Letter From Publisher
Peggy Malecki
A growing number of people
are moving away from meat as a daily staple and toward plant-based foods, a
development that comes with the promise of health benefits and expanded
culinary options. While it’s encouraging to follow this trend, it can be
overwhelming to sort through all of the hype and new products to figure out
what actually makes sense in our daily lives. This month, we’re focusing on
ways to seamlessly and confidently transition to more plant-based options in
your meals while also enjoying the journey.
If you read my letter
regularly, you’ll know I love to garden and cook. It’s not uncommon for me to
consult several recipes for ideas and then create my own version of the dish.
But that’s not for everyone, I get it, and figuring out what to do with a
counter full of new ingredients can be daunting. If you’re on the path to a
more plant-based approach, my advice is to start with a few basics and try one
or two fresh flavors, recipes and ingredients each week.
Yes, it will take time to
adjust your tastes, and you may find some things just don’t work for you or
your family. And that’s okay. Perhaps start with a main course salad or side
dish to ease your family’s taste buds into a more plant-based state of mind.
Make a super-savory, well-textured meatless chili or pasta sauce (and don’t
tell anyone it’s plant-based). Or, visit one of the many plant-based
restaurants in the Chicago area to sample unfamiliar flavors and get ideas for
what you can make at home. Many mainstream-fare restaurants also have some
amazing plant-based options on their menus; ask your server for
recommendations.
Incorporating more veggies
into mealtime may mean longer prep times, and here’s a tip: invest in one or
two quality chef’s knives and sign up for a knife skills class at a local
culinary goods store or community college (or find good online videos from
cooking magazines and other instructional sites). Master a few slicing and
chopping skills, and you’ll speed up meal prep and enjoy the process a lot
more.
Research other things your
kitchen may be missing (a large, fine-mesh strainer to rinse and drain quinoa,
for example) and upgrade as your budget allows. Find a few blogs or cookbooks
that appeal to you and refer to them regularly. As with any new lifestyle goal,
gathering the skills and tools you need will set you up for success.
In our main feature this
month, “The Roots of Good Health: Thriving on a Plant-Based Diet,” April
Thompson shares some secrets for adopting a more plant-based lifestyle. We’ve
included plenty of recipes to get you started, as well as tips for vegan
fitness. Plants also tie into this issue in other ways, as we explore the
houseplant craze (ZZ plants anyone?) and take a look at the potentials of both
industrial hemp crops and CBD.
Be sure to check out all
that Natural
Awakenings has
to offer this month, from pointers on pet diets to inspiring words about
“synchronicity” and how we can encourage the sometimes life-changing
coincidences that can profoundly influence our lives.
One
final word for this month of March—SPRING! Oh yes, and three more—Daylight Savings Time! Get outside, enjoy the lengthening days, watch for the first
migratory birds at the end of the month, look for loons on an Illinois lake,
plan your 2020 garden, start some pepper seedlings indoors, pick up a new
houseplant, try a plant-based recipe and experience an amazing month.
