I’ve been eating a plant-based/vegan diet for over 2 1/2 years now. I love that so much. When I stop and think about it, it really does make me step back and realize all the changes that my body has went through, and how crazy it is to think how I used to eat. It is mind-boggling, really! I wanted to share a modest list of some of the changes that happened after I cut out all meat, dairy, and animal-based products. They may seem minor, but not to me! Some are quirky, some are expected… but all have changed how I feel as a human, and for the better.
I’m proud of what my diet and health looks like in this moment vs. me 3 years ago.
1 – Grown to believe that cashew cheese really is a cheese. It is.
2 – Use less salt. I’ve learned to appreciate the natural taste of ingredients. If I do use salt, I use a sprinkle of himalayan pink salt.
3 – Eat soup like its my job. I’ve always been a soup lover, but there is literally nothing easier than boiling all the leftover vegetables in my house and puréeing them into a large pot of soup for the week.
4 – Add coconut oil to everything. I’ve talked about this in the past, but really… popcorn, smoothies, stir fry… coffee… everything.
5 – Eat bigger portions than ever. Because I can eat 5 servings of veggies in just one meal and be satisfied. Don’t even get me started on fruit…
6 – Use bananas in everything. Bananas in baking, frozen bananas in smoothies, bananas for nice cream, baaaaanananananananas.
7 – Consider dates a candy. In some cases, they are even sweeter than candy!
8 – Read labels for fun. At first it was for necessity to figure out if there’s animal products, but now it’s like… ooooh I wonder what they put in these?! Bonus if there are under 10 ingredients listed.
9 – Freak out when I meet a fellow vegetarian/vegan. I can’t help it!
10 – Lowered cholesterol without medication. I talk all about this here. Literally… I just eat plant-based and suddenly my cholesterol is perfect. BEST FEELING.
11 – Cut out sugar. Not entirely (fruit and dates and the occasional treat on the weekends). But coffee with raw sugar (my old go-to) tastes fake to me now. It’s crazy how your tastebuds change!
12 – Prefer raw veggies to cooked. I still cook them, but give me a big plate of raw carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and peppers and I am a happy woman.
13 – Avoid processed junk food. I’ve never been so repulsed by packaged snacks in my life than now. Whole ingredients 90% of the time.
14 – Love more greens than ever before. I was a spinach and (sometimes) kale kinda girl. Now I love spinach, kale, swiss chard, collards, escarole, broccoli rabe, and any other green I can get my hands on. Except arugula. Nope.
15 – Look at the world through new eyes. Even trees can make me emotional – it is a very strange thing… but… there it is. I think I just feel more connected to the Earth than I ever have in my entire life.
16 – Gained weight, but feel healthier. And I am totally okay with it.
17 – Became passionate about something. I’ve always had my hobbies and interests, but nothing in this world makes me happier to talk about than eating plant-based/vegan.
