Raw Vegan Experiment Day- One and Only Time I’m Doing This (Technically Raw Til 4, also technically 97% Raw Til 4)
If you’re eyebrows shot up, the corners of your mouth turned downward, and your faith in me exploded, HOLD UP!
Uber-important, unskippable backstory: For some reason, I’ve always felt drawn to the Bohemian, all-natural, 70’s Hippie chick stereotype. This proclivity was not my reason for going vegan or vegetarian, but the algorithm picked up my “aesthetic,” as is apparently the modern term, and suggested heaps of tree hugger content. And I was and still am fine with that! One of the main influencers in this field is Freelee the Banana Girl, who is about as controversial as pineapple on pizza or cats vs dogs. I’m not going to focus too much on one specific person, but Ms. Banana is the inventor of the Raw Til 4 lifestyle, a regimen focused on binge-eating reduction, weight loss, and remission for various health conditions. It’s a rabbit food hole I’ve spent many hours and gasps researching. While one day is not enough to see any results, I wanted to notice any marked changes in energy level and mood. How long could I dance in the living room with reckless abandon? How long until my tummy twinged with the first familiar whispers of hunger? Mainly, I just wanted to switch up my usual vegan meals and stick a finger to the “that’s too much sugar” crowd.
Parameters (for fun, and I did not obsess or freak out about a teensy bit of processing) –Â
Lots of fresh fruit, no limit
Vegetables encouraged
No cooked food until 4 pm
No gluten/wheat/grains
Limit added fats, ZERO oil
Avoid fillers, gums, preservatives, whatever
Raw Vegan Experiment Day of Eating
Breakfast: 2 small mangoes, 2 kiwis, and 1/2 papaya (learned I don’t like papaya)
Lunch: 5 Medjool dates and this delectable
⇓Pumpking Pie Smoothie⇓
- 1.5 frozen bananas
- 1 cup pumpkin puree (yes, it’s cooked, sorry)
- 1-2 tsp organic pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 cup organic, minimal-ingredient coconut water
- 2 Medjool dates or 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 4-5 ice cubes
- Pinch of salt and vanilla extract
Results: No lethargy, had lots of energy in my bones. Urges to move but no crash. Focus was as-usual; inconsistent, but with an added rush of excitement and sense of pride. Food was enjoyable, saved time due to no cooking. Digestion was superb. Felt very full initially after a meal, but since fruit passes through the stomach quickly, any water-based bloating dissipated within an hour. Number estimates: about 1800 calories, 30g protein, 20g fat
Conclusion: A Raw Til 4 eating plan is not, by a long shot, the worst diet out there. It prioritizes abundance, whole foods, nutrients, and energy. While the diet can be expensive, food banks, discounts, and other resources are available to some. Conventionally-accepted evidence is lacking, but I truly believe this is a “don’t knock it ’til you try it” situation. Anecdotes vary, with some praising the mainly raw regimen and others warning of its potential deficences. The latter are generally advised against anyhow, but I do appreciate feedback from Average Joe’s. Feel no pressure to try this out. I’m just sharing my experience and experiment.
Note: I completed this “experiment” several months ago, and have since been diagnosed with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD,) which definitely counts as a variable here with regards to focus and activity.
Do you want more raw recipes? Email or comment suggestions. Fall recipes are coming regardless, but use the pumpkin smoothie recipe to start!
Best Dishes,
The Hippie Happy Foodistâ„¢
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