Here are some of the foundational cookbooks that have taught me all I know about making healthy, delicious vegetarian meals.
Ornish, Dr. Dean. Everyday Cooking With Dr. Dean Ornish
Ornish, Dr. Dean. Eat More Weigh Less
Robertson, Laurel. The New Laurel’s Kitchen
Madison Deborah. Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone
Eating Well Magazine
Let’s face it, this Vegetarian Adventure is not easy. Living in the US means there are lots of quick, unhealthy choices everywhere you go, even in your own freezer. So how do you stay on the Eating Well Wagon? . . . Great cookbooks, planning meals, shopping for fresh ingredients, and COOKING.
Case in point, last night my husband was out-of-town, the rest of the family was tired from a busy week. I had planned to fix veggie fajitas and realized too late that the last shopping trip was disorganized and did not include pinto beans. So, it’s pouring rain and my 9-month granddaughter is sleeping. It’s not a good time to run to the store for just one item. I made a healthy green salad, however, threw chicken nuggets into the oven, thinking that I wouldn’t eat them. Just for the rest of the family, right? Wrong, when I am tired and hungry, I’m weak. I actually ate chicken nuggets, blech, I don’t even like them and they are definitely not part of the Adventure.
Staying on the wagon begins with great cookbooks. See the book recommendations here. Dr. Dean Ornish is one of my favorite authors along with Laurel’s Kitchen. A great way to try out a cook book before you buy it is to check it out of the library. You have three weeks to try the recipes.
Planning meals and shopping your plan not only keeps you eating healthy but also saves gas, time and money. Keep healthy choices on hand and have a list available for whenever you run out of something. Buying food for a family means stocking choices that aren’t necessarily part of your own eating plan, hence the chicken nuggets. However, if you make sure your own choices are in the freezer it’s easier to make food for everyone.
Then, cook your plan. Prepare what you can in the morning, for example, put the beans on to cook, or place ingredients in a slow cooker. Or you can prepare some of the ingredients the night before and refrigerate them. It’s so helpful to have dinner partially ready in the evening when you are tired. Following these guidelines helps me to continue to eat in a healthy way, staying on the Eating Well Wagon.
Do you have tips for staying on the Wagon? Please leave your comments!
Roth, Geneen. Breaking Free from Compulsive Eating. A Signet Book, New American Library, 1984.
Today, August 9th, is the first day of my new Vegetarian Adventure. With the 15 day reboot over, my palate is cleansed and I feel a clear connection with my body, free of compulsion. That’s big for me. Yesterday was the last day of the Reboot and when I could choose foods other than, fruits, and vegetables, I really wanted a bagel and Swiss cheese. So I gave in to the craving and it tasted great. Now I’m ready to begin the 90 Day Vegan Adventure without the distraction of that particular craving.
My plan is to eliminate dairy, except for yogurt, and all animal meat from my diet. Basically, to eat the way I imagine the first people on earth ate in the Garden of Eden. I think our bodies were originally designed to repair themselves based on that type of diet. Dr. Duke Johnson agrees with me in his book entitled, Optimal Health. More about this subject later this week.
You see, diets do not work. Eventually, we aren’t listening to what our bodies and emotions really want and they become a form of deprivation. There is a good series that I recommend you read by Geneen Roth. The books are entitled, Breaking Free From Compulsive Eating and Why Weight. (See Library heading on this blog) If you have been a diet junkie, going from diet to diet, losing weight and gaining it back plus more, these books are for you. They advise you to break free from the diet cycle and begin to listen to your body which may take the best part of a year. During the break free year I followed her advice: eating exactly what I wanted when I was hungry; stopping when I was full; along with a few other simple behavioral changes. I gained about 10 pounds and learned to take care of myself while listening to my body.
Then, I highly recommend some sort of fast to cleanse your body and clear your palate. The Juice Reboot recommended by the Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead Documentary and website worked for me. The cleansing is essential because you need to break free from unhealthy addictions and habits. However, the first thing you must do before starting any change in your eating or exercise habits is to consult a physician, especially if you have a chronic health condition and/or are taking medication on a regular basis.
Tomorrow I will continue this theme with more suggestions for your library and a word about supplements. The goal is to change habits resulting in a healthier lifestyle and all of the advice in this blog will be based on personal research and experience. So, I hope you will continue to follow me on this vegetarian adventure.
Healthchat