FAQ
Why are you obsessed with bento-making?
I got tired of snacking on convenient store nosh when I was out and about, so I decided to bring out my own food. The small plastic containers I took out were not big enough to feed a hungry raw vegan like me, so I bought two bentos big enough to tote along a meal and some snacks.
Do you spend a lot of time preparing your bentos?
No, I try to use whatever food I have on hand to make my bentos. I normally take about 15 – 30 min max.
Some of your bentos look sparse. Don’t you get hungry again quickly?
Sometimes my bentos are just for holding snacks and I eat a full meal at home before going out. I also usually tote along a flask of green smoothie to bulk up my snacks.
What is a raw food lifestyle?
I eat fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds in an uncooked and unprocessed form. I don’t heat my food above 118 degrees Fahrenheit/ 48 degrees Celsius.
Does sushi count?
No, I don’t eat meat or fish, raw or cooked.
Why are you eating a raw food diet?
I feel energetic and alert on a live food diet that helps me do what I need to do on a daily basis. You can read about my journey so far here, here, here, and here.
Are you 100% raw vegan?
No, I’m not. I eat a high raw diet that is mostly vegan. The only times I’m not vegan are when I’m out socializing and I allow myself a bit of dairy. In winter, I might have an egg with a cooked meal occasionally.
Do you ever get sick on raw food?
No, in fact, all the times I fell violently ill was when I ate unclean cooked food in developing countries. In terms of immunity, I would say I fall ill with the flu less often than before. If I go without sleep for one night or put my body through a lot of strenuous exercise, I don’t get sick like I did in the past. But having said that, I still get nipped with headaches or colds once in awhile. I’m careful with promoting the raw diet as the “perfect” way of eating and so one becomes invincible — I find that only to be true to a certain extent.
Can I eat meat in front of you?
I get this one all the time and it never fails to surprise me. Yes, it’s okay to eat meat in front of me — I won’t run away screaming. In fact I’ve more omnivorous friends than veggie ones.
Is your Japanese translated from Babelfish?
No, I wrote them all from scratch, but if it sounds like it’s from Babelfish, it’s because my Japanese still needs brushing up.
Why do you write in Japanese?
Just a way to practice the language and have fun at the same time!
Where are you from?
I’m from Singapore but have been living in Tokyo for a few years now.
