I don't want to give the idea that raw foodists eat only fruits and veggies, although there are frutarians, but that's a whole other realm (can you say "rapid tooth decay"?). I tend to focus on vegetables in particular because I am not a complete raw foodist and draw those nutrients from other sources as well.

A 100%, 365 days-a-year raw foodist typically does not eat just fruits and veggies (although it makes up the bulk of their diet). Fat sources should not be the bulk, but a compliment and there are plenty of places to get fats- the main ones being avocados and bananas and nuts (and their milk). This is PLENTY (especially if you have a great love of avocados like I do!). It's just a matter of comparing your daily needs in grams with the grams in your fat sources- not a hard thing to do.

The greatest concern of course, is reaching an adequate amount of calories for the day. Another issue is that raw foods tend to just run straight through some folks and they don't absorb all of the nutrients, which leads to a calorie diffeciency and causes some to be underweight. And then you can argue about how what is underweight in an overweight society and then you just lose everyone. I guess I'm trying to say that it's subjective and that people will believe what's right for them according to their knowledge. It's just simply another way of living.

Seriously, though, check out the site I mentioned earlier. I was curious about the effects of this lifestyle on real folks who are actually living it and what they eat from day to day (and not just a paper debate on right vs. wrong) and I got the answers I was looking for.

junebug, what web site is that? I don't see it unless I missed it somewhere.

I personally try to balance my proteins and carbs. My fat intake has gone way down recently but I keep olive oil in the mix. I also buy avocados when I can. My protein consumption has also gone down but I think that is ok.

I do like the idea of raw food in the sense that we don't need processed junk for our bodies. I wouldn't mind doing something that was very simple but my imagination led me to roasted nuts as a supplement and well if roasted nuts are cooked then well they aren't raw food So I got stumped. If you aren't adverse to buying things like almond milk (and soy milk?) then it would make sense you could complete your proteins in that manner.

The shake powder I drink for breakfast, which is vegan friendly, talks about cold pastuerizing and cold processing the ingredients so that enzymes aren't killed. It is also pulverized into a powder so that it can be drank. I like it a lot. Not that I would claim it is raw food friendly but I thought it was interesting.

The other thing I think is interesting is the book I'm reading (SuperFoods RX) says specifically for some veggies that certain enzymes are killed in cooking but that some enzymes become available in cooking so that it is suggested to eat both cooked and raw. (Most people seem to prefer cooked than raw) I usually avoid boiling veggies just because I think it does take too many nutrients out of them.

Anyway that is a different topic. I would be interested to see a website with what raw foodists eat from day to day and what differences they notice. I think I could do it for a few days and I would be interested to see how.

I've seen a couple of books on raw foods that had recipes - I think they were at Chapters.

There is a whole "raw cuisine" - I'm sure you can find some recipes and sites if you do a search. It is more than just eating a plateful of raw veggies and some of recipes the I've seen look pretty good.

I think I also missed the site you mentioned Junebug.

Here's a link to Amazon showing some books on the subject.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...350119-8548641

rawfoodtalk.com

Thank you!

Since there seems to be a growing interest in this subject I have made a sticky in the recipe section for Raw/Living food recipes if anyone would like to post some recipes.

I am also working on a FAQ section which I hope to have up in the next few days. Thanks for everyone's input on this thread - great questions and info - especially you Junebug!

Thanks Mauvaisroux- I think it's a great compliment to the new Whole Foods section. It's certainly a good way to try new stuff that you may not have thought of to try before.

I remember hearing this (Oprah, maybe?) about tomatoes. Something about how the antioxidants are more available when they are cooked/stewed.

Junebug,
HAve you been raw in Winter here in Denver? I'm from Califorina and I get so cold here in Co. It seems like it would be hard in the winter with out my warm soup.

G

I don't recall being 100 percent during the winter.... and cold is not a winter-specific feeling for me anymore! Since I have lost weight I am cold more often than not- there's even a thread about it in the maintainer's section. I also work at an ice arena where it's possible to see your breath indoors on any given day and I think this is a big contributing factor. It's odd though. I have noticed that when I was overweight I would shiver uncontrollably. Now, I may be on the chilly side a lot, but I don't shiver like that anymore.

I'm with you on the soups, though! When it starts snowing all I can think about is making a lentil soup!

oops I should say Junebug do you ever go out to eat I was wondering if you know of any really yummy veggy resturants around I really like the wholly tomatoe (SP?) but I don't know of any others.

thanks G

watercourse foods- downtown on 13th kind of across from the Museum.
http://www.watercoursefoods.com/WaterCourse_Foods.pdf

If you look at the menu it tends to be more vegan friendly than raw friendly.

More often than not, though, my rest. of choice is Whole Foods.

I love the WF over on hampton as they have a raw bar and vegan parfia's (SP?)hehehe but the new one over where villa italia use to be is closer to home

I went to Trader Joes yesterday and they had a raw trail mix as well as other raw nuts. I guess I never really noticed. I got tempted by raw Brazil nuts (love love them) but the price was a bit more than I wanted to pay.

I used to live in Denver and I know there are some good indian restaurants that are veggie friendly. I don't know of any that are entirely veggie though. There is one near me here in Maryland though that is entirely veggie. Not sure that indian would be vegan friendly though.