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I had another “first” in my plant-based journey on Monday.
I ate only raw food.
I don’t think a year or so ago I would have known that it was possible to eat only raw food all day (which is pretty silly when you think about it), but lately I’ve been cramming in the fruits, veggies and water and I’ve been feeling great!
I’m not planning to become a fully raw vegan–first because I’m not a fan of labels (except for plant-based!) and second because I love me some cooked foods and baked goods! However, the more I learn and experience the benefits of nutrient dense foods, the more I want to continue incorporating raw fruits and veggies, and even fully raw meals, into my life. For the past month or more I’ve been eating mostly raw food until dinner and I’ve noticed such a difference. I used to always get an afternoon slump, but I’ve felt energetic all throughout the day. I’ve also noticed that my skin has improved, but we’ll see if they are related.
Anyways, Monday was a fun experimental day of eating, so I thought I’d share it with you all! (Sorry for the iPhone photos!)
Breakfast:
Cantaloupe is my current favorite fruit. I ate an entire melon for breakfast on Monday and it hit the spot! Cantaloups are one of the lowest calorie fruits and are very water rich so they digest very quickly. It’s so easy for me to eat an entire melon in one sitting now, which I would have never considered in the past.
Morning Snack:
I hung out at a Whole Foods Market on the Upper West Side most of the morning/early afternoon. To start out I got a Gingerberry Kombucha. I had just tried Kombucha for the first time the day before and I loved it so much that I decided to try out a new flavor.
Lunch:
After some reading, I went and got a salad and some fruit for lunch. I packed my container with all the greens and toppings like cherry tomatoes, broccoli salad, beets, and peppers. For dressing I like to use Balsamic Vinegar.
I also tried a new variety of mango (lots of “firsts” lately!) called ataulfo. It was super juicy and delicious and I made a mess trying to eat it.
Afternoon Snacks:
I walked the length of Central Park instead of taking the subway for part of my journey home. It was a gorgeous, warm day and people were out and about. Spring is just around the corner!
For some snacks I had a baggie of raisins (not pictured) and 1/2 of a red grapefruit. I want to like grapefruit so badly, but it’s still too bitter for me. I used to not be able to stomach even 1 slice, so the fact that I ate 1/2 of a whole grapefruit is progress in my book.
I also had an apple after I got home!
Dinner:
Dinner was something completely foreign to me, but it was fun to try something out of my comfort zone: Raw Vegan Chili. Despite the brown blob you see in the picture, it was actually good! I do wish I had been able to put some avocado on top. I think some healthy fats were definitely missing from this raw vegan experiment.
Dessert:
After dinner I introduced Brett to the classic movie Hook (he was a deprived child) and had a big ol’ bowl of banana ice cream with homemade chocolate sauce, cacao nibs and dried mulberries. Perfection. I used 3 frozen bananas to make the ice cream and then stirred in one chopped fresh banana for some texture. To make the chocolate sauce I just whisk together 1 tablespoon cacao powder 1 teaspoon of maple syrup and 1 tablespoon of water. It’s perfection. If you don’t like the dark chocolate taste as much increase the maple syrup to 2 teaspoons!
And that’s what I ate throughout my completely raw-vegan-one-day-experiment. I hope it gave you some ideas on how to incorporate more raw fruits and veggies into your diet.
One main that I experienced from this day of eats is just how much raw vegans have to eat to get in enough calories throughout the day. Vegetables and fruit are high in nutrients, but also low in calories, so I found myself needing to eat often…which is fine with me!
I also learned that I didn’t feel deprived like I would have thought a year or so ago. I’ve grown to love fruits and vegetables, but it truly is amazing what we can create with raw foods: like chili and ice cream!
If you want to get more meal and recipe inspiration, check out Jenn’s blog Peas and Crayons!
Miss Polkadot
Grapefruit still always makes me think of dieting and I can’t shake that connotion off. I do want to like it – actually, I want to like all fruit and vegetables 🙂 – but so far … no.
I’ve never gone a full day of eating raw only though I eat a lot of produce. But I briefly considered trying that popular ‘banana island’ for a day or two in summer at some point. Just looking at your banana softserve … mmmh. However, if I tried a day of raw foods I know I’d need to have some fats in the form of nuts, seeds or avocado in. Actually, that’s I see the raw vegan bloggers I follow do. I think it’d be incredibly hard to get in enough energy through fruit and vegetables only over a long time.
Miss Polkadot recently posted…Good good links #86
Faith
I definitely agree on the fats department! That’s something I would have to include more of if I ate a fully raw diet (which I don’t plan to do). I know I wouldn’t have to worry about getting enough protein through raw foods, but healthy fats are so needed for longevity!
And I wish I liked all the vegetables too…maybe one day;)
Ellie
I’ve probably had an unintentional raw day without realizing it. When I went vegan, going raw sounded so extreme, but once I read about it, it was a lot more manageable than I thought. I just don’t have the time (or the jaw strength haha) to eat a whole cantaloupe in a sitting. I also liked bread, bagels, and other things that are cooked. I am not anti tofu or seitan at all (sometimes I like seitan too much) I like grapefruit juice, but peeling it is a pain.
Banana soft serve = THE BEST! I am eating a bowl of it right now 🙂
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Faith
Raw seemed super extreme and foreign to me at first too, but it’s definitely growing on me! I thought eating an entire cantaloupe would be hard too, but if you make sure your melon is super ripe, it doesn’t take much jaw strength at all;) I’m a fan off breads too and yeah, banana soft serve is seriously the best! Thanks for sharing Ellie!!
Liv @ Healthy Liv
I LOVE grapefruit. I realized that when I used to not like it, it’s because I was eating the “casing” and the white part, too! Since those are the super bitter parts, I absolutely love it now.
Liv @ Healthy Liv recently posted…WIAW: Less Hungry Than Usual
Faith
I want to like it and it’s growing on me, but I still can’t eat a whole one in one sitting. Do you cut yours into slices or peel it?!
Heather
i want to want grapefruit to!! its just so darn nasty!
Faith
Seriously grapefruit! Why do you have to be so bitter?!? 😀
Cailee
Ahhh!! I love this!! First of all, I just came back from a weekend in NYC and went to the Whole Foods in Columbus Circle (right near Central Park) for dinner one night! I go there every time I head into the city! …and I have that bowl that you ate your dessert in! SO cute am I right?! Also, I LOVE this post! I’ve been dabbling into more of a plants-based-vegan diet…your eats look delicious! Great job keeping it raw! Sounds like a fun day! 🙂
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Faith
Thanks Cailee! That’s so fun you were just at NYC…and at the same Whole Foods!! I love that bowl too. Good ol’ TJ Maxx;)
Enjoy dabbling more in a plant-based diet! There’s so much delicious food and recipe to discover!
Kate @ Kate Lives Healthy
What a great day of meals Faith! Did you make that raw chili? Nothing is better than fresh juicy cantaloupe 🙂
Kate @ Kate Lives Healthy recently posted…WIAW #41
Faith
Why thank ya Kate! I did make the chili, but it’s not my recipe. I found a lady named Tanny on YouTube and she has AMAZING raw salad dressings, soups and entrees. Her name on YouTube is Tannyraw and you can search for her Raw Vegan Chili. It was really good, but I’m still getting used to more savory, non-salad raw meals, so I couldn’t finish the whole recipe;) Check her out!
Leah M @ love me, feed me
I’ve been wanting to try a full raw day! I don’t really know what’s been stopping me haha. I should try to eat more of a raw diet to see if it helps my energy levels and skin! Two things I struggle with.
I try so hard to like grapefruit, but I just can’t do. Same with coconut water haha. Oh welllll.
Also, how amazing is Hook?! One of my all time favourites!!
Leah M @ love me, feed me recently posted…Lemon Berry Cake Parfait with Coconut Sprinkles
Faith
You should definitely give it a go Leah if you’re up for it! It’s not hard at all if you have a good base for raw meals. Smoothies, banana ice cream, chia pudding, huge salads, and veggie filled nori rolls are my favorite raw meals right now!
Ah, seriously! Why is grapefruit so bitter!?! I used to not care for coconut water either, but it’s grown on me. I’m hoping the same thing will happen with grapefruit;)
Marissa
Wow! All raw. This is really interesting! I really like to see your meals 🙂
Marissa recently posted…WIAW #7: Being Paleo
Faith
Thanks Marissa! I’m glad you’re enjoying these posts!
Alyssa @ Renaissancerunnergirl
I always walk through Central Park on my way to school instead of taking the crosstown bus (sometimes I walk the whole 3.5 miles, which is not far when you consider how far I’d run, but far enough with a backpack full of books!) And I often stop at that Whole Foods on Columbus to dawdle (I mean pick up snacks)…
Alyssa @ Renaissancerunnergirl recently posted…WIAW #4: From PB&J to Gourmet
Faith
That’s so cool your commute takes you through Central Park Alyssa! What a blessing…and a great workout! I’m so glad I found out about the Whole Foods on Columbus! There is so much seating and, as always, healthy delicious food to eat. And I could totally dawdle in WF for hours;)