What I Eat

What do I eat most days?

I am a nutritarian, so I eat the widest variety of plants each day.

Which plants? nuts, seeds, legumes, vegetables, fruits and whole grains.

I include cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, fresh herbs and other spices in my diet for their amazing health benefits.

Throughout each day, I drink 5+ cups of tea that I make with fresh ginger, turmeric, black pepper, green tea and hibiscus. I steep the green tea for 3 minutes and then remove the tea bags. Everything else continues to steep in the top pot.

Breakfast

• 1 cup of coffee with Oatly oat milk or green tea.

• 1/2 cup oatmeal microwaved with 1 cup of water & a dash of cinnamon for 4 minutes. Dried and fresh fruit as well as raw nuts on top.

Weekend Brunch

• Boiled cubed potatoes

• Sauteed onions & vegetables in a few tablespoons of water rather than oil. As the water evaporates, I add more, Then I crumble in extra firm tofu, add a mix of spices, salt and pepper.

Lunch

• Salad with ingredients like sweet potatoes, quinoa, wild rice, broccoli, cauliflower, seeds, nuts, beans, grilled tofu, raw beets, & homemade dressing

• A slice of whole grain bread with hummus

• Soup like lentil, vegetable or split pea

Snack

• Medjool dates, apples, nuts, seeds, dried fruit

Dinner

• A Starch (boiled potatoes, brown rice, quinoa, whole wheat couscous)

• A Legume (beans, chickpeas, lentils). Saute onion, garlic or shallots in 3 Tablespoons of water. Add more as it evaporates. When they are as cooked as you like, add the canned, rinsed or dried, soaked and cooked legume. Season as you like. Sometimes I make sautéed tofu. For the legumes or other proteins, we can get creative and create any flavoring dressing or sauce. Explore & experiment with some recipes.

• A Green, Vegetable that I make on the stovetop. Ideas include:

1. Steamed artichoke dipped into hot sauce or lime juice

2. Steamed broccoli with soy sauce, hot sauce, rice vinegar and a couple drops of sesame oil. Combine ingredients in a proportion that tastes good to you.

   Note: Sriracha is full of sugar and should be avoided.

3. Warmed up frozen green peas or spinach. After they are ready to eat, add the juice from 1 lemon or lime, salt and pepper. You can also add fresh herbs if you have them because they are super healthy.

• Roasted Vegetables - Use a silicone baking liner. Cut up vegetable(s) into coarse, large chunks,. Put in roasting pan. Add unpeeled garlic, sliced onion or sliced shallots, fresh herbs if you have some, salt, pepper. Roast at 450 degrees between 20-40 minutes. You can squeeze out the roasted garlic and add to dressings or sauces.

Vegetables that work well: I love cauliflower, broccoli, zucchini, mushrooms, sweet potato, Brussels sprouts, asparagus and carrots. I do not mix vegetables because they each have their own baking time.

Check cooking times on the internet. Mix it up. Make what you already like and try new ones too.

• A Whatever-You-Have Salad. Throw in some sliced avocado, radishes, fresh corn, raw beet, tomatoes, cucumber. chickpeas, hearts of palm, raw mushrooms, carrots, shallots, beans, raw or roasted nuts and seeds. Let your guests add a homemade favorite dressing at the table. Most of the time, no dressing is needed because the raw vegetables add crunch and flavor when eaten with the other foods. Lime juice alone is a great dressing!

I eat unlimited amounts of fruits and vegetables throughout the day.

Here's a study that shows us that the more fruit we eat, the better!

I've only been a pure plant eater for 6 years. I'm learning more every day.

I have recently begun fasting one day each week. I drink tea but do not consume any food. This helps lower our insulin level, and bring on ketosis which sparks autophagy, a chance for our cells to remove the build up of trash. For thousands of years, humans had long periods without eating. Socrates fasted to attain mind clarity. We can fast to improve the health of our mind and body.

Interesting Article:

A to V: The Encyclopedia of Vegan Food