My Food Philosophy
I refuse to let my food intake be governed by nonsensical or overly absolute rule systems. Food is both a great pleasure and a great factor in health and longevity. Below is my current (flexible) rule system …
Health can be improved by adding to your diet, health can be optimized by also reducing certain habits in your diet. Healthy, Tasty (crave worthy level), and Fast don’t have to be enemies.
You are what you eat (literally)
Your diet (how $ is spent and how the products were made) impact your immediate health and longevity AND the health of our sacred planet.
My version of a food pyramid. Note: I am revising as I learn - I now place garlic and onions closer to the bottom representing the important Allium family (Other colors should be represented such as white and yellow). I will also add certain fruits and herbs/spices to the graphic)
Flexible Scenario-based Rules:
Whenever possible, I order the vegetarian or vegan option.
If I’m somewhere special or my friends have cooked for me, I accept the experience
I really avoid beef, pork, lamb, baby animals, etc with more stringent exceptions
Try to understand source - bad farming and fishing practices are prevalent, labels easily fool the public
Add more veggies or broccoli to everything
Add more spices to everything (Tumeric, Marjoram, Pepper, Rosemary, etc)
Eat alot less of: processed anything, sugars/simple sugars such as soda, starches, potatoes, fried anything
Avoid: pesticides, plastics, preservatives (read the back of everything), artificial sugars, charred anything
Barrier to entry / ease of access use is critical
Just don’t buy stuff
Learning how to be a Vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, whatever-atarian
Legumes
Lentils, Chickpeas, Black/red beans. Other good sources of plant proteins include quinoa, hemp, nut butters, and tempeh/tofu.
Tempeh and Tofu
Can be really tasty (or done really poorly)
Tempeh - Slice into 1/2 in or thinner slabs and pan fry. Absorbs whatever sauce you put it in (such as sesame soy ginger)
Tofu - Steam with stir fry, pan fry (I like firm cooked in ginger garlic and Tamari)
More Mushrooms & Veggies
I make alot of stir frys at home and when I’m out to eat, I always add some kind of veggie or ask to switch to dark greens.
My “go to”
Fast, easy, tasty, and healthy are all key
Semi-sweet toast:
Ezekiel bread (toasted) https://www.foodforlife.com/product/breads/ezekiel-49-flax-sprouted-whole-grain-bread
Jelly - Elderberry
Almond butter, walnut butter, pecan butter
Hemp seed, flax seed
Walnuts and pecans (toasted)
Cacao & cacao nibs
Banana or other fruit
Vegan Awesome Stuff
Vitamin B12 source, tastes a little like cheese.
milk alternatives
I really love almond, soy, and oat milk. Only some of them are totally preservative free (read the labels). I don’t like the packaging problem however. Whenever possible, I substitute dairy products for non-animal products.