Whole Plant Foods, Part A
What is a Whole Plant Food Diet?
There’s no denying that public interest in health and nutrition has grown considerably over the last few years. But many are still unsure what makes up a Whole Plant Food (WPF) diet. Are you one of them? Do you feel overwhelmed by all the information on this topic? Well, you certainly aren’t alone.
A WPF diet is a choice to eat less meat, poultry, fish, dairy, and processed foods. It’s not, however, the same as a vegan diet, which is defined only by what it eliminates. A WPF diet is better defined by what it encourages: a large variety of whole foods.
The term “whole” in WPF describes foods that are minimally processed. This includes as many whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes as you want. It also includes, in moderation: nuts, seeds, avocados, olives, natural sweeteners, and certain soy or wheat products that do not contain added fat (e.g., tofu dose not contain added fat).
Heavily processed foods, on the other hand, are not included in a WPF diet. This means avoiding highly refined grain products (e.g., white rice, white flour), foods containing added sugars or artificial sweeteners (e.g., confectioners sugar, high fructose corn syrup), and foods containing added fat. Yes, even olive oil.
That is what a Whole Plant Food diet is, in less than 10 sentences. You need to know little else.
You don’t need a calculator to count calories or carbs. There’s no need to avoid cooked foods. Convenience isn’t your enemy. You’re allowed frozen fruits and vegetables, as well as their canned counterparts (just make sure to find low-sodium options). Blandness is not a prerequisite. You’re encouraged to experiment with as many spices as you’d like.
And finally, contrary to popular belief, a WPF diet won’t break your budget. Many of your trusty staples (think beans, potatoes, brown rice) are among the most affordable foods in the grocery store. This "nutrition lifestyle" doesn’t require specialty items hidden in the health food section. It requires no pails of agave or carts of cashews.
Most people that adopt this way of eating eventually give up the “diet” label, in favor of “lifestyle.” Perhaps that’s because our popular notion of dieting has become so warped and confusing. It implies a struggle, frames each meal as a challenge to overcome. A WPF lifestyle is different. It’s not a short-term punishment charged by guilt, because you gained a few pounds . It’s simply a return to whole foods, rich flavors, and natural health. It's a return to God's original eating plan given to our first parents in the Garden of Eden.
A WPF diet is a choice to eat less meat, poultry, fish, dairy, and processed foods. It’s not, however, the same as a vegan diet, which is defined only by what it eliminates. A WPF diet is better defined by what it encourages: a large variety of whole foods.
The term “whole” in WPF describes foods that are minimally processed. This includes as many whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes as you want. It also includes, in moderation: nuts, seeds, avocados, olives, natural sweeteners, and certain soy or wheat products that do not contain added fat (e.g., tofu dose not contain added fat).
Heavily processed foods, on the other hand, are not included in a WPF diet. This means avoiding highly refined grain products (e.g., white rice, white flour), foods containing added sugars or artificial sweeteners (e.g., confectioners sugar, high fructose corn syrup), and foods containing added fat. Yes, even olive oil.
That is what a Whole Plant Food diet is, in less than 10 sentences. You need to know little else.
You don’t need a calculator to count calories or carbs. There’s no need to avoid cooked foods. Convenience isn’t your enemy. You’re allowed frozen fruits and vegetables, as well as their canned counterparts (just make sure to find low-sodium options). Blandness is not a prerequisite. You’re encouraged to experiment with as many spices as you’d like.
And finally, contrary to popular belief, a WPF diet won’t break your budget. Many of your trusty staples (think beans, potatoes, brown rice) are among the most affordable foods in the grocery store. This "nutrition lifestyle" doesn’t require specialty items hidden in the health food section. It requires no pails of agave or carts of cashews.
Most people that adopt this way of eating eventually give up the “diet” label, in favor of “lifestyle.” Perhaps that’s because our popular notion of dieting has become so warped and confusing. It implies a struggle, frames each meal as a challenge to overcome. A WPF lifestyle is different. It’s not a short-term punishment charged by guilt, because you gained a few pounds . It’s simply a return to whole foods, rich flavors, and natural health. It's a return to God's original eating plan given to our first parents in the Garden of Eden.
And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. - Genesis 1:29
Go for Green, Use Caution with Orange, and Stay Away from Red
