I started this path of plant-based eating last November (and made a concerted effort to change beginning last August). I’m starting my sixth month of this eating plan. Once I figured out what I could eat and how to prepare the food so it tasted like something I wanted to eat, things have gone very smoothly. I can, without much thought, prepare a meal that meets my needs and follows the structure of the eating plan.
My eating plan or diet consists of combining fruit, vegetables, and grains in various combinations. I’ve added a powdered vegan drink to the mix when I need a quick and easy way to get calories. Included here are some of the combinations of food I eat on a daily basis.
| Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner |
| Whole Grain Cereals (the ones without added fats) | Salad that includes romaine, mixed greens, squash, cucumbers, peppers, carrots, celery. | Salad (same as lunch) |
| Steel-Cut Oats | Grains + Beans or lentils
|
Grains + Veggies |
| Whole Grain Oatmeal | 1 Slice of whole grain bread | Homemade vegan pizza (rarely) |
| 1 cup Berries or 1 Apple/Orange and 1 Banana | 1 Apple or Orange | Tofu (grilled or steamed) |
| Vitamins: B12, B6, Folate, probiotic, C (1000mg) | vinegar-based salad dressing with mustard or other spicy flavored condiment | whole grain pasta (rarely) |
| VegaOne Drink w/ Almond Milk | 32oz/1 liter of water | Soba noodles (rarely) |
| Unsweetened Almond Milk | 32 oz/ 1 liter of water | |
| 32oz/1 Liter of Water | ||
| I don’t eat everything on this list everyday; these are possibilities! | I don’t eat everything on this list everyday; these are possibilities! | I don’t eat everything on this list everyday; these are possibilities! |
I season food with a wide variety of spices including turmeric, cayenne pepper, chili powder, chipotle powder, cumin, a variety of peppers, vinegars including balsamic glazes, and just about every other combination of spice that makes sense. Curry powders and curry pastes are really wonderful ways to flavor food. I’ve experimented with a whole bunch of ideas and they’ve all worked. Just be careful of which spices to combine in which quantities….cumin, for example, is a very strong spice and must be used in limited amounts (1/2 teaspoon). Garlic powder or fresh, chopped garlic combined with onions flavors anything. Those two are staples when I’m sautéing veggies without oil.
When I am out in the world, I gravitate to salads, Japanese soups with soba noodles and veggies, vegan pizza with no cheese, or vegan tacos. I have not had a lot of trouble finding food in the world as long as it’s vegetables and grains that are not cooked in oils. Yes, it does limit what you can eat in some restaurants, and I’m pretty easy going. Truthfully, food is often not the reason to be out in the world anyway.
The simple story is this: this eating plan combined with exercise has netted me weight loss of 40 pounds since August 2017. I loose about 1 – 1.5 pounds per week. I’m doing new blood work this week and will report my current situation as soon as I have the numbers.
My mental health is pretty good. I face a lot of stress (relationships, finances, work, etc) and am able to manage it as best I as I can with exercise, meditation, and my Buddhist practice (although, I have to say that my Buddhist practice is not exactly a stress reliever). I’m measuring everything right now from workouts to eating to blood pressure, to overall health and well-being. I keep a written journal and record my thoughts, ideas, and other silliness in that book. When it comes down to it, I’ve made a significant change to my life and health.
I’m not sure where this path will take me but I am on a journey that I began with an open heart and mind. I guess that’s about all I can ask of myself in these precious few moments left in my life.
Reflections on the Path 