What we eat, why we do it and how we do it
What we eat
We eat only plant based whole food.
Our prime foods are -
This means we do not eat anything with animal origin, including red meat, white meat, fish, milk, cheese, yoghurt, any processed foods including all oils, sugars, white bread and other foods heavily loaded with white flour; this list seems to include anything that is packaged or heavily advertised. We also avoid foods that carry heavy loads of oil, such as nuts and avocados. Knowing that a well-balanced plant based whole food diet gives our bodies’ cells the correct material with which they can build and maintain a healthy body, we also reject the need for “supplements”.
Our prime foods are -
- Starchy fresh vegetables, especially potatoes, carrots and kumara.
- Fresh green vegetables of all descriptions,
- Whole seeds, in particular whole oats (porridge), whole wheat (bread) and brown rice,
- Legumes and beans dried and fresh,
- Fresh fruits, both savoury (tomatoes, pumpkin) and sweet fruits
- Mushrooms, herbs and condiments
- Water, wines, minimal coffee and tea.
This means we do not eat anything with animal origin, including red meat, white meat, fish, milk, cheese, yoghurt, any processed foods including all oils, sugars, white bread and other foods heavily loaded with white flour; this list seems to include anything that is packaged or heavily advertised. We also avoid foods that carry heavy loads of oil, such as nuts and avocados. Knowing that a well-balanced plant based whole food diet gives our bodies’ cells the correct material with which they can build and maintain a healthy body, we also reject the need for “supplements”.
Why we do it.
We want to live, with minimal medicinal assistance, for a long time, and die of old age. This means we choose to avoid poor nutrition and the illnesses besetting the western world, most of which appear to be caused by poor vascular health. Diseases such as Cancers, (Colon, Lung, Breast, Stomach, Liver), Leukaemia, Diabetes, Coronary and Vascular diseases, to name a few, are not the worries of those who live in countries where the western diet is uncommon, nor do they occur amongst those who follow a plant based whole food diet.
Our own remarkable leap in health and wellness since embarking on this way of life and the writings of highly respectable researchers and doctors give us confidence that we are on the right track. We also have hugely reduced our carbon footprint.
The results in avoiding and curing so many chronic illnesses achieved by those who have researched the value of a plant based whole food way of life are nothing short of miraculous in comparison to the achievements of western medicine.
Dr Colin T. Campbell spent years leading the largest study of diet and disease in world history. He has been at the forefront of nutrition research for more than 40 years, has more than seventy grant-years of peer-reviewed research funding, has authored more than 300 research papers and co-author of the bestselling book, ‘The China Study: Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-term Health’, the contents of which remain unchallenged. His trial work and epidemiology shows us not only that so much of what we previously believed is untrue; his experience with food and pharmaceutical lobbies and helps explain why we believed those untruths. Amongst his unchallenged statements is “Casein is the most relevant chemical carcinogen ever identified” and casein resides in every milk product!
Dr Caldwell Esselstyn in his book ‘Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease’ shows us how patients with terminal heart conditions can, after their desperate prognosis from conventional medical specialists, maintain for decades an excellent life style, by living the vegan way.
Dr John McDougall, a practicing doctor for over 40 years, puts out the same message as the two researches above; he is passionate about the subject of good health through diet, having witnessed the results of his nutritional treatment of his thousands of patients. His latest publication 'The Starch Solution' is essential reading for us all; his premise difficult to reject, his conclusions undeniable and his advice incontestable.
Our own remarkable leap in health and wellness since embarking on this way of life and the writings of highly respectable researchers and doctors give us confidence that we are on the right track. We also have hugely reduced our carbon footprint.
The results in avoiding and curing so many chronic illnesses achieved by those who have researched the value of a plant based whole food way of life are nothing short of miraculous in comparison to the achievements of western medicine.
Dr Colin T. Campbell spent years leading the largest study of diet and disease in world history. He has been at the forefront of nutrition research for more than 40 years, has more than seventy grant-years of peer-reviewed research funding, has authored more than 300 research papers and co-author of the bestselling book, ‘The China Study: Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-term Health’, the contents of which remain unchallenged. His trial work and epidemiology shows us not only that so much of what we previously believed is untrue; his experience with food and pharmaceutical lobbies and helps explain why we believed those untruths. Amongst his unchallenged statements is “Casein is the most relevant chemical carcinogen ever identified” and casein resides in every milk product!
Dr Caldwell Esselstyn in his book ‘Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease’ shows us how patients with terminal heart conditions can, after their desperate prognosis from conventional medical specialists, maintain for decades an excellent life style, by living the vegan way.
Dr John McDougall, a practicing doctor for over 40 years, puts out the same message as the two researches above; he is passionate about the subject of good health through diet, having witnessed the results of his nutritional treatment of his thousands of patients. His latest publication 'The Starch Solution' is essential reading for us all; his premise difficult to reject, his conclusions undeniable and his advice incontestable.
How we do it.
First we clear from the house any food which does not fit into our list of acceptable-to-eat. Next we bring in to the kitchen a good selection of grains, seeds and legumes which will enhance our cooking. We then buy in only fresh vegetables and fruit, simply avoiding 80% of the supermarket aisles. We have an animal and oil free kitchen.
We eat copiously and whenever we are hungry; there is no purpose in being hungry and very little cost in eating plant based whole food.
Each meal we cook according to the simple rules. Now we are well practiced, we find it easy to create a succulent meal without recourse to meat and dairy. We remember that it was difficult at the start; from childhood we have seen meat, as the centrepiece of a meal, surrounded by a few vegetables; we had to get over this mind-set using the abundance of vegan recipes available. After a few months the pangs for meat and milk just faded away. Our magical loss of weight and our wonderful health keep us well focussed
Eating out, with friends, or at restaurants, is more difficult. Well meaning (or insecure) friends can make us feel uncomfortable, but with perseverance they embrace our way of life or come to accept. Restaurants are quickly learning the value of serving plant based whole food dishes and, in most cases, only have to be asked. We have a small printed card outlining what we would like to eat, which makes everyone more relaxed.
Because there is a sense of being one in a crowd, we are doing what we can to build a loose community of like-minded people. Belonging to such a group builds our confidence and enhances our pleasure of enjoying this way of life.
We eat copiously and whenever we are hungry; there is no purpose in being hungry and very little cost in eating plant based whole food.
Each meal we cook according to the simple rules. Now we are well practiced, we find it easy to create a succulent meal without recourse to meat and dairy. We remember that it was difficult at the start; from childhood we have seen meat, as the centrepiece of a meal, surrounded by a few vegetables; we had to get over this mind-set using the abundance of vegan recipes available. After a few months the pangs for meat and milk just faded away. Our magical loss of weight and our wonderful health keep us well focussed
Eating out, with friends, or at restaurants, is more difficult. Well meaning (or insecure) friends can make us feel uncomfortable, but with perseverance they embrace our way of life or come to accept. Restaurants are quickly learning the value of serving plant based whole food dishes and, in most cases, only have to be asked. We have a small printed card outlining what we would like to eat, which makes everyone more relaxed.
Because there is a sense of being one in a crowd, we are doing what we can to build a loose community of like-minded people. Belonging to such a group builds our confidence and enhances our pleasure of enjoying this way of life.
