This all started out several years ago among vegetarians. But now a growing number of so-called mainstream American food lovers are trying it. It means cutting out meat, poultry, dairy, and most fish but enthusiasts say raw food is a virtual fountain of youth and health.

Charlie Trotter is Chicago's most famous chef. What's his next cookbook about? Raw food.

At Whole Foods, Chef Jenny Cornbleet's raw food classes are filling up. "Everyone wants to get more fruits and vegetables in their diet," said Cornbleet.

That includes Ed Slingsby. "I get home from work and if there's nothing there, I go get a hamburger," he said.

Judith Gilbert is already a raw food fan. She said, "I have been doing about 50 percent raw the last three years and i've lost 40 pounds."
 
And at Karyn's Restaurant on Halsted, there's a raw food buffet every day.  Karyn Calabrese herself hasn't eaten cooked food in 20 years. "I have gone through menopause with no symptoms whatsoever. I am 56 years old. I don't know what illness is," said Calabrese.

Enthusiasts say eating foods raw preserves important proteins, vitamins and enzymes. "It's the way nature intended us to eat our food."

But, consider the tomato. Cancer and heart disease fighting lycopenes are optimized when tomatoes are cooked. And there are other issues that worry nutritionists.

Cooking is also a good way to kill germs.  For example, raw sprouts have been linked to several outbreaks of foodborne illness.  Yet, Dr. Linda van Horne says there's a place for raw food. "If it helps people cut down on fat, salt and sugar...then it's an innovative approach," she said.

Chef Charlie Trotter agrees. "It's possible to have the raw food approach as part of your diet...and not exclusively what you eat," said Trotter.

Charlie Trotter and others are convinced that raw food will become a ever bigger part of our diet. Many of the recipes are delicious.  But, to go 100 percent raw food takes education about nutrition. There are concerns about vitamin B, protein, and folic acid deficiencies.  Without cooking, some foods such as corn and potatoes can't be digested, and you miss out on nutrients.

More information about raw food lessons:

Raw Food Lessons
Chef Jenny Cornbleet
Raw-Food Cuisine

Raw Food Lessons and Restaurant
Karyn's
1901 N. Halsted
312-255-1590