How Eating Plants Uncomplicated My Life
By Suz · · 3 min read
Suz writes that people imagine a whole-food, plant-based diet must be complicated, but eating plants has actually uncomplicated her life, improved her health, and benefited the planet and the animals.
By Suzanne
People sometimes hear that I eat a whole-food, plant-based diet and imagine that achieving this must be complicated. What do you eat? How do you decide? Doesn’t it take a lot of preparation and time? I cannot help but smile, because this way of eating has actually uncomplicated my life, improved my health and benefited the planet and the animals.
I became vegetarian in 1995 and moved to plant-based in 2019. These days my guiding idea is simple: eat plant foods as close to their natural state as possible. That makes deciding what to eat surprisingly easy.
I open my fridge, freezer and pantry, where I keep a variety of plants including Leafy greens, assorted veggies, assorted grains, beans, lentils, potatoes, fabulous fruits, and nuts and seeds. I select what appeals to me at the moment and prepare a salad bowl. For my main meal, I usually gather a minimum of 10 different plants. That might sound complicated until you see how easily they come together in one beautiful bowl. Spritz on a little fresh lemon juice or an oil free dressing, and I am ready to eat. No elaborate production required. I look forward to these bowls. The colors. The textures. The different flavors. There is something quite lovely and peaceful about sitting down to food that looks as inviting as it tastes. Think nourish not eat and your attitude immediately changes.
The simplicity begins at the grocery store. The grocery store or the Farmer’s Mkt. get the most of my attention. I skip the ultraprocessed foods. (research shows that 70-75% of food items in the typical U.S. grocery store are ultra processed). I stick to the produce department and dry goods and frozen and canned goods. With a well stocked kitchen of the good stuff, I have already made much of the dinner decision before I get hungry. I just have to decide which plants are calling to me.
Breakfast? Two cups of thawed frozen wild blueberries. This is non-negotiable for me and has been my b’fast choice since 2017.
In the warm months salads hit the spot. In the cooler months I love making huge pots of soup. Eat some, freeze some.
When I entertain, I have plenty of plant-based recipes at my finger tips online. There are 1000’s of delicious recipes for anyone who enjoys spending more time in the kitchen.
As for me I simply do not want or need an elaborate meal every time I want to eat.
Then there is the clean up. Please, can we give this benefit a lot of attention. For sure this benefit is huge in my book. No greasy, cheesy, smelly, sticky dishes and pots and pans to soak and scrub and clean. Pots, pans, bowls, dishes, and utensils clean up so easily. I appreciate that part almost as much as the meal. Eating a whole plant diet leaves me more time for everything else I want to do. And at 84 that is quite a lot.
I feel like I am thriving on plants. I take no prescription meds. I only supplement with vitamin B12. This is my personal experience and I am grateful for it.
People may look at my plate and wonder about everything I have given up. I look at it and see nourishing food I love, decisions made easier, and nothing waiting in the sink to be scrubbed.
Then I get on with my life. There is a pup to walk, a blog to write a FB group to engage with, a book to read and something new to notice.
💚 The Accidental Blogger
Download or Print the following for more information regarding a whole plant lifestyle.
https://www.rebelwithsuz.com/guides/esselstyn-plant-based-jumpstart
https://www.rebelwithsuz.com/guides/campbell-whole-food-plant-based-guide