For those who know me…or who have read my resource guide…or viewed the Nourish page of my 3 Key Concepts to Improved Health, I’ve shared that my current meal plan has evolved over time. The food I ate as a child was different from the food I ate as a young woman - a pregnant mom - and has continued to change during my 30’s, 40’s, and into my 50’s. Much of this was due to personal taste, making my own choices as an adult, and personal preferences.
Education, trial and error, and my health status led me to Dr. John McDougall and The Starch Solution. Whether you are interested in a plant-based diet, or simply want to add more vegetables and fruits to your meals, my recommendation is this, “Eat what you want and hold yourself accountable for your choices.” Food is impactful in regards to our health and can either harm or heal.
The content below was shared within Whole Communities in response to an article asking whether or not some people may not benefit from eating a plant-based diet. The easy way to find out is simply to try it and see for yourself. Though there may be medical reasons why this way of eating may not be helpful. How will you know unless you’ve either implemented this approach? I’ve tried the high protein approach, I’ve followed a number of fads such as the grapefruit diet, fasting, the lemonade diet, and even national chain diets such as Weight Watchers. Each of these methods failed, didn’t offer sustainable results, and I felt awful. The Starch Solution works for me and I have achieved health results that astound my healthcare providers. Maintaining a lean weight is helpful for my artificial joints but is the least of my concerns…feeling better and managing my overall health motivates me.
The answer I provided may help you consider this way of eating to better manage your own health.
Dine Well. ~Tiffany Anderson, LMT, RMT, BS, CHES
My background is in Health Education, and I embraced a whole food approach about 7 years ago. Eating this way has helped me to manage my own chronic conditions of arthritis, asthma, Hashimoto's disease, shingles, and dual posterior hip replacement. My medical team are impressed and often baffled at the optimal results I am achieving, especially while reading the results from my bi-annual blood work. At 57-years-old, I am maintaining a weight of 128-130 lbs, I exercise for 60-90 minutes daily, require minimal thyroid medication, and recently traveled to hike the ruins of Teotihuacan and the surrounding area (with a much younger tour group) and experienced only minimal discomfort.
While I am coaching, mentoring, or teaching others about eating a plant-based diet I open the discussion with a disclaimer...this way of eating isn't for everyone. I believe that an adult should educate themselves about their food, eat whatever they want, and simply accept the consequences of their dietary choices. Plant-based eating impacts every aspect of my lifestyle which is challenging for many people to even consider, let alone adopt full-time. The rewards I experience are worth every minute I spend towards meal planning, shopping, prepping, cooking, and dining. I have a much healthier relationship with food now that I view nutrition as lifestyle medicine. My meals are still beautiful and delicious - though most importantly, my meals are nutritious, satisfying, and healing.
-Tiffany Anderson, shared 10/8/2022 with Whole Communities
