The Complete Idiot's Guide to Eating Raw [Paperback]

Mark Reinfeld (Author), Bo Rinaldi (Author), Jennifer Murray (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Complete Idiot's Guide | Publication Date: July 1, 2008

A raw food diet is a purely healthy diet.

More people than ever are turning to a raw food diet. In this guide, readers will find the secrets to raw food weight loss; how raw foods can heal the body and boost energy and enthusiasm; information on the anti-aging properties of raw food; and 100+ recipes that show how raw foods can be combined into delectable meals.

* Fully explains the benefits of this increasingly popular diet choice, plus presents a mini cookbook that gets readers started on their new regimen
* Recently published studies indicate that rheumatoid and fibromyalgia patients-who number in the millions-can benefit from an uncooked vegan diet rich in antioxidants, lactobacilli, and fiber

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Alpha; 1 edition (July 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592577717
• ISBN-13: 978-1592577712
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (73 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,573 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mark Reinfeld is the winner of Vegan.com's 2011 Recipe of the Year award. He is the coauthor of The 30-Minute Vegan, The 30-Minute Vegan's Taste of the East, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Eating Raw, Vegan Fusion World Cuisine and the upcoming 30 Minute Vegan's Taste of Europe.

Mark has been preparing inspired gourmet vegan and live food cuisine for over 20 years. He currently offers vegan culinary workshops, trainings and retreats around the world. An online version of his trainings, Cooking Healthy Lessons, is available on www.veganfusion.com. He is the founding chef of Blossoming Lotus restaurant, winner of Honolulu Advertiser's 'Ilima Award for 'Best Kaua'i Restaurant'. He is the recipient of the 2006 Platinum Carrot Award for living foods - a national award given by the Aspen Center for Integral Health to America's 'top trailblazing and innovative healthy gourmet chefs'. His first book, Vegan Fusion World Cuisine has won 9 international awards including 'Cookbook of the Year', 'Best New Cookbook' and a Gourmand Award for 'Best Vegetarian Cookbook in the USA'.

Mark received his initial culinary training from his grandfather Ben Bimstein, a renowned chef and ice carver in New York City. Mark developed his love for World culture and cuisine during travel journeys through Europe, Asia, South America, and the Middle East. To further his knowledge of the healing properties of food, he received a Masters Degree in Holistic Nutrition.

For more information, please visit www.veganfusion.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

256 of 258 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good stuff, July 22, 2008

By 

Shelli (California desert) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Eating Raw (Paperback)

I've got 3 other raw food books. I like this one the best. Not alot of hype. I appreciate that. It is written for idiots...begins by explaining the benefits of going raw. I'd been raw for a month prior to reading this book, but the motivation to continue was good.

Step by step instructions for soaking and sprouting methods (easy to follow chart included). I was too timid to attempt this process til I read this book. Way easy. My kitchen is sproutin' right now.

Recipes with easy to find ingredients is important. I've got to prepare food for 5 s.a.d. enthusiasts so I don't have alot of time or cash to fool around with. This book's got the recipes I can use. The live oatmeal recipe was easy to prepare and delish! It touches a couple of times on this or that being gluten free, which is vital for me. It clued me into nama shoyu...major gluten goin' on. Thanks, it sucks to have a recipe picked out and find out at the grocery store while reading a label that I can't have that specific thing. So, I run around putting the other ingredients back on the shelf coz that recipe's a wash! Another thing, Idiot's Guide tells you exactly what needs to be soaked for any given recipe. I ruined a recipe from another book because it didn't tell me to soak $12.00 worth of almonds. I had to go on you tube to watch other people explain it before one of them finally mentioned that they needed to be soaked. I was bummed. This book helps me not screw things up.

Idiot's Guide has great insider tips on kitchen appliances...wish I'd have read this before I bought my dehydrator, blender, food processor, and juicer. The dehydrator to buy is the Excalibur. The hours it saves in dehydrating time due to its design is crazy! Now I'm bummed with my cheapy Walmart one. There are alot of chip, cracker, and bread recipes I can't make very well without the good dehydrator. The recipes are found in other books not just this one, so it's not a negative against this book. The dehydrating chart is helpful, as well. I like how Idiot's Guide explains why you have increased temps at the beginning of some dehydrations and not others, and why it is still considered raw at these temps. Also, a Champion brand juicer is the one recommended by all raw foodists I've read from. This book explains very simply the differences in how they work and therefore why Champion is the brand recommended.

Basically, the book imparts alot of knowledge, little tips and info on nutition without being too sciencey. It defines some of the raw foodist lexicon. It's like having a friend explain lots of little facts as well as some biggies, in a fun to read manner. I'd buy it again if I didn't already own it!

87 of 87 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love these recipes!, August 26, 2008

By 

M. Perkins "mmperk" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Eating Raw (Paperback)

After making another wonderful dinner from this book tonight, I decided that I should write my impression of the recipes. I have a lot of raw uncook books, so I am familiar with many recipes and food preparation techniques. These authors seem to have perfected the ingredients for soups and breads, and they really understand the concept of taste. I first made the Sweet Vanilla-Almond Dip - so simple but so yummy! I love it with apple. Then I made two salad dressings, the Tahini Dressing and the Fantastic Flax Dressing - both perfect and delightful! I made the Blueberry-Vanilla Macadamia Nut Granola and it is quite good. Then tonight I had for dinner the Carrot Ginger Soup with a sandwich made with the Foccacia. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to try raw cuisine, and I intend to keep exploring more recipes!

101 of 103 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I love this book!, July 18, 2008

By 

Barbara Andersen (Florence, OR) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Eating Raw (Paperback)

I am reasonably new to eating live foods and this book has proven to be incredibly helpful with the transition. The recipes are so tasty and not overly time-consuming to prepare. Even if you only intend to add some raw foods into your diet this is the book for you. It's well written, quite thorough (with lots of helpful hints and tasty tips scattered throughout the recipe sections) and yet simple and very easy to understand. It's divided into five main sections so it's quite user friendly when you're trying to access the various information it contains.

Part One talks about the health benefits of raw foods, how to set up your pantry and what gear you'll need in your kitchen. Part Two teaches you about preparation, marinades, sprouting, dehydration and culturing techniques. It even includes a very complete chart for dehydration drying times and temperatures that I've found extremely helpful. Part Three contains delicious recipes for beverages, soups, sauces, dressings and lighter fare. Part Four contains more wonderful recipes for heartier fare including breakfasts, breads, wraps, main dishes as well as absolutely yummy deserts! Part Five talks about lifestyle changes, the transition into eating live foods and gives some fasting options as well as a wonderfully laid out 4-week Raw Food Success Program.

The writers have also included a resource section with helpful information on other books as well as web-sites for raw food and sustainability organizations, online publications, classes, retreats and workshops where you can learn more.

All in all I think this is one of the best "cook" books I've seen about raw foods. The recipes are tantalizing and delicious and the information is very accessible for everyone.