On April 10 Interfaith Meatless Monday invites the public to a talk by Lani Muelrath about her new book, The Plant-Based Journey.  She divides the journey into five basic steps to guide people making the transition to a diet of vegetables, whole grains, beans and legumes, fruits, nuts and seeds.  The talk begins at 3pm at Davis community Church Fellowship Hall (204 “C” Street)

The talk is free but donations of $10 will help us pay for Lani’s time and travel.

 

Advance tickets are available at Eventbrite.

 

Step 1:  Awakening:  Why choose a plant-based diet?

The starting point for the universal journey is asking ourselves why?  Muelrath names the first step Awakening, because it requires personal reflection.  The Interfaith Meatless Monday campaign, a project of Yolo Interfaith Alliance for Climate Justice which is in turn a Working Group of Cool Davis, suggests cutting out the meat even one day a week is good for individuals and the planet, too.  That means when an individual makes the conscious decision to eat a more plant-based diet, it helps restore the health of the planet as well as his or her own health, it saves water, and it helps alleviate world hunger!  Davis Vegans would add that the compassion for the many animals  saved also alleviates suffering.  That’s a lot of benefit for one simple act.

 

Five Steps

As participants progress through the five steps –Awakening, Scout, Rookie, Rockstar, Champion – they will discover how to keep the transition uncomplicated, inexpensive, doable, and delectable.  Muelrath also explains how to leverage simple systems –like getting plenty of exercise that literally gives muscles to the building blocks of your brain and mastering strength-of-mind techniques – mindfulnes, mindset and motivation- that support the new ideal while dismantling and clearing away obstacles that may be getting in the way.

 

After four decades, Lani know the journey well and can guide others.
After four decades, Lani knows the journey well and can guide others.

An experienced coach can help!

Food – beyond providing us with good nutrition – is also about habits, family, friends, workplace, travel, social situations, traditions, and comfort.  How do we successfully navigate all of that?  We often need practical guidance not only to set up a kitchen but to unravel our previous practices of eating – and thinking.

 

Muelrath relies on her own journey of four decades to keep her in tune with so many others along the path.   As an award-winning teacher, transition strategist, fitness expert and dietary coach Muelrath has already helped many clients live more healthy and plant-filled lives. Backed by scientific evidence, this book  makes what she has learned accessible to others.  It is a guide and a gift!

 

Five steps in brief:

Step 1: Awakening: Discover your “why” for eating plant-based
Step 2: Scout: Assemble what you need for plant-based eating basics
Step 3: Rookie: Increase the presence of plant foods on your plate with specific strategies and systems
Step 4: Rockstar: Take your newfound plant-based eating success on the road and to social and family situations
Step 5: Champion: Sharpen your skills for long-term, plant-based living success

A 28 minute video of Muelrath’s  Five Universal Steps of Transition to a Plant-Based Diet is available here or on her website at www.lanimuelrath.com   Browse for other videos, blogs, and more.

 

Portobello pot roast is a delicious main dish.
Portobello pot roast makes  a delicious main dish.

Recipes!

Finally, Lani offers what the plant–based travelers may need the most.  She has collected simple, basic recipe templates to make a variety of delicious dishes, including Game-changer chili, golden turmeric rice, lickety-split lasagna, portobello pot roast, tacos in no time, and speedy burritos.  Obviously, the common thread besides being vegan is that these are quick and easy to prepare.    As a bonus she added still more favorite recipes, just to get readers started on their own collections.  The recipes are worth the cost of the book, which will be sold and signed at the Sunday workshop.

 

TV Links: Plant-Based Living Series

Last holiday season, Muelrath worked with CBS TV to create several Plant-Based Living Series Episodes.  Muelrath positively sparkles in each of them.  They are another way to get a visual on some of the recipes, templates, and food preparations from The Plant-Based Journey.  Muelrath produced three shows for the mini-series on cooking healthy, and now has permission to share the results here.

Five Fast Ways to Plantify Your Plate 

Whole Food Holiday Eats 

Plant-Based Party Snacks 

Refreshments from the recipes

Members of Interfaith Meatless Monday will prepare some of Lani’s recommended recipes for refreshments:  pumpkin muffins, country comfort corn bread, black bean polenta pie…Yum!

COOL Cuisine

In addition, COOL Cuisine, a coalition of individuals and organizations seeking more plant-based dining options in Davis, will be present for questions.  They promote plant-based eating to sustain the planet, to sustain health, and out of compassion for all living things.

 

Vegans of Davis

Vegans of Davis, now with 550 members, will be present.  Lindsay Rubin writes, “In our world today, an animal-based diet is unsustainable.  I want my diet to reflect my values and that includes not eating any animal products including meat, dairy and eggs. The vegan-lifestyle is gentle on the earth, uses far less resources, such as, water and land, and has a low carbon footprint, too.”

 

A suggested donation of  $10 will help us pay for Lani Muelrath’s presentation.  Students and those less able are free.

 

Sign-up on Eventbrite here.