In this episode I interview Michelle Baade, wife, mom, and grandmother in small-town Wisconsin, about how a whole-foods, plant-based diet has dramatically altered her and her husband’s health trajectory, and transformed their relationship with food.
Michelle and her husband were overweight, suffering from several ailments, and were at high risk for heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. Starting in 2016 they decided to cut animal-based products, and even oil to a great extent, out of their diet for one year. They’ve never looked back because they regained control of their health and wellness.
I ask Michelle to tell me about what it was like to make this abrupt transition, both emotionally and practically. She explains how planning, shopping, and preparing meals changed, and describes what they eat day in, day out,. She also shares some her family’s new favorites recipes, including a twist on her mom’s lasagna, comfort-food tacos filled with jackfruit, and a General Tso stir fry using soy curls.
You’ll hear that one of the big changes in how they eat is that they don’t eat out (or order in) nearly as often as they did before. Michelle explains what they do when they eat away from home.
Finally, Michelle offers advice on how to adopt a whole-food, plant-based diet. She reiterates that she and her husband don't have any super powers that enabled them to make this change in diet. She claims that if these "meat and potato" folks could do it, anyone can adopt a whole-foods, plant-based diet.