cooking

[asecretchord]

Can someone tell me why you can't cook anything?

[Colorawdo girl]

Cooking anything above 115 degrees approx destroys the enzymes in food. It is no longer living food but dead.
Some foods,when cooked actually turn into toxic chemicals. Potatoes, for instance, become a substance called acrylomide when cooked. eeeek

[asecretchord]

I would like to eat cooked wild rice. I can't eat it raw. Is that okay?

[Colorawdo girl]

You can eat whatever you want to eat.
Some have cooked foods as well as raw. It is all up to you and how raw you want to be. Time may find you wanting no cooked.
Its ok right where you are. Do whats right for you in your raw life.

[asecretchord]

Thanks. :)

[piccolittle]

Well, wait a minute. Sure you can technically eat whatever you want, but you need to ask yourself why you are trying to be raw in the first place. Is it weight loss, health reasons? To make good raw food decisions I believe you need to have a deep understanding of the benefits of living foods and an appreciation of why things like wild rice, most grains etc (which are dried before you get them anyway) are inedible when they are raw. If you want to eat cooked food, why not just be vegan?

Of course, I'm absolutely still learning (haven't been raw that long!), so don't think I'm trying to hand down the raw gospel here. These are just issues I went through myself very recently.

By all means, go ahead and eat wild rice, but ask yourself first why you believe it's necessary. To you, is the rice nutritionally beneficial- more so than, say, chopped jicama or cauliflower which make great substitutes? How often are you planning to eat it?

I'm not 100% raw (mostly because of condiments like balsamic vinegar and, rarely, hummus)- but I have gotten to the point where even eating those things feels a little bit like junk food. Absolutely the wild rice can help ease the transition, but I sometimes feel as though it's a bit of a slippery slope, and in reality, pretty unnecessary.

Ugh sorry if that sounded really harsh and condescending- but it's really amazing how being even 80+% raw can shift your perspective about food and its role in your life. Try going without the rice and stuff for just two weeks. Jump right in and go for salads, fruit, and green smoothies- then decide if you really need the rest.

[ReneeH]

You should get Alissa's book!!! :) (It doesn't sound like you have it or you would not be asking this question...) She has an entire section on the benefits of RAW and explain questions like this one....and some that you may not have thought of...

[Susan123]

I'm sort of in the same boat as the OP. I'm a newbie raw-curious girlie (BTW- I was born and raised in Kenosha, Wisconsin!!).

I've been reading some other books, but finally ordered Alissas book!! I'm raw until dinner and then eat a whole foods Vegan dinner...

[Colorawdo girl]

Susan, that is how I transitioned into raw as well. Its all good right where you are. Happy Raw.

[EZ rider]

As mentioned above you can eat anything you want to. There are no raw food police. Keep in mind that a cause ---> effect relationship exists between healthy food / unhealthy food. The results you get will depend on the choices you make.

[asecretchord]

Thanks for all your responses. I want to be raw (not 100%) mostly for health and weight related issues. I'm not eating any meat or dairy. I can't be vegan because I still use a lot of products that aren't animal friendly. I'm going to stick to a mostly raw diet. I was just wondering if it's okay for me to eat rice occasionally because I love wild rice so much and it's very good for you. Thanks again! :)

[asecretchord]

Sorry I haven't bought Alissa's book yet. I've been so darn busy! :(

[busy91]

I myself didn't go into this planning to be 100% raw right out of the park. I know I will mess up now and then. I used to be a pure vegetarian (vegan eating).

Do what you can when you can. And maybe one day, you'll not even want that rice.

[asecretchord]

I'm going to go to the library this afternoon and see if they have the book there.

[ReneeH]

You won't find it there. You can order it from Alissa's site. You will TOTALLY LOVE her book!!! In it, she gives a wonderful 30 day plan that you can follow to help you get started. The advise in there is priceless!!!

[asecretchord]

They don't have it there. I will have to order it once I get some money. I hope you all can bear with me with all my questions in the meantime.