Living with others who don't share your dietary preferences can be a challenge, especially when you follow a raw vegan diet while your housemates enjoy foods you prefer not to be around. However, with some careful planning and communication, it is possible to effectively share a kitchen space while respecting everyone's choices. Here are some essential tips and guidelines to make the kitchen a harmonious place for all.
Organizing Your Shared Space
When it comes to sharing a kitchen, organization is important. Here are some strategies to ensure a smooth coexistence:
Separate Storage Areas: It helps greatly to store your equipment, plates, utensils, glasses etc in a separate section of the kitchen. This helps avoid cross-contamination from dried traces of foods or even oils being left behind on dishes not throroughly cleaned.
Designated Tools: Have separate dishwashing tools for your dishes, utensils and prepware. This prevents any cross-contamination and maintains the purity of your raw vegan meals. Oils from greasy pans and pots along with food particles can be difficult to completely remove from sponges and brushes. You definitely want your own.
Cleanliness is Vital: Before preparing your food, clean the food prep area thoroughly. This includes disinfecting surfaces, cleaning utensils, and ensuring everything is sanitary for your meal preparation. Do not depend on others to clean to your expectations.
Pantry Organization: Designate a space to keep pantry items separate. You wouldn't want meaty fingers grabbing your spice jars or contaminating your raw ingredients. Having an independent space brings clarity to everyone learning how to share the kitchen.
Food Prep Schedule: Arrange food prep for separate times. Kitchens can be small and depending on the layout of the kitchen, fun personalities or the types of meals being prepared, you may opt to avoid grease-popping additions to your raw meal. Separating food prep time also helps to keep away from smells you'd rather not encounter while making your own food.
Refrigerator Organization: It is usually simpler for everyone if Raw Vegan ingredients are at the top. Most don't mind if a carrot or celery chunk finds its way to a lower shelf. But, experiencing raw meat juice streaming down the shelves can feel like a complete meltdown. - been there, done that. And all at an hour when I wanted a snack, but stores were closed! Safety all ingredients that anyone is allergic to, by using proper storage containers - do not open these containers until located in the food prep area. Before returning leftovers to the refrigerator, clean the outside of containers after use.
Personal Insights:
Living as a raw vegan amongst those who consume different foods can be challenging but also an opportunity for growth. Be patient with one another as everyone tries to understand the needs of all involved. By setting boundaries and fostering mutual respect, it is possible to cohabitate harmoniously with a shared kitchen. Communication is key – explain your needs, listen to others' concerns, and find common ground to make the shared kitchen work for everyone. Happy eating!
Tyra Ware, CHHP CIr CH AT RYT
A Clinical Herbalist who's passionate about Medical Herbalism and Aromatherapy for health care. She partners with her fiancé at bZengi offering healing arts services to clientele worldwide. She enjoys yoga, listening to music, reading, mystery and action films, learning languages and developing culinary creations and spending time with her fiancé. You can learn more about her work at www.bzengi.net.
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