Just fill in that blank.
We’ve all said it, right?
Whatever it is. Not that you haven’t tried and maybe even been successful for a while. Our human nature always pushes back against restrictions. So, let’s look at this from a completely different perspective.
Let's not talk about taking away,
but instead what are you willing
to add to your everyday diet?
Two Questions for You:
1) What are your favorite foods?
2) Why do you like them particularly?
While you’re trying to decide, I want to tell you a little more of our story. Mark and I have many things in common and among those things would be the fact that our parents lived through the great depression when having food was an issue most Americans faced on a daily basis. Our parents’ experience definitely had an impact on the food choices we were offered.
Because Mark’s dad grew up as a farmer, Mark grew up with a very large garden in his backyard. I’m not talking about a 10×10 raised bed, I believe it was 1/2 acre and every inch was tilled and filled with vegetables and fruit trees and vines. I believe that during the lean years of the depression, the families that were able to grow their own food didn’t go hungry as some others did. Mark grew up loving pretty much everything they grew at home even though he didn’t always appreciate the garden chores. One of the first things I learned about him when we first met was how much he loved fruits and vegetables. Salad — BIG salads– were his favorite. He also enjoyed foods I had never heard of, like avocados and mushrooms.
My parents brought from their depression experience their love of some foods that were both inexpensive and nutritious. Dinner at my house was meat, potatoes, vegetables and biscuits, but breakfast and lunch were places to stretch the budget with beans, potatoes, hot cereal and soups. Peanut butter on toast was also one of our go-to breakfasts which I still love to this day. (It’s good any time, not just breakfast.)
I’m quite sure your food experience during your childhood was different from ours, but whatever you learned to love to eat as a child is probably still with you today. So, what do you like?
Italian?
If you’re a fan of Italian Cuisine, there are SO many delicious plant-based options! Our pantry has several different kinds of pasta and lots of delicious marinara sauces. Our favorite pasta is made from chickpeas and comes in all the shapes we love — corkscrew, elbow, lasagna noodles, etc. The first time I made it, Mark was just sure it wasn’t “legal” because it was so good. Then, there’s pizza! Consider adding a vegan version of these two favorites to your menu.
Barbecue?
Since we’re from Texas, I guess a love for BBQ is born is us. I haven’t tried jackfruit (pictured above) but we recently discovered another vegan option that makes delicious barbecue — on or off a bun. Pickles, onions and peppers included.
Mexican?
Who doesn’t love chips, guacamole, queso, tacos, burritos and salsa? We make chips without frying and enjoy beans, brown rice, guacamole, salsa and even a vegan queso. Honestly, I could eat this exclusively and be totally content.
I could go on and on, but I’ll stop there. If you are thinking about making a change in your eating habits, I would just encourage you to experiment with some new versions of your old favorites.
Next Post…. Pantry and Fridge — keeping healthy choices handy