It’s no secret that fruits and vegetables are good for you, but can you sustainably live on a plant-based diet? Lately, I’ve been trying to get into better shape by working out, eating healthier and drinking more water (something I always forget to do). So far I’ve reached a plateau in my diet and exercise where I’m having trouble losing weight. I did some research online and a lot of people recommend juice cleanses, weight loss pills and weight loss teas. I didn’t like the idea of going without food, so I looked into the benefits of going raw vegan. According to raw vegan dieters, a raw vegan diet is low in fat and cholesterol. Because your eating foods in their most whole forms, your body has an easier time digesting your food. However, if you decide to go raw vegan long term, you’re at risk for calcium, iron, vitamin B12, vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids deficiencies. Make sure to see a doctor routinely to monitor your vitamins because you might need to take supplements.
I’ve been vegan for a year now and I like to consider myself a mix of a junk food and whole foods vegan. I’ve tried going raw vegan in the past, but I’ve never been able to follow through with it. I’d like to see if eating raw vegan is a sustainable diet to live off of and if it’s a more sustainable way to lose weight.
What does it mean to go raw vegan?
On a vegan diet, you eliminate meat, dairy, eggs, and all animal-based products from your diet. Going raw vegan, you also eliminate processed food, gluten and cooked food.
General Requirements:
-
No Animal Products (dairy, meat, eggs, gelatin, lard)
-
No food cooked over 115 degrees (dehydrated food like dates, raisins and dehydrated nori is allowed)
-
No Processed Foods (Candy, Chips, Cookies, etc.)
-
No Gluten
Initially, I was scared that I wouldn’t get enough calories into my diet or I would feel hungry and tired through the day. I also like to workout and I have clubs and school work I need to keep up with, so I didn’t have time to feel tired and hazy. Knowing all the health benefits that can come from a raw vegan diet I decided to give it a shot anyway!
I went a bit over budget on my usual grocery list, but only by $8. I ended up not using all of the food I bought, so cutting off a couple items from my list could’ve helped me save up.
I was also worried about the price of avocados because I know there’s a shortage and they aren’t in season, but the Florida avocados were huge and cheap. A tip on letting your avocados last longer is storing the avocados in a tight container with onions and lemon. I know it sounds weird, but it works! Also, freezing your fruits and vegetables helps them last past the expiration date.
Day 1
I’m not a huge breakfast person, but having a green smoothie in the morning wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I’ve tried making oatmeal and avocado toast, but I can’t eat anything that heavy in morning without gagging. A green smoothie was a great way to sneak in vegetables for the day, and I could easily grab it out of my fridge with a container of fruit to class. I also had sushi burritos for lunch and a spicy zoodle salad for dinner. I’ve bought packaged zoodles before, but they were always overpriced and didn’t last for long. Buying a spiralizer and making your own zoodles at home is a great way to get more for less. I was surprised by how easy it was, too. I was feeling good, and I was surprised to find that my workout wasn’t as hard as it usually was.
Day 2
I felt a bit hungrier on day 2, but I realized that just meant I needed to eat more calories. I made banana ice cream for breakfast, which is pretty easy to make. All you need is one or two frozen bananas, cacao powder and any of your favorite toppings. I’m also usually not a huge salad person, but adding more savory components like sriracha, sesame seeds and tofu was surprisingly good. For the first time, I was able to eat a salad for a meal and feel full after.
Also, if you’re in the Ithaca area there are plenty of vegan and raw vegan restaurant options! Some of my favorites are Make Nikki Green, Core Life Eatery, Pokeland, Taste of Thai and Luna Inspired Street Food.
Day 3
I was going on a bit of withdrawal: daydreaming about peanut butter and cooked food. I noticed that this meant I wasn’t getting enough healthy fats in my diet, so I added more sesame seeds and avocado to my food. My workout was a bit harder today, and I felt like ending my workout earlier than usual, but I think that just meant I needed a rest day.
Days 4 & 5
At this point, a huge part of me wanted to eat cooked food again, but another part of me was was surprised I was able to go that long raw vegan and I didn’t want to stop just yet.
Will I go Raw Vegan?
I don’t think the raw vegan lifestyle is for me, but I’d like to incorporate more raw meals into my diet. I really loved the spicy zoodles and kale salads, which was weird because I don’t usually like salads, but maybe I just wasn’t making the right salads. I’d love to have more raw meals for breakfast and lunch to give my digestive system a nice kick earlier on in the day. Instead of brown rice, I’d like to start eating more quinoa and instead of white potatoes, I’d like to incorporate steamed sweet potatoes into my diet. Going raw vegan taught me that it’s still possible to add flavor to your food without eating processed or cooked foods. Overall, I have a lot of respect for people who are raw vegan and I hope this inspires you to try it out; it’s not as scary as it looks!