Being a huge foodie, I’m always on the lookout for the latest food trends and it’s hard to ignore the recent trend towards a more plant-based diet. I did do a Pescatarian Diet about 7 years ago and truly never felt better. Basically, that is eliminating all meat such as beef, pork, and poultry but still allowing fish, eggs, and dairy. I loved it! The problem was that I was a personal chef at the time and it’s hard to test recipes and meet your client’s needs, not tasting your food. So, after 3 months, I gave it up.

I have always loved vegetables but growing up in the South, the protein was always the focus of the meal. A typical dinner included a meat with a starch and a vegetable and yes, a slice of some kind of bread. Even in recent health trends, the protein was still the focus and foods like rice and potatoes were considered “bad”. Red meat and bacon were supposed to be “good for you”..just don’t eat those carbs!

But, let’s not put all the blame on the protein. The amount of processed food we eat continues to grow year after year. Part of it is convenience, of course, but let’s face it, most if it is because we are addicted to salt and sugar. As obesity rates climb, we have simply forgotten what whole foods taste like. Fortunately, the current trend is trying to remind us.

All of this being said, I know that if I tried to move to a completely plant-based diet, it would be an epic failure. Therefore, I’m going back to my Pescatarian lifestyle which will still allow me to have fish and seafood as well as eggs and dairy. But this time, I’m going to put more focus on those whole foods and eliminate all that processed junk!

So, here is to my January Journey of Pescatarian and Plant-Based eating. I’m going to share my journey along with my recipes and slip-ups. My goal is at the end of this month, the arthritis in my hands will feel a little better, my energy level will increase, and I will have a new appreciation for food.

My first recipe is adapted from a cookbook called “The Blue Zone Kitchen” and wow, is this a great read! It focuses on the foods that people from 5 zones in our world eat. Why? Because these people typically live to be a 100 or over yet have fewer illnesses and more energy than people normally have in their 60’s and 70’s! Yes, some of the zones do have the occasional meat dish but primarily all of the regions are plant based. I’m going to be trying many of these recipes. But the first one is called Ikerian Longevity Soup. I adapted it for the new year and added black-eyed peas and collard greens. It was delicious so stay tuned for tomorrow’s blog when I share this recipe and my Day 1 journey!