Since I am still learning a lot about what it looks like to be a raw vegan, I reached out to DeChantell Lloyd who enjoys a lot of raw meals and owns a juice bar in upstate NY. Follow DeChantell on Facebook
Below are her tips and a sample grocery list.
You can download and print all of her tips and sample grocery list by clicking here
My journey into raw veganism was hard mentally to begin because I freaked about not preparing hot food! What am I going to eat?
Let me tell you to Get Over That.
The rule of thumb for going raw is a cooking temperature should not exceed 118* F.
Once I started to mentally plan for the process I found it very easy to process that rule and rewarding because my kitchen, food and mind was so clean. I was being guided on this journey by a sound heart and that feeling is amazing. To help assist with your challenge below I documented a few steps I took to get started.
Know what being raw is about and do independent research
I was ignorant about what I could have raw and I only focused on the fact my food was no longer cooked. There are plenty of support groups and recipe sites dedicated to raw living on social media. You have to do independent research, You have to find support and You have to be mentally prepared. Your taste and journey should be specific to your needs.
Shopping list and household must have
Now that you have a feel for recipes build a shopping list. I’ll share a few must have items below but go hard on veggies. Also, you must have a food processor. I did survive without a food processor on my first challenge but I also had a Vitamix. Let me say the food processor made my life amazing ;-) Recipes were on point and easy!
Here's are some simple ingredients to add to your grocery list:
Spinach – Smoothies and Salad
Romaine – Wraps and Salads
Banana – Overnight oatmeal (here's a recipe - use Google for more suggestions), Snack and Ice Cream (here's a recipe)
Apples – Overnight Oatmeal, Juice, Salads
Ginger – Juice, Salads, Salad Dressings, Smoothies
Nuts – Snack, Salads, Raw Desserts
Oils – Cold-pressed Coconut oil and Olive oil are must haves
Bell Peppers – Will give any salad a nice color and crunch
Others – Cucumbers, Carrots, Onions, Oranges, Melons, etc...
Meal Planning is essential
Your mind will trick you because everything raw can be prepared in about 10 minutes! Heck, it’s easy to pick up a banana and run. However, you need more than 1 banana when you’re out here in these streets all day. I’ve done it and trust me I’ve become unable to talk too until I got to food in my system. My typical raw day planned...
Breakfast – Overnight Oatmeal with Chia seeds and your favorite topping!
Snack – Sweet Banana (2)
Lunch – Banging Salad
Snack – Nuts and Celery
Dinner – Raw Wrap
These are just a few lessons I’ve learned to get you started. Remember being raw is more than not cooking your food - it’s preparing it in a way that helps your mind, body and spirit work more effectively for you.
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