I'm new to this list and, to be honest, quite new to the whole concept of raw foods. Until a couple of weeks ago, I had never seriously considered that food could be nutritionally damaged by "normal" cooking methods. What information I've been able to find on the internet has been more than sufficient to secure my conversion, but it hasn't been enough for me to form my plan of action. I need more information, either from books, people, or even from web-sites that I over-looked in my hunt. Can anyone point me to some good references about nutritional requirements, how they can be met through eating raw foods, which foods should be eaten and in what quantities, &c.? I need some way to get started, but with the security that I'll meet all of my bodily needs and derive all of the benefits that raw foods seem to offer. Any references, therefor, should be more practical than persuasive. I've decided to avoid meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy. I'd love to hear the pros and cons of eating raw fish, though, as I still haven't decided on that issue. Also, is anyone else out there in the Tallahassee area? Many thanks in advance, Denis p.s. I haven't been able to access the archives yet, so I do apologize if my post touches upon any FAQs. -- "Always asking others what we are, and never daring to inquire within ourselves, in the midst of so much philosophy, humanity, and civilization, and of such sublime codes of morality, we have nothing to show for ourselves but a frivolous and deceitful appearance, one of honor without virtue, of reason without wisdom, and of pleasure without happiness." --Jean-Jacques Rousseau