Eating a Whole Food Plant Based diet does not mean you will be eating a bland, tasteless, boring, "nothing but lettuce" diet. I recently read an article on-line from the AARP magazine about former President Bill Clinton. The reporter that wrote the article covered the ex-President's career for over two decades, so he came to know him well.
In May, the reporter met with President Clinton in his Manhattan office for lunch, and knew better than to expect fried catfish or barbecued ribs. However, the food that was served, according to the reporter, was anything but bland. This luncheon consisted of roasted cauliflower and cherry tomatoes, spiced and herbed quinoa with green onions, shredded red beets in vinaigrette, garlicky hummus with raw vegetables, Asian-inspired snow pea salad, and an assortment of nuts and fruits.
The article went on to say, that at age 66, Clinton still has an exhausting schedule, his staffers that are two to three decades younger than him have trouble keeping up with it. But, because he has DRASTICALLY changed his diet, he has lost 30 pounds and kept it off, as well as kept his heart disease issues in check. Clinton had quadruple bypass surgery done in 2004....in 2010 he woke up one morning not feeling good, and ended up back in the hospital to have stents inserted as one of his veins "gave out"...a common problem after undergoing bypass surgery.
Not long after hearing about this, Dr. Dean Ornish sent Clinton an e-mail stating, "Yeah it's normal, because fools like you don't eat like you should!" This prompted Clinton to take his health seriously...he started reading books on heart disease and how to reverse it and decided to drastically change his eating habits. Because he wanted to be around for his grandchildren, he knew he HAD to take CONTROL.
The ex-president did a complete 360 degree turn around overnight!! I know most people just cannot do this. This, I'm sure, was not any easy task for a person growing up in Arkansas eating their local cuisine of fried catfish and barbecued ribs, although, he did state in the article that giving up yogurt and cheese was a lot harder for him than giving up meat. I do find this is the case for many people, including myself. But, once you stop eating those foods, you will absolutely lose the cravings for them. And, I found, after I did stay away from them for a period of time, if I did have something that had cheese on it or some other type of dairy, it made me feel sick!! Believe me, after a while, you will NOT miss it.
After transitioning over to a Whole Food Plant Based diet, the difference you will FEEL keeps you motivated to continue on with it....not to mention, the numbers on the scale will drop! Yes, it does take some extra time to go and buy healthy foods at the grocery store, prepare and cook at home, but the benefits you get from eating a Whole Food Plant Based diet is priceless!!
Like the quote above states, "Those who think they have no time for healthy eating, will sooner or later have to find time for illness".
Pass the quinoa please!!
In May, the reporter met with President Clinton in his Manhattan office for lunch, and knew better than to expect fried catfish or barbecued ribs. However, the food that was served, according to the reporter, was anything but bland. This luncheon consisted of roasted cauliflower and cherry tomatoes, spiced and herbed quinoa with green onions, shredded red beets in vinaigrette, garlicky hummus with raw vegetables, Asian-inspired snow pea salad, and an assortment of nuts and fruits.
The article went on to say, that at age 66, Clinton still has an exhausting schedule, his staffers that are two to three decades younger than him have trouble keeping up with it. But, because he has DRASTICALLY changed his diet, he has lost 30 pounds and kept it off, as well as kept his heart disease issues in check. Clinton had quadruple bypass surgery done in 2004....in 2010 he woke up one morning not feeling good, and ended up back in the hospital to have stents inserted as one of his veins "gave out"...a common problem after undergoing bypass surgery.
Not long after hearing about this, Dr. Dean Ornish sent Clinton an e-mail stating, "Yeah it's normal, because fools like you don't eat like you should!" This prompted Clinton to take his health seriously...he started reading books on heart disease and how to reverse it and decided to drastically change his eating habits. Because he wanted to be around for his grandchildren, he knew he HAD to take CONTROL.
The ex-president did a complete 360 degree turn around overnight!! I know most people just cannot do this. This, I'm sure, was not any easy task for a person growing up in Arkansas eating their local cuisine of fried catfish and barbecued ribs, although, he did state in the article that giving up yogurt and cheese was a lot harder for him than giving up meat. I do find this is the case for many people, including myself. But, once you stop eating those foods, you will absolutely lose the cravings for them. And, I found, after I did stay away from them for a period of time, if I did have something that had cheese on it or some other type of dairy, it made me feel sick!! Believe me, after a while, you will NOT miss it.
After transitioning over to a Whole Food Plant Based diet, the difference you will FEEL keeps you motivated to continue on with it....not to mention, the numbers on the scale will drop! Yes, it does take some extra time to go and buy healthy foods at the grocery store, prepare and cook at home, but the benefits you get from eating a Whole Food Plant Based diet is priceless!!
Like the quote above states, "Those who think they have no time for healthy eating, will sooner or later have to find time for illness".
Pass the quinoa please!!
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