Ronny Terry is a Swindon-based personal trainer. He has previously worked as Performance Analyst with Swindon Town FC and on obesity initiatives with the NHS. Tweet your questions to @SWITCHFITUK or visit www.switchfituk.co.uk

Q Raw food – isn’t that boring, tasteless and for hippies?

A Well no, actually. Raw foodism is the practice of only eating uncooked (or minimally cooked), unprocessed, natural foods.

There are many different philosophies surrounding raw food including veganism and vegetarianism, and some even include raw meat. Most people associate raw food with a fully plant based diet.

The concept of eating foods in their natural state is far from new and most people will regularly consume raw foods in the form of fruit, vegetables and nuts without a second thought. But the idea of solely living on plants is enough to send many people straight to a burger joint.

But you don’t need to be a vegetarian to enjoy raw food. Carnivores can up their fruit and vegetable intake by swapping the occasional meat dish for a raw food alternative or upgrade their side dish to something more healthy and interesting. Pudding lovers needn’t feel left out as the raw food movement takes desserts very seriously indeed with raw chocolate puddings, macaroons and tarts just a small example of delights to tuck in to.

Believe it or not, raw food can be creative, interesting and, more importantly, tasty. Rather than relying on processed ingredients to mimic earth’s natural flavours, a raw food dish can awaken tastebuds sent to sleep by an abundance of sugars and MSG. By carefully marrying up nature’s finest creations, taste can once again become a powerful sense and the rest of your body can benefit from the goodness.

With The Core about to open their raw, vegan and vegetarian restaurant proper, and culinary maestro Jay Halford curating the grub, there has never been a better time to see just how exciting and healthy raw food can be.