{"id":15791,"date":"2016-03-29T13:12:48","date_gmt":"2016-03-29T20:12:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.happycow.net\/blog\/?p=15791"},"modified":"2016-03-30T12:32:02","modified_gmt":"2016-03-30T19:32:02","slug":"the-home-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.happycow.net\/blog\/the-home-project\/","title":{"rendered":"The Home Project"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Kathryn Hayward, MD, and David L. Thomas, Jr.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\"David<\/a>Exciting things are happening with the 4 COS4S<\/i> initiative. People love the inclusiveness, creativity and joy of collaborating to encourage restaurants, schools and hospitals to offer whole food, plant-based options.\u00a0<\/span>In this blog, we are introducing The Home Project<\/i> as a fourth 4 COS4S<\/i> project to complement the other three.\u00a0<\/span>You don\u2019t need to wait for a 4 COS4S<\/i> restaurant near you\u2014you can enfold 4 COS4S<\/i> into your home! <\/span><\/p>\n

For those of us who rely on HappyCow<\/a> to help us find whole food, plant-based restaurants, this project is particularly interesting. We all agree that eating whole, plant-based<\/i> food gives our bodies nutrient-rich sustenance. Whole grains, legumes, vegetables and fruits are packed with protein, vitamins, minerals, fiber and other health-supporting ingredients.\u00a0<\/span>When we eliminate refined and processed products from our diets, our appetites naturally regulate, and we don\u2019t have to count calories or worry about overeating. <\/span><\/p>\n

We prefer the term \u201cwhole food, plant-based\u201d rather than \u201cvegan\u201d because a vegan diet means merely excluding anything that comes from an animal.\u00a0 <\/span>You could eliminate animal products entirely and not nourish yourself well because of eating mostly processed foods.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>The term \u201cwhole food, plant-based\u201d focuses on what you actually are going to include in your diet, not on what you are excluding. <\/span><\/p>\n

Reading labels at the grocery store is important. If the ingredients are not whole foods that you would see in nature, leave it on the shelf. Michael Pollan, in his book Food Rules<\/i>, compiled 64 guiding principles. Number 2 is: \u201cDon\u2019t eat anything your great-grandmother wouldn\u2019t recognize as food.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

In this blog post, we offer an overview and some specific suggestions for incorporating more whole food, plant-based meals into your life.\u00a0In upcoming posts, we will continue to share some of our favorite recipes and resources, including links to great websites for recipes and whole food, plant-based eating suggestions that you can weave into your 4 COS4S Home Project<\/i>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Care for Yourself<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Eating more whole food, plant-based meals at home is easy.\u00a0<\/span>Here are ten actions from which to choose:<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Go through your kitchen pantry and give or throw away anything that is from an animal or is processed, and doesn\u2019t meet the Michael Pollan test. <\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Dedicate a newly cleaned shelf to whole food, plant-based ingredients.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Pick one legume, one whole grain or one vegetable and make a recipe that features that ingredient.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Buy a plant-based milk and try it (read the label and avoid the ingredient carrageenan and choose one that is not overly sweet).<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Buy a crock pot or slow cooker so that you can try a Congee Sundae<\/a> for breakfast.<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Try Gallo Pinto<\/a> with Salsa Lizano for breakfast one morning.<\/span><\/li>\n
  7. Bring to work or school a whole food, plant-based lunch that you made at home.<\/span><\/li>\n
  8. Choose one new spice and make a whole food, plant-based meal that features it.<\/span><\/li>\n
  9. Have a cup of miso soup once a day (recipe below).<\/span><\/li>\n
  10. Send us your recipes and experiences so that we can share them on this blog site.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Ask Others to Care for You<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

    In our busy lives, we often eat food made by someone else.\u00a0<\/span>Look for locally sourced, whole food, plant-based meals that are low in processed ingredients like oils and sugar, and use spices other than salt. <\/span><\/p>\n