What percentage is required to be considered raw?

[Rawkinlocs]

This is a spin-off thread from the "How long have you been raw" thread. I ask the question in the subject header because I've been eating mostly raw for a while, but I'm not sure if I can be called raw since I'm not 100% yet.

So, what is the percentage of raw that one can consume that they would be considered "raw"?

Is it only 100%? 80-99%? anything over 70%? Help me out here please!

[tglasco4]

I have read in a couple of different places that 75% or more constitutes a raw foodist. I have been promoting that percentage myself. Of course, there may be many who disagree, but that's just me.

Peace.

Todd

[ConsciousCuisine]

I have heard people who are not 100% refer to themselves as "High-Raw" or as having a "High-Raw' diet.

I know that from several Raw foodist books I have read, that some feel it's "You're either Raw or Cooked", with no "margin".

The Vegan analogy seems to fit- this belief shown by these books/Authors:
One can't be "Mostly Vegan" since they only eat the "occasional" Fish. Vegans *never* eat fish. Ever.

If one can be considered "Raw" because they eat 60% or more foods Raw, then I have been Raw for most of my life! :)

I try to not pin myself down too much and live for today. I know that now and for many years, I have been aware of healthy Nutrition and eating and have followed what I know.

Today, I am 100%. Have been for a long time. If I were not, I would not call myself "Raw". I know it wouldn't be accurate. I also know myself very well and if I were to eat even 1 bite of a cooked food, I would have little self-control over my eating for health and vibrancy and as such, my devotion to being Raw is pretty hard-core (for *me*, myself).

My Acupunturist is begging me to eat cooked foods. So is my Chiropractor. They have my best interests in mind, yet they don't see the "harm" in me eating things like steamed veggies and soups. I guess they don't understand *me*, "the all or nothing girl"... :) If I ate some steamed broccoli, I would next want a huge pile of mashed potatoes. That's how my body and its cravings works. I crave comfort foods. So, I deny myself *any* comfort foods and *any* cooked foods, since for me to be 1% cooked would be a struggle and the "cooked food monster" would start to win over the percentages...

[ConsciousCuisine]

I have read in a couple of different places that 75% or more constitutes a raw foodist. I have been promoting that percentage myself. Of course, there may be many who disagree, but that's just me.

Peace.

Todd

Great Picture, Todd ;)
Certainly anyone who eats 75% Raw and fills in the other 25% Cooked and with health-building choices is going to thrive in ways that a person who eats the S.A.D. would not... :)

[Kristi]

I like your philosophy ConsciousCuisine!

P.S. I sent you a PM.

[Rawkinlocs]

Thanks for the replies everyone! So Kristi, you didn't mention your thoughts or am I to assume that you agree with Conscious based on you having said you like her philosophy?

Todd, I too have heard the 75% or higher thing but I do understand and really deep down inside agree with Conscious. I know that one cannot eat fish and call themselves vegan...they can't drink milk or eat cheese and call themselves vegan...well...they can "call" themselves whatever they like, but they probably won't be held in much regard by other vegans.

This is kinda why I don't like labels. I don't really feel the need to call myself a raw foodist or a vegan or a vegetarian, etc...but when the question was asked, "How long have you been raw", I didn't know what or how to respond since I'm not 100%. So I was like, well, since I eat MOSTLY raw, can I say I'm raw? Can I even ANSWER that question?

Ah well, doesn't really matter...all I know is I eat much better than I used to and I'm steadily getting better and better with my choices! :)

[Kristi]

My thoughts????? I think I lean towards the 100%.....all or nothing but I don't discount those that are extremely high raw.....say 90% depending on what that 10% is.......some have said tea is not raw.......I never even considered tea as being not raw so I considered myself 100%....now do I consider myself not raw because of an occassional cup of tea? Sounds silly. I guess it's all in your own personal definition. I don't care for labels either. No matter how you label yourself someone else will have a different definition. It's splitting hairs at a certain point.

[Rawkinlocs]

My thoughts????? I think I lean towards the 100%.....all or nothing but I don't discount those that are extremely high raw.....say 90% depending on what that 10% is.......some have said tea is not raw.......I never even considered tea as being not raw so I considered myself 100%....now do I consider myself not raw because of an occassional cup of tea? Sounds silly. I guess it's all in your own personal definition. I don't care for labels either. No matter how you label yourself someone else will have a different definition. It's splitting hairs at a certain point.

Thanks Kristi for sharing! :)

I agree with you, especially the part of your text that I have bolded. I know I've also seen raw food sites and they'll have raw snacks they sell or recipes that have maple syrup or something like that, but still consider the treat or the recipe a "raw" food or recipe.

I also like what you said about it depending on what the 10% IS! It's like, is the 10% cooked food based on condiments that aren't technically raw, is it steamed veggies or a baked potato or... is it the occasional Krispy Kreme doughnut? LOL! Now THAT would make all the difference in the world wouldn't it!!

But yeah, I think I'll just steer clear of the labels for now ;)

[tglasco4]

A person who say, eats 75% raw and eats things like McDonalds hamburgers and fries for the balance will most likely end up going a higher percentage raw or a lower percentage raw. As I have been reading many journalers reports I see that trend. For me I eat all raw food with the exception of zwieback bread. I am not sure what percentage that makes me exactly, but I don't worry about it. When I am in a public setting and set before me is a pile of salad and all around me are people with salmon, chicken, carrot cake and other things, I know I am a raw foodist! If food is sitting in my system so that I don't eliminate in a timely manner or I am constipated (which, by the way hasnt happened in about 5 months now) then I know I am not eating raw or at least not enough raw. Honestly, I leave labels and definitions of things like this for those interested in debating, which I am not LOL.

Peace.

Todd

[tglasco4]

BTW, thanks for the compliment Conscious :).

Peace.

Todd

Great Picture, Todd ;)
Certainly anyone who eats 75% Raw and fills in the other 25% Cooked and with health-building choices is going to thrive in ways that a person who eats the S.A.D. would not... :)

[Veganmama]

I'm with CC on that picture Todd ;)

anyway........

I'm not much of one for labels either, i think its a personal definition. Some may consider themselves Raw and eat 75%, others consider themselves Raw at 90% and others 100%. That all fine with me it doesn't effect my journey.

Me personally I've eaten a high Raw diet for along time probably about 80-95% but i want to go 100% to see what effect it has on me. But i totally understand your point Rawkinlocs as i don't know wether to say I'm Raw or not either. I will now though as I've been 100% for 2 days now, very easily. I'll have to go and do some journaling to share what helped me make this change and the cravings just disappear

[Rawkinlocs]

I'm with CC on that picture Todd ;)

anyway........

I'm not much of one for labels either, i think its a personal definition. Some may consider themselves Raw and eat 75%, others consider themselves Raw at 90% and others 100%. That all fine with me it doesn't effect my journey.

Me personally I've eaten a high Raw diet for along time probably about 80-95% but i want to go 100% to see what effect it has on me. But i totally understand your point Rawkinlocs as i don't know wether to say I'm Raw or not either. I will now though as I've been 100% for 2 days now, very easily. I'll have to go and do some journaling to share what helped me make this change and the cravings just disappear

Oh PLEASE do share Veganmama, please do!!!

[Veganmama]

sorry Rawkinlocs, my story probably won't help anyone else, i just stood up for my self against my ex and saw a lawyer got a intervention order and so on, so it was a very traumatic day but gave me a lot of strength.

[ehartmanf]

I'm kind of an "all or nothing" girl myself. My aim is always 100% raw. I don't rule out the occasional steamed veggie, though I haven't had any in about a month. I haven't found that a small amount of steamed veggies sets me up fo failure, but that's just me.......
I'm just glad that I have practically no cravings and can stay very close to 100% raw.

[tglasco4]

As far as 100% goes, it has to be something that a person grows into. If we are trained and bred on cooked, it would be illogical to think that we could just switch to 100% and be satisfied. I believe those that choose the raw lifestyle (which to me is 75% or more) will, as they grow, eventually become 100%. It will be a natural thing as the body craves raw foods and the taste for cooked diminishes. Of course people can go 100% with determined effort, but they may be more frustrated and give up in the long run. I hope that one day, we will all be 100%.

Peace.

Todd