Vegan or Raw?

I can see the morality of being vegan. I can also see the nutritional value of most raw food. However, we know that certain vegetables (like corn, beans and potatoes) are indigestible raw and certain veggies are MORE nutritious when cooked, like tomatoes. Also, I feel like you aren't being cruel to a tomato by cooking it. If it's better for you, why not?

I think that is very stereotypical to assume that "most vegans" live off of boxed tv dinner meals.  I know a large community of vegans who eat very healthy meals and enjoy cooking - me included. 

I am vegan and I have to tell you....the only food I "cook"...Oatmeal. Oh and I boil veggies, if that counts. Everything else is raw fruit like apples and oranges and raw veggies in my salads. I also eat nuts, seeds and Smart Dogs (which I microwave). I have never eaten a ready prepared meal...like a Kashi box type thing. Those to me seem gross. I would call myself a "Vegan Raw Foodist" but I certainly hate cooking, shy away from packaged, already prepared food---just because I prefer to know exactly WHAT I am eating. However, I LOVE progresso and campbells light soups (most are 50-80 cals a serving) and I microwave those. :)

As a mostly raw vegan (100% vegan, 80/20 raw/cooked) I find there is can be a balance as with all things (well except animal and animal byproducts). Most of the vegan/vegetarian friends that I have met do not do the highly processed prepackaged meals. I believe that many may start out that way due to not knowing how to do a vegan lifestyle, but once educated, they tend to adopt a typical healthy vegan diet. I have found that most vegan have a better appreciation for their food and thus shy away from processed foods and lean more towards a diet rich in fruits, vegetables (raw and cooked), nut and nut butters, beans, and whole grains. With that said, I find raw to offer more readily available nutrients, but as I mentioned, there is a balance for both raw and cooked. 

 *Side note: I do not believe microwaving food (or anything) to be safe. Microwaves alter the structure of the DNA and causes internal damage of the food by cooking it from the inside out subsequently killing the substance being "cooked".