All Leaf….No Beef

… Breaking down the plant - based diet.

Fun fact…. I was a plant based for 4 years. Actually, I preferred using the term “plant-based”, because veganism isn’t just about no eating meat, but also abstaining from the use all animal products, including dairy, eggs, honey and gelatin, consumed or used in day to day living - like no leather. I also didn’t want to be associated with that stereotypical vegan activist who picketed meat plants, and pig trucks, and well…. I own a few leather boots. I tried to befriend some people in the vegan world, but then they became mean and judgemental when they found out I wasn’t a “true vegan” and my reasons for not eating animal products was solely for improving my health.

So before I go any further, I may flip back and forth between the terms “plant based” and vegan, because in many ways, they are not quite the same.

My own personal experience eating a plant based diet was a positive one. At first it took some time to adjust and learn new recipes and ways of cooking things, but with the right resources and doing my own research, it became easy. Eventually- I was making my favourite carnivore foods with only plants.

What was also cool.,, I developed quite the palate, and tried so many new types of food, seasoning and world cuisines - as there’s many cuisines that focus their diet on mostly plants, and very limited or no animal products.

Why did I go plant based? My health. I needed a full body internal reset. At 315 lbs, and at the brink of starting to develop chronic health problems, and after watching an amazing documentary “Forks over Knives”, I decided to try a plant based diet for a few months to get my health back into gear and start healing my body. What I didn’t expect was that in doing so, I did reverse my high blood pressure and looming type 2 diabetes, and I felt so good I kept going.

Now… that’s my experience. However I also was a “whole food, plant based eater”. That meant a wide variety of plants and legumes, and the foods I ate were unprocessed, not fried, and as close as possible to it’s natural form. I did not eat a diet of French fries and claim to be “healthy”

Just because you eat a vegan diet - it doesn’t mean you’re healthy or have a healthier diet. Read that again.

Just because you eat a vegan diet, it doesn’t mean you have a healthier diet.

I’ve met a lot of vegans….. who didn’t eat a single vegetable - unless it was deep fried.

Their diets consisted of bread, pasta, french fries, high sugar sauces, processed vegan meats and Oreos. Yup… Oreos are vegan.

To have a successful and well balanced plant based diet - and If you want to go full vegan for the animals you do you - your intake needs to consist of several varieties of vegetables , beans, legumes, nuts seeds and grains in order to ensure you are meeting your protein requirements. Plants are not complete proteins, so you’ll have mix different foods together to achieve this like “rice with kidney beans”. I would also recommend incorporating a plant based protein supplement as well, and you will need to take a vitamin B12 supplement to ensure you’re not going to develop a B12 deficiency- and develop a condition called pernicious anemia. You cannot obtain sufficient sources of vitamin b12 without eating animal products- vegetarians don’t have this provisions as they consume some form of animal protein still in their diet. That is also a different blog.

If you’re weight training, or losing weight - you can definitely build muscle and retain muscle on a plant based diet. You may need some support from a nutritionist but it certainly can be done!!!

Why did I stop a full plant based diet ? Honestly…. I enjoy meat. I love eggs, chicken and most fish and seafood. However, I do incorporate plant based meals into my weekly meal planning that are completely plant based still, and I still will choose to order plant based meals when I eat out depending on what sort of meal planning I have for the day - or if I just want something different on my palate.

For those thinking of trying a plant based diet… go for it. You’ll get to explore so many different cuisines, flavours and foods. The food world has done a fantastic job of making it easy to live a meatless existence. If you don’t want to do it fully, try a couple of plant based meals a week, or that vegan dish on the menu.

I promise…. You won’t even miss the meat that isn’t on your plate.

xoxo

Amanda