Is a Raw Food Diet Boring?
* What’s New?: Protein Issue Responses
* Feature Article: Is a Raw Food Diet Boring?
Since Thursday’s post on Where Do You Get Your Protein, I have received a whole bunch of positive emails and comments. As I suspected, many of you have been bombarded by others with the protein issue and this article has given you some ammo to fire back with. 
I just wanted to say “Thanks guys” and keep the comments coming!
Swayze
Is a Raw Food Diet Boring?
I have to be honest. This is one question that REALLY gets my goat. Whenever I hear someone attacking the raw diet because it’s too “boring,” I go crazy!
Really, I hulk out!
I’ve been following a low-fat raw vegan diet for almost 2 years now. I can honestly say, without any reservations, that there is absolutely NOTHING boring about a raw food diet!
*Deep Breath* Okay, I’m calm now.
Let me explain why a raw food diet is totally NOT boring.
Variety
The variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds that exist is astounding. You have apples, grapes, oranges, bananas, peaches, pears, cantaloupe, romaine, celery, cucumber, avocado…and I’m just alluding to what is available in your local grocery store!
In fact, I can almost guarantee you that raw foodists eat *more* variety than ANYONE on a standard American diet…or any other diet for that matter.
This is because most people tend to eat just a handful of dishes that become their staples. And these dishes are usually very similar.
If you eat meat, your meals will generally center around a protein, with some starchy vegetable and maybe greens along side. If you’re from the Southern States, your greens are cooked to death in butter and everything gets a nice heapin’ helping of beef gravy smothered on top.
If you are vegetarian or vegan, the focus is usually on whole grains or legumes with vegetables. And of course, everyone has his or her favorite dessert.
But when you live on a fruit-based diet, you have to adapt what you are eating to what you can find in your area. Just because you have a few favorite fruits does not mean that they will always be available.
I would gladly eat nothing but mangoes for the rest of my life, but I can’t because they are not always in season!
Where’s the Proof?
Still skeptical that a raw diet is really that varied? Here’s a list of several of the different varieties of fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds that I eat in a given year:
o Apples
o Apricots
o Avocado
o Bananas
o Basil
o Bell Pepper
o Blackberries
o Blueberries
o Boston Lettuce
o Cantaloupe
o Celery
o Cherries
o Cilantro
o Clementines
o Cucumber
o Currants
o Dates
o Dill
o Grapefruit
o Grapes
o Honeydew
o Iceberg Lettuce
o Kiwi
o Lemon
o Lime
o Mangoes
o Mint
o Nectarines
o Oranges
o Papaya
o Peaches
o Pears
o Pineapple
o Pistachios
o Raspberries
o Romaine Lettuce
o Star Fruit
o Strawberries
o Sunflower Seeds
o Tangerines
o Tomatoes
o Watermelon
o Zucchini
AND I didn’t even include the different varieties of fruit within each species. For instance, there are Navel and Valencia oranges, red and green grapes, the Fuji apples and the Gala apples, Red Haven and White Nectar peaches, etc.
All of this is found conventionally at my local supermarkets in Tennessee. Of course, if you live somewhere tropical or have access to exotic markets, you have a whole different spectrum of fruits to choose from:
o Chocolate Sapote
o Custard Apple
o Durian
o Jackfruit
o Litchi
o Longan
o Mamey Sapote
o Mangosteen
o Rambutan
o Sapodilla
o Soursop
There’s even a peanut butter fruit that has the taste AND texture of peanut butter!
How can a diet that’s full of so many different smells, tastes, and textures be boring?
Quite simply, it cannot.
Raw Recipes
If you *still* aren’t convinced that a raw diet isn’t boring, you probably haven’t considered all the different raw vegan recipes that you can make.
And I’m not talking about fatty dehydrated conglomerations that are made to mimic the flavor and textures of cooked dishes. I’m referring to simple, delicious, healthy meals that contain few ingredients and take literally minutes to put together.
There are fruit smoothies, green smoothies, fruit soups, vegetable soups, fruit salads, savory salads, fruit puddings, dips, salsas, and even fruit ice creams!
You could literally take just a few different healthy raw ingredients and have a completely different dish for every meal for a whole week!
Now how in the world can a diet like *this* be boring?
Quite simply, it cannot.
Don’t Take My Word For It!
If you are still debating going raw, there is no better time than now to get out there and go for it. See for yourself just how varied this diet can be. Buy all the fruits you can and go crazy in the kitchen!
Just be sure to send me the recipes to all of your awesome raw creations. 
Go raw and be fit,
Swayze
16 comments
I am new to eating the raw vegan style but agree that is a LOT of variety. The problem for most of us is the addictive nature of our old diet and the emotions tied to many of those foods. I love being able to eat so much fruit and really not worry much about calories and such. Plus, it just makes you feel so good.
I am a green smoothie connoisseur now and they are the staple of my diet.
Swayze Reply:
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:44 am
Yep, there’s nothing more satisfying than eating an 8-pound musk melon in one sitting.
Hello,
First of all, thanks Swayze for your “Salty No Salt Salsa” recipe. It was truly delicious! I had been having a problem finding good sauces and dressings for my salads without using salt, and now I think I have found what I’m looking for! I ate this tasty concoction like a dip with cucumber slices, like a dressing over a bed of Romaine lettuce, baby spinach, cucumbers, and sweet red peppers, and as a filling for lettuce wraps. You’re officially one of my raw food gurus. I think I’m on my way!
My question is: what about hybrid fruits? I like pluots when I can find them, and just this weekend I discovered what is called a mango nectarine. I plan to use it to make a fruit smoothie. Are we getting less nutrients with such hybrid fruits? What is the real deal?
Carol
Swayze Reply:
August 3rd, 2009 at 10:05 am
So glad you liked the recipe! I had a little “hallelujah” moment myself when I first made it.
The fruit hating raw foodists out there really go out of there way to put down fruit. That’s why you see so much on hybridization. First, there is nothing wrong with natural hybridization. Genetic variation is the key to the survival of any species. Second, the “man-made” fruits are still fruit! Sure, they might be slightly higher in sugar than their organic counterparts and they might be somewhat deficient in minerals. But they are still far and above any cooked food alternative.
When I can find tangelos (tangerine and orange), I always get them because I really like the flavor. I’ve never had any adverse reaction to eating these, such as a spike in blood sugar.
Hey! Great post. Where did you find all those exotic fruits in TN!?!?!?!?! I live in Nashville.
Swayze Reply:
August 4th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Most of the exotic fruits I listed, like chocolate sapote and rambutan, I haven’t tried. I was just showing the variety that’s available.
You might want to try asian or hispanic markets in your area. There is a local place near me that sells guava, sapodilla, mamey, and even jackfruit!
Ashley Hamilton Reply:
August 4th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Yeah ive had guava and durian and exotic things at the local asian market. But ive never seen sapodilla or mamey!!! i always want to buy the jackfruit but its SOOOOOOOOOO EXPENSIVE! how do you find one that is reasonable?
Swayze Reply:
August 5th, 2009 at 11:55 am
Can’t help you there…the one I bought was pretty pricey.
As someone who has eaten Jackfruit I would say to you save your money OMG there is not a lot that I cannot eat but Arrrrgh!!!!! I would have to be darn hungry to try that again
Swayze Reply:
January 15th, 2010 at 11:52 am
Really?! Are you sure you had a nice ripe one? I’ve even had a not-so-ripe jakfruit and I still loved it!
To each his own, I suppose…
Where do you find the peanut butter flavored fruit?? Cause, omgosh, that would be awesome right about now!!
Swayze Reply:
February 24th, 2010 at 5:21 pm
It grows in tropical and subtropical regions like Australia. Unfortunately, like many of the tropical fruits, it is too delicate to ship.
Siegren Reply:
February 24th, 2010 at 5:31 pm
Lame…….
)
So I’m thinking a little sun, surf, and peanut butter fruit! Who’s up for a trip to Australia?
Hey Swayze
what is this peanut butter flavoured fruit I live in sub tropical Australia and do not know it.
But Chocolate pudding fruit ( black sapote ) mixed with a few of drops vanilla essence Yummo…!!!
Swayze Reply:
February 24th, 2010 at 10:40 pm
My bad, it’s Hawaii. It’s mentioned in The Fruit Hunters.
I’ve heard so much about black sapote and I’m dying to try it! Does it really taste like chocolate pudding or does it just look like it?
I would not say it has any flavour of chocolate you are
best to eat them really ripe when they are really gooey
and hard to peel the skin away as it is so soft
it then has a mousse pudding consistancy still yummo
all the same