Plant-Based Eating. The Most Bang for your Buck.
I stopped eating meat in middle school after my mom caught me feeding filet mignon to my dog. I was thrilled when she said she wasn’t cooking meat for me anymore. I had been choking it down for years. It was not about the animals honestly, although that is a worthy cause. I hated the texture. I may be the only vegetarian (besides my sister ) that won’t eat mushrooms or tofu.
Did I eat healthier without meat? Not exactly. I was dancing back then so every day was, get home from school, have a snack, go to ballet, come home and have dinner. I remember eating a lot of vegetarian baked beans from a can, Lean Cusine, and ice cream. I graduated from college and went straight into teaching so my life, and diet, pretty much stayed the same.
Then processed foods, artificial ingredients, GMOs, and gluten became a big no-no. I realized most of what I ate was crap and my stomach agreed. I started eating more whole foods but I was by no means a foodie. I tried cooking whole food meals that I enjoyed, but my family was not on board (although my neighbors loved the leftovers).
In frustration, I turned to more raw foods. I didn’t need to cook much and it was less expensive then the fancy meals I attempted to make. Who doesn’t love that idea? I like to describe my lifestyle as ‘go big or go home.’ My workouts are intense and my meals and snacks are packed with superfoods like berries, cabbage, chocolate, kale, nuts, and seed. I want to get the most out of every bench press and every bite.
I love waking up to my coffee with fresh berries and cheese followed by a protein shake (where I hide my probiotic and supplements for maximum absorption). Lunch, I throw a bunch of stuff in a bowl with EVOO (major superfood), lemon juice, lime juice, kosher salt, and fresh ground pepper. BAM! I am set for three to four days. I cook up some black rice or quinoa or wild rice to throw in and have a kosher dill pickle for dessert. Dinner, some veggies stir-fried in EVOO (notice a trend?), add some grains that are ready on hand, toss with tamari, and pumpkin seeds. DONE!
You might be thinking, what about when you are on the go? No fast food? Yes, I do! I love restaurants. Here I use the same idea. Whole foods and raw foods with a glass of wine. Bonus: vegetarian dishes are ALWAYS less expensive. If I don’t see something I like, I order whatever I want minus the meat (and extra cost). The best part? No dishes to clean!
I hope you can see how a whole food/superfood lifestyle can be fun, flexible, and budget-friendly! If you are not sure about what to buy, shop the rainbow (not fruit loops). Ask yourself, did this come from the earth or a factory? Have fun experimenting!
