In October of 2013, I watched the documentaries Forks Over Knives and Vegucated. It was an evening that Greg wasn’t home, and I opened a bottle of wine and sat down with some chocolate.
I suspected that the films would reinforce my desire to eat healthier, have more meatless meals, and perhaps cure my over-enthusiasm for the grilled cheese sandwich. (I explain the health risks of dairy in this blog post.)
I didn’t realize the profoundly positive impact both films would have on my life, by giving me the information and motivation I needed to become a whole foods, plant based eater. I am healthier, I have more energy, I recover more quickly from my workouts, and I am more at peace with the food I eat and its impact on animals and our planet. You can read my blog post Why We’re Vegan and I Love It for more on our decision.
Here are some resources for anyone interested in plant-based eating. It is one of the best changes I have ever made in my life, and I will never go back!
I’m certified in Plant-Based Nutrition through the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies, and am available to speak in classrooms about the various benefits of plant-based eating. See my presentation topics and learn more here.
Thanks Kelly! My vegan inspiration came from reading The China Study after finishing breast cancer treatment last year. My primary care physician is a huge supporter. Alas both he and the author of the China Study make compelling cases, but approach it from a scientific nutrition POV—not a lifestyle or humanitarian POV. Learning to eat well takes patience, support and willingness to go easy on yourself when setbacks happen. Thanks for the inspiration today:-)
I completely agree that you need to be willing to go easy on yourself when setbacks happen! I’ve learned that in so many areas of life. When I take a set-back as an indicator that I’m not up the challenge, it’s demoralizing and can instigate failure. When I look at all the areas in my life where I’ve had setbacks but successfully pushed forward, I realize that accepting them as temporary setbacks and a way to keep you sane during a time of transition and growth is critical. I like to encourage people to eat vegan a meal at a time, rather than shifting their entire identity all at once. It’s about making better choices one step at a time so that they’re manageable and eventually become second nature. You know all these things, being of great wisdom and experience!
The more I share and post about whole foods, plant-based meals, the more people I encounter whose desire to eat the same way is there, but they’re hitting road blocks. What do you eat in restaurants, what do you feed the kids, etc. I love finding my own answers to these questions one step at a time and then trying to exchange that information with others. We’re all building our own cookbooks and take out menus of what works for us!