Healthy Eating without Compromise
When people discover that most of the food I eat is raw, the first question is ?what do you eat?? People often think I must lead a deprived life and nibble on celery and carrot sticks, the second question is ?why would you want to do that??
Raw food is quite simply food that has not been processed and not heated above 46 degree Celsius. It includes fresh fruits and vegetables, sprouted seeds and legumes, seaweeds, nuts and dried fruit.
I love food, so it might seem strange that my diet appears limited. However since eating a high raw diet I actually eat more food, as in a greater range of food, than many people I know who eat mainly ?beige? foods ? bread, pasta, potatoes and cheese.
In fact would it surprise you to know that from everyday raw food found in the supermarket I can make ?pasta? and ?rice? dishes, chilli?s, curries, strawberry tarts, chocolate brownies and the best cheesecakes that I?ve ever tasted? All of them free from wheat, dairy and gluten.
Raw food really is a healthy way of eating, but without compromise.
When I started to increase the amount of raw food that I ate, what I actually found was that not only did I lose weight, have clearer skin and have more energy, I also had more clarity in my thinking and felt more confident. I later discovered that this wasn?t unique to me and this clarity I call the Raw Food Shine.
For me the connection seems quite obvious, the food you eat literally becomes you. You eat food and it creates your body and your experience of the world. If you eat food that is lifeless and bland, this is how you can expect to feel; lethargic and numb. However when you eat food that is fresh, vibrant and full of colour, this is what you can expect to enjoy; a life of energy and vitality.
One of the things that I love most about raw food is its simplicity. And because the recipes are made with simple ingredients/real food, and not food-like substances, your body can digest the food more easily and leave you feeling lighter and cleaner inside. This leaves you with more energy to get on with your day to day tasks.
Your body is not clogged up with substances your body was not designed to eat. Therefore you do not feel ?clogged up? in any way either; physically or mentally.
Most major food groups are associated with dis-ease and illness. Too much sugar can lead to diabetes, too much meat can lead to high cholesterol, too much fat can lead to obesity, however too much fresh fruit and vegetables does not lead to any illness, in fact quite the opposite. When people develop these health conditions they are often told to actually increase their intake of fresh fruit and vegetables and decrease the processed food that they are consuming.
Most illness in the western world can be prevented as much of it is due to food choices, so to me it makes sense to add more real food, especially raw foods to your day.
I'm not talking about all or nothing and never eating a cooked meal again, but simply adding more raw food to your day. I much easier to focus on increasing the amount of ?good? food in your diet, rather than trying to avoid the ?bad? ones.
Here are 5 quick and easy ways to add more raw food to your diet:
- Eat fruit or add fruit to your breakfast
Why not enjoy a bowl of your favourite berries or add a banana to your normal breakfast
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Make yourself a smoothie
I the ultimate fast food and an excellent way of getting your five a day. My favourite smoothie is water, 2 bananas, strawberries and raspberries (fresh or frozen)
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Make your smoothie lean and green
Add a handful of spinach to your smoothie, you won?t even taste it but i a great way to increase its nutritional value and sustain your energy. In fact if you have children and call this smoothie a ?Shrek? smoothie or an ?Incredible Hulk? smoothie or even a ?swamp? smoothie ? stand back and watch them gulp back their greens!
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Add a large salad to your lunch
No matter what you have for lunch, add a crisp, juicy and colourful salad to your meal
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Treat yourself to some raw chocolate
Tha right you can even buy (or make) raw chocolate. The best thing about this chocolate is that it is guilt free!
I don't want you to think making raw food recipes is time consuming or that you will spend hours in the kitchen. In fact my recipes are not only tasty and nutritious, but most can be made faster than it takes to boil your pasta! To learn more click here.
Editor?s Note:?Don?t forget to check out Rebecca?s online program ?30 days to transform you and your life through Raw Food Deliciousness?. And not a carrot stick in site!!
About the author
Rebecca Kane is a Raw Food Teacher, Author and Presenter. She is the author of 'Turn Your Shine On' and 'Raw Food Recipes to make you Shine Inside and Out'She works as both a kinesiologist and a raw food and life coach. Both professions allow her to help her clients
achieve excellent health and pursue their journeys of personal development. Her training and experience have led her to become a strong proponent for the raw food way of life - a fundamental key to find your true-life path, fully embrace the life you were meant to live, and reveal and connect with your divine Shine.
Rebecca is a sought-after public speaker and is regularly interviewed and featured in newspapers and magazines as well as on radio. Visit Rebecca's website, www.ShineOnRaw.com, for many of those recipes as well as additional information, news, developments, and resources.Rebecca has created the The Shining Kitchen, which is a raw food membership site that includes everything you’d expect, such as quick, easy recipes, but more importantly the focus is on Nourishment and Community, which will inspire and support YOU on your raw food journey to health and happiness .
