You are what you eat (yes, you are!)

After listening to a recent Vegan Freak Radio podcast (#66 The Vegan Health Show) and its interview with vegan nutritionist Vesanto Melina, I am all set to take my diet to the next level. She is coauthor of Becoming Vegan, which has been on my bookshelf for several years, and I've just never read it. Why, I have no idea. I'm sure there is great advice in there that would probably help me better plan and execute this very rewarding lifestyle that I've chosen. It ain't deprivation, believe me, but I suspect that it could be even more delicious and satisfying! Hard to imagine it getting any better, really, but if it can, I want to be in on it.

Chances are good that my eating habits are pretty shoddy, even though I'm vegan and try to eat a variety of foods. A vegan lifestyle is the healthiest there is, but like any nutrition plan, a person has to pay attention to what's going into her mouth and how often. Just having whole wheat foods and legumes in the house doesn't do jack if you're not eating them.

So with summer supposedly coming (obligatory whine about upstate NY's horrid weather--winter into April this year for the love of doG), I've decided to go partly raw. According to the Melina, here is a quick overview of what's necessary to go completely raw*:

>> 12 cups of vegetables per day, half of these (6 cups) should be greens (broccoli, kale)
>> 5 pieces of fruit
>> 1 cup of nuts and seeds
>> A source of omega 3 fatty acids (e.g., fresh walnuts)
>> A source of vitamin B12 (got that covered with vegan vitamin supplements)

*Note that this plan doesn't include a source of Vitamin D, so sunlight or supplementation is required (and care will be needed during winter in in northeastern climates).

According to Melino, going partly raw is very healthy for people, and that would be eating mostly raw according to the above plan and adding legumes and fortified foods (e.g., soymilk or ricemilk). I'm picturing delicious salads with organic chickpeas, walnuts, sunflower seeds, and other goodies, plus a salad dressing made with flax oil to really cover the bases on the omega 3s without adding too much fat (there's a great recipe in Becoming Vegan). And I'll keep some of my favorite cooked recipes in the mix, too, but with a nutrition makeover (whole wheat pasta, low-fat baking).

Farmer's market, here I come! I'm looking forward to putting better meals together and kicking the excess sugar, white flour, and other nutritional dead wood that were discussed in the podcast (and that have definitely been part of what I eat).

Vegan diets are humane and healthy. There's no better way to go, so get going!

Other helpful links:

vegan food pyramid
VeganLife multivitamin