Jeff Bites

Real food. Real Life. Real Progress.

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  • Sweet Tooth? These foods to the rescue!

    Sweet Tooth? These foods to the rescue!

    Sometimes I crave sweets.

    Probably the little “pudgy me”  from childhood, but I have always loved sugar.

    The problem is that most sweets are made with cane powdered sugar.

    Our bodies go into a state of shock when that powdery white stuff hits our system. Blood sugar spikes, liver overload increasing fat storage, and it increaseing your appetite.

    That’s why I needed a new hero…fruit.

    Fruits increase satiety and are full of antioxidants which reduce inflammation and increases metabolism. They also contain soluble fiber which helps release energy slowly giving you more energy over a long period of time.

    You should be making brownies, cookies, and frozen treats with fruits like:

    • Dates
    • Prunes
    • Raisins

    Blend any if these with water and make a fruit paste which you can use for smoothies or baking. These work well on pancakes too.

    Plant-based sweet treats that are heart and gut healthy that’s just what the doctor ordered.

  • Success as a Plant-based Parent

    Success as a Plant-based Parent

    “Yuck!”

    “This is disgusting!”

    My kids don’t hold back when they don’t like a meal.

    This week they cleaned their plates, twice this week!

    No one trick pony here.

    I have been making them plant-based dinners for 9 weeks and my kids are flexitarians which means I compete with animal protein.

    This a first.

    The meal that did it:

    Pan-seared tofu cubes with Hoisin Sauce over white rice with broccoli.

    That’s it. They loved it!

    Find the plant-based meal your loved ones to enjoy.

    It’s the best feeling!

  • When I went plant-based it did not make sense

    When I went plant-based it did not make sense

    Men eat meat.

    2 double cheeseburgers, no fries was my favorite order at McDonald’s order as a kid.

    At buffets, I skipped the salad bar headed straight for beef tenderloin, ribeye steak, and fried chicken.

    I own 3 grills and 2 smokers. I watched BBQ showdown.(Still have them)

    So when I read How Not to Die by Dr. Gregor I was skeptical.

    This is bullshit. And I began checking sources from every chapter.

    Appalled, astonished, confused, angry.

    I actually stopped reading the book because it was overwhelming.

    Why didn’t anybody tell me!!

    But it took about 7 weeks 4 for me to make up my mind and another 3 weeks to convince my chicken-loving wife, I was serious.

    There is no good time to start eating plant-based but best time for your health is now.

  • I’m Not Perfect

    I’m Not Perfect

    Sometimes I like to stay up late and eat.

    There is nothing like late night snacking.

    I know. It’s not good for me but…

    Hot french fries with sea salted fries with ketchup.

    This is my kryptonite.

    It matter not that…

    I ate Hoisin tossed tofu, broccoli and rice.

    But I started watching House of the Dragons with those crazy Targareyens and I needed something.

    And it “hit the spot.”

    But next time I need to plan for healthy snacks like hummus and carrots or tofu bac’n strips.

    It’s okay to snack just make sure you have healthy ones avaliable too.

  • Strange but I like it now…

    Strange but I like it now…

    This is going to sound weird.

    I enjoy cleaning up…now.

    Before I would need to use a separate skillet for the animal protein and the other for plant-based foods.

    1 pan:

    Broccoli, pasta, and seared tofu.

    I love cleaning and you might too on a plant-based diet.

  • Combating Ignorance

    Combating Ignorance

    “C’mon be a man.”

    If you are man who is plant-based you are a punk or soft.

    If you are a woman who does not eat meat they say you are being extreme.

    If you are a parent they will tell you are under feeding your kids.

    You will be judged.

    Don’t fight the ignorance.

    Kill them all with your positive attitude.

    Know why you started this journey will sustain you.

    When you show up with less fat, more muscle, a clear mind, and a great attitude.

    They will ask you what you are doing.

    They will listen or resign to their fate.

    Thrive without their approval.

  • Practice makes Tasty

    Practice makes Tasty

    The whole food plant based diet is going to make you a…

    Chef.

    Well not at first.

    There has never been a better time to be plant-based. Plant-based content creation is at an all time high.

    Recipes for…

    • Gochujang tempeh
    • General Tso Tofu
    • Lions Mane mushrooms “Steaks”
    • Enoki mushrooms fried chikn
    • Walnut ground “meat”
    • Seitan Steak
    • Pistachio no-dairy ice cream

    It took several tries but I now have several “go to” recipes.

    They now devour my walnut ground tacos.

    Tofu fried rice is demolished.

    My peanut butter & date chocolate chip cookies don’t stand a chance.

    You will get there.

    Remember anything worth doing is worth getting wrong first.

    My wife now tells people I am the chef in the house and being plant-based this a badge of honor.

  • What junk does to the body?

    What junk does to the body?

    Eating the right things is essential to your body performing at its best.

    When you eat junk your body responds with regular aches and pains.

    Those fries that have been cooked in 5 week old grease makes your knees swell.

    The soda overwhelms your body and cannot use the sugar for energy causing headaches and fatigue.

    Your job is to supply your body with the right food.

    Plant-based eating is…

    • Mood-lifting
    • Anti-inflammatory
    • Good Cholesterol growing
    • Anti-diabetic
    • Energy-boosting
    • Blood pressure lowering
    • Brain power boosting
    • Weight loss inducing and fat blasting

    And delicious when prepared well.

    Tell me a another scientifically backed diet that can say the same.

    I’ll wait.

    Start yours today.

  • Every doctor prescribes it but never describes it

    Every doctor prescribes it but never describes it

    Ever wonder why you hear the same thing from your doctor?

    Repetition has rendered the words meaningless.

    Of course I am talking about the infamous…

    Diet & Exercise

    Sandwiched together like peanut butter and jelly.

    But much like The Sixth Sense movie, they miss the point even when all of the evidence is right in front of us.

    We are ancient. 300,000 year old animals.

    We need to eat and that is the reason…

    Eating gives us energy to find food and in the wild we to move.

    Darting, walking, climbing to find our next meal.

    So don’t just eat plant-based you need to move too. It’s in your DNA.

  • Who are you getting healthy for?

    Who are you getting healthy for?

    Health concerns kicked off my journey.

    Blood pressure high.

    Cholesterol high.

    Prostate cancer markers biopsy level.

    Energy low.

    More than some numbers on a page I had people who needed me.

    My 9 and 6 year old need a healthy dad. My wife needs a healthy and capable husband.

    Defining or redefining why you are starting your plant-based journey steels your resolve.

    The love that I have for myself and family drive me to be better.

    Who are you doing this for?