A new way of life; a whole food, plant-based diet

Rikki Gross — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 04:54:39 GMT

My entire life (up until 9 weeks ago) I thought I ate a reasonably healthy diet. Shortly after delivering my beautiful 2nd baby, I watched a documentary titled, What the Health (2017). I discovered the impact a whole food, plant-based diet can have on the Earth and my health. I wanted to know more and so did my husband. We furthered our research both independently and together, watched more documentaries, read peer-reviewed research papers and listened to nutritional science lectures online. We were convinced and have since been eating a whole food, plant-based diet, not only because of the health risks of an animal based diet, but because of the global impact animal agriculture has on carbon emissions (Hyner et al. 2015), water and land consumption (Mekonen et al. 2012), ocean dead zones (NOAA, 2014), species loss (Ceballos et al. 2010), animal suffering (Tochukwu et al. 2013), antibiotic resistance (Gilchrist et al. 2007) and more.

After learning all I have about this subject, I tested myself and bought a tub of full cream ice-cream, food I’ve loved. I had a spoonful and instantly my body felt awful. I was disgusted and gave the tub to a neighbour. From this point on, I knew that this lifestyle choice wasn’t just some fad but something much greater, healthier and kinder.

Yes, I can gain all the nutrients and vitamins my body needs to sustain a healthy and guilt free life. Yes, we are eating delicious food and loving our newfound creativity in the kitchen. Yes, I monitor what my children consume like all parents should. Yes, they are to be raised on a whole food, plant-based diet and mindset. I feel guilty as a mother for not doing more when researching nutrition with my first born child. My hope now is to have significantly reduced our children’s health risks and increase their lifespan.

Yes, I find it uncomfortable when people who I have told about this new change in our lives have been confronted by the idea, scoffing or asking ridiculous questions. For a few weeks, I didn’t really know how to respond. Part of me was angry for being judged for wanting to live healthily, sustainably and cruelty free…. and another part was just upset. Not long ago, before I was awake, I may have responded similarly. Being confronted with judgement is one of the motivators behind this post, in addition to raising awareness of the issues concerning an animal based diet. It is still early days, so I plan to write an update in 6 months to share my knowledge and experience.

I do not proclaim to be a pure vegan, we are still learning how to avoid animal products and remain practical. However, my family and I are incorporating more of a whole food, plant-based diet into our lifestyle and I am damn proud of it.

Killing animals for our consumption is a choice and is unnecessary.

Scholarly References:

G. Ceballos, A. Garcia, P. R. Ehrlich, The sixth extinction crisis: Loss of animal populations and species. J. Cosmology 8, 1821–1831 (2010).

Gilchrist, M. J., Greko, C., Wallinga, D. B., Beran, G. W., Riley, D. G., & Thorne, P. S. (2007). The Potential Role of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations in Infectious Disease Epidemics and Antibiotic Resistance. Environmental Health Perspectives, 115(2), 313–316. http://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.8837

Hyner, Christopher. “A Leading Cause of Everything: One Industry That Is Destroying Our Planet and Our Ability to Thrive on It”. Georgetown Environmental Law Review. October 23, 2015.

Mekonnen, Mesfin M. & Hoekstra, Arjen Y. “A Global Assessment of the Water Footprint of Farm Animal Products”. Ecosystems (2012) 15: 401–415

“NOAA-, EPA-supported scientists find average but large Gulf dead zone”. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. August 4, 2014

Tochukwu, Mogbo & Oduah, F & Nwankwo, O. (2013). Animal Cruelty: A Review. 3.

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A new way of life; a whole food, plant-based diet