The other day, I learned of a lady who had a heart attack and died, leaving her 3 dogs with nobody in this world.  In fact, they were left alone with her in the house for 2 days before anyone decided to knock on the door to check up on the lady.  Lucky for these 3 pets, a foster home was quickly arranged for them.  They are safe, for now, and there are a number of people who are studying how to best keep these e3 fur-balls together as the family unit that they are.

This has been my biggest fear forever.  If something happens to me, what will happen to my pets?  Will someone offer to take them in and protect them for the rest of their lives?  My mum’s in her late 70’s, my brothers all have their own homes and pets.  Who will take my large fur babies.  There’s 9 of them!

Reaching menopause last year got me thinking. a lot, about my future.  I don’t care about ageing.  I really don’t care about that at all.  But, after a certain age, I really do have to look out for my health.  I have put on weight.  I am slower.  And I am less sociable now.  Life does that, doesn’t it?  This means, I have less people to rely on if something should happen to me.

 

 

Three decades ago, my priority was my social life.  Two decades ago, my priority was travelling.  And, in the last decade, I prioritized making money.  Now, it’s time to prioritize my health.  I started making changes to my lifestyle to make sure I am as healthy as can be for my pets.  When I heard of this lady and her 3 beloved dogs, I cried.  So, I acted on it.

So, I did a lot of reading.  The internet, most days, is such a confusing place that I just didn’t know where to turn or who to trust.

Our bodies simply start functioning differently after menopause.  My body went into an out-of-control spiral.  I was hungry.  Then, I was not hungry.  I was tired. But, then I was full of energy.  I was hot.  But, then I was cold.  I yearned for a salad, but then, I really wanted something fried. And all this in a single day.

I tried adding walking to my mornings.  I loved it, and I was getting over 5KM per day, but my weight was not going down.  I tried intermittent fasting, but that only made me eat more on my non fasting days.

After so many starts and so many ensuing failures, my weight was stuck.  I realized that drastic changes were not the solution.  So, I decided to try one single thing.  One day of the week, I would make a change.  And it has changed everything.

I realized that one simple but transformative step towards a healthier me was to add just one vegan salad into my weekly routine. I chose Monday.  every Monday, I would start the week by having one single meal made up of a bowl filled to the top with only fresh, hearty, raw organic vegetables, nuts and healthy oils.  One single vegan meal. Nothing else for the day but the odd cup of tea with honey.

No dairy.  No carbs.  And only vegetable protein.

 

 

You’ve heard it all before – a vegan lifestyle contributes to a more sustainable and compassionate world, but it also offers a multitude of benefits for your overall well-being.  I bear witness to that.  So does science, of course.  There is no denying it.

Vegan salads are an exquisite blend of vibrant colors, flavors, and textures that unleash a burst of nutrition onto your plate. Packed with an array of leafy greens, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds, these plant-powered creations are teeming with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. By indulging in these refreshing bowls, you nourish your body with a wealth of essential nutrients while simultaneously reducing the consumption of unhealthy processed foods.

My body feels amazing.  I am losing weight.  I sleep soooo much better.  I work faster and better.  My skin looks fresher and younger.  And I feel great.  I need to add, of course, that I added one meal a week, but i now do 4 days per week like this.

My dogs love to accompany me on my morning walks.  Nothing crazy.  Just a few KM’s 5 days per week.  They get their exercise.  I get my exercise and we all feel better.

So, I thought I’d find a few recipes to entice you to try this one simple, powerful change to your lifestyle.  Whether you are 20, 30, 40, 50 or more.  Try it.  Don’t do me, where you waited until your 50’s to prioritze your health.  For yourself and for your pets, act now.

My go-to channel is Pick Up Limes.  No preaching.  Just some super creative recipes I have loved to experiment with.


I’ve also enjoyed checking out other channels.  Gaz Oakley is great. Another incredibly creative chef, loads of fun to watch and with the added bonus now of learning to harvest food from your own backyard.  Very informative.  Try his Caesar Salad, a seriously good vegan take on the most famous salad of them all.


 

For those simpler days when you only have lettuce, tomato and a cucumber in the fridge, play around with some of these healthy homemade salad dressings.


 

Join me and explore the remarkable advantages of embracing this simple yet profound change in your week. From enhanced digestion and increased energy levels to improved weight management and glowing skin, discover how one vegan salad per week can pave the way towards a healthier, more vibrant lifestyle.

Expect to see drastic changes very quickly, from :

  1. Improved Heart Health: A plant-based meal can lower the risk of heart disease by reducing cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and inflammation.
  2. Weight Management: Vegan meals tend to be lower in calories and saturated fats, making them a great choice for maintaining a healthy weight and supporting weight loss efforts.
  3. Increased Nutrient Intake: Vegan meals are typically rich in essential nutrients such as fiber, vitamins C and E, folate, potassium, and magnesium, which support overall health and well-being.
  4. Enhanced Digestion: The high fiber content of vegan meals promotes healthy digestion, prevents constipation, and supports a diverse gut microbiome.
  5. Reduced Risk of Chronic Diseases: Regularly incorporating vegan meals can lower the risk of developing chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes, certain types of cancer, and hypertension.
  6. Improved Energy Levels: Plant-based meals provide complex carbohydrates that release energy steadily throughout the day, helping to sustain optimal energy levels.
  7. Antioxidant Power: Vegan meals are abundant in antioxidants, which help combat oxidative stress, reduce inflammation, and protect against chronic diseases.
  8. Stronger Immune System: Nutrient-dense vegan meals support a healthy immune system, providing the vitamins and minerals necessary for immune function.
  9. Radiant Skin: The consumption of plant-based foods rich in antioxidants and phytochemicals can promote healthier skin by reducing inflammation and boosting collagen production.
  10. Environmental Sustainability: By incorporating vegan meals, you contribute to reducing your carbon footprint and supporting a more sustainable planet.

 

 

 

Here’s a few more tips I suggest :

Buy local.  Choose vegetables that are local.  If you’re living in a place where avocados don’t grow, why would you buy avocados?  By choosing to consume local produce, you are doing a great deal of good for the planet.  But, you’re also giving your body food that is likelier to be plucked ripe and straight into your local shop, rather than travelling in frozen boxes for days before reaching your local supermaket.  Local food has more nutrients and that’s what you’re looking for.

Buy in season.  Seasonal food also has way more nutrients.  Mother earth puts out spring fruit in the spring, and winter fruit in the winter.  Right?  It’s always been like that.  Some foods grow in the Summer.  Others in the Winter.  So, why would you buy food grown in artificial greenhouses?  Fresh, seasonal food is where the nutrients your body needs are at.

Buy for the day.  Stop shopping for the whole week.  You’ll be consuming old food for the better part of your week.  On the days you will be making a fresh salad, go to the shops and choose the freshest items you can find.  If you worry about falling for the temptations to buy more, rest easy.  You will get used to it.  I suggest finding a local market of fresh produce if you can find one.  Less temptations and way more fresh produce to entice you.  Plus, you can chat with the vendor to learn more about the products, where they come from, how they’re grown, etc.  My local market is a good 20 minutes from home, so I get the added bonus of doing a 20 minute walk there and back.

Try a few of these recipes.  Try it on a Monday.  There’s power in that.  By starting your week strong, you’ll see the rest of your week with fresh eyes.  It did that for me.  And within days, you’ll be looking forward to the next vegan salad day. Thank me later.

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