I’ve always recommended a raw diet to my clients for cleansing and thought it was time to heed my own good advice. Here's what happened during my transition to a raw diet: 1. It helped me to finally meal plan. I knew that without a solid plan, I would fail. By planning and doing a bit of prep work, the anxiety I would’ve given food just slipped away. No thinking wondering or worrying about food? Talk about a relief! 2. It saves time. So you say you’re REALLY busy. Well, one of my favorite things about being raw is that it takes 5-10 minutes to prepare a fabulous meal full of nourishment. It’s really easy to prep raw meals ahead of time so you can just grab and eat. Many of them travel really well, so they’re easy to pack for lunch or when you need to eat on the run. 3. It improved my digestion and mood. Within a day my digestion was on point, my mood lifted, my tummy was flatter and after just a couple days, the scale was down a couple of pounds. This alone made me feel better and more confident. 4. I felt more clearheaded. Even though I eat pretty healthy, my new raw plan had me incorporating even more vegetables and fruit than normal and it energized me! I was able to focus with no slumps in my day and was actually becoming a morning person, which I’ve always wanted to be! 5. My appetite was suppressed. I'm a big eater. I work out and am a medium, curvy frame with muscle. I'm not about to skip a meal. I didn't start skipping meals, but I was satisfied with less food. My blood sugar had really leveled out, and all of the fruits and vegetables filled my body with what it was really craving: water, vitamins, minerals and complex carbs. 6. The color on my plate made me more positive and energized about my whole life. This was a fun change. My plate looked different, and you know what? So did my outlook. 7. It finally helped me nix the meat. Now I'm a flexitarian who mostly only eats a bit of fish or pastured egg here and there. This has bothered me for so long (morally, environmentally and even from a health standpoint), but my system has always felt like it needed small amounts of animal protein. I can't say this will last forever, but I'm very encouraged by this change. If I did stray away from raw, it was only vegan food, and I felt so accomplished to not crave animal foods! 8. I was bright-eyed and felt beautiful. My skin is now glowing with no dryness or itching, my eyes are clear and I feel fabulous. If you're looking to start a raw diet, my biggest advice is plan your meals and be gentle with yourself. I took my raw journey one day at a time, with no pressure. I gave myself permission to quit when I wanted to, and I haven’t. I also encourage simple eating. Do smoothies, salads and juices. Experiment within your own comfort level from there. Most importantly, enjoy your journey!
