The raw food revolution - is it really good for you?

Ever thought about going raw?  Not the ditch your clothes and let it all hang out kind of raw – no, we’re talking raw food. That’s right, completely naked, uncooked food that goes from the pasture to your plate without being fried, steamed, baked, sautéed, flambéed or barbequed.  

Raw food doesn’t mean salad has to be on the menu every night – there’s a surprising variety of raw food recipes out there that can only be described as mouth wateringly delicious, so if you’re not getting your daily fix of fruit and vegetables, maybe it’s time to start thinking about going a little raw.

There’s lots to like about going raw: 

• If you want to drop weight, raw food is more likely to help you lose those kilos because it’s mainly plant based, and raw fruit and veggies tend to have more bulk than the cooked variety, so you feel fuller on less
• Chewing is a great workout for your gums and jaw, and they’ll get a much better workout when you’re chewing raw rather than cooked food
• You get loads more good nutrients and natural enzymes when you keep food in it’s natural state, which is good because enzymes boost digestion and fight chronic disease
• Raw can be interesting! Think fermented foods, sprouted grains, dehydrated treats. It’s healthy food that tastes great
• Technically speaking, wine is fermented, so it must be ok to drink right?
• Raw foods help to alkalize the body, reduce acidity and are less likely to ferment in the gut, which can cause inflammation and autoimmune reactions
• More fruit and vegetables means less junk, and that’s got to be good for you!

Ok, raw isn’t for everyone and it’s important to take a balanced approach no matter what you choose to eat.  Here’s a few of the not so good things about going fully raw: 

• Many of the really tasty raw food recipes can be pretty time consuming so you’re probably going to need to amp up your kitchen skills
• If you choose to go 100% raw, you’ll need to do your research to ensure you get adequate amounts of protein, iron and calcium
• No more meat and dairy – say goodbye to the Sunday roast and cheese toasties
• Spirits and beer are out – technically they are cooked because they’re distilled (so drink wine instead)
• Those sweet raw treats and cakes that look so yummy are usually very calorie dense

So what does a typical day look like when you go raw?  Something like this:

There are loads of amazing healthy recipes on the internet that will give you some great raw food ideas. 

Raw Food Recipes is a great site that breaks recipes down by meal (lunch, dinner etc), course (soup, dessert etc) ingredient and cuisine.  You can even choose your recipes based on the difficulty level and equipment you’ll need to use. 

At Raw Guru you’ll find lots of resources and useful information about going raw as well as hundreds of delicious raw food recipes. 

Rawmazing is definitely the site to head to if you’re looking for something a little different, including raw dog treats and some great transitional recipes that will help you make the move from cooked to raw. 

If you want to tempt the family to try going raw, why not start with some of Vanessa Vickery’s 15 best raw desserts (raw bounty bars anyone?).  Or if snacks are more your style, then Oh She Glows has 22 tasty treats to check out (but not all are raw). 

For something a little closer to home, check out The Raw Food Institute of Australia – you’ll find loads of raw food recipes, online courses and a regular blog you can sign up to. 

Going raw has some incredible health benefits, but as we said, it can be time consuming and if you really want to get into it you’ll need to invest in some pricey equipment like a dehydrator and a Vitamix. No need to worry if the budget won’t stretch that far – just check out our flexible mini-loans to find out how easy it is to get some extra cash for your kitchen equipment. We’ll get you turning out raw food faster than you can say raw broccoli arancini balls!