Today we are going to address one of the questions posed from a loyal reader. The question selected from the inbox today was: “I would like to adapt to a raw foods lifestyle in order to lose weight. How can I start without missing some of my favorite foods?”

Let’s explore how to incorporate some of your favorite regular or “standard-american-diet” (SAD) foods into the raw lifestyle.

Raw Food Substitutes for Weight Loss

First off, I want to dispel the notion that some people have that one must start at 100% raw. Sometimes even incorporating 50% or more can make a huge difference in your waistline because you are getting more nutrients from your foods and are less prone to overeating empty calories. If you decide to be 100% raw from the start and are looking for great substitutes, I would suggest you try the following alternatives:

• Try eating fruits to give your sweet tooth a fix. You will be surprised how tangy an organic green grape really is, and they are even better on a hot day if they have been chilled in the freezer for a few hours. Other delicious sweet fruits include strawberries, blackberries, and tangerines.
• If you crave savory flavors like hamburgers, try marinated mushroom lettuce wraps. Adding flavored oils and spices to the mushrooms will give a savory flavor and the texture will mimic meat. Adding tomato, onion and mushrooms to the wrap will give the wrap an All-American flavor.
• Chocolate can be had in the raw as well! You have to get the dark kind, stay away from the bars labeled “milk” chocolate. Look for Organic Dark varieties at your local grocer, but be sure to eat it in small quantities as it is very high in fat.

If you simply can not take the elimination of items like bread and cheese there are recipes out there for you to make. Usually these are not as good (to me) as the real thing, and I end up dissatisfied with the flavor. I am more of an advocate of taking your time, exploring new food combinations, and expanding your palate. Enjoy the experience of going raw!

Do you have a question about vegan or raw foods? Send an email to info@rawontheroad.com and your question can be featured in an upcoming post!

Related Raw On The Road Posts:
How to Work While Maintaining a Healthy Diet
Simply Raw The Movie

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