Eating To Keep Me Alive
🌱 What Do I Eat?
I strive to eat plant-based meals in their whole state. For those in the know, my nutrition is based on a Whole Food, Plant-Based (WFPB) approach.
The majority of my meals are created from single plant ingredients and may include minimally processed plant foods. By “minimally processed,” I mean foods that contain up to three ingredients (for example, a can of peas where the ingredients are peas, water, and salt). Most of the foods I eat do not have an ingredient list at all.
The only highly processed plant food that I eat is refined white flour. However, this flour is only a small part of a weekly meal that includes a wide variety of whole, plant-based foods.
On occasion, I may have a small portion of something that doesn’t meet the definition of whole food, plant-based. When I do, it’s an intentional indulgence — one I give attention to and recognize as not supporting the lifestyle I strive to live.
💪 Why Do I Eat This Way?
Basically, I eat this way to keep myself alive and energized. Certain foods fuel healing, and others fuel sickness — I do my best to choose foods that heal.
Some might say that my way of eating is too rigid and that I should “live a little.” However, I’ve found that this way of eating is simple to follow and gives me the freedom to live a lot, instead of just a little.
Below are some of the main reasons I eat whole food, plant-based meals:
🥗 Healthy body weight
❤️ Normal blood pressure
🩸 Normal bloodwork values (A1C, blood sugar [glucose], cholesterol, iron, etc.)
⚡ Maximized energy levels (mental, physical, and cellular)
🧬 Lower risk of developing diseases common in my family history (heart disease, hypertension, cancer, dementia, diabetes, macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts, varicose veins, venous insufficiency)
😌 Anti-inflammatory & Anti-oxidative effects
🌎 Reduced environmental impact
🐾 Love of animals and nature
🌾 Healthy fiber intake
🥕 So, What Do I Really Eat?
There are some foods I eat every day and others I rotate weekly or monthly. I do my best to eat a rainbow of colors from all types of plants.
🌞 Daily Foods
Grains: Oatmeal
Vegetables: Spinach, kale
Fruit: Banana, apple, lemon, blueberries, goji berries, amla (powder), cranberry powder
Legumes: Peanuts
Nuts/Seeds: Walnuts, flaxseed meal, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, cocoa
Spices: Turmeric, ginger, black pepper, cinnamon
Supplements: Vitamin B12, Vitamin D3
Beverages: Coffee, water
🌈 Weekly/Monthly Foods
In addition to the daily foods above, I rotate the following:
Grains: Rice, whole wheat pasta, corn, Ezekiel bread, white flour*
Vegetables: Broccoli rabe, collard greens, broccoli, mixed greens, Swiss chard, beet greens, beets, potatoes (sweet, russet, purple), peas, peppers (various), carrots, celery, onion, garlic, cabbage (green & purple), cauliflower
Fruit: Tomatoes, avocado, clementines, grapefruit, watermelon, cantaloupe, grapes, kabocha, cucumber, zucchini, eggplant, olives
Legumes: Beans (various), lentils (green, red, yellow), chickpeas, tofu
Nuts/Seeds: Brazil nuts, almond butter
Spices/Herbs: Garlic, onion, parsley
Supplement: Omega-3 (from algae)
Beverages: Green tea, hibiscus tea
🍷 On Occasion
In addition to the above — and on an infrequent basis — I may enjoy:
Dark Chocolate
Alcohol: Wine, beer, spirits
Desserts: For special occasions, and when possible, I select desserts containing no animal products
🧠 How to Eat Healthier
We are all different — starting from different places (knowledge, habits, beliefs) and working toward different health goals.
Social media, the news, and food marketing can easily cause confusion about what’s truly healthy.
Even if you think you’re eating well, ask yourself at every meal:
“Will this food help me reach my health goals?”
If the answer is no, then ask yourself:
“Why should I eat it?”
At the most basic level, we need to know what we’re eating.
If your food has an ingredient list, read it carefully. If you cannot visualize the ingredient, it’s probably a laboratory chemical or additive designed to simulate texture, smell, color, taste, or delay spoilage.
Then ask yourself:
“Will this chemical or additive help me heal and get healthier?”
If the answer is “No” or “I don’t know,” take the time to learn more before you decide to eat it.
🍕 A Note on White Flour*
Once a week, I enjoy pizza with no cheese, tomato sauce, and sautéed onions. The white flour used is unknown to me; however, all white flour should generally be avoided since it’s a highly refined carbohydrate with a high glycemic level.
Until I find a better and easy pizza option, I consider this a weekly indulgence — one that I enjoy but remain mindful of its impact on my health.
🌻 Closing Thoughts
Every meal is an opportunity to nourish the body, energize the mind, and honor the planet. I don’t eat this way to be perfect — I eat this way to stay alive, strong, and connected to what truly matters.
Because when food is chosen with intention, every bite becomes a step toward health and healing.