going plant-based

Wow, it's been forever since I've written anything, I feel like I've almost forgotten how! Even so, I feel like writing a bit about my family's newest journey--going on a plant-based diet.

How did we get on this path? Well, it all began with religious fasting where the diet is basically vegan with a little fish here and there, days without oil or wine, minimal (or no) sweets, and, technically, we are supposed to eat as simply and with as little cooking involved as possible (besides boiling grains and such). After the first week or two of adjusting to the fast, I always felt nice and light instead of heavy and full. Then as we reached the end of it, I'd begin thinking about and craving cheese, meat and eggs. But once we began on our regular diet again, I'd notice that the meat in particular made me feel just plain bad, and the taste, smell and texture grossed me out. I'd continue eating it anyway, and eventually my body and taste buds would re-adapt. It was always a bitter-sweet reunion with our normal diet.

Finally, I asked myself: why do I force myself to eat things that taste bad and make my body feel bad? Why not just go meatless for an extra week or two and see if I end up actually wanting it or not? And surprise, surprise, I never craved meat again. I did still cook it, esp when I was short on meal ideas or was short on time (I'd go pick up a roasted chicken), but I ate less and less of it as time went by. Andruskii (my dh) also began to feel similarly. Then he read Fast Food Nation, and that was the end of red meat in our house. We also discussed a desire for a more sustainable diet, and we talked about how meat used to be reserved for very special occasions bc animals were too valuable. It followed that we began eating meat just twice a week, and then just once a week. By then I pretty much didn't have any desire to eat meat and would have just a bite or two at dinner, and I noticed that the chicken that used to get devoured within two days would sit in the fridge for a whole week. Apparently I wasn't the only one losing a taste for meat. After a while, we moved to just buying good fish and shellfish from Whole Foods, and the price alone made even that a fairly rare occasion. Pizza has been the hardest to give up, but I'd say we're at about 80% compliance with making it vegan-friendly, which I think is pretty good :) Eggs still come around every so often as well. Cravings are satisfied, and we all feel balanced.

We went through all this change pretty naturally, and then out of curiosity I started looking at different diets that were based on vegetables. My body already knew instinctively what it wanted, and I was listening, but my mind wanted to understand as well (nature of my personality, I guess). I looked into the alkaline diet which made a lot of sense to me and has since proven practical and helpful when I've felt "off". I also read up on the benefits of green smoothies. After doing a 2-week challenge where I drank one every day (anywhere from 8-20 oz/day), I had noticeable changes in my finger nails, skin, bowels (sorry), and I had fewer cravings for snacks and junk food. This sold me on the benefits of greens--who knew they could be so good for you?! haha!

Next I began following VeganHope.com, an amazing woman with an amazing story (go check it out!), and took note of her suggested book list. So far I've read The China Study by T. Colin Campbell, PhD, Eat to Live by Dr. Joel Fuhrman, The End of Overeating by David Kessler MD, and The Pleasure Trap by Douglas Lisle, Ph.D., and Alan Goldhamer, D.C. They are all good books, but I now own The China Study and soon I will own The End of Overeating, and that's really saying something about how I like them! :)

I'm currently reading The Engine 2 Diet by Rip Esselstyn and In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan (who also wrote The Omnivore's Dilemma). I really like both of these as well. Esselstyn offers a vegan, oil-free, salt-free diet as a way to lose excess weight, lower cholesterol and maintain a healthy, happy body. I like his gentle, personal approach and genuine desire to help people eat better. Even if they can't keep to the ideal diet past his recommended 4 weeks, he hopes people will be empowered to make healthier choices in the context of their usual diet. I also think most people would really like Pollan's book. He is not vegan but makes the following proposition: "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." The review says, "By urging us to once again eat food, he challenges the prevailing nutrient-by-nutrient approach — what he calls nutritionism — and proposes an alternative way of eating that is informed by the traditions and ecology of real, well-grown, unprocessed food." Now, I'm only about half-way through it, so I can only vouch for the first half of the book :)

Also on my list: The pH Miracle, Fast Food Nation, Nutrition and Physical Degeneration, and many more...oh, and someday a license in plant-based nutrition.

I have so much more to say about our journey, exploitation, the counter-cultural aspect of eating whole foods, and my new passion for nutritious food, but it will all have to wait for another day.