My Plant Based Journey
My plant-based journey started as a teenager growing up in Ireland. My mom pretty much cooked everything from scratch, lots of fresh vegetables, potatoes, home baking, only a rare trip to a restaurant for a special occasion. In junior high, I learned about nutrition and became interested in how diet and lifestyle affect our health. I discovered the book Laurel’s Kitchen which opened up a whole new world of ingredients to me, specifically beans, and grains other than wheat, rice, and oats. After college, I enrolled in a macrobiotics cooking class and started to try out these new foods at home.
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I began planning menus around vegetarian dishes and vegetables that could easily be adapted for the rest of the family. I discovered the book, 30 Day Health by Marilu Henner and became involved in the online forums at Marilu.com. Here we supported one another as we focused on the 10 Steps to a healthier lifestyle. Of the steps listed in the book, eliminating dairy and food-combining were new ideas for me. Having grown up in Ireland, a country known for its dairy products, the best butter and cheese in the world I initially resisted but soon noticed the improvement in my constant congestion and sinus infections. The monthly classes and support of the other members were a major factor in my evolution to a plant-based diet. I learned how to cook new foods that tasted delicious and it has just continued to evolve from there.
It’s been almost 20 years, I don’t remember exactly when the final switch came but I realized one day that apart from hidden ingredients I was pretty much eating a vegan diet 90% of the time. I do on occasion have cookies or desserts that most likely have butter or eggs in them but it is not a regular occurrence and I now seek out vegan options when available. When invited to dinner with friends I stick with the veggies and salads but don’t check for butter etc. Time with friends and food prepared with love is more important than checking ingredients.
If you are interested in improving your health but not necessarily ready to make the plunge and go all plant based I highly recommend The 30 Day Health Makeover. Each step is broken down and there is a wealth of information with great tips whether you are just beginning your health journey or well on the way to your best self. The mealplan is delicious and has all the recipes included.
Steps to a healthier you.
- read labels and eliminate chemicals
- reduce or eliminate caffeine
- reduce or eliminate refined sugar
- eliminate meat or replace with organic chicken, wild fish, experiment with vegetarianism
- eliminate dairy products
- learn about and try food-combining
- reduce fat – only from whole foods
- exercise – break a sweat every day, add strength training to your routine
- get enough sleep
- try to be present in everything you do
Enjoy,
Jacinta
