List of Raw Foods
Any list of raw foods needs to be organized into different categories. Like cooked food, not all raw food is equal. You can eat raw and still be unhealthy. Since most people are interested in it for the raw food diet benefits, this list will focus on healthy foods to eat raw.
When eating a raw food diet, the best questions to ask are:
- Is it healthy?
- Is it definitely raw (not heated to more than 117 degrees)?
- Has it been processed?
While there are a lot of things you could eat raw, it’s probably better that you don’t. Raw meat (especially chicken) and raw dairy are two such examples. While there are some benefits, the harm they do can outweigh the positives. The raw food diet benefits of fruits and vegetables on the other hand are fantastic.
Below you will find a list of raw foods, separated into three categories: foods to maximize, foods to have a little of and foods to eliminate. Choose organic where possible and remember that the fresher the better. I’ve also included suggestions with each category to get your mind whirling.
Foods to Maximize
When eating a raw food diet, getting enough calories can sometimes be a problem. This is one of the important facts about raw food to be aware of.
Some people complain that they are always hungry and never satisfied. This is usually due to not consuming enough calories in a given day. The best way to fix this problem is to eat LOTS of fruit. It will provide enough calories to fill you up while giving you a natural energy boost, keeping you feeling light throughout the day.
If there were any single category in this list to focus on, it would be fruit.
Fruit
- Apple
- Apricot
- Avocado
- Banana
- Coconut
- Cranberrie
- Grapefruit
- Grapes
- Kiwi fruit
- Lemon
- Lime
- Orange
- Pear
- Watermelon
Vegetables
- Beetroot
- Broccoli
- Carrot
- Cauliflower
- Cayenne pepper
- Celery
- Cucumber
- Ginger
- Kale
- Lettuce
- Onion
- Parsley
- Spinach
- Tomato
Foods to Have a Little Of
Nuts and Seeds
Nuts and seeds are full of important nutrients and essential fatty acids (Omega 3 and 6). However, don’t eat too many or you won’t thrive on a raw food lifestyle. Nuts take up to 10 hours to leave the stomach, so they should be eaten in small amounts with a lot of time in between to allow for digestion.
Also, don’t simply assume that all nuts are raw because they’re not. Often they’ve been dehydrated to stop them from going rancid or popped out of their shells with lots of heat. When possible, get nuts which still have the shells on them.
Some good choices when it comes to nuts include:
- Almonds
- Macadamias
- Pecans
- Walnuts
Foods to Eliminate
Along with foods to eliminate, I’ve also included questionable foods. There is some debate about whether they are beneficial or not, however in my opinion, the best policy is to eat what you KNOW to be awesome for your health. A number of websites about raw food can help you down this path.
Eliminate
- Meat
- Dairy
- Eggs
- Grains
- Salt
- Oils
- Chocolate
- Coffee
- Garlic
- Cinnamon
Questionable
- Sprouts
- Legumes
- Grains
Want to read in-depth about this list of raw foods? Go to Raw Food Health.
Why are grains bad? See An Introduction to the Paleolithic Diet.
Use this list to maximize the healthiest parts of your diet. Eat a lot of fruit throughout your day and try to find ways to include a salad with every meal. Over time, you will experience more and more wonderful results from eating this way.
