Eating High Raw Foods in Restaurants

Cassy~how do you eat in public? I mean, with all the unhealthy choices out there on typical menus, and the fact that most people are eating lots of processed foods, how do you eat raw and clean? Don’t you feel like you stand out like a sore thumb?

When it comes to eating out and in public, one of the greatest lessons I’ve learned is to only share when it was needed. The reality is, many folks I work with, or am in contact with understand that healthy food choices are optimal, even though we might not always be perfect. So if I order a salad with a piece of grilled chicken or seared tuna, it’s not too conspicuous. On the other hand, it does stand out liken a sore thumb if I am out with friends who are eating burgers, fries or pizza. So, I’ve come to understand that I’ll always appear somewhat odd, in that way~standing out as a picky healthy eater. In fact, if those I love see me eating something junky, they are more likely to be surprised and question me about why I am treating myself!

Back in the beginning of this journey when I was first learning about the Glycemic Index, Raw Foods, and Insulin Resistance, I would often bring my own food and sneak it onto a salad. Most restaurants in America will at least have some sort of veggie option, so I’d bring chopped nuts or if I was into it, a boiled egg to throw on.

Also, one thing I learned when I was 100% raw vegan is that it can help to call ahead to a restaurant and talk to the hostess or chef. It may seem rather forward, but sharing with them that you have a ‘health’ issue which requires a special diet can often garner incredibly supportive reactions…Once I did this, telling the chef that I could pretty much eat any fruit or vegetable they had in raw form…They made me a special salad, with lots of pieces of veggies that are normally part of other side dishes… Sometimes telling people you have an allergy, a digestive condition, or food sensitivity can be helpful too, so you don’t have to go into details. That way you can get the response you want, without having to go into lots of detail.