Living in Japan as a raw vegan can be a challenge at first, but it all boils down to preparedness in the end, combined with the willingness to accept that you may have to carry a few things around with you all day. I used to do and still do a lot of traveling, and in the past I would just make sure I had cash on me, as food in the Big Mikan (Tokyo) is available just about everywhere. Even if the tab added up to quite a lot at the end of the week, I used to eat out at least 5 days a week, much more if you call grabbing a bento (lunch set) from the conbini (corner or convenience store) eating out too! Hauling food around just was not something I wanted to deal with, especially on rush hour trains jam-packed like sardines. In truth, there is not a lot of option on the road for raw food enthusiasts.

When I first changed over to a raw food diet, I anticipated that this reality would be the downfall of my raw food effort, but actually, after forming the habit of simply being prepared and anticipating situations, I find it has not been so difficult. Even though fresh, organic produce is insanely expensive in this country, because I rarely eat out as I used to, I am actually spending less than before.

Traveling anywhere while raw can certainly seem like a test to our strength. This is actually good, though, as it stresses our personal commitment to what we believe in and the extent to which we are prepared to bend to accommodate everyday challenges. Certainly there will be situations on the road when you will have to continually make decisions and find within your heart whether you wish to remain raw while on the move, or to take some down time and eat cooked foods. Remember to view your food choices as a lifestyle, and not a do or die strict diet. I believe our long-term success depends on this attitude.

If you have made the commitment to staying raw, PREPARATION is key! You need to make and take a good old-fashioned lunch bag or box with you. In the past I did work at on place at which I couldn’t access food, and I recall eating really well because I had no choice but to bring my own lunch. I do remember it being a chore preparing my daily lunches, though, and perhaps that’s why I was dreading traveling raw. But actually, now that I don’t have to pre-cook a meal, and realize that I can be well nourished and very satisfied without any fancy preparation, I understand that my worries were unfounded. If I don’t feel like putting in the 5 minutes it takes to assemble a salad using what ever is in the fridge in a plastic Tupperware container with my little bottles of oil and vinegar on the side, then I just chuck a banana, apple, or whatever in a plastic bag, and make sure I have emergency bags/ boxes of nuts, seeds, and dried nuts, and sometimes homemade trail mix in my main bag. I do just fine this way!

One thing that is always in my bag when I leave home in the morning is my 1.5 liter bottle of green smoothie, which takes me through the morning and eliminates the need to have a sit-down breakfast - I “eat” my smoothie on the way to work and at my desk/ in class and once I’m at the workplace. If you’re taking a flight somewhere, however, be sure to down that smoothie before you attempt to get through security, as liquids are a no-go. It seems like common sense, but I’ve been stared at hurriedly sucking back my green mush that I got caught with before. Laws on bringing in fresh produce to other countries are strict too, so always have dried foods, seeds, or nuts at hand just in case when traveling internationally, too.

The one down side with this raw on the road lifestyle is that my everyday shoulder bag has gotten big and somewhat heavy. I have had to forgo my snappy, small designer purse for a durable lightweight, multi-pocketed tote bag, but I’d be lying if I said it looked dowdy! I imagine that for men who are used to not carrying anything but their back-pocket wallet, this carrying of food around might take some getting used too. In Japan, it is the norm for men to carry bags, fortunately. The current trend for both men and women is stylish cycle courier bags, which I think are useful and look cool whatever your age or gender. Luckily by the end of the day my bag usually gets considerably lighter after having consumed all or most of my stash. Liquids are heavy after all, and fruit contains a lot of liquid.

Be glad that making food preparation and taking it all with you will keep your wallet healthy, as you are no longer paying over the top for low-quality food. However, if all else fails, there is usually fruit for sale at service stations, in convenience stores, and on trains. Even some Starbucks chains sell bananas now.

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