Change is rough but worth it!
I am not a chef, nor a nutritionist, nor a doctor; however, I am foodie, a mother of three and a caretaker of an 89 year old mother. Throughout my existence I have fought being overweight and that has forced me to eat properly and exercise whether I feel like or not. So with a determined will power and working out whenever I could and as much as I could, I maintained a normal weight to height ratio. It was more difficult for me to maintain that “normal weight” because I had always had a slow metabolism. In eating less, my metabolism would slow down even more. So it has always been frustrating for me, until I became a vegetarian-pescatarian. To add, I also starting feeling the effects of arthritis.
As I previously mentioned, the two documentaries on Netflix : “What the Health” and “You Are What You Eat”, and Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s book “Keep Sharp” had changed my life and my mom’s. Although we are being reminded everyday to eat healthier, non processed foods, with plenty of protein and fiber while exercising, socializing and sleeping well; people don’t believe. Now imagine trying to convince someone to eat protein that is vegetarian or pescatarian! Almost impossible! But why would someone want to live with pain or extra overbearing weight. Aren’t the hospitals overcrowded. The main reason why I changed was because my mom did not stop complaining about her back problems; everyday and all day, while in my care. I tried Tylenol, several visits to the hospital, heating pads…., but nothing worked. I had nothing to lose by changing our diets, since I too was feeling symptoms of arthritis. I began to follow the advise of Dr Sanjay Gupta and the documentaries here-above mentioned and started my own study that I called the youthful challenge. I would post on Facebook everyday for 12 weeks the food, activities and exercises my mom would do. On my study I prepared only plant based meals and some fish. The same meals on Cantine Kat’s menu. After 12 weeks I had seen several changes, but most importantly my mom had no more pain; neither did I!
If we were to stop the challenge at that point I am sure we would have gone back to feeling pain and my mom would have gained all her weight back again. The weight loss was not the goal, initially but it was the added reward. With the loss of weight, my mom became more agile. Also, we both noticed that when we eat the way we do, our ferocious appetite no longer exists as before when we were meat eaters. Anyway, the proof is in trying it for a few weeks, then you will see for yourself. Cantine Kat is trying to make it easier, by providing food that will substitute meat and still feel great eating.
