Not just "vegan" foods; eat healthy foods!

My husband's doing it wrong.

Yep. Don't tell him I said that. ;)

You can't just eliminate meat and dairy from your diet and suddenly you're healthy. You have to think big picture. 

Eliminate the bad foods and replace them with good foods. 

Replacing meat with fake meat like the frozen veggie burgers, etc. won't make you healthy. It might make you less likely to get cancer, but still not healthy. 

My husband doesn't like a lot of fruits or veggies. I used I be the same way.  I did lots of research though. 

I had to cleanse my body of the bad foods by eating vegetable soups, lots of water, water with lemon, etc. Then, my body was ready to enjoy new healthier foods with an open mind. ;)  For example, I've never liked blueberries in my life. After changing my whole outlook on food and hitting the grocery store for a fridge makeover, I got many "new" fruits & veggies such as blueberries.  (They were new to me besides blueberry muffins, yuck!). Slowly I started choosing them as a take-along snack and now I love them!  I snack on them all morning at work. They are so good for you, too!

Research foods that keep you healthy. Do some research on our body's need for alkaline foods to keep a good pH balance. This knowledge and the right foods can prevent you from being sick. I have an immune system of steel!  Sure, I've worked with young kids for... ever. But, I truly believe that what I eat contributes to my long streak of not getting sick. I haven't had a cold since I changed my diet almost 2 years ago.  The only times I have had sinus infections were the day(s) after eating cheese, namely queso. (Queso is my kryptonite!). 

These are some of my favorite healthy foods...

My husband on the other hand is "sick" every week. He has colds, coughs, and sinus infections way more frequently than he should or has in his life. 

Why?

I am confident it's his diet. He doesn't eat the raw veggies and fruits. He eats replacement and processed foods: veggie burgers, cereal, crackers, pasta, vegan frozen meals and burritos.  I eat these things too but less often and interspersed with a regular intake of REAL foods, raw foods, healthy foods.  He needs leafy greens and high alkaline fruits. 

A quick search on Pinterest for foods that prevent sickness backed me up. Whether he appreciates his email box full of pins about this is yet to be determined. ;)

Eat healthy foods; feel better. 

It's as simple as that. 

Someday…

People don't usually understand my diet choice.  It's hard to see things from my perspective when you're still so blinded by what you've always done and what most people do.  It's not their fault.  Or your fault.  

My parents always fed us the traditional American diet.  They were amazing, fantastic parents.  They did what their parents did and what they thought was right.  Sure they tried to get me to eat my vegetables with the threat of missing out on dessert.  Hell, I do that with my own son! 

I think veganism is growing.  

Check out this article with a time lapsed map of the U.S. and vegan Google searches by state:

http://www.cok.net/blog/2014/03/google-proves-vegan-trend-here-to-stay/#

Interesting.

And at the very least,  I think and HOPE that more and more people are questioning what foods they buy and what they are actually putting into their bodies.  The worst thing we can do is to fall into blind consumerism.  The food companies cannot be trusted.  Not because they are malicious and out to get the average citizen.  No, it's worse.  They are out to get what's "theirs;" money.  And who can blame them.  After all, isn't that the American dream.  Be all you can be.  (Wait, that's not quite right.) Freedom…  life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness... to live how you want… even at the expense of societies health??  Hey, they work hard so don't they deserve the money they earn?

I think hard work should be rewarded.

I also think we should do what is right.

If research shows that the food that you produce is even the slightest bit linked to cancer or heart disease, etc., then I think you have a responsibility to also research and possibly make CHANGES.

I think we are killing ourselves as a species.

I think we are accidentally poisoning our bodies.

We need to refocus the purpose of food.  

Food should be fuel to make us feel better and be able to carry out our daily responsibilities.

It feels so much better to eat healthy foods.  Bad foods taste good at the time, but you pay for it longterm.  Healthy foods might not be as satisfying at first, but I feel better about myself and have more energy the rest of the day.

Try it.

Do your research.

Don't take my word for it.

Learn for yourself.

Who do you trust?

The government who tells us what is healthy as they are getting paid by dairy farmers?

The bulked up muscle-bound jock who wants you to buy his protein shake powder?

The hippie who wants to spare the animals from a brutal death?

The doctors making a name for themselves or potentially book deals?

How about trusting your own body.

Try it.  Cut out meat and dairy.  Don't replace it with salty carbs.  Eat vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts… plants.

Give it at least a week.

It makes such a difference in how i feel.

It's not easy.

It's far from easy.

I LOVE pizza and I cannot live without Mexican food!  

But every time I give into the temptations around me and I eat the queso, I regret it.  I don't feel good.  It's like a food hangover.  

That's my body communicating to me.