Move over Freelee the banana girl—there’s a new banana fan in town. This week I began a month-long raw vegan challenge, and I’ll be posting weekly updates about how the cleanse affects my body and mind. After the month I plan to return to my usual diet but with a stronger focus on whole foods and less junk. I’ll be honest and straightforward about my experience. First, here’s why I decided to try this.
My main reason for trying a raw vegan month is that my body felt like it needed a reset. I originally went vegan for health, but over time my choice became more driven by ethics. That shift coincided with some emotional eating and a tendency to binge on vegan junk food. So this cleanse is as much about mental reset as physical: I want to break the habit of stress-bingeing. I’ve also noticed myself drinking more often lately and want to regain control over that habit. Finally, I developed eczema a few months ago and hope dietary changes might help (if you have tips, I welcome them).
Timing matters. I decided to start right after my 25th birthday. Knowing I’d likely overindulge in celebratory wine, beginning a cleanse immediately after felt appropriate. One unexpected challenge has been the season: doing this in February in the Netherlands is harder because cold weather makes you crave warming, cooked foods. If you try this, consider doing it in spring or summer when fresh fruit and salads feel more natural.
I’ll include photos of meals as inspiration throughout the posts.
Day 1
Day one was the toughest. I started with an intense hangover and couldn’t keep food or even water down. I tried to stay hydrated and ate a simple salad with carrot, despite knowing raw carrot can irritate me. The carrot caused throat tightness, so I discarded it and rested. After vomiting, I returned to the salad later but spent much of the day lying down to ease nausea.
Day 2
I woke dehydrated and drank a liter of water right away. I had a large smoothie bowl but noticed my voice was gone and I still felt weak. Snacks included dates and nuts, and dinner was a salad, but overall I didn’t eat enough and my energy remained low. I craved cooked food.
Day 3
I focused more on eating throughout the day. I was no longer nauseous, and my belly felt less bloated and lighter. I did an intense workout in the afternoon; even though I’d eaten an hour beforehand, the food wasn’t calorie-dense enough to sustain me. I realized I needed an extra smoothie during the day to keep my energy up. Cravings for cooked food persisted but were manageable.
Day 4
I began with water and a short yoga practice. My body felt weak and my mind wandered toward food during sun salutations, but I stayed present and accepted how I felt. I made cinnamon rolls for someone else and resisted tasting them. I snacked on raw chocolate and date bars, which later led to slight bloating from overindulging in treats.
Day 5
My morning routine—water and a smoothie—was consistent. At lunch I ate a pomelo and a raw chocolate bar while others enjoyed the cinnamon rolls. The pomelo kept me full, so resisting the baked goods wasn’t as difficult as expected. Dining out revealed another issue: raw vegan options are limited, so I often had to bring my own food. Dinner was a smoothie and salad.
Day 6
Energy started returning to normal. I ate two smoothie bowls and two salads and attended a yoga class with good energy. I’ve noticed that two substantial smoothies a day are the minimum I need to thrive.
Day 7
The morning was rough because I’d run out of ripe bananas—my freezer supply was gone and the ones I had were unripe. Bananas are essential for my smoothies and raw “ice cream,” so I bought more to avoid running short. The rest of the day was low-key: I relaxed, worked on a recipe, and played Zelda: Wind Waker HD.
Observations and tips from week one:
- Keep plenty of ripe bananas on hand. Frozen, peeled, and chopped bananas are perfect for smoothies and raw ice creams and give lasting energy.
- Eat enough food. Raw meals can be less calorie-dense, so larger smoothies help ensure steady energy. If you don’t enjoy huge salads, rely on nutrient-dense smoothies and a salad in the evening.
- Plan this challenge for warmer months if possible—fresh fruit and salads feel easier in spring and summer.
- I experienced noticeably less bloating and reduced gas.
- Moderate raw gourmet snacks like nut/date bars and raw chocolates; they’re delicious but can easily lead to overconsumption and bloating.
- Be kind to yourself through the process.
I also faced challenges:
- Low energy for the first half of the week.
- Cold weather increased cravings for cooked, warming foods.
- Poor planning occasionally left me depending on date bars and raw chocolates instead of balanced meals.
- Raw vegan gourmet snacks and equipment like quality dehydrators can be expensive, which makes some aspects of the lifestyle pricier.
Conclusion:
Cravings for cooked food are less intense than early in the week. My belly feels flatter and less bloated. I don’t recommend starting a raw month during cold weather. After this month I plan to develop a calzone pizza recipe to share. Next week will be a new test—my nephew’s first birthday will bring many tempting foods—but it’s also a chance to make a raw vegan cake.
I’m working on more raw vegan recipes, so expect healthy ideas soon. Share tips in the comments or on my Instagram. Stay awesome.
Bless.