Ok but what are we going to eat?
This is the common question people ask who decided to join eating Raw Live foods adventure that I mentioned in my prior article. And on the 6th day, the population of these people is growing in numbers! They ask many questions about what to eat, well, the funniest is I think “is traditional raw meat ball ok?”
Of course everyone understands when I say Raw I mean uncooked vegetables and fruits. But in such a diet what are the other things you can eat as well?
All fresh vegetables and fruits
Naturally dried, sugar free vegetables and fruits: plum, prune, apricot, fig, date, dried tomato etc.
Not roasted nuts: Almond, walnut, hazelnut, chestnut, pistachio, cashew etc.
Olives
Seeds: Flaxseed, sesame, pumpkin, sunflower etc.
Naturally dried sea weeds
Grains and legumes to sprout: wheat, mug beans, lentils etc.
Cold pressed natural oils: Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Coconut Oil etc
To make tastier: natural spices and agave syrup etc.
Aaand Raw Chocolate (Tell a friend who goes abroad to bring you raw chocolate this time. Maybe it will be more difficult to find but you will love your friend more in the end and your friend will see it worths. Or you can go to Saf* and ask for raw chocolate pie or brownie.)
So these are the main items. Try to buy organic. The organic, natural, pesticide and hormone free vegetables and fruits taste better and enhance the healing effects of eating Raw.
If you go to the Organic Market at Şişli Feriye on Saturdays (go as early as possible) you will definitely find a producer who will bring products to your house later weeks. You will be so full with the treats people offer you, you will probably skip the breakfast and lunch! Also you can find organic products online or in big super markets.
First of all, give away all the cooked food or foods to be cooked and clean your space. Later go for shopping and see how many different options you have. You can go and buy the whole grocery store: all green leafy veggies; rocket, parsley, spinach, purslane, mint, basil, dill etc. avocado, cucumber, tomato, cauliflower, carrot, lemon, broccoli, etc. apple, pear, watermelon, fig, grape, pomegranate, strawberry, blackberry, banana etc, almond, walnut, hazelnut and don’t forget the dried fruits. Buy different kinds of olives, the ones with almond or orange peel are very tasty. For sprouting buy lentils and mug beans (I advise you to start sprouting with mug beans because it is very easy to sprout, delicious and can find it everywhere). For more information on sprouting and growing wheatgrass you can buy the book “Living Foods for Optimum Health”*.
If you have the time and skill there are many books you can get Raw food recipes from. One of them is the book I mentioned above. But on the other hand if you are working long hours like me or don’t really interested in cooking generally, I will try to give tips on raw diet in such a lifestyle. I will even give you some easy recipes.
To eat %100 raw for a month doesn’t mean avoiding restaurants and close yourself at home. Almost every restaurant has a salad with parsley, rocket, cucumber and mint. You can ask some olives with it. You can have sliced tomatoes. If you are at a fish restaurant you can buy raw almonds and walnuts from sellers. You can dip raw breads that you have bought from Saf to olive oil. You can add fruits and hot water with mint leaves as closing, no one would understand you are eating raw, and you will feel totally full at the end.
But if you ask for a whole raw course with starter, main dish, desert, even with ice cream than you need to come to Saf. You are lucky to live in Istanbul because Saf is the only raw food restaurant here, it is in Akatlar, Etiler, the center of the city. They also have home delivery service. Or if you are living in London, there are 2 Saf Raw food restaurants as well.*
If you are out of Istanbul you can at least ask a close friend to bring you SAF breads and cookies. It will help you a lot through your raw adventure in case you need deserts or breads.
We will keep on talking about what to eat on my next article. I wish happy and healthy days to all, love
Gül Kaynak
