I have been interested in a Whole Food Plant Based (WFPB) eating pattern for the past few years. It is a term coined by Dr. T. Collin Campbell, author of The China Stud, Whole, and others. The animal rights aspect of eliminating animals from my diet has lingered in the back of my mind for years, and my first introduction to the concept that eating a plant-based diet is particularly beneficial for health was the Forks Over Knives Documentary, which is also largely based on The China Study. I also read Rich Roll’s book Finding Ultra and Scott Jurek’s Eat and Run. Both were extremely compelling cases for eating an exclusively plant-based diet, but I did not fully take the plunge. More recently, a friend gave me the book How Not to Die by Dr. Michael Gregor, and the information in that book set off my deeper interest. Every bit of information plants and waters seeds of interest. I have read so many books on the topic and love them all!

Once ignited, I could not contain my enthusiasm and talked about WFPB eating with anyone who would listen. I probably still do, but I am a bit more discerning at this point for fear of annoying or boring people directly out of interest.

When proselytizing about eating a WFPB diet, as one tends to do when feeling passionate about something, my cousin became interested and set off on her own journey along with her young family. I do not recommend proselytizing, but I am only human and succumbed to the urge. I was happy to have sparked her interest because eating a WFPB diet is excellent for overall health. Also, selfishly, getting other people on board broadens my options at gatherings for delicious plant-based food.

But I started to worry that my overzealous sharing of the information I’d gathered went a bit too far because, at one point, she expressed concern about veering from the path and being found out by the “WFPB police.” I reassured her that there is no such enforcement agency, and I was especially in no position to criticize anyone for eating a less-than-perfect WFPB diet. I, too, fed my kids Mac n’ cheese occasionally (though less than before). I, too, ate some of the most heinously processed foods on the planet every now and then.

Eating a perfect diet, following food rules, and making sure our kids only eat the “cleanest” foods sprung from the Earth are not ideals that I am promoting. We are all doing our best with the information and resources, including time, that we have. Perfect is the enemy of good. I felt terrible for scaring my cousin into an anxious state about what to feed her family, and I hope to avoid that in the future. That said, I still love to talk about eating plant-based food with willing participants, including my cousin.

Have you fallen in love with WFPB food and spread to word to your loved ones?

*As always, this website and blog information is not medical advice. Please consult your medical professional if you are changing your health behaviors, including starting a new diet or exercise program.