Glowing Green
People often ask what I eat. Whole foods, mostly plants.
In some circles talking about one’s diet is as volatile as talking politics. People have very strong opinions. If I say that I am vegan, some will hear this as a political statement. Others might fear I am not getting enough protein, and to others I might sound self-righteous. So, I usually describe my culinary practice as “whole foods, mostly plants.” Labels lack depth. Humans have depth. We are complex, and nuanced, and continuously evolving. So that answer, too, is complex and nuanced.
And, as it turns out, I do have very strong opinions—or rather, you might say that I am extremely passionate about having found a way of living that brightens my energy and lifts my spirt. My sustenance includes the company I keep, the thoughts I think, the actions I take, the sun on my face, the sweat of my body, the movement of my day. It all adds up to a deeply nourishing and fortifying diet. So here goes:
I begin my day with freshly brewed Equator coffee with almond milk. Then I journal, and meditate. After my yoga practice I enjoy a vegan protein smoothie made from Solgar Spoonfuls. Vanilla Chai is my favorite flavor. As an afternoon pick-me-up, I savor my Glowing Green smoothie, from a recipe in Kimberly Snyder’s The Beauty Detox Food. I love the Superfood protein bars sold at Urban Remedy. They are perfect for my on-the-go lifestyle, especially on the mornings when I teach back-to-back yoga classes.
A lot of times I am eating in my car as I go to and fro throughout my day: almond butter sandwiches; bite-size avocado sushi; summer rolls from Urban Remedy; when in season, crisp apples; blueberries, bananas, whatever I can eat while safely driving. I love the joy of being home for lunch and dinner, where I can eat calmly and enjoyably. Some of my favorite home-cooked lunch and dinner options are roasted vegetables, spaghetti squash, vegan soups and stews, sautéed bok choy and carrots, beet salad, quinoa avocado salad, avocado toast with drizzled olive oil, and sautéed kale with avocado, (basically, a lot of avocado).
Evenings I might sip Mighty Leaf tea, although I have also been known to enjoy a shot of tequila on rare occasions, and when out with the girls I might enjoy a full-bodied red or a buttery Chardonnay. I am usually done drinking after one glass—primarily because how I feel when I wake up is more important than the short-term pleasure of delicious, but mind-altering, wine. For me the best dessert is fresh blueberries or some other seasonal fruit. And chocolate. I love chocolate. The vegan Berkeley Bar is my version of decadent.
I eat this way for one reason: I feel tremendous. I don’t live to eat, I eat to feel good. That said, because I know that the culinary arts are a huge part of many people’s passion I find myself apologizing for my non-dairy, non-animal, some might say non-fun, choices. I do not want to impose upon anyone who generously invites me to dinner or some other festive gathering. I most certainly do not want to be the righteous sermonizer making anyone feel bad about their own choices. But I do want to be candid about the “why” behind my choices.
Why no animals? Once I saw the inhumanity animals must endure to be on our plates, I lost my appetite to consume them. Why no processed foods? I struggled for decades with bulimia. Food felt like poison, something that caused me to feel shame and discomfort. Just holding it down was an ordeal. So this whole foods, mostly plants, animal free, lots of dark chocolate, occasional tequila way of eating became a source of joy—and nourishment for both body and spirit. So If I am passionate about this subject it’s because I spent five decades torturing my body for its need for food. If I want to encourage others to eat this whole foods, plant based way it is because so many illnesses, mental and physical, can be cured through diet.
With passion comes confrontation. I have been on dates where men winced when I told them I was vegan, or worried what I would possibly find to eat at a sushi restaurant. My girlfriends were aghast when I told them that I shame-ate fish just to ease my anxiety when my date got all testy. I will never do that again. That experience was a line in the sand, and taught me, once again, the value of honoring one’s truth. I have become quite comfortable with who I am and what I need to do to take care of myself. I invite you to do the same.
While I wish more restaurants offered vegan entrées, eating this way is not a sacrifice. Everything I eat either invigorates and energizes me, or it makes me feel lousy. At the end of the day how I feel is the most important ingredient in my diet.
What are your thoughts? I would love to support your pathway to glowing green—or blue, or red, or any color of the rainbow that lights you up!