Raw Food Challenges

A few weeks back we asked the question “is it easy  to be on the raw food diet?” and we came up with a mixed answer of yes, no and maybe. It all depends on your own personal journey, so there is no one right way to answer that question. Everyone’s experience is different, but even with this there are still some similarities. As a raw food enthusiast, you will surely encounter some challenges and obstacles. We personally believe that obstacles are put in our path not to stop us, but so that we can figure out a way over, around, or through them. To help you in your raw food journey, we have listed some of the common challenges below and some suggestions on how to handle them:

Availability of Raw Food
Depending on your location, availability of raw foods may be limited. The variety of foods would sometimes also be restricted by season.Freshness of foods may be a problem if they are shipped in from faraway locations. A good way to deal with this problem is to eat produce that is locally grown and in-season.

As far as getting the freshest produce, we recommend going to the grocery store more often than when you were eating cooked foods. Many raw foodist go twice a week at the very least, purchasing only what they intend to use immediately, and then returning mid-week to stock up on supplies. This might require some preplanning of meals on your end, or you can also see our Raw Food Pantry & Fridge article for helpful suggestions.

Some local health/organic food stores might sell prepackaged raw items such as fruit/nut bars and flax crackers (which make great snacks). If you are looking for them but can’t seem to find them, it’s okay to contact your store and ask if they will carry them for you.

Commitment & Willpower
Sometimes it may seem like you are in the minority as a raw foodist. While there are several local and online communities for you to be a part of, you may be alone at work, at school, or when you are out engaged in social activities. It takes a great deal of commitment and will power when you are starting the raw food diet, but we can assure you that this gets easier with time.

As you are early in your journey, you may find temptation lurking around every corner (YIKES! Is that the vending machine out to get you?). No worries! Remember, it is important to have available ready-to-eat raw foods which you can munch as snacks, with little or no preparation. This can include raw carrots/celery with almond butter or raw hummus, nuts and seeds (get creative and make your own trail mix), or a piece of fruit.

So you have armed yourself to face the outside world, but what about your life on the home front? Make sure you clean your fridge and pantry, riding it of any foods that can trip you up (if you are not comfortable throwing out this food, donate it if it is nonperishable, or bring it into the office).

To keep yourself excited about raw foods, it’s so important to try new recipes and foods. With this in mind, going through the produce section can be like an adventure. “Oooo, what’s this vegetable/fruit? I’ve never tried this before. I wonder what I can do with it….” It’s a small investment and a fun experiment for your taste buds.

For social gatherings, it can be tough! If it is a potluck meal, be sure to bring your own raw dish (or a couple dishes). This is one way to guarantee that you won’t go hungry and to let others try a delicious raw meal or side dish. If you are meeting some friends later on in the evening, say to go to a movie or to go dancing, make sure you eat before hand, then you will be less likely to be tempted by french fries and other greasy foods. At the very least, you can stop somewhere and get a salad before you head out to meet your friends so you are not meeting up on an empty stomach. If there is no time to stop, bring snacks with you, or on that morning make an extra green smoothie and leave it in the fridge to take with you later that day. Raw foods in social settings is all about being prepared.

And on the rare occurance, if you do happen to slip up, don’t sweat it too much. Tomorrow is a brand new day. Think of raw foods as being about making individual healthy decisions on a daily basis rather than being able to claim how raw you were on a certain day.

To Cook Or Not To Cook
Some people find it easier to transition into raw foods slowly, and including some cooked foods in their diet (we have tips on which route will get you started best). We are okay with this, but we want you to remember, if you can’t pronounce it, you shouldn’t be eating it. The problem with a lot of food is that it has been processed! If you are going the route of including some cooked foods to help you in your journey, make sure you are reading those labels. If the ingredients printed on the box are so tiny and thin that you have to squint just to make it out, put it back. So again we have to stress,  if you can’t pronounce it, don’t eat it.

Getting Used to Raw
If you are making the transition from a diet which contains mainly cooked food towards one which is mostly raw, do so at your own pace. Be patient and give yourself time to adapt.

You should also be aware that, when you first embark on a diet with an increased amount of raw foods, you may experience some symptoms, commonly called detoxification reactions. These could include headaches, tiredness, nausea, etc. However, rest assured that these symptoms would slowly fade away as your body cleans itself out.

Generally, the more you eat raw foods and the longer you do it, the easier it gets. Your body and taste buds slowly adjust, and you will most likely love the light and energetic feeling which raw foods give you. We can assure you that you will feel way better after eating raw foods (no afternoon nap required) than you would ever feel after eating a cooked hamburger or loaded pizza.

One Step At A Time
If one is going fully or mainly raw, we feel it is important to keep things simple. Don’t get discouraged by recipes that you can’t make yet or ingredients you’re not presently familiar with. Many raw food enthusiasts start out with salads, but then as they gain knowledge and experience they start to expand to slaws, veggie pastas, smoothies, desserts, and so much more! The most valuable resource for you is also free (the internet). Use it and this website to search for simple recipes to get you started.

Raw foods diets come with many challenges and also many advantages and health benefits. At the end of the day, how raw to go, is very much a matter of personal choice. Only by trying it out for yourself will you be able to tell how much you like it, and how your body reacts to it. Listen to your body and then do what is right for you. We truly believe that you already have everything within you that you need to be successful. And as always, we are sending good vibes and radiant energy your way to help you in your raw food journey.

Resources
Eating a Raw Food Diet – Challenges and Tips http://www.all4naturalhealth.com/raw-foods-diet.html

By rawfoodnation Tags: challenges, commitment, fresh food, raw food, Recipes, transition, will power
Posted in FAQs, Lifestyle Tips | 5 Comments »

5 Responses to “Raw Food Challenges”

1. Raw.la - Raw Food in The News and Around The Web says:

   August 3, 2009 at 4:58 pm

   [...] Raw Food Challenges [...]
2. Latest raw food online news – Raw Food Challenges « Raw Food Nation | Easy Raw Food Life Dot Com says:

   August 12, 2009 at 7:56 pm

   [...] Raw Food Challenges « Raw Food Nation [...]
3. merle glass says:

   November 30, 2009 at 2:10 pm

   The guy in the health food store said eating more than one or two bannanas a day is not good for you. I thought you could eat 5 a day and it was great for you,help !

   [Reply]
4. Ashley says:

   December 24, 2009 at 4:17 pm

   Bananas have a very high glycemic index, so they create an instant rapid raise in blood sugar. They are very yin, if you have any problem with weight or asthma, best to stay away!

   [Reply]

   

   admin Reply:
   December 30th, 2009 at 6:01 pm

   We appreciate your comment Ashley! Actually a lot of research shows that bananas are considered to have a low glycemic index. Check out the color coded chart here: http://www.herbalvitality.info/aw/glycemic_index.htm.

   Of course, even when eating a high raw diet, one should watch their sugar intake. All things in moderation. See the aforementioned link for suggestions of other fruits with an even lower glycemic index (such as cherries, blueberries, and strawberries). Thanks again for your comment!

   [Reply]