Raw Food Is Not Exclusive

I was thinking of a conversation that I was having with a good friend not too long ago. We were discussing how some people have the perception that the raw food diet is hard to follow, or that it is mainly associated with a certain type of person (some people may associate it with the "hippie" types, or more affluent or people who "can afford it").

It is a way of eating that is meant for whoever desires to eat that way. It does not matter how much money you make or what you look like. It is about making a conscious decision to eat better. From students, to singles, to elderly, it is for anyone. Hey, even natural health food stores takeEBT (foodstamps) if that is one's form of payment. So there really is NO excuse.

It is only as exclusive and affordable as one makes it. You go to your grocery store, correct? Well, you have access to the same fresh fruits and vegetables as anyone else. There is also a budgeting aspect that may be considered for some (whether buying organic or non-organice whole foods). I do find though, that most people will spend money on what they WANT to spend it on. Some will choose to spend money on miscellaneous items or services that are here right now and gone in 10 minutes, so it is all based on choice.  Although truly organic produce may be healthier in the long run and be free of poisonous toxins, fruits and veggies in general are just as good. The point is to consume more of the fruits and veggies when possible. Nuts and seeds are good as well.

Increasing your consumption of raw fruits and veggies actually saves you in a lot of ways. It saves you money (as whole fruits & veggies are usually cheaper than processed and prepared food look-a-likes), saves you visits to doctors office (now and in the future), and saves you time (usually when I go to the grocery store, I only have to visit 2 main aisles--produce and bulk foods, occasionally the herb section for my seasonings and various herbal supplements). The only reason I am in the store for a long time is reading other labels or because I did not prepare my list of needed foods ahead of time (I usually am somewhat of a spontaneous shopper).

So anyway, back to the main point, raw food does not have to be exclusive. The best way to eat more of them is to do just that: eat more. There are thousands of recipes out there if you would like to create more elaborate dishes. It may be a smoother process if you start of slow and simple for a while to let your mind and body adjust. As you get more comfortable, start experimenting with more complex dishes.

Usually when people ask me, I suggest that they start off with simple fruit for breakfast (an excellent way to break the night fast from sleeping) or a fruit smoothie in the morning. That is a pretty easy way to get several servings of your fruits and veggies in daily. If they want to take it a step further, I advise them to eat salad for lunch or dinner or a quick veggie soup that they can prep and blend in about five minutes. You could also make lettuce wraps or tacos with lettuce leaves and seasoned chopped or shredded veggies. Dessert could be fruit, if desired.

A lot of fancy equipment is not necessary either. Most people can get away with a chef’s knife, a cutting board, and a blender--a food processor may be nice for some added options and to make some dishes quicker to prepare. For instance, when I am in a rush, I like to prepare my salsa in the food processor. All it takes is about 4 or 5 good pulses and it is done, as compared to dicing tomatoes and onion by hand. Outside of washing that it takes 2 or 3 minutes compared to 10 minutes plus the labor of the dicing. A $400 blender and a huge dehydrator are not totally necessary unless you desire more elaborate dishes. They give you more options, but again are not totally necessary to receive the benefits of a healthy diet.

This article was mainly meant remind you that it does not really have to be hard, unless you choose for it to be hard. If you are not sure of where the organic produce is sold in your area, get what is available right now and search for organic sources when you get the opportunity. I personally would prefer a conventional (non-organice) fresh peach over a can of toxic syrup soaked canned peaches any day. Seek out as much information as you can to arm yourself with the necessary knowledge to do what you need to do. Just start where you are and adjust as time goes by. Remember that health is the goal, not unnecessary complexity

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