Have you ever seen foliage like this? WOW!!

I’m no meteorologist, but I know a bit about the seasons, having seen 44 autumns. Given this splendor, and the number of acorns, I expect a brutally cold winter. Which leads me to a topic one of you asked about recently–the raw food diet versus cooked foods, or in my case, the mostly vegan Macrobiotic diet, which is comprised many of cooked grains, cooked vegetables, cooked beans and bean products, cooked sea vegetables, and some raw seeds, nuts and veggies, more in the Summertime.

Seems everyone (in California and Florida especially) is getting into the raw foods movement, and there is some merit to it. Certainly, attention to what we are eating, the sources, the quality, the amount, and the preparation, is all good. However, a simple raw diet often falls short because it potentially fails to take into account some very important information, including:

1) The Climate–If you live in Aruba, you can eat lots of raw foods throughout the year, but people in New England have different food needs throughout the year, based on the seasons. For example, squash, garlic, onions, and turnips grow right before winter, and they provide enormous amounts of energy which we can use to stay warm and do work, inside or out. In the Summer, we might eat a lightly dressed salad, and then go boating. Have you notice that the raw foods movement is most popular in CA and Florida?

2) The seasons–for instance, if we do have a particularly cold winter, few or no raw foodies in New England will be able to survive without well cooked foods, whether they be vegetarian chili with soy sausage, chicken pot pie with gravy, or squash soup with burdock root. That includes you Nancy, be careful!

3) Our condition–if we are healthy, our bodies are strong and flexible, which means we can eat out of nature and out of season a bit, without getting into too much trouble. However, as a country, our condition has deteriorated over the past few years, as evidenced by the obesity and H1N1 pandemics.

4) Our Lifestyle–Although most animals do eat a raw diet, they also live outside and have to hunt prey in order to survive. This requires more work. On the other hand, they have less stress because they are living a more natural life (and presumably better conditions). What you intend to do should factor in. You could not be a world class wood chopper in Burlington VT without some well-cooked foods (vegan or non-vegan).

5) Energetics–Compare the color of raw broccoli vs. steamed for 1-2 minutes. The brighter color in the latter means it’s ready to be eaten, and cooking foods helps balance them for better absorption in our bodies. There may be less of a certain nutrient, but in the end, you feel better, and more satisfied. Some foods can be enjoyed with less cooking in the Summer, because we don’t need as much energy then, especially if we are sunning ourselves on the beach.

For more information, please buy and read Macrobiotics For Dummies, by Verne Varona.

Tomorrow, I’ll give you a tip for balancing out your food mistakes. You may find this useful on Halloween and Thanksgiving!