Forks Over Knives

Forks Over Knives is a 2011 documentary film that explores the claim that replacing a diet high in animal protein (meat, dairy, etc) and processed foods (which happens to be the standard American diet these days), with a diet high in plant foods, can prevent, and in many cases reverse the effects of many of the diseases that plague our society.   

My journey with food was already over a year in the works when I watched this movie.  I was in the middle of a 30 day Unprocessed eating challenge.  If I had to name the top three influences in my drastic change in diet, this would be on the list!  It is a must see.  I think I sat half of the movie with my eyes wide and my mouth open, as I witnessed the healing power of plant foods, and conversely, the dangers (cancer, obesity, diabetes, etc) associated with diets high in animal protein and processed foods.

At the time that I watched this, I had really increased my daily intake of fruit, vegetables, whole grains and nuts.  I was not eating any refined sugar.  And I was eating lean protein (chicken breast, shrimp, salmon, etc.).  However, the funniest thing happened.  As I had increased my intake of produce, I started losing my taste for meat.  I didn't see that coming in a million years!  It still makes me laugh, because I did not choose it.  Meatless chose me!  And trust me, I used to love a juicy piece of grilled chicken, just like the next person.  The timing of me losing my taste for meat, coincided with watching Forks Over Knives.  I don't know if it was that my heart and mind were in a place that was ready to see what this documentary had to say, or that it would have changed my life anyway.  But it did.  It changed my life, my perspective on dairy and meat, and it changed how I feed my family. 

I am so fortunate in that I have a husband that has never complained once, in the 13 years we've been married, about what I have served (or not served, back in the day when I hated cooking!) to eat.  I have been feeding him less and less meat and in recent weeks almost none.  He either doesn't notice, doesn't complain, or secretly likes it.  I think it is the latter.  But I know, that many of our husbands are of the "meat & potatoes" mindset.  I get that!  My dad is one of those.  For those of you in that category, Meatless Monday is a great place to start!  Another great place to start is by choosing to aggressively serve more fruits and vegetables at each meal.  Decreasing your animal protein intake doesn't have to be complicated.   

As I have plunged heavy into the plant world for food, my eyes have been opened wide at a whole new world of food!  The produce world is filled with an abundance of delicacies.  Did you know, for example, that you can make a delectable Shepherd's Pie, a classic meat based dish, out of vegetables?  And Lasagna, another fairly standard meat dish, well, there are a million delicious vegetable based varieties!  The more produce you eat, the more you will want to eat.  Meatless does not have to mean boring!  Just think, this is how our diets began in the Garden of Eden, when the world was perfect and sinless.  God gave the plant food world to Adam and Eve, to nourish and sustain them.  And he called them 'good'!   

So run, don't walk, and rent the movie!  You can rent it on Amazon for 7 days for $3.99.  I know Forks Over Knives was a life changer for LeAnne also, even before it was for me,  and I am sure she will share her perspective on it at another time.  You can also soon look forward to her & I sharing our food journeys and how we arrived here.  I think you will see that the journey isn't the same for everyone! 

Happy green eats,
Dawn