Interview Series: Lisa Viger

Lisa Viger is a vegan artist, photographer, author, gardener, and food blogger. More than almost anything, she enjoys showing others that a healthy vegan lifestyle can be economical, simple, fun, and delicious, too. She started her blog started Raw on $10 a Day (or Less), to see just how much a raw lifestyle might cost, and she found that it didn’t cost much.

I recently had the opportunity to chat with Lisa, and we talked about veganism, raw food, and  her new book Easy, Affordable Raw.

 

Chic Vegan: What motivated you to become a raw vegan? Was it an overnight switch or more gradual shift?
Lisa Viger: I heard about raw foods about ten years ago and it just made sense to me. Eating fresh, unprocessed, uncooked food … what a simple and brilliant idea. But, the switch was gradual for me as I was starting from a less than ideal place health wise. My health was a big motivator, and I was curious about what a change in diet would do for me. At the time, I was a smoker, ate a lot of animal products and other junk food, and had very little fresh fruits and vegetables. Over the course of a few years, I stopped smoking, which was awesome. I then became a vegan for ethical reasons, after reading The World Peace Diet by Will Tuttle, which I highly recommend. And I’ve just incorporated more and more raw foods into my diets. I’m not 100% raw all the time, but am high raw and always vegan.

 

CV: When people learn that you are a raw vegan, what is the #1 question they ask and what is your response?
LV: The first thing people ask when they find out I’m vegan is, “But where do you get your protein?” You might have heard this, too … about a million times. It’s a legitimate question, though, because we’ve all been raised to think of meat, dairy, and eggs as the source of protein. My response is to first say, “Wow, I’ve never heard THAT question before …” Not really. What I do is explain the facts about what protein is and how and where we get it. “Protein” isn’t one thing. It’s literally millions of different combinations of amino acids. We use the amino acids found in plants to create all the different proteins our bodies need, and there are many. After all, where do you think the cow got it?

 

CV: Tell me a little bit about your new book Easy, Affordable Raw: How to Go Raw on $10 a Day and what inspired you to write it.
LV: I was inspired to write Easy Affordable Raw because I wanted to show that the raw vegan lifestyle is accessible to most of us and it doesn’t required a lot of exotic ingredients or hard to find superfoods. Almost everything in my book can be made from things found at most local groceries. Except for the chocolate chapter, which does use things you might need to locate online.

 

CV: Do you have any favorite recipes in the book?
LV: In addition to everything in the chocolate chapter, I really like the salad recipes. Salads are amazing and there are so many possibilities. The heartier recipes that I really like are the Pizza Stuffed Mushrooms, because they’re just so bursting with flavor, and the Walnut Apple and Sprouted Lentil Loaf with BBQ Sauce, because it reminds me so much of the traditional version … only better.

I like all the recipes, to be honest, and it seems to be hard to go wrong when working with raw food. As long as the ingredients are awesome, the finished dish will usually be, too.

 

CV: I eat a lot of raw food in the summer, but in the winter I crave warm and hearty foods. Do you have tips for staying raw and keeping warm during the cold winter months?
LV: The heartier recipes mentioned above are really great for keeping you feel full, satisfied, and warm. You can also heat things to 118-120 degrees in a dehydrator or gently on the stove and have them still be raw. Spices like cayenne and ginger also will add a little warmth. One of my favorite things is adding cayenne powder to chocolate recipes.

 

CV: I hear from people who tell me that they have a difficult time staying vegan because of where they live. I know you live in rural Michigan. Is it difficult to follow a raw vegan lifestyle there?
LV: I haven’t had any problem staying vegan and even raw here in my little town. I’m lucky, and our one grocery store has an excellent product department and decent prices and they carry quite a few organic options as well. I’ve only shopped at Whole Foods once. Ever. I made almost everything in my book with ingredients I found at my local grocery so that people don’t feel like they have to spend megabucks or go out of their way to get to specialty stores.

 

CV: What advice would you give to someone who wants follow a raw diet but doesn’t know where to start?
LV: I would say don’t look at it as an all or nothing lifestyle change. Add more smoothies, or add more salads to your daily meals. Replace sugary things with fresh fruit. 100% raw is great, but so is 75% or even 50%.

Smoothies are pretty ideal as a way to get started in the raw food lifestyle. They so simple to make, with just some greens and fruit. They’re hydrating and they really up the nutrition factor right away.

 

CV: What do you typically eat in the span of a day and are you a snacker?
LV: One of my favorite “raw days” is to have a smoothie for breakfast, salad for lunch, and something heartier for dinner, like marinated vegetables. And yes, I’m a snacker! I’ll snack on nuts and dates during the day.

 

CV: What is your favorite vegan indulgence?
LV: Hummus. Definitely hummus, raw or cooked … I can’t resist it. If someone ever wanted to make me talk, all they would have to do is put a tub of hummus in front of me. I’d spill the beans in about 12.5 seconds.

 

CV: In your wildest dreams what will your life look like in 5 years?
LV: Wow, that’s a good question. I’m pretty happy, in general, and I have a fortunate life. I’d like to be doing the same things I do now, which is write and paint and enjoy every day. Maybe I can improve on each of those, but that’s what I want to continue doing. I have specific goals … I want my art in this or that gallery, I’d like my next book to be awesome, I’d like to be in love, I want to grow acres of blueberries, I definitely want to be healthy and for my family and friends to be happy and healthy … but really I just want to fully enjoy every moment, whatever that is, because that’s really all any of us have.