Interested in Trying Raw Foods?

I know raw food seems like a strange topic for a cooking blog, but hey, raw-foodies gotta eat too, right?  I like to throw these in now and then, as while I'm not a raw-foodist by any means, I do believe that most people in our society could stand to eat more raw foods from a health standpoint. Raw foods contain enzymes and vitamins that cooked foods often do not - and these are things our bodies need! I Image via Wikipediathink it's great to try new and healthy ways of eating, so this article mentions ways to incorporate more raw foods into your diet, without going strictly raw, which would be a monumental step for many of us.

Eating raw, even just part of the time, can have great health benefits. Are you interested in trying a raw food diet, but don’t think you can do it all the time? You don’t have to, certainly not to start. Many of us are conditioned to think of food as reward and comfort. We look forward to the end of the day, having dinner with our families, or going out to dinner with friends.

Try eating raw foods throughout the day instead. If you go to work every day, take carrots, apples, grapes or dried fruit with you to munch on. If you usually go out to lunch during the day, try to go places where you can get a salad. If you pack a lunch, include sprouts and fruit with it. If you’re like many people, those fast food lunches make you want to crawl under your desk and take a nap in the Image via Wikipediaafternoon! They make you sluggish and tired. A lighter lunch of raw foods can keep you energized throughout the day.

The business culture is different these days, and there’s less of a routine than there used to be with a morning “coffee break” and then “lunch hour” and an afternoon “break.” That routine doesn’t work for a lot of people any more, but you can still get hungry during the day. By taking a variety of raw foods with you to work, you can munch periodically during the day. Sometimes it’s better to eat to avoid getting hungry. If we let ourselves go too long until we get ravenous, that’s when it’s easier to make poor food choices. Eating raw foods periodically throughout the day also keeps your metabolism humming along, and keeps your blood sugar at steady levels.

Healthy Lunches with Style

Lunch is an important meal in your day, so don’t skip it, even if you are tempted to do so. Many people believe that eating a big breakfast means that lunch is unnecessary, but that’s simply not the case. When you don’t eat lunch, you are more likely to snack during the day on unhealthy foods or overeat at suppertime. Your body also becomes depleted of nutrients when you skip lunch, so it s better for you to always eat lunch, even if it means making a bit of extra free time available in your day. However, there are ways in which you can ensure that your lunch is fairly healthy, no matter what your specific needs.

Image by A30_Tsitika via FlickrIf you are at work or school over lunchtime, you can save lots of money by carrying a lunch rather than grabbing lunch from a fast food restaurant or other food source. (I bring a lunch to work 90% of the time. It may seem a hassle to plan in advance, but once you get in the habit, it will just be part of the routine, and not a bother at all. I usually cook only 2-3 times per week, and use leftovers for lunches all week long.) Your own meals will also be more nutritious and, in many cases, tastier. If you are not a morning person, packing a lunch doesn’t mean that you have to wake up earlier to prepare this. Simply pack it the night before. There are many healthy food choices available to help you pack a lunch that will be the envy of your coworkers. Even a piece of fruit and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (with all-fruit jelly, and all-natural peanut butter) on whole grain bread can make a tasty lunch that gives you energy throughout your afternoon, and it only takes a couple of minutes to throw together.

You can also consider stopping at a supermarket and picking up frozen meals for lunch as well. This option is sometimes a bit more expensive than making and packing your own lunch, but it can still be fairly inexpensive. Remember to look at the packaging to determine the best frozen meals for you. Some are not made for those looking for a healthy diet, and although they may taste good, they will be full of preservatives and calories, trans fats, artificial ingredients, and other things that you really don't want in your body. (We always recommend a from-scratch lunch whenever possible, but if you're in a pinch, it may be possible to find a decent frozen meal - just be sure to check the ingredients before purchasing!)

You can also stock your desk at work with healthy lunch choices in order to save time. Lots of foods come in non-perishable varieties, which can easily fit into your desk and be microwaved with water when it comes time to eat lunch. Try soups, pretzels, crackers with peanut butter, cereal bars, or instant oatmeal for lunchtime at the office.

Image by Inspired RD via Flickr

When you have to eat out, such as if you are meeting an associate or client for lunch, make healthy food choices. Avoid skipping lunch altogether just to have a meeting. Instead, see if your company will chip in to pay for the client’s meal. Usually, companies are more than happy to reimburse you or provide a company credit card or tab information. Good choices for lunch include light meals, like wraps, sandwiches with wheat bread and light on the spreads, salads, and fruit. Avoid fast food, pizza, and bulky meals, like pasta for lunch, unless you plan to be very active during the afternoon at work, as these will weigh you down and make you sluggish and low energy late in the afternoon. 

With a little planning and forethought, you can make a healthy lunch a habit, and feed your body well throughout the day.

Related Articles on Making Healthy Lunches:

• Brown-Bagging Your Way To a Healthier Lunch (fitsugar.com)
• Pack a Healthy Lunch For the Kids - and You (fitsugar.com)
• 3 Fast Ways How To Pack A Healthy Lunch (fitnesstroop.com)
• Healthy Vegetarian Meals: Breakfasts, Lunches and Suppers (brighthub.com)