Member-only story
Going Plant-based: A Personal Decision
Nobody wants to hear what they should or should not do, especially when it comes to their diet.
Eating is not only necessary to nourish our bodies, it is also a social thing. Sitting around a table is historically how one welcomes someone into their home. It is a sign of identity for many cultures.
It is hard for people to change how they eat because it is so ingrained in them. If you grew up eating meat and potatoes you will probably eat them as an adult. If you grew up with baked goods in your home you will likely always have a taste for them. Likewise, if you grew up in a home concerned with eating healthy meals you will likely strive to do the same as an adult.
Some people have a love-hate relationship with food. They love the foods that are bad for them and they hate the foods that are good for them. There are scientific reasons for this (involving chemical rewards in our bodies) but most of us are somewhere in the middle of those extremes. We like to eat more than we like to exercise and we want to lose weight as evidenced by the amount of money we as a society spend on weight loss programs!
In January of 2020, my husband was recovering from a total knee surgery. He was frustrated by his extra weight and was sure it was affecting his recovery. Because of the pain medications he was taking he was…
