My Plant-Based Family

Eating Whole Food, Plant-Based Diet recipes, On a Budget.

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Enough is Enough

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Enough is enough! If you haven’t seen “Forks Over Knives” you need to order Netflix, Amazon Prime, go buy the DVD or find a friend who has already done one of those things. I don’t know if you can be completely convinced that a Plant-Based Diet is the healthiest way to eat until you watch that movie or read from some of the authors presented in it. I’m serious! Make plans to watch it today!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/embed/O7ijukNzlUg]

I know a lot of really great people who think they are making good choices regarding their health but sadly they are not. Most of us have been taught that 3 servings of dairy and “lean” meat are the way to health; can I boldly disagree. We are looking at a health crisis; obesity, heart-disease, diabetes, and many cancers are completely preventable if you eat the right things. Alternatively, they are almost guaranteed if you eat what the Standard American Diet.

I am normally not so outspoken on this topic. I prefer to encourage and equip others to eat better. When I hear about strokes, heart attacks, cancer in my family and friends my heart breaks and I wonder if I should have spoken up, I should have grabbed them my the shoulders, looked them eyes and plead with them. So now I’m doing that to you. My hands are on your shoulders, I’m looking you square in the eyes, please…enough is enough, it’s time to save your life, it’s time to save your family’s life, let me help.

I hope I don’t offend any of you but sometimes a little offense can help spur change.

I love you my friends and I so appreciate all of you who read this blog. You encourage me daily. Thank you!

Gratituesday: In Good Times and Bad Times

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Life changes so fast. All it takes is one phone call, and we’ve had two calls in the last few days.

We have also experienced great hope and joy in another area of our lives. We saw prayers answered in a very real way.

In all things I am grateful that I don’t have to face them alone. I am thankful that “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” Psalm 46:1. You see for 1 year my husband and I have been praying (and believing) for a situation; in the last week we have seen our prayers being answered and once again we are humbled.

Just a few months ago I was sitting in a hospital room with a mother whose heart was breaking. I held her and prayed over her and her daughter and their family. In the days and weeks that followed I saw a miraculous recovery.

I choose to trust God in the good times and the bad times. It is not always easy; it sometimes seems impossible.

A year ago I was very sick. I had been praying for healing, for answers, for relief. In the midst of hopelessness I heard a still, small voice that said, “Will you serve Me even if I don’t heal you?” I can tell you I didn’t answer right away. I thought about it for a long time. With tears I prayed, “Yes LORD, I will serve you even if You don’t heal me.”

That moment was a milestone in my life. It was also a very special, intimate moment that I am surprise I’m even sharing. My devotion cannot be determined by my level of comfort, absence of pain, or any other thing. God is worthy, he is my Helper, my Strength, my Provider, my Healer,  my Refuge, and my ever present help in time of trouble.

So for my friend Elizabeth and my grandmother Doris I utter desperate prayers for you. For all of you reading I implore you to do the same. Their world’s were forever changed last week.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSTaVmDQP5s]

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

Cheating

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Do you cheat…on your diet? I don’t.

I don’t cheat because I don’t make anything off limits. I know this probably sounds ridiculous, but is it really?

I’m the kind of person that as soon as I make something “off limits” can think of nothing else. If I decided to go off of sugar/chocolate/coffee I would crave it. Heck, if I decided to forgo eating broccoli I would probably dream about it until I caved.

After I transitioned to a Plant-Based diet I’d occasionally “decide” to have something that most people would consider a cheater food. One example of this is dairy. After the first few weeks off dairy I didn’t crave it any longer. One date night (after months off dairy) my husband and I decided to share a small piece of cheesecake, go ahead and shake your head in horror.  I woke up 2 days later with intense pain, mostly in my arm, shoulder, and neck. I could barely use my arm or care for my children. The pain was severe that day and slowly let up, it took about 4 days for complete relief. I always have a bad reaction to dairy and can tell if I eat in inadvertently.

For me dairy is not in the “off limits” category but it is in the “totally not worth it” category. I will never go back to eating dairy. Really I don’t miss eating meat either. I miss the convenience of running through a drive thru for a quick meal. Thank God for bean burritos!

Last weekend I took my son to a birthday party, I didn’t know what the food situation would be so I grabbed a Lara Bar just in case. I wasn’t going to be snobby or rude about any of the food but I also wasn’t going to eat something I wasn’t comfortable with just to make someone else comfortable. I was very happy to see fruit, veggies, “veggie straws” and a six-foot party sub with all of the trimmings. I could have eaten my Lara Bar but I was happy to eat what the hostess provided. I did take the meat and cheese off of 2 slices of sandwich much to the dismay of one of the party goers, until I offered it to him. He then determined that I was a good person to eat near because he could have what I didn’t want. Do you know what else happened? I loved my sandwich, I had been craving a sub but I didn’t want to eat the processed meat, blech.  Thankfully the mustard was the secret ingredient that made the lettuce, tomato, and onion sandwich a masterpiece. I loved it!

So as you can see, I never “cheat” I might decide to eat something in the “I don’t want to admit to eating this category” but not usually. In case you’re wondering there is also a “I don’t normally eat this but I will this time” category. That includes things like fries, restaurant salad dressings that are likely to have oil, and restaurant hummus. It could also include random things from the clearance section that contain a way too many ingredients but I’ve had a tough day and need chocolate now! Hey I never claimed to do this perfectly.

So are you a cheater? It’s okay, you can admit it, you are in good company. Or you can take my approach, it takes the pressure off of being perfect and just strives for being better. Try to make choices you can live with, not choices that are gonna kill you.

Fitness Challenge: 1 Month Update

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About a month ago my husband and I made a commitment to get more fit. We were not able to get exercise in everyday and I was not able to run as much as I had intended but I do believe we are more fit than before. additionally, I don’t think we would have worked out as much had we not made the commitment together. 

I took measurements at the beginning of the challenge, some stayed the same and others decreased. I don’t claim that the measurements are 100% accurate but they are the best I could do. Three things factor into the accuracy, Milk Production, Clothing Choice, and Bloatiness. I’m a nursing momma so my “size” is always in flux. Also the bra I was wearing a month is too big and let’s face it all bras are not the same. Lastly, bloatiness (yes I’m pretty sure I made that word up) also changes day to day.

I don’t think anyone is actually interested in my actual measurements but I will list the change. By putting it out there I am more likely to keep it up. There was no measurable change in my hips, butt or biceps. However there was noticeable change in my:

  • Chest -1.5 inches
  • Tummy -1 inch
  • Thigh -.5 inch
  • Calf -.25 inch

These are not earth shattering. What is nice is that my size 6 jeans are getting loose! One year ago I would have told you that I would never be able to fit into a size 6, EVER! That makes me happy!

Another thing that makes me happy is that my body looks more fit, less fat and more muscle. Even though my measurements for my bicep haven’t gone down there is definitely less fat and my arm is leaner. I’m hoping the same is true for every area. My weight decreased by about a pound or one and a half pounds. It is at the lowest it has been in almost 10 years.

I was not eating for weight loss during this time. I was actually eating much more than normal, especially in the beginning when I was getting the hang of working out. I was focusing on fueling my body. I ate lot’s of complex carbs, whole grains, and even some fries (gasp). I’m sure I would have lost more weight if I had been more diligent but I’m still pleased with my progress.

We plan to continue this challenge. We still wont be able to work out daily but hopefully at least 4 days a week. I also want to run more, I haven’t been running much. Sickness, injuries, and super hot weather play a role in that.

Gratituesday: Hearing

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Yes this is random Tuesday at My Plant-Based Family. I didn’t have a crazy experience or anything traumatic. But this is what happened.

We normally go to church on Saturday nights. Our church isn’t big enough to accommodate everyone who attends on a Sunday morning so there is an identical service on Saturday nights. We were always Sunday morning kind of people. We would get dressed up, even though that isn’t required, and go to church. A few times we decided to attend the Saturday evening service and LOVED it. It was more relaxed, there were fewer people, and it felt more intimate with a smaller group.

This last weekend I held my Food Demo on Saturday night so I attended the Sunday morning church service. I was a few minutes late and it was packed. You couldn’t help hear all of the voices surrounding you. On Saturday evenings you mostly just hear the Worship team. On Sunday morning I heard the beautiful sounds of worship; from the stage, from the people around me.

I couldn’t help notice the difference in sound. I was thankful to be a part of that experience. Then I started thinking about other things I hear. The sound of the dishwasher running as I lay in bed at night. The strong winds and thunder we have been hearing this week in Arizona. The sound of my boys calling my name over and over and over again or the high-pitched voice my three-year old uses to sing when his little brother is upset.

What if that was all taken away; not all of those things but the ability to hear them. I suddenly became very thankful.

I can not imagine life without the voices of my kids or my husband, my family or friends. I am thankful that I can retreat from all of the noise and find sanctuary in silence but I wouldn’t want to live in silence.

What are you grateful for today?

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

Gratituesday: Helping

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I love helping people. I especially love helping people begin to get healthy with a plant-based diet.

I love talking to people, cooking for people and blogging about plant-based eating. I strive to be helpful, I want people to realize they can eat real food that taste great and wont cost them an arm and a leg.

In the last week I’ve had two people (one a dear friend and the other an acquaintance from years ago) contact me and tell me they are interested in a plant-based diet.

EEEEKKKKK! That is me squealing in excitement. I learned that sound from my daughter when she was a tween. If you have a daughter you know that sound too. First, I get excited because I know someone I care about will be healthier. Second, I get to play a small part in that.

Most of my friends are not plant-based eater’s and that is ok. I love them no matter what they eat. I do get excited when I hear they make a meatless meal or try a new grain or veggie. I love their feedback on my plant-based meals.

I’m just thankful for the opportunity to help people!

What are you thankful for today?

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!