Most of us have tried and failed to change something in our diet, from simply eating healthier food to “going vegan.” Americans have been encouraged to reduce sugar and meat intake and eat more of a plant-based diet. I discovered there’s very little information available about the pitfalls to avoid if you want to be successful in maintaining a 100% plant-based diet. With all of the misinformation out there telling you why a 100% plant-based diet might not work, it’s amazing that anyone manages to stick with it. It’s actually pretty easy to be very healthy and satisfied eating plant-based if you know what to watch out for, and this seasoned vegan’s superpower has been making mistakes you can learn from. Let’s have some fun with it.
We’ve heard “new” reasons over the last few years to consider adopting a plant-based diet. It’s no longer just about our individual health. Recent studies, including “Modern Diets and the Health of Our Planet” in the National Library of Medicine, show a significant connection between the health of the environment and what we eat. There’s been a renewed societal awareness of the impact of eating animals…on the animals. Eight years ago, I felt armed with many reasons to convert to a plant-based diet, yet a major obstacle I faced was not giving in to the doubt created by the saturation of animal products, advertising and false, non-scientific information provided by friends, family and social media. You’ve likely heard that changing to a plant-based diet will either save the earth or turn you into a protein-deprived, sickly neo-hippy wannabe, usually the latter. Ultimately, it’s up to you what the impact will be. Although we often have little power over governmental policy or business practices, we do have control over our diets. Turning to a plant-based diet is one way we can directly reduce suffering and improve both personal and environmental health.
Today, we will expand upon our Dec. 20, 2023 installment and discuss more bone-headed mistakes you should avoid while moving towards a plant-based diet.
This month’s installment of “Eating Green – What NOT to do!”:
• Don’t be a follower. Social Influencers will be “100% committed!” for the entirety of Veganuary but may soon find a convenient excuse to quit (“my brain functioning” was an actual excuse I heard). Along comes National Pork Belly Frittata Month, and they latch on to that craze instead. Find inspiration from science and your personal values. Determine what success will look like to you. Keep it simple – the major medical associations like the American and British Dietetic Associations have done research about thriving on plant-based diets. For inspiration, check out “The Game Changers,” a sports movie, or critically reviewed science-based documentaries and books focused on plant-based eating. Read peer-reviewed medical research not sponsored by the meat and dairy industries.
• Don’t believe you can’t get what you need (The Protein Blues). If you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need… from plants, as Mick Jagger might have said. Plant-based diets leading to protein deficiency are a common misconception. Look into the actual science, vegan Olympic and pro-athletes, not some guy at your gym who tried to cut out meat for a quick minute and blamed broccoli for not being able to lift as much now as 30 years ago. Hey, I understand everyone needs to have an excuse for maintaining their bad diet and being a couch potato, but the plants are innocent bystanders.
• Don’t buy perfume at a gas station. Likewise, your favorite French bakery’s one vegan pastry won’t be edible. They felt obligated to make it, have no clue how to make it well and they really don’t care. If they make it vegan, low fat and gluten-free, run, don’t walk away from it! Apparently, they think plant-based eaters are masochists who don’t like sugar, wheat or fat. Folks, there are delicious plant-based main dishes, cakes, cookies, etc., but it’s hard to find them store-made or in a non-vegan restaurant. Want good vegan food? Find a vegan friend, and they will tell you about the best vegan restaurants, cookbooks and the secrets of great vegan home cooking. Dessert tip: You can eat a lot more dessert on a vegan diet! Learn vegan baking from Chloe Coscarelli’s dessert cookbook. You’ll want to serve her cupcakes with every meal!
The next “Eating green – What not to do” installment may blow your mind and change your life, or at least try to make you laugh. The installment will include science-based reference material suggestions to help you on your journey. Go slow and stay tuned.
Cary Anderson is a Los Altos resident and GreenTown Los Altos volunteer. For tips on green eating and more information, email [email protected].
