Are you a “Raw Foodist”
I have been thoroughly enjoying the responses to the salt post. I knew when I wrote it, there would be varying opinions. To use salt or not is objective…as your responses to the salt post have indicated! It also brings up an important point. Are we labeling? I have wanted to address this for a while because we like to use labels and unfortunately division occurs because of those labels.
People like to separate into camps. There even is a new school-old school raw food dichotomy present these days. Unfortunately it is full of judgment. Which is why I don’t like labels and why I deviate away from calling myself a “raw-foodist”. Really what I am is a person who is interested in eating the food I like in the healthiest, most nutritious form possible. In my opinion, that is raw.
Yes, there are certain foods, like Kale that develop more of some nutrients when cooked. So does being a raw foodist mean I can’t cook my kale? Not in my book. Am I 100% raw? Sometimes. Am I high raw? Most of the time. But there you go again…another label, “High Raw”. Do we need that label just to make ourselves feel good? To stroke our own ego? To put ourselves ‘one up’ over someone who isn’t?
Google “raw-foodist” and you will come up with all kinds of silly descriptions of what eating a raw food diet means-mostly written by people who have no experience with a raw food diet. We are freaks, fadists – and, oh my – you better talk to your doctor before eating natural raw foods because, who knows what might happen when you introduce more healthy food and nutrients.* I think that people should be advised to consult their physician before they eat a fast food, super-sized meal at McDonald’s!
The problem with labels, whether it be raw, vegan, vegetarian…is that they are divisive. Society, our broken food system, corporate farms and advertising make it hard enough to eat healthy in our society. Do we really need to put a label on someone and separate and judge them by how good at being raw we think they are? It doesn’t bring us together, it drives us apart.
I have friends that are complete meat and potato eaters. A green vegetable? Never. Now, because of what they are learning, they are starting to make different choices. Small ones but changes nonetheless. In my book, that is fabulous. Because all it takes is that one small step and before you know it, you are on the road to better health.
What it all comes down to is you. Your body and what you feel is best for it. See if something resonates in you and figure out if it works for you. Determine what your goals are. Eating mostly raw does amazing things for me and many people I know. It is why I am here, why I dedicate so much time to getting the message out.
Instead of labeling, let’s supporting anyone who is making choices to be healthier with their diet, no matter where they are along their path. Ditch the labels and share the recipes. Set an example instead of judging. Be a community.
Peace and Blessings!
*If you have health issues you should always consult your doctor before making any changes.
Dodie wrote on August 27, 2010
I didn’t mean for my post to sound harsh–I thought I was putting a smiley-face emoticon after my remark to show I was kind of joking/teasing, but it came out wrong. Sorry ’bout that! I guess I just don’t really get it because it never bothers me when someone asks me how raw I am or whether I am vegan or not. I don’t think I have ever had anyone ask me about my raw food choices in a way that I felt was meant to be divisive. Maybe I will know what you mean as time goes on. But I love your site and all your creativity!
Susan wrote on August 27, 2010
Dodie, don’t worry! 🙂 There were a lot of people who didn’t agree with me…I was just trying to clarify what I was talking about…
lisbet wrote on August 17, 2010
I am always so surprised when someone asks me about my eating habits in a challenging way- although I mostly get the confrontational attitudes about my vegetarianism- much more so than anything else. I don’t even bother to explain to anyone the complexity of my diet (I’m a part-time vegan/full time vegetarian who dabbles in raw foods, is still addicted to dark chocolate and cappuccinos, but generally eats really healthy.)
I usually deflect debate on the topic by smiling at people and just explaining that I’m a ‘good old-fashioned health-food nut’.
My friends who eat conventional diets are not the people who feel threatened by my choices.
Jo wrote on August 8, 2010
Brilliant post 🙂 I love this quote “What it all comes down to is you. Your body and what you feel is best for it. See if something resonates in you and figure out if it works for you. Determine what your goals are.”
I work on the same premise, I love eating mainly raw as my body just feels so much better, but I also love my soups and do on the rare occasion have fish- when I returned home to Melbourne I was so excited to go along to a raw food group meeting until I got asked what % raw I was -I had no idea but guessed that it would have been 70% or there abouts at that time. while the question itself was a little off putting what scared me off meeting anyone from the group was the following response- oh thats ok dear you’ll get there…..
like the song words ” what the world needs now is love, sweet love, its the one things that there is just too little of”
Juli Novotny wrote on August 4, 2010
This sounds EXACTLY like a post I wrote recently.
Your views are exactly the same as mine. I mean I GET the Vegan label to some degree because you’re taking a stance on animal issues. But who cares if you are HIGH raw or whatever?
My sister went a raw food demo/course a few months back and the couch/chef started the demo off saying he had to admit he “ate cheese” last week which is ‘cooked’/’pasteurized’! Like WHAT? Who cares!? OMG. So weird.
Thanks again for post. You know I love your stuff. Haven’t been here in awhile so I’m excited to peruse the site. 🙂
Juli
Joanna Rawvelous wrote on July 29, 2010
Susan, I think that you nailed it with your statement towards the end of the post:
“Instead of labeling, let’s supporting anyone who is making choices to be healthier with their diet, no matter where they are along their path. Ditch the labels and share the recipes.”
Let’s join hands in support of one another’s journey. I’m in…
Blessings,
Joanna
Susan wrote on July 29, 2010
If you read what I am talking about, I am not saying all labels…I am not saying all people. I am trying to bring to light how I feel when I see people being divisive or elitist with labels. That is all.
Dodie Herrmann wrote on July 29, 2010
I love this site, so don’t get me wrong, but I must disagree. I really don’t think that most labels are used with a bad motive. Really, to insinuate that most people are judging when they label is kind of a judgmental statement, isn’t it ? :o) Just something to think about.
If I know someone is raw or vegan, I like to ask them how “raw” or vegan they are, because it let’s me know what to plan if I have them over or want to share recipes or whatever. For example, even when I am trying to be 100%, which isn’t all the time, I have no problems with raw eggs or raw milk or cream, which most raw food adherents don’t like, so I usually say I try to be 80% – 100% raw, but not necessarily vegan. I think it is good to have a label once in a while for a little clarification. I don’t see it as a bad thing unless we use it disparagingly.
Sherri wrote on July 29, 2010
I love this website and I’m so glad I found it.
Labels can be difficult to get past. Telling someone you eat raw food or follow a raw food diet can turn people off fast. Although telling someone you are a raw vegan translates a lot of information in just a couple words. I did my first 30 day raw challenge this spring and I had amazing results. For instance, after 5.5 years of infertility I became pregnant naturally! My husband didn’t shift completely raw, but kept eating lean meats and just upped his raw intake and had amazing results in his health.
I just started a new raw challenge today on my blog. I’m really hoping to expose more people to it. The health benefits are simply amazing. I wish more folks would just try it.
Andrea wrote on July 29, 2010
I just realized that what I said can sound a bit harsh – I don’t mean that people who come to food-related web sites are not supposed to talk about their diets, I’m just thinking of how I have met people who become so obsessed with their diets that they can’t talk about anything else, and become defined by it. And I find that dull.