Move over Freelee the banana girl — there’s a new banana enthusiast in town. This post is a weekly update from my first week attempting a month-long raw vegan cleanse. I’ll report honestly about how my body and mind respond, what works, and what doesn’t. After this month I plan to return to my regular diet, but with a stronger focus on whole foods and fewer processed snacks. Before diving into the daily journal, here’s why I started.
My primary motivation was a need for a reset. I originally went vegan for health, but over time my reasons shifted toward ethics. That change coincided with emotional eating and an increasing reliance on vegan junk food during stressful periods. This cleanse is as much about breaking that pattern as it is about physical detox. I also wanted to cut back on alcohol and regain control over my drinking. Finally, the sudden appearance of eczema a few months ago prompted me to try a dietary reset to see if it helps (if you have tips, feel free to share).
Timing mattered: I began right after my 25th birthday, knowing I’d likely overindulge in wine and wanting to follow it with something drastic. February in the Netherlands proved challenging because my body craved warm, cooked food in cold weather. If you consider trying this, plan for spring or summer when fruits and raw meals are more appealing.
I’ll include a few food photos for inspiration and to show what I actually ate during the week.
Day 1
The first day was the toughest. A hangover left me unable to keep even water down for several hours. I tried to hydrate and get nutrients, but my stomach rejected everything. I attempted a salad with thinly sliced raw carrot despite knowing I’m sensitive to raw carrot; it inflamed my throat and I had to discard it. After vomiting and resting, I finally managed a small portion of salad later in the day and spent the rest of the evening lying down to ease the nausea.
Day 2
I woke up dehydrated and started by drinking a liter of water, followed by a large smoothie bowl. My voice was hoarse the whole day and I snacked on dates and nuts, ending the day with a simple salad. I still felt weak from the hangover and craved cooked foods. Overall intake was low and energy levels remained depleted.
Day 3
I focused on eating more consistently today. I was no longer nauseous and noticed reduced bloating — a positive change. I exercised fairly intensely in the afternoon, but found that while I felt full before the workout, the raw meals weren’t calorie-dense enough to sustain high intensity. I realized I needed an extra smoothie during the day to maintain energy.
Day 4
My morning routine began with water and a short yoga practice, but I felt weak and distracted — food was on my mind. I accepted the temporary setback in strength and proceeded with gentle asanas, finishing in savasana. Baking cinnamon rolls for someone else tested my willpower; resisting a warm baked good was difficult. I also indulged a bit too much in raw treats like date bars and raw chocolate, which left my stomach feeling slightly bloated.
Day 5
The routine settled in: water on waking, a smoothie before leaving the house. Lunch was a pomelo and a raw chocolate bar while others enjoyed the cinnamon rolls. Surprisingly, the pomelo kept me satisfied. Eating out proved challenging because raw options are limited beyond fruit. I finished the day with another smoothie and a salad for dinner.
Day 6
Energy finally returned to a normal level. I had two smoothie bowls and two salads, and attended a morning yoga class feeling strong. From my experience, two substantial smoothies are the minimum I need to maintain steady energy throughout the day.
Day 7
This morning I discovered I was out of ripe bananas — a small crisis for someone depending on banana-based smoothies and raw “ice cream” for calories and satiety. I went to the store and stocked up. Bananas are essential for me on a raw vegan plan. The rest of the day was relaxed: I worked on a recipe and enjoyed some downtime playing a video game.
Key observations and practical tips from week one:
- Keep plenty of ripe and frozen bananas on hand. Bananas are an excellent base for smoothies and raw ice cream and help maintain energy.
- Eat enough calories. Large smoothies are often more effective than massive salads for meeting daily needs.
- Plan this cleanse for warmer months when fruit cravings align with the diet.
- Bloating and gas decreased noticeably for me.
- Limit raw gourmet snacks (nut/date bars, raw chocolates). They’re tasty but can be calorie-dense, expensive, and sometimes cause bloating.
- Be kind to yourself and adjust expectations — transitions take time.
Challenges I encountered:
- Low energy during the first half of the week.
- Cold weather increased cravings for warm, cooked food.
- Poor meal planning led to reliance on expensive raw snacks.
- High-quality dehydrators are costly, which makes homemade raw treats challenging to prepare consistently.
Conclusion
After one week, cravings for cooked food are still present but less intense than at the start. My belly feels flatter and less bloated. I don’t recommend starting a raw-only month in cold months if you aren’t used to it. When the month ends I plan to make a calzone pizza recipe and share it here. Next week will be challenging — my nephew’s first birthday means I’ll be surrounded by tempting foods — but I’m considering making a raw vegan cake so I can participate without breaking the cleanse.
I’m developing a few raw vegan recipes you can expect soon. If you have tips or eczema remedies, I’d love to hear them. Stay kind to yourself and enjoy the process.
Bless.
