Raw Vegan Lifestyle Tips
I’m often asked how I make my Raw vegan lifestyle seem so easy. Here are 7 things that help me…
1) Weekly Variation, Not Daily
I don’t make a bunch of different raw vegan recipes on a daily basis. I keep it simple. For the most part, I pick out 3-5 recipes I’ll make for the week and end up eating the same thing a couple days in a row. Boring? Heck no! The food is so fresh and delicious that I can’t imagine only having one meal from a recipe. I want multiple meals from it!
For example, this week I’m making Hearty Garden Burgers. This will be the main component of our dinner for a couple of nights. Later in the week, I’ll make a big batch of Zucchini Pasta with Marinara, which will probably last for two lunches and one dinner. And, because the last time I made Raw hummus, I put some in the freezer, I’m taking it out for snacking with chopped veggies (carrots and celery to make it simple) and we’ll have this for a couple of day’s worth of snacking. When I have an extra busy week, I make enough Green Smoothie mixture to last my husband and me for a couple of days at a time.
2) Keep Foods on Hand
I always have delicious raw vegan crackers, desserts (cookies, ice cream, mousse, cheesecake), nut/seed milks, dips, and pate in the freezer. All I have to do is take something out and thaw it. I pick one or two days a month to make some different recipes, and I freeze them. I store many things in glass mason jars, but I also use a Food Saver, which maximizes the use of my freezer space so I can keep it filled.
3) Liquid Love Affair
I can’t say enough about how healthy, easy, and high-energy liquids can be. In my house, it’s common for us to start our day with either fresh green juice or a nice big smoothie (usually green). I often stick with liquids for a good portion of the day. This helps ensure that I have extra energy, it’s healthy because it gives my digestive system a break, and it’s EASY.
4) Getting My Greens
When I first went Raw, I found that the more greens I added to my lifestyle, the less I craved unhealthy foods. Now, my attention is naturally focused on great and healthy choices all the time. My main green go-to options are fresh green smoothies, alkalizing green juices, and big-honking salads.
And, speaking of salads… to keep them super simple, I often use the pre-washed lettuce and also dice up a cucumber and a couple of carrots (I rotate the veggies/non-sweet fruit to get balanced variety, i.e. cucumbers and carrots one week, red bell peppers and radishes the next, etc). I toss in a handful of raisins or dried cranberries along with some hemp seeds, and top it with a quick and easy raw vegan dressing. Yum! Fresh! Easy!
5) “Organized” Is My Middle Name (not really)
For the most part, I keep my daily menu planned for a few days in a row at a time. I write it down, with lots of details (breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, dessert, etc). I have a special little notebook just for this, along with stickers and colored pens (I like to make it sparkly, fun, and loaded with personality). By listing everything I’m going to eat, I give myself something to look forward to, as well as a reason to stick to it. Plus, it helps motivate me to prep the food. Once it’s all planned out, much of the work is done!
6) Preparation Rocks – Snacks On Hand Save The Day
I’m known for always having food with me, no matter where I go! I keep a nice little travel cooler packed with goodies when I’m out running errands for the day. For example, I usually include a green smoothie, a couple of snack bars, fresh fruit and/or chopped veggies, dates, trail mix, dip, etc. My husband knows that we’re never more than an arm’s reach from some yummy Raw vegan snacks. This way I never let myself get famished when I’m away for the day, which would just result in me coming home starving and wanting to eat everything in sight.
If I’m not going to be gone for the majority of the day, I still pack a small cooler of snacks. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been out for just a couple of errands and I suddenly get hungry. Or, I mistakenly think I’m only going to be gone for an hour and end up being gone for three hours! Having snacks on hand saves the day!
7) Community Keeps Me Motivated
This is one of the most important aspects. I surround myself with others who value the same lifestyle. I have a few people close to me (husband, mom, and a couple of friends) who love the lifestyle, but I don’t stop there. I reach out into cyberspace and hook up with more people all the time. There are blogs, forums (ahem! My Crazy Sexy Life forum rocks!), social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook – all are great for meeting like-minded people and keeping you excited and on track. People make fun of Twitter being for nothing but hearing “what your friend had for breakfast.” Well for me, and my friends, that’s huge!
Kristen Suzanne (KristensRaw.com) is an accomplished Raw food chef and author with a passion for helping people live life to the fullest with the healthiest cuisine in the world. Through radio, television, books, and her popular blog and email newsletter, Chef Kristen Suzanne helps individuals live and love the Raw lifestyle.
26 Comments
Kristen, Thank so much for posting this. It was exactly what I needed. I am in a slump this week, and needed the simple motivation to keep me going raw. Sometimes I feel that its too much work to stay raw, but then I realize, its really much easier. I just have to keep myself stocked from the produce section, weekly. Thanks again! Toni
Hi Kristen! What a wonderful post! You are so inspiring and helpful to my raw journey. I just love all of your ideas. Thanks!
These are such great tips and really explain how simple it is. I am forever stressing this with my clients- that we need to make our health a priority and all we really need to do is give it a little time and energy. Once we get into these habits, they are so easy and we forget how we lived any other way.
Great blog Kristen. I particularly love the liquids option. That’s my winner!
Casey
Kristen, you never fail to amaze me! I so appreciate all of your tips, recipes and guidence. Now I just need to DO IT!!
I love the idea of the cooler in the car but I struggle taking a green smoothie “to go”. How do you get it to stay delicious, smooth, and fresh tasting when it’s traveling with you? I wish I could just bring a blender to work every day : )
Kristen! You know I love you and your raw love! You always bring the flava and the fun..Thanks!
love deb
Kristen! Can’t tell you how much I appreciate this blog. Because I do shiftwork, I am constantly looking for easy and convenient ways to prepare food and have good stuff on hand. Made the kale salad last night for the first time…YUMMM and thank you!
HI Everyone!
I’m glad this post has helped you! Makes me smile :)
A little bit of planning REALLY does go a super long way. In no time at all, it becomes second nature and it really is a breeze.
Speaking of snacks on hand… on my kitchen counter top right now I have a little bowl of hemp seeds, a little bowl of raisins, a little bowl of goji berries, and a little bowl of pumpkin seeds. (But, these aren’t just any bowls. They’re cute and sassy… and I have them on a fun gold colored tray with a cute little serving spoon. OK, enough with the word “cute” – ha ha). Anyway… having these out and available serves as both a reminder of our healthy lifestyle (which is inspiring to both my husband and myself) and as a little snack whenever we need it.
Cheers,
Kristen
Hi Amandamoo – as long as the smoothie is cold, I just shake it up and it tastes GREAT :)
Thanks for this…it makes me more real and I loved how it was in steps!
Oh my goshness :) This is so so helpful Kristen… thank you possum for sharing such wonddderful tips :)
I’m another big fan of three meals a week… always a staple for me a is huge rainbow coleslaw with a thai almond dressing. it’s just belly-divine & heart-warm.
:)
Love ya Kristen! As usual, all good tips – you’re the best! And you’re beautiful inside and out!
Hugs, Tina
Oh Creative Goddess, do share your recipe for rainbow coleslaw with a tai almond dressing. Great post Kristen. Thanks! Peace, Pam
Kristen!!! you rawk angel goddess. Wonderful tips… absolutely wonderful. You’re the real deal gyrl!
Jayna’
Thank you everyone for so many wonderful, loving comments. I feel all warm and gushy after reading them… huge smiles all around :)
Cheers,
Kristen
WONDERFUL TIPS, DEAR KRISTEN!!!
Thanks VeggieGirl!!!
Great article full of such good tips! Especially the “be organized” tip — I really do find that if I plan out in advance what we’ll be having, it keeps me organized and keeps the crowd here fed on time :) And we ALWAYS pack food along too — this keeps us from buying something less healthy when we’re out.
Your salads sound so simple and delicious, and your sassy little bowls on the counter right now are such a good idea :)
Am enjoying your books very much! Seems we’ve always got a recipe or two of yours in our menu-plan :)
Hi Sheri,
Great comment – thanks for reading and sharing!
And, thank you very much for your support. :)
Cheers,
Kristen
Awesome tips Kristen, thanks!
I am just starting this new lifestyle and your tips really helped me Thank You!!
I just happened to stumble across this because I decided I need to make my vegan diet healthier, what is your twitter name?
Hi! Thank you so much for your post. I really want to start a raw diet and this was very helpful and you are obviously quite enthusiastic about raw veganism- that makes me want to start changing today! Thanks :)
Thanks so much for sharing…what exactly goes into your green drink? I’ve been a vegetarian for a year and relying too heavily on the carbs and fats associated. I am resolving to go vegan and look forward to your posts to encourage and help out! What do you recommend…going it solo…so far, that is :)!
My husband and I have been drinking for the past few years Klamath power-3 powder. Which consists of blue-green algae, spiriluna, and chrollea. We both love this drink every morning and sometimes I do take it another time ofthe day. We both noticed a big difference in how we feel. These green have so many nutrients in them, what do you think of this product, just curious?
Great tips! I love the idea of packing a small cooler of snacks to have with you. I know I am always tempted to eat unhealthy, quick foods when I’m out–having an alternative close by would definitely help me resist that urge.
April 6, 2009