Speech on raw food

[amanda]

I'm considering doing a persuasive speech on raw food for my college class, but it's in front of high school students. Do you think I can do it? Any ideas/suggestions would be wonderful............ I don't want to bore them terribly It's only 8 minutes, but still!
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Thanks! :D

[Russ]

I think the litmus test for whatever you decide on should be if you are passionate about the subject. The more passionate about the subject the better you will naturally persuade...in my humble opinion. As for Raw food, I could see that being a great subject. There is so much to talk about.

[So Delightedly Raw]

What's YOUR experience with raw food -- funny things, surprises, challenges? You could try that approach. Are you passionate about your subject? I agree with whatsagoodname -- Excitement is contagious.

[kiah]

I think it is an excellent idea. I would say stuff about how its natural, how indigenous groups have been thriving and living like this for thousands of years etc. Talk about the health benefits, mind etc. How it helps with cutting down on waste etc.

Good luck. It would be great if u could post your speech.;)

[hypnocmt]

I think in theory this is awesome!!

Just be mindful of the sometimes knee jerk reactions parents of HS aged kids will have. If you are not a cert'd nutritionist, just be careful not to actually recommend anything for them. You can talk about your personal experiences, and the qualities of foods, the properties of enzymes, etc. However, I would steer clear of claiming raw has CURED anything. Instead you can say things like "Her body healed so much from raw food enzymes and the added nutrition, that it was able to fight the cancer, and bring her into remission"

This is totally different from a legal standpoint, than saying

"Raw food cured her cancer!"

Also be sure to drop weight loss from your vocab. unless you are relating yoru own experience. With eating Disorders so prevelant, this can be a touchy subject. Instead you can talk about getting lean, getting fit, etc. You just don;t want to be seen as PROMOTING weight loss or dieting

I might use the term living foods as opposed to RAW. People for some reason react positively when you say "I prefer to eat living foods," whereas the word "raw" seems to freak them out, as they view uncooked things as unsafe or incompletely prepared. Living foods just sounds more whole, alluring, exotic and universally inviting I guess


You will be amazed at how much these kids will welcome info regarding choices in their lifestyles. I find that kids are often yearning to be healthy and grateful for encouragement!

I love working with school aged kids on their health. They are so fun and inspiring! I hope you will enjoy your experience as much and more!

To make it accessible, i might have them compare living foods to natural power bars, or smotthies to being nature's red bull. Or to relate the info about enzymes, have a student participate in an exercise that uses monopoly money to simulate the idea of our Enzyme Bank with the idea that better nutrition means they have more money in the bank, whereas raw causes them to have to withdraw money/enzymes from their lifetime account.

Just ideas. Good luck and have a GREAT time!!! If you have fun, so will they! Works every time. :D

[Russ]

Yes, as Kiah said, "post your speech". :)

[Stina]

I've been wondering about something that could help you. It's amazing how many athletes are into the Raw movement. Wouldn't that be interestingto kids? Not to mention the many celebrities.
Speaking of, I heard Gwyneth Paltrow and Madonna both switched from macrobiotics to Raw. Is that true? Just gotta know!

[spicyfull]

Rawsome..............

[DavidZaneMason]

I would focus less on RAW.....and focus more on just highlighting the benefits of eating more fresh fruits and vegetables.....and strategies for doing so. The environmental impact as well as the health. This is a topic that is not very contentious! Ha! ha! And it won't make people feel bad because they still eat pizza! LOL. Have fun with your talk!

-David Z. Mason

[luna99]

I think it's a great idea!! As someone else said.. just make sure you focus on your experience and the positives of raw food .... don't put down sad food though.

good luck!

[Ariannah]

I've been browsing the topics on ted.com (The one by Sir Ken Robinson - wow, I am still in a daze from listening to him!), and wonder if any of these high-profile people could give a 20 minute ted.com speech on raw.

[kiah]

Rawsome..............

That is a funny. that's going to be my new word:D

[amanda]

I would focus less on RAW.....and focus more on just highlighting the benefits of eating more fresh fruits and vegetables.....and strategies for doing so. The environmental impact as well as the health. This is a topic that is not very contentious! Ha! ha! And it won't make people feel bad because they still eat pizza! LOL. Have fun with your talk!

-David Z. Mason


That's what I was thinking. Persuade them to eat more fresh/unprocessed/natural foods. Thank you everyone for the encouragement/ideas! I am just not sure where to begin, yet!

[Missvanilla]

last year I had to talk about nutrition to a group of 50 teenagers. I decided to talk about the benefits of eating raw in a way it could be appealing for them, I explained how certain foods can help you tremendously with acne, cellulite... the sort of things that young people can be more concerned about!
Well, it was very successful and they asked me tons of questions! We had a lot of fun :-)

[Lay-Lay]

Totally agree with what David said!

[Conscious Midwife]

Check out my postin my blog if you just want some kooky stuff to add:D

[amanda]

thank you all SOO much.. I'm going to finally get to work on it and see how it goes. Good idea with the acne/etc... stuff that teens are worried about!

And...ty for that TED.com link, I listened to a few of those speeches the other day as I worked on other stuff. Anything that offers encouragement is great....

:)