Following a raw or living foods diet can be difficult, given the
general stress of living in modern times, and the prevalence of junk
food and cooked food. One is often tempted to take the path of least
resistance, which is usually junk or processed foods.  Additionally,
raw and living foods are cleansing diets, which means the body is
slowly cleansing itself of toxins, which can cause cravings for bad
foods previously eaten.

Listed below are some things one can do to avoid backsliding. Others
are invited to comment on this list and make additional suggestions...

Direct Action:

1. Avoid temptations whenever possible. If you are going to the store
for produce and you feel a craving for candy, then stay away from the
candy section! Don't read, watch, or listen to anything that tempts you
to eat inappropriate food (to the extent possible).

2. If you are feeling cravings or being tempted to eat something bad,
stop and think about the negative effect the bad food will have on your
health, and your peace of mind.  Often you will conclude that the bad
food tastes good, but it's not worth the discomfort or suffering that
will follow if you eat it.  This strategy works best after you have
been on raw foods for some time.

3. If you are feeling cravings for bad foods, eat snacks of natural foods
instead. If you are hungry for sweet food, eat fruit instead; dried fruit
is a good substitute for candy. If you are hungry for salty foods, you
can eat sea vegetables or drink celery juice instead (celery juice with
a little bit of lemon/lime juice added is delicious and soothing).

Indirect Assistance:

4. Eat sensibly - moderately, at regular times, and don't overeat. This
is standard common sense, and it can reduce opportunities for cravings.

5. Seek the company of other raw fooders when possible. Join or start a
local support group for raw fooders in your area.

6. Have a regular exercise program that is appropriate and suitable for
you. Exercise reduces stress, improves your health, is cleansing, and
helps reduce cravings.  Hatha yoga is an excellent form of exercise;
it has considerable healing power. The meditative forms of tai chi can
be very helpful also. However, yoga or tai chi won't help if you don't
do them, so choose an exercise program that appeals to you, and that you
can follow.

7. Develop a spiritual or ethical foundation. For the religious, this
means being "grounded" in your religion. The non-religious (including
atheists and agnostics) can adopt or develop a guiding philosophy of
life, or a system of ethics. The direct benefits of this are in stress
reduction, which makes one more resistant to cravings.

8. Be careful about fasting. Fasting is very healing and cleansing, and
is nature's most powerful curative. Through its cleansing power, fasting
can (eventually) reduce food cravings. However, fasting can also cause a
psychological sense of deprivation, which may lead the faster to
overeating and/or binge eating after the fast is over.

If you do backslide and eat something bad, simply resolve to avoid the
mistake next time. Learn from your mistakes, but don't dwell on them
unnecessarily, as guilt is a negative emotion.

I invite others to add their ideas to the above list of ways to avoid
backsliding; comments are welcome...

Tom Billings
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