This evening I attended a plant-based potluck, where people bring a vegan dish to share, cooked with no oil and minimal to no salt or sugar. On or about the first Sunday of the month, around 70 people who are seeking better health through nutrition meet up to share a delicious, healthy meal. I have been attending these potlucks for a year now. I first heard about the Columbia MD Forks Over Knives Meetup Group from an article in the Baltimore Sun last August. It couldn’t have come at a better time, as I had just made the decision to commit to a plant-based way of eating.
It can be a bit intimidating to just show up to a dinner where you don’t know anyone. But I’m fairly social and don’t mind talking to strangers. I have found it easy to talk to the people I’ve met, mainly because we often begin our discussions with why we are there, how long we have been eating plant-based, and how we’re doing with it, which then sparks a variety of topics. I’ve been eating this way for a year, and talking to people who are like-minded is one of the ways I stay interested and get great ideas that make sticking with this lifestyle fun and easy.
Social support is an important component of overall wellbeing. Years ago, I took a college course that taught me how to be a successful student. One piece of advice I will never forget was: Hang around with people who support your success. This guidance has served me well over the years, and I make sure to use it to achieve my goal of healthy living. Making connections with people who live a plant-based lifestyle energizes and inspires me to try new foods and recipes, and I’m encouraged to go to the next level, such as incorporating exercise into my days. I have met some incredibly nice people and connect with them more frequently than just the monthly potluck. I am inspired by the journeys of members who have overcome illnesses, gotten off medications, and lost major amounts of weight—all by changing what they eat.
So stick with the winners, and hang out with people who will support your goals. Seek the encouragement you need for success. If you don’t live in the DC-Baltimore area, try searching for a plant-based potluck in MeetUp.com or start one of your own.
If you can’t get to a potluck, try a Facebook group like the Columbia MD Forks Over Knives Meetup Group, McDougall Friends or any other group that promotes a whole food plant-based way of eating.
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Plantfood Life 