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Since going raw I have experienced some incredible health benefits however recently I feel like I have reached a plateau. Not all of this has to do with simply my diet however, as I have been recovering from a broken foot so I have not been able to keep up with my regular yoga and fitness schedule.
Looking at my diet I have come to the conclusion that I have been eating too many fats especially in relation to my reduced amount of physical activity. Additionally so much of the information I have been exploring while writing my forthcoming book points to the benefits of limiting fat.
So I have decided to do a trial with a low-fat raw vegan diet, similar to that promoted by Doug Graham in his book The 80/10/10 Diet.
I am going to start with the goal to eat low-fat raw vegan for the month of May and following this I will make a judgment on whether to continue. I will be emphasizing simplicity and intend to eat lots of mono fruit meals, fruit smoothies, green smoothies, and simple salads.
I am also entering into this plan with the goal of changing my perspective and letting go of habits surrounding food. Although I have been eating close to 100% raw many of my meals could be regarded as culturally patterned. The raw pizzas and desserts were fine initially but recently I feel a need to simplify my diet and concentrate on eating foods close to their original state.
I also think it is good to challenge our concept of what is a ‘meal’ and step outside the boundaries of habitual routines. Our ancestors would have often had a meal of one fruit, whatever was in season at the time, and this can be a great way for us to not only improve our health but to get in touch with deeper aspects of ourselves and challenge our emotional responses surrounding food.
I’m stocking up on fruit and loving it. To see all that beautiful fruit gives such a feeling of abundance that I believe transfers to our body as a kind of subtle energy. And it just makes me happy somehow!
At the moment our kitchen is overflowing with bananas, pineapple, and papaya. We also have canteloupe, mulberries, and some avocados, and tonight will probably make a trip to get dragon fruit and watermelon and whatever else looks good.
Here is what I ate yesterday:
Meal 1
Dragonfruit
Meal 2
Pineapple, cucumber, romaine smoothie
Meal 3
300 g mulberries
3 bananas
Meal 4
Spiralized zucchini
Sauce made with blended tomato, mango, red pepper, and a little parsley
Yellow tomatoes
Romaine lettuce
Meal 5
10 fresh tamarind
It came out to about 1550 calories with 90% carbs, 6% protein and 4% fat.
Although I have tried many times in the past to eat a diet of only fruit and vegetables I have never been able to go more than about a week. But one thing I have come to realize is that as long as calories are maintained it becomes more feasible. If your calories are low and you dramatically change your diet of course this will lead to fatigue.
The detox effects will also be significantly reduced when calories are maintained because we are providing the body with the raw materials it needs to transport the toxins out of our bodies.
My husband who usually doesn’t like to go without eating meat for more than a day or two is totally embracing this way of life and ate the same as me yesterday, just in greater volume. He says he is feeling great and is fully supporting our exploration on this path. I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful partner who is willing to break the boundaries of conditioning with me. It makes it so much easier for me to follow this path when there is such fluidity in my life circumstances.
Even if you are not ready to go 100% raw can to set your own goals. For example having at least one green smoothie a day, starting each morning with fresh fruit or eating raw until dinner.
The power of raw foods is incredible but until you experience it for yourself it is impossible to know what eating a raw food diet can do for you. So what are you waiting for?
Way to go! I’m just getting back to raw and gonna keep it simple as well! High greens and fruit!
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Sure Jess. I would love to have you as a guest blogger.
I am currently conducting the same experiment! Having many positive results, and like you, appreciate the simple mono fruit meals best. My recent dilemma is the vitamix I invested in, thinking I would make green smoothies. I hate them! Fruit smoothies are fabulous, but high in calories. Did I waste my money on a vitamix?
Christine
No way Christine! You can do so many things with the Vitamix.
Firstly with the green smoothies I recommend just starting with a cup of greens with about three cups of fruit and I am sure you won’t even taste them. Then you could try gradually increasing and see how you go.
Even if you don’t learn to love green smoothies you can blend your fruit with water and add stevia to make a lower calorie fruit smoothie, although personally I don’t think you have to worry about the calories if you are eating low fat. You can also make ice cream from frozen bananas and berries.
Raw soups are another alternative. You can try gazpacho or soups made with greens and avocado.
By the way after several months doing low fat raw vegan I decided for sure that this isn’t the right way to go for me personally and feel much better when I keep the fat to around 20%, mostly from seeds and a little avocado. I still love to eat lots of fruit and often live on fruit and green smoothies on the weekends but as a long-term strategy for health maintenance a moderate fat intake seems to work best.
I’m also becoming more conscious of how much fat I’m eating. The first step was to feel comfortable eating a high raw diet. The next step is to make sure vitamins, minerals, fats, proteins and carbs are well balanced. Unfortunately I have a bit of an avocado addiction – I would be happy to get down to eating just one avocado each day!
I am just starting on this journey, with this low fat raw vegan, I take Vegan Shakeology, to help to get a balanced diet. I am sure I will learn a lot from this blog!