Veganism first piqued my interest when one of my good friends decided to go vegan a few years ago. Possibly out of boredom, I finally gave into the growing curiosity and reserved a slot in a raw food preparation class at Raw Yogini Sonia's FB page. (Mind, the closest thing I've gone to abstaining from the use of animal products at this point is when I started using organic skincare products.)
Easing into a raw vegan diet can be a daunting journey for beginners, since our natural inclination to imbibe pork and beef will always get in the way. Truth be told, having a raw vegan diet is possible, as long as one has the open mind and discipline to make a life-long commitment out of veganism.
I think veganism is a lifestyle that, although not for everyone, offers a lot of benefits if done right. If I understand correctly, raw veganism is just one of the many diet combinations that someone after a vegan lifestyle may choose to have. After much research, the three benefits one may get out of a raw vegan diet are:
You receive energy from live foods. Since heat can destroy nutrients, you can expect raw foods to contain a lot more nutrients, which means...
You receive tons more energy from uncooked foods. Uncooked foods also contain enzymes, which are mostly destroyed by heat. Enzymes help break down nutrients, thereby helping our body to absorb energy much faster so...
Your overall well-being is improved. As long as you eat a balanced diet, chances are, you'll enjoy the switch to raw (in theory, at least.)
So how was the Raw Yogini Sonia experience?
After securing a spot in her class, it took me a few weeks before I got to actually attend. At Php1,300, the fee for the 4-hour class is reasonable, since it includes 5 free recipes, and the entire class gets to taste--and even take home--the food!
It was nice that Sonia chose to hold classes at a quaint, though barely noticeable, vegan restaurant at Krus na Ligas. And although it's difficult to find, mostly because there weren't any visible signage to indicate that the restaurant was just along the main road, I was happy to reach the place just in time for my first ever vegan class!
Raw Yogini Sonia
The seasonings
Making the Coconut Adobo
Making tuhog tuhog the veggies for the barbecue
The OctoVEGfest class: Me, Sonia, Jaq and Amillah
The raw vegan food waiting to be devoured.
"Fried" rice that tasted and looked a lot like Spanish rice
Veggie barbecue
Taco veggie meat
Super yummy banana-kiwi ice cream
It was cool that I got to meet new people and learn a few things in raw food prep. And since I think that different people react differently to different diets, I will remain trying different diets and lifestyles until something fits me (you know, just like Goldilocks and her porridge.) Paleo maybe? I wonder if my new-found friend Duldulao has anything to say about this.
Do you think you can try the raw vegan diet yourself? If interested, visit https://www.facebook.com/RawYoginiSonia to learn more about Raw Yogini Sonia. You may also contact her at 0918-9182369.