The Beginning of an Era

1/16/11

So I got sick this past weekend. Luckily it was a holiday weekend so I actually get one day off feeling well. Even though I’m not using it to do anything other than laundry, fuck around on my computer and go to the gym. Also, thinking heavily about the decision to follow this plant-based-whole-foods diet.
Of all of the crazy ways of eating I ever tried the one I enjoyed the most and which was easiest for me to follow was vegetarianism. After a year or two of not venturing far past pre-packaged vegetarian patties and entrees and supplementing heavily with eggs and dairy I finally embraced beans and dairy alternatives. I never stopped eating eggs, cheese or soy but they became something I ate a few times a week instead of several times a day.
Eventually, for the purposes of my education and also because I generally do not have a sense of moral obligation not to eat meat, I began eating meat again. That was about two years ago now, I guess. I cannot remember feeling worse since I was a teenager. Some things I have noticed since returning to eating meat that hardly existed for me when following a vegetarian diet are; intense hunger, strong cravings, the desire to eat excessively even though my stomach feels full, bloating and lethargy.
I’ve been off and on with going back to being veg. since culinary school but still make exceptions because even in Portland things like convenience and courtesy sometimes affect the choices you are able to make when you eat. I guess I have to go back to being a nuisance and eating vegetarian.
Actually, the way of eating I’m talking about now is far more involved than simply not eating meat or even avoiding animal products. This is a whole-foods-plant-based diet. That means eating raw as much as possible with no added fats with the exception of some nut butters.
You might ask, why do something so ridiculous; especially as someone who particularly likes to eat? The reason is, I actually believe the seemingly outrageous claims that this kind of diet allows your body to function at its optimal capability. The reason I believe this is this past summer I spent a month eating a strict raw vegan diet and then juicing for two weeks and during that time I felt the effects first hand. Unfortunately, after the juice was over I quickly returned to eating as I had before I started that process.
My concern from the beginning of this is that it is unsustainable for me. At any rate, I’m giving it a shot. Hopefully it doesn’t ruin my relationship. You can watch all of the pain, heartache, and satisfaction right here. For all you food voyeurs out there, I will post pictures, recipes and descriptions of meals, when possible.
This is going to be more difficult than any other time I’ve tried to implement this kind of change in my life because now I work in a kitchen that does not produce food like this and I’m the cook so the food is really good. ;)

Thanks to my aunt Marilyn, aunt Margie, brother Tom, and Miss Mary Malisia for their (possibly unintentional) persuasion.