Raw Fairies raw food diet

The raw food diet often gets its share of puzzled looks. But 'going raw' means eating fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds prepared in innovative ways. It's not about tucking into sushi or steak tartare, but about eating foods un-heated in order to preserve their digestive enzymes and maximum health benefits.

In theory, it makes sense. What could be healthier than fresh fruit and vegetables? The diet is also mostly vegan and organic. While vegan I am not, after many weeks of feasting on meat, dairy, sugar and alcohol I wanted not only to lose weight, but also feel healthier. Raw food preparation however, isn't for the faint of heart (or the short of time). I needed someone who could prepare the food for me.

How it works

The experts at Raw Fairies stress they are a raw food delivery service and not a prescribed diet per se (with the exception of their five and 12-day detox plans, which many people do use for weight loss).

While you can choose to eat exclusively from Raw Fairies, it's not compulsory or even always recommended. Many use Raw Fairies just to top up their healthy eating regime or do 'Raw Mondays' once a week.

For me, I decided to do three days eating exclusively from Raw Fairies. Would I starve? Would the food be disgusting? More importantly, would I lose weight and feel better?

The menu

Each morning I would receive the daily menu created by gourmet raw food chef Anya Ladra and her team, which includes one drink, two salads and one meal, priced per day at £22.50. You can also top up the daily menu with additional salads, smoothies, nutritional supplements and even desserts.

Day one (a typical menu) included:

* Sweet cherry smoothie with raw cacao

* Sicilian burger in two-seed onion bread with cashew mayo

* Waldorf salad with lemon tahini dressing

* Courgette, mango and avocado salad with lime chilli dressing

Like a traditional veggie burger tastes nothing like a mouthful of juicy beef, neither did the Sicilian burger (made from what I could tell, was nuts). For one, it was cold. However, judged on its own merits, I found it quite delicious - especially the dollop of cashew mayo.

I decided to top up the daily menu with an additional smoothie, juice, and nutritional booster made from coconut water (all which come at an extra cost). On day two, I tried a raw food chocolate bar, which was another particular favourite: gooey, rich and satisfying.

The positives

Not having the stress of what to eat, what to buy and how to prepare was one of the highlights of going with Raw Fairies. It meant I could focus on what I was eating, as opposed to what I couldn't eat. I also liked that the regime allowed for some degree of flexibility, allowing that all raw, all the time isn't always best for everyone.

Devotees claim that effortless weight loss, improved health, better skin and decreased cravings (as your body is getting all the nutrients it needs) are all benefits of eating raw food. No surprises then that the diet has celebrity fans including Uma Thurman, Natalie Portman and Demi Moore.

After just three days I could see these benefits for myself: my skin was glowing, my old skinny jeans fit, and my usual rabid cravings had all but disappeared.

The negatives

While the portions were on the small side (I sneaked in my own banana when I felt peckish) and the food can be an acquired taste, I never felt starving. And while I didn't have cravings, I did miss the emotional comfort of eating steaming hot food, especially in the evenings.

Finally, if you've ever done a detox, you can expect some of the same symptoms - such as headache. A throbbing at my temples appeared on the first day and lasted for 24 hours, but I felt great for the rest of the diet.

Did it work?

Yes, yes, and yes! After just three days I lost three pounds (and not just water weight, as I was chugging H20 regularly as a pre-emptive strike against hunger pains). My old French Connection super-skinny jeans fit like a charm, my skin was clear and I had no desire at the end of the diet to eat my own body weight in chocolate or steak - my portion control and cravings had some perspective. I felt clear headed, lighter and more confident. Would I do it again? Absolutely.

Raw Fairies delivers in the London area, with daily deliveries starting at £22.50 and detox programmes from £295. For more information visit www.rawfairies.com