RAW DIET: Those that have experience with the raw diet only please!?!
RAW DIET: Those that have experience with the raw diet only please!?
1. Why in most raw dessert recipes is carob usually used instead of chocolate? For instance Fudge made with carob instead- is carob considered more "raw" or processed differently so considered more healthy?
2. Is a dehydrator absolutly necessary or is there another way to dry out food?
3. Any recipe books with easy raw recipes that you would recommend? I am finding raw recipes a bit complicated!
Thanks!
14 hours ago
Regarding #1, what I mean is it not okay to use cocoa powder instead of carob which is not chocolate?
Answers:
Its all a matter of how raw you want to keep things. When I first went raw years ago, I obsessed over every little thing, such as condiments like vinegar, olive oil, etc. which had been processed, making them no longer raw. I decided not to be so extreme. and now eat about 80 percent raw, 20 percent lightly cooked or processed. Its much easier to follow this way. The reason carob is used as opposed to cocoa, is cocoa is processed at a high temp, making it not officially raw. I now use cocoa, as I enjoy the flavor better than carob. I dont think carrying it to the extreme is necessary. A food dehydrator is helpful, and can usually be found in thrift shops for just a few dollars, but you can use the lowest setting on your oven and a cake rack for similar results. The key is to not heat anything over 110 degrees, or that starts to break down the enzymes in food, which is what raw is all about. As for the recipes, they are fun at first, but if you stick to it, eventually you will likely find that whole foods, eaten just the way they came from the earth is the simplest, and best. I love raw radish a cucumber for breakfast, a salad of raw veggies, nuts, and seeds for lunch (I often add bean thread noodles-not raw, but great texture and taste) and a simple raw or lightly steamed veggie platter for dinner. I think its easier to go less rigid, and continue to enjoy some non raw foods, especially during the transition phase. Its all a matter of personal choice, and no hard and fast rules need to be followed. I enjoy it much more when I dont try to keep it at 100 percent-I see no point in "all or nothing" thinking about it. If I want a cooked item, I enjoy it and dont worry about it. I know that the enzymes I get from the other raw stuff helps digest the cooked stuff, so its all in moderation. Good luck! Hope this helps.