It may sound like a simple thing to do… to just start adding more raw foods to your diet. Yet so many of us are either addicted to processed foods and simply forget about eating fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds in their natural state - or just don’t take the time to really consider how nutrition plays an important role in our wellbeing.

Our taste buds can become accustomed to the artificial flavors that processed foods provide, making it difficult to enjoy natural foods because they have an “odd” taste to them. Likewise, our palates can become accustomed to the texture of cooked foods instead of the textures of raw foods.

Think about the foods you crave. Typically, there are 3 basic components to the foods we all crave: salt, fat and sugar. These are the flavors the food manufacturers put in their processed dead food just to make it taste good! The good news is we can get all these flavors and more by using fresh, raw ingredients such as healthy herbs, nuts, oils and natural sweeteners.

Getting started is the most difficult part of making any lifestyle change. As far as the diet goes, it is most important to truly understand the value of good nutrition and the impact it has on our health and well being. Mentally, once we understand that we are what we eat, we are ready to begin.

Keep in mind, we need not only add raw foods to our diet, but also give up foods which prevent achieving better health such as: coffee, sodas, meat, diary, grains and sugars. First, decide what you are willing to give up. If your ultimate goal is to eat only raw you will need to begin by eliminating all these foods. Some people are able to eliminate everything at once. Others may choose to start with one or two at a time. Whatever your goal may be, remember that optimum health requires us to gradually and ultimately eliminate these foods. If you’re not entirely willing to give up these foods, you may still benefit by at least adding more raw foods to your diet.

To begin with, in the morning, eat at least one fruit choice before eating anything else. Smoothies made with only fruits (no dairy) are an excellent choice to start the day. This is a good practice to allow the body to “break the fast” from the night before. Another super healthy choice is a wheat grass shot. There are many juice bars that now offer wheat grass shots. If you have trouble with the taste, have them include the shot in your smoothie. Wheat grass has tremendous health benefits, especially if you have difficulty eating enough greens in your daily diet. Or, eat a banana wrapped in a romaine leaf. Greens will help slow the absorption of sugar, thereby regulating your energy level through the morning time.

Either for lunch, dinner or both include at least one big salad a day. This would be any lettuce greens other than iceberg, which has no nutritional value and is hard on the colon. Romaine, green leaf, red leaf, and spinach are all excellent choices. Green leafy vegetables are extremely alkalizing for the body and help to balance the effects of acidic foods. Of course dressings can be challenging if you are used to using the processed bottled type. There are many easy recipes for making your own dressings. Fresh lemon, garlic, basil and good quality olive oil in the blender is a quick and easy dressing any one can do. Also, look for my Avocado Dill Dressing recipe in this issue of Healthy Times.

If you must use bottled dressing, put it in a small cup or bowl and dip your fork first in the dressing, then the salad and you will minimize the amount of dressing you use. As you transition to more raw foods, your tastes may change and you will prefer fresh, homemade dressings.

Avocados and guacamole are great choices to add to any salad. Avocados are very satisfying and possess many health benefits. No worries on the fat content, as you start eliminating many processed foods, dairy, and meats you will need this fat. Many raw foodists eat as many as 2-4 avocados a day!

With out proper training on how to live this lifestyle it can seem boring and confusing. Yet, there are so many recipes that you could have just about any cooked food made in a raw version. Just as most of us learned how to cook from watching our parents or family, you must learn how to re-train your thinking and your habits. Success is achieving better health and feeling alive with raw-living foods!

You can reach Chef Karen Clark at 951-775-7476.