It’s summer, the weather’s sweltering, and you can’t face another night of standing over a hot stove. Is there an alternative? Sure is — serve food raw. The raw foods movement reflects a plant-based, vegan lifestyle.

Those who follow this type of diet avoid meals that have been cooked above a certain temperature.

Rather, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds are consumed in their natural, unadulterated state. Grains, nuts, and seeds are sometimes soaked or sprouted, making them more digestible.

Not that raw foods require hours in the kitchen. While many raw foods chefs plan ahead in order to dehydrate, soak, and sprout different ingredients, these activities are not essential to reap the benefits of this diet.

In fact, you don’t need to make every meal raw to benefit from this healthy lifestyle. To be continued… [source: Taste for Life]