There are so many good reasons to start a whole food plant based diet. You've probably heard most of them. But I'm not here to stand on a soap box, and I don't relish (no pun intended) the idea of being a hypocrite. I ate meat and dairy for the majority of my life. I enjoyed it, a lot. I'd seen movies like "Forks Over Knives," and "What the Health," and they really made a big impression on me. But it wasn't until I began to worry about my own health that I was able to make the leap to a WFPB diet. I wanted to live the longest, happiest, healthiest life that I could, and the abundance of evidence pointed me towards eating a whole food plant based diet, consisting of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans and nuts.
I promise you I'm not grandstanding. I didn't change my habits out of a superior ethical and moral stance. I just wanted to be the best me I can be. What I really want to talk about is what I've gained from taking the reigns of my health into my own hands. I know nothing is certain in life. There could be an 18 wheeler out there with my name on it. I just want to know that I've done everything I can to put myself in a position to thrive. And I want to feel what it's like to let my body operate the way it's supposed to, full of nutrients and energy.
But here's the kicker. I've become a better person along the way, and somehow managed to gain my own respect. My greatest satisfaction comes from following through with my goals, filling my pantry with healthy staples, taking them from fridge to cutting board, from stove-top to plate, and from spoon to belly! There's a peace of mind that was missing from my life that I get from preparing my own food. I love the process. I don't mind that it doesn't always goes as planned. Those near misses are just more information for future experiments in cooking. Striking out makes me more eager to try again! At the end of the day it's about feeling good and enjoying delicious food.
So that's where I am today. Yes, I've lost some weight, and I feel pretty darn good, but I won't claim that changing what I eat has fixed all my problems. Everyday is still another chance to fall down and get back up again, and grow a thicker skin to survive this world. But I know that when I'm in the kitchen, chopping up the ginger, or smelling the garlic simmering in the pan, that I'm square in the middle of a path that I believe in, looking forward to the next big bite, and another tasty adventure in whole food plant based cooking.