Plant Based [First] Diet - A Meat Eater's Journey

I used to think that people that did not eat meat were missing something. My family could/would not switch to a Plant Based diet. Well, fast-forward to Teresa and our daughter watching the documentary Game Changers and being so impressed they changed their diet, but they made a mistake. They not only believed that I could not stop eating meat, but told me I could not stop eating meat. Later, I watched Game Changers, but I did not stop there. I also watched What the Health and the series Rotten (pay special attention to Cod is Dead) and that is when I looked at my diet a little different.

A guy that would cook a steak in the middle of the winter on the grill because, well, it’s steak, stopped eating meat, seafood, and dairy (mostly - more about this later). The simple part was most of this happened around Thanksgiving, and after watching many documentaries subconsciously, I kind of just did not want to eat meat or seafood. But all wasn’t good. What about going out to eat, my three favorite foods (steaks, burgers, and Philly cheesesteaks), and breakfast?

Restaurants for the Plant Based Lifestyle

Fortunately, with products Impossible Foods, Beyond Meat - Go Beyond®, and more becoming more mainstream dining out options are improving. Plant-based options are popping up in more and more eateries, but to be fair, the options have been right under our noses for a while.

Mexican restaurants are a regular stop when dining out because most meals are still delicious without meat. From burritos to other plated dishes, the options in Mexican restaurants satisfy our need to take a break from cooking and our stomachs. There is one small caveat, the cheese. Here is where I explain the fact that I am not a Vegan, but I call my diet _Plant Based First _because there are a few times (like when dining out) I run into cheese and I eat it. If you are just starting your plant-based first diet and enjoy eating out get to know your local Mexican restaurants.

Locally, for us, the number of vegan restaurants being opened seems to grow every month, but the issue is finding them. We have one such gold mine in our town Vegan Community Kitchen and I can’t tell you how much we love this restaurant, but I will say this it is AMAZING. Their Kitchen Burger _and _Philly Cheesesteak Yeero - mmmmm. Search Google in wherever you live, and I am sure that you will find these gems. They are there.

Plant Based Cooking at Home

To be fair, I enjoy cooking and not eating meat gave me another reason to be in the kitchen. I get to buy kitchen “toys”, try out new recipes, and explore new tastes. Yeah, I know that sounds cliche, but it’s true. And like any other creative endeavor when you run out of ideas or have no inspiration, it’s not as much fun.

Enter YouTube and the talented chefs that share their creations, and early on I leaned on their experience. Here are a few YouTubers I follow that you may enjoy:

• Veggie Rose
• Wicked Foods
• Veggie Soul Food
• Fit Men Cook
• Mary's Test Kitchen
• Avant-Garde Vegan
• Sauce Stache Youtube Channel

Okay, we have a television in our kitchen, so it is nothing to watch a full-screen example of the recipe while cooking. But the point I want to make is that there are many resources available to see concepts to result. Although interactivity is super fun, reading is fundamental.

Cookbooks are where it’s at. When looking for the right recipes for meals, nothing beats a cookbook IMO. You start with the category i.e. Plant Based and then subcategory e.g. Soul Food and end up with a collection of choices. Brilliant!

Here are a few of the cookbooks that I enjoy that have offered inspiration along the way:

• Thug Kitchen: The Official Cookbook: Eat Like You Give a F*ck …
• Plant Based Diet for Beginners
• The Vegan System — VEGGIE SOUL FOOD

Almost a year and a half later, I have not eaten meat. I lost the last troubling ten pounds I was struggling with; I have more energy and keep getting points with my wife for doing more cooking. If you have been thinking about changing to a Plant Based diet, I would encourage you to try it.

---

---