As a kid, once my mom got past the TV dinners days, she baked sugar-free, bran-loaded homemade “cookies.” We had salad for dinner every night, and the only peanut butter she bought was freshly ground at the local health food store. My father’s degree was in physical education, though admittedly, he didn’t pass on much of that to me, except for his broad shoulders and tough personality.
From the time I was 16, I went on what my mother called a meatless “phase.” That “phase” has now lasted 50 years. The only difference between then and now, is I’m considerably much more discerning and strict about what I will consider eating these days. I was a vegetarian before I had even heard the word. I opted for meat-free meals when there were none offered at any restaurants.
Beyond my non-traditional diet, back in the day, I had other traits that made me stand out like a spotted zebra.
Nearly 30 years ago, I recall insisting that people (in Latin America) not smoke in my home.
During my marketing communications career in Chicago, Miami, and Texas, I always had to balance the love of my work with the knowledge that I was basically selling stuff that I’d never in a million years buy, eat, or support. In 2011, I finally said “basta ya.” Now, my conscious is clean as I work considerably within the health/fitness/nutrition arena, and I refuse to take on any of the clients that I believe are shoving detrimental products into our community.
For 15 years, for my workplace's annual Thanksgiving potluck, I only ate whatever dish I brought. There may have been 60 options, they looked as if they were all loaded with lard, butter, or sugar. I remember, each year, looking at all the celebrated dishes that people brought, which mitigated any inch of hunger I may have had. I was an outlier.
One of the selling points for me to move to Texas was to be closer to Mexico and surrounded by Mexican food. I was wrong. Although I had been eating nutritious Mexican food most of my life, when I arrived in San Antonio, it was a bit of a culture shock. I pretty much refrained from eating anything in Mexican-style restaurants except guacamole, without chips.
With my decades-long interest in a plant-based lifestyle — and yoga — it was natural for me to become a certified yoga therapist and holistic health counselor. Much of what I do is based on the principles of Ayurveda, the life science of India. Learn more about yoga therapy and Ayurveda on my YouTube channel. Or, click here to learn about my other business, The Write Counsel.