Okay, peeps. If you didn’t already sift through yesterday’s #plantPOWER “I” pictures on Instagram, do it! You all totally blew me away with your “I” words. They definitely came from the heart. Here are a couple from yesterday!
Kelsa celebrated no more meds, thanks to nourishing her bod with more plants and less gluten, meat, and dairy!
“I is for no more Ibuprofen! I haven’t taken ibuprofen for a long time really because I like my liver 
but it hit me this morning that I haven’t had a headache since I’ve started eating LOTS more plant based and cut WAY back on gluten, meat, and dairy. That’s saying a lot for me…for as long as I can remember it was rare for me to not have a headache! Yay for #plantPOWER.”
Brooke (@brookeeking) finds her well-being in indentifying herself as someone connected to her Higher Power.
“I” is for Identity. My identity is not found in outward appearance, nutrition, fitness, or anything else. It is in Christ alone. This may not have anything to do with plant-based nutrition, but it has everything to do with my total well-being!”
I love what Brooke is saying here. She is 100 percent right! Now, if you don’t believe in God, that’s fine. Regardless of what you call it, we can all agree that we are connected by a Divine, loving energy greater than ourselves, and that loving energy is always available to us. When we find a connection with loving energy, it becomes the source from which we get our identity.
It’s like a lock-and-key model. Inside of us is the lock that, when opened, activates our true identity. External sources like food, exercise, clothes, and relationships are all keys that will never open the lock to our identity. They are faulty keys. The only key that will open the lock is a connection to the loving energy that already lives inside of you. That is where identity lies.
Thank you, Brooke, for that beautiful reminder. You are all amazing!
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J is for…Julieanna Hever!
If you aren’t familiar with Julieanna Hever, GET FAMILIAR.
Kasey and I are beyond thrilled to have Julieanna onboard because she is the plant-based dietitian. Julieanna has a wealth of knowledge, experience, and expertise under her belt. Not only is she a plant-based dietitian but she is also a certified personal trainer! She’s been featured on Dr. Oz and even has a new TV show coming out soon!
Julieanna was one of the first people I looked to in my transition to eating a plant-based diet five years ago. I love how down-to-earth she is and I love how comprehensive the material is and, most importantly, how fun she makes it!
Today, she shares with us a little about facts of plant based protein:
- All amino acids available in plants.
- Plant-based superstars are: beans, lentils, peas, nuts, quinoa, leafy greens, and (non-GMO) soy products.
- Protein doesn’t equal flesh! It’s a macronutrient available in all foods.
Julieanna also created her Plant Based Food Guide Pyramid to give people a clear visual on how easy it is to get everything we need from plant-based foods!
If you have any questions or concerns about eating plant based, Julieanna has three go-to tips for getting started:
- Thinking from the positive-”what do I get to try?” instead of “What do I have to give up?”
- Consider it a fun challenge!
- Explore and experiment…bazillions of cookbooks, websites, blogs now accessible for new recipes;
farmer’s markets and increasingly plant-friendly options at markets and restaurants
You can find out more tips from her US News Interview!
Now, as if you didn’t already fall in love with Julieanna enough, she’s being insanely generous and gifting FIVE (yes, FIVE!) #plantPOWER challengers with her incredible look, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition!
Head over to Kasey’s blog for all of the details. This is one resource you don’t want to go without if you’re new to or simply want to learn more about plant-based nutrition!
Make sure you check out Julieanna’s YouTube channel too! I’ve watched all of her videos (cough fan girl cough), and they’re so fun and informative, especially if you’re not familiar with cooking plant-based meals. Also, she’s got a slew of awesome exercise-related videos. She’s such a powerhouse! Don’t forget to check out her Facebook and Twitter too!
Stay lovely,
Heather
I have found the same thing to be true in regards to headaches. Ever since becoming a vegetarian and eating vegan frequently, my headaches are nearly non-existent. Coincidence? I think not!
Thank you so much, Heather, for mentioning me! This is something that I have struggled with in the past, but has really clicked for me in the past year. I so appreciate the love and your message!