Going Raw: Everything You Need to Start Your Own Raw Food Diet and Lifestyle Revolution at Home

by Judita Wignall

Going Raw combines the beauty and flavor of a gourmet cookbook with everyday recipes that are practical for the real-world home chef. There are utilitarian books that offer a lot of great basics but do not illuminate the content with stylish and instructional photography. Going Raw promises the basics (kitchen gear, pantry ingredients, how to plan your grocery shopping and menus, prep and storage techniques) and delivers delicious, simple recipes for the starter raw foodist.

A 30-minute bonus DVD features various food preparation techniques, finished presentations, and “raw food 101” lifestyle tips and advice as well.

Genres: Cookbooks, Food, Nonfiction, Cooking, Vegan, Health

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

After struggling with health issues during my acting/modeling days many years ago, I found the raw food diet to be very healing and balancing. Today I love to empower others to take control of their health. As a raw food chef and holistic health coach, I believe healthy food should also be delicious food, so I created three recipe books to inspire people to eat well and be well.

Reviews

[Alisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This summer all I felt like eating was raw foods: salads, smoothies, etc. The heat and humidity killed any desire in me for cooking. So I decided to buy a raw food cookbook to give me more ideas. This one is great. It is a very good introduction to preparing raw meals. The best part is the pictures, which look amazing, and the recipes are delicious. My husband was very suspicious of it at first, but I think he ended up liking many of the recipes even more than I did! There are recipes for smoothies, salads, soups, entrees, desserts, dressing, appetizers, and more. About half of the recipes, mostly the entrees, require a food dehydrator. Since I do not yet own one, I was not able to make those dishes, which is a shame because they look and sound delicious. I think I'm going to have to invest in a good dehydrator one of these days. Judita, you have me half-way convinced into going raw - good work! :)

[Max · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some great looking recipes, but I don't have a dehydrator so I couldn't really try those. I'm not a raw foodist or anything but I love salads so I try to find recipe inspiration in books like this.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. And after what a flop the last raw food cookbook I read was, I almost didn't read it. I am so glad though, as this book really renewed the raw food movement for me.

First of all, this book is beautiful to look at. It is filled with tons of color pictures, not just of the finished product but of steps along the way. The information is great; there is even actual scientific evidence/studies mentioned to back up what was said.

Again, I could never, and would never, (at this point in my life at least) go 100% raw. But I think a raw food diet has many good points and benefits, and finding other ways, besides just a salad to get the most out of it is great.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this book. The pictures are appetizing and it really helped me commit to adding more raw foods to my diet. My only issue is that many of the foods use a dehydrator and I don't have one as of yet to use... so I need some simple ideas until I get one. I guess this author has another book that has recipes that are more simple for every day... and I guess I would need that one, as I don't have time to work on many of these recipes.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the lay out, detailed and beautiful photos, and of course the recipes. Thai Green Bean Salad was a big hit with some non-raw foodies. Cheers!

[dejah_thoris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven't tried the recipes, but the front matter on tools, preparation, benefits of a raw food diet, etc. was all very helpful. My biggest limitation on using it for a cookbook is that the author relies heavily on a dehydrator. She recommends a specific brand, which I am sure is excellent, but for those of us exploring a raw food diet, it's hard to read recipes that require one.

[Lena Donan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite handful :)

[Cabby2583 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my way of eating.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mostly smoothies, salads, and dehydrated food recipes. Not interesting enough to keep a newbie on a raw diet for more than a couple days.

[Dayna Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting view on diet.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! The author takes you step by step through many difficult preparation techniques (getting the water and meat out of a coconut, for example) and goes in depth about soaking, sprouting, all about raw food if you're just starting out, and best yet, her recipes are actually do-able! Most of her recipes are quick and easy to prepare, especially if you follow her advice and always have certain things on hand (soaked and dried nuts, sprouts, lots of veggies). This is one the books I would definitely recommend to anyone wanting to eat healthier, and particularly for those interested in eating more raw foods. (Another book I really recommend is Raw Food by Erica Palmcrantz Aziz and Irmela Lilja=)

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't a cook book for everyone but neither is a raw food diet. The Photography is beautiful, the approach is refreshing for what could be considered a life style book. It encourages incorporating raw food/meals to a level that suits you and also addresses some vegetarian hang ups about eating honey.

While there is no doubt that some of the recipes require a few specialty tools the author admits that her first year eating raw started with the basics (a normal blender, knife, food processor) then adding in dehydrators and spiral vegetable cutters.

At this point I've only tried 7 of the recipes and they were all tasty. I may change the star level of this review as I make more and more of the food.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I became interested in the Raw Vegan diet, this book made it effortless to start! Judita's recipes are simple enough for a working 'cook', and absolutely delicious. My favorite is the Chia Pudding...my meat-eating boyfriend still asks me to make it for him :). Even though I'm not currently practicing a full Raw diet, I try to incorporate as much raw food into my diet as possible, and this book has become a staple in my household.

[Annie Bazinet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superbe bouquin, beaucoup de belles photos des plats présentés. Il y a également les étapes pas à pas de certaines démarches. J'ai adoré la créativité, mais comme tout bon livre de recettes crues, ça demande beaucoup de travail et préparation à l'avance, quoique le résultat semble en valoir la peine.
Seul autre désavantage, il faut ABSOLUMENT un déshydrateur pour faire les recettes de ce livre. Alors je repousse son acquisition à mon achat de la dite machine ;)

[Marian Iskandar · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far, so good. Easy recipes. Step-by-step instructions. Pictures and illustrations clarify almost everything...a great starter book. DVD is a bit of a joke, but some good advice, nonetheless. I've been slowly transitioning into raw foods over the past year, and have been building up my arsenal, if you will...I've got all the equipment, so following her recipes has been a breeze.

[Sarah Kelsey]

This is the best starting-raw-foodism book that I've read. The book is colorful and hits the basic recipes one needs when one starts to eat differently.

[Bear · Rating 3 out of 5]

New recipes are always wonderful and these are exceptional.

[Bookish · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some very good recipes, but unless you are someone who can't eat anything BUT raw foods, there is limited appeal.

[Another · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous photos. Many wonderful ideas. First thing I tried was vietnamese salad. We all loved it! I'll be making that again. I'll be trying lots of other recipes.

I might buy this one!

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This will be a useful one.

[Zoph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for beginning/introduction to Raw foods. Plus the DVD is also nice to watch and informative ; ) Nice, clear and simple instructions to follow with bright and colorful pictures.

[L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably the best raw food intro I have found. The author understands that most of us cannot afford an Excalibur dehydrator or may not want to be on a completely raw food diet. Very encouraging.

[Kristine Wexler]

I love this cookbook. It has interesting raw food recipes. Many of the main courses require a dehydrator though so be prepared to either skip those recipes or buy a dehydrator.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice introduction to living "raw." Great photographs and good equipment recommendations. However, I would have liked more recipes.

[LaTricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still one of my favorite raw food books.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking foursome easy ideas for adding more raw foods to my diet. If you like to spend time in the kitchen you might love this book. I want something quick and easy.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book came with a DVD (short and simple videos of basics) and I really like both. I have a shelf just for cookbooks like this and it is one I have jotted down all sorts of things to make!

[Cyndi Wallis · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite raw foods books. I am slowly making my way through the recipes and every one has been delicious. Beautiful and inspiring pictures make it easy to want to make the dishes.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good resource book for going raw. Lots of pictures of recipes. It has tips and cooking techniques and show you how to perform them. The recipes are simple & easy to do.

[Vendula B · Rating 4 out of 5]

NICE!