Most foods in the raw food diet are simple in preparation, and can be eaten immediately. However, other foods can require hours, or even days, of preparation to make the food palatable. Rice, for example, must be soaked in water for more than a day to soften it. Depending on the recipe, some food (such as cakes) may also need to be dehydrated. This process, which emulates cooked food, is lengthy. Preparation of raw food recipes usually call for a blender, food processor, juicer, and dehydrator. Care is required in planning a raw foods diet, especially for children. There have been some recent cases in the United States of children on inadequate raw foods diets developing serious health problems and even dying of malnutrition.

There is little research on how to plan a nutritionally adequate raw foods diet, especially for children. The Tree of Life Foundation in Arizona, which advocates a vegan raw food diet, is currently conducting a survey of babies and children on a diet of 75% raw foods or more. Raw foodists claim that with sufficient calories, essential fatty acids, variety and density, people of all ages can be successful at eating raw foods.