Eating healthy. Can this be done without leaving you feeling at least somewhat deprived?
Absolutely, positively YES!!!!!!!!
I am living proof. After years of baby steps toward healthier eating, I finally took a huge leap 2 ½ years ago. I went vegan (that means I don’t eat animals or animal products). I also don’t eat refined sugars, flours, etc. – basically I avoid all the crap fake foods that, at best, do us no good, and, at worst, are poison to our bodies. I eat real, plant-based foods, and think about my health with every food choice.
Sounds pretty extreme, huh? Well, here I am at my ideal weight, feeling stronger and healthier than I ever have in my life. Seriously, if this 45 year old Rachel met up with Rachel from 20 years ago, this older version could soooooo kick the youngster’s ass at anything. She would outrun her, out-fun her, outplay her in a game of soccer, out-hike her, out-muscle her, and outlast her in every way. This healthier me also feels more energetic, sleeps better, is so much happier, and feels cleaner. By that I mean, I feel like my insides aren’t all gunked up.
This healthy eating thing I do was never meant to be some DIET – my blood curdles at the very word. I hate diets. To me the word conjures up images of some short-term, out-of-balance, change to your “normal” eating. A temporary, unnatural regimen where you feel deprived the whole time and obsess about all the foods you aren’t allowed to eat. ”Diet” just makes me think of a program people do to reach some goal (a pant size or a number on the scale). Once they get there, they intend to go back to “normal” eating, convincing themselves they’ll be a bit more controlled the next time around. Research has shown that somewhere around 95% of dieters gain all the weight back within 3 years.
Diets, in that sense, are utter bullshit!!! And I have resolved to live in a Bullshit-Free Zone. Eat for health, forever. Exercise and stay active for your whole life. Now that’s the real stuff, or ”freal,” as I like to say. Don’t even waste your time on bullshit diets or short-term programs. They just make you feel deprived. And that just makes you pissed off. Then what do you do? You give up, fail, or just rebel.
Make healthy changes to your life because they’re the best way to live. Change what is “normal” for you, forever. Temporary fixes are a waste of your time. Make a life-change instead.
I’ll tell you right now, my healthy eating choices never leave me feeling deprived! NEVER! As in, not once and not ever. First of all, there’s nothing I can’t eat. My mind doesn’t even think like that. It’s not like there are these big RULES out there for me, and the Vegan Health-Nut Patrol is going to come after me if transgress.
I can eat whatever I want. I just choose not to eat crap-fake-foods or animals, because I want a healthier life (and because I love animals). I haven’t had fast food in years and don’t miss it at all. In fact, I honestly feel sorry for people who eat that stuff. I don’t feel left out by not eating processed foods, rotting animal flesh, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, white flours, white rice, dairy, or even cheese.
I am actually more excited about my food choices now than I ever was before. Back in the old days, I pretty much ate the same old stuff all the time. Now I really taste my foods (real foods grown right out of the earth), try new recipes and flavors, and . . . get this, I actually love cooking now!!
Hazelnut Chocolate Cream Pie - a raw dessert I made on the weekend that is completely healthy and will blow your socks off.
The recipe is in Cafe Gratitude's "I Am Grateful" cookbook. Mmmmmm.
I haven’t lost my taste buds, I’ve awakened them. I eat food that is so yummy and flavorful. And . . . yes, I even eat desserts. In fact, I eat a dessert every single day. I just make my own, do healthy versions, and I don’t eat too much of any of it. I’ve been living this way for years, and here I am – loving it, weighing in at my idea weight, feeling fitter than I ever have, and feeling not at all DEPRIVED.
Here’s a great recipe for the cookies I’m enjoying this week. Now you can see for yourself that eating healthy can be really yummy, and never has to leave you feeling deprived.
Cocoa Cookies
Ingredients:
1 ½ C. Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
¼ cup Rolled Oats
¼ cups Flax Meal
½ tsp. Baking Soda (aluminum-free)
½ tsp. Baking Powder (aluminum-free)
½ tsp. Sea Salt
5 Tbs. Smart Balance Buttery Spread Soy-Free
7 Tbs. Organic Unsweetened Cocoa
1 C. Agave Nectar
1/3 Yogurt (plain or vanilla made from coconut milk)
1 tsp. Vanilla
¼ – ½ C. Organic Cacao Nibs or Sunspire Grain Sweetened Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips, Vegan Carob Chips(optional)
Nuts, chopped – hazelnuts, almonds (optional)
Directions
Preheat oven to 325º.
Combine flour, oats, flax meal, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In saucepan, melt margarine alternative over medium heat. When melted remove from heat. Add cocoa, agave nectar, vanilla, and yogurt – stir well. Add this mixture to the flour mixture, and stir. Add chocolate chips and nuts and stir. Drop tablespoon sized portions onto cookie sheets. I line mine with silicone mats. Otherwise, coat cookie sheet with non-stick spray.
Bake for 10-14 minutes, just until cookies are set.
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