New Beginnings

Life is a funny thing, the way it unfolds and never ceases to surprise.

It’s no secret I still use chicken broth and use dairy and meat in our kitchen, though much less than I used to.  My replies *excuses* in the past as to why I haven’t made the jump to a plant-based diet have been many:

1.  I am iron and protein deficient so I can’t quit meat.

2.  My husband likes junk and it’s hard to carry a whole household when everyone is not on the same page.  I have tried cooking multiple meals a night so many times, it gets exhausting.

3.  My life is crazy, I don’t have that much time to spend in the kitchen!!  If I had a personal chef, I could totally do it.  And lastly, if time, money and culinary abilities weren’t an issue, a vegan I would be.

Well, much has changed in the last few months.

I went to a new doctor two days ago.  I have had a laundry list of health problems (asthma, migraines, joint problems,  fibromyalgia, depression)  since I had my 3rd baby and it was time for a new opinion.  He looked at my blood test results and said:  “You aren’t iron deficient.  The last doctor misread the test results because you aren’t prediabetic either.  Or hormone deficient.  It is all in your gut.”  After the worst 9 months of health problems EVER, he said that changing my diet should clear up all my symptoms.  Could it really be true?  I am wary after so many other doctors have messed with me over the last couple years, but remain moderately optomistic.

It is now time to make that step.  For the first two weeks of the new diet, I can eat all veggies except corn and potatoes, nuts (not peanuts, they are a legume), olive oil, seasonings, vinegars, braggs, lean meat (chicken, fish and eggs), lemon water and veggie juices.  I am just cutting the cord completely and skipping the animal products.  If there was ever a time to make the jump, this would be it.

Week 3  add fruits, one per day.

Week 4 add legumes, one per day, especially lentils.

Week 5 add whole grains, one every 3 days (to help see if there are any allergies.)

If everything progresses as promised, all of my symptoms should clear.  This is TBD.

Other roadblocks have cleared as well.  My hubby has gone gangbusters on his health/diet related reading and has turned a new leaf.  While vegan may not be on the horizon for him as of yet, he is eating tons more veggies, sticking to whole grains, and has lowered his milk and animal product intake.

One week until summer!  Less driving to school and extracurricular activities.  I can *relatively* dictate our family’s schedule each day to include more time in the kitchen.  It is hard for me to make myself a priority- my 3 kids have so many needs and my list of responsibilities is endless.  But the time has come when my self-neglect is keeping me from being able to do my daily jobs as a mom.  I have to say it’s OK to take the time to give my body what it needs.  Loving myself will help me love my family even better in the future.

I still would REALLY LOVE a personal chef, but necessity calls and whether I like it or not, I will be cooking more.  Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE to cook.  I love picking things from our garden and turning them into something delightful.  Can’t beat the therapy that comes with creating a meal for my family.  And I really love eating healthy goodness.

So the time has come.  I’m really going to do it.  The day is here.

I’m going plant-based.