Raw and ravishing

The Raw Food Juice Bar only has a few blenders, a fridge and a dehydrator. No oven. No stove. No grill.

I know what you’re thinking. What can you order at a raw food restaurant other than salad and juice?

I was just as sceptical . A raw food diet is rigid – nothing must be warmer than 47 C.

Restaurant owner Shelley Robertson says: “It’s been scientifically proven that food loses vitamins and minerals when it is cooked or warmed at 47C.”

She says that is why people who eat cooked food tend to overindulge.

“Their bodies are trying to compensate for lost nutrients. The enzymes in raw food ease digestion.”

Robertson’s menu is made up of unprocessed, mostly organic, whole plant-based foods, some grown at her home.

These include fresh fruits and vegetables, sun-dried fruits, nuts, seeds, beans, grains, legumes, and seaweed.

The varied menu includes cheeses and creams made from cashew nuts. Flax seed-base pizzas are also on offer.

As winter approaches, the restaurant will introduce pastas made from butternut and zucchini. It will use dehydrators and mechanical blenders to “heat” soups.

After taking a few sips of my fresh raw carrot, pineapple and ginger juice, I ordered a vegan sandwich.

Happy and surprised to see bread on the menu, I tucked in, and after a few bites I forgot that my sandwich was missing meat.

But what really surprised my tastebuds was the banana crepe served with seasonal berries and vanilla cashew “cream”.

It is a “pancake” made from pureed dehydrated bananas. I couldn’t believe that a dessert without sugar, flour or milk could be so satisfying.

“My restaurant is 100% vegan and 60% to 70% raw. The vegan sandwich is made from a vegan Russian rye bread (bought at Fresh Earth Food Store in Emmarentia) and the nori sheets for our vegan sushi handrolls are made from tofu,” says Robertson.

Why follow the raw diet?

Well, at the age of 40, actress Demi Moore made a major comeback in the film Full Throttle, thanks to a raw food diet.

But Robertson says there’s more to the diet than weight loss.

“I lost weight when I initially went raw and I’ve maintained a lean, healthy body. But that happens with any diet that removes empty carbs, processed foods and bad fats. The true benefit of this diet is that I feel better than ever. I’m healthier, my skin is the best it’s ever been and I’m more energetic.”

Even with such testimonies from raw food enthusiasts, some nutritionists are concerned that the restrictive nature of the diet might limit nutrient intake.

But Robertson says: “There are so many foods that will give you the nutrients and vitamins found in meat, poultry and dairy. You just have to do research so your diet is balanced.”

• The Raw Food Juice Bar is situated at 44 Stanley Avenue, Milpark, Johannesburg. For more information call 074-179-4670

Vegetarian, Raw and Vegan with Bill & Sheila

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