Wednesday 4 March 2009

Raw Food Week

Amid today's scary headlines about the food industry - declining bee population could cost millions in terms of crop loss, fruit and vegetables being grown in factories devoid of natural light and the unveiling of aggressive marketing techniques used in the food industry in a new book - we have decided to go raw for a week. We already eat quite a lot of raw food but we have decided to try going raw for a week and charting how this dietary change affects our moods and emotions. As spring approaches it feels like the right time to do a bit of a clear out and transition to some lighter, juicier foodstuffs. I ordered a bumper selection of fruit instead of our organic veg box this week and have started sprouting seeds on all available surfaces in the kitchen. Have made some raw granola for breakfast tomorrow morning and will get some nut milk started before retiring tonight. Tonight is the last supper and I'm out at a workshop on Nutrition for Children, appropriately, so I won't be around to eat it. The last few days we have stopped eating wheat, sugar (a few blips!), caffeine (coffee, choc etc) and alcohol. I'm excited and I'll keep you posted about how we get on.

3 comments:

rae-ann said...

Fabulous - I would love it if you could share exactly what you are eating please. I know its time consuming, but it will help raw wannabes like yours truly find some inspiration.

I'm a bit put off raw food because it seems to entail lots of expensive fancy stuff which call themselves 'superfoods' which I've not heard of from the other side of the globe. This doesn't seem very sustainable to me. Plus I want to know if you can stay healthy on a raw diet without supplements or eating nuts.

DH does 80% raw throughout the summer and he looks and feel fantastic - but I would imagine its really hard during the winter - he really feels the cold and resorts to stodge, curry and beer again!

Best of luck with this - I'm looking forward to following your progress. I think you'll be feeling fabulous by the weekend :)

rae x

Unknown said...

I'm seriously thinking of keeping bees, I looked into it a while ago but didn't get round to it, maybe more people should do it too.
Allyson
http://bellinghamsoapcompany.blogspot.com/

Melissa Corkhill said...

Hi Rae - love your new hair style!
I know what you mean about the sustainability issue of raw food. I am really into eating locally with the seasons so it felt hard buying bananas this week, for example. I am not using superfoods apart from seaweeds, which are harvested in the UK. Also I don't use supplements as I have always believed better to get your nutrients organically from wholefoods. However, am starting to change my mind on this, gradually! Partly this is prompted by the workshop on nutrition that I went to last week, which was more like a chemistry lesson and mind-blowingly fascinating.
Re: nuts - would seeds be okay? If so then I think it possible to go raw without eating nuts. As long as you have a rich reliable protein source, from sprouted legumes and seeds for example.
I normally eat raw from around spring equinox through the summer but this is the first time the whole family has and it's not been without it's challenges! I'm going it alone again next time!
And I'm with your DH on curry and beer to survive the winter months, though I prefer a mulled cider to keep the cold at bay.
Allyson - we've been considering keeping bees for a year or so now - please do let us know how you get on.
Love and blessings,
Melissa