Why Not a Plant-Based Diet?

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Why Not a Plant-Based Diet?

It’s for your family…

Food is like politics, but nobody wants to talk about it.

“Earmuffs please, because I like what I like, and don’t tell me any differently. If what you are telling me isn’t what I already believe, it’s bull crap. Let’s keep it 100% Armond, you are coming after my meat, and I just don’t like it.”

What about my social life?

I get it—I do. I mean, all your friends are doing it. Every time I hang out with my friends, guess what we have, food and my wine!

“How can I possibly have a good time without ribs? And what am I going to do Armond at the family cookout, eat carrots? Really, Armond. The whole family will be doing the latest dance, and you’re going to have me popping and sliding to the left and right with a carrot in my mouth?”

There will be scoffers.

You’re right though, people will make fun of you.

Right now, this guy I know who is a diabetic with high blood pressure likes to make fun of me for not eating meat. I am a witty guy who has plenty of comebacks, but, for this guy—I got nothing! I can’t make fun of this dude. “Ha, ha, you’re about to die!” What do I say to him? When I suggest to him that he should maybe look at what I am doing to help him out—scoff! Yes, folks—the scoff!

Let’s slow it down a bit and think about this. I must say, for me, this made all the difference in the world.

I have never heard of anyone dying from eating too much fruit, vegetables, legumes, beans or grains.

 Meat can be dangerous

“Tonight on the 6 o’clock news, man dies from beans. I heard he was farting on the way out.”

Ok, let’s be honest, you’re also not going to see someone on the news die from eating a piece of chicken either. However, if you see someone having a heart attack, it is most likely linked to what they’re eating—probably not beans.

Meat is also linked to cancer and diabetes. As far as I know, beans have never been linked to cancer.

So—why would I want to feed this to my children? If I told you that baby powder is linked to cancer, would you still put it on your children?

Probably not. You would drop that baby powder like it was a bad habit. “I’m good, don’t need this baby powder no more. I can do without it.”

As a matter of fact, some of you get pissed when you walk by some dude smoking a cigarette in proximity to your children. Depending upon if he looks dangerous or not, you give him a mean glare. “How dare you put second-hand smoke in the noses of my children, sir!”

All I’m saying is, maybe the food that you’re feeding your children has health risks, and you’re looking at me like I’m bat shit crazy.

This sounds familiar. I feel like I have seen or heard this story before. You know the seeming utopia where people think everything is perfectly safe until they figure out that it’s not. I remember the old stories of Grand Poppa smoking cigarettes, but still living until he was 90 years old. By-George, if it is good enough for good ole Grand Poppa, then it is good enough for me, right?

Check out this brief history on smoking if that’s your logic!

Yes, you could talk yourself out of it.

Today, of course, e-cigarettes are perfectly safe. How could something that tastes like watermelon be dangerous?

I know what you’re thinking, Armond, eating meat is nothing like smoking cigarettes—while you roll your eyes at me.

“I wouldn’t let my children smoke a cigarette or drink alcohol. That would be absurd. Oh—and baby powder; I definitely cannot use baby powder on my babies.”

If you try googling a plant-based diet, you are going to find conflicting information. Some will say it depends on if the meat is processed or unprocessed. Eggs are suitable for this but not for that. The information overload is so overwhelming that it makes me want to sit down to a big plate of fried pork chops smothered in gravy and really think about it. (No, I do not dislike pork chops; I just made a conscious decision not to eat them—for those who are curious).

I’m just saying…

Let me slow it down again. Think—Why wouldn’t I want to focus my diet and my children’s diet on things that are not up for debate?

We know that fruit, vegetables, legumes, and grains are healthier than meat. So, therefore, we should eat more of that and less meat, right?

You literally just stared down a dude on the sidewalk for blowing his cigarette smoke up your kid’s nose, and you threw out all the baby powder! If you actually think that a moderate amount of meat isn’t that bad, then why don’t you moderate it as you would candy? I’m just saying—don’t shoot the messenger.

Are you going to let your kid have candy three times a day? I know parents who will go gangster over soda. Head cocked to the side mean mugging me.

“Did you just give my kid some soda?”

“I am so sorry, he asked for some Sprite. My Bad.”

“We don’t give our kid soda! Johnny, what did I tell you, finish your chicken nuggets!”

Now, some of you may take this as me trying to get you to stop eating meat entirely. First of all, I haven’t even done that. Under the right circumstances, I will partake in meat. Maybe the cookout or the crawfish boil, or perhaps it is the wine dinner where the chef has paired the perfect wine with the meal to make the two dance around as if magic were happening in your mouth—that’ll convince me.

Here’s a suggestion; try to limit the amount of meat your children eat to one meal a day. Also, try to get them to eat healthier options that boost their immune systems and help them to grow healthier. Maybe I’m just bat shit crazy!

My Why

Here is the thing(s) that ultimately changed my mind on this topic—my children. I want to put my children in the best possible position to live a happy, healthy life. It starts with me being an example to them and then showing them that I am willing to do what it takes in my own life to be healthy, and I can still have fun while doing it. I don’t need to eat crap to have fun. Just like I don’t need to smoke. Just like I don’t need to use baby powder to feel silky smooth yet dry.

I tell my daughters all the time….

If you take care of your body, it will take care of your mind.

-Armond Croom

Yep, I made that up myself—gold star for me!

What I mean by that is, if you give your body more of the good stuff, it will set you up to handle other areas of your life. You’ll have more clarity and the ability to work on different aspects of your life. The right food works wonders!

You could be living your best life! According to the Mayo Clinic, some benefits of eating plant-based or reducing meat are:

1. saving money (since bean, veggies, and grains are cheaper than meat)
2. fewer calories
3. less fat
4. lower risk of heart disease

Not only should you discuss these things with your kids, but change your diet so that they can see these results.

What an excellent opportunity you have to be a positive example to your family and your community. I’m just saying.

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