how to go raw vegan?

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i come from a background where meat is the norm. i recently weaned myself off of animal products and really want more information on raw veganism. i've been longing to convert, but i cling to my fake meats and cheeses like a crutch from my meat eating days.

i was wondering, really, what can you eat as a raw foodie? what are your experiences with going raw, and would you suggest it?

thanks all in advance

[ginkgo]

Some go simple and eat mostly fruits. There are thousands of fruits to eat. Others get into complex things with dehydrating and processing of raw foods to eat exotic raw foods. Some basics for me are oranges, bananas and avocadoes-- all high in potassium to balance out your consumption of non-food (salt). Here are some raw food recipes.

[votoshka]

There are heaps and heaps of websites, books and information for people who want to go raw vegan. I just bought The 80/10/10 diet by Dr. Douglas Graham (have only just started reading it though) which looks to be an excellent resource.

A lot of people find it very difficult to go straight from cooked to raw, so start by making recipes and dehydrating food (as gingko said). While this probably isn't quite as good as just eating raw foods in their natural state, it can be helpful for transition. You get to eat pizzas, crackers, and stuff that sort of satisfies that "cooked" desire.

[Gabo]

When I went raw for 30 days, I got a cook book called Raw Food Made Easy for 1 or 2 People, and it helped immensely. The book has many easy recipes for everything from appetizers and salads to main courses to dessert. Especially good was the zucchini spaghetti, and pretty much all of the desserts!

A good way to get raw food is simply go to the market and actually look through the entire produce section. You'll be amazed at how many different kinds of fruits and vegetables there are, and most of them are great to eat by themselves.

I ate tons and tons of fruit on my raw trial, and it was fantastic.
Good luck with going raw!

[Dimond]

Go on Raw Food Talk Forum and you'll find tons of info and helpful, friendly support. It's one of the best resources available and all in one place. The owner also has a book and dvd.