Are raw vegetables for lunch enough?

by Venkat
(Hyderabad, India)

Q Are raw vegetables for lunch enough? I would like to know, regards to i am eating only raw vegetables (carrot, radish, beet, Cabbage) in my lunch, so is this sufficient for my diet or should i add any additional foods? Please let me know.

Thanks, Venkat

A Having a wide variety of fresh and if possible organic vegetables for lunch is wonderful. You may wish to add in some type of fat to go with the vegetables, but it is not necessary. Fats like fresh nuts or seeds, raw almond butter, or other nut butters. Raw coconut butter or oil, raw olives, or avocado. Whatever is available in its healthiest form would be fine.

Even a small amount of fat can help with digestion and the assimilation of fat soluble nutrients found in the vegetables. In the west, people in general consume far too many fats, and of the wrong kind, so fats often get a bad mark from health enthusiasts, but they are part of a healthy diet.

Fats that contain omega 3 essential fatty acids are often missing from the diet so they are always a welcome addition. Omega 3’s can be found in flax, chia, and hemp seeds as well as the herb purslane. It’s important to note that simply increasing the omega 3’s is not enough to balance the overindulged omega 6’s, they should be cut back so a ratio of approx. 3 to 1 omega 6’s to omega 3’s is reached.

Coconut oil/butter, olives, and avocados are all healthy fats as well when consumed with some moderation.

Are raw vegetables for lunch enough? Yes they are and many people are able to eat fresh raw vegetables without condiments, but many find it nearly impossible. This is where creativity in the kitchen comes into play. Creating dips using fats mixed with lemon or lime juice, and a few fresh herbs or spices can be a delightful way to dress up your veggies. Whether used as dips or poured over and mixed in, dips/dressings can turn a bland meal of plain vegetables into a gourmet experience for just about everyone.