An emerging trend in the food world is the raw food diet. The diet consists of eating foods that are unprocessed and uncooked. Those who follow the plan do not eat anything that has been cooked above 116 degrees, which is the temperature at which foods begin to loose some of their nutrients and enzymes. While this diet has been popular with people, including vegetarians, vegans, and those who want to eat as healthy as possible, for awhile it is starting to become more popular in the mainstream.

Raw food restaurants are starting to appear more frequently across the country. Two of the newest offerings are in Boston and near Orlando. These restaurants feature dishes made of vegetables, fruits, and nuts that are often replicas of traditional cooked foods. An example is a gnocchi dish made from nuts at the restaurant in Boston (gnocchi is typically made from cooked potatoes).

Raw restaurants are popular with vegetarians, vegans, those who want to eat healthier, and even those who just want to try something different. People who frequent these establishments know that they are trying something that is new and still developing and are eager to find out what it is all about. There are many items on most of the menus that people recognize and there is a selection of items to sample, including appetizers, desserts, and drinks.

While you may not be ready to open a completely raw restaurant it is easy to incorporate raw items into your menu. Start slowly, possibly by increasing your salad offerings, and gradually work up to more items. Look around at what successful raw restaurants are doing for inspiration and ask questions of those who are already experimenting with raw offerings. After you’ve gathered your ideas and have decided to add raw items your Serv-U representative can help you get all the tools and utensils you need to incorporate the raw trend into your restaurant.