Switching to a Raw Vegan Diet: 5 Reasons and 3 Raw Dehydrated Food Recipes

Veganism is more popular now than it ever has been before. In fact, there are over 1.6 million vegans in the US. 

Raw vegans, however, are a far rarer breed.

Because of this, you might not know much about this diet or how to get started. We’ve put together this guide to help you learn the health benefits of switching to an easy raw vegan diet plan and to teach you a few simple recipes you can make at home. 

So let’s get started! 

What Is Raw Veganism?

A raw vegan diet is a type of veganism. 

In other words, it excludes any foods (and usually other products) of animal origin. This means no eating meat, eggs, dairy products, fish, etc.

Raw veganism takes the diet one step farther. 

It pairs veganism with raw foodism—a diet that excludes any food cooked or heated above temperatures of 104-118 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Because of this, people on a raw vegan diet prepare most of their food by juicing it, blending it, soaking it, or dehydrating it. 

The Benefits of a Raw Vegan Diet

Many of the people who go on a raw vegan diet choose to do so because of health reasons. Since this diet is rich in vegetables, nuts, seeds, fruits, and sprouted grains, it does have a lot of benefits. 

Here are a few of the most important raw vegan diet benefits. 

1. Healthier, More Nourishing Food

When you cook food, it loses important nourishment, such as vitamin B and C. Eating the same foods raw mean you get all the vitamins, minerals, enzymes, etc. inside the food. 

Raw foods are also free of other harmful substances found in a lot of other food. This includes things like refined sugar, artificial coloring, additives, and MSG. 

2. Can Help with Weight Loss

Switching to a raw vegan diet is a good way to shave off a few extra pounds. Eating raw foods lowers your amount of body fat, which can make you lose weight over time. 

This diet can be especially helpful for people who can’t do a lot of physical exercise. The raw food vegan diet meal plan can help you lose weight even without a lot of other lifestyle changes. 

3. Improves Your Overall Health 

Your body can get all the nutrients it needs from raw foods. In other words, this will allow your body’s systems to get and stay healthy. 

A raw diet can even lower your risk of diabetes, improve your heart health, and benefit your digestive health. 

4. Gives You More Energy 

You might think cutting meats and other cooked food out of your diet would make you lose energy, but actually the opposite is true. 

You use about 10% of your daily energy on digestion alone. But raw, vegan foods are easier to digest than processed foods. When you combine that with the number of nutrients you’ll get from a raw vegan diet, you’ll find yourself with a lot more energy than normal. 

5. Helps the Environment 

When you make the switch to a raw vegan diet, you’re doing your part to take care of the environment. 

Not only are you taking a stand against animal cruelty, but you’re also cutting back on the amount of land, water, energy, and greenhouse gases used to farm and produce these animals. 

Easy and Delicious Raw Vegan Recipes 

There are a lot of recipes you can make with raw, vegan food in a dehydrator. In fact, you might be surprised at how many foods you won’t have to live without. 

Here are a few of the best raw vegan recipes you should try. 

Fruit Snacks 

Fruit is a big part of a raw vegan diet, so dehydrating your fruit at home is a great way to make it last longer. This recipe uses pears and cinnamon to create a delicious, on-the-go snack. 

Here’s What You’ll Need: 

  • 5 pears
  • 2 tablespoons of cinnamon sugar 

Here’s What to Do:

Peel each pair and slice them into long, thin strips. Put them in a bowl, add the cinnamon sugar, and mix until each slice is covered.

Place them in the dehydrator and let them sit for 12 hours at 110 degrees Fahrenheit. They should slightly crispy when done. 

Soft Bread 

Just because you can’t cook your food doesn’t mean you can’t have bread. This recipe uses raw and vegan friendly-foods to create soft and tasty bread. 

Here’s What You’ll Need:

  • 9 cups of cauliflower (or one head) 
  • 4 cups zucchini 
  • 1/2 cup of psyllium husk
  • 1/2 cup of nutritional yeast 
  • 2 tablespoons chia seeds
  • 4 teaspoons smoked sea salt 
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric powder 
  • Pinch of black pepper

Here’s What to Do:

Blend the zucchini in a food processor until smooth. Add the cauliflower and keep blending until combined. Add the remaining ingredients and mix together. 

Use your hands or a spatula to form the mixture into bread slices. Place in the dehydrator for 6 hours and flip halfway through.  

Flax Crackers 

Craving something crunchy? This raw vegan recipe will satisfy your craving without having to cheat. 

Here’s What You’ll Need: 

  • 1 cup of water
  • 1/2 cup of ground flax seeds 
  • 1/2 cup of whole flax seeds
  • 1/2 cup of nutritional yeast
  • 1/4 cup of sunflower seeds 
  • 1 tablespoon of garlic powder 
  • 1 teaspoon of cayenne
  • 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika 
  • 1/2 teaspoon of cumin

Here’s What You’ll Do:

Combine all the dry ingredients into a bowl and mix until combined. Pour the water into the bowl and let sit for 15 minutes. Once the water has been absorbed, mix well. 

Spread the mixture over a piece of parchment paper in a dehydrator (the thinner the spread, the crispier the cracker). Dehydrate overnight until crispy. 

Sticking to a Raw Vegan Diet for Beginners

Once you make the switch to a raw vegan diet, resisting those cravings and sticking with it can be hard. But don’t give up. Eating raw, vegan food will improve your health and give you more energy. 

Need a dehydrator to start preparing your diet-friendly food?

Make sure you click here to take a look at our great selection of dehydrators. 

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Danny
Hey there, since 2016, my mission has been to provide you with the information and guides you need to make food dehydrating simple and fun. Whether you're a newbie or a seasoned pro, my site offers helpful guides, reviews, and recipes to enhance your dehydrating experience. I take pride in only recommending products I believe in, ensuring my readers' trust. As an affiliate of various programs, including Amazon Associates, your support helps me continue providing quality content. Thanks for stopping by, and happy dehydrating!