Upcoming small-group hands-on plant-based cooking classes in Chapel Hill, NC More details here.
- November 16 Fall Feast
- December 7 Best Brunch Ever
- January 18 Spanish-style Tapas
- February 15 Afternoon Tea, British Style
- March 15 Popular Japanese Foods
- April 19 Southern Comfort Foods
- May 17 Mediterranean Picnic
- June 21 Thai Street Foods
What is the whole foods, plant-based way of eating?
It’s a way of eating that emphasizes plants, not animals, as close to the original plant as possible. Very little oil or processing is included. Meat, dairy, and eggs are excluded. What’s left? Thousands of plants, including legumes, nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, and grains.
Why “everyday”?
Eating this way needs to be easy, habitual, and daily. It’s not special or fancy, and once you’ve committed to it, it will be a natural everyday aspect of who you are.
Why go plant-based?
Overwhelming scientific, evidence-based research has shown that eating plant-based can prevent, slow, and reverse heat disease, cancer, diabetes, and obesity. Kaiser Permanente, the largest HMO in California, prescribes plant-based diets. Years of Adventist Health Studies conclude significantly lower cancer rates among vegetarians. Blue Zones–areas of the world where people have long healthy lives–are predominantly plant-based.
A plant-based diet is a necessary element of veganism, an ethical practice that avoids the exploitation of animals. Veganism is motivated by a variety of reasons, including personal health, animal rights, environmentalism, and ethics. I have been vegetarian since 1991, gradually transitioning to fully vegan.
What are the challenges?
Diet is cultural. Cultural change is hard. You will have so many questions!
What can I eat? How do I get enough protein? My partner won’t go along with this, argh. What about holidays? So much chopping! What can I put in my coffee? What if I’m in a hurry and need convenience food? I’m on a budget. My kids won’t give up burgers/pizza/mac & cheese. Most restaurant menus have nothing I can eat. My relatives will tease me. What about supplements? I’m addicted to cheese! It’s all too hard.
But plant-based foods can be flavorful, delicious, and satisfying. Whether you make the change gradually or go cold-turkey, your body will thank you.
These challenging questions have answers.
If you live in the Chapel Hill NC area, you are welcome to join one of my themed monthly cooking classes. We cook together then sit down to share the dishes. You’ll be introduced to some new ingredients and cooking techniques, perhaps, and learn how easy it is to “plant-ify” delicious recipes.
My Food for Life classes will support your commitment to a healthful diet with resources, information, cooking demos, handouts, and support.
My everyday recipes can be made in 30 minutes or less.
I cook live on Facebook and YouTube, and videos are archived on those channels. Nearly every recipe is linked to a demonstration video on my Facebook page.