Your definition of raw

[Sharon in Colorado]

This is in light of the frozen corn thread started by Samuel Wilson.

Is frozen corn raw? The discussion went on and on until SamuelWilson finally called the company that confirmed they've been blanched (blanched means briefly immersed in *boiling* water).

Besides that, there was a discussion about how a little commercially frozen corn is okay, and that if you freeze your own corn, the nutrients may be lost a little.

But how about when you cut the corn yourself? How long has it been sitting around on the shelf after it was harvested? After 24 hours, the sugars turn into starches and aren't optimal for eating. This homemade frozen corn may be just as nutritious - maybe even less nutritious than buying commercially made frozen corn.

Then there is the discussion about nuts. Are certain nuts really raw? Well - do you have a nut tree and do you eat them off your tree, or are you eating them out of a bag that has been sitting around on the shelf - are you eating them after they've been heat processed to remove the shell?

Then there was a discussion about percentages. How can I tell if I'm 100% raw fooder? And so on.

Do you really think you are 100% raw if you are using anything that has been commercially prepared or processed, even if it indicates that it's raw on the label?

[Ariannah]

I voted for the first one, for the "true definition" of raw. To me raw means raw, uncooked, unprocessed, and that includes dehydration which is a form of slow "cooking' and preserving, in my (very personal) opinion.

HOWever, I don't turn down dried fruits and veggies or foods made in a dehydrator - although I am 90% fresh-foods. The dehydrator renders foods "still living", as most of the enzymes and nutrients are still intact. Thus I consider myself a 100% "raw and living foodist".

My family will be consuming a lot of dehydrated and fresh foods soon! They already have increased their intake of fresh because that's what's in the house, but they'll get more treats with the arrival and use of the dehydrator.

I almost put "anything as long as it's not heated over 115", because that is what I eat, but as fresh as possible is my definition of raw.

[Sharon in Colorado]

I should have included somewhere: does RAW mean FRESH to you?

I'm just a little concerned as it seems that people on here are looking for permission to eat non-fresh foods. I don't think people need permission or not to eat them. They are transitional and most of us eat them anyway.

Packaged nuts, Bragg's Liquid Aminos, Lara Bars, Nama Shoyu, Frozen Foods, Dehydrated Foods, Oils, Salt, dried fruit, vinager, seasonings...these are all transitional IMO. They aren't fresh foods. So in some people's eyes, they wouldn't be raw foods. And just because you see it in a (any) recipe book, or someone advocates it, or it says 'raw on the label, it doesn't mean it's particularly fresh or optimal.

I'm not an extremist. And I'm definately not "100%" raw.

Just trying to get the message across to do the best that you can, and work toward your goal.

[Ariannah]

I agree with you Sharon, and I certainly hope that it's NOT implied that I believe people who eat all the above you mentioned are "not really raw"... au contraire! It's still a "raw food diet". That's why I qualified the other portion as "living", because the processing that's in a living food diet does not "kill the food" or the nutrition in it. :) :) :)

I eat some of the things above, Lara Bars (although a lot fewer of those recently), Dehydrated foods, some frozen (frozen wild blueberries, yum!), it is just that my own definition of "raw raw", (rah rah haha) is something as fresh and unprocessed as possible.

My diet is, as I said, 90% fresh, mostly because it's my preference. If the worst anyone can do is eat something heated at 115 deg. then they're doing darned good in my opinion! I most certainly plan on eating some of the yummy things I am going to be making for the family when my Excalibur arrives! :)

[jaurequi]

I don't obsess either -- very unhealthy for the mind and soul; but, I do eat fresh (no dehydrated foods); whole foods, raw. I can't think of any food I consume that isn't.

[rawpriestess]

Although my name is Rawpriestess, I have chosen to say instead of "rawfoodist" "natural eater"

And I do eat dehydrated foods.

What I think is this, I truly believe that humans are meant to eat mostly fruits, some greens and roots, if they can't get the frutis, -- and nuts in moderation. I kind of look at it, as if I have no utensils, and have to forage for foods. So what would I eat, in nature?

Now, I am no where near eating like this yet, but that is my goal, to use no utensils, and to eat off the tree, which we do when they are growing on our property.

However, I do believe that dehydrated food under 115 degrees is still raw, and frozen is still raw, and jars of almond butter are raw, and all that.

They may not be the BEST choice, but they are the Better choice, than SAD foods, or even cooked vegan foods.

I look at food as something that I enjoy preparing and I enjoy eating, and As long as I am feeling better each day, and looking better, and actually getting better, then I will keep eating it.

During the summer, Dragggon and I eat this way, we just walk outside, and eat what we pick off the trees or vines. This is when we feel the best, although we do eat some greens and make salad dressings, but mostly we just pick and eat fruits.

Now, while the gardens are going to seed, and it is getting colder, there's not much to eat that isn't dehydrated or frozen, so we are eating those things, and buying fresh fruits and veggies, although they are not grown by us, we give them lots of love when we eat them, and prepare them.

[aisah]

In life it is hard to define one thing for sure as 100%. Life as it is is ever changing, ever vibrating, full of uncertainties! Raw alive foods are vibrating, pulsating with life, it is not static, it is ALIVE, A-LIVE. Once one chose to define as 100% it already puts a dead end to one's supposingly exploding life! One would always wonder is this product 100% raw etc. resulting in one not living in the moment, not feeling alive so to say. Now that does not mean to go ahead and be complacent in being raw. Anything less is a compromise, we do not want that either. Stick to it as best as you can to your highly intellect knowledge. How can one be sure that the product which is bought off the shelf, though labelled '100% raw', has not been heated above 110 F while it is being transported from the factory to store? What with being packed tightly in boxes, in trucks/ships, cramped etc with the sun's lovely rays adding into the already hot and humid packing condition? Then there is the debate of cashews/agave amongst many others as not truly raw.
So my vote is be HIGHLY RAW, live it with full consciousness. Know that with each bite of the raw alive food we consume is bursting with life in abundance, hence bringing us back to life, love, peace, happiness, good health....
We make do with our best, unless one consume foods personally plucked fresh off the backyard, totally 100% raw without a 0.001% chance of unraw is, to my understanding hard to come by.
So I say - BE HIGH IN RAW..... hmmm does that mean anything else to you? what with the hemp/poppy seeds we consume :D

truly raws ~ aisah ;)

[sport]

I have no choice in this matter and am forced to go with option number 2. If I was to eat only things that had recently been growing, then at the best time of the year my choices would be very limited and at the worst time of the year, I would starve. Dont forget that my ancesters lived 95% on cooked potatoes.

[cactus]

I consider myself to be living a raw food lifestyle, I hate the word diet, and when I use it I become obsessive about what I eat to the extreme and I don't think that's always good, I eat raw foods and as close to raw as I can get, and if sometimes I find out after calling the company its not as raw as I thought( or I read here that somethings not raw that I thought was), I don't fret, I just decide how healthy it is for my body, I know people who only eat locally or food that hasn't traveled more than a certain amount, or will only eat recently picked food,but I can't do that because, like sport says at certain times of the year where I live you'd starve, having said that, (living in England,) if I did that Id never be able to eat a mango or a banana etc, I have had extreme health benefits and changes in my body eating the way I do, and that has happened even when Ive eaten food that wasn't as raw as I thought, and when Ive made mistakes, because the majority of my food was still raw, and definitely more healthy than I ever ate in my life before,
so to me, as long as I do the best I can, and choose what I believe to be raw at the time I will be better for it, and feel its OK to say I am a raw foodist.

[angeldoll]

Breakfast , Lunch , and dinner I am 80percent/20percent I can live with this :D