Is there a simple, no fuss raw diet?

[Selva]

Hi!
A newbie here. I came to this site thinking about simplifying eating - no cooking, no preparing, no nothing. Just buy raw food and eat it directly from your fridge, kitchen or whatever. But I see that there is so much preparing and sprouting and such... :( Can a raw diet be more simple? Without preparing anything?

Thanks for your help.

[RawFoodieMom]

Absolutely it can. There are lots of people here who live 100% raw the simple way. Just grabbing and eating fruit, or nuts, or throwing together a simple salad or blender smoothie. Lots of members don't dehydrate much at all and only make "gourmet" type dishes or recipes once in a while.

Some of us here, like me, are transitioning and need the recipes to keep away cravings for cooked food and such. But it's really an individual process! So if you are happy just eating simply out of your fridge or what's sitting on your countertop, go for it. And don't feel deprived because it's what you like and what your body wants! :)

Really, there are lots of people here to do raw the simple way. Hopefully they'll speak up and you won't feel alone. :)

Debra

[BDraw]

Yes! Yes! Yes!

Simple is so much better! Some people just like to play in the kitchen.

Aquire it, wash it, and enjoy it!

Good luck! I really expect a lot of response from this encouraging you to do the same! Lots of us merely eat simply. Join us! Your body will love you for it. :)

[juliebove]

Some fruits and vegetables require nothing more than washing. But many of them need to be peeled, deseeded or in some way prepared to be able to eat them. Nuts can be bought out of the shell. I guess it all depends on what you want to eat.

[levamssg]

Yes - the simpler you make it, the better. However, as has already been said, in transitioning to 100% raw, the more "prepared" dishes tend to satisfy better. The longer you are raw, the less you'll want these transition foods.


I teach raw classes, and do prepare lots of 'gourmet' foods - both in class and in preparing for class. But - inbetween times, for just me, I tend to eat mainly huge salads with cut up veggies - green smoothies and fruit. A handful of nuts thrown in (definitely walnuts) for variety.

The thing about raw - do what fits YOU. There are no complicated rules and calorie counting going on. That's the beauty of it.

Good luck on your raw journey .. make it yours and have FUN with it!

[DavidZaneMason]

Absolutely. You are blessed if you are in an emotional / healthy position to where you are ready to live a simpler lifestyle. Most folks complicated lifestyles lead them to complicated solutions! Ha! ha! Power to you my friend.

-David Z. Mason

[Selva]

Now, that's encouraging! I guess at first I might be as a detective, an eating detective :p Maybe I'll need to munch all day! Oh my god! If there is someone who eats simply raw, I would like to know you!

Hey, I don't care about peeling or washing, its the mix this, sautee that, slice this, take another bowl and mix this other thing, preheat oven and bla, bla, bla.... Maybe some night I will prepare something more elaborate, but certainly not everyday.

What worries me is the nutrition in the simply raw diet, and about having to visit the grocery store every day. Guess I'll have to think about this.

Glad to meet you!

[Nenyath]

Hi Selva! Most have already been said, the simpler the better and no rules! As for the grocery store, why do you have to go each day? I buy bananas one time a week and they sit just fine on the counter, same with oranges and apple and more or less every fruit you could desire! I just like going a little more often because I live in town and it is a nice walk and I don't want to carry all too much at the time.. But now I'm rambling, sorry! :rolleyes: My point is, nothing is more complicated than you need it to be and fruits and veggies really mostly are nice and keeps a while.. Good luck on your raw journey, it is good to see you here!

Fly forever free..

[vgloveforlife]

Like everyone said, the simplier the better! I started off raw by thinking I needed a dehydrator, sprouter, juicer, vitamix etc. I was dehydrating foods and making complicated dishes with lots of ingredients. Well I wasn't feeling well. I ditched my dehydrator and I started simplier eating and now I feel so much better.
I just throw together a bunch of greens with veggies and eat from the bowl with my hands or grab a handful of nuts or some fruit. Never been easier!
Just don't forget about variety!

[Kassandra]

I go for simple raw because I'm on a low income, so can't afford a dehydrator, sprouter, juicer, vitamix etc.

I'm also too busy running around after my little girls, so don't really have the time to prepare anything ;)

Kass.

[chilove]

The raw diet can be very simple and fulfilling! There is nothing simpler than peeling a banana or grabbing some grapes! Don't worry about getting enough nutrition. You will be getting way more nutrition eating fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds than you ever will on SAD. Go for it!!!

You will be glad you did!!!

All the best,

Audrey
www.rawhealing.com

[goodbeets]

Check out the garden diet, they are very simple. From my understanding of Alissa's take on raw food, gourmet is really transition food, the longer you are raw the simpler you crave.

[veeg]

I've been pretty much following Dr Grahams 811 plan of 95% juicy sweet fruit and salad at night...but actually end up eating just fruit many, many days. when I do this I have no cravings for other things and my energy is through the roof!

Don't each much in the way of de-hydrated stuff, might do a smoothie every now and then....

Peace

[MarieB]

Thank you, Selva, for this question and to everyone else for all the wonderful answers. I tend to simple things too...and I'm just starting in the raw life. Some of the "gourmet" stuff on here is way out of my league :rolleyes: I've read several books on the Raw lifestyle...but none of the cookbooks out there since I never have that much time to make a meal (Former Fast-Food Queen here! :o )

I will make smoothies...because I've made them for years, and they are delicious and easy...toss in fruit and blend in my $10 blender. And I have been known to just throw a bunch of veggies in the food processor for a quick "cold soup" or blended salad.

As a newbie, it is good to know that if I'm having a serious craving there are options out there if I can figure out how to follow y'all's instructions ;) But mostly I really like the idea of just peeling the banana or washing the celery and eating it.

[VeryBerry]

I am all for simple & no fass. I have all the equipment, because I though I needed it. I used my dehydrator twice during 2 years. I still use my Vitamix regularly, but really most smoothies & raw soups can be made in a regular blender. The only thing extra the Vitamix can make it nut milks & nut butters.

Blended foods are actually not as good for you as whole foods.
1. Metal blades cause oxidation 2. Chewing your food is good for you.
Although I found them very helpful in transition.

So raw food can be as simple as eating an apple. Raw recipes were created for people who enjoy food prep, and for those who want filling raw foods in transition.

For east raw food recipes I recommend "Instant raw sensations" by Frederic Patenaude. There are also lots of free easy ideas on the web. I never spend more then 10 minutes preparing a meal. In fact if I spend 10 minutes I consider it a long time.

Best of luck.
Nicole.

[Luna T]

I am transitioning as well and don't have any major equiptment yet (except my little juicer)

I have never enjoyed a lot of kicthen prep stuff, infact, I'm 34years old and never learned how to "cook" anything as far as regular cooked food goes...I suppose I'm better off for it!

Point being, I like things simple. I do carrot/ apple juice in the morning or just eat a whole apple and then salads the rest of the day. Until I get a dehydrator & b/c I'm still transitioning, I do crumble some organic chips or tempeh into my salad sometimes for substance. I also put a large variety of veggies & nuts in my salad to make it more filling.

Good luck!

Luna T

[luckitri]

I have only made one raw recipe. I have been mono eating - simple raw. This has not been my choice - it is due to my physical challenges. I have achieved alot of healing and weight loss in the short time I have been doing this. I have read long-timers say that over the years the simple eating is what people stick with. I know that in order to entice others I will need to make recipes when I am well enough. Alissa's recipes are supposed to be really simple and quick. It does however, require obtaining the proper equipment for some of them. The recipes are overwhelming to me because I do not have the proper equipment and it is a big learning curve. (Like what is a mandolin?) This site makes it alot easier than any other I visited and plus the style of the forum as well as the people on here makes me wanna stay.