I used to drink a lot. I was a party girl. Big time. And a party girl, for me, included alcohol. 

I didn’t drink every day. It was mostly social. When I did drink, however, I usually drank more than necessary.

I also went through a phase when I was really into wine. My goal was to recognize at least a couple of good wines on any restaurant wine list. It was a fun hobby until I decided to cut back on my drinking. 

When I was younger, I could handle alcohol. These days, my body just can’t process it. Just one drink, and I don’t sleep well at night, and I feel lousy the next day.

I still do have an occasional drink. I just know that I’m not going to be my best the next day. Plus, I have a meditation practice, and a hangover, even a tiny one, messes up my meditation. Thus, I’m more thoughtful about when I consume alcohol.  

I’ve heard about dry January before, but I’ve never tried it. Generally, the only time I want a drink is when we go out to dinner. I do love a nice glass of wine or a celebratory cocktail. But I’m also fine choosing sparkling water. And I’m always happier in the morning when I didn’t have a drink the night before. 

I decided not to drink in January for two reasons. The first is that I’m busy teaching a class and I want a clear head. The second is to challenge myself. I figure that anyone who is used to a Standard American Diet (SAD) and trying vegan or plant-based for the month of January is challenging themselves. I’m already vegan all year long, so committing to a month without alcohol is my challenge. I don’t mind not-drinking, it’s just about being mindful.

If people new to plant-based are being more mindful about food choices, I can be more mindful about something too. Making the commitment not to drink for the month requires being mindful. That’s all. Maybe part of my meditation practice will be to pay closer attention to the green tea I sip during the day, or the herbal tea I enjoy at night. 

Kudos to those of you doing a reset by trying vegan for the month. I hope your Veganuary is going well. If you need some support, or have questions, please reach out. Our Cook-along goes through the end of the month and it’s not too late to join!

When people join my Facebook group, I ask them what their biggest questions and concerns are about eating plant-based. Here is a sampling of what I’ve learned:

🌿 Getting enough protein

🌿 I think it will be too time consuming

🌿 How to cook plant-based ingredients into a healthy, satisfying meal

🌿 Cutting veggies is so time consuming, is there a better way?

🌿 I need easy and budget-friendly recipes

🌿 Still enjoying rich flavors and textures in my food

🌿 Animal welfare is my biggest concern

🌿 Making sure my daily eating is nutritionally complete

🌿 I’m concerned I’ll miss eating animal products

🌿 Creating a whole plant-based menu is challenging

🌿 I have trouble finding good easy filling meals

🌿 I need variety. I get stuck eating the same things

🌿 I’m afraid to eat high carbs

🌿 Sticking to plant-based in a family that isn’t

🌿 I don’t like cooking. I want it to be easy

There are many more responses but these are the most common.

Here are my next questions: Has everyone reading this gotten their questions (even if they aren’t listed above) answered? Are you eating as plant-based as you’d like?

Or do you still have concerns?

If you still have concerns and you are serious about eating plant-based, then it is time to take action. Reading posts isn’t going to magically teach you how to cook and eat more healthfully, or to stop eating animals. And if you don’t already know how to cook plant-based, a recipe might not be sufficient. It’s time to take a class (whether mine or someone else’s) or contact me for one-on-one coaching. 

If you are really interested in eating more plant-based and haven’t done it yet, taking my upcoming class is a perfect next step. Not only will you learn SIX new recipes over four weeks, but it will also be interactive. You’ll be able to ask questions about the recipes as we go, AND you’ll be able to pick my brain at the end of the class when we’re done cooking. 

We’ll have plenty of time for questions at the end. 

Class starts on January 10th and will be recorded. 

It’s a brand new year and we are celebrating trying vegan for the month of January. It’s called Veganuary.

It is not too late to make a difference to your health, our planet or the animals. But you do need to take action to get results. 

Please join us. It’s going to be fun and we’re all going to learn a lot. 

Click here to learn more and join our Veganuary cook-along.

With all of the holiday buzz and craziness in our world right now, I almost forgot to talk about Blue Zones! Have you heard of Blue Zones? Or watched the new series called: Live to 100, Secrets of the Blue Zones on Netflix. I highly recommend. It sure is eye-opening and inspiring. The series is hosted by Dan Buettner who has been researching and writing about Blue Zones for a while. 

The idea is that there are five locations around the world where the residents live longer than anywhere else. The five locations are: 

Ikaria, Greece; Loma Linda, CA USA; Sardinia, Italy; Okinawa, Japan; Nicoya, Costa Rica

What makes these places special? Is it the location? Or is it the practices of the people therein? 

I do hope you watch the series. But here’s an overview of the Blue Zone principles. 

Move Naturally. Many of the Blue Zone residents garden, or sit on and have to get up off the floor, or walk hills because that’s where they live. 

Purpose. Have a sense of purpose each day. Or “why I wake up in the morning.” A simple example is having a garden to tend to. 

Down Shift. Each zone has a different way to shed stress, but it’s part of the equation. 

80% Rule. Stop eating when you are 80% full. No need to stuff our faces until we feel sick. Many cultures stop eating much earlier in the day too. 

Plant Slant. Beans are the cornerstone of most centenarian diets. Most of these cultures eat plant-based, if not plant-exclusive. Okinawans eat a lot of purple potatoes, which I just started eating lately. And Dan Buettner, shared, “…the diet associated with longevity is 95-100 percent plant-based…””…The five pillars of every longevity diet in the world are: whole grains, tubers, greens, nuts and beans.” (From the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine magazine.)

Wine at 5. All the Blue Zone residents (except for Adventists in Loma Linda) drink moderately and regularly. Ideally with food and friends! I don’t drink much anymore, and there are certainly people who choose not to drink at all. But if it’s working for the Blue Zoners, maybe there’s some merit. 

Belong. Most belong to some faith-based community. While participating in a religion isn’t required, being part of a spiritual community (or your version thereof) may be beneficial. 

Loved Ones First. Family first, including aging parents nearby. 

Right Tribe. “The world’s longest-lived people chose- or were born into- social circles that supported healthy behaviors.” Who we choose to spend our time with influences important health choices. 

While their activities and cultures differ, there are some commonalities between them all. 

I’m already plant-based and include many of the Blue Zone habits into my lifestyle, yet, there is always room for improvement. And I’ve increased the number of purple potatoes and sweet potatoes in my life! This is a yummy improvement and one you can make today. 

Looking for more direction to start eating plant-based? Or add more into your repertoire? Or go totally vegan? It’s not as hard as you may think, and it is so rewarding. Whether through the classes I offer or one-on-one coaching, there are multiple ways to live a Blue Zone inspired life. Feel free to reach out for a free consult. 

Or simply commit to trying plant-based for January. We will be celebrating Veganuary. Find out more here.