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I get a lot of inquiries about whether my WFPB (Whole Foods/Plant Based) diet is sustainable, since it's Vegan and lacks processed food like bread and things out of boxes, jars, and cellophane wrappers.
I love new recipes the same as the next person, and I eat different foods every meal. However, I shop at the Farmers Market and in the grocery's produce section out of habit. I don't wander and roam around the center aisles, looking for sugary cereal and boxes of individually wrapped snacks, or ice cream and frozen meals.
Eliminating bread has also eliminated the need for jams, butter, cream cheese, peanut butter, etc. Giving up rice and pasta means more room for the asparagus, Brussel sprouts, sweet potatoes, lentils, beans, and dishes like Ratatouille, Indian/Thai curry, or Caponata (all of which I eat like a dense stew). In other words, I've been replacing the high calorie items with more densely nutritious ones.
If you were trying to quit smoking, would it be easier to cut back gradually or go cold turkey? Which person would have the greater success rate? Which method is healthier?
My cholesterol is down, my waistline is down, I feel good, sleep good, and move good. Without added sugar and chemicals, my moods and energy levels are stable. So yes, WFPB is a sustainable diet for me.
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 Comments
JustBananas, are you following Dr. Campbell’s recommendations? I have noticed the Forks Over Knives website and app has gotten less restrictive about bread and olive oil.
30 Aug 22 by member: karen40.poole
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@Karen: I've been inspired by Forks Over Knives and Dr. Joel Fuhrman. Went vegetarian at 16, vegan on & off over the years. But going through menopause and having my cholesterol levels hit high notes from cheese intake was really what made me want to find a diet that addressed my health. Bread, rice and pasta just have too many calories. I do use oils like EVOO, sesame, canola and avocado sparingly, just to coat veggies before sautéing or roasting. And I do use vinegar on salads. But pretty much my pantry is bare now.
30 Aug 22 by member: JustBananas
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As a R.N. who did diet counseling I always enjoyed seeing someone who found a diet that worked for them. It is usually a lot of trial and error to find what fits every individual. I was formerly a vegetarian but it didn't work out physically for me and my labs actually got worse. I still favor veggies, fruits, seeds, nuts, and mostly cull chemicals, pesticides, additives, processed foods. To be honest I never liked things like frozen dinners, canned entrees, "Hamburger Helper", canned soup, cereal, etc. so it wasn't much of a sacrifice for me. I never was much into pasta, bread, etc, like most people either. I am rather picky and like foods fixed simply so I don't really like things like Ratatouille, Indian/Thai curry, or Caponata. There is no one size fits all diet. We each have to find out own path and you have yours.
30 Aug 22 by member: -MorticiaAddams
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I love how different everyone's diets are on here and how they can still get to their goal with what works for them keep doing you!
30 Aug 22 by member: ObeseToBeast123
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@Morticia: Yes, there has definitely been a Lot of experimentation over the years. That stinks about your vegetarian trial. When I first did it, my protein usually came from Morningstar Farms, cheese, and protein drinks (chemicals, saturated fat, & chemicals). I love cooking, so curries are fun for me. But there are plenty of evenings when I'll just steam a big bowl of edamame or Brussel sprouts and splash vinegar on them and call it a night! 💚
30 Aug 22 by member: JustBananas
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@Otb: Right? Getting to goal by reducing calories is one thing, but finding a sustainable diet is entirely different for many people. You see relapses on FS all the time.
30 Aug 22 by member: JustBananas
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You pretty much desecrated me in the second paragraph minus frozen dinners 😂
30 Aug 22 by member: Supergainz1
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30 Aug 22 by member: Supergainz1
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@Super: Companies that sell TV dinners (Healthy Choice, Swanson, Stouffer's, etc.) often have paid clinical research trials to try and prove that you can lose weight if you eat their frozen entrees morning, noon and night. Since you've tried just about every other diet, I figured I'd mention it 😁
30 Aug 22 by member: JustBananas
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Nuts fruit and veg healty
31 Aug 22 by member: Chestnut63
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Congrats to you. A great program for you. The food choices you have made certainly do appear as nutritious to me. Does this WOE have a name?
31 Aug 22 by member: sugarplum_
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Sugarplum, It is called Whole Foods, Plant Based or WFPB. It differs from vegan in that no processed foods are used including the meat substitutes and pre-made vegan cheese, butter and yogurt. Minimally processed foods such as whole grain bread (think Dave’s Killer and Ezekiel breads), tofu, EVOO, kombucha, kimchi, frozen fruit and vegetables are fine. Since it is high in fiber from fruit, veggies, nuts, whole grains, beans and pulses it is a very filling WOE thus you can eat a lot of food with few calories. I have been losing weight at a nice pace without hunger pangs following this WOE. You can also safely include eggs, fatty fish or low fat cheese once or twice a month; in which case you would be following the Mediterranean Diet (WOE). Both approaches concentrate on fresh veggies, fruit, beans and whole grains (farro, bulgur wheat, brown rice, barley, ect), nuts and seeds as the main source of protein
31 Aug 22 by member: karen40.poole
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I've been about 50% WFPB for a couple of years. I JUST made WFPB ricotta... omg, so good! I love finding new foods that I love better. I don't try to replace foods as much as discover new ones, but a good baked pasta - yum!
31 Aug 22 by member: Katikoht
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@Sugarplum: Whole Foods Plant Based (WFPB) is the name of the WOE. As Karen mentioned, it is Vegan so no animals or dairy. Processed food is a big NO. I don’t even eat bread or anything made with flour. I make my own sauces and salad dressing, buy dried beans and other legumes, and only use frozen veggies if fresh is not in season. For dieters who want to include animals, the Mediterranean Diet is highly recommended by doctors. If you have diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure or high cholesterol I would definitely ask your doctor about both diets.
31 Aug 22 by member: JustBananas
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The InstantPot pressure cooker is a great tool for this WOE because you can cook dried beans and grains in less than 1/2 the time it takes for the stovetop or slow cooker. No soaking needed either! 😊
31 Aug 22 by member: karen40.poole
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Just Bananas - Thank you for the information. I have seen books, but never looked into the Mediterranean Diet. It sounds delightful. And yes, I have health issues. I will ask my regular Doctor (Primary Care Physician) about it, and until it is my time to see him I will look into it seriously and probably buy the book from Amazon. That one sounds like more me. I appreciate you. xox Louise sugarplum
31 Aug 22 by member: sugarplum_
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