Who'd be a (shhh...100%) raw foodist?

POSTSCRIPT, ONE YEAR ON....

Loooking back at this post, I'm wondering if it should still be here, as, for a long time now, I've rarely encountered the attitudes I describe below (hooray!).

But, at the time of writing, I was a member of a particular international raw food forum where I and other 100% raw fooders got it all the time... Having left that group, I am very pleased to say that the other forums I frequent are pretty much devoid of this daftness!

But, for now, I'll keep the post on the blog in case any others are getting similar grief, anywhere in the 'raw food world' (!).
_________________________________________________________




I am increasingly feeling that, as a raw foodist I have to don my flak jacket before saying so. And, the crazy thing is...that's not in the cooked-food world, where people are actually quite accepting in a 'oh, so you're a nutter!', or 'oh, how interesting!' sort of way, but, incredibly, in the 'raw food' world, eg on 'raw food' forums!

More and more it seems that raw foodists that choose not to eat cooked food have to say so apologetically, in a very tiny voice (even though '100%' is a very useful label to distinguish us from the increasing numbers who call themselves raw foodists nowadays - oh bar the pizza and beers with the mates at the weekend - and who subscribe to the definition of a raw foodist as suggested on a forum recently as someone who 'includes raw food in their diets and recognises the benefits' (oh well, that would include 99% of the world then...reminds me of the Eighties when everyone wanted to be a vegetarian - 'oh, but we eat white meat!').

Because, as everyone in the 'raw food' world knows, or, if they don't know, will increasingly understand, as they see the 100% raw foodist get shot down in flames again and again, for 'evangelising'...

100% raw foodists are, by definition, guilty of all of the following crimes.

They:

Impose their beliefs on others, that is they insist that everyone else must eat 100% raw food (and overnight of course!) and that anyone who doesn't is a gutless wimp.

Are inflexible. Fancy choosing not to eat cooked food on an aeroplane, or at a social occasion!

Are obsessive. (They really have an eating disorder. )

Are chest-thumpers. They like to show off and laud it over others.

Are 'raw food police' ('food Nazis', etc). They even suggest that if a company is charging a fortune for a 'raw' product it should actually be raw!

Are pedantic. Only a real party-pooper would spoil things by suggesting that a restaurant dish advertised as 'raw' should be made from raw ingredients.

Are 'nit-picking'. What sort of a person would query why someone who would never dream of eating boiled carrots (and tells others not to!) is quite happy munching boiled brazil nuts?

Are stupid. They think that raw food is the 'be-all and end-all', that food is the only thing that affects our health - someone educate them!

Are gullible. 100% raw foodists believe that raw food is going to solve all their problems! They don't understand that life is far more complicated than that!

Are deluded. They don't realise that sooner or later they're going to come up against health issues that the raw food diet just can't address!

Are liars. They all eat cooked food sometimes, but just won't admit it. (note! - I have been known to allow the odd non-raw ingredient within a meal slip down my gullet, but, I'm going to have to disappoint those who think, as I saw on a forum recently, that we're likely slipping out at the dead of night to queue up at the kebab van.)

Are intolerant. They believe that their way is the only way.

Look down on others. They believe that they're somehow 'better people' than those who eat cooked food!

Are judgemental. They just love to give others a good telling-off!

Are UNLOVING. If only they could accept that everyone's different.


Yep, 100% raw foodists are really rather horrid.

And, if you are a 100% raw foodist, believe me - in the eyes of some (not all) of those who are part-raw, you are DEFINITELY all these things! Nope - no good protesting...you're convicted!

Because - it really doesn't matter whether any of the above are true in reality.

It's completely immaterial that all the people closest to you are nothing like 100% raw fooders, and you respect that, and have never tried to impose your beliefs on them. As people really don't want to entertain that thought - it might challenge their cherished image of you.

It doesn't matter if your mission in life is simply to enthuse and to encourage others to try more raw and to get to whatever point is comfortable for them. As - who'd believe that?!

It doesn't matter that you've seen your own life transformed, and waved goodbye to various illnesses with the raw food diet and simply want to reduce the chances of others suffering, as the knockers want very much to believe only the worst of you, not the best.

And it's pointless trying to tell them that you feel just as thrilled when someone moves to 25% raw (roughly!) as 100%. That would be quite threatening - they'd have to revise their 'maps'!

And, by golly, if they started to believe that any of these things were true, they'd have to actually face up themselves to whatever's bugging them rather than wagging their fingers at 'intolerant' 100% raw foodists. Now that wouldn't be fair, would it?

So, just take it as read that, in the eyes of so many 'raw fooders', you have every character defect in the list above.

Some raw fooders who eat a little cooked food are happy with their choice. It's a good choice! And they seem to be able to do that without being unduly perturbed by those who eat raw food only. To those of you out there (I think, the majority) - thank you thank you!

But others really don't seem happy with their choice, else why would they feel the need to constantly portray 100% raw foodists in the ways describely above, either directly, subtlely, obliquely or by making fun. It's sad. And, of course, when they do, they are often applauded by others who aren't happy with their diets making themselves feel better by saying how 'balanced', 'wise' and 'realistic' the poster is.

There's only one picture today. My darling meat-eating, smoking, Tequila-swilling, but 50%-evening-meal-raw-and-starts-each-day-with-juice (hooray!) husband sent me a picture I'd 'commissioned' of him several months ago (just a bit late...). It's of a carrot,which of course would be a 'superfood' if a university research department and a big raw food on-line store gave it 'the treatment'...here's 'Supercarrot', after cooking, courtesy of Leigh Took:

Still feel brave enough to be a 100% raw foodist on a 'raw food' forum? I would suggest applying here for extra skins, but, right now, I need every one I've got!