Non-cooking?

I give a raw food diet to my dogs, but they can handle it. Giving animals raw meat is good because they have the enzyems. Humans can not handle raw meat. If you want to give your kids raw vegtables and fruits then that is a good idea. Hope all goes well...

Sorry to burst your (and others here) bubble, but the raw foods fad is just another....well, fad. The "amazing" health results reported are coming from those people who hope to sell you books and such on the trend.

The truth is, proper cooking is critical first and foremost to prevent food bourne illnesses. There are pathogens on virtually every thing in the marketplace these days. Also, while overcooking vegetables is detrimental to their nutritional value, proper cooking actually enhances some of those nutrients and makes them easier to absorb into the body.

Raw fruits and vegetables have always been a good thing. they are great fiber sources. The BIG fact that so many of the "fringe" diets don't seem to want to face is that we are OMNIVORES. Our bodies have been carefully designed over time to process, use and yes, even NEED fruits, grains, vegetables, meats (or other animal protein sources).

If, as they mature, your children decide for themselves to subject themselves to some fad diet, they can make that choice then, but for now I'd keep their diet more traditional. You don't have to beleive me, contact (another) Certified Dietician. They will tell you some of the horrible things people have done to their bodies in the name of "healthy diet". I implore you don't do it to your children. You will hate yourself for it down the road.

Honestly, you really need to be leary of anything that claims to do miracles. Fresh,organically grown,preservative free would be your best way to go. The cooking process really does not "destroy" all the nutrients in food. Raw in some things can be good but others it really doesn't matter. Look into macrobiotics first. It's a little less radical.Remember, everything is good in moderation, but you end up with problems when you go overboard.

The problem with raw food diets in those who are still growing is that humans have evolved to digest cooked (animal) protein much more efficiently than raw meats. Not to mention that if you are a raw vegetarian, protein sources are REALLY hard to come by. Beans and legumes (peas, peanuts) need to be cooked to be digested. Also, it can be difficult to get enough calories for growth and energy. Fulfilling raw diets are very time-consuming, sprouting things and dehydrating others, etc. You will end up needing an entire new set of kitchen equipment.

That said, feeding your kids lots of uncooked fruits and vegetables is a great idea; most Americans don't eat anywhere near the number of servings per day that they should.

Last, it will be basically impossible for your sons ever to spend any significant amount of time at anyone else's house unless you pack them their meals. You will never get the entire raw concept across to their friends' parents. So say goodbye to sleepovers, dinners at friends' houses, and probably even finding a babysitter.

D.,

My first suggestion, after saying good for you for caring enough to promote a healthier lifestyle in your home is to find or buy the book, Nourishing Traditions and/or East Fat, Loose Fat.

A raw diet is absolutely possible, and does NOT have to be vegetarian or vegan in nature, and ideally, shouldn't be.

There are several resources to look into.
<http://www.westonaprice.org/&gt; as well as several Yahoo groups based on the principles of eating raw/fermented foods. You can do a search using WAP or NT in Yahoo and come up with quite a few. I can provide you with several groups if you'd like, as I am a member of a few, myself.

Yes, children and adults fair far better on minimally processed diets and rightfully so. Our bodies are not designed to digest highly processed foods. Transitioning is slow, and if you do join one or more of the yahoo groups, or seek our a WAP chapter in your area, the process will become easier. Here's a good source of guidance for transitioning your menus <http://cookingnt.com/default.aspx&gt;

Best of luck!!

Rolinda
Wife, Mother, Friend

P.s. for some of those that seem confused, eating a "raw" diet, when done right, is not about eating everything uncooked, but about eating foods with a minimal amount of processing so as to maximize the nutritional benefits of the food you do eat. As well, a raw diet could/should never be attempted with traditionally store bought foods such as meats, eggs, dairy etc. The risks of illness from improper handling is alarming as compared to their farm raised, grass fed counterparts. As well, anyone would benefit from obtaining their foods from such sources and eating fruits and vegetables grown without pesticides. Now there's no "FAD" in eating healthy.

I believe some of the readers are misunderstanding the "raw" diet. This is a vegetarian diet that consists of mostly uncooked vegetables and grains. I have never tried it but studies have shown that it does promote better health and some claims are pretty remarkable. I do not personally know anyone that has tried this but I also feel it is very interesting. I am a lacto-ovo vegetarian and have been for 17 years. My son is also a vegetarian and my ped says he is the healthiest kid that comes through the office.

I would do a little more research. I doubt you will find too many families doing this kind of diet on the east coast because of the meat and potato mentality that is so prevalent in this area. But I will say that our bodies were made to eat vegetables and I doubt Adam and Eve were roasting all their veggies in Eden. So good luck and keep us posted on your progress with this. I think it is very interesting.

This may sound silly, but "raw food" does not mean raw meat, right? From some of the responses here it sounds like people think that you are going to give your children raw meat.

Hi. I spent most of my college years as a raw-food vegan. I was pretty healthy, but I can't say that I really loved the diet. I may not have been as committed to it as I should have been. I really didn't have anything against eating meat, or had strong feelings about animal cruelty. Basically, I wasn't, and still am not a real lover of the taste of meat. But I do love vegetables, and at the time, I wasn't really into cooking. Eating a raw diet fit into my lifestyle. I learned to make some very interesting salads! I'm not a vegetarian, but I probably eat meat just a few times a week now, and I find that my food choices are expanded and more interesting with a more traditional cooked diet.
When it comes to helping children by adjusting their diets, I think that it's better to stay away from the really grievous things, like sugar and fats and to teach them about nutrition in general. I also avoid processed foods as much as possible, and of course, anything we're allergic to.

Hi D. raw meat can contain alot of bacteria. you have to be careful how you handle it. I personally wouldnt feed my kids or myself raw meat. Im not sure how you would go about transitioning your child thats a hard one. There are pros and cons to it but i guess you have to do what works for you and your family. Have you talked to ped about switching? good luck