Raw Food Rant
I read once that Mother Theresa was invited to an “Anti War Rally”. She refused. When asked to attend a “Peace Rally”, she gladly accepted. Seems like the same thing but one has negativity (anti-war) built into it, the other positivity. With that in mind, I want to comment on what I see as a tremendous amount of negativity and judgement in the “raw food world” but I am going to try to do it in a positive way.
It seems that everyone has their own idea of how you should eat. One “expert” says you should eat 12 avocados a day and no fruit. Another promotes eating bananas. Lots of bananas. Some say no fruit, others no grains. And the saddest thing is if you don’t do it exactly the way they say, somehow you are not doing it correctly. There is a lot of judgement and blame going on there. We already judge ourself harshly enough. Do we really need some else declaring us a failure if we don’t follow their dictates? So many of us (I include myself in that) already have a messed up relationship with food. Do we need to punish ourselves even more if we “fall off the wagon”?
It has always been my belief, here at Rawmazing that everyone is welcome, no matter where you are on your raw food journey. If something you read here or see here inspires you to add just one healthy thing to your diet, I am happy. I love raw food. I believe in raw food. I also believe in sanity and support. You will find both here.
At Rawmazing:
1. Everyone is welome, no matter where you are in your food journey.
2. You will not be judged. Even if you are eating 5 steaks a day. All you need here is a desire to learn about eating healthier and incorporating more raw foods (and less processed foods) into your diet.
3. You do not have to be 100% raw to receiving benefits from adding raw foods into your diet (but you really should try it sometime.)
4. We understand that everyone is at a different place on their raw food journey.
5. We don’t believe in terms like “falling off the wagon”. Implies failure.
6. We believe that food is an important part of life first, Â nutritionally but also sensory, culturally and simply for enjoyment!
7. No one has all of the answers. You need to figure out what works for you.
Have a wonderful Monday!
Libbi wrote on March 28, 2011
Thank you for your graciousness! We humans are funny in thinking that everyone has to do what we finds works for us…gives us validation, right? Love your site, wisdom, recipes, photos and encouragement! I hope you have an amazing Monday and a blessed rest of the week!
Denise wrote on March 28, 2011
I do have a question…… I made your Zucchini and Basil wraps yesterday. They are wonderful but you had the dehydrator set on 115 degrees……… Will this not kill all the enzymes ? I have read that 105 is where I need to be with all the veggies? I did mine between 105 and 115 degrees…….hahahhah Your input would be nice.
Susan wrote on March 28, 2011
As long as you stay under 118 your should be fine. I do not like the super low temps because it tends to promote bacteria or fermentation. You can read more here: https://rawmazing.com/dehydration-primer/
Stephanie Meyer (Fresh Tart) wrote on March 28, 2011
YES! That is all.
Madeleine wrote on March 28, 2011
Well said Susan. I love your site and I love your wisdom. I make up my own mind every day, sometimes I do great and sometimes I do less great but I am happy in my trying. Thank you.
Megan wrote on March 28, 2011
I’m new to this whole raw food journey; thank you so much for the amazing support and insight you consistently provide. AND you live in Minnesota! It’s great to know that I can dive into raw foods and whole foods without having to live on a coast. It may be difficult from time to time, but it IS doable. Thank you so much.
Desiree wrote on March 28, 2011
AMEN!!! Your site , recipes, pic’s, etc… is my favorite! Thank you for your inspiration!
Julie Kalivretenos wrote on March 28, 2011
I think you did a great job of articulately describing this in a positive way. And thank you! Because it needs to be said, really more often.
A friend of mine recently was attacked so harshly on her blog, for incorporating some animal foods back into her diet. She has Crohn’s disease, like myself, so not only could I relate to her decisions, it angered and saddened me that people had the audacity to judge her. It basically comes down to doing whatever it takes to stay alive. Sorry, but that supersedes anything or any belief coming from an outsider.
I’m constantly modifying. I’ve learned there’s a great art to going with the flow of your body’s needs. 100% raw wasn’t quite the ticket, but I’m doing well right now with 80-90% raw, plus a few whole grains, occasional cheese, sometimes yogurt, sometimes fish.
I’ve often thought about somehow “explaining” the evolved how, what, & why’s to my current diet, because it will be reflected in my recipes. But then I thought (especially watching my friend go through what she did) I owe no one any explanation or justification for how I eat. It’s crazy to think that we owe that to anyone, which is quite different than *sharing* in a positive light. Sharing what we eat because it makes us feel good, because it works, because I think both you and I strive to help people find what will uniquely work for them.
Like you, I never want to tell people what to eat and what not to. That is for them to learn 🙂
Amanda S wrote on March 28, 2011
I am pretty new here and this is just the post I needed to read! Thanks for all of the great info you make available to those of us just getting started on our raw food journey.