Surviving Halloween in the Raw

So, you’ve got your costume ready, and you’ve been invited to the most fabulous Halloween party! How often does this holiday fall on a Saturday night, with an extra hour built in for daylights savings time (for all our US readers)? But, you are on your raw food journey and you really don’t want to lose it all and trip up on one night of fun! What do you do?

Oh many of us raw food enthusiasts have been there before! We want to go out and have a good time, but the options for nourishment that meet our high quality standards can be quite lacking! How do you still have a good time with friends all while staying raw and not getting weird faces from others? We have some tips that we think will be of some help.

• As always, preparation and proper planning are key. You know when and where the party is and what time you are planning to arrive (of coarse the party doesn’t start without you!!). So, make sure you have a hearty raw meal before you go. We suggest raw tacos with a side salad, or Vincent’s Kale Salad 3.0. You should never go to a party where you are unsure of the food situation on an empty stomach. This puts you in a desperate situation to be tempted when it can easily be avoidable. If you are going to be out and about prior to going to the party, perhaps dinner out at a raw or vegan spot would also be ideal.
• Make a trip to the grocery store some time this week to pick up a couple LARABARS. They are raw and small enough to fit in a purse, bag, or pocket (not the back pocket or you will smush them!). You can also make a raw trail mix consisting of raw nuts, seeds, dried fruits and cacao. Have small portions of these items on you and if you feel uncomfortable reaching for them while hanging out, excuse yourself to go outside for some fresh air, take in the breeze and chow down.
• Bring water with you if you can. It can be a small bottle that you carry in your bag, or one that you leave in your car for when you go outside for fresh air. You never want to be at one of these parties without water, as it is very important for you to stay hydrated and depending on the affair, sometimes the availability of water is overlooked.
• If this is a house party where you know the hosts, offer to bring a spectacular dish of your own (or two). Then check out our Raw Halloween Recipe Round Up for some great tips and links to give you ideas of what to bring. What’s so great about these recipes is that they look so amazing and festive that no one will even think they are raw, let alone good for them! You will really impress your friends.
• Planning on having a drink? How about bringing your own bottle or two of organic wine so you can pass on the jungle juice? Make a toast with the friends you came with, or if you know the hosts of the party, ask them to hold the wine aside for you (like maybe store it somewhere safe or in the refrigerator).
• As you are mixing and mingling and checking out the goodies at the party, if you should happen upon a fruit or veggie tray, hover! This party tray is your new best friend and don’t feel guilty for loading up your plate or going back for seconds. If you don’t think there will be a fruit and veggie tray there and its a house party, bring one yourself. Afterall, in many situations it is customary for a house guest to show up with something to contribute to the party, and this guarantees that you’ll have something to eat.
• Again if it is a house party, if you are comfortable doing this and know the hosts you might want to let them know of your dietary needs and ask if it is possible for fruit/veggies to be available. A good host/hostess is usually more than willing to accommodate.
• Do your best to avoid temptation! This may mean not hanging around the alcohol table/bartender but enjoying the dancefloor or lounge area instead.
• Above all, have fun and enjoy yourself! Don’t be too hard on yourself if you happen to slip. Do your best to be prepared: this includes costume, good company, and that your nutritional needs are taken care of.

You can totally survive this Halloween while staying on course with your raw food journey. If you have any questions or additional tips that you would like to share, they are much appreciated so feel free to post them below.

By rawfoodnation Tags: halloween party, planning, raw, survive halloween, tips
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