1. My main job is homemaking, which most people would love if they would give it a go. It is challenging intellectually and fulfilling on many levels. Plus, I have permission to obsess about one of my favorite things, food. Since adopting my healing, building, plant-perfect way of eating, I've had to learn how to cook again. The best part of this is starting a whole new cookbook collection. Some of my favorites are: Appetite for Reduction, Forks Over Knives Cookbook, Vegan on the Cheap, and Vegan Planet. But I've barely scratched the surface!
2. It doesn't cost any more to eat this way than it did with all the cream, meat, cheese, etc. In fact I think it costs less. Even though I'm using 100% organic these days, I still get by on the same budget of 7 years ago. Food prices have soared but our budget has remained static. I'm more thoughtful in preparation, in utilizing leftovers, in growing my own, and in being creative with what is available.
3. With all this, I still incorporate a working pantry by rotating my storage. I wrote extensively about this in my book The Pantry Principle and then revised it to be compatible with the plant-perfect lifestyle in New Pantry Principle. I look at my food storage as my very own bulk store. Instead of getting a pound of organic lentils for $3.00 at the health food store, I buy a 25# bag for about 1/3 the price. Some of these are put in #10 cans for long term storage, while others are put in glass jars in my pantry.
4. This change is bringing my family closer together. It's interesting how positively people interact, when they feel well. We have fun discussing what's for dinner, what people want to try, or what they don't ever want to see on the plate again. Hey, it's a learning experience for all of us. It's so important to stick to your guns about things while allowing others to make their own choices. It's my experience that they will come around to good ideas with patience, long-suffering, and indisputable evidence before their eyes.
5. The most wonderful, fulfilling part of this lifestyle has to be my kitchen micro farm. I have a great video of this project, but for some reason blogger won't upload it. Hmmmmmm
