Sharing

In recent weeks I have been fielding questions from curious friends on what we are doing, how it works and where to find information.  On the surface, it can seem as though you are delving into unchartered territory.  However, once you break through the psychological, cultural and tradition barriers you will find a thriving community of people just like you in exactly the same place as you thriving on a plant-based lifestyle.

Three months ago, I didn't even know where to start but now I know how to form my google search to find recipes and blogs that work for my family.  I know how to adapt recipes to make them plant strong and we have developed a new set of favorites and go-to recipes to make cooking easier.  That first month though was about wiping the slate clean from the eating that we were familiar with and trying something entirely different.

If you are starting this journey, I would encourage you to find blogs of others who are established in eating this way and to connect with friends and family that are willing to set out with you.  Here are a few I stumbled on:

http://myplantbasedfamily.com/
http://www.theflamingvegan.com/
http://wholeplantbasedfoods.wordpress.com/
http://forksoverknives.com
http://engine2diet.com

But there are MANY out there.  Find ones that resonate with you and your family.

A BIG kudos to two friends who have stepped out to try plant based ideas in the way the best fits them.

The first, "Alfonso", has switched to eating meatless lunches.  I absolutely love that he is open to trying what works for him and love that the result has been more energy  in the afternoon.

The second friend, "Clarisse", has fully embraced plant based and is on her third day with her young family.   Here is what she has to say on how things are going:

"The kids are diggin' the coconut milk! I bought Ezechial's sprout bread and they love that with pb. Loads of dry and fresh fruit. Thing 1 loves hummus so I've given her pretzels with that. Dried sweet corn too. The kids Clif bars are dairy free from what I can tell and they love those! Neither will do broccoli yet but beans have been a daily thing. It's the veggies that are hard with them but I did a brown rice pasta last night in a veggie marinara with kidney beans. They ate it, so yay! Even though Thing 2 picks out what's " different" we've gotten her to try things! Loving kale chips! Me n Hubby, not the kids yet. I did find a crunchy snap pea thing but its not the best. Dark chocolate's been a treat for them for trying things. Bought some rice cheese today and got the nutritional yeast today, too.


I'm going to make yams into "fries" tomorrow with a stir fry. Leftovers for lunch are great! Breakfast has been a lot of cereal and fruit, making sure its dairy free and going whole grains. Bought coconut and almond yogurt from the store because Thing 2 loves yogurt n granola for breakfast.'

I think we make a big mistake and underestimate our beautiful children when we jump to the conclusion that they will not be 'on-board' with this diet change.  They may not love every part of it but I think you will find that they will be even more receptive than adults, more open to understanding the hows and why's and more likely to latch on to new favorites.  Well done Alfonso and Clarisse, keep up the great work and share your success so that it may be an encouragement to others!

3 months and counting - A new lifestyle not a diet

I have never been one for 'diets' unless you are talking about diet in the truest sense of the word to mean the foods that we consume.  Since changing to plant-based living three months ago I have never felt I have been on a 'fad diet' but the idea of bucking the system, going against the majority of information and traditions I have come to know and limiting my food options from the mainstream has made me feel a little like a weirdo.  I am convinced, however, that I will continue to be a weirdo and live and eat this way.

In previous posts I have rattled off the myriad of benefits my family and I have seen eating plant-based. The health benefits have continued the list has increased beyond what I would have ever thought possible.  I have had a thyroid condition since my first child was born seven years ago.  Tests at that time showed my thyroid to be heterogenous.  My levels were way too high.  I started medication and was monitored annually for changes in the nodules in my thyroid and every three-six months for my thyroid levels.  Last year, I had a 'problematic nodule' that was growing larger.  We decided to reassess in a year and if it was still growing, it would be biopsied.  I wasn't looking forward to this and the idea that something could potentially be wrong, even if it was fixable, was scary.

At the beginning of April I went for the ultrasound.  The technician looked and what she saw was.....nothing.  There were no nodules.  It wasn't that they had gotten smaller, they were gone. I understand that this could have happened because of the medication that I was on.  But given the response of the technician and the fact that I have been on the medication for years and the nodules were only getting bigger, my inclination that this was due to my change in diet.  I feel VERY strongly that God has been leading me to this very path through the opportunities for change He has placed before me in my life.   In my mind, what happened was a miracle.

Now, I will only have to have my thyroid levels checked annually and my next ultrasound is in five years.  My total cholesterol, too, has gone from 211 to 148. I feel great.  I feel alive.

So for all of those people who wonder if changing to plant based will work for them.  If you think this lifestyle is too hard or too drastic.  I do not understand.  What I know is that it is scary to change what you have known for your whole life.  But it is scarier to be diagnosed with cancer (or even the thought of it), it is scary to be wheeled into an ER with everyone thinking you are having a heart attack...at the age of 32.  It is scary to feed your children medication every day because their digestive tracks aren't working just right or worry about agressive behaviors.  It is not ok to be tired and run down when you are thinking you are doing all the 'right' things to be healthy.

For me and my family, we are plant based for life because we value our lives and what to live them to the utmost.

Meal Plan Week 8

I make preparing meals easier by cooking some things during the week while I am home such as rice or beans.  Also, I prepare the cereal mix we use for the week by multiplying the recipe by 8, I then store it in an air tight container.  Our snacks are things like popcorn, cut up carrots, cut up apples, oranges, trail mix, peanut butter power balls, etc that we can prepare quickly or just grab from the fridge or pantry.


Sunday
     Breakfast: Cereal Bowl with Hot Milk
     Dinner: Smart Dogs (Hotdogs), buns, cut veggies, cut fruit


Monday
     Breakfast: Cereal Bowl
     Dinner: Spaghetti, Prepared Sauce w/ TVP, Onions, Peppers, Mushrooms


Tuesday
     Breakfast: Peanut Oatmeal
     Dinner: Split Pea Soup


Wednesday
     Breakfast: Oatmeal Breakfast Bars
     Dinner: Thai Chickpeas over brown rice


Thursday
     Breakfast: Cereal Bowl
     Dinner: Black Bean Burgers, Whole Wheat Buns, Cut Veggies, Salad


Friday:
     Breakfast: Brown Rice Pudding
     Dinner: Minestrone Soup, Crusty Bread


Saturday
     Breakfast: Scramble Breakfast Tacos
     Dinner:  A Salad Dish TBA

Meal Plan Week 7

Sunday
     Breakfast: Cereal Bowl
     Dinner: Black Bean Burritos w/ Kale & Mashed Sweet Potatoes


Monday
     Breakfast: Peanut Oatmeal
     Dinner: Stir Fry w/ Rice and Carrot Salad


Tuesday
     Breakfast: Oatmeal Bars & Fruit Smoothie
     Dinner: Meatloaf, Roasted Potatoes, Broccoli


Wednesday
     Breakfast: Cereal Bowl
     Dinner: Broccoli Soup & Muffins


Thursday
     Breakfast: Cereal Bowl
     Dinner: Sloppy Lentil Joes, Salad, Cut Up Veggies


Friday
     Breakfast: Brown Rice Breakfast Pudding
     Dinner: Chili & Chips with Salad


Saturday
     Breakfast: Scramble, roasted potatoes, & sauteed Veggies
     Dinner: Spaghetti