Ever since I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis about a year ago, I’ve made serious changes to how I choose to feed and nourish my body. I took my already-healthy and mostly plant-based diet and modified it to exclude added sugars, gluten, and GMO foods. And the truth is that I’m enjoying food more than ever!
Simply by including a few staples into my diet, I’ve been able to keep my weight in check, my energy up, and my sleep on schedule. Luckily for me (and you, too), none of this routine is exotic or expensive. With five kids and an indie-business to run, I’m always on a budget—so I can feel good about sharing this with you.
These are My Top 7 Foods & Supplements for a (Mostly) Plant-Based Diet:
1. BREAKFAST SMOOTHIES — I start almost every day the same way—with lots of water, fresh fruit, and a 40 oz. green protein smoothie. My usual go-to smoothie ingredients are water, bananas, kale, spinach, Vanilla Plant Protein, and frozen berries. It’s a simple routine but it really starts my day off right, and it keeps my digestive system healthy and working just as it should be.
My protein smoothie fills me up, manages my appetite, and covers a bunch of servings of fruits and vegetables. It also tastes so delicious that I can’t keep my toddler or my husband from stealing several sips. I eventually started making the 2-year-old her own.
2. VITAMIN D — I live in the Northeast, which sees a shortage of sunlight during the long winter months. Unfortunately, this means my Vitamin D levels are tragically low most of the year. Here’s what is amazing though – my blood work has been showing totally normal levels of Vitamin D since I started supplementing daily. That’s a huge win for me. Vitamin D is important for regulating calcium and phosphorus absorption, maintaining healthy bones and teeth, and preventing serious diseases like cancer, Type 1 diabetes, and multiple sclerosis. There has even been research that shows Vitamin D can help regulate your mood, decreasing symptoms of depression. (I also recommend this plant-based multi-vitamin and this organic iron supplement.)
MY RECOMMENDED VITAMIN D SUPPLEMENT
3. BACKYARD CHICKEN EGGS — Eggs are not plant-based and not an everyday staple for me, but they are an excellent source of protein that taste so good. I raise my own chickens, so I know that they’re hugged and loved and treated humanely. If you do eat animal products, please do so consciously. Buy from local farms and try to take a trip to meet the animals that are supplying your food. This isn’t possible (or desirable) for everyone, but most people shouldn’t have trouble finding a local farm where they can purchase eggs. Not only is it better for the chickens, the eggs are fresher and taste WAY better.
4. GIANT GREEN SALADS — My lunch is usually a big green salad filled with a variety of dark leafy greens, nuts or seeds, crumbled organic tortilla chips, and my favorite dressing. And when I say giant, I mean that I’m eating my salad out of a mixing bowl. Salad is no time to go small. Fiber is crucial to a healthy digestive system, and eating raw foods guarantees that you’re getting a full nutrient load and living enzymes that are mostly destroyed by the cooking process. There are so many options for greens—kale, spinach, etc—that there is something suitable for every taste. Eat your greens!
CLICK FOR MY FAVORITE VEGAN DRESSING RECIPE
5. MINERALS & ANTIOXIDANTS WATER — To stay hydrated during the day, I have my time-stamped glass water bottle with me at all times, and I keep it filled with water and Minerals & Antioxidants. I highly recommend this supplement for runners, athletes, and anyone who wants to replace electrolytes and minerals without ingesting artificial colors and sweeteners (like you’ll find in Gatorade, Powerade, and Vitamin Water). When you’re dehydrated because you’re not drinking as much water as you should, you can get headaches, feel irritable or tired, and your organs don’t function as efficiently. Your body needs water more than it needs coffee, wine, and sugary soft drinks.
TRY MY MINERALS & ANTIOXIDANTS
6. ORGANIC GREENS BLEND — Another hydration staple is my Greens Blend. I don’t have the time (or burning desire) to make my own fresh green juice every day, so I just mix this formula of raw organic grasses and an organic mushroom blend of reishi, maitake, and shitake mushrooms into a big bottle of water. This way I’m able to get a vegetarian source of iron and B vitamins, and I also get a great source of phytonutrients and antioxidants. The raw organic greens are grown in glacial soil and cut at peak harvest before the jointing stage, so I’m getting the best quality greens. And because they are raw, they retain more nutrients than cooked greens.
Bonus: They have a much longer shelf life and variety of nutrients than a bag of greens!
The raw organic greens are grown in glacial soil and cut at peak harvest, so I’m getting the best quality greens. And because they’re raw, they retain more nutrients than cooked greens. Worried about a grassy taste? These are the best tasting greens I’ve ever had. They come in a berry flavor, sweetened only with organic stevia and monk fruit.
THE BEST TASTING GREENS DRINK ON THE PLANET
7. STEAMED OR ROASTED VEGGIES AND GRAINS — My all-time favorite simple dinner is one that I eat almost every night in one variation or another. I love to serve up a huge plate of quinoa, long-grain rice, and steamed or roasted vegetables. Give me some baked-to-perfection Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, and carrots, and I’m the happiest girl on the planet. I prepare them plain, and then toss them in raw, organic, cold-pressed coconut oil and high-quality sea salt (I recommend Himalayan or Hawaiian).
If the price of high-quality organic ingredients has got you down, use my link to get 2 months free membership and 25% off at Thrive Market.
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BONUS: FREE VEGETARIAN & VEGAN RECIPE PRINTABLES
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Rebekah “Bex” Borucki, founder of BexLife.com and the Blissed In® wellness movement, is a mother-of-five, TV host, meditation guide, author, speaker, birth doula, fitness and yoga instructor, and popular social media personality. Her first book, You Have 4 Minutes to Change Your Life (Hay House 2017), is available now, wherever books are sold.
DISCLAIMER: This post/video is designed for educational and/or informational purposes only and should not be used in any other manner. This information is not intended to substitute informed medical advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified health care provider. A consultation with your health care professional is the proper method to address your health concerns. You are encouraged to consult your health care provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.