Plant Based Nutrition
Maybe plant based is a huge leap for you; that’s ok. It is where I am after a long journey. We can’t talk about wellness without talking about what we shove down our gullets, though. After all it took me a lot of trial and error to shift my mindset from “Food is a reward for physical activity” to “Food is a fuel for my physical activity”, and that was after ignoring how what I ate affected me for most of my life.
There’s no shame in loving food. We have such a strong mental connection to food that started before we knew it. I’m not asking you to surrender that love affair, just pay attention to it. When you have a consistent physical routine and begin to take note of which foods allow you to perform your best and which foods weigh you down, you can create your own balance and shift your mindset.
For me plant based was not meant to be a permanent lifestyle change. I watched one of those Netflix documentaries and thought “let’s give it a try”. I committed to one month 100% plant based. After the month I would evaluate how I felt, and return to normal. I did return, but I didn’t stay long. When I started to feel the effects of what I was eating I willingly returned to my beloved plants in a matter of months. I still have my cheat days, but I feel them. For me, returning to my “normal” diet causes my heart rate to elevate during workouts and my digestion issues return.
You’re welcome to check out some of the resources linked below to research and conduct your own experiment. The feeling I have properly feeding my body is my motivation. What will yours be?
Research
This film was my first. It explores the benefits of a plant based diet on the human body, fighting disease, environmental impacts and more. This film had a few brief eye rolling moments, but power through those brief moments and capture a few take aways for yourself.
This film was a solid documentary in my view. They explore top athletes and their reasons for choosing a plant based diet. There’s even a particularly interesting experiment on how men (and their partners) can benefit from a plant based diet. Talk about stress relief…
Resources
Recipes, shopping lists, information, community… since I’m still new at this I’m shamelessly sending you to her for the dirty work on eating clean.
If you want plant based ingredients and recipes delivered to your doorstep Green Chef has not disappointed. Every meal has been so delicious even my kids ask for more! I’ve even found myself craving a few of these recipes. If you are not ready for plant based, but would like to eat healthier, they have other options to fit your dietary needs (Vegetarian, Keto, Gluten Free, Low Carb, etc.). Use the link above to get $55 off your first box.
If you don’t have much time to prep, and want ready to eat options, try Daily Harvest. They offer flatbreads, harvest bowls, soups, smoothies, bites and more. Filter for ingredients you like/dislike, dietary needs, and key benefits. Make sure you clean out some freezer space before this arrives and plan for some dry ice fun with the kids! Click on the link above for $25 off your first box.