30 day raw food challenge

This is Kimberly on a raw food diet--her "after" picture. Click here to see the "before." This may be the most dramatic transformation like this I've ever seen, because it is so total. She's slimmer, but it's much more than that: she's 20 years younger, exudes health, and is a stunning beauty. Seeing these pics and reading Kimberly's story, along with the success of my new kale-based breakfast routine, inspired me to take the leap and sign on to the 30 Day Raw Challenge.

I have high hopes of success, because I think my expectations are modest--I really only want to look one year younger--to be back where I was a year ago. I went up a dress size over the winter, and feel puffy and icky.

For the past two years, I've leaved with the world's unhealthiest vegetarian (pizza, pp&j, pancakes, you get the drift). Left to my druthers, I'd eat steak and green salad four days a week, and figuring out how to cook things we both like has been a challenge. My interest in Raw food began after I ate at a local raw take-out joint, Que Se Raw Se Raw, and was shocked to find it the best food I'd had in ages, and something I'd actually be interested in learning how to make.

My problem with most genres of health food has always been that the food just isn't very good. I love food, and cooking, and the sophistication and artistry of real cuisine, and while the chunky, beany soups I make from my Moosewood cookbook are good, they aren't sublime the way my chicken curry is sublime. My forays into raw have so far managed to engage the palate at a far higher level, and I'm learning to work with vegetable preparation in ways that are as elegant and showily spectacular as some of the Indian cooking I do.

So, onward. In 30 days I'll post my own before and after pictures, come what may. I don't think I'll ever give up steak for life (I like mine practically raw anyway), but if I come off of the thirty days with thirty new ways to make fresh vegetable entrees, I'll be a happy girl.

Comments

[MJ]

I did that kale drink again this am, in your honor, and found the magic in more water/less kale.

There was still gagging and tearing eyes involved but I feel great! Now onto some better recipes.

[Alice Bachini-Smith]

great stuff, Hillary! go for it. I've been very into salads and smoothies lately, since it got really hot in Texas. There must be a lot of raw food in normal cook books already. I suppose gorgonzola and bresaola don't count as raw, though :)

[Harriet]

I would really like to point out to you that i think you should do your research before jumping into this. I was reading an article dispelling the myths relating to raw food benifits and there were several people who became seriously ill as a result of deficiencies from the diet. Here's a bit of it.

"Florida authorities says the death of 5-month-old Woyah Andressohn probably was the result of malnutrition brought on by a raw food diet. Investigators also found that Andressohn's four brothers and sisters, who also were allegedly on the diet, were severely malnourished.

The news brought a wave of anti-raw foodists, including doctors and chemists who say the science behind raw food diets was specious. Dietitians argue that the body produces enough enzymes that the extra enzymes raw foodists insist the body needs are unnecessary. They also argue that cooking helps kill off many germs."

Anyway just check to be safe!

[Hillary Johnson]

Harriet, thanks for your concern! You are talking to a journalist, so of course I have done a ton of research on this already.

I think that there is precious little science behind most diets, and also that there is a tendency for a small vocal minority of any dietary philosophy's adherents to become fanatical. I've certainly found this to be the case with the raw foodists, the low carbists, etc.

The parents of those children you mention were fundamentalist extremists in many ways--one article about the case also states that the couple had never taken their children to a doctor. So there was a lot more than diet going on there.

Many critiques of diets are based on misconceptions. There are plenty of people who will tell you that the low carb diet is unhealthy, based on the assumption that it's about eating nothing but bacon and eggs, but when I was low carb my meal of choice was usually a spinach salad. If you ate only bacon, I'm sure it would be bad for you--same if you ate only spinach.

I agree with you 100% that one should never embark on some grand bodily experiment without doing one's homework, and it's good that you point that out. Part of doing good research is maintaining a healthy skepticism toward both the extreme proponents and the extreme critics of a subject. The middle ground is where you're most likely to find reason rather than emotion.

[Marie]

I think you'll see an amazing difference after just a month. My friend has been eating raw for 5 months and he looks 10 years younger. I always feel fantastic while eating raw and I'm sure you'll feel fantastic too (and after my birthday weekend I'll be back into it). Good luck!

[raker]

Have a look here: http://www.shazzie.com/raw/journal/

If you can get past the hippy dippy shit, she has kept an interesting journal of transformation from unhealthy vegan to current state. When I first started reading her journal, I spent 1 month that summer eating raw as far as possible, and felt great. No IBS attacks (I got to 6cm dilation in labour last year thinking "at least this IBS attack isn't as bad as the one I had in Italy last summer -- that's how bad it generally is), skin cleared up, bloating vanished, cellulite disappeared, no PMT cramps. However, at the first sign of a cold day I crave carbonara, so it didn't last, but I try to eat mostly raw in the summer. You feel absolutely great after the first 2 days - boundless energy. It will be interesting to read your experiences!

[Hillary Johnson]

So far so good on this diet--I went to the farmer's market today and spent the morning in the kitchen making curried raw kale and cauliflower. It's true, as Raker says above, I have remarkably more energy already, and feel less creaky and puffy.

[MJ]

I way, way overbought produce this weekend and made a green gazpacho that is, incidentally, raw (sure the Spanish didn't plan it that way eons ago) - blended a big seedless cuke (peeled) with a garlic clove, 4 scallions, handful or two of green grapes, huge handful of arugula and cold water - garnished with extra chopped cuke and grapes and a bit of salt, pepper, olive oil and sherry vinegar. DELICIOUS and one of those incidentally good for you foods - and a great treat after painting the garage in 92 degree heat both days. I left out the almonds (though I eat nuts all the time) and the bread crumbs just cuz and the soup didn't suffer.

Lots of great recipes out there just happen to also be raw and are great as big parts of an overall balanced diet.