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The options are almost limitless when it comes to the types of foods you can enjoy in the raw. Of course, almost all fruits and vegetables are enjoyable when consumed without cooking. Large green salads tossed with sprouted legumes or seeds, huge bowls of blended soups infused with fresh herbs, and healthy veggie pasta concoctions are all awesome raw food staples.
Even some grains, such as buckwheat, quinoa, and wild rice, can be enjoyed raw without sacrificing flavor or nutrition. Sprouted chickpeas make excellent uncooked hummus, and sprouted grains go well in traditional dishes made raw, like tabbouleh and stuffing. But not all foods are so wonderful when eaten raw.
In fact, some foods are downright dangerous when it comes to eating them uncooked. And then there are those foods that simply aren’t very tasty until they have had a chance to get steamed, baked, or even fried. There are also foods that you probably shouldn’t eat, whether cooked or raw.
Here are five to keep in mind:
1. Red Kidney Beans
Not only do red kidney beans taste pretty bad when they are raw, but just a handful of them can result in nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, thanks to the high amounts of phytohaemagglutinin (a poisonous lectin) that is found within them. When red kidney beans are cooked, the amount of this poisonous compound is significantly reduced within them, which enables the body to digest them harmlessly. Let’s cook our beans instead, how about….Healthy Vegan Chili?
Here are some great ways to cook and eat red beans:
2. Rhubarb Leaves
While it is perfectly fine to eat the rhubarb stem raw (think tasty raw pies and juices), the leaves are not as friendly to the health of humans. Very high levels of a toxin called oxalic acid, which is found in the leaves, make them dangerous to eat. If eaten raw, rhubarb leaves can cause trouble breathing, diarrhea, eye pain, and even seizures. Just a small amount is all it takes to make you regret ever taking a bite. This is why you may have noticed the leaves removed from rhubarb in your local store. Let’s make a Strawberry Rhubarb Smoothie with rhubarb stems instead!
Here are some great recipes with rhubarb below:
3. Flour
If you have ever had the displeasure of trying raw flour, you know that it is mighty pasty and pretty darn bland. Wheat and other grains that are turned into flour have plenty of time to be exposed to pathogens and animal feces before being processed for consumption, and raw flour isn’t heat-processed to get rid of any pathogens that might be lurking within it. In fact, the raw flour in your cookie dough is just as dangerous as raw eggs in the dough might be. Don’t eat that dough raw; bake some warm, delicious cookies instead, or make raw cookies with safe ingredients. One caveat – coconut flour and almond flour (since not made from grains) are fine to eat raw since they are nut-based. Store them in the fridge or freezer to prevent rancidity.
4. White Potatoes
White potatoes are not necessarily dangerous if eaten raw, but they most certainly are not very tasty before they have been cooked. Evening softens them up by lightly steaming them, greatly increasing the enjoyment factor of eating them. Baked potatoes, stewed potatoes, and mashed potatoes are all tasty ways to eat potatoes. Do your taste buds a favor and skip eating them raw.
Great potato recipes below:
Tasty Foods You SHOULD Eat Raw
As you might guess, tons of foods are completely alright, and even beneficial, to eat raw. But they may not all taste that wonderful as-is, especially if you’re used to enjoying your meals cooked and/or prepackaged. Some things you may enjoy on their list include:
- Fruits of all kinds
- Organic corn
- Edamame
- Sweet peppers
- Tomatoes
- Cucumbers
- Most common vegetables (broccoli, carrots, celery, asparagus)
Keep in mind that any vegetable can be turned into a tasty snack or meal with the help of a good dip that’s double-dip worthy, a homemade hummus, or some rockin’ salsa, so don’t knock them until you try them!
There are all kinds of recipes to try that incorporate a variety of raw ingredients at the same time. Try your hand at zucchini pasta, chia pudding with blueberries, or unbelievable pad Thai. There really is no end to the variety of ways your food can be enjoyed raw.
Here’s the takeaway: stick with raw fruits and vegetables, soak your grains and legumes, and don’t be afraid to eat the potatoes, flour, and red kidney beans – just cook them along with your other favorite cooked foods. These tips should help you find a nice balance between healthy cooked and healing raw plant-based meals.
Learn How to Cook Plant-Based Meals at Home
Reducing your meat intake and eating more plant-based foods is known to help with chronic inflammation, heart health, mental well-being, fitness goals, nutritional needs, allergies, gut health, and more! Dairy consumption also has been linked to many health problems, including acne, hormonal imbalance, cancer, prostate cancer, and has many side effects.
For those of you interested in eating more plant-based, we highly recommend grabbing our favorite plant-based cookbooks and downloading the Food Monster App — with over 20,000 delicious recipes, it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals, and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.
Here are some great resources to get you started:
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