| Rev up Your Life and Go Raw |
 |
 |
 |
| Written by Emily Terbrueggen | ||||||||||
| Wednesday, 15 July 2009 04:57 | ||||||||||
|
Rev Up Your Life and Go Raw Whether you're a hardcore raw foodie, "raw-curious" or just enjoy the occasional veggie platter, read on to discover how you can become involved in the raw food movement right here in Cincinnati.  Unless you've been hiding behind a cheeseburger over the past few years, you've probably heard about the raw food movement. Being a raw foodie is not just taking part in some fad diet. It is a total change in the way you think about, prepare and eat your food.
The health benefits of a diet high in raw, vegetarian foods have been discussed for more than a hundred years, but just two years ago in 2007, The Cincinnati Raw Food Meetup Group was formed through the social networking Web site Meetup.com. This past January Phil Huddy, raw food activist and organizer of The Cincinnati Raw Food Meetup Group, took over the troop just three months after discovering it through a Google search.
Huddy stumbled across the idea of raw foodism in October of 2008 when he bought a 90-day detox program off the Internet, hoping to work on his overall health and to lose weight, but included with the program was a DVD entitled "Food Matters" that discussed aspects of natural food and nutrition to make you happier and healthier. Raw foods were a large part of the film's content and after years of failed yo-yo dieting, Huddy decided to give it a shot. 
A true raw food menu consists of a vegan diet of raw, organic fruits, vegetables and nuts, and nothing can be heated to a temperature of more than 105 degrees Fahrenheit, says Huddy, a Cincinnati native and resident of Colerain Township. However, there are some raw foodies who claim that the fare can be served at a temperature as high as 114 degrees Fahrenheit.
Heating food to more than 105 degrees causes the nutritional value of food to decrease as the heat breaks down vitamins and amino acids and produces dangerous free radicals, according to the Living and Raw Foods Web site. And because you don't have to use electricity or gas to cook your food, you are living a "greener" lifestyle as you conserve energy.
After going raw, Huddy noticed many changes not only in his body but also in his energy level and overall mindset. Since November, Huddy has lost 60 pounds from his almost 200-pound frame and says that he needs less sleep, is more productive with his time, and even feels emotionally happier. The meetups are scheduled for every third Tuesday of the month and are usually a raw food potluck. Generally a group member plays host to the meetup group, but with the number of attendees on the rise, Huddy might need to seek out a larger venue. While the initial meetups only involved five to seven members per meeting, there are now anywhere from about 10 to 20 attendees.
Everyone is encouraged to bring a raw food dish large enough to serve 15 to 20 people. Huddy likes to keep things simple with organic fruit and veggie trays. The raw veggies go great with a raw sunflower seed dip that tastes similar to ranch dressing, Huddy says. Other members like to get creative with fancy desserts that have raw cacao (raw chocolate!) and agave nectar in them. For June's meetup member Timmy Tzeiranakis threw together mini raw pizzas using portabella mushroom caps, tomatoes, and a lemon juice and almond butter spread.
After dinner Huddy usually shows an entertaining and educational DVD (can't beat dinner and a movie) pertaining to the raw food movement and nutrition.
For more information on how to get involved with the Raw Food Meetup visit The Cincinnati Raw Food Meetup Group Web site.
PHOTO CREDITS
More articles by this author  Put Your Brideface ForwardPut Your Brideface Forward
Looking flawless on your wedding day is... Read More >>
|
||||||||||
| Last Updated on Monday, 20 July 2009 05:52 | ||||||||||
