Going Raw » Make Healthy Meals

Raw foods sound very unappealing to a lot of people, except of course for things such as raw fruits. But eating raw foods can be very good for you.

Many people feel that raw foods provide more benefit than cooked foods. This can be debated, but those who believe in it feel that you can gain increased energy, a lower weight, healthier skin, better digestion and a lowered risk of heart disease. Pretty nice if true.

Raw vegetables have a taste that is distinct from the cooked version. You may find that you actually prefer the taste of raw… then again, you might like the cooked version better.

One of the great things, however, is that sometimes children will love raw vegetables more than cooked ones. My kids eat raw green beans as though they are candy, and will only eat cauliflower raw. If I cook it, they won’t touch it.

The catch is that some foods have nutrients that are made more available to your body if they are cooked. Carrots, tomatoes, potatoes, corn and other foods are examples. My personal way of handling this is to cook them lightly only if I do cook them. Slightly crunchy carrots taste much better than soggy, overcooked ones.

While I’m not a fan of eating a strictly raw diet, I do enjoy and encourage my family to enjoy a variety of frtuits and vegetables raw rather than cooked. Many vegetables are simply delicious when raw, and you might just find that your children will eat them better than you expected.

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