I was reviewing a documentary called “Diet Fiction” on Amazon Prime after someone had given it 1 star and called it “propaganda” for vegans and vegetarians. Another 1-star reviewer admitted they only watched 20 minutes. There are documentaries I like a bit better on the topic of healthful eating, but this one highlighted many of the key players in the whole food and plant based conversation.
My Amazon Review Started to Get Long
So, since I have a blog, I can just put it here, add a cute picture and really express myself:
There’s a part that really resonated with me. Instead of thinking it’s all salads and steamed veggies, think in terms of regular meals/dishes: burritos, pizza, hamburgers, etc. and make them more plant based. I’m a pseudo-vegetarian, I eat meat and dairy sparingly, mostly for flavor. I love documentaries like this because it’s information people need. The refined and processed food craze (ie, added sugar) has got to end. As does the “meat as protein” obsession. Fifteen years ago I was gaining weight so I looked at my then-current eating patterns and cut french fries and red meat down to once/week, increased my veggies to 5 servings per day and fruit 2-3 per day. Meet that quota and you won’t have room for much more! I’m within 2-3 pounds of my fittest college weight, 30 years later.
Oh, and I Only Drink Water
Oh, and I only drink water, no soda, coffee or tea. That’s always been the case; it started in college when I was too cheap to buy soda with my meal. Drink water for 4 years and you never go back. I don’t forbid anything, but I keep real temptations out of the house. I ate potato chips every day for a 6 weeks in June and wondered why I gained weight. The extra weight only came off when I talked the hubby into doing a “2 Week Plant Based Cleanse.”
It’s how I tricked him into trying vegan. No dairy, no meat, no eggs. [He agreed to it after watching “What the Health” on Netflix.] The weight came off for me, but I was always hungry. Plus I had to plan and prep in advance if I wanted it to be hearty enough for the spouse. He lost no weight, but he also ate two PB&honey’s every day. Anyhow, watch [Diet Fiction]. If you watch this and “Forks over Knives,” “What the Health,” “Fed Up” and “The Sugar Movie,” the path will become clear. As for diet fads, “Keto” is aka “Atkins,” who died of heart disease.
Dr. Fuhrman (GBOMBS: Greens, beans, onions, mushrooms, berries, seeds) on PBS has been preaching this stuff and helping patients for decades. It’s been a long time coming that these principles hit main stream. Another great film about putting health first.
My review published on Amazon
Diet I Recommend
The diet I recommend is the one you will incorporate as a gradual lifestyle change. Eliminate one bad thing and add one good thing at a time. Make this your new normal. Every few months or years you can evaluate and modify as your body needs. But for heaven’s sake, eat real food. And eat plenty of vegetables and fruit, no one will argue that.
Red kidney beans have more antioxidants than blueberries. Increase your fiber intake from whole foods. Get rid of diet soda and sugar bombs disguised as coffee. ASAP.
If you’re going to eat ice cream, eat full fat ice cream. If you’re going to eat a hot dog at a ball game, eat the bun. Don’t stress about food. Enjoy. But learn to enjoy the stuff that, when you swallow it, your body jumps for joy and shouts, “Thank you!” and feels nourished. As opposed to, “I’m going to hate you later.” Or, “I’m still hungry.”
Watch some of the documentaries listed in this post and it will change the way you think about food and eating. Love your body, treat it well. It’s the only machine we get for our lifetime.
Namaste!
xo, tricia
