One of the questions asked frequently about the living foods lifestyle is whether is it suitable for pregnant women and young kids.

To answer this question, let’s first ask ourselves - why do we want to eat live foods?

We eat live food because we want to get the best out of every food we eat.

Conventional cooked foods are also food, and they are definitely edible. The difference is how much quality nutrients do they deliver to your body, and whether there are any negative impact during the process of digestion.

When we can see things from this angle, we realize that raw foods are simply the same foods which we have been eating all along, but in a more superior form, that’s all!

They are more superior in form because precious, life-giving nutrients are still intact and unadulterated.

Pregnant women, like the rest of us, need nourishment to sustain optimal health. And they need more than the rest of us because they are supporting the nutritional needs of the baby as well!

For eg. Will a pregnant lady get more vitamins and minerals from a plate fresh raw greens, or fried/tempura greens?

The answer for her, is the same answer for children, and the same for the rest of us. We all get more out of the uncooked greens!

If I’m supporting a pregnancy on raw foods, I would carry on incorporating the same living foods in my diet, but I would definitely cut down on cold fruits, icy smoothies and ice-creams.

Blended greens, fresh uncooked vegetables and fruits will still form my staple diet, but the difference is that I will try to have these at room temperatures.

Since children are in the high growth stage, they may need more nutrients and calories (this also depends largely on activity levels).

They too will get better quality nutrients from fresh fruit than a fruit bar; a green smoothie than a plate of fried greens.

It is the same logic!

Most kids who are averse to greens and vegetables are like this because of family traditions or upbringing. When a child is born, he/she is like a piece of blank paper for the parents and/or elders in the family to write on.

The family upbringing usually determines a child’s beliefs and habits in years to come.

There are numerous cases where babies were given sweet blended greens, when they didn’t know better to condemn the color of green in a drink, and they simply loved it!

Watch this clip to see how a baby cries after he runs out of green smoothies

(C) Copyright 2008, Linda Loo

Tags: low fat recipes, raw food recipes, raw food health, raw food diet