** Update October 12, 2025 **
At the release of this episode I was staunchly dedicated to eating vegan and raw when possible. Since then I have revised my position and found eating meat best for me. I am leaving this post as a sign of my growth. We will all grow and change our viewpoint as new information become available.
Hey Everyone, this is your health bestie, Barbara!
Last week we explored the 4 Pillars to Heal Your Nervous System a framework developed by Dr Linnea. One recommendation that she makes is to do what makes you feel good. Inspired by her words I decided to share my vegan foods journey. Vegan foods make such a big impact on my life, I would like to share my love affair with raw and vegan foods.
Old Habits Die Hard
Embracing vegan foods has not been a direct process for me. There is a saying that old habits die hard. This is because they are wired into our routines, emotions and in some cases our identity. New habits can be powerful once we have adapted to them.
What’s one food you’ve grown to love—or let go of—on your journey? Message me or leave a comment; I’d love to hear your story.
Personally, I developed the habit of eating a sausage, egg and cheese croissant sandwich to begin the weekend. A few weeks ago I sat in the restaurant trying to enjoy something that was once a delight for me. After a few bites I realized I was no longer into it.
The croissant was delicate and had a wonderful buttery smell. The cheese contrasted the egg and sausage yet I was unfulfilled.
What brought me to this point?
I have been tracking my stress levels and daily recovery in conjunction with my sleep. My mom often challenges my decision to eat vegetables and avoid animal products. Before I never had data to back up my intuition. I simply knew I felt better when I ate vegetables and a very minimal amount of fruit.
The data was clearly showing me that my stress levels decreased, my recovery from the day before improved and my sleep performance improved as well when I maintained a consistent vegan food schedule.
It takes 2 or 3 days for me to begin to see the improvements. Even one weekend sandwich will send me on a roller coaster of stress, poor recovery and disrupted sleep until I eat my veggies long enough to stabilize again.
Kicking off the old, worn-out shoe for something fresh, supportive and grounding can be a true gift for yourself.
Get Rid of Those Old Shoes
Instead of going cold turkey when swapping out an old habit replace it with something better. Perhaps, like me, you realize that there are foods that no longer align with who you are as a person.
Start a schedule and set aside time to prepare a meal or two for the day. This will be something that you can eat when you need it.
I keep a gallon of broth in my fridge and drink it throughout the day. I also keep a few pounds of fresh peas that are already seasoned. All I have to do is grab a clean dish and utensil and eat.
The Weighing of the Heart Ceremony
Also I keep cashews and raisins next to my desk. When I need a quick snack I can grab a handful and eat them until I feel satisfied.
As a child I studied Roman, Greek and Egyptian Mythology. In Egyptian mythology, Anubis is the jackal headed god of mummification and the afterlife.
There is a ceremony he conducts after a person dies. The Soul is brought to the Hall of Ma’at and Anubis weighs the heart on the scale against a feather.
If the heart is lighter than or equal to the feather then it is deemed pure and is able to enter the afterlife party.
If the heart is heavier than the feather then a gator named Ammit will devour it and the Soul is destroyed forever.
I did not want to be destroyed by Ammit. Rather than wait for a lifetime of actions to accumulate and have my heart weighed against the feather, I decided to take a daily audit and weigh my heart myself. Every evening before I went to sleep I would sit on a pillow on the floor with my back against my bed.
After closing my eyes, I imagined that I was before God. Together we would take my heart and place it on a scale with a feather. We would review all my actions and thoughts from the day and gently weigh them against the feather.
If anything weighed heavier than the feather we would discuss it and find ways to make the action or thought lighter so that next time it would not weigh heavier than the feather.
Without knowing it I was meditating. Meditation is a way of going within to bring stillness or clarity into our life. When we make changes to our approach to food we are literally changing every aspect of our life.
Meditation can help us balance our mind and thoughts during this process. The last thing we want to do is run around and turn our nose up to people eating croissant sandwiches or other foods that we no longer eat.
These foods continue to bring satisfaction this is more important than the life change we may experience when we modify the foods we eat. Food is a form of self love. It is very personal.
Every meal can invoke a memory that can come seemingly from no where. Food is used for celebrations and holidays. Unless we are fasting or ill we consume food everyday of our lives.
Individualize and Come Alive
The process of individualizing our food can be rewarding and enjoyable. The foods that I enjoy such as peas by the bowl or handfuls of cashews and raisins may not be the same foods that you enjoy.
To find out which foods you enjoy, try eating the same thing for several days in a row. If you continue to enjoy it after eating it for a week then it is for you.
I have tried this with several foods and I have been able to find my fan faves such as peas and eliminate other foods such as wheat gluten and tofu.
After several days of eating tofu or wheat gluten I become swollen and bloated. But I can eat peas everyday. I find that as my hormones fluctuate my tastebuds correspond. Hormonal changes throughout the month help to guide my food choices.
Today I want peas, in a few weeks I may crave cucumbers.
As you begin to explore your own food journey, remember, it’s not about perfection – it’s about presence. Listen to your body and mind. Allow your heart to lead you in the right direction.
Changing what’s on your plate might seem small. It is actually one of the most intimate and powerful forms of self-care we have. I hope that my journey will help to spark your curiosity into vegan foods.
If you’re exploring your own plant-based path, or just curious where to begin, reach out. I’m always happy to share what’s worked for me—and hear what’s working for you.
Next week, I’ll share a few of my favorite go-to foods and how I personalize my meals. If you want to get ahead, start by jotting down what you’ve eaten this week—and how it made you feel.
This is Barbara, with Health Solutions Today—steering the helm toward health, one episode at a time. For everything else, there’s a doctor.