I am not sure when my love affair with fruits and vegetables started. Perhaps it is my deep rooted farming heritage as both my grandfather and father were farmers. It certainly did not impact me at an early age because I was the princess of slow roasted BBQ pig, raw hotdogs and frozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts!
After losing my parents too young to disease, I became more health-conscious than diet-focused. I can’t change my genes, but I can do my part to take care of myself. My eating habits have evolved in the past 15 years to a largely vegan, plant-based diet that gives me more energy and helps to control my weight.
Ready to pull the trigger on some doughnuts!
Now I start my day with a green smoothie, (see my earlier blog post for recipes). I love adding fresh ginger and mint from my herb garden to my smoothies.
Peaches, kale, strawberries and mint from the local Farmer's Market
Fresh mint from my herb garden
My lunch is a HUGE salad. (takes while to eat!) Organic high quality lettuce is a must. If you can, find a local lettuce grower like Circle A Farms that delivers hydroponic lettuce.
It’s important to eat lots of color - eat the "rainbow". I try and eat raw through lunch then for dinner enjoy creating various homemade veggie burgers with roasted veggies. On the weekends, I make cashew or banana ice cream with lots of toppings. My plant-based diet is never boring or unfulfilling.
Here are some great reasons to eat a plant-based diet:
1. There is medical evidence that eating plant-based reverses diseases, inflammation, anxiety, depression, lupus, diabetes, osteoporosis, etc.
2. Prevents cancer
3. Helps with constipation
4. Saves animal's lives
5. Is great for your skin
Eggplant with cilantro dressing and cremini mushrooms
Some interesting Information from the USFDA.
* 20 vegans can live off the same land as one meat eater.
* If all Americans reduced their meat consumption by 10% it would free up to 12,000,000 tons of grain, which would feed 60,000,000 people around the world. (Rawfoodsolution.com)
A plant based diet has been quite a change from my younger years of dogs and donuts. I enjoy food more than ever - think you will too!