What’s Your Destination?

optimal health

The Plant-Based Lifestyle

Photo by PNW Production @ Pexels.com

By donna green goodman

I’m

not sure where you’d like to be with your health. When you think of it, though, where do you see yourself? Less weight, more weight, pregnant, free of hot flashes, no more diabetes or heart disease, improved mobility, free of anxiety or depression, in meaningful relationships? What does that space look like to you?

Some of the best ways to get to better health lie in the power of your own choices. The field of Lifestyle Medicine is proving more and more every day that even if you’ve not quite landed where you want to be, you can definitely “reroute/redirect” yourself and arrive safely at your destination.

Here are some things to remember on your journey to better health:

It’s a journey.

Life’s experiences can adjust your arrival time—age, gender, family, job or lack of, friendships, epidemics, and the list goes on. Accepting where you are, though, can aid in making the choices you need to. Don’t get discouraged. Sometimes you may need to pull over or make a U-turn, but you will get there.

Eat good, healthy food.

That means getting the best food that you can afford. Because all of our living conditions are different, sometimes it can be more challenging to access healthy food. Look carefully at the resources around you and make them work. Compare your regular grocery stores, and always consider shopping their brands; they’re a lot cheaper. Take a look at discount stores. I’m amazed at the deals I find, even in Dollar Stores, that fit the bill for healthy food. Shop online. Always check out local growers/farmers. Their foods are the best, especially when in season. And think about planting some of your own food, even if it’s in a pot in the kitchen window.

Always, eat a good breakfast (unless you’re fasting).

It’s the best way to supply fuel for the start of the day’s journey. Don’t depend on high-calorie, low-nutrient dense foods. Sticking to a variety of whole plant foods provides the fuel you need. Then when you’re about halfway through the day, you can fuel up again. And if weight loss is your goal, skipping that evening meal, drinking some lemon water and taking a walk will certainly help to keep you on course.

Avoid stimulants like alcohol, sugar and caffeine.

So many of us use these items to “get us there faster.” In actuality though, it’s the wrong fuel and it will end up short circuiting some body systems. Stick to water instead of alcohol and sugary drinks; choose herb teas or carob products instead of coffees, black or green teas, sodas, chocolate, and other energy drinks. Your body was designed to go for the long haul if you give it what it needs.

Finally, put a plan together for your meals.

Spring and summer are always a good time because produce is in abundance and usually cheaper, and the flavors are absolutely amazing when in season. See what you and your family really like and include those things in your plan—kind of how you pack goodies for the drive when you are traveling by car.

God’s greatest wish for us is that we prosper and be in good health. That’s His destination for us, and He is our biggest cheerleader! If you need some of His promises to help you get there, take a look at these: Luke 1:45, Exodus 15:26, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Philippians 3:13,14; Philippians 4:13, Psalm 66:12.

Here are a few recipes to help you on your way:

Tropical Overnight Oats

cup peach/mango yogurt

cup old-fashioned rolled oats

tablespoon each dried or fresh mango dices, dried or fresh pineapple dices, slivered almonds

cup coconut milk

•

Dash salt, cardamom, Jamaican allspice or cinnamon

•

Coconut flakes for topping

Mix or layer the ingredients into your desired container. Refrigerate. Serve in the morning. Makes one serving.

Peach Crisp

Topping

tablespoons sweetener

tablespoons canola oil

⅓

cup water

teaspoon salt

1½

teaspoon coriander, optional

teaspoon vanilla

cup whole grain flour

cups quick or rolled oats

•

Combine wet and dry ingredients separately then mix together.

close up of Peach Crisp with a piece gone

Fruit Mixture

cups sliced peaches – fresh, frozen or canned, drained

cup juice from drained fruit

cup your choice chopped dried fruit

tablespoon cornstarch

tablespoons sweetener

Make topping and set aside. Dissolve cornstarch and sweetener into fruit juice. Mix with sliced fruit and place in large casserole dish. Top with oat topping. Bake at 350° for about 45 minutes. Good hot or cold. Experiment with sweeteners like honey, concentrated fruit juice, date sugar, evaporated cane juice crystals, and Sucanat. This variation uses honey. Also try flavorings like almond and ginger. Serves 10-12.

9-Layer Vegan Salad

•

Your favorite lettuce, pulled apart into bite size pieces or shredded

•

Celery, diced

•

Frozen green peas, thawed, drained, uncooked

can water chestnuts, diced

•

Vegan mayonnaise

•

Vegan cheddar cheese, shredded

•

Tofu—water packed, firm—broken or chopped into 1/2 inch pieces seasoned with a little McKay’s Chicken Style or Better Than Bouillon, Black Salt, Turmeric

•

Green olives with pimento, diced

•

Tomatoes, diced and drained (add as final layer just before serving).

Layer all ingredients into a bowl or individual serving bowls/glasses in the order above, covering each layer completely. Add tomatoes as the final layer, just before serving. Amount of ingredients you need is determined by the size container you use or the number of people you will serve.

Donna Green-Goodman, MPH writes from Huntsville, Alabama where she and her husband operate Lifestyle Therapeutix, A Lifestyle For Better Health Center www.lifestyletherapeutix.com. She is a health educator who is a 25-year breast cancer survivor. She’s been a college professor and a national ambassador for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Circle of Promise Campaign. She is author of Somethin’ to Shout About!, Cookin’ Up Good Health, Still Cookin’ Up Good Health, and executive producer of her own cooking show, Cookin’ Up Good Health!, which can be found on Donna’s YouTube Cooking Channel.

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