What is Live or Raw Foods?
There is no single or agreed-upon definition of live or raw foods. Some people say that to be a "raw fooder" one must NEVER eat a cooked food item, EVER. Others say, eat at least 80% of your foods raw; and others say 75%. Just like the definitions of vegan and vegetarian tend to be "flexible" depending on who you talk to ("Oh, I only eat fish once a week, but I'm a vegetarian"). For the most part, we believe that to call oneself a "raw fooder" means that a person eats at least 80% raw, but again, that's just a temporary designation, subject to change with new input or ideas. It's a flexible concept, like many concepts are. And, what does 'eating 80% raw' actually mean? Does that mean out of how many meals a person eats during the week, month or year? Does that mean how many calories consumed that are raw or ?? And, if a person drinks one smoothie for breakfast AND lunch [as Willow often does], is that one meal or two?? Who knows! The key is to eat as healthy a diet as one can, stick to the principles or ideas about raw food-ism, and eat as many locally-grown fresh fruits and veggies as one can. It's also important to listen to one's body, but not go crazy! There's a lot of discussion about 'cravings' and the like, and we'll be writing more about that later [from a psychological and perhaps sociological perspective]. If you look up the dictionary definition of "craving" it includes the word 'desire'. So, how do we actually know if our body is 'craving' something, or if our minds are 'desiring' something? Habits and long-time practices can be very influential in what we desire [or crave], and it can be very difficult to break those habits or patterns. Being around others who support us [or don't] in our path to wellness and health can also influence our 'cravings' or 'desires.'
Eat as many fresh fruits and veggies, a few nuts and seeds, and buy as much local produce as possible, and see how your body [and mind] react. From there, make a goal to eat however many meals per day you'd like to eat as raw, fresh vegan meals and get support to achieve that goal.
Raw foods is great for the planet, too, because it greatly reduces packaging, materials, and the like. It really makes it easy to be a 'greener' person!
Eat as many fresh fruits and veggies, a few nuts and seeds, and buy as much local produce as possible, and see how your body [and mind] react. From there, make a goal to eat however many meals per day you'd like to eat as raw, fresh vegan meals and get support to achieve that goal.
Raw foods is great for the planet, too, because it greatly reduces packaging, materials, and the like. It really makes it easy to be a 'greener' person!
