Doha-based Nausheen Sayed was brought up in a meat consuming family and environment. Yet, she was barely in her 20s when she took a big leap into veganism and experienced a 360-degree transformation in her health and energy levels. She has also shared her menu for one week. Here is her dramatic story.
Nausheen Sayed is a student, entrepreneur and blogger, and first turned vegan about 3 years ago and then gradually turned a raw vegan. As she was growing up, she had many health issues due to obesity, so initially she turned to veganism with the aim of losing weight. Later, on, she turned to fully raw vegan. She not only successfully lost a lot of weight but also felt a lot of improvement in managing emotions and increased energy levels.
Being a resident of Qatar, she initially with her family, lived only on meat-based diet. Her own food consisted of junk food like nuggets, noodles, burgers and pizzas. But as she slowly started turning vegan, she started cutting out all products containing oil, sugar and bread.
[ SCROLL DOWN FOR HER WEEKLY MENU & HER EXCLUSIVE VIDEO]
Beginning Of Her Journey
She then started experimenting with becoming a raw vegan–she started with smoothies, salads, 2 raw meals a day, then only raw meals for a week, then for two weeks, then raw meals for one month, then two months, eventually raw meals for 6 months, one year and then finally turning completely raw vegan.
There were some days initially she felt tiredness, headaches and stomach-aches and let her body take care of itself. She even experienced some cravings especially for sugar but they soon went away and once they went they did not recur…they were just not there anymore.
Other challenges she faced was gaining social acceptance due to her transition to raw vegan. No raw vegan food was served in any social / family gathering and for festivals. All food served was only meat based. Family and close friends tried to discourage her, but it did not deter her. She started attending the functions, carrying smoothies and food from home.
She feels that people do pull down a girl who does something different in a society. Even now at home there are fights due to her preference for raw veganism and she is told that a girl has to adjust in the society she lives in. At times, she is forced to question herself, “Am I doing something wrong?” But with a strong will she answers the “Whys” and ‘Whats”. She watches back to back documentaries for inspiration.
[ SCROLL DOWN FOR HER WEEKLY MENU & HER EXCLUSIVE VIDEO]
Turning Raw Vegan
She narrates an incident which made her switch over to Raw Veganism overnight. One night she returned home after having a heavy meal from a buffet and suffered a lot of stomach ache through the night. It was the last cooked meal she had. That was a turning point in her life when she decided that she would permanently turn raw vegan from then on.
Doctors sometimes raise concerns for low B12 or calcium deficiency. It gives them something to comment on but Nausheen feels much healthier now compared to when she was obese. She has advice for all especially girls suffering from obesity…If you are not happy, make a change; After all you are an individual…
If one feels that social situations deter them then there are always many options available like carrying a tiffin from home with raw salads or smoothies. In general, she says “Anything to make it work”.
She is well aware that there is not much support from within the family so she has a simple advice “Don’t depend on others and if required prepare your own meals. Don’t ever go hungry”. Another helpful tip she offer, “For a family meal or social gathering always prepare a meal first for yourself and then attend to others”.
Planning is important at night for the next day’s meal. She goes through her fridge to decide what to prepare for the next day.
Raw Veganism has helped her cope up better emotionally; she would still feel hurt in certain situations, but she is able to cope up much better than before. She believes that it’s okay to be different from others. Her own parents and younger sisters have health issues due to their meat based diet, which is a cause for concern especially since her sisters are younger to her.
Most of the items she uses are imported. Not much can be grown locally as Doha, Qatar is a desert. But she also relies on home grown fruits and vegetables. She also relies on Local Farmers Markets. Raw Veganism is cheaper too …. as fruits and vegetables like bananas, cucumbers and tomatoes are much economical than meat and meat products.
There is a lot of awareness now. Initially when she started, there were few documentaries which she used to watch back to back. Now there is much more information. People are very encouraging when she posts pictures and recipes.
Also initially, there were only a couple of Vegans but now the community is growing. Many women and women with children approach her for her advice on veganism. She herself holds meetings with people sometimes weekly or sometimes monthly. If the weather is good, they even plan out meetings in a local park. All this is slowly helping in spreading veganism and raw veganism.
[ SCROLL DOWN FOR HER WEEKLY MENU & HER EXCLUSIVE VIDEO]
What Nausheen Eats In A Week
Breakfast
- 2 litre smoothie
- Berry Smoothie
- Green Smoothie
- Mango/ Papaya/ Chikoo Smoothie
- (Or whatever ripe fruit is available)
- Nicecream (blended frozen fruits)
- Juices 2 litre (citrus, greens, apples)
Lunch
- Cut-up Fruit Salad
- Smoothie Bowls
- Fruit Monomeal
A mixed salad with fruits and veggies, and a simple blended dressing made with soaked nuts/seeds.
Dinner
Often, a salad for dinner if I’ve had fruit for lunch. If not, then, something a little gourmet, as enlisted below:
- Cauliflower Rice
- Zucchini Hummus
- Marinated Mushrooms
- Zucchini Noodles
- Raw Vegan Sushi Rolls
- Guacamole
- Sprout Balls
- Raw Soup
- Raw Dahi Wada
Dessert
- Date Balls
- Raw Cheesecake
- Raw Pudding
- Raw Brownies
- Raw Ice-Cream
- Raw Chocolate Bars
- Raw Sheer Kurma
Cauliflower Rice
Cauliflower, apple, carrot, garlic, green chili, coriander, parsley, salt, pepper, lime juice and cumin powder processed until rice like in the food processor.
Chopped tomatoes and olive slices added in.
Raw Tomato Soup
Tomatoes, soaked sun-dried tomatoes, soaked sunflower seeds, lemon juice, garlic, ginger, cumin powders, black salt & pepper and some tahini. Coriander on top.
Zoodles in Creamy Tomato Sauce
Sauce is cashews, salt, pepper, tomato, lime juice, garlic, green chili and zucchini.
Raw Essential Co
Nausheen has founded Raw Essential Co. that supplies beauty, cosmetic and personal care products will no chemicals. She has a distribution base in Mumbai and can deliver across India.
Devansh Keswani, Mumbai
+91-8779936011
Fb: @rawessentialco
www.instagram.com/rawsheens
www.instagram.com/nausheenthevegan
www.instagram.com/theveiledvegan
www.instagram.com/rawessentialco
www.instagram.com/rawgraphicsco
www.itsmyhealthylifeblog.wordpress.com
https://www.youtube.com/c/NausheenSayedAnwar
