Resources

Whether you’re new to veganism, or just looking to try incorporate more plants into your life, I thought I’d touch on the way I eat and what I recommend including additional resources.

Remember, even one vegan meal makes a difference, so even if you don’t commit to making the transition, introducing more vegan meals into your life makes a significant positive impact. Check out these fast facts on what an impact you can make by choosing vegan:

 

TOP 10 REASONS TO GO VEGAN:

1. It prevents (and can reverse) chronic disease.
2. It conserves water.
3. It cuts greenhouse gas emissions.
4. It conserves land.
5. It helps prevent species extinction.
6. It reduces waste pollution.
7. It helps prevent marine life destruction.
8. It slows deforestation.
9. It helps alleviate world hunger.
10. It boosts athletic performance.
(Rich Roll, 10 Reasons to Consider a Plant-Based Diet)

HOW I EAT

There are an infinite number of ways to be vegan, and by that I mean no one vegan diet looks the same! It’s important to know that to be vegan, you can eat whatever you want as long as it isn’t an animal byproduct. In most cases, a vegan diet is significantly healthier than the Standard American Diet, but I would recommend paying attention to nutrition (no matter what diet you’re following) in order to make sure you have your bases covered. Also, make sure you get your vitamins and supplements sorted out whenever considering a switch to a new diet!

So what does food look like to me? Well, I eat a variety of plants and believe that you can get almost everything you need from plants. As a rule of thumb, I prioritize whole, unprocessed plants and believe that no single macronutrient should ever be villainized. There is a lot of literature out there that will tell you that carbohydrates make you fat, the fat you eat is the fat you wear and sugar is the enemy (including fruit). There are those who believe in specific macronutrient target numbers, and those that see food as just numbers–calories. Here’s the thing–macronutrients and calories may matter, but the food you’re consuming matters too. For example, there’s a huge difference between eating 200 calories in Oreos, and 200 calories in broccoli. Not to mention, a huge difference in what the micronutrient breakdown looks like.

My approach to food is eating what feels good, and for me that looks like a balance of carbohydrates, fats and protein, whole plant foods and no animal byproducts. You’ll notice that I don’t focus on calorie or macronutrient breakdowns in any of my recipes because I really emphasize the healing properties of the ingredients and how they nourish you. Part of this comes from my past with an eating disorder, and my mission to share that food is not just about numbers, and because it’s truly the way that I eat and think about food.

The only things you may notice about the recipes I share is that most of them are gluten free and oil free. I don’t consume gluten on a regular basis because I unfortunately have a really bad reaction to it (thanks allergies!), and I prefer to eat whole plant fat sources instead of processed oils where possible. With that said, health is all about balance, so on occasion, you may find a recipe containing gluten (sometimes it’s just worth the stomach ache, you know?) and/or oil.

You’ll find that with most of my recipes, I encourage customizing it to fit your needs and taste. The best way to find out what works for you is to try new things and listen to your body.

RESOURCES

Videos
101 Reasons to Go Vegan
The Best Speech You Will Ever Hear
The Most Inspiring Speech About a Man’s Vegan Journey
A Fire Fighter Explains, Why Vegan?
Forks Over Knives (Documentary)
Cowspiracy (Documentary)
http://www.cowspiracy.com/
Earthlings (Documentary/Avail on Netflix)

Books
Engine 2, Seven Day Rescue Diet Rip Esselstein
How Not to Die by Dr. Michael Gregor
The China Study