DON’T BE A BAD VEGAN, BE A BADASS FOODIE
Do you eat your greens? I had a roommate in college who was a political vegan. She wore plastic and if you spoke beef to her, she’d paint you red. Nevertheless, she was a bad, terrible, awful vegan. Her idea of veganism was eating a lot of tofu, chips and fake chocolate-dipped strawberries. She was unhealthy and bulgy, but a vegan. I remember thinking, ‘man, she is a bad vegan’. That’s when I decided to become a badass foodie. So here are a few small simple steps to start you on your way to a more conscious way of life! Amazing food can help you have an amazing life.
DO YOUR RESEARCH! THAT MIGHT NOT ACTUALLY BE CHICKEN.
Step one to be a badass foodie: Do your research! No matter what you eat, be it George Forman grilled chicken to legumes, read about it. I worked in the very North of North America, and remember ordering chicken one night at the local restaurant in a tiny town. I’ve never seen chicken like this in my life. Because it was NOT chicken. It was some crazy ass processed food. Maybe it was soy or tofu or I don’t know what.
OVERLY PROCESSED IS CRAP FOR YOUR SYSTEM
You may think tofu is good for you, just because it looks healthy? Wrong. A badass foodie knows anything that is overly processed is crap for your system. Soy overall has a bad rap because it can potentially mess with hormones because the soybean is rich in a form of plant based estrogen. On the other hand, consuming soy in adulthood has been noted to prevent breast cancer; however, this has been unsupported by any research.
Read More:
NOT ALL TOFU IS GOOD TOFU
If you are going to consume tofu, look for something that is not genetically modified. And you will bet your bottom dollar, it’s going to taste different. What it’s going to taste like, is good. Ying Ying Soy Food in Toronto, Canada is a family-owned and operated business which uses a processing technique from more than 2000 years ago. The shape of their tofu is unique to each piece you buy. And it tastes different.
DON’T GO BROKE, DO THE DIRTY DOZEN
Step two: Not everything in your life has to be organic unless you want to go broke. Check out the ‘dirty dozen’! The vegetable or fruit you consume the most, should ideally be organic or locally grown without pesticides. A badass foodie knows to avoid pesticides!
LEARN HOW TO AVOID PESTICIDES
The top-twelve most contaminated foods should also be avoided if they are not organic. Otherwise, you are literally eating pesticide residue. And, hey, if you ate the yellow snow as a child, and you turned out okay, then…don’t worry about it. But if you grew a third nipple, maybe you should minimize the pesticide intake. Most berries are super contaminated and so are the blessed potatoes!
THE CLEAN FIFTEEN
But thick-skinned fruits and veggies are usually okay, as long as you peel the skin off, like mother nature’s chocolate: the avocado. According to research done by the EWG, more than eighty percent of pineapple and papaya did not have pesticides. Avocados make a badass foodie happy, every time.
More:
DRINK YOUR GREENS!
Step three: You don’t need to remove much from your diet. Just ADD more goodness! Whatever you add, make sure it’s amazing food that’s good for your system. For example, greens, like kale, need to be the right greens. If you have a thyroid imbalance, you don’t want to consume an enormous amount of cruciferous vegetables, because this could potentially imbalance your thyroid. With anything, moderation is key.
INVEST IN A GOOD BLENDER
Get a blender or a juicer and start mixing, so you can start drinking! There are tons of books about juicing you can purchase or borrow from your local library. Some blenders like the Vitamix and Blendtec help break down the cell walls of the vegetables helping to release the vitamins and minerals contained within. They can be pricey, but a good blender or juicer is a lifelong investment. Every badass foodie needs a good blender.
YOU CAN BE BETTER WITH AMAZING FOOD
So, if you want to eat amazing food, do your research because there are a lot of good and bad options and choices out there. It all depends on what your particular body needs. Go organic or local and pesticide-free as much as possible. And try drinking your fruits and veggies, because the process of blending helps you access the vitamins and minerals. Good luck in your journey towards wellness!
