Memphians challenged to adopt plant-based diet

Published September 6, 2011 in the Commercial Appeal

Eat Healthy Memphis, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting a plant-based approach to eating, is issuing a challenge to Memphians -- adopt a plant-based diet for seven days. The challenge is meant to promote weight loss and optimal health.

Bastet Ankh Re, the group's founder and director and owner of OC Vegan Foods, isn't a fan of the word "diet." "We know that words carry vibrations and tones, and with that in mind we advocate 'livet' instead of diet. In the word 'diet' is 'die.' 'Livet' contains 'live,' " explains Re, who has been a vegan since she was 16 years old.

The plant-based challenge means that participants can consume only fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, legumes and nuts for the duration. Participants should steer clear of animal products and animal by-products like meats, eggs, cheeses, butters, margarine, sour creams, cream cheeses, etc. Re says that a well-balanced meal should contain 75 percent vegetables, 10 percent proteins, 5 percent grains and 5 percent healthy fats.

"Plant-based diets can be healthful because they contain little saturated fat, little or no cholesterol and little or none of the carcinogens produced in meats during cooking," says Re, adding that the typical Western diet that is high in meats, eggs and dairy products increases the risk of heart disease and a variety of cancers, where as plant-based diets reduce the risk.

Re believes that an increased demand for healthful plant-based foods not only will improve population health, but also allow the land to feed more people more efficiently, with less environmental damage and providing more usable energy.

"Whether there are two people or 50 people, who sign up, we will continue to promote healthy eating by adopting a plant-based approach," says Re.

The seven-day challenge is only the group's first step toward changing Memphians' eating habits. The group will continue to challenge participants to give up animal products for one week each month until June 2012, when it plans to hold the first Plant-Based Food Festival on June 22 and 23.

To sign up for the challenge and receive more information about the festival, participants are asked to register at one of three community centers (McFarland, Riverview, and Whitehaven) on Saturday.

To help get people started, there will be local holistic health advocates on hand, food demonstrations (with samples), and a forum for sharing recipes.

Seven-Day Plant-Based Food Challenge

Sign up Saturday at the following locations:

McFarland Community Center (4955 Cottonwood) from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Riverview South Memphis Community Center (1891 Kansas) from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Whitehaven Community Center (4318 Graceland Dr.) from noon to 1 p.m.

For more information, call 643-5733