Raw Fruit and nuts?-of course. Raw veggies? A little bland, but no problem. Raw eggs? Bland and gooey, but the risk of illness is very minimal and I’m getting used to them. Raw meat? That’s a whole other topic. I know that from a nutritional standpoint, it is the best way to eat meat. You are not destroying healthy enzymes and bacteria that actually HELP you digest and absorb other beneficial nutrients. From an immune system standpoint, you have to have pretty fresh and clean meat to eat it raw. There’s no telling what all it’s touched from it’s journey to the animal to your dinner plate. A trustworthy source-or a super strong gut-are necessary to go raw and not get sick. Last night, I felt I had both. I had planned on starting light, with fish and small portions, but a mission rarely gets executed according to plan.

There is a newly opened Ethiopian restaurant on the east side. Colleen and I have been wanting to try it out since we noticed its opening. I was especially excited when I noticed they had a Beef Tartar (spiced raw ground beef) on the menu. I did not hesitate to order it. I thought it would be about the size of a medium hamburger patty. I was quite surprised when the waitress brought a plate almost full of meat, with some collard greens, cottage cheese, and injera (an Ethiopian flat bread) on the side. It gets better though! In my culinary naivety, I did not know that Ethiopian food is traditionally eaten without utensils! So, i got to chow down true caveman style with my hands. The meat was a bit more chewy than cooked, but it was seasoned so well that I couldn’t really tell it was raw. It was actually a very tasty dish, and I highly recommend this restaurant for you Austin cuisine go-ers.

I felt a little funny after dinner, not stomach wise, but in the head, like a food high, and was tired. But it had been a long week and I had done interval workouts just before dinner so I’m not blaming the food for that funny feeling. I slept like a rock and woke up feeling normal. I got to work and had breakfast-3 raw eggs, some grapes, and organic milk. The stomach felt a little uneasy for most of the morning, but I felt fine after 11. I think the grapes were bad since the had been sitting in the fridge for a few weeks. I’m not blaming the eggs and surely not blaming some good meat I ate the night before. Part of it just might be adapting to this diet and getting my gut and immune system prepared to eat this kind of food. Since I’ve taken my first big step in eating raw meat, I’m ready to keep moving forward. Please feel free to address any concerns or post any questions you might have.This is a controversial and largely misunderstood topic that I wish people had more interest in.