craving hits. Enjoy!!

Welcome!

Hello and thanks for reading my blog!  A few years ago I had a blog dedicated to raw food because I was going to eat 100% raw forever and ever...right? Not so much. Yet, after years of struggling with my unhealthy relationship to food I have now come full circle back to raw.  However, this time around I come with much more experience and knowledge, both about myself and food, and I personally do not believe that 100% raw is best, or necessary.  That being said, greatly increasing our intake of raw food will reap many benefits!

I want to share as many healthy, delicious recipes that I can with my family and friends.  Some will be raw, and many others will be "wannabe" raw, with some cooked ingredients.  Others will be full blown cooked.  Most of my recipes will be vegan (without meat, dairy, or eggs) with the exception of honey. Many will also be gluten free. I'll also be sharing my own personal thoughts about the struggles of eating healthy and losing weight.

Most of these recipes will be linked from other sources on the web, or can be found in books, so I will always provide those references.

Thanks for reading!

-Rachael