Eating Raw with Cooked Foods

As most of you know, I promote a high-raw vegan lifestyle, but I also counsel people on all other diets as well. I have found it to be beneficial to focus on adding some raw foods at every meal for optimum digestion no matter what diet you eat.  It helps to activate the enzymes and nutrients in our food to be a better balance for improved health.  It can be something as simple as sprinkling some fresh lemon juice and/or fresh chopped herbs on our food.
 
It is most important to add these raw foods just before eating and not during the actual cooking of the food, since the heat of cooking deactivates the live enzymes and nutrients.                                                                                         Click here ↓ to read more ↓
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Ways to add more raw foods to your present diet for better digestion and health:
 
Have a fruit smoothie (with a leaf of lettuce) for breakfast or if you don't have time to prepare it in the morning, you can get it put together the night before and refrigerate it until morning. Just shake it up before drinking and breakfast is served!  If you want to eat your usual breakfast, just drink a small glass of smoothie a few minutes before your usual breakfast and see how you feel as you go on with your day.  If you have any of the smoothie left over, put it in a thermos to take along with you for a mid-morning snack. 

Juice a few lemons or limes and store in the refrigerator for easy access to sprinkle a little on your food just before eating.  
 
Keep a vase of fresh herbs (basil, oregano, cilantro, etc) to add to your favorite dishes.

When making cheese sauces (dairy or non-dairy) or spaghetti sauces, add some raw veggies, such as zucchini, carrots and/or celery to your sauce and blend in your Vitamix (or other high-speed blender) until smooth.  No one will know the difference and the nutritional value will be improved and easier for your body to digest.
 

When making pasta, spiralize a zucchini, jicama or a carrot instead of or in addition to the pasta. I use a spirooli, but you can do this with lots of different kitchen gadgets, including a simple vegetable peeler.
 

Have some fresh fruit while you are preparing your meal.  You are not only relieving your hunger with a healthy snack, but the fruit will be thoroughly digested before your meal for optimum food combining and you will have less cravings for unhealthy sweets after the meal.

Buy some sprouts or microgreens (or grow your own) for a super burst of micronutrients to any meal.  You will never know they are there, but your body will feel them.  
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Add sprouted garbanzo beans, adzuki beans, mung beans or sprouted lentils to any dish.

​They give some crunch and are packed with essential protein and nutrients. 
 

As you are cooking ask yourself if any of the ingredients can be eaten raw.  If the answer is yes, set aside about 10-20% (or more) of that ingredient and chop it up or shred it in the food processor just before eating and add it to your dish.  
 

Eat some raw sauerkraut or other fermented veggies with your meals.  Fermented veggies are high in Vitamin C, K2 and B12 and they help your body to digest a heavy meal.

Try making some of these easy changes in your diet that don't take lots of thought or prep time and you may notice major changes in your health.  Let us all know what changes you or your friends or family are making and how it has helped your health by posting a comment below.  Keep enjoying every bite!