vibrant, and energetic people who can make a raw vegan diet work for them; their energy and enthusiasm for a raw food lifestyle is contagious. Unfortunately, when I stick to a 100% raw vegan diet, I don’t thrive. Eventually I find myself “cheating” and having some non-raw foods at the end of the day... and you know what? I’m not mad. A strict raw vegan diet is not for me, but raw foods definitely are. My quest to become a raw foodist has taught me something: we need more raw foods. This doesn't mean that we have to be fully raw vegan, or even vegetarian, for that matter. What it means is we have to figure out what foods make us thrive, and serve an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables along with those foods. In my many somewhat laughable attempts to become raw, I have discovered a few easy ways to incorporate more raw foods into your diet. Not only will these tips help you feel great, they'll also help you feel more satisfied and less likely to slam your face into a pile of chocolate at the end of the day. 1. Drink smoothies for breakfast. I'm not a morning person. My idea of making breakfast is taking my credit card out and swiping it at the juice place around the corner from my work every morning. If I'm going to make a healthy breakfast myself, it’s going to be a smoothie, because smoothies are a quick, easy, and delicious way to make sure you're starting off your day with an abundance of plant power. 2. Buy fruit in bulk, and keep some with you. It’s almost embarrassing how I carry citrus fruits in my purse in the same way that my grandma carried around Sweet'n Low. Our bodies crave sugar, and if we’re not prepared we're likely to grab junk. Throw some fruit in your bag (or a banana in your pocket for a great conversation starter) to avoid reaching for crap when you start to feel hungry. 3. Make massive dinner salads. I’ve been blessed with the superpower of being able to eat mass quantities of food. If you’re human, I’m guessing you share my talent. It’s impressive, really, and it can be used for good (despite what you may think). I love making a massive, ridiculously overloaded raw salad every night. Think jumbo-sized-popcorn-for-an-extra-fifty-cents-sized salad. Lettuce, bell peppers, tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, broccoli, avocado, zucchini, seeds, whatever... throw it in all there. It’s one of the best things you can give yourself. Eating an abundance of vegetables is going to satisfy you, and will give you the nutrients your body so deeply craves.
