Want to Eat Raw? Here are 5 Tips to Do it Simply and Easily Today!

Are you thinking about eating raw? Whether you are planning to go totally raw or just want to add more raw food to your diet, it can be confusing and frustrating. There are so many questions: What can you eat? What should you buy?  Will you feel satisfied? Do you need special tools and equipment? Can you afford it? Maybe you are concerned whether you can live a raw lifestyle and still have a social life or get along with your coworkers. Perhaps you just want to know what steps to take to get started.

Here are some tips to make eating raw simpler and easier for you today:

1. Transition into Raw

Eating a completely raw diet is a big change and it may be easier for you to transition into it rather than just going 100 percent raw all at once. There are many options for transitioning: you can choose one day a week where you will eat totally raw, you can be raw all day until dinner and then eat a cooked meal, or you can choose to add more raw foods to your diet throughout the day. If you choose to be raw one day per week, you can then increase that to two days, then three days and then one week and one month. The more you eat raw, the easier it will be to stick with it. Eating raw until evening means you will eat raw breakfasts, lunches and snacks. These may be the meals where it is easier to eat raw, especially when you know you will be eating cooked food later that day. If you choose to add more raw foods to your diet throughout the day, you can choose certain meals (i.e. raw breakfasts or raw desserts), certain recipes (i.e. raw salad dressings, vegan cheeses or side dishes) or just add something raw to every meal you eat. Check out Getting Raw! How to Work Raw Food Into Every Meal (and Not Just Salads!). Juices and smoothies are an easy and yummy way to get more raw fruit and veggies into your diet. The more you keep adding raw foods to your meals, the more they will become a normal part of your diet. Read Raw Food Diet: All or Nothing? for more advice and information.

2. Educate Yourself

You may know that eating raw is healthy but what else do you know about it? Before making any big changes to your diet and your lifestyle, read up on it and get informed. There are raw food books, blogs and articles. Learn about the benefits and challenges of eating raw and determine if it’s the right diet for you. Once you know that you do, in fact, want to eat raw, learn all the foods that a raw diet may include. Eating raw doesn’t have to mean just munching raw veggies and salads. There are raw crackers, pates, soups, and even desserts. Check out 5 Rawsome Recipes Besides Salad for some live deliciousness. Find out which products you can buy at the market or order online. Read raw recipes that sound delicious to you and make lists of ingredients and any special equipment necessary to make them. If eating out at restaurants is part of your lifestyle, research whether there are any near you that serve raw food. The more you know, the easier it will be to make raw food a part of your life.

One Green Planet can be a tremendous help. There are tons of raw recipes available for your perusal, everything from juices and smoothies to soups and desserts. Try this Zucchini and Tomato Lasagna with Cashew Herb Cheese, Creamy and Raw Butternut Squash Soup with Marinated Mushrooms, Avocado Kale Chili Salad, and the Ultimate Raw Vegan Pizza. Your sweet tooth will be fully satisfied with desserts like this Chocolate Raw Vegan Mousse Tart with Lemon Cashew Cream, Almond Cacao Cookies with Salted Maca Caramel, Chocolate Almond Cookies with Fudgy Frosting, and this raw Triple Berry Cheesecake. Sure doesn’t sound like deprivation to me!

3. Stock Your Fridge and Pantry

Whenever we make changes to our diets, we worry about not having enough food to eat so be prepared and make sure your kitchen is stocked with raw foods and ingredients. Start with the raw foods you already eat such as salads, fresh veggies, fresh fruits, guacamoles, salsas, seaweed, nuts, seeds, spices and raw cacao. Have fruits and veggies prepped and ready to grab so when you want a snack, a raw one will be readily available. Buy some raw crackers and desserts, granola and dehydrated fruits. Until you learn how to make your own versions, buy some already prepared raw dishes like kimchi, sauerkraut, nut cheeses, dips and spreads. Have soups, juices and smoothies in the fridge as well. If you are concerned eating raw will be too expensive, read How to Eat More Raw Foods Without Breaking the Bank + A Recipe! for the facts.

4. Plan Ahead

To prevent those moments when you stand in your kitchen, standing in front of the fridge and declaring “there’s nothing to eat!” it’s a good idea to plan your menus in advance. Whether you are eating raw for one meal or one day, come up with menu ideas that sound delicious and are realistic for you to make. Make sure you also plan for snacks and desserts. Eating raw at home may be somewhat challenging but it’s probably nothing compared to eating raw at work, school or at social events. Find out what your options are at the places you will be and if there are none available to you, bring something to eat with you. You don’t want to be the only person standing around conspicuously not eating. Read Easy Tips to Eat More Raw Foods when You’re Short on Time and Money and 3 Easy Raw Food Tips for Busy People for some great ideas.

5. Get Support

The easiest way to be successful at any endeavor is to feel supported. Rather than do it alone, find someone who is willing to eat raw with you, even if it’s just for a meal or two. If you don’t know anyone willing to eat raw, find a local group or meet-up of raw foodists. Eat at a raw food restaurant where raw dishes are the norm. Find friends who eat raw online through social media groups. It’s invaluable to be around and interact with people who share similar interests and values. They provide Support, mentoring, ideas and validation.

The most important thing is to listen to your body and your taste buds. Don’t force yourself to eat foods you don’t want or like. Find which raw foods you love and start from there. Don’t get discouraged and don’t give up. The more you eat raw, the easier it will get. And even if you decide that a completely raw diet is not for you, your body will thank you for adding more healthy raw food into your diet.

Image Source: Zucchini and Tomato Lasagna with Cashew Herb Cheese