Jeff Bites

Real food. Real Life. Real Progress.

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  • Selfishly Plant-based

    Selfishly Plant-based

    Imagine turning down what the world offers you.

    “No thanks.”

    What everyone else prescribed as healthy?

    You rejected.

    Even your parents “well he was not raised that way.”

    Sorry mom! I make my own choices now.

    But it’s not about the world, friends, or even how you were raised.

    And why is everyone so offended anyway?

    I think the reason why they get so offended is because it unconsciously makes them think…

    “Should I be doing something differently?”

    Their guilt about their own choices leads them to judge you.

    But who cares?

    Whatever lead you to this lifestyle, you did this for you!

    Be unapologetically selfish and eat more plants.

  • Everything is Bass Ackwards

    Everything is Bass Ackwards

    If you exercise you will have more energy.

    If you want more time use more time.

    If you want more money use more money.

    If you want chill time you have to chill more.

    If you want less stress care less.

    If you want love you have to give love.

    If you want to lose weight you have to eat more. (Only if you are plant-based)

  • You are an Animal

    You are an Animal

    What happens to an animal in the wild who does not move?

    They get eaten.

    When you are at the top of the food chain?

    It’s hard to remember your animality. (Yes, I made it up.)

    Animals move everyday to find food, shelter, and safety.

    So don’t get eaten. Start moving.

  • In the “Driver-Seat” of Eating

    In the “Driver-Seat” of Eating

    I have to admit there is something liberating about taking control of your diet.

    No longer do I sit back and wonder how the food was made.

    No longer do I question ingredients.

    No longer do I count macronutrients like a mad scientist.

    I make what I want.

    I eat as much as I want.

    Whenever the craving happens.

    I eat honey, bread pasta, chocolate chip cookies, and vegan ice cream.

    I am having ‘my way’ with this diet and you should too.

    Go plant-based and take control of how you eat too.

  • Concert Night Surprise (food)

    Concert Night Surprise (food)

    Friday night we went to go see Lil Wayne: 20 Years of the Carter.

    And we go to a restaurant called Blanco and they only have one vegetarian taco and it’s…

    Crispy Sweet Potato Tacos made with avocado, queso, chile negra, cotija cheese, pickled onion, and cilantro.

    It was phenomenal! Some of the best tacos I have ever had.

    This will be my new “Go-To” here.

    Go out and order plant-based and you will be pleasantly surprised to find new favorites!

  • Meat has a smell and it’s…

    Meat has a smell and it’s…

    Meat always had a tantalizing smell.

    Especially grilled food.

    The charcoal barbecue smell will always hold fond memories.

    But something in me has shifted.

    I just celebrated my 6 month “No Meat-anniversary.”

    While I was cooking chicken for my kids.

    Not only did I not care for the smell, I also got nauseous.

    So there is a side-effect to being plant-based and cooking animal protein.

    Beware.

  • Spouses who are not plant-based…yet

    Spouses who are not plant-based…yet

    My wife had a tough time with my decision to go plant-based.

    “You are crazy.”

    “You are just going to change your mind.”

    “If your real estate plans had worked out…”

    “There are other ways to be healthy.”

    It was a tough time.

    Keep in mind I had done the ketosis diet several times and taken classes on brisket and smoking ribs. I smoked chicken wings almost every weekend.

    So my decision was  shocking.

    But I won her over. Not with arguments but meals.

    • Buffalo macaroni and cheese with crispy tofu bites
    • High protein pesto pasta. Mushroom “No bacon” pizza
    • Fried ‘No Fish’ and spaghetti
    • Homemade Chocolate chip cookies

    And she slowly accepted my decision and how serious I was about changing my eating habits.

    What’s your go to plant-based recipes for non-believers?

  • Eating to heal?

    Eating to heal?

    Being a 40+ year old athlete is confusing.

    I feel like I am 25.

    However my knees and feet say otherwise.

    I am more prone to injury.

    Recovery takes longer.

    Rest is part of the workout per my doctor. It’s no longer optional. Warm-ups are also no longer optional either.

    So I have found myself in a recovery phase for a few issues. While researching quick recoveries I learned calorie deficits are bad.

    When you deprive your body of calories your body is barely able to cover the basics.

    So imagine if you are trying to recover from an injury?

    Exactly.

    You should be eating in excess so those extra calories find their way to your sprained ankle or hip impingement.

    And on the best diet for recovery none of those plant-based nutrients will go to waste.

  • Protein Popcorn is…

    Protein Popcorn is…

    How did we get here?

    Protein maxing.

    It’s where you try to get at least 1 gram of protein per body weight.

    With the benefits being:

    • Increased muscle mass
    • Meal Satiety (full feeling)
    • Fat loss

    This health trend has led us to add protein to…

    Popcorn.

    This is insane.

    So now we are adding a nutrient to any heavily processed food and giving it the “healthy tag.”

    Beware of the trends. Not to mention animal studies of higher protein intake leads to cancer.

    Stay safe with plant-based.

  • When should you start building your immune system?

    When should you start building your immune system?

    Kids are back in school and coughs are abound.

    I am already seeing the Emergen-C packs come out. Excessive orange juice drinking and obsessive hand washing.

    But is it too late?

    Probably.

    Your immune system is your body’s 2nd brain.

    When you eat feed your microbiome your immune system is strengthened. Each time you eat same food the population of those microbes multiplies.

    And they “get busy” creating the next generations of those microbes.

    Vitamin C helps the Bifidobacterium which has positive health benefits, including fighting infection. (1)

    So when is the best time to take Vitamin C…

    Everyday.

    Imagine how strong your immune system is when you started building it in January and when cold and flu season rolls around in October.

    An orange or a grapefruit has 100% of Vitamin C needs.

    Now eat up.

    1. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.2217/fmb-2022-0209#summary-abstract