Warming up with Raw Foods
It happens every year: the days become shorter, the weather drops to extreme temperatures and after the first big snowfalls of the season, the novelty wears off. Many of us are spending less time outdoors being active and more time inside loading up on starchy foods. Socializing on the town with friends is no longer as appealing as cozying up on the couch in front of the television. It’s easy to slip into a rut, where spring feels like a long way off. Did I mention that we’re also terribly cold?
Winter in the north can leave a chill for even the heartiest of us. With the lack of sunlight and accumulation of time spent indoors, it’s not surprising that we’d rather hibernate – or escape south – until spring time. During the winter months, people often feel run down and low on energy, but it needn’t be this way. There are plenty of ways to thrive and enjoy the winter season – it’s just a matter of changing habits and breaking out of the isolation that often comes with the colder weather.
An essential part of staying healthy has to do with nutrition: our food choices have a direct effect on our body, and what we eat affects our mental and emotional health just as much as our physical health.
As a raw foodist of 20 years, I often get asked how to eat raw and stay warm during the winter. Typically, it can be challenging to stay raw this time of year – especially when first transitioning to the lifestyle. Eating salads in the depths of winter can seem unappealing, but eating raw doesn’t mean your food has to be cold! Nor does it mean that you have to be all raw in order to achieve optimal health! The aim is to eat a large proportion of your food raw in order to obtain substantial nutrition. Even a lower percent raw food diet is far better than one containing little or no raw foods! Of course, the more fresh raw vegetables and fruits you eat, the greater the health benefits!
Below are a few winter tips that will help take the chill off – whether you’re an experienced raw foodist or simply want to have more warmth and vitality in your life!
- Start your day with SimplyRaw’s Firewater. Fresh lemon juice mixed with warm water and cayenne is excellent for getting the circulation going and warming the body in the morning.
- Make raw soups. Blended raw soups are very comforting. I love adding jalapeno and cayenne for some heat!
- Spice it up! There are plenty of spices that help warm the body. A few personal favorites are cayenne, chili peppers, jalepeno, garlic, ginger, curry, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, mustard, cloves.
- Remove food from the refrigerator ahead of time and warm to room temperature before eating to take the chill off.
- Lightly warm your food. Raw foods can be warmed, without losing their nutritious properties. Place raw soups in the dehydrator or on the stove at a low temperature for a few minutes until warm to the touch.
- Drink herbal teas If you’re feeling chilled at work or at home, heat up some water, steep some herbal leaves and sip away!
- Sprout it! Sprouts are easy to grow in your own kitchen all year round. They are a power house of nutrition, are extremely economical, and give your body the energy to get moving!
- Add healthy fats to your diet. Avocados, olives, nuts, and seeds can be added to salads to keep your metabolism revved up and give you a feeling of satiety.
- Experiment in the kitchen! Try out some fun raw recipes to replace those not-so- healthy favorites. There are plenty of raw resources online as well as locally. (see http://www.simplyraw.ca for easy recipes and fun workshops)
- Move your body! Exercise regularly to keep the circulation and lymphatic system moving. Winter sports are a great way to beat the winter blues, enjoy some fresh air, and stay active and fit simultaneously. Or how about a hot yoga class to get the body moving and warmed up? Nothing beats exercise!
- Bathe with ginger. Sprinkle ginger powder in your nightly bath, along with Epsom salts for a very soothing and warming effect.
- Get inspired! Take a raw food prep class or join one of SimplyRaw’s monthly potlucks in the Glebe. (see www.simplyraw.ca for details)
- Dress Warmer! It sounds obvious, but it’s true. Treat yourself to a comfy pair of bamboo socks and an extra cuddly fleece sweater. Layer up and go play in the snow!
- Invest in a hot water bottle: What can I say other than I just love my hotwater bottle – and use it most winter days! 😉
today’s food log:
- 4 ozs E3live
- firewater
- chlorella tablets
- micro algae
- 1 quart of green juice (sprouts, broccoli, cucumber, celery, burdock)
- 1/2 avocado with sauerkraut and dulse
- blended spinach soup (spicy!)
- 1/2 piece of SimplyRaw Cheesecake (available at most local health food stores)
yesterday’s log:
- 3 ozs E3live
- cup of firewater
- pineapple juice with spirulina
- 1 quart green juice (sprouts, zuccini, cucumber, celery, jerusalem artichokes)
- mixed green salad with cucumbers, avocado, sprouts and olives
- blended kale soup with homemade corn chips
- nori sheets
- homemade brownie
So bundle up and come out to tonight’s potluck!
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THANK YOU for this post!!! It is beyond timely for me. During the hot weather, I was doing well with raw eating, but now with the snow and cold and shorter days/less sunlight, it’s been hard to eat raw–the thought isn’t even appealing. Your post will be very helpful!