Are you a “Raw Foodist”
I have been thoroughly enjoying the responses to the salt post. I knew when I wrote it, there would be varying opinions. To use salt or not is objective…as your responses to the salt post have indicated! It also brings up an important point. Are we labeling? I have wanted to address this for a while because we like to use labels and unfortunately division occurs because of those labels.
People like to separate into camps. There even is a new school-old school raw food dichotomy present these days. Unfortunately it is full of judgment. Which is why I don’t like labels and why I deviate away from calling myself a “raw-foodist”. Really what I am is a person who is interested in eating the food I like in the healthiest, most nutritious form possible. In my opinion, that is raw.
Yes, there are certain foods, like Kale that develop more of some nutrients when cooked. So does being a raw foodist mean I can’t cook my kale? Not in my book. Am I 100% raw? Sometimes. Am I high raw? Most of the time. But there you go again…another label, “High Raw”. Do we need that label just to make ourselves feel good? To stroke our own ego? To put ourselves ‘one up’ over someone who isn’t?
Google “raw-foodist” and you will come up with all kinds of silly descriptions of what eating a raw food diet means-mostly written by people who have no experience with a raw food diet. We are freaks, fadists – and, oh my – you better talk to your doctor before eating natural raw foods because, who knows what might happen when you introduce more healthy food and nutrients.* I think that people should be advised to consult their physician before they eat a fast food, super-sized meal at McDonald’s!
The problem with labels, whether it be raw, vegan, vegetarian…is that they are divisive. Society, our broken food system, corporate farms and advertising make it hard enough to eat healthy in our society. Do we really need to put a label on someone and separate and judge them by how good at being raw we think they are? It doesn’t bring us together, it drives us apart.
I have friends that are complete meat and potato eaters. A green vegetable? Never. Now, because of what they are learning, they are starting to make different choices. Small ones but changes nonetheless. In my book, that is fabulous. Because all it takes is that one small step and before you know it, you are on the road to better health.
What it all comes down to is you. Your body and what you feel is best for it. See if something resonates in you and figure out if it works for you. Determine what your goals are. Eating mostly raw does amazing things for me and many people I know. It is why I am here, why I dedicate so much time to getting the message out.
Instead of labeling, let’s supporting anyone who is making choices to be healthier with their diet, no matter where they are along their path. Ditch the labels and share the recipes. Set an example instead of judging. Be a community.
Peace and Blessings!
*If you have health issues you should always consult your doctor before making any changes.
Stacey wrote on July 26, 2010
Personally, I think the labels come because 1) our minds are organized by categorizing (think of how we structure languages in our thoughts: mental picture of deer, word spelling: deer, sound out: deer, connected to: dear, picture of: one we love, etc.,almost like spreadsheets!) and 2) as much as our friends and family love us, a little piece of them wants us to fail because it re-affirms the choices they make and made for us (growing up) and for us to come crawling back to them for love, reassurance and that big ol’ piece of cake they’ve made for us since we were little.
Our communities (family and friends) need parameters to know when to bake the cake!
Others who may not be friends or family just want the benchmark to know when you’ve failed and can’t wait to fly the “failure at yet another diet” flag over your head. As sad as that is, some people need to re-affirm their choices by seeing other people’s choices not work or are not adhered to with the strictest guidelines.
This is where i LOVE the concept of raw. My “label” on raw food is if you get one more green choice in your day (and I’m not talking about some moldy somethin’ or other at the back of your fridge), you are a success in the raw world. Because the community around raw is not finite definition centered on a 100% commitment as mandatory to use the term raw foodist (at least that I’ve seen in my wanderings), it opens the door for acceptance and the sense of open community that has been expressed here.
Raw food runs the risk of becoming a finite as it gains popularity with the general public. LIke Vegan and Vegetarianism, the terms have been honed down to an absolute measure through time and meeting the finite definition is what leads to acceptance in their community. You can’t sorta eat meat or dairy.
Where raw foodist, people who focus on adding raw, as close to the living state food into their daily eating plans (my definition! :), we have opportunity to make sure the finite door does not slam shut on who can be considered raw. There is an interesting parallel to this in the Deaf community. Each member of the community decides what they are, Deaf or Hearing. I may be deaf, but use hearing aids so I call myself hearing. Or I may use hearing aids and yet affiliate myself as Deaf. Each person has the right to decide how to define their sound experience. Hopefully, raw food will continue to follow this path of openness as natural food preparation grows.
Lastly, food is very social, and when we change what we eat and are no longer in the mainstream, it makes people uncomfortable…no matter how logical the change is. Even yesterday, my sister made a cake with some fruits that are coming ripe in our yard. I am a diabetic who’s successfully gotten off all my medications due to raw foods. I gave her permission to bring down a 1″ square on Saturday to try her wares (she’s not a big kitchen person, hubby does all the cooking). Today, she brought another piece. I did not tell her I composted over 1/2 the piece from the day before, not because it wasn’t good but because it wasn’t good for me. She asked how my blood sugars were through the day. I didn’t measure as much because I didn’t eat more than a bite of the cake. She was so eager and hoped that I could eat it and come back to the “cooked food” fold, that she’s forgotten that I’m never going to be able to eat that way again unless I want to get back on the pharmaceuticals. I don’t.
So, Labels “R” Us! It’s the way we think, but how we each interact and promote our labels makes a big difference on how our community is shaped and grows.
MB wrote on July 26, 2010
Well written.
I agree. When you berate people for not being good enough it doesn’t actually inspire them to do better.
And frankly, there are enough things to stress out/get down about in life that I refuse to let my food be something that makes me feel bad about myself.
I enjoy my food and you should too. Yum yum!
Jessica @ Dairy Free Betty wrote on July 26, 2010
I fully agree with this! I think it’s funny that when you are eating mostly raw – some people ask what percentage? Really? Same with Vegan or Vegetarian!! No need for labels at all!! Just eat how you eat, and enjoy it!:)
Susan wrote on July 26, 2010
Ok…that is really funny. I might have to borrow your 5 year old’s comment. 🙂
crookedmoonmama wrote on July 26, 2010
Well said!
I despise labels. Since we’re raising a family on vegan/raw foods…we get funny looks a lot!
My favorite incident is when someone asked my 5 year old why she doesn’t eat meat…”well, because it’s not good for my body (long 5 year old thinking pause) and because it’s very not good for the meat’s body either”. The woman just stared at her… 🙂
Jinny wrote on July 26, 2010
I was reading a write up in one of the local papers on some local people who have raw food businesses, over all the article was ok. Sure enough they had to add the advise of a local nutritionist from Duke University and of course she recommended seeing a registered dietitian before starting a raw food diet….. so I really appreciate your statement, “you better talk to your doctor before eating natural raw foods because, who knows what might happen when you introduce more healthy food and nutrients.* I think that people should be advised to consult their physician before they eat a fast food, super-sized meal at McDonald’s!
Tamie Spears wrote on July 26, 2010
Thank you for this post. I needed it today. I’m vegan, my husband and 3 kids are not. As a result of this, they eat very healthy because that’s what I buy and that’s what I cook. My husband came home last night from a guys weekend (with male family members) where they were absolutely relentless in harassing him about what he eats. For lunch, they all ate greasy cheeseburgers, fries and Cokes — he chose a veggie sub, chips and bottled water — and they gave him crap about it. When they went to dinner at a pizza place, they went ON and ON about him eat pepperoni on his pizza and that his wife was going to kill him, and ON and ON. He said he got a point where he almost shut down because he was tired of defending his choices. Why do people have to be like that? Why can’t people just accept what others eat and move on? And why do they care anyway? Sorry to vent, but your post hit the spot today since I’m already angry about family members making fun of our food choices. And I don’t know what to tell him to say back to them when they make fun of him. (Same for my kids, who get harassed at school for packing a healthy lunch.)
zc wrote on July 25, 2010
I fully support your views. And am greatful for your generousity in sharing your talents and gifts. Continue to be blessed… for no one among us need be concern on labels and judgement of others. Perhaps that works for them. But for those of us that finds well being in the comfort of enjoying being in tune to our bodies and minds discovering healthy choices…lets just enjoy the journey. !
As always, thanks for sharing and inspiring !
Debbie wrote on July 25, 2010
I love this post too……I’m all for NO LABELS. Let’s all just accept each other and help each other out by sharing what we can.