Plant Based Diet

About 4 years ago, I made a decision to eliminate meat from my diet.  I have found this to be very beneficial to my overall health.  I have added in a lot more fruits and vegetables and plant based sources of protein such as beans, whole grains and nuts.  I don’t necessarily recommend transitioning completely to a vegetarian way of eating for my clients but I do find that most people are not including enough fruits and vegetables.

As I have transitioned to this way of eating, the reaction from people around me has been interesting.

One of the main questions people had when I was first making this change is if I am getting the correct and appropriate nutrition when eliminating meat from my diet.  If I had fast food hamburgers and french fries every day, would anyone ask if I was getting the right nutrition?  When I reach for a slice of cheese pizza no one asks me where are my vegetables, they are convinced the 1/8 cup of tomato sauce on my slice of pizza is sufficient.  But if I have a huge salad topped with baked tofu slices, and some quinoa on the side, they think I am not getting enough nutrition, especially protein.

Now that I have been eating this way for 4 years, lost about 20 pounds, and have not been hospitalized for a protein deficiency, the questions have subsided a bit.

It seems that our perception as Americans of what makes up a nutritious diet is so skewed at this point - from marketing on television and everywhere else you look to the funding and lobbyists from big agribusiness helping develop the recommendations of what to eat from the USDA.  People have been brainwashed into thinking that all of the processed, unhealthy food in our food supply has sufficient nutrition.  I am here to help people change their understanding of this paradigm and move to a healthier, happier lifestyle.

I send out a monthly newsletter which includes tips for healthy living and recipes - you can sign up on my web-site and look at the archived newsletters as well: http://mariabmayer.com/newsletter-archive

I am a Certified Holistic Health Coach, if you would like to know more about my approach to health coaching, please visit my website www.mariabmayer.com.  You can also call or e-mail me to set up a free consultation.  HealthCoach@mariabmayer.com 860-995-7773.