Healthy Living

How to Have a Healthier Christmas with Raw Diet

Whether you follow a raw food diet or simply want to avoid the traditional unhealthy, fattening dishes this Christmas, here are some facts.

Following a raw food diet doesn’t have to mean missing out on Christmas festivities. If you are host to a Christmas dinner for family and friends, you can present them that raw food can be just as delicious and varied as a traditional cooked dinner, you can prepare it with chef coats. Or, try including some raw food dishes on the menu to balance the more traditional, ’stodgier’ items.

Raw Food Advantages

Raw food is a revolutionary way of healthy eating. Proponents claim that eating raw gives the body maximum access to nutrients and enzymes that are ‘killed off’ by cooking. The body also needs less energy to digest raw food than cooked food, leaving it less susceptible to disease. Here are some specific benefits of eating raw food:

• More energy
• Help to reach ideal weight
• Clear, healthy skin
• Can help natural immunity, preventing illness and reducing duration of illness

However, a raw food diet is not for everyone, and there are risks as well as benefits. Some people choose to eat a diet that is 80-90% raw and still include some cooked food. It is important to consider one’s own body type and nutritional needs, ideally seeking advice from a nutritionist, particularly if breastfeeding or other extra demands are placed on the body.

To find out more about the underlying philosophy of raw food diets, see 3 Things Raw Foodists Believe.

Raw Food Preparation Ingredients

To start off with, you only need basic ingredients, preferably but not always organic:

• Fruit
• Vegetables
• Nuts
• Seeds
• Seasonings

Raw Food Preparation Equipment

• Dehydrater (although for many recipes, an oven on low setting will do)
• Blender/food processor
• Nut or coffee mill
• Large bowls

Traditional Christmas staples such as potatoes and turkey are not off limits. The following recipes, from Pretty Smart Raw Food Ideas, don’t require any special ingredients.