Move over Freelee the Banana Girl — there’s a new banana enthusiast in town. This week marks the end of my first seven days on a month-long raw vegan cleanse. I’ll post weekly updates about how the cleanse affects my body and mind, and I’ll be honest about both the highs and the lows. After the month I plan to return to my regular diet, but with a stronger focus on whole foods and less junk. Before I dive into the week, here’s why I chose to do this challenge.
My primary motivation is a desire to reset my body. I originally went vegan for health reasons, but over time ethics became the driving force behind my choices. That shift coincided with emotional eating; stress and turbulence in recent years led to frequent binges on vegan junk food. This cleanse is as much about breaking that cycle as it is about physical detox. I also want to reduce — and eventually stop — my alcohol intake, which has crept up lately. Finally, I developed eczema a few months ago and I’m curious whether a strict dietary reset will help. (If you have tips for eczema, I welcome them.)
I started the cleanse right after my 25th birthday. Timing mattered: I knew I would likely overindulge on birthday wine, so beginning the cleanse immediately afterward felt fitting. If you live somewhere cold like I do, know that going fully raw in winter is more challenging. Your body tends to crave cooked, warming foods in colder months, so if you plan something similar, aim for spring or summer when fruit and salads are more appealing.
I’ll include photos of meals I ate as inspiration for anyone curious about trying a short-term raw vegan plan.
Day 1
The first day was the toughest, largely because I was recovering from a heavy hangover and couldn’t keep food or water down. I tried to hydrate and eat, but my body rejected most of it. I tested a raw carrot despite a known sensitivity to raw carrot; that turn of events made me feel like my throat was closing, so I stopped and later vomited. Eventually I finished the rest of the salad and rested to ease the nausea.
Day 2
I woke up dehydrated and drank a liter of water, then had a large smoothie bowl. My voice was hoarse and I felt weak all day. Snacks were dates and nuts, and dinner was a salad. I didn’t eat enough overall, so energy levels stayed low and I craved cooked foods.
Day 3
I focused on eating more frequently. I wasn’t sick anymore and my belly felt flatter without the usual bloat. I completed an intense workout but realized the meals I’d eaten earlier weren’t calorie-dense enough to sustain high energy. I concluded I should add an extra smoothie during the day to keep levels steady.
Day 4
I began the day with water and a short yoga practice. My body felt weak and my mind was preoccupied with food, but I accepted the limits and moved through the practice gently. Making cinnamon rolls for someone else tested my resolve — resisting a bite was hard. I also ate several raw treats that day and noticed some bloating after overindulging in raw chocolates and date bars.
Day 5
My routine settled: water on waking, a smoothie before leaving the house. Lunch was a pomelo and a raw chocolate bar while others ate cinnamon rolls. The pomelo kept me full, which made skipping baked goods easier. Eating out remains a challenge because raw options are limited, so bringing your own food helps. Dinner was a smoothie and a salad.
Day 6
Energy levels returned to normal. I ate two smoothie bowls and two salads during the day and felt strong enough for an early-morning yoga class. I now consider two smoothie bowls the minimum I need to function well on this plan.
Day 7
The week’s roughest moment came when I ran out of ripe bananas — including frozen ones I keep for smoothies. Unripe bananas are unappealing to me, so I bought more to avoid running out again. Having bananas available for smoothies and raw “ice cream” is essential for my energy and satisfaction. The rest of the day I relaxed, worked on a recipe, and played Zelda: Wind Waker HD.
Here are the practical takeaways from my first week:
- Keep plenty of ripe bananas on hand. Bananas are a reliable base for smoothies and raw vegan ice creams and give you the quick energy you need. Freeze peeled, chopped bananas for convenience.
- Eat enough. Raw meals can be less calorie-dense, so large smoothies help sustain energy; pair them with salads in the evening.
- Plan this kind of challenge for warmer months when fresh fruit is more appealing.
- My belly feels less bloated and I’m experiencing minimal gas.
- Limit raw gourmet treats like nut-and-date bars and raw chocolates — enjoy them occasionally, but don’t rely on them as staples.
- Be kind to yourself throughout the process.
I also encountered difficulties:
- Low energy during the first half of the week.
- Cold weather increased cravings for cooked, warming foods.
- Poor planning left me short on calories at times, which led to over-reliance on expensive raw snacks.
- High cost of quality raw gourmet snacks and equipment like dehydrators — good models can be expensive.
Conclusion:
After one week, cravings for cooked food remain but are less intense than at the start. My abdomen feels flatter and less bloated. I don’t recommend attempting a full raw month during cold months. After the cleanse I’ll be developing a calzone-style recipe to share. Next week will be challenging: my nephew turns one and there will be many foods I can’t eat, but that’s also a chance to make a raw vegan cake. Expect more raw recipes soon. I welcome tips and feedback in the comments or on Instagram — stay awesome.
Bless.