How To Raise Your Energy Level.....EVERY DAY.

I have returned! I took a small summer hiatus from the blog in order to get some life things in order, but I am back and super excited to keep blogging! So, first of all, Dallin and I have some exciting news coming up. Remember that big secret you've all been waiting to hear from me? Well, I'm not going to tell you yet. But in six weeks, you will all know. This whole keeping-a-secret-thing is kind of fun. But now you are all wondering how you can raise your energy levels every day...so let's get on with it! First of all, I'm going to write out what a typical day on the Jessica Diet used to look like a year ago:

Breakfast: Cereal, or an egg and toast
Lunch: Turkey sandwich, PB&J, leftovers, canned soup, or eating out depending on schedule
Dinner: Chicken and veggies with rice, tacos, any number of different soups with chicken and veggies in them, Pasta, etc.

Not too bad looking, right? You can throw a granola bar or cookie or two in there for a snack sometime during the day as well. There is one fairly common thread, though, in all of my meals. Can you find it?.......
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It would be MEAT. Uh oh. Here we go on another one of Jessica's Vegetarian/Vegan rants again. To be totally honest, though, I'm not a Vegetarian OR a Vegan. I have simply shifted my diet to becoming a LOT more plant based, and I have discovered that my energy levels have risen and I no longer ever want to take naps during the day. I sleep SO much better at night, which I didn't think was possible until after I discovered what good sleep is. My skin is also generally a little clearer (I know, you hear this all the time, but this is true!!). My body is just so happy eating this way, and Dallin even jumped on board and is loving it, too! So, let's destroy some myths surrounding meat.

First of all, the average American consumes WAY more protein than they need to every day. Also, people are dialed into the myth that animals and dairy products are the best source of protein and should be the main source of protein. This really isn't true or valid. Our body uses amino acids to build proteins, and ALL of the essential amino acids that we need to build proteins can be found in plants. If you are eating a varied, plant-based diet and fulfilling your caloric needs every day, you are most likely getting all of your essential amino acids. Check out this article if you want a little more information about protein. I could go on about this all day...plants have way more protein than we give them credit for.
For those Olympics fans out there, did you know that there are quite a few vegetarian and vegan athletes who compete every year...and even win medals?! Those people are out there running like crazy and propelling their bodies through water like no one has ever seen before...and they don't eat meat (or for some even any animal products). Check out this article on that.

Finally, meat is EXPENSIVE. Granted, eating plant based can add up as well, but I have found a few ways to cut my costs and not eat meat. First of all, beans are going to be your best friend. These little pods are packed to the brim with healthy vitamins, minerals, and proteins that our body needs. They are also a good source because they are SO inexpensive. Buying your beans dried and hydrating/cooking them yourself can save you even more money in that area. I personally prefer that option. Whole grain brown rice is also an excellent source of protein. Not only that, but it is a great source of fiber, calcium, magnesium, and potassium as well. Beans and rice combined make a super filling additive to any meal that will keep the meat cravings away.

As far as veggies and fruit go, learn to eat what's in season, and learn to try new things! When I go to the grocery store every week, I might have one or two specific vegetable items on my list that I need for recipes, but for the rest of my fresh produce purchases I just buy whatever is on sale or in season and get adventurous in the kitchen at home! We spend about $40 a week on groceries, and my fridge is jam-packed with fruits and veggies every single week. I will put this on this blog again....PLEASE go watch the documentary "Forks Over Knives" on Netflix or Amazon. It is an excellent documentary and you will NOT be sorry that you watched it.

So, now that you are all super motivated to change your diet a little, let's talk about two things: what my diet looks like now, and what you are going to crave and how you will feel when you first start trying to make some changes.

A typical day in Jessica's diet now:

Breakfast: fruit smoothie (two juiced oranges, blueberries, a banana, spinach, and frozen fruit mix), plain greek yogurt with blueberries and granola, or peanut butter toast and a banana
Lunch: large salad with beans, leftover rice with beans and veggies, PB&J, hummus with veggies and crackers, or a veggie burger on whole-wheat bread with some avocado
Dinner: Pasta with veggies, baked sweet potatoes with corn and black beans, (rarely) salmon and asparagus, veggie soup with rice and lentils, quinoa patties or veggie burgers made of quinoa and black beans, salad and whole-wheat bread, etc.

Not only has my diet expanded quite a bit, but I have discovered some new foods that I never tried before and now LOVE. Sweet potatoes aren't just for Thanksgiving, people.

When I first started transitioning to a healthier diet, though, I had a few REALLY. HARD. WEEKS. I was constantly craving meat, salt, and anything that could be classified as an "empty carb" (i.e. potato chips, crackers, unhealthy processed snacks, etc). I felt like I was going to go a little crazy if I didn't consume something that would satisfy one of these intense cravings, and a couple of times I broke down and ate something off of that list. But that's okay! I didn't let myself get into the habit though, and after about 3-4 weeks of eating this way, those cravings completely disappeared and the health benefits started to become apparent. Transitioning your diet will not be easy, but it will be oh-so-worth it. I have a bajillion tried and true recipes...so if you need some help getting started, send a message my way. :) Happy eating!!

Photo Cred: Google Images