Raw Food Diets

Locals ditch cooking for the raw life

When Jerome Handel interned at the Thrive Café in Seattle he was immersed in a raw food revolution.

He learned to prepare things like cashew cheese, chili and decadent desserts, all out of plant-based, uncooked foods. Handel, who now co-owns Pacha Mama’s Organic Café in Auburn with his wife Kim Fritzke, has incorporated many of those principles into his own restaurant and life.

The thought process behind a raw diet is that enzymes and nutrients found in food are destroyed in the cooking process, according to Handel. Since he made the switch to a diet that is now 50 percent raw, and was once as high as 75 percent raw, he said he has experienced tremendous health benefits. Those included weight loss, increased energy and healthier skin. Handel said there are some roadblocks that keep others from adopting a raw food diet.

“A road block is breaking away from the craving of fatty foods and sugars,” Handel said. “People are going to say I can’t afford to eat that way. The answer to them is education.”

Staples of the raw food diet include fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. Handel, like many other raw foodies, has been able to replace everyday meals with a raw food version. For example, a raw food version of spaghetti would include uncooked pomodoro sauce atop zucchini spiral noodles. Figs, dates and raw cacao are replacements ingredients for traditional desserts.

Handel said that while adopting a raw food diet can be more expensive, eating healthy is more expensive no matter what. For those interested in learning more about a raw food lifestyle he recommends reading “Green For Life” by Victoria Boutenko.

“Seeds and nuts — those are the things that are going to fill people up,” Handel said. “Prepare it in large quantities and set yourself up for the week.”

Jinny Richardson, chef and co-owner of Tsuda’s Café in Auburn, started experimenting with a raw food diet seven years ago while on chemotherapy for a rare kidney disease. Since then she has started incorporating raw recipes into Tsuda’s menu, as well as teaching raw food classes. Richardson said that while the benefits of a raw food diet are numerous, it’s not for everyone.

“I teach all different styles of cooking. I believe in a combination,” Richardson said. “Everybody has a different constitution. What works for one won’t for another.”

She uses a dehydrator to create kale chips and raw crackers. Richardson said that for those who are hesitant, it is all about presentation and variety.

Does a Raw Food Diet Honor God? | Beginner's Diet And Loss Weight ...

Raw food diets are not just results of those wanting to be healthier or fitter. For many, a raw food diet is a spiritual issue as well. These people feel that God wants them to eat raw foods because they are better for the body.

This leads many people to wonder … why would God care what we eat? An answer could be because our bodies are referred to as a temple and should be treated with care. Cooked foods and processed foods are bad for our bodies. Instead of being used for energy, these dead foods store in our bodies in the form of toxic waste.

The opposite is true with raw foods. These healthy options nourish the body with nutrients, vitamins and enzymes, allowing it to function the best it possibly can. Cooked foods destroy enzymes, while raw foods allow enzymes to do their job properly.

If this is true, why do so many people eat cooked foods? It’s most because of habit. If someone has eaten cooked foods all their life, they are not likely to change very easily. Also, many people have a bad impression of raw foods. They think they are boring and taste bad. If they were to give raw foods a chance, they would learn otherwise.

Preparing raw foods is easy and it tastes good. You can easily start eating more raw foods. Just start with one meal at a time. For breakfast, have an apple instead of a high-calorie bagel. For lunch, you could make a big salad with lots of delicious vegetables. Instead of chips for a snack, try some almonds or cashews. They are not only healthier, but they fill you up better. There are also tons of recipes available for raw dinners.

Those who lived during Bible times did not eat processed foods. Most of their diet was raw and they were much healthier than we are today. Obesity wasn’t an issue back then and they lived a lot longer than we do.

You may not think of God as your nutritionist or dietician, but he probably would be in favor of us all eating more of the natural foods that he created. These foods keep us healthy and strong so that we can serve others and God better. If you want to eat more raw foods, just start slowly. You don’t have to feel overwhelmed. After all, to be considered a raw foodist you only have to eat raw 70 percent of your diet.

Raw Foods Diet Wanting to actually eat healthier and lose weight? Then have a look at www.BestRawFoodPlan.com for more information and watch an fact filled FREE video.

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