How to Go Raw For 2011

Have you been thinking of making a big change for 2011? Maybe lose weight, have more energy, and feel better? You can do all of this and more with one simple change in the new year! Make a change in what you eat, try eating raw!

Ready to learn more?

The raw food diet is a simple one. Instead of over-processed, mass marketed foods, choose what we were meant to eat! Fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. All in their raw, and most healthy form.

People who are on the raw food diet, or raw foodists as they are sometimes called, often claim that they feel stronger, more energetic, and alive. It is no wonder! They are eating food the way humans were evolved to eat it: in it's raw and natural state. This food is still full of the vitamins, antioxidants, and other attributes that cooking can strip away. The food is still alive, helping you to have a healthier life!

One of the great things about starting a raw food diet is that you do not have to jump in right way. You can take it slow and steady, making small changes as you go. Some people begin by replacing only one meal per day with a raw food meal. Breakfast is a great meal to begin with! Grab some fruit, nuts, and almond milk for a delicious and healthy breakfast option. Make your own granola cereal with dehydrated sprouted grains and a handful of nuts and fruits. Or mix up a delicious vegan green smoothie to drink on the run.

Once your body has become adjusted to one raw meal, try switching out your lunch for a raw food meal. Grab a salad full of vegetables and sunflower seeds. Or try making a sandwich from raw bread and crackers, made from dehydrated sprouted seeds. There are many ways to put together a healthy and delicious raw meal!

As you start to feel better, change out snacks for raw staples during the day. You may soon lose the afternoon sluggishness that so many people get. Just by going raw until dinner, you can do a great deal of good to your body and feel great!

Getting excited yet? This one simple change in how you eat could make a huge difference in how you feel every day! But, does that mean giving up taste?

Absolutely not!

If you can cook it, you can find a raw food alternative that tastes just as good! There are so many great raw food chefs out there, the world is already full of different recipes just waiting for you to try. All you need is a blender, a dehydrator, a set of sharp knives, and a willingness to experiment. But, if you are still a little nervous, here are some great staples that every beginner can make!

• Green smoothies - Toss some fresh fruit in a blender with a handful of leafy green vegetables. Add ice, blend, and drink! The sweetness of the fruit covers most vegetables with ease, and is so good even the pickiest eater will be impressed.
• Dip and crackers - Raw flax crackers are easy to find in most health food stores, or you can buy them online. This mix some diced zucchini, lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil in your lender for a delicious dip.
• Vegetable pasta - Using a peeler, you can slice vegetables such as carrots and cucumbers into long "pasta" noodles. Make a batch of tomato sauce and enjoy!
• Guacamole and kale - If you love guacamole, this is a great raw sandwich filler. Spoon some into kale leaves and roll them up.
• And of course, the basic salad - Mix up the greens and other vegetables you use to great a different salad every day!

These simple staples can be a great beginning to your raw food diet. Just by adding a few of these in in the place of processed and cooked foods can give you a huge boost every day.

For some people starting out on a raw food diet, the first few days or weeks can e the worst. Their body may crave the foods it has usually eaten. For some, the feelings are similar to going through withdrawal. For your body, that may very well be what is happening.

Most processed foods are filled with chemicals to keep them fresh, flavorful, and easy to prepare. These chemicals can often be addicting to the human body. Even natural ingredients, such as sugars and salts, are too heavily used and can created an addicting effect.

When you take away these foods, your body may revolt. Not because you are unhealthy, but because it is addicted to the chemicals it has been getting for so many years. It can take up to two weeks for most people to detox and begin to feel better again. Do not let this discourage you from getting to your health goals! Each day you make it is a day closer to healthy living in 2011