A Try-It Diet is just that — a diet that you can try out for two weeks to see if it is a good fit for you. Keep in mind that not every diet is right for every person; please consult with your doctor before making radical changes to your diet.
Raw gourmet cuisine is one of life’s great pleasures. The food is absolutely delicious and can be adapted to the palate and flavors of any culture, from satisfying American comfort foods to zesty Italian sauces and spicy Indian curries. Simply put, a raw foods diet means eating food in its natural state. Raw foods can be defined as those that are uncooked or prepared at temperatures below 115°F. When food is heated above that temperature, vital nutrients and enzymes are destroyed. Although nutritional supplements are available, science has not yet fully recreated the complex and subtle benefits of fresh, unprocessed food.
Many people find a raw food diet life-changing. They are amazed that something so simple could make such a difference in their health, mood, and energy. When you eat a raw diet, the food becomes the medicine, gradually healing the body by providing essential nutrients. Most people experience some difference within a few days.
When you eat locally grown foods, you reduce your carbon footprint — you’re no longer using processed foods manufactured six months ago, stored in a box or can, and shipped thousands of miles across the country. In contrast, food from local growers provides you with the flavor of fruits and vegetables fresh from the garden.
When people visit their doctor, they usually hear the recommendations, “Cut back on the red meat. Lower your salt intake. Stop eating fried foods.” You’d never hear your doctor say, “Cut back on your fruits and vegetables.” Most people need to eat more fruits and vegetables, but that raises the question of how to prepare them so that they taste really good. You can tailor your approach to your lifestyle and your response to the food. Remind yourself that you don’t have to eat 100 percent raw to enjoy the health benefits of this wonderful cuisine. Proceed at your own pace.
Many people who adopt a raw foods diet experience health benefits in a matter of days or weeks. Deeper changes seem to take up to about six months. Raw foods enthusiasts report increased energy, beautiful skin, greater mental clarity, and better stamina.
In order to increase the amount of raw food you’re eating, you will need to learn some basic food prep techniques. The goal is to practice one food technique until you get the hang of it before moving on to another. For example, you might want to practice creating nori rolls or burrito wraps. Another good option would be to try making vegetable pasta with sauce — ribboned pasta made from zucchini, carrots, jicama, or daikon radish topped with tomato-basil marinara, pesto, or yellow curry.
You are about to embark on a true culinary adventure, an exploration of the great cuisines of the world, expressed in raw and living foods. The focus is on a kaleidoscope of succulent fruits, aromatic herbs, pungent spices, tasty nuts and seeds, exotic chocolates, and vibrantly colored vegetables brimming with nutrients.
If you’d like to explore the Raw Food Diet in more detail, check out The Everything® Raw Food Recipe Book, available in print (ISBN: 978-1-4405-0011-4) and eBook (eISBN: 978-1-4405-0012-1) formats.