Some of the questions that I see most often on social media sites regarding the WFPB lifestyle are “how do I start?” and “what shall I eat?”
The defining principles of whole food plant-based eating are these: no meat, eggs, or dairy; as little oil as possible; and eating whole unprocessed food as much of the time as possible.
That said, we all lead different lives. I frequently work 12-hour shifts, seven days in a row – this does not lend itself to preparing complex dinners each night. Some people are good at prepping meals days in advance – that is not me. I get up at 0430 on the days I work and decide what I will have for lunch that day and I prepare it before heading off to work. My husband and son do not eat a whole food plant-based diet; therefore, I prepare different meals for them, which may not be doable for others.
In my opinion, the overarching goal of the WFPB lifestyle is improving your health. There is an entire spectrum upon which you can do this, and you should not feel judged or shamed by others because you are not as strict as others in your adherence to the basic principles. Start small, take baby steps, and do what you can.
What shall I eat? This is very subjective. The focus should be on fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, nuts, seeds, and the like. Food preferences are very subjective. I personally eat a lot of east Asian and Caribbean type foods. I also eat fresh tropical fruit daily, which is easier because I live in Florida. Everyone must discover how they can apply the principles of the whole food plant-based lifestyle to themselves. In other words – You Do You. In order to find recipes that suit your individual tastes, I would encourage you to search out websites like:
- https://www.forksoverknives.com/
- https://plantstrong.com/plant-strong-recipes
- https://www.veganricha.com/
- https://www.bonappetit.com/gallery/vegan-dinner-recipes-that-we-just-love
I would also suggest looking on Pinterest and Instagram; there are also Facebook groups dedicated to the WFPB lifestyle which feature recipes. Another source I utilize is Kindle Unlimited which allows you to read books within their Kindle Unlimited library for as long as you want and trade them out if you are finished with them or do not find them useful. I have been able to find many Whole Food Plant Based recipe books on Kindle Unlimited and many additional Vegan which I was able to adapt to the WFPB principles. These are just a few suggestions to help you get started.
