BLACK PEOPLE SHOULD CONSIDER EATING PLANT-BASED

written by Black Women Healing Retreats

Black people may not be able to control the outcome of every issue in a racist society, but we can control certain parts of it — such as the food we choose to eat. Food is spiritual and political, which is why it is vital to be conscious about the food we put into our bodies.⁣
⁣
We can also look at it from a systemic perspective, by asking questions like “why are there so many fast food, seafood, highly chemical foods in marginalized communities, and wherever black people are?”

Black people should be eating whole foods that are plant and fruit-based, which isn’t as hard as it seems at all. Its a matter of reprogramming your taste buds in order to allow yourself to eat healthy. fruits and vegetables are “the real food” anything with chemicals, processed or animal flesh isn’t actual food. If you haven’t questioned the politics around food then before fighting against eating a plant based diet, you should!⁣
⁣
Today’s society deliberately encourages addictions to chicken, dairy, processed food, and seafood, which causes disease in black people everyday. Eating the wrong foods can cause depression. The idea of only making health a priority during week-long detoxes or fad diets has to be removed. Being food-conscious has to become a lifestyle, because that’s how we heal! Transitioning into a vegan lifestyle isn’t always done overnight. It's a personal journey intended to be gentle with yourself while exploring food wellness. Food is a major part of wellness and in order to create any changes in ourselves or in our communities, we must invest in our wellness like royalty.

Here are 5 helpful tips for going plant based.

It can be challenging to start a plant-based lifestyle when you're just getting started, but like with anything, the more you practice the easier it gets!
⁣➖
1. Only purchase plant based food when you go to the grocery store. Visit the grocery store with a general idea of what you will eat for the week. Once you know what you’ll eat for the week, plan to make sure your food for the week is consistently plant-based.⁣
⁣
2. Start with dishes you know that you’ll enjoy. Think about what dishes you love the most and how you can recreate with plant-based ingredients. For example, if you enjoy cheese, you can replace cheese by eating nutritional yeast or cashew cheese.⁣
⁣
3. Go to vegan restaurants and begin to make it a habit. It can be difficult to visit restaurants that sell meat and dairy when you're in the processing of exploring a vegan lifestyle, but by choosing to go to a vegan restaurant, you eliminate that pressure. It is also nice to know you are supporting a business that is cruelty free and puts your health first.⁣
⁣
4. Before assuming that veganism is more expensive, think about the food that you are purchasing. Purchasing processed vegan food is expensive, but when you begin to eat whole foods, which is the food intended for us, it cuts down on the cost.⁣
⁣
5. Have fun exploring plant-based foods and be honest about your journey. Veganism happens over night for some people and others take years. What is most important is making the conscious decision to take healthy steps in your life.