Many nutritionists believe that a diet based on raw, unprocessed foods is beneficial to the human body. Raw food diets typically consist of foods that are plant based. Proponents of this diet usually agree that foods cooked below 116 degrees can be part of a raw food diet. Unfortunately, finding tasty recipes that fit these criteria can sometimes be difficult. Here are two sample meal plans for those wishing to try a diet based on raw food.

Meal plan for day one:

For breakfast,

• try a Carrot, Banana and Berry Smoothie. Blend until smooth: one banana, one cup of fresh or frozen berries, one peeled carrot, and one cup of water.

For lunch,

• have a Mexican Burrito. Mash one avocado with a diced tomato, two tablespoons of chopped onion, one half of a chopped green chili, and one half cup of fresh corn. Season the mixture with one tablespoon of fresh lime juice. Place a large portion of the mixture inside a lettuce leaf and you will have a delicious raw lunch.

For snack,

• choose any fresh fruit with a handful of nuts or seeds.

For dinner,

• have a squash and zucchini salad. Dice one yellow squash and one zucchini into bite size pieces. Toss with a diced tomato, two tablespoons of chopped raw nuts, two tablespoons of fresh lemon juice, a handful of chopped fresh parsley, and a teaspoon of flaxseed. Serve over a bed of chopped arugula.

For dessert,

• banana ice cream is on the menu! Freeze five bananas. Push them through a processor and sprinkle with chopped raw nuts of your choice. Delicious!

Meal plan for day two:

For breakfast,

• have fruit salad. Mix any three or four chopped fruits in a bowl and toss with a bit of lemon juice.

For lunch,

• tomato soup is easy to make. In a blender, puree six small tomatoes, two cups of water, two garlic cloves, and two carrots. Add more water if necessary. Reserve one cup of the soup for dinner.

For a snack,

• julienne carrot and celery sticks to munch on.

For dinner,

• what could be better than spaghetti. Remove the pulp of a spaghetti squash. This will be your “noodles.” Use the leftover soup as the sauce.

A great dessert

• mango surprise. Simply freeze one mango and blend until smooth. Add frozen bananas or berries if you want to get creative.

With a new diet popping up every other day it is hard to decide which diet you should choose. Promises of weight loss, increased energy and an overall “new you” seem to be offered from every diet company in existence.

Here is a thought, how about going back to the basics.

Back to a time before the nutrients were cooked out of food and preservatives and other unnatural elements were added. Eating vegetable and fruits in their raw stage is the best way to preserve the natural benefits that they offer therefore resulting in positive benefits for you. Although many believe that a raw food diet isn’t achievable and that there will be cravings and too many negative aspects that will make you fall off of the dieting wagon, this isn’t true.

Eating the raw foods will in fact offer a detoxification of the sweeteners, additives, and caffeine that our bodies have grown used to. Think about it, why would you need to add sugary syrup to a fruit that produces natural sugars? The purpose for this is to keep the fruit sweet so that when you open the can it has been preserved and still tastes sweet. Eating the same fruit in its natural state offers all the fresh sweet goodness of the raw fruit without any added fillers. With all of the gadgets offered to create appealing dishes, you will never get bored with the possibilities you have to create delicious and nutritious raw meals.

Consider using thinly sliced zucchini instead of lasagna noodles to make vegetable lasagna that is good and good for you. Or take that same zucchini and use it as spaghetti then add raw tomatoes, garlic, green peppers, and mushrooms to make a healthy spaghetti and meat sauce alternative. There are thousands of raw vegetable and fruit recipes at the click of your fingertips. All you have to do is search the web and you will instantly be given enough recipes to keep the pickiest eater satisfied. The best part is not only will you know you are eating healthy; you will feel that you are eating healthy. A reduction in body fat and increase in energy will be sure tell-tale signs that your decision to go raw was a great decision towards a healthier you!

A raw food diet means consuming food in its natural, unprocessed form. Cooking and processing can zap some of the nutritional value of food from your diet. It does not need to be entirely uncooked but should be over 70% uncooked. Simple examples are fruits, vegetables, and nuts. The foods should be whole and organic. Switching to a raw food diet will detoxify your body and retain the basic nutritional value of the unprocessed foods. It will add calories to your diet but they will be natural and easily digestible. The raw food diet will lead to weight loss and a detoxifying of your body. It returns you to your natural state. The toxins will be flushed from your body. Your body will be energized and free from the unnatural additives that hamper our system.

A popular diet regime is based on eating raw, unprocessed foods instead of cooked or processed ones. Processed foods are considered those that come from cans or jars. In general, the foods consumed on this diet are mostly fruits and vegetables. Some adherents also eat some meats, eggs and diary products. There is some controversy surrounding this kind of diet, so make sure you do your research before making any large changes to your lifestyle.

Why?

The primary benefit many people believe this diet offers is the improved efficiency in digestion. Eating raw or unprocessed foods allows the body to better break down the foods for their nutrients, without the fats and oils commonly used in the cooking process. Additionally, eating unprocessed foods allows your body to flush out all the chemicals used in modern food preparation.

Keep in Mind

There are some things you need to be aware of though. First of all, there are some foods that can be hazardous if eaten raw. Buckwheat, kidney beans and rhubarb all have potential health hazards when eaten uncooked in quantity. Also, unprocessed foods can have the highest concentration of pesticides, so be sure to wash the food properly before eating it. Finally, eating a vegetarian diet may lack certain essential vitamins so you may need to consider vitamin supplements. As with any diet or health related issue, it is always wise to consult a physician before making any drastic changes in your lifestyle. While there are undoubtedly many health benefits to be gained by increasing your consumption of fruits and vegetables there may be concerns as well.