How to Stay Raw in Winter

Many people who made the transition to raw food during the summer worry that they will not be able to adhere to their new lifestyle during the cold winter months. 

When the days turn shorter and colder, our bodies naturally crave comfort foods. We chose hot chocolate instead of strawberry ice cream; we prefer steaming hot soup instead of lettuce and cucumber salad.


Our food choices are also motivated by tradition. All the baking, roasting and cooking during the holiday season, all the flavors and colors, make it difficult for many people to stay completely raw in winter. 

Availability of high quality fresh, raw produce influences our choices even more. Who wants to eat unripe grapes or tomatoes? But if you carefully look at what is in season now, you will realize that nature offers quite a bounty for us to enjoy raw: root vegetables, cabbages, pomegranates, citrus fruit. apples, pears, and persimmons. There is abundance of nuts and spices, honey, died fruit and sauerkraut. Just like in summer, all this produce can be juiced, turned to salads and slaws, or used in smoothies. You simply have to be a bit more creative during winter. 

You may also increase the amount of cooked foods you are willing to eat. Your meals may include 10-25% cooked foods like rice, potatoes, or beans, and you still will be eating more raw foods than most people you know. As I wrote before, you will enjoy the raw lifestyle if you are passionate and not fanatical about raw food.

To keep your body warm from inside out, simply add ginger and warming spices like cloves, cinnamon, cardamom and hot pepper to your smoothies and salad dressings. Use nut milk instead of coconut water as the base for your winter smoothies. Add raw protein powder to obtain creamy and more nutritious textures. Use honey and avocado to keep your immune system strong. And most of all, enjoy what you are doing and do not give up your resolve to stay raw even if it is a bit more difficult during the winter time. 

In radiant health - passionately raw! - Dominique

Dominique Allmon©2012