Plant Based Eating - Why we chose to completely change the way our family eats.
Whole Foods Plant Based Eating..... What does it really mean and why did we completely change our lifestyle?
First its important to note that this is not a diet.... This is a lifestyle choice. A way of eating to improve your health and well being. BUT any addition of Whole Food Plant Based eating to your diet will certainly be a step in the right direction so if your on the fence, or just want to try some ways to eat healthier - Whole Foods Plant Based Eating might be the right fit for you. (And hopefully this blog will help you find some great recipes and tips to help you out!)
What is it?
- A Whole Food Plant Based Lifestyle does not include Meat, Dairy, or eggs. Very similar to Vegan however it emphasizes whole foods, which are minimally processed where as Vegans will sometimes still tend to eat processed foods and they completely eliminate the above. While Whole Food Plant Based Eating focuses on Whole grains, Vegetables, Fruits, legumes, nuts and seeds the degree of which you follow it is up to you. Our family chooses to remain very strict to the diet however another person may allow some animal products in moderation. It completely eliminates refines foods, like white sugars, white flour and processed oils.
Why did we chose to eat this lifestyle?
Our Health!! My husband had a massive heart attack at age 36. The doctors made it very clear that he would have to fight his genetics and current heart diesease every day. So we started researching pretty quickly "heart healthy" diets. After a recommendation we watched the Netflix Documentary "Forks Over Knives" and I cried almost the whole film. Just wondering, could we have potentially changed my husbands circumstances if we would have just changed our diet years ago. It was eye opening and we knew right then that this was something we wanted to do for ourselves and most importantly our son who has the same family history and will need to always be aware of his heart health.
What are some of the healthy benefits of this diet?
- Heart Health - This is the main driver of why we picked this lifestyle. This is the ONLY diet that has been proven to significantly lower the risk of heart disease and in some cases reverse it.
- Lose Weight - When you eat the right things you don't have to count calories and you'll likely lose and maintain a healthy weight. We eat ALL the time... I eat more then I ever did and yet, I have lost 12lbs! We did not do this for the weight lose but your not going to see me complaining about it 😏😏
- Disease Prevention - Studies have shown that eating whole foods plant based can reduce Cancer, prevent Alzheimer's and reduce the risk of diabetes
Read more about it at Forks Over Knives and Health Lines Plant Based Diet Guide.
Changing to this diet with no transition time was not easy. It required a whole new way to cook, shop the grocery store, get new pantry staples and plan/prep. However, now that we are almost 2 months in I can say that we have never felt better! Eating plant based whole foods is the best decision we have made for ourselves and I recommend that you give it a shot, even if its a simple "Meatless Monday" any small change to incorporating more Whole foods and plant based meals into your diet... will make a world of difference.
First its important to note that this is not a diet.... This is a lifestyle choice. A way of eating to improve your health and well being. BUT any addition of Whole Food Plant Based eating to your diet will certainly be a step in the right direction so if your on the fence, or just want to try some ways to eat healthier - Whole Foods Plant Based Eating might be the right fit for you. (And hopefully this blog will help you find some great recipes and tips to help you out!)
What is it?
- A Whole Food Plant Based Lifestyle does not include Meat, Dairy, or eggs. Very similar to Vegan however it emphasizes whole foods, which are minimally processed where as Vegans will sometimes still tend to eat processed foods and they completely eliminate the above. While Whole Food Plant Based Eating focuses on Whole grains, Vegetables, Fruits, legumes, nuts and seeds the degree of which you follow it is up to you. Our family chooses to remain very strict to the diet however another person may allow some animal products in moderation. It completely eliminates refines foods, like white sugars, white flour and processed oils.
Why did we chose to eat this lifestyle?
Our Health!! My husband had a massive heart attack at age 36. The doctors made it very clear that he would have to fight his genetics and current heart diesease every day. So we started researching pretty quickly "heart healthy" diets. After a recommendation we watched the Netflix Documentary "Forks Over Knives" and I cried almost the whole film. Just wondering, could we have potentially changed my husbands circumstances if we would have just changed our diet years ago. It was eye opening and we knew right then that this was something we wanted to do for ourselves and most importantly our son who has the same family history and will need to always be aware of his heart health.
What are some of the healthy benefits of this diet?
- Heart Health - This is the main driver of why we picked this lifestyle. This is the ONLY diet that has been proven to significantly lower the risk of heart disease and in some cases reverse it.
- Lose Weight - When you eat the right things you don't have to count calories and you'll likely lose and maintain a healthy weight. We eat ALL the time... I eat more then I ever did and yet, I have lost 12lbs! We did not do this for the weight lose but your not going to see me complaining about it 😏😏
- Disease Prevention - Studies have shown that eating whole foods plant based can reduce Cancer, prevent Alzheimer's and reduce the risk of diabetes
Read more about it at Forks Over Knives and Health Lines Plant Based Diet Guide.
Changing to this diet with no transition time was not easy. It required a whole new way to cook, shop the grocery store, get new pantry staples and plan/prep. However, now that we are almost 2 months in I can say that we have never felt better! Eating plant based whole foods is the best decision we have made for ourselves and I recommend that you give it a shot, even if its a simple "Meatless Monday" any small change to incorporating more Whole foods and plant based meals into your diet... will make a world of difference.
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