Nutrition plays such an integral role in our health, and has a big impact on our menstrual health as well.

But for some reason we think that making the switch from a diet of processed junk food to whole food is a hard one, that it's too expensive, too time consuming, etc.

I've wanted to try raw vegan since I went vegan in 2013. But back then I thought it would be too hard, too expensive, that I wouldn't be able to eat enough bananas, etc. But something recently got into my mind, and I thought, screw all that, it's something you want to do, to reboot yourself into a healthy vegan diet (because there is a lot of processed vegan junk food options) so do it.

I told myself I wanted to be ready to start April 1st, but I really actually started March 24th.

Since then I’ve had three cooked meals: green curry, pizza and pad thai (all were vegan). Does this cancel it all out? Nah, I don't think so. I'm still moving forward. I just like to be honest.

I have nearly eliminated coffee, but still have a social cup once a week, and allow myself tea. I don’t start my day with either and no longer rely on caffeine for that once much needed boost.

Detox

This has taken me back to when my body detoxed when I went vegan originally.

At first I was sleeping much more than normal, and felt a little drained of energy at times.

I found myself a little moody and irritable, but I don’t know if this was related to my switch in diet.

I’ve been pooping multiple times a day (TMI? I don’t believe in it). I feel like I’m really clearing out. Before I changed my diet back in college I thought my once a week poop was normal. I can’t imagine only pooping once a week now!

Oh, and the gas, let's not forget about the farts I've been having. Room clearers I like to say.

Positives

I no longer feel that 2 p.m. slump I used to get, and overall I feel more energetic.

Eating whole foods really gets me motivated to exercise, which then makes me crave more fruits and veggies. I’m feeling much leaner and I attribute that to no gluten in my diet. When I went vegan originally, I also went gluten free. Now, I don’t have celiacs or probably even an allergy to it. I just know I function, and feel lightyears, better when I avoid it.

My skin is clearing up from where it was when I started (I had gotten quite a few pimples on my forehead when normally I will only get one or two).

There’s a great vegan/raw vegan community online. There are recipes for almost anything! I’m loving raw tacos and raw vegan chocolate torte.

Realizations

1. I really, really missed cooked food at first....or so I thought.

It was like as soon as I told myself I couldn’t have it, my mind was like “But but but I want it!" I started imagining cooked food as super comforting. But I had this realization when I had green curry and I was a 1/4 of a way through it before I went, “Wait Victoria! This is what you thought was so fantastic, warm, soothing, etc. and you didn’t have a big wow moment when you ate it." That really helped me get over that mental challenge, and I really don’t miss “hot” food at this point.

2. Canned beans are precooked.

I always thought they were just put in the can with some water or whatever that liquid was.

And my biggest realization....

3. Raw isn't as hard as I thought originally 3 years ago when I wanted to do it.

If done right it’s around the same as what I spend for normal groceries.

I was really cold at first, but my body has adjusted, and thankfully it’s warmer out.

I thought I might be hungry all the time. I’m not. I was also worried that I would have to eat piles of bananas and fruit to feel full, but I don’t.

I wondered if I would get enough calories and nutrition. And I’m getting well above my recommended amounts. People still comment that I'm not getting enough, but I've calculated what I need based on my age, weight, height and activity level, and like I said, I'm getting more than enough.

It is hard to go out and eat, so I avoid it. (I think it’s crazy to spend what they charge for salads when I prefer my salads at home anyways)

My Conclusion So Far

I feel great!

I really enjoy making meals and feel like I’ve gotten the little kick I’ve needed to get even more fruits and vegetables into my diet and eliminate that processed junk that had crept in.

At this point my goal after this summer is to be mostly raw with the occasional cooked meal, as well as gluten free. I love me some bread, but I know it just doesn’t agree with me.