Our Minds, Our Moods, Our Meals
Vegan Qeshta. Courtesy of Raoum Alsuhaibani
Refreshing fruits, hearty vegetables, leafy greens, and protein-packed legumes are all part of a well-balanced diet. When we talk about food, some people will find it challenging to have a meal without a piece of juicy meat to cut into. For others, cutting out the meat from all meals of the day is a way of life.
Raoum Alsuhaibani is a digital content creator who has more than 100 thousand followers on her Sukkari Life account, where she shares her vegan meals online. She drizzles golden honey on breakfast bowls, creates protein and fiber-dense meals with tahini and copious amounts of nuts, and utilizes Saudi cuisine at every turn.
As a certified yoga trainer, she is a heroine of healthy living for anyone interested in improving their lifestyle. With a soon-to-be-released cookbook filled with tasty recipes, Raoum enjoys the sweet side of life. She shares her life online with a side dish of delicious vegan desserts, homemade granola, and veggie-filled bowls with plenty of protein.
Raoum sits with Ithraeyat to share her insight on food as fuel, its connection to our mind and body, and being a vegan in the Middle East.
"A lot of people say Saudi is very meat-centered, but I actually see a different side," she shares. "In the past, people were poor and meat was a luxury. So, many of our traditional foods don't have meat or chicken unless it's for a special occasion. Foods like Jareesh and Saleeq don't traditionally have meat, and it's easy to substitute cow's milk for plant-based milk. Kabsa can be cooked with lentils and veggies."
She continues, sharing her experience cooking Middle Eastern cuisine, "Syrian cuisine has a lot of delicious recipes that are entirely plant-based, like horaa osbao and mujaddara. Even in Egypt, there's kushari. Many recipes taste better without the aftertaste of eggs or the bitterness from laban."
Raoum Alsuhaibani.
Raoum shared her observation that there is heightened sensitivity when it comes to food. "Food is one of our main identities, which could greatly trigger people. An attachment (to food) could be why people get triggered when they hear you are vegan or just eating differently than them."
What does it look like to be healthy as a vegan? "There is a weird stigma with being called vegan," she laughs. "But, people now want to listen and to learn more about a plant-based diet. Healthy is when you eat enough on a plant-based diet and your food is diverse. Being vegan is a part of my identity; it's not my entire being," she says. "I've reached a very healthy and balanced relationship with food."
When food is served and shared at family gatherings, Raoum observes the oil-dense dishes and the sugar spike in desserts. "Almost everyone at the table is trying to lose weight or improve their health because of high blood pressure or diabetes and what-not," she says, "yet they struggle. It breaks my heart. We all want the same thing (to be healthy), why aren't we serving healthier food?"
Food tastes best when shared in good company. The table is filled with platters of flavorful rice and freshly chopped salads during meals. Jokes and jareesh are passed from satisfied hearts to grateful bellies. Raoum says eating is more enjoyable when she shares good food with her fellow vegans and loved ones. "Socially, once you become something, whatever it is, and you find your people, it becomes easier to commit."
As a scout for knowledge, she obtained a certification in plant-based nutrition. She had been a yoga trainer for years. Before we pile creamy pasta, crispy potatoes, and delectable salads onto our plates, let's turn inwards and listen to our bodies.
Courtesy of Raoum Alsuhaibani
Fueling our body with healthy food and moving in terms of exercise go hand-in-hand. "When you move your body, you're more aware of it," Raoum says, "You are aware of your digestion if your joints are aching or if you are feeling a bit foggy in the head. And you can make the connection between how food affects your body that way and even how it impacts your sleep. The more I move, the more I naturally eat better, and my appetite is healthy. I always found movement brings my appetite back to the baseline." She continues, "Food and our body have a huge connection. We use food to fuel our minds and bodies."
Our minds, moods, and meals have always been the trifecta of healthy living. With Raoum's journey through balanced and mindful eating and exercise, she shares a path to peace through her content.
"Food can't fix all of our problems, but it could improve it and improve mental health." With organic vegetables, whole grains, and legumes being the center of a vegan diet, can plant-based living be harvested in our homes? Growing our own herbs in a harsh, hot climate may sound challenging, but Raoum shares her experience and knowledge on gardening herbs and more. "I have mint on my balcony. I always forget to water it," she laughs, "but surprisingly, it's doing really well. Mint is super easy to grow.
I always try to have herbs because I won't use a whole bunch. It's convenient to have herbs in your balcony or garden, like parsley and coriander grow easily here. Lime trees are easy to take care of, too, as well as tomato plants. I've seen people grow strawberries in Riyadh; not even in a greenhouse or anything."
Balinesse Peanut Sauce. Courtesy of Raoum Alsuhaibani
Her success as a content creator is owed to her aesthetically pleasing and alluring photos of nutritious foods. Is decorating a plate of food essential to eat? "There's a saying in Arabic, 'Your eyes eat before your mouth.' It helps make your food look appetizing; it gives your digestive system a head start to eating. You salivate when you put the final touches of garnish like cilantro or oregano on a well-prepared dish. I love going the extra mile. Making your food look pretty helps open up your appetite."
The dark side of food has been and is a constant struggle among people. Struggling with a low appetite or eating disorders have been a hush-hush topic worldwide. "I see a lot of people struggling with diet, and they feel guilty about what they eat," Raoum says.
"Seeing so many people struggle with food daily breaks my heart. A diet is never going to solve your problems. It will definitely have to be a lifestyle change. You don't have to say goodbye to the food you love forever; you just eat it less often. And eventually, you may find yourself not craving it as much anymore. It's not about the longevity of your life; it's about feeling good in your body for as long as possible. It's more important than any piece of dessert or junk food."
The vitality of healthy eating should be based on an authentic relationship with food. Conversing with Raoum, it has been inspiring to grab a spoonful of healthy lifestyle changes. Focusing on how our body and mind feel when it comes to our next meal should be the special of the day, every day. How you feel is more important than how you look.
Vegan Apple Crumble. Courtesy of Raoum Alsuhaibani.
Vegan Kabsah. Courtesy of Raoum Alsuhaibani.
