Living a Whole Food Plant-Based Life is Easier Than You Think!

One comment I hear repeatedly when I talk about living a whole food plant based (WFPB) life is “I could never do that, it would be too hard.”

I typically respond with “Why do you think that?”

Then I will get a litany of responses like, “I need protein”, “I could never get my family to do it”, or “We like to go out to dinner.”  But my favorite reason is, “It would cost too much.”

I could go on and on with the responses, but in reality, it is likely that the timing isn’t right for them to adopt the lifestyle.  Like anything in life, you can accomplish anything you decide to do (within physical possibilities…I will never be an NBA center no matter how hard I try).  For some people, that day may never come.  For others, it may be a health scare.  For me, it is a desire to better my wellbeing and longevity (quality as well as quantity of my years).

Note, I am not referring to the responses as excuses.  Excuses is overly strong, judgmental, and not what I believe is going on here.  I think the responses are a process of gathering information, processing and filtering the information, and then filing this for future reference.

So, let me debunk some of the responses I receive.

1. “I need protein” – Yes, you do.  We all do.  But you are likely over-estimating how much protein you need in a day.  You are also likely under-estimating the amount of protein in non-meat, non-egg, and non-dairy sources.  You would be surprised in how much protein is in broccoli, beans, and seeds and nuts.  You really only need 30 to 40 grams of protein a day and that can easily be attained on a WFPB diet.  Look at a gorilla and tell this giant, muscular creature he needs to get his protein from non-plant sources.
2. “I could never get my family to do it” – I hear you, I can’t get mine to do it either.  But it doesn’t stop me.  I do all the cooking in the house.  It would be so much easier for me to prepare one meal that we all enjoy, but that isn’t what happens.  I still cook what they want.  I plan and prep my meals accordingly.  When we eat, we all sit at the table.  They eat what I’ve made for them and I eat what I made for myself.  Yes, it is a hassle.  But it is what I must do to live my life in accordance to my values. 
3. “We like to go out to dinner” – There are a lot of reasons people like to go out to dinner.  Convenience, social interaction, and variety of options to name a few.  I would be lying if I told you that being WFPB is easy when dining out, but it isn’t.  It is downright challenging at some restaurants (IHOP could not recommend anything other than seasonal fruit).  But here is an opportunity to discover new restaurants in your area.  I have also found that when I ask about vegan (very few people will know what whole food plant-based means…but we are changing that!) options, the chef will prepare compliant food “off-menu” and I think they enjoy the challenge as it is an escape from the normal day-to-day.  If all else fails, maybe you will start cooking more and eating at home, which is always the more economical solution.  Which brings me to…
4. “It costs too much” –  This is my real head scratcher.  Potatoes, beans, rice, whole wheat pastas, grains, fruits and vegetables, seeds and nuts, and other WFPB compliant foods are almost always cheaper than meat and cheeses.  These foods are generally more nutrient-dense, equally as filling, and have fewer negative side-effects.  I’ll be honest, the worst side-effect from a WFPB diet in my experience is passing gas and even that subsides with time.  The $15 I spend at the market to buy a skirt steak for dinner feeds three people ($5 per serving without considering sides or salad).  I can make a “Chipotle” style burrito bowl with brown rice and beans as the foundation for less that $1 per serving.  With all the non-dairy fixings (tomatoes, peppers, onions, salsa, lettuce, hot sauce, etc.), I can make an entire meal for a family of four for under $10 (or $2.50 per serving).  With planning and preparation, you will find a WFPB lifestyle is far more economical than any other diet or lifestyle…even more economical than living off the dollar value menus at fast food restaurants.

I will leave you with this…

Going all the way back to the time I attended Weight Watchers while in elementary school, I have tracked or been concerned about calories.  Other diets had me tracking the macros…protein, carbs, and fats.  Whether measured in grams or percentages, I spent my life trying to follow a lifestyle that required a lot of work.  A lot of conscious effort to record and track everything I put in my mouth.  The guilt and shame that followed if I had too much carbs or not enough protein or too many or too few calories.  It was INSANE!

My life today?  I don’t track calories, fat, carbs, protein, or anything else!  As long as I do not eat any animal products or heavily processed foods, I eat as much as I want, when I want.  If I am hungry, I eat.  I am putting good stuff into my body until I am full and my body is rewarding me. 

I promise you, anyone can live this lifestyle.  It is simple and easy to follow.  Yes, it takes a degree of discipline at the beginning, but you can do it.

I would love to read about your experiences adopting this lifestyle.

Best of health to you!

Stephen