Starches are comfort food and potatoes, a starch, are high in satiety. They keep your tummy full and curb your hunger so you will have less cravings and less “hangry” moments.

Instead, you will have more full, happy belly days!!

In my experience, eating potatoes, along with other starches, fruits and vegetables, are the key to success in reaching health goals through a plant-based diet.

Plant-based eating has been growing in popularity lately because of the impressive health and environmental benefits. But it can be challenging to find the best path through information overload.

I believe people would choose to be healthy eaters if they thought the food would taste good. I am here to tell you, the food tastes good y’all!!!!

So why isn’t everyone doing it?

It can be overwhelming to get started.

Nobody wants to relearn to cook and eat.

People like the food they eat and already spent a lifetime tasting food to find our favorites.

I grew up eating my Mom’s cooking. She made casseroles like mac and cheese, scalloped potatoes, lasagna and turkey divan with cream of mushroom soup. I also loved pizza, burgers and hot dogs with fries, sloppy joe’s and It was school where I learned to eat tacos and chili. Dessert was common in the form of cookies, cake, ice cream, etc. I thought I was healthy, even though I knew I should lose 20 lbs and was on pills for type 2 diabetes.

I did eat salad, fruit and some veggies. Because my typical lunch order was chicken Caesar salad, I didn’t worry about the candy bar or bag a chips that I snacked on mid afternoon. Moderation and balance, right?

The idea of eating a plant based diet, to me, meant I would have to eat disappointing food (mostly veggies) I didn’t like.

But potatoes and corn are vegetables, and most people like them.

What I discovered is, I didn’t have to give up most of my favorite foods. I eat good tasting, healthy versions of all the foods I listed above. Plus, I also found some new favorites, like taco pizza and pierogies casserole.

The trick to losing weight and eating healthy is to focus on eating vegetables, like potatoes and corn, along with other grains, legumes, and other vegetable starches and also, any of the vast varieties of whole foods like all the fruits and veggies nuts, seeds, dried fruits that you already eat and like!

If I typed up all the foods on that list, it would be a long list of food options and possible food combinations! Because of this, my journey has been filled with unexpected surprises. Like, a whole food plant based diet taught me how to cook and marinate carrots with spices that make it taste similar to the hot dogs I loved as a kid! Granted it is not the same, but it tastes pretty good with sauerkraut and mustard on a bun. Add some coleslaw, baked beans and potatoes on my plate and I feel like a happy camper eating cookies! (and yes, we have cookies too!!)

So, Welcome to my website!! If you made it this far, then maybe my story will resonate with you. Look around as I learn how to build this website and get my story and practical information on here. This is a journey I never expected to take but here we are, learning together.

My hope for this site is how to manage the daily “What do I eat?” and help you find foods you love that love you back. It will also give you tips and tricks to overcoming difficulties, and handling unique challenges.

It will help you get one step closer to a better connection with food, even if you don’t eat choose to be 100% plant based.

The Best Approach:

Take good care of yourself.

Consult a medical professional regarding your specific needs. I am not a Dr. and do not offer medical advice. You deserve support in achieving your health goals. Please consult with a plant-based or lifestyle medicine professional, or a local supportive doctor who is familiar with plant based eating.

Plant based Nutrition Movement (PBNM.org)

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM.org)

Take notes. Pay attention to your body.

Listen to your body and track how you are feeling and what you ate, and any numbers that will help motivate you. Note any triggers or cravings, reactions and, if you are comfortable, track your weight. I used to put a smiley face on the calendar when I did a good job or was proud of myself.

Take it gently.

Meal by meal, day by day or week by week. You are in control of the pace and path of this journey. Don’t beat yourself up with shame or blame. Just lean in with curiosity.

Ask questions.

What is or was rewarding about the food you chose to eat? Do you have a memory connected with this food?

Eat only what you like.

Dr.John McDougall used to say that people need to like the food. If you don’t like it, you won’t eat it.

Summary

Respecting your own needs and working with a professional is the smart and safest way to make changes.

If you are not interested in a plant based journey now, you can still benefit by learning how to cook for loved ones who are and maintain your master chef title!

Eat familiar foods you already like.