The raw food diet has been around for many years, with a recent trend picking up over the last decade more so than ever. As a means to get healthier, eat more fruits and vegetables, have more energy, lose weight, or possibly even reverse some forms of disease, many people turn to a raw food diet for the answer. While raw food may or may not do these things for all of us, it is safe to say it’s one of the easiest, healthiest ways to fit more fresh produce into our day.

 For those of you that aren’t familiar with the raw food diet, it revolves around the principle that no food is eaten that is heated above 118 degrees. Think no microwaves, ovens, or cooking on the stove top. The idea behind the diet is to preserve the “life force” of a food. Raw foods are packed with enzymes and possibly more nutrients as a result. Many are also easier to digest because enzymes help aid in digestion. Though this isn’t the case for all raw foods, one thing is for certain: raw foods are packed with dense, unprocessed nutrition that each of us can benefit from, even if we don’t go 100 percent raw.

A raw food diet can be as simple or complex as you want, and there are no rules, counting calories, or anything else rigid unless you choose to make it so. The dishes are usually salads, smoothies, room temperature soups, raw energy bites and bars, raw soaked grain cereals, raw nut milk, and some fancier things such as raw tacos, raw lasagna, and even raw cakes and pies. There is no sugar, alcohol, animal products, caffeine, or anything else that acidifies the body eaten on the diet. It’s a way to alkalize the body with real, whole food nutrients, raw superfoods and as fresh of food as possible. You can use fancy raw food kitchen equipment such as dehydrators, a fancy mandoline or a spiralizer, but you really don’t need anything to eat raw food if you stick to the basics.

Keep in mind that while many people find improved digestion and energy with a raw food diet, others will need a balance of cooked and raw foods. Whatever version of raw works for you, we have several ideas for raw foods and raw recipes for you to explore. Most require nothing fancy except a blender, food processor, perhaps a good chef’s knife, and a few others use raw food kitchen equipment like dehydrators and spiralizers. You can also see all of our raw vegan recipes here. 

We hope you enjoy our raw food meal plan! Give it a try and let us know what you think!