Carnivore? Okay….heavy meat eater. The truth is, I was a hardcore cheeseburger with cheddar cheese and bacon girl before I discovered the power of plant-based nutrition. It was a hard transition. I empathize with meat lovers but my personal reasons trumped everything else.
Moving from my carnivore diet to a plant-based diet didn’t happen overnight. There was the gradual release of steak, then cheeseburgers and then chicken. Why did I do it? I started listening to my body.
What Really Happened To The Carnivore In Me?
Before Black Girls Eat, I enjoyed everything. I was always down for some BBQ and a deli sandwich for lunch was always welcome. I lived the life of a true carnivore. And then I started feeling nauseous after every meal. As if that wasn’t enough, my wrists, back and ankles started hurting. Not for a few days but for a whole year.
Enter the visit to a rheumotologist. After a battery of tests, she shared that I had very high inflammation markers. Inflammation in the body is no bueno and I didn’t want any part of it. We started talking about possible causes of inflammation and took a look at foods.
I Stopped Eating Everything
Research led me down the rabbit hole. I learned that meats, sausages, bacon, sugar and alcohol could be the cause of my aches and pains. So I stopped eating everything. Not forever but for about 10 days. Then 30 and then 2 months. I ate mostly fruits, grains and vegetables. There were no packaged foods like bread or muffins. I was laser focused and shedding my carnivore ways.
Guess what? I started feeling better. I continued to research and discovered the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies. They offered three classes on whole foods plant-based nutrition. These classes gave me a great start in plant-based living and showed me the power of plants.
The days got easier because I was feeling better. Leaning away from animal products happened at home, at work and when I was out with my girls. I watched movies and read articles to learn more about plant-based nutrition. I was excited to learn that plant-based meals were easy to make and that getting more plants on your plate was a good thing.
The Benefits of a Plant-Based Diet
As a recovering carnivore, I can attest to the fact that switching to a diet of fruits, veggies, whole grains and legumes like chickpeas has been a game changer for my health. I appreciate the amount of nutrients, fiber and vitamins that come with every meal. It feels good to know that I could take control of my health and not be a victim. Plant-based nutrition has improved the lives of people with chronic kidney disease, Type 2 diabetes, and heart disease around the world.
Once I started leaning into plant-based meals, I discovered more foods than I ever knew. Choosing fruits, grains and vegetables actually expanded my food vocabulary. There are over 1000 vegetables available to us and I kept eating the same 5. Come on! You know which ones. There was always broccoli, spinach, corn, green beans and collard greens. As a former carnivore, adding such a variety of vegetables to my life was fun and exciting.
The Power of Protein
When I was growing up, I thought that the only way to get protein was by eating meat. But foods like quinoa, lentils, nuts and seeds are a great source of protein. You have to remember that when Popeye wanted to get stronger, he ate spinach!
Making the Transition from Carnivore to Plant-Based
Switching diets can be tough. Sometimes we are just eating what we eat because that’s how we were raised. I didn’t grow up calling myself a carnivore but that’s what it was. With thoughtful planning, you can do it. Please understand that it’s a journey and it’s YOUR personal journey. Strive for progress….not perfection. And yes! There will be dessert!
For me, my transition from carnivore to plant-based advocate took baby steps. I started going to the farmer’s market and asking about produce that I had never purchased. The first time I came home with acorn squash, I sat it on the counter and stared at it for two or three days. And now there’s an acorn squash recipe and you can get it HERE.
Don’t focus on the labels. People will want to know if you are vegan or vegetarian. Just let them know that your number one goal is to get more fruits, grains and veggies on your plate at every meal.
Here are some other ways that I eased into plant-based meals:
- Participating in meatless Mondays.
- Having meat free lunches 2-3 days a week
- Buying one fruit or vegetable each week that I’d never tried before
Quick and Easy Plant-Based Recipes
When you are hungry and want a quick but nourishing meal, you can’t go wrong with an easy plant-based recipe. Check out these recipes from right here at the Black Girls Eat website..
- Spicy Honey Garlic Tofu
- Coconut Quinoa Oatmeal
- Pear & Fig Pizza
- Golden Beets & Sweet Potato Salad
- Tomato Cobbler
It’s Up To You!
Are you ready to begin your plant-based journey? Take it one step at a time. How about choosing one plant-based recipe this week? If you do try one of the recipes here on the site, let me know. Tag me on IG @blackgirlseat or use the #fromcarnivoretoplantbased.
LA is a plant-based advocate from the Bronx. She is studying to become a nutritionist and has fun finding new ways to help others get more plants on their plate. She is also an Amazon Influencer and may received compensation if you shop with her at the Black Girls Eat Shop on Amazon.
Want to Stay Connected?
- Follow on Instagram @blackgirlseat
- Subscribe to the newsletter, Recipes & Random-Ish
- Shop with LA at the Black Girls Eat Shop on Amazon
- Take the easy five day email class, Introduction to Plant-Based Nutrition
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