a recent post inquired regarding raw seeds, nuts, and potatoes. Here are
some comments:

* most (edible) raw seeds and nuts can be soaked and/or sprouted. In fact,
soaking and/or sprouting usually improves the flavor and makes the seed/nut
more digestible as well. Good seeds and nuts to sprout include: sesame
seeds (unhulled only, white or black), sunflower seeds (hulled), almond,
peanuts. Of course many grains and legumes can be sprouted also. Nuts that
can be soaked include pecans, walnuts, filberts, and others. Soaking of
nuts removes some of the tannins present in their skins.

There are two files at the veg-raw ftp site that may be of interest. One
is on sprouting, and the other is on nuts.

A few cautions: raw kidney beans reportedly contain a toxin (that is
destroyed when cooked), so you don't want to eat them raw - they taste
awful raw anyway.
Also avoid raw/sprouted sorghum - seed coat contains potentially toxic
level of cyanide.

* raw potatoes. Yes you can eat potatoes raw but they are not appetizing.
Some raw fooders heat potatoes at 118 degrees F, the highest temperature
possible without destroying enzymes, for long periods of time. The result
is a potato that is supposedly raw but tastes cooked. There are recipes for
that approach in Gabriel Cousen's book, "Conscious Eating".

Some of the raw food recipe books feature recipes for raw potato salad.
However I can't give you an exact reference/citation.

* raw wheat germ - yes, you can eat it raw. The flavor leaves much to be
desired, but perhaps you will like it. You can try using honey or other
sweetener to improve the flavor.

**raw winter squash, the hard squash. They were not mentioned in the
questions but I wanted to post something I heard from another raw fooder.
He said you can grate them, raw, and they taste just like dairy (cow's)
cheese.  I haven't tried them but wanted to mention them as a possible
salad or dip ingredient.

Tom Billings
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