On June 6 of this year I had the great fortune to marry my greatest love, who also happens to be the most wonderful woman on this magical earth. After a short respite we set out to travel, part honeymoon, part work. Mary works in media and flew to France to attend the Cannes Lion’s Festival. It’s a busy week for her meeting and greeting, and not something that I can be a part of.
So during the time that Mary cruised the Croisette, and before we joined to spend time alone honeymooning, I opted to visit some of my family who live in Spain. Most of my family lives in Valencia, which is where I have most often travelled to. My dear cousin, Jose, a few years ago moved to Santiago de Compostela with his most wonderful husband, Xipi (Cheepee). Santiago is in the Northwest corner of Spain in the region of Galicia. It’s an area that I have never been to and was excited to explore. After several days in Santiago I then hopped to Valencia to spend a few days with the rest of the cousins.
My family is very proud of their country, and truly enjoy all the beauty and deliciousness that overflows there. They also share my passion for food, and an intensity, bar none, for sharing it with me. So how did I handle being a whole food plant based eater in the land of Iberico ham, mussels, razor clams and “tortilla” made with potatoes and eggs?
Long before I left for the 2 week trip I thought long and hard about it. There is no doubt that a plant based way of eating is the best for me, but how would I manage one of my greatest passions- to explore and experience new foods?
Before I answer I think it’s important to share a couple of things about myself. I am fortunate enough to never have suffered from any severe health concerns. My cholesterol, blood sugar and weight are all normal and robust. What I have suffered from is a form of food anxiety which manifests itself as a feeling of panic that I might get hungry, or not have control over my food. As a result, when traveling especially, I would tend to overeat, and also eat anything and everything put in front of me. The feeling of anxiety is dreadful, and it resulted in my not always enjoying what I was eating. There is also a strange feeling of emptiness that follows such eating. It feels like dread, regret and a true lack of control.
Eating WFPB has taught me to slow down, to be mindful of the foods I eat, and to savor much more greatly. I find I am less stressed, far more calm, and more easily satisfied. I stop well before being stuffed, and I can pass on foods that I might not really be in the mood for, or foods that are of low quality that I don’t even want. I used to be quick to eat everything, including cheap cookies and candies. I would also feel compelled to finish large bowls of foods, even when I was stuffed or not really interested. This change is a tremendous shift for me. There really aren’t enough words to describe it. Now it means that I can finally relax- not panic-and completely enjoy without regret. Huge!
So how did I manage? I ate it all- In moderation, with appreciation, and with an understanding that this was an occasion not to be missed. I had a lot of confidence that this would not set me off back to a life of eating meats and cheeses, or overundulgence. I appreciate and enjoy what eating plants has done for my body and health, so I also honored that too. I counter balanced whenever I could- but I was in Spain, so I ate beautiful fresh fish, some eggs and a lot of incredible fruits and vegetables. In Galicia they don’t have to certify organics, the people there have a proud tradition of eating healthy and heartily as they have for centuries.
In a way I thought of it like my wedding cake- something that is rare and should be enjoyed.
Now that I am home I am back to my routine and it feels great. Perhaps because I ate such high quality foods I didn’t feel ill or unwell- but I could definitely feel some effects, such as a return of my hot flashes and night sweats. After a few days home, all of that has dissipated, and I feel back to my balance. To be honest, it was also a great reminder of how powerful and wonderful a healthy lifestyle is.
For my great memories, and for the experience of pursuing my passion for trying new foods- I am deeply grateful and wholesomely satisfied.
My take away from this is we all have agency to make decisions for ourselves. We need to learn to work with the moments in our life, and feel good about how we are experiencing what comes our way. This is something that I work on with my clients too. Next time I might opt for less or even no animal products- I will have to wait and see. At this moment in time, I feel content- and that beats anxiety and feeling unwell any day.