Rip Esselstyn's Blog, page 4

Mindset Matters: Failure IS an Option.

We’ve all been there. You try a new diet or decide to finally get in shape.  You pick a plan, set your calendar and get to work. Things are going pretty well for a couple of days, maybe even a few weeks.  

But then you slip-up.  You eat that sugary treat without even thinking about it.  And that impulse decision sends you down a shame spiral.  Your inner carousel winds up and you say things like: “Shocking, I failed at my diet again,”  or “I knew I couldn’t do it.”

Here’s the thing: Failure is an option.  But failure doesn’t have to be the finale.  There is a way to overcome even the biggest slip-up.  And with the right mindset, it is easier than you think.   

One of the skills we teach in our Rescue 10x Mindset Mastery Program is to practice having a “growth mindset.” With this learned skill, you can take any perceived ‘failure’ in stride.  A growth mindset allows you to get back up, dust yourself off and keep going.  And you learn to catapult yourself out of the shame spiral for good.   A great analogy is this: If you are driving down the road and you get a flat tire, do you get out of the car and slash the three other tires? Do you give up your travel plans and decide your destination was just a pipe dream? Do you abandon the car and just walk away?

Of course not.  You get out—you curse like mad—you get out your tools, you fix the flat, and you keep moving forward.

The next time you find yourself on the back side of a sugar binge, what do you do? With a growth mindset, you take a deep breath and you:

Stop beating yourself up!  Be kind to yourself.  Talk to yourself as you would talk to a friend who was upset about something that just happened.Become resilient.  Realize failure, setbacks and learning are all part of the process.  Trust that a little stumble is no reason to give up on your goals and plans.Unhook from the negative thoughts.  Don’t let negative thoughts or self-talk drag you down and send you spiraling.  Don’t serve yourself a shame sandwich. Focus on the learning. How did I end up here? Be curious about potential growth instead of being fixed and judgmental.Make a plan.  Once you discover the trigger that led to your slip, make a plan for how to handle a similar situation in the future. If I see sharp objects in the road, how do I avoid getting a flat tire next time?

A growth mindset helps you realize that any lifestyle change is a process and not an overnight success.  You can make the change permanent and be successful with the right mindset and strong daily habits.  When you accept that failure is an option on the path to success, you’ll meet it head on and be prepared to learn and grow from the experience instead of abandoning the ship.

If this resonates with you, we invite you to join our next session of the Rescue 10x Mindset Mastery program starting at the end of March!  Sign up by going to www.rescue10x.com today!

The Truth About Oil

There’s No Such Thing As“Heart-Healthy Oil.”

Let’s tackle the myth about the consumption of olive oil as “heart healthy.” This is a triumph of marketing over science.

Let’s take a closer look at olive oil so we can understand why it isn’t the miracle health product you’ve been led to believe. 

When you squeeze the oil out of olives to make olive oil, you end up with a concentrated source of calories that is 100 percent fat and devoid of almost all vitamins and minerals. Just a single tablespoon of olive oil contains about 120 empty calories. Did you know that it takes more than 1,300 olives to produce a single 32-ounce bottle of olive oil? Meanwhile, one innocent little tablespoon of olive oil is the fat equivalent of about 45 olives (and a black hole of nutritional nothingness).

Some olive-oil lovers out there like to say, “Hey, wait a minute, Rip. Olive oil has vitamins E and K. How can you say olive oil is entirely empty calories?” Okay, you got me. They’re right. It’s true, olive oil does have trace amounts of those vitamins… but you’d have to guzzle 10 tablespoons of it to meet your daily requirement for both. You’d also have to guzzle half a pound of olive oil—about 2,000 calories worth—in order to reach your daily recommended intake of omega-3 fatty acids. I can’t think of a better way to stop your heart than by quaffing down a half pound of oil!

And don’t believe those “heart-healthy” labels you see on olive oil containers. While olive oil might technically be better than, say, corn and canola oil, that doesn’t make it healthy. That’s like Philip Morris saying their cigarettes are healthy because they have filters. In fact, olive oil is the opposite of heart healthy. A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that olive oil significantly hindered the ability of people’s arteries to dilate. In other words, oil restricts blood flow to and from the heart.

“But what about coconut oil?”

Boy, do I get this one a lot. For some reason, these days coconut oil is being touted as a wonder cure for everything from Alzheimer’s to heart disease to obesity, allegedly due to its antimicrobial abilities. Let me repeat: All oil is junk. Like all oils, coconut oil is stripped of nearly all nutrients. Instead of the healthy fiber you’d receive from eating the meat of a coconut, you get globs of saturated fat, which act the exact same way as the inflammation-promoting saturated fat in olive oil and all animal products.

Coconut oil is an artery-busting 92 percent saturated fat—more than any other food on the planet! Gram for gram, that’s more saturated fat than butter, lard, or beef fat.

For more information, you can read more in The Engine 2 Seven-Day Rescue Diet by Rip Esselstyn.

Carrot Cake Oatmeal Bake

This breakfast casserole doubles as a dessert. Try serving warm with some “banana nice cream”—you won’t be disappointed!

Want more delicious, plant-strong recipes? You’ll find old favorites, plus hundreds of new recipes (for the standard Engine 2 diet as well as the Engine 2 Seven-Day Rescue Diet) in the PLANTSTRONG Meal Planner. With access to hundreds of customizable recipes (Cooking for one? Great! Need some leftovers? We’ve got you covered too!), printable grocery list and grocery delivery in select markets, you’ll wonder how you ever planned meals without it – and all for less than $2 a week!

Ingredients4 cups shredded carrots3 cups oats1 cup unsweetened applesauce1 cup oat flour1/2 cup raisins1/2 cup walnuts – optional1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder2 tablespoons cinnamon (reserve 1 tablespoon cinnamon to sprinkle over the top)1 teaspoon turmeric1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Mix together the above ingredients then add:

4 cups almond milk2 tablespoons maple syrup1 teaspoon vanilla extract

InstructionsMix until well combined and add to  9×13 pan. Sprinkle with remaining cinnamon.Bake at 425 for 30 minutes for a “scoopable” oatmeal bake or bake 45 minutes for sliceable “cake-like” serving.

Serve with fresh fruit and enjoy while warm. Refrigerate any leftovers.

Servings: 12

What Rip Eats in a Day

One of the questions that people ask the most: What does Rip eat? Here is a typical day for Rip – including his favorite meals.

Breakfast

Rip’s Big Bowl cereal has been fueling Rip for as long as he has been PLANTSTRONG! Topped with seasonal fruit and a handful of walnuts, a spoonful of flax meal and his favorite oil-free unsweetened oat milk.

Lunch

Rip’s Sweet Potato Bowl loaded with black beans, cilantro, avocado, tomatoes and greens is power fuel for his work day.

Dinner

PLANTSTRONG Burgers and Oven Baked Fries – Burgers done in the oven or fired up on the grill, this family favorite meal is a huge hit at Rip’s house. It’s a great opportunity for the kids to build their own burgers with their favorite veggie toppings.

 

Three Easy Oil-Free Dressings

On the Standard American Diet, our foods are often buried under an avalanche of salty, creamy, fat-laden dressings or sauces—wiping out any of the nutritional benefits of our meal. When you switch to a whole food, plant-based diet and go “oil-free” – dressings or sauces can be tricky.

We need to rethink our bowl toppers—instead of traditional bottled dressings or sauces, consider your leftover soups or chili as a different way to top your bowl.  Or look at the condiments in your fridge.  You can thin some hummus or barbecue sauce with a little water—maybe stir in some sriracha or spicy mustard to change the flavor profile.  Salsa or pico de gallo are wonderful ways to finish off a bowl of greens, beans, and rice.  If you live near a specialty oil and vinegar shop, flavored balsamics are the ticket to inspired cooking (just ignore all those oils).  When you look at dressings and sauces differently – there are endless possibilities to make your meals interesting and delicious.

Veteran Engine 2 coach, Ami Mackey, is always inspiring people to rethink their meal choices.  Here are her three favorite dressings—feel free to experiment with them!

Lemonade Dressing:

Ingredients:

3/4 cup water

1/2 cup lemon juice

1-2 tablespoon maple syrup to taste

Directions:
In a mason jar or other container with a lid, shake until well blended.

Coach’s Ranch Dressing:

Ingredients:

1 package low fat silken soft tofu

1⁄2 cup plain unsweetened almond milk

2 green onions chopped

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1 teaspoon dried parsley

1 teaspoon dried chives or 1/8 tsp. onion powder

1⁄2 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Directions:
Blend all ingredients in a food processor or blender until smooth. Refrigerate for one hour before serving to allow the flavors to fully develop.

Maple Clove Vinaigrette:

Ingredients:

1/2 cup water

2 tbsp maple syrup

2 tbsp vinegar

2 tbsp chia seed

1/2 tsp cloves

Directions:
Whisk in a bowl until combined just before serving. If you want to make it ahead – skip adding the chia seed until just before serving.

Three Easy Oil-Free Dressings

On the Standard American Diet, salads are often buried under an avalanche of salty, creamy, fat-laden dressings – wiping out any of the nutritional benefits we were aiming for with our meal choice.  When you switch to a whole food, plant-based diet and go “oil-free” – dressings can be tricky.  We need to rethink our salad toppers – instead of traditional bottled dressings, consider your leftover soups or chili as a different take on lunch.  Or thin some hummus with a little water – maybe stir in some sriracha or spicy mustard.  When you look at dressings differently – there are endless possibilities to make your salad sing.

Coach Ami Mackey is always inspiring people to rethink their meal choices.  Here are her three favorite salad dressings – feel free to experiment with them!

Coach’s Ranch Dressing

1 package low fat silken soft tofu

1⁄2 cup plain unsweetened almond milk
2 green onions chopped

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon dried chives or 1/8 tsp. onion powder
1⁄2 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Directions

Blend all ingredients in a food processor or blender until smooth. Refrigerate for one hour before serving to allow the flavors to fully develop.

Lemonade Dressing

In a mason jar or other container with a lid, shake until well blended:

3/4 cup water
1/2 cup lemon juice
1-2 tablespoon maple syrup to taste

Maple Clove Vinaigrette

1/2 cup water
2 tbsp maple syrup
2 tbsp vinegar
2 tbsp chia seed
1/2 tsp cloves

Whisk in a bowl until combined just before serving. If you want to make it ahead – skip adding the chia seed until just before serving.

Want more recipes like these to inspire you on your plant-strong journey?  The Plant-Strong Meal Planner has hundreds of recipes customized to your preferences and is integrated with your shopping list to make meal prep a breeze.  Sign up today!  It’s only $1.90 a week when you sign up for the annual plan and our friendly team of coaches is on hand to answer your questions every day!

The Game Changers: Behind the Scenes with the FDNY

 

Despite the ice and frigid cold temperatures in January 2017, our visit to the Friends of Firefighters** in Brooklyn, New York was filled with a warm and friendly glow. Over 50 firefighters descended upon this former New York City fire station (now a non-profit community support organization following the 9/11 tragedy) to hear a fellow firefighter from Texas talk about a lifestyle that most could never imagine in their wildest dreams. The goal was to convince as many as possible to take the Engine 2 Seven-Day Rescue Challenge and show this sliver of NYC’s bravest what’s possible when you put aside your preconceived notions and embrace the unknown. The before and after results were going to be filmed as part of The Game Changers documentary highlighting the benefits of eating a plant based diet in order to dispel the world’s most dangerous myth: that we need meat for protein, strength, and optimal health. 

Firefighters are some of the most revered men and women in this country.  But New York City firefighters are in a different class and truly epitomize modern-day-heroes with their courage and self-sacrifice. Unfortunately, that bravery won’t protect them from the #1 killer of in-the-line-of-duty-deaths for firefighters: heart disease.  This challenge was an opportunity to share how each of them could become heart attack proof and avoid becoming a statistic. By doing so they could become even better firefighters-protecting both the city of New York and their most prized asset: their personal health.

Would they rise to the occasion?  Could I convince them to follow this hardcore plant-strong eating program for one week?  With before and after biometric screenings to prove what was possible I was confident we would get some takers but I was not prepared for the other transformations that took place.

To kick off the evening, I gave an educational lecture and shared some sobering stats on the outlook for adults who eat the Standard American Diet and unwittingly injure the innermost lining of their vessels with each meal, three times a day, seven days a week.  I didn’t sugar coat the message – and it came as no surprise to these men and women that heart attacks were rampant among them with up to 69% of annual firefighter fatalities on the job coming from heart attacks. 

I promised they wouldn’t have to turn in their “man card” by removing meat from their diet. In fact, just the opposite, they would become more of “a man” as the blood flow downstairs reached new levels and allowed their “puff the magic dragons” to roar like never before. 

I promised they wouldn’t be eating a twig and berry diet as many of them envisioned but rather a “man-tastic” diet abundantly filled burgers, fajitas, and pizza all with a plant-strong twist. The invitation was simple: give me one week of eating only whole, plant-strong foods, and you will see firsthand what happens to your weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. 

All around the room, guys shifted in their seats, leaned back, and gave sideways glances.  No one was jumping in or yelling “kale,yeah, I’m in!”, so I sweetened the deal. Any firefighter that agreed to take the challenge would receive a week’s worth of groceries.   

One by one, members of New York’s bravest agreed to “man up.” Soon enough we had dozens who were lined up to draw blood, step on the scale, and have their blood pressure taken. There were plenty of back slaps and trash talking to go around as everyone started getting psyched to see who could generate the greatest drop in numbers.

Now it was time to eat. We knew the food had to be righteous otherwise this would be a big flop of an experiment.  Thanks to enthusiastic support from Whole Foods Market, we served up a hearty buffet of Firehouse Chili, Engine 2 Game-Day Twice-Baked Potatoes, baked corn tortillas (for dipping), a giant, colorful green salad made with kale and romaine and tossed with an oil-free dressing, Jalapeno Corn Muffins, and Blueberry Dumpster Cobbler for dessert.  The buffet line was quiet as they made their plates with timid scoops of chili and questionable amounts of all the side dishes. 

However, a few minutes into dinner the eye rolls were gone – replaced instead with raised eyebrows and poked elbows to guys on either side.  Around the room, I heard words of surprise like, “This is awesome!” and “Huh– I could actually eat this!” and mutterings like, “Not terrible.”  The buffet line was picked clean as they went up for seconds and thirds. They were in!

As each firefighter left the red brick station house that night, we gave marching orders with a copy of my book and bags of groceries for seven days.  We promised to support them all (via email and phone) and looked forward to returning and hearing how it all went.

 

One week later, the Engine 2 team returned to Red Hook, feeling hopeful but realistic about the unconventional proposal we had made. Did we waste our time? How many were going to come back?

Despite a multitude of scheduling issues (have you ever seen a firefighter’s calendar?), it was a thrill when 35 returned to roll up their sleeves and step on the scales.  Before we shared another glorious buffet dinner, nurses escorted the firefighters to the numerous testing stations and calculated their before/after biometric results. This time we served Raise the Roof Lasagna, Black Bean Meatballs, Roasted (oil-free) vegetables, Garlicky Kale Salad with Mashed Avocado, Whole Grain Dinner Rolls, Fresh Fruit Salad, and Chocolate Adonis Cake for dessert.

Notably more eager for this meal, everyone bellied up to the buffet and confidently piled their plates.  A shift had happened with this group – it was so palpable!

You’ll see the highlights of the results reveal during our part of The Game Changers – where one fireman stunned us all with a 107 point drop in his total cholesterol.  Another was astounded to learn his diabetes was not, indeed, a life sentence. But what you won’t see on camera is all the one-on-one conversations. You see, there’s a code in the fraternity of firefighters.  You don’t ask for sick days and you certainly don’t complain when you don’t feel good. Typically going to the doctor only leads to tests and time off. And time off from work is time away from the brotherhood. Being a firefighter isn’t just a job – it’s a family.  In New York, it’s your whole identity. It’s not just what you do, it’s who you are. So although there are wellness programs and opportunities to workout, no one really opens up about their health. You keep your chin up and do your best to keep up.

During my time with these guys and gals in Red Hook, I heard again and again how they felt hopeful.  They enjoyed the Seven-Day Rescue Challenge and were eager to keep moving forward. They no longer believed that they had to accept the misguided notion that it was their genes guiding their health destiny. They heard the internal alarm and they were now suiting up to fight back with the strongest internal defense within their reach – the arsenal of delicious and satisfying plant-strong foods that lay at their boots!

—Do you want to take the Engine 2 Seven-Day Rescue Challenge??  Now it’s your turn.  Give it one solid week – I challenge you!

**Friends of Firefighters was founded in 2001 after 9/11 when 343 firefighters lost their lives in the collapse of the Twin Towers.  Nancy Carbone, the Executive Director, drove around the boroughs of New York during the horrific aftermath, serving sandwiches from the trunk of her car and both locating and hanging memorial bunting on each of the stations to signal the mourning of their lost brothers and sisters.  Nancy never stopped serving these brave men and women, and as a result, Friends of Firefighters was born. Their sole purpose is to provide support, wellness and confidential counseling services to active and retired FDNY firefighters and their families. It is the most altruistic organization led by the most empathetic and giving human beings.  Engine 2 was proud to partner with them during this project and invites anyone who believes in their good and amazing work to give generously. 

 

Plant-Strong Whole Grains

Here at Engine 2 we are not afraid of carbs, especially when those carbs are in the form of whole grains! We understand that carbohydrates feed our brain and our muscles and that avoiding them is a recipe for disaster.

Here is a list and explanation of some perfectly healthy and Engine 2 compliant, whole grains. Which will you choose to try?

Brown Rice

Brown rice is whole grain rice with just the inedible outer hull removed. Unlike white rice, brown rice maintains the bran and germ layer, therefore, giving it a high fiber punch. There are quite a few versions of brown rice on the market. For example, there is a short grain version and there is a long grain version like jasmine or basmati. Brown rice takes a while to cook but its nutritional power is undeniable. It is high in fiber, low in fat, high in B-6, Magnesium, and Iron. Brown rice is also gluten-free.

Farro

Farro is actually a combination of three wheat species: emmer, spelt and einkorn which are all types of hulled wheat making Farro, not a gluten-free grain. Often used in soups and salads, Farro is also low in fat, high in fiber, protein, Zinc and Vitamin B-3. Farro used to be difficult to find, but these days you can find easy to make farrow options in places like Target or Walmart.

Oat Groats

Groats is a term for the hulled kernels of various cereal grains, including oats. They contain include the cereal germ and the fiber-rich portion of the grain as well as the endosperm. Oat Groats looks very similar to brown rice and can often be used in place of brown rice in many recipes but also like brown rice, they do take longer to cook. Low in fat, high in fiber, potassium, magnesium and iron oat groats make a great option for breakfast or dinner. Depending on the company or processing plant, Oat Groats can be gluten-free but always look for a certified label on the package.

Barley

Barley is one of the oldest cultivated grains around. It is not gluten free but it is very high in iron, potassium, magnesium and Vitamin B-6. Lightly pearled barley is NOT a whole grain as small amounts of the bran are missing. Barley takes quite a long time to cook and if purchasing barley you want to be sure the words, whole barley or hulled barley on the package. Barley can be used as an alternative to rice or risotto in dishes.

Millet

Millet is a staple grain of India are also commonly eaten in China, South American, and Russia. It’s actually a group of small variable small-seeded grasses but is generally called a grain. It’s high in iron, magnesium, and protein and can also be ground and used a flour much like polenta. Millet is naturally gluten-free. Millet does not take that long to cook making it a great alternative to brown rice.

Quinoa

Much like millet, quinoa is not actually a grain but a seed. It is pronounced “keen-wah” and is botanically related to spinach. Naturally gluten-free, quinoa can be cooked in under 20 minutes and is available in a multitude of colors including, white, red, purple and black. Quinoa is high in protein, low in fat and has a wonderful nutty flavor.

Buckwheat

Buckwheat is botanically a cousin of rhubarb thereby making buckwheat not a grain at all. Buckwheat is often what Japanese Soba Noodles are made from and in Russian is often called kasha. Buckwheat, despite the word “wheat” in its name, is in fact, gluten-free. Buckwheat can be cooked or sprinkled raw on top of other dishes like oatmeal for an added crunch. Buckwheat is high in protein, fiber, magnesium, phosphorus and is very low in fat.

Wild Rice

Wild rice is technically not a rice at all and is actually a grass. Wild rice has twice the protein and fiber of brown rice but less iron and calcium. Wild rice is often mixed together with brown rice to form a pilaf because it is fairly expensive to buy on its own and has quite a strong flavor. Wild rice is gluten-free.

Of the list above, I have my favorites but I always love experimenting with new grains. What new-to-you whole grain will you try?

Stay Plant-Strong!

~Pam

Top Engine 2 Recipes -Jalapeno Firecrackers

 

 

Feeding a crowd?  Or your local fire station?  This recipe will get everyone’s attention.  Got kids? Swap out some of the jalapenos for mini sweet bell peppers.

 

Jalapeno Firecrackers

 

Ingredients:

15 large jalapeno peppers

2 sweet potatoes – baked

1 cup baby spinach -raw

2 cups salsa

1/2 cup old fashioned oats

1/2 cup nutritional yeast

1/2 cup fine ground cornmeal

1/2 cup flax meal

1/4 cup cilantro

2 tablespoons BBQ sauce

2 tablespoon Mrs. Dash Southwest Chipotle

1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon cumin

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)

¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (skip if you don’t like heat or are making some for kids)

 

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 425

 

Prep: Slice the top off of the jalapeños (save the tops) and remove the seed carefully with a paring knife.  In a glass measuring cup – measure one cup of salsa.

 

Filling:

In a food processor – pulse to pulverize the raw oats. Set aside in a medium bowl.  Then add nutritional yeast, smoked paprika, garlic powder, cumin, and optional cayenne to the medium bowl and mix well.

 

In a food processor pulse baby spinach and cilantro until finely chopped and then add to the medium bowl.

 

Chop the two baked sweet potatoes into large chunks then add to the food processor – skins on. Pulse until mashed.  Add the sweet potatoes to the medium bowl.

 

Stir in the BBQ sauce.  Mix the ingredients in the medium bowl until well combined then set aside.

 

Crunchy coating:

 

In a shallow dish, combine the cornmeal, flax meal, Mrs. Dash, black pepper and optional salt until well mixed.

 

Stuff the peppers with the sweet potato mixture.  Dip the stuffed pepper into the salsa to coat the pepper.  Then roll the salsa covered jalapeño in the cornmeal mixture until well coated.  Replace the top of the jalapeño by dipping it in the salsa then pressing it onto the pepper like a cap for the filling and dust with cornmeal mixture.

 

Bake at 425 for 20-30 minutes on a parchment or nonstick foil lined baking sheet until coating is crispy.

 

Serve with remaining salsa for dipping.

A Plant-Strong Mother’s Day

Roses are red. Violets are blue. You are the best mother and I love you. When my kiddos were little, those words brought a smile to my face as I read their construction paper cards and opened their hand-print or foot-print projects from daycare that said Happy Mother’s Day on them.

Today my kids are a little bit older but they know that I still love a great homemade card over a store bought one and that I prefer homemade crafts over red roses.

Do you have a plant-based mom in your life but are not sure what to do for her this Mother’s Day? Look no further! Moms are not as complicated and as complex as you might think though we love to appear that way … it keeps the mystery alive.

Moms are all about simplicity.

Breakfast in Bed

I would love breakfast in bed if I wasn’t the first one out of bed most mornings and if I knew that the kitchen wouldn’t be a huge disaster afterwards. So if you DO decide to surprise that special mom in your life with a plant-based breakfast in bed, remember to clean up well so she won’t have to later. A nice bowl of oatmeal topped with ground flax, cinnamon, sliced banana and sprinkle of walnuts would be perfect with a side of raspberries. You could even place the raspberries on top of the oatmeal in a heart shape to show her you care about her and her heart.

Plants & Flowers

I do enjoy flowers but not the super fancy expensive ones at the store. Some of my favorites are from my backyard or the less expensive ones from Trader Joes. Some of my favorite gifts however have been when my kids gave me a plant in a pot they decorated themselves. This way, you can ask them for help in watering it throughout the spring to keep them interested in how plants and gardens grow! One of the best presents my husband gave me, was a bouquet of Kale in a vase. He knew the way to my heart and how to get me to smile. You could also start a small kale and veggie garden to show her how much you care.

Quiet time vs Family time

Moms wear many hats when it comes to the family. At any given moment we are taxi drivers, chefs, therapists, nurses, soccer moms, coaches, laundry experts, shoe finders, grocery shoppers – you name it, we could do it in our sleep. So give mom a pass and be the driver, do the laundry, navigate the kids activities so she doesn’t have to. Let mom just show up to that soccer game with all the water bottles filled and clean uniforms on. Offer her time to read or work in the garden if that is what she enjoys. For me, I know I love both quiet time and family time. Some quiet time on the patio with a book followed by a nice hike with the whole family is something that would bring me joy. Bonus points if you can get the kids not to fight or complain!

Empty the Dishwasher

Pretty basic I know but you may win an award if you empty it AND put everything back right where it belongs. Just sayin’ …

Make her Dinner

I know many people take their moms out to dinner on Mother’s Day or for brunch but when you eat plant-based and oil free as is the Engine 2 way, unless you know of a 100% compliant restaurant, the chances are, taking her out to eat will cause more stress than if you just made her a compliant dinner at home or better yet, buy her the Engine 2 Meal Planner so she can take the guess work out of planning all the family meals and can utilize the handy-dandy shopping tool to make grocery shopping each week a breeze!

SPECIAL PROMO: For Mother’s Day, you can save $20 on the annual plan with code: MOMROCKS

To help you out, here is a simple easy salad recipe from the Meal Planner for free! Whip up this easy flavorful Ensalada de la Casa for dinner on Mother’s Day to show her how much you care … just remember to do the dishes too!

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there!

Stay Plant-Strong!

~Pam