I just finished watching Hungry for Change (free screening until March 31), and it gave me that extra push to eat better.
Granted I eat 100% plant-based for ethical reasons, but I realize I have been neglecting the health aspect of this lifestyle. I saw nothing wrong with consuming processed food products as long as they are vegan. I've always thought that as long as I am not harming animals, I'm okay. This documentary made it clear to me that I need to not want to harm my own body too. My body is a temple after all, not a trash bin. And whatever you are currently eating, the body has self-healing powers so you can turn it around quite easily too- if you want to. In fact, when you drink a green smoothie, it takes only 15 minutes for the nutrients from the raw vegetables to get to your cells! Pretty darn amazing!
By default, I do not consume that much high fructose corn syrup because most processed products are not vegan, and the things I am ethically against are usually the worst of the bunch (cola, cookies, junk food). But I do not eat as much raw greens as I probably should, and I eat quite a lot of white rice when I dine out.
My resolve after watching this documentary?
1. Guarantee my greens intake via smoothies every breakfast. Shall restock and add spirulina and chia seeds to my superfoods list! (I am ordering them from The Superfood Grocer and I recommend you do too).
2. Use my skin as an indicator of my current state of wellness. Am I sleeping enough hours? Am I getting all my nutrients? Am I stressed? The documentary explained that the skin is the last to receive the benefits of your food. So if you are looking good through natural means (and not because you spent a fortune on coating your skin with artificial topical creams or chemical treatments), then you are pretty healthy.
3. Avoid anything with high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated stuff and any ingredient I cannot pronounce in as much as I can, even if this mysterious ingredient is vegan. This means I have to add another level of screening to my label-reading. It now must be vegan, free from palm oil, and free from suspicious ingredients.
4. Prepare my own meals more and eat out less. That way, I know exactly what goes into what I eat. This would probably be challenging at first because I have an erratic schedule teaching an insane amount of classes, so I will probably start by making sure I have 2 out of 3 meals a day prepared by myself. Lessen my 7-11/ Ministop purchases too. What do I buy there anyway? Usually soymilk or packaged coconut water and the occasional hopia. I should probably just make my own nut milk and get fresh coconut instead.
5. Incorporate the self-love mantra mentioned in the documentary: I accept myself unconditionally right now.
Love to all!
P.S. Newly inspired by Hungry for Change, I had an all-greens oven-baked lunch (brown rice not shown in picture).
Granted I eat 100% plant-based for ethical reasons, but I realize I have been neglecting the health aspect of this lifestyle. I saw nothing wrong with consuming processed food products as long as they are vegan. I've always thought that as long as I am not harming animals, I'm okay. This documentary made it clear to me that I need to not want to harm my own body too. My body is a temple after all, not a trash bin. And whatever you are currently eating, the body has self-healing powers so you can turn it around quite easily too- if you want to. In fact, when you drink a green smoothie, it takes only 15 minutes for the nutrients from the raw vegetables to get to your cells! Pretty darn amazing!
By default, I do not consume that much high fructose corn syrup because most processed products are not vegan, and the things I am ethically against are usually the worst of the bunch (cola, cookies, junk food). But I do not eat as much raw greens as I probably should, and I eat quite a lot of white rice when I dine out.
My resolve after watching this documentary?
1. Guarantee my greens intake via smoothies every breakfast. Shall restock and add spirulina and chia seeds to my superfoods list! (I am ordering them from The Superfood Grocer and I recommend you do too).
2. Use my skin as an indicator of my current state of wellness. Am I sleeping enough hours? Am I getting all my nutrients? Am I stressed? The documentary explained that the skin is the last to receive the benefits of your food. So if you are looking good through natural means (and not because you spent a fortune on coating your skin with artificial topical creams or chemical treatments), then you are pretty healthy.
3. Avoid anything with high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated stuff and any ingredient I cannot pronounce in as much as I can, even if this mysterious ingredient is vegan. This means I have to add another level of screening to my label-reading. It now must be vegan, free from palm oil, and free from suspicious ingredients.
4. Prepare my own meals more and eat out less. That way, I know exactly what goes into what I eat. This would probably be challenging at first because I have an erratic schedule teaching an insane amount of classes, so I will probably start by making sure I have 2 out of 3 meals a day prepared by myself. Lessen my 7-11/ Ministop purchases too. What do I buy there anyway? Usually soymilk or packaged coconut water and the occasional hopia. I should probably just make my own nut milk and get fresh coconut instead.
5. Incorporate the self-love mantra mentioned in the documentary: I accept myself unconditionally right now.
Love to all!
P.S. Newly inspired by Hungry for Change, I had an all-greens oven-baked lunch (brown rice not shown in picture).
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