Nutrition: Trying the raw-food diet

Think eating raw means munching the day away on crudité and salads? It’s doesn’t have to be like that at all.

Last Friday and friend and I went to Raw Aura, a raw-food restaurant in Mississauga, Ont. (Here are some more healthy restaurant options.)

We started with the ravioli, since it was recommended by a foodie friend. I was told I had to try it and to leave room for dessert (not a fruit salad, by the way). Also don’t judge my iPhone 3G pics.

This was amazing. Instead of pasta, the pillows were made of thinly sliced beets stuffed cashew ricotta cheese, red pepper marinara sauce and each ravioli was topped with crispy kale.

The waiter was excited to find out we were raw-food virgins, as he put it. And he was happy to tell us the most popular main dish. While he loves the Pasta Bolognese (zucchini noodles with tomato basil marinara, red peppers, sunflower seed and sundried tomato sausage, and sprinkled with almond Parmesan), most diners order the Lasagna (thin slices of zucchini ‘noodles’ layered with cashew ricotta, tomatoes, red pepper marinara sauce, and basil, spinach walnut pesto, as well as almond Parmesan cheese), which is what my friend had, along with the Pink Lady, pink grapefruit and pear juice.

I had the Burstin Burrito ‘ sun dried tomato and carrot tortilla stuffed with lettuce, tomato, red onion, guacamole and refried pumpkin seed beans, garnished with cashew sour cream and side salsa.

For dessert, I tried the Chocolate Banana Cake. It’s more like a mousse/cheese cake in that the texture is creamy with a crunchy crust. It was delicious.

Now, could I live off the raw-food diet? It would be tough. But it was definitely enjoyable when someone else was’ er’. cooking. Would you be able follow a raw food diet?

Related articles:

‘ Our best raw recipes

‘ Raw food until dinner

‘ Should a puppy eat raw food?