Raw foodies are often asked how much of their diet is raw and how do they stay full on a raw food diet.
How much of my diet should be raw?
"Raw vegans" tend to eat anywhere from 70-100 percent raw, but keep in mind that this ratio can be accomplished in different ways. The composition of a raw food diet can vary from person to person depending on preference. For example, some raw foodies choose to eat meals that are 100 or 50 percent raw or choose certain days of the week to eat 100 percent raw or eat a 75/25 mix of raw and cooked for each meal. Labels aside, no matter how you accomplish your goal of eating more raw food, your body will thank you.
What do raw vegans eat?
If you have ever asked yourself what you can eat on a raw vegan diet, then wonder no more. Here's a list of raw foods:
- soaked and sprouted beans, grains, and legumes
- freeze-dried, sun-dried and dehydrated fruits and vegetables
- nuts and seed, raw nut and seed butters
- fresh and frozen raw fruits and vegetables, freshly made fruit and vegetable juice
- herbs, mushrooms
- raw nuts and seeds
- plant oils
- seaweed, sea vegetables
- fermented foods (kombucha, kimchi, sauerkraut)
Foods are considered to be raw when they are not heated above 48°C.
Will I feel satiated on a raw food diet?
It is a common misconception that those eating a vegan or a raw vegan diet are hungry all of the time, get bored quickly with the lifestyle or are lacking in protein. What many people do not know yet is that being a raw vegan is much more than simply eating raw fruits and vegetables and can be just as or more satisfying than a conventional omnivorous or vegetarian diet.
You should always adjust your caloric intake according to your activity level, goals, and gender. Beyond that, it may take some trial and error before you find the right balance of healthy carbs, healthy fats and protein on a raw food diet.
Avoid going hungry on a raw food diet
No one should ever feel hungry on a raw food diet. Here are a few tips on how to stay fuller longer:
- Drink water, a lot of it. Water is essential to sustaining your energy, revving your metabolism and helping your body rid itself of toxins, so drink up.
- Incorporate healthy fats into your diet. You'll feel fuller longer when you're eating foods like nuts, seeds, avocados, coconut and olives and unlike oils, they offer nutrition other than just healthy fat.
- Juicing is a wonderful way to receive the nutrition in a condensed package, but it's okay to skip the juicer too. The insoluble fiber you will be consuming slows digestion and leaves you feeling satiated.
How will I feel eating a raw food diet?
A raw food diets brings many rewards, some of them include:
- increased energy and improved sleep;
- lowered body weight;
- reduced inflammation;
- improved digestion; and
- clearer skin.
Are you thinking of changing diets - let us know by commenting below.