What we’re about
Do you enjoy cooking or prepping meals that consist mainly of minimally processed vegetables, beans, lentils and other plant foods? Do you seek out opportunities to move your diet in this general direction or enhance the flavor profile of your dishes?
This group can provide a support network for those who wish to improve their gut health, and a social network for those already embracing these dietary habits. We'll share our meals outdoors in public parks, or in any willing host's home. We'll share the food, the recipes, the strategies, and the lessons learned from experimentation.
Real food spoils.
Why not make a large roasted veggie tray to share, rather than a small one because the leftovers get soggy? Share strategies for quick lunches and easy dinners by making use of meal helpers - packaged foods with "clean" ingredients. These are foods like hummus, spaghetti sauce, nut butters, etc that don't contain additives such as antibacterials that prevent the foods from spoiling or breaking down (our gut bacteria must breakdown those foods!) Even ice cream has a clean version - ever more elusive to find.
The food matrix matters.
A whole orange is not the same thing as orange juice + pulp. A whole grain is not the same thing as milled powder + added fiber.
This group is not meant to fully exclude animal, dairy, gluten, soy or any other common allergens or food aversions, but rather to elevate and emphasize plant foods (minimizing additives and processing.) Pea protein, whey protein, soy protein, and their relatives need not apply, but the peas themselves can bring soybeans along and even invite a little whey to join them, if it's part of a whole dairy product. Bonus points if it's fermented.