Mindful Eating

Scroll down for my favorite vegetarian recipes!

“You are what you eat.” There is profound truth in that famous, old adage but we rarely think about what we eat. Most of us are in a dietary routine. We ate what our parents fed us then cooked the same types of foods as adults and are feeding the very same cuisine to our children. There is comfort and a sense of tradition that comes with eating familiar foods. Furthermore, many of the foods we eat create strong emotional ties to our past and our culture. But have you ever consciously looked at your diet and critically evaluated how it is supporting you?

Consider the following questions:

Am I an appropriate weight with acceptable blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar levels?

Is there variety in the types of foods I regularly eat so that I get all the nutrients my body needs?

Does my diet provide me with enough energy to do the things I want to each day?

Are the foods I eat sustainable; do they make sense for the planet and all its people?

Based on your answers to the above questions, maybe it’s time to make a change. A dietary change doesn’t have to be a huge commitment to something revolutionary. It could be adding a little more of something (like fruits and vegetables) or reducing the amount of something else (like sugar or fats). Check with your doctor to get dietary advice specific to your condition and lifestyle.

One easy way to change your diet is to just add a few new recipes to the weekly rotation. Here are some of my favorite vegetarian or vegan recipes. Bon Appetit!