Food & recipes

Real Diets: What’s in the raw foodist’s trolley?

By Michael Van Straten

Michael van Straten looks at the raw diet of ‘Sproutman’ Steve Meyerowitz

Michael van Straten looks at the raw diet of ‘Sproutman’ Steve Meyerowitz

What’s on the menu?

My first food of the day is an all-green juice made from kale, celery, parsley, lemon and ginger. I consider juice my most nourishing meal of the day.

Lunch is a smoothie. Some days it will just be Klamath Lake blue green algae, plus a banana.

For dinner, it could be a steamed vegetable or a cooked grain.

I snack on something simple and easy to grab. Often it is nuts and dried fruit; today it was pumpkin seeds and banana chips with goji berries.

I drink two to three hot drinks every day; my afternoon drink today was a green chai tea.

I often add milk to my teas. Today I added coconut milk, but it could easily be rice or almond milk. When I’m in a more decadent mood, I’ll heat up a roasted grain drink that includes roasted barley, barley malt and chicory.

I would say I am probably average in my enjoyment of ice cream, except that mine is non-dairy and non-sugar. I enjoy a brand of ice cream made from coconut milk which is called Coconut Bliss and it is pretty much a one ingredient product. It’s satisfying, rewarding and sin-free.

Steve Meyerowitz, the ‘Sproutman’, is in association with Xynergy Health Products. For more information visit xynergy.co.uk.

Michael’s Verdict

Sprouted seeds are great as part of a mixed and varied diet, but are not in any way miracle food, and Klamath Lake blue green algae have been the cause of sickness and infection.
Following a vegetarian, organic diet is fine but to advocate an 80 percent raw, 90 percent vegan diet is, to my scientific mind, not necessarily a healthy option. Starting his day with a fresh juice of kale, celery, parsley, lemon and ginger is excellent. I should know as the author of Superjuice, which is a world best-seller. Following this with snacks of nuts, seeds, berries or health bars is also good; but Steve favours expensive, exotic options such as goji berries, pomegranate, açai, mangosteen and agave nectar. Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, all the currants and honey are a fraction of the price and just as healthy.
Steve avoids lunch but has a drink of green tea or a cereal ‘coffee’, though I don’t think a roasted grain drink that includes roasted barley, barley malt and chicory is particularly decadent!
Steve has one vice and that is ice cream, but not as you know it. His non-dairy version is made from coconut and he describes it as “satisfying, rewarding and sin-free”.
The vast majority of humans thrive best on a mixed diet. The absence of fish-based omega 3 and vitamin D complex from good cereals, calcium for strong bones and the nutrients most available from foods only when cooked, makes his eating habits questionable.
No foods are really a sin. Even an occasional Big Mac, plate of chips, glass of wine or cup of good, strong fair trade coffee. It’s how you eat most of the time that really matters.